Riverbrian

Martin is a loser bet so let's take the guy who is a proven loser bet. It's not even a bet because he has proven it... however... I guess there is value in the experienced loser because we know for sure what we are going to get.

Yep... and there we are... Down 1 Run in the 9th inning... you could cut the tension with a knife. Right Handed Closer X on the mound. The low percentage play of Margot coming to the plate because Trevor is no longer an option. You and I both know that Trevor is a much better choice to square off against Liam Hendricks at the end of the game when there is no tomorrow but he was taken out in the 5th with a 6th inning, 7th, 8th and 9th inning tomorrow. Lifted for a pinch hitter with the bases empty in a tie game with 4 innings to play to avoid the left hander who will pitch one inning. This year... It won't be Margot and his 0 for 3 million pinch hitting. This year it will be the Margot replacement of possibly Rosario and the year after that it will be Rosario replacement. And the year after that it will be the replacement of the replacement of Rosario and you've grown nothing.

Not true: Kepler was only kept out of it when they had more left handers then they could handcuff. As soon as the number of left handed hitters dropped down to three. When Julien was sent down. Kepler was also demoted to no longer facing left handers. You have to maintain the 1 righthanded hitter 1 left handed hitter partnerships. You are locked in. You can't escape it. If a left handed hitter is allowed to hit against left handed pitching... THERE IS NO PURPOSE for the short sided Right handed Mr. Low Bar anymore. Therefore if Larnach gets hurt and Erod comes up. Erod has to assume the Larnach role. If the club says... we are only going to treat Larnach this way and Erod is special so he plays everyday against both hands! What is the purpose of the short sided right handed guy that you spent 4 million dollars on when Erod joins? I'll bet you money right now... that Erod will platoon unless there are 3 other left handed hitters on the roster. The main reason that Erod will platoon besides this extreme fear of lefty vs lefty... is because of the roster presence of Mr. Low Bar. Mr. Low Bar is on the roster for this specific reason. To Hit against lefties. If you let the lefty hit against lefties. Mr. Low Bar is no longer necessary. You lock into this roster construction... you can't get out of it. Then the injuries come and now you have Dogs pretending to be Cats because the Mr. Low Bar is facing right handers more often then left handers which negates any platoon advantage that you gain.

How do you bust out of this cycle of low bar dependence? If you can't develop players you are in constant need of these low bar guys to fill out the roster. If you don't have the money to bring in actual complete major league players via free agency... you have to develop your way out of it and our development program is busy spitting out left handers who require an additional roster spot taken up by Low Bar Rosario types. How do you bust out of that cycle? You can't... it's a rabbit hole with no end in sight. Wallner, Larnach and Julien can't bust you out of this cycle of low bar-ness because they will perpetually require the low-bar guy to handcuff to them. Once you roster Mr. Low Bar for this role... what happens when Larnach gets hurt and they call up Erod? Here's what happens... Erod gets attached to Mr. Low Bar because Mr. Low Bar is on the roster for one reason... to face lefties so Erod will have to concede those lefty AB's and you've got another Wallner or Larnach on your hands who is then sent down when Larnach returns and your development continues to be compromised. What happens when Mr. Low Bar Rosario gets hurt. Just let Larnach hit lefties now... No... they won't do that... Miranda or Martin will be the new short side and now you have developing right handed hitters who are compromised. Who was prevented from playing last season? I don't know... I won't pretend to know. Larnach and Wallner are two that were compromised for the privilage of Margot on the roster. Miranda hit better against right handers and was held to face left handers because of the presence of Larnach and Wallner and Julien on the roster. Kiersay only got 13 AB's... there's one from AAA but I'm not going to claim that I know what Keirsay would have done and I don't think anyone here is able to makes any claims either... but I'll say this... The people who think that Kiersay got an opportunity or don't think that Kiersay deserved an opportunity.... are probably the same people who say things like... Rooker... Oh Well... It happens.

You can call him utility if you'd like. He's a guy who can play multiple positions however... injuries will require much more from him and everyone should know this by now. Yet, year after year most are content looking for below average players to burn roster spots. Burning roster spots on players who are perfectly acceptable as long as they don't play that much is a big problem because he will play a lot. Correa had 319 AB's last year Buxton had 355 AB's last year Lewis had 292 AB's last year That will add up to a lot of Rosario playing time. I have no interest in 29 year old specialists who are destined to be asked to produce more than they are capable of producing due to injuries suffered by others. I have no interest in specialists who just have to be replaced by the next version of this type of player next year. After 942 Games and 3,713 Plate Appearances. It's pretty established that he is a below average player. He's been placed on waivers in his career because he had established himself as a below average player. I'm sick of players who bring a low bar to clear and then watch others be prevented from attempting to clear that low bar.

Exactly the type of player I expect the Twins to target this off-season. And I'm willing to place a bet right now: If the Twins sign him for his ability to hit left handers and this is why he will be signed. He will face more right handers than left handers. Any takers? Career .669 OPS against Right Handed Pitchers. .657 against righties last year.

I'd be willing to bet that he doesn't want a short side platoon job like he had last year. He declined the mutual option... I don't know if Arizona would have declined but what we do know is that he declined. I'm doubtful that he gets the 6m for a short side platoon role from anyone. He's got to be seeking more... not so much more money but more responsibility.

Yeah... my post contained a lot of in between the spaces commentary and it shouldn't. I normally caution against that sort of lip reading because the job has to be fluid reacting to ever changing context that they can't predict. These guys are asked questions all the time and they have to provide some sort of answer or at least skillfully dance around it. Public Relations is task. With that said... I found it interesting that his top of mind was. 1. He likes the pitching 2. 1st base 3. Right Handed Specialists.

I wasn't able to listen to the entire interview but I heard the first two questions he was asked and what I took away from the answers. He didn't argue or correct the interviewer when the question was phrased with the words "Payroll Flat". Falvey said they have been primarily talking with other clubs about trade possibilities which I took as... not particularly active in free agents. This was not a surprise to me. When asked what the needs were and what they were looking for he starting by saying that he liked the starting pitching options. He went on to say that they were 7 or 8 deep. Personally... I'd love to add a big arm... we all would but in the absence of a big arm... I'm Ok with him being somewhat comfortable with the rotation as my hope remains that they don't bring in an innings eater. The first need that he did mention was replacing Carlos Santana at 1B. He talked about Julien and Miranda getting work at 1B but the first thing he mentioned was a Carlos Santana replacement so I assume 1B is the top priority based on the sequence of his response. The 2nd thing he mentioned was right handed replacements for Margot and Farmer. This made me sad. I had to get out of the car and back to work so I didn't listen to the rest of the interview. Unless I hear differently later on in the off-season. I fully expect a couple Margot and Farmer look a likes to join the club. That is going to suck... I'm not surprised but yeah the confirmation is disapointing.

I don't care much for placing players in boxes. Can you hang a zero and how many can you hang. 71 Innings last year with an 0.87 WHIP! Why wouldn't we want more innings from someone who does that? You should always strive to get more AB's from your best hitters and you always strive to get more innings from your best pitchers. I will always be against purposely limiting talent for the purpose of keeping them in a box. Go for it

Mid 80's would be a team in contention... Mid 80's would be games that matter in September. I've given up trying to predict baseball a long time ago. Correa, Lewis and Buxton could all play 120+ games and it's also possible that one or all of them OPS+ 90 so you wish that they hadn't played all of those games. If you could predict it... why watch? Tell me you saw the Tigers coming after selling everything at the deadline. I'm pretty sure that the Twins didn't see the Tigers coming and I hope they realize now that they can't predict things either and just GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY! If I have a bone of pessimism... that's it. I don't think the front office can get themselves out of the way. I have lowered my hopes and dreams to begging for no specialists. Don't spend a dime, if specialists are the only thing your budget allows. I don't want Margot's Twin brother taking AB's from Larnach. I want Larnach to solidify himself so he solves 2025 and 2026 and 2027. I don't want Larnach, Wallner, Erod or Jenkins to be some Margot dependent junkie. I want the Twins to go into rehab. This way if you are right and you might be right that there is no reason to get up in the morning. At the very least... we kicked the Margot habit and maybe just maybe... Larnach, Wallner, Erod, Jenkins are better for it and 2026 is better for it. 2027 is better for it. If we are going to suck... Suck YOUNG!

I'm not going to beat my head against the wall. The Budget is the budget. Pete Alonso isn't coming... Mark Canha isn't going to help. He's actually going to hurt. What can be done? Get out of the way. Take your 4th place and store it in your heart. I'll keep it out of mine.

Pete Alonso isn't coming, We have a roster. Let's GO!!!

I start every season optimistic even if I spend the off-season pessimistic. Bottom Line: Youth doesn't scare me. The Tigers just went on an incredible run with nothing but youth after trading away vets at the deadline. Youth doesn't scare me... Bad baseball that doesn't go away is what scares me. Here's the optimism for you. Youth has built in advantages that Margot's and Bundy's don't offer. If youth goes bad... you can send them down and try someone else. If at the end of the year... youth doesn't work out... at the very least... they got some major league work in... in theory... that makes them better for next year. Or at least a better idea what is needed next year. It's usable information on players coming back as opposed to throw away information acquired on a guy that's going away after collecting a 4 million dollar pay check on a 1 year deal. The Twins can only sustain themselves through development... so... let's just remove those hurdles and get out of the Margot followed by Margot look a like death spiral. I'll keep my hopes real simple... just one thing this offseason. Please... no specialists... Let's see if we can make some young players special from top to bottom instead. There is nothing worse than have a bad season with Margot's and Bundy's. You have a bad season and you did absolutely nothing for next season.

I don't know about "a lot more options" but yeah better be more options available to any major league franchise. However, the other options could be a rabbit hole of chaos because once you borrow from here to fill here, you have to borrow from here to fill back over there. That's why I only see boring or chaos and nothing in between.

Your article states exactly why I feel the off-season will either be about as boring as humanly possible or extremely chaotic with nothing in between. Given the two choices... I'll hope for boring. Last year when they moved Polanco. I questioned weather it was a good thing to take the Polanco money and break it off into multiple players. Hindsight based on results showed that Polanco wasn't worth much. It also showed that the smaller piece Carlos Santana by himself was produced better value but I'm still going to wrestle with the same question ths year. And I'll say NO... It's not a good thing to take one player and turn them into multiple players. Yes Santana may have worked out but the other smaller piece players did not and this team is only going to be successful if they get production from every roster spot. So I guess... I'm hoping to be bored to tears this off-season. Please... Please... No Specialists. It may be all you can afford... Just honest open competition for playing time. The youth is going to have to bring us home. Even if they fail to bring us home... they will be closer to hopefully bringing us home in the following year. Let's see what the players with options remaining can do. Larnach, Wallner, Lewis, Miranda, Jeffers, Julien, Lee, Martin, Helman, Keaschall, Keirsay, Erod, Festa, SWR, Matthews, Raya, Adams ETC can do. If it works out, we are stronger next year. If it doesn't work out we will be stronger next year. If the Margo look alike doesn't work out... we will not be stronger or closer next year. There should be no consideration from the front office that this team is just a Mark Canha away. The front office made the bed... Lie in it. The team needs to take the proper steps to get themselves out of the Margot necessity cycle.

Exactly the guy the Twins front office needs to replace Margot. Exactly the guy the Twins need to make sure that they will need to sign another one just like him for 2026. Exactly the guy the Twins need to make sure that Trevor Larnach's will be less value to our team as a player and other teams in a trade.

If they are rebuilding. Trading our controllable starters would return the best bang, If they are not rebuilding... actually trying to win. It would make trying to win as difficult as possible.

Why is he still on the 40 man? Why was he ever on the 26 man? .575 OPS is a bar so low to clear that it is almost under ground.

I don't like it one single bit and I want to be clear that it's not my idea but I have no reason to expect different simply based on consistent utilization of the 26 man roster for the past two seasons. If Keirsay makes the club out of spring training. Assuming Wallner and Larnach also make the club out of spring training. That is three left handed OF's on the roster. Wallner, Larnach already require a right handed handcuff... Keirsay will require the same I assume. We can't put 6 Outfielders on the 26 man roster... three lefthanders and three right handers on the roster so Wallner, Larnach and Keirsay all avoid left handed hitters. So... it stands to reason that Keirsay will be taking the roster spot that is needed for Canha or whoever the Margot replacement is going to be and Canha is needed because we have been starving Wallner and Larnach all of this time. This forces Keirsay to wait for a Larnach or Wallner injury opportunity to get the call. He may play CF when he comes up while someone else plays in the corner but Keirsay will have to wait for Larnach or Wallner to go down because not waiting will force Wallner or Larnach into the lineup against left handers because we will have too many of them. Also if Keirsay has to wait for Wallner or Larnach and he would have to wait based on 2024 utilization. The lefty swinging Erod will probably be the first choice... so in reality... Keirsay will have to wait for two of Wallner, Larnach and Erod to be unavailable to get a chance. All of this doesn't even factor Julien on the roster because Julien's presence on the roster is going to require a Farmer replacement or pull Miranda into a short side hell on the 26 man roster. Bottom Line: If the Twins continue with this overweighting of the Right/Left Platoon split. You might as well release Keirsay right now.

I understand all of this. I'm not diminishing the need for a catcher with defensive abilities. What I don't understand is the thought that Vazquez is somehow not replaceable... necessary to the health of the bull club because of his defensive abilities. Surely there is some catcher who can play defense and not hit a bit out there in the universe that can play for the league minimum. If Good Defense and horrible hitting costs 10 million and can't be replaced. How much is it going to cost to find someone with good defense and good hitting?

I never really understand this point. I understand the value of defense but I never really understand this point. Surely there is another catcher somewhere in the universe who can frame pitches and can't hit a lick. Maybe it's a young catcher who holds the bat cow-handed and closes his eyes when he swings but the guy can play D. Surely this guy is out there somewhere and ready to make the major league minimum. If framing and defense at the catching position with absolutely no offense at all is worth 10 million a year. FRONT OFFICES... please take your catching prospects with defensive skill, coach them up and advance them up the ladder as quickly as possible. Bat skills are not necessary. 😉

Even if we don't undo it now. It opens us up to trouble if Jeffers breaks his leg in April. 😎

Keirsay on the roster will force Wallner or Larnach to hit against left handers. We will be over our allotment of left handed bats. I'm Ok with this... Are the Twins? I don't believe they are. Keirsay on the roster will also take a spot that is needed for a right handed bat that has to play against left handers so Wallner or Larnach can sit. If the Twins don't change their extreme left/right policy that limits their roster construction decisions. Keirsay will need to wait for an injury to Wallner or Larnach. A Buxton injury has nothing to do with it. Castro and Martin will continue to be the Buxton insurance policies.