tony&rodney

Tell that to Chris Sale, Johan Santana, and hundreds more over the long history of baseball. The Twins will take care of him. Whatever they decide is fine for me. Development wise, pitching to the best hitters is a good learning experience.

Maybe Rojas takes Banda's spot. Rojas is flammable though. The transition back to a starting pitcher could always begin anew after the current season. The experience at the MLB level could be valuable.

The Twins, seemingly, have had a process in the past which would not promote Walker Jenkins ahead of Alan Roden, Emmanuel Rodriguez, or others. Is that what you are suggesting? When you state, "Not how I'd do it ...", I'm wondering what would you do. My instincts tell me the Twins are moving away from DH types to improve the defense.roster/team. Walker Jenkins needs to show he is ready. If he hits in July, I would bring him up. If the Twins suddenly created an opening via a transaction of someone currently receiving regular playing time (that is not Fedko or even Martin) sooner than August, I would bring him up. Talent plays. He is a little raw but Jenkins will not be overwhelmed. What would you do?

Don't overthink the draft, especially when there is the #3 pick at stake. While it is totally true that no one can guarantee success in a baseball draft, the top three have separated themsleves enough to be the choice: Cholowsky, Lackey, or Emerson. I would like the Twins to push for a trade to get themselves a pick in a Comp Round A slot.

Sure, the Twins can add and subtract. that's elementary. Right? Bell is unlikely to return much, unless there is a team interested and the Twins have identified a totally unheralded player in the DSL or rookie ball. Maybe Bell goes on a real heater all the way up to the trade deadline and some team feels they need his bat. I just can'y see it. Bell seems more valuable to the Twins. Larnach has been swinging a good bat. He has been pretty important to the offense. Moving Trevor depends on a decent return. Will a team (San Diego?) send a relief pitcher (B. Rodriguez or Jason Adam) worth the bother? Austin Martin and Matt Wallner may have some value but it seems pretty low. What ideas do people have for either of those guys? Ryan Jeffers has been out for quite some time but he will have value and will be gone as a free agent. Additionally, Caratini and Jackson have been fine. I don't believe Jeffers will sign before he goes on the market, at which time the Twins can join in the bidding. Someone will send a good relief pitcher for Jeffers. Bailey Ober could rebuild some value but it is not certain. Perhaps Ober can be bundled with others. Joe Ryan has a ton of value but what team will turn over the prospects or players needed to complete a transaction. Mere prospects don't really cut it as a return for Ryan. Last winter I wondered if a combo of Ryan, Charlee Soto, and Alan Roden would entice Boston to send Franklin Arias plus a pitcher or would Sacramento send us Leodalis De Vries plus a pitcher for the same package? Does adding Wallner or Lewis finish a deal? The A's could use a DH, an infielder, and pitching. At all times i wonder what those deals would look like from another team's perspective. Would you trade a Cole Sands or Marco Raya type plus Walker Jenkins for Ryan, Soto, and Lewis? Boston would trade Sonny Gray. What would they want in return? I have no idea ... maybe Luke Keaschall and Boston sends money too? Buying and selling is possible. The question is whether the Twins front office has the stomach for risky deals. The Tampa Bay Rays have made more than a few gambles. Trading Joe Ryan and another dude for Nelson Cruz was an example that didn't go so well for them. I wouldn't mind seeing some buying and selling this trade deadline.

The goal is to find a trading partner. We merely speculate because it is an unknown whether another team finds a Twins player a fit for their roster. Who gets traded and who gets acquired is the negotiation. We all know that. Thus: Yankees send Carlos Lagrange in return for Ryan Jeffers? Padres send Jason Adam and Bradgley Rodriguez for Bailey Ober and Trevor Larnach? Does some team view Matt Wallner as a good DH? A couple 2-3 relief pitchers and the development of some prospects could make a difference. This might be where we remember that three young guys made a difference in 2023. There are options and it does not entail trading the top prospects. Buxton has a NTC and 10/5 rights; he stays. There doesn't need to be many moves and it can be buying and selling. The big question surrounds the value of Joe Ryan to another team.

Check back at the end of July. If Walker Jenkins is hitting line drives all over the field, making plays in the outfield, and stealing bases - bring him up in a month. The final step to becoming a regular position player in MLB can only take place versus major league pitchers.

Hard to make a run without getting into the playoffs. While i can agree that losing in the first round or at all is disappointing, I'm more likely to enjoy a playoff team than a fourth or fifth place club. The Yankees haven't won since 2009. I guess their fans are edgy perhaps. No, that isn't a comparison but just opposite sides of a coin. What strategy do you suggest? Do you have specific plans that are potentially feasible. I'm curious.

Love what Larnach is doing right now for the Twins but I was also wondering about something with San Diego like your idea. Maybe Larnach for Jason Adam, although I too prefer B. Rodriguez. I have wondered about the Yankees coughing up something worthwhile (LaGrange?).

Have only watched him via milb.com (on my laptop or on the TV). DeBarge takes big swings. The defense is fine but he doesn't look like much of a hitter. The choice of drafting DeBarge at #33 is water over the dam but having seen him many times I doubt he ever gets a look in MLB. He works as organizational filler. Talent is difficult to judge or project in baseball. The draft is never a sure thing.

Maybe Joe Ryan can spin a gem and win a game on Sunday. The Twins are playing hard and competing. They won a series against a Houston team that had won five series in a row and played themselves back into the conversation in the AL West. The patience to force opponents to throw strikes set up Bell and Clemens big blasts. Bradley did not have great command but his stuff is very difficult for opposing hitters. Morris shut down fears of another bullpen collapse. Good series, all things considered, for Twins.

The trades last July did create a problem with the bullpen. The time to rehash, regret, and bemoan those transactions has run its course. One wonders if a couple of trades might manage to stabilize and hopefully strengthen the current pen.

Patience will be required. Players are already being shifted around with obvious positive results and as prospects prove themselves ready the team will improve in the field. I believe in the current coaching staff and manager. Hopefully the front office and owner falls in line to support them.

Larnach has to hit to play LF. The Twins know that Trevor is not a good outfielder. So many have been given a shot and did not pan out, so it is still Larnach until someone else arrives. I'm a little surprised by this article. Nobody who watches Larnach play regularly thinks he is an average outfielder.

No reason that Prielipp cannot continue to pitch, even if he gets extra time between starts. The old adage - listen to the body.