tony&rodney

Your first line is out of line. The history of special players getting put right in the starting lineup is long. Cal Griffith ordered Rod Carew to be in the lineup every day. Last year Milwaukee played Jackson Chourio for two months before he came around. Joe Mauer never played at AAA and he would have been up a year earlier if he wasn't still working on catcher specific skills. The Twins have had their share of Rookie of the Year winners but it has been a while. Rodriguez is well ahead of other minor leaguers. His 90% line drive rate leads all minors players. His on base is spectacular. His defense is excellent. How many times have you watched him play. He has definite faults. He strikes out a ton and whiffs on pitches he should hit. He toys with AA and AAA pitchers including the top pitchers at that level. We don't know how he will turn out and if he will manage at the MLB level until he gets the opportunity. Emmanuel is fully developed physically. The guy needs a challenge. Jenkins needs repetitions and experience at AA. They are different players at different points in their development. Rodriguez has already pounded everyone at the minor league level. He is a classic boom or bust prospect that has a very high value right now. An athlete like Rodriguez rises to the confidence shown in him. There are times an organization or individuals within a system don't believe in a player. That doesn't work well. Get value while value is ripe.

Emmanuel has more at bats in AAA than both Chourio and Merrill from last year's rookie class. That argument doesn't carry with special players. Mauer never played AAA and had only 73 games at AA. I think we all sample more than ten beers across a period of time before we settle on an opinion of our "go to" favorite beverage. People often sample many omelets before their opinion rests on one that works for them. Perhaps the Twins don't believe in him and think he is not ready. If that is the case, trade him. The value will never be higher. Kansas City will gladly stick Emmanuel in the lineup. We can then enjoy his at bats from a close experience. This feels like Johan. Free Emmanuel.

In the 2023-2024 offseason the Twins indicated that the payroll budget would retreat to former levels after a one year bump. The outcry was phenomenal and unending. It was also a little bit expected by those who knew about the one time payment and the dying RSN. At the close of the 2024 season the Twins indicated that the payroll budget would not be cut further and the details were left as nebulous as one could possible state nothing. Twins Daily, Aaron Gleeman and others went ballistic about the *****Pohlads. A statement was issued that the Twins were for sale and that numerous parties had already been involved as interested parties to an unknown degree to that point. The Ishbias were noted. The sale process was reported as moving along quite smoothly or words to that effect with an April or May date expected for finalization although the end point was left open. This obviously meant that the 2025 player payroll would be entirely the responsibility of a new owner. All during this offseason, every single article until about two weeks ago contained a reference to "owner imposed payroll restrictions", a mantra repeated on national press and roundly circulated as fact when there was never any statements or indications of a said policy. The $130 miilion 26 person Opening Day payroll was gospel or we were led to believe that line. Now the Twins are approaching $148 million (Fangraphs) for a 26 person payroll and crickets from Twins Daily and Gleeman among others on what looks to be a rather substantial operating change. Apologies for all of the character assassinations? Hmmm. Waiting. I cannot wait for a new ownership group because my choice of the best ownership group lost out in 1984. Not a fan of old Carl (RIP), but his sons and grandkids did what they could if one understands the lack of baseball acumen in the family. For now I'm hoping for a few big trades (Falvey needs to make at least an effort to keep his job) and the completion of the sale of the Minnesota Twins Baseball Club.

Pardon the interruption but I have to ask you if you have seen at least a couple dozen to fifty of his plate appearances. I'm not interested in hearing about video highlights or statistics, but actual game PA. How many?

What would your lineup look like? SP = Lopez, Cease, Ober, Ryan, Woods Richardson RP = Jax, Sands, Stewart, Alcala, Coulombe, Varland, Henriquez, and Tonkin Bats = Rodriguez-LF, Buxton-CF, Wallner-RF, Correa-SS, Eeles-2B, Lewis-1B, Miranda-DH, Jeffers-C, Lawler-3B with Bader-OF, Vazquez-C, Lee-ut, Martin-ut.

Goodbye Joe, hello Bader. Win projection 85?

Are we feeling any possibility of a Cease trade after the Bader thing today? Can't think of another reason for Bader. Defense-yes, but at a price more than was likely out there from anyone else. Did Falvey want insurance before a trade?

Expect absolutely nothing and then be pleasantly surprised by anything at all.

The Cease conversations must have some length. That is my conclusion.

Matthew, I'm happy for you that you feel this move puts the Twins in a good spot.

You might not know these players but both Jackson Chourio (LF-Brewers) and Jackson Merrill (CF-Padres) were put into the lineup and kept there by teams that wound up either winning their division (MIL-NLC) or getting into the playoffs (SDP-NLW). Both Jacksons struggled horribly early and often until they found their pace. Chourio was highly ranked and Merrill was ranked last year a few spots below where Emmanuel Rodriguez is now. Rookies are rookies until they get enough playing time. Rodriguez is ready, he doesn't need to prove anything. The Twins need to prove they believe in him. If they do not, then the Twins should trade Rodriguez now while his value is sky high. Kansas City and Pittsburgh will put him in the lineup. Here is another way to look at this development. Emmanuel Rodriguez tears up AAA in his first 10-20 games. Do the Twins call up Emmanuel and DFA Bader? I'm still waiting for Falvey to do something right that makes the Twins more competitive in their division. This isn't it in my opinion. For all of those who disagree, I am happy that the Bader signing has raised your outlook for the Twins and that you feel encouraged by this action. Different viewpoints, that's all.

I have never said this about Falvey, but you have likely put it as plainly as possible for those wanting to know what is up with the Twins.

A couple of stats people on TD love are WAR and OPS+. Bader was ok, just ok, in ...... 2021. He is as likely to have an OPS of starting with a 5 than one starting with a 6. When teams carried 10 pitchers they also carried late inning defensive replacements like Bader. Could be a trend.

Injured all year? He can be. Don't bet on it.

I feared this type of signing just as I fear Falvey getting fleeced in a trade. Will the other shoe drop? The Twins have a really good player to step in and play centerfield. His name is Emmanuel Rodriguez and he can play LF or RF too as his regular gig. Seems like the Twins do not believe in EmRod and they might as well trade him to give him an opportunity elsewhere. Maybe a prospect for prospect deal. ... Milwaukee, Kansas City, Pittsburgh.

Place your bet.

This looks a lot like the trade for Margot last season. Perhaps we can just wish that signing Bader allows for the Twins to push through and find a decent deal with Preller to bring Cease to the Twins. As is, the team looks close to a 82-86 wins squad at best. I'm losing hope.

I guess I would too. Wondering if San Diego accepts Paddack. I'm real high on both Woods Richardson and Matthews but losing one allows a good year of development from AAA SP's with Lopez, Cease, Ober, Ryan leading, and Festa or SWR in the fifth spot. Initially I didn't really think Cease would be a good idea because of the cost of players going to the Padres. Now i feel like the Twins need a little shaking up to move off of being a .500 team. This will require faith and commitment to Emmanuel Rodriguez and few other inexperienced players. I'm still not sure the Twins believe in their guys. I'm a little concerned about the lack of a decent catcher to work in the event that either Jeffers or Vazquez go down for two or more weeks. The last two years the Twins have rolled with these two and plan to do so again. Seems like a backup plan is needed. The guys they have slated for AA and AAA are ok for a week or so but any longer time will expose the team badly.

There is a continual call for a RH OF/1B bat. Few people actually name a player and most of the suggested players are just Margot redux. Falvey hasn't added any position players most likely because he likes what he has assembled on the current roster. We have to accept this reality. The addition of Coulombe fills the LH relief pitcher slot apparently. Does it almost automatically mean that Tonkin is let go? Injuries happen and it is looking like that is the path to a uniform for any player with an option. Varland, Topa, Funderburk, and Alcala or Sands are ticketed for AAA unless injuries pop up. One has to wonder if that strategy works as opposed to rostering the best eight relievers. I guess we shall see.

Everyone is naturally going to have different ideas about where the Twins can improve upon their performance from a prior season. Sometimes there are multiple concerns such as SP, RH OF, etc. When I thought about what I saw on the field last season, my main complaint was a general lack of athleticism and specifically poor to mediocre defense. I don't need to rely on statistics and analytics very much but a stopwatch helps occasionally. The TD Blueprint exercise has outlived its time based on the total absence of participation last November and that is fine. My goals were to improve the defense at a minimum and add a couple of younger players with some upside. Ultimately I was willing to gamble a downside of 78 wins for an upside of 93 wins. This is quite a variance which often happens with less experienced players. The additions I'm reading about and the stand pat plan currently taken by Falvey looks like at least an 82 win team but could be 88 if things go right. Sometimes I find myself objecting to one player or another and realize it isn't the player so much as that the base competency returns mediocrity as a ceiling. I see the weaknesses of the Twins fringe players but feel they deserve an opportunity to lift themselves and the team. Manuel Margot was a good player for a long time but the Twins managed to use him to a level that highlighted the worst of his talents at a time when poor Manuel was down. These decisions are almost a parody of how the Twins use veterans on the downside of their careers. So now Mark Canha is the latest name to float. A decent player three years ago, but still able to gain an MLB contract ..... for a team hoping to win half of its games.

A couple of years ago (2023) Wallner was slow from picking up the ball or catching the ball to the actual throw. His transfers were a little slow. I didn't check that last year.

You are right. I appreciate your comment and check on my comment. I'm obviously not a fan of Casas but should not diminish his talent or value. I wouldn't trade for him.

Casas is basically worth Julien plus a #10-20 prospect. Yes, you are right, Breslow is trying to get more.

Casas isn't any way as valuable/ worth as much as David Festa.

I'm all in on Payton Eeles. I recklessly put him down as my second baseman on the Twins Daily Blueprint team.