tony&rodney

Recently, on a different post, I made a similar comment. How much latitude does Baldelli even have to manage the games? If Rocco is gone, so is Falvey.

Sorry. Runs scored. It was a bad post on my part.

Hitting is all about feel and confidence, both of which are MIA. 22-38 this month in 9 games. The Twins went 14-14 in August and they often looked rough. From the 18th of August onward though, the Twins have stumbled. September will be huge for many players, the manager, and the front office. I would be very surprised if a collapse does not bring about major changes. 18 games to go and there is plenty on the line.

Is it possible that the talent is just average?

I haven't seen a football game since the Vikings lost to New Orleans when Favre was playing for MN. My son was into football a little so I quietly watched with him. Football always bored me. People like different stuff. I get that most people on TD and in MN are football fans.

Congratulations to Walker. He is putting up.

Great picture - where we see Santana trying to explain to the youngins that September is a good month to play baseball while the other three are just tired, not used to the grind of the MLB season.

With the coaches, yes, by all means. This should be an every day discussion but no to any inclusion of Falvey and crew. The front office does not have the baseball expertise of the coaching staff just as the coaching staff does not have expertise with the financial side of the game. Falvey & Sons puts the team together. That includes their choices for manager and coaches and those guys (Rocco, etc.) need to do their jobs with the players provided by Falvey and the FO. I just disagree with the notion of Falvey, Levine, or others from the front office in on playing time, substitutions, and pitching changes. If Baldelli and his coaches cannot handle these chores, get someone else. Let Falvey sit with Joe Pohlad in the owner's box.

Me too.

Maybe you should use wins and losses.

We watch the games, we want the Twins to win, we suffer their losses, and we have thoughts on why. Me too .... but I am sure I don't really know what is going on. Just a couple of thoughts: 1) Do faces from the front office (Falvey & Sons) meet with Baldelli on a regular basis? How often? How much of the plan is discussed, agreed on, and then fairly well scripted? These questions are important because this is precisely why Molitor was removed and many teams in MLB today have expected scenarios all played out before the games. Of course, the manager should be expected to have ideas of what gets done when and with which players. However, we seem to see a blind allegiance to maths as if it is absolute, which it is not. The vast preponderance of slavish and sometimes useful data and the many who follow the numbers more than the games is an example too. Thus Ober gets lifted despite the game situation which tells us that Kansas City doesn't have but a sliver of a chance to get a baserunner much less score a run. Is this the brains making a decision. The comment boards scream at Baldelli and it should be his call. Is It though? I'm not sure about an answer to my questions. Next - 2) The Twins have a pile of very inexperienced, quite raw players but a paucity of hard edged veterans. Santana is out, Farmer is cooked and physically struggles to an absurd degree despite his vast array of knowledge, expertise, and experience, Correa is out and absent, Buxton - same, Kepler is out, and Margot is out. Meanwhile all of Jeffers, Miranda, Julien, Lee, Lewis, Castro, Larnach, Wallner, Martin, Helman, and Keirsey Jr. are either rookies or have not established themselves as reliable full season MLB players. The MLB season is a beast and September has a way of crushing those whose concentration has been stretched for one and have zero on field leadership to rally them forward in the rough spots. The pitchers have been leading this team because guys like Pablo Lopez lead. The offense has nobody. I believe both Buxton and Correa are injured but I do want to know if they can play. Correa at half speed (he is always slow) makes plays at shortstop that the subs cannot; it is depressing. Same with Buck. Those are just my thoughts. Did anyone ever imagine that the Twins would get the innings they are getting from Ober, Woods Richardson, Festa, and even Matthews. It is pretty amazing.

The Twins had Molitor but Falvey wanted Baldelli. Nothing wrong with wishing for success. I just wish and hope that the Twins woke up this morning with the realization that they are in a great spot with their record and find the energy and spirit to drive themsleves and each other forward through the remainder of the season.

Oh, I am not a fan of Rocco Baldelli but I believe he actually knows more about his players, options, and baseball than I do. That, and I may be a minority here, but I also believe that the players are responsible for the wins and losses.

Why am I continually astounded by judgments made against Rocco Baldelli from people who have no idea ..... Seemed fair to stop there.

Sounds good to me but these guys will be invites because .... no money for free agents. I believe $135 million next season is a realistic ceiling with $115M the floor.

You could be correct. If Paddack is in the rotation in April you will know the Twins are not serious about early season games. Paddack can be a fair option as a relief pitcher but his first promising experiences with the Padres were long ago. All of Festa, Matthews, and Morris have passed The Sheriff as options for the starting rotation. Injuries happen; it is what it is. The Twins gambled on Paddack and he is now the debt they own. It wasn't a bad gamble either if he can be a fair middle relief pitcher.

This seems like thinking that needs to done in the offseason. The Twins have quite a few decent players coming back next year and will also have an opportunity for making trades. Expect a similar budget, which will once again lead the division. As far as the AL Central goes, it will be better next year. Detroit has @$39M, Cleveland has @$45M, and Kansas City has @$75M committed to next year. If you have watched a dozen or so of their games you know that each of these three teams has some good players who are getting better. The AL Central has benefitted (not CLE) some from having CWS bungling along this year but these clubs have been competitive all year with young players. We can make our proposals and silly guesses in November.

It was a lose/lose decision. The Twins are not hitting which means Ragans just retires the next batter and Witt Jr. is super quick with a total power arm that is uber accurate. Can't win there unless something very unusual happens. So it goes. Seems like it was worth a try.

Seems like a strict pitch count might be a little severe. I was clicking back and forth from the Twins to Saints. watching Morris pitch. He was dominant. If it was necessary to take him out around 65 pitches, which I have done many times as a manager, there surely could have been a little wiggle room (up to 7 pitches). On the other hand, perhaps there is zero interest in seeing Morris finish the inning making that pitch limit absolute. I just felt bad that his line included a run scored when the Iowa Cubs had no chance in hell of actually scoring against Morris.

You answered the question from all sides. It just comes down to searching for offense. The current iteration of Royce Lewis, injured but playable, is a DH only. However, the Twins have collectively succumbed to ineffective plate appearances which results in looking for that misplaced combination which will unlock the offense. Try everything and that is what we are seeing. I mean, Farmer batting cleanup is an attempt. Hopefully the bats will come out today.

The Royals were the better team last night. Judging from the comments my hunch that many people on TD are primarily football fans is apparent. Baldelli will need to rally his clubhouse to find their focus in these last few weeks. Ober is up today and has an opportunity to erase his two prior debacles versus Kansas City.

Sometimes one should tip their hat to the pitcher. Ragans was very good. . Matthews was ok, just inexperienced and pitching in front of a shaky defense (didn't hurt tonight). KC pitching quieted the Twins bats. Tomorrow should be much better for Minnesota. On a side note, I think the Twins need to make a decision on Correa and Buxton. If they are out for the year, the team has some knowledge of the challenges ahead. If they cannot play due to their injuries, send them to Ft. Myers for treatment and massages. There really isn't any reason to hold them until late September.

Game tomorrow - you will all be back.

Really stunning how unfamiliar these guys are with the teams. No feel at all for the game. Right now this production has to earn a D.

The bats are cold, it is as simple as that. No team in history has won a game without scoring a run.