tony&rodney

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.

Sure. Why not? Don't mess with whatever works.

The Twins have been very disappointed with the production from second base this season. It makes sense to try anyone. The Twins realize that Santana is decent at first base and shows up every day. They know that Miranda is a total butcher at first base and only slightly below average at third base. They also know that Royce Lewis is a potential hitter in the lineup which makes it doable to move him to a new position when he does not DH. So the Twins have been getting Royce some grounders at second base and are still hoping for something else to happen where a better option is possible. Julien hits a home run so we should expect that he gets another shot at the bag. If Julien runs with the opportunity, the Lewis at 2B is over and he is ensconced as a DH. The Twins plan this season was to bludgeon other teams with their bats, not to win with rookie pitchers. Anyone who can hit is appreciated, greatly. I don't expect any long term effect going into next season. The Twins just need to limp forward enough to get into the playoffs where anything can happen, especially if a miracle descends in the form of two healthy and effective veterans: Correa and Buxton.

Get back to us when Lewis is the starting shortstop in the All Star Game.

I think you can see what happened. Royce has become a big dude. More power with big muscles and hopefully a great career as a hitter. I can see Lewis becoming average with hard work and repetitions at the corner infield positions. I'm not too certain about the outfield anymore, although I did think that was a good option several years ago. He will never be as good as Julien at second base because his lateral movement is less than optimal for the spot.

The Twins are sitting pretty good for making the playoffs. Their chances for winning the division are considerably lower. We don't know what Falvey and the brain trust are planning for daily lineups and player usage but the specter of making the playoffs provides some security. In the current situation the lineup depends to some degree on the handedness of the pitcher. Most pitchers are right handed and so something like Vazquez, Santana, Julien, Miranda, Castro, Larnach, Keirsey Jr., Wallner and then Lewis as DH makes some sense. Perhaps Lee should be at shortstop. Versus left handed pitchers we know there will be changes. The guess is Jeffers, Santana, (? at 2B), Miranda, Lee, Martin, Castro, Wallner, and Lewis at DH. The Twins mostly rotate catchers and like to get Jeffers a day or two at DH if he is hitting decently. Jeffers or others at DH complicates things because Lewis is injured and hurts the team when he is in the field more than his multitude of admirers wish to accept. Royce fits as a DH right now. The arrangements without Correa at SS and Buxton in CF will always compromise the defense, which make the lineups tricky. This in turn provides a ton of fodder for those who live for criticizing the lineups and/or management. Right now, the Twins are in a lose/lose situation as far as placating their critics but in a win/win situation as far as making the playoffs. I believe the Twins will choose to get into the playoffs above salving the injuries of the online voices. We are just along for the ride.

Yes, Royce has ongoing leg issues and clearly is expected to coast while running the bases to avoid a situation where he needs to be shut down. Miranda has a somewhat similar deal. The coaches/front office want these guys in the lineup for their bats but this means jogging on fly balls and infield grounders. The Twins would like to have two or more DH spots to save these guys from further injury. Miranda is pretty slow at third base but Lewis is a virtual statue. However, both could bring the team some wins with their bats so we (and the poor pitchers) will have to accept one of them in the field and hope the +/- is a positive towards the outcomes of each game. I'm sure the coach's cringe but the best available players need to be used. Max Kepler reached a point with his injury where he was no longer playing well in the field, couldn't run the bases very decently, and was compromised at the plate and thus couldn't be much of a threat with his bat. Finally, the Twins put him on the IL.

Kepler had a good run for the Twins. One would think it was emotional for him to miss Jorge Polanco in Spring Training and then he hits a foul ball off his knee early in the year. Max tried to grind it out but physical limitations for athletes are difficult to overcome. The inability to be anywhere close to healthy was pretty obvious on the bases and in the field. Hitting with damaged legs removes the base, which will ultimately result in diminished performance. Kepler has had a tough year. I can't see him returning without his legs being 100%. The Twins have a somewhat similar situation with Royce Lewis, although it seems Royce is still able to swing a bat. Lewis needs to be plopped in the DH hole and kept away from a glove until he is fully healthy. Perhaps he will find a groove as a hitter and feel better if he can focus solely on his bat. His legs are not healthy and sudden movements mean reduced effectiveness in the field and on the bases. We see this routinely, especially when he runs the bases, but running the bases slowly is not exactly hurting the team much while the poor fielding is a negative. Sorry to see Max Kepler end his Twins career on a down note, because I had pretty high hopes for him this year.

This is gospel. There are arguments whether a manager can affect between 2-6 games a year. but mostly less. Of course, if you are a person focused on some specific disgust with a manager then that manager is responsible for potentially every loss. The White Sox need a new manager .... every week.

The Twins do not have anyone who is even close to doing anything as well as everything that Witt Jr. does every day. Judge? Ohtani? I'm a fan of set lineups where it is feasible though.

Couldn't find that.