tony&rodney

One potential issue (there are several) is that generally first basemen do a fair amount of long stretches. BB has had problems with hamstrings as well as the knee injuries. We saw Buxton change his swing to alleviate the stress on his legs. The results don't play imho. First Buxton needs to get completely healthy and then he needs to rebuild his swing. I agree that all options will be considered: 1B, OF, and DH.

Every number is looked over by every organization. I did not reference the pitcher won-loss record. I referenced the record in those games where Sonny Gray was a starter. I also did not indicate this as a key focal point or even important in any way, but rather as among a pile of data points that are discussed. I can actually say that these conversations, among many, take place as thoughts are exchanged within the context of how to address roster decisions and improve the team. The chalk board, so to speak, is covered with a host of thoughts, ideas, and yes, data to open any avenue potentially related to change for the positive.

Baseball trade values is only good for ideas and guesses, which I would argue is better than nothing. Still, you can bet that a few front offices get a chuckle out of many of the evaluations. Teams will trade to fill positions of need and be willing to give up quite a bit if they think the guy they receive is worth it in the end. The Lopez-Arraez trade was a good example of a dynamic trade that benefitted both teams even while the initial responses were disbelief and anger. Each team was able to identify their needs and find a match. This can happen again.

The Twins are an organization that looks at numbers. While I believe Gray did his part in his starts and the Twins may too, that doesn't mean they will ignore the record in his starts when looking at what are the odds of replacing him to gain a plus margin in those 33 starts in the regular season. Like everything thrown out here on Twins Daily, this is just a personal thought. Related perhaps, the media contracts may take in substantially less money in 2024. I have no idea what is going on there. I am also guessing the Twins cut overall payroll by around $20 million. I don't believe that will restrict them from putting a better team on the field next year.

The Twins will have plenty of discussion about whether to sign Sonny Gray. Gray just had a spectacular year. One item (totally outside of Gray's control) to be at least considered is the record in games where Gray started, 14-19. The season long competitive innings pitched by Gray will need to be replaced, which will surely be a difficult task. I don't see how the Twins can offer Sonny Gray a fair contract compared to what several other teams will be prepared to offer.

The free agents won't be free, they will be quite expensive. The recent comment about Ohtani ... he will almost surely stay on the West Coast. He might be the one FA that will be worth the money because he can hit every year and possibly return as a pitcher next year. Ohtani is one of a kind and the Twins will not be in the picture, sadly. Royce Lewis is a third baseman now. My guess is that all discussions about moving him into the outfield are in the past. We'll see what happens but thinking it will help the team doesn't mean it is likely nor even a good plan. Most people think it helps alleviate the pile of infielders while strengthening the outfield, but my guess is that move will not happen. Byron Buxton will again be one of the main focal points of how the front office looks at the team for next season. DH or OF/DH, either one means less at bats for guys planning on being a DH. The Twins will have some long discussions about where they see the team heading and how a few minor league players fit. Management seems enthralled with Lewis but it is possible that any of Kirilloff, Julien, Lee, Wallner, or others may be on the table in possible trades. There are probably only a few untouchables: Jenkins, E. Rodriguez, and Lewis. What happens this offseason, the Twins will have some options to improve and they are pretty solid now.

There is a fair amount to unpack here. The Twins do not seem to have much of a focus towards changing their swings on two strikes. Jeffers often looks like he is swinging from his heels with two strikes. I'm in agreement that the Twins need a different approach with two strikes. MLB pitchers are so good that batters need to think zones and hope to eliminate some of a pitcher's repertoire. If a pitcher has multiple pitches working it is a miserable day for the hitters. So the batters are attempting to have an idea, which is often incorrect. Batters can shorten up to an extent and we see many players do exactly that. Cutting down on strike outs needs to be a focus for the 2024 Twins. Julien does not seem to possess much talent with making contact on pitches out of the strike zone. Now the sample size for Julien is small at this point but he has looked weak on swings at pitches out of the strike zone all season and furthermore he looked poor swinging at bad pitches while playing in the minor leagues. Julien has an incredible feel for the strike zone and I believe he is also aware that he sucks at making decent contact on balls. Thus he will not play very long if he expands his swing zone. I too would like Julien to be a little more aggressive with guys on base. However, he was a rookie and could improve. Julien also looks and sounds (interviews) like a player who adheres pretty closely to his plan in at bats, which often includes sitting on a specific pitch. A player needs to learn and know how they succeed and fail. Perhaps we will see Julien grow into a different sort of hitter as he gains experience but from watching him in prior years in the minor leagues and now this year it seems like he needs to keep his bat on his shoulder on pitches that are not strikes. That same argument does not apply ( in my opinion) to any other Twin player. A two strike approach needs refinement by the Twins in general.

I think I predicted the Twins to win the AL Central with 83 wins. I believe the team was more interesting in the second half of the season. The pitching was really good, the bats inconsistent. The 2023 season was a success for the Twins in my opinion, all things considered.

The Astros won the series 3 games to 1 versus the Twins. The idea of blame, blame, blame is simply lame, lame, lame. Weak.

George Kirby? Does Seattle have any interest? What does this potentially mean? Kirilloff or Lewis or Julien or Wallner or Lee or ??? plus a few minor league guys. November and speculation isn't that far away. For now I'm just going to enjoy the postseason. The offseason could be huge this year.

Well, we didn't know why Kirilloff looked so uncomfortable before today. A baseball player with a bum shoulder cannot swing freely and is unlikely to be diving around in the field. Players try to play through various bumps and bruises but some injuries restrict the ability to perform. Now we know what ailed Alex. Tough break for him.

Good game, Good season. The Astros are the best team in baseball until proven otherwise.

Hey your team just hit four home runs in the same inning, the first team ever to do so in MLB history. You have to be pumped about that.

How can you even say that? He was having a great at bat. That pitch was 4-6 inches inside. Or are you listening to the radio?

Willi Castro will go through arbitration this offseason (Arb2). MLBTradeRumors projects his salary at $3.2M next season. From his speed to his versatility in the field to his decent bat as a switch-hitter, Castro should be a certain lock on the 2024 roster.

The Houston Astros would not agree that the AL Central teams are a pushover. The Astros were fighting to get into the playoffs and Kansas City nearly sent them to the golf course winning 5 of 6 games. The Astros swept the Diamondbacks to secure their AL West crown. Baseball is more balanced than many people realize. The Twins had a hard time forcing Javier into throwing mistake pitches and the Astros fouled off some tough pitches. It all comes down to execution. Julien has been difficult for pitchers, mostly. He saw 5 pitches each of his first three at bats but then shifted into swinging freely with only 3 pitches in each of his last two bats resulting in strike outs. Give Javier and the Astros credit. The younger Twins have looked a little inexperienced in some spots, but steady at other times. The only player who looks a little lost to me is Alex Kirilloff, but I have no idea why. Lewis, Wallner, Castro, and Jeffers have had some decent at bats and some poor approaches which reflects their inexperience. Baseball is a hard game with the percentages of failure far exceeding the times of success. Today should present another opportunity for the Twins to get their bats going. All season the Twins struggled to score when Sonny Gray pitched and ran up the score when Joe Ryan started the games. The chance will be there to score more than the Astros today to send the teams back to Houston. Expect it.

When Julien has long drawn out at bats that exposes the offerings of a pitcher and stretches the limits of their stamina. Javier can be a dominating pitcher, especially when batters bite on his high fastball. The Astros are really good at forcing pitchers to throw strikes and then putting the ball into play. The Twins need to be disciplined and punish mistake pitches. Julien, Kirilloff, and Wallner (if he is in the lineup) will get chances today. The Astros will be more careful versus Correa, Polanco, and Kepler, which leaves opportunities for the rookies to shine. Go Twins.

I would not be at all surprised to see Christian Vazquez behind the plate today. Sonny Gray buries the ball on a routine basis and Vazquez is a better catcher than Ryan Jeffers. Another possibility is Willi Castro in centerfield. I'm fine with whatever lineup Baldelli brings to home plate. In any event, the Twins will need to score at least four runs today and it would be sweet to see an early push by the Twins bats.

Poor use of public money. Corporate welfare has ruled since at least the days of building canals and railroads in the 1800s. It is crazy but people love it, apparently. I lived in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area for a decade plus. There was a beautiful ball field on the bay that I played in - Al Lang Field. That is an amazing location. There is great high school baseball in that area. Kyle Tucker would be just one of hundreds from the metro area. I don't think a dome is a good idea there, at least not a fixed closed roof. The summer evenings are beautiful with cooling breezes. The afternoons are hot and humid but it rains and cools off by early evening. I really doubt whether the Rays will ever draw well in that area. I guess the owner can make some money on the real estate though, so glass half full.

We should allow Byron to heal. He did everything within his power to stay in the lineup this year. I'm sure that nobody has suffered from the loss of at bats and playing time this season more than Buxton. He did not look healthy the last time I saw him play for the Saints.

Sonny Gray has pitched wonderfully all season for the Twins. The Twins batters have not supported him very well. The bats scoring runs early and often would make everyone, especially Gray, feel better. We can hope that Gray holds the Astros to 3 runs or less in 5 or 6 innings. The offense will have their opportunities and I would sure like to see our quartet of Julien, Kepler, Kirilloff, and Wallner step up on Tuesday.

Sorry, I was using the usual call and not the rule. i have not read the rule recently but the umpire has a decision to make. It is a judgment call and contact is not required and even contact is not an automatic obstruction call. The usual call on that play would be obstruction if the runner comes into contact with a fielder without the ball or the umpire feels the runner change their course because a fielder was in the way. Like many rules, the umpire gets to make the call. It is a call, when made, that often brings about a vigorous exchange of verbal thoughts.

You are correct. I should have stated that in MLB an umpire will nearly always require some contact. Also, the rules for high school and youth baseball are different. Good call on your part. I was too hasty and inexact with my language.

I saw the same, but the new rules state that the catcher must give the runner an ability to reach the plate (a sliding lane so to speak). Either way, I thought he was out. Some of the rulings in the past two years have been bogus and I would not have been satisfied with a ruling in this case in favor of the Twins. The out call was correct. i just wondered why late in the game .... maybe Rocco asks for those guys in New York to earn their keep. There was one particularly egregious ruling last season with Gary Sanchez that cost a game.

Farmer had the biggest hit. That home run was huge. On a different note, why was Farmer playing all the way at the back skin of the infield with Altuve at the plate to start the game? That was confusing and Altuve DID notice.