tony&rodney

We discussed the pitch clock so much last year. MLB has had a rule for about 100 years that pitchers must pitch within a specified time along with wording about batters getting in the box. It was never enforced and players pushed the boundaries to absurd lengths (as much as 60 seconds between pitches). The reason no player has any difficulty whatsoever dealing with the current clock is because all have had to get in the box or pitch in a timely manner during their entire amateur and pre-MLB professional careers. Calling a ball or strike for refusal to do so was right there in the rules. I do think Melissa has a fair point in the post season. The players have already shown a few ways to get around the time ticking down: calling time, a mound visit, a coach visits, requesting grounds crew to address the mound, bug in the eye, and so forth were some of the simple delays seen yesterday. We will also see managers coming out to discuss some things with an umpire on a few carefully picked moments. The clock is something that can still be collectively discussed to come to a mutually agreeable decision. The ghost runner is a different thing however because it puts an emphasis on strike outs by pitchers. No longer does the pitcher with a low K rate play on an even field. You could be that guy who has a .050 batting average against but get passed up for a big arm like Emilio Pagan. Manfredball was a bad idea from the beginning and there is no better argument than MLB never considered it viable for the post season. If they wanted something different and fun, a relay race with all 26 players involved would be more exciting and just as viable for ending the game.

This is just one idea and not a bad one depending on circumstances. Another, is that the Twins trade for a pitcher like Corbin Burnes, who looked off yesterday. No team ever has too many good starting pitchers. There is quite a bit of time between now and the trade deadline. The Twins, as much or more than any other team, have a significant number of players in their system with question marks and/or hopes attached to their performances. The talent that could potentially heal and thrive along with the quickly emerging young players includes so many names as to see the current roster as the weakest point of the season. It is actually possible and not unrealistic to have players like Kirilloff, Polanco, Lewis, and Julien step forward in a major fashion while guys like Gordon, Larnach, Miranda, Kepler, Vasquez, Jeffers, Farmer, Correa, and Buxton all perform to a high level. One game in, the Twins remain a team with concerns and high hopes. Too many starting pitchers is not a thing.

Aaron Senne was a terrific high school player and has made quite the contribution to minor league baseball. I hope the players are all sending him a "thank you".

The Twins are in a far better place with their rotation of starting pitchers this season and I believe in this bullpen more than the guys from last year. Some of that is due to new pitchers, but in other cases it is a result of gaining some experience and going through a regular offseason and spring routine. The pitching will be much improved. A small of the length for the starting staff may depend on the bats. Hopefully the Twins hitters are tougher this year and give their arms some room. The improved defense and depth will create an out or two per game, which also adds up over the long schedule.

No depth is needed because Alex Kirilloff is soon to fulfill his promise as a star.

Excited for the season.

The younger players see that Correa has the ring, the contract, non-stop work habits, and positive energy to help anyone feel more confident and he is pretty young too. This makes him a natural leader on multiple fronts.

What is done is done and while I felt Coulombe looked decent, the guys who watch him every day felt that Sands and Pagan were a better idea. I'm happy to see that Coulombe has earned a spot on an Opening Day roster and wish him well. Perhaps the bullpen looks soft but I am less concerned with Duran, J. Lopez, Thielbar, Moran, Jax, Alcala, and Sands than i am about the bats. Winder and Henriquez could be strong pieces in the bullpen too.

Interesting look at the AL Central. I would put Vasquez ahead of Grandal for HM catcher. Robert and Buxton get spots for talent, but I'll give Greene (DET) a position over one of those two and keep Kwan. Lastly, I'm still liking our guy Alex Kirilloff at 1B.

This is an issue - the number of times Buxton can play. I don't believe we are privy to the physical challenges of Byron Buxton at this time. Yes, he has had some knee and hip injuries, but many players have returned and played on after a full recovery. Byron has missed games for so many reasons and some of those reasons are not exactly recurring problems. There is plenty of history and speculation, much of which we could say makes sense from what we do know, but the situation will just need to play out until there is a definitive comment or decision that indicates that Buxton just cannot physically play on a regular basis and that his days on the grass are over. For now, the Twins are easing Buxton into the season. I think we will have more of an idea by mid May.

I think if Byron can only play 40-50 games in the outfield again his value will have been greatly diminished. The Twins did well to sign MAT to play centerfield in case of any problems with Buxton, but the team will need a guy out there going forward if Buck looks to be transitioning to just a DH. So, I'm hoping that Buxton can get back on the grass and play much more than he has thus far in his career. There have been other players who have had a host of setbacks and then were able to play on a consistent basis.

No doubt that Buxton is a dynamic player and I hope he can move past the injured often phase of his career. The beginning of a season is for maximum optimism - we should hope for the best. A reality lingers, however, and the production per year is not very good objectively. This will be a pivotal year for Buck.

Just curious .... does 115 games for Buxton mean as a centerfielder? For reference, BB started 51 games on the grass last season and completed 43 contests.

The Twins are taking somewhat of a gamble this year with their outfield. Max Kepler is a terrific right fielder and base runner but has had his problems with the bat. It makes sense to hope that Max can recover and find his bat. The signing of Joey Gallo in hopes that he can rediscover his swing is pretty much roulette. Gallo is a good defender and base runner as well but his inability to get his bat on the ball is concerning, particularly in light of the other swings and misses in the lineup. The Gallo experiment will be really interesting to watch. Obviously, he stays if he hits, but how long do the Twins go with a guy if he is hitting well under .200? The addition of Michael A. Taylor was a strong move to bolster the depth of the outfield defense. Taylor is a good ballplayer and great defensive center fielder. It will be a little troubling if he is a consistent starter. Then there is Byron Buxton. It is irrefutable that Buck is a very dynamic player. It makes sense to ease Byron into the season during the first weeks of April. What is troubling is that some of Buxton's skills most valued are being reduced, such as centerfield play and running the bases. More concerning to me, over time, is the shift from Buxton as someone who drives the ball to a player with a severe upper cut swing that has brought increasingly high strike out rates along with prodigious home runs. Byron is a threat any time he approaches the plate, but the numbers over a season are noteworthy. Buxton's average numbers for his career are not very good for a player who is seen as the centerpiece of the Twins team. Hopefully, we see a full year of Byron Buxton and it is a sound strategy by the Twins to ease him into the year. The Twins do have some other decent emerging players that actually could be in the outfield as soon as mid summer. Trevor Larnach, Nick Gordon, Royce Lewis, and Matt Wallner all have varying skills. Thus, it is fair to give the Twins current strategy some time to see how successful their outfield is in contributing to wins in the first two months of the season. Certainly the defense should be excellent out on the outfield grass. Yet, it should also be seen as a bit of a gamble that could force a turn in personnel in season.

I believe MLB (Manfred) issued a statement that the contract (Diaz) was fully covered by MLB, but that the salary still counts against the CBT.

I could agree to hear an argument that a two weeklong tournament in July would produce the best baseball. Those who belittle(d) the recent tournament and fears of injury are off base. The post covers those concerns pretty completely. I'm going to believe what the players say about the atmosphere and quality of play before some lame tv commentators' yawns. If you look at the fangraphs recent series on the best players you will see that the overwhelming number of them were in the WBC. The lineups in the USA-Japan final rivaled any all star game pretty much. It was a terrific game. The owners always do pretty well for themselves and when the game grows an audience the players gain too. The WBC is a good idea, with plenty of future growth potential. There is significant possible appeal globally. That is, in my opinion, good for baseball.

Good list and you are probably right. I'm going with Alex Kirilloff and Edouard Julien.

The Twins improved their depth and adding Pablo Lopez will be a good thing. The variables for the Twins team are likely greater than for any other team due to the specter of injuries (Kirilloff, Polanco, Miranda, Buxton, Larnach, and Kepler) and hoped for bounces (Jeffers, Gallo, Kepler). That is just on the position side. Losing the fire from the offense (Arraez) is tough, but a move worth taking to acquire a really good pitcher. Trade of good players are always risky and create openings for dispute as did the trade of Arraez. Making that decision is surely difficult (Jose Berrios) or choosing not to as well (Sano, Buxton, etc.). Twins win the AL Central Division with 83 wins and this may be because of a tie-breaker with Cleveland. I think Chicago wins 82 games. The AL Central is improved and I will be surprised if there are as many lopsided results between the teams as in past seasons. The decisions made in late July will decide the division. I guessing we see one trade and win a playoff round .... or more.

Perhaps the reference is to Gio Urshela.

Agree, that may be high even as worst case scenario. Jorge has been the only sure thing for the Twins though. I am hopeful for all of the players you mentioned and for a return by Polanco. Polanco at his best and the reserves tanking can be a large chasm. This will be an important year to see how well some of the younger or inexperienced players perform.

Polanco out could mean 3-7 less wins for the Twins. Hopefully he only misses a few games. The Twins depend on Jorge as their spark.

Jorge Polanco is a definite concern. He has been the single most important bat for the Twins, especially from the left side. I wouldn't think that hitting would be so damaging to his knees. It sure isn't clear what the issue is with the current injury. Having had multiple knee surgeries myself, the full strength returns after the rehab. I can see that athletic movements at MLB speed are different but there has to be a way to keep Polanco's bat in the lineup. DH works. One thing should be clear - the Twins need to score more runs this year and using the best bats available is key, whether through platooning or rotating players through the DH. While I know Julien has zero at bats above AA and lacks experience or a clear position of expertise in the field, count me as one who wonders if he is that guy who just hits and hits wherever he suits up. I would rather see Julien against right handed pitchers than Solano. Depending on the injuries, I see Julien as an option for DH and 2B, but the Twins don't yet.

This will be an important year for a number of Twins prospects. Sabato has not shown much thus far but I agree he will get a full opportunity to show whether he has the skills to advance with the bat. Wallner has had two big years and seems on the edge of becoming an MLB player. Still, he does have to show a big improvement in the field and also in making contact. The game is still favorable for power hitters, but those guys who strike out too much and struggle to make contact when a ground ball is necessary are slowly being edged out. The Twins will be keeping a close eye on Julien to see if he is for real and can repeat his game at the highest level. Despite not having a clear position defensively, any bat that hits .280 or better with substantial extra base power and an elite walk rate will force its way into a MLB lineup. I do believe Lewis has some power but we should be patient with both Lee and Rodriguez. Lee did look overmatched the last few weeks in the games in Florida. It should be interesting to see who adapts and improves this season amongst our younger players.

Sorry to hear that. I sure wish people could walk away from the drugs and refuse violence/ stop hating and learn to love. Chill out and watch baseball.

Supply and demand, simple business and not much different than our cell phones arriving from China. We might not like it but that is the world we live in. Big business runs things. We watch baseball. BTW, Kansas has a higher crime rate than the Yucatan, where millions of U. S. people go each winter. Also, Mexicans are generally not big on using drugs.