tony&rodney

I suggested, with zero evidence, in a post a while ago that Kepler may be affected by playing in the odd dynamics of Covid 19. He seems to be the poster boy for someone who has been negatively affected by the protocols and being held hostage as an entertainer. Max seems unconnected and emotionless to a degree. I'm thinking he will see a resurgence once 2020 has expired.

Rosario may have some flaws that scream from time to time but if you had to pick one player from the past five seasons, considering all things and not just one stretch, who are you picking? When I watch the Twins play, the must see players for me are Sano and Buxton, but season after season it is Eddie who performs from Day 1 to closing out of the year. Wondering if the walks are reducing his aggression at times and if he feels he must carry the team in spots where he still tries to lift a ball well out of the strike zone. Last night against the Cubs, it sure seemed like Rosario had determined that Sano could not be counted on and that he (Eddie) would need to produce something out of nothing. Jeffries knew this and sitting on my couch I said out loud, "Eddie, he is not going to give you anything." Rosario struggles to allow the next up to step up when he knows the next batter is struggling mightily. He remains a complex player and personality that fires controversy.

Watching Cave hang out at 1B today made me think ... what is the harm in having Royce Lewis on the roster. He has speed and can be used defensively. Saving him when the next collective bargaining agreement may remove the current club advantages is pointless. Lewis as a pinch runner is more valuable than the 25th player. He is the gas the Twins need now. Astudillo, Wade and a pitcher can be spared. Love Wade. Love Astudillo. Lewis fits the Twins roster better right now.

This short season it sure seems like the Twins have aimed to be healthy and primed for the playoffs as they rested players often and let opportunities slide in a few games. Now, with only 8 games to play, the team looks both talented and very vulnerable. The list of horrors: no Garver; Sano, always dangerous, but waving futilely too often; Polanco looking slow in the field and flailing off balance on off-speed pitches; Rosario seemingly too cautious; Cruz, suddenly baffled by sliders; and Kepler playing lost. Of course, this could all flip like a switch tomorrow, but the strikeouts, failures to move runners, non-existent speed, and difficulties with fundamentals mount. I wonder how much the protocols and life changes have affected some of the players. I watch way too much baseball to maintain a healthy lifestyle and the quality of play, while constantly hyped by announcers throughout all the teams as a pr stunt, seems less than optimal or at the very least less than in a normal season. Let's hope that there is some gas left in the tank and that the pedal hasn't slipped off of the lever.

An interesting set of responses to the post, heavily leaning against Rosario. My best guess is that the Twins will think long and hard about Rosario ... sometime in late November. Phasing him out now is a head scratcher. I don't get any part of a September thought at Eddie's playing time. Clearly for management it is a no brainer. Due to Covid 19, there will be a number of changes this winter. That we can count on. The time to evaluate the offseason is only a little while off, closer than the start of this season. We should all just chill out and hope Kepler feels better and Buxton finds his groove. Nice home run by Donaldson - time for a beer.

Kansas City has some exciting young ballplayers with potential. The Twins could easily go the route of Kansas City today. I get some frustration with Rosario but he is simply the Twins best outfielder. Yesterday, Eddie plated three runs and drew the throw to 3B. We could have had a young player who hustles hit into a double play and dive into first base trying to beat out the DP. Some fans love that furious hustle type. I'm enjoying watching a team that has a chance to win every day above loving the Detroits and KCs that come close.

Buxton, Rosario, and Kepler all arrived at the same time, mol. Check out their stats. Buxton is one of the most exciting players in baseball when he is playing well/ on the field and Kepler is an outstanding right-fielder and baserunner. Eddie is Eddie. line up the numbers and look and you will see that Kepler is somewhat near in accomplishments, but Rosario is the best OF the Twins have had for the last half decade and that is something. There is a good chance he is not with the Twins next summer - we all need to appreciate him while we can.

Agree: May is a possibility for a year at 3-4; Odorizzi could return to form at 10-12; Avila will decide if he wants to accept 2-3; and Adrianza is worth his current deal. Gonzalez has value but he will need to sign for half or less than his current contract as money will be tight. Payroll seems like it might come down but hard decisions could be made on Rosario, Odorizzi, and Gonzalez, but hopefully not Cruz. Others are most likely out: Bailey, Hill, Romo, and Clippard. Payroll thinking is best put off until November but it will be a tough winter for free agents and budget cuts will certainly occur.

My last comment is my way of saying, I hope that the Twins play well tomorrow.

I love watching these games after a long summer without baseball, but I can't help feeling some empathy for the teams. Yes, they make money and eat well and sleep in 5 star hotels but the confinement and protocols must get to some of these guys. I think I read that they have to make appointments to meet teammates in a lobby or are expected to stay in their rooms and have a host of strict rules. Play, take a bus to the hotel, hang out, eat, go to room, sleep, get up, bus to field and repeat. When a few guys decided to meet up with lifetime friends they got sent out, traded, and roasted. Maybe they deserved it, I don't know. Man, sometimes I look at Kepler and wonder if he just wants to hop on his bicycle and take a little ride around the city for some mental release ...nope ... not part of the protocol. I get that this is what is needed to accomplish a season, even one only 60 games in length, but I do wonder how difficult this is for young people full of energy and ready to enjoy life when their work day is done. I remember when I was 20, 30, 40, 50 and so forth and even now the restrictions get to me. I wear a mask and social distance and try to do my part but when I watch these guys play in empty stadiums I sense a loss on their parts even as they manage to compete at a high level and manufacture all of their own adrenaline. I'm watching the games interested and critically thinking along with the pitcher and catcher and manager but my criticisms are really muted by the present circumstances; I'm just feeling lucky to be watching baseball again.

Morneau and Dick had never heard of it and it is their job to be aware of all the intricacies to inform the listeners. Clearly, Rosario did not know. That one is on Baldelli.

Eddie is a player. Simple as that. He does things and sometimes those things don't work out. In his Twins tenure he has shown up day in and day out. Fans don't know what injuries players play through or incapacitate them for a trip to the IL. Rosario (and Polanco too) play through, seemingly. Last year, it was obvious that Eddie was injured but there just wasn't anyone else to put out there. I don't remember the quote, but Paul Molitor spoke to Rosario's fire to play baseball. If one of the most intelligent and knowledgable players of the last half century speaks on your behalf, it's worth noting. It seems pretty bold to question his character and attitude when he routinely goes to the post. He just makes mistakes sometimes. Rosario may be moved this winter and when I saw Kirilloff swing the bat I thought that he has a bright future in baseball and wondered how he would get his chance with the Twins. I'm excited to see Kirilloff and others in the future. In the meantime I look forward to every at bat that Eddie Rosario takes, even though I groan and curse on many occasions. He is the best outfielder we have right now, despite the great game by Wade today. The Twins' bullpen got lit up today, pure and simple. That's not on Rosario.

Maybe he can take some pointers from Sergio and Joe on responses.

Totally agree with above two comments. Thorpe presents an interesting case. He appears to be on the verge of a strong career, however the entire Spring rose up as an obstacle. The Twins would be foolish to move him at this time and Thorpe certainly could resurrect his position quickly when he gets the opportunity. Now is a good time for the young left hander to recover his pursuit of being a starting pitcher in the major leagues. I see promise of a strong number three pitcher from Thorpe. Although there is little information to lead to such speculation, I wonder if he has some difficulty with U.S. culture. Australia is definitely different, yet to play at the highest level foreign players must leave their home culture. The Twins have a number of players in such a situation which may provide support for him but individuals each face their own personal dilemmas. Let's hope Lewis Thorpe is a mainstay in the Twins rotation for a decade.

The initial year of using a system to keep players fresh was quite encouraging. Ironically, the Twins were really banged up in September. The entire outfield was injured. Buxton was out, Rosario played on one leg, and Kepler had a bum wing. Polanco played through an injury and Cron was nearly incapacitated with his thumb hurt. Injuries happen. Let's hope for the best down the stretch this season.

A good effort to play Devil's Advocate and it is always good to look at both sides. My take is that the Twins saw Josh Donaldson as a win / win or no lose signing. The Twins have always been very cautious and the team has been a model of profitability. Last season was very successful and interest and attendance should be boosted in 2020 as a result. This put the Twins in a mode to add salary to boost the expected positive line. Debilitating injuries are always possible but the depth of the organization has been improved. There are so many plausible arguments that have been thoughtfully advanced in opposition to adding JD, but the Twins clearly saw this as a no brainer. They may have even bid against themselves in the end because of their internal analysis of the benefits of adding Donaldson.

The main obstacle to adding a SP to slot above or between Berrios and Odorizzi remains the paucity of opportunity. Can they afford to wait? Yes. Should they add an ace? Yes. What is the ceiling for a Twins budget? No idea, but likely not more than $150 million. Wishing for a trade now seems futile. Nobody has forwarded anyone available that is reasonable at this time. By July things should be more clear. The Twins do not have a history of adding someone like Verlander near the trade deadline. Then again, the signing of Josh Donaldson may have loosened up that philosophy to some extent. A poster mentioned adding someone like Snell in July and that may be possible. Everyone agrees that pitching is a key area where the Twins need strengthening for a solid postseason run. That argument applies to most teams. Unless some dramatic major trade shocks everyone, I think the Twins front office has already arrived at an answer to the question - the roster is set.

Exactly that, and Kluber, Carrasco, and Bauer were brought along in trades but not as aces. Cleveland has developed pitchers. We should agree on that. I am all for trades for pitchers like Alcantara knowing he is not that great right now and needs to develop, but the Twins might even have trouble gaining these #3-5 slot pitchers right now. I would love to get an ace in a trade but there hasn't been a single credible proposal. I want to be surprised too. Does anyone know of an available ace right now? The Twins will need to bring along those prospects who they identify as good, hopefully soon.

It is not that I do not agree with your assessment that the Twins could trade any or all of the prospects, it's that there doesn't seem to be any actual proposals to bring in an ace and that seems understandable because teams are holding on to what they have right now. A Syndergaard is not available and it will almost certainly be a few months before teams re-assess their direction. Like many, I am willing to be surprised by an acquisition of Gray, Syndergaard, Snell, Castillo, or others.

I admire Ehire Adrianza for the same reasons. Rocco showed his respect for EA by having him manage the final game of the regular season. That says plenty. These two are really good baseball players and teammates.

You funny

... still waiting for a sound proposal for a trade that brings a "good" SP before the season begins. It could happen!

My guess is 92-95 wins takes the division. That's good. It should be an exciting season.

With all due respect, you do know that half of the current brain trust was hired from Cleveland precisely because of that organization's ability to develop pitchers. The hope was for that ability to identify pitching and coax it to the team. Cleveland has gone well past their financial limits in recent years and have carefully groomed young pitchers and put them in a place to succeed. Trading Bauer and filling holes in their offense was because they believed in the next guy up. Cleveland is still a tough squad and will vie for the division due to their ability to develop their young pitching. As a vocal proponent of adding pitching (Cole) and Josh Donaldson all winter, I have never confused the two teams financial resources. I haven't read a single proposal to add a pitcher in trade to slot above either Berrios or Odorizzi that another team would accept. Rosario and Gordon for ??? isn't happening.

Mike Clevenger, Shane Bieber, Adam Civale - why didn't the Indians go get another starter instead of using these guys? At some point the Twins either need to see if one or two young pitchers has what it takes to succeed at the highest level of baseball or they need to abandon drafting pitchers in the first five rounds and just trade for or sign free agent pitchers. There will be a really good pitcher available in July. The Twins have the depth to make a trade, if necessary, even if they relinquish more than seems necessary. Thorpe, Dobnak, Graterol, and maybe someone else should be given a shot this April and May. If we have confidence in our bullpen, let these guys throw six innings and analyze their potential for a competitive spot on a winning team. I would like to see one young pitcher added to the rotation each of the next three seasons.