tony&rodney

Thank you Seth. What a well-spoken, intelligent young man. He just looks like a pitcher - big sloping shoulders. When Josh used his hands while speaking a couple of times I couldn't help but notice the size of those mitts. It also made me curious to know how he or other pitchers gripped their various pitches. Finally, it is interesting how pitchers will often have success with a pitch (curveball for Winder) when young and then need to rediscover that pitch as they develop in the pro game. I never understood that. I had a fantastic curveball as a kid and a mediocre fastball and never got that curve back even though i pitched into my 50s with minimal success. Fun interview.

The owners make their money and that is fine, good for them. Manfred needs to think in terms of MLB as a product to gain consumers, such as in attendance at games, watching on TV, listening to the radio, reading online/newspaers, subscribing to game services (mlb.com), and like kind. The players should consider the younger players and milb to some degree. 27 is a reasonable age, 29 is not. A more simple solution might be to reduce the years of control from six to five and get rid of the bogus rules that hold a player in the minor leagues until May 15 or June something. If you spend 30 days on the roster, that is Year 1 and so forth. A strike into March or later will be deleterious for the game, both the owners and the players.

Ron Davis was a godsend for beer sales at the Metrodome. I remember selling beer in his tenure and people just wanted to drown their reality.

Jeffers is young and a full season of MLB is a beast coming from college and the minor leagues for any young player. A catcher has more responsibilities, by far, than any other player on the field and the preparation is massive and exhausting for a young player. Jeffers will be fine. You also asked about whether the Twins should trade a catcher. I say yes and I think quite highly of both Garver and Jeffers. Although I have not seen anything specific, I believe there are a few other teams that also think very positively of both catchers. Additionally, while I am aware of how overmatched Rortvedt looked at the plate, he also is good behind the plate and rebounded at St. Paul in September. The only concern was the concussion late in the year. I'm a believer in Rortvedt right now and could see a good pitcher coming back for Garver.

This was not worded very well. Sports teams use their players in a way to maximize their success with their rosters on any given day. The better pitchers can go 5-7 innings. The Twins currently are without any experienced pitching and posters are searching for ways or strategies to offset the shortcomings of the Twins pitching staff. Thus, I can see what the post seek to accomplish and responded too quickly, perhaps harshly, although no one has called me task. A specific problem that I see with the proposed use of the pitchers concerns the effective management of arm wear and tear. Some pitchers struggle to throw in back to back games or three times in a week. Relief pitchers usually have relegated to the bullpen because their repertoire of offerings is limited and ineffective beyond a few hitters. The staff is stretched that way. Tampa Bay is often used as an example but they indeed have a number of traditional starting pitchers and they ran into problems in the playoffs with tired arms. I'm holding out for at least three decent starting pitchers to allow for frequent but sometimes limited outings from a number of the prospects.

Royce Lewis has been out for awhile and it would be miraculous if he wore a Twins uniform before next June or even July. Polanco has moved to 2B. It sure seems like the Twins were clear on Nick Gordon as a shortstop for the last few years, but maybe that can change now. Given the work that Simmons put in last year (good defense), it might be ok to use Gordon and Lewis in 2022. I might prefer Javy Baez and someone else might prefer Trevor Story or others prefer Mondesi, Galvis, or Inglesias. The post is wondering about just using what is already on the roster and it may work. This would allow for a stronger push for pitchers.

Verlander is so much fun to watch, but he has his list and it is short. He would be a treat though.

The Twins offer Arraez and Enlow plus a lower milb player for Castillo and Suarez. Does taking Moustakas in place of Suarez help? The Reds are tough to line up with this year.

Sounds like a really unique way to explain a 90 loss season - "We were strapped for pitching and just tried to do the best we could with the hand we were dealt in a creative manner."

Ober, Ryan, Dobnak? They are all wild cards, but the only cards the Twins hold right now. It is a perilous situation. If you add Duran, Winder, Balazovic .... well, better but none of these guys will ever be confused for Doc Gooden as a teenager. We all will hope for the best. Let's be positive and think an average of 120 innings from each of these six pitchers. That would be awesome and now we only need to add three experienced starters and make sure the bullpen is solid. Let the prospects have some rope, but support them with three guys up front and a decent relief corps.

Good post. This is a potentially rich and divisive discussion. I'm open to any trades and signings that result in a competitive team for next year. I'll use 10 games over .500 as a marker for competitive. Rortvedt looked pretty lost at the plate last season but rebounded in St. Paul and he is clearly superior right now to both Garver and Jeffers with a glove. There are catchers out there to sign if necessary. The post highlights the pitching needs on the team and TopGunn#22 is spot on with our need to get four starting pitchers. Perhaps by May or June, the needs could narrow to three with Winder/Duran filling one spot. Every option needs consideration. Falvey has just stated that he likes both Garver and Jeffers. We all do to some extent. Pitching is a need.

Stroman will sign for 4/$100 million. Will the Twins have an interest? I'm not sure pitch to contact is an issue but the salary may be a problem.

If you were Kershaw or Verlander would you consider the Twins? At any price? Under what conditions would Verlander answer a call from the Twins? Kershaw is at a point where he plays for the Dodgers or retires. No contract, not $40 million per year would bring Kershaw to the AL Central and I do not mean that in a negative way. He has different priorities in his life right now. Kershaw = 0%. Verlander = .001 %, so there is a chance.

Open to all ideas .... so what specific trade(s) do you have in mind?

What specifically (names of players) does this mean? A number of comments have stated a fear of losing prospects and the responses are always, without exception, quite vague. A very specific list of names is needed to support this point. I may agree if I knew what someone meant by "gut the farm system" or even an example of some sort, but really I am interested in exactly what Twins prospects or players are untouchable or some semblance of what that means for my understanding of the thought process of those who are fearful of throwing the future away by trading prospects or young rostered players. This would help me understand those who are reticent for change.

Falvey works for Pohlad and they will do whatever - we just goof around, thus our logic is scattered. Fans in every market do the same and you can see some proposed trades that take Buxton (kind of them) for someone like Urshela (NYY). That's crazy and maybe we are too.

Another ... and put Galvis or someone inexpensive in place of Lewis ....

You can quickly throw ideas together:

A little surprised by QO and agree that pushes Twins away.

I guess what you are saying is that everyone should focus on trades and look to sign some players that are in the #30-?? range. Is this fair? Do you have any ideas for trades or viable free agents?

Would Oakland send us Frankie Montas for these two (Arraez & Kepler) plus one of Dobnak/Strotman/Duffey or do we need to sweeten the deal .... or does Oakland not listen on Montas? Who thought the Twins would trade Berrios? Most of TD accepts that trade despite not being happy to see Jose in Toronto.

Correa (#1) or Seager (#2) would be nice but shocking and I have no expectations there will even be any conversations with their agents. Semein (#4), Ray (#10), and Stroman (#11) will be contacted and one of these would be sweet. Stroman might be possible. Similarly, Baez (#12), Marte (#16), and Iglesias (#19) are fits for the Twins and would be excellent signings. The players that seem more likely to be courted are: Rodriguez (#18), Canha (#36), Pineda (#39), and the relief pitchers ( Knebel (#42), Graveman (#43), McHugh (#46)). The free agents I hope to see in a Twins uniform (within reasonable budget) are Marte, Galvis, Adrianza, Rodriguez, Pineda, Iglesias, and Yates. Stroman would be a sleek pickup at the cost of others.

Yes, we have been annoyingly consistent in proposing trades. My initial target, Alcantara, may have outgrown our resources unless Lewis is included in a deal and that doesn't seem likely. I follow and watch the minor leagues too much for my own good and do like the Twins farm system. Prospects are enticing but the reality is that only so many make a difference in MLB. Additionally, I am in favor of improving the athleticism of the roster. I was pumped that the Twins took Kirilloff and Larnach but believe Larnach could bring the Twins pitching which would be more favorable than his own potential contributions. For the same reasons, I targeted Montas for Arraez, Duffey, and a couple more players. I have wondered about a Sano for Lauer trade. Milwaukee and readers may say Sano isn't worth it, but I backed off of that because I can see a real resurgence for Sano despite the frustrations of many Twins fans. Stroman and Ray are delicious ideas, but Rodriguez and Pineda along with two starters gained in trades may be more efficient and effective. So far, I haven't seen any good reasons to believe that some decent trades cannot work. Nevertheless, all of this is dependent on a budget above $115 million and that isn't clear either. This Winter has the potential for one of the most uplifting or deflating off seasons in recent memory because the Twins are at a crucial point between a core in place and a core on the way mixed with a starting pitching lineup that includes exactly zero pitchers with experience. The cherry on top of this enigmatic roster is Byron Buxton. What will happen? Falvey has scribbles on multiple sheets of paper.

The Twins only lose their Round 2 pick by signing a top pick. Any changes to the CBA will likely not be immediate in regards to free agency. For example, if a decision is made to change the years necessary to become a free agent from six to five, those players at five will not suddenly become free agents. The idea of trading for pitching remains important. Miami, Oakland, and Milwaukee are three teams to call, but there are others worth a text too. Miami is trying to sign Alcantara long term and increasingly unlikely to deal him. They want catchers and outfielders. They are set at 2B and 3B. The idea is correct however. Maybe a spin for Meyer would work. I had suggested a trade of Larnach, Jeffers, Sands, Celestino, and Lewis for Alcantara and Meyer. Miami says no, so try to pry away Meyer and Cabrera for TL, RJ, GC, Vallimont, and Cavaco. This may not work, but there should be trades available in time. Maybe the Reds are willing too. I like the idea of Ray, Stroman, Gray, and Rodriguez. It may be very difficult to outbid other teams. I expect Stroman to get $22-25, and Rodriguez to get $15. Ray may get $27, and Gray $15. This will all be hard for budgets. We shall see. The Braves (Liberty) published their Quarter 3 numbers and it is an interesting glance into baseball economics.

I guess what one does with Josh Donaldson depends on their specific goals. JD had a good year and we can speculate plenty about his age and calves. He is getting older every day and there are legitimate concerns about his legs too. By the way, we can say the exact same thing about Luis Arraez. In any case, JD is among the top three batters for the Twins and expecting that production to be replaced is not very easy, simple, or guaranteed. I'm happy the Twins signed Josh Donaldson and look forward to him playing for the team again next year because I like to watch good baseball players.