tony&rodney

Royce Lewis had a very good inning at second base.

That was one helluva outing by Prielipp.

Fantastic young man. These young athletes work their butts off to reach a dream. I wish Kyler all the best in his recovery and hope he can return to MLB. He was a ton of fun to watch when I watched the Wichita and St. Paul games the last couple of years. Thank you Seth for another little gem about a minor league guy.

There are a couple of things you might consider that would change your thoughts. First, close the screen on numbers, most of which tell anyone whatever they want to know. Next, watch some games. That might include watching both other teams and any number of minor league teams. When you have watched a player several dozen times in all situations there may be some validity to the thoughts. Yes, I do stick to that ideal - not commenting on players I have not seen dozens of times. Now, it is very likely that you, like most people, do not have the time nor interest to watch so much baseball. That is perfectly understandable. Sometimes people have strong opinions on a player they have seen once or on a guy who has one number, somewhere out there on the internet, that seems impressive. Finally, you should know that MLB clubs have their own systems and take the published analytics for what they are - more numbers to crunch. As far as the comparisons to past Twins shortstops, you obviously never saw Zoilo Versalles, Leo Cardenas, or Greg Gagne. Neto would not have even made the cut on some of the early Twins teams. Why are people fascinated by Zach Neto? There was a good article I saw recently (I think on The Athletic) that discussed the most common analytics. The short of it was that the numbers are largely fallacious. The example several people used was Ty France, who went from being the worst defensive first baseman in one year to the very best in the next season. The trick? Call off the second baseman on popups. That was the comment with some additional thoughts. This year we are being told that Luis Arraez is a spectacular second baseman. I look over all of the analytical information and find that my eyes and experience are a much better judge.

He looks pretty calm behind the plate and in the games I have watched Diaw threw fine. The pitchers in the minor leagues are sometimes oblivious of the base runners.

Clearly you have never played baseball past your youth and have zero experience working with young people. Screaming at the radio, the statistics on your screen, or even the TV are wild reactions. The idea that building a house, cleaning a building, serving food, or any other occupation is "extremely simple" is beyond retort. There are technical devices in play to help pilots manage errors while flying an airplane. In many jobs there are supervisors, managers, computer programs, etc. to catch problems. I'm not aware of any computerization/ buttons available to MLB managers to ensure perfection from their players. Practice? Are we talkin' bout practice? Really?

The Twins have struggled to "hit" on big trades for bats. It is really difficult to find a team that is willing to send away a top bat. This is understandable. There are often comments about the Twins holding prospects at the expense of potentially adding players currently in the major leagues. The best prospects are almost always looked at with outsized expectations and hopes. Why? All solid MLB players and the stars were once prospects. These guys struggle when they arrive, learn, and find success. Some come crashing down when the league adjusts to them. Anthony Volpe could do no wrong until recently. He may never stand at shortstop again for the Yankees. George Lombard Jr. arrived with plenty of questions but he has shown himself to be rangy in the field with a rocket arm and the bat has pop. Prospects are suspects for many people but talent is the way to go. The wish and hope is to find players who play really good defense, can run, and hit. Hopefully a few of these guys hit with power. Milwaukee and Tampa Bay are the models for what this looks like but there is a world where some team follows that lead and adds power to the list. Perhaps the Twins could manage a few huge (one might be enough) transactions this winter. Gamble type transactions are not that common. The trick will be to find an organization that covets something the Twins have and that same team has a player or two that the Twins desire. Until then, the Twins are shifting around trying to get comfortable in their own skin/seat. The post is about Zach Neto and suggested the Twins were hot to deal for him. Guys with big power are nice but it depends on what else the player brings to a team. Matt Wallner has big power. He could hit 30-40 home runs. He also cannot play in the field. This a tough reality for Big Matt. Zach Neto is not a middle infielder but he can run and has some pop (20+ HR) in his bat that also includes huge K-rates. If someone can explain where Neto fits and at what cost I might think about it. The story never made any sense to me. One poster ststed that the Twins have been playing similarly poor defenders. Why would the team continue in that direction by adding another? Just say no.

Perhaps you were not aware that Brooks Lee was moved to third base and Tristan Gray is now in AAA. Ryan Kreidler is a solid average to slightly above average shortstop but he doesn't really hit enough so he is really a utility player. It is far too early to make a judgment on Kaelen Culpepper. I watched him play dozens of times in the minor leagues and while he is not a finished shortstop he has good range and an excellent arm. He is a solid couple of grades above Neto on the defensive spectrum. You won't find a baseball person to disagree with that statement. Clemens is a better middle infielder than Neto. Neto can run and Neto can slug. His K-rate is above 30%. The Twins are making moves to improve the defense and athleticism of the team. I have no idea where Neto would play on a decent team. The Angels? They should look to the future. If you have the time and are able to do so, watch Milwaukee play. They have a little bit of a problem hitting home runs but their defense is really good, they run the bases well, and pitch. Currently they have the best record in baseball. The Twins would like to move in that direction but also have a few players who can hit the ball over the fence. Neto would never fit on the Brewers team unless he was a DH and even then I wonder if that 30%+ K-rate would be acceptable to Pat Murphy.

Recently, when I tune in to watch Wichita, I aim to catch how Houston and Winokur are doing. Both have hit a little bump but Khadim Diaw has really looked good.

The lockout? Here is a way to think about that issue. Are there people who want to go on a trip to Yellowstone Park? Yes, there are a ton of people who make plans. Yellowstone Park is high on the list for spectacular natural disasters, from fires, to earthquakes. We all know that. Still people make the trip. Could a short lockout occur or even worse? Yes, but MLB teams are not shutting down their businesses because of the threat. Teams will have meetings, discussions, and make plans for next year. If a lockout happens, there will be a pause in activity. Joe Ryan has quite a bit of value. How much will be determined by how he finishes the year. Clearly the Twins were not selling last winter or at the recent trade deadline. Some of us may have been confused by the Twins pulling back from a supposed deal with the Red Sox last July and a further flummoxed by holding Ryan Jeffers and Joe Ryan now. The delay will naturally reduce the value that Joe Ryan has going into the winter, but he still will have decent value. The comparisons to Tarik Skubal never made any sense in my mind. Skubal had won two Cy Young Awards, Ryan was down the list. I'm not very worried about Joe Ryan. The Twins have a need to solve their outfield defense .... still.

Yah, I'm not buying that the Twins were "all in" on Neto. The Twins made numerous changes to their defense this season. Where was Neto going to play? He is somewhere between Tristan Gray and Brooks Lee as a shortstop and a speedy Matt Wallner at the plate. He is a DH. Maybe the Twins asked and were willing to trade Rodriguez, but those who put a high value on Neto haven't watched him play. When this rumor came out I saw it as nonsense. Neto is not a guy a winning team uses in the middle infield.

IIRC, more people picked the Twins to lose 100 games than picked them to win 81 contests. Shelton has done a good job and the team is still showing out in positive ways most every game. I remind myself of this whenever I get too frustrated. Besides there is another game tomorrow. The Twins came into the 2026 campaign with a record number of DH types on the roster and players who were out of position. No manager can make total wholesale changes based on Spring Training. The staff took the team they were handed and after giving the players a solid opportunity to show their skills there were massive position switches. The results are that Twins fans are now able to watch a competitive club. The next series of changes will be to incorporate more skilled defensive players and speed on to the roster. A couple of changes could take place this season but I expect we see a few larger changes over the winter. Tonight's game could have been won with better base running and hitting but it was the defensive deficiencies in the outfield by the Twins juxtaposed with the fine plays by the Brewers that stood out. The skill levels are different and this Twins team is still more fun to watch than what we saw the last several years. The players are busting their butts. I admire their fight and resiliency.

There is plenty of baseball left in the season. The pitching has been pretty good. The bats are having some decent shows but need to pick it up a bit. Just as Culpepper is not going to be the savior for the Twins, Walker Jenkins or Emmanuel Rodriguez are not either. The one advantage of EmRod and Walker is that they both run down balls on the grass quite effectively. As we saw tonight and many other times during this season, defense matters. The Brewers made the plays, the Twins did not. There are 44 games left and the Twins have as good a chance as Chicago, Cleveland, or Detroit to win the AL Central. The balance in baseball is really good right now.

We should pray this doesn't cost the Twins the game. Martin is ok in LF but weak in RF. Keaschall scuffles. Larnach is not an outfielder. The pitchers are under a lot of pressure.

We get to find out this winter. I'm guessing that Tarik Skubal had a resume that would have no resemblance to what Joe Ryan puts together. The figure could be around $15M, give or take two. The demand for Ryan will largely depend on how Ryan closes out this season. Thus we are ahead of this question concerning value.

Yes, Luke is definitely a guy who can provide offense. He is pretty young to put in a DH role and also does not project power usually identified with that position. Where does he play will be a pretty important question to answer for the Twins.

Neto strikes out at ridiculous rates and is not a superior defender. He does have power and runs well. I was never interested in Neto.

Feel a little sorry for Luke Keaschall. He just doesn't have a position.

Thank you Seth - great story. The minor leagues are such a great story of perseverence, hard work, and humility. A player like Gonsalves or current players like Ben Ross and others are great stories. You give such humanity to these players.

We read plenty of comments and articles suggesting that Emerson Hancock was available prior to the deadline. That was always the best play ... Jeffers plus for Hancock. Greene had shown extreme risk in how he pitched this year and never warranted much of a query, but it would have been interesting to see what the Reds were asking. It could not have been much, but either way Greene fails the physical making any transaction null and void.

Because Trevor Larnach plays left field when he is in the lineup he needs to produce at a high level because his ability to run down fly balls is less than optimal. Hopefully Trevor goes on an absolute tear in the next two months to make the premise of this post make sense.

Trevor Larnach does not hit enough versus LH pitchers to be a full time player. His best position is DH. Despite working hard to improve his athleticism, speed, and defense Trevor remains a below average outfielder. Josh Bell is the DH and generally a more dangerous bat, although he doesn't hit LH pitching too hot either. What to do? Maybe the Twins will make an offer to Larnach for 2027 that is below what he would receive in arbitration. Trevor could return as a part time DH. His value is low but he produces for the Twins right now. Either way, the Twins cannot continue to play players who are substandard in the field.

Where would he play? Who would he replace?

I watched Rojas and Quick each pitch an inning. The differences are pretty stark at this time. Rojas looks unhittable; he belongs on the Twins roster. It takes time to stretch out a pitcher. We shouldn't be sure that is the plan. He does need to pitch as often as is practical. Quick looks like he has everything to learn. The delivery and execution of pitches is all over the place. The last time Dasan Hill pitched he was working almost exclusively on throwing breaking pitches and changeups. Perhaps Quick needs to focus on one pitch at a time too.

Correct.