tony&rodney

Typically a floundering team will sack the manager as a means of turning bad fortunes into something better. The Twins made the decision to fire the players. Who knows what is next? The team is playing to its talent and experience level to some extent. Consistency from the front office would suggest another 4-7 trades are expected in the coming months. But, we are just guessing. Maybe Falvey now, once again, has his dream team. Where does Rocco Baldelli fit? Supposedly that question has already been answered with his contract. Either way, the Twins need an infusion of talent for the roster. The most confusing part of this entire FalVineDelli Era has been the style of baseball. After taking a scythe to the bullpen, suddenly the Twins are running and we even saw a bunt. Has anyone else noted that the outfielders seem to be hitting the cutoff more often? A few starting pitchers getting a batter or two to work through a jam? Nah, it's just my imagination .... or is it? Has Baldelli decided to manage differently? The guys putting together the roster and running the game decisions are confusing for me. I suspect a new owner (some day in the future, 1-3 years from now) will bring about a sweep of the front office and dugout management. Until that time arrives, I don't expect much to change. Alas.

Thank you for the report. Always interested in reading these posts. Usually watch a fair part of the Saints games but skipped them last night.

This series should be very interesting. Players on each side have plenty to play for in these four games. Obviously, the Guardians are playing for the ALC title and a playoff spot. The Twins guys are playing for their jobs. There should be all out effort on display all weekend. A lack of effort would be a direct reflection on the managers. I'm looking forward to some excellent baseball.

No, for real, you are correct .... they were 15.5 games back on July 8.

Sure, but like Miranda or Julien there isn't any value. I suspect he will be playing for a different organization next year after his release. Larnach has limited value as well. What the Twins need to determine is if Wallner has any value to any other MLB team. There will be some battles for outfield positions between those already on the roster (Buxton, Larnach, Martin, McCusker, Outman, Wallner), those on IL (Alan Roden), and those currently in the minor leagues ( Fedko, Gonzalez, Jenkins, Keirsey Jr., Rodriguez, Rosario). That is 13 for probably 5 roster spots. Buxton is as close to a lock as one can be, which leaves 4 jobs for the other 12 guys. I expect a couple of players to be let go and a couple more to be traded. The pile left can be divided between AAA and the Twins. This doesn't take into account that the Twins could add a player via trade.

Who are you referring to when you say "he"?

Since Curt Flood won his case, MLB and MLBPA have had a long wrestling match over how and in what fashion players can be tied to a club. The arrangements have changed over the last 50 years and now include foreign players as well, but the clubs still want control of where a player can work for at least the years now in the CBA. That system won't be abandoned imo. Skenes would maybe even break Ohtani's record. We will almost certainly see a few minor changes to the CBA and some of those will benefit the younger/less experienced players.

The Twins want Jenkins, Gonzalez, Fedko, and Rodriguez in the lineup at AAA and Keirsey Jr. still is getting plenty of time. That has not left any plate appearances for others, which is an odd way to stick McCusker at the end of the bench for the Twins. I was hoping that Carson would get 3-4 games in each week in RF or DH, but the Twins are showcasing Larnach and Wallner. McCusker wasn't getting time in the lineup for St. Paul any longer, so it was at least polite to call him up to the top club.

Julien really only has his bat. I was quite hopeful for him despite my longstanding belief that players need to be at least average fielding a position. Outman has a chance because he can run, field, and throw plus he can hit for power. My best guess is that he needs to rebuild his swing to become shorter to the ball. We shall see how that plays. Perhaps Miranda gets it all together again. I hope he at the very least saved some coin in the last few years. I thought he might make a decent DH when he was ripping line drives all across the minor leagues, with a chance to improve at third base. The lack of speed, not much for an arm, and a tough glove were always going to be a challenge. Now, like you say - he is a mess. Poor guy. I'm in the Twins still need to add talent. The minor leagues are full of guys who can reach AAA some day. A few who will cap out at AAA are already there. One of the things that begins to stick out when one watches a ton of minor league baseball is talent.

You are correct to question my wondering if Miranda has internal thoughts contributing to his play. I watch some of most Saints games. I focus on watching specific pitchers and certain batters. I'm not sure how many Saints games you have watched. Recently I began to wonder wth is going on with Miranda. At the plate he swings at everything (not new), but he doesn't just run slowly he jogs slowly. In the field he hasn't even made attempts on balls that weren't hit directly to him. He doesn't run on the few occasions he reaches base either. In short his play and efforts are not representative of his worst slumps in this or any previous year. I'm not down on Miranda per se, and don't know what is going on with him. I am just wondering and thinking WTF when I see his actions. I don't think the Twins had any role at all. I also don't think about Miranda much and am quite sure he will be released. I'm responding to you to explain that I have wondered why he even gets playing time in consideration of his play. Surely the coaches and managers see him. Sorry if I confused you. I certainly wasn't trying to create any controversy. Enough about Miranda. I have empathy for him. He was looking like a potential regular for a MLB team just a short time ago. It is a sad story. Baseball is tough.

I'm not faulting the Twins for how Miranda's career has gone. He had a ton of plate appearances. Have you watched Jose Miranda play in the last month?

Same thought on all this stuff as any previous moves - What's the goal? How does the each decision bring the Twins organization closer to winning a World Series?

I was watching the Saints game and cannot believe that Jose Miranda is still getting any playing time. He has totally given up, both at the plate and in the field. He doesn't even try to run any longer. This has been going on for quite some time. It makes sense he feels totally lost and has less than pleasant thoughts about the organization, but giving him any more time is not a good look.

60K? Really? Full-time employees, some of whom were recruited from other jobs where they were quite successful, would work for the Twins for 60K? I would have to hear that from the individuals involved. More to the post .... What can we even say at this point? My response was, save by not buying salt. In other words the Pohlads are who they are and who cares. I'm watching Cleveland and Detroit because I enjoy baseball.

I have to pick Bo Jackson. I never saw Bob Gibson play. Maybe Mickey Mantle would be a good choice. Dave Winfield was a great athlete. I saw him first when he was a sophomore at Central High School. I also had season tickets when he was a Minnesota Gopher basketball rebounding and defensive stopper star. Winfield would be a solid pick, for sure. Lastly, we should not forget Joe Mauer, the only athlete to ever be National Player of the Year in football and baseball. He was a helluva basketball player as well.

That was a phenomenal catch. Martin has visibly improved in left field. Bader was a good outfielder for the Twins but he does not catch that ball. Austin seems to be making the most of an opportunity.

I do not understand your take on competitive. You will need to define competitive. It doesn't work to demean one thought if you don't have another to replace it. I'm not firm on my definition and the 40% win margin just stands out. I can accept a better definition easily. I have also stated repeatedly in posts that I do not believe that there are very clean comparisons to make across MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL. I see more blowouts when I look over scores (which I don't often do because I really only follow baseball) in NFL or NBA games. Money is the only important thing in our culture, not by any of our personal choices but rather by the collective whole of how the country proceeds. If you can devise a system where money doesn't win, I'm all in and will join you. Lastly, while money does rule, there are numerous factors in baseball which lead to winning. The Milwaukee Brewers have the best record in baseball and have been in the playoffs numerous times in the last decade. They are accomplished at scouting, developing, and coaching. These are not expensive parts to an organization. The Yankees have loads of money but likewise, with very little cost, they scout, develop, and coach. MLB does need to take a look at how they can increase revenue in general and revenue sharing specifically. Controlling players choices of where to work, their career timelines, and salaries is not a starting point. There are zero ways to break the MLBPA. There will be an agreement precisely because all make money, but we might not like it.

I was never too convinced that the Pohlad family was selling. There are likely some cracks in agreements within the family but they all have plenty of dough to pass around still. From my seat the Twins do not have the profit forward possibilities of the Tampa Bay franchise. I know nothing about the inner discussions or interest in the Twins but I suspect the offers were a straight $1.5B, take it or leave it. We have seen how accomplished the current generation of Pohlads are in business. They decided to wait. We will know in a few years how this shakes out. I really only care about the baseball.

Agree with the second paragraph. I understand the massive separation between the top and bottom of MLB players, but remember that hundreds of teams full of players exist all over the world. Only the very best are on MLB teams. There are nearly 3,000 billionaires and the talent in that pool is pretty inbred. I'm not thinking MLB players are underpaid at all and the MLBPA should be fighting for more rights for their middle and bottom members, but I'm also not seeing any decrease in salaries happening. Neither do I expect ownership to open their books. They will growl and grumble and a few items will change with the status quo more or less preserved. It is the consummate good old boy's club.

These are complex ideas and discussions. I don't expect much change because the owners are doing just fine. If they were struggling, they would sell. I also do not think that either the NFL or the NBA are useful comparisons because one (NFL) has far superior income and the other (NBA) has recently surpassed MLB in income and is growing at a rapid rate globally. The NBA is the rage on all inhabited continents. I haven't look much at the NHL, so perhaps their model might be worth an examination.

There are 780 players on 30 MLB teams at any given time. These guys are the top in their profession globally. One could look at any number of industries and see that the average salaries for MLB players lags behind some others, say CEOs. In the United States there is not a ceiling on receiving money. Why anyone believes that MLB players should be accepting less is confusing. I'm all for a ceiling any type of compensation annually or in net worth for everyone for that matter if it makes the world a better place, but I also don't see that occurring. In fact in my lifetime the ratio of top to bottom pay has been stretched out to the max. At one point it was quite common to have a ratio of somewhere between 10-20% from lowest to highest pay in companies. Earn $10,000 at the bottom and the CEO or guy at the very top made $100,000-200,000. In 2025, if the guy at the bottom makes $50,000 (they don't), does the CEO or one at the top receive total compensation of $500K-$1M? Good luck finding a major Fortune 500 company where the CEO makes $500,000. Why exactly should MLB players accept any deal that levels or reduces their incomes? They are already severely restricted in workplace options. Yes, MLB pay is a good gig but in consideration of their excellence they may be severely underpaid relative to other industries.

How do the Dodgers escape their 2026 contracted salary commitments of $260+M for 12 players, not including benefits? 90% of $250M is $225M. How do the Marlins, Pirates, etc. reach that figure? How do you get the MLB clubs to open their books?

MLB has an exemption from the Sherman Anti Trust Act. If they do not negotiate in good faith as determined by an arbiter, it is very possible to lose that sweet little deal. I think this may be important. Some people may not think it important. Those calling for a cap are up against some hard realities already built in to a few future contracts. What exactly (at least a range) do those in favor of a cap feel is a number worth discussion? Again, there will be disputes on this figure. Is $350M a cap to live with in MLB? Keep in mind the Dodgers have a CBT salary number of over $400M this current year. Is it $400M? $300M? Fourteen teams are over $200M using the CBT numbers this year (2025). No cap can even be discussed without a floor. What is the floor? Is it $150-200M? Using the numbers and percentages of revenue sharing from NFL(complex but floor is 89% of cap ...), NBA (complex but floor is 90% of cap), and even NHL (I think $65M floor and $88M cap for last year) leagues seems very unlikely in MLB. For those who are fed up with people making crazy high salaries, I'm with you. Can our POTUS issue an executive order limiting all wealth/income? Does Carlos Correa make too much money? Sure, let there be a limit of $10M per year for anyone, salaries or investments, and so forth. I mean that is a s$*t ton of money. Right? Yah, not happening. I understand some people think the owners will make a stand and that there will be a protracted strike. People will have firm thoughts on this matter which is naturally expected and fine. I do not expect anything other than a short delay that avoids those miserable April games where attendance is low. The owners are not going to open their books to public examination. Or is there a consensus that the MLB owners will make their books public? They will also not risk any further damage, which is already substantial, to their image and compromise media deals. There will be some changes but most will be minor in nature. As far as competitiveness goes, this depends on how one views that term. Is it the ability to win games? What is it? Look at the records of NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB teams and you will see that in terms of winning percentage, MLB is more competitive than the other leagues. I will grant that people have a different view on what is or is not competitive.

There is a fine line between most of the players at the top levels. The more talented players stick out because they can run, catch, and throw with more skill and have the bat speed to become decent hitters. Baseball will always have room for guys like Brent Rooker but as stated above the opportunity window can be very tight. The Athletics, like the current Twins, had an opening for a bat. Who will run with the opportunity. A team can play one and sometimes two weaker defenders if their bats make up for their fielding deficiencies, but good teams seldom roster numerous DH types. The Twins need speed and gloves that can hit. Outman and Clemens have some skills and some talent. Offseason skill building and preparation can help a player find a groove where they are ready for an opportunity. James Outman clearly has pop in his bat but the swing and miss is too large to play at this time. Can he address this and make his mark next March? Kody Clemens gets the barrel to the ball quite a bit. His numbers are not acceptable in aggregate. Can he shift to a player who is a consistent tough at bat and run with a chance next March? The challenge is in meeting a level of success that contributes to winning baseball. There are players looking for that one big chance and then there are touted prospects pushing their way along into conversations. It is a tough job.

Great outing by Woods Richardson. Pitchers have success when they can land their breaking balls and off speed pitches for strikes on the edges. Sim was able to throw strikes which made his splitter tough. He needs more consistency and stamina. "The Twins already know who their rotation anchors will be next year: Pablo López, Joe Ryan, and Bailey Ober provide a steady and proven top three. However, there is a possibility that the club explores trades of López or Ryan." ... should probably read, there is a possibility that the club explores trades for all three of their proven starters. Yes, the odds are much lower for trading more than one guy but who saw the top five relief pitchers being traded?