tony&rodney

Falvey gave an extensive interview just yesterday or recently, whenever it was. He stated that the team needs to figure out how to turn things around but he reiterated a view he has clearly vocalized on numerous previous occasions - the roster was built to compete and he believes in this team. There are a number of people who do not necessarily take Falvey at his word when he speaks. I don't know the guy, but I just take him at his word. This is the roster he wanted. As far as making changes or designing a roster goes, Twins Daily ran those for a couple of Novembers with zero enthusiasm for it last offseason. The reality is that this is Falvey's team, both the style of play and the roster. I'm a baseball fan and a Twins fan (since 1961). Right now, things are going about as expected more or less. The extremes are a little drastic, but I can still see this team finish around 80 wins. The only change in the foreseeable future will need to be driven by Joe Pohlad. I don't know what his interest in baseball or the Twins is at a player/roster level. A decision to reduce the player budget to around $90 million would create change though and I can't see how it would drastically alter the income of the team. However, realistically, I don't see any change coming until the team is sold which could be at least a couple of years away. I have no idea or feel for that process.

Not yet. 20th in runs allowed which is the only stat that really counts. Remember the defense is horrid, so it isn't all on the pitchers. Also the offense is allowed to score runs too.

Didn't mean to offend anyone by my comment on Provus. It's just a POV, same as people have on the players.

Yes, but giving the batter a base hit on a routine ground ball is a little safe, right? Of course the runner advances on the error.

I have been stunned by a number of Twins. A week ago I looked up running times on baseballsavant. I suspected the Twins were the slowest team in baseball but it is a wow. Right on cue, France hits a slow roller which could have been an infield hit or made the shortstop hurry his throw, but with a Twins running (not Buxton), he is out but more than 10 feet. The infielders can take their time when most of the batters run like an older catcher.

Found it normal that the scorer ruled it a hit because that is the new normal. An error should have been awarded.

Hey I actually meant that honestly. People can have different reactions to announcers.

I'm glad you like him.

Not a fan of Provus. I'm fine if everyone else loves him. Nothing serious, just my opinion, which is meaningless.

Long hop for France. Looked like a good throw. I bet the error goes to Correa though.

I used to enjoy Cory on the radio. I'm turning off the sound again. He really sucks. The worst TV announcer I have heard watching games.

Woo was willing, Byron didn't want to walk.

That is pitching. Buck got himself out. Two swings at pitcher's pitches.

I just walk Buck here because Wallner is an easy out.

Normally I have the sound off or listen to opponent's announcers, but interesting to hear Plouffe calling out the poor fundamentals of the Twins. Apparently Correa had a meeting with the coaches. I guess all of you know this stuff because you have the sound on.

It is possible that Falvey wakes up one morning and decides that everything he ever believed in related to baseball was not conducive to 2025 and beyond. It's possible. What are the odds? I'm one to watch the actions, listen to what is stated, and see the results. I can't guess what the architects of the roster think in their brains. I'm just hoping the team plays some good games now and then.

The reason I name Correa and Buxton as core players is because they have long term contracts that include the no trade option. I watch way to much baseball late at night. I have been a Twins fan since 1961. The Twins don't have a single position player that I consider untouchable. That is why I don't really see a core. Last October and November I wondered how the team could improve their talent. Among my suggestions (which admittedly may have been immediately dismissed by many including the teams trading with the Twins) were to trade Brooks Lee plus lesser pieces to Milwaukee for Jeferson Quero. Additionally, I guessed that Pittsburgh might be open to transactions which sent them Wallner or Larnach. In previous years I suggested moving all of Julien, Miranda, and Lewis in various deals because I believed their value had peaked and that the Twins needed talent. I'm aware that most of these ideas would be dismissed or find a cold reception from the other teams. I think the Twins have decent pitching but their position players are slow which affects movement on the bases and relegates them to being poor in the field. A lack of foot speed, team wide, is a recipe for losing. Lastly, these types of teams (the Twins) are not very interesting for the common fan which affects attendance. It is what it is, but expecting anything more than 83-85 wins as a ceiling is unrealistic. It is the design.

The article seemingly forgot that the team is for sale and the current front office signed players, traded for others, and held still others to create the roster which is exactly what they wanted. The movement in 2018 was to clear the roster of players from previous management. Does the author or people who come to Twins Daily believe that the front office will abandon their philosophy of baseball? The mention of the Tampa Bay Rays does not come with a sentence that that team has a completely different outlook and separate evaluation of talent as do teams like Cleveland, Milwaukee, and others. I'm afraid change will need to wait until the team is sold unless the Pohlad budget, which has eclipsed all other AL Central teams since the hire of the current front office leader, requires that the Twins be at or below $100 million for their 26 person roster. Ironically such a demand, if absolute would result in change. Until such time then we shall hope the rostered team finds a groove and plays better baseball. Perhaps the Twins catch a number of breaks where they run into series where the other team is not playing well. Hope is all we have until wholesale change from ownership all the way down.

The pitching has been a little disappointing lately but until such time as the Twins roster players who actually turn batted balls into outs I'm simply sympathetic to the plight of the pitchers. The pitchers cannot throw balls down in the zone with runners on base because those are not blocked. Grounders slide through and our outfielders wait a fair amount of time to determine where the ball is going which often results in drops. One can blame the pitchers but I wonder how different our pitchers would look in front of Milwaukee defenders.

This is exactly what I wrote in May and it is still true today. Twins fans should consider it a success if the team arrives to the All Star Game with an even record.

Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa are the beginning and the end of the core of position players on the Minnesota Twins team and both are reduced defensively since their prime, especially in range. Correa is also fighting his swing and finding difficulty to hit consistently, particularly when it matters. Byron is really hitting wonderfully right now and looking good on the bases as well. Sometime fans need to be objective even while still loyal followers and supporters of their teams.

Thank you for the answer. I guess a number of people see Wallner as a viable position player. I'm not convinced right now. My view of him is a little bit dispassionate and cold. He is totally different but shares fan appreciation love similar to Royce Lewis; guys who have produced very sporadically but have done nothing in the sum of their careers. Wallner currently has 10 RBIs (Yelich had 8 RBIs in one game), which I use specifically because most people today disparage that statistic. Runs scored are important and someone needs to push them towards nome plate. Wallner is 27 and has 4 years of partial play. Two years ago a friend of mine (coach of a national league team) asked me about Wallner in the outfield. I told him that his transfer and release negated his arm. That team ran on him all weekend. Wallner improved in that area last season but fell back into his old ways again. His routes are quite good and he has some fair speed but his reads put him below McCusker as an outfielder, which is still well above Larnach. Wallner ILarnach, McCusker too) needs to hit a ton to make up for the balls that fall in the outfield. Honestly these guys are all DH only types like Nelson Cruz minus the consistent production with a bat. Falvey crapped the bed and missed a few golden opportunities to sell high on a number of Twins players. Without an infusion via some path (trades, FA), the Twins are going to tumble. This is only view, of course, and others will have totally different thoughts on guys like Jeffers, Miranda, Julien, Lee, Lewis, Larnach, and Wallner.

Need clarification here. You are ok with trading Buxton but not open to trading Ober, Ryan, or Wallner? If this is your take .... why? I might understand the reticence to trade any pitching, especially good ones like Ober or Ryan. But Wallner?

Will Brooks Lee be fined for going first to third on a single?

The Milwaukee Brewers are just better at everything from FO to dugout to players to ideas to minor league athletes to development. The Brewers had a ton of injuries early on and did not play well but they are rolling now. It is not a surprise for Milwaukee to sweep Minnesota. Minnesota has a better stadium. Time for a comeback of epic proportions.