tony&rodney

We discussed the pitch clock so much last year. MLB has had a rule for about 100 years that pitchers must pitch within a specified time along with wording about batters getting in the box. It was never enforced and players pushed the boundaries to absurd lengths (as much as 60 seconds between pitches). The reason no player has any difficulty whatsoever dealing with the current clock is because all have had to get in the box or pitch in a timely manner during their entire amateur and pre-MLB professional careers. Calling a ball or strike for refusal to do so was right there in the rules.
I do think Melissa has a fair point in the post season. The players have already shown a few ways to get around the time ticking down: calling time, a mound visit, a coach visits, requesting grounds crew to address the mound, bug in the eye, and so forth were some of the simple delays seen yesterday. We will also see managers coming out to discuss some things with an umpire on a few carefully picked moments. The clock is something that can still be collectively discussed to come to a mutually agreeable decision. 
The ghost runner is a different thing however because it puts an emphasis on strike outs by pitchers. No longer does the pitcher with a low K rate play on an even field. You could be that guy who has a .050 batting average against but get passed up for a big arm like Emilio Pagan. Manfredball was a bad idea from the beginning and there is no better argument than MLB never considered it viable for the post season. If they wanted something different and fun,  a relay race with all 26 players involved would be more exciting and just as viable for ending the game.

We discussed the pitch clock so much last year. MLB has had a rule for about 100 years that pitchers must pitch within a specified time along with wording about batters getting in the box. It was never enforced and players pushed the boundaries to absurd lengths (as much as 60 seconds between pitches). The reason no player has any difficulty whatsoever dealing with the current clock is because all have had to get in the box or pitch in a timely manner during their entire amateur and pre-MLB professional careers. Calling a ball or strike for refusal to do so was right there in the rules.
I do think Melissa has a fair point in the post season. The players have already shown a few ways to get around the time ticking down: calling time, a mound visit, a coach visits, requesting grounds crew to address the mound, bug in the eye, and so forth were some of the simple delays seen yesterday. We will also see managers coming out to discuss some things with an umpire on a few carefully picked moments. The clock is something that can still be collectively discussed to come to a mutually agreeable decision. 
The ghost runner is a different thing however because it puts an emphasis on strike outs by pitchers. No longer does the pitcher with a low K rate play on an even field. You could be that guy who has a .050 batting average against but get passed up for a big arm like Emilio Pagan. Manfredball was a bad idea from the beginning and there is no better argument than MLB never considered it viable for the post season. If they wanted something different and fun,  a relay race with all 26 players involved would be more exciting and just as viable for ending the game.

The answer about Kirilloff is coming. When AK tore the cover off the ball last year in St. Paul against some decent AAA pitching, he proved that his bat is a topic that makes baseball people perk up and notice. The surgery could be successful, but the proof will not be shown until Kirilloff gets consistent at bats and plays regularly. Everyone is in the dark as to what can be expected.
I'm still both hoping and believing that Alex manages to work his way into the St. Paul lineup by May and is a regular in the middle of the batting order for the Twins by June at the latest. 

This is just one idea and not a bad one depending on circumstances. Another, is that the Twins trade for a pitcher like Corbin Burnes, who looked off yesterday. No team ever has too many good starting pitchers. 
There is quite a bit of time between now and the trade deadline. The Twins, as much or more than any other team, have a significant number of players in their system with question marks and/or hopes attached to their performances. The talent that could potentially heal and thrive along with the quickly emerging young players includes so many names as to see the current roster as the weakest point of the season. It is actually possible and not unrealistic to have players like Kirilloff, Polanco, Lewis, and Julien step forward in a major fashion while guys like Gordon, Larnach, Miranda, Kepler, Vasquez, Jeffers, Farmer, Correa, and Buxton all perform to a high level. One game in, the Twins remain a team with concerns and high hopes. Too many starting pitchers is not a thing.

The ice won't be off the lakes until May, so instead of listening to the games on the radio I'll need to watch the games on the tv with the heat cranked. March has almost passed without a single day where it was above freezing for the entire day and tonight it goes below zero. In times like this it is even more important to watch baseball and see that there is unfrozen ground somewhere. One thing I must admit - the inch plus of snow today sure was beautiful as it fell so gently. It only took an hour to shovel the walks and driveway too because it was so light, fluffy, and sparklingly clean.

I defer to the coaching staff on Julien. My impressions of his at bats against some good pitchers (does Gerrit Cole count?) indicated a guy who was very comfortable in the batter's box. I would have Julien leading off and playing 2B, pushing Gordon to CF. The defense is not optimal and I have consistently whined for the team to be better both defensively and athletically, which they are trending towards. Still, Julien is pretty much the same as Arraez, Miranda, or others who have taken their gloves out to the field and I'm enamored with his approach at the plate. Julien will just need to force his way on to the team, especially in light of reports that suggest Polanco is a good month plus away from MLB.

The Twins understandably want to see Julien get some at bats above AA, and I get that. However, I have been that guy pushing Julien to open the season batting leadoff because both Polanco and Kirilloff are out and Gallo really struggled with his swing in March (yes, ST means very little). Kepler is best down in the lineup but I do agree that under the circumstances he is suddenly the best choice to lead off. I'm not sure how Julien will get to MLB, but suspect he will need to torch AAA before he is taken seriously.
Greinke is one of the great pitchers of the 21st century and still was pretty effective last season and the Royals players absolutely love him as a teammate. I have enormous respect for ZG. That said, the Twins can be successful against him by staying back on the ball because he manages so much soft contact with how he varies speeds, deliveries, and location.
This is the first Twins team in some time to get excited about. So many things have to go well for them, but the blend of experience and youth is there for a great season.

I kind of agree with this, having Correa lead off. I'm not too sure Correa wants to lead off though and he likely communicates clearly. It seems like he wants to watch the first guy bat before his turn and that makes a lot of sense because C4 is an analytical player. 

The Twins understandably want to see Julien get some at bats above AA, and I get that. However, I have been that guy pushing Julien to open the season batting leadoff because both Polanco and Kirilloff are out and Gallo really struggled with his swing in March (yes, ST means very little). Kepler is best down in the lineup but I do agree that under the circumstances he is suddenly the best choice to lead off. I'm not sure how Julien will get to MLB, but suspect he will need to torch AAA before he is taken seriously.
Greinke is one of the great pitchers of the 21st century and still was pretty effective last season and the Royals players absolutely love him as a teammate. I have enormous respect for ZG. That said, the Twins can be successful against him by staying back on the ball because he manages so much soft contact with how he varies speeds, deliveries, and location.
This is the first Twins team in some time to get excited about. So many things have to go well for them, but the blend of experience and youth is there for a great season.

Exactly, we don't ever see the coaches' numbers. Still, not important at all. I just like to see those numbers that carry some historical value on the backs of our players.

Exactly, we don't ever see the coaches' numbers. Still, not important at all. I just like to see those numbers that carry some historical value on the backs of our players.

Aaron Senne was a terrific high school player and has made quite the contribution to minor league baseball. I hope the players are all sending him a "thank you".

I get that too, but that's no one's fault but the Twins. He should have been in St Paul by June last year. And if not June, then he should have been there when they traded Spencer Steer, and if THAT wasn't late enough, then he surely should have been promoted when Polanco went down. Julien's absence from AAA last year was one of the most puzzling things the team did all last year.

I kind of agree with this, having Correa lead off. I'm not too sure Correa wants to lead off though and he likely communicates clearly. It seems like he wants to watch the first guy bat before his turn and that makes a lot of sense because C4 is an analytical player. 

The Twins understandably want to see Julien get some at bats above AA, and I get that. However, I have been that guy pushing Julien to open the season batting leadoff because both Polanco and Kirilloff are out and Gallo really struggled with his swing in March (yes, ST means very little). Kepler is best down in the lineup but I do agree that under the circumstances he is suddenly the best choice to lead off. I'm not sure how Julien will get to MLB, but suspect he will need to torch AAA before he is taken seriously.
Greinke is one of the great pitchers of the 21st century and still was pretty effective last season and the Royals players absolutely love him as a teammate. I have enormous respect for ZG. That said, the Twins can be successful against him by staying back on the ball because he manages so much soft contact with how he varies speeds, deliveries, and location.
This is the first Twins team in some time to get excited about. So many things have to go well for them, but the blend of experience and youth is there for a great season.

The Twins understandably want to see Julien get some at bats above AA, and I get that. However, I have been that guy pushing Julien to open the season batting leadoff because both Polanco and Kirilloff are out and Gallo really struggled with his swing in March (yes, ST means very little). Kepler is best down in the lineup but I do agree that under the circumstances he is suddenly the best choice to lead off. I'm not sure how Julien will get to MLB, but suspect he will need to torch AAA before he is taken seriously.
Greinke is one of the great pitchers of the 21st century and still was pretty effective last season and the Royals players absolutely love him as a teammate. I have enormous respect for ZG. That said, the Twins can be successful against him by staying back on the ball because he manages so much soft contact with how he varies speeds, deliveries, and location.
This is the first Twins team in some time to get excited about. So many things have to go well for them, but the blend of experience and youth is there for a great season.

The Twins are in a far better place with their rotation of starting pitchers this season and I believe in this bullpen more than the guys from last year. Some of that is due to new pitchers, but in other cases it is a result of gaining some experience and going through a regular offseason and spring routine. The pitching will be much improved.
A small of the length for the starting staff may depend on the bats. Hopefully the Twins hitters are tougher this year and give their arms some room. The improved defense and depth will create an out or two per game, which also adds up over the long schedule.

The younger players see that Correa has the ring, the contract, non-stop work habits, and positive energy to help anyone feel more confident and he is pretty young too. This makes him a natural leader on multiple fronts.

Aaron Senne was a terrific high school player and has made quite the contribution to minor league baseball. I hope the players are all sending him a "thank you".

Aaron Senne was a terrific high school player and has made quite the contribution to minor league baseball. I hope the players are all sending him a "thank you".

I could agree to hear an argument that a two weeklong tournament in July would produce the best baseball.
Those who belittle(d) the recent tournament and fears of injury are off base. The post covers those concerns pretty completely.
I'm going to believe what the players say about the atmosphere and quality of play before some lame tv commentators' yawns. If you look at the fangraphs recent series on the best players you will see that the overwhelming number of them were in the WBC. The lineups in the USA-Japan final rivaled any all star game pretty much. It was a terrific game.
The owners always do pretty well for themselves and when the game grows an audience the players gain too. The WBC is a good idea, with plenty of future growth potential. There is significant possible appeal globally. That is, in my opinion, good for baseball.

The Twins are in a far better place with their rotation of starting pitchers this season and I believe in this bullpen more than the guys from last year. Some of that is due to new pitchers, but in other cases it is a result of gaining some experience and going through a regular offseason and spring routine. The pitching will be much improved.
A small of the length for the starting staff may depend on the bats. Hopefully the Twins hitters are tougher this year and give their arms some room. The improved defense and depth will create an out or two per game, which also adds up over the long schedule.

Excited for the season.

The ice won't be off the lakes until May, so instead of listening to the games on the radio I'll need to watch the games on the tv with the heat cranked. March has almost passed without a single day where it was above freezing for the entire day and tonight it goes below zero. In times like this it is even more important to watch baseball and see that there is unfrozen ground somewhere. One thing I must admit - the inch plus of snow today sure was beautiful as it fell so gently. It only took an hour to shovel the walks and driveway too because it was so light, fluffy, and sparklingly clean.

You are right, I was wrong. 
This did surprise me. I prefer positive surprises but so it goes. 
 ...further back actually. 
He could change though.