Doctor Gast

crap

Here we go!

Let's go Twins!

Cleveland has a young team, Last year they made a few more mistakes than this year. A team that focuses more on pitching, defense & playing small ball. This year CLE's salary is 28th at $93,333,629. MN is 20th at $124,077,590. CLE normally trades off their veterans (except Jose Ramirez) & not sign big-name FAs, MN extended Buxton & Lopez & signed Donaldson & last year Corea & Vazquez. Because of CLE's limited budget & confidence in their young players, they stood pat. Although MN has a few veterans they still have quite a few good young ones coming up. That is why I'd have liked to stand pat too. Most noticeable MN pickups are short-term Santana, Margot, DeSclavani & Topo & even if they were doing well, these players are taking valuable playing time & experience away from our younger players. Of these we have some on the bubble- Larnach, Kiriloff & Miranda, who needs to prove themselves. Julien's long-term position is at 1B so that's where he should be playing. Varland, Alcala, SWR & Martin are MLB-ready & need playing time in MLB to get better. Players like Keirsey need to get their feet as soon as & as often as possible. CLE has chosen to invest in their young players & it has paid off, They have surprised a lot of people. That's why I'd prefer to do the same. Margot affects Kiriloff, Larnach, Martin & Keirsey; Santana affects Kiriloff, Miranda & Julien. The absence of DeSclavani though we paid for him has given SWR & Varland valuable time in the MLB. Topo not playing should give Varland, Alcala & later Canterino more opportunities in the BP. The fact that they aren't are confusing to me. My evaluations have our guys more productive options. But even beyond this you are investing in our long-term future players or at least improving their trade value. Instead of paying in trade & FA in positions that we have adequate depth & make us weaker overall. If we become short in the rotation we can still sign a SP like Rich Hill to a MiLB contract or go out & trade for another postseason SP. Because especially when Lewis comes back we should make the play-off & the time given to our young players will be valuable not only now but in the future.

I'd like some help with Olivar. I've heard that he has an above-average arm from somebody & below-average arm from others. I do not know if that below-average report is due to his low throw-out rate (because of a technic problem) or indeed he has a below-average arm. If it's a technic problem, that can be fixed if it's an arm problem then that's more complicated.

Blewett & Alcala are 2 different situations. Blewett is content in AAA & hungry to get to the MLB. While Alcala has had a lot of success in the MLB & AAA is a demotion & being put in the doghouse. Varland isn't doing that well in AAA yet he proven himself on the MLB level in the BP. That's where he should be in long relief one step away from the rotation.

A tip of the cap to the Santana/ Vazquez DP. Great effort on both parts, especially Santana for initiating it. For being mainly being a flyball pitching staff, too many GBs get through.

I had Festa well ahead of Raya in ranking. After today, Festa has widened that gap.

Without a doubt, we miss Buxton's elite glove making difficult catches at CF look easy. With injuries to Buxton, Correa & Lewis; Castro has been stretched very thin & the stress of playing the Yanks has probably done him in. Castro has been playing admirably until then. Inexperience has at times become apparent even with Martin's athleticism making good plays. Shawn Keirsey should have been called up to help out. IMO we have pretty good CF depth but Buxton is the best & we need him in CF.

CLE is a good team. Great overall pitching & defense. IMO the Ramirez HR didn't cost us it was the Fry HR. That HR shouldn't have happened if Jeffers hadn't made that errant throw to 2B after 2B was stolen. No one was backing up 2B & was slow to get to it. That advanced the runner with only 1 out & forced SWR out of game in favor of (LHP) Okert to pitch to (LH) Naylor. Okert got Naylor out but Okert was obligated to pitch to Fry which cost us 2 runs.

That was my impression when we got him. He definitely shouldn't be trusted with a close game.

CLE is doing it with pitching & defense.

MIA wasn't sad to see him go

Ugly leggings!

SWR isn't that sharp but getting the job done.

Dodged the bullet that time

Twins are hitting the ball hard.

They're nice when we turn them

That's my man Kiriloff

CLE is playing good D , turning a lot of pitcher friendly double plays.

Let's take the Central lead

I wasn't very impressed w/ Sands last year but like what you said he improved his pitches. IMO Sands degression is the result of the Twins don't know what to do with him. This year he was impressive so they bumped him up to higher leverage. As of now he hasn't shown that he can handle that level. Keep him at long mid-leverage relief, if he has options he'd be very valuable. Balazovik hasn't shown yet that he can pitch anywhere in MLB.

NYY pinstripes have a tradition that really affects MN. MN pinstripes has a tradition that needs to be stressed & put into play.

Klein had a pretty impressive outing, 1st time I really noticed him. Should be a good one.

NYY series is sad but we have CLE ahead of us. Time to suck it up!