Doctor Gast

I agree with Nick, I don't think preseason expectations has any bearing on the impact of Lewis's injury on the team, Lewis potential & performance greatly impacted the team could have impacted more if he hadn't gotten injured, Management's bright idea of putting Lewis in CF to keep his bat in the line up after Correa's return, shows Lewis importance to the team & his development.. What really impacted his absent was that it was 100% avoidable. Lewis could have been used as a SS, 3B, 2B or even because of his athleticism (greater than Arraez) 1B platoon sub instead of placing him in CF. Because of his athleticism, he could have been more available than his alternative (Miranda). To say Lewis had no impact on the team is to say Miranda has negative impact.

I really like the Twins phylosophy of resting players, Resting players helps the players remain healthy & fresh to maximize their production and getting more capable players in the games helps to keep everyone happy. Yet in Polanco's case, he was way over used. Polanco is one who'll never say when he's hurting and because of his glove & switch hitting bat is so valuable, he seldom subbed. Right now we really need his bat that was so impactful last year at this time. There are some players like Kiriloff with his weird wrist problem which injury that couldn't be expected & Buxton's explosive plays whose injuries are some what expected. These injuries cannnot be helped. Here again I'd have place Buxton more often on the IL to give him more time to heal. Although management brag about resting their players, yet it seems like they threw this phylosophy out the window when purtaining to their pitchers. They have always over relied on their short relief plus this year they got rid of our only proven high leverage RP and doubled down on short RPs that had no business being there. To compensate they over extended the rotation resulting in poor performances & injuries. This where the majority of injuries have always lies. Vast majority of these injuries could have been avoided if long relief was incorporated & used, even Mahle & Paddack injuries could have been avoided or at least minimized if their innings were better managed, not trying to see how far we can extend them. The greatest loss was when they placed Lewis (who had lost the entire '21 season because of knee surgery) in CF. When I saw that I was yelling at the TV, saying how stupid can you be, jeopordizing our suseptable #1 pick, high impact ceiling SS in dangerous CF where we've suffered loss with Buxton. Baldelli said afterwards that we'll continue to see Lewis in CF, how delusioned can you be! Lewis's talent & fire has been greatly missed. Although some of our injuries could not be helped but majority of them could be. Mismanagement is the main cause of these injuries, many loses & possibly lost division title & post season.

In one paragraph you say that nobody expect 5 SPs to be able to complete games or go more than 5 innings. You have given into the fact SPs can't more than 5 innings on a regular basis but your standard for any SP is to complete their game or atleast go more than 5, if a SP doesn't go more than 5 innings, you hate. For a small market we can't come close to your standard for SPs. IMO our SPs have pitched very well if managed inside their profile. The problem comes when we expect them to pitch beyond who they are. And hate them if they can't.

I believe Ted's title Short Starts Are Not a Minnesota Twins Thing is directed at the fans, not the organization. And the difficulty for them to change their mindset of a SP not completing a game. This mindset of disgruntle fans has forced management to over extend our SPs' beyond their profiles, resulting in ineffectiveness and injuries, in hopes of trying to appease them. Even if they squeeze another quality inning out of our SP, they aren't able to bounce back for their next outing. This mindset of having 5 SPs able to pitch a complete game or even anything over 5 innings on a regular basis is a fantasy & detrimental to the team. If you can develop one it'll take a long time and is rare or if you have the $ like NYY or LAD you have no hope to obtain one. We started this last off season with 2 rookies. Eventhough many had delusions of them being an over night aces, but in reality that was a impossibility. So where are we going to get our 5 workhorses? There was no way. So if that was a impossibility how are we going to bridge that gap from SP to closer? FO threw out piggy-backing, a form of long relief. It was a great idea but for some reason it was not implemented. Over reliance on short RPs & over extending SP was instead installed which has hampered our success, If we are going to compete we have to wake up from our fantasies & think outside the box and work with the best pieces we have, the best way we can. Long relief is our best option of getting those quality innings.

It appears that Arraez has found a home at 1B, with his limitations in range, He does well for being new to the position yet him being 2nd in ratings shows that defense metrics still has a long ways to go to be close to acurate. Kepler should have won the award long time ago. Hopes he gets it this year despite his poor offensive #s.

You guys are spot on! Gordon has turned it on especially in clutch situations which I believe he'll continue to do. Wish others including CC could be better at it. We need everybody.

Absolutely Duran is the winner. He's been lights out all season!

I really hope so because MN is really hurting at the MLB level (IMO MN greatest need) but a jump from the Kernels to MLB is a big jump. Yet I agree Carmargo is underrated.

Like Buxton, he brings excitement every time he gets on base. Excitement that create rallies. His only flaw is his hitting. In his debute he had a pretty good hitting game maybe he picked up something in FCL. It's refreshing to have to have a veteran who can steal & take an extra base since Buck had to tone it down. It's something we desperately needed. Also his defense is pretty awsome.

I believe we are in a great place. My expectations are The Twins catch on fire at the right time so that this momentum will carry them to the division crown and well into the post season. The alternative is they sputter, not live up to their expectations, don't make it to the post season & not embaress themselves with another post season loss.

Your article brought back many great memories of these great pitchers. I agree with your rankings yet like Seth I'd rate Duran's FB right up there at #3 and I'm prejudice over a Camilo's curveball.

Bench is a strong word that's not what I'm saying. Arraez is not an "iron man", keep throwing Arraez out there even to play 2B or against LHP, thru out the season is counter productive. Rest is a positive thing, after getting adequate rest, he can bounce back & be his wonderful self. If he can't hit he becomes a liability especially at 2B. Age differential has nothing to do as far subbing 2B or SS, it's who's better.

Couple a weeks ago I mentioned that they should bring up Palacios to sub the injured Polanco (actually I've been advocating to bring up Palacios for awhile because I believed Polanco could use the rest). I was countered with that we need to keep Arraez's bat in the line up. I countered that Arraez needs the rest especially against LHPs because he's not used to play so many innings. He could be tired or injured because of his poor knees. If indeed I'm right and not given the needed rest and his BA keeps falling, his Batting Title could be in jeopardy.

I don't like this move, I don't see any advantage of signing Davis. We don't know exactly what condition Malhe's arm will be after he starts to crank it up. He says his arm feels fine but that's what he said just before they yanked him out. I'm a Mahle fan but we need be realistic so I'd keep A Sanchez around for long relief. But this move by the Twins probably means that it's not going to happen.

Miranda has a lot of value and I'm sure the Twins had alot of calls from other teams liking to pick him up in a trade. But he doesn't get the recognition he deserves because of MN being small market. His glove isn't that impressive either but his bat has really came around, making him well liked here.

So happy to see Gordon shine! He continues to surprizes me, with more experience he gets. Maybe he'll fulfill our orignal expections. I really like his new look with pants legs down, instead of rolled up, it becomes him with his new look at the plate. I can see him get more & more confidence & crave more & more that fanfare which could really ignite him & the team. Hats off to you, Nick! Keep it up!

What an exciting game for the Saints! Coming out with many positives. Hamilton, Palacios, Winder, Williams & Contreras.

The only change I'd make is to install a long relief corp. Yes Archer has had the worst results since Wes Johnson departure, but he's a veteran & will snap out of it. Both Bundy & Archer do better pitching 5 innings but the whole rotation has had there share of short outings, that happens. The problem is not having an adequent long relief & using them on a regular basis. The rare times that long relief has been used, we had great success, We have great candidates that can pitch long relief, A Sanchez, Smeltzer, Winder, Ober, throw in Sands & Cotton (maybe Dobnak?) With all these very adequate long RPs & strong short RPs, there is no problem with the SPs not pitching over 5 innings- Repeat there is no problem with any SP not pitching over 5 innings

I'm going to plug Palacios again. He'll be a great sub up the middle (the best we have), also he's really hitting at AAA. Some one had disagreed earlier because he said we need to give Arraez ABs. I differ because I question if he can put in a full season, he hasn't yet and IMO he's struggling right now even against RHPs. IMO he's tired or hurting. So giving Arraez ABs shouldn't be an excuse not to bring up Palacios

He's at FCL right now, maybe they're working on his hitting & bunting. I wouldn't count Cave or Kepler as viable CFer, Celestino & Gordon would likely start ahead of Hamilton but he's better glove and a great late inning defensive move. We need some base running & defense magic to spark the team much like Buxton does. Hamilton can beat out an infield hit, steal that base, be that ghost runner, score on a sacrifice fly or bunt. I would imagine that he can bunt if need be. I can see him being a valuable veteran asset approaching & into the post season.

Smeltzer as long relief did great, if need he could pitched longer to spare short relief.

I was expecting you to post a Bee Gee's "Staying Alive" song

I agree w/ Mike. I like Urshella and has served a purpose this year. But we have a lot of 3B possibilities let a lone SSs available depending on what happens at SS next year. I see both Urshella & Sanchez gone next season. We really need a catcher & Sanchez isn't it.

While Garlic was gone they threw a lot of LHPs at us. Garlic was sorely missed, happy to see him back in the line up against LHPs. Celestino hitting that clutch double was the high point of the game for me. It looks like the team has broken out, just the spark we needed, to bolster the confidence of this team. Hopefully it'll take this team a long ways. So they'll be able to pitch & hit in clutch situations even when they face tough teams in close games which they are capable to do. Also what's interesting is we broke out w/o Arraez & Buxton

Very encouraged w/ Laweryson, have very high hope in him. Just because Julien won't stick at SS doesn't mean he won't be good defensively somewhere else. Beckman & Cave should be sent down, Palacios & maybe Conteras should be called up. I'd like to give Wallner a shot but IMO we can't afford to see how fast he can adjust to MLB (& his glove?).