Doctor Gast

Simmons has performed much better than projected, I wouldn't mind signing him to another year. His importance to the team is glaring when he's not in the lineup. I'd rate his signing very high. Others I'm not impressed yet

I too like Doc, am hopeful that Gordon will eventually gain his strength and show improvement at SS. But IMO Gordon doesn't have a real future with the Twins even before he got covid. Was hoping for more news relating to Broxton, Lin and others.

Winning the Triple Crown everything has to fall into place. Buxton has the tools and could attain that illusive award but how things are going for the team I doubt it.

I think too Thorpe too was a victim of bad defense.

In the Twins/ Angels season opener article, I stated that I didn't watch the game but by the results I thought that Dobnak was broken. I thought that because Donaldson was on the field, that he'd pull up the slack due to Simmons absence. As I watched the game video I saw that I was wrong. What I saw was Donaldson had dialed way down as not to provoke any leg problems. Therefore not making any easy routine plays which he had magnificently done in the past. I watched Donaldson look at grounders while Polanco makes valiant attempts. My point is we can't count on Donaldson to take up the slack right now (although I hope that changes). I've changed my opinion that Dobnak is broken, our defense is broken and needs to be fixed. Dobnak had 4 SOs and did everything that was expected of him. He gave up grounders that should have been fielded. There have been many ideal situations that Dobnak could've pitched while Simmons was on the field but didn't. Now that Simmons isn't on the field they've decided to use Dobnak, it doesn't make sense. So I don't blame Dobnak in the least. Although he's blamed, criticized and have these horrendous stats that many people like to base everything on.

I didn't watch the game (got too late in Brazil). Had great hopes for Dobnak but it appears he's broken. I don't know all that contributed to it, I don't know if I can hang the blame on one person. All I know he's broken and needs to be fixed. But again if Dobnak got beat because of infield singles. He had done his job, it's infield not doing theirs. Astudillo seemed to do pretty good as a reliever, maybe we found an answer when facing NL teams. ppl

It doesn't take too much to understand that we need an extra long relief/ spot starter especially on the road. I'm glad the Twins know.

I see Thorpe is starting. Wish him well, hope he rises to the occasion.

When he sailed 2 fastballs near Trout's head. I might be sick too if were him.

Lewis Thorpe recalled, great move! Just what we needed for this tough road trip, another long relief/ spot starter. Go Twins!

I'm sorry I didn't specify gifted defensive players on the field making spectacular plays.I could agree with you on hitters

I'm sorry I didn't specify gifted defensive players on the field making spectacular plays.I could agree with you on hitters

Ranabanena, love your article and was impressed by your ability and courage to do the interview in Mandarin. Lin is one of the invitees that I've been cheering for. Great to know some of his history and can't wait to see the Tsunami impact the Twins

I like to think it's the curse on Cal Griffin soaking in the baby blues and the absence of anointed pinstripes. The record shows.

Very interesting discussion. I'm not sure either way. The shift usually helps give a poorer defensive player a chance to make a play at a ball, where normally he doesn't come close. Athough shifting is a normal strategy I'm not against banning it to make the game more interesting, also giving a gifted athlete an opportunity to show case his talents.

I'm really looking forward to the minors finally giving us some action and you reporting it

Good job Ted! Concur with AZTwin Minnesota fans tend to be too negative, to the extent sometimes border on toxic. I'm happy with Arraez's new found power. Not because of the extra base hits but because it makes the fielders more honest. A soft hitting Arraez, the OFers play in; a nonfast Arraez, INFers play back. A low velo contact combined with a good dense Arraez doesn't get a hit.

I think he's using that slider far too much. They are laying off of it and they aren't going for strikes. I agree that he should go back to his old routine and slide in that slider only in opportune times.

Maybe not many believed that Baddo and Wells could've been selected. But because of teams shedding payroll and not going after FAs, that opens up the rule 5 draft as a source. Twins have capitalized on it for years. This increases the possibility to losing them.This comes back the point. Were Baddo and Wells worth protecting or not? If so, we need to find a way to do so. I offered my suggestion. Just not to go around the same tree again. Although, I believe we need more depth in true CFs and pitchers and Baddo and Wells could some day make the team (especially Baddo because he's a LH hitter which opens a platoon opportunity). But some how after we developed them, they don't, they make good trading pieces due to their high demand positions.

Thanks Cody for a great article! By help support the fact that Dobnak is a starter and not a reliever. As I stated before a starter focus is to win games and a reliever is to save games (preserve wins), from very high leverage to mop up. Dobnak pitched in both relieving extremes in his 1st 2 games which IMO has been detrimental to his starter psyche, rythym and confidence . When he's placed in games, he needs to be given the opportunity to win the game not save it. It's too bad that he was used this way especially when we lost opportunities to win games we lost especially while he was still hot from ST. I believe right now he needs to pitch only in games where he can win, maybe only for a couple of innings to regain his rythym, confidence and sharpness. Again I'm advocating the need for an extra long reliever (rotating AAA starters)to bridge the gap to short relief. Dobnak is a valuable weapon that we need to utilize properly to advance.

I believe Milwaukee would've been the best way to honor Hank Aaron if that was the priority.

I suppose they'll try to stretch Maeda and Berrios as much as possible to make the BP last

With the name Akil Baddo, it seems like a name of an assassin

I definitely wouldn't go to a BP game, we have enough problems with them. In 2019 they over used some of their key relievers that they heavily dependent on. It went well until they folded and fell apart. That put a lot of pressure on the rotation, especially Gibson and Perez, to extend beyond what they were capable of. Gibson was battling colitis and Perez was transitioning from the BP, although they were terrific before this BP melt down, they tanked afterwards. I see this happening already this year. This year they need transition from the short season. Starters need to be limited, especially Happ and Shoemaker in which they have extended them too long too soon. Solution is what I'd advocated from the beginning. Bridge this gap with long relievers like Dobnak and Thorpe (at least until the minors start). IMO this is very important so the rotation and short relievers are not over taxed and falter. I think Thorpe can be used as such to get extra MLB innings in and rotate AAA with others MLB ready prospects and still get stretched out in the minors. Dobnak should have been used in this compacity from the beginning not the way they did. Dobnak was coming off a hot ST if used as suggested he'd continue to be hot. Instead he was thrown under the bus in situations where he should not have pitched, thus destroying his rythym and confidence. It was sad to see him finally pitch in a situation where he could thrive but didn't. My hope is they don't lose confidence in Dobnak and he'll quickly snap out of it and use a second long relief schedule as long as needed.

Polanco will come out of his slump and still get his share of walks but I agree with you that he should hit at the bottom of the line up until he does. Sano' is more of a concern and should sit more often and bat 9th when he doesn't until he comes around. I think he needs to be shaken up a bit.