umterp23

On the offensive side of the diamond and when I mean offensive, let's talk Sano. Why not try and move him at trade deadline? What you get is freeing up some money and some minor league talent. Sano isn't a quality hitter at all, yes occasional bomb but the K's keep mounting up. Now some folks will thing I have lost my mind but Buxton who can't stay healthy and is a stud at times, he would be interesting trade bait as well. So will miss at least a couple more weeks potentially, so while he was explosive in April, can you rely in the guy to stay healthy for at least a half season at this point? I would float him out there and see who bites. Next puzzle would be Astudillo. Versatile and can play in a pinch, but hasn't had many at bats this week, so the writing is on the wall for him. Kiriloff at 1b and Sano is your platoon guy there. He isn't a back up catcher so pretty telling that Rortvedt was recalled to hit .170 and get spot playing time. Flash Gordon is your backup middle IF. Maybe he gets an at bat here or there at 3rd base, but the cute story book is ending soon. Last is put Cruz out of his misery and send him to a contender as the Twins aren't it. Hell, if Pujols can get released by Cards and quickly go to a contender in Dodgers for spot starts, Cruz can do the same for a chance to chase a ring. His clubhouse leadership and mentor for Sano, isn't that valuable in his very late stage of career. He deserves a chance as his window is closing to be on a top club. What you get in return is some minor league prospect(s), which you need to back fill the eventual youth movement coming

pretty telling that Cruz works with his own personal hitting coach referenced in the article. Speaks volume to how the Twins current bench coaches for hitting must not be respected or worth the penny they are getting paid. Like Cruz but time to move some pieces come trade deadline, Sano being one of them. What you get back vs what you keep on the roster, Sano gives you some $$'s back into the system and some minor league talent. I"m fine with that.

article on MLB Twins page about how Sano has put in extra hitting work with mentor Cruz recently. another 0-4 with couple K's. Time to move on from Sano. Modern Day version of O's Chris Davis. .176 hitter and we keep shoving him the lineup. I don't care how hard he hits the ball if he makes contact, would be funny to see how hard he swings and misses!

Refsnyder hustling and taking advantage of an opportunity equals a guy working hard to earn the chance at the bigs level and to stay as long as he can. Yes there are younger guys in the OF mix and most likely he is gone once injury prone buxton comes back, but I applaud the guy for living out his love for the game in front of us.

Larnach HR was impressive but I still see a bit of Sano in him. If he makes contact it is hard, but many of K's hiding in there as well. When you look at St. Paul he was what 3 for 11 with 3 hr's but his other outs were K's. Right now he has 15 games and 15 K's so he has slowed the K route a tad in the bigs. K's are part of the game (see Sano and Garver) so hopefully the Bomba mentality does't take over for Larnach. I will always preach plate discipline over a wow HR.

Well another L in the column and Twins actually did some small ball this game in hitting just one sexy bomba. Ouch this team isn't very good. Trade deadline will reap very little rewards if we dangle some guys on the market. Cruz may get some suitors but in his early 40's with hit only skillset, how much we get in return will be minimal. Not much else on this roster the way they are playing will warrant much in return

I don't care what Duffey did and if intentional than so be it. He threw behind his behind. When the twins feel butt hurt about a cute story of Tortuga taking the mound for a 2nd time this year and getting taken deep on a 3-0 pitch. When you pithing staff blows that night, let them finish what they started. Postion player staying at a Holiday Inn last night and pitching in a game is pathetic. Tortuga versatility in that situation is embarrassing as well, multiple skillset but master of none. unwritten rules be damned, swing away swing away. Twins don't want to be embarrassed, then don't throw a softball positional player.

Roster changes needed? maybe not an overhaul, but sure would send some guys down to play everyday and learn to hit the baseball. Or maybe, just maybe Cruz isn't the mentor clubhouse leader we thought he was with Sano and others. How many games have we had double digits K's. Bomba Mentality, live and die by the long ball. Team is awful thus far

Great plate discipline by Astudilo... my goodness, hero ball at bat, not so much

Sano has a chance to achieve the golden sombrero this upcoming at bat. Stellar return from IL. Maybe if I keep saying he sucks, he will hit a homerun

So much for Garver turning the corner with his bat. Garv Sauce goes down looking. Rortveldt with another stellar batting day. Gordon getting pinch hit for with Polanco, because why? Rocco head first into the analytics vs gut feeling. you put the kid in the lineup, let the kid play the game. I don't want to hear hard hit ball by Polanco. Out is still an out

I thought one of the reasons was bringing Cruz back to the team this year as he was nice clubhouse mentor for Sano. Sano sure doesn't look like he is listening to Cruz or anyone else. He makes Chris Davis with the Orioles look like a great contact hitter

Fundamental baseball by the twins isn't sexy enough for the Bomba Squad mentality. Plate discipline be damned, hit behind the runner/shift, bunt to move players over. Not sure the Twins remember a good game of strato-matic when a 3-2 game was fun to watch. The punch/counter punch moves using their gut feeling days are over. Let me look at my spreadsheet and see if I can hit a 3-run homer with no one on base

So Jeffers goes down to get more AB's and work on things. 50-50 split of playing time on an almost daily rotation doesn't do either catcher any favors. Garver wasn't killing it and may not be turning the corner yet, so will hold my excitement about him being the guy. Probably the best thing for Jeffers to play simulated games and some AAA games daily, instead of sitting on pine and hitting in the cages. Why Cave is still on the roster is very puzzling to me. With Sano due back soon, does Cave need to be here anymore, no way. Already have enough lefty options in the outfield. Kiriloff won't be going anywhere soon and Tortuga while a nice story, isn't the end all the media wants him to be. Positional depth, sure, but isn't great defensively at any position and his one pitch at bats are starting to catch up to him.

so a plethora of transactions yesterday... Jeffers, Rooker the main two being optioned. Jeffers somewhat of surprise, I guess. Not off to a great start but Garver, not so much either. So with not bringing up a catcher, you are relying on Astudilo to man the dish every couple days a week. Tortuga a jack of many positions but not a master of any. He puts the ball in play but not great quality of at bats. Rooker in the proverbial call up, sent down not so merry go round. As a young professional, you have wide range of emotions, so I would think they go to work at Alt Site/AAA for when games start and work their way back up.

Finally connects with a fastball and fouls it over the wall... the Garver experiment of how well he hits lefties continues and in the heart of the lineup. Sure hope he puts something in play

When your offense can't score many runs, anytime we run him out there might be a high leverage situation. If we have to wait on big lead, he may see the mound once every couple of weeks.

Didn't I read somewhere that Rocco was going to move Colombe to less intense pitching situations and yet he is in a close game to suck again yesterday. Maybe I'm wrong on the info, but my goodness what a failure to this point of the season for a high priced off season pickup. Rocco now makes the comment that they "can't control our results"... What the hell, another cute excuse. You can control it, quit throwing Colombe out there, that is controlling a pending bad result!

What doesn't help either catcher right now is the every other day playing time. They both could benefit from back to back starts at least to try and find some type of rhythm. So with Rocco's analytics he has Garver in lineup tonight and then Wednesday because the perceived notion that Garver can hit lefties better than Jeffers. Perceived for sure as I don't think I have seen Jeffers bat against a lefty at any point last year or this year. Granted could be wrong, but if he has very limited. What makes me chuckle is Garver hitting leadoff vs lefties or in the 2-hole. Ouch on the Golden Sombrero Sunday

Savior, nothing like putting that in the article headline! Talk about pressure to perform and then you lead off Savior. Way too many things that one person can't control per other comments, so savior is no such thing. Now give us a closer who knows his role and saves ballgames, that might be your closest thing to a SAVEior

looks like MLB transactions have Tomas Tellis contracted purchased by Twins. So that move looks to be 3rd catcher and Tortuga to 1b with Kiriloff rotation. Tortuga anywhere else on field wouldn't be good. Blankenhorn most likely getting booted

Playoffs, Playoffs, did you say Playoffs!

A's the king of moneyball, must not have enough in the bank accounts to pay the bills

We have 3 maybe 4 guys that can hit... Buxton, Cruz, Donaldson and Arraez... When you look at the rest of the roster, there is really nothing there that scares me. Free swinging Tortuga is a one hit wonder and teams will not give him much to swing at first couple pitches per at bat. Scouting reports will make this his game comical. Garver and Jeffers on a strict platoon won't work. There is something about rotating every other game just won't do it. The rest of the guys aren't bringing anything to the table that makes me say, yep this team will score runs in bunches. 1-0 deficits feels like 5-0

when does Rocco analytics type of manager wear out his welcome? Garver batting leadoff vs lefties. My goodness