jokin

Who's up and ready in AA????

Could that "guy" be Kiriloff?

Too bad to hear about Hildenberger, coupled with his ineffectiveness at both levels this year, this news sounds ominous about his potential future back with the big club

Well, with Tanner English finally let go, it seems that there's a spot open for Kiriloff now? Really strange how tight-lipped the Twins are about this situation. I don't like the potential implications from the injury bug track record for Kiriloff thus far. Hopefully, it's just a fluky set of circumstances that are setting him back.

Yep, fair point. I was looking for players the Marlins would more easily shed to unload the contract. And my package would have to also include a lock-down, highly capable SP. Again, I was looking at the Marlins potential willingness to part with an SP, given that they have 4-5 high ceiling SPs due to debut in 2019. or 2020. Smith would be the most likely candidate (older than the rest).

I think I'm like most Twins fans, forever mired in the "Why can't we have nice things?" mode. Also in the "don't you dare trade our favorite prized prospect!" mode....

Speaking of "just Math": My stathead son pointed this very fact out to me last week. I increduously replied, "That sounds like the '27 Yankees." He then informed me that that Yankee team only had 5 players above league average in OPS.

For the record: Cedar Rapids has made the playoffs for 7 straight years.... every single year since they became affiliated with the Twins.

Sure hope the Bumgarner talk is more than just wishful thinking. But even that addition wouldn't be transformative enough to beat the Yankees or Astros in the postseason. After the 6th inning, the Yanks, Rays, Red Sox and Stros will bring in some of the best RPs in the game, while the Twins would embarrass themselves with the current collection of: >misfit castoffs, >neer-do-wells, >smoke-and-mirrors afficianodos and >Hot-and-Cold Houdini-Wannabees.

It's great to see Gordon near the top of a batting order surrounded by Arraez, Astudillo and Rooker. Especially the first two. Good hitting habits can become contagious, success can breed more success. All three of his teammates are friendly rivals in search of getting the next field position call-up, two of whom are so hungry for getting back that major league jersey they can taste it.

Grrr....*** ***** (...but I repeat myself ) I'm considering a series of articles on questionable decisions regarding prospect arms. These would be articles beyond simply second-guess cherry-picking.... because the organization deserves kudos for the majority of the personnel decisions made and the shift in the corporate culture. But.... For the life of me, looking at the prospect arms (and Pressley) shed for nothing or next to nothing vs. the prospect arms retained or added is frustrating and somewhat perplexing. These "tryouts" being held weekly for a BP spot- with very little prospect for positive outcomes- would be an "OK" strategy for a mediocre team with minimal chance for postseason success. But this is- A team right in the midst of shattering all-time MLB records for team offensive success. A team with possibly the best overall OF defense. A team with likely the best Super Utility/Utility defensive credentials (and postseason success, as well). A team with combined catcher offensive production leaps and bounds above the rest of the league. A team that made the bold move in the offseason in signing the FA who is the leading HR hitter of the last decade. The Yankees just about put a pin in all of the Twins post-season chances vs. the Bronx Bombers with their own "bold move" in acquiring Encarnacion. The Twins obviously don't have such an unlimited open checkbook option, but it doesn't mean they have to wave the surrender flag like the previous regime did all-too-frequently. "Getting something done" will require bold action(s). Getting Kimbrel was never a legitimate option. If we're all honest, we knew that from April on. Signing a Cuban arm by way of Argentina (who knew they had even heard of baseball down there?) is an interesting move, but more like trying to win the Super Powerball Jackpot. Admitting that a mistake was made, or.... taking on a wild, but dangerous 100 MPH flamethrower, or... a 27-8 year old late bloomer, with a $40M Chen rider attached to the deal, would be a bold move that just might work. I remain confident that the Twins braintrust will make moves to shore up the current pitching situation. Hopefully the ownership will financially greenlight "bolder moves" with a decent prospect for success.

Yep. I'm going to see the Wings play in Columbus and Toledo next week. For my own selfish reasons, I hope they are still on fire at the plate, and still with the Wings.

Yes, possible. But how much more do you have to pay in terms of Twins' top prospect talent to acquire them? (Especially for Smith, or for two Marlins younger, higher ceiling arms).

Tom's thread earlier this evening piqued my interest, as I think the new braintrust thinks outside the traditional box and their success at transforming this once-moribund franchise has earned them chances to take on more financial and personnel risks to achieve and insure even greater success in 2019 and going forward. Case in point: The Marlins are saddled with Wei-Yin Chen's (pro-rated) $42M in salary over this season and next. And he's now reduced to pitching out of the pen. But his peripherals in relief this year are actually not as horrific when you look past the 7+ ERA. His fly ball tendencies can be better absorbed by the Twins stellar trio in the OF. K/9 at career highs and still extremely tough on LHBs. Playoff experience. Are the lowly Marlins desperate enough to unload Chen's salary and accept giving up more valuable arm or arms as the price for their original mistake in signing him? Here are some Marlin arms worth consideration: Nick Anderson Just another of the ex Twin farmhand pitchers doing well in other organizations. Bemidji-born, lightly regarded former Twins prospect who put up pretty strong numbers all the way up the Twins system. The soon-to-be 29 year old Miami Marlin rookie has emerged as the Marlins' best reliever. Strikes out a ton, FB at 96 MPH. Grrrrr... K/9 vs. RHB: 18.00!!! BA vs. LHB: .160 It's frustrating to see his name in a Miami box score each time out. Tayron Guerrero. 6'8" 100MPH gas. Very wild, and scary. C'mon Twins... just put him out there to start out and finish a 7th inning 3 times a week... Imagine opponent consternation with Guerrero following or preceding Harper? Who Else is on the list? As always, the Marlins have a corps of young, hard-throwing SPs. In addition, they also have maybe 4-5 minor league SPs with #1-2 ceilings who are projected to debut in late 2019 or 2020. Including, a Top 25 prospect in Sixto Sanchez. With that in mind, perhaps a couple of the current starters might be considered expendable going forward, for the right price, of course. Jose Urena- This is the guy the Marlins would have likely offered as the throw-in to a deal. He would be a reliable back-end SP, freeing up Pineda to immediately go into high-leverage relief. Unfortunately, the Marlins just placed him on the 60-day IL. Pablo Lopez Trevor Richards Caleb Smith Any of the 3 would be a huge boost to the Twins staff. Caleb Smith has the best swing and miss stuff and is the prize out of the trio. He could potentially rival Berrios for current Starting Staff Ace. Though not a lot of experience relieving, he has the potential look of a premier lock down guy if he would agree to embrace the role for the next four months. He seems to be coming on strong and into his own at a relatively late soon-to-be age 28. He possibly might be the most expendable of the trio for the right price, as the Marlins rebuild will probably leave Smith out of their plans going forward when he becomes unaffordable as he passes the age 30 milestone. The cost of the trade? Besides absorbing Chen's (pro-rated) $42 million over the next 2 years? Would a Twins Top 5 and a Top 20 prospect get it done for Chen and one of the RPs and one of the SPs above?

The only "plan" presented thus far is to bring up either an untried or unproven or underwhelming "new" arm for a "tryout." Not much of a plan. In the process, the Twins are frittering away winnable games, even with this record-setting offense, in May and June- which will come back to bite them come playoff time- as they seem rather complacent about ceding potential home field advantage. I've said it many times before, bring up the very best SPs in AA and AAA, and see if they can throw consistent, clean, one-inning stints 3-4 times/week, including a back-to-back on occasion. And get on the horn to the Giants/Marlins/Nats/Royals, etc. about beating the other playoff-bound teams to the punch and locking down at least 1-2 credible RP arms before the ASG.

Welcome back, Professor!

Really good Major Teague team in town doesn't draw flies.... Not realistic to expect the A ball team in town to draw anybody except friends and families.

Or 13th pitcher not needed... Or other corner IF/OF on the IL IOW.... He will be back,,,

Slot $$$ was what I was looking for. I wasn't aware that there is a restricted time period for obtaining slot money?

What was it the Twins got in return?

Yeah. And well, the entire Twins braintrust look like freaking geniuses right about now. I mean, how can you write a script like this for Smeltzer, and then come out smelling like a rose for the weekend series with the Rays?

If it has to happen to every team now and then, this was about as good a time as possible. Delays the time clocks when the 25-man is currently filled up anyways and gives others in the organization a chance to step up and be noticed. But.... I'm really disappointed for the potential season-long loss of Graterol and Gonsalves, as they were in a position to help the big club later this season. Patience and caution are especially the watchwords for these two. Right now they are two keys to the rotation/pen to help assure a continued Twins run past 2020... and beyond.

I posted my own diatribe on Guranteed (Not g)Rate Field a couple years ago. Yet another thing the Sox and the City of Chicago royally screwed up back in the early 90s. They had a great chance to get their own version of Camden Yards- in order to grab some attention away from the Wrigley Field shrine- but they blew it.

Soooo- Does that mean you think that the Twins are for-sure finishing in 1st.? Or might fall to 3rd?

I've been advocating for this since early April. The Cards have had success utilizing this strategy. Why consider trading top prospects for relief help when there are hard throwing SPs on innings counts on the farm who prove out that they can throw a clean inning starting out, leading to higher leveraged situations?