jokin

Vs Chi- 11-7 Vs Det- 12-7 Vs Cle- 9-10 Vs KC- 9-10 That's 41-34 overall, really good against CLE and the only disappointment intra-divisionally is KC. Depending on who's managing next season, Astudillo looks like a good bet to start as 2nd Catcher and end up as 3rd Catcher when/if Castro is fully recovered to play regularly. He's a keeper if the Twins can improve the pen enough to only require a 12-man pitching corps. He's the feel-good story of 2018- and a marketing department's dream player- but truth be told, the odds are long indeed that he can match production numbers anywhere close to this season.

The Twins have many more questions than answers as to who should man the IF in 2019. Two July-traded IF Twins mainstays will be FAs this offseason. Are either likely to be pursued by the Twins FO with oodles of soon-available room on the payroll? Consider: 1) Escobar turns 30 in 2019, while Dozier turns 32. 2) The Twins are turning over the roster and have a huge hole in leadership types. 3) There is no one currently in the farm system that is ready to assume any IF position in 2019. 4) As bad as Brian Dozier's 2018 season was with the Twins, his performance level has utterly collapsed in La La Land. In the midst of an intense pennant race, Dozier's reps have been severely diminished and his poor August has led to a complete statistical collapse in September. Here's his stat line since 8/31/19 (in 52 PAs): .063/.135/.125/(.260) wRC+ -27 HR 0 Questions- How much has he damaged his upcoming FA? Is he somehow irredeemably medically and physically damaged? Can he get more than a one-year offer? Can he get more than a minor league make good offer? Might the Twins be the source for his ONLY "competitive" offer- and how much would that be? 5) Eduardo Escobar's #s have tailed off somewhat from his torrid season while with the Twins, but perhaps some of his slightly lower production can be attributed to his BABIP plummeting from .325 to .276- as his K% improved dramatically downward with the D-Backs, while his LD% and HR/FB% were also improved over his time with the Twins. Questions- How much of a premium is Escobar worth with the hole at 2B and huge questions about Sano at 3B? Should the Twins... 1) Sign Escobar as a starter at 2B or 3B.... 2) Sign both Escobar and Dozier to reprise their Twins roles... 3) Sign Dozier only to a 1-year bargain deal as a bridge to Lewis- with Polanco eventually swinging over to 2B in 2020/ ...OR... 4) Go ALL-IN and make a huge move to stabilize the IF and go after and sign Jose Iglesias @ SS for 2 (3?) years (2018 .865 OPS vs. LHP while Escobar is 2018 .846 vs RHP), moving Polanco to 2B - (or sign Asdrubal Cabrera for 1 year to play 2B and keep Polanco at SS) - and then ALSO sign and return Escobar in a Super Utility role and paying him a premium, say something like 4/$56M (Zobrist's current contract) to get his much-needed stability and leadership to fill any IF/corner OF spot (the Twins are short one RH hitting OF), + DH duty, - meanwhile in the process successfully buying Sano and Royce Lewis insurance? I prefer something like #4- desperate times call for aggressive, but sensible measures. Escobar could go full-pumpkin sooner than we hope, but I don't think potentially being out a good chunk of $56M over 4 years is going to jeopardize the franchise's fortunes.

The Amarillo park must be REALLY nice... as it's not exactly a Texas "destination" city- unless you're a cattle man or an oil wildcatter.

I think it has nothing to do with any concussions concerns, Mauer has oft-admitted that what you see from him is who he is. He's just not an Type A personality/vocal leader.

For sho'.... Re-watch the celebration at home plate. The primary teammate personally engaging and practically tackling Astudillo is... Logan Forsythe, of all people! This, despite the fact that as the on-deck batter, and "primary vet", Joe Mauer started out closer to Astudillo when he crossed home plate than everyone except for Kepler. Joe Mauer stayed a comfortable 6-8 feet away from the center of the celebratory pile-on... hopping up and down, but not exactly engaging and leading "the boys", as he calls them, in their celebration. Not necessarily a criticism, it's just not who he is, as a "primary vet." The team sorely lacks a Kirby or a Torii.

Yup. But, but the American League created a new position- and pays hitters quite handsomely just to hit. Not properly reflected in the WAR metric. You're still playing by the rules imposed by the WAR gods. It's blatantly apparent that on the 2018 MN Twins- acknowledging that he will likely never be long-term a cut above the available prototypical DH/OF- Palka's numbers would have been impactful, relative to the alternatives. And the FO mis-assessed and went with the alternatives. Quick quiz: Palka or Grossman in your lineup at DH?

Definition of replacement level? Crazy, deceptive WAR stat logic in play, yet again. Palka's .757 OPS would place him 3rd on the Twins, behind only Rosario and Cave. His 21 HRs and .471 SLG (also 3rd best if a Twin) would look awesome in this lineup batting 4th or 5th. (Joe Mauer, by contrast, is in 8th place on the Twins at .709) Guys who primarily DH don't give much love in terms of WAR. Is he the 2nd coming? Nope. He's striking out a ton in his rookie season. But still... a Major Mis-assessment of Palka by the FO- dime a dozen? Evidently the FO was counting nickels, instead.

Check his background. His father has been grooming him since he was around 3 years old. Dad owns a professional baseball training facility. This appears to be a situation akin to Joe Mauer's training from early on by both father and grandfather- that made a wonderful athlete with 2 sports to choose from- inevitably choose baseball over football based on his very special, can't-miss, hitting talents. No doubt, he has received good advice from Twins coaches, as well. But this kid missed a key year of development and yet, hasn't missed a beat. I suspect as he climbs the ladder next year, the scales of influence will start to turn towards the Twins instructors, hopefully for the better.... And hopefully as well, that they know enough not to mess around much with a special "can't miss" talent and nearly-finished product.

Exactly how do we get Duke back?

Wow. He's even got the obligatory obsequiousness part of the interview process down, too??? Promote immediately!

LoFo or Grossman? Some might call that a (Butch) Hobson's choice.

Rosario not exactly getting a lot of plate protection on his return back to the lineup. But hey, at least that's the best 1-2-3 in the order in quite some time.

Meanwhile, with the Twins comfortably back in the Classic Lake: Royals Heath Fillmyer ® 1. Whit Merrifield ® CF 2. Adalberto Mondesi (S) SS 3. Alex Gordon (L) LF 4. Hunter Dozier ® 1B 5. Jorge Bonifacio ® RF 6. Salvador Perez ® C 7. Rosell Herrera (S) 2B 8. Alcides Escobar ® 3B 9. Cam Gallagher ® DH Twins Stephen Gonsalves (L) 1. Joe Mauer (L) 1B 2. Jorge Polanco (S) SS 3. Eddie Rosario (L) LF 4. Logan Forsythe ® 2B 5. Jake Cave (L) CF 6. Mitch Garver ® C 7. Max Kepler (L) RF 8. Robbie Grossman (S) DH 9. Ehire Adrianza (S) 3B

Bodes well for the good guys tonight.

Is there someone in the organization that can sum up Duran's dramatic mid-season intra-league improvements since coming over to the Kernels. At this point, it seems well beyond a SSS mirage.

HA. My own insipid joke when he first was signed was: Johnny (Out)Field? His name might say MLB baseball player, but his career stat line says MLB baseball pretender... Why?

Yeah. The Twins got a different Odo from his peak year in 2016. Declining velo, trying out new pitches. An inexpensive, low-risk gamble with mediocre results. I suspect he will balk at being banished to the pen, but perhaps he can pitch well-enough as an SP to be moved out early in 2019- for one of the up-and-coming arms (even Thorpe?) after a short stint in AAA. For all of the criticism the FO is receiving, and as hard as Lynn was to watch pitch, the FO proved you don't have to add years to a contract offer to lure a FA. And they ended up with at least one prospect, and maybe two, with a chance to make an impact.

Is there another explanation, beyond SSS, that Duran has wildly better peripheral results with the Kernels than with the D-Back club in the same league?

Seth, are Jeffers and Duran more prospects or suspects at this point? Especially as they project to MLB Starting Catcher and Pitcher? Is it fair to say that both have performed beyond expectations thus far? What are the chances that each move significantly up the offseason prospect rankings- ie, top 10 for Jeffers (or at the very least, ahead of Rortvedt as top C prospect)- top 15 for Duran?

I know there was a rainout in Beloit. But, how common are playoff doubleheaders in the minors?

Better still, Duran got much stronger as the game proceeded. Started out the game with little control, walks and wild pitch. And persevered through multiple errors by his teammates, and an infield hit and BB, by getting his last 5 outs via strikeouts! Surely he has shown enough thus far to move up the prospect lists? Right?

Funny how most were in complete agreement not so very long ago that the Twins had a near-untouchable corps of young OF, with Rosario being the only one of the 3 who seemed shaky enough going forward, that Kiriloff might inevitably challenge to force the Twins to then move Rosario out. Just a couple years later, Rosario is the offensive and veteran rock and leader of the team. Meanwhile, Kepler practically has a foot out the door (with Cave getting an open invitation to stake a claim to a spot in 2019) and Buxton's status, and career-track, is entirely up in the air. Meet the New Youth Movement- almost ready to replace the Old Youth Movement. In the meantime, more Johnny Field-like tryouts and an offseason "StarSearch" for the next Robbie "Rex" Grossman. There's a long way to go create realistic optimism about competing in 2019.

I get it. It's just that I think this is one kid who would be up to the task and build on 2018 with different coaching input. I mean, 5 for 5 in a September playoff game doesn't look like he's slowing down much. :cool: I would have made the trip to AZ, especially if he were there, but just Rooker as the other main draw is not quite enough to commit.

Why no AFL for Kiriloff?

Falvey as much acknowledged their decision in this regard. It doesn't change the rest of the facts as laid out here previously. I'm even inclined to agree with a previous poster that he needs to spend time in AAA to start 2019 until he demonstrates that he's addressed the enormous deficiencies in his game. There's too much talent there continue this annual carousel. I would hope that the tough love actions taken by management will light a fire under Buxton- because if it does- I really think we will witness HOF level play by him (and Buck can thank them much later).