h2oface

I guess the limit is 9 runs - no double digit poundings. Barnes (7 runs in 5 and 109 pitches) and Jax (9 runs in 4.1 and 92). Robles would have walked both Gordon and Cave if they could have had better plate discipline. Watching Robles inherit runners on second and third with no outs in the 9th, and the boys not able to bring them in.... that hurt. Espeically after seeing Robles give it up to sooo many teams for us.

None of these play. All clicks go to another page, and then back with the next click. Circular. The videos never play.... at least for me. HELP!

None of these play. All clicks go to another page, and then back with the next click. Circular. The videos never play.... at least for me.

None of these play. All clicks go to another page, and then back with the next click. Circular. The videos never play.... at least for me.

AAA season ending, and prospect availability before the end of the season, if that is one's concern.... is confusing to say the least...... The way I am reading it, all AAA teams, regardless of record, will play until October 3, in the Final Stretch, which will really mean ??????, as it is basically all teams playing 10 additional games (seedings and opponents?) against 2 different teams/5 game series, and a 10 game dash to best record in 10 games with tie breakers - and the team with the best record in those games, among all 30 Triple-A teams, will be “awarded a prize from Major League Baseball,” The Champion is crowned, for the East, on Sept. 19 from the best record in the East after 120 game season. The West will have their own. St. Paul is currently 9.5 games back of Durham and behind 6 teams total. HELP! https://www.milb.com/news/playoffs-return-to-minor-league-baseball https://www.truebluela.com/2021/7/17/22580277/dodgers-minors-triple-a-schedule-oklahoma-city

.... and this one talks about a 10 game final stretch that includes all AAA teams ...... with the best record in those games, among all 30 Triple-A teams, will be “awarded a prize from Major League Baseball,” - and the acutal champion being crowned before the Final Stretch at the end of the 120 game season by best record. In St. Paul's case, that would mean they are currently 9.5 games behind Durham, and behind 6 other teams for the "championship" of the East. The West has their own champion. https://www.truebluela.com/2021/7/17/22580277/dodgers-minors-triple-a-schedule-oklahoma-city Congratulations, Triple-A teams. Your season just got two weeks longer, but no, unlike your minor league brethren, you will not have any playoffs in 2021. The conceit of the 10 extra games added to the end of the Triple-A schedule is that it makes up for half the games lost when the start of the season was delayed. The original Triple-A schedule was 142 games long, set to start on April 6, but in early March was postponed to start on May 6, with a 120-game schedule. Oklahoma City will play five games at Las Vegas from September 23-27, then finish at home with five games against El Paso from September 29 to October 3. That makes for a 130-game schedule, but it’s not that simple. Both Triple-A leagues (West and East) will crown a regular season champion, based on the best record through the 120-game schedule, which for Triple-A West ends on September 21. But they are calling those final 10 games the Triple-A Final Stretch — a trademarked phrase that sure seems ripe for a sponsor at some point — and the team with the best record in those games, among all 30 Triple-A teams, will be “awarded a prize from Major League Baseball,” per a press release this week. “With all 30 teams participating in this Final Stretch, all Triple-A players and communities will have the opportunity to win this year’s postseason tournament,” said Peter Woodfork, MLB’s senior vice president in charge of minor league operations. Only that’s not much of a tournament at all. It’s just all 30 Triple-A teams playing two more series. Meanwhile, Double-A, High-A and Low-A leagues will all play a best-of-5 playoff series to determine league champs. You know, like a real postseason. Triple-A got screwed.

"On Tuesday night the St. Paul Saints kicked off their biggest series of the season, facing off against the division-leading Toledo MudHens with big-time playoff implications." Sooooooo....... is there AAA play-offs? This article is confusing, and says that if you win the playoffs you still may not be crowned champs, because the champion will be the team with the best total overall record! Seth was saying yesterday, on the Predicting Minnesota’s Next 4 Top Prospects to Debut thread that there would be no playoffs. Now you are talking about AAA playoffs. Very confusing. Any light to shed? https://www.milb.com/news/playoffs-return-to-minor-league-baseball "July 1, 2021 Dust off your highest hopes because playoff baseball is returning to the Minor Leagues. After the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 season and pushed back the start of the 2021 campaign, the postseason was tentatively put on hold. But now, it's back for three levels. After the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 season and pushed back the start of the 2021 campaign, the postseason was tentatively put on hold. But now, it's back for three levels. At the Double-A, High-A and Low-A levels, the top two teams in each league will compete in a best-of-5 series, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 21. The Triple-A regular season was extended to Oct. 3, and champions will be crowned based off their overall records. The Florida and Arizona complex leagues will not have playoffs. The two teams from each league will be determined by best full-season winning percentage, regardless of division. Tiebreakers will be based upon: 1. Head-to-head record 2. Best winning percentage over last 20 games 3. Best winning percentage over last 21 games, etc. The Triple-A East was originally scheduled to end on Sunday, Sept. 19, but clubs on that circuit will begin two five-game series beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 22, with a pair of off days before the next one starts on Wednesday, Sept. 29. In the Triple-A West, which was set to end on Tuesday, Sept. 21, the two five-game series will begin on Thursday, Sept. 23, and Sept. 29. The team with the best record on each circuit following the completion of games on Oct. 3 will be declared the league champion." Kelsie Heneghan is a writer for MiLB.com. Follow her on Twitter @Kelsie_Heneghan.

Sano. Who replaces Maeda will not be getting his roster spot, but somebody elses 26 man spot. From MLB Rumors - Aug. 23: As expected, the Twins placed Maeda on the 10-day injured list due to right forearm tightness. The placement is retroactive to August 22. Miguel Sano was reinstated from the paternity list and will take Maeda’s spot on the active roster.

I can't remember the exact number, but the FO had the 40 man down to 33 or 34 at one point around the rule 5, I think. Several spots, more than 3 for sure, and I could be wrong, but at one point, as they were dropping players off the roster and preparing for the rule 5, I think it there were 7 spots open. Then they starting signing junk pitchers, most that have long since been gone, or still suck in AAA (like Ian Gibaut (7.38 ERA in 26 games with St Paul) from the Rangers and left-hander Brandon Waddell from the Pirates -just two of the many.) Right there are your spots for Baddoo and Wade. The spots were there. More than enough. The FO just blew it for junk pitching.

Joe Ryan is 25. tic toc. Time to get him in the show. Immediately if not sooner. Jose Miranda. St. Paul is in the play-off hunt? Really? So, I hear over and over and over from the writers and so called experts how what happens in the Minors when it comes to a winning team doesn't matter. It is not about a team winning, it is about process and development. But all the sudden, it isn't, toward the end of the season? Right. Time to see if he can do the same thing he has done at AA and at AAA without a lull. Immediately if not sooner. Moran? I guess. Just about everytime I look at the boxes lately and he has been pitching he is giving it up and not looking so great, but I have not really been following his whole season. So sure, let's see him. He is already 24 and a lefty. I would rather see him than the Vincent's! (just checked out game logs... last 4 games.... gave up runs in 3 of them, 5 earned total, in 7.1 innings, 6 hits, 2 homers, 6 walks, 10Ks, 2 blown saves) Martin? Unless he is moved to AAA, he cannot be brought up this season anyway. Teams can only move players up from AAA this year (or the Taxi-squads, but I don't know if they are still doing the Taxi Squads now)

Right. That's what we need. Mr "circle of awareness", Cheatin' A.J. Hinch. Good plan.

Standing: 5th Place in AL Central (18.0 GB) 5th place sounds and reads so much gentler that LAST PLACE! Back in the Cellar again! I feel so dirty.

Not being able to get on top of the high heat wasn't that extraordinarily bad. I can't believe you are likening Polanco to Donaldson at this moment in time. One guy is Mr. Walk-off, and actually tried to hit the high fastball and put it in play....... and the other has been Mr. Watch-it, and was, in my opinion, certainly more egregious, if either was, for not protecting the plate and zone with two strikes and the bases loaded - looking at the close strike, watching the change up without at least an attempt at tipping it foul with a protective late flip of the wrists. And Polanco's 8th inning homer meant he has no quit in him. I don't find that meaningless. I don't ever find MLB home runs "meaningless". Some are way more important and clutch, but a homer is always a good and meaningful at bat. Yes. Polanco gets a well deserved pass on this sequence, and Donaldson does not. Exactly.

Gerrit. Gerrit Cole. It's an unusual spelling. I need to rabbit hole that name. I would go with Garrett as the most familiar. This made me curious as to its roots.

I was really hoping JD would get to Cole. Too bad.

Yup. Postponed already. Like a snow day in Virginia, when they close the schools for the next day from the weather forcast (but many times, it is a nice day). But Hurricanes and floods.... nothing to mess with. Good call. They had to shut down the big Central Park Reopening Concert early today, too!

That's because they never have anybody (only Berrios has made it in the last 5 years, and they just traded him away) that is ready that comes from their system. Talk all you want about the prospects. That is the fact. Bring Ryan up before he becomes part of this system, and see what he's got, at 25, before the Twins can mess with him.

Truth is very often hard to take, and excuses will always be made.

Garcia fits right in. 3 inherited runners with one out. That's a tough spot, for sure, but the visitor here did the worst job. All three runners scored. Maeda lost it, sure, but it looks like maybe for the next season as well..... forearm tightness is TJs child. That was the last we will see of Kenta for the season, and my bet is most of next, if not all. Donaldson has lost his thirst for the big hit. Walks are a part of his game, but to have two strikes on you (and not just today with the bases loaded in the 5th), time after time, he will take that close pitch instead of protecting the plate and fouling it off or putting it into play. With the bases loaded, you cannot hunt the walk, especially with the count 1-2. The team needs you to at least protect the plate and not just watch it (and he watched 2 in a row for 2 called strikes). And they were both even strikes. He looked foolish whining . I hate watching Luke Voit. Team after team. Players after players. This Yankee thing for the Twins is downright sickening. I hope the game doesn't get rained out tomorrow, and Gil shoves it down the FO's throat and shuts us out, and Cave starts and wears the golden sombero. A showcase of their choices. They deserve it.

I watched those Olympic games Ryan pitched live.... they started at 3am in California. They should just bring the guy up and let him rip. He was classic cool. And when he got the plate umpire to fist bump him between innings..... some kind of kool.

Watch the next two days get rained out, and the whole pitching fiasco wasn't even necessary. No need to give Maeda extra rest and then match him up with Cole. Why not give us a better chance to win and match him up with a different pitcher? If you are going to give games away, Baldelli, you may as well give away one you would probable lose even with your best lineup and starting pitcher (that the team has left, anyway).

Using heart is a bit cliche, and I am guilty, as the heart never thinks, feels, or believes. But that is what is common practice to use in situations like this. Desire and heart. The will to be. The fire in the heart. It certainly helps that body parts can do what the brain tells them to do, that is for sure. Pain is a mother.

All those predictive group think stats to site his failures, and how he is finished........ and it is his heart that wins out. Imagine that. The intangible is still the most important thing.

I am the last guy that wants to run a team like a fantasy/video game. I hate both and participate in neither. But many on this site do like to think that way, I agree. One season signings already know that they are there for one season. Not news. I read MLBTradeRumors daily, and the Twins are not even close to some of the teams and the moves being made. All teams are quick to pull the trigger in those cases, and should, I think. I never liked Colome, and never liked the signing, and if it wasn't for him blowing so many games for the whole first half of the seaon, Berrios and Cruz would still be on the team. Those are the guys that the FO played fantasy/video games with. Our long term guys. The last nine outings for Colome before this doesn't make up for the whole half season, so saying "1 bad outing" is ignoring the total of his sad contribution to this team. As for these guys are human - I agree, and feel for all the teammates that had to suffer through Colome blowing game after game after game this year. 25 of them to one of Colome. Polanco could easily move to short for the last 6 weeks, and we could have Miranda and his two hits a game on the team taking third and Arraez second, and it would make the team better for the coming season. Plus, Gordon should get some time there in the last 6 weeks. The FO already totally gave up on the season, so no need to not see what we have, and I don't mean the AAAA filler, but prospects running out of time and options. I know many like Pineda, but I don't see a PED convicted out of shape vet that takes forever to throw the next pitch as an inspiration and mentor to younger pitchers. And he is probably out for the rest of the season anyway. I hope the FO learned to go for a better pitching staff than they went for this off season. I seriously doubt that other players would feel that the Twins are too quick to cut the chord. They all saw how long they kept giving Shoemaker and Happ opportunities - way longer than they deserved. The fans deserve better than inning's eaters. They deserve upgrades, from the farm, and from free agency and trades. Not lateral moves, but upgrades. Pineda will not be signed by a contender, but by a team that doesn't expect to win. You watch. If the Twins resign him, that is not a good direction.

Some can't help but to fansplain. I agree with you. You said something simple, and the rest was projection. Colome spiked like 3 in a row, with each one getting worse. This new sitting down on the job that our catchers (and others) are doing is not helping. I called the WP on the game thread. I knew it was coming. It was Colome pitching.