h2oface

Kennys needs to play in Japan or Korea.

One game. Means nothing. I don't understand, if the season is now a throw away anyway, why you just don't let the man pitch some innings. The additional 4 runs the other relievers gave up were the losing runs. (Shutout pen and Twins win 5-4). Let the rookies pitch. Hell, they let Santana stink and keep pitching....... It also may be good to bring them up earlier in the season, when they aren't at the end of the innings limit, or approaching it. Gonsalves, at this time, is an AAA to AAAA pitcher. The White Sox are, this year, an AAAA team. Nervous or not, I expected him to breathe and pitch better.

Awesome piece. Thanks a lot. Morrison should have been more honest and brought this to the surface in May.

Looks like Joe may finally be deciding to try to drive the ball. Never have understood why he didn't evolve into a slugger. Such a big strong man.

Hildenberger's first 3 months steady? I can't forget the massive amount of inherited runners scored that seems to be left out of his review. Perhaps that was an indication of what was to come?

We have Hildenberger, with his 4.66 ERA (nevermind that, it means nothing, just some numbers), (and if he starts innings, he can't let inherited runners score) closing games, on purpose. ( 7 pitches) (7 pitches) (7 pitches). It may look dark now, but there is vision there. Or a vision. And visions, in baseball, always lead to that world series ring!

Yup. But those 2 walks. So terrible.

I guess that is the rub here, for me. Falvey/Levine are "supposed" to be able to identify the right prospects, especially as pitching experts and developers is their calling card. I mean, look at the questionable upside arms they have added. And tossed. It is their job to not miss a guy like this that was in our system and ready to help in the show in 3 months! And not just show up, but shine. It is not our job, but it is theirs. But the Twins did let him leave. It was not Dereck's call to make until the Twins did not keep control of him.

Aerodeliria? By The Loud Family off the release, Plants and Birds and Rocks and Things?

What has not be said yet is exactly when it started. It seems like he had it over the off season, and entered his contract with it at its beginnings. He says he has been dealing with it all year. I wonder if he would have made it through Baltimore's physical? It would be really nice to know the inception, and not just the standard spin that seems to be happening now. I am not doubting he has a problem, and has had a problem and it has affected his play, but I am really interested in knowing when it started, exactly, and if it was disclosed then, and if he carried it over from last season and the off season.

The whole idea of honoring his grandfather..... great. For a couple times. For a season, maybe, although even that is a bit excessive. But now, I believe, that is just his excuse to get in his trademark. He can say he is still honoring his grandfather, but that ship has sailed. Now it is only about his trademark, like the crooked hat, no matter what he spins he gives it. You don't do a 21 gun salute everyday, or every time you do your job instead of blowing the game. How many times does it take before the "honoring" becomes so redundant that it has no point?

Thanks for the transaction record. That is a fine review for me, and others interested in knowing his path through the San Francisco system so far. As I suspected, the Twins actually "allowed" Rodriguez to be a minor league free agent, and then he signed with San Francisco, (and part of my initial knowledge of the situation was to know his name was not spelled "Derek" but Dereck, and that he did not sign with "SanDiego" but San Francisco), and San Francisco "controls" him for 6 more seasons, and the Twins had unilateral means of control that they passed on. In my understanding of the language, "think they are smart" does not mean "think they are stupid", or make the opposite assumption that they "are just stupid". A lot of very smart people also think they are smart, themselves, and are even sometimes, arrogantly smart and flaunting confidence, whether deserved or not, regardless of the size of their hands. From MLBTradeRumors (The Best Minor League Signings Of 2018: Starting Pitchers) this morning: Dereck Rodriguez, Giants: The bonanza of the 2017-18 minor-league class, Rodriguez has been one of the most impressive rookie starters in all of baseball despite being allowed to reach minor-league free agency last fall by the Twins. It’s unlikely he’s a true-talent 2.34 ERA pitcher — in particular, it seems doubtful he’ll continue to hold opposing hitters to a .264 BABIP and 5.7% home run rate — but he’s certainly producing quality peripherals (3.14 FIP / 4.01 xFIP / 4.08 SIERA). In any event, warning about regression for Rodriguez is like somewhat akin to raising concerns with the futures market for gold after your neighbor discovers a lode in her backyard. The Giants can count their found fortune later; for now, it’s enough that they’ve already received a huge contribution from Rodriguez and control him for six more seasons to come.

Dereck...... signed and plays for San Francisco. In 2017, he pitched for both Fort Myers and the Chattanooga Lookouts where he compiled a combined 10-6 record and 3.27 ERA in 26 games (24 starts) between both teams.I believe that all that needed to be done to continue to have control and not have to resign him is to have him on the 40 man, but am not sure about that. Thanks for the attack. You are welcome to your support of whoever you like. I still have the right to my opinion. More people can do jobs than those who knew somebody or got the break. Thousands more.

"They're not ready". I hear that over and over and over and over. From supposed professional execs to paid journalists to blog writers to fans.... etc etc. And it is all BS. The Dereck Rodriguez and JT Chargois stories unfolding in real time prove that talk is ever so cheap. The only way you know someone is ready is to give them the opportunity, and see what happens. So much time can be wasted by keeping a talent down, just because one thinks they are so smart. All the suspects are ready. Let them prove they aren't by getting them some playing time instead of a Matt Belisle or Jake Ordorizzi or Logan Morrison, and even a Rodney. And a Grossman and Wilson. Especially now that the towel has been thrown in on yet another season. Waiting and patience are so highly overrated.

Tourists (Addison Reed and Fernando Rodney) and one year players are not leaders of the clubhouse. I don't care how good they have been. Jim Thome for a year in the 11th hour of his career is not a clubhouse leader. He is a respected old man. Belisle, with a mediocre talent even in his best years, is certainly not someone that younger players respect. They put up with him. Especially now, since he absolutely sucks. Respect comes from your play. Torii Hunter is the exception, because he was a long time Twin, and he came back for his last years (after running for the money and giving his best years to a different team). But it is hogwash to say that Belisle is valuable as a clubhouse leader. He has to be a laughing stock, and the players hiding their sympathy and disdain. The FO and Molitor lose credibility for trying that tact on smart people. I'm not buying.

I don't think Lynn wanted to be here. He started so awful, and was a laughing stock of the rotation. He couldn't wait to get a new start.

Sure I do. But I don't think the division titles were no big deal, and those that did accuse us of that were mostly referring to the supposed weak division we played in, and especially the pathetic and futile playoff record, and not so much we couldn't win a World Series, as we couldn't win any playoff series (except one ALDS against Oakland 3-2 in 2002), and the playoff record of 3-20 after that opening playoff series in this century. The Dodgers have certainly won more than just division titles, even though they did lose several NLDS and some NLCS. And the response was to a bitter comment that claimed the Dodgers hadn't won anything. I'm a baseball fan, with a favorite team. I love baseball. I don't mind giving credit where credit is due, and not pretending something is comparable that really isn't. I appreciate good play and players, even if they/it isn't on/from my chosen favorite team. Unless it is the Yankees. I tend to slip into pure hatred there.

Kirilloff gets my vote. Does rookie league even count? Only three of the 10 are as high as AA ball, and 2(1/2) in high A. It will be exciting when they are all in AAA (where the hitting is dismal) or AA, and close to where it really matters.

Well, just since 2013, they have won 5 consecutive NL West Division titles (winning 92, 94, 92, 91, and 104 regular season games - and they won 3 more Division titles in the aughts and two NLDS plus a wild card ticket to an NLDS), 3 NLDS, and 1 NLCS, and were pretty damn close to winning the World Series last year, only losing 4 games to 3. You can't get much closer than that. I wouldn't call that not winning anything. And they are gearing up for a playoff run this year, with some great moves at the deadline. Those aren't alternate facts, but history. I would take that run for the Twins in the next five years (6 counting this TBD year) in a heartbeat. Hell, I would even take winning one post season series for a start. Even one. Just one.

May got hit like he has been getting hit in his rehab. Just because he was on the roster when he got hurt, doesn't mean he has earned his spot. There are other options. But I guess we have to see what he has, and may as well be now. Belisle. What a joke to keep him. And this team has no use for Forsythe. None. Just release him already. Sure would be nice it the offense supported Gibson and Berrios.

I'm pretty sure Belisle is on the last year of his contract, too. So trade him. Or just cut him. Immediately if not sooner. That's what a team should do.

Logan.200 We needed another Logan that is a black hole at the plate this year. Dodgers needed to keep under the luxury tax limit. Dozier gets to be in the playoffs, probably. My bet is he takes off and really benefits the Dodgers and his own upcoming free agency. This is a win/win/lose trade. Dodgers win. Dozier wins. Twins lose. But hey.... the low level prospects fill rosters in the farm. Farm out. Far out. The maybes and maybe nots.

When do we get the news Rodney is gone?

It will be nice when Jose becomes more consistent. We need him to. He looked intimidated today. Is Rodney traded yet?

YES!