Jocko87

If only there was a camera or something in the area that would make that clear. Not close Dick.

Lots to like about that play. Lewis feeling good, Vazquez hit it hard and they put themselves in position to take advantage. Morneau said it was about time they had good luck, I disagree, they made that happen.

I don't think there is a difference in CF or RH in this situation, unfortunately.

I'm good with all this except the Gray part. I don't think value is there but they might get blown away. I think I'd rather have the higher QO pick and the rest of the years production than a bunch of lower lottery tickets. Gallo is playing his way out of the QO so at that point he's just blocking someone.

Man, I forgot how solid Eric Milton was. What would we give to have another 26 yo with 1000 MLB innings already (pitched for our Twins). Twins certainly got the value end of his career.

I don't know if you are referring to me but that is something I have said and will say again. It was and remains true. It just happens that its the one tool that can stand on its own and is a very good one. Is it generational? Doubtful. He will have to make a dramatic improvement in his health and stamina to maintain anything close to this pace. Remember being concerned about his legs holding up? At this point last year he was hitting .362 with an .899 OPS and fell off a relative cliff after. He didn't run away with the batting title, the season just ended before he could be caught. The pure hitter flopped badly in the second half, improbable as it may be. He's not Rod Carew, and as you state, the Twins knew what they were giving up, that goes both ways. Where would he play? We already have enough stone handed fielders to find spots for. The FO knew the DH was occupied. There have been volumes on these pages about a roster crunch. Yes, I know he would have a spot hitting like this but who loses out? Yes, the roster looks much different without this trade, someone else would have gone somewhere, but it doesn't change that he doesn't project to be anything more than a powerless DH defensively. Making proclamations about this trade less than 80 games in is shortsighted at best. Writing these pieces in the name of content production is the worst thing about the internet. While this is a SI article, Twins Daily could take the lesson as well. Less but better content. There is nothing to talk about here.

"Chance to stick at short" is the phrase that pays for me.

Fantastic call now that I reread the rule 3 times. I would’ve called it wrong. If the batter had made it to first before the throw then it would be a run and on third. That’s a run on the 14u field every time lol. Can’t wait to have to explain that to a coach. Sheesh.

Brent Rooker is on pace for 28.85 homers. A's on pace for 42.16 wins. An improbable seven game winning streak did include 2 home runs from Rooker but as we all know, when the train gets going its more than one player.

For a while I was wondering if he threw up before the game again. It seems like every 6 weeks or so Sonny has one of these games where he just doesn't have it. He's a bulldog and makes a decent ham sandwich but suddenly he has 97 pitches in the 5th. They are the definition of high stress innings, for everyone. He's being pretty generous describing his performance tonight at the start of the clip. Further in he's pretty honest about where his actual struggles are. He makes a great point that he is able to make pitches to get out of situations but he absolutely needs to figure out the odd situations where he randomly loads the bases. I don't see any issues in his comments and don't see the how anyone can say hes done with Rocco etc either. He's being very honest, nothing wrong with that. I would have been fine with letting him go out for the 5th but have no faith that it would have ended any different. One base runner and hes out mid inning which is a worse look. What the bullpen does or doesn't do doesn't matter.

Sir, that’s an eye chart. Still says DFA Kepler. Sir, that’s the Oakland As attendance graph. Doesn’t matter, still says DFA Kepler. Sir, this is a Wendy’s. What did I say? DFA Kepler.

I've been preaching this for quite a while now. The numbers are the numbers but analytics is knowing which numbers to use is which situation. Everyone has all the numbers but the good analytical teams are using them better. It's really that simple. The long term numbers will still indicate the same but short term variables will override in the current situation. I do think Rocco could do more of that but I think he would argue that he does. He just looks at different data than we can. The San Fran game is a good example. Its easy to think the moves were just L/R split based but in his comments he said that down 4-0 in the first we needed to get runs quickly etc. Unsaid was, "this offense is really struggling and I have to do everything possible to get anything" the short term and long term agreed but the short term changed the urgency. If the offense was clicking 4-0 wouldn't be an issue that needed addressed immediately. Lots of factors that we don't even think about in the managerial decisions.

I think building him up as a starter makes the most sense because it opens the most options for when they do bring him back. I could see Varland moving to the bullpen for the stretch run, Meada pairing with the rotating long bullpen guy, Meada as the long bullpen guy, short bullpen guy, opener guy or trade guy. All of those are possible plus some I'm not thinking of by building as a starter. I have to say, I'm intrigued by the thought of Varland in the pen for a stretch run. I don't think there are any innings limitations for him but he might sit at an angry 99-100 in a short stint. His disposition seems perfect for it too. Probably wouldn't need 5 starters in the post season so it would make sense from a roster standpoint too.

.846 career ops, 139 ops+ in the regular season. Correa .829 and 127. So-so so good. I saw that but it wasn’t related to my point.

I’ve seen a few broadcasts not even displaying BA anymore. The only reason anyone cares is that it’s been displayed so prominently for so long.

Two straight off-seasons where he couldn’t do his normal work. Coming off this last one with all the drama a slow start does make sense. Even a guy like him has to be affected by all the noise. I’ll be watching next year for a slow start but I don’t expect him to be bad into June again. Now that he’s settled in hopefully he can stay there. He has also stated many times that it’s all about peaking at the end of the year.

Horrible for persuasion as well. These do everything those do, but fit way better. Maybe for you! My childbearing hips disagree. It just confirms they aren't different from the lulus.

Gladden was gold there. Bounce the heals, relocate things 😂

I saw the tag on the hand just in time. But definitely slide. Launch angle 60 degrees at 95 mph. Hang time on the punt? Forever.

What we saw there was part of the value the FO sees in Kepler. 🤷‍♂️

I did think he was an easy out at third watching live. It would be the right play to go there if it was a standard double to make sure the run scores but with two outs and the ball getting away from the outfielder the run should score easily.

Tough inning for Anderson in right. Good at bats all of a sudden.

Was very surprised to see him go to third there. Foot must be feeling good.

As solid as any other All-Star voting logic.

That is such a pretty swing by Julien.