crapforks

The competitiveness of this team depends so much less on things ‘breaking the right way’ or players ‘taking the next step’ or ‘returning to form’. The floor for this team has risen substantially. That’s freaking exciting!

I don’t know that there are any specific relievers to worry about. I’m just thinking about the AA and above LH relievers in the division. The matchups later in the game would go into deciding who gets called up. Mauer, Kepler, Rosario, Castro, and Morrison from the left side in the starting lineup most days. Maybe Granite on the bench. Polanco, Escobar, Adrianza, Grossman, Vargas (at least for now) are switch hitters. Potentially only Dozier, Sano, Buxton, and Garver from the right side. The Moyas and Jays in the rest of the central are probably excited that their cup of coffe just got more likely.

Every AL central LH reliever in the upper minors is excited. Every central team needs at least 2 LH relievers when they face the Twins

It has always been a dream of mine that the Twins sign Erik Aybar and also sign his brother, Gary Aybar. Just to see E. Aybar and G. Aybar on a jersey. https://youtu.be/-XNFokmDKrE

Podcasts at 1.5x or greater speed take some getting used to, but reply help in terms of time. Plus, John’s voice is really silly.

This signing could mean Duffey spends some time in Rochester to see if he can stretch out to be a starter? And I really hope this doesn’t mean the team is out on Darvish.

I hope he and Kepler instantly form a bromance. Morneau was not nearly the hitter vs LH as he was vs RH, but he was a more competitive AB than Kepler is now.

15 minutes in. Are you guys having tech issues? Bonnes is clear and loud, Gleeman is quiet and sounds as if he’s in a bathroom. New microphones or something?

Hey! I was at that game! Nice writeup!

I guess worst case scenario has Hughes healthy, but ineffective. Ditto for May.

I don't think the team can plan on even one ML appearance from Hughes. Even if he is recovered from his surgery in time for ST, they can't possibly guarantee him anything. He would probably be at extended ST for months. May is definitely a wild card in the staff. He could be a #3 starter, a mop up guy, a setup guy, maybe nothing at all. He has the talent, but I don't think anyone knows what to expect out of him. Like Hughes, you plan as if he isn't there. If he forces his way into plans, that is a wonderful problem to have.

I understand the the want to test Duffy as a starter. I have him as the long man in my depth chart FWIW. Maybe if the change-up is showing life in ST I can see it, otherwise I see him as an upside reliever with a CB/FB combo which could be pretty good. If, however, the teams decides to stretch him out at AAA, that opens the door for Chargois (or Curtiss or Moya, etc) and might not be the worst thing.

That is my thought on him as well. I think I have him 13th on the depth chart. I guess they want a chance to watch him throw the ball during ST for a bit and see if there's something there. If it costs little more than a C- prospect, I suppose they roll the dice. They see something in him.

Upside is the important term here. It is tempting to look at the construction of the bullpen through glasses tinted by what could be. The team might have been wise to aim higher than Rodney, but Duke is a solid signing. I agree with the likely bullpen (barring injures) that you suggest: CL- Rodney RHSU - Hildenberger LHSU - Duke RHMR - Busenitz RHMR - Pressley LHMR - Rodgers RHMR - Duffey As constructed, I can see this group not straying too far from average in either direction. The reinforcements as of today, are also upside laden: RH - Curtiss RH - Chargois LH - Jay RH - Reed LH - Moya Rule V - Kinley (don't see much room for him) The much lauded veteran presence is there. The young guys with options are there. The near-ready reinforcements are there. This isn't a super bullpen, but if the starters can improve on the 2017 season they had, and with the addition of a more reliable starter (hopefully) to come, there is some reason for optimism. Nobody will call an analysist completely insane for predicting league average results out of the Twins' pitching staff. That is a welcome change.

I have a couple posts I would like to write, but I know I won't. You are thinking bigger picture than what I am suggesting, but I know of some content I would really like to read: 1-The TD community has a couple posters who are avid fans of at least one other baseball team. If you were to reach out to them for articles drawing comparisons between the Twins and another team's position battles for the upcoming season, I would read the heck out of that. 2-Prospect lists are always going to get me to click. An article which broke down some interesting storylines for recent 'never quite made it' prospects (Joe Benson, Shooter Hunt, etc.) and what might have been would be interesting. I know theres a lot if interesting info about these ballplayers as humans as well as what obstacles might have prevented them from reaching their potential. 3-I would really like more info on the ballpark experience. This gets covered in the main forum somewhat, but it would be cool if it had a separate forum or sub-forum. I live out of state and try to make it to MN every summer. It would be cool to have some sort of researchable collection of information re: concession changes, ballpark renovations, promos, discounts, must see features, etc. If there were some other items to combine in the forums, even better. Maybe a sub-forum for Target Field, the neighborhood and the navigation. People could share parking or transit tips, great value seats, favorite pre-game watering holes, maybe even some meet-ups. This multi-forum setup on TD is really underused, as evidenced by so many topics in the main forum moved to another by a moderator. People forget about the other forums. I got off topic. Sorry. 4-Redoing the Blog section to make it more interactive, maybe adding "Blog Requests." I have no idea how that might look, but it would be cool to check in on and see some element of something I was kicking around in my head as a request. Example request: "Numerically rate the potential 5-8 starting pitcher options without giving weight to the notion of development or long term value." Ideas like that could be fun, brainless research posts which might create some great discussion. I know John was looking for ways to curate a more thriving community of longer form contributors and I only offered one-off posting ideas, but I would like to see this site continue to grow and thrive. Whenever MLBTR has their Blogs Weigh In feature, I always click to see if TD is on there. Its a nice feeling when it is. The content here is really great, and the forums are second to none.

In a vacuum, letting the young guys sink or swim is a plan. We fans don't know who the next manager will be, but experience tells us that the young guys will not be relied upon to get the big outs. That will drain the pitchers who have 'proven' themselves. If no major pieces are added, Rogers, Duffey, Presley, maybe even Hildenberger will be ridden into the ground 3 months into the season. If the Twins make some relief moves, I would like to see one or two decent vets with a track record of durability, especially in consecutive games. A big time closer would be a nice get, but Molitor's usage over the last week or so (playoff style BP management) might have opened the door for an organizational shift in bullpen usage: 8-man bullpen, short leashes for relievers and starters, 2, maybe three short appearances before an off day, etc. Is Terry Mullholland busy?

Apologies if this has been discussed in this thread or another. Per MLBTR : "relievers Bobby Parnell and Ernesto Frieri. The two right-handers recently opted out of minor league deals (Parnell with the Royals, Frieri with the Yankees)" Obvious 25 and 40 man issues apply, but should the Twins show any interest in either of these un-sexy names? FWIW, Dyson seems broken to me.

Hoping for a blowout tomorrow to get the gas cans some work. Presley, Haley, Beslile, etc.

Interesting that nobody from Rochester deserved even an honorable mention. Pretty easy call that there will be a lot of shuffling in the bullpen for all levels of the organization. If the team hangs around, there are a lot of relievers who will need to be fast-tracked.

Robby Scott just toying with the hitters

Im sure it was covered somewhere in the 12 page thread, but any obvious reason for EE starting at DH over Vargas?

Is this the running nickname?

He does have a nice arm

Valdez last pitched in the bigs in 2010 for the diamondbacks.

shades of Chargois last year?