Nashvilletwin

The issue remains Correa’s long-term deal. If we are confident/sure Correa is going to be our SS for the next five years, the Lewis has to find a new spot - preferably corner OF, but maybe 3B. With Miranda likely headed down, there are ABs available at both positions now. Btw, this also sets up for Noah Miller as a potential replacement for Correa eventually. However, we don’t know that Correa is going to be around - I’d sadly wager the odds are more likely he’s not. So that means Lewis needs the reps badly at SS if that’s his position going forward. Most likely scenario is that he hangs around a couple of more weeks and then heads back to St. Paul to hone his fielding craft.

Great post. Let’s throw a wrench in the discussion with a couple of questions: 1. Is Lewis a long term above average fielding SS and/or 3B? 2. Can we actually sign Correa to a long term deal? Note: this is all about producing the best team in ‘23 and beyond. Let’s not get sucked into thinking quite yet that this team is ready to contend this year and we’d be willing to sacrifice the future to try to prove it (call me in two months; I’m just not there yet). If the answers are yes and yes, you move Urshela for whatever we can get and a bit of salary relief. Your 2023-2024 infield is Lewis (3B), Correa (SS), Polanco (2B), Arraez/Miranda/Kiriloff (1B/DH), and Gordon (Utility). That is a long term contending infield and the best case scenario. If the answers are no and no, then you trade Correa and shoe horn Lewis into SS (he’s clearly passable) until a better option comes along. Keep Urshela for the time being to strengthen the left side. But, sadly, Correa’s value needs to be monetized. This is the worst case. If the answers are yes and no, you trade Correa and maybe Urshela too (depending how you feel about Miranda at 3B and Kiriloff at 1B), but maybe not until mid ‘23. This is the young, cheap infield case and probably the most likely, and still very attractive, scenario. If the answers are no and yes, you might actually move Kepler as Lewis is probably your RF of the future. Don’t fret everyone - with Larnach proving his mettle, Celestino demonstrating he’s a major leaguer, and Martin on the way, we have four great potential outfielders surrounding Buxton and all are on minimum salary. This is the second best scenario as we keep Correa and Lewis in the lineup everyday. Still might move Urshela as well. Lewis is uber talented and a tremendous young man. He needs to be a Twin for a long, long time. He is the heir apparent to Buxton in terms of team leadership. Hopefully we can keep Correa too, because any lineup with a core of Buxton, Correa and Lewis has a good chance to be a winner.

1. Lewis ABs are getting to be must see events. Congrats kid. 2. Rocco left Jax in too long. Jax had to endure a very long bottom of the fifth, probably leading him to lose some of his stuff. 3. Pagan is so scary. 4. Smith is so exceptional. 5. We need more articles from Ted about how bad Urshela and Sanchez are - his last one perked then right up! 6. Great division win to break the losing streak and get the bats back.

Well, the Twins we’re doing great until the bigger, better, and more experienced kids got out of school. Seriously, the Twins were badly outhit, outpitched, outran, outfielded, and, yes, outcoached. (They were even outumped). Was it just me, or did there just seem to be such a lack of fire in the belly from this team?

Legit major leaguer who had moments of great play, but suffered from a lack of consistent, reliable production. Couple that with below average fielding and consistently absurd strike out rates, and we are left with disappointment. So sadly, more bust than boom given expectations. What is perhaps most sad, is that this is a huge contact year for Miguel. There was rightly a lot of optimism that he would be focused on producing to earn one more big contract. The incredibly slow start now followed by the injury makes a big new deal unlikely. That’s too bad for Miguel - I was really cheering for him,

Lewis, Miranda, Larnach, Kiriloff, Jeffers, Arraez, Centerino, and, hopefully, Martin. Those are eight legit position players making essentially league minimum over the next several years. With Buxton and Polanco, we still have plenty of $ for CC. Add in one legit backup CC and maybe even Max hangs around two more years. That my friends, is a premier 13 player MLB position player roster in terms of talent and very manageable cost. The future could be quite bright.

Yeah, baby! Glad the initial diagnosis has changed. Huge news! Go Twins! Go Carlos! Go Royce! I’m in France tonight, but staying up to watch Royce - first pitch in about two hours at 2:10 a.m.

Ok, it will be fun to see Lewis. But otherwise, this is horrible, horrible news. 6-8 weeks? That’s probably over 40 games - or about 1/4 of the season. And we will be missing one of the best players in baseball plus a team spark plug. Next man up - I get it. And I’m super excited that the next man is Lewis. Great to see him get a solid taste of the bigs. However, we cannot expect Lewis to carry this team. CC is a huge loss. Here’s hoping everyone else steps up their games……we will need it.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Larnach. I hope he’s a Twin for a long time. I just think Martin is the better overall prospect on the margin.

Agree 100%. Ideally he not only gets to St. Paul by mid summer, but gets a taste of the bigs this year and a fair shot at making the team next year. Assuming Correa sticks around, I’m still dreaming of an outfield of Buck, Lewis and Martin - a great mix of speed, defense, power and OBA. Plus, solid flexibility if Buck is out for any reason. If Correa does leave, Martin will be even more important as a corner OF (most likely LF). IMHO, he remains a better prospect than Larnach, Centerino, Wallner or Gordon - and nothing against any of them.

That was so, so good. Haha.

We all saw Moneyball, right? I mean, how hard is it to play 1B? (that’s a joke). Actually, though, not losing sleep over 1B depth at the moment (although feeling bad for Kiriloff and Sano). Now if Buxton, Correa, or Jeffers go down………

Thank you. The power of prayer is incredible. Much appreciated.

Lived there for two years two years ago. My wife got cancer and we moved back to CA - we have a good setup in CA to maximize her chances to beat it. Two kids are there though!

Assuming current levels of production, Lewis will be up this year. The only questions would be when and where. If the Twins are not in contention come the trade deadline (which hopefully is not the case) or Correa is certain to opt out (so even if we are in contention), then Correa will likely be moved. In that case, Lewis is the starting SS the remainder of the year. If Correa is not moved, Lewis gets moved up at some point when the inevitable injury occurs. Btw, if Lewis continues to play at this level, he could be the best choice in CF of disaster befalls us. No mention of Martin. I hope he gets his chance this year too.

What about Lewis (just asking for a friend)? Seriously, my hope is that a) Correa produces, b) Twins contend this year, c) Correa is not traded and stays with a longer term deal, and d) Lewis starts in RF no later than next year (joining BB and Martin in the outfield - how good could that be?). Not sure how much coin it will take, but with Sano, Kepler, and Sanchez off the books and several cheap young starting pitchers, we should have the cash.

ESPN said Buck’s walkoff measured 469ft - that has to be one of the longest HRs at Target Field, yes?

BB’s ABs are must see TV. Every. Single. One.

Fourth observation for me from last night’s game (and it’s not unusual): home plate umpires calling balls and strikes wield the most power/have the greatest single impact on the game. I’m a huge traditionalist. I love the nuance of the game - it’s what makes watching baseball way more interesting (and, yes, exciting). The nuance - and there is so much of it - is what baseball really is all about. Part of that is that for every at bat the count means essentially everything. Pitchers and hitters work hard to get the count in their favour so as to improve their odds as to how the at bat will conclude. Too many times - and it seems like multiple times per game - the home plate ump is taking away the professionalism of the pitchers and hitters by making (egregiously) bad calls on balls and strikes. Yes, I know I’m a homer, but poor Sano - it seems at least one time every game he finds himself 0-1 when it should be 1-0 because the umpire makes a bad call. It’s a huge difference (ergo the nuance). I thought I’d never say it, but electronic balls and strikes…….

Ted, good post. Thanks. You listed 9 position players comparing OPS data. Here’s my question: how many of those players are on the Twins next year (or even post the trade deadline)? Quick take: three - Arraez, Polanco and Jeffers. You didn’t list Buxton and Kiriloff, but they will be too. Possibly Larnach - but not mission critical. The rest will be traded or DFA’d if they don’t get their act together and, for several of them, even if they do. That leaves 4 starting positions vacant (three of we can somehow hold on to Correa). Miranda, Lewis and Martin will be here in August. Assuming we keep Correa, would anyone be sad if our starting position player lineup in August were: 1B Kiriloff, 2B Polanco, SS Correa, 3B Miranda, LF Martin, CF Buxton, RF Lewis, C Jeffers, DH Arraez? Even if Correa is traded for a haul, we could put Lewis at SS, Arraez at 1B and Kiriloff in RF. Either one of those lineups is more exciting/interesting to watch and positions us better for next season and beyond. I’m not worried - I like the future.

I’m wondering which/any Twins position player has developed under Rocco? Sano, Kepler, Kiriloff, Larnach, Jeffers have regressed. Very shortly, this team is going to need a manager who can turn our young talent into solid major leaguers. Sorry, nothing against him, but Rocco has not demonstrated that he is that guy. TK and Gardy were able to do that. Twins will likely need to make a change in HC sooner rather than latter as the next three star prospects make their way up to the big club. Too much talent to squander.

Yep, couldn’t agree more. Outside of this team turning things around, the goal is to hope multiple players start to show more so that we can maximise trade deadline value. You correctly identified the right names. Some of those will be DFA’d if they can’t be moved. However, as this team transitions to a much younger squad, you’ve missed one important piece that also needs to change. That’s Rocco and his staff. This team is going to need a head coach and position coaches who can develop young players to reach their potential. Rocco has not shown that with any young player yet. Fellow TDers please name one. The sooner we bring in that type of coaching leadership, the more upside this franchise can have. Forget Kepler and Sano - their regression may be to difficult to turn around. Think Kiriloff, Larnach and Jeffers on the current team - those three still have potential and are begging for development. We need them to be solid major leaguers.

Seriously, things are headed south pretty fast. Turned on the game tonight and took one look at the starting lineup and couldn’t believe what I saw. Garlick is batting cleanup? Our best batting average was Urshela? Almost everybody hitting under 0.200? It was crazy looking at how pathetic that lineup was tonight. Let’s hope they turn this around. But if not, at some point someone has to be held accountable. That someone includes players (and there are a lot of them - hell, there are multiple DFA candidates playing on this team), coaches, and the FO. Sorry, I am not blaming the Pohlads - they’ve done their bit. The good news is that we should see the future in Miranda, Lewis and Martin plus others more likely sooner than later.

Great post Nick. Really informative. Thanks.

Another terrible loss with coaching decisions near the top of the reasons why. Hate to say it, but these decisions matter. Regardless of how poor we have hit, we’re probably down two games on coaching alone. Here’s hoping we turn things around, but the fears of a 2021 redux are starting to kick in again.