Nick Nelson

In the first half of the 2001 season, exciting talent propelled the Minnesota Twins to new heights. In the second half, inexperience and compounding struggles dragged them to new lows. Let's dive into the painful learning experience that paved way for success to come, and marked the end of an era in Twins history.We're running a 20-part series in which we look back at each Minnesota Twins season of the 2000s. A rotation of different writers will highlight key moments, unearth forgotten details, and share nostalgic tales from the past two decades leading up to the present. Today's installment covers the 2001 season. Team Record: 85-77 Finish: 2nd Place in AL Central All Star(s): Cristian Guzmán (SS), Joe Mays (SP), Eric Milton (SP) Awards: Torii Hunter (Gold Glove, CF), Doug Mientkiewicz (Gold Glove, 1B) Playoffs: N/A Season Overview As 2001 arrived, the Minnesota Twins were a full decade removed from their last playoff appearance. Tom Kelly had trudged through the muck of a prolonged rebuild, but thankfully, the 2000 season – in spite of a last-place finish – offered more hope than ever that a culture of losing was ready to snap. In 2001, it did. As the long-simmering talent core finally coalesced, Minnesota jumped out to a shocking 14-3 start. Refusing to relent, the Twins kept it rolling throughout the first half, riding a 13-2 stretch into the All-Star break, by which point they'd built a five-game lead over favored Cleveland in the AL Central. Not since 1994 (Kirby Puckett and Chuck Knoblauch) had the Twins sent more than one representative to the Midsummer Classic. In 2001 they sent three: Cristian Guzmán, Eric Milton, Joe Mays. A little more on these critical cogs: After setting a franchise record with 20 triples in 2000, Guzmán came out of the gates with four three-baggers in his first five games, on his way to another league-leading total of 14. He also swiped 25 more bases, but this time the shortstop's offensive impact went beyond the speed categories: he slashed .302/.337/.477 with 10 home runs.Milton, acquired alongside Guzmán in the 1996 Knoblauch trade, remained a consistently above-average workhorse, logging career highs in innings (220 2/3), wins (15), and ERA (4.32) in what would be the last outstanding campaign of his career.Mays was an absolute force, ranking third among American League starters in ERA (3.16) and leading the league in ERA+ (143) while racking up 233 2/3 innings over his 34 starts, which included four complete games and two shutouts. In the context of a very offense-friendly league, the righty's stellar results – while averaging 4.7 K/9 – were nothing short of astonishing. He'd never come close to replicating them.Meanwhile, Minnesota's nucleus began flourishing, as TV and radio ads encouraged fans to "Get to Know 'Em." Guzmán, Corey Koskie, Doug Mientkiewicz, Torii Hunter, Matt Lawton, and David Ortiz were all healthily above-average hitters under 30. A.J. Pierzynski and Jacque Jones were solid as contributing pieces. The only offensive laggard among regulars was second baseman Luis Rivas, who earned some leeway as a 21-year-old rookie and solid defender. Rivas oddly batted first or second in Kelly's lineups 77 times despite a .266/.319/.362 slash line. After streaking into the All-Star break, Minnesota slumped badly coming out of it, losing 10 of 13 to watch their five-game lead in the standings evaporate. In late July, they found themselves in a dogfight with Cleveland and needing reinforcements. Terry Ryan, navigating a pennant race for the first time as general manager, faced high stakes at the trade deadline. On July 28th, Ryan dealt southpaw starter Mark Redman to Detroit for closer Todd Jones, who moved into a setup role ahead of LaTroy Hawkins. But Minnesota's biggest splash came two days later, when Ryan sent Lawton to the Mets in exchange for 36-year-old starter Rick Reed. It was, in the context of the time, a major blockbuster for the Twins, but the deal failed to pay dividends. Reed would post a 5.19 ERA in 12 starts down the stretch. Ryan was wise to seek relief help, but it turns out he needed a closer, not a setup man. He can hardly be blamed for not realizing as much at the time. On the date Ryan traded for Jones, Hawkins was 26-for-30 on save chances with a 3.05 ERA and zero homers allowed (though the 28-to-25 K/BB ratio was a bad omen). One day after Jones was acquired, Hawkins gave up four earned runs without recording an out. This foreshadowed a month of August for the rotten record books: 10 appearances, 7 innings pitched, 16 hits, 8 walks, 12 earned runs (15.43 ERA). From the trade deadline to the end of the season, Hawkins blew five saves (converting only two) and was tagged with three losses as opponents slashed .407/.507/.644 against him. He was far from the only culprit in a free-fall that saw Minnesota go from five games up at the break to six games out when the season ended, but Hawk's meltdown was certainly emblematic. He wasn't ready yet. Neither were these Twins. But in both cases, the best was yet to come. It wouldn't come under Kelly, who announced his retirement days after the tumultuous campaign reached an end, citing burnout. He was still only 51, but it came as no surprise to see TK bow out on his own terms after 15 years, especially with a contraction threat looming over the franchise. Third base coach Ron Gardenhire was selected over bench coach Paul Molitor as Kelly's successor, and would oversee the 2002 Twins season ... if it happened. MLB owners voted in November to eliminate two teams, with Minnesota square in the crosshairs. Team MVP: Corey Koskie (3B) Other Contenders: Joe Mays (SP), Cristian Guzmán (SS), Eric Milton (SP), Torii Hunter (CF) There is a valid case to be made here for Mays, who was an absolute stalwart in the rotation. But instead I opt for Koskie, who filled the stat sheet offensively as cleanup hitter – .850 OPS, 26 homers, 37 doubles, 100 runs scored, 103 RBIs, 27 steals on 33 tries – while emerging as one of the league's best fielders at third base. Mays and his contact-heavy approach benefited greatly from an ultra-sharp defense keyed in part by Koskie (not to mention the Gold Glovers Mientkiewicz across the diamond and Hunter in center). FanGraphs pegs Koskie's 2001 season with a 5.8 fWAR that was easily best on the team. In fact, it was the highest mark posted by any Twin between Knoblauch's last season at second base (1997) and Johan Santana's first full one in the rotation (2004). Now 28 years old, Koskie found himself as the elder statesman in a young group that was rounding into its own, and he led by example with his roundly stellar performance. 3 Most Pivotal Games June 26th: Won vs. Chicago White Sox, 7-6 There is no shortage of of impressive victories you could choose to reflect the team's feisty, energetic brilliance during a 55-32 first half, but this one seems as good as any. Down 6-3 entering the ninth in a home series opener against the Sox, Minnesota rallied for three runs to walk off closer Keith Foulke, with Denny Hocking's pinch-hit two-run triple delivering the fatal blow. This exhilarating win was Minnesota's third straight, and they'd go on to win 11 of their next 13. These kids were starting to believe. July 29th: Lost @ Seattle Mariners, 10-2 A week ago, this all-time great M's team had torn through the Metrodome and thoroughly dismantled Minnesota in a four-game sweep. Now, the Twins were trying to avoid a season sweep in their series finale at Seattle, with the deadline bearing down and their lead in the division gone. Instead, they got blown out. Milton gave up six earned runs. Hawkins was torched, detonating his total implosion. Freddy García allowed five hits in a breezy complete-game win. Sadly, it was a preview of things to come in a nightmare stretch run for the Twins. August 14th: Lost @ Cleveland Indians, 8-7 The Twins took a five-game losing streak into August and proceeded to lose 18 of 29 games in the month, including five of six against Cleveland as the Indians widened their newfound lead. This defeat was probably most painful. Trailing 4-3 into the ninth, the Twins tied the game on Hunter's RBI groundout, then took a three-run lead on Pierzynski's three-run triple. Hawkins came out and promptly blew a three-run save, and the Twins lost in the bottom of the 11th on Juan González's RBI single off Bob Wells. Unforgettable Highlights Twins Burst into National Spotlight On April 30th, a new issue of Sports Illustrated hit stands with Lawton adorning the front cover, his swing perfectly displaying "MINNESOTA" across the front of his road jersey, along with the headline "Do You Believe in Miracles?" The perpetual also-ran Twins had rushed to an early division lead behind an exciting young collection of talent, which was gelling exactly as its architect Ryan envisioned. People were taking notice. Download attachment: SI_cover_twins.png On the same date that SI issue came out, as if to affirm its premise, Brad Radke outdueled Andy Pettitte in a 2-1 victory over the Yankees, improving his record to 5-0 and his team's to 18-6. Mauer Drafted First Overall Many important things happened on the field during the 2001 season, but the most important moment for the franchise came off of it, on June 5th. Blessed with the first overall pick in the MLB draft coming off a 93-loss season, Ryan and the Twins selected Joe Mauer, the heralded prep catcher out of St. Paul. It was a controversial decision at the time, with stud college righty Mark Prior standing out as the glamorous pick, but TR would eventually be vindicated. Prior's career was over by 2006 while Mauer went on to become one of the greatest Twins ever. Radke Goes the Distance Although Milton and Mays emerged as All-Stars, Radke remained the rotation's steady rock, logging 226 innings with a 115 ERA+ and career highs in both complete games (6) and shutouts (2). The most impressive of those came on June 12th, at home against an Astros lineup that included Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Lance Berkman and Moises Alou. Completing nine innings on 90 pitches, Radke allowed four hits (three singles and a double) and issued zero walks. He went on to lead the American League in BB/9 rate (1.0) and K/BB ratio (5.27) Lineup Shows Explosive Potential During their decade-long playoff drought, the Twins hadn't really kept pace with the game's offensive uptick. In 2000 they ranked last in the majors with 116 home runs – nearly 20% fewer than the second-to-last team. But 2001 brought real signs of growth, and the team's win over the Brewers on July 12th might exemplify it best. Riding high with 13 wins in their past 15 games, the Twins delivered an onslaught against Milwaukee pitching. They scored 13 runs on seven homers, including two apiece from Jones, Hunter and Koskie. Koskie also doubled twice in a four-hit effort, and even rookie starting pitcher Kyle Lohse – making his fifth MLB start – got in on the action, finishing 2-for-4 with a double in the interleague match. Chad Allen's Gutsy Showing I'm not sure it qualifies as a "highlight" but it certainly made a lasting impression: On August 14th, right fielder Chad Allen tore his ACL while trying to chase down a Kenny Lofton drive in extra innings. There's no video of it online, from what I can tell, but I'll never forget the way Allen hobbled after the ball in extreme pain, determined to throw it back in before crumpling to the ground and getting stretchered off. Pure grit. Allen didn't play again for the Twins, but he did return to the organization 12 years later as a minor-league hitting instructor. One Detail You Probably Forgot While the Twins made one of their most successful high draft picks ever during the summer of 2001, we also got a chance to see one of their biggest disasters make a fleeting appearance. Adam Johnson, whom the team selected second overall one year earlier (five picks ahead of one Rocco Baldelli), made his MLB debut on July 16th at age 21, and went on to post an 8.28 ERA in 25 innings. This didn't seem all that worrisome, given he'd scarcely been in pro ball for a year, but Johnson was basically done. He finished his MLB career with a 10.25 ERA in 26 1/3 innings. Fun Fact When Radke took a line drive off the hand in a game against Kansas City on August 3rd, he suffered a thumb bruise that forced him to the disabled list for the first time in his career. By that point, he was 28 and had already made 221 major-league starts while throwing nearly 1,500 innings. The man was an absolute horse. ~~~ Previous Installments: The 2000 Season Click here to view the article

Since the voting above (as of today) has Option 1 and Option 4 tied at 7 apiece -- + comments here and on social media mostly following suit -- I'm gonna pull the trigger on both. I'll aim to have another update for y'all later this week. Thanks for participating!

As a new century rolled in, change was afloat through all walks of society. But for a Twins franchise mired at the bottom of the division ever since its championship core from the early '90s disbanded, another last-place finish represented the same old, same old. Change was on the way here too, though. Groundwork was being laid.Today we're launching a 20-part series in which we look back at each Minnesota Twins season of the 2000s. A rotation of different writers will highlight key moments, unearth forgotten details, and share nostalgic tales from the past two decades leading up to the present. Our first installment covers the 2000 season. Team Record: 69-93 Finish: 5th Place in AL Central All Star(s): Matt Lawton (OF) Awards: N/A Playoffs: N/A Season Overview After their World Series victory in 1991, the Twins won 90 games in 1992 but missed the playoffs. It would be their last finish above .500 in the '90s. The realignment in 1994 created a five-team AL Central, and Minnesota placed fourth or fifth in each of the newly created division's first six seasons. The world didn't end on Y2K, nor did this momentous milestone disrupt Minnesota's reliable pattern of losing. The 2000 season saw them finish last in the Central with a 69-93 record, but there was a real feeling of progress and momentum in a rebuild being orchestrated by Terry Ryan, who took over as general manager when Andy MacPhail departed in 1994. By this point, the seeds of Ryan's biggest trade – sending Chuck Knoblauch to the Yankees for four prospects in '96 – were bearing fruit, with all four appearing for the Twins in 2000: Shortstop Cristian Guzmán took a big step forward in his sophomore campaign at age 22. Though he remained raw and unrefined at the plate (.247/.299/.388 with an OPS+ of 70), his athleticism became unignorable as he notched a team-record 20 triples and stole 28 bases.Starter Eric Milton, now an established rotation fixture at age 24, reaffirmed his status as No. 2 behind Brad Radke, logging an even 200 innings with a 4.86 ERA that was solidly above-average for the offense-heavy era.Outfielder Brian Buchanan reached the majors for the first time at age 26, debuting on May 19th and making 93 plate appearances with a .232/.301/.305 slash line. He hit 27 homers at Class-AAA Salt Lake in 2000, but only one with the Twins.Reliever Danny Mota pitched four times as a September call-up, giving up five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. It was his only MLB stint.Mota didn't amount to anything as a Twin, and Buchanan didn't amount to much, but the other two joined an emerging core that would soon lead Minnesota back into contention. Plenty of other familiar names were finding their footing as well. For example:Torii Hunter opened as the team's center fielder, but was sent down in late May with a .207/.243/.300 slash line and 32-to-6 K/BB ratio. After putting up a 1.130 OPS with 18 homers in 55 games at Triple-A, he returned in late July and hit .332/.371/.485 the rest of the way. From then on, there was no looking back.Corey Koskie spent his first full season as Twins third baseman, slashing .300/.400/.441 in 146 games at age 27 while coming into his own defensively.Jacque Jones took over as full-time left fielder at 25 and launched a team-leading 19 homers – 18 of them against righties.A.J. Pierzynski, 23, got his first substantive taste of the majors after sipping coffee in 1998 and '99. He took over as primary catcher following a mid-August callup, and his impressive production (.307/.354/.455) convinced manager Tom Kelly to stick with him thereafter.Most significantly, a 21-year-old Rule 5 pick named Johan Santana took his lumps as the Twins were forced to keep him on the major-league roster. Working mostly as a low-leverage reliever, the rookie posted a 6.49 ERA in 86 innings, showing no signs of the dominance to come. A meeting with Triple-A pitching coach Bobby Cuellar, who would help him develop a legendary changeup, was still on the horizon.For now, Radke was leading the pitching staff, while Matt Lawton set the pace offensively, batting third and slashing .305/.405/.460 with 44 doubles and a 63-to-91 K/BB ratio. The club's lone All-Star in 2000, he teamed with Jones and Hunter to form the outfield's "Soul Patrol," embedding some signature character in this scrappy underdog bunch. The puzzle hadn't yet come together. But pieces were in place. Team MVP: Brad Radke (SP) Other Contenders: Corey Koskie (3B), Jacque Jones (OF), Matt Lawton (OF), Eric Milton (SP) Radke will forever be underrated by many because it's hard now to fathom how wildly different the hitting environment was 20 years ago. He had plenty of outstanding seasons with an ERA above four, and this was one of them. It wasn't even one of Radke's better years, but his 4.45 ERA, 116 ERA+ and 1.37 WHIP over 226 2/3 innings still made him far-and-away the Twins' leader in both fWAR and bWAR. A reliable workhorse as usual at age 27, Radke averaged 6 2/3 innings per start and threw four complete games. Although he led the American League in losses (16) he also notched 12 wins for a last-place team. This was the fifth in a string of six seasons where Radke made 32+ starts and threw 218+ innings. 3 Most Pivotal Games April 3rd: Lost vs. Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 7-0 The first pitch from Radke on Opening Day at the Metrodome was launched over the fence by Rays center fielder Gerald Williams for a home run. It was a tone-setter for this game and this season, while also perfectly epitomizing Radke's career-long struggle to find his groove early in games. April 10th: Lost @ Kansas City Royals, 6-5 The Twins rebounded from their setback in the opener with a pair of walk-off wins. A week later they were 3-4, looking to get back to .500, when they rallied for two in the ninth against Royals closer Ricky Botallico to draw even. LaTroy Hawkins, who'd already thrown 2 2/3 innings in relief of Sean Bergman, was sent out again by Kelly for the bottom of the ninth. He gave up a walk-off homer to Johnny Damon right away, and the Twins lost five of their next six games to dig a hole. May 13th: Lost @ Chicago White Sox 4-3 In spite of these early trials, the Twins rallied back over the following month. After taking two of three from Cleveland at home, they set their sights on the division-leading White Sox, moving within 2 1/2 games of first place with a series-opening victory at Comiskey on May 12th. The following night, they jumped to an early 3-0 lead, which narrowed to 3-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth. There, Bob Wells coughed up a two-run walkoff homer to Jeff Abbott. This setback sparked a five-game losing streak, and the Twins were never factors in the standings again. Unforgettable Highlights Homer Dome I mentioned earlier that the first pitch thrown at the Metrodome in 2000 left the yard for a home run. That was also true of the last pitch. Lawton hit a walk-off homer against White Sox reliever Kevin Beirne in the final home game of the season on September 28th, a 6-5 win. Ripken's 3000th Hit The future Hall of Famer was one of several to check off this milestone under the teflon roof. Cal Ripken Jr. was a mere shell of his former self by now at age 39, but it was still a memorable moment at the Metrodome when he singled against Minnesota's Hector Carrasco on April 15th. The Comeback It was the most thrilling comeback of this season, and few since can match it. On May 10th, Minnesota was hosting the five-time reigning division champion Indians, and entered the bottom of the seventh trailing 8-1 before rallying for six runs to move within one. Eddie Guardado gave up a solo shot to David Justice in the top of the ninth, pushing Cleveland's lead back to two. In the bottom half, Ron Coomer drew the Twins back within one, driving in Lawton on an RBI single. Butch Huskey flew out before Midre Cummings stepped in with two outs and delivered a walk-off two-run homer. Twins win 10-9. At the time, it was a huge victory. Inaugural Twins Hall of Fame Inductees On August 12th, the Twins officially created their team Hall of Fame, inducting six individuals for the inaugural class: Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek, Kirby Puckett and Calvin Griffith. One Detail You Probably Forgot Denny Hocking is generally remembered as a no-hit utilityman, and for the most part he was. But in this year, and this year alone, Hocking actually brought a decent bat, slashing .298/.373/.416 for a .789 OPS that would end up as his career high by more than 100 points. Fun Fact The Twins had the lowest payroll in the league in 2000, at $16 million. Yes, that is about $2 million less than Jake Odorizzi was slated to make in 2020. Radke was the highest-paid player at $3.5 million, followed by Lawton at $2 million. Click here to view the article

It's a good question and I had a similar thought. Given how much he's outperforming his rating, you do wonder if Wood has used up all his magic in the 1st half. This game definitely seems to have some streakiness, and guys who are struggling tend to make it up with hot streaks (+ vice versa) so I do think it's built in to an extent.

Option 4: Press "Like This" on this comment (or voice your support below) if you want us to trade SS Nick Gordon and SP Tyler Wells to Dodgers for LHP Alex Wood, losing a pair of quality prospects but gaining a southpaw who's been one of the NL's most effective starters in 2020.

Option 3: Press "Like This" on this comment (or voice your support below) if you want us to trade SS Nick Gordon, SP Devin Smeltzer, and SP Griffin Jax to Tigers for LHP Matthew Boyd, giving up three quality prospects but gaining an established impact starter with team control.

Option 2: Press "Like This" on this comment (or voice your support below) if you want us to trade CF Byron Buxton and RF Alex Kirilloff to Mets for RHP Noah Syndergaard, losing our starting center fielder and a top prospect but gaining Thor's hammer.

Option 1: Press "Like This" on this comment (or voice your support below) if you want us to trade LF Eddie Rosario and SP Jordan Balazovic to Rays for SP Blake Snell, losing a key hitter and our top pitching prospect but gaining an elite starter with extended team control.

In our interactive simulated 2020 season, the Twins are tied with Cleveland for first place as we reach the end of July. With the trade deadline days away and a critical juncture in the schedule ahead, stakes are high. Accordingly, I've got some blockbuster trade proposals ready to put up for vote. Let's get to it.To get caught up on what we're doing here, you can check out the introductory post in the series for an explanation of the premise and setup. But the quick version is this: We're playing a progressive simulated Twins season on MLB The Show 20 on PS4, and y'all are helping guide the ship. In each installment I'll update you on what's happened since the last, and put at least one key decision up for vote. Date In Game: 7/27 Team Record: 62-46 Leading OPS: Luis Arraez (.918 in 329 AB) Leading ERA (SP): Kenta Maeda (3.36 in 128.2 IP) Leading ERA (RP): Tyler Duffey (1.52 in 47.1 IP) LATEST RESULTS (4-6) Gm 99 @ TEX: L 3-2 (Berrios 7 IP, 2 ER) Gm 100 @ TEX: W 5-0 (Odorizzi 6 IP, 0 R, W) Gm 101 @ TEX: L 7-1 (Maeda 5 IP, 5 ER, L) Gm 102 @ ARI: L 7-2 (Bailey 4.1 IP, 6 ER, L) Gm 103 @ ARI: L 6-0 (Pineda 4 IP, 5 ER, L) Gm 104 @ ARI: W 4-2 (Arraez pinch-hit GW single) Gm 105 vs CWS: W 7-3 (Odorizzi 7 IP, 0 ER, W) Gm 106 vs CWS: L 2-0 (Sano, Kepler, Rosario: 0-13) Gm 107 vs CWS: L 6-4 (Bailey 4.1 IP, 4 ER, L) Gm 108 vs CWS: W 6-3 (Arraez 3-3, 2 RBI) AL CENTRAL STANDINGS Download attachment: alcstandings727.jpeg THE RUNDOWN Our Twins rode a hot streak into the All-Star break but have stumbled a bit on the other side, dropping six of 10 games while Cleveland went 7-3 to pull back into a first-place tie. Naturally, right after I said last time that the offense was fine and we needed to address pitching, the units flip-flopped over these 10 games. The rotation delivered several outstanding performances while the lineup sputtered, scoring two or fewer runs five times including a pair of shutouts – one a complete game by Arizona's Madison Bumgarner, the other a collective effort from Chicago led by Gio Gonzalez. Our team seems to have some issues with lefties? The tough stretch puts us back under the gun as the trade deadline arrives and Cleveland shows no signs of relenting. We are at a pivotal moment in the season. The next three series on the schedule, all at home: Dodgers, Astros, Indians. Titans are about to clash at Target Field, and we need to power up for it. I've been exploring possible deals to add starting pitching, and will run through the possibilities shortly, but first wanted to mention that we were offered a trade by another team. The Angels, running away with the AL West and leading the majors in wins (71), interestingly came calling for Jose Berrios. Their offer was enough of a nonstarter that I went ahead and rejected without even bringing it up here for a vote. Download attachment: joseberriosoffer.jpeg Now, I will say that if the Twins were out of contention, this might be a deal worth considering. Canning is a legitimately good young pitcher with many years of cheap team control. Jones is a solid prospect. Anderson is a reliever with a big arm. And the Twins would benefit financially from this trade. But the idea that our first-place club would trade its best starter to the only AL team with a better record, in exchange for prospects, is laughable. Nice try Billy Eppler, but no dice. WHO'S HOT Berrios, for one. Which makes the above trade offer all the more easily dismissed. Berrios delivered a pair of quality starts and dating back to the beginning of June, he has now delivered eight of them in nine starts while posting a 2.24 ERA over 64 1/3 innings. Berrios has his ERA for the season down to 3.38, trailing rotation leader Kenta Maeda (3.36) by just a hair. Jake Odorizzi has been a bit more up-and-down this summer, but he too came racing out of the gates in the second half, firing 13 scoreless innings against the Rangers and Diamondbacks. His ERA now sits at 3.42, so the top three starters are all right in the same neighborhood. Offensively it's been a bit of a trudge, with the typical exception of Arraez. Among AL players he trails only Mike Trout in average (.334) and on-base percentage (.432), and the second baseman's latest sample included a crucial pinch-hit two-run single in the ninth to help Minnesota avoid a sweep in Arizona. WHO'S NOT Plenty of hitters, but that's not my concern right now. The biggest problem on this team has become Homer Bailey, who's managed to collect 10 wins despite mostly pitching rather terribly. His struggles have gotten out of hand lately; in the most recent stretch, he went 0-2 in his two starts while failing to get through five innings in either. Add in his clunker against Toronto just ahead of the All-Star break, and Bailey has coughed up 16 earned runs on 20 hits in 11 1/3 innings over his past three turns, with as many walks (7) as strikeouts (7). For most of the first half, he was a decent enough stopgap for the back of the rotation. But it's clear that he needs to be replaced. Let's see how we might go about that ... DECISION TIME: PULLING THE TRIGGER ON A BLOCKBUSTER In our last edition, voters dictated that starting pitching would be our top priority in terms of deadline upgrades. Following this direction, I've made some inquiries around the league and come up with four proposals that I think we could get through. I've arranged them here into tiers of magnitude, and you can vote for your favorite(s) in the comments section. Tier 1: Trade LF Eddie Rosario and SP Jordan Balazovic to Rays for LHP Blake Snell From my cursory exploration of the market, Snell seems to be the best pitcher that could feasibly be had. I'm not exactly sure why the Rays would be compelled to trade him, but, you know. It is the Rays. And they'd be getting back a nice haul. Download attachment: blakesnelloffer.jpeg The Upside: Snell is an ace. Perhaps the very one we need. His ERA in 122 2/3 innings with the Rays this year is 3.52, which puts him in the same range as our current top three, but Snell's rating in the game (93) is vastly higher than any current Twins starter (Berrios, Odorrizi and Maeda are all 81s). Best of all, Snell is 27 and under reasonable team control for four years. The Downside: Losing Rosario and Balazovic would hurt, a lot, both now and in the future. Rosario is tied with Donaldson, Rogers and Sano as the highest-rated Twin (85). Rosie's been a crucial piece of the lineup with 16 homers and 67 RBIs. Meanwhile, Balazovic is already our organization's fourth-highest rated starting pitcher (75) and he's a 21-year-old rookie. (With 72 strikeouts in his first 68 MLB innings, I might add.) Balazovic is certainly the key to this deal in Tampa's eyes and I'd be wary of moving him. Tier 2: Trade CF Byron Buxton and RF Alex Kirilloff to Mets for RHP Noah Syndergaard Naturally, I went to revisit this fizzled discussion from the 2019 deadline. New York's demands haven't changed much since then: They want a star-caliber center fielder (Buxton) and another top-tier prospect for their flame-throwing righty. In real life, I'd view this Buxton + Kirilloff package as far more indispensable than the Rosario + Balazovic package proposed above, but in our virtual sim world, that's not so clear. Download attachment: noahsyndergaardoffer.jpeg The Upside: Syndergaard's UCL is intact in the game. So that's a plus. Not only is he healthy, Thor has been up to his usual tricks, with a 3.06 ERA and 120-to-37 K/BB ratio in 118 innings for the Mets. And while giving up Buxton and Kirilloff might seem like a hard pill to swallow, both are (IMO) a bit underrated in the game, and both are relatively replaceable, with Max Kepler able to play center and Trevor Larnach alongside Kirilloff at Triple-A. The Downside: Syndergaard's got a lower rating (87) than Snell, though he'd still instantly become our best player. Thor is also due for free agency at year's end, meaning we would be giving up Buxton and Kirilloff for a rental. We can certainly try to re-sign Syndergaard, but budgetary constraints are a thing. Then again, it's a video game so who really cares about the future? Tier 3: Trade SS Nick Gordon, SP Devin Smeltzer, and SP Griffin Jax to Tigers for LHP Matthew Boyd A good ol' quantity-for-quality trade. Since Boyd's name has frequently been the subject of trade rumors, I went and inquired about him, and it seems he could be had for a palatable prospect package. Download attachment: mattboydoffer.jpeg The Upside: We're not really giving up anything that hurts too much, and Boyd's a solid arm, with an 82 overall rating that edges any current Twins starter. He's arbitration eligible for two more years after 2020. The Downside: It's a big step down from the two game-changing options above. And while Boyd is rated well, his performance this year hasn't backed it up: He's 6-12 with a 4.80 ERA in 22 starts. Tier 4: Trade SS Nick Gordon and SP Tyler Wells to Dodgers for LHP Alex Wood Among starting pitchers that are actually on the trading block, Wood is the best available. Since he's being shopped, I figured the lefty might be available for a smallish return and, yep, that is the case. Download attachment: alexwoodoffer.jpeg The Upside: Not giving up much, and Wood's having himself a year, with his 2.53 ERA through 20 starts ranking third-best in the National League. Sorta begs the question of why the first-place Dodgers are trying to trade him, but that's not for me to worry about. The Downside: His overall rating is 81, so while he'd be a clear improvement over Bailey (73), Wood is just another guy at the same tier as Berrios, Odorizzi, and Maeda. He probably helps us win a few more games in the regular season, but does he make a difference in the playoffs? I'll list these four proposals in the comments. Whichever one gets the most support, that's the trade we'll make. And I'm not opposed to swinging multiple deals. COMING UP 7/28 vs LAD 7/29 vs LAD 7/31 vs HOU *TRADE DEADLINE* 8/1 vs HOU 8/2 vs HOU 8/3 vs CLE 8/4 vs CLE 8/5 vs CLE PREVIOUS INSTALLMENTS Part 1: We Can Build This Thing Together (0-0) Part 2: 10 Games In, 6 Games Back (4-6) Part 3: Roaring Back (11-9) Part 4: Over the Hill (17-13) Part 5: Checking In at the Quarter Point (23-17) Part 6: Rising Power (30-20) Part 7: First Place! (Barely) (34-26) Part 8: Drafting and Dropping (38-32) Part 9: Cruz Control (45-35) Part 10: Pulling Ahead (52-38) Part 11: Bashing into the All-Star Break (58-40) MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Saying that baseball team owners, who have more wealth than all their players combined and who don't have to make any personal sacrifices (in terms of personal safety, well-being and life disruption) in this scenario, should be willing to accept financial losses if they want to hold a season is not "bias," it is an opinion based on facts and personal conviction.

Not suffer at all?? Do you understand these are people, with families, being sent into a hazardous, awkward and confining situation for months? No matter the precautions or systems MLB implements, players and personnel will be putting themselves at risk, while owners watch from their comfy mansions. There is more to the world than money, and people in all walks of life are coming to terms with that right now. I'm perfectly fine with an opt-in season. I'll watch. I just don't think any players should feel obligated to participate and I don't think it should count as an official MLB season of record. I have been clear & consistent with this view for over a month.

Would they be happy to go back for 1% of what they earn? Even if their very comfortable bosses/ownership could easily afford to pay their full salaries and be just fine? Because that's the more pertinent hypothetical here. MLB owners would (maybe) be taking a loss in the short-term but they're still boosting the value of the team and league in which they have equity. Players don't share in that benefit. Again, I have serious gripes with the idea that cash influxes (like the huge media deals of the past decade) go basically straight to owners, yet players have to share the burden of an unexpected lull.

From their perspective, the deal they agreed to has been changed. Why is this on them and not the owners? These players are human beings. They have no obligation to put their health and safety at risk for you, me, or anyone else if they don't deem the financial benefits worthwhile.

Option 3: Press "Like This" on this comment (or voice your support below) if you want us to go all out and focus on upgrading BOTH the rotation and bullpen at the trade deadline.

Option 2: Press "Like This" on this comment (or voice your support below) if you want us to focus our efforts at the trade deadline on upgrading the bullpen.

Oops forgot the voting options! Option 1: Press "Like This" on this comment (or voice your support below) if you want us to focus our efforts at the trade deadline on upgrading the rotation.

We have arrived at the All-Star break in our interactive simulated 2020 season on MLB The Show. I am pleased to report that, thanks to your help, our Minnesota Twins are in first place with the third-best record in baseball. We sent five players to the All-Star Game, and one prospect to the Futures Game. Read all about it below.To get caught up on what we're doing here, you can check out the introductory post in the series for an explanation of the premise and setup. But the quick version is this: We're playing a progressive simulated Twins season on MLB The Show 20 on PS4, and y'all are helping guide the ship. In each installment I'll update you on what's happened since the last, and put at least one key decision up for vote. Date In Game: 7/17 Team Record: 58-40 Leading OPS: Luis Arraez (.926 in 293 AB) Leading ERA (SP): Kenta Maeda (3.23 in 117 IP) Leading ERA (RP): Tyler Duffey (1.43 in 44 IP) LATEST RESULTS (6-2) Gm 91 @ CLE: W 8-5 (Sano 4-5, 3 HR, 5 RBI) Gm 92 vs KC: W 3-1 (Bailey 7 IP, 1 ER, W) Gm 93 vs KC: W 5-2 (Pineda 6 IP, 0 R, W) Gm 94 vs KC: W 2-0 (Berrios 8 IP, 0 R, W) Gm 95 vs TOR: L 10-9 (Sano 2-2, HR, 3 BB, 2 RBI) Gm 96 vs TOR: W 6-2 (Donaldson HR, 2 RBI) Gm 97 vs TOR: L 6-2 (Bailey 2.2 IP, 6 ER, L) Gm 98 vs TOR: W 12-4 (Donaldson 3-5, HR, 4 RBI) AL CENTRAL STANDINGS Download attachment: alcstandings727.jpeg THE RUNDOWN In our last edition, commenters voted unanimously in favor of moving Luis Arraez to the leadoff spot. So I did just that, and in eight games since, the Twins have gone 6-2 while averaging nearly six runs per game. Arraez certainly did his part at the top, going 8-for-27 (.296) with six walks and eight runs scored. Here at the break, Arraez is tied with Mike Trout for the AL lead in batting average at .334. But his tremendous first half wasn't enough to earn Arraez a trip to Los Angeles for the All-Star Game at second base, where Gleyber Torres and Jose Altuve got the nods. Our Twins did, however, send five players to the Midsummer Classic at Dodger Stadium: Mitch Garver (.300/.392/.517 with 15 home runs through 71 games) was the AL's starting catcher.Max Kepler (.289/.373/.462 with 13 homers through 87 games) was the AL's starting right fielder.Eddie Rosario (.284/.324/.494 with 15 homers through 83 games) got in as a backup outfielder.Kenta Maeda (12-4 with a 3.23 ERA and 9.8 K/9 rate through 117 innings) made the team as a starting pitcher.Taylor Rogers (26 saves, 2.58 ERA, 1.19 WHIP as Twins closer) made the team as a reliever.Here was the American League's starting lineup, with Houston ace and reigning Cy Young winner Justin Verlander getting the starting nod: Jose Ramirez (CLE), SSTommy La Stella (LAA), 3BMike Trout (LAA), CFJ.D. Martinez (BOS), DHGleyber Torres (NYY), 2BMatt Olson (OAK), 3BEloy Jimenez (CWS), LFMitch Garver (MIN), CMax Kepler (MIN), RFNo, I am not sure why Cleveland's third baseman Ramirez was able to start at shortstop, nor what's gotten into the All-Star team's actual third baseman La Stella, who already has career highs in almost every offensive category at the break. But for the most part, this All-Star lineup felt reasonable. It was a fairly eventful night for our hometown Twins in a 6-3 loss for the American League. Garver grounded into a double-play in his first at-bat, then delivered a two-run homer against Stephen Strasburg in his second, putting the AL on top 3-2 at the time. Download attachment: garverASGhomer.jpeg Kepler went 1-for-2 with a single. Maeda threw a perfect fourth inning, and Rogers allowed one run on one hit in his single inning of work, with two strikeouts. Rosario didn't make it into the game, due to a bench deep on outfielders. Meanwhile, Alex Kirilloff represented Minnesota in the Futures Game, though he was sadly our lone rep. He started in right field and batted cleanup for the AL team. Kirilloff delivered an RBI single in his first at-bat of the game and finished 1-for-3. Download attachment: kirilloff_futuresgame.jpeg Getting back to the bigger picture, as our Twins now put the first half behind them and gear up for a contested stretch run, here's a quick overview of where things stand at the break. Anchored by All-Stars Maeda and Rogers, along with several others who could've been in the conversation (Berrios, Odorizzi, Duffey), Minnesota's pitching has been very good. But the lineup was this team's calling card in the first half, as the Twins are leading MLB in runs scored with 512. Repeating 2019's recipe, they've been productive up and down the lineup, with no MVP-caliber standout. Seven regulars are sporting an OPS above .800 (through none higher than Arraez's .926). That doesn't include Jorge Polanco, whose .796 mark is four points short, but he's slashing .282/.369/.427 and that qualifies as plenty good. The only hitter who's struggled is Byron Buxton, sitting at .231/.309/.331 through 79 games, but even he's been coming on a bit lately, and he's got 23 steals. A well-rounded effort places the Twins in the driver's seat, with their 58-40 record ranking as the third-best in the majors, behind both Los Angeles teams. Yes, while the Dodgers are predictably leading baseball in wins, the Angels have been 2020's big surprise, jumping to a 62-34 start in the AL West despite Shohei Ohtani tearing his labrum in his first start. The Halos have gotten it done behind an offense powered by Trout (1.108 OPS), Andrelton Simmons (20 HR), and Justin Upton (.326 AVG). Our Twins still have plenty to worry about as we turn our attention to trade deadline season. Cleveland lurks only 2 1/2 games out of first. We'll have Berrios (11-5, 3.45 ERA) lined up to open the second half in Texas against Jordan Lyles and the Rangers. WHO'S HOT After a bit of a contagious dry spell, our power bats are getting their juice back. Sano homered three times with five RBIs in the series-clinching win at Cleveland. Later on, the final game fo the first half saw Sano, Donaldson and Cruz all go deep in a 12-4 win against Toronto. Those three reach at the break on pace to finish with 40, 38, and 31 home runs, respectively. Michael Pineda is settling nicely into his rotation spot. He went 2-0 in his two starts over the past eight games, allowing four runs in 12 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts and no walks. And while he didn't make the All-Star Game alongside the closer Rogers, Duffey continues to shine. He made three more scoreless appearances during the latest stretch, lowering his ERA to 1.43. WHO'S NOT Homer Bailey ended his first half on a sour note, allowing six earned runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings against Toronto to push his ERA up to 5.01. But in his prior start against Kansas City he threw seven innings of one-run ball, and he's 10-4 on the season. For the most part, this entire team is clicking right now. That doesn't mean we don't have clear areas for improvement as we turn our attention to the upcoming trade deadline, which brings us to... DECISION TIME: WHERE TO FOCUS AT THE DEADLINE? I'm confident in saying we don't need to further supplement the offense, unless a big injury pops up over the next two weeks. There isn't a single spot in the starting lineup that sticks out as a weakness (accounting for Buxton's defense and speed), and even our bench guys have been productive. Much like at 2019's deadline, pitching appears to be the make-or-break factor in a potential championship run. As we start sizing up opportunities, I'll follow the crowd's guidance. Three options, as I see them: Upgrade the rotation. I'm feeling good about our top three (Berrios, Maeda, Odorizzi) but Bailey is no more than a placeholder, and while Pineda's pitched well in three starts since joining the team, he's hardly locked in. Not that we're limited to these options, but here are some SP names listed on the trading block: Jameson Taillon (PIT), Alex Wood (LAD), Steven Matz (NYM). I'd probably lean toward aiming higherUpgrade the bullpen. Here too we are strong at the top (Rogers, Duffey, May, Clippard) but there are some soft spots below in the form of Zack Littell (4.03 ERA, 1.63 WHIP) and Fernando Romero (5.06 ERA, 1.58 WHIP). Among RP names listed on the trading block: Oliver Drake (TB), Jake Diekman (OAK), Craig Stammen (SD), Adam Ottavino (NYY).Upgrade both.I won't make any big moves without the blessing of our collective braintrust, but the direction you all provide will shape my exploratory inquiries ahead of the next edition, at which point we will dictate our deadline splash(es). Vote your preference by sounding off in the comments. COMING UP 7/17: @ TEX 7/18: @ TEX 7/19: @ TEX 7/20: @ ARI 7/21: @ ARI 7/22: @ ARI 7/23: @ CWS 7/24: @ CWS 7/25: @ CWS 7/26: @ CWS PREVIOUS INSTALLMENTS Part 1: We Can Build This Thing Together (0-0) Part 2: 10 Games In, 6 Games Back (4-6) Part 3: Roaring Back (11-9) Part 4: Over the Hill (17-13) Part 5: Checking In at the Quarter Point (23-17) Part 6: Rising Power (30-20) Part 7: First Place! (Barely) (34-26) Part 8: Drafting and Dropping (38-32) Part 9: Cruz Control (45-35) Part 10: Pulling Ahead (52-38) MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Via Rosenthal: "MLB revenue-sharing plan is a non-starter for the Players Association" https://theathletic.com/1806964/2020/05/11/mlb-revenue-sharing-plan-is-a-nonstarter-for-the-players-association/

The Twins have claimed to operate on a model that calls for investing 51% of revenue into payroll. We all know that wasn't happening from 2012 through 2016 or so (at the very least). You tell me where that money is going. I dunno. I would assume back into the Pohalds' pockets. To my knowledge it didn't go to employees or charity. And no, I would not say it is the same thing as what you laid out, since MLB owners are billionaires by rule (restaurant and small business owners not so much) and baseball teams by nature have extremely variable spending patterns. The Twins for example were slated to spend about $60M (70%) more on payroll in 2020 than they did in 2014. Do you think they were planning on 70% more revenue? In any case, I don't think it's appropriate to treat this situation like business as usual. To be frank, I believe that ultra-rich people and billionaires should be making sacrifices in all phases of society right now. I understand that baseball players are also generally quite rich, but much less so, and they are assuming ALL OF THE RISK in this scenario. If you disagree with my basic philosophy here that's fine, but it's how I feel.

How many times in the past did the Twins (along with basically every other team) pocket extra revenue amidst a "rebuilding" year, without ever reinvesting that money into future teams? Why can't it swing the other way for a change? I'm dubious of whether teams are actually going to lose money by paying full salaries (there's a lot of distributed national media money you're not accounting for) but even if they do I'm not all that sympathetic.

It's now been about one month since I wrote here that I was giving up on the viability of a 2020 MLB season of record (and John disagreed.) Since then, some things have changed, and others have not. Given the flurry of recent developments and revelations, this feels like a good time to reassess the situation.Last week, former Twin (and 2020 Winter Meltdown guest) Trevor Plouffe tweeted that baseball was working toward a spring training reboot on June 10th, with a target of July 1st for Opening Day. Surprisingly, he indicated games would be played at teams' home parks. Plouffe later added that players in six different organizations had relayed this information to him. Then, over the past weekend, Ken Rosenthal filed a story for The Athletic detailing MLB's plan to return. Here's the framework he shared: An ~80 game season beginning in early July.Regionalized schedule, with games being played only against teams from the same division (or same interleague division).Expanded playoffs, with seven instead of five entrants from each league.Teams opening in "as many home parks as possible," with those that are unable relocating to spring training parks or other MLB stadiums.In other words, Plouffe's scoop has been more or less verified by the top baseball reporter in the country. Good on ya, Trevor. But Rosenthal was careful to caution that these plans are far from solidified. He opened his article by stating "Nothing is official," and ended it by calling this arrangement "a preferred blueprint." Significant hurdles remain, including testing capacity, full endorsement from medical communities, relaxing of regional restrictions, and creation of a feasible protocol in response to a positive test. Still, the gears now in motion support John's counterpoint stance from last month: a 2020 baseball season is going to happen, because there's too much money at stake for it not to happen. In a twist of irony, however, it turns out one of John's core premises in the article – "This is not a negotiation between the MLB and MLBPA" – may have been a bit overly optimistic. And therein lies a new and problematic sticking point. One of the provisions cited by Rosenthal was that, given a lack of ticket revenue, "the players would be asked to accept a further reduction in pay." Subsequent reports (along with common sense) suggest this request will not be met warmly. NBC Sports indicated the proposed stipulation is "sitting terribly with players," who felt they already had a good-faith agreement in place. One source opined that there is "going to be a war" if MLB demands further pay cuts. I can see both sides of this, but lean far more toward the players' grievance: they're going above and beyond to do their jobs, while assuming all the risk, and would hardly be sucking dry the coffers of billionaire owners receiving huge TV revenues. Why should they have to make this concession? But it doesn't matter what I think, or anyone else on the outside for that matter. If owners don't see a clearly beneficial bottom-line calculation, they aren't going to keep pushing. And the same goes for players, who conversely have many other implications to factor in beyond finances. Whereas money was supposed to be the mighty uniter and motivator in this scenario, it may be driving an immovable wedge at a crucial moment, preventing the league from even being able to even seriously explore the extreme logistical barriers that would be confronted following an agreement. My position has never been that baseball will not be played in 2020, but rather that it doesn't make sense to push for a season of record. My reasoning has been based on two fundamental issues (beyond all the practical pitfalls in simply making it happen): If we're playing a shortened schedule in eerily quiet spring training stadiums, with reconfigured divisions, is it even worth trying to compete toward an official result in MLB's annals?If a considerable portion of players are opting out of this arrangement, is it even fair to try and hold a season as normal, with rosters unevenly affected and huge stars potentially absent?The new proposal hinted by Plouffe and elaborated upon by Rosenthal does serve to alleviate my first concern; I could get down with an 80-game season, with an altered schedule that still remains generally true to the existing divisional structures. But rising tensions around pay cuts only further accentuate the second concern; if MLB owners remain deadset on this demand, I have to assume that – at best – they'll get partial participation. In that scenario, baseball can still happen. And I'd be giddy to see it, provided they find a way that's safe and responsible. But should an official MLB season be played, in the guise of naming a 2020 champion and staying true to the game's historical legacy? I still say no. Regardless, it's definitely encouraging to see orchestrated efforts underway and formal plans taking shape. We should have a clearer picture of the path ahead by midweek, as Rosenthal's timeline called for a formal proposal being presented to players on Tuesday. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article