Danchat

So far this year vs CHW: 1-7 (counting today's game), run differential of -36 (66 - 30). Yeah, we've been getting embarrassed almost every game against them, not to mention the inane "unwritten rules" fiasco.

I can already foresee what's going to happen the next couple weeks - we see more "trade/fire everyone" articles the next couple days as the White Sox remind us that we're bad, but then we beat up on the Tigers and we see more "OMG guys, we're only 13 games out of first, we can do this!" posts.

With the way Kepler has been hitting, he should really be below Kirilloff and Gordon in the lineup.

2024? I would think 2023 is realistic even if you think we won't be competitive in 2022... unless you think our FO is that incompetent.

I think we've got to crown June 29th as Jose Miranda Day, or something like that. I can't remember the last time a minor leaguer did this in their first start at a new level. Here's hoping he continues to rake like there's no tomorrow!

So... how about Jose Miranda?!

Cruz, what the heck was that?

I was waiting for the inevitable "Maeda is struggling because of the delays" excuse, and yup, Morneau had to crank it out.

I don't think Baddoo and Wade are self-scouting errors; Baddoo did not seem like he would be taken in the Rule 5 draft due to his numbers in the minors and injury history, and there was only so much room on the 40 man. Wade was superfluous as yet another lefty who would be stretching it in CF, so with Kepler/Cave/Kirilloff/Larnach/Arraez on the team, trading him was logical, but they failed to fix the pitcher they got in return. This FO does seem to have an issue with self-scouting their pitchers. While they could have tried out Nick Anderson, they were busy rummaging through DFA guys like Matt Belisle and Oliver Drake. They too often try to get their older waiver wire relievers to become reliable options when they could be trying out arms in the minor league system. They also have not shown willingness to go out and acquire arms via trade very often, with Maeda as their only successful veteran acquisition via trade (Romo was more of a minor success). If we're going to go on a World Series run, we'll need a great bullpen, and that's not going to be built via scrap heap pickups. Sure, you'll find a gem every once in a while like Brandon Workman for the Red Sox, but most of the time they will need to spend in FA/trades and develop some minor league arms.

He's #32 on my board, his Tool Grades from Fangraphs is keeping him lower on the list than the others, but he probably shouldn't be 10 spots behind Cano. Wallner was my 8th prospect originally and the top 3 graduated, so it's hard to knock him down much lower after just 75 PAs. I don't think you'll see any of the others rate Miranda over Wallner like I did, at least this high. Sabato was originally ranked #9 and was essentially knocked down 3 spots as I explained above. I'm also being more lenient on guys who are in their first season - Rooker, on the other hand, has had plenty of time, hence him dropping like a stone. I guess I'm not feeling the hype quite as much on him. His .490 OBP is insane.

Ejected for arguing balls and strikes?

He originally asked for a 2 year deal when negotiating with the Twins over the offseason, so now after he's hit so well, he's definitely playing in 2022.

Well, the FO did do one thing right this offseason by re-signing Cruz. Who knows where our offense would be without him... just plugging Rooker or Sano into his spot would be quite the downgrade.

Outfield collision between Indians 2B and RF, Naylor appeared to have broken his ankle while landing after impact. It looked bad.

Our old friend Hector Santiago has been the first to be suspended under the new rules for foreign substances.

Continuing from my Top 30 Prospect Rankings in the winter, I have updated my standings in accordance to how well things have gone for the individual players. I'll try to keep this brief, but I can promise nothing! Format #Num - Pos Player (Winter Rating) Current Level - Quick Summary Graduated #1 OF Trevor Larnach #2 C Ryan Jeffers #3 OF Alex Kirilloff DFA'd #18 2B Travis Blankenhorn #35 SP Dakota Chalmers Top 30 Prospects #30 - 2B Edouard Julien (Not Ranked) A - A former 18th round pick, Julien is raking at Fort Myers. Has a long way to go, but he's on my radar now. | | #29 - CF Gabriel Maciel (#24) A+ - Maciel got off to a rough start and has shown zero pop in his bat. He profiles as a Ben Revere type. | | #28 - 3B Seth Gray (#32) A+ - Gray has shown improvement at the plate and has a high .368 OBP. Part of that is because of 9 HBPs (hit by pitches). | | #27 - 2B Will Holland (#26) A - Got a late start and has been a bit shaky in a small sample size. | | #26 - SP Luis Rijo (#23) A+ - Got a late start, pitched in one game, and hit the IL with a forearm strain. This reeks of a lost season. | | #25 - SS Jermaine Palacios (NR) AA - Palacios is quite the story. He was the only prospect in the Odorizzi trade with the Rays, but he completely flopped in AA Montgomery. He signed back with the Twins in free agency and is hitting up a storm (.850 OPS with great OBP and some power) and he already profiles well as a defender. He always had a high ceiling, which earns him a spot in the top 30. | | #24 - OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (#29) Not playing yet. | | #23 - OF Alerick Soularie (#28) Not playing yet / injured. | | #22 - RP Yennier Cano (NR) AAA - Cano crushed AA with a 13.7 K/9 ratio and doesn't hand out too many walks. The 27 year old Cuban is now pitching at AAA and should debut in August/September for the Twins as a reliever. | | #21 - RP Edwar Colina (#15) On the 60 day IL after having bone spurs removed from his elbow. Still the organization's best reliever prospect, Colina missing a year of development is awful for both him and the Twins. | | #20 - C Ben Rortvedt (#20) MLB - He's filling in as the backup catcher, and as I speculated before, he's a strong defender who can't hit. He'll do better than .140, but he's always going to be a liability at the plate. | | #19 - SS Danny De Andrade (#25) Not playing yet | | #18 - 2B/CF Nick Gordon (#22) MLB - Gordon went from potential DFA candidate to a quality bench player. Even with almost 2 years off, his swing looks good and his speed gives him SB opportunities and can fill in as a CF. This is likely his ceiling, though. | | #17 - SS Wander Javier (#19) AA - Javier is looking better at the plate, but is still only hitting .692 OPS. His future may be as a backup SS who can field better than most, but can't hit. | | #16 - 2B Spencer Steer (#21) A+ - Steer is absolutely raking at Cedar Rapids with a .915 OPS, 10 HRs, and .405 OBP. He may earn a late promotion to AA and has potential to climb higher if he keeps hitting. | | #15 - SP Blayne Enlow (#16) A+ - Looked great in 3 starts, but then needed Tommy John surgery. The first of a bundle of quality starting pitcher prospects, this injury sets him back at least a year. | | #14 - 1B/DH Brent Rooker (#7) AAA - Rooker plummets down the rankings after looking terrible in his short MLB stint and getting passed up by the likes of Garlick, Refsnyder, Gordon (for MLB ABs, not outfield play). He's hit well in St. Paul (.925 OPS 11 HRs), but he turns 27 soon, and if he can't hit MLB pitching, he has no place on any roster. | | #13 - CF Misael Urbina (#14) A - Urbina has struggled at Fort Myers, but he's only 19. It's too early to be concerned. | | #12 - 3B Keoni Cavaco (#13) A - Cavaco is hitting better, though with no power and too many Ks. At just 20, he has a long ways to go. | | #11 - SP Bailey Ober (#33) MLB - Ober takes a massive leap up as I originally projected him as a reliever. He's looked better than expected in the Twins' rotation, and while he has been hittable and given a strict inning limit, he's been able to strike out some of the league's best hitters. If he get more innings under his belt, he could solidify himself as a decent MLB starter. | | #10 - SP Josh Winder (#27) AA - I initially rated Winder too low, as he's now dominating AA with a WHIP under 1.0, 10.7 K/9, and 5.4 innings per start. At this rate he will be able to graduate in 2022 and he profiles as a mid-rotation starter, not just a back-end guy. | | #9 - 1B Aaron Sabato (#9) A - Many thought Sabato might start at A+, but instead he starts at the bottom and he's been bad at the plate. A 33 K% in the minors is a big red flag. It is early, but like Rooker you have to wonder if his power-first approach will sink him at the plate. | | #8 - CF Gilberto Celestino (#10) MLB - Celestino went from AA to MLB in the span of two days, and unsurprisingly looked shaky at the plate. He needs more time to work on his bat, but 2022 will be his final option year (had to be protected from Rule 5 draft). It'd be nice to use Celestino as a Buxton substitute. | | #7 - SP Cole Sands (#12) AA - Like Winder, Sands looked very good at AA, albeit with a few too many walks. Unfortunately, he's on the IL with an undisclosed injury. | | #6 - OF/1B Matt Wallner (#8) A+ - Wallner was hitting at a ridiculous 1.005 OPS (.333/.384) before hitting the IL with a hamate bone injury. He did have a 38% K rate in that small sample size. | | #5 - 3B Jose Miranda (#17) AA - I mentioned last time that Miranda needed to take a big step forward, and that's exactly what he did. With an insane 1.0006 OPS (.348/.415), 12 HRs, and a microscopic 10% K rate, Miranda looks like the real deal despite his struggles in the lower minors. It's fair to debate if he can stay at 3B full-time, but his bat looks like it has MLB staying power. | | #4 - SP Matt Canterino (#11) A+ - Canterino looked flat-out unhittable until hitting the IL with elbow issues. Hope for the best, everyone. | | #3 - SP Jhoan Duran (#5) AAA - Duran has struggled with injuries and command so far, and has now been shut down with an elbow problem. This is looking like a lost season. | | #2 - SP Jordan Balazovic (#6) AA - After missing time with a back problem, Balazovic is ramping up and has been a bit shaky. He has nasty stuff, but needs to get more innings under his belt. | | #1 - SS/CF Royce Lewis (#4) Torn ACL - With my top three graduated, Lewis took over the top spot, but of course blew his ACL in Spring Training. He should be ready for the 2022 season where he will likely start in AAA. Rule 5 Eligible Prospects for Winter 2021: Royce Lewis Jermaine Palacios Jose Miranda Josh Winder Cole Sands Wander Javier Gabriel Maciel Blayne Enlow

I also found it odd that they didn't try to improve at backup QB... unless Dwayne Haskins pulls himself together, but I don't see that happening. Plus then they went TE in the 2nd round, and while Pat Freiermuth is not a bad pick there, it just reeks of a luxury pick when the rest of the offense looks like it's in shambles. Sure, they've got a nice WR room and Najee Harris is probably going to be good, but how is Ben going to survive with this O-line?

Yikes, Kepler, could you look any worse at the plate?

How so? Simmons would have been out at first if Gordon stayed at 2B.

I don't think I've ever seen an outfielder attempt a slide kick to stop the ball from rolling... this isn't soccer! But thanks for the run, as it essentially erases Gordon's mistake.

Griffin Jax is coming up for Dobnak (IL), another move will be needed to get Coulombe up.

Coulombe has good numbers at AAA, but he’s yet another 30+ year old reliever from the scrap heap. Getting tired of this.

The Steelers have now lost DeCastro, C Pouncey (retired/injured), LG Feiler (FA), and LT Villaneuva (FA) all in a single offseason... yikes. And then they went RB with their 1st round pick despite not having an O-line to block for him... Their projected starting O-line: LT Chuks Okorafor (PFF 70th/79) LG Trai Turner (can't stay healthy) C B.J. Finney (career backup) RG Kevin Dotson (2020 4th rounder) RT Zach Banner (career backup / tore ACL in 2020) Yikes!

First pitch right down the middle to Rosario, a guy who loves to swing at the first pitch... yup, good job, Rogers. Well, we deserved to lose scoring just a single run off Mejia.

I didn't see the play, but I know in the alternate reality where the Twins re-signed Rosario, we're absolutely fuming over his mishap here.