If you're referencing the attitude "problems" for Jimmy Butler, I am a little concerned about that. Even if you have a first year coach, you have to show him respect even if you're the star player. I doubt there would be any problems with coaching if he played for Thibodeau again though.
I think Lavine would have to be packaged with the pick. If it was the pick, Shabazz, and Pek's contract or something for Butler, then the Wolves would do that in a heartbeat, but the Bulls are going to need more than that.
I think the main thing was just insurance for a short start, as the bullpen was worked hard before he got called up. Now, I'm not really sure what the plan is, but it looked like he was going to take the 10th inning last night if it went to extras.
There was also a nice little dig at Eduardo Escobar at the end of the Berrios article. I'm not sure that he deserves to be lumped into the same category as Kurt Suzuki in terms of noting the upgrades that will be in place at their positions in the future..
I think we'll see a lot of the same pitching approach with Berrios that we see with Trevor May. Finally we will see some Twins pitchers who utilize the high fastball to get swings and misses.
Why not Alex Meyer? I'm pretty sure that Keith Law has written in the past that he could be a shutdown closer. I really doubt Molitor would put a rookie in the closer role though.
That's the thing that worries me a little about Gonsalves. We always hear how he knows how to use a fastball and changeup to get minor leaguers out, but his breaking pitch is still a work in progress. And he's going to need a third pitch, especially since he's throwing in the low 90's.
I'm sure those offensive numbers would look better if Kepler and Polanco had spent the whole season in the minors, but without them, yikes. Basically just Wade and Gordon are having good years so far. The best part of this leaderboard is probably Kohl Stewart leading the org. with 10.9 K/9. Let's hope he can keep that up.
Wow these offenses are really struggling. I don't think I've read one of these articles where at least 2 of the affiliates are scoring 1 or 2 runs, but I guess that's what happens when most of the top prospects are either playing or sitting on the bench for the Twins. Good pitching for the most part though, especially Felix Jorge, and the rest of that Miracle staff.
May and Berrios are fly ball pitchers too though. They'd miss more bats, but there'd still be a lot of balls to run down. I'm with your original post though, in let's just hope Buxton gets on one of his hot streaks so there doesn't have to be the tradeoff of his great fielding with awful hitting.
Does this mean you want to stick with the current rotation? I know Kyle Gibson got off to a rough start last year too, but he has been just awful so far this year, and that's putting it nicely. One would like to think that we'd be seeing some improvement from a guy who's been healthy for a while now and is already 28 years old. I'd like to see Duffey and Berrios replace Milone and Gibson. Send Gibson to AAA and hope that he learns to quit trying to make the perfect pitch and just "lat" it go.
Well that was an embarrassing offensive performance. If they have trouble making contact off a garbage pitcher like Tanner Roark, I'll be interested how many K's they rack up against Strasburg tomorrow.