AlwaysinModeration

It’s kind of hard to hit a guy who throws 95 on the outer edge on strike two every time.

That was a totally boneheaded play by Forsythe, that seemed to develop in slow motion. Cost them at least a run.

I have to say, after the big successes from this post last year, I felt compelled to do it again this year. However, I didn’t find as much to get focus on. Not that there aren’t interesting story lines to follow (I always think there are interesting story lines following individual careers and team arcs), but just that I don’t think there is too much critical stuff that can happen in the last two months. More important things will happen after the season, I think. Maybe one I missed is Trevor May and Michael Pineda. It would be good to see them come back looking good. If it is true that the Twins can save a year of Buxton by keeping him down the rest of the season, I’d be for that. I wasn’t even thinking about that. There is a great piece in the Athletic about Jackie Bradley Jr’s greatest catches. He discusses how he approaches tough catches to avoid injuries. Buxton needs to read this piece. Jackie Bradley Jr. ranks the 10 best catches of his career https://theathletic.com/454771/2018/08/02/jackie-bradley-jr-ranks-the-10-best-catches-of-his-career/

Logan-Logan Trevor-Trevor May was painting the upper half of the strike zone, three swinging strike outs. It occurs to me that with the increased focus on launch angle, the high strike is very hard to hit. Even when they get to it with that upper cut swing (which is hard), players would only pop it up.

Who is Misael Urbina?

So last year, after the trade deadline, I posted the followed topic: http://twinsdaily.com/topic/27053-my-wish-list-for-the-last-55-games-of-the-season/ For those not interested in clicking through, I hoped for the Twins to win some ballgames, and for a few specific players (Dozier, Gibson, Mauer) to make a strong finish. Pretty much every one of my wished was granted, with the exception of "as few Bartolo Colon starts as possible." Now, after the 2018 deadline has passed, the Twins find themselves below .500 again, out of the running, it seems, again. I figure it is time for another go at a wish list. So here goes. My wish list for the last 55 games includes: 1. A run at a .500 record. Last year they needed to play 3 over .500. This year, it is a much steeper climb. They need to go 32-23 to finish .500. That's pretty unlikely. They've gone 14-10 over their last 24 games, though, and if they repeat that twice, they would need to go 4-3 in the last week to finish at .500. Put it that way, and it's doable. A good goal. I'd love to say it, but I think a run at Cleveland this year is not in the cards. 2. 50 at bats by Buxton, and some classic Buxton catches. It's a low bar here, and with yet another DL stint, really unlikely, but I'm hoping to see him in a Twins uniform again this season, even if it's in September. He's still a long-term building block for this team. 3. At least 10 Sano bombs. I want to see the swagger back. This guy is capable of carrying the team when he has confidence. I think these last two months can be important building blocks for him to head into next year. 4. Mauer raising his average above .290 again. He's at .276 now. He finished last year over .300. Can make a strong finish again? 5. Kepler finishing above .250. He's at .231 right now. He's hit LHP well this year, after hitting RHP well before. I think next year he puts it all together, but let's see him finish this year strong as he heads into next year. 6. As many Romero / Gonsalves / Mejia starts as possible. I think that Berrios and Gibson are locked into the rotation next year. Beyond that...I'm not sure, but these three guys seem like potential keys for 2019. Odorizzi? Santana? Pineda? All possibilities. But I think that at least one, and likely two of Romero / Gonsalves / Mejia is in the starting rotation next year, so I want to see what they can do this year. Without a chance to make a run at the playoffs, this isn't as fun as last year, but that's my list. What else are people wishing for? (PS...I will definitely be following along to see how all of the new prospects do this year. Very positive about the farm system right now in general, with Lewis, Graterol, Kiriloff, Baddoo, trending up right now.)

A few points to add to this interesting discussion, which seems to be a catch-all on the FO moves, not just the Dozier move. 1. Dozier called the FO out for trading at the deadline last year. That helped the team motivate for the playoff run...but doesn’t necessarily ingratiate yourself heading into potential contract extensions. 2. Falvey and Levine signed a number of one year contracts this offseason, which are flippable at the deadline in case things don’t pan out. This is something Ryan rarely did, either the signing or the trading. They should get credit for Duke and Lynn in that regard—turning nothing into something. (And maybe Morrison and Rodney this month?) 3. Dozier insisted on batting leadoff for a long time, when his bat would have been more productive lower in the order (specifically, after Mauer). 4. Dozier made it pretty clear he wanted to test free agency, which is perfectly fine. 5. Falvey and Levine made the clear-eyed choice to sell when they saw that the team wasn’t going to make it this year. That took some cojones, given their attempt to sell last year bit them in the ass. I think their assessment was correct, and they stockpiled some intriguing prospects in the process, at very little cost to the future. Maybe none will pan out, but the odds are actually pretty good that at least 2 or 3 of the 11 will turn out to be something. Kudos to them for making a plan and sticking with it. And, for what it’s worth, I’d be thrilled resigning Escobar for something like 3/33.

Logan Forsythe. Ha!

Hmmm. Maybe I’m dismissing the clubhouse management stuff too much or am overemphasizing in my mind his Cardinals dispatching the Nats in the playoffs multiple times. But 6.5 seasons, over 500 every season, one 100-win team, 4 playoffs appearances, one World Series appearance. And this guy is horrible as a manager? What would the Cards have done with a good manager?

I think the Twins should hire Mike Matheny. He seems like he is an excellent coach. Last year I thought the team would get to .500 and as a result, the Front Office would stick with Molitor. Well, both happened and he went and won Manager of the Year. That makes it harder to let Molitor go, to be sure. And if, as I expect, the team improves down the stretch and gets near .500, it may again prove difficult to fire Molitor. However, I think Falvey and Levine have to make the tough call and do it. Look at the Cubs. Theo Epstein fired their new manager (Renteria) when Joe Maddon became available, not afraid of going against protocol when he saw an opportunity, and it paid off in spades. I think Matheny represents the same sort of opportunity. I think Matheny is going to be a hot commodity (he’s from Ohio, and I bet the Reds go after him), so honestly I think they should go after him sooner rather than later. Between his retirement and before getting the Cardinals manager position, he coached his son’s Little League team. Here is his fantastic letter to the parents of that team: https://www.mikematheny.com/sites/default/files/docs/MathenyManifesto.pdf Read that, look up his track record as the Cardinal manager...and tell me you don’t think the Twins would be better served with Matheny over Molitor?

I think you may be right. Although after watching Terry Ryan go year after year after year do nothing at the deadline with teams that were absolutely cooked (or teams that were competitive), I like the approach. Levine said “we are either looking to improve this year’s team, or next year’s, not just standing still.”

Considering the asking price to the Nats is Victor Robles and Carter Kieboom, yeah, I have no interest in seeing what they would want from the Twins. (Lewis and Romero, likely). Plus...Garver!

Seems like the going rate for a middle relief (LOOGY) rental. Sounds fine to me.

Coming out of the break on a 9-2 stretch getting several key players back or seeing them seeming to round into form, I wasn’t sure if they should buy or sell. Ten games later (albeit a road trip), going 4-6 and losing two games in the standings, I am ready to sell. (I don’t believe that the trades affected their ability to win in Boston, these are professionals.) I hope that 24 hours (or so) from now, the FO has traded Dozier, Rodney, and Duke. I don’t expect that, but I expect at least one and maybe two of those, or maybe Lynn or Morrison. I’m fine with upside Single A prospects in return, including players in the 15-25 range of other teams’ systems. Walking away from this deadline with 7-10 upside players would be an great change from many disappointing deadlines of the past decade. A few of these prospects will develop into quality players. Meanwhile, even without a handful of current veterans, I expect the team to play better over the last two months. Sometimes it’s addition by subtraction, when pressure is off and youngsters are given the opportunity.

On the bright side, it was a beautiful afternoon for a baseball game, and Fenway Park is as amazing as advertised.

Question: who gets the bottom of the ninth tonight?

Indians lose. Chance to gain a game.

Ok, gotta get out of this inning.

A win tonight would be big. The team would have gone 14-6 over their last 20, and sets them up for a series win over Boston heading into an important series against the Indians. I think the bats are going to break out tonight. I expect at least 7 runs from the Twins.

Don’t worry, Rosario’s got 3B covered from LF.

Interestingly, that may the one time where a head first slide into first base is warranted. He can’t run through the base, and spike Pearce in the back. So dive head first into Pearce and then they have a clear argument that he was obstructed.

I respect your take on this, which is very thoughtfully written. You’ve convinced me. In order to trade Gibson to the Yankees, it would have to be Justus Sheffield plus.

How is Rosario out on that double play? Pearce is lying over the bag before Rosario gets there. That has to be obstruction.

Snatched defeat right out from the jaws of an amazing victory.

That was kind of worse than losing it uneventfully in the ninth.