Kipp35

They were literally in the Twins backyard... shouldn't they recognize talent in, their own back yard?

Nice article. He was a good player and a great guy. Just frustrating that the Twins had him and Strawberry playing their backyard, and they signed and played well with other MLB clubs. Millar = one (1) season with the Saints, then 12 years in MLB playing for four teams. Plus a Boston WS championship. Strawberry = one (1) season with the Saints, then four more productive MLB seasons with the NYY's. Florida took Millar and the Yankees brought Strawberry back. Both had to be purchased, so it isn't as though the Twins couldn't have done so. We just never seem to be willing to roll that dice and do what needs to be done in player evaluations.

No to Sano. Yes to Gray [seek and extension past '23]. No to Bundy.

I'm sorry, was someone really expecting a different outcome for this series? We picked up a solid starter and a closer at the trade deadline. The starter can only pitch once every five games. And, why bring a closer in when we are not in the lead? In a previous article that spoke to the Twins having too many starting pitchers, I commented that we have middle relievers we are calling starters. Buckle up Twins fans, this is what happens when you play real teams with genuine winning records. We will not compete, and we will get beat.

I wasn't sure if this article was a joke or not. If it is, I don't get the punchline. Who can look at this team and say with a straight face; 'this team has a lot of starters'? We don't have pitchers that can get a quality start, we have middle relievers. Just because someone is listed as a starter, does NOT mean that they are a starter... This was a 'clickbait' article, and it got me!

Take a look at the division they are winning/leading. Calm down. We would NOT be leading another division in baseball. Come back to throw this in my face when we win a playoff game...

I mentioned the value of trading Polanco during Spring Training, and I was destroyed on this site. He does, I feel have the most value and we have the future batting champ looking for a position on this team. But, in reality, a players value is set at whatever another team is willing to give you for them. The Twins do not take advantage of 'years of control' as other teams do. We look to trade guys once we know we can't re-sign them, and so does the rest of the league. We will get either nothing at the deadline, or bargain basement "project" players that will not help any kind of run. Can we trade our front office? Wait never mind, who would take them?

The Twins have been doing this approach since the franchise started. It does NOT work. Just because it did for a team that was already loaded with talent that happened to be hurt, does not mean it's the right approach for this team!

The Twins have the resources to make a deal, what they do not have is the 'want' to make a deal. The Twins have always struggled in evaluating their own players. This is why we stuck with Sano and let Cron walk. Who couldn't see that a guy with no desire to stay in shape and loose weight would become an often injured and below performing player... just the Twins. He was our shiny little prospect and no one was going to tell us he wasn't 'the guy'. We just had to make up for Tom Kelly convincing the front office that David Ortiz was "Never going to amount to anything in baseball". Teams like the Rays do an excellent job at evaluating their own players. If they know they are not going to be able to sign them, they trade them away when there is huge value and/or years of control. We do not do this; and don't bring up Berrios, because we missed a lot of value back for him. It was too in the know that he was not coming back. That does not lend to a team wanting to offer a lot when they know we are the one's that will get nothing when they hit FA. The Twins are like a kid with a five dollar bill. They go to the candy store and go right to the counter. When they see that they could get one REALLY huge but awesome piece of candy for their $5, they turn their attention to the Nickle bin; and say 'look at how many little [crappy] pieces of candy I get get from here and I may can change coming back, too!' We will keep looking in the bargain [Nickle] bin and we will all be back here next year wondering if the Twins will be buyers or sellers. The fact is, it doesn't matter which they are. They screw up being a seller and won't go all-in when they are a buyer. Figure out what this team needs [pitching] and then go make it happen. Stop saying 'we don't have what it takes to get [big name]. I guess we will have to wait until after the season to address.' The problem is you don't address it there, either! Carlos Correa was dropped in your lap by his agent. That was NOT the front office doing the work. But, he will be gone next season and we will man SS with a guy out for his second consecutive season with torn ligaments. When focused on Buxton's EXTENSION (meaning he was still under contract) while other teams were grabbing FA needs before the league locked down. Then the Twins had to scramble after the league opened back up. I applaud the deal with the Yankees, but that was a deal they were not prepared for. They just made a deal for Kiner-Falefa. It was noted he was going to be our starting SS. Then a deal fell in their laps. I would to see them extend both Urshela and Sanchez, but they won't; they're too smart for that. Falvey and Levine are going to overthink this team right out of the postseason, and I hope themselves out of a job.

I don't know about everyone else, but I just love all the non-shortstop; shortstops the Twins like to draft, to play shortstop. I believe we have a couple still in the minors, one playing OF for us, one playing utility and one on IR. I say, keep loading on on these non-shortstops, seem to be working, so far.

Another "Bullpen Meltdown" and another stretch of time where the Twins brass stand pat and do nothing. SMH

Our pitching coach just jumped ship, who is going to help him turn things around? If you feel an afterthought coach is going to help him recapture his form, that is crazy.

I hope you are not talking about Sano as a first basemen?

We are fighting for 1st place in our division, and we are looking to target a floundering reliever? We need a couple of GOOD arms in the pen and at least one more in the rotation, not to mention a first basemen. We need to target GOOD pitchers, having a good season. At 42-33, we would not be in first place in any other division in baseball (only being tied with the Brewers NL Central). This is why we struggle, if and when we make the playoffs. Do something that propels us forward. This article talks about how this teams likes certain types of 'projects'; well, how has that gone for us? I don't see any World Series appearances using that model...

They are until they blow a game.

Once again, Rocco not being able to manage in-game decisions.

The answer to your question is, no. If they could, it would look a lot different than it does now.

It would be amazing if Correa would stay another year. He has not been tearing it up like I feel he had hoped he would. I pray that encourages him to stay with Minnesota, for one more season. After that, turn things over to Lewis who showed he is more than capable of manning that position for years to come. I would not be too concerned with the knee issues. Everyone on this site during the pre-season said Arraez would do nothing because he has 'knee issues'. Knees are a big deal, but I feel it is more about the person with the issues. Lewis is a tough kid and will work his butt off to get back. He will put in the work others wouldn't. The very same can be said about Arraez. That work is paying off for Arraez with the team inventing ways to get him into the lineup. The same will be true for Lewis, too. If Correa does not wish to return and go for the money, then we need to pivot. If we can make a deal similar to his with one of those other top guys, then great. Otherwise, we will need to look in house and know that Lewis will be ready as soon as he can be. The Twins don't seem to have a problem continuing to wait each and every time Buxton is hurt. I think they can wait for Lewis, too.

I agree that pitching needs to be fixed, but we have to STOP giving Rocco more credit than he deserves. He is good at analytics, but even the club knows he is not good at in game decisions. In 2019 Derek Shelton was the bench coach, and left to take over the Pirates because baseball knew what he did for the Twins. They went out and hired Mike Bell (a multi-generational "baseball guy") to be the bench coach and he unfortunately passed. Now, we have former manager Jayce Tingler (who is a winning MLB manager [116-106]) as the bench coach. He led the Padres to the playoffs for the first time in 13 years, in his first season, and even won the first series in the playoffs. Then followed that up with a respectable 79-83 record and was fired. Rocco struggles with in-game movement and decisions and NEEDS to have that MLB 'baseball guy' to his right. My point was not that Rocco is worthless, he is simply a struggle once the game starts. His decisions, at times, hurt the Twins on the field and that is why we need to have that other 'co-manager' there to be a voice of reason. Now, if someone could tell him to stop giving Buxton healthy days off, we would be set.

I'd still say their three biggest weakness are: Derek Falvey, Thad Levine and Rocco Baldelli

Well, at least our $100 million dollar man got to take his "scheduled" day off. I would hate to see him out there helping his team too much. Kinda feel like he gets enough days off with all of his injuries, he should be out there when he is available.

Same can be said about all the Buxton for MVP talk.

He is one of the best players in baseball for the 50-60 games he's plays each season. Do it for a full year (140-160) and we will return to this question. His talent is the reason the fans are SO frustrated, when he is so often injured.

Except that is the law that any headline question under this, ends with "no". I do feel this was a decent question, but I feel the true question should be, can we trade Buxton even though he is tied to a $100mm contract, and plays more for AAA than the MLB club?

Except Sano is our starting first basemen, and Sanchez is our starting catcher...