Hawkeye Bean Counter

So we are DFA’ing 2 of our better hitters for the remainder of the season to play for next year now? I am rally confused. I know Larnach is not hitting well right now- but are we really throwing in the towel?

Here is my personal opinion on the Pohlads. They aren't particularly sophisticated in baseball and in general they haven't spent enough on scouting to outmaneuver other teams. I think there is some aspects that the twins fan base does not allow for them to overspend, its also clear that the Twins were not great stewards of their finances as they became 300M-600M in debt and needed the minority owners to knock that down along with the interest payments. Tom had no experience to effectively become the main decision maker - and was absolutely stupid to push out Falvey before the season without having the ability to find someone qualified to fill the position. The overall strategies are fine. Not spending on the bullpen. However we have not been effective enough at finding SP in the draft or legit hitters. Now that trend may be changing. As of now it appears we have found 3 legit hitters - Keaschall, Culpepper and Jenkins. We need to find a couple more. I told @USAFChief at the beginning of the year I was hoping for a competitive year and that it would give me something to cheer for the rest of the year. The trade deadline spending as much as we did was not likely the smartest use of assets. Giving up on Dasan Hill is likely going to hurt. Small sample size but his whip with Toronto is currently 1.25. Ive thought how would I do it differently if I were owner and in charge. First off you have to run with a budget. I would likely overspend on GM and the scouting/coaching. Likely the best bang for the buck. I then tell the players as much as they are athletes they are also entertainers. I am not expecting Banana Ball - but ultimately the financial resources that can be paid on the players comes from the amount of fans we can get it the seats. You have to breakup the blackouts and Minnesota needs to be branching out to Iowa, Ne, South Dakota, North Dakota for additional fans. Once I get my team set up I affectively stay out of it. A strategy of trading some players similar to Milwaukee would have to occur. I would likely carry on the theory that the bullpen can be developed. Ultimately I am not sure how much better I would be viewed than the Pohlads.

I am hoping a better version of Brock Stewart.

2 1/2 games back.

I’m sure some will think it’s a cheap single lol.

Maybe Jackson will come in too 🤣

I called it earlier today, said we would go on a hot stretch. Going to try to make it interesting.

Jeffers is getting the qualifying offer LOL, and promptly turning it down.

We have some more professional at bats. When you are seeing more pitches and putting more balls in play it puts stress on the defense, then the flood gates opened. When Jeffers can swing for the fences up 9. Hopefully Gonzalez can get an at bat today. Plus no stress for the bullpen.

Damn I should have called it on here. Said good time for Jeffers to pad his stats LOL.

Timing worked out. I know you enjoyed it immensely when he was called back LOL.

He might be toast for the rest of the season.

It lets Priellip face the bottom of the order an extra turn.

They have been laying off his off speed. He had tells before, I think they are popping back up again.

Morris has been struggling the last couple of weeks.

Well we already had 1 bet, which effectively all of us were wrong. DFA’d and immediately brought back. Maybe he isn’t. But just like last year he is cheap insurance if we can’t find someone better. Currently we don’t have anyone on the 40 man.

But don't we have 3 high end starting pitchers for next year Woof? Ryan, Bradley and Lopez. Are we going to drop Ober and Kremer to pay for a #2 pitcher that really doesn't fix our glut of pitching? Thats effectively the concern. We have to many quality pitchers to keep them in AAA.

The Twins got a win. Playoff odds now 7.2% If I were a betting man I would say the Twins go on a winning streak, whether stringing them together or winning 7-8 games out of a 10 game stretch. Just need the starting pitching to provide some good performances.

Because they already know what type of player he is. He is solid behind the dish with a bat that has shown glimpses. Its enough to be a battering mate with Caratini in 27 before the Vahn and the others start being major considerations for the big leagues for 2028. As to Jeffers in New York this would be best case scenario as the Twins would get a late 1st round pick for him. The real question is whether competitive balance picks will continue. So far it will appear those will go away.

Fair enough - right wrong or indifferent even you agree the Twins are likely to have 1 of Ober or Kremer in the starting line up start the season so I don't understand the consternation over it. Your #5 likely isn't the reason you get to the playoffs or win the playoffs. They can stabilize a season by providing and eating up innings which Kremer does. You are right I will let it go and neither of us is going to change the others mind. 40 years of statistics showing you need more than 5 pitchers to start games is statistically relevant in my book.

In 1987 we started Mike Smithson -.4 WAR 5.94 ERA for 109 innings. Joe Niekro -1 WAR and and 6.26 ERA in 100+ innings In 1991, you had Anderson, West and Guthrie all with 4.5+ ERA's as starters. You need those 4-5 type pitchers to give you a chance to win to get to the playoffs.

Next year will be all about progression of the offense and continued build out of the bullpen. Besides how many teams have all starters that are effectively #3 or better? Dodgers and ??????? Going through 5 arms to find 2 suitable ones to be #3 or #4 types to build the back of your rotation is generally a smart plan. You need the depth. That isn't fear based, its being realistic Mike. We haven't gone through a full season with our starting 5 as long as I have been a fan and I am 44.

Fair enough but thats if Dean Kremer is a #5-#7 type guy. In our starts so far I would argue he is a #4 and with some tweaks could be a #3. Yes resources are finite, but we are also going into the season with what should be an extremely cheap roster. You have rookies at shortstop and 1-2 outfield spots. We are really only paying for Buxton, Caratini and Lewis. I don't expect us to be spending a ton of money on the bullpen either. So spending $7-$8 million for a solid pitcher seems reasonable, especially when as a team you know you will be going through 7-8 pitchers a season. Yes you may not expect him to start a playoff game. Right now you have Lopez, Ryan and Bradley for that.

Kind of proves the point they are planning to keep him and view him as more than just a "mediocre" arm. Now I do think Reyes was overrated as a top 12 prospect. I think top 20 is a better comp. He is adjust to A ball slowly in the Orioles organization. Increasing his BA from .095 at Fort Myers in 7 games to .228 with a .611 OPS. Yes he is young and yes he has some size but there is a lot of a projection needed to say he is a top 10-12 prospect in the Twins organization. He is similar type prospect to Quinten Young. Athleticism with upside but both incredibly young and raw. I am just glad they kept Fragoza.

Well you can waste 1 more year of ryan with no return. We also have 1 more year of Bradley. So what do we have moving forward in 2028- Bradley, Abel, Priellip, Matthews and Rojas and not much else behind it. Quick and Gallagher are likely your next ones. I think quick in mid to late 28 will be viable but he has some work to do yet.