Bodie

Blackout rules for mlb.tv might not be THE stupidest thing in professional sports but it's right up there.  Let's see....your sport is losing popularity.  So....let's make it HARDER for fans to see their team play.  Genius.

I favor a Pagan for Pagan trade, Emilio for Angel.
I remember watching a teenage Angel playing for the Cedar Rapids Kernels when I lived there.
It was ONLY a little over 30 years ago and he was very young...

I favor a Pagan for Pagan trade, Emilio for Angel.
I remember watching a teenage Angel playing for the Cedar Rapids Kernels when I lived there.
It was ONLY a little over 30 years ago and he was very young...

I favor a Pagan for Pagan trade, Emilio for Angel.
I remember watching a teenage Angel playing for the Cedar Rapids Kernels when I lived there.
It was ONLY a little over 30 years ago and he was very young...

28 years old.
Just a normal career arc (the upward curve of production before normal wear and tear, and simple slowing due to age, before the inevitable falloff- not specific stats) point to him having some of his best years of his career.
He hasn't a history of injury that would knock him off that typical career arc.  I can see 2-3 years where he plays as well as anytime in his career!

Not sure about Lee, I need to see him at the MLB  level first. Lewis needs to prove he is healthy. Not to mention Boras doesn't normally do extensions that buy out the first couple free agent years. I would be surprised if he was open to doing one.

I like Max, for several reasons.  He seems to be a decent guy.  He is usually available to play, and I think he has a beautiful swing.  His defense is top-notch in RF, and acceptable (short-term in CF).
None of this makes him a quality bat at a position that is traditionally a big-bat spot.  I  REALLY hope he shows enough that the Twins feel good about extending his contract.
My biggest fears is he signs with the Spiders and he brings that beautiful swing to Target Field several times a year to terrorize his former team...

28 years old.
Just a normal career arc (the upward curve of production before normal wear and tear, and simple slowing due to age, before the inevitable falloff- not specific stats) point to him having some of his best years of his career.
He hasn't a history of injury that would knock him off that typical career arc.  I can see 2-3 years where he plays as well as anytime in his career!

Sign Sano? 🤣

28 years old.
Just a normal career arc (the upward curve of production before normal wear and tear, and simple slowing due to age, before the inevitable falloff- not specific stats) point to him having some of his best years of his career.
He hasn't a history of injury that would knock him off that typical career arc.  I can see 2-3 years where he plays as well as anytime in his career!

Some of these guys are really out there for the pride of playing for their country, and that makes it special......

I just want to see a bit more consistency.  He was pretty brutal to start the season last year certainly not a difference maker and by the time he got hot it didn't matter.  I am hoping the swing changes help him produce at a higher level as he is a very important part of this team and we are going to need to lean on his bat at times.  He has proven he can do it in the past and he seems really focused this year.  I like the odds that he becomes the alpha this team needs.

I expect Correa to be healthy, ready to take on the shift ban challenge, prove to teams that they missed out, show the Twins by example what it looks like to be a winner and to feel even more at home at Target Field. Add all things up, he'll have a great season both offensively & defensively.

Good article and analysis. Kepler can turn all this around with a .260 or up year. Fans like Max. With good reason. He is solid in the field, is fast, has power and is low key. A dependable player for a fan base that still admires dependability. The guy is simply a very good right fielder and perfect for the Twins. The exception being that he cannot go opposite field and seems to start cooking with his bat when he elevates the ball some. 
Let's face it, the Twins (full lineup) has lacked a good hitting coach for a couple of seasons now and it shows. The Twins don't know what a bunt is, rarely sacrifice, and suffer from a continual musical chairs approach with the hitting order, (Thanks Professor Baldelli!). Max will benefit from the shift rule and let's hope it revives him and our team, because he is very fun to watch in the field. I can still remember when it was fun to watch him hit better. 
Twins Geezer, out!     GO TWINS!

For how long, now, have we been told that the old school way of looking at a player, using the 3 categories that make up the triple crown, are not a true indicator of how the player is doing.  We need to look at the analytical metrics, such as the chart above here.  If they are good, we have a better indication of how a player is doing.  Yet, when all the metrics look good, and the triple crown numbers look lousy, we still say the player is regressing and should we move on.  BA isn't a true indicator of how a player is doing....... until it is.  The analytic metrics are a better way of judging how a player is doing....... until they aren't. Funny how that works.
Tongue in cheek aside, I think Max has a chance without the shift to have a stronger season, and I am rooting for him.  If he doesn't, then it may very well be time to move on, but I like his chances.  
And I have been yelled at for being old school for so long now, I don't mind anymore, so let me have it.  😉

From what I have read (and some of it seems contradictory) the Twins games will be available. At worst, they will be streamed "free" via the MLB app.  
I haven't seen if you'll still have to pay the normal fees for said MLB app, or if a/the free version/level to get the "free" Twins stream.  From my  (limited) reading on the subject it sounds like it would actually  be free, MLB app (or some version of it) included.  This would cover all teams with a regional Bally network.
As an added bonus there would be no regional blackouts in this scenario, and MLB has promised repeatedly (or has been repeatedly quoted) as saying that the local announcer  and commentators will be retained.
The preferred option is for MLB to "supervise" each of the networks through the season, but that depends on how the bankruptcy court handles the question of Bally's assets.
Long answer short, we will be able to get the Twins games this year (reportedly) for no additional costs.  Where (TV, internet, smoke signals or whatever) still is unknown and until the bankruptcy court starts making decisions, unknowable.

To answer your final question, NO!  No one has (and possibly no one has ever had) a bullpen that can stand up to Rocco's bullpen use (or abuse).  
The way to use that "6th starter" is to put him in the bullpen and use him 2-3 (even4+ on occasion) regularly.  Keep an eye on the days you use him, as I can see (especially early on) Kenta Maeda needing a day or two extra between starts,if not actually skipping a start as he makes his return from his Tommy John+ surgery(s).  
Ober can help the Twins this way (as opposed to the Saints) and still get significant innings to build up his arm strength for future as a starter.

I feel bad for Diaz but I absolutely do not want teams and players to overreact to a fluke injury like that and start pulling guys. I love this event and want the top guys playing.

JLopez was great … hope that’s the Lopez we see this year 

Puerto Rico - Dominican Republic is quite a game. The Dominican team has like a dozen position players who are/were All Stars. 

Man, I'd hate to see what your thoughts are on the Rays, Angels, Orioles, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Pirates, Tigers, Giants, Rangers, Padres, and Brewers bullpen usage. Those 11 teams have all used their relievers more since Rocco took over than Rocco has.
As for the topic of developmental success stories, these are some nice success stories, but they need to start producing more high level guys. They could have many more names on a list like this if their young guys could stay healthy. They've actually been above average at turning drafted players into major leaguers, but their next step is to start kicking out some stars. Producing major league talent regularly is an absolute must, but to really contend for championships some of those players need to be stars. They haven't figured that out yet. Keep doing what they're doing, but get some Lewis, Lee, Larnach, Kirilloff, Miranda types to become stars. That's what's needed next.

To answer your final question, NO!  No one has (and possibly no one has ever had) a bullpen that can stand up to Rocco's bullpen use (or abuse).  
The way to use that "6th starter" is to put him in the bullpen and use him 2-3 (even4+ on occasion) regularly.  Keep an eye on the days you use him, as I can see (especially early on) Kenta Maeda needing a day or two extra between starts,if not actually skipping a start as he makes his return from his Tommy John+ surgery(s).  
Ober can help the Twins this way (as opposed to the Saints) and still get significant innings to build up his arm strength for future as a starter.

To answer your final question, NO!  No one has (and possibly no one has ever had) a bullpen that can stand up to Rocco's bullpen use (or abuse).  
The way to use that "6th starter" is to put him in the bullpen and use him 2-3 (even4+ on occasion) regularly.  Keep an eye on the days you use him, as I can see (especially early on) Kenta Maeda needing a day or two extra between starts,if not actually skipping a start as he makes his return from his Tommy John+ surgery(s).  
Ober can help the Twins this way (as opposed to the Saints) and still get significant innings to build up his arm strength for future as a starter.

Post made my mind's day!
My broken ribs, sternum and scapula want to kill you...

"90% of life is just showing up." - unknown genius, possibly  even me.
 
90%+ of a 1Bman's responsibility is being able to play catch (granted, with guys with major league arms) without dropping the ball.  Most major leaguers can handle that part pretty easily (see Arraez or Sano)  That is just barely enough, and works in the short-term (generally).  A "big target" is always preferred though this isn't always a physically large man as much as someone who can handle the slightly off-target throws while keeping a foot on the bag.
Range is always desired, but seldom found (if he has actual range he is seldom a 1B!).  Think back to a young Doug Meintkeiwitcz making plays all over the RF side of the field.  For those too young to remember him, after playing 1B for the Twins and Red Sox (at a minimum) he ended up playing years later at 2B for the Pirates!  Never saw much of him there (few did - it was in one of the Pirates' dark ages), but he supposedly held his own.
If AK can hit like his career in the minors suggest, he will be a good 1B if all he is defensively is that 90% "showing up".  As a young outfielder,  he should have "plus" range.  By all accounts he is AT LEAST that right now, and coachable enough to learn the old "veteran tricks" to keep  baserunners a step closer, ot toss a Pendleton off base if necessary!