Western SD Fan

Curious to see how much influence the head groundskeeper has in helping the crew chief on whether to call the game. If there is more rain coming, which it looks like there is, may this game get scrubbed and we have a double header tomorrow. I'm not sure who could do a spot start, maybe Festa if his time is up or maybe a bullpen game with Funderburk, Sands, Jackson, etc. I could also see them move up the game on Thursday to make sure that the game gets in since TB isn't coming back to MN.

I actually don't remember the last starting pitcher that the Twins turned around as a reclamation project. Maybe Phil Hughes if you would call him that? And I think he just needed out of NYY as opposed to being a reclamation project. Odorizzi is more the example where they had a decent pitcher and made him a better pitcher by tweaking mechanics and focusing on what he does best. My position has not changed from the last few years where we really need a swingman in the bullpen that can eat innings and not burn out the bullpen. Maybe that's what Varland or Festa should be shooting for in the second half. Otherwise, we really need a starting pitcher and I'm not sure we are ready to part with the prospects it will take to get that done.

I'm not sure what this makes me as a Twins fan, but I had penciled in these losses before the series started. What I had hoped for was that these games would be competitive and not completely derail the team like it did when the Yankees came to Minnesota. A few things to look forward to: we didn't lose much ground to the Royals or Guardians, the Pirates pitching staff is just as beat up as ours after their series with the Dodgers, and we are hopefully seeing Correa get on track. That will add to Lewis and Kepler so we have a better balanced lineup. Please let Castro play 2B so we don't have to see Farmer anymore. Our chance is in front of us. Opponents have a .436 winning percentage between now and the ASG.

I want to first congratulate Dick on a successful career and happy trails into a reduced retirement role with the Twins. One thing that this organization does right is to keep their long-term people in the family as long as they want to participate. I agree with a couple of commenters that I hope they write some kind of day-to-day contract for Dick to get to 5,000 games. While that shouldn't matter and he pointed out in his announcement that it doesn't matter, I believe it is important for him to someday get into the Baseball Hall of Fame, where I believes he belongs someday. The best part of his broadcasts were the stories and the memories to recall events from nearly every era of baseball in Minnesota. With that being said, here's my two cents on possible replacements for Mr. Bremer: Obvious front-runner should be Cory Provus. Being the radio announcer and his TV experience with the Big 10 Network is plenty and we are definitely used to Cory in Twins Territory. Other possibilities are: Marney Gellner - I honestly thought she was being prepped for the position when they experimented with her calling spring training games a few years ago. Again, another familiar voice that has earned an opportunity. I am not sure with her home life if she wants the commitment of February to October on the road. She will do what is best for her and her family and I have always wished her the best of luck. Jenny Cavar from the Rockies. She seems to do a good job when I watch Rockies broadcasts. She only does it part time so maybe she would be willing to move for a full-time gig. Jon Sciambi - this is dreaming...... Thom Brennaman - probably not because of his baggage, but still a good announcer. I would also like them to settle on a color commentator. I still would prefer a player or someone who has been involved in the game for a long time (calling Ron Gardenhire). My preference is Latroy Hawkins or Trevor Plouffe. I believe that Morneau and Perkins are just too pedantic, like reading a textbook to me. While I don't want the reincarnation of Hawk Harrelson, someone closer to Bert's liveliness would be beneficial. Plouffe has too many other ventures going and doesn't seem to be on many broadcasts outside of California to probably want a full-time color gig. This post looks closer to a quarter than two cents, but here it is.

Alex Rodriguez just needs to be quiet. I would rather listen to Dan Schulman from the Blue Jays than him. Micheal Kay is alright. ARod keeps bringing up all of these painful memories of watching Twins games against the Yankees and it's not necessary.

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I just hope that Twins Territory purchased most of the tickets before they found out the matchup. Toronto has always drawn well at Target Field and that might mitigate some of the home team feel. I believe watching the games they played in late May at Target Field, it seemed there were as many Blue Jays fans as Twins fans in the stands.

I know no one wants to hear a Carlos Correa comment in this thread. I do find solace that the offensive can produce without him for a few games. Even in Wednesday's loss to the Rays, the offense showed fight to come back and tie the game. I would rather that Correa takes a few days off here or there and be healthier for the postseason than Rocco believing the offense won't work without him in the lineup as I am under no illusion that we will need him in the lineup as close to 100% as possible in the postseason.

Not sure I can add much more to this thread other than to agree that he should be no higher than 5th the rest of the season, even if he does improve. The pressure needs to be taken off of him so he can get right for the playoffs. His plantar fasciitis injury is obviously affecting him at the plate. When watching his at-bats, the GIDP's, the taking strike three calls, seems to be out front pulling the ball, and his running out of the box. It all seems to be related to him actually having to plant that foot down, which appears like he doesn't have to do as much in the field since he is going side to side. He should have been moved down the order a month ago. This one is everyone's problem. Rocco should have moved him down. CC should have been a better leader and moved down the order himself (e.g., Miguel Cabrera). It does sound like that he is a great clubhouse presence, but part of the presence is taking responsibility and being a team player. Since he can play though the injury, a "scheduled" IL stint could have been worked out at some point when the Twins were healthier to help him get some recovery. The FO should have addressed this better since he is supposed to be the Twins' best marketable player to get butts in seats. I may be the outlier fan, but I want the team to win first, even if that means CC isn't in the lineup every day if that gives the team the best chance to win. As for the boos at Target Field, CC addressed them earlier this year saying he would boo himself as well. Big props to him at least being able to read the room and give a frank response. But I'm not going to apologize, the boos are warranted and magically as the boos have been getting louder, he has finally started moving down in the order. Sometimes, boos do have a purpose and the fact that the "Minnesota Nice" fans have risen up speaks volumes that they expect better out of everyone involved.

First, I am not sure who is saying anything negative about Buxton. I've read every comment in this thread, and it seems overwhelmingly that everyone is more worried about his overall health than whether he will eventually play again. If he does play again, I do not see a way that he will come back as a full-time CF. I foresee at best: 50/50 OF/DH with some IL stints sprinkled in to give him some rest. My disdain in aimed at the FO and Rocco. When it became apparent that Buck couldn't go, even as a DH, he should have been shut down and evaluated to free up the DH spot. Sadly enough, production has improved without Buck in the lineup and that's likely attributable to freeing up a hot hitter to stay in at DH. Rocco of all people should know the concept of saving a player from themselves with his own hype and the way his own injury-riddled career played out. But maybe that's where being a "player's manager" doesn't work as well as he may have blind spots of being too sympathetic to a player's concerns, needs, or contracts. (Look for my comment on the Carlos Correa thread later addressing this.)

So coming to Target Field for the first time in 4 years worked well this weekend as I'm hoping to secure a contract from the Twins to stay away.🙂 Here are a couple of items I took out of the weekend. I'm unsure Correa is the veteran presence we all had hoped for. The only time he didn't seem to GIDP is when there were already 2 outs in the inning. I do think that Buxton needs to go on the IL until he is actually ready to play in the outfield. He seems to be a person that lulls about every AB and needs to make great OF plays to regain confidence. Gallo just needs to go. On Saturday, the young PA announcer accidentally announced him twice. I made the comment that they should give him six strikes and I bet he would still strikeout. It has to be stressful to be a pitcher as giving up a run might create a loss. Even though it is the easiest thing to do, The pitching has been there all year so everyone needs a pass once in awhile Sonny Gray bull dogged 6 innings when anyone else would have taken him out after the 2nd. Popkins probably needs to go as well. I agree that no one has to be listening to him anymore. Maybe they can get Adam Dunn to be the new hitting coach. Again, making a joke before today's game when two little kids scores from 3rd bout hoping that wasn't the only runs we scored today. It just about happened. Don't fret. I'm leaving MN tomorrow and will be back next year for a weekend of twins games. 🙂