NYCTK

I don't see why a media figure writing a think piece is cause for scorn. Throwing out stupid trade proposals is the only fun part of watching a bad team. Mets Receive: Pablo Lopez Twins Receive: Brandon Sproat Jett Williams Ryan Clifford Now thrown me in CECOT.

There's your problem. You're using the lazy machine. Try doing actual research instead of relying on a useless tool that makes **** up. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=keirsda01&t=b&year=2025 He's approximately the 400th best position player in the major leagues right now. He IS getting a fair shot. And he's squandered it even worse than his detractors could have imagined.

Trade bait? To whom? And for what? You can get a AAA relief pitcher or a 4th OF I suppose.

No matter how many times you keep repeating this, that doesn't make it true. He's started 7 games and the Twins won 3. No he doesn't. No one besides Keirsey wants to see that. Just take the L on this man. I love defense first OF, hence why I was championing the Bader signing so vigorously against all the folks here that are now eating crow. But Keirsey is just over matched and there is no reason for him to ever hold a bat in the major leagues ever again.

That's fair. But so has Martin. I think they're both bad. I think Bride is marginally better due to his more impressive defense but he's still just a textbook replacement level player.

He needs to hit for more power before he gets called up to AA. Until that happens, he's just a dime a dozen. I also think it's ridiculous to posit that he's the 1B of the future, but all prospect talk is nearly always a bit silly. But I think the benefit of a site like this IS the highlighting of prospects like Amick. I think he's a perfectly fine prospect. Ya, never know.

Bride was a better hitter at every level of the minors. It stands to reason that he projects as a better hitter in the majors as well. Bride has more power whereas Martin will strikeout a little less. Close, but fair to say they both kinda suck with the bat. But Bride at least has the benefit that his defense has proven more passable than the butcher Austin Martin. Rooker is a very good example of a player that did earn his chance, repeatedly. He kept raking in AAA and kept getting chances as a result. McCusker has only 200 PAs in AAA so far. Let's not all pretend as though he's been sitting down there for years waiting for an opportunity. He's been there two months essentially. If he continues to hit, he'll get a chance. Fun little tidbit, he currently has 215 fewer plate appearances in the high minors than Brent Rooker did when he was first given a major league at bat. I'll be joining in the calls to call him if he keeps this up another 2-3 weeks. Right now? Eh, I can't be too bothered.

The thing about Bride, is there's more reason to believe in him than Austin Martin. So, I'm OK keeping him around at the expense of players like Martin. But if McCusker improves upon his peripherals or just keeps smoking the ball for a longer period and Bride is the odd man out I don't think they'd really hesitate to cut him. As for the knowledge about Keirsey last season, I agree. But they also had dopey aspirations of crawling into the wildcard spot so they weren't really wanting to throw playing time at a player they didn't believe in (and now we see why). I just don't see a single Twins minor leaguer that was unfairly blocked in recent years because of an existing veteran on the roster, so I think this concern is all moot. I think the front office are bad at their jobs, but not so bad they will just pass on a clear upgrade opportunity. McCusker will get an opportunity if and when it's earned.

Especially if that's your one decent tool as a player.

So, we all watched them DFA an infielder last season. And you're concerned they will refuse to do so this season because... ...I really don't know where this is coming from. I feel like too many people here got burned by the Manuel Margot experience, and him alone. And now we see that the organizational depth behind him (Keirsey and Martin) was basically nonexistent so it makes a bit more sense why they refused to just dump him (but still wrong).

I explicitly said it was fun! I just don't see why anyone would be concerned that Jonah Bride might remain on the roster instead of a player that is almost certainly worse. Now, as it pertains to McCusker, if he keeps hitting he'll get a chance. And they won't hesitate to DFA Clemens to do so once he's earned that chance. It may not seem quite fair, but if your peripherals are bad and you bring no athleticism to the table, it's going to be harder to earn the promotion with your bat alone. Could that be as soon as this next week? Sure, maybe. But there's just no reason to be concerned about waiver wire pickups blocking a non-prospect with good power but an overall suspect bat on a hot streak. It was the same arguments for Keirsey last season, and Prato...and Severino et al. I don't think this team is going anywhere, so I'd just go ahead and call up McCusker but if you're most concerned about winning games, there's plenty of argument that Clemens helps the team win more than a bad baseball player with a bat that really doesn't look like it will translate well to major league success.

Well then why are you acting like they won't DFA them lol. Replacement level player Clemens vs replacement level Fitzgerald is the least important conversation being had today, so that's fun.

True. True. That's why shortstop Diego A Castillo is still on the team. Luplow and Garlick as well. Twins just refuse to DFA position players.

Lol. Lmao even. Just take a look at their respective AAA careers. Fitzgerald: 246/335/438 Clemens: 259/331/507 So unless you're looking for a player specifically to back up SS or you have defenseive concerns with Kody, Clemens is likely the better player. No offense to Fitzgerald of course, but he is just an even worse replacement player than Clemens. No they're not.

It's technically possible, but like bean said, I will pump the breaks on the anointment of the guy with a 0.100 ISO as our next great first baseman. Until he shows some power, I have no interest in seeing him at AA.

Is there any story for that stupid Roman helmet? I hate it. But I hate most of the HR celebrations around the league. The rally sausage was organic so it was allowed (until it and the Twins form went bad).

The Guardians have Johnsky Noel in that role essentially. That's basically McCusker's upside. Pretty bad player, that will occasionally come up with some big dramatic hit for you.

Yeah, putting Fitzgerald on the major league team screws up the organizational "depth" chart. They have no desire to put him on the 40 man roster, and then if he were he'd have to go through waivers to get back to AAA I believe. And then he could opt for Free Agency? He's not depth. He's just AAA filler. It's this or go off to Korea for players like Fitzgerald.

Projects as a 230/280/390 hitter with bad defense. Not exactly a sparkling prospect or someone I'm worried about missing out on. But, like Keirsey last season, I'd like to see him get some playing time since there is clearly an occasional hole he can fit with Wallner out another month yet.

I can assure you other teams hire veterans on short term deals as well. It'd be incredibly stupid NOT to hire veterans on short term deals. 1.6 + 1.9 + 0.5 + 4.2 + 1.3 + 0.0 bWAR People "sing the praises" of these veterans because they help make a team better for little cost and little risk. Yes, there's less "risk" and cost to throwing AAAA players like Keirsey out there, but there's way less upside too. You appear to have a fundamental problem with how rosters are constructed. Bader was very clearly a great signing from the moment it was announced. Every single team in the major leagues needs players like Bader. Cleveland has short term vets. Detroit has short term vets. Even the Rays utilize short term vets. I'm so over people complaining about veterans that don't happen to be brought up in the Twins system. It's not some failure of an organization to bring someone in on a one year deal or claim a player off of waivers. A team cannot have depth at every single position on the diamond...unless you're the Dodgers with both an all star team and a top of the league farm system. Now, are Bride and Clemens good? No. But I'd argue Bride is better than the AAA depth. Clemens sucks and I would happily see him DFA'd for McCusker. But much like teams claiming bullpen arms, it's just part of major league roster construction. I don't expect Clemens to be here in a month, so don't buy his player jersey.

So, Lewis isn't healthy.

Since coming back from an adductor strain in July he's hit 207/270/350 over 226 PAs. Royce is not who we thought he was. But we should cut him some slack, because he said he was tired 😢

Yep. This team has actually been quite healthy. Pitching injuries? None really. Position players, more so, but not more than any other team for the most part. This team just lacks any real depth. If you NEED the team to be near 100% health to be any good, you're a bad team.

He's also the 589th best hitter out of 590 hitters in major league baseball with at least 40 PAs in the last two seasons. And there's nothing in the peripherals or player history to suggest it's a fluke. He is so bad, we would all welcome Manuel Margot pinch hitting for him in any situation.

Much like the trade deadline, the front office refused to choose a direction. Instead they crossed their fingers for 84 wins and a pathetic wild card appearance. Thankfully the Twins fans have fully noticed and are holding the organization accountable for its mediocrity. Here's hoping attendance stays below 15,000 for the rest of the season.