The Great Hambino

The follow-up email still containing the attachment was a nice touch

This feels like a true toss-up to me, falling somewhere between "I don't know" and "I don't care". Whether they pick up his option or decline it, it will sorta feel like the wrong decision either way. If he's gone a very similar vet will likely be in his place. Is the mystery vet more likely to have some upside? If so, drop him, I guess. If not, then pick the option up. Either way, shrug

Either one could wear the Twins' City Connect unis and they wouldn't feel out of place

Lovely. So 6 of the 8 did have experience. Give me someone with experience

I'm sorry, but this is absurd. This team needs a real manager. Vibes don't manage a bullpen. If I told you the Twins wanted a special assistant from the Angels organization (what a great place to learn!) with no actual coaching experience, but his name was Al Schultz, this place would riot. But because we liked watching him make catches in the Metrodome and he had dance parties in the clubhouse, all of a sudden he's the right guy for the job? Come on. Hire a real manager with actual coaching experience. If Hunter (or Cruz or anyone else of that ilk) wants to be a manager, start looking for bench coaching positions. If someone thinks they can be a manager, then surely they should have no problem finding a role like that where they can prove it

It just shows guaranteed (for instance, not subject to arbitration) contracts on the books for next year. For the Twins, that means it's just Pablo+Buxton+Correa. So yeah, nowhere near close to actual payroll

He's a good example of what we're hoping can happen with some of the young starter prospects in transitioning from marginal starter to effective reliever. He's also a good example of how that transition isn't just flipping a switch. It took him a season or two to really settle into the new role. Something to keep in mind for those who think they can just abracadabra an effective bullpen out of these kinds of pitchers immediately for next year Oh yeah, the topic at hand: set him to auto-tender and move on

If we're worrying about a 33 year old Outman, something either went terribly right or terribly wrong

Hey, it's only an AL achievement thanks to the Pirates and Reds. Silver lining!

It's now official: the Twins have the longest LCS drought of any American League team

] Au contraire

Skattebo's lucky his skull is too thick to suffer a concussion. He's a Pachycephalosaurus

Pfft, that green quadrant will never win the WAR/$ spent title, which everyone knows is the real prize

Tough to type with both hands 'round your neck

I've never seen Birdwatching, but Trainspotting was really interesting in a messed up kinda way. Ewan McGregor's breakout role

Yeah, this is feeling like a season where the gap between, say, the 8th- and 28th-best teams is much smaller than usual. Lots of opportunities to make up ground, the playoff bubble will be crowded. You won't have to be awesome to be in contention late in the season with a break here or there

He'll turn 36 next season with declining ERA, FIP, and peripherals. I don't see any reason to tie up a roster spot for him when the Erasmos and Kriskes of the world are a dime a dozen and readily available in a pinch. I don't see Tonkin's value as meaningfully greater than the typical waiver wire fodder. Whatever slightly-more-expensive, moderately-higher-quality reliever that inevitably gets brought in to fill out the roster this offseason can provide veteran presence in the bullpen I suppose an MILB offer doesn't hurt anyone. But I think it's time for more golf for Tonkin

I don' think it's that simple. The commissioner and his owners want a cap, but they've done nothing to indicate that they want a floor - at least not one that would have any meaningful impact. The closest thing I can find to their thoughts on a floor is the pathetic $100MM they offered in the last round of CBA negotiations. Why would the MLBPA even consider an offer that chops hundreds of millions off the top end of team payrolls while only requiring a handful of teams to spend a fraction more? That's not competitive balance; that's salary suppression. I'm not interested in more of my money spent being a fan going to owners and less going to players. I know increased revenue sharing goes hand in hand with any kind of arrangement proposed by the owners (and it should), but they have proven through the actions of some owners - as well as the tolerance of those actions by the others - that they are fine with it being pocketed by the Nuttings and Fishers of the world instead of being reinvested into payroll. Why on earth would the MLBPA not fight against this tooth and nail? It would be malpractice if they didn't. A salary cap could bring the competitive balance that everyone wants. The other leagues are proof that if set up properly, then all stakeholders - owners, players, broadcast networks, fans - can benefit. The rich teams of those leagues that seemingly have the most to lose in those arrangements have seen their franchise values increase exponentially as the rising tide has lifted all boats. But that requires two things the owners have thus far shown no willingness to do: 1. Install a high floor in the 75-90% range that the other leagues have 2. Transparency in determining the revenue figures used to peg the levels of caps and floors. That means opening the books to the MLBPA as well as third-party analysts to not just identify the revenue, but proper adjustments for things like team-owned networks, team-controlled revenue generated around the park, etc. The NBA, for example, calls it "basketball-related income." It took a lot of pain to work it out, but the league has flourished ever since. If the owners are willing to do these things and the players still fight against the cap, or fight against the revenue sharing that would make this work, then by all means, vilify the MLBPA as they would fully deserve it. But until then, the owners can take their cap and shove it

Alrighty then ...

I hope y'all learned from last night not to dance on the Yankees' grave before they're actually dead Edit: bullet dodged. Still gonna wait for that 27th out

If a ball is hit so hard and far that it stays in orbit and never lands, is it technically a homer? Asking for a Schwarber

I know I'm supposed to hate all things Dodger, but Mookie Betts is a treasure. Who moves up the defensive spectrum in their 30s? Now getting the party started with a triple

A year ago AJ Hinch was everyone's managerial darling, now he's a dumdum cuz he looked at a computer, or something

Dillon Dingler is probably the closest we'll ever get to having a ballplayer named Dirk Diggler

That could be a double-edged sword, as there's a decent chance a new GM would want their own guy. And I don't think it's realistic to think a manager would get to help pick their own boss