MikeNC

The Twins have made a remarkable recovery this year, starting with the hiring of Shelty. In a season of "figuring it out" it is surprising they won as many as they did, and they have put in place a bunch of young players with real upside. They have 10 starting pitching options, and those that miss out will drop into the badly in need bullpen. (I'm looking at you Ober-wan). Finally we have 3 outfielders with range, that's at least -1 in ERA for the pitchers. And good to + defensive options at 3B, SS, 2B. Offseason need to solve for Catcher, DH, and 1B, and replace/resign Minter. The Twins have a real chance of building a division contender. (Sigh . . If only the 2025 destruction of the bullpen had not been so thorough . . .)

Go figure!!!! I think Rojas showed some good stuff, but wouldn't having a, say, 80% Varland in the bullpen be a nice partial recovery of the stupidest trade in Twins history? As for the Rodent, don't get too exited by him knocking Angel's AAA-like pitching, he has been dismal against quality pitching.

He s/b in LF or DH. His OBP is a must have, it will be interesting next Spring.

Sure, sure, but the real question is: Does he have True Grit?!?!

That was a 3-3 ballgame last night with the Angels still batting in the 8th if ERod doesn't make those 2 fine catches. Exhibit A of how good D can affect wins and pitchers' ERAs. But I believe there is an even greater impact of poor D which is the burden it puts on pitchers to time and again have to bear down and get another out, and another out. It wears them down, both in-game and especially over the course of a season.

Ya gotta be kiddin' me!! Pitcher after pitcher he has been handed off the scrap heap and made into an effective piece somewhere. He built via rehab/improvement one of the best bullpens in MLB in 2025 before IDIOT OWNER destroyed it for little return/reason. Varland was a NOBODY for years before Maki developed him. There are many examples. Idiot #2 was Rocco who didn't always use them to their strengths (Like, ok Rocco, tie game and the enemy has 2+ on and nobody out - Bring in the strikeout guy!!, Not the high contact-hope-we field-it-guy!! Argghhh). Which reminds me, the sellout of getting Twins this year the hope-they-can-hit but are crappy fielders did not help the cause.

Fantastic! Now we have 3 leadoff hitters! I sure hope he regains peak form, this team can use the speed and small ball threat.

Very good glove and pivot at 2B and .240 with 30 HRs, that's solid MLB production from a 2B. Or move to 1B if Lewis continues to underperform. Gotta keep Kreidler as very good D backup who at least has some competence at the plate (RE: See All of Fedko ABs, Most of Outman's=painful to watch). Move Keash to LF where his below-average arm has shorter throws, move now-the-stats-prove-his-dimnished-range Buxton to RF. CF is up for grabs, hopefully Jenkins hitting will come around, the skinny has it that Gonzo not D good enough, maybe ERod a shot? The Lee man is a key man a 3B. Peppa at SS. Caratini is under contract for 2027, but it sure would be nice to upgrade that bat. Jackson has a +arm, 29% throw out rate (vs 12% and 13% for Jeffers and Caratini). But until this year's small sample he's been dreadful vs MLB pitching so likely not the answer. Gomez is 22 for 22 as a closer. $22mm Lopez will be back, as will Ryan. There are about 10 legit starting candidates, some will wind up improving the bullpen. I am very optimistic about the 2027 team. I think there's a chance!

Just to be clear here, I watch every single Twins game. I thought Rocco was an idiot in his managing decisions. I love Shelty. I think he has done a brilliant job with the mess he was handed. If he had been the manager in 2025, the Twins would have won the division and we wouldn't be in any of the mess that the owner decided to create. I couldn't understand why it took them so long to ditch Rocco.

So you're saying there's a chance!

Totally agree. The standard for MLB is 100% effort, every day. This is Professional grade, and the fans are paying real money and deserve some entertainment for their $$. At $780,000 to $21.75MM I think they all s/b trying real real hard. Or go back to bartending. Next!

Yep. That's why we need Jenkins, even if he's only hitting a buck 50 for awhile.

Yeah. Yeah. Those of us who said trade him at the deadline for a bundle to the drooling Yankees were labeled as "being negative"... No, being a realist is not being negative, it is being smart.

Optimistic for 2027 that is. We have at least 10 starter candidates, a couple of which will help rebuild the bullpen. Biggest hole will be trying to replace Jeffers bat, and overall get some HR production.

When was that one, right after the sweep of the Braves? I have voted in that one a number of times this year and never seen Twins owner approval that high. It's usually in the 10%-20% range.