MikeNC

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.

So . . was . ..Kirby. Buckle up!!

Goodness no don't blame either of those guys! They play their hearts out! It is MANAGEMENT's job to assess player strengths and weaknesses and put them into position to succeed. I love the Keash! Finally the leadoff hitter we've been looking for so long. And sure we get frustrated when Buck is out, but that's becuase he's soooo damn good when healthy. He just plays all out, always has.

Where oh where are the Kirby Pucketses?!

If only they had another REAL Center Fielder . . but WHERE could they possibly find one? . . . .

There is a part of me that wonders if the Twins, (after somehow actually sensing the fans ballistic negative reactions to LY trade deadline debacle), decided something like "gee we don't want that again" and so were buyers this year, buying into the mirage of "contention". News Flash: The fans were not upset at the Twins for being sellers, we were/are upset at the Twins being STUPID sellers.

I think that our farm system is absolutely working to fully develope hitters. Unfortunately, when you are trying to cobble together an effective lineup from Bargain Basement world, you get 1/4 to 1/2 the total skills sets. So you look to platoon hitting, and have late inning D specialists. I said it LY when it happened, and I'll say it for a long time: Trading away 800k/yr Varland was the dumbest Twins trade I can ever remember. (And I'm talking 2025 Varland, not 20/20 hindsight of NowSuperVarland).