Dman

Once they were down 6 to nothing and wasted some scoring chances I stopped watching. Came back to see how bad the loss was and had to make sure I was on the right web page. Couldn't believe they came back and won. Well my loss I guess for not hanging in there. That is a really big win to take the sweep they really cannot afford to let up because the White Sox and Guardian's have been playing the East teams and their schedules will soften while ours toughens up. Can't believe they won, just can't believe it but I am glad they came back and won it.

Call me your typical Minnesotan waiting for the other foot to drop but it feels like once the Twins hit June and face the teams in the east the White Sox and Indians will likely make up some ground. There are lot's of good statistical signs pointing to the Twins being a good team on both sides of the ball but I just have this bad feeling things will fall apart. Honestly I am Surprised and happy the Twins are in first place and I have enjoyed the ups and downs of the season so far. It is nice that the games still matter and my team is in it. I should be happy and yet that feeling that this won't last remains.

I was going to write something but since he is just getting back up to speed was going to give a bit more time before worrying about him. You are correct it is a big deal if an arm we are somewhat depending on or at least projecting to be an option in the starting rotation around mid year hasn't looked real sharp out there yet. Still given his track record I think he will come around but he needs better stuff against lefties IMO. He has been too hittable last year and so far this year which make me wonder about his stuff. It is made more concerning because Sands has been hit hard at AAA and Henriquez is still giving up home runs and lots of hits and walks, and if those guys are not options then you have to head to guys not yet added like SWR, Canterino and Varland. So yeah if Jordan doesn't get going the Twins don't look like they will have great AAA arm depth options.

I really appreciate dark mode. When in a dark room it is nice not to be blinded by the light. Thanks much for this added feature it is a game changer IMO.

Yeah it looks like the Twins are going to have options and depth. Should be a good thing moving forward.

Smeltzer has worked hard for this opportunity. He has been successful in the past and we don't have much for left handed pitchers. I really hope he succeeds and makes the starting 5 or 6 pitchers in the rotation. If not I still think he could be a really good pen arm as well. We will know more by the end of the month. We sure could use him right now as our depth in thinning out.

Steer, Isola and Wallner are all on hot streaks right now. Steer doesn't seem to want to give his OPS edge to those guys as he hit the 1.000 mark after last night. As posted above Wallner is on fire. After a massive slump to start the season to have an .887 OPS is just crazy. I have been a non-believer but he is starting to force me to change my mind. As a somewhat non-prospect Michael Helman is having a good year with an .843 OPS and Bechtold has been more consistent with the bat as well having a .800 OPS. Wichita has a really tough lineup for opposing pitchers to get through. Fedko is holding his own at High A right now which is good to see. Prato has been slumping with the bat recently so hopefully he gets back on track. Willie Joe Gary JR. has been moving his number up and finally has a .726 OPS. May has been a tough month for CES so far he has a .211 BA, .303 OBP and .313 slugging, Ouch. That is quite the fall from where he started the year. While he has worked his OBP up to almost 100 point above his average it hasn't seemed to pay off as far as hits are concerned. I guess becoming a well rounded hitter is a process. I still think he is a great prospect. Povich finally getting back to the dominant arm we saw earlier in the year. Only 2 hits and one walk over 5 innings. Headrick and Povich will have to duke it out for best lefty in the system right now. Lot's prospects are doing well even under the radar guys. It has been a fun season to stat watch this year.

I think I am with most posters on here in that I would love to see a good high school bat fall to us. Would love it to be Holliday but pretty sure he will gone. I also like Collier, Johnson and even Cole Young if they can work out a deal for less money. I think Collier is going to be the real deal at third base. I think you get Cavaco with an actual bat. I wonder if Johnson might be falling down boards because they doubt the power potential? He has a 70 bat so should be good there but it also looks like 2nd might be the only position he can play well. He could be Altuve with less speed though. Young seems to be heating up. He kind of reminds me of Noah Miller with a slightly higher rating on the bat and speed rankings. he would be a lefty batter at the shortstop position. I hope they go high school because right now the Twins are trying to squeeze in Larnach, Kirilloff, Miranda, Lewis, and Celestino at the MLB level. They have Martin, Steer and maybe Wallner and Jullien on the way as well. I don't see that they need a fast moving bat as they have plenty of bats just getting started at the MLB level right now. Would be nice to create a second wave of bats with Rodriguez, Miller, Urbina, Rosario, and maybe Cavaco if he ever hits consistently. Also college bats CES, Fedko and maybe Mikey Perez and whoever they pick in this draft. I am with the Twins going bat first this year as the system is graduating some more bats and the system strength is pitching right now. Also the Twins have been able to find viable pitching later in the draft finding hitting has been a bit more hit and miss IMO.

Miller must be reading my posts. I just said he was doing well but had no power. I guess hitting that HR was the best way to give me the middle finger, lol.

Yep I will give you that, fans myself included, often over react to moves the FO makes only to ultimately see they were good moves or at least solid risks worth taking. At the beginning of this year I had Lewis in AAA at least until after the trade deadline and maybe not at all if he was still struggling with the bat. Prospect evaluators had dropped him out of the top 100 just based on the uncertainty of where his skillset would land. No one knew what to expect of Lewis it was all up in the air since he hadn't played in two years. Some crazy things happened along the way though. He hit right away at AAA with pretty elite numbers. He had highlight real plays in the field at AAA as well. Then he gets the early call up only because of Correa's injury and actually does well. With both the eye test and stats saying he looks like he can handle MLB it changes things. I don't think anyone and I mean anyone expected him to hold his own at the MLB level after 2 years off. I think several were bullish on him having a good to decent year at AAA and getting a callup but not what he did this last week. So yeah I get that the FO isn't sure what to do. There isn't really room without removing someone and maybe they add him to the team again once the pitchers have to go down and a lot of this angst is moot but they could have done things to keep him there and IMO they should have. At any rate sure the FO should always get the benefit of the doubt but they are wrong sometimes too. This is a place to discuss our opinions and I have been proven wrong many times and right many times. Royce going back to AAA isn't going to hurt Royce but it might hurt the Twins if he is the catalyst he looks like he can be.

While Lewis's greatest value might be shortstop he has value every time he is the game no matter the position. You don't think an outfield of Buxton, Celestino, and Lewis wouldn't be nice against left handed pitching? Would you rather have Urshela on first when you need a stolen base or Lewis? Heck out of Larnach, Urshela, Arraez, I would rather have Lewis on 1st base turning a walk into a double. With the skills he possesses he can easily impact games outside of shortstop and he can spell Correa at short since the team seems determined to rest him. If the team just thinks outside the box a little they have a swiss army knife of possibilities. I don't understand how sending Lewis back is best for the team long term or is some great long term plan. We have seen him make the long deep throws at short and look good doing it. We have seen him bare hand the ball and make the quick throw to first. Honestly what more is there? A bit more consistency? Sure he has made errors this year but so has the great platinum glove Correa. Are we going to send Correa down to work on defense because he misses a few throws? Lewis to this point was handling MLB with little to no issues. He is a high character individual with an incredible work ethic and we are predicting failure if he doesn't work on things in AAA? The Angels didn't send Trout back down when they broke him in his rookie year. Washington didn't send Jaun Soto down and I think he was 20 years old when he got the call. Far too unseasoned they should have left him at AAA at least a few more years so that a long term plan could come together? The Twins use players in multiple positions all the time. It is supposed to strengthen the team and Royce Lewis would strengthen this team in multiple ways. I think the only reason the FO sent him back is they had no plan. At least no plan to keep him on the team once Correa came back. I think their collective lack of vision didn't allow them to see he would be ready for MLB this soon. And the FO could be right. They could bring him back and maybe he scuffles like Kirilloff and Larnach at the plate but if that is your great fear and you hold him back then he can't possibly help the team in the many ways he can because you will have stomped on that possibility. You are not even going to try and to be honest that is just a sad position to take IMO.

And they have won without Buxton and Correa and Polanco and Arraez. This isn't about whether you can win a game without a player it is about putting your best players on the field. Why not send Correa to AAA to learn how not to get in the hands by pitches or Buxton to learn not to have hip injuries? You don't take a player who is better than half the team and hide him at AAA. Who does that? What great FO would do that? Would you have taken Cruz out to learn how to play left field when he was the top bat on your team? No you play your best players. You find places to play your best players. I don't see how that doesn't make sense to people. I mean fine send all the players we have that are hitting 300 to AAA that should make the Twins better? Personally, I don't see how it is defensible.

Yeah I think you have the crux of the decision right there. Just like Baldelli said about Buxton that once a decision was made they were not going to change it. The plan was for Lewis to cover for Correa because they didn't really have anyone who was capable of doing it and once his time was up he was going back to St Paul. There was no plan for if he did well, he was just there to cover SS for week or so. I don't call the FO out on much simply because I don't have all the information they have. However, this decision seems like such a baseball 101 move. You don't send one of your best athletes and best hitters down to AAA when they have a hot hand. You find ways to keep them up. I think it will take an injury or the trade deadline before we see him again because obviously the FO see's value in the players they are protecting.

Nicely laid out, well thought out article. Thanks! Despite all the stats I just like watching him do what he does which is impact games. He is so fun to watch he is worth the price of admission.

I have been a big Steer fan since he added power to his game and felt for a long time he was the best hitter they had at AA. However, Isola has been even better. He has quietly crept up to that elite .954 OPS. I knew he had a good bat but last year I got excited about him and he fell off in the later part of the year. He is a catcher and they get dinged up and it can affect them at the plate. He ended last year with a 767 OPS. Not bad but for that level you would like to see mid to high 800's at minimum. If he stays healthy the Twins will have to add him at the end of the year because he won't make it through the Rule V draft. He is one of those diamond in the rough picks at round 29, but he sure looks like he has a good approach at the plate. One that is working at the upper levels of pro ball and just needs to translate that to MLB. I am pretty stoked about this guy even if he is a no name not even on the top 30 list prospect. He just might be the Twins backup catcher next year.

I think this is the largest head scratcher the FO has made IMO. So they are saying the guy that has more raw physical ability on this team than any player not named Byron Buxton. The Guy who is hitting as one of the top bats on the team and that is the guy you decide to send down? That is the guy there is no room for? I guess just throw all reasonable logic out the window then. Might as well send more than half the team down then. So the FO is deciding that Urshela (no options left) who has been elite defensively at third cannot be moved. With Larnach back he is the better option in Left field. They still need Garlick (no options left) to mash Lefties. They can't move Gordon (no options left) even though Lewis is the better version of the two. And they don't want to waste Lewis playing 1st base so they are keeping Miranda up instead? Got it. I get that sending Royce back to St Paul is far from the end of the world and won't harm his development or anything it is just that the main team, the MLB team needs a spark plug. They need a difference maker and he is already becoming that. So count me in the camp against this being a good move for the team. Sending him down after homering for 1 of the teams 2 runs with a 300 BA and almost 900 OPS = Stupidity if you ask me but no one is probably asking me.

I am not saying Royce doesn't need some work at short but he seems to be doing pretty well given some of the highlight plays he has made already. Not sure what you are seeing but I haven't heard anyone saying he looks lost at short at the MLB level. In fact most seem to be surprised at how ready he does look. Certainly a better defensive fit at short than Rooker was for left field or Arraez at third base. Defense is something that can always be worked on but you make it seem like he is making errors like Austin Martin out there. He might not be a gold\platinum glover out there but he is no butcher either. In my statement about his bat I said as long his bat plays at the MLB level I would keep him up. If he falls on his face as you would say (i.e. looks lost at the plate) then sure send him down but why do that now when he has one of the better OPS's on the team, is holding his own at the plate and has as much speed as Buxton on the bases? I guess I don't know what you are getting at there?

We think a like. I was hoping Medina but since he has control problems figured they start him in the GCL. I also like your MacLeod pick and maybe he is injury free now? Just have to believe they think someone is ready down there if they were willing to let Festa move up. I like both of your picks just not sure if either one is ready.. I guess they could stretch the five guys they have out more or do a bullpen game. The draft is a ways a way though so have to think they need one more arm. I hope it is Medina as I would like to see where he is at. Not much info out there on him so if he plays would know more.

For me if he is hitting well there doesn't seem to be much of a reason to send him down. He can probably play any infield or outfield position. Given what he did last night while on base he brings a threat no other player other than maybe Gordon brings to the base paths. He could be a menace to other teams when on base. If he continues to hit at a reasonable level I think he stays with the team even if they have to move him around. His speed on offense and defense is a difference maker the Twins could use.

Yeah your take is pretty much my take. Players have to execute in order to get wins. Bundy and other pitchers have said in the past the scouting reports they received are incredibly detailed and the coaches very helpful in their development. It takes a village to prepare players and win games these days. That being said there have been head scratching moves made so I get the frustration. At the end of the day though the manager has to have faith that a player will perform when called upon. Every player is going to have a bad day at the plate or on the mound. Not all decision are going to work out. I think Rocco performs the main function he needs to and that is giving confidence to his players and not blaming players for poor performance but giving them tools to try and get better. I have never seen so many comments from players about the the good vibes in the club house. He must be doing something right.

Very happy the Twins promoted Festa early. It seems like they typically wait until after the minor league all star games to promote players. Festa has been dominant enough to need a greater challenge and given his new found velocity should be ready for High A. Really happy for him and hope he finds his way to AA at the end of the season. Gotta believe they will bring someone up from the complex to replace Festa. I wonder who that will be? I liked Enlow's start this week. His lower half looks stronger than I remember and I still think he can be a dominant starting pitcher. He just needs to stay healthy and slowly get stronger and then I can get even more excited about his potential. I was just about ready to call Soularie a bust and he goes out and has a big week. I was hard on Wallner as well as he started out with a near 50% K rate and now he is making me look like an idiot. I think if Wallner can keep the K rate down he will make it to the Majors. he can keep that OPS high if he doesn't K too much. AA and High A are loaded with good pitching. It is going to interesting to see who excels once they get moved up.

That was a nice summary. Thanks!

I guess for me I want what is best for Byron Buxton. I am not a doctor and don't know how best to treat his knee injury but it seems like extended rest to heal it would make the most sense. Still I get there are incentives to try and reach and maybe complete rest does little more than lighter activity with longer periods of rest when possible. I don't know. I just hope that Buxton and the Twins do what is best for his long term health. I don't know if I have watched a more exciting Twins player than Buck. Maybe Pucket in his hey day as a centerfielder? I just love what he brings to this team. I am not much of a risk taker and I would want to make sure that knee is in better shape before putting him out there. While Celestino doesn't have Buck's power he has been pretty solid at the plate and in the field. Certainly not the drop off we have had in years past. We could rely on him for while if needed. I just don't love the idea of having him out there and not 100% especially with a knee issue. I am sure it has been discussed and all parties are fine with the plan that is in place. I just hope it is the best plan for long term health not for monetary incentives or the win lose column.

Agreed with shifting speed isn't as large a liability as some other positions. When watching Miller during spring training he looked like a regular out there on the field as a 19 year old. He gobbled up ground balls and made good throws. I don't think he is making many error's this year, although I haven't checked into that. While I am no scout with what little I have seen it seems to me his defense is essentially MLB ready right now. I have to say I have been surprised at how well he looks on both sides of the ball. Obviously be needs more experience against advanced pitching and needs to grow into more power but he looks rock solid for his first year in pro ball.

I think those concerns from Scouts etc. are mainly based on speed. As we all know Buxton is one of the fastest players in baseball and this helps make his defense elite because he can get to balls that other center fielders cannot. Rodriguez has 55 speed and generally guys that are going to stick in center are a bit faster than that. Also as players move from teenager to more physically developed they tend to get slower not faster so starting out as 55 runner is fine for now but if he gets slower which is more likely than not he becomes a greater defensive liability in center. You can play him there but what are you willing to give up defensively to do it? Same goes for Miller who is a 50 runner. Usually guys that make it at that position start as 60 runners. Now Miller has really good actions at short. Sets his feet well gets good speed on his throws and has good instincts but will that be enough in the end? I know Correa isn't the fastest shortstop and with the way they shift the infield maybe speed isn't as large of an issue at short anymore but having a guy with Lewis's speed in that spot is pretty nice. He should be able to cover more ground and get to balls that Miller just won't be able to catch up to. I know Fangraphs and others had Celestino as a borderline center fielder early in his career and he is doing just fine in center and MLB.com has him as a 55 runner. I think the projections don't mean that Rodriguez and Millers can't stay up the middle it is just that the odds are not in their favor to do so given the speed generally required to be above average to elite at those positions.