Jham

Moreland and Santana had better numbers. Hosmer has the reputation. Defensive metrics are interesting in that even over a season, we're largely dealing with small sample sizes. It really doesn't make sense that Hos would be elite 1 year and not the next. That said, Mauer passed the eye test over the course of the season, but any single game, he rarely made spectacular plays. He was average chasing down foul pops. Often took safe routes on ground balls and took safe outs over double plays or getting the lead runner. I believe Mauer has gotten better across the board at first base with the exception of chasing down fly balls. But I don't consider it robbery that he wasn't a finalist.

Of course it is. But then how can you also be arguing that Dozier should have been used to get an ace or something that substantially improves a rotation that made the playoffs? Just for now, it certainly appears the twins made the right decision by holding dozier. That's not really debateable. In fact, regardless of the outcome, retaining him was at least, not a mistake.

I advocated for keeping Dozier last off season and trading one of Kepler, Sano, or Buxton for a true ace. I also advocated for trading Dozier at the deadline in order to galvanize the team. The shed Kintzler instead. I see both sides on this one. But I don't really see how anyone can argue we should habe done the deal on DeLeon alone. That was so far below our asking price. He wasn't even their top pitching prospect or the arm we wanted.

A couple things. First, we need to stop pretending that people are that calling out "warning signs" is a media-driven witch hunt. Concerns about Sano's work ethic stem from real evidence. First, his public struggle with weight leads people to questioning his conditioning and effort. His refusal to play winter ball after his rookie year begged the question. There was that weird spring training story where the twins reported he was taking extra fly balls to prepare for right field, but it turned out he want even back in the US yet. Right field was a stupid experiment in hindsight, but if he didn't prepare, it's partly on him. I think it's fair to question his work ethic based on facts alone. I don't think anyone has said he's lazy. But concern is prudent at this stage. As his k-rate and good to great, but not elite production and peripherals at each stage. My guess is that he'll want to be paid like an elite player, even if he's simply a star slugger. $100 mil minimum. Regarding NYC, his agency is a sports and entertainment agency owned by the owner of the Brooklyn Nets who raps that he makes a Yankees cap more famous than a Yankee can and gets Alicia Keyes to sing the virtues of the city that never sleeps. If we're going to extend, I'd weight the front end. Your budget isn't as ham-strung that way, Sano "needs"/ would appreciate more money earlier in his career and thus be more likely to agree to a discount, and his contract is more liquid as a trade asset vs. possibility of being completely immovable later (his contract, not his size).

I'm not 100% sure he's done. His velocity was starting to creep ball up, and might not have topped out. His feel was certainly off, but in general it seems like he was rushing back in case this season was his last shot. His role may be more loogy going forward, but I wouldn't be surprised if he succeeded in that capacity if he wanted to put in the work for 1 more reinvention. If this was it, the thing I always loved about perk was his willingness to pitch up in the zone and challenge hitters at a time when the twins philosophy was "keep the ball down and pitch to contact.

I've been impressed with Dillon Gee. I would like to see what he can do in higher leverage 1 inning stints. He's certainly been a fantastic long man. May have found something there.

The unsettling silence is occasionally broken up by uncomfortable conversation. It's all around awkward to watch.

Isn't this his third start back? How is he still on an 80 pitch limit? And aren't pitch counts already obsolete with long innings and pitches out of the stretch counting more?

Yeah, Mejia reminds me of Liriano after surgery. A little hump to the slider, but a smooth but somewhat violent 3/4 delivery with great arm speed and deception.

WTH.... Wow Molly. Quick hook.

AFTER his TJ surgery?

Mejia really reminds me of a young post TJ Liriano. Hopefully he learns to pitch like Frankie did!

I'm ready to fire Molitor now.

We've been trying to replace Escobar for 4 years now. But true to form he just keeps battling and fights off all challenges. He's a clubhouse favorite, and now a fan favorite. He's not expensive. Keep him and Adrianza who looks to be improving rapidly at the plate and looks sneaky comfortable in the field. I'd trade Grossman, last night's game not withstanding. Vargas trade/ waive. Palka waive. Escobar's type is inherently valuable. Embraces the utility role. Plays well whenever and however called upon with no complaints.

Some pretty close guesses in there with a few weeks to go. I was too optimistic. He started slow... again!! Finish like last year and we'll see you in October.

I mean, that's fine. That's my point even. We can agree to disagree and have some fine discussion in the process. Why can't you just agree to disagree with Souhan? His opinion has been stated 10 times over on our forums, but he has supported his view with that of actual team sources. Why take him to the whipping block if disagreeing is no biggie?

Isn't this just a bunch of posters suggesting that they can write a column better than Souhan? Time constraints, length constraints, pressure from editors, and editing itself is something bloggers don't even have to deal with. Walk a mile in a man's shoes. Souhan may see it as his duty to criticize. If no one else has the guts to do it, then his column would actually fill an important function, showing the other side of the story. So much of this thread is hypocritical finger-pointing and a straight-up witch hunt. Imagine if there were a whole thread of posters plus a handful of bloggers taking shots at the way you do your job. You might react somewhat defensively. So much of his message is being lost due to distaste for the messenger Or vice versa. That's not fair. It honestly makes me sick. This forum has always ALWAYS been a pleasure to read and interact in because the posters often disagree. The healthy exchanges of viewpoints backed with what evidence can be provided is what makes the site so entertaining and what makes Twins fans, forums, and blogs some of the best and most knowledgeable in baseball. Now we're just killing a local columnist for sharing inside info (which we all crave) and taking a controversial stance (that many of us have also previously taken). The irony being, of course, that this very disagreement is what this forum is built on. If you think Souhan, as a columnist, should be held to a higher standard, well then you just made the point of his second post for him. Disagree with the message all you want. Don't read his column if you want. But the posts suggesting that he sit on information we want to know or that he should feel bad for writing his honest opinion is absurd for a forum based on the free exchange of honest opinions. I'm guessing most of us could have a great conversation with Souhan, Ruesse, Terry Ryan, Molitor, or any other knowledgeable baseball fan whose baseball philosophy differs from our own. At least I'd like to think so.

But he's REPORTING. You can't sit on comments then publish them months later and call it fair to your sources. I guess my issue is that Souhan, apparently, has not drawn a distinct line between news and op ed. Read his column as an op ed and no one should have any heartburn. You're talking about censoring the message (not disclosing something news worthy because of fear of being the murdered messanger). And I have a huge issue with that, in sports or other more important news.

Uhhh... on a really really quality forum with tons of great dialogue, with many reliable bloggers who often disagree, it shocks me that the velvet rope is even controversial. We literally had a respected poster break a Brian Dozier trade this off-season... that never happened. Access matters big time. In fact I think it's hypocritical to suggest otherwise, as our favorite bloggers frequently post whenever they get inside access. And we all love it. Access should be limited. There has to be a velvet rope. One could easily assert that Souhan deserves to be outside. Clearly his sources trust him to be in the inside. He literally for information that no one else had, but we have all probably wondered about. He added his own opinions which confused as to what was organizational concern and what was his own conjecture. Anyone can start a blog. You don't need a journalism degree or even a GED. Limiting access to responsible journalists makes sense for everyone. Souhan supports the velvet rope, but he doesn't out it up. His attitude about it is very offputting, but that isn't really the point. I remember him begging bitter about Randy Moss getting a dream sports reporting gig with FOX after trashing the media in Minnesota. It was hilarious to see Moss go straight to the front desk while Souhan continues to struggle as a mere local personality. He is what he is. Appreciate the access, ignore the opinion.

Control is streaky. Feel comes and goes. Gee is dealing with that right now. This is why i was skeptical of duffey's initial success throwing half curves. Gibson's fastball runs so much he has to have good feel to locate it. And his slider alternately bounces, sails, and rolls off the table top. He is what he is. Frustratingly inconsistent. But streaky and sneaky good. I would expect his feel to improve with experience and better emotional control. But I suspect his stuff will begin declining in the next few years too.

We were also leaving the most men on base in the league. If you're good enough to get them on, you should be good enough to get them in. Now we are. I think having several black holes in the line up led to a lot of strands. Now those black holes are carrying the team, or nursing a concussion.

I really like Blayne Enlow. That curve ball though...

Plus he was an NY ss technically... I think being able to hit a little AND field at an elite level should be considered, if only as a tie breaker. Just my opinion... If Park was rated highly as a 1b despite the affinity for fielding throws in the baseline, i can't support those ratings for first basemen. Maybe we should track digs as a stat.

I had suggested that the org was trying to "Molitorize" his swing. I liked the leg kick for timing and to keep his weight back. I still don't love that he hits a lot with a soft front leg which encourages lunging and head movement, but it appears to give him better contact and coverage. I LOVE that he closed down his stance. Better coverage, and Better use of his long lanky torso. Ultimately, I predict he goes back to the leg kick. His swing is still a lot of arms. His success is a testament to hard work, better recognition/plan, plate coverage and quick wrists. His upside at this point is pretty ridic.

Who's not enjoying this? Blue Jays fans?