Hosken Bombo Disco

As long as you are offering... I’m also most interested in #1

On WCCO just now: Atteberry: Why do fans need to question if this is sustainable? Why can’t they just enjoy this? Me: I’m pretty sure fans can do both those things at the same time. Levine: Cruz, Garver have been out, Sano just returned, I don’t think this team has reached its true potential yet. Me: ...

Scoop!!

It’s ok about the absolutely terrible column this week, Randball’s Stu. By the way, somewhere on my computer there is a half-finished story about Jake Goodorizzi you can have, if you are ever in a pinch again.

I’m not scoffing at the idea of productive outs, but I’m not bothered that Kep didn’t advance the runner there. Yes, it would have been nice, sure. Twins fans have endured 25 years of “move ‘em over, get ‘em in” ... “play for a run, lose by a run” style of baseball. I like this version better!

I liked her non-confrontational version of the question better. Granted, there might have been a time in the near past when “what the hell are you doing out there” would have been an honest question for the manager and front office, but not now

This Twins team has been very good. But they will have to face some adversity sooner or later. No time like the present, with good weather ahead and a good Angels team coming in.

Glad to see Cron’s OPS back up among the team leaders. Great pickup, and Marwin called him “the goalkeeper” after the game. First base defense is very underrated in my opinion and Cron is playing it just as well as Mauer was; which is to say, at a gold glove level.

This game wasn’t as close as the score indicated Four home runs, and at least four near-misses, including the first two batters of the game. Keep this up and Target Field will be rockin this summer!

First paragraph: Yes I believe it is. Second paragraph: speak for yourself

For this discussion, yes I would consider game appearances more meaningful than batters faced (or innings, pitches, or whatever). I am also trusting the “sixth sense” of folks who followed the games last spring, day after day, and thought Reed was being overused at that time. I do not think Rogers has been overused this year, though there have been some concerns about that too.

Yes. Good point. We’ve seen that drop in velo really hurt some guys’ effectiveness. I wouldn’t want to see Reed right away in a big leverage spot if he’s not at max with his fastball yet (or ever).

Through May of last season, Addison Reed was very good and very overworked. (As was Pressly) I am more than comfortable drawing a direct line between Reed’s overuse and his lack of effectiveness/ DL stint. That little bit of extra rest he was denied in early 2018 might have been enough to keep him healthy and effective. I’m looking forward to his return.

Agree—I don’t think they start Kirilloff’s clock this season. And why not see what the lesser regarded prospects in the high minors can do.

So, the Twins aren’t winning right now? Or, Kirilloff will help this offense? I don’t feel sooner is better here. In my opinion you are overthinking this one.

Not to throw water on your expectations but I don’t think the front office thinks he’s ready, even if he’s still hitting. See link above. I do agree it would be a great situation to bring him in to, just don’t think he’d be ready.

Just last summer, the front office scoffed at the idea of even promoting Kirilloff up to AA. So, I'm not sure what makes people think Kirilloff should be promoted to MLB soon. Give the kid as much time as he needs. ...got link http://twinsdaily.com/articles.html/_/minnesota-twins-news/twins-minor-league-report-830-big-names-go-yard-relievers-lock-it-up-r7182 comment #5/6

It’s April 16, 2018. The Twins own a 7-4 record. The front office has added free agents at several key positions to complement an 85-win team from the previous year that earned its first post-season berth in seven years. It's April 16, and despite a string of postponements due to an early spring snowstorm, the team is playing well, and flying to Puerto Rico for an unusual two-game series against their division rivals. Minnesota Twins and Puerto Rico, April 2018 (copyright Brace Hemmelgarn, for Twins/MLB) After dropping the first game of the series, native Puerto Rican Jose Berrios pitches 7 shutout innings in the second game, and the Twins win in the 16th inning on a Ryan LaMarre base hit. LaMarre was a minor league signing prior to the season who won a spot on the team with a good spring. With the win, the Twins reclaim first place with an 8-5 record and prepare to fly to Tampa to play a series against the Rays. Then it fell apart. In the first game of that series, free agent relief pitcher Zach Duke failed to touch first base on a toss from Joe Mauer that would have ended the 10th inning; instead, the winning run scored all the way from second base. The Twins lost to Blake Snell in the second game of the series, and in the final game, free agent addition Addison Reed surrendered a 9th inning, walk-off home run to Carlos Gomez. Then the Twins flew to New York for a four game series in Yankee Stadium. After losing the first three games in their typically inept Yankee Stadium way, the Twins had a chance to salvage the series finale. Starter Kyle Gibson held the Yankees to just one hit over 6 shutout innings, and the Twins entered the bottom of the 9th with a 3-1 lead. The first Yankees batter reached when first baseman Logan Morrison, yet another offseason free agent addition, failed to scoop a not-too-difficult short hop throw from Miguel Sano. That baserunner gave the Yankees life. Two batters later, free agent closer Fernando Rodney surrendered another game winning, walk-off home run, a three-run shot by Gary Sanchez. The Twins flew home from New York on a seven game losing streak. They tacked on another dismal loss to the Reds, extending their losing streak to eight. Their record sank to 8-13 and they would not climb back to .500 for the rest of the 2018 season. The free agent acquisitions prior to 2018 were meant to complement the young corps of players that had been developed internally in the organization, but instead, the free agents seemed to torpedo the season. This season, so far, is different. Much different. Those players from 2018 are elsewhere, and the players brought in by the front office for 2019 are making the plays. First baseman C. J. Cron, coming from Tampa Bay, has proven just as adept at first base as Joe Mauer, making all the scoops and showing more pop at the plate. Many fans (I was one of those) thought that the front office should encourage Mauer to sign an extension for 2019, but Cron appears to be performing just as well. Second base pickup Jonathan Schoop gives the middle infield youth and arm strength that Brian Dozier did not have. Here is his throw from shallow left in Houston April 22 to nab Josh Reddick at the plate: https://twitter.com/Twins/status/1120513457491795975 And, “super utility” player Marwin Gonzalez, despite his slow start at the plate, is making the plays in the field, while filling in at third base, at first base, and in left. His sliding catch in the first inning against the Astros on April 29 saved perhaps two runs, in a game the Twins won with only a single run, 1-0. All of this, while free agent designated hitter Nelson Cruz is hitting even better than advertised. The additions to the pitching staff for 2019 did not seem impactful; however, Ryne Harper and Blake Parker have been assets in the bullpen, and Martin Perez has now strung together four good starts. It’s a group of pitchers who are far outperforming last season’s acquisitions Zach Duke, Fernando Rodney, and Lance Lynn. After 30 games in 2018, the Twins had already suffered five walk-off losses. Here in 2019, none as of yet. While it’s yet to be seen whether the pitchers will continue to protect leads, the new additions to the every day lineup are providing enough offense and defense to keep the team in the win column more often than not. As Jonah Keri, writing for The Athletic, summarized it: The combination of up-and-comers in their 20s, big-hitting veteran imports and managerial guidance [from Rocco Baldelli] has borne fruit. A lot can be said of Baldelli as well, the new Twins manager and perhaps biggest offseason acquisition of all. But that's another article for another day. Prior to the 2018 season, the front office might have thought they were acquiring the final complementary parts to a team that won 85 games the previous season. It did not work out that way. The acquisitions for the 2019 season, however, are working out incredibly well so far. And I haven’t even mentioned Willians Astudillo yet.

Garver’s first at bat leading off the game, was: strike one, strike two, strike three, looking looking looking. Seemed like it would be another one of “those games”

Game 1 starter goes in Game 4, like all the other Twins World Series

Catchers. Straw man not intended. Even among catchers, however, the data doesn’t really support him being near mid-point or average, at least as I interpret it. Here is the list, sorted for 500 PAs and OPS since 2017. Castro rings in about 28 out of 40, and glancing up the list you might be reminded there are a lot of good hitting catchers in the league. However, I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind because I think he’s the right guy for the right moment and he’s off to a good start in 2019, and the team is winning. https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=c&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=500&type=1&season=2019&month=0&season1=2017&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=10,d

Bailey Ober was my Adopt-a-Prospect selection for 2018. Wish I had stuck with it!!

If we are going to argue that the Houston series skewed his fielding/defense numbers, then we can also argue that the Houston series inflated his offensive numbers. In any case, good article. My beef with Castro was never so much about Castro, than it was with other people claiming Castro was a league average hitter. Castro is good behind the plate and anything he gives us at the plate in 2019 is a bonus.

Ted, do you have access to transcripts of radio interviews? I ask because I thought I heard Rocco say he’s in no hurry to move Buxton out of the ninth spot. Same as the above poster I wouldn’t second guess if he did, but I don’t feel any urgency for that to happen either. I might want him to bat ahead of Castro when Castro’s in the lineup, otherwise I’m happy to let it ride for a bit with Buck batting ninth and creating havoc from there. Anyway just a question for you.