Hosken Bombo Disco

Well, it IS a noon game on a Sunday 🤣 Seriously though, a couple more weeks of this and I might be sold, I may set up a GoFundme to help the Wilfs bring back Cousins next year

I really appreciate how you broke down those final plate appearances, pitch by pitch. That is often how pitchers and catchers see it—when to waste a pitch, when to try to steal a strike, what to throw on the first pitch, what to follow after a fastball or curve, etc. Now the trigger warning. Even aside from the strikeout debate, there is too much magical thinking going on. The best example is Buxton. The whole Buxton saga was a disaster, all the way back from the start of spring training not playing in any games, to that final at bat in the 8th when he hit a fly ball to the first baseman at a 51mph exit velocity off a 98mph fastball. And everything in between. Remember everyone lauded and took credit for the plan to have Buxton DH when wit was working through April and early May. In September they gave Toby Gardenhire the go-ahead to play Buxton for 7 full innings in the field in his first rehab appearance, when so many of us were expecting them to ease in Buxton an inning at a time. I didn’t even realize Buxton’s plate appearance in Game 4 was the last one a Twin put a ball in play. None of us on the outside knew it at the time, but Buxton was completely unprepared to take that at bat in the 8th when they only had six outs left give. I’d love to know if there have been private conversations about this in the front office or owner’s suite, or owner’s supper table. That said, there were a lot of highlights and fun moments to go along with the long stretches of badness. Beating Toronto. There was an exciting Julien pinch hit homer at a game I was at. Royce Lewis. The pitching staff. The bullpen was fine but the rotation was great, and healthy, and that will be the key again in 2024.

Didn’t know the weather was so crappy. Makes more sense.

That attendance is like back in the 1990s when I was attending college baseball games in the Metrodome in March

Yikes:

These numbers seem really, really low. Falvey would be offering Lewis low arbitration salaries, then $15 million out in 2028 in what would be his first free agency season. In contrast, Falvey offered Joey Gallo $11 million last year. $15 million of 2028 dollars versus $11 million 2023 dollars. I think the best move for both sides is to just play it out Lewis’s free agency approaches.

It’s crazy that we are seeing calls for O’Connell’s job already, not even through his second full season. I will get to that point eventually, but this is waaaay too soon. Where are these passionate voices for accountability when it comes to the proven mediocrities still running the Twins? 🤣 There is going to be an adjustment period transitioning to life without Kirk. Montana to Young and Favre to Rodgers are the exceptions not the rule. The difference for me this year is if they do make the playoffs, I will have no expectations whatsoever. I do think it’s fair to call the season a failure if they don’t.

Then probably not a play you can expect to run effectively a second time

That was another entertaining game. I have had more fun watching Vikings games this season than in a long time. The other team is allowed to be good, and Higgins made an unbelievable play on that catch.

The Dream of resigning Mahle has died, RIP the dream, season over

In terms of Dollars per WAR, or bang for your buck? Sure I would make that argument. However, I don’t think either Kepler or Larnach is part of the future core of this team—Wallner maybe, but definitely not Kepler. (Disclaimer: no ill will towards Max)

Well, the Twins already committed malpractice in 2023 by starting Larnach in left, so they could go with Larnach again in 2024 and commit even more malpractice. 🙂

That’s fair. We can disagree about Larnach. I can live with him being a placeholder if nothing else. As far as Kepler/Wallner and right field, I don’t see a reason not to make the move, other than someone is guessing that Kepler will perform in 2024 like he did the second half last year. But I don’t think anyone has any idea whether he will or not, including the front office.

That’s fair. Heading into 2020 I might have called Rosario and Kepler both really good outfielders and about the same, but the past few years may have biased me towards Rosario. Not sure. I have no idea how Kepler will perform this year. the thing about Rosario though is he had that uncapturable quality about him, the twinkle in the eye, the which is why so many people liked him and wanted to keep him around. The anticipation he might do something special despite all his mistakes.

At this point we start falling into the “was he healthy” trap, depending who our favorite players are and what arguments we are making. Was Rosario underperforming because he was battling injuries, or not? Was Correa underperforming because he was battling injuries, or not? What about Kepler? What about Larnach? With Larnach, it was actually an illness that knocked him out the first time last season. Is it really fair to your analysis to just say he’s no good, without taking into account as much information as possible?

Moving on from Kepler and letting Wallner start in right field, where Wallner played in the minors and where you can maximize his throwing arm, is the sort of routine move that a competitive team might make without losing too much sleep over. As someone mentioned, they non-tendered Rosario, who was a better player than Kepler. Larnach doubtful will ever make an all star team, but Larnach would be my left fielder to start. I think he gets a bad rap here.

Mullens's first pass attempt slapped off the palm of a Raider's defender before being completed to Hockensen. Mullens has bounced around the league himself and I do not get the vibe that he is going to be the guy who saves the season, but it will be fun to watch. I wouldn't be surprised if we see Jaren Hall before the season is over. It's cool Mullens was on San Francisco's super bowl team a few years ago, though.

That is the downside. Horrible game as far as your personnel.

The last 3-0 game I remember was this one

Yeah I think the Vikings are going to have to get to the promised land switching and managing between 3 backups this season.

Raiders came out business-like on that lateral play. Didn’t get to the end zone though.

Wish that had been a punt return TD

Nm I didn’t realize time was so low

Honestly, that’s a spot you like to have a guy like Cousins try to throw for a first down.

HUGE