Mike Sixel

there is no "lowly" in service. thank you.

right, that team was built for a playoff push, not a 162 game push. I still think there should be two champions in MLB, regular season and short season, and everyone should play in the short season....

I figured innings played a role. And, I get that. It is more my admiration for what they did than a strong disagreement with the decision(s).

That was a great article.

I guess counting on a guy that's been injured more than 1 time, and just missed the full year, seems like a bad strategy to many of us. That's where I sit. If they get anything from him next year, gravy. But, I wouldn't count on it.

Here's the weird thing....most of the people saying the Twins should consider trading him think he has real value, and could possibly return a real pitcher and a prospect. It's the other side that says he's not worth that much. Most of the people saying trade him, not all and not hte OP, are saying it because they think the Twins can get by better with Buxton, Kepler, FA/Wade/Granite and a legit SP, than they can with a FA SP or someone from the minors while keeping Eddie. Because, if you want to get good value back, you have to give up good value.

I can't understand how Thorpe didn't get votes. He has better underlying numbers than nearly every guy that did. I also don't get the lack of love for Turley at all. Jeremy is the only voter that is even close to right, imo. I say give Jeremy more power

I think Mauer has a great shot this year.

Ah, I missed that, sorry..... And, I have no skin in the game, other than I generally find that hot streaks are just that.....now, it's certainly possible Gibson made some change, but most stories we read about change are post hoc analysis and narrative, and suddenly disappear and no one writes about that.....

I believe they have rules for a 4 way tie, but if it goes to five teams, they have no rules.....

why is Dan in quotes?

well, when I filter by date on fangraphs splits........Gibson has a 3.96 ERA since June 1....which is 62nd in baseball of those with at least 50 innings pitched since then, so not sure where you get your numbers. edit: see below for my error!

congrats on the birth of your son! such an exciting time. And, great intro.

There was also a very long conversation about Dan's rather strong thought about how to make chili (or, more accurately, how not to).

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/dan-szymborski-fangraphs-chat-91317/ 2:00The Average Sports Fan: Will the Twins be able to hold on for the 2nd wildcard? 2:00Dan Szymborski: It’s getting closer – two games is significant with this amount of time remaining. 2:01Dan Szymborski: It’s enough that it makes them vs. the field a coin flip or so. 2:05Wild card: How many wins will the second AL wild card team have? Who will it be? 2:05Dan Szymborski: Probably the team that wins 85 gets the wild card 2:05Dan Szymborski: Twins the favorite 2:09Off season: How should teams think about selling in the off season, considering a team like the Twins going worst to playoffs. They held onto Dozier when many said they should take the best offer, and he’s leading them to the playoffs. Lessons for other “non contenders” in the off season? 2:09Dan Szymborski: No. 2:10Dan Szymborski: If the Twins getting a wild card is a lesson, then why would Royals, Rays, Orioles, etc. not be? 2:18TwinkiePower: Joe Mauer & Byron Buxton: Gold Glove Odds? 2:18Dan Szymborski: Buxton’s are very good. 2:19Dan Szymborski: The process still isn’t perfect, but we’re actually getting generally better choices with less of an incumbent discount. 2:19Dan Szymborski: Mauer, harder to tell. 2:30TwinkiePower: One of the knocks against Joe Mauer has been that he’s taking up a lineup spot at 1B that’s normally reserved for a traditional power hitter. Considering his resurgence this season and the fact that just about everyone signed this season to perform that role has underwhelmed, are we going to see a shift in common wisdom on the value of players with power hitting and not much else? 2:30Dan Szymborski: No. Because you still need to do a *lot* of other stuff to make up for the lack of power. 2:31Dan Szymborski: Without power, Mauer’s had to hit .300 *and* walk enough to have a .380 OBP *and* play good D, just to be an above-average 1B.

Agreed, truly awesome. thank you all.

has any team ever lost 3 players in the rule 5? I can't imagine so recently, but I have no idea. I just don't think that many players are taken anymore, and certainly not that matter like back in the day.

crazy.

How badly does he want to play here? So badly he'll give up hundreds of millions of dollars.....

He has also asked for his name to be: Ohtani in English..... I give the Twins a 2% chance, maybe 1.

why is TB trading Archer, if they are a contender?

excellent use of narrative!

I literally have no idea what the point is you are making here. But that's ok, I probably won't be back to this thread anyway. btw, were the Cubs largely post season tested last year, or Cleveland?

We are going to "punish" two "rookies" for not having WS rings yet? wow. Ok then.

He's a left handed corner OF, and they already have two of those? Allegedly he is also not good defensively. And he doesn't hit all that well. I'm not surprised about Vielma, and I agree with the chief on this one. Also Adrianza is Vielma, only can hit.