DocBauer

So the changes keep coming. I'm really excited about Teasley. He seems to have a "football" mindset and a good knowledge of how to draft and build a team. He certainly had to learn a lot with Seattle and had to have had a hand in how they run things. A lot of talk about Frank Smith as assistant head coach and his work as run game coordinator. But am I the only one who's really excited about Keith Carter as the OL coach? I keep reading how he's working the OL really hard on technique, but earning praise from the players and everyone else for the work he's doing. Also, I still have a bunch Smith is coming back. Rookie SAFETY Jakobe Johnson has even said a few things about Harry that indicate he might be coming back. And I hope that's true. But I'm not sure the SAFETY position collapses without him. I'm a little confused about Dawkins seeing time at EDGE. Is this just Flores playing around? He looked pretty good as a developmental rookie in limited action in 2025, with some real potential. But is he really a contender for the #3 EDGE next season? I'm thinking this is just Flores experimenting. I still think the #1 priority left is a FA EDGE to be the #3. And there are a number of possibilities that shouldn't cost a fortune. I'm not sure how much it matters if Flores likes the guys on hand. And there is some potential there. A PROVEN #3 could make a major difference for the defense.

OK, so the Twins simply aren't the Yankees or the Dodgers. But even if you exclude the Washington Senators history, they've been to 3 WS and won 2. They've produced a fair amount of HOF players, and even had a few who played only briefly for them. And they have a laundry list of really great players who weren't quite HOF caliber, but who were still special in their time. But honestly, when healthy, have the Twins EVER had a more dynamic player?? While still really good in CF, he was a Platinum Glove winner who could have deserved a GG most seasons. His career SB numbers percentage wise is at the top of All Time lists. Yes, his contract has been one of the best moves the Twins ever made, even if it didn't look good the first couple of years. The tragic irony is had he been more healthy earlier in his career, he might have never been resigned by the team. Imagine what he might have done in his career if he had avoided some of those injuries. Medical science is amazing these days. But I am DUMBFOUNDED that SOMEONE wasn't smart enough to just say: "Hey, why don't we remove this little plica and see if that helps?" He might have gained an additional 2years, at least, of better health to display his amazing talent. While being 32yo is still a YOUNG man, it's older for a professional athlete. And yet, the last couple of seasons, we're seeing Buxton at his very best. Again, imagine him this healthy 3-4-5 years ago? He's still a quality CF, still one of the fastest and best base runners and SB champions in the game. And his towering HR provide awe inspiring moments. The bad news is how amazing he could have been. The good news is we're seeing at least a glimpse of that by STILL being one of the best players of the game in his early 30's. And I think there's a real chance he's got another few years left to be this kind of player, even if he slows down a little, or moves to a corner spot, or even becomes a primary DH. He is an ELITE athlete, even if he's 10-20% less than what he was in his 20's, when healthy. And what's even more impressive is him as a person. Ask him about a bit hit or a major defensive play, you will get a short and humble answer. As him about the performance of a teammate, and he will effuse at length. And talk about loyalty? He wants to be a Twin for life. And while we can bash the ownership all we want, they do have a reputation for treating their players and their families well. Buxton is a class act. And I want him to be a Twin for life. HOPEFULLY, that means he's so healthy and good he earns ANOTHER contract as a productive corner OF/DH that carries over until he's 35-36-37. Yeah, I'm being carried away a little bit. But could he be the next Cruz if he stays healthy? Is it that inconceivable? Contract value or not, if you are a Twins fan, or even just a baseball fan, you should be rolling in delight for what watching a healthy Buxton brings to the experience these days. I keep reflecting on Monday's game where they were celebrating Plouffe's birthday in the box. And then Buxton comes to the plate and hits ANOTHER towering HR shot! What a great moment! Whether he's done in a couple of years, or beats father time and gets another contract to be the next Cruz, I really want this wonderful player and person to ONLY wear a Twins jersey for his ENTIRE career. BUT, if things don't turn around, and he says he wants to finish with Atlanta, or another team, for a final shot at a WS, I won't begrudge him. Instead, I would root for HIM and whatever team that might be. I just hope that never happens. Watching him is a JOY! And I want to witness as many of those joyful moments as I can. And I want to see his last game played, whenever that is, still wearing a Twins jersey.

Really excited to see Diaw moved up. Houston should right behind him. While Diaw probably has a lot to still learn behind the plate, his athleticism and BAT are really exciting. Hopefully he develops a little more power, but he doesn't have to be a power hitter to be a really good offensive catcher. And he also seems to always have a good OB% as well. Here's hoping he stays healthy the rest of the season and is ready for AAA in 2027.

I know this is kind of a throw away topic, but I was initially confused when I turned on the Twins game Sunday and didn't recognize the play by play voice. I even thought I had the Rangers announcers for a moment. It's my understanding that with Atteberry out on a break, Provus asked to cover the radio broadcast with old friend Gladden. So MLB broadcaster Greg Caserta is taking Cory's spot briefly. While I LOVE Cory's, i just wanted to say that I thought Caserta was very good. He was very professional and fun to listen to. And despite being under the MLB umbrella, he sort of "played up" fandom for the Twins a bit, as if he was a normal team broadcaster. I wouldn't mind him being a future fill in for games in the future.

Should we be surprised at the improvement Houston has made? In college he was known as a solid contact, good eye, balanced BB/K hitter. The biggest question was how much pop/power he was going to have. How much of his HR splash in his last season at Wake was legitimate? He's not a small guy at all at 6' 3" and 205lbs. So I can see him developing double digit HR power at some point. But I'm more concerned with just HITTING and legging out 30 Dbls and the occasional Trip or 2 or 6. His current OB% is .68 points higher than his AVG. That's not bad. I'm very pleased his K% has dropped so significantly. And he's hitting has been excellent. He's shown enough XB power so far to offer a little danger to pitchers. But I would like to see his OB% climb a little higher. I think there was a little knee jerk reaction to his BAT after his poor performance at A+ after his promotion there at the end of 2025. SO FAR, I think he's done a good job easing those concerns. As far as a possible INF crunch, I hope it happens. The players involved in any "crunch" are all 1st or 2nd round picks. So it would a good problem to have, and not an improbable situation to be sure. However, invariably, SOMEONE doesn't turn out, or gets injured, or traded, or in Lewis's case, maybe becomes a FA in 2 more years. But it would be a nice problem to have for sure. **I suspect the OF is going to be a much bigger potential "crunch" begining in 2027...which might also affect DH and maybe even 1B...but that's a different discussion for a different day. As to Keaschall playing 1B, I'm not crazy about it, but I can see some logic behind it. (I think 2B is his best home given some more development time). But IF you had Houston at SS with decent hitting, a little POP, and good speed, Lee and K-Pepper providing solid bats, possibly 20 HR power each, and addition speed from KC, it wouldn't be crazy to have a non power hitter at 1B. I am ABSOLUTELY NOT comparing them as players, but Rod Carew transitioned to 1B and was a career #1 or #2 hitter. If you have offense and power at multiple positions, that's what really matters at the end of the day. While they all had SOME power, through the 80's and early 90's, there were a number of solid 1B like Hernandez, Grace, and Joyner that were more AVG and OB and Dbls power hitters rather than being thumpers. Doug Mientkiewicz was a very similar type of player at 1B. And in very recent times, the Twins had a batting champion in Arraez playing 1B and contributing to the offense, even though he had very limited power. All I'm saying/pointing out is there are many ways to build a lineup. 30 years ago, most SS and CF were defense only. And if you had one with power, they were the exception, not the rule. Obviously, that dynamic has really changed over the years. Some might have forgotten...or don't want to admit...that hard work turned Julien from a poor 2B to an average 2B for 2024. The fact that his bat and defense BOTH tanked in 2025 doesn't excuse the fact that he actually DID improve. Keaschall is far more athletic than Julien. His offense is a work in progress, but he's been pretty solid after a bad April. And I still think 2B is his best position. And I still have him penciled there for the next few years unless he just doesn't improve. But is it OK to give him some time to adjust, learn and grow, and hopefully see his arm improve it's strength a little more? If his total offensive package continues to improve...and he's at least trending that way...with a solid AVG, quality OB%, at least some XB power, and good speed and base running, there's no logical reason why he can't, potentially, be the future 1B. There's a TON of offensive potential over the rest of the INF, and the OF, and even DH simply based on so many TOP prospects just waiting to break through at AAA. So it would OK if a leadoff hitter was sitting at 1B. I just prefer him at 2B and think he will really improve as this season carries on, and going in to 2027.

I honestly thought he was done after 2024 and was a little surprise he was kept in the system. I figured it must be for depth purposes at Wichita. And then, of course, he goes out and looks like an entirely different ballplayer. The one thing I noticed about his MILB career as that his OB% was always significantly higher than his AVG. It generally sat 70 to 100 points higher each season. So while that guarantees nothing in regard to future success, I think it does offer up some belief that his bat may play at the ML level.

Nope. This is where the Twins should have followed the Brewers way of doing things. (Also similar to the Guardians and Rays). A healthy Winter League and a strong ST should have had Rodriguez in RF to begin the season. And the Twins should have followed the way the Brewers handled Chourio, live with what you got and give him time. And Roden should have been in LF splitting time with Martin. OK, sliding doors scenario. But do either Rodriguez or Roden get hurt if on the ML roster? Who the hell knows. But while I actually like Bell...and he's heating up now...it SHOULD have been a season in the OF with Rodriguez and Roden with Martin fitting in, and no Larnach, and probably Wallner as the DH. Tell me I'm wrong? Wallner has struggled and been sent down to prove he's a ML player, which has surprised the hell out of me. And Larnach is STILL a barely above ML average hitter. Again, tell me I'm wrong? The OF, especially for a limited payroll team and TONS of talent sitting at AAA waiting to be the NEXT WAVE of a competitive team, should have been Buxton, Rodriguez, Roden, and Martin to begin the season. Wallner would be the 5th OF and primary DH. Fedko, recently given a shot, and Jenkins, Gonzalez, and Mendez were the next in line. Tell me that doesn't make more sense than the way the current roster was built?

Unfortunately, Rosario was pushed back to AA ball, same as Mendez, due to a "crunch" at AAA that I don't necessarily agree with. Just as a reminder, his TREMENDOUS 2025 season SHOULD have been his SECOND MVP season. But he lost out to an older journeyman player. I have no idea if bad luck, fighting an injury, or being pissed off made Rosario start the season slow. But he has really been cranking up his game and it's about time he gets a AAA promotion. ***IF the Twins had just gone the logical route and trusted in their TOP prospects, Roden and Gonzalez would have been with the team and Rosario would already be at St Paul. I was a bit surprised when I saw Sprock playing catcher. As a former 3B, you have to think the arm is there. His bat offers some potential and some power potential. As a 2025 draftee, he did play 23 games last season and did OK. He's hitting hitting even better this season as a still 21yo. While he's still splitting time, which is normal, they must think he's got real potential behind the plate. We'll see. He's at least off to a decent start with the bat at least. And then comes Diaw. Look, I wouldn't DARE to compare him to Mauer! But athletically, and base HITTING ability, he's as close as we've drafted in years! First off, Mauer was an AMAZING catcher. Diaw is not, and has a lot to learn behind the plate. But he's a good enough athlete to play CF on his days off. Doesn't that kind of athlete intrigue you behind the plate? And his BAT is similar to Mauer, or maybe Harper considering he's RH. I have no doubt he still has a lot to learn being a CATCHER first and foremost. And that's where I'd like him to spend the majority of his time. His biggest obstacle is just staying healthy. I have no idea how much HR or XB power he might grow in to. But he can flat out HIT. I think he's a prospect that is being ignored by many. I think he's about ready for AA in regard to his BAT. Not yet 23yo, but close, I think he's ready. Now, how much time it takes him to refine his catching skills is a different story. He's certainly not a part of 2027. And if it takes him another year, year and a half, or two years, I think many are sleeping on a potentially quality bat with at least some power, and maybe underated as to the Twins "future" catcher.

Good, bad, right or wrong, Lewis appears to be an emotional player. For whatever reason, he really lost all confidence. He seems to allow bad streaks to affect him. The confidence lessens, and suddenly he's frustrated and things snowball. Now, I think some mechanical issues were also probably part of his poor performance and frustration as well, it wasn't all "bad luck" or a mental approach issue. Going going not only provided him a mental reset, but also a mechanical one. There's little doubt he's on a hot streak and will come down to earth a bit. But I think most of us can agree that the talent is still there to be a good player. His body has changed, and there have been injuries that have affected him, but talent doesn't just disappear, even with some physical changes. (I.e. he's not as nimble or fast as he was as a young prospect, but he's grown bigger and stronger). **FWIW, a small consideration concerning his future, last season and this season, currently, he's been as healthy as he's ever been at the ML level. Is that a key/clue to his future performance? I DON'T want to get hyperbolic here, but even with some natural regression from Lewis, I have to ask: "is it possible the INF is starting to take shape"? Seriously. Lee seems much better at 3B. While his BAT still isn't where anyone wants it, and he's been streaky, he's still shown improvement. Lewis is settling in as a 1B, can also cover 3B and 2B if needed. And while it's really easy to dismiss what Clemens has been doing, the truth is his 2 best ML seasons have been with the Twins in 2025, and even better in 2026. Again, I don't want to give in to hyperbole, but is it POSSIBLE he's a late bloomer who REALLY took a next step due to not only late development but also opportunity?? SOMETIME SOON K-Pepper is going to be brought up to play SS. Not saying he's going to be a STUD from DAY ONE, but he's a TOP 50 prospect for a reason. He STABALISES SS offensively and defensively. I'm not going in to another debate about Keaschall still developing and needing time to see how he develops, but the offense has started to come around. So WHEN K-Pepper is up, we've got the still young and improving Lee at 3B, KC at SS, Keaschall at 2B, and 1B covered by Clemens and Lewis, BOTH who have the ability to also play other positions. Kreidler has SURPRISED with his bat so far, and Gray has come through in big moments. But perhaps Kreidler's glove and versatility makes him the right choice to keep when KC comes up? It's not inconceivable that the best option for super utility INF for 2027 might just be the emergence of Ross, currently at AAA. He might be the best version of Kreidler and Gray combined. But he's still got some things to prove. But if Lewis has indeed turned a corner...maybe finally understanding he HAS the talent, but it's up to HIM to be positive and OWN his future...we really might be looking at a semi COMPLETE INF going forward really soon. OBVIOUSLY, K-Pepper isn't here YET. But don't you have to be kinda excited about Lee, K-Pepper, Keaschall, Lewis and Clemens and Kreidler/Gray/Ross completing this INF?

Yes, roughly 25% of all pitching is LH. That means 75% is RH. That means a RH bat still faces RH pitching a good 75% of the time. It's true that some RH hitters just aren't good enough against RH arms at the ML level and they really are just a platoon bat against LHP barring "emergency" action. But then again, how do you know if a RH hitter can actually hit ML RHP unless you let him try? I liked the idea of Martin getting an extended run against ALL pitching. He deserved it. So far, it hasn't worked out well. I hope Fedko gets the opportunity to face RHP and isn't immediately made a platoon bat. Again, he might be good, or he might not be good. But you need to find out what he can and can't do to find out if you have a solid #4-5 OF in your system, right under your nose....or not.

Good for him! He might be good, he might be decent, he might be bad. But at least the FO is giving him an opportunity.

I don't always agree with Law in regard to the draft or prospect rankings. But he's always pretty logical in his rankings and beliefs. But this BLOWS ME AWAY! The Dirty Sox have done some crazy things in the draft before, and might again. But to draft Lackey #1 would have to be some sort of $ game plan wouldn't it be? I mean, he's a great pick. But a catcher over a premium SS? I mean, I really love the Twins drafting Lackey even with a history of highly drafted catchers being a 50-50 proposition. But Lackey does seem to be the real deal. So IF this happens, it's the Dirty Sox saving another 1$M or so for their next pick. So would the Rays "cheap out" and take Emerson or Tyler Bell over Roch? Both fit their player profile for draft picks. I honestly can't believe the Dirty Sox would pass over Cholowsky. No matter how good Lackey is, I just don't see it. I still see Roch #1....how can you pass on this talent...Emerson #2 to the Rays because he not only fits their profile, but because he's just so damn good of a prospect. And that still leaves Lackey at #3 for the Twins, IMO. I think Law might have been a little tipsy when he posted that idea, lol. Unless the Dirty Sox just got stupid, or decided they were smart enough to outwit everyone else, I still think chalk makes sense. But as much as I really like Lackey, IF we were gifted Cholowsky SOMEHOW, my only complaint would be memorizing his name. Lol

A poorer version of Laweryson? This one confuses me, unless it's for AAA depth, but I guess he's already on the 40 man. I sorta get the idea of Klein bouncing around between AAA and the Twins, just to keep him stretched out for multiple innings, but where does it stop? Morris has been given a chance to be a late inning option and has started to show real promise there. (I still think him starting a BP game recently was a bad choice). But Klein, similar to Morris, and BOTH remind me of better versions of Jax at the same point in development. They have the stuff to be set up men, or quality 1-2 middle relievers at worst. Rashi will be around for a week or two. Laweryson is probably better once he gets another inning or two under his belt. There's really nothing to see here.

Only one comment. This sucks! I've still got faith he's a solid set up man.

IMO, the most logical conclusion is just ramping him up both offensively and defensively to be the MOST READY he can be. And I'm OK with that. Since Lewis was sent down, Lee was moved to 3B. That wasn't done as a temporary move. And since then, K-Pepper has been played exclusively at SS. While there is at least some slight concern about chase rate, I'd say that's true for about 80-90% of all rookies. Expecting him to be some sort of STUD offensively and defensively right out of the gate is a mistake. And that's why I object somewhat to the headline. He just has to continue being his normal self. There really shouldn't be that much pressure on him. Just be better than who you are replacing, but don't even think about that. Just be YOU. Lee is where he should be. He's just better at 3B overall, with a lot of tools to be a good 3B, even without a cannon. And his offense has improved, he just needs to find better consistency. And I'm not going to derail this OP in regard to Keaschall at 2B or any mention of Lewis. It's POSSIBLE that a year or so from now that Houston's bat is at least decent. And his glove is so amazing that he moves K-Pepper to a different spot. Dreams and bird in a hand folks. We have the absolute best SS prospect we've had in years sitting at AAA right now. I've stated very clearly even before the season began that the Twins would have a SPLIT season. The first part was just being competent enough with the bullpen and a strong rotation to keep the team around .500 before we got to see the young arms, and the young OF, and K-Pepper settling SS Alas, we've seen the young arms earlier than expected in some cases, and hopefully will see more. Injuries have set back almost the entire OF part of the "next wave". Luckily, we're still only approaching mid June, so there's still a real chance the build up for 2027 that I expected and hoped for will still take place. But K-Pepper is the ONE top prospect that has so far avoided "the curse", lol. I DON'T like pressure added to him. Again, all he has to do is be himself. The skills say he's a solid SS with the potential to be above average. That would be OUTSTANDING and help settle the left side of the INF. Should he, or we, care that MAYBE in a year, or year and a half that there might be an even better defensive SS ready to take over? Well he shouldn't, because he's got all the talent in the world to be a STUD 2B or 3B and things change over time. I really don't understand why he's not up yet considering the hot streak he's been on. But again, if they just think another week or two getting prepped makes sense, who am I to argue? I think he potentially changes the defense AND the lineup. I'm just not sure I agree with his shoulders bearing weight. I think it goes deeper than that.

To be honest, I only skimmed the OP because I already know my answer is NO. The ONLY reason to send him down is because the coaching staff...who works with him and sees him DAILY in everything he does...believes he could benefit in some way with a little AAA time. His bat was actually really solid in May. He's not off to a bad start in June so far. If the Twins hitting coaches can't coax a little more pop/power from his bat, I'm really not sure what the AAA coaches could do differently. Personally, I still think he's been used improperly, especially after he got hot in May. With all worship and deference to Buxton hitting #1, I still prefer him hitting in the #2 spot with Keaschall being the #1 that he seems destined for. As to his defense, he's not good. But I've seen worse. I maintain this is the FIRST FULL SEASON he's played 2B for a couple of years. The hope is two-fold: 1] After TJ surgery and THEN a broken arm his arm will eventually be at least a little bit stronger. 2] He's got all the athleticism in the world to just be a "decent" if not good 2B. Again, he's really still getting adjusted again. Remember, he had BARELY began playing 2B again in 2025 before the Twins brought him up out of necessity. In a season that is CLEARLY a RE-TOOL...not a complete rebuild...why on earth wouldn't we give him the entirety of the 2026 season to work at 2B before we start to make harsh determinations that he simply can't be at least a viable 2B? We've already begun to debut arms, some of whom have been asked to perform earlier than hoped for and expected. Despite some lumps, there have also been some really good developments. With healthy luck, we may see a couple more settle in before the season is done to ready the staff for the future. Unfortunately, the player side of opportunity has been blown apart by injuries to a few top prospects. But it's STILL only June 10th. There's still a lot of season for K-Pepper, Roden, Jenkins, Rodriguez, Mendez, and maybe Gonzalez to debut and get experience. But one thing often discussed in various OP and Forums is how OTHER teams like the Guardians, Brewers, and Rays do things. They survive and do well often BECAUSE they give their prospects a CHANCE to succeed. My biggest issue with the Falvey, and now Zoll I guess, FO was being so obsessed with depth that they ignored poor depth decisions at times. THIS season, I would have had BOTH Roden and Rodriguez on the opening day roster. Unfortunately, Roden got hurt early. In theory, Rodriguez would still be healthy as he wouldn't have slid in to 1B in a Saints game. You know, the whole "sliding door" example of life. K-Pepper should be up really soon. His promotion doesn't affect Keaschall. We DON'T need THREE utility players, even if they're doing OK in their roles. Sometimes the best thing you can do for a young prospect is keep working with him, but keep playing him to LEARN through experience. If Keaschall's bat suddenly tanked, instead of being on an upswing, I might be inclined to give him a AAA reset to settle down and re-focus. But we're not seeing an offensive decline. We have problems, we have issues, but giving Keaschall a very long rope to develop is not one of them.

I believe he was signed for multiple reasons. While he brings a quality veteran presence to the locker room, the real reason was to be a DH and provide offense to a team that needed another couple of bats, with the HOPE his strong finish would mean a decent start this season. Alas, past the first few weeks, he's followed a general career path of starting slow. If he did/does follow hus career path of heating up around June, he's a big bat for a team in any kind of playoff race. But if the team isn't/wasn't in any kind of playoff race, he might be moved for a solid AA or A+ arm or bat with some potential. Especially with a number of top bat prosoects sitting at AAA. Bell wasn't on my personal radar this past offseason, but I didn't hate the signing. What I DIDN'T like was the overall roster construction with him plus Larnach, plus Wallner. But that's not Bell's fault. But as someone else stated, he's really not blocking anyone at this time, other than Wallner, who I'm guessing is still 2-3 weeks away from getting his next opportunity. That gives Bell another 2-3 weeks to see if he snaps back to being a hot bat or not. And really, who else do you play besides him? You might as well run with him for another 2-3 weeks and see what happens. No decision needs to be made until then. Somewhat contrary to those comments, Roden is on his rehab assignment and will probably be back with the Saints in a couple of days. With the amount of time missed, he's probably going to need a couple weeks with the Saints to get back in a groove. It's even possible he's brought up before Wallner. And SOMEONE needs to be up so Martin isn't playing daily. I 100% the right decision was to let Martin play daily. It hasn't turned out. He needs to face LHP and occasionally RHP. But he's not built for daily play. K-Kepper should be brought up very, very soon. Take your pick who goes down between Arcia, Kreidler, and Gray. They've all done fairly well. But we sure don't need all THREE of them. Jenkins wasn't quite ready to be brought up, even though he was on a hot streak. And he's not going to be ready in a few weeks either. Rodriguez is further out. You can debate Mendez is ready, but he's still damn young, and didn't even begin the season in AAA. And WHEN do you give Roden a shot, if not now?? And you still have the Wallner equation. I don't believe there is any reason for Bell to finish the season with the Twins. But again, he isn't blocking anyone for the next 2-3 weeks, so let's just see if he actually gets hot, and might be moved for something other than cash. Then we have another opening. As far as Sabato, I'm still not a believer. But slowly, painfully so, he has reached AAA at 26yo, and is actually performing well this season, just turning 27yo a couple days ago. I wouldn't dare compare him to another Muncy, but what IF he's actually turned a corner? I don't know about everyone...it's clearly a split decision...but I wouldn't mind a couple months of an audition to see if MAYBE he's a late bloomer or truly a 1st rounder that just didn't turn out.

I have been pleasantly surprised by Larnach this year. Almost as pleased by him as I've been disappointed in Wallner. Well, there's no room for both next season. Rodriguez has no more options. Roden is already ready, even if it's as a really nice piece of the puzzle, and not a daily regular. And there's still Jenkins and Mendez and Rodriguez to consider. So there might not be room for EITHER of Larnach or Wallner. So as far.as.the OP goes, yes to moving Larnach Yes to moving Rogers if you can actually get something foe him. Absolutely not on Gomez unless it's some crazy over pay. You hit the waiver lottery and got a good arm out of it. He's relatively young, cheap, and controllable. This is what we're trying to acquire, not trade off. I'm hesitant on Clemens. Frankly, I don't know if this is him raising his game as a late bloomer, or just a single good season. But his glove work is solid, especially at 1B, he can run at least a little bit, and the LH power is pretty good. Consider how cheap he is, he's a nice 12th or 13th man to have on the roster. I'm not in a hurry to give that up unless there's a decent over pay. Otherwise, I think he might be more valuable just being kept.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY: I just find it fascinating that some fans can be so down on ownership and the build of the current team...not to mention the dive down following the end of the 2023 season...that they can't appreciate a little good news about a very talented prospect doing well. Dislike my comment, give me a thumbs down, whatever you feel like doing. It's just an observation that I don't understand. NOW, back to our regularly scheduled program: Prospect rankings are fun, but they are also fickle. How do YOU like to rank prospects is always an issue. IMO, Winokur is one of the Twins top prospects based on talent and projection. It took a big payday to keep him from going to college. But I actually like the college comp discussion. It's not a stretch at all, with his talent, that he might be a 1st round pick in the upcoming draft as a 21yo junior. And while he might go to A+ right away, he probably goes to A- for a couple of weeks to get an introduction, and then moves up to A+ to finish the season. Meanwhile, Brandon is off on a HEATER after a slow April, a great month of May, and might just be at AA July 1st barring something bad happening. I will admit to only seeing him a little bit at SS. What I have seen is a few clunkers where it looked too many body parts in motion all at once, and awkward missed plays. And then I see those parts work in unison and he makes a great snare and a rocket throw...many times off balance...straight to 1B. Reminds me of vintage Correa when it goes right. I just don't think that is his future, and I think the Twins agree. (BTW, the Twins philosophy is to keep someone at SS as long as possible as it will only help them be better 3B or 2B in the long run). He's now playing more 3B and CF. And that's where he belongs, and where his defensive chops should be honed. I've said this for a while now, I think he has the potential to be the next CF following Buxton. Rodriguez and Jenkins are FINE CF. But IMO, Winokur has not only good speed, but a long frame that could add a couple of pounds and still not lose any speed. I dare say he's at least as fast as Rodriguez and Jenkins, but might maintain his speed longer. But he's more than athletic enough to be a prime 3B prospect depending on how the Twins INF looks 2yrs from now. Does Lee continue to develop defensively at 3B? Does his improved but still somewhat inconsistent bat continue to develop as well? (And Lee HAS improved this season). Even if K-Pepper is as good of a SS as he seems to be...almost certainly better than we have currently...what if Houston's BAT is at least solid? His glove just might be special. So then there is a potential shift somewhere in the INF that I'm just not going to get in to right now. Some say Winokur is a "show me" since he's repeating A+ again. Really? That's a legitimate arguement? There aren't a ton of 20yo at A+ to begin with who perform well. And there's also not a lot of 21yo who produce the way he is currently at A+. As has been pointed out, for whatever reason, he had a bad and disappointing April. May came, and he has RAKED after a slow start to the season. While the K % is still higher than I'd like, it's also mitigated by a higher AVG, OB, BB numbers etc. I agree he's by no means a finished product. His April vs May splits indicate he's on the right track. I have no problem waiting to see what he does in June...same for Houston BTW...but I think he's about ready for AA come July 1st. And no matter his ramp up at AA, as a 21yo with his talent and potential, we should be encouraged by that promotion. He may NEVER be a good ML player. That would be a shame. Because based on pure talent, he's right up there with Rodriguez and Jenkins. For those who question if he's a wasted talent at 1B? It COULD happen. It's possible Lee or K-Pepper are established at 3B. And it's possible one of Rodriguez or Jenkins or Fountain of Youth Buxton is sitting in CF, and MAYBE his best opening is at 1B. Having a big, athletic 1B who can steal bases and crush HR is NOT a waste of athletic talent, as some have suggested. Imagine a 1B who can scoop everything, chase down foul balls and pop ups with the best of them, who can steal 20+ bases and crush 20-30 HR. Would that be a waste of talent? I think 1B is a "fall back" IF there isn't a staeting spot at 3B or one of the OF spots. Hmmm....unlikely...but it COULD happen. But NO, he wouldn't be a waste at 1B. The speed is there. The power is there. The athleticism is there. It's ALL about his BAT. And with apologies to some old school believers, if he can MAINTAIN a 30% K rate...NOT saying I wouldn't like it lower...but still HIT in the .250-.260 range and still have an above .300 OB% to go along with a good glove, a great arm, and power and speed, you have a potential All Star player. It all comes down to the BAT. He's got the other 4 tools. Can he just continue to HIT well enough to be a ML ballplayer. I'm very encouraged by his May after a surprisingly poor April. But this kid is a TALENT. And really, we should all be rooting for him as much as anyone in the system based on that talent.

I believe I'm the record previously for saying I like this general concept. If you have a good rotation...such as the Twins largely have had the past few seasons...you have a 1-3 that will almost always give you 6 IP and 7 every couple of starts. Most days. Your Lopez, Ryan, Ober/Gray types. Your #4 is good for 5 or 6 IP most days, and might sneak in a couple 7 inning games over the course of the year. And you want your #5 to be dependable every turn for 5 and occasionally 6 IP. Generally speaking, that's a pretty good rotation. If you're deeper than that, wonderful. But not every game is going to go your way. Some days a pitcher just doesn't have it, or they're battling a bug, or they suddenly have a cramp, or a blister, etc. Well if your bullpen are all 8 single IP guys, you could tire your pen out over a tight series if one of those games your starter had an issue. IMO, you want the best, most dominate 6 guys who usually only throw a single inning because most days that's all you need them to do. But how much more flexible is your pen if the 7th and 8th guys have solid stuff, and can go through a lineup even 1 time? Those 2 arms could give you 2-3 IP every 3 days. Not quite good enough to be a starter...or maybe a young arm breaking in...and maybe not someone you want in a 8th inning role...or not ready for it yet...but you "balance" the flexibility of your bullpen. While I'm not crazy about the 4 every 4 days the Twins are using with some of their MILB pitchers, it is a way to help set up future success for those types of arms. A pair of really solid, true middle men. As they develop, nothing says they can't move to a starting role, or set up role later on. If you recall, Santana and Liriano broke in in much the same way. Currently, that's pretty much how they've been working/breaking Rojas in. And it might be how they eventually use Prielipp later on, just to limit his IP. Now in some of these cases...and others sited in the OP...it's been a combination of 2+ IP as I've suggested, and some of the 3-4 IP as Tom has mentioned. But I don't believe Tom is necessarily saying that's how to BUILD a staff ordinarily. And I think a few people took it that way. What he's saying is that the way the Twins are situated CURRENTLY, they are SHORT starting pitching. So how do you cover that? Lopez, Ober, Abel, and Festa are currently OUT. Prielipp has really looked good despite a couple clunkers, but he's a rookie with questions about total IP. Rojas, who has been used EXACTLY as discussed, has been used for around 3-4 IP each time out every few days, but he's also currently out. But you NEED 5 SP. Right now we're running with only 4, and that includes Prielipp. So until/unless our rotation starts getting healthy later in June, how do you cover that? It's not great, it's not pretty, but Tom is correct that you need someone to cover those innings. Now, I'm not a fan of including Morris in to the discussion as I think he's got a real future as a short man, but like it or not, you need to cross your fingers and have arm like Adams, Klein, and Parades fill some bulk roles. The alternative is to bring someone like Gallagher, next in line, probably #14 when the season began, too early and then you'll probably still need bulk innings from someone when he proves he's not quite ready yet. And then we're right back to where this discussion started. The Twins have been obsessed with turn and burn for several seasons now regarding the 7th and 8th men in the bullpen. Why not build a BETTER BP with 2 arms that can throw 2-3 IP every 3 days. Doesn't that make a hell of a lot more sense? But that's not a luxury the staff has NOW. Right NOW, they need a formula or sorts to cover not only middle IP, but also to find SOME WAY to fill that 5th role until better health comes along.

"Wallner’s defense has become a major problem this season, but there should be at-bats available in the DH spot now that Buxton is playing center field again. Josh Bell has posted a .635 OPS and has no chance of being a part of the Twins’ future. Either he turns things around and is traded, or the Twins cut bait at some point. Either way, there’s plenty of opportunity on the horizon for Wallner to get another shot." So IDK if he's ready yet or not. But this particular portion of the OP spoke to me. Before signings began, my plan was as follows: 1] Make Wallner the primary DH, 2] Give RF to Gonzalez as long as he's healthy coming out of ST, 3] Give Roden the job as primary LF, 4] Use Martin as a 4th/5th OF, 5] Go find a decent, ML caliber 1B instead of trusting Clemens to be a starter, 6] Find the best backup SS/utility player you can. IMO, this was the best usage for Wallner, let the young OF begin their tenure in the OF, and there would still be room in the near future for Jenkins, Rodriguez, and Mendez. They sort of did OK at the back up SS. They never did get the 1B I thought they really needed, but Clemens has been better than expected. The signing of Bell, and the injury to Roden screwed my personal plan for sure. And then, of course, both Rodriguez and Jenkins got hurt. I believe the hope is for Bell to follow his career path and get hot enough to have decent trade interest. Roden could be ready within 3-4 weeks if he begins his rehab as reported. Jenkins might be ready for promotion before Rodriguez, but with some luck they might both appear and finish the season strong. But it's fairly likely that if and when the Twins are ready to bring Wallner back, he might not be a full time OF much longer. We still might get to see 2 or 3...(4??)...of the young OF before the season is done. (And K-Pepper might be up by July 1st to settle SS). Whether he's kept or possibly traded, we should all be hoping for Wallner to return to previous norms. It's up to the Twins decide if and when he's ready for another shot. But regardless, I think his time as a STARTING OF in Minnesota will be coming to an end.

Fedko has a chance to be a good RH bat off the bench who can play 4 positions for help, and offer some power and speed. Maybe a RH Clemens? And he might be a better version of Martin. But the FO would prefer having 3 utility players vs giving Fedko a shot. He has a chance to be better than Martin. So why not give him an honest shot? It's almost ridiculous at this point how limited in thought the FO is. Houston is PROVING he has the ability to HIT, at least a little. His OB% is looking solid. He's flashing at least some power and he seems to run well. Does he have to be a power hitter to be a quality prospect? No. But he's at least showing some pop/power. He's ready for AA, and K-Pepper is ready for MLB.

THIS is a VERY IMPORTANT comment! In the history of baseball, it really wasn't THAT long ago when teams still had 10 and 11 man staffs. That meant 14 and even 15 man position rosters. The AL would usually fill 1 of those spots with a DH. The NL teams often had a PH specialist, and occasionally a PR specialist. But the point is BOTH leagues USED their 14 and 15 man player rosters. If you recall, from 1986-1989, MLB had a 24 man roster as a "cost saving move" that was really a shot toward the union. But my point ultimately is, ML teams had player rosters from 12-15 for DECADES. And they always found ways to USE all of their position player rosters in different ways. I know players on Kelly's teams and Gardy's teams always got to play, and for the same reason. As Kelly used to say, paraphrasing only slightly: "How can I expect someone to contribute when needed when he hasn't been playing". So TODAY, the way the game is played, why in the hell has the FO, with ONLY a 13 man position player roster decided the last couple of years that it's OK to play with a 12 man roster and just have a GUY who can be a late inning defensive player, and maybe an occasional PR?? It makes ZERO sense in roster construction with Keirsey last year and Outman this year. NOT attempting another "Free Fedko" debate, but wouldn't Fedko as a RH bat who could help platoon for Larnach and Wallner have made more sense than Outman sitting on his behind, gathering splinters, to ONLY play LF INSTEAD of CF which he was SUPPOSED to do? This is massive roster mismanagement, no matter how good or bad Fedko might actually be. Opportunity is lost based on the FO. Now is this TP not wanting the trade for Outman to reflect poorly? (Let's not forget the better player in Roden was also traded for). Or is this Zole being a Falvey clone, or too afraid to stand on his own. It sounds so simple, right? Giving a final chance to a one time prospect who had a single good season. But it's also even easier to look at how poor that player has been, the other players you have, the future of the organization, how important EVERY position player spot is, and not realize your GM is either scared or incompetent. OK, MAYBE I'm over reacting. And I KNOW Roden, Rodriguez, and Jenkins have been injured. I even accept Mendez being promoted so soon. But my "bitch" remains in regard to roster usage. IDC if Outman signed back for St Paul. What I CARE about is FINALLY having a 13 man player roster that makes SENSE. Love him or not Lewis is back to prove to everyone that he's SOMEHOW got his **** together. We'll see what happens. We hope for the best. But I'm also thankful we're beyond the 13th man being a NOTHING contributor. IDK if Lewis makes an error here or there. He HAS actually worked out at 2B before 2025, but was then told not to worry about it. So 2B is kinda new, but not totally. He should be fine with a little time at 2B and especially 1B. To Lewis, you CAN be a really good ML ballplayer. It's really ALWAYS been up to YOU to get your **** together. To Zole, be your own man or get out of the way. You could have easily had Roden make the roster over Outman. You could have easily added a RH OF in Fedko instead to see if he could be AT LEAST a RH bat to help platoon splits and some offensive potential vs holding on to a nothing player like Outman. Either be your OWN MAN, or get out of the way.

I'm disappointed as everyone is, and I'm not here to pile on Shelton ir any player in particular. But I really don't understand how this series has been played so far. On Tnursday, why in the world was one of our 2 best bullpen arms used as the opener? We might have won that game if Morris has been available in his now normal role as a late inning arm instead of using the recently added, and often wild Lawrence. That might have also allowed Morris to still be available for the 9th instead or Orze. And why in the world didn't Orze take the out at 1st? That is just basic, fundamental baseball. But THEN we pitch to one of the best baseball players on the planet in Witt?? No! Let someone ELSE try to beat you! And while he isn't a veteran, Kreidler is a 28yo experienced ballplayer who was involved in a miss play, dropped ball when he is supposed to make the INF calls on a pop up. And then, we had a collision in the OF because of poor communication that fortunately didn't lead to an injury. As the CF, it was up to him to "call" the play. Again, I'm really not interested in picking on anyone in particular. Crap happens. But there is a pretty distinct possibility that the Twins win both Thursday and today if someone else is the opener for Thursday. So unfortunately, I have to point a finger at Shelton right now for a really poor decision that might have cost both games.

I went with #2. And I did so not just for this season, but what makes sense going forward. Offensively and defensively, this entire INF is a work in progress. But even that being accepted, it's about the best FIT for everyone involved. So that's my abstract view. Everyone performing "decently" what are the right "fits". Lee has the hands and limited quickness to be a solid 3B. While only possessing an average arm, he makes a quick transition from glove to hand, and looks good making off balance throws. While his bat isn't yet where we hope it will be, he's definitely shown improvement. SS is now wide open for K-Pepper to take over. Even as a rookie, it will be HIS JOB to command the INF and make calls at times. Is a GOOD SS or just a decent one is TBD. But he's part of the future, his offense is tantalizing, and if he's not ready, he's damn close. Keaschall just "fits" best at 2B, even with a mediocre arm. He has the athleticism and experience. But due to his TJ and broken arm last season, this is the first time he's played extended time at 2B since 2023! Personally, I'm willing to give him the entire season to get comfortable again and improve. Lewis has proved he's not a bad 3B at all. But IF he gets his bat right...we can all cross our fingers...a move to 1B just makes sense for the REST of the INF. Nothing says he can't also play a little 3B and DH some as well. I'm fine with what Clemens is doing with the bat, and he can play some 2B as well as RF instead of Martin, while also being a part time 1B. After that, it's almost a tossup to me who sticks between Kreidler, Gray, and Arcia.