DocBauer

I'm a little confused on this one. Thought for sure they'd grab LHP Whitman from Kent State or HS LHP Cam Johnson or OF Hack Hurley from VA Tech who they've been tied to previously. Nothing against Keaschall at all. But it's my understanding he's already moved to 2B and supposedly doesn't have the power for 3B. So not sure I'm seeing a 2B in the 2nd round at this point. Is he an over slot to save some money?? This reminds me a lot of last year's pick of Schobel.

Thought they might pick the LH HS kid White who was selected right after. I was kind of hoping that was the target when the selection was coming up. But hard not to be thrilled with a young man and arm like Soto. 6' 5" and around 210lbs with a 95mph that touches 98 and he's only 17yo. Caught the pre-draft interview with him on MLB and he seems very mature, bright, and thoughtful. Very cool that he attended the draft last year as a junior just to share in the experience and use it for growth potential/motivation for this year. And I believe I heard he does a lot of community work as well. Admit I don't know a lot about his secondary offerings, but can't wait to learn more.

Never bought the under slot talk as it just didn't make sense to me with how deep the draft is, and money to spend. But still, when you hear a lot of chatter, it can get you worried. I wanted Clark if Langford didn't slip through somehow because I wanted such a top CF option. Either of them. But I still love everything I've heard or read about Jenkins. High character kid with legitimate hit tool, power, defense, arm, and better than average speed. My hunch is he's going to fill out a little more, the speed will drop a little, and he'll end up in RF. Reminds me of the same profile Kirilloff had coming out of HS. Very possibly the top pick, easy top 3, most years. I think we should all be happy and excited about Jenkins.

I hope you are wrong about any algorithm scenario, OR, they are DEAD ON with theirs. FWIW, in the recent Gleeman and the Geek podcast, Aaron stated that from some conversations he's had or heard, the Twins were not adverse to selecting a HS player 1st. They did so with Lewis, with projected outstanding results. And were wrong with Cavaco, though a later pick. And while Petty was also a HS choice, he was selected in the 20's. So I don't believe they are adverse to drafting a HS player. One thing we have to remember is that Sean Johnson is actually the head of amateur scouting. And while I'm sure Falvey and Levine are both plugged in and part of the process, especially the early picks, their primary job revolves around the Twins, and not the draft directly. Despite a few picks not turning out, a few question marks TBD, Johnson and his staff have had some pretty good drafts in recent years. And I have a hard time buying in to "college" bats first when I see Lewis, Cavaco, and Petty. Lee looks good. Sabato, a late college pick in a weird year, is an unfortunate UGH! I don't buy in to an exact pattern at this point. Enlow was a "buy high" in the 2nd round, and college arm Canterino the same. Though "plus picks" sometimes confuse me. My point being, I don't know that the Twins actually have any sort of pattern other that not drafting a college pitcher in the 1st round. I'm just hoping that in one of the best and deepest drafts in YEARS, and with one of the highest $ amounts to spend, they don't suddenly get cute/stupid and try for something that they don't have to do. When the draft is this deep, they don't have to play games. They can select BPA, and STILL play around a bit with $ on their 5th picks and beyond to free up a few $ more here and there if needed. They've done it before. The ONLY reason, considering $ and opportunity to draft ANYONE out of the proposed top 5 should be based on belief in talent and projecatability that we might not see.

As a Twins fan, I often struggle being a pessimistic optimist. (This also applies, even more so, as a Vikings fan, lol). The Twins have one of the top 3 rotations in all of MLB, even with the Mahle injury, and the start/stop/re-start of Maeda. Having Varland sitting at AAA is a HUGE luxury. My goodness, the kid was solid in 2022, and looked great his first 7 starts here in 2023 before he suddenly struggled. He's shown more than enough to show future potential though. And week to week, month to month, the pen has hung around 10-15 in MLB from my understanding despite injuries and a few disappointments. I DON'T want to waste pitching that we haven't seen in YEARS or waste an opportunity to make some noise. We all know the offense is the issue. Everyone in baseball knows the offense is the issue. But how do you correct that mid season? The system is not devoid of young talent, even though MOST of it is either in A ball, already with the Twins, or sitting at AAA waiting for opportunity, or still rehabbing from injuries. But while the system wasn't DESIMATED by the trades in 2022, we did give away a nice little group of talent. So how much are we willing to give up to add more? A really good 2022 draft, and the potential of the upcoming one, adds talent back in to the system. But how much more are we willing to give up to add for this year? I don't know that a single good bat does a lot for an offense that is struggling this poorly. So we add 2? At what cost? Julien, Kirilloff, and Lewis offer hope for the present as well as being part of the future. Unfortunately, Lewis is now gone until August. A HUGE blow! Correa and Buxton need to continue to show life and do what they are capable of, otherwise the offense continues to struggle. Role players are doing well, but can't carry the team. With even a little bit of good luck/fortune...and this team is DUE...both Stewart and Thielbar will be ready to go early August. That's HUGE for the pen. If Lopez, off his IL stint, has found some grounding, and can continue with whatever therapy he's undertaking...and I say this with concern and sensitivity...being even 80-85% of the arm we traded for, and can be, adds another quality arm for the pen. And there are still a few weeks left to audition Balazovic, Ortega, and even Sands, (putting up pretty good numbers this year in SSS), to see if someone can emerge as an option for the pen as well. I'd focus on a solid BP arm that is good, solid, proven, and there are a few in these recent threads. But I'd stop at anyone that costs a lot. Blindly faithful or optimistic, I still like a lot of what we have with just a little bit of the good fortune I mentioned. A good, inexpensive rental might be perfect. A good, solid, inexpensive veteran rental who we might re-sign this offseason. That's my #1. With the offense being what it is, I have no illusions the Twins are a WS contender. I DO BELIEVE they are better, based on talent, than their record, and the best of the ALC. As a fan, I DO BELIEVE that having that flag to fly forever is still a good thing. I DO BELIEVE that having an opening playoff round AT HOME with a chance to maybe actually win that opening round, is a good thing. Hell, winning might just invigorate ownership, the FO, the players, the system, and even the fans for 2024. I believe winning breeds confidence and a winning attitude. I DON'T want to sacrifice the future by emptying out the system for a couple of bats that can't do it all by themselves. I'd bring in that 1 solid BP piece. I'd look really hard at a veteran bat who can bring a spark. I like the Turner idea. I don't think Goldschmit from the Cards is viable for many reasons. I have no opinion on Pham as a person. But since he was also mentioned, does he come cheap? Does he fit? I still have a really hard time looking around baseball at other teams trending toward youth and doing well, and recognizing that in addition to Correa and Buxton needing to lead the way, our corner OF production is amongst the worst in MLB. A couple good weeks of Gallo and Kepler...which have been great...doesn't erase generally disappointing results from Gallo, and 3 seasons of decline from Kepler. I have no ill well to either, but when things aren't working, changes have to be made. WITHOUT giving any consistent opportunity to Larnach and Wallner, we are willing to trade prospects for corner OF rentals? This is where I have a serious disagreement with the FO. We've almost reached the point where it's just too late to make any sort of accurate decision on what the younger options might do. And that's a shame for this year, and beyond. The tragic and convoluted thing is, to bring in a corner OF bat at the deadline, or even a CF option, means moving on from someone else. But that was a move the FO didn't want to do the previous 30 days or more, to see if they might already have as good or better options. So, theoretically, they would have to move on from Gallo or Kepler at this point to add someone else, with prospect cost, in a trade. When they might have FIRST, tried what was already on hand. I DO generally like most everything the FO has done the past 7yrs. I even like most all of what they did this offseason. What I DON'T LIKE is their stubbornness to change when it's obviously not working. And that's terribly ironic in the fact that they have affected so much change throughout the entire system of the organization. Sorry I'm on a SOAPBOX at the moment, but I'm really FRUSTRATED right now with our team! We should be 10-15 games above .500 with the pitching and talent on hand! 1] Hedge your bets and bring in a solid BP that doesn't cost a lot, who you can re-sign if he doesn't have another year 2] DON'T break the prospect bank, but bring in a solid, veteran bat who can help and maybe provide a spark. 3] Time is running out. Remember you might be a patient FO in regard to offseason moves, but remember you are also an AGGRESSIVE FO for CHANGE. And when what you are doing doesn't change, change what you are doing.

Good for him. Can't say he doesn't deserve the honor. But a little surprised it was him and not Ryan.

I keep thinking about the rumors of Crews looking for a $10M bonus. Is anyone going to seriously go a good $2M over slot, even as good as he might become? Twins, Tigers, Pirates, etc, are $14-15+M in bonus $ to spend. So as good as Crews might end up being, any of those teams meeting that demand have $4-5M roughly left to spend on the rest of their entire class. Sounds a little rich to me. Is this just Boras trying to manipulate the system to place Crews with a team he/they like, and then sign for $8M-ish? Who knows, maybe they're trying to get to #5, lol. But the Rangers don't even have $10M to spend, right? So what do they do, give him every available $ and blow off the rest of the draft? The only way they could afford Crews would be what, a ML deal right off the bat? Put some escalator clauses year by year to pay him that way? Would anyone do that for a #1 pick? Or again, is this just to scare teams off they don't want to pick him?

Guess I'm going to repeat what I said in the other mock thread and add a little. The FO has done a really good job with senior and smaller school kids with projection the past few drafts. They've e even shaved a little $ here and there by doing so, which has allowed a little $ to be spent on guys like Julien. They already have $14+M to spend which is 4th or 5th in total bonus $. So why pass on a top 5-8 player to select someone most sites have in the teens to 20? Save a little here and there after the first 4 picks. You've got a huge bonus pool to play with, don't get cute! Secondly, with this draft going in to the 30's with 1st round type talent...some say maybe early 40's...why play the under slot game at all??? Grab the BPA and shave a little after the first few rounds here and there if you need to. Again, don't get cute.

If only Keuchel could hit.

The Twins have done a really nice job the past few years with college seniors and some lower level college players with projection to fill out their drafts. And they've found ways to save a little $ here and there along the way to use it where it might matter. That's how they got Julien. So in a draft this deep, and 4 picks in the top 100, including the 5th overall, and $14+M to spend, why play any games of the under slot variety? Make the best choices of the best upside players available, and use $ savings in the mid and later rounds if you need more bonus $ earlier.

Already stated my opinion earlier, but felt a need to add based on further conversation. You don't draft in the 1st round, especially at #5, just for need. You draft best player available. But even IF you draft an under slot player, you should: A] Grab the best UPSIDE player in that under slot spot B] BECAUSE you are deciding to select someone under slot, it's OK, IMO, to then examine organizational need. In other words, the upside of Teel, or one of the best arms, college or HS. Nothing against Gonzalez personally, or professionally, but the UPSIDE doesn't seem to be there from everything I've read. (Like I actually KNOW anything). He has, potentially, a great hit and contact tool. But he has no speed, limited power, and questions about sticking at SS. Not enough power for 3B, so he's maybe a 2B with a great hit tool? Do we need more 2B options? Not every prospect turns out. And draftees, including Gonzalez, can grow and improve. But right now, even with questions about Polanco's future, Julien is an obvious option there. Lee or Lewis might figure at 2B. Severino might fit there. How about Schobel...raking at A+ and probably ready for AA...also as an interesting option at 2B. Not saying Gonzalez will be a bad player at all. But he doesn't fit an organizational need at #5 as an under slot pick! Teel, one of many available top 10-12 arms just makes much more sense, with the UPSIDE you still want.

I think all the picks from "B" onward are excellent and make a ton of sense. Absolutely no way they should even consider Gonzalez at #5. Not only is he not even close to being worth that high of a selection, but just because a couple of teams have had success playing the under-slot and save for later game doesn't mean it's going to work out the way the Twins want this year. And then you've gone and blown a chance for a potential difference maker at 5 after winning the draft lottery.

Absolutely rooting for him as an individual! He seems like a good guy and he's openly thanked the Twins for helping him get help. Also rooting for him as a fan. His arm in the 7th and 8th innings is huge for the team. If Stewart and Thielbar can be back come August, with Jax looking good as ever, the back end of the pen looks really good.

Despite not handling the pen to begin the season, no Pagan, spend the $ plus a little more to take a shot on SOMEONE who might turn out, keep Coulombe instead of Megill, and Alcala not being fully ready to come back and earn a spot, the Twins pen still hasn't been all that bad. Granted, Stewart had a lot to do with that. And now he's down for at least a couple of weeks. And even DeLeon showed promise. Now he's done for good. Meanwhile, with those injuries, the bullpen has still been about average with what they have, and fill ins in the form of Balazovic and Sands and others. POTENTIAL arms for the pen began the year with injuries, such as Winder and Henriquez and the aforementioned Balazovic. IF the Twins want to try to keep winning, they can hope for J Lopez to find a "good place" and make a difference. Maybe he can? And hopefully Stewart is back soon. And MAYBE Alcala comes back. Maybe Headrick fits a role, and I like him. Maybe Ortega surprises. Maybe Sands and Winder surprise over the next month. Whew! Too many WHAT IF's. If they believe in this team, they should look for a solid 7th-8th inning arm that can help. Either someone they can have for another year of control, or a possible re-sign. Robertson might not fit. Hader might not either. Rentals that might cost too much and might be looking at better deals in 2024 and not worth the rental. If not those arms, maybe guys like Hicks and Straton. But since the season began the question always was, and remains, the offense. To be clear, the wonderful Arraez is NOT the reason the offense has struggled so much. I LOVE Arraez, miss him, and so do the Twins. But despite his BA, OB%, and doubles power, he is NOT the problem...though he would help. Who would knock Arrzez in if he was batting leadoff for the Tiwins right now? And that's the problem. Not the pitching. The rotstion is amongst the best in MLB. The pen is solid, despite some issues and injuries, but could REALLY be good with a healthy Stewart and Thielbar come August. ONE MORE ARM that doesn't come at a premium cost could add a lot. 13 games lost when allowing the opposition 3 runs or less leads MLB if I'm correct. Averaging something like 3.2 runs scored in or around 40 games played despite ranking in the top 10-ish in run differential. I always expected the Twins offense this year was going to be built on what they had, Correa, Buxton, Polanco, and Miranda, with improvements and health and promotion from Kirilloff, Larnach, Wallner, Jeffers, and Julien, along with additions like Vazquez, Farmer, and role player Solano. AND, hopeful contributions from Gallo before turning Larnach and Wallner loose. NEVER expected Kepler to be on the Twins to begin the season. Totally grateful he's had a good 2 week stretch and has made a difference these past 2 weeks. He's also played WAY BETTER defense recently than what we saw previous to that. But my expectations were blown apart early. Buxton has been a warrior, running when his legs feel like they can, but has been inconsistent as hell, while dealing with his new role AND a 96mph FB to his ribs. Correa is just NOW looking like his old self mid year. Pressure, injury, who knows? Meanwhile, Julien, Lewis, and AK...despite not seeing the POWER yet...have been a few of the Twins best hitters. I am NOT going to attempt to bring up the same sad story we've been discussing about Wallner and/or Larnach up in place of Kepler or Gallo, except to say, "when it's not working, and you have options, why aren't you exploring those options"? It's possible the whole team meeting and a new way to discuss hitting approach might actually make a change. MAYBE there was an overload of data. Maybe the opposition just figured out the Twins approach and the players and coaches FINALLY figured out they weren't playing to their strengths, or were relying on data the OTHER teams were counting on. Maybe Royce was right to say there is a point where I'm looking at "see ball, hit ball". But the offense has largely STUNK for most of this season, despite having the talent to be an upward third offense. In case you haven't paid close enough attention to the ML roster, and the minors, the 2023 team was built on POWER, and OB% , with a handful of contact hitters until a little more speed and contact came up through the system. Correa, Polanco, Salono, were supposed to provide contact and bat skills until Lewis, AK, and Julien were ready. The problem is, the power hasn't been there. The "contact" of Correa and Polanco hasn't been there. At least not consistently. And while AK's power hasn't been there yet, he sure has done the rest so far. And Lewis has been doing all he could do before his abdominal injury. If this team could AVERAGE a little over 4 runs a game for the rest of the season, even with some question marks, they could run away with the ACL. IF talent they ALREADY had on hand was producing ANY kind of consistent run production, they'd already be 8-10 games ahead, AT LEAST. Easily, IMO, 12-15 games above .500 if they didn't "play down" to their competition at times considering their play against MOST winning teams. I don't believe a single trade BAT acquisition will push this team over the top. I still feel what they need to do at this point is trust in the younger bats. They have to at some point, or the offense remains stagnant. Gallo is gone after this year. Kepler's hot steak is WELCOME! But we just can't ignore 3yrs of downturn vs someone who migh produce as well if not better. Do we really expect Gallo or Kepler to suddenly have outstanding 2nd halves with Buxton and Correa to match them and trade for a big bat...sacrificing more prospects...or do we keep our prospects and let said prospects get a chance to show what they can do? Trade for a BP on the cheap with control or a rental you might want to re-sign. He might make a difference. But unless there is a relatively inexpensive bat, prospect wise, that you can acquire to make a difference, and maybe have control of, what are we even talking about?

Economics and game playing in the draft are a real thing. And SOMEBODY may throw a monkey wrench in to the draft based on those two factors. And I can see reasons why Pittsburgh might grab Crews 1st, despite rumors. I can even, barely, see them drafting one of the HS kids 1st overall. And maybe, maybe, the Pirates make a HS bat move to play the "later in the draft" game. And maybe, maybe, the Nationals decide Crews is Harper #2 and can't resist a more "sure thing" to be a potential generational talent and passion on Skenes. So then comes the rebuilding Tigers. Are they scared of $8-9M for their 1st round pick? In one of the deepest drafts in years, do they grab someone like Langford, also a stud prospect, or maybe the best HS arm in the draft for 5yrs in Meyer...playing the long game for a potentially amazing return...and save $ for later picks to add to their rebuild? A ton of IF's and maybe's that actually make some sense. But then come the Rangers at #4. And their checkbook has been wide open the past couple of years. It hasn't paid off until this season. The ONLY way they don't pick Skenes is due to so much $ on the books already they don't want $8-9M on their first pick, OR, they just love their rotation and upcoming arms and want to add a stud bat to their system. SUDDENLY, Skenes falls in the Twins lap for around $9M. They have the $ to do it. Hell, they can STILL spend $ on the first 3 or 4 rounds and then draft a collection of inexpensive senior signs with at least some potential. Maybe a couple junior signs with a couple thousand more, which they've been good at. And then, Santa Clause brings toys to everyone who is and isn't a Twins fan next Christmas. LOL Skenes should be part of this series as he's one of the top 5. But at least one of the previous top 4 drafting teams will pick him, along with Crews. And while there MIGHT be a surprise pick, MAYBE two, the odds of either Skenes or Crew going to 5 are just not worth discussing.

A really interesting post Stringer! While he's a coach and not a player, we might include Matt Borgschulte, the Orioles hitting coach. He rose through the Twins system pretty quickly, and more than a few Twins prospects had positive things to say about him. As I recall, he was one of the candidates to be the Twins primary hitting coach before they settled on Popkins. And I don't mean that as an indictment of Popkins, or that he "got away", merely to include him as a former Twins organization addition to the Orioles. He's one of many coaches, instructors, and additional staff that have been "snagged" by other organizations over the past few years, an indication to me that the FO has a good eye for personnel. As to the 4 you listed: GIBSON: I never felt he got his due when with the Twins. IMO, he was a victim of expectations as he never became the front of the rotation starter everyone hoped for after being selected. And there's no question he ran hot and cold at times. But I think he was better than a lot of people gave him credit for. And he pitched for some not very good teams at times. I've always wondered if expectations and some bad teams held him down some. COULOMBE: I liked him with the Twins, and I like him now. He's nothing special, and he's had injury concerns. So I didn't have a problem with him being left off the 40 man. But once ST was underway, IMO, was an easy choice to be kept, placed on the 40 man for 1 of a few candidates, especially Megill, and should been kept, 100%. While I never would have kept Pagan...and I think few would have...but once he was back, his rubber, low leverage arm should have been kept as the 8th man, with Sands beginning the year at AAA, and Coulombe as a 3rd LH in the pen. Retrospect is one thing, but this was obvious KEEP in my mind, at the time, and doesn't need retrospect. CANO: He was bad with the Twins in 2022, and bad with the Orioles as well. The fact that he's done so well in 2023 with the Orioles is good for him, good for them, and a bit of a mystery. And I can't fault the Twins for tossing him in as part of the Lopez trade. Why wouldn't you at 28yo and bad control? But as you point out, his past 30 days have been in a constant decline. Surprisingly, the BB haven't been aweful, but the hits per and ERA are definitely up. I wish him no ill will, but it will be interesting to see the rest of this season and next, who is better between him and J Lopez. I understand that Lopez is a "good guy" dealing with some family issues. But if he can find a "good place" in his head and heart and balance his personal and professional life better, he's still got the stuff to be a very good piece to the Twins pen. I'm sure hoping so. And I believe the Twins still have arbitration control for 2024. WELLS: Yes, this one hurts a bit to be sure. But to put his situation in context, despite promise and being the Twins milb pitcher of the year after 2018, he went through surgery, and then missed all of 2020 as most milb players did. Meanwhile, the Twins had one the best seasons in the history of the franchise in 2019, and were fully expected to contend in 2020, which they did. At that time, the organization was looking to add a few depth pieces for the staff, as well as normal prospect 40 man adds, and weren't concerned with protecting a AA arm coming off of surgery. Now, I think it's fair to examine a few of the "throw away" arms they brought in for potential depth options, but I don't think we can blame them for not being concerned about a AA arm on rehab vs arms they believed might add to playoff runs. (Personally, I would have protected him). I'd like to think they've learned their lesson as they were somewhat protective of Enlow, have been with Canterino, and were aggressive with Paddack. MASSIVE credit to the Orioles who knew they were bad, were going to be bad, and were rebuilding their entire system. They took a shot on a rehabbing arm with no IP for 2yrs and no guarantee he'd ever amount to anything but stuck with him. From interviews of Wells alone, I'd like to have him as part of the system as he seems like a great teammate and high character guy. There really is no way the Twins, or Baltimore, could have expected what he's done here in 2023, over 4yrs removed from surgery, no play, and a couple of nondescript seasons at the ML level. HAD he been protected, I don't know that anything he's done the two previous seasons would have changed the various moves the Twins have made, but who knows for sure? He might be right there with Ober, and Varland, as part of the "pipleine" of young arms too good for AAA, but still behind the starters the Twins began this season with. But man, it would be fun to have that conundrum wouldn't it?

Really liked what he did last season and was a little surprised he wasn't on the Saints roster to begin the year, even if it was rather packed. And then he got off to such a rough start this season in Wichita I was very surprised and disappointed. Really great to see him at AAA and doing so well now. He's stretched, I believe, at SS and CF, which is why he's played them the least amount, but I think he might be able to fill in there. And frankly, I don't know how good his arm is, but he can, and has, played just about anywhere and everywhere so far, and he's got a nice mix of BA, OB%, SLG and speed with legitimate SB ability. One thing the Twins AREN'T lacking right now is utility options, now and 2024, between Gordon, Castro, Farmer, Helman (when healthy again), and Severino. And I'm probably missing someone.

I know it sounds simplistic and cliche, but if Nowlin can reign in that control on a more consistent basis, he's a legit ML SP prospect, IMO. At worst, he becomes a lethal LH RP. The thing is, his control isn't always bad. He's flashed days where the control is there, like yesterday's game, and you get really enthused. Then he walks 5 in 4 the next game and you scratch your head. I'm excited as he has stuff to work on, but when you can actually see what he can do, it's hard not to be.

I have nothing against Jenkins at #5 at all. He's got a powerful bat but reportedly good bat to ball skills as well. He runs above average for a big kid...still growing some I'd guess...and has a good arm. What's not to like? I keep thinking Kirilloff with a stronger arm? His profile as a HS senior just reminds me a lot of AK. He hasn't been a favorite choice of mine simply because we have a lot of young corner OF bats in A ball but I feel we're short of future CF types that have real bat potential. That's why I'm so high on Langford or Clark as they fit BPA AND need. There are a couple arms, and maybe Teel, that are legitimately worthy of top 10 status. And a couple might be top 5 in other drafts. But you should never turn down TOP talent. And I still think the best choice is to grab one of the top 5, whoever it may be, and celebrate your selection.

Trying to help Martin gain some additional power was not the wrong thing to do. Every team does it for every single position player as more power/pop means more XB hits and keeps both the pitcher and defense honest. To everyone's credit, all experimentation was dropped and Martin went back to what felt more natural. He finished strong, looked great in the AFL, and was in ST getting time pretty much day 1. And then he got hurt. Not his fault or the Twins. Where the Twins did mess up, IMO, was leaving him at SS too long when absolutely nobody thought he could play it at the ML level. I don't buy the "keeping him in the dirt and the middle of the action" arguement. 3B and 2B get enough action that he could have just worked at being better at those 2 spots, as well as getting in to the OF earlier. If his elbow holds up, he might be a part of 2024. SWR I don't have a clue on. I wasn't crazy about him when the trade was made and couldn't understand the high rankings. Then he started to break out in 2022 and I climbed on the SWR wagon. Now, a season later, it doesn't appear he's got anything to help. So I just don't have any answers other than he's young, and sometimes crap happens. But just no way to judge this trade for at least another year, if not two or more. Berrios is pitching and the other, younger pair are in AAA. Gotta see what happens for a while before any rational judgment can be made.

He hasn't been as bad as I feared. But he also hasn't been as good as I had hoped. I agree his .800 OPS and OPS+ just feel hollow. I love seeing his moonshots. And he's had some key games for us. But the RBI total is pretty small, the K's are higher than expected, and the BB fewer. If healthy healthy the second half all of his numbers should be at lest a little better, and he'll probably earn his $11M. But I still believe he and Kepler, combined, are providing no more offense than the guys at AAA, and for a whole lot more $. I just don't think they needed both. And I think that is being proved true.

Correa coming alive at the plate is what the Twins need. Buxton has been better of late following his rib injury by being hit by a 96mph FB, I'd be in bed for weeks! LOL Still, he came through. I still like a lot of what I've seen from Headrick despite the run To bad Ryan didn't get the W. But a win is a win. And the Twins got this one. Can they sweep before the break with good karma?

Even with talent traded away, the Twins had a very good 2019 draft. And while I still have serious concerns Sabato will ever amount to anything, Raya and Rosario are looking like keepers. Is Soularie actually starting to look like an actual prospect? The 2020 class might turn out very good with Raya and Rosario, even better if Soularie gets his act together being healthy now. Despite trading away 4 of their top 5 draft choices from the 2021 draft... for ML talent options yet to be determined, though it doesn't look good except for adding Gray...it was a good draft it seems. The Twins still have Miller at SS, Festa, a couple of interesting catchers in Winkel and Cardenas, and a handful of INF and P options that MIGHT turn out, including Adams at AA, Ohl, Macleod...just getting healthy...and the 19th pick Nowlin who could be a surprising rotation piece if he could put it all together, but is probably destined to be a hard throwing LH bullpen option who could be WICKED if he just keeps the BB under control. I am only semi hijacking the thread to state that with the draft coming up in a few days, we are going to have to address the 2022 draft at the same time. It only makes sense to me. Maybe the wrong OP to do so? With the exception of Priellip, who is being nursed along with hope he will pitch again this year and be 100% in 2024, how much more could you ask for in a draft than we've seen from 2022? Lee is just fine in his first full season. Schobel is looking great. Ortega looks like a stud. So does Ross. Cossetti has a ways to go, but what a debut. And besides Lewis, and Culpepper, almost very other arm has flashed, including Veen as a LHRP who MIGHT turn in to something as a control LH who can get RH out. As good as Cossetti has looked, Nate Baez might be even better with health and some time. He's the same kind of athlete and POTENTIAL bat as prospect Teel, with less experience behind the plate. We are going to have to examine the 2022 draft either after THIS upcoming draft, or at the end of the milb season. And I don't mean to hijack the OP, but I have just been so impressed with what I've seen so far from most of last year's draft that I felt I needed to comment.

BTW, if MLB wants to grow MLB, a couple things they could do is: 1] STOP BLACKOUTS for those who subscribe to the APP. I shouldn't have to be forced to watch the KC broadcast when the Twins play the Royals. They are 4hrs away from Omaha, and I'm NOT buying a car there or visiting a local restaurant. 2] I forget who they have providing the radio version of their casts, but they are always behind, and the signal is often lost. 3] When the MLB network has "REGIONAL GAMES" on their network, QUIT SHOWING games that are East Coast or West Coast. Since when does anyone in the Central Time Zone want to watch a Boston Tampa game vs Twins and Guardians? I know my geography pretty well, and Boston/Tampa is NOT "REGIONAL"! EXIT my soapbox rant to derail the thread.

No insult to ANYONE selected to ANY ALL STAR game. Good for them! Gray deserved it. So did Ryan and Duran. But honestly, while I enjoy my favorite team having players recognized, and dislike those deserving being snubbed, I just don't care. Gray has been there twice, and I hope he does well and enjoys his time there. When I was a kid in the 70's, a teenager and early 20yo in the 80's, I enjoyed both the ALL STAR GAME as well as the NFL PRO BOWL. I even watched the NBA ALL STAR game so I could watch 2-4 Laker greats perform. And I saw some great games, some amazing plays, and I saw some of my favorite players have defining moments at times. But a lot of things have changed. The NFL PRO BOWL is touch football now. Defense has completely disappeared from the NBA ALL STAR GAME. But more than that, it was a struggle when I was younger to watch the Twins and Vikings. Cable TV was in it's infancy. I was able to watch Laker games for a couple decades on cable before TV caught up with the NFL. Even then, for YEARS, the Vikings were 57.0 WNAX out of Yangton SD, with a few games on TV. The Twins were the same radio station, DECADES, except for trips to SD to see family where I could catch games, UNTIL the internet blossomed and streaming became available. And that's been what, 10yrs now? All of the changes is how the games are played, combined with greater access, all of the "reward" games just don't mean the same to me any longer. I haven't watched a single one in years now. I'm almost happy that Duran and Lewis are not in the game for an extra rest. I almost hope Gray declines for whatever reason, to get extra rest as well, even though I'd NEVER deny an opportunity to have fun and enjoy the reward. But as a fan, I'm just a fan of the reward games any longer.