DocBauer

I missed the first few innings due to work. But the numbers Lopez posted and the couple "low lights" I saw on replay argues against him having "good stuff and command". But again, I didn't get to watch him live. This game may have flustered me more than Friday's loss. Grrr, to both. BULLET POINTS: 1] Smalley made a comment that the Nat's seemed to be laying back and just waiting for off speed stuff. If true, why didn't the Twins see this and make adjustments? 2] I think Buxton, Correa, and Miranda are starting to heat up. Thank goodness! 3] Larnach is getting a steady diet of nothing but breaking balls and off speed pitches. To his credit, and intelligence as a hitter, it sure looks like he's starting to adapt. Just a little more patience to avoid some swings and misses, he's going to PUNISH the opposition. 4] I think Popkins is a pretty good hitting coach. Several players have commented on his teaching and approach. But at the end of the day, it's still up the players to produce. I don't feel Popkins is the offensive issue. 5] Power and OB and OPS for Gallo are all fine. And I get why they put him in the #2 spot today. Trial and error and whatnot. Especially with Polanco just coming back. But he's more dangerous, and fits better, IMO, somewhere between 5-7 in the lineup. 6] I actually really liked most of what I saw of SWR today. I wasn't a fan of his previously, and didn't understand all the platitudes he received as a prospect when drafted and with his trade to the Twins. There wasn't any great pitch or outstanding velocity that made me think he was worthy of the hype. Then he had a pretty good 2022 after being "messed around with" due to a fast track promotion and the whole Olympic ordeal that interrupted his development. But I'm seeing the delivery, and the potential now. I'm starting to see what he might become. He flashed at times today. I don't think he's quite ready yet, but I'm starting to see the potential. 7] Dinks and ducks and seeing eye singles happen. Weird crap happens in baseball. We won 2 in NY and should probably won 3. Stuff happens. Lost a game in Boston where weird stuff happens. It's baseball. But the Twins are way more talented than the Nationals overall and losing this series just shouldn't have happened. 8] This homestand is a time to WIN SOME GAMES and make a statement. The Twins should end up with AT LEAST 6 wins, if not 7, over said homestead. Being down 2 games right now is just not right. GO TWINS! GET IT RIGHT!

Greg's OP is 100% on target. The Twins have, overall, one of the best duos at catcher, defensively and offensively. They have a 2 way STUD at SS who's off to a slow start. They have a tremendous defensive CF in Taylor who is no better, generally, offensively than average, despite his hot start. Now, maybe, a change in teams and hitting coaches, and out of Kaufman stadium, might raise his overall production. And nowhere has he, or anyone, stated that Buxton doesn't have value in CF. And I won't dispute that Buxton in CF doesn't allow for a better option at DH. Maybe Julien? But the OP is 100% correct that the 4 corner spots are the issue. Correa will be fine. Buck is streaky, but history shows tremendous production when healthy. Gallo will never be a great "hitter" but looks like he's found himself again as a great OPS and productive hitter. But I sure like him better in the OF and finding a better option at 1B. And stalwart, very productive, and mainstay Polanco hasn't even played this year yet. I maintain that part of the issue is guys we EXPECT to produce have struggled, or been inconsistent over the first 3 weeks. The other issue is a collection of young talent that offers high potential, that hasn't fully established themselves yet, some due to injury. Miranda needs to step up, no doubt. And he started slow last year. But do we really not expect him to step up? He had a great ST. Larnach had a great ST, flashed to start the season, slumped, but had a couple decent games recently. Does he really "get better" at AAA vs working through struggles? At some point isn't he better working through any issues at the ML level? I'm not sure he has anything to prove at the milb level. Kirilloff, like Larnach, has flashed but has had his career and development interrupted by injuries. He LOOKS like he might finally be healthy. But if he comes up and flashes, or struggles, or both, do we give up? Or, like Larnach, with their talent, and tremendous milb production, aren't they, and the Twins, just better letting it ride a little bit to see what they can do? Do a few slumps mean demotion? Or do you ride it out for not only 2023, but the future? Julien looks like a STUD, but might bounce a little bit between ML and AAA just based on the roster. But he's a keeper. Wallner still has to prove himself, but a quick look at talent and development season to season in milb tantalizes with potential. But PROSPECTS do usually take a little time to settle in and figure it out at the ML level. And Julien, Larnach, Kirilloff, and Wallner are still all in the "prospect" range due to experience. There is so much talent, and so many options, that a little time could provide huge improvement to the offense overall, the future, and the remainder of 2023. I've thought for months now the offense was a question mark based on development and opportunity. I've also thought the offense was about a year away from potentially being pretty damn good. I'd run with Larnach, Kirilloff, Julien as far as I can, while embracing Gallo and Miranda, and the return of Polanco. Not only could we see the kids make a difference, and others cranking it up, but Lewis might be ready late June or early July. I'm not trying to be a fatalist, but unless Kepler suddenly figures it out, which I still doubt, and Gordon proves his 2022 wasn't a mirage, the FO may have to make a couple hard decisions. At some point, you have to trust in potential and future vs mediocre or poor offensive players. I have optimism the offense could still be pretty good with veterans heating up, and a return of Polanco, and some of the kids continuing to get opportunity.

I've had my eye on Prato for a while now. He doesn't seem to do anything particularly great, but seems to just do everything well. That in itself is quite a skill. I picked him recently in one of the TD articles that was about players to watch at each level, IIRC, or similar. Frankly, I was a little surprised he didn't begin this season at St Paul after having such a good AA year in 2022. The Twins are looking at a rather large influx of prospects this year and next between Julien, Lewis, Lee, Severino in the INF, and Martin probably in the OF but with some INF capability. The OF might still end up a little crowded with Larnach, Buxton, Gordon, Wallner, Celestino, etc. So even though Prato can play on both the dirt and the grass, he might still face a numbers crunch. But if he keeps playing good defense at multiple spots, keeps hitting, keeps making contact and getting OB, keeps popping some XBH and stealing some bases, he could be a great 26th man on the team.

I also had concerns about the offense as there were too many guys either hoping to bounce back, or young bats still proving themselves. To me, the silver lining has always been the sheer numbers of those two camps combined. When you combine everyone together you get something like 16 or so bats to work with. Basic statistics should even out whereby a certain percentage should be excellent, a few good to very good, a few solid, and a few disappointing. The highs and lows concern me, as they did last season as well. And to be fair, the highs have come against some good arms, and the some of the lows have been against some mediocre or even poor pitchers that the Twins made look like All Stars on the day. What I still believe is the biggest current issue is injuries and SSS of 3 weeks. Correa and Buxton and Miranda are all better than they've shown and should return to normal. While still SSS, Gallo has looked like his previous quality self, and not the mess he was in 2022. I'm not going to predict Polanco will be his normal, excellent self right off the bat, but we know he has been, and was last year before getting hurt. Vasquez is solid, and Jeffers isn't bad, and his hard work may actually be paying off to show real improvement. Salono isn't this good, but he's solid, and should still be really good against LHP, even with regression to the norm. Hopefully Farmer won't be out long term, and the same for him. Taylor is defense first with some speed, and not as dangerous as he's been lately, but he's a useful player. But then we get to Larnach, Kirilloff, Julien, and Lewis later in the season. All are very talented and have bright futures if healthy, and get regular playing time/experience. Larnach and Julien are healthy. Lewis and Krilloff will hopefully be, though they are on different timelines at the moment. Don't misunderstand, despite some optimism, I have concerns. I feel this offense is about a year or so away when you can look at the daily lineup and see Buxton, Correa, Miranda, Lewis, Lee, Julien, Larnach, Kirilloff, and whoever else as a daily contributor. That lineup isn't established YET. Might we see something like it by the second half of this year? It's just, after only 3 weeks, all I see right now is too many moving parts of slow starts, injuries, and debuts just made, or not made yet. Just too many moving parts too early in the season to put me in anything close to panic mode.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. A single, horrendous outing should never spell doom for anyone. But Pagan has been doing this since the Twins acquired him. He had a couple decent but tightrope appearances to begin 2022 and a couple decent appearances to begin this year. If you just look at the scales of performance, they tip very heavily toward "not good". I don't know who should replace him, but almost anyone could/should at this point. Moran hasn't had a great start to the season. But I'm not sure if he has anything to prove at AAA and might be better served working with the Twins coaches. Sure hope Maeda is going to be OK. Good news nothing is broke and he was walking around on his own in the clubhouse without any support. But swelling and soreness might still be a lingering issue for a few days. Ober time?

Yes, please!

A great game. Ryan did what we hoped for. Headrick looked far better than I had hoped for, despite a little trouble in his 3rd IP. Where did that velocity come from? His stuff looked pretty legit. The offense took advantage. Correa remains a stud at SS. Larnach broke out of a brief slump. Anyone ready to demote him? Gallo is looking like his previous MVP runner up self. How dangerous might this team be with more stable offensive production?

OH MY GOODNESS! Maeda was a VERY solid SP for a DEEP Dogers staff. They put him in the pen because they COULD, and needed pen help. It had NOTHING to due with a team that matches the Yankees for $ for $! He went to the Twins, made a few adjustments, and was runner up for the CY Young. Yeah, just some bum who should be dismissed or thrown in to the pen. (Extreme satire). Maeda DESERVES a chance to prove he has the ability to be a SP. Even at 35yo, coming off surgery, he's looked OK initially. So his previous numbers and production should be ignored? If you've actually watched the caeer of Ober, you would see a guy who put up video game numbers. But injuries were an issue until the Twins found some delivery changes not only for his stuff, but to maintain HEALTH with his delivery. He was pretty damn good in 2021 and got better, as the Twins nursed him through his MLB debut, mostly due to career IP as well as his development. Unfortunately, he had a groin injury in 2022. But his numbers last year early, and late, were great. And his ST numbers this year were outstanding. But how do you just dismiss a pitcher like Maeda and his career? Because you want to for some inexplicable reason?? Ober and Varland BOTH should be at the ML level right now. And MANY YEARS PAST, they would already be there. But somehow we're disappointed we could have a really good SP just rounding in to form who was previously a Cy Young candidate just a couple of years ago as a potential block? Imagine the horror of the Twins being so deep in the rotation they don't want to jettison anyone in April for the future.

Posting late answers the question of who goes down first and that is Garlick, and what I expected. And it makes the most sense. When Polanco comes up...next homestand?...it's either Julien or Castro. (FWIW, I'm embarrassed that I've either mistyped or had my auto correct refer to him as Cruz once or twice). Julien is SUPER talented and might be ML ready despite not debuting RED HOT. But you also want him playing daily. And with Buxton still at DH, that could be really tough. Meanwhile, with Farmer out, if Castro goes down...and he has an option...that leaves Gordon as the primary backup to Correa at SS. Are we/the Twins OK with that for another couple of weeks, at least? And while Polanco can be a third SS option, you sure don't want to do that right now do you? So I would say Julien goes down to get daily playing time until his next opportunity and Castro sticks. With no options, Gordon still gets time to figure it out and get right. The debate on Kirilloff is interesting, and really, everyone is "mostly" right. If we just rewind a bit and take away the debatable "most of the year at AAA" and just say he MIGHT be optioned for some ADDITIONAL time at St Paul, I think the debate ceases or takes a different turn at least. AK has been a TOP PROSPECT who has RAKED at every level, and flashed at the ML level when his wrist was OK. He has nothing left to prove. But with time missed, I believe he will get every day of rehab time to just get confident and get his stroke back. I have no problem with that. Honestly, I'd probably bring him up at that point. But I COULD understand using his option for a little more time to get in a groove. But I'd still bring him up knowing he could be sent down later if needed. I DO BELIEVE there is merit to patience and belief in his talent and future. He's just NOT old by any means. And the long play for him, and Lewis, both apply. But again, remove the MOST OF THE YEAR from the discussion and I think we're all pretty much on the same page. A BIG PROBLEM in the roster construction is Kepler. And for the Xth time, I've always been a fan. And he did have a good ST that didn't carry over to the start of the season. And yes, he's got a couple hits since his IL return. But the numbers since 2019 are not only poor, they are also below his pre-2019 season. There has been post after post how Kepler does certain things to indicate there is still something left not tapped in to yet. One of those is BABIP. But after so many years of the same, when do we just accept that, unfortunately, there's just ISN'T some. But do you give up on a previously proven ML player in April?? So I can understand giving Kepler time to show he's adapted, learned, and has life left at 29yo. But despite options remaining, you send Larnach down at some point? He's not only very talented, and part of your future, he got off to a fast start after a very strong ST. Then he slumped for a few games. Then he knocks in a run tonight against Boston, and then a 3 run HR as I'm typing this and we want to debate sending him down? Gallo is doubtful to return for 2024 for various reasons. Though it's POSSIBLE in various scenarios. Age, contract, and potential, you ABSOLUTELY don't give up on AK at this point, even IF the Twins decide to keep him a little longer than his rehab time. (Doubt it). Sorry, unless he turns it around, and I don't mean a few games, does Kepler fit long term? I'm not sure i see it. For 2023 at least, Salono is a keeper for his role. So is Farmer, when healthy. And until we see Lewis and Lee IMMEDIATELY ready for 2024, Farmer has a role in 2024 and is under control. Salono and Farmer aren't going anywhere for this year. No way Larnach should be sent out for any reason unless injury or massive slump. He's part of today, and tomorrow. Julien will go probably go down at some point just due to roster crunches and be back up when needed. But at some point, maybe soon, immediacy and the future, Kepler is probably someone who needs to be moved...unfortunately.

Ack! Unfortunate typo or auto correct. I was trying to say Pagan and no clue how Duran's name got there at the end!

Honestly, the biggest issue for 2023 was always the offense. 1] Even with a couple of middling starts the rotation has been excellent. How many teams could pull up their #6 SP for a game at Yankee stadium and get a great start? This rotation and it's depth is for real. 2] Except for a couple innings and a couple HR...which happen...the bullpen has been as good as hoped for. Even Sands, the current 8th man and sacrificial arm didn't really perform all that badly, here and there. Please don't make me say this, but so far, Pagan has looked good in his limited IP. Despite a great start to this season, the offense remains the question mark. Correa looks like he's starting to heat up. The defense has been outstanding. I think, other than a couple of bobbles, Miranda has been fine at 3B. When does the bat heat up? Gordon was OK with the bat 1st half of 2022, excellent the 2nd half. Does he heat up soon? He's always been a bit of a slow starter. Gallo was starting to look like a difference maker in the lower half of the lineup before his muscle injury. IDC about his performance at AAA. What he's doing is just getting AB and tracking pitches. We need his bat and threat back soon. Buxton needs to get "untracked" or "right". A few bad games doesn't diminish who he is as a hitter. This team really misses a healthy Polanco. Hopefully he's ready soon. But until then, I'd ride Julien as long as I can. I think if he just continues to play daily we are going to see the results. I'm sadly sorry to say I just don't expect anything from Kepler these days. I am super hopefull that we will see a healthy AK by June taking over 1B and letting Gallo play out this year in the OF. At some point, mid year, we might see someone like Lewis provide a spark. The problem is, we can't just wait. There will always be slow starts and slumps. It happens. But even without Polanco and the potential of AK at this point, there's enough offensive potential with what's on hand to go earn some runs. Forget the contributions from Farmer and Salono thus far, Gallo, Correa, Larnach, Buxton, Miranda, Gordon, and even Vazquez and Jeffers need to step forward. Even missing some talent on the ML roster right now, there's enough to produce 5 runs per game to support the staff if they just start to click. If the offense starts to click, the Twins are a very, very good team.

Why do all the big moves seem to keep happening lately early in the day and I have to work and come in to the discussion late? LOL This is tremendous news! I'm only partially surprised as I thought this might happen, and was their intent, but I thought it would happen during the offseason. I always felt was this was their intent when the trade took place. To be fair, I also think was their intent with the trade for Mahle, but things didn't go the way hoped for after the trade was made. Time will tell. Despite the new sweeper and a great start to this season, and definite potential still available to grow, it's too early to state he's going to be a true ACE caliber #1 SP. But I would say he's shown enough with Miami, and now, to show a floor as an excellent #2 at worst. But if he remains healthy, which is always true of any arm, and he has had some mild shoulder issues, he is just now approaching the perfect age where STUFF and EXPERIENCE, can lead to prime years as a #1, and possible ACE status. Berrios has been mentioned. And it's not a bad comparison for obvious reasons. The Twins didn't want to do anything close to 7yrs. But even though they lost out on FA like Darvish and Wheeler, they were initially in on 5yr deals for both. So the FO is not adverse to longer contracts, they just don't want deals beyond that. And I can understand that logic. I felt Lopez would need an extension of about $20M per year. Maybe a little more if his 2023 is great. Still manageable. Signing him NOW, slightly lowers what I expected. But it also guarantees him and his family life changing money vs a mitigated risk that always exists for any pitcher who could face injury risk. So this is really a very fair contract for both parties involved. And if he remains healthy, there's a real chance for another deal in his future going in to his age 32yo season. This works well and fair for both sides. Beyond this signing being a good deal, and helping stabilize the future rotation, the Twins are in a very interesting position. Ober is a legitimate mid rotation SP, a #4 at worst. How many teams, including past Twins teams, would have Varland waiting in the wings as a current #7 SP option? Varland is ready now. Who knows about the future of Paddack, but that's to be determined in 2024. There is too much season to play out before anything else happens. But there are very realistic chances that Gray and Mahle might receive offers. I'm not dismissing Maeda, but he's in a weird place where we can't realistically talk about him until later in the season. There's a chance that Gray and Mahle could both receive qualifying offers for $19-20M. Accepting said offer adds another quality SP to 2024 to increase depth. It's also possible one of them pitches well enough to earn an extension vs the QO. But by age, they are in different places. If Gray, a great leader amongst the pitchers, would take a 2yr deal for $30M...maybe a 3rd year option for less with a buyout...he would just about match his best contract to this point. He might jump on that. And Mahle could raise his game, be healthy, and raise his game, and be in the discussion for an extension as well. Again, either might be worthy of a QO to either agree or move on and provide the Twins with an additional draft pick. What the Lopez signing does is provide STABILITY and options.

ABSOLUTELY! It's up to Gordon to prove he belongs. The roster, and prospects, simply state that Gordon has to prove himself again. But to be real, it's very early and he has time to do so, I hope he does so because he could be important for this year, if not going forward. I've thought for a while he's on borrowed time. And that's not an indictment of talent or potential. But there's just too much talent on the rise with Lewis, Lee, Julien, Wallner and others to guarantee any sort of spot. So it's up to Gordon himself to continue to prove his future value. Isn't it great to realize the player portion of the roster is looking at a wonderful "crunch" really soon?

While I missed out on the game completely due to work, I still have a few comments. 1] I applaud Rocco for standing up for what he feels is right. And I've watched all the videos. And I'm not going to state that anyone was cheating in any way, despite the videos, and the stat charts provided in the OP. Let's just say those charts are "interesting". Rocco's post game comments were honest and succinct. I applaud him for being diplomatic and yet succinct. It WOULD APPEAR, from the umpire videos and further comments made, that things weren't exactly handled correctly. And I'll leave it at that. 2] I could care less that ANY glove has a spot on it. Rosin, spit, or sweat, gloves will have marks. But fingers from a pitcher that the umps asked to be cleaned should be a no brainer to do. There is a Guardians pitcher, and I forget who at the moment, who has long hair and it's been "reported" previously that he would use a swipe through his hair and using the rosen bag that he would gain better control, getting better "tackiness". And this goes back to last season. And NO, I don't have links regarding this. It's just memory. But IIRC, the Twins or someone challenged him at some point. Don't recall if anything happened. 3] Regardless of ANYTHING ELSE, the Twins went to NY and WON the 1st 2 games. That's not always easy to do. And while I want the Twins to win EVERY GAME they play, that's obviously not going to happen. How many of us expected at least a split in this 4 game series? No matter what happens Sunday, this team is looking legit. HOPEFULLY, Lopez and the offense leaves NY fans crying. But even if that doesn't happen, our Twins are looking damn good. The offense gets rolling, we could be dangerous.

Largely agree. But I disagree on Gordon and the FO. I DO BELIEVE they like Gordon and have had his back. While he, obviously, never turned out the way a 1st round #5 pick was hoped/expected to turn out, the FO could have moved on from him almost immediately if they chose to. A bit of a slow starter at each level, Gordon always seemed to "figure it out" with the bat. But not a true SS..despite being drafted as such...deeply in tune fans will always know Gordon as "the guy who would have been promoted in 2019 ahead of Arraez, having his best season, before an ankle injury shelved him". Such is history, and baseball. But through injury, covid, intestinal problems that wasted him away during 2020, they never dropped him. Instead, they stuck with him and never dropped him from the 40 man, took long looks in ST, and converted him to an OF and utility player. While we seldom, if ever, disagree on most anything, I'm going to disagree on this one point. I AM concerned about his slow start. But it's happened before with him, and obviously, other players as well. It stinks he doesn't have options left. But we all know these things can be manipulated. Any day now, Gordon might just "get right" and start hitting the ball like last year and this is a moot point. But isn't it also possible he might suddenly have a sore arm or ankle and hit the IL and then have a rehab at AAA to get a "reset"? I'm not convinced that Gordon has a long term place on the roster due to Julien, Lewis, Lee, and maybe even Martin. Not to mention Celestino in the OF. But I'm also not willing to doubt his LH bat, versatility, and his 2022, especially the second half. But it IS up to Gordon. I do agree that a return of a healthy Polanco, one of these days soon hopefully, might squeeze out Julien. But, of course, it depends how well Julien is performing, as well as any other injuries that pop up. It gets even more muddled whenever Kirilloff is ready to go. Doesn't it suck...EXTREME SATIRE...that by May, July at the latest, and even going in to 2024, that the Twins position player roster may be so deep we're trying to figure out how to play and keep Polanco, Julien, Kirilloff, Celestino, Martin, Lee, Wallner, Gordon, Farmer-still under team control, and even consider re-signing Taylor and Salono? And I've probably forgotten someone. Not to mention other milb players who might force some 40 man issues over 2023.

I started thinking about this today while listening to the recent Gleeman and The Geek. It depends on how Maeda feels. There are no indications anything is wrong with Maeda other than being 35yo and having not pitched for a year and a half. It appears this was nothing other than rest and a missed turn to "stretch him out" for the season. I've thought, and stated previously, that I felt Maeda...and perhaps Ober at some point...would miss a couple turns here and there, or take a short IL stint with a "tired arm" to just monitor innings for the season. The Twins seem to really like having the 8 man pen. And by the time I finish this and anyone reads it, Varland might already be swapped out for a bullpen arm. BUT, I agree where there is a logical scenario where Varland is kept, Mahle could now miss a turn, and Varland gets at least one more start. That doesn't necessarily limit the pen, because in this scenario, Mahle would still be available to pitch a game out of the pen instead of a side bullpen session. That's always been the way the Twins could have a pseudo 6 man rotation. What does slightly confound the situation is there isn't an easy choice to bring someone up to replace Sands immediately, who has to stay down for X number of days. Winder and Henriquez aren't ready. Megill is usually a 1 IP arm, nowhere near a long man. Do they make room for someone like Rodriguez? Do they want to promote Headrick this soon? So it MIGHT make more sense to keep Varland up for another week before simply bringing Sands back up again.

He's been a really good and really smart addition, even though I didn't understand the fit when the signing first happened. He's been good at 1B, and I'd like to think he can still slide to 2B and be good there as well, if needed. I don't know how or if he still fits in at 3B or SS...positions he's played before...at this point in his career. It would be nice if he could be an option there with Farmer out for a time. But he seems to be a real pro and has definitely earned his nickname. Solid AB, sprays the ball, and has doubles power. He's been a real help so far and while good health elsewhere on the roster might limit his future playing time, he's been a great signing.

Kudos to Varland who actually pitched a hell of a game despite those dingers.

What curse? We just have a great ballclub!

YES!

Pizza in the oven and a show to watch. And my heart can't take much. Let's go Duran!

Would love an insurance run here in the 9th!

YES LOPEZ

I think Correa was safe at 2B. They're calling out of the basepath?

OUTSTANDING!!