DocBauer

Wholeheartedly agree the manager gets too much blame at times and not enough credit at others. But they are the one in charge and they do get to make a lot of decisions, both before the game as well as during. Rocco "manages" the entirety of the team/clubhouse very well. And I don't think that's in doubt when you both listen and watch the players. Nothing but positive vibes. Even in the vast disappointment of 2021 the guys seemed to enjoy playing and being together and actually seemed to play better as the year went along. To be honest, there are times when he's pulled a pitcher, starter or reliever, and I am beside myself with frustration. Guy is pitching well and the bottom of the order is coming up? Unless he's just gassed, send him put there to save the pen. Reliever comes in and throws 5 pitches and gets out of the inning and then sits down? I don't get it. And some of his lineups have made no sense to me, even when the roster is healthy. So yes, I disagree with him sometimes. And to be honest, I think I'm definitely right sometimes and he's wrong, lol. But I can't say he's done a bad job at all. I just think he's made mistakes at times and could do better. And the numbers are there to indicate he's been successful thus far. I think he's growing and learning and will get better. But I think he's pretty solid, even if I don't always agree with him. And who says any of us have to agree all the time?

I know there was a full milb season in 2021, but with the lost 2020 year and so many injuries last year, THIS YEAR actually feels "normal" to me. And that's not to dismiss the prospects who had a good and healthy 2021 at all. We're seeing a TON of position players and pitchers settling in to develop naturally. Numbers and records seem to indicate that, including a few who started slow but are starting to heat up. But a few coments: 1] I feel sorry for the Saints and attending fans because all of their best players are with the Twins right now, for the most part. GO Balazovic and AK! Some reinforcements may be coming soon. 2] Just awesome to see Enlow back! Also gives me some hope in regard to Paddack, if he needs surgery, to be ready by June or July 1st in 2023. 3] Steer and Julian could make great options for 2023. And SWR, Balazovic, Canterino are just a couple of arms that could be ready before the season is done, and especially for 2023. 4] I am BLOWN AWAY, by how many arms are at Ft Myer, CR, and Wichita, some of whom have been recently promoted. I fully understand and appreciate exactly what the FO is doing, and have been doing. They have been drafting arms with projectability with "something" they already have and working on the rest. And they haven't been afraid to draft injured arms and projecting what they could be when healthy. And i know there are so few early 20's arms who are special enough to not only make MLB, but also succeed. So age to me is not that big of a deal. So the drafting of so many college arms makes sense in so many ways. What the Twins are doing with college arms just makes so much sense: draft as any solid arms as you can and work with them. But there remains the fact that some are just old enough and experienced enough that they SHOULD dominate at the lower levels. What I'm pleased to see is not only development of those arms, but an aggression to move them up quickly to the next level. I understand someone like Canterino is unique, but even he has been promoted pretty quickly all things considered. Not all of these good looking arms are going to turn out. But with tutelage and aggressive promotion, the best are going to rise.

I think Miranda is going to be just fine. He just may not be quite ready yet. And that's OK. The learning curve is different for everyone. He's got all the ability and potential you could hope for. He was a high pick who Twins scouts and FO personal have been quietly saying for the past few years, from various reports; "just wait...just wait". Well, he started to figure it out in 2021. My opinion? He's pressing. He got off to a poor start with St Paul and was getting hot when promoted. And he wants to do so well he's almost forgotten all the adjustments he made last year. He's suddenly reverted back to just making contact vs the good contact he figured out. And he could suddenly "click" any day! I hope like crazy that happens! But I think he needs to go back down when the roster gets healthy and take what he's learned and get himself right again. I DO THINK the Twins did themselves, and Miranda, a HUGE disservice by not brining him up late in 2021 to get his feet wet then. He might be more ready now, regardless of any success he might have had.

I can't disagree with you, even though I still have qualms about Lewis' development as a ML SS for the future not playing the position on a regular basis. I like the idea of Lewis, if kept up, splitting time here and there. I also believe Arraez should be in the lineup just about every day between 3 spots and DH. Urshela's offense just SHOULD be better than it's been based on his last 3yrs. But his glove flashes GG caliber. He needs to be in the lineup against LHP and can also be a defensive replacement. The glove is good enough to be in the lineup once in a while against RHP as well, in your scenario. Gordon also fills in here and there, etc. The only "problem" with your presentation...and it's a GOOD problem..is trying to build a 13 man position roster with Garlick to face LHP, Larnach back, Kirilloff MAYBE/EVENTUALY back, and then Sano back at some point and potentially ready for a strong 1/2-2/3 of a season. I know I'm getting ahead of myself here, but we COULD have a roster crunch coming relatively soon.

Only Buxton and the Twins know best how he feels day to day. His knee could have to be monitored in this fashion all season. It's also very possible that with the weather finally warming up to normal, and a few days off here and there, along with a few DH days, plus the All Star break, his knee might just get better and better over the next month or so. As someone who has an acceptable but "bum" knee...I wear a sleeve when I go for a long walk and the occasional jog for stability...I know first hand the warmer month are way more kind to me. As to him as a DH, he hasn't done it much, we're talking a SSS, it might feel more routine as he does it more. Also, if he isn't doing it already, he might take a page out of Cruz's notebook and hit the exercise bike here and there between innings to keep himself loose and warmed up. But as much as Rocco and the Twins want to follow their maintenance plan with Buck, unless his knee has really flared up on a given day, I find it inexcusable to not have him available to PH in the 9th or 10th inning in a crucial spot instead of someone struggling to hit .200. Again, unless it's a bad day, he should stretch out, loosen up, warm up on an an exercise bike, to get him ready for a PH opportunity in games it looks like it may be needed. I absolutely want what's best for him for this year, next year, and all the years yet to come. But if you told me general maintenance would give Buck 100-110 games in CF, another 20-25 as a DH, (unless he just stinks there), I'd be ecstatic with those 130-140ish games.

A healthy lineup has solid/good hitters and good power across the lineup. Ad a result, there's nothing wrong with your DH or 1B being a different kind of hitter than has been the traditional mainstay. There is a need and place in most any lineup for a special hitter like Arraez and this works. Yes, more length can sometimes be a split second arrival of the ball to glove or an extra inch allows for a wider catch radius on a wide or high throw. But the most important thing is just to catch the ball and to handle hops and scoops. Arraez can do that without issue. Again, this works. (It also helps to have some pretty good arms in the infield where you don't have to scramble for errant throws constantly.)

Arraez is a hitting machine! Should probably hit #1 so he could be knocked in more.

Duran is a STUD! Now we need to win bottom of the 9th because I need to split for family time.

No lie, the scene where the office help screams "heat wave" had me laughing so hard I actually slipped out of my seat!

So I called it?

Long as he doesn't over run the base again with all his speed, with 2 outs, do you run Gordon here? I think I would.

Hey gang, stopping in late to say howdy. Great for Smeltzer. Miranda will be fine! Slow start to 2022, called up still getting his groove on, should have been up late in 2021 to get ready for 2022, but will be just fine eventually. Might need a reboot at St Paul, but he'll be fine. Someone should have told Kepler Bauer was pitching and not Bieber. Game would be a blowout at this point.

No doubt Smeltzer's best role is as a long/mid bullpen arm. He was surprisingly solid as a backend arm in 2019. He had a bad disc in his neck that lead to loss of feeling in his left hand in 2021 and ruined his season. If I'm not mistaken, he made a comment that "something" popped up in 2020 from his previous cancer battle that affected his 2020. Sorry if I'm not recalling 100%. He had a healthy and quality ST this year. He's been pretty solid for St Paul thus far in 2022. He's about 8th on the current depth chart, but injuries happen and sometimes you have to dig that deep, even if it's one game. But I don't think he's exactly a sacrificial lamb in this game. The Twins need Thielbar to keep doing what he's been doing the past few seasons, and so far this season, for as long as he can. The Twins need Moran to establish himself ASAP for 2022 and beyond. There are a handful of LH arms coming up that are "interesting", and they need at least one to establish themselves as a quality BP piece to join Moran. But Smeltzer has a chance to stick for a season or two as a mid/long guy. With Coloumbe out for now, tonight could be huge for him going forward. Time may be running out for him.

Friday night's implosion after being sent out after such a long wait notwithstanding, I've been impressed with Jax in this new role as well as his "new" slider and higher velocity FB. I know different analytics can be used in different ways to break down a pitcher for both good and bad. But despite some pretty bad final numbers in 2021 as a SP, Jax was pretty good for 3 IP, or once through the order. I don't know if he can succeed, generally, as a 3 inning, 59 pitch pitcher or not. Maybe. My hunch though is he's best for 1-2 innings cranking up that FB to 94-95 and using that impressive new slider. He seems to have the temperament to handle a BP role. He's always had pretty good control. And he is pretty bright, meaning he can adapt and "figure things out" as he goes along. There is potential there as a possible setup man, but I think he's a SO 1-2 IP 5th to 7th innings guy. And there is real value in that. I sure wish we were talking about Duran, Jax, AND a healthy Alcala.

I don't think anyone has ever stated he's a 4th OF and that's all. I just think it's been accepted as being his floor and his role for now. I mean, healthy, pretty sure Kepler, Buxton and Kirilloff/Larnach will be the primary starting OF. I am so surprised this kid has come on as strong as he has. And not because of his inauspicious debut last year, but just being as young as he is and a half year at AAA...even though he looked good...I just figured he'd need a little more time to develop before settling in to a ML role. It's a little hard to gain experience and confidence sitting on the bench after all. But he's responded wonderfully. The defense is there, and his milb numbers suggest a solid bat and OB. The question as to his future as a starter, IMO, is how much pop/power does he really have? And while he has speed, is it transferable to SB? Answers to these questions will determine if he's eventually a starter or not. A good balance of everything but nothing exceeding "norms" would keep him as an outstanding and versatile 4th OF.

Lewis is one of the few healthy bodies on the 40 man. He's talented enough to play about anywhere and not embarrass himself. So there is a chance he sticks around out of necessity for a while. But if the roster gets back to ful strength over the next week, he absolutely should be back in St Paul playing ever day at SS. He will take this ML experience, use it, grow from it, and be all the better for it. Ditto for Miranda IF he's sent down. Right now I'm just not concerned with his BA. He's still a rookie with only 39 ML AB. A pair of good days and he's back to hitting .250 or better in such a SSS. Immediate, high quality hitting success doesn't often happen just 2 weeks time.

Obviously disappointed in losing all 3 games. I would have been OK with some sort of split. But 3 losses against a very good team even at home, doesn't spell doom and gloom going forward. It's baseball. Stuff happens. We weren't supposed to win in Tampa, remember? I didn't get to watch today, still, a few personal thoughts: 1] Ryan wasn't as sharp in the opener as he has been. Personally, while it was atrocious, I felt he got squeezed a lot by the ump. Disappointed in Winder today, but I have faith in him and a rebound. Bad games happen even for seasoned pitchers. You're going to, obviously, have a few bumps in the road here and there with rookie/young pitchers. 2] More disappointed in Archer Wednesday night. He just seemed tight or pressing and seemed to overthrow or miss constantly. I don't know if it was the weather or just a very bad day. I've been surprised and encouraged before that game and how the Twins have been handling him. But he's got to rebound next start in a big way. 3]I know we're playing a little short and banged up at the moment, but the offense was starting to click. And I know the Astros are a quality team with some good arms, but the offense has suddenly disappeared the past 6 games. Come on guys! 4] Arraez could fall out of bed every day and hit .300. He's an important part of this team and I'm glad he's still with us.. 5] Gordon's draft status will probably always mark him as some sort of "disappointment" no matter his career going forward. But he's starting to hit. His speed is a valuable asset. He can cover 6 positions at least "comfortably" defensively. That catch in CF today was OUTSTANDING and I just marvel at how quickly he has adapted to the OF, on the fly, pun intended, since being thrown out there in 2021. 6] In baseball, there is always tomorrow and the next series. Time to move on, get back in the saddle, and get back in the WIN column starting tomorrow. LET'S GO TWINS!

There is a real chance he could play a big role for the Twins the last couple of months of the season. Even with good health for the current staff, IP could be a factor. With no setbacks, Balazovic could be a real factor come August/September after 2 1/2 months to ramp up and iron a few things out.

I could have easily liked a dozen or more comments here, but didn't simply due to time, (hurrying to get caught up), and because I agree with both sides here. To Eris's point, unless I am mistaken, a sprain or tear of a ligament is the same thing. That's what a sprain is, IIRC. But any sprain/tear can be minor to major, meaning a complete tear. Minor tears/sprains can heal through therapy and time. Sometimes they never get worse. Sometimes they tear all the way. It would appear the Twins believed Paddack's risk was worthwhile. And I agree that IF he's hurt more seriously and needs surgery, it doesn't mean he can't be part of this rotation in '23-24 and potentially beyond. I remain mixed on the trade, to be honest. I applaud a number of the moves made for this year, and also applaud the FO for their belief in their young talent, pitching in this case, to be precise: Ryan, Ober, Winder, Duran, Jax, and others that may yet make a mark before the year is done. The Archer move looks very smart and could pay huge dividends! I remain so-so on Bundy until I see how he responds. Any way you slice it, gaining a young SP with tons of potential, a decent BP arm, and an interesting prospect for a RP is a smart move at the end of the day. But while I generally like how this team was built, I still maintain a missed opportunity is the entire reason we're having this discussion to begin with. A $14-15M arm signed before the lockout would have helped stabilized the rotation, without breaking the bank, and have allowed the Twins to keep Rogers and the Paddack trade wouldn't have even been necessary. And I'm NOT blasting the FO. But if we're going to applaud moves and development, it's OK and fair if we also point out mistakes or missed opportunity. So, again, I'm split on the trade. It just wasn't a BAD trade. But it's a trade I feel didn't have to be made. We still have rotation depth, and more on the way. Paddack doesn't make or break the season, though things look better if he can rest and work and come back. But I don't think we're in desperation mode if he's out.

So Sano to the 60 day to make room for one of Cotton or Contreras. But who's gone to make room for the second? Godoy?

I agree "disappointment" is probably the word that best describes Sano's career, at least to this point for sure. But he's not a bust. How many top 100 prospects and high draft choices have failed to reach the ML level or wash out quickly with abysmal results? So the fact that he has played a "decent" 3B/1B and produced the OPS he has for his career might be disappointing for all that was anticipated/hoped for, but he's not a bust. I cant' explain his inability to be better than he has been, though I do agree he long ago seemed to disregard any attempt to just put the bat on the ball and let his natural strength do the work for him. I can't explain his slow starts every year. I do know that if you can live with him providing little value through mid May to the 1st of June, you get a POWERFUL and DANGEROUS hitter for the rest of the season that will carry your team for a week or two at a time even. And his final numbers will be very solid, though I'd still have a hard time batting him higher than 5th. But if you have a team that wants to challenge for titles, and has as much young talent arriving as the Twins have now, can you afford a streaky hitter who all but disappears the first month and a half to two months of the season? I've never been a hater, often a defender, of Sano. And while he will probably still play and contribute before the season is over, it's just time for both parties to move on after 2022. And that's disappointing.

Agreed it's way too early to look too closely at this topic. HOWEVER...to be fair, it's not an unreasonable question to be asked. And to me, any answer depends on health. And I don't mean the standard caveat of "well if this guy or that one suddenly gets injured what do we do?" I mean, I see a pair of concerns. 1} RHRP that we can use in a high leverage situation, preferably someone who's been there before and can be counted on. 2} A RH bat with pop/power to mitigate LHP. An OF might be preferred due to Larnach, Kepler and AK all being LH. And Miranda and Urshela help, but are INF. COUNTER: 1} If Alcala comes back healthy and Duran and Jax keep doing what they're doing, along with Lewis and Duffey suddenly looking more like his old, reliable self, is there still a need? Alcala's injury is a big question mark IMO. 2} What if Garlick comes back healthy and continues to hit like he was before his injury? He hit well against LHP in 2021 before getting hurt and losing the rest of the year. Will 2022 be a repeat or will he come back and stay productive? He doesn't have a long and storied ML career, but he's mature, has put up good numbers at the milb level, and seems to have begun a sort of limited "breakthrough" with the Twins as a LHP masher. These are the 2 areas I'm still worried about, as I was coming out of ST. But there's at least a chance the answer might already be on the 40 man with health.

I guess my answer is...yes...but not completely. I have been generally impressed with his defense, especially so in the OF where he never played until being tossed out there in desperation last year. Last season, he hit, then he didn't, then he hit again. The speed and SB ability is real. Despite his thin frame, the ball jumps once in a while and he has more pop than it looks like he should. When I read something like this OP, I'm not only reminded yet again of his consistent "second year" at a level progress, but just how good he was in 2018 at AA, and in 2019 at AAA, his "second year" there. In fact, had he not been injured, it's almost a certainty, IMO, that he would have been promoted instead of Arraez. I say "not completely" as I've been a little disappointed in him here in 2022, though I admit the SSS at this point. I really expected him to raise all his numbers to more or less average. And he might still. But that's why my answer is in 2 parts. (Note* While never a large dude, I think he's still lost weight and strength over the previous 2 ill/hurt years that has cost him. I'd really like to see him a good 12-15lbs heavier)

The key to any pitcher is to throw off a batter's timing, throw off his vision plain, and to keep him guessing in general. Columbe does all of that by changing speeds and mixing pitches and locations. And I think he's actually pretty "real" considering how he's looked, and the solid job he did last year. But he is not high leverage. He's a middle guy to fill and IP or 2. Eventually, he'll probably get timed up/figured out and begin to lose effectiveness. I do think it's just a matter of time until Moran is up for good and replaces him. But then again, a 3rd LH in the pen isn't a bad thing either.

Not only has Duran been pretty amazing, but so has Jax. And then Duffey and Thielbar have suddenly turned it around. Even with Pagan getting us on the edge of our seats lately, he's gotten the job done. I still feel the pen is probably one good, proven arm away from continued success. Other than that, my only concern is a Ying/Yang karma regarding injuries. We've had a bunch so far, but only Alacala and Sano appear long term at this point. C4 and Larnach back soon, Ober back soon, Arraez and Bundy off the covid list and Paddack OK, I'll breath a huge sigh of relief. But I'll breath even a little easier if AK's wrist feels good and he starts to hit again like he's capable of.