DocBauer

I watched a little of the game on lunch break today and had to go back right before Sano came to bat. Ugh! Sure wish I had gone to break just 5 minutes later! What I saw of Pineda was what he always is, good if not great. We all know Happ and Shoemaker were signed to 1yr deals with intent. That intent being, obviously, to fill out the staff and bridge the gap until a couple of the prospects were ready. And while they have been a bit inconsistent, they have largely done what was expected. But, no question either or both could be moved at some point if the Twins don't fully right the ship and get back to .500 relatively soon and keep climbing. makes obvious sense. What I don't want to see happen is trading Pineda and his expiring deal, regardless of their record and any contention , or not. In fact, I'd really like to keep him around for another couple of years, and I suspect he really likes being a Twin and would like to stay. I'm not sure the $ parameters of a deal, but he shouldn't be overly expensive. I know the jury is still out on Dobnak...practically a rookie still...but Berrios, Maeda, Pineda and Dobber are a njce 4-sum to begin 2022, with the kids coming up and trade and FA possibilities available. If you've got something/someone good it seems to be you try to keep it. Way to go Sano! It was only a matter of time until he started making better contact and going on a tear. Now we need Buxton back.

Sorry, typo I meant Winder not Wisler.

My takeaway is simple, you're supposed to beat lesser teams. We did that. It's gut check time for the 2021 Twins. They have a stretch where they can fold or reclaim themselves to be a competitive and quality team. The injuries are massive. Coupled with just bad and unexplainable poor play early leaves 2021 as a probable disappointing season. But there is still a shot to do something. Berrios wasn't in top form. But he battled. Isn't that what a top rotation SP is supposed to do? We can proclaim the Twins are playing a lesser team, and I believe that is true. But this also can be a stretch where we just "get right" and play better and gain confidence and maybe, maybe, start to look like the team we were supposed to be and make a run. Kudos to Refensnyder for getting a shot and running with it. Despite a bad ball play he should have had in tonight's game, he has been pressed in to a position NEVER expected and has done unexpectedly well. We are NOT where we are supposed to be for a variety of of reasons from injury to almost unexplainable poor play from everyone all at once. There is still some small hope. The next 50 games or so will determine that hope. But regardless, I will be here as a fan. And I will love watching AK and Larnach establishing themselves and others who may make their appearance. I don't think the 2021 Twins are done just yet. They ARE playing better as of late. They might even challenge for contention. Especially if they could actually get healthy. Pipe dream? Maybe, But we all know baseball is also a reflection of life. There is always tomorrow. The Twins have more than a few potential tomorrow wins in front of them. And IF they can't capitalize, I will love watching the young talent on hand and that will come up the second half. But this team isn't done yet.

First of all thank you for updates like this, and thanks to all the milb game writers. The milb updates are a true joy for those of us who pay such close attention to the system, in my case since the early 80's. Really missed this in 2020. What still confounds me is the late start to the 2021 season after the washout of 2020. These kids already missed so much time and the late start to the season handcuffs the Twins, and everyone else, when it comes to promotions. There is nothing to be done about late starts due to injury such as in the cases of Duran, Balazovic, Vallimont, etc. But what about guys like Miranda, Wisler and Canterino, for example. If they continue to progress as expected and hoped for. A few extra weeks delay also delays their potential promotions, and delays possible ML appearances. Think about the Twins injury depleted OF. Refsnyder has been, at least, a temporary godsend. And he should be applauded. But what if he crashes and burns soon? What if there is another injury? Celestino got off to a slow start and Whitefield got off to a tremendous and surprising start. What if the Twins have to drop down to AA for legitimate CF help? Would a few more weeks make a huge difference? Perhaps not. But it COULD provide more confidence in promotion for the Twins, but also greater confidence for the player themselves. I may be splitting too many hairs here and I'll admit that. But after losing a full season of development time, I think MLB did a dis-service to the teams and the players with their delayed start and shortened season.

I don't want to trumpet Cano as any bullpen savior, but to be fair, he was seen as a fast riser when signed. A lost season shouldn't affect any trajectory as to what he could be. I would dare to say his reports at signjng and limited time and projection and performance would say his floor is a solid middle man and a potential set-up guy. Anything more than that is gravy. But age, stuff and numbers and experience indicate he should be a pretty quick promotion to AAA. From there, we will see. But he clearly has arm talent. It's the reason he was signed in the first place. Selfishly, I WANT Chalmers to stay in the rotation. I WANT better control...which he has flashed at times...and a 3rd pitch that is at least decent to remain a SP. But I think we've all known for a while now that his projection is a RP. Now, he still needs to work on control, but being a little wild as a RP is not a killer with big SO numbers and poor contact. Some kind of 3rd pitch is still beneficial and I hope he can still find/maintain at least a decent offering there. But his projection is floor as a solid arm to ceiling as quality set-up to potential closer. It's up to him, but he was a great flier no matter what. Hackimer follows a great tradition of ML and Twins RP who throw side-arm, or lower, who produce and flash. So very few have had great or long careers. I hope he defies the odds. He has to be able to throw 90+ consistently with control and also have a couple other pitches. He doesn't have to throw mid 90's due to deception and arm angle. But arm angle alone doesn't do it. He needs to "drop in" breaking stuff and change of speed to be anything other than another milb arm.

I was honestly a little surprised that Wells and Badoo were selected considering Wells basically missing 2yrs and Badoo so young and having played at such a low level. Even still, I had thought/hope that either or both would be returned. Unfortunately for the Twins, they were selected by re-building teams that appear determined to keep both regardless of performance in order to keep both players. I wish them both the very best. Unfortunately, you can't protect everyone.

1] I agree with Smalley that that was one of the best 4R rookie performances I've seen. Ober wasn't great in any way. But I saw a decent FB and off speed stuff with movement that kind of surprised me. Almost looked his stuff moved too much. Over amped? Unfortunately his change betrayed him a couple of times. I do think he got squeezed a couple of times. I am NOT an Ober hater, but I actually expected the worst tonight. I say that despite AMAZING milb numbers and being a seemingly intelligent kid, but despite his numbers, he has so few milb IP in his professional portfolio. But the FO has liked enough of what they have seen and at least some projectability to put him on the 40 man. I'm not sure his future value other than a 4th or 5th SP, with time and better control, especially his change after what I saw tonight. And I love that his velocity has crept in to the 90's to go along with control and deception. Really surprised how fast he's been promoted with limited time. A little more control...mmmm...mjght be a solid back end SP. And that's not a slight. IMO, the Duffey pitch was lack of control or a slip on a dirty mound. LaRussa had already apologized to the Twins for the HR the night before. In the history of "retaliation" pitches, have you EVER seen one that was so wide and outside it was almost a wild pitch? Even IF it was an intentional pitch ,it was so crazy outside and unintentional in appearance that any removal from the game was BS IMO. But kuddos to Rocco to being kicked out for defending his team and pitcher. Maybe we need a little more of that. Maybe too little, too late, not his fault for everything that has transpired, but kudos for Sano to FINALLY find himself.

A well thought out piece but I would disagree somewhat here and there. I agree Dobnak needs to work on control, and this is just my opinion, but I think his stuff almost moves too much at times. But the secret to him is getting that slider to be consistent. I watched him a little in ST and that slider looked wicked! He harnesses that, and can reign in the break of his fastball, he has everything needed to be a solid SP. We are in agreement on Thorpe. A "dead arm" for a week or two early in the season is not unusual. You build up, you lose a little, and then you "muscle" back up. A LH with control, a change, a solid breaking ball, can succeed with high 80's velocity. A LH who can throw in the low 90's with the aforementioned can be pretty good. So who is Thorpe? I'm not sure right now. But I'm confused and kind of upset the Twins aren't just letting him pitch as a starter right now. Ober surprised me tonight. I expected the worst. I saw a decent, solid performance from a rookie starter with limited experience who threw some great pitches and maybe got squeezed a bit. But his change killed him. But I saw some good things I wasn't sure I was going to see. But I am just if not more excited for the second half of the season. Happ and Shormaker will be gone. Personally, I am hoping Pineda is not only kept but is re-signed as our 4th rotation piece for 2022 with another addition to the rotation next year, however it happens. And I'm 100% with you on letting the prospects play/pitch at this point. But what I'm waiting for is Duran, Chalmers, Winder, Balazovic and Celestino and a few others to climb the latter the second half and audition and get themselves ready for the second half of 2021 and 2022.

Yes, I absolutely 100% feel the Twins have been a victim of bad luck. They have had a covid issue, they have had a number of injuries including multiple in the same game and I think you could even make an argument that 2 weeks of day games to begin the season took the team out of normal routines, especially when they started to slide and maybe could have used some infield or batting practice. They've also had a number of weird bounces and hops and lame duck bloop hits, and seeing eye grounders, etc, that have victimized them in crucial moments. And these things absolutely could and probably did lead to some tough losses and might have lead to the cascade of losses that now make this season look like an apparent lost year. BUT...not including vast injury issues...tough bounces, blind singles, bloop hits and weird bounces happen to every team and balance out overall. What is NOT bad luck are fumbled grabs, poor throws, hanging pitches with 0-2 counts and ineptitude to put a ball in the OF with runners on 3rd and no or 1 out(s) or a failure to even advance a runner in crunch time. Weird things happen in baseball at times. What's truly weird to me is a sudden collapse of so many players and such bad performances all at once. You expect to see bad years, bad weeks, even bad months here and there. But a virtual collapse of performance in all areas for a talented team expected to contend like this is something I've seldom seen. Unfortunately, reminds me of the Twins in 2011, but maybe even worse. I don't think Baldelli just became a poor manager or Johnson just suddenly became a poor pitching coach. I don't think the "talent" of the players just suddenly evaporated like vapor in the air. But a successful team is a result of many pieces of a puzzle put together. Once in a while, you build what appears to be a good team, but the pieces just don't fit right. You add some bad luck like injury situations and the such, suddenly you have the 2021 Twins.

Maybe it's hopefull naivete, but I still like Dobnak based on the majority of his work thus far...a rookie who has flashed but had some bad days...and his new, still developing, slider. He needs to continue to get innings and be stretched out and get a shot. In a lost season Happ and Shoemaker aren't part of 2022 and beyond. I think he has a shot to be a solid bulldog back end SP who MIGHT rise to #3 status if he can truly harness that slider. Thorpe is more of an enigma. He WAS projectable his entire milb season even after 2 missed seasons. There was enough velocity, stuff and numbers including K numbers, to indicate he had a future as a SP. Then came 2020. However, he came in to 2021 with a better frame of mind and a body that was in great shape to match his new attitude. His first start with the Twins was solid. He seemed even better in his 2nd start and it was unfortunate he was credited with 3R as 2 inherited runs scored when the pen couldn't come through. After it was reported his velocity was in the high 80's after being in the 90's in ST, he stated he had a "dead arm" despite pitching solidly. Now, it's not uncommon for any pitcher early in the season to have a short stretch where his arm feels that way. It happens. You've been ramping up, pitching, lose a little velocity, and then the arm just recovers like any part of the body does/can and suddenly the velocity comes back again. Again, not uncommon. But why isn't he starting for St Paul? If they still believe he has a real shot, and want to bring him up as a SP as they have done twice already, then why isn't he in the Saints rotation? This perplexes me to no end. IF the Twins want him in the pen, then fine. Move him there and let him cut loose with velocity and be the best RP he can be whether it's for one inning or two. But until you make that final determination...and I wouldn't at this point...put him in the rotation and ride him. The Saints rotation, by mid-season hopefully, will have a couple live arms joining them with big upside. But who does Thorpe block at this point? Nobody. Let him start!

I was not a big fan of the trade at the time as I felt the 2018 Twins had more talentthan their record and had a shot to be pretty good in 2019. And, as it turned out, the Twins WERE very good in 2019 and ended up with a solid bullpen, overall, to finish the season even though the first half was held together with duct tape, bailing wire and overuse of Rogers. However, the arm talent of Alcala is tantalizing, even if he never achieves stud closer status. There is absolutely potential for him to at least be a quality set-up man. Celestino is not a direct replacement for Buxton, shoud that occur in a couple of years. But he is a legitimate CF defensively with a budding bat, some pop and a little potential power to go along with speed and SB potential to bring a different dimension to the club. Right now, I would rather have had Pressly the past 3yrs, even though I don't know how much of a difference he would make here in 2021. He AND May this season may have made a difference. But 2yrs from now, I think it's very possible we watch Alcala in the pen and Celestino as a starting OF, or at worst a young 4th OF still developing, and we may see this as a WIN for the Twins. But I think we're still a couple seasons from having a final determination here.

Encourad by everything Ober has done. His injury history is a concern. His lack of pure velocity also has to be a concern. But you can't deny the AMAZING numbers he's produced when healthy. Encouraged by his reported new regiment to make himself just feel better after starts. Despite very obvious physical differences, he sort of reminds me of Radke. Radke threw a little harder, but relied on control and changing his offerings. Same with Ober, with length that probably makes his FB look better than it is. Both seemed to know how to pitch and stay in the zone with their stuff. I'm still unsure right now. I watched Winder in ST and read and watched everything I could about him. I honestly think he's on the same level right now as Duran, Balazovic and Canterino. I know the Twins are having a collape similar to 2011, but I'd be really concerned about gutting the roster, OR, promoting young arms too early. Hard as it is as a Twins fan, I'd really like to wait until mid season to ramp up all of these arms for 2022 with a couple MAYBE helping the pen for the second half. ALWAYS thought the FO was thinking Happ and Shoemaker would be replaced sooner or later by Dobnak and Thorpe with Duran and Balazovic and Winder and others coming up soon. I think Gray has a real shot. The talent and instinct seems to be there. He's off to a great start. But a 2019 draft selection with half a season, then no season, and a hot start? Like a lot of guys, unfortunately, he's starting behind the 8 ball. But a good start so far in 2021! Ditto for Julian! I thought the Twins had a reaĺy good 2019 draft, all things considered. Which means not only is the MLB draft the ultimate crapshoot, but I also realized they addressed a lot of need in the organization and brought in a lot of infield options. Julian is one of them. I know you were only focusing on 4 guys at each level, but I feel there are 3 guys that HAVE to be looked at, even at thjs early point. Cavaco, despite a poor 1st rookie season as a fast riser draft pick has seemed to embrace development in the pandemic and is off to a great start in 2021. We don't know yet where Steer will play. Probably not enough power to be a full time 3B. MAYBE he's just not a good enough glove man to play SS on a daily basis. But it sure seems like this kid can hit and pick it and play just about anywhere . And I have to bring Whitefield in to the discussion. How can you not? I know his 2021 production, so far, could be a mirage. But the Twins didn't sign him simply as a fun story. They saw an ATHLETE with power and speed and defensive ability who MIGHT put it altogether after a few years and turn out to be an quality player. He looked good early and then struggled. Not surprising. He was always a long shot. And a SSS is nothing to bet on....but...is maturity, talent, time spent in ST Paul last season....suddenly bringing about growth and maturation we only hoped for? Hes at least an early season surprise at this point.

ButI on a related note, following today's Twins victory, ASPN...the Afterlife Supernatural Paranormal Network....reported a record low of 42 degrees in hell today.

I really hate to discuss prospects after a week or two. Seems ridiculous. Buuuut.... Cavaco is a 5 tool talent and "fast riser " when drafted which is enticing as much as a warning sign of hope and expectation. He bottomed his rookie season. But we've seen this before. Sucks, but not that unusual. Reports are that he took the missed 2020 milb season to work hard, work on his body, and he had a good 5 week EST. WAY too early to project anything, but we should be encouraged. Cano is a Cuban "refuge" for lack of a better term. And we have seen such sink and rise the past few years. As such, age shouldn't matter, especially considering a lost 2020 season. Does he actually have the STUFF to now pitch and perform and and advance and maybe make any sort of difference and impact? Maybe. But a lost season means he has to advance quickly. Not sure that can happen quickly enough at this point. Whitefield was mentioned. I've been following him since the day he was signed. What a talent and what a story. But that doesn't mean squat if he doesn't adapt and produce. But despite extreme SSS, he's been on fire. Has he, maybe, matured and learned a ton on the 2020 taxi squad to make himself a viable prospect?

Let us forget, for a moment, what Polanco has been in the past. Not completely, we just don't need to repeat poor usage of options, or dredge up the death of his grandfather or his suspension. When Polanco has been healthy, he's been damn good. It's been well documented that his first ankle surgery didn't work. Period. He struggled throughout 2020 just being a "gamer". He has been very open that...while the second surgery seems to have been successful...he learned a lot of bad habits while being injured. And he is only now starting to overcome those habits and starting to feel comfortable again from the left side. He is the least of the Twins problems right now. And he may or may not replicate his 2019 HR power production. But even still, yes or no, his value as a quality hitter and producer isn't and shouldn't be based simply on HR numbers. He's just too good of a productive hitter, potentially and based on what we've seen before, to not be encouraged by what we've seen recently as he gets comfortable again. But, even still, he's the least of the current problem. Still, jts encouraging to see him looking like his old self again.

I am so excited for the changes in the milb structure! The opportunity is there for fan base and easier transport to promotion. And the Twins may be the envy of all MLB for AAA moves. No jet lag! LOL But I also lament the loss of Elizabethton and what that franchise meant to the history of the Twins. I've had a serious struggle with the changes of the milb system, as most of us have had. But I can see still see the logic of the change that I can't argue with. And I'm very happy to see the Twins will be embracing the fun and distinction of the Saints being an affiliate. I think that is so very important. The big bitch I have is every X-Mas or February 1st birthday for my father, I order another couple caps of a milb franchise, suddenly, I have to re-work my cap approach. I'm all in with the Saints, but I'm having a problem with Ft Myers. Lol.

I appreciate the OP very much. I'm just not sure how to rank vast disappointment and complete breakdown. The thing is, how could EVERYONE be having a disappointing/poor season all at once? Rogers has his velocity back up and has shown some wicked stuff. But then be grooves one or someone inside-outs a good pitch and you hand slap your forehead. Robles has largely looked OK, but has been inconsistent. How does Stashak suddenly have huge K numbers but no control? And he's always been a solid control pitcher previously. Relatively young and no injuries, what cliff did Duffey jump off of. For that matter, Colome has never been about pure velocity and doesn't seem to have lost any. So how are either of these guys so bad all of a sudden? I get Alcala is still developing. But how can his velocity and slider...both wicked...be so bad against LH hitters? I didn't dislike the Colome signing at all when it happened. But I still would have paid a little more to keep May instead. IMO, the Twins didn't see anyone giving him $7M. I know I didn't, and I even really like the guy. I think the Mets may have been the only team that would have done it, and they did. But here's the rub, other than May, everyone else the Twins let walk has been hurt or aweful. There is an easy list to compile of about 6-8 additional arms they could have signed, or were in on, and all of them are hurt or pitching poorly! Someone please remind me, all of this taken in to account, how the FO screwed up? Who should they have onboard they don't now? And again, how has EVERYONE seemingly collapsed at once? Someone, please, bring in a KFC bucket sacrifice to break thjs curse!

First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you John. Second, most of the changes seem really positive, IMO. I, like everyone else, just need to read and play and get used to the changes. My phone already seems to like the new format, LOL. But the one complaint I have to make is the color choices used. Look, I'm a TD fan and follower and devotee and will continue to be one. I believe I've been one since fall of about 2013. I've been here through the good and the bad. And I've been a Twins fan and follower for more than 50yrs through TV, radio, and print media. But the Twins, with all their varient uniform style changes have ALWAYS been red and blue and white with gray mixed in. There has NEVER been any sort ORANGE included. Please keep growing the site, but also, please make changes to this new site that is Twins-centric in regards to presentation! Sorry, but the orange color just doesn't make sense. Various versions of red, white and blue with new gold fit. Orange doesn't.

If I'm not mistaken, wasn't Olson making his debut after having surgery and then missing 2020 due to the shutdown?

Whitefield has always been one of the prospects that has most intrigued me coming from Australia and being a fast pitch softball player. The skill set is there but I think we always have known he was going to take a while and be a bit of a dark horse to ever fully develop. Athletically, the tools are there. I hope his fast start is tools, experience, maturity as well as gaining a lot being part of the secondary site in 2020. It would be a wonderful story. Good start for Canterino, but I'm also a little surprised he didn't start in AA. Fully understand being cautious about his arm considering the number of IP in college, but that was also 2019. I'd fully expect him to be a fast riser and hit AA by mid season.

Even frustrated and disappointed if we are going to play any sort of "blame game"...which I'm not entirely sure is fair or accurate or productive...then I'm going to place a good 70-75% on the players at this point. Let's go ahead and use Polanco, Kepler and Sano as "targets" in this exercise since they've been brought up multiple times. Healthy, we've seen what these 3 are capable of. And they are young enough to still unlock another level of consistency, if not actual production. But let's just go ahead and say they are not as good as hoped for and not as good as what we've seen at times. We could even state the FO has over-valued their abilities. Not sure if that's true, but I'm working within an arguement of ability and performance as its being laid out here. Well then, each of these three examples have certainly been far better previously than they've shown in 2021 thus far. Can we at least agree on that? So did they just forget how to play to any "norms" they have displayed previously? Or is it the FO and Rocco's fault they simply forgot how to play? Sorry, but I have to put this mostly on the players at this point unless there is something nefarious and incompetent going on behind the scenes unknown to us after back to back wonderful seasons. And I am going to nudge "bad luck" higher than 1%. Injuries and covid has kept the team on the field from being the team expected. Players are human. They are used to routines. Being hurt, or I'll, or out because of "contact" disrupts their routine. A prepondance of day games to start the season also may have contributed somewhat to a loss of normal routine for everything from infield drills to batting practice to normal life and sleep patterns. Do I offer an excuse? Not at all. But if we're going to assign "blame" for things, then we also have to acknowledge all of these factors as well. Rocco and his staff have gotten a lot of praise for the previous two season's success. Deservedly so. And Baldelli has absolutely made a few early season moves that have confused me. But he suddenly lost the ability to manage, suddenly lost the team, suddenly became incompetent after the previous two years? Please. As to the FO, I am a big fan but not an apologist. There were a couple areas I think they got "too cute" or however you want to phrase it in their building of the roster. 1] I was OK with the Arraez move to super utility, betting on a healthy Polanco. It hasn't worked out yet, though Polanco has at least been better as of late. I think Astudillo has been fine, though extended a bit, and I really hoped for an "extra" veteran infielder. But really, this hasn't been an issue thus far. 2] I have faith in the future of Jeffers, but I didn't fully trust him for 2021 jumping from AA and wanted an inexpensive, decent LH hitting option for depth and competition. It didn't happen. I didn't want or expect the Twins to dip down for Rotvedt as an option this soon. Interesting that Garver is now looking much better of late playing more regularly. Co-incidence? Maybe. I like Jeffers a lot, as stated, but I would have had another option brought in. I don't think this has made or broken the season to this point. 3] Maeda has been mediocre/poor, largely, after a tremendous 2020 and an equally tremendous ST this year. And he's never pitched this poorly, to my knowledge, in his career. Berrios is throwing as hard and well and nasty as he ever has, despite suddenly suffering the dreaded "one inning" disease so far. Pineda has looked great. Happ has looked great even though he wasn't my first choice. He, and Shoemaker, were signed for 1yr with the idea of Thorpe, Dobnak and prospects being ready later, plus, the flexibility to replace them in 2022 via trade or FA as well. Shoemaker hasn't looked anything close to hoped for. But was he really a stupid/lousy and inexpensive flier as the 5th SP? 4] The bullpen is a mess. And were I the FO, I absolutely would have spent a couple $M more to keep May over signing Colome, despite inconsistency vs veteran performance. It was my one and only real disappointment. Would May have made a huge difference so far? Maybe. But did anyone really expect Colome to just implode the way he has considering his career and his outstanding 2020?? Duffey really found himself. There was every reason to believe Rogers would find himself again. (Mostly, he has). I thought Robles might easily be his previous 2020 self, and he's at least looked solid thus far. My concern was Thielbar, Stashak and others in middle relief. Even losing May, it was the front end of the pen I was most worried about. But there was potential there, and it appeared they had some depth options to turn to. So I was concerned, but not worried. Instead, we had a late start to AAA and no idea who is ready to promote. Every single bullpen arm has been poor or inconsistent. Did I believe too much in the Twins ability to build a pen? Did they fool themselves in to believing the same? So far, this appears to be the case. But, honestly, who might they have kept...other than May...or signed who would have made a difference? 20/20 hindsight is great but BS. I wanted to spend a few more $M here and there, but the pen has been the biggest part of the team that has struggled. But who could they have signed that would truly have made a difference? Did the FO and Johnson just become incompetent? Or did things just not work out as expected? Sometimes, things just don't work out as expected. But at some point, the players also have to produce. You can't have bases loaded and no outs and not bring in a single run. At some point, you can't score more than a dozen runs after the 5th inning. (I may be exaggerating, but it sure seems like that to me). I'm still putting this mostly on a team that should be much better, but the players on the roster simply aren't playing to their abilities.

I expect no miracles but I wouldn't be surprised if he adjusts quickly. While I've seen very little of him, what I have seen...and read...he seems to have a good swing and good approach. He definitely seems to have a good head on his shoulders. And the power/potential is real. No need for Rooker at this point. He needs to play and work on his defense. Also, Garlick is back. Cave has looked better as of late, more like the performers have seen previously. I wish the roster had an extra spot available for Broxton to play some CF as well against LH. But we'll have to get the best we can from Cave and Kepler in CF for now. Sure would be a good time for Saboto find a groove. Congrats to Larnach!!

Any and all of these 4 could, potentially, help and make a difference. Everyone drops down a notch in pecking order and maybe even relieves some pressure. I'm not crazy about making a trade this early as I'm worried about the cost. But then again, not sure any of these teams really expect to do anything in 2021. But might they want to wait until mid-season to better "auction" off their arm? Again, the cost concerns me. On the other hand, desperate times. And this team is too good to do nothing. Further, the system is deep and talented enough to trade away a couple quality prospects in the 20--40 range, maybe 10-40 area, to make a move. I'd do this tomorrow if we could and the value is there. No names because every prospect list is subjective, but let's say a #18 and a #26 prospect. Two quality young prospects from a good system to a re-building team that needs talent. Is that close? Can we keep the top 15 intact? If so, some sort of precedent has been set. I would then consider a second trade based on that precedent for a second acquisition, whether it's another one of these options or a solid middle/set up option from someone. Desperate times. Do 4 of the top 30/40 prospects in the system, keeping the top 15 intact, bring in a couple solid arms in May?

My frustration has turned in to borderline depression at this point in regard to the pen. But I'm also shocked by what has happened. And I don't know that I have any answers/remedies to offer up. But I do think we need to examine/realize a few points. And yes, some of this is just my opinion. 1] The ridiculous move to delay the start of milb means that some of the guys we might bring up and "try" are just getting started. And the taxi squad and alternate site is not a direct substitute for actually playing real games. So, unfortunately, this option might be weeks away. 2] I'm OK with the Greene idea, but, he's unsigned for a reason. He might do well. Why not take a shot. You might get lucky. But he's no savior. 3] As someone else pointed out already, it's just CRAZY that EVERYONE has struggled AT ONCE. How does that happen? If you want a silver lining, then surely the law of averages would see a couple of these guys begin to settle in. 4] I like the idea of making an early season trade to a non-contending team. And there are some interesting options presented in a different thread. But it is unusual to see that happen this early. Desperate times? And this last one I feel really strong about. 5] Exactly how did the FO blow the off-season in regard to the original intent for the pen? Now look you can't predict injuries OR poor performance, but as has already been pointed out, some of the guys NOT signed are already injured and out. How would they have helped us now? Robles was coming off a horrible year, but had his best year in 2019 and a few really good seasons before that. (I'm encouraged by Robles). Colome has been very consistent and coming off his best year ever and is only 31yr old and not some sudden loss of velocity aged veteran. Did ANYONE see him being this bad? Duffey might have been our best arm in 2020. Roger's stuff is there and looks better than last year. But the control or consistency or SOMETHING still isn't right. My biggest concern was the middle part of the pen, Thielbar and Stashak, for different reasons. But hey, you can dip in to your pool for another middle guy or two of you need to, right? Would we really be better with Romo, the injured Clippard or Rosenthal and whoever? And please don't tell me Hendricks. His contract is nuts and I think even LA and NY teams were shocked by his deal. Notice they didn't make similar offers? This goes beyond stinking to the point of suckage. And I am not an optomist for a sudden turn around, even though I am generally optimistic by nature. This is NOT going to be an easy fix. There is no young fireballer waiting to be promoted after a few good weeks to start the year. Go ahead and sign Greene and get him ready if the deal makes sense. But he won't be ready for a few weeks. Work the phones and try to make a deal if you can that isn't nuts. There are at least a few arms who have been at the alternate site who have at least been throwing consistently. Can Colome have an injury? BUT, unfortunately, what you are STUCK with for right now is trying to figure out how to right the arms you have. This is not the FO blowing anything. This is, crazy, everyone just being off and pitching poorly all at once.

Really looking forward to it! I'm excited! I only wish the link to preview the new site had worked so I could have sneak-peaked it. My tablet didn't like it for some reason. Absolutely love the idea of this fantastic site growing!