DocBauer

Typo or stupidity I'm not sure, lol. Thanks for the correction.

To be fully honest? I'm disappointed at being 2-6 but optimistic. I know that sounds strange to say. But come on, we're talking the first 8 games of 162 game season coming off a short ST, EVERYONE still ramping up, playing in really bad conditions, (for both teams to be fair), and the roster in flux right up to opening day, and playing against a pair of legitimate playoff/WS teams, I'm not sure 2-6 is all that terrible when a couple bad pitches/plays and some badly missed opportunities at bat could have us easily 3-3 to start. With just a little better weather, Sanchez hits a winning HR to put us at 3-3 and we all suddenly feel a little better. You can't win a banner in April, but you can lose one, isn't that the old saying goes? But after 6 games? Not sure how you can predict the future after that. But I will tell you what I've seen that energizes me and concerns me, even after only 6 games. THE BAD: 1] A healthy Kirilloff is a big part of the future of this team as an OF and 1B and mid lineup bat. Despite his slow start...just a few games...we believed his wrist was OK. Now it's not. His immediate future is in doubt, not to mention his long term future. And it pains me to no end to state that. With luck, this is something that will correct itself with time and therapy and he'll be ready to go in a few weeks. With semi-luck, he'll be ready to go in a couple of months. With bad luck, we're talking end of the season and 2023 and possibly nothing going forward. I don't want to say catastrophic, but the pressure is on Larnach to to adapt, learn, and produce now, or in the next few weeks as he grows in to his opportunity. 2] Alcala was being counted on, and they didn't bring anyone on board to take the heat off of him or Duran to be a difference maker at the end of the pen. And now, after just a few games, he has an elbow problem. Is this just soreness that happens, especially after a short ramp up? God I hope so. Or is this something worse? 3] Slow bats from Sano and Kepler. But we know what they are capable of. How soon do they start to "click"? Sano in particular seemed to be ready coming out of ST. 4] Duffey and Thielbar may not be STUDS, but they are good and experienced and they pretty much bottomed out in their 1st appearance. ONLY 6 games in, crap happens, will they rebound quickly? THE GOOD: 1] While not outstanding, the 6 man rotation pieces have been OK. They've all flashed, or at least bulldoged through their first appearances. I mean, really, we're talking ONE START and we're already trying to break down the season? Come on! But I will admit I was surprised/pleased that Bundy and Archer and everyone else at least looked like a viable SP option coming off a limited ST. Honestly, while hopeful, I was actually expecting Bundy and Archer to get rocked. So far so good. [6 games!] 2] Despite a meltdown from Duffey and Thielbar, as mentioned, the rest of the pen has been solid to great mostly, thus far. Again, 6 games. But we've at least seen flashes, especially from Duran. Who steps up now with Alcala out? Don't be surprised to see Minaya up very soon. 3] DESPITE some missed opportunities in the first 6 games, we've seen power and possibilities for power and just "hitting" potential to score runs. This lineup, even missing Kirilloff, HAS potential to hit and score runs. 4] The defense has been very good despite a few bad plays. Sanchez has looked better than I expected. And if we're all just being honest, the Twins have made a few bad plays in these 6 games, but so has the opposition. And all the teams have made some good plays. But I've seen enough, despite a couple bad throws to 2B, to see that the defense will be solid now and going forward. WILL we start to hit and produce runs like we are capable of? WILL our SP continue to be solid? WILL our BP be solid enough to grow and develop and DO THE DAMN JOB? That's the BAD and the GOOD after SIX games and what needs to happen.

What issues would I want addressed, other than RP? Well, unfortunately Mike, RP is part of what I believe should have been addressed, as well as other areas, including the primary point of this discussion, the need for a RH OF. [Larnach is LH, Lewis is a SS, Miranda an INF/3B, and Martin has yet to fully transition to the OF and I don't believe is ready with his bat just yet]. My reference to having a shopping list is, I believe accurate. Even with the Buxton extension being a MAJOR issue, thankfully resolved brilliantly, the FO had to have at least somewhat of an idea what the cost of that extension would look like in AV, otherwise they would have balked. Next, they KNEW their needs: 2SP, SS, 1RP minimum, and a 4th OF of some sort that hit RH. And the OF didn't have to be able to play CF necessarily with Kepler and Gordon able to fill. In the bigger picture, Celestino is getting ready, and there are a couple of guys at AAA for "break glass" situations. And despite some of our private thoughts on what the 2022 payroll might be, we didn't know. But the FO did, and they are around where they have been for the past few years, which is pretty much what the FO said they would do. So with all that information, why didn't they spend some of the money they knew was built in to their budget WHILE negotiating with Buxton? Those needs weren't going to go away, unless they did a complete 180 and began a much larger re-tool/re-build? Without needing to go in to specifics, there were a handful of quality SP options available that didn't require $20M+, or longer than 3-4yrs. Nobody that would have broke the bank or disrupted the 2022 payroll. Post lockout, they could still have made the Gray trade, and suddenly the front end of their rotation looks very different, and offers more concrete hope. The bullpen, IMO, even without traditional roles that are becoming less and less important, needed a quality RH arm to work with Rogers in late inning situations without having to bank on the rapid development of Alcala and Duran. And I'm NOT talking about some multiple year $10M deal. But there were a lot of solid, proven RH arms that just sat for a long time that were available. No offense to Smith, who was a good and inexpensive middle innings addition, but the $ and opportunity was there for someone better to work with Rogers. Not going to address SS because they did address it, and then re-addressed it post lockout in a way I just can't argue with, and won't. But there was a definite need for that RH OF to give AK and Kepler days off and to address the need against LHP. I believe it was Nick, but can't recall 100%, who commented it was a "quiet concern" I believe. I think it wasn't so quiet. Betting on Rooker or Garlick was no answer for a team wanting to compete. And rushing Celestino was also no good answer. Via FA or smaller trade, there was a real need for someone to fill that role. And look, I'm just spit-balling here as an example, and I have no honest idea what the guy has left, but even if the Twins did what the Dodgers did and sign Kevin Pillar to a milb deal with a small MLB salary, I would have had more hope for him contributing in that role instead of Rooker and Gadlick. Through FA or small trade, it just shouldn't have been hard or expensive to add and cross off a real need that the roster clearly had. Hence speculation now of signing Upton with hopes of decent OF defense in the corners and a bat that might play for quite more year in the sun on a team that has a chance to be competitive. I like a lot about this team. I really do. And I would be happy with either Bundy or Archer as a flier. Hell, dust settled and smoke cleared post lockout, the way things turned out payroll wise, the might have still been able to sign both! But I think my shopping list and the store closed analogy is very appropriate. Right now, they'd have a more proven 1-2 veteran, proven punch in the rotation. They'd have what they have at 3B and SS and Catcher. But they would also have a realistic RH OF option, a proven RH late inning arm, STILL have Rogers, along without trading hardly anything from their prospect depth. Sportrac's projected payroll for 2022 has the Twins at about $132.264 right now including the IL, primarily Maeda there. By being a little more aggressive early on, and taking advantage of other opportunities and needs as mentioned, they'd be in the $140's, maybe pushing $150M. Based on 2021 numbers, that would place the Twins somewhere between 15th and 11th based on 2021 numbers. Based on 2019 numbers, it would place the Twins around 15th to 12th in total payroll. So based on the past two full seasons of MLB, if the Twins were just a bit more aggressive in their moves, they would rank just slightly higher than the MLB payroll delta. For 2022, as of now, the Twins rank 17th in payroll. If they had been just a little smarter, a little more aggressive and addressed that damn shopping list as I've described, they'd be sitting, right now, 13th with the Giants and probably just behind the Cardinals. We'd be way behind Toronto, Houston, Atlanta, the Dirty Sox and others. It's not just about payroll. We've seen that over and over again. And Atlanta last year is just a recent example. It's about being SMART! [OK, sometimes luck comes in to play with a sort series and players being hot]. And I have been SO supportive of this FO for so much that they have done and accomplished from re-working the entire system, and been so supportive of ownership from 2020 covid and milb and about everything...but as a fan...and an intelligent human being... I also reserve the right to question if they have made a mistake or just blown opportunities. I think this team has a chance to be very good. And we all may be surprised by the pitching staff before all is done. And I don't speak about 6 games in regard to 182, but I DO think the FO BLEW some opportunities. And right now, I'm more worried about the pen than the rotation.

I'm still trying to figure out why Cotton isn't worth keeping around after 5 days but Rodriguez is the better arm? I can only assume they were going to drop someone no matter what for Upton/Garlick and promoted Rodriguez for a day or two as an extra arm before also being dropped. Just really disappointed 1 or 2 more known issues weren't addressed more aggressively before the lockout as well as after. Feels like someone couldn't find the shopping list until it was too late and the store was closed.

[Praying to the baseball gods]...Please let this be a minor injury and let Alcala get back ASAP. Hasn't there been enough bad luck spent on Minnesota teams...especially last year in regard to the Twins...that aren't we due for a karma swing and have a little good luck for a change? I HATE saying this...thinking I'm just going to "hex" the situation...BUT, if this somehow turns out bad...(currently wearing a Twins T-shirt and sending up yet another prayer to the BG)...having someone like Minaya available doesn't suck.

I've argued for some time that "dumping" Donaldson with $ or prospects spent to rid the Twins of his contract was a huge mistake because he's a quality hitter and quality defensive player despite his lower range. The guy has great hands and a great arm, despite his limited range. And he more than proved himself yet again with the bat in 2021. He remains a fine 3B defensively, with limited range, and a potentially big bat. BUT, Correa, even for 1yr, replaces Donaldson's offense and defense, especially considering we are talking SS vs 3B, though I value both spots as being almost as important. So did the Twins actually downgrade as much at 3B as they upgraded SS? Isn't that the real question? Time will tell. But when you add, for 1 season, one of the best SS in all of baseball, who's offense pretty much matches what you could expect from a good Donaldson, plus add Arraez at 3B, and Miranda waiting in the wings, have the Twins really downgraded at 3B? The Urshela at 3B from 2019 to now is good to great defensively. The Urshela addition is offensively great to good. With the Yankees, ST, early returns from 3 games played, he can play the position very well. In fact, considering his ML experience at SS, I might be inclined, if I were Rocco, to just keep Polanco at 2B and let Urshela or Gordon play SS for a day to keep a better status quo defensively rather than move Polanco. He is a late blooming, quality glove player who has potential to make a real difference for the Twins in 2022. He has a great glove. He has hit ability. He has power. He has experience. But his future potential is limited. Unless he surprises us beyond expectation, how is he not just a good placeholder for Miranda, with Arraez being part of the equation?

And Arraez makes a great play to end the game!

Wow! Great play by Celestino! Why the hell hasn't he been in the lineup yet?

Very sorry, but I don't see the argument LV. Even in the 80's-90's, early 2000's I'd state I only a few games...when a team's #1 SP was on the mound, where I only saw 2-3 pitchers. 3-4 pitchers has been the normal for some time. IMO, the change/problem has been the 5-6 pitchers per games issue. That's part of the reason, right or wrong, where MLB has instituted the 3 batter rule. But for NOW, we're talking yet ANOTHER season of craziness. Guys have to ramp up. Hence the reason for the expanded roster, at least for the first 3 weeks.

Not to be petty, but anyone else get a little sick to the stomach when the between innings commercials show Anderson, or anyone from the Dirty Sox appear? Lol

More proof how a healthy Arraez is such an important part of this team. Love how Rocco seems to have really accepted that and is using him in crucial spots instead of placing him low in the lineup. I know he wasn't 100% at times in 2021, but never understood dropping him to the bottom third of the lineup so much last year.

That inning wasnt perfect, but it was important for Duff. He needed a rebound after Saturday. Like last year, I'm betting the velocity and control will come with a little more time to ramp up.

Great pitch!

Correa to blow open the game?

My imagination or did nobody touch 2nd base? Are we allowing ghosting again? Or am I going blind?

AK off the snide. Time for Sano to vet a hit

Not sure I can stick around tonight, but wanted to jump in and say howdy. Couple quick hits: 1] LOVE Watkins and agree with putting pressure on the other team to make a perfect play. BUUUT...I think he's been too aggressive tonight. 2] BUNDY! That was a great 1st start! 3] More proof Arraez should be in the lineup just about every day. 4] This Buxton kid is pretty good at baseball.

I am always in favor of BPA, period. That's what you do with your 1st rounder, especially when you're drafting as high as the Twins are this year. I don't believe in drafting for need, however, if you "score" 2 players nearly the same, go with need. No way to know how the draft will proceed once the time comes, but there are a pair of really good looking catchers available and it would be a good bet that at least one of them will be available for the Twins. There are some good defensive catchers in the system. Some have surprising athleticism and can even play other positions. Some have power potential. Some even have decent hit potential. And we drafted a couple fairly early last year. But there is nobody in the system that you can point to and say: "a couple years, he's going to be really good and ready." My interest and hope is one of the catchers, who have bats and power, to be another Jeffers, hopefully. Need meets talent and opportunity in this draft.

I have to begin my thoughts by making a couple of precursor statements: 1] Rogers has never been a/our "closer". He was/is a high leverage "fireman". And that's NOT to diminish him! Modern analytics...and just history and basic logic of watching baseball...has shown a diminished value in a SAVE. A save with a 2 or 3 run lead in the 9th with a "closer" facing the bottom 3 of an order is not as great as a "fireman" facing the heart of the order before that to keep the game in check. I could be wrong, but I think it was Cleveland pen and Andrew Miller, recently retired,who really changed this perception a few years ago. Tampa has also embraced this change in recent years with great success. So it's not about a pure "closer" in the old sense, it's about having high leverage arms who can make things happen in the late innings as needed. 2] Being a broken record, I've been stating over and again that the pen could be just fine with a healthy Rogers AND a quality RH version to work along side him. I never asked for or expected some $10M+ 3yr deal. There were enough proven arm on the market to add for somewhere around $5M-ish on a 1or 2yr deal to add so Duffey could just be a reliable arm, Alcala could continue the transition to dependable late option, Thielbar could just keep doing what he's been doing, and the middle innings could be in good hands with the arms available, whether or not the Twins transitioned Duran to the pen on a temporary or permanent basis. Instead, we traded Rogers and only signed Smith as a veteran middle guy to fill the role that Clippard was so good at. For those who want to debate WAR or F-WAR, or any other metric in regard to the pen in 2021 and how it finished, and it finished strong WITHOUT Rogers, Colome was part of that and pitched well after May. Duffey, still here, figured it out and was still good despite a lowering of K numbers. Minaya and Coulombe were also part of that 2nd half pen. I was surprised Minaya wasn't protected, and glad he's back. Also happy Coulombe is back and doubt he won't be part of the team in 2022. And I get roster crunch and players you want to hang on to for potential, but we were lucky that both of these solid vets decided to re-up. NONE of my comments have ANY weight after 2 games to open the season against a good Mariners team. Let me be perfectly clear about that! This was 2 games! Duffey could be as good as ever after today, though he, like everyone, has bad moments. We should actually be pretty excited about what the first 2 games showed us. Despite less than ideal weather, just first appearances, the pen has been solid. Ryan and Gray weren't necessarily on top of their game, but they were OK. I am not going to hang Duffey out to dry for 1 game where he looked bad. But I AM going to hang the FO out to dry in a few weeks for NOT adding ONE quality late inning arm to add to the pen with or without Rogers still around. As to the OP in general: Romeo/Cotton: They're both here on a temporary term because the Twins want to see what they can do, vs Minaya. Romero hasn't thrown yet. Cotton did well today. I don't trust either, but I'm inclined to like what Cotton did when healthy last year and still surprised Texas just let him go. Both are on a short lease. Coulombe is not on as short of a lease. He's had a decent, OK of a career. But overall, by the numbers, his 2021 Twins term has been one of his best seasons. When does Moran develop enough to make him obsolete? For that matter, a healthy Smeltzer had a great ST. Coulombe may be a part of 2022, and he's off to a great start with his ST and 1st appearance, but when is he replaced by someone younger? For right now, I like him as a mid innings pitcher. Thielbar struggled early in 2021, like everyone, and that should be commented on, but like Duffey, he figured it out and suddenly was very good, yet again. And he still looks good. I actually have a lot of confidence in him. His ML lifeline may be limited, we'll see, but he sure figured out the whole complicated "pitching" part of MLB. I trust him in the 6th and 7th innings. But as good as he's been, he shouldn't be an 8th inning guy. Smith is Clippard in retro, and partially Thielbar. Proven and can do the job in the mid innings. Awesome. Pagan is a guy I admit to know nothing about, except for BB Reference and what I've read here. Great 2019 and mediocre since. Apparently, despite a poor 2020 and final 2021 numbers, he has an arm. His reported 2021 had him on a quality trajectory of a season with a low 3 ERA before he collapsed in his last 10÷ games. I took a few minutes to actually look at his numbers. I don't know that we got some kind of surprising stud back, but you also have to look at the numbers. By all reports, he took his career numbers in to August and then had a meltdown his last few appearances. He can either climb back up, or, succumb to his late 2021. He's a WC, and I sure wouldn't put him at #3 on the list at this point. But he could surprise. Duffey is NOT the #2 guy unless he suddenly finds something else. He's been a stalwart, and sort of re-invented his approach in 2021 to finish strong. And that actually comes from a Rogers comment. He's good, and I bet he will be good, But I'm doubting his "fireman " status at this point. I hope I'm wrong. But I think Alcala and Duran will prove to be the STUDS of this pen for 2022, at least eventually. And I don't doubt the middle relief has some great options, including Winder to get his feet wet. But pen wise, I'm optimistic but scared. Right now, we have arms and velocity and options. And we might be OK. I hope we are. But just like the rotation, I'm afraid we lost an opportunity to add an arm who could have made a difference.

A nice list and I can't disagree with any of your choices, but man, at each stop there some very good choices to sort through. I'm going to cheat and go with a pitcher and position player. AAA: I absolutely agree with Lewis. I'm going with Balazovic for the pitcher, just ahead of Winded and Duran as both have "graduated", at least temporarily, to MLB and I'm not sure that both don't spend a lot of 2022 with the Twins. AA: Martin showed some very good things for a rookie missing 2020 and jumping straight to AA. He showed hit and OB ability that is very intriguing. But there is so much room to hit even better and to add power, with a healthy wrist and some adjustments. To me, it's a virtual tie between SWR and Canterino for breakout pitcher. Taking nothing from the super talented SWR, I'm going with the older Canterino being healthy and charging up the system and prospect rankings. A+: I am so very tempted to also select Severino as my player pick. The talent is there, and his huge jump after jumping from Ft Myers tells me he's ready to take the next step. But I can't ignore the bat and power of 3B/1B Encarnacion-Strand. In a toss-up, I'm going with CES. Povich just has to be my choice for breakout pitcher here. A-: I am also going to jump on the Hajjar bandwagon. Just makes too much sense that he's the guy. But position player wise, how do you pick from Rodriguez, Miller, Rosario and even Cavaco? Healthy and a year of maturity, Cavaco could surprise. No matter how talented and no matter all the initial glowing reports on Miller, he's a rookie. Rosario was the short season top player last year. But I am going to go with Rodriguez. His second year state-side and "used" to pro ball and Ft Myers now, he's my breakout position player.

I think this is great for both Winder and Duran, as long as they are USED. With the abbreviated ST, teams are going to need to use a lot of pitchers as nobody is fully ramped up yet. I honestly will not be surprised if, like 2020, the 28 man roster is extended. Three weeks still might not be enough to truly get everyone up to speed. It sounds like long enough, but it sounded OK in 2020 as well. And then they made the 2020 28 man roster a fixture. And in 2021 we saw a plethora of injuries across MLB and milb due to the craziness. Routines being disrupted can have long term affects. But, we'll see what happens. Despite the short ST, Winder looked great, and ready. The Twins might go with a 6 man rotation with Paddak, or piggyback, or do both. But Winder is ready and belongs. But he can't sit on the bench for 3 weeks and barely throw and then be put back at St Paul and expected to immediately stretch out. And you don't screw with a talented arm. If anyone gets hurt or fails badly initially, he might stick beyond May 1st. But please, don't screw with his development. Some say Duran is no longer a SP, that he's just destined for the pen. They may be right. He could end up being an outstanding BP closer/fireman. But if he harnesses a 3rd pitch to offset his FB and splinker, he could make the same kind of transition to the rotation that Santana did. But I am OK and excited to see him be healthy and build up his arm and repertoire and experience as part of the pen for 2022. I'm happy for Celestino but concerned about his development. He was pushed way too early in 2021 out of emergency and then took his ability and what he learned to finish 2021 at AAA strong. I really wanted someone else to bridge the gap from him being our #4 so he could develop and really, really be ready. As of now, he needs to be ready...errr...now. If Rocco does what he has done in the past...mix his lineup and play everyone...Celestino will play a lot, covering 3 spots and PH and PR, and even being a defensive replacement late in games at times. If that happens, then Celestino can continue to develop at the ML level. I still wouldn't be shocked if the Twins came up with a veteran OF, and I don't mean Upton, via waiver or cheap trade, to give Celestino some additional AAA time to further develop. But man, it would be awesome for him to be at least a 1/3 playing time option who ran with the opportunity to develop and respond.

And I'm not going to disagree with you. And I can certainly understand our FO not wanting to make a 7yr commitment to a SP. There is a sound logic behind their reasoning. But they were willing to go 7yrs for Buxton, for a lower yearly guarantee, but more per if and as he hits incentives. Now, a healthy Buxton is amongst to top 5% of players in all of MLB to be sure. But if there was ever a time to make an extended deal with a SP, Berrios should have been that arm. He was only 27yo at the time of the trade, a model of consistency and health and work ethic. And he has remaining upside yet. I think a strong argument could be made he ranks in the top 25% of SP in MLB when you take all of that in to account. I know opinions vary. And I'm not trying to hijack the thread by any means, but I think the context of my thoughts do address this trade and the need for it. To take it a step further, even with the Berrios trade done and over, we needed SP, and there was money available for 2022, even with Donaldson on the books still. And I understand the FO was locked in on a Buxton extension last fall. But there was opportunity and finances available to make a solid, quality signing for 3-4yrs for a FA SP that wasn't necessarily a TOP FA that was as good as Paddack might be. And they could have/should have been able to multi-task the Buxton negotiations AND still jump on opportunity to add an arm before the lockout where we wouldn't have to have made this trade to begin with to add to the rotation at this point. And again, I hate using revisionist thinking, but this was all in play before the lockout, when the "hot stove" even began. So it's not just 20/20 hindsight viewing. I just think it behooves us to fully examine WHY this trade was necessary when there was real opportunity a couple months ago. And I'm NOT trying to be a downer about what we gained, and the potential of what we gained, or be a downer on the Eve of opening day, but I think a thorough examination of where we are and how we got there is more than fair for us as fans. I have largely been a big supporter of our FO for everything they've done on and off the field. But as much as I support them, like them, understand moves that have and have not worked out, I've always tried to be honest and fair in my evaluation of them. That being said, their offseason has turned out OK. But I re-state I think the FO have handled this offseason haphazardly, seemingly uncertain what direction they were going to take, and I'm optimistic this is a pretty good team with some potential, especially if a few things break right. But I do think they've missed some opportunities early that could have made this offseason even better.

To be honest, I have very mixed feelings on this trade. And with the dust PROBABLY settled now to begin the season, I'm very confused by the various actions and in-actions of the FO. As to the trade itself, Paddack is a "C" level SP at best at the moment. But I absolutely understand/agree he could be at "A" if they can figure out what happened to make his FB suddenly so hittable. The change and curve look nice, he's young, under control, inexpensive, has experience, and has already flashed how good he could be. I get it. I'm very, very hopeful. But while I no longer conform directly to traditionally defined roles in the pen, preferring "firemen" or "high leverage" arms vs the old fashioned, traditional slotting system, I felt thr Twins needed another quality arm to join Rogers and Duffey and Thielbar to seal the back end of the pen. That way, you aren't relying too much on Alcala and Duran and others at the moment. They brought in a good middle man instead, and now the back end of the pen has been weakened. I'm not saying we have crap in the pen or it might not work out, or guys might not step forward, but I already felt we might be 1 arm short and now we may be 2. And I don't know enough about Pagan to even comment, so I will let that go. While I dont want to be a hypocrit by doing something I always state can't be done fairly, with everything that has taken place, I just can't help look back and wonder why we didn't just keep homegrown and super reliable Berrios for 7yrs and then trade for Gray. Wouldn't that be a better 1-2 punch? I'm crazy excited to have Correa over Donaldson, even if it turns out to be 1yr. But even with Donaldson being a bit of a question mark, would the Twins be better today with him and Garver and Rogers and a fill-in SS for 2022? I'm just asking the question because I'm excited, I like a lot about this team, I love still having a bunch of young kids getting ready to debut, but this while offseason plan feels really haphazard to me and I'm honestly not sure if this team is better from a pure roster construction standpoint. Keep in mind, I generally like and support our FO most of what they do and have done. This whole offseason has just felt there wasn't any real plan in place. Good luck to Rooker. I think this is a new opportunity for him he probably needed. No way you take a talented young arm like Ober, who has a future here, out of the rotation to make room for a veteran flier.

All the best for him! The guy could barely hit, though he had a few here and there that made a difference. But he was an excellent catcher for everything a catcher was supposed to be: handling a staff and leading a staff. If he could of hit even a tiny bit better, he might have been recognized as a Boone equivalent. I hope someone, hopefully the Twins, will snap him up in a heartbeat as coach or instructor.

I'm not disagreeing with you. But the moves made also allowed Correa to be here, for at least one season. We downgraded 3B for an upgrade at SS for one of the best players in the game. Despite some controversy that follows Donaldson, which I think is overblown, he provided leadership in his own way, PLUS offensive production and quality defense, even though his range has started to slip. I would LOVE to have both Donaldson and Correa for 2022, but it wasn't going to happen. Donaldson may just stay healthy the next 2yrs and provide excellence for the Yanks. But for the Twins, or most teams, to bet on that for his age 36-37yr seasons is impractical. The Yankees can afford to take that chance. Urshela may or may not equal Donaldson defensively in 2022, combined with Arraez, but you also have to factor the vast improvement both offensively and defensively at SS with Correa, while still having solid defense andoffense from 3B. BTW, the move of Donaldson also opens up opportunity for Miranda. So back to the original OP, I am still surprised/stunned the Twins didn't promote Miranda to end 2021. I can only surmise they wanted him to end the season on a positive note and get ready for 2022 because the new RIDICULOUS limited September rules regarding promotions would have limited opportunity. Come the lockout, and the abbreviated ST, how much time could Miranda have to prove he's ready? And he's not the only one affected of course. But when you aquire a solid, veteran ballplayer to fill a spot, what makes more sense? Throw the good veteran away who could be good, or just trust the rookie, no matter how good he could be? IF the Twins get the 2019-2020 version of Urshela, the Twins fleeced the Yankees (his 2021 version wasn't that bad). From the OP, it would be easy to be flippant and just say "he had a bad year. So what "? A late bloomer who had two good/great years and a mediocre 3rd year shouldn't be dismissed in any way. But I do believe he's a good place setter for Miranda. And then, we're talking about depth, and potential trade depth piece, whether it's Urshela or someone else. When is having too much talent on hand a bad thing?