DocBauer

Great article and even timely, though the Hot Stove is a ways away. The bench failed a lot in 2020. Like ANY team or ANY player, how much stock do you place on any under performing player in a short and crazy season? First of all, shame on anyone to just blast Marwin or Adrianza. While Gonzalez may have not lived up to his contract, be did a fine job in '19. While he looked slow and his bat disappeared in this past season, his defense was largely good to great. Adrianza continued to play fine defense, though his OK bat also disappeared. I was pleasantly surprised by Cave in CF defensively, but his offense is just so inconsistent. (Not so sure Wade hasn't surpassed him). Avilla was a smart signing, seemed solid behind the plate, but appears done. While I doubt the primary lineup will be different other than Rosario...finances and young talent...the bench needs to be addressed. I don't know who at this point, though the OP presents options, a 5th STARTING CALIBER infielder needs to be brought on board. Thats what Marwin was tbe past two years. The Twins need that 5th guy to play decent defense with a solid bat to fill in where he can, even if be isn't a normal SS option. Next, tbe Twins need to decide if Adrianza's bat is dead, or was it just a bad year. The guy plays great defense and his bat was solid for his role in 2018-19. Can you count on him in '21? On paper, Blankenhorn and Gordon are almost perfect replacements. ONE GAME and a couple balls be didn't get to doesn't diminish my hope that Blankenhorn couldn't be a nice super-sub. But I'm not going to bet on him to start next season. Talk about hard luck cases, Gordon has dealt with everything from intestinal issues...seemingly resolved...to injuries where Adrianza got promoted ahead of him, to a bad covid situation that robbed him of most of his projected 2020 taxi squad season. The ability is still there to be a quality player, at least in a reserve role. For a team with a still wide open window, I am hoping for Blankenhorn and Gordon in 2021 but NOT banking on them and I am looking via trade or FA for a viable Marwin replacement and very possibly/probably an Adrianza replacement as well. I'm also looking to move on from Cave as well. I like him, but as stated, I Want someone more consistent in everything they do. I want someone to play good defense and provide some more consistent offense. Everyone seems to state they want a RH hitter for this spot. I'm not sold on that. Kepler, Kirilloff and Larnach are all LH. Rooker is RH. So is Buxton. Only Kepler can fill in at CF. Last I checked, most pitchers are still RH. I just want someone to be a legitimate option offensively and defensively for that spot. I think catcher is solid as is with Jeffers and Garver. And Garver is absolutely not the hitter we saw in '20. But it would be very smart to sign a veteran MLB/AAA guy to compete and provide depth. Spend $ for a Marwin replacement. Do the same for Adrianza..maybe. let Blankenhorn and Gordon earn their opportunity. Find a legit 4th OF. Grab the best AAAA catcher you can.

Spent over an hour posting my thoughts...couple family and beer breaks...and then lost EVERYTHING I intended to say with some internet glitch! So here goes a brief and angry quick recap: 1] Fans, who knows. Life moves on and needs to move on. Football on all levels may show us if fans can be involved. I want to say there will be. 2] Cruz: He's still good. Late season injury and rest dont matter. Good 1 or 2yr deal similar to what he signed is about right. Weird financial numbers and the DH in the NL shouldn't blow his numbers out of the water. He means too much to not keep him on a reasonable deal. And be wants to stay. $15M approx and a 2nd season around $12 with maybe a higher buyout. Worth it. 3] Roster needs abridged version: RH hitting 4th OF, maybe, even though I like Cave despite his inconsistency. Really improved his defense this year! Wade might be even better and ready to supplant him despite less power. Can't keep everyone. Cellistino not ready yet. Want to keep Kepler in RF as much as possible. Despite the original 26 man roster, will they move to 27 or the 28 we saw this season? No matter what, no way to keep everyone. Trades or walking papers will happen. Stinks! Because we're talking about letting good talent go. Maybe we get something good back? Hope so. Still worried about that extra RH OF bat besides Rooker. Hate to say it, but starting to think Rosario may be gone for $ and opportunity for Kirilloff and Larnach. Need infield depth. Marwin is gone, Adrianza might be back cheap. Gordon and Blankenship not ready YET. Give me a good, versatile and decent bat for the bench. SP is solid with potential. But we need Oddo back, or a similar Oddo or Maeda trade. That completes 1-4. Then we need at least 1 flier to compete with Dobnak and rookie potential for the 5 spot. Catcher should be OK, but I'd feel better with Avilla back on an invite or someone similar. Pen needs May back, unless the market shifts and he gets some great offer. Closers come from within. There is no inexpensive FA option other than fantasy. We have the nucleus in place. And we have a couple really live arms close. Room's $ can be spent elsewhere, sorry to say. So so on Clippard, but wouldn't mind him back. 4] With offense down across all of MLB and the Twins, how much blame is there? Did Rowson make that much of a difference? If Rocco and the FO think so, then make the change. There is too much talent on this team for the results we saw. Power ru,as and will always rule. But you still have to get a hit once in a while or have to make enough contact for a sac fly. 5] Going forward, do what they have been doing. Build the system. Keep making smart trades. But don't be complacent. Tweak what is already a good team/roster.

Initially, I was going to refrain from saying anything since I didn't want to knee jerk any thoughts. A few hours later, I feel calm enough and compelled to be able to speak/write calmly. Just understand, while ever the optimist, I am PO'd, disappointed, frustrated and borderline embarrassed. But calm now, lol. 1] Baldelli has done a great job thus far, even if I disagree with him on occasion. Calls for him to be replaced are emotional and misguided at best. That being said, I believe he pulled Maeda and Berrios too early. It's the playoffs! You play for NOW and not tomorrow. You may love and trust your pen, but when you have a pair of quality SP doing their job, you trust in them first and shorten the game. Absolutely do not agree with removing Jeffers in game 1. Made zero sense then and makes ZERO sense now. 2] The starting pitching did not lose these games. Maeda and Berrios were GOOD, and had mkre in the tank, IMO. And while there was some crumbling of the pen, to be sure, I don't feel the pen really lost these games. (Mkre on that to come). Despite some less than stellar moments late in the year, the Twins had one of the best pens around this season. Time and again they performed including bullpen games when injuries affected the rotation. There remains room for improvement, and there will be a couple new faces via trade, FA or promotion of young arms. And yes, I want May back. You don't just walk away from arms like that with mostly good results, especially when you see another level oh so close for them to reach. Just being calm, I'm excited as can be that the rotation in 2021 begins with Maeda and Berrios and Pineda. The Twins then need a healthy Odorizzi back for next season, OR, an equivalent Oddorizi/Maeda FA signing or trade acquisition. May seem easier said than done, but they've already done it. Honestly, might be best to bank on Oddo, a known quantity. They then need a decent, smart move similar to Pineda, Hill or Bailey type to compete with Dobnak and prospects. The pitching was good in 2020 and mostly good in these 2 vastly disappointing games. There is room to continue to grow and get even better. But again, I don't think pitching lost this series. That brings us to the #1 problem with this frustrating and embarrassing early exit: 3] The offense/lineup needs to be re-worked. The problem is, who and how? Offense was remarkably down all across MLB this season. The Twins were absolutely not the only team to see nosedive in overall performance as a team, or from individuals. Honestly, do Garver, Kepler and Polanco, etc, need to be given up on and jettisoned because of a crazy, weird, mixed up season? If true, then there will be a TON of guys across baseball moved or given walking papers based solely on this crazy year. Sorry folks, it isn't happening. There will be a whole lot of "re-sets" for all teams in 2021. Power is king in MLB, but it always has been. We all know this. There are a lot of ways to score runs and there still are today despite the changes in the game. But even 20/30/40 years ago, power has always been productive, proven and coveted. Maybe more so in the post season when you face top pitching and stringing together a series of hits to score becomes futile at times. But there is a major difference between having POWER while also having the ability to HIT a ball somewhere and even make CONTACT. I can't and won't single out any player on this roster. Nor will I point an easy finger towards the hitting coaches. There is an ancient expression that goes: "those who live by the sword die by the sword". Unfortunately...covid, short ramp up, injuries, adjustments by the opposition, or bad luck for bad seasons for multiple players...the Twins didn't HIT well this season, especially when it mattered most. How many times did a batter, a batter with power even, fail to get a runner in with something as simple as a sac fly? I get a SO is better than a double play. But dang it, sometimes putting the ball in play is much better than a SO or an infield/foul pop up! With no blame pointed at any individual, the offense has been the most disappointing part of 2020 and this disappointing/frustrating early exit. Is Arraez the only HITTER on the team as currently constructed? I'd like to think not when I look at the talent on hand, and past production. And maybe we can dismiss a lot of poor BA and OB to this whole crazy season. Or maybe the FO and coaching staff need to re-evaluate a few spots here and there and find a change or two that can provide more balance. As for me, I am ecstatic there was baseball in 2020 and I enjoyed the hell out of watching my Twins have another great season, despite an ugly finish. They have won back to back banners and have a window of opportunity that still appears wide open when I look at the roster and what is coming up! And I will be kept a little bit warmer when winter hits due to the Hot Stove and impending 2021 ST.

Astudillo is clearly there for utility purpose and not necessarily as a catcher. I would be shocked to see him behind the plate at all. But it does make one wonder why they kept Avilla in this scenario. Surprised but not shocked that both Odorizzi and Dobnak are on the roster. But really disappointed Alcala isn't there in place of someone. Again, maybe in place of Avilla. I just don't get Kirilloff over Wade this late in the season. If he gets an opportunity I hope he does well and I look forward to seeing him excel as a Twin for years to come. But a rookie debuting for a playoff game? I just don't get it.

Both Kepler and Rosario seem to be heating up at the right time, which is a positive. I know this going to sound silly, but Sano struggling lately may not be a bad thing. I guess he's been battling a neck "thing", or so reported. But he is what he is, which is good and DANGEROUS when he is in a groove. He may be just about ready to get in one of his good grooves. I'd go with Jeffers over Garver for game 1. We can survive OK without 1 of Donaldson, Buxton or Arraez. Not sure we can with 2 or all 3. And call me concerned. The Twins aren't sharing, nor should they. All 3 are very good! I'm hoping/praying that a cramp, a close call to the helmet, and a minor tweak kept all 3 out the last couple of games as purely precautionary. I want all 3 guys healthy and ready to roll for the Twins to make some noise! But am I crazy to be most concerned about Arraez?

That was fun! Thank you! This team was built, and built beautifully IMO, for 162 game season. We got 60 games instead, with all its weird parameters, including no milb season, taxi squads, short ramp up, rule changes, and even minor injuries that had huge effects. And STILL the Twins had a great season and won the ALC for a 2nd season. That flag means something to me as a fan and can't be taken away. I place no asterik on it. I despise reality TV programs, but no matter how 2020 turns out, this has been a sort of Survivor contest for everyone involved. I think the Twins have as good of a shot as anyone! I have only 2 real concerns as we enter the final stages: 1] The idea of a traditional closer may be over-rated, but the Twins might have won 40 if their great and deep pen had that ONE GUY they could have truly counted on. 2] The offense is not anemic. Small ball has it's place here and there still in today's game. But history has shown come playoff time that stringing together multiple hits doesn't usually equate to winning. Can the Twins lineup, built for power, still make enough contact to sacrifice a runner to 3rd or make a simple sacrifice out to score a runner from 3rd base with 0 or 1 Out? Love what you did Parker!

I don't think the Astros are necessarily a BAD baseball team despite limping in to the expanded playoffs. And I see a strong similarity in them and Cleveland in that via trade and development, they always seem to find pitching. This is an area where I think/hope/expect the Twins organization is becoming. But at some point, there has to be acknowledgment that the Twins staff is pretty darn good from top to bottom right now. I know Rogers hasn't been his past/normal self. And I don't want to get in to another debate about numbers and peripherals and how he may be better in 2020 than some of his results have been, etc. He still has experience and a big arm capable of some really good things. And especially now come playoff time, I believe Rocco will play matchup ball, meaning Rogers doesn't have to be the closer. I don't have season numbers in front of me, and not going to go digging for them, but it seems to me Romo has had another fine season with a couple bad outings recently to inflate his final numbers. And let us not forget the volatility of a RP numbers. All of our pen pitchers have roughly 1/3 of a season. (Same for everyone else I get it)! If this WERE a full season, Rogers and Romo both could look outstanding for their "second half plus". Do you really want to get against Romo, and all his experience, plus the job he did most of this year vs a couple hiccups lately? Even with bullpen games, nobody on this staff has been over used. Depth has provided everyone to succeed without being abused, IMO. But 162 numbers will always look different than 60 game numbers. A point that Gleeman brought up in the recent podcast I hadn't thought about, when so many games are played against the same opponent, sometimes in almost back to back series, does this affect pitching performance? Something to at least consider. But the game is still played on the field, 60 or 162 games. And it's playoff time. This pen has helped the Twins to one of the best records in the AL and all of MLB. Time and again, with little exception, they have done the job. They may blow up. I'd like to think they will continue to perform well going forward. I give the advantage here to the Twins, though it may not be a big advantage. Dark horse? May. He was outstanding before a slump tbat seemed predicated by HR balls. He seems to have found himself lately. Surprise? Thielbar. I have no clue what the future holds for him beyond this year, but to be accurate as well as corny, and to borrow from Jedi mythology: "this is not the Thielbar you know".

A very interesting move from the Astros to move Valdez to the pen. Will be respond to being a sort of fireman? Has he ever relieved before, or at least recently? Considering the Twins have been surprisingly bad against LHSP this season I find the move questionable. I think the Twins have the advantage in the first 2 games based on results and experience, in the case of Berrios vs Urquidy. McCullers seems to be the kind of guy who can give the Twins lineup fits. Of course, hopefully there won't be a 3rd game. I give the Twins a slight edge here.

1] Maeda has watched his game up to another level. For 2020, he has pitched like an ACE. Will be be that good in 2021 over 30 starts and 180-190 IP? Hopefully, but right NOW he's about as good as it gets. 2] Yes, Berrios struggled early on, seeming to work on SOMETHING or affected by the short ramp up I'm not certain. But he has been pitching lately about as well as expected, hoped for, and as he has done for each of the past 2 All Star seasons before a late fade. Again, he rebounded at the end of 2019 and changes in routine will hopefully take hold in the future. But thjs guy is GOOD. Pineda looks like the same guy we wished we had in the playoffs last year. Hill is doing exactly what he was signed to do, provide a real lift, and experience, as we hit the playoffs. Dobnak struggled late, but generally performed well and shows promise. But let's be honest, Odorizzi is the better pitcher and looked good in his last start before his cut/blister. I don't even know if we'll need a 5th SP, but I like our chances there as well or better than anyone. 3] I'm going to agree to disagree SLIGHTLY here and echo a few comments made above. There is no Nathan, unfortunately. And many of those past teams had some good, productive RP. In fact, some of those teams had better pen depth than the rotation. But I DO AGREE that this pen goes 7-9 even 10 deep when you factor in possible SP providing additional depth. Most have at least some post season experience now, albeit limited. A couple bad appearances late shouldn't diminish optimism based on what they did during the season. 4] I also remain concerned about Buxton, and Donaldson, until I see them on the field. And the Twins have been a little loose when it comes to reporting injuries, which is their right. Since Buxton's helmet strike seemed to be glancing, and Donaldson's calf injury was reported as a "tightness", both were removed and then sat with no additional information following, I am going to assume for now they are good to go and sat for precautionary reasons. I am hopeful but very guarded at this time. 5] Not travelling to NY to play in that environment is probably a good thing. I'm not 100% convinced NOT playing them at home in the 1st round is necessarily a good thing. But I sure am glad that for now, we don't have to keep beating the dead horse that is ghosts of the past. Our pitching is the best and deepest it has been in recent memory. Out defense has absolutely improved. We have experience all across the roster to varying degrees. We still finished, I believe, with the 4th most HR in the AL and 9th most runs scored. We are not impotent offensively. Still, my biggest concern for the playoffs IS the offense. Like the dreaded Yankees, and other teams, our depth has been tested. And yet we are tied for the 2nd best record in baseball and tied for the 4th best record overall. CAN the offense come through? If Buxton, Donaldson and Arraez are in the lineup, I think we can. If 2 or all are out, I'm really concerned. It's one thing to have depth, it's another to count on that depth when everything ratchets up another notch to playoff levels.

While I remain a fan of Astudillo and he versatility and contact bat, Wade has really impressed me the last month with his defense and AB. He is my choice. No question Stashak is included. Guy has been proving himself over and over again since last season. And I have to include Thielbar for the first series. Pains me to say so, in a good way. Raise your hand if you really thought his signing from independent ball and milb to an invite would make him a viable quality pen option? (Liar!) LOL But at least for the 1st round, how can you leave him off?

Agreed. But they apparently believe the cut/blister Odorizzi has is no big deal. You still have Dobnak, impressive in his "half" a season career thus far. But they apparently saw, or didn't see, anything in Bailey's last start to convince them he was actually ready to contribute.

Great post! When this FO took over they spoke about building an organization that would achieve sustained success and competition. Great lip service, right? But while we can't fully judge their drafts for another couple of years, all signs seem to point to success there as well as development thus far. They HAVE forayed into the FA market and been turned down a couple of times. But they also have brought in Cruz and some other signings that have really contributed. And they've made some very smart trades, even if there is pain for what they gave up. So far, not sure anyone can truly complain about gains made. There will be hard decisions in the near future. It's simply the economics of baseball. The Twins just don't have the finances to compete with NY or LA, just for example. But they have shown intelligence,development, moxy and some financial guts to make certain moves. While it would be outstanding to have Wheeler, for example, they may be better off with Maeda and Donaldson. As I stated in the game thread, this team is on pace for a 99 win season coming in to the Reds series. You can blast certain guys for having bad seasons in a crazy year. You could single out a guy like Marwin for 2020, just for example and not to pick on him. But how much better has this team been in 2019-20 by having him, and others? In other words, our guys, our depth, even with some struggles, have done better and contributed more...offense and defense...than other team's guys. This FO is aggressive, progressive, intuitive and smart as hell. And ownership and FO have stepped up financially and socially to really build something here, from the ML level on down. We talk about extensions for players, but maybe we should also talk about extensions for non players. Indiana talked about a lack of moves that move the needle in a big way. I understand and agree, though Donaldson and Maeda were, in different ways, needle movers. Big movers! But I understand his point. Instead of 1 or 2 massive moves, this FO would rather have 3 or 4 smaller moves that move the overall needle 7 spots instead of 5. Who can argue with that?

What I love most about this OP is 5 bright points WITHOUT even going in to depth about all the milb and developmental and analytical changes. While not every move has worked out...and they never all do...I feel like this FO has a career BA of about .600 at this point! LOL Even when the 2018 FA moves didn't turn out, they were smart moves on the surface. Draft moves, I have reservations at this point, though I never expect miracles. So few make it, much less become stars. But it's also WAY too early to make any determinations on that regard. But Jeffers is huge and a great sign. I wish Rocco would embrace a little situational or small ball here and there when the offense is struggling, but I have zero complaints overall. I won't pass judgement on anyone's overall performance after a 60 game season which is 1/3 of a normal year, coming off an interrupted/abbreviated pair of ST...think Garver, Kepler, Marwin, etc, a LOT of players and teams...but I am mildly concerned about the loss of a handful of really good coaches and still being unsure about their replacements at this time. Going in to tonight's game against the Reds, the Twins are on a 99 win pace if this were a normal year. With that said, and my previous comment, this team wouldn't be where it is without Marwin, Adrianza, Avilla, etc, etc. Meaning some of our guys may have disappointed, but they are still better and helped more than the other team's guys. And that shouldn't be forgotten in this discussion.

Very excited for Colina. My understanding has been for some time he could be a potentially dominate pen arm, but that they wanted to keep him as a SP as long as possible in hope of developing a 3rd pitch. I am wondering now if that is still the plan/hope and he's in the pen now for opportunity and to get his feet wet, OR, have they already made a final decision on him? Guess I'm a little confused though by the Bailey move. With the potential of 5 and 7 game series beyond the first round, there is room for Hill as the 4th starter, but also room, potentially, for a 5th starter. It would appear they are set/comfortable/optimistic with Odorizzi or Dobnak in that potential role.

The bad news is Arraez sprained an ankle in an intrsquad game. That hurts, pun maybe intended, as we need him ready to go ASAP as he brings something different to the table for this lineup. May has been on fire and then had a bad hiccup tonight. Let's hope that's all it was, a hiccup. The robes thing by Donaldson is something I have NEVER seen in all of my years! Oh, I've heard of dinners, and I've heard of watches and other gifts AFTER a season, but I have NEVER heard of a teammate presenting a gift of this nature to his team DURING a season. (Ya think Donaldson is happy being a Twin maybe)? Leave it to Cruz to go the extra mile and make his robe a special wearable in the dugout for team spirit. This team won tonight with power, pitching, grit and determination. Things we saw last season. Don't tell me it was "Just Detroit". This not only clutch time and a race, but EVERY YEAR, there is a team, or teams, that have your number. For every champion team they had a team or two that drove them nuts. It's the Tigers and the Royals this year for the Twins. Four more to go! Need to win them all! *Great confidence building HR for Garver. *Tremdous throw home out for Rosario. *Solid 3 IP for Bailey for his first appearance in over a month plus. Long relief candidate? *Buxton...never going to be the leadoff hitter we all imagined once upon a time. So he won't be the next almost Henderson. What if he's the next Hunter? Guy is starting to really show what a difference maker he can be. Kuddos for holding up and not running in to the wall for a catch that might have been impossible and could have resulted in injury.

Just want to re-iterate that Stringer is posing a question, not stating an opinion. And I get it. But I think Cruz is still at the top of his game. A couple possible positives to come out of this short season is that Cruz, and Donaldson, are playing fewer games in total. This pushes father time's athletic clock for each further forward by almost a season. That leaves more gas in the tank for both as hitters, and Donaldson as a fielder. All of this places Odorizzi in the Twins hands as well, but that is a different topic. I don't believe a recent slump by Cruz diminishes his value in any way. Guys slump here and there. It happens. The problem may be demand from the rest of the league as the DH is sure to stick now. One of the many negative aspects of covid '20 is no milb season. The Twins, and ALL TEAMS, are affected in how to evaluate even top prospect readiness for 2021? Is Cruz worth even more as a proven comoddity? (Hate that term, but just being realistic). Or does age and financial implications keep the market down as we all expect? Cruz is not done, IMO. And he brings a real experience and leadership quality to this team that can't be denied. Maybe just as important, what does Cruz want? The Twins have treated him well. He seems to enjoy being part of this team, a team with an open window even beyond this season. I ABSOLUTELY would offer him for next season somewhere around what be bas been earning. Something between $12-14M. I might even offer a 2nd year with a nice buy out. Do you go a 2nd year guaranteed? Can you afford it? And that's the rub. He NEEDS to come back. But in the strange, unknown financial world of MLB right now, would some team offer him a guaranteed 2yr $30M deal? If so, I think the Twins might have to pass. But I just don't see that happening. I hope I'm right. But I would absolutely bring him back on a 1yr, even with an option that is decent. Sometimes, you have to be willing to eat a contract year, even if you are a mid-market team like the Twins.

We have 4 quality SP to roll out for the playoffs, depending on how you feel about Hill. I'm encouraged and optimistic by his performance overall, especially coming off his last start. There is still room for a possible 5th starting option, but certainly for a long man. That spot is between Oddo if the finger gets right, Dobber and Bailey. Healthy in 2019 and with some tweaks to his pitch selection, he was indeed league average and closed well. He was good in his 1 and only start this season. We're this a normal length season, he could be coming back to provide a boost. As it is, he could still provide a boost as a long man. Don't disparage just yet. There's room for 1 of these 3 to really help come playoff time.

This win was HUGE as there are so many implications involved the next week and a half. I HATE the 60 game season but love baseball and have clung to every crumb of this season that I could. If you truly love baseball, as frustrated as you may be, this is proving to be a September to remember for the post season, no matter how you feel about expanded playoffs. The Twins return home now with 5 games left they CAN win and maybe NEED to win. Things are not neat and tidy right now. There are a few things to play for, and let the chips fall where they may. I was beyond disappointed by the Sox series. And PO'd when they lost that first game to the Cubs. But the pitching is THERE. The Defense is solid. Can the bats step forward? Boy, they sure did so the last 2 games. Is this team peaking at the right time? There are signs that they are. I sure hope so. Cautiously optimistic, let's go home and win the next 5 and finish strong!

I think tonight's game is HUGE despite being 1 game. The entire road trip looks much better with a win and the Dirty Sox and Yankees both lost earlier today. We can pick up a game on each with a win tonight. That could be huge in final standings. The Yankees have to play 4 on the road against a decent Blue Jays team and the Sox have the Indians for 4, on the road, before a final 3 against the Cubs. The Yankees finish against the Marlins for their final 3, and the Sox clearly have the tougher finish. Can we pass the Yankees if we take care of business? Can we catch Chicago? Good time to be Blue Jay and Indian fans to close out the season.

Matt, I fully appreciate your sentiment and perspective. But I'm absolutely convinced you might like Berrios a little bit less in 2021 than now. Why? I believe it will be his best season thus far in his young career. Unfortunately, 2020 might have been that season were it not for the very strange nature of the year itself. I'm not going to get debate who is and what is an ACE caliber SP. And there are those like myself who believe in Berrios, and those who don't or just "like" him but don't love him. And for those that aren't the biggest fans or believers, I get it. There is the WANT for him to be a consistent, top of the order stated that is so palpable that anything less diminishes his achievements to this point. I'm not going to dig up stats online or from last TD articles that list them, but his first half performance/numbers in 2018 and 2019 made him a deserving All Star selection. It's has also been well documented as to 2nd half fades each of those seasons. Except, it's also been agreed by the Twins and Berrios himself his intense training/workout routine may be at least partially to blame. (In addition to still being a young SP gaining experience). Hence he began to reign in his in-season routine late in 2019 and rebounded to finish solid again after a poor stretch. The plan WAS to do the same in 2020 before the weird and shortened season. You are absolutely correct there remains a very human element to the ballplayers on our favorite team, and players in general. And it doesn't take a genius to look at the Twins, and players across MLB in 2020 to see all sorts of regression and weird stats to realize a pair of short trainings and an abbreviated season has thrown some guys out of whack. While the Twins have been mum on the point...to my knowledge...there was a very interesting OP a few weeks back suggesting Berrios was making some adjustments on the fly to begin thus season. (I believe by Parker but I could be wrong about that). His velocity is up, his control and "nastiness" seems to have come around after his mediocre start to 2020. Combine everything involved, I believe his best full season will be happening a year later meaning again in 2021. It will be when experience, tweaks, adjustments, work ethic and pure stoff coalesce for the best stretch of his career. And if that makes you "like" him a bit less as a result, I'm OK with that. (Wink and a nod)

If only Rosario weren't so bad at baseball. A HR and clutch RBI single is no way to be productive. Anyone can do those things. [sarcasm!] But seriously, it was a team effort in this win. Bombas, walks, singles, etc. Also nice to see Rocco not just sit back and relax. If we had done some small ball Friday, who knows, might have actually scored a run and won the game. What can you say about Wisler? I keep waiting for him to be revealed as something he's not like the Scooby Gang unmasking old man Withers, but he just keeps doing a great job. We didn't lose any ground, but didn't gain any either. Sox have a tough end to their season and the Yankees can't win out can they? All we can control is ourselves, win, keep winning, get sharp, and see how it all turns out.

Hilarious as usual. But it's funny how there are some teams that just hold our personal disdain. I mean, we can all agree we despise the Yankees, right? Lol And for obvious reasons we don't have to state. But while I love confidence and can fully appreciate a degree of cockiness, the reason I have loathed the Dirty Sox for years is not any game or player I can immediately think of. It comes from watching games on TV listening to Hawk Harrelson. That guy just rubbed me the wrong way. How weird is that? I think the Twins are absolutely the better overall team during a 162 game season. And the Sox are absolutely taking advantage of the weird, crazy 2020 60 game version. But I admit fully that their pitching staff has performed far better than I ever expected. Again, 162 games....we'll never know. I will admit though, that I am tired of the Dirty Sox hyperbole for the future. Don't get me wrong, they have talent and more on the way. And we're going to have to deal with them the next few years as real rivals. But position after position, spot after spot, it's not like the Twins are devoid of real talent. And we don't exactly have chum coming up through the system with Jeffers, Rooker, Kirilloff, Larnach, Lewis, Alcala, Colina, Duran, Balazovic and others not mentioned. The Indians won't just go away. But even with turnover, the Twins and Dirty Sox should be rivals for the next 3-4yrs easy!

I absolutely think Dobnak could be a great fit for the pen as a middle/long man. And I don't know you would possibly exclude him. With 8 games to play and some question about Odorizzi, he could still be your 5th SP, were one needed. Biggest issue I see...beyond trusting Hill and Odorizzi being healthy...is the pen in general. If Spycake is correct and we could have 14 RP, I still count 15 candidates, even while leaving Littell and Poppen off. Unless someone gets hurt, someone worth keeping and deserving is going to be left off the roster.

I can't believe Kepler's poor throw to 1B! He has a great arm and just doesn't make mistakes like that. I'm not blaming him for the loss, but that was a huge mis-plays. Buxton never should have been sent home on the one play. But damned if the replay didn't look to me as if his left hand slid between the catchers legs to beat the tag! I think he was safe, unfortunately, no challenge available. And the replay probably wasn't conclusive enough, but I think he was safe. I couldn't help but laugh at Donaldson. But what he did was immature and just shouldn't have been done. My only hope is it will provide both a laugh in the clubhouse but also spark a fire with 8 games left. But it never should have happened.

I am NOT going to bang on Rocco, the offense, the rotation or the pen. But losing the series to the Dirty Sox hurt, I was hoping for more of course, but a split and moving on a single game out of 1st I was OK with. I WANT that banner in Target Field that we won the division. But on the realistic side of things finishjng 1st or 2nd has little implications in regard to the playoffs. We still get home field 1st round. The opponent is yet be determined and changes almost daily. So any sort of hope/want/prediction at this time is rather fruitless. Winning the division is within the Twins grasp if they take care of business, 3 on the road against a good Cubs team, then 5 mkre at home against the Tigers and Reds. The Sox have the next 7 games on the road, 3 with the Reds and then a 4 game set against the Indians before finishing with 3 at home against the Cubs. I'm pretty sure I have home and away correct, forgive me if mistaken. The Indians have the next 7 at home and finish with 3 on the road against the Pirates. Again, pretty sure I have H/A correct. So what does all of this mean? It means, yes, time to kick it up a notch and get Arraez back, at least. It also means the Dirty Sox have the toughest schedule to finish out and we need to be Cleveland fans during that 4 game series. If the Twins just take care of business their last 8 games, that ALC 2020 pennant can still be theirs.