DocBauer

Only mad because I was just about to see a double taking place! Now I can't be seen as prophetic! Lol Twins win!!@

Polanco, you win the game right here

Honestly, I thought Duffey slipped or lost control and it was a mis-fire. Thought the umps blew it. Proud of Rocco to get thrown out!

The BAD FAN of me would say something like, "Hendricks, remember when you stunk pitching in Minnesota? Do that again now!"

How crazy is THAT? Arraez so scary you'd rather pitch to Donaldson?

First game I've had time to watch for weeks and no appearance in a game thread until now. Come on Twins! Pride! Win this one!

I missed Hinton being promoted late, but not surprised. Inexperienced but way more talented than Dozier. Really not sure what to think about Brandel, just find it really interesting they have been looking at him as a center. I think he's a project for a second year on the PS unless he surprises. But intelligent, experienced, with some skills, I just find him interesting. Udoh is a TALENT. It's why he was kept vs risking him on the waiver wire to stash. But whether he's a future starter SOMEWHERE or a future 3rd OT to replace Hill, you have to allow talent to compete for a spot. I was really disappointed he didn't get a shot at G last season.

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.

Let me make it clear I am NOT advocating for anyone to lose their job. Nor am I placing blame for poor offensive performance on any one man, or two me as is the case here. I am also NOT looking for knee-jerk reactionism to some gut wrenching offensive performances from our 2021 Twins team. I am asking an honest question that I hope will bring honest and reflective conversation. With Rowson "in charge" in 2019 the Twins Bomba squad re-wrote record books. We will likely never see HR and dramatic production again the way we saw it that season. Rowson gone in 2020, weird season that it was, and weird and unexpected performances across MLB, including the Twins, we were still OK offensively but SURPRISE, achieved one of the best records in MLB based on pitching and still had that OK offense. Come 2021 and expectations, our beloved Twins are suddenly, unexpectedly, bottom feeders in regard to current record. And there is more in play here than the offense. But in THIS OP, I am focusing exclusively on the offense. I hope you can do the same. If you happen to be old enough to remember the 70's and 80's Yankee teams, just for example, you would remember Steinbrenner trying to "buy" championship teams. Yes, he ran through managers, often the same ones over again, and pitching coaches. But he also fired, replaced, and often re-hired batting coaches amongst all the turmoil. Just a few years ago, it seemed the Twins had a great batting coach in Brunansky. Suddenly he was out along with Molitor. Rowson keeps being brought up, but is he solely responsible for 2019? Was there really a ball affect? Did the talent on hand just ALL hit peak performance in a single season? Let us not forget that Hernandez was the assistant hitting coach during that 2019 season. Let us not forget that when Rowsen left, the players reported there was no great change and approach with Hernandez still on board and Varela taking Rowsen's spot. Was this true or lip service? Arraez has continued to excel. So has Cruz. AK, before injury, was looking awesome. Polanco has re-found his balance and stroke. Donaldson has been solid if not great. Astudillo has been as good as ever, even as a bench player pressed in to more time played than he should have to, and we've at least seen some improvement from Garver now that he's playing more daily. Like you, I'm confused by Sano. Quality AB with NO production until a big HR today. Is thjs where he turns it around? At some point there is a question of talent, production and continuity.. And the players have to have blame placed on themselves as well. Period! You are either a decent ML hitter or you aren't. And there is a question of approach. The game is cyclical. The days of pure hit and run and bunting are largely gone. Stealing bases like the Herzog teams of the 80's is also gone. But there is a place for those those things. And despite power and launch angle and all the metrics, isn't there just a place for being able to hit a baseball once in a while, hopefully hard where they "ain't" playing? Left, right, power, speed, athletic ability, sweet strokes, good approach AB...where does the issue remain with this underachieving team? So bad clutch hitting, is it the players? Is the approach being taught just wrong? And is it, really, the batting coaches? Or is it just the players all battling issues and slumps?

Just tossing this out there, a Vikings website mentioned 3 potential OL targets that may be available to the team in FA still, and would be affordable. They mentioned OG Austin Reiter from KC, Dennis Kelly from the Titans at OT and Nick Easton, recently with NO. While the Vikings are switching things up a bit from pure zone blocking and maybe "lighter" OL to heavier, more powerful players, it doesn't appear as if they are necessarily changing to a different scheme. And I think that's OK. But Kelly appears to be a traditionally Mauler at RT and doesn't fit system or need. Reiter intrigues me somewhat as he's decent and experienced, and part of 2 Super Bowl teams. Not sure why KC decided to part ways, but they did. The guy that interests me is Nick Easton. The former Viking didn't set the world on fire with the Saints and was allowed to walk. The Vikes, familiar with him, offered a contract earlier in FA, reportedly. Post draft, he remains without a team. He is 2yrs younger than Dozier, can double down and play center as well, and couldn't possibly be worse than Dozier. I would like to think he and Cole could offer up real depth at center and guard and provide better depth/flexibility if not outright better play than Dozier in the middle of the OL. I'd think he'd come pretty cheap at this point as well. As a pair of side notes: 1] 2020 draft choice Blake Brandel was playing at center during rookie camp with a cobbled up OL. Yes, it's ONLY rookie camp, but I find this interesting for 2 reasons. His history/draft profile was a long, intelligent, big frame OK athlete who needed polish and additional strength/bulk who could project as a solid swing tackle who could be a fit at OG as well. Unless I missed something, I never heard reports of him playing/practicing at center last year. And I am ABSOLUTELY NOT saying he will turn out to be anything close to a HOF player, but doesn't this remind you just a bit of the profile of Matt Birk early on? Even if he woukd turn out to be another Dave Huffman, I'd be excited. 2] Despite the plethora of 2020 draft choices, the ONE GUY that really drew my attention was Kyle Hinton from Washburn, a D2 school. If he had been invited to Inianappolis and the pre-draft showcase, his numbers at a Kansas State pro-day would have placed him in the top 5 in every category from BP to 40 to shuttle run to verticle, etc. He was a captain, a D2 All American while playing LT at 6' 2" plus and around 300lbs. Despite playing at a lower level, athletic numbers don't lie. Size, strength, athletic ability, he is almost a clone of former KC HOF and former Husker Will Shields. (Not projection, just factual comparison). He was drafted as a G and the Vikings clearly announced they would work him at center as well. And he sure seemed to have all the tangibles to do so. The fact that Brandel was playing center in rookie camp, IMO, is more about HIS possible projection and development and not about Hinton as an option there. While either, or both, could find themselves on the PS for a second year, I'm finding real intrigue in both of these guys. Personally, I'm betting on Hinton as a real option at G/C now or soon based on just too much talent despite being "short" by normal standards. And even though rookie camp is just what it is, the fact that Brandel is being tried at the pivot tells me they see potential as a real, viable option across the line with a little more time to develop. Again, I just can't help but see the Huffman comparison. I really hope to see Davis paving the way as a rookie starter at RG with Cleveland moving to his more natural left side as the starting guard there. And I would love another inexpensive option like Easton for depth and competition. But I'm kinda intrigued by a couple young kids from 2020 and their potential.

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.

And your point on Thielen is why I'm pretty much IN on Westbrook if healthy and inexpensive. Worth the shot. I'm also fully IN on improving the pass rush. I guess I'm just so-so on Kerrigan because I'm wondering if mixing and matching the talent on hand doesn't make sense, especially for the future, and use available funds elsewhere. But I'm OK if they were to bring him on board.

I don't have a ready list of OL available at the moment, but I've been wondering if there is a decent OG still available to compete with Cleveland and especially the rookie Davis. Is Easton still available? Samia has looked awful and may simply have been a poor selection. I can, reluctantly, live with Dozier as an experienced so-so veteran backup but he should never start again unless there was an injury. I'd really like to add a decent G to the equation.

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.

So the Vikings should have enough $ to sign their draft choices and rookie FA and gain almost another $8M after June 1st the play with and their roster is short the 90 man limit. They are now linked to possible FA additions Ryan Kerrigan/DE and Dede Westbrook/WR. Reportedly, they have reached out to both. There have also been continued rumors regarding Everson Griffen having a potential return. This is the NFL and the Vikings are in a re-tool and not a re-build mode. And despite talent on hand and a couple of seemingly excellent draft years back to back, there remains room to add and improve the roster. My thoughts: WR Dede Westbrook: It all comes down to his knee. Except for some splash as a rookie where Beebe looked like a downsized but interesting version of his father, I just haven't seen anything to make me believe he has a future. Frankly, I've been disappointed and have wondered why he's still around. IMO, Johnson has far out played him. I don't know how to fully predict Johnson's value. It seems he's produced when used as a fill-in starter, but has done little as a 3rd WR. Is that on him, or how he's used in this offense and the play calling? But it seems to me he's done far more than Beebe. Despite watching the career of recent draftee ISM, and understanding his production and athleticism and production, I'm not certain his potential, especially as a rookie. I know we saw ZERO from Osborn as a rookie. There may be some potential there but he's on the fringe right now. I'd grab Westbrook in a heartbeat if his knee checked out. All the more for being re-united with his previous coach. DE Ryan Kerrigan: He's not the player he once was. But he seems to have some gas in the tank. And he absolutely has experience, something lacking at DE other than Hunter, and Weatherly to a degree. He might even surprise on a second chance situation with a defense and DL that seems to have the other 3 parts in place. And he probably comes relatively cheap. My question is simply this; despite experience and tangible qualities, does he really improve the team and production vs what is on board? Weatherly is OK, never should have left, and is now trying to come "home". But he was a solid rotation player previously. Wonnum flashed at times, and he and Jones and Robinson are exactly the kind of young athletes the Vikings and Patterson love to work with and develop. Forgotten is 2020 draftee Willekes who missed last season with injury and might have to settle for the PS, but despite lacking great length has decent speed, strength, a big motor, and still runs around 4.7 and can do back flips to prove his athletic ability and was a proven producer in college. Again, the NFL is about now. But with the talent on hand, thinking about NOW as well as tomorrow, does Kerrigan offer enough experience and production to earn even an easy to swallow contract vs letting loose and developing all the young talent on the roster? Personally, I'm 100% on Westbrook if healthy. I'm 50/50 on Kerrigan, much less the "I'm not sure he's stable" Griffen".

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.