DocBauer

Not a knock on Leius, who was a sound player overall, but if I could improve at 3B and run with the rest of that lineup for most of the 90's I'd actually be happy. Now, that lineup would only take you so far, the majority of the pitching....

My biggest takeaway is 6 guys with an OPS of .800+. NICE!

Really not surprising a pitcher starts to really learn his craft around 29-30yo. We've seen it many, many times before. There are those rare SP that come up and just dominate early on. And some of them continue to do so. But how many start to flame out? I have always argued that so many top starters...from my years watching baseball...really hit their peak in their late 20's and early 30's where talent and experience meet. (Why I also keep arguing that the best of Berrios has yet to be seen). I'm not saying Oddo is going to evolve in to an ACE caliber pitcher, but he's right on the precipice of his best 3-5yrs of production. I'm still hoping for an extension and remain disappointed it hasn't happened yet, as I felt it was a good time to work one out before all this covid 19 crap disrupted things. Hoping it still happens.

BTW, there is something wrong (or unfair) with the system when Arraez, no matter how good, leads this lineup in OPS. Just saying.

Wait, Hill and Pineda aren't on the 40 man??? I know this isn't real, but no the McMahon kid. Let's keep it as real as we can. Why do we have to make a single choice here? I vote to send down Rooker and Balazovic both and bring up Cave and Hill/Pineda. Not only does it make sense, but I'm betting the simulation will support both moves. Sidenote: If those 5 Pensacola players were producing in real life as the simulation, I'd be ecstatic. Especially in the case of Javier. Guessing Jeffers is at Rochester? Shouldn't Clay also be there?

Been on this kid's bandwagon for a while now. His stuff is electric. Someone, please, find him a 3rd pitch that works. I have no idea how he has slipped through rankings and prospectus. Just because he's not 6' plus? He finds a decent 3rd pitch he's a SP. Without, or a weak 3rd offering just to keep hitters honest, he's got real potential in the pen.

There are those prospects, like Mauer for instance, where everyone just KNOWS the guy is special and going to be good. And for those guys, you usually just make room for them when needed. But it seems to me, even for top prospects, often the best course of action often turns out to be a cautious approach. In more specific terms, guys get their shot organically. Think of Arraez coming up last year due to injury. They may or may not stick immediately for a variety of reasons; less than spectacular first step, injured player is now healthy, etc. Now, if you are a winning ballclub vs a rebuilding one, your course of action is probably different. If you're the current Detroit or Baltimore franchises, for example, you probably just promote and live with bumps in the road and growing pains. One of the DUMBEST things MLB has done recently is change the September expanded roster. Why did they do this? Apparently out of some misguided idea that there would be "throwaway games" in September where lesser teams play mostly prospects instead of established MLers in order to tank and possibly skew tight division and WC races. I ask you, if a contending team is playing a cellar dweller in September, would said cellar dwelling team really provide less of a competitive game that would make any difference? In fact, it could have the opposite effect as auditioning prospects could provide a spark. It's a ridiculous change. Competing and non-competing teams have always used September to audition players get them their first ML experience, even rest veteran players for the stretch run and the playoffs. This rule change could easily have a negative effect on all clubs and the integrity of the game by restricting development of young players. The obvious point of this entire OP, as it pertains to the current Twins, is in regard to Rosario and Kirilloff and Larnach. We could also include Rooker in the conversation. Forgetting the entire "will there be or not be a milb season" scenario for a moment, the ideal situation is for September play, promotion due to injury, and then make moves as necessary when the prospect(s) themselves force the situation.

So you're saying there was a reason the Twins couldn't get over the hump in the early '00's? Thanks for the bummer trip on a national sports holiday Matt. Lol But seriously, there are some good players and memories there. 2006 might be my biggest bummer year listed. I really, really had high hopes for both Parmalee and Valencia. Shouldn't 2005 be rated higher because, you know, Duensing?

Tossing in one of my all time favorite utility players, Denny Hocking in the 52nd round, which doesn't even exist anymore.

Funny how memory works. For years now I had forgotten Allan Anderson had TWO really good years, a mediocre one and then a poor 4th. I kept thinking he only had the one really good year. I had such high hopes for him and what might have been. Unfortunately, to long time followers of the system, the 80's are as much about ML pitching struggles as well as further what might have been in regard to the milb system. I can't recall top 100 lists or anything of that nature, but the Twins had half a dozen highly regarded young arms with velocity that were really expected to augment that very good lineup. There was a time when the foundation of that '87 team was expected to contend yet again when a couple of those young arms rose up. Sadly, most never even sniffed the majors.

Agree on Gladden. He was a spark plug for the team that got things going and seemed to often be involved in big moments. And he absolutely brought an edge to the team and a fire, and those things, as you stated, can't be measured. Hatcher did a lot of things OK, but was never great at anything. But he was professional and kept things loose, as I remember. IIRC he primary hit in the 2 hole, so some of his production was undoubtedly limited as a result. He also played on some bad teams. Ward remains, probably, the ideal choice. I remember being very disappointed when be was traded, though the move turned out great for that first year. Had Smithson and Butcher been able to maintain for a couple more years, it would have been a much better trade.

Not going to lie, I had forgotten about Al Williams. Maybe that was deliberate on my part, lol. The 80's left a lot to desire on the mound. If Butcher had had a little better 2nd season I think I would have selected him over Williams even with only 2yrs Twins time. Nice to see Atherton mentioned. Guy wasn't great but he was solid.

Not going to replace Ward as he was very good. He is deserving. But it is really hard not to argue Hatcher and Gladden as good as or better options for their contributions and time frame.

Some of the dumbest ideas turn out to be great in the end. Lots of fun! Love the Ueker...err, Harry Doyle... overtones in the broadcast. Purposeful I'm sure.

Arguing with the simulator and not you. 1] I don't buy Cleveland's 11 game losing streak, but didn't buy their 11 game winning streak either. So balance. 2] Don't buy the Dirty Sox being that good. 3] I think the sim is being unfair to Cruz's age, but slumps do happen. 4] Love what Oddo is doing, don't agree with the results from Berrios. One interesting thing I've noted from all the various sims is Cleveland getting off to a hot start. Don't know if that is the algorithm looking at past performance, rotation pieces or early season opponents. But...interesting. I also believe in drafting the BPA and voted as such. The draft is such a crapshoot and wait and see that I hate to draft for need. Especially considering the system is pretty well stocked overall at this point. And the FO seems to gravitate towards pure upside and look at developmental arms beyond the 1st round. HOWEVER, my final decision could change quickly when presented with options on both sides. Love to see a HS/college list of 3-4 guys available at our pick, however unfair that option might be to ask.

Hey, curious about your comment on the Twins needing to cut payroll next year. Is that based on existing payroll and arbitration numbers for 2021 etc, or is it based on current payroll and loses from an abbreviated 2020 season? Different sites I glance at have the 2020 payroll between $131-137M. They all seem to calculate slightly differently, but I don't believe any of the numbers I saw factor in the $10M from the Dodgers for this season. So just curious as to your thoughts.

I had missed the arbitration arrangement Matthew states for 2021 if there is no season. Makes sense. Regardless of that fact: 1] Rosario had an OK year and was on pace for a really nice year until injury. We've all been down this arguement already. And what is the new statistic that was just written about here a month or so ago? I want to say it was weighted RBI? A measurement not just of RBI but taking advantage of said opportunities successfully, and it indicated he had a very good year, injury slide notwithstanding. 2] Even if arbitration $ weren't "frozen" for 2021 if no season, the budget could surely allow for another approximately $3M to keep Rosario for at least another season. (Even with $ possibly coming off the books, even though that's not guaranteed due to possible re-signings). 3] Even if Rooker, Larnach and Kirilloff had complete 2020 seasons, that certainly doesn't guarantee any of them are ready to step in for Rosario, though it seems highly likely. They still have to have healthy and productive seasons to seize opportunity. And Marwin is part of the fall back option and there is no guarantee he is re-signed. And at this point, we don't even know if milb will exist in any format even if MLB gets in an abbreviated season. I will be shocked if Rosario isn't with the Twins through 2021.

Koskie before Justin. Mauer just after. What a damndable curse! Injuries happen, of course, but has any team had such a run of concussion injuries to impact so many great ballplayers? Oh, what might have been for all three.

I always forget Nettles was originally a Twin. To me, and my memory, he was a Yankee. What a great and underrated career.

And I'm going to give a tip of the old cap to myself, lol, and you and all the members at TD for their blogs, posts and commentaries. This is TRULY the best site around! The owners, writers, moderators and even us posters should all be complimented. This is not hyperbole. I read other sites for Twins, Vikings and the such. And I peruse the comment sections here and there and they are filled with vitriol and foul language and attacks that are just ugly at times. To be fair, my own personal vonacular is littered with cuss words and not everyone on other sites are rampart idiots. But TD is unique and special. Very special.

Thieres's love for American sports is fascinating stuff. Really interesting to know more about the staff as a whole. But man do I feel old, lol.

Simulation or not, and one of a few, this makes me very, very happy! Good morning, morning! How are you today?

I hesitated posting anything here as I don't want anything I say to be misconstrued or wrongly interpreted. But here goes. To be clear, this is NOT just about baseball. It's about all sports, and movie theaters, and bars, restaurants, take your pick. It's about life being normal again. OK? But I do love baseball and the Twins. I so want baseball and my beloved Twins. And I appreciate John's hope and optimism, even as I still feel trepidation that there will be no season, or a season we just never fully embrace due to some unusual context of how it plays out. At 54yo and in decent shape and largely good health, having suffered in my mid 20's through a very bad case of walking pneumonia, and since then very susceptible to just about all flu bugs, I remain very concerned. More so for my still healthy 76yo father. But at some point, the curve and isolation, testing, possibly/hopefully a cure, warm and humid weather, thjs virus will begin to pass, as all due. At some point, and I have no clue when that will be, there will have to be a move made towards normalcy, baseball included. No matter what, we will all have to come out of hiding, businesses will open, and we will all begin to return to normal. When this happens, someone, somewhere, will get sick again. Worse, they may become deathly ill. I am NOT insensitive to this virus, or any virus, or any disease to anyone! But the reality is life. And before this current virus, there has always been disease and virus and sickness. Again, its part of life. Eventuaĺy, slowly, things will diminish and get better. Life will return to "normal" such as normal is. And while this is a strange and even frightening time, we simply can't crawl away and hide away forever. This too shall pass, as all things do. And when it does, life will go on, and sickness, with all its ramifications, will also continue. There is no escaping that fact. And if having to miss a full season of baseball somehow meant making a difference, then I'm all in. All I'm saying and rambling about is that at SOME POINT, someone somewhere will begin to make decisions for life and the world to move forward. And it will, as it's always done. Nothing will be perfect. Nothing will be absolute. But the human condition is resolute and stalwart and slowly and surely we will get back to normal. It would be great if baseball could be a harbinger of normalcy. But in the meantime, it is a waiting game, pun partially intended.

Going to disagree on Garver and Buxton. Missing 2020 affects EVERYONE. But for Buxton, the issue remains avoiding freak injuries...(Jobu, bucket of chicken, good luck charm)...and learning to conserve some wear and tear on his body. We began to really see what he could do in 2019 and he's still young enough to not have his career grossly affected by a missed 2020. While Garver is a late bloomer, he split time in the minors and bas split time each of his first two ML seasons. He seems to be sturdy and in good shape. It would seem he has plenty of tread on him yet, though he will still hit a downward arc sometime in his 30's, I don't think he is poised for that to happen over the next few years. Agree on Pineda. Also think Cruz and Donaldson are more greatly affected as the clock is ticking on Cruz, and Donaldson is still in his prime RIGHT NOW. Odorizzi and May are also affected. May has a limited but successful tenure as a RP. And I don't feel he would be costly to re-sign. But losing another potentially "dominate" season could definitely cost him some $ with the Twins or anyone else. No matter how much I like Oddo, and want him back, I have stated repeatedly I think his top $ is around $20M per for 3-4yrs. Or, only slightly more than he is scheduled to make in 2020 and more than acceptable for the Twins to bring him back. Something be bas stated he wants and is open to. However, if 2019 was indeed a turning point, and be was hitting his high water mark as a SP, he could potentially be looking at a bump to the $22-23M mark. Maybe. Not going to happen if there is no 2020.

For me the 70's was when I was growing up a Twins fan, grade school and Jr high. I remember the hitter list quite well, with the exception of Tovar that I barely recall. I know the SP listed, a couple of the BP arms, especially Marshall, but I confess to little or no memory of Johnson, Burgmeier or Hall. Hope that doesn't debit my Twins Fan/Man Card. How did Blyleven not win the Cy Young in '73? Oh yeah...Jim Palmer. Shout out to all time great Jerry Koosman who joined the team in 1979 and went 20-13 In 37G with 263IP, 10CG and a 3.38ERA.