DocBauer

In my own mental handicapping, I've had him ranked lower. Admittedly unfair when I look at his age and reflect on his first half of last season. I see a projected 1st round selection with a major school scholarship offer and the best curveball in his draft class and I just expected/wanted more. Reading this report, his growth physically, increased velocity and better K numbers and I become optomostic. Fair or not, I'm waiting/hoping for a real breakout 2020 where we see dominance across the board before I feel comfortable putting him in the top 10.

This. The Twins don't dislike Graterol. He has a very talented arm with a huge potential future in front of him. And he's still very, very young. He might yet be a fine to great SP if nurtured a bit. But the FO brain trust sees him as a power BP arm. And that is still valuable, to the Twins or Boston. But the prospect cost to bring in a quality starting SP is not some low level flier, or a couple of them.

Absolutely. And I would do nothing to hold back his development. But surely he is the kind of player/prospect who will be in the lineup almost daily. Let him play all 3 spots and see where he settles in, I say. For various reasons, some guys are just better or more comfortable in LF vs RF. The foot placement and action at 1B is different than the OF to be sure. I just hope they don't restrict him too soon.

Addition: The one thing about Rooker I don't like us his position use. Milb is for player development. I just can't believe he was never used at 1B last year. Players do tend to gravitate to certain positions and settle in there. But he should be learning both corner spots and 1B for now. Look how much positional flexibility aided the Twins roster last year. In ST last year, the Twins even worked Raley in CF to see what he could do, even on an occasional basis.

Really wish we could combine this thread with the one I wrote a couple days ago. I concentrated on WAR of the past 4 rotation staffs and where they ranked in MLB and the AL each year. Really like the look at K%. Am also wondering now if we should also look closer at WHIP.

Well done! And I agree 100%. The rotation is as good, probably better, and has more depth. The pen also begins the season stronger and deeper than it began last year.

What I have always appreciated, and where I have found faith/hope with Rooker is he has shown the ability to make adjustments at every level. 2018, IIRC, he started rather abysmal at AA and then flipped a switch. He was OK in 2019 at Rochester and then the same thing happened before his injury. He may not mash immediately at the ML level when he gets a chance, but I believe he will make adjustments, as he's always done, and build from there.

Dyson had been pitching hurt, but pitching effectively. And he never informed anyone. The medical reports given to the Twins, reportedly, indicated no issues to be concerned about. It is also my understanding that in deadline deals, especially last minute ones, there is generally no physical involved, only traded medical reports by the teams.

Considering the early results we have seen from Wes Johnson, I wonder just how good Maeda might be if that FB could be tweaked a little bit.

I am about the last person you would ever accuse of being a conspiracy theorist, but I do believe this is, at least mostly, a power play by Boston to get something added to the deal whether that be player or additional $ savings. My hunch? As expected, the deal still goes through with the Dodgers giving in something small. I think they really want this to happen. Despite hopes and dreams of Graterol becoming a top of the rotation SP...and he could still be with some time and development...the Twins FO is having doubts about his long term viability there. Doesn't mean they don't like him, just that they believe the pen is his destination. I doubt Graterol's health is the hold up here. He was just fine after his shoulder impingement and there hasn't been so much as a whisper this off-season about any issues.

1] No knock on Miranda, and I know he's still really young, but I just sort of keep waiting for that breakthrough season. 2] Really unsure what the ceiling is for Sands, but how could anyone at this point. But could you ever have expected a better debut season? With a couple guys graduating from rookie status and another year this good, top 10 next year??? 3] Like most young pitchers, I have also read the 3rd pitch isn't there yet for Colina. Biggest knock I think I've heard is lack of height in regard to downward plane, etc. Guy can bring it. Really hoping the secondary stuff really settles in soon. 4] Blankenhorn has always reminded me of a great multi sport athlete who goes to college to play football and finally gets to concentrate fully on a single sport. Were that to be true, he would now be physically and mentally ready to make a big push in what would probably be his junior year. In other words, he started to make a move and is now ready to really show off.

There is 1 major difference between Chacin and Wisler, however. Despite a few poor and injury affected season's, Chacin has actually produced some solid seasons and OK career numbers while the younger Wisler remains an example of unfulfilled expectation. There are similarities between both of them, as well as vast differences. What they both have in common, IMO, is a need for some kind of successful FB. Whether you throw 90 or 100, you need some kind of FB to make everything work. Sneaky, heavy, tailing, rising, you still need some decent form of the pitch. That would seem to be Johnson's #1 priority/opportunity with both of these guys.

1] Musgrove and Alcantara might be my top 2 targets based on youth, projectability and availability. Miami and Pittsburgh aren't going anywhere soon. I'm not convinced on Boyd yet, plus there is the whole inter-divisional situation. 2] I fluctuate between Ray and Gray. But I absolutely don't like only 1yr guaranteed on Ray. 3] Boston absolutely has to perform some sort of rebuild/retool. Really not sure they will be ready to move Sale. And if they are, I want to feel confident he is on the rebound, even if that obviously means a higher cost to the Twins. Pretty much how I rank everyone at this time, leaving out Price and just really unsure about Archer. It's interesting to think about this mid-year scenario even before the season begins. And there are a whole of things that can and will change between now and then, not only for the Twins, but for other teams as well. But speaking ONLY about the Twins situation, as it unfolds: 1] What if Berrios, Odorizzi and Pineda pitch just as well as last season? For Berrios in particular, it's not just about improving, but carrying his numbers/ability through the entire season. 2] What if last season, especially his last couple of months, Bailey is 100% healthy finally, and his change in approach is not an iillusion? You might have a really nice and experienced back of the rotation arm. 3] I believe it was Thrylos who recently posted career comparisons between Gibson and Chacin and I was really surprised. What if previous seasons, especially 2017-18 are the real pitcher and he surprises in 2020 by being that guy again, or at least close to it? 4] What if Dobnak and Thorpe just keep getting better and better? 5] What if Hill isn't 100% ready to go until end of June or early July? Do we care? Wasn't he signed, really, to be a 1/2 season SP with the ability to perform well and even dominate for that 1/2 season? 6] Totally forgoing any 2nd half season internal surprise like Duran, Balazovic, Colina, Graterol back in the rotation, etc, what if our bullpen really is as deep and good and most of us believe it is/can be, to offset any "limitations" of the rotation? We can say there are a lot of "what if" possibilities here. But it doesn't take rose-colored glasses to acknowledge that these possibilities are not the least far-fetched. And I am not dismissing a big move of any sort to push the Twins of 2020 over the top. My point is, a big 2nd half trade target, assuming availability, simply may not be the all in necessity that we may believe is needed as we sit here today.

My apologies. Typed too fast and didnt notice auto correct changed Wells to Lewis for some reason.

Should also mention Lewis coming back from surgery as well.

Long story made as short as I can. (Shut up Chief! Lol) I believe in old fashioned football, even in today's game. SF has a great defense. I think they have the better running game. But unless they self district, the modern game favors the offense. KC has speed that kills, the better QB and the more experienced coach. I'm about 50/50 in general. But I think Mahomes is special, and KC wins 35-31. Remember Vikings fans, not only is the son of a former Twins player in this game, playing for the Chiefs, but it's been 50yrs since super bowl 4. Karma! KC wins.

One thing I have really wondered about in regard to the modern day athlete, baseball and Donaldson included, in regard to muscle injuries, is the use of yoga and/or Pilates. While weight training and aerobics are important for general strength and conditioning, I have often wondered if athletic training still remains behind the times in regard to these activities to focus on core strength and flexibility.

Took a few moments to just look up his career numbers and they are crazy. There is a great TD blog post breaking his career down in to "ACTS". It's very interesting. Let's just say that despite a very uneven career, he had moments. And if his 2017-18 performance had carried over to 2019, he wouldn't be signed to a milb contract. Not sitting here hopeful we signed some #3-4 SP who is going to surprise everyone. Just saying for a milb deal I'm in the "hmmmm" frame of mind.

This really made me truly LOL

The thing I really like about Odorizzi is how well he uses the high strike to befuddle batters. And while I really like him, what he lacks is any sort of "whipeout" pitch to limit pitches thrown. Which is why he is a 5-6 IP vs a 6-7 IP. Let's face it. The game has changed. There are just so few guys out there who can be a 7 IP arm. Aggressiveness and launch angles as opposed to contact and opposite field hitting have changed the game. If Oddo had that ONE pitch he could really count on, his living high in the zone could make him a $25M guy instead of just really good. Not sure about "upside" as the OP teases. To me, depth and potential should have been a better topic.

Full confession, I don't follow other teams and the league as a whole the way I used to. (When i knew about everyone of note). What I know about him is spotty memory, once I pulled his binder from my mental library, and what has been posted here and 2 other articles/blogs. I am completely "meh" on this signing. But I, and most of us, expected a couple of signings like this, as fliers. They usually don't pay off. But occasionally, they do. It's only an invite and flier. There is a chance, healthy, change of scenery, he suddenly looks like the solid guy he was for 2017-2018. That would/could provide depth and insurance. Listening to the recent podcast of Gleeman and the Geek, Gleeman has the impression the Twins really like Thorpe and think he has a real future. (No knock on anyone else). And while Thorpe will not be handed a job, he seems to feel the Twins believe in him. I do as well. I also am of the belief Dobnak is not just a good/fun story. But every team signs fliers. It's just smart, normal baseball. Again, this is just that and depth and a coin in the fountain in case one of the young guys isn't quite ready yet. I'd rather see the kids get their shot. There appears to be something there. But I'm OK with options.

As Han Joelo pointed out when using OPS+, suddenly the Twins are #1. The Yankees do play in an absolute bandbox. My point being, there are various ways to measure subject matter like this. I think you did a good and rational job though. However, you do base everything on a position by position basis for a final outcome. Which I get. And you're not wrong necessarily. But how about Buxton for 140 games? Maybe he still finishes 2nd here. But the overriding impact is tremendous. Same for Sano at 1B doing what he did last year but all year in 2020. There is no #1 with a bullet attached to this ranking system, just position by position, not really the team as a whole. Great debate!

Simple truth is these things sort of work themselves out. One or two will be traded, one or two will just not work out, (but could bounce around and re-surface elsewhere), and Rosario may or may not be around past 2021. But, in theory and keeping the OP context in mind, Larnach takes over LF from a departed Rosario. Kiriloff plays 1B with Sano to DH, but not necessarily exclusively. Raley or Rooker could PH/DH and play 3 spots. Lewis is still an infielder, hopefully will stick there, and could still play some OF. Why couldn't he? Might be room for Cave or Wade as a 4th OF until Celistino maybe comes along. Room for everyone? Nope. But there is room. And again, these things tend to work themselves out.

I like Dobnak a lot. There is nothing electric about him, but his stuff is decent, he seems to really have the knack for pitching...which a lot of guys never really learn...and I agree he seems to have that "bulldog" demeanor. I think he's more ready and polished than Thorpe is...today. Not sure I want to make a prediction, but if I was going to, I'd say Thorpe will be the better of the two by season end and in 2021 and beyond. As was stated earlier, when you think about the time he missed, and how aggressive the Twins have been promoting him, he almost shouldn't have been up last year. Once his control gets a little better, he settles down a little more, I just have a really good feeling about him.

Really enjoyed this and the previous Dobnak article. Gills me with much hope, and I already liked what I saw from both guys last year. A shame we only have such a SSS though. Really wish each could have taken a few more of Perez's and Gibson's outings in retrospect.