DocBauer

Polanco is...you know...GOOD

Guessing Maeda is professional enough to want the win more than anything

Can't like this post enough! Reality is a 1yr deal for a fair amount. Fair 2nd yr or option is not out of the question. But he needs to be back for 2021 for so many reasons.

BTW, Brewers uniforms look like a little league team but I LOVE them!

Excited and pumped and you want history and you never want to pull a pitcher with a no-hitter...but...over 90 pitches and 2 innings to go and the short season...just have to think about pulling Maeda soon don't you???

Who is this Maeda guy, where did he come from, and how long do we have him for?

Just flew in...not really...and boy are my arms tired! INTERESTING GAME!!

We still have over half a short season to play. And with expanded playoffs...ugh...how many teams are truly out of it? I'm not sure about ransom payouts for Bundy or anyone else considering financial implications going forward the next year or 2-3, plus CBA situations that could threaten 2022. But it plays a part. And the "what if" scenario remains. I just don't see any/many scenarios where guys of quality are made available.

bighat beat me to it! Agreed it should be "right now". On that premise, today, it would be Maeda. Honestly, he's looked as good or better than I hoped. And that's saying something because he pitched well for LA and was coming off his best season against LH hitters. And like everyone else, he not only went through an abbreviated ramp up, but switched teams as well. Dobnak is still a rookie. Can we all remember that for a second? He is most probably never going to uncover some hidden velocity or magic SO pitch to become/stay dominant. But he has the build to be a mainstay for GS and IP. He has low in the zone stuff to maintain ground balls, pop ups and weak to semi-weak contact. Still being a ROOKIE he needs to refine his stuff and approach to end certain AB that drag on at times. But early indications, IMO, are that he can be a mainstay, and a successful one at that, if he continues learn, grow and adapt. Again...ROOKIE. I am so frustrated by Berrios right now I could cuss. I love the kid and believe in him. I'm just frustrated. We all are. But to dismiss him in any way is short sighted if not ridiculous. His stuff and results are good to very good each of the last 2 seasons when he earned an All Star invite. His problem has been maintaining that for a full season and not 3/4 of a season. We all know this. And for the umpteenth time, he made some adjustments last season that allowed him to rebound after a rough stretch. AGAIN, he was making additional changes in his routine for 2020 to continue a season long endurance. Based on stuff and previous first half to 3/4 season results he SHOULD be dominating right now. Hence frustration. But it's also been pointed out in various smart articles here on TD that he's working on a few tweaks to his game. Can we just accept that not everyone ramped up with a short Summer Training ready to dominate? We are not yet at the half way point. I will take Berrios any day of the week as a safe bet to figure a few things out over his next couple of starts and be the guy we want and expect to close out the year. Does anyone really doubt Oddo will also continue to get better now that he's feeling good and actually pitching? He missed a lot of time folks. IMO, there is no doom and gloom here. Is there a little frustration because we want everyone healthy and ready to go and dominate from day 1? You bet. But that is the same for every team in MLB right now. Right now, today, we have one of the best teams in the league and NOBODY out for the season. But like everyone, we have guys not in sync yet and underperforming. We only need Hill for half a season. Reports are he's looking and feeling good and ready to go. Guys will get better over the next couple of weeks. Pineda will be back at some point. Let's re-examine come September 1st who is #1 and how the staff looks then.

So if the plan is for Thorpe or Smeltzer to go at least 3 and hopefully 4, is it still a bullpen game? Or is it just a game with an opener and a primary starter? And what marks the difference? Is it how many innings the 2nd guy throws? Is it because he's usually been a starter? Is it innings AND being a starter normally that makes the final determination? Go Twins! Take 3 out of 4!

Appreciate the numbers, graphs opinion and speculation. And I won't argue against any of it. I don't think anyone will argue that Dobnak is any kind of Cy Young candidate in any way shape or form. That would be ludicrous. Between 2019 and this season he has yet to even hit 50IP as I write this. So ANY speculation on his future is a bit ridiculous at this point. He's off to a great start and you can only do what you can do every time you go out there, no matter what team/lineup you face. Again, good so far, and he offers up optimism. And he could SO a few more. At worst, he could just put away a few more guys earlier rather than extending himself in certain AB. And I highly doubt he will be a front of the rotation SP in any way. But, even in SSS, there is enough evidence to at least suggest he can continue to develop in to a bulldog pitcher who can successfully fill the role of a quality 4th, or at worst 5th ML SP. I don't think anyone expects him to continue the numbers he's shown thus far. But when things settle down, and he proves to be an innings eater with a high 3.0 ERA who does a solid job daily, I'll take that.

There has been talk about Duran possibly Chalmers getting a shot vs having another bullpen game. Duran, for rather obvious reasons, would seem the more ready and obvious choice were that to happen. But both are also on the 40 man. My amateur scout/nonsense opinion is that both Kiriloff and Larnach have future quality big leaguer written all over them. They have impressed in the minors and they impressed in both versions of ST this year. But to expect them to come up now and provide any kind of difference in 2020 over anyone, including sometimes but solid punching bag Cave is short-sighted. IIRC, neither has to be added to the 40 man this off-season. Rooker is older and mkre experienced. Rooker has successful AAA experience. While Rooker is behind both Kirilloff and Larnach as prospects, and may never be a star, I think some people are sleeping on him. While he has struggled a bit to begin seasons, or his first weeks at a new level he has shown the ability to adjust and produce everywhere he has been. His Rochester season in 2019 was very encouraging. He is, absolutely, a 3 option outcome player: hit, walk or SO. That's in keeping with not only a lot of baseball today, but also in keeping with a lot of the current Twins roster. He has experience in the OF and at 1B. And be does have to be added to the 40 man after this season. But unless there is an injury or illness concern, once again, how does he come up this year and make any difference with only simulated games and coaching at the St. Paul facility? Now, maybe things are more intense than we know and there is real development taking place over there. (I hope so!) But the Twins roster, as is, with all it's depth, is what it is. As far as Vargas goes, don't know a thing about him other than what I've read the last couple of days and a cursory examination of his milb/ML numbers. But with Gordon having such a late start to the season I see him as cheap insurance vs Maggi, Reinheimer and Tovar.

Really bummed out about Maeda's performance. Guy allowed 2 runs. He looked so perfect the first few starts. [sarcasm!] Maeda may not be a stud, a #1, etc, but the guy is GOOD. Actually seems like Johnson and the Twins staff may have taken his performance up another level with some tweaks. I didn't get to watch every pitch, but the Thorpe I saw last night was more in keeping with what I have seen before and expected. Is he sent over now? Or does Thielbar go first? So nice to see multiple innings of run production and not necessarily with bombas. The whole game felt like I was watching the team I expected to see.

Really bummed out about Maeda's performance. Guy allowed 2 runs. He looked so perfect the first few starts. [sarcasm!] Maeda may not be a stud, a #1, etc, but the guy is GOOD. Actually seems like Johnson and the Twins staff may have taken his performance up another level with some tweaks. I didn't get to watch every pitch, but the Thorpe I saw last night was more in keeping with what I have seen before and expected. Is he sent over now? Or does Thielbar go first? So nice to see multiple innings of run production and not necessarily with bombas. The whole game felt like I was watching the team I expected to see.

All I know for sure is he's looked better the past few games. I think Seth summed it best of all, there is a thin line between patience and aggressiveness. Garver has been caught a little between those 2 points right now. Timing is off. Good hitters make adjustments. He has always been a good hitter.

I agree with Rocco's usage, even though it's backfired once it twice from being a close game to not so close a game. And Ash is correct that if the offense starts to perform to more expected standards, that may shift some of Rocco's thinking and usage. But 2 quick points/comments: 1] The Twins 6-9th best arms are better than most any team can throw out to the mound. 2] Used to drive me crazy Molitor would burn through our best arms to "keep it close" and then have nothing left for winable games.

Winner winner chicken alfredo tortellini dinner!

Twins obviously like Thorpe, believe in him and are sticking by him. Nice to see him look so much better tonight.

Garver starting to feel it! Time for insurance runs!

Best Thorpe has looked in a while

Love Maeda getting the 7th. Right move! Still get 2 innings for someone to get work in.

Nope. Fell asleep

Well heck. So much for Maeda being perfect.

Only reason he doesn't go 7 is to get guys work, IMO. Though it was mentioned limiting the Brewers seeing him more since his next start will be against them.

Froze him!