DocBauer

Still very young and learning. Young apprentice is not quite ready to wear the Jedi robes. He will get there. He will eventually have his "hooding" ceremony.

The team absolutely need his defense and energy. As good as Kepler has been in CF, the team is just flat out better with Buxton in the OF and Grossman playing the field far less. However, with the time he's missed, I would have had him play at least a few milb games to get some timing back and face real game pitching before activating him. Might have looked good to poor, but the "in game" experience would have aided his timing. I expect it will take a while to see anything productive out of his bat. With that said, he'll probably hit a game winning HR his first night back, lol.

Only the Angels broadcast tonight?

Not sure, but wasn't he hitting about the same or worse this time last season? I agree he's been miscast as a leadoff hitter. But he's been there for 3 reasons. 1] He's been productive there. 2] He's indicated a preference for the spot, though he bas never demanded he hit there. 3] Honestly, other than Mauer, there really hasn't been anyone better for the role. I've argued for some time now he'd be even more productive hitting anywhere from 2-5, and you could make arguments for any of those spots for him. I feel his production the past few season's goes way beyond his HR totals. Never a great hitter or OB guy, his numbers are generally solid. But there are are tons of doubles mixed in with good beginning and SB as well. I just think he's a smart hitter/player who learns to make adjustments. And I believe he will yet again. Absolutely don't want to turn this in to yet another "keep him, trade him, let him walk" thread, but my father and I were discussing BD, Mauer and Escobar at length the other night. The payroll is in a good place, and not at the MLB mean. There is serious money coming off the books each of the next couple of years, even with raises. There really should be no reason the Twins cant keep all 3, barring some huge demands.

Hooding Ceremony. I consider myself a pretty intelligent individual. Most people...on most but certainly not all days...would consider me a pretty intelligent individual. Maybe it's just growing up in the 80's or in smaller towns, but my initial thoughts were or his car getting a new paint job, OR, something pertaining to a White Snake video clip.

Thanks Seth. What a great story! How on earth does an undrafted kid from a small NAIA school jump straight to high A ball like that and produce? Wow! Let's hope he can learn to really receive!

Sort of. (Patting myself on the back...hope I don't regret it later, lol). About .500 to start the season with so many young pkayers and new additions to begin the season before the team gels and takes off. Just so damn frustrating the injuries, bad weather, and pure poor performance against lesser teams like the Rays and Reds. Great 2 game series win! Little confused about Morrison batting lead instead of the resurgent Grossman. Love the comments by Molitor, post game, speaking about the bullpen, when he talked about people being so anxious about results vs SSS in the early season vs past results. Biggest mistake the FO made in the off season, IMO, was signing Escobar for one season. This team still misses Sano and Buxton. (Long term, Polanco as well). But honestly, Buxton is missed most at this point. I really think we are ready to roll about now. How much better can we be fully healthy?

I still go back to the game last season against, I believe it was Seattle, where he was staked to a BIG lead and kept letting the Mariners nibble away at the lead. Molitor came out for a mound visit, not the pitching coach, and it felt like a take but public tongue lashing. He was sent down soon after, or right after that game. When he came back, and began his impressive second half run, one of the things he talked about was taking a different demeanor to the mound. For those of us old enough to remember, (man I hate using that phrase!) Frank Viola found a similar epiphany, though at a younger age. Despite not having an exploding FB, Frank became convinced he was a "power" pitcher. He began to attack more and maintained that kind of mentality. I've even heard broadcasters other than those of the Twins speak about Gibson's stuff and if he could harness it. Later than we would have liked, but I think Gibson has developed a more confident, bulldog or attacking mindset. At this point, I don't think we are talking SSS any longer. I think we are actually looking at the maturation of a MLB starter.

No question he needs refinement, as most any young pitcher does. BIG and NASTY FB with a "change" in the low 90's and a slider in the high 80's. I hate to ask because it just sounds so incredulous, but is his change too hard? But I am confused because on the radio tonight I heard the announcers say he threw a curve. I didn't think he threw one. I'm assuming it was simply a mistake. Or am I mistaken?

First: Great win! I mean, all the components were there, what else can you say? Second: We often joke when someone gets hurt, or performs poorly, (to ease the pain of course), with a comment such as "Why can't we have nice things?" The truth is...despite that horrendous stretch and some current injuries and the Polanco suspension, UGH...we have a LOT of nice "things" on this team. (Buxton and Sano healthy and figuring a few things out could actually have us borderline ecstatic and bouncing off walls!) Romero looks almost too good to be true! Except, I don't think that's the case. We've heard and read for some time now good he could be. He flashed in ST. He looks poised in control of himself on the mound. Reminds me very much of Berrios. (Although maybe he's a bit more relaxed that Berrios? At least at comparable points in their career) But please, let's not wig out or get despondent when he inevitably has a rough game or two, or a stretch. It's natural. Third: And perhaps I'm as carried away as anyone with "Romero Fever", but I was thinking tonight while listening to the game about his "expected" IP limit for this season. He pitched 90 innings in 2016 and jumped to 125 in 2017 when his season ended on a somewhat down note with shoulder issues, though they were reported to be, and appear to have been, mild in nature. Considering a normal growth arc, could/should we expect another jump in IP to around 160? For a young, rookie pitcher I think that would be a fair total. Combined in this young season, he's at 33 IP thus far between Rochester and his 2 wonderful starts with the Twins. If he can average 6 IP per start, for math sake, that puts him at a total of just over 26 total starts for the season. Not bad, but not in the 30-32 start category you'd want from a rotation fixture. Of course, he's young, a rookie, and only joined the team a week ago. The whole point being, no matter his talent, great start, or how well he pitches the rest of the way, I wonder if the opportunity will exists to skip him one time still the first half, catch a break around the All Star game, and maybe skip a turn in the second half to keep him as fresh as possible come September. A bit of too forward thinking? Perhaps. But it just got me wondering.

OK if you do so with tequila in your mouth. Adds flavor.

Couple things: 1] Listened to part of the game but wasn't able to watch until the last 3 innings. Sounds like Romero was terrific! 2] The offense continues to round in to form. 3] No clue who Magill is, looked up MLB and milb numbers the other day and still don't have a clue who he is. But I'll be darned if this mystery man hasn't been impressive thus far. 4] Been told I am a great kisser. Believe years of experience have taught me a good number of places to kiss a woman. But I want Joe's list of 74 to compare notes damnit!

Great write up! Thanks! Whiffing or not, this team misses both Sano and Buxton. Probably Buxton more at this point. But I'm encouraged by the last 3 games even if it was Chicago. It was on the road and we blew the Reds series at home.

Want the Twins to win, of course, and don't want there to be a NEED in the rotation. But it sure would be nice to see both Romero and Gonsalves get their opportunities this year to be a part of the future.

Good news for him and the Twins. There are so very few military personnel that would ever truly be affected by a legitimate chance to play professional sports that I always felt a workable solution for something like this, or finishing their comitment in a reserve capacity made the most sense. It also can be used as a recruiting tool. For example, when David Robinson was allowed to do so, DID anyone, anywhere, not know about his Navy backstory? His nickname was the Admiral for goodness sake. Now, how his overall prospect status has been affected is probably too hard to define. He does/did have some potential. Teams will take talented players wherever they can get them. If he turns out to be a quality pitcher at 27 instead of 24-25, I don't think the Twins, or anyone else, would simply turn a blind eye. But it IS a good story.

Good game and even better final result. Don't look now, but some hitters are starting to heat up, the pitchers are rounding in to form, and the team has been playing much better. You can say it's only 3 wins against the "Dirty Sox", but it was on the road and the lowly Reds were at home. Reed looked good as has looked good most all season. But he's been used hard, and RP will have stumbles here and there, and poor days become magnified due to the nature of their role. Ditto for Rodney, who has started rough in years past. Duke has looked much better of late, as has Hildenberger. I really like the way Molitor has adjusted his lineup lately due to injury and slumps. There is no question I'd like to see Buxton and Sano back healthy and in the lineup. But with Rosario and Kepler having fine seasons, along with Mauer and Dozier, (overall), the offense is beginning to show signs of life again. Now, Buxton needs to heat up, and Sano needs to quit pantomining as a windmill, but no question the offensive potential is still there for this team. (Eventually Polanco comes back to deepen the lineup and roster flexibility). Said it before the season began, said it a week or so ago during the slump and will repeat it again: I predicted this team would hover around .500 for the beginning of the season, (not expecting that horrendous streak), and then would begin to tell and take off as the youth and new veterans began to gel as a team. This could be the start.

Agreed. I believe he will soon pass Granite as the best and most likely 4th OF on the team, barring any trade options, of course. But I think you'd agree you don't want him as a 4th OF NOW. Maybe as a fill-in, but not a "full time" reserve.

Seth, I've always had the feeling Jorge was one more refined pitch away from being a legitimate mid to back end rotation starter. But the way things stack up NOW, and the time he's missing this season, would you agree it seems more likely now he projects as a quality RP option?

Not pretending to be "in the know" here by any means, but I'd offer a point and counter-point here: Pont: He's coming off a fine season at AA, tearing things up there again, and he should already be at Rochester. His defense has to be better than Grossman, he offers, potentially, as good or better offense, and he could play almost daily until Buxton is back allowing for better roster/lineup flexibility. Counter-point: He's only 24, about the right age for AA, is only beginning his 3rd full season of milb, seems to be developing more power this season, would require another 40 man roster move, there may be some small issues in regard to defense or beginning and the like the Twins are waiting to show improvement. (I may be mistaken, but wasn't he a little light vs LHP last season?) Not arguing for or against his being brought up at this time. I'm glad to see Gonsalves and Littrell up at AAA quickly, and hope to see Gordon and Wade both join them very soon. (I think the Twins have been very aggressive with Romero). I just think there are a lot of moving parts and scenarios to be considered other then "promote him and play him as a regular for the short term because he could do better than what's filling in now." Not even sure we'd be having this conversation if not for the unfortunate injury to Granite. If the Twins have been slow in promotions this season in any way, I'd say it's in regard to the pen. I just don't have long term faith in Magill or Hughes and I think I'd rather rotate through the AAA roster for those final 2 spots until someone takes hold of the job.

Berrios and Romero as legitimate #2's who pitch like a #1 at times would be really good, IMO. But I haven't given up on Berrios still establishing himself as a true #1. He hasn't looked as good the last couple of times out, but has great stuff, the right make-up, and is still very young and developing. The depth is so very encouraging. Anyone have the latest on Jorge?

Fabulous start by Lynn and needed for the team as much as himself. Despite the injuries forcing changes, I like the way Molitor has the lineup right now. Rosario is back on track and Morrison has been warming up as well. This was a really nice game for the good guys. But honestly, what playoff caliber team has a toasted Hughes and a Magill/who in their bullpen? Even in a big win with a big lead they each had to allow a run.

Too bad really. He seems like the kind of good guy you really want to root for. He obviously loves the game. His signing was a good one and probably should have spring boarded him to the best 3-5 year stretch of his career. But stuff happens. And unfortunately, it's time to move on for all involved.

The athleticism, the attitude, the ethic and natural offensive ability screams potential and promotion. I haven't had a chance to watch him defensively save a couple innings in one televised ST game. What I did see in those couple innings looked smooth with one outstanding play where he fielded a grounder behind second base and shot it to 1B with a strong and accurate throw. He may be young and un-refined, but that tiny sample size showed me he has the ability to stick at SS, at least. Let's get him up to FTM by June 1st. (Also makes room for Javier).

I missed the game. But from game reports, he was as you stated he was. All reports also indicate he has the stuff. And while I expect hiccups here and there, I sure hope the Twins will stick with him and keep giving him opportunities, even if it ends up meaning a shuttle back to Rochester before a ride back up again. Ditto for Gonsalves who will get his shot at some time as well.

Nice article and an interesting perspective considering what the season has brought thus far Not going to comment on final record or playoff chances, mostly because some things are simply unpredictable and out of the Twins hands. BUT...to comment on the primary points: ROTATION: No Johan. But a return of the current Santana, approximating who he has been the past few seasons, is a big boost. Berrios is talented I just don't worry about a few hiccups in the long term. Odorizzi is solid. Bang him if you will, but NOTHING in Lynn's resume says he's this bad. And let's be honest, going back to about mid season '17, this is the best Gibson has ever pitched. We may be beyond SSS at this point. The depth here is better than 2006. TOP ROOKIE PERFORMER: Maybe. Maybe Romero. Maybe Gonsalves. Maybe both to carrying degrees as each begins to establish themselves in 2018 to help and build for the future. HIGH-OCTANE BULLPEN: Reed is good! Pressly has shown flashes, and may have finally found himself. Rodney? Ugh! But at the same time, he did this last year in April too, as you mentioned, but his past 4 seasons may be the best of his career. The wheels will come off one day, doesn't mean now. Duke has been awful, but also nasty. He's looked much better as of late. Hildenberger, IMO, is a key. Better the past couple of appearances. Rogers in a rut, but he's shown before. And established or not, there are arms bouncing between the Twins and Rochester that have life. MVP-OFFENSE-DEFENSE IN GENERAL: Guys out, bad weather, weird start to the season, some tough luck and weird bounces. Fine. But no more excuses defensively! Just get your sh** together and play the defense you showd las year! Sano has all the makings of a stud hitter, whether at 3B, 1B, DH, etc. He's still young, no matter what arguement you want to make. Don't tell me his scandal and rehab haven't had an effect. To give up on him at this point is a fools errand. As to the rest of the offense, there is just so much damn talent here in Rosario, Buxton, Kepler, Dozier, Escobar, Mauer and even Morrison you can't just fold tents due to frustration. FINAL THOUGHTS: Come on people! I'm frustrated beyond belief with the rest of you! I'm pretty much P.O. at what I've been seeing the past 2 weeks. But it's 2018, not 2016. From top to bottom, this roster is better than '16 and even better than '17, taken as a whole. Rotation and bullpen wise, there are some really interesting arms to audition as well, even if they aren't lights out in first appearance. (I do object somewhat to 2 games played and shipped out again on the shuttle). The Indians sucked for a time on '17 before cranking it up. Remember when the '17 Dodgers couldn't buy a win with their millions for a time? Hate to sound like the proverbial roses and sunshine guy when I've seen and smelled a lot of urine the past couple of weeks, but really look at the roster, overall, and some of the weird crap that has marked the first 1/5 of the season.