DocBauer

Didn't watch or listen to the game, but it obviously stunk. Why is it when the offense breaks out the pitching breaks down? I wouldn't dare blast Berrios for having an off day. But what about Joe? WOW! Did he just break out? Man I hope so! An actual presence at the top of the order really helps. I loved just about everything the FO did in 2017, (including some roster juggling), the draft, this past off season, and have some optimism for the draft this season, but they have made some moves this season that just leave me dumfouned! And I'm not talking Romero. They were surprisingly quick to promote him, give him a real opportunity, and his demotion is logical from the standpoint of the roster management game. But Belisle??? Not Slegers, Duffey, Reed, Curtiss, or any number of arms needing an opportunity. And now they DFA Jorge after he is finally back and beginning his rehab? The guy has decent potential as a back end starter or possible swing man. I need to find a wall to bang my head against.

While I have been in a dry spell for a time now, I write. I fell in love with poetry years ago and abandoned fiction it. I used to write a couple pieces weekly, and perform at open Mic. Never once had an employer come up to me and tell me my free time should be spent on work instead of my writing as it showed I wasn't serious about my job.

Well, I sure don't think they are buyers at this point. Not unless you are hedging bets against Garver and a full return of Castro next season and acquire a catcher. Said move wouldn't recesitate the team this year, but could be part of 2019 and beyond. If we just control angst for a moment born of frustration and disappointment, 2017 was not an aberration. Nor was this current team assembled poorly. Not everyone has a great year every season. Not every young player is a Trout, Harper, etc, who seems to blossom right out of the gate. With everything from talent, milb production, prospect lists, national write ups and rankings to what we have seen with out or own eyes as well as past performance, NOBODY would state that a team built on Rosario, Buxton, Kepler, Sano, Escobar, Dozier, Castro, Morrison and a re-surgant Mauer with an improved pitching staff would play and produce this poorly. NOBODY! But from ridiculous weather, games wiped out, injuries, suspension, weight gain, rehab, sudden regression, etc, this season has turned in to an almost laughable "what happens next" scenario. I absolutely agree, after the next 20-30 days, the Twins should be sellers if things don't start to fall in place better and we don't see some sort of surge. And I'm not just talking overtaking Cleveland. I'm talking about good ball, winning ball, and finishing strong. And I agree that anyone not signed beyond this season is fair game for trade, with the exception of Escobar. But to suggest the team should be blown up is kind of ridiculous to me. Not going to get overly long, or get in to a debate for each and every player, but there could be real arguments...if this team plays better going forward...to keep guys like Rodney and Duke. That doesn't mean you can't make or field calls to see what they would bring, however. Mauer isn't going anywhere, except to retirement if his latest episode can't be overcome. Reed has been an outstanding performer, but has been down lately. Bad season or over used? He has value in trade or to keep. What they need to do is move on from those they truly don't expect to be part of next season and get what they can. This includes Morrison, most likely, and Dozier, though I hate to see him go, Grossman, Santana and Lynn. Stay away from dumpster diving to finish the season and just cut bait on Belisle. The team doesn't have to be blown up. But win or lose, there are opportunities to do some selling and build toward 2019 by loading up the Rochester shuttle and take a real look at some guys.

First, angst can be dangerous. Opinions are great, but calm down folks. Second, and to the point, the problem with Sano, and Buxton since he's been brought in to this discussion, is clearly between the ears, IMO. And that is no insult, or a shot at either guy. BOTH are EXTREMELY talented with God-given ability and potential that most people, even high end baseball athletes, can only envy. Both flew through the system, as you would expect and hope for two such talented players. Buxton missed some time due to injuries, but performed so well, he was quickly promoted. Everything has come so easy for both of them, I have to wonder at times, if they truly honed all the knowledge they could before they hit the Show. This is all still my opinion, but I think it's an intelligent one watching both of them. Buxton cares so much, wants to do well so badly, that I think he's unsure of himself and pressing. At some point last season, he relaxed and his given ability took over. He got off to a rough start, which he has before and is not unprecedented in other players, then had the migraines then the toe injury, then trying to play through it, no wonder he's a bit of a mess right now. I have made excuses for Sano previously, and will again. He is a large, muscle bound young man who wears his weight well. He doesn't field his position poorly, charges balls very well, and bas a cannon for an arm that is almost always accurate. I won't pretend to be an expert physical therapist, or a shrink, but his surgery and recovery and controversy in the off season has to have weighed on him. That being said, what happens NOW? It's up to him. Eventually, for healthy and mobility, he absolutely needs to get in better shape. Even a large, muscular DH/1B has to have some flexibility and endurance to swing the bat and endure a full 162 game season much less play 3B. He also needs to recognise ML pitchers are there for a reason. They make adjustments. Will He? And will he accept this demotion as the opportunity that it is? Not sure how Kepler got brought in to this whole discussion, but I will address a few things regarding him as well. Who believes his signing as a teenager playing ball in Germany was in any way the equivalent of being a top HS prospect selected in the draft? Who remembers he barely played at AAA before making his ML debut? Who has watched him in the field, or at the plate, and seen the natural athleticism and quick hands with a smooth stroke? I LOVE Rosario and was on his bandwagon years ago. But when it comes to just pure ability and potential, I think Kepler is second to only Buxton. Why the hell he can suddenly only hit LHP is like a Leoarnd Nimoy "in search of" episode from the 80's. But this kid has mad potential. And I still feel he's, learning on the job, as he has been the last couple of seasons. Is he better served with a trip to AAA? I don't know. Who do you replace him with? IMO, Buxton will be OK when he learns to relax. At this point, I'm OK with a month of AAA. Kepler will be fine once he figures a few things out. We have a whole half season to play folks! The question is Sano. Will he embrace this "re-set" as a punishment? Or as an opportunity to be healthy, get in shape, work at recognizing counts and pitches, and move forward?

Agreed. Motter is still pretty young. He has talent, potential and versatility. Of course, he also can't hit a lick. And agreed, with Polanco back soon, Motter is pretty much dismissable soon. Maybe nobody claims him and he sticks with Rochester. But while we're at it, can't we just admit Belisle was a mistake and move on? Can't the FO and ownership just admit they made a mistake, hoping they would get the same guy they had last season but missed on this one? You have arms that need to be auditioned for the rest of this season and next. Just get on with it already!

Your team should always try to get better. We saw some real talent and potential in Mejia last season and I also believed he was penciled in the rotation. But he did struggle putting away hitters at times and some big pitch counts in certain innings. I saw enough to tell me he has enkugh stuff to be a bona fide, quality rotation piece. But they got a decent, solid ML SP in Odorizzi for next to nothing, and Lynn sort of fell in their laps. Me His didn't have a great ST as I recall. I like Mejia quite a bit, and think at absolute worst, his stuff plays up as a high quality RP. But I think he will get ANOTHER shot, and it might come soon, to give Romero a small breather and conserve his IP. I'm also a big Gonsalves believer despite a few clunkers this season. I also like Littell's potential, but not sure he's quite ready yet. And while many will argue with me, I like Slegers as well. He could be a perfect fit as a long and swing man. But Mejia and Gonsalves are ahead of those two. And if Romero is going to get a despite, Mejia is the logical next guy up.

Except for Seattle and N.Y., could we just play .500 teams and above for the rest of the season? Why on earth, with all the injuries and disappointing performances this season, does this team seem to play better, and even win, against quality teams and just stink against losing teams? 1] Just not our year. 2] This is funny game.

I really wanted the team to keep Goodrum. I really thought he had a chance to be an unspectacular but very solid and versatile bench player. Maybe the ideal 25th man. The guy the Twins wanted DanSan to be. I wasn't crazy about the chicks for Murphy trade as I felt there was a lot of untapped potential there. But I was rather "meh" as Hicks looked lost, the Twins needed some catching depth, and Murphy looked like a decent get at the time. I think we just flat out lost that trade. It happens. Stinks, but it happens. Thought we gave up on Rosario too soon. Time will tell. On a much smaller scale, I was really disappointed to let John Hicks slip away. He was the kind of player I wanted to sign over Wilson this past off season. Really, anyone else on the list isn't worth worrying about. Not that they are necessarily good or bad, but, regretting Span after so long a time is lime the White Sox regretting Escobar. After a time, it just is what it is.

I've always been a supporter and believer, but I too was running out of patience the first half of 2017. I always thought he got a bit of a bum rap. So what if his debut wasnt good. Neither was Berios's or many other young pitchers. Go look at his 2014 and 2015 seasons, his first 2 full seasons. (And his 2014 season he missed behind a rookie by about 1 IP). 2014 was solid, 2015 was better. The wheels came off in 2016, but they did for the entire team. Poor performances, a trip to Rochester, something clicked mid season last year. Sort of reminds me of Viola back in the day when he was finally convinced he was a power pitcher and attack vs nibble. This is no longer a SSS. This is the pitcher we always wanted him to be. And he has a chance to be this guy for a good 2-4 years.

Question: Where does the nickname "Scooby" come from?

The retaliation BS for intentionally hitting a player with a hard, quickly moving object is just that, BS. I've really liked Escobar for some time now. Not yet 30 and keeps getting better. He's just a really good and versatile ballplayer. A real professional. I'm not picking on anyone, but what would Sano be like if his overall work and approach was more like Escobar's? But then again, we didn't know this was the player we were getting when we traded for him.

First, we all should be very happy for the results in the first 2 games of the series. Don't let passion and disappointment for this game ruin how well we did against Boston and the Indians. Second, I am NOT a fan of the Besisle move at all. And that's not intended as an insult. Remember when nobody wanted him last season and be got off to a horrible start and then pitched very well the rest of the season and even performed well as the closer? I understand the signing. I just think it was wrong! Go ahead and keep Magill in his role of you really feel his long/mid relief role is appropriate. (But he still shouldn't go so long between appearances if you really think he can pitch). But for goodness sake, there are some arms in AAA just begging for an opportunity. Just because they aren't arms on 22-23yo fireballers who consistently hit 95mph doesn't mean they aren't viable! Duffey has destroyed at AAA this year. He pitched poorly first time up, pitched excellent the second time up, but was sent down for a fresh arm after a long outing. Same thing happened with Slegers. But Belisle is a better alternative? What about Busentiz, Moya and Curtiss? Or even Bard. Maybe Reed needs to show a little more, but the potential is still there. At this point, does trusting/auditioning some of these arms really bring more losses than over using Reed and Pressly? Or could those guys actually perform better if used better and we might actually find a nice young arm or two for today and tomorrow?

1] Molitor falls in love with guys performing well that he "knows". 2] Molitor can be stubborn about roles, IMO, and keeps holding MaGill out to be the long guy. Having defined roles for the pen is not a bad thing. But when guys gets overworked or slump, it's time to be flexible and creative.

The improvement in pitching this season from previous ones is tremendous. Despite such a horrible start to the season, Lynn has been a part of that improvement, including the in season improvement listed in the OP. And all of this without Santana. It may simply be too late, but how much more fun can the rest of this season be with even a normalization on offense.

I'm not going to disagree with this a bit. I think for both of them, things came so easily that flaws in their game...and developmental time lost here and there to injury...was ignored.

Great post! I won't hide, I have been mostly supportive of most all moves the FO has made while in charge. While certainly arguable, I think most personnel moves have been smart. I really liked last year's draft, FA and trade moves made both seasons, and most of the Rochester shuttle moves made at times. I think they've been intelligent and long-sighted when it comes to building the organization for the long haul. But I still don't understand the Mientkiewicz move. Clearly, there was some personality or philosophical difference that couldn't be resolved. And that's too bad. Is it damning to the FO? I would say no. In any business, change brings about change, even if it means change we don't always like to see. But I think we lost a good baseball man there. Further exasported by the loss of Mauer. But that still seems to be a personal choice, and not a decision by the FO.

I hate to drive in the middle of the road, but I think here in year 4 the jury is still out. I never thought Molitor was a great choice, but never thought he was a bad choice either. No questioning his career, of his baseball IQ, or his relatownships and knowledge of the young core players scheduled to arrive in Minnesota. But he also had zero experience as a manager at any level. I still believe he's learning as he goes along. That's a good thing, but also a bit frightening as were talking about MLB and not being groomed in the minors to lead the parent club. He lead the team to surprising competition in 2015. He lead the team to the horrific 2016 finish in which it seemed all the wheels came off. We can talk modest improvement in record from 2015 to 2017, but not only are they different teams/season's, there was a whole year in between! Rowson was given tremendous credit for the work he did last season. Now that our offense resembles a weathered skelton in the desert, he's a poor instructor? Just using him as another example of good vs bad and where does the responsibility and culpability reside with Molitor, and his coaches, vs injury and the performance of the players themselves? This team was built pretty impressively, top to bottom, if simply looking at the pieces put in place. Please don't talk to me about other teams dealing with slumps and injuries. Every team is it's own microcosm unto itself. And every team weathersm or doesn't weather, poor season's and injuries differently. One team collapses, another has a top prospect emerge and a couple guys with career seasons to compensate. 5 supposed fixtures in the Twins lineup have missed significant time and/or attempted to play with injury, or been lost to suspension. Add to that the rotation's elder statesman and best pitcher the past few season's has yet to make even a single appearance. (Less of a factor now, maybe, but is part of the equation). Sano is so talented, and things have come so easy for him, maybe he was due to have a reboot, "come down to earth" moment. But the keg injury, surgery, rehab and off season situation is not Monitor's doing. Nor is Castro. Nor is Polanco. Nor is Mauer. I seriously doubt either Molitor or Rowson told Morrison to underperform well below his career numbers. Or tell Dozier to have the coldest start he's ever had. Take away the toe injury, and maybe Buxton just started slow and would already have shaken his funk and be hitting the same way he did last season. Maybe this just isnt our season. Baseball is funny that way. If it sounds like I'm defending Molitor, I am not. I am simply taking a long look at the realities of this season. Again, this team is built better, overall, than any we've seen in some time. Especially in the area of pitching. And the responsibility still falls, mostly, fair or unfair, on his shoulders. I think he's been stubborn at times to play with his lineup. I still think he falls in love with and abuses guys in the pen instead of asking for re-inforcements. Maybe with all the offensive struggles the team has had, this was the wrong time to abandon some of his small ball principles. And the team, as a whole, seemed more fundamentally sound in 2017. So what is the answer? Mauer is back. Polanco will be back soon, perhaps with some rust. Buxton will be back, hopefully, healthy this time. Erg should be back in the second half to help. There are some arms in Rochester to help. This is the best staff Molitor has had. Rosario and Escobar are very good, and keepers. Dozier and Morrison are just not this bad. It all comes down to the next 3 1/2 months of play. There is something to be said for an even keel. And there is something to be said for tossing the bats in to the shower! If this team rights itself and plays ball the next 3 1/2 months like we've seen them play before, (and have at times this season), playoffs or not, I'd say he's earned next season. If not, I'd say he's a highly intelligent, articulate, HOF ballplayer who just doesn't translate to being a ML manager.

I hear you Seth and won't disagree entirely. I liked the Cave move. Being able to bring back Vargas, who I have been a supporter of in the past, seemed nice. But Carter was an afterthought. Wilson seemed smart, and would be smarter without the Castro injury. Petit and Featherstone just don't move the needle for me. They fill out the Rochester roster, but just didn't feel they offered legitimate depth. Maybe he just wanted to move on, but Goodrum would have been a real nice re-sign to me. Maybe money vs opportunity just didn't line up. I would have liked to see a Buscher type, or an Aybar sticking around. I just felt there was enough of a depth/opportunity situation to bring in a couple more experienced AAAA guys for depth.

Forgive my math as I was distracted, but I did a little research and found the Twins at 16-20 vs teams with an above .500 record. (My math has us with 1 extra loss that shouldn't be there, though I'm not sure if the extra loss is against a winning team or not). What I found frustrating is I almost believe in a curse against the Yankees, 0-4 for the season. But we are 1-6 vs the Mariners. Of the other above .500 teams, we are 15-10. Have we taken care of business? Not at all! There will always be outliers where you just beat up on or suck against certain teams in certain years. Which means, ultimately, we are what we are at this point. Sorry, wish I had better news. I think it still comes back to the 1 run games and what happens going forward. This was a GREAT second win for the weekend! I didn't get to watch the game. Can someone tell why Romero came out of the game so early?

Can't like this post enough! Yes, we are all so totally confounded and frustrated by the Sano we have seen this season! But we have all watched him closely since day ONE! We've watched him through his milb career and his MLB career. If you want to frustrate yourself more, as well as tease and tantalize yourself, go look at what Sano has produced the last 3 season's. Even not yet living up to his full potential and expectation, we are SO MUCH BETTER with him. Weight, dedication, injury and titanium rod and rehab, off season controversy, everything comjng so relatively easy for him at this point...take your pick...he needs the reboot he's getting right now. He can be very, very good. Or he can be a future HOF type player. Its up to him. But RIGHT NOW, yes, your point is taken and they are better off without him in the temporary.

I echo "great post", though a game late now. My only argument is Duke as a LOOGY. For his career, he's been equally effective against both sides of the plate.

Doubt we should be concerned about May unless told otherwise. This is still about getting full strength back and getting in to a routine, I would expect things lime irritation or inflammation to be normal here and there. I've always thought he might help, in some capacity, the second half of this season, with an eye toward a bigger role, potentially, in 2019. Motter is just a fill-in who still has a little potential and can play almost anywhere. Guys out and the Sano demotion means we need another utility guy. Of course, I have stated before the one area where I feel the FO failed was not constructing a better AAA player roster. Still not sure I understand LaMarre over Cave unless they just trust his defense more at this point and want the RH bat. I am expecting a big second half from Ft Myers!

Must be saving Magill for later in the series for a higher pressure situation. (Yes, that is sarcasm). Trust the guy or get someone else. I like Rogers. His stuff is pretty good. But he's just so damn inconsistent! Other than being another LH bat, I think they should have kept Cave up. Bigger bat and some actual potential. Maybe they just like LaMarre's defense better? Great for Gibson! Has to feel like the monkey is off his back.

Falvine, I believe it was, during a game broadcast shortly after the draft also commented they definitely believe he stays behind the plate. His approach to hitting not only sounds good, but that power and OB are mighty impressive for anyone, much less a catcher. I find it very interesting he mostly called his own game. It's been my understanding that fewer and fewer college catchers are doing that, deferring to the bench.

I applaud this move for many reasons. This is not a punishment, nor should it be viewed that way. This is a mental and physical time out to work on his eye, approach, and just get back to being the talented and dangerous hitter he can be. What I am NOT a fan of is sending down Cave. He's got much more potential than LaMarre and doesn't look the least out of place. Unless this about a RH vs LH bat, I'd of kept Cave.