DocBauer

OK...new ballgame again

<~~~~waving

If there was ever a time for Buck's second hit off the Yankees....

Oak, maybe we're not done yet!

Just got home. Sick in bed yesterday. Super excited and went a bit nuts when I saw what happened tip of the 1st! Then I started to feel a different kind if sick in the bottom of the first. [sigh] I just don't know if I can watch this game.

As an aside which is truly not part of this thread...still don't understand the dislike for Castro as our catcher or even Giminez as the backup. Since Mauer had to move, this the best duo we have had. Imperfect but solid. Throw out the baby and the bathwater because neither was clean enough? I think not.

I also have him on the roster and starting at DH. I probably bat him 5th or 6th or 7th...but I trust the talent and the one big hit potential. He's just too good not to.

I tend to agree here. I don't mind they did it, not that big a deal at the end of the season and all, in a game pretty much meaningless, but I'm sort of the "seen it before" before mindset. Meh.

I know this sounds trite...sorry for that...but it comes down to mojo. Santana has had an outstanding year, almost beat the Yankees last go, and needs to be in solid form. Personally, I like him over the Yankees youngster based on experience. But my gut reaction is this game comes down to which offensive Twins team shows up. As much as I love this team, and all they have done, and as much as they have produced, they are still a bit Jekyl and Hyde. ON, working counts, XB and HR power, speed and baserunning, they are dangerous as hell. But they have those annoying games when they just can't get the hit, or even sac fly needed, to score a run or blow the game open. My hunch is the game comes down to the Twins offense.

Absolutely love So-long Sano! Big believer in him offensively and defensively and have been banging the drum for some time now. But the timing just stinks! THREE games to get ready and doesn't start Friday's game. No matter how talented, can he shake the rust off to actually help in a little over two games?

Rogers is good. Still young and overused the first half, definitely. Busentiz and Hildenberger are rookies with barely half a season at the ML level and looking like they have quality futures. Is Curtiss ready? I don't know. The milb track record and stuff say he's a guy to watch, for sure. To say he's nothing, as implied in another post, is ridiculous at this point. I'm OK with Belisle back, or Kintzler, for a veteran presence, but not both. There HAS to be a veteran FA out there, under 30 or around 30, that could be an upgrade. FA improvement, one of Belisle or Kintzler, Rogers, Busentiz and Hildenberger gives you 5. At some point in 2018 you have Bard, Reed, Jay, Chargois and even Burdi maybe. I still hold on to Pressly. Except for a couple bad moments...they happen...hes been so much better the past few months and has a real arm. Duffey could be an ideal long/middle/swing man, has options, and is worth keeping. I'm not saying don't make a move or two, but the second half bullpen has been very different than the first half.

Best thing I think you've written John! Outstanding! Continued growth, one more quality SP, and a couple bullpen arms to be added or emerge and we could be a legitimate contender next season. (Not to sound like I'm disparaging this season, just optimistic for what is to come).

Don't want to mess with guys and get them out of rhythm, but wouldn't mind a Slegers start if it helps set the rotation up, or a few games of Garver, Granite and maybe Goodrum

While I also agree they didn't do a lot personell wise to build this club, I can't fault them for the moves they made at the deadline. They brought in a couple interesting young players for 2 future FA, one replaceable and one who was barely with the club. Further a couple moves such as Gee and Colon really helped out. This is addition to Castro and even Giminez, who gave us an improvement at a starting position, and a solid, experienced backup. Something we haven't had lately. I also agree some of the coaching moves seem to have paid excellent dividends. We talk at times about things like chemistry and leadership, I'm a believer in both. And while it truly comes down to speculation, observation and opinion in place of any true measurable, this team believes in itself, enjoys playing together and has a never die attitude. I think it's fair to give some chemistry building and leadership praise to Castro, Giminez, Belisle and even Castro. The true test comes this off season though. Can they make a couple key additions to keep moving this club forward without trading off the system or handcuffing the team with poor FA choices. Thus far, my impression is they will be aggressive, but within reason, and not mortgaging the future. Really anxious to see what they come up with.

Way to go Buck!

Nice Kepler. He WILL hit LH in time.

Bullpen question: We need to acquire another SP. Period. Even with some talented kids getting close. There is a convincing argument to acquire a DH bat, who can hopefully fill in somewhere. The Twins have some BP arms like Rogers, Hildenberger, Busentiz and maybe Duffey and Pressly. Curtiss is close. Bard and Reed may be close. With a tiny bit of luck, Chargois and Jay will be ready soon, and Burdi by mid season maybe. There are a couple other interesting guys and a SP or two who could help. So how big do you go in the off season for BP help?

Man, I am so glad Dozier is still a Twin! I'd like to see him remain a Twin!

Colon is not a trainwreck. Performance and a lift for the team, we may.nit even be in this position without his contributions. Could he be running out of gas and not be as good against top playoff teams as a result? Yes. But he could prove very useful. I think the debate is, if you need that 4th SP, do you start the harder throwing Mejia on a short leash and have Colon as a veteran change of pace middle man, or start the experienced Colon on a short leash and have the hard throwing Mejia as a middle man?

Gibson's improvement/turnaround, IMO, is not an illusion. A former apologist who thought he would turn it around this season, I was ready to move on almost immediately at one point. I believe his turn around us due to a variety of factors: a change in regime and mechanics that took time to pay dividends, the move to the other side of the rubber, a different mix and reliability on his pitches (well documented here), Buxton noticing him opening his shoulder in a bullpen, and a different mental attitude that Gibson himself has spoken about. I think we're seeing a late maturation of a pitcher that many, not just Twins personnel or fans, have speculated in the past should be better than he was simply due to size, length and overall stuff. I think he's finally learning to really pitch, to have a better feel for his stuff, and to trust it and his defense more. Further, I can absolutely see a difference in his attitude on the mound. Between his demotion and the rather public butt chewing he got on the mound from Molitor against Seattle when the Twins had a big lead a couple of months ago, he has looked much "stronger" on the mound. Witness his recent game where his 1st inning was awful, (rumor had it he was squeezed but the ump as well), but proceeded to throw another solid 5 or 6 innings and not wilt. And there have been a couple other games with similar moments where the "old" Gibson may have caved in but stepped up. How good can be be the remainder of this season and next remains to be seen. But again, I don't think this is an illusion. I would probably include both Mejia AND Colon on a true playoff roster should we win the WC game. Despite experience and the success he has had and brought to the Twins this season, I'd keep Colon with the idea of joining Gee as a middle/long man. If I decided I needed a 4th SP, I'd go with the young, talented and harder throwing Mejia for 4-5 innings and piece it together from there.

It was a good look back. I think I predicted 77 wins, but I also stated something to the affect I could easily see 80-82 wins with health and a little more improvement here and there. Glad I was wrong, more or less, twice. 82 wins after sweeping Detroit today and a real shot at 85 and a virtual lock for the second WC spot. The entire team deserves credit for this, and I think it only fair to pay a few kudos to Molitor and his staff as well. Escobar is absolutely a part of this entire season, but also has stepped up big time the past month plus with Sano down. I absolutely think he should be brought back next season. In fact, while I think it is time next season to run with Garver as the backup catcher, I think you could easily argue the entire roster should be back position wise. Now, could they and should they maybe look at a better DH/backup 1B option? Yes. But this a good and balanced roster with a ton of potential still be be fulfilled.

I absolutely am rooting for that final WC spot and a trip to the WC game. What an accomplishment for this team, especially after last season. And I don't buy in to whether or not the Twins ARE a true playoff team or not. They are playing winning baseball, are in the hunt, and have been most all season. If you are one of the top 5 teams, you are one of the top 5 teams. But even if they would lose to the Yankees again and not advance, or somehow far at the end and not make it, this season is a resounding success and the future is looking pretty bright for our favorite team.

Rodriguez is not a prospect, and I get that. This is a 2017 milb Twins all star team. With the exception of him, and arguably Beeker, (who's lack of pure stuff may not translate long term), it's a list of some interesting prospects. Despite Palacios season and talent, still a little surprised he got the nod over Gordon. Understand not including Zach Littell, (who I mistakenly revered to as Beeker in another post recently), due to his limited time in the organization. But a little surprised Beeker over Romero, and very surprised by Beeker over Slegers. Question #1: Are we sleeping a bit on White? Already 25, but is he a late bloomer with some upside? Or did he just have a nice season. Question #2: Considering Rooker's potential and pretty mad stats, are we looking at Chattanooga to begin 2018? Because it's looking that way to me.

A comment on Kepler: He's having a solid season. He has all the ability in the world. He runs well but lags behind Buxton and Rosario in pure speed. But I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes the best overall hitter of the three. I know hitting LH has been an issue. But I believe he will come around there. He has a great stroke, solid discipline, and his hands just look so good. One thing we can't forget is he practically skipped AAA, and despite his athletic gifts, he had a big hill to climb initially playing ball in Germany as a youth. I would honestly expect a breakout season in 2018 similar to Rosario this year.

Back on track...and late to posting...i love this post. And I've been on my soapbox all season about rolling with the kids on this team and giving them time. Once again, coming in to the season, Sano and Rosario were the most tenured of the youngsters and they had less than 800 ML AB! What's the old line? There are lies, damned lies, and statistics. You look hard enough and you can make stats say almost anything you want, pro or con. Is this a perfect team? No. Is there need and room to add a couple quality pieces? Absolutely. But this article underscores development, a team effort, further hope going forward, and the fact that some guys are not as bad, or having as bad a season as perhaps was perceived. Perspective people. Further development, adding another few pieces...I'd say 3...and this could very well be a 90 win team next season.