DocBauer

While TD is absolutely THE place to be, overall, for content and information, I have and do continue to read both PP and Twinkie Town and find both of them to have good writing and interesting perspectives. My only complaint, trivial as it may be considering times change and I find a tremdous fill of milb daily content here at TD, was Twinkie Town used to have a very good daily write up as well from...forgive me if I'm wrong...Josh??? Regardless, I enjoy the other sites very much as well, but I do not post or comment at either location as this is "home" to me and a much more intimate format. I also do check out the PP, but look at the Trib less and less, though some of that is the pay wall situation, which I understand. What I find truly amazing, (blowing the TD horn again), is the level of information, breakdown, evaluation and opinion. Even those I don't agree with have valid and intelligent opinions. I sometimes roll my eyes when Parker posts a breakdown piece, LOL, not because it's not outstanding but I can almost become lost at the intricacies of what he posts. (Swear the guy should be working for the Twins!) While I know this piece is about the positives and not the negatives, I have to say, I am out off and borderline disturbed by the Souhan "attack" piece. IMO, I saw nothing innately wrong with his initial Sano weight-issue piece. He brought up a point worth at least considering. Though it could be debated the timing might not have been the best. What bothers me is, he's a columnist, right? So he posts opinion just as much, if not more, than fact. So people at TD did not agree? And he chooses to not only attack TD, it's writers, as well as those of us who share, comment and respond, but to actually belittle everyone involved. In his response piece, he recites that he was responding to "informed" individuals within the Twins organization sharing concern. But as I recall, his original piece felt more like opinion. And if he is so informed, so astute and professional...as he clearly implies...then why is he so threatened by all us basement dwelling bloggers/fans/thinkers as to manifest such an attack/defensive piece of diatribe? Maybe he had a bad day? OK. But while, professionally speaking, he does not have to be an actual Twins fan, (professional objectivity and all), can he not be a fan of writing, opinion and information from various sources other than his own? Off my soapbox, kinda, isn't it interesting that a "professional" goes on a defensive attack while a basement dwelling blogger takes the time to respond by praising not only Mr. Souhan, not other writers and content related sites? I will continue to read all sources available, as I am a lifelong Twins junkie and want to know all I can. But the class and character of TD, and it's "cousin" sites only re-inforces to me the wealth and depth of information and quality writing that is available for the Twins world.

Berrios pitching too well not to get some support.

Rosario!

OMG...I am so stupid! Lol But man enough to admit I am. I just GOT the ice cream commercial on MLB. I always missed the part where Sale said the ice cream was on him. NOW I get it! (Shaking head)

Ummm....maybe I'm an inning early? Lol

Can't look like a genius if I don't take a shot. Lol

Need some Twin angels in the OF. Come on Harmon!

Twins just about ready to break this game open. Can just feel it.

Crap

Kind of amazing that another indoor park can make the old Metrodome look almost nice

Nice! Can't wait until Berrios really figures out what he's doing

I never get tired of seeing Kepler stroke the ball or Buxton running with hair and cleats on fire!

Anyone else have have problems at times trying to post and then being told your post is empty? I'm sitting here staring at a post and all the words I typed...can see the words...and remember typing them...but it says it's empty. Do I just have a curse with electronics?

Really stinks to have lost 2 very close games to the Royals, when we have been playing much better at home, and could have won either/both games. But they've been good on the road year, and there is just not quit in this team! They really believe in themselves. Been a couple days, so, I will say thjs again..."I just love this team!" Despite the injury to Sano, despite the injury to Buxton, despite Kepler missing a few games, despite the injury to Castro, despite to the solid and talented young Mejia, they just keep playing good ball and putting up a winning record. The bullpen has really stabilized, despite the trade of Kintzler, as have 4 spots in the rotation, (Man...sure hope I didn't just curse Gibson). Really, really happy to see Slegersbgetting another shot, (He deserves it), and hope like he'll he gets some rope after his first start and his AAA season. I mean, a prospect with a great season or Gee? I'm going with the prospect with potential and shift Gee back to the pen no problem! Let's play some ball!

Brilliant! And I mean it. Everyone, go back and read this Again! I mean, a lot of the beauty of sports is perspective. Use the analogy above and think about HOF QB Tarkenton. He "lost" 3 Super Bowls. But he absolutely re-wrote the passing records in a generation of a 14 game season predicated on the running game and stout defenses that could practically mug receivers. But Favre broke all of his records in a 16 game season format in a pass happy league, with MAJOR changes in pass interference and contact/holding rules with the most PA attempts in the history of the league. Perception. Perception. But back to the topic, who the hell IS Gibson? From day 1 we thought we got a steal! He practically skyrocketed through the minors, and our imaginations, as to who he might become. And there were demands he come up early, after to TJ and recovery. And surprise, surprise, he stunk when he did. (Stunk? Stank? Whatever). Then, he looked pretty good. Then he looked even better! And we dared to be tantalized with hope! And then he stunk/stanked again! A few of us dared to believe and told everyone else to do the same. We said, this guy has the makings of a solid, quality SP yet. Others, outside of TD said the same thing. He worked hard to get healthy after 2016, change his conditioning, his approach, his delivery, and be teased us in ST. And then the season began and he stunk. He was sent to the minors and probably brought back too soon. But something began to happen. He had a bad game against Seattle where he had a lead and continued to pitch poorly. Molitor went to the mound and publicly, though "nicely" chewed his butt. He didn't pitch great, but he pitched better. He followed it up shortly after with his best performance of the year to date before being sent down again to create roster flexibility. Once back again, he threw way, way too many pitches, and left after 4 or so innings, but with low scores and his team in the game. He even got his fair share of SO. And then suddenly, he still got the SO, but was pitching 6-7 innings. And we are baffled. Who is this Gibson guy? I'm still not sure why he was pulled tonight, Saturday, after 6 blank innings thrown and only 81 pitches thrown. But he is on a roll. And I have to confess to you as a past Gibson apologist, who was ready to DFA him a few weeks ago, I'm suddenly scared to let him walk. Is it really possible that a change in mechanics, a move to the other side of the rubber, experience, even a public ass chewing by Molitor, has lead him to a "bloom" point in his career?

Anyone else read the article in the Pioneer about Buxton and choking up on the bat? Apparently he was messing around in the cage, choked up a bit, and really liked the results. This was just before the break, and he's hit .349 with 9HR since then with a .402 BABIP. He goes on to state he felt like he had better control of his bat and the zone.

Never bought in to the run differential idea. To paraphrase a line from Bull Durham: "we measure everything in baseball." The problem is, despite measuring everything, there are statistics, and there is reality. Pick apart this team all you want to. Bleed dry numbers and observations and holes here and there, beat as many dead carcasses as you will, this is a pretty good baseball team. Sure there is room for improvement from within and out to make it better and more complete. But they have been in the thick of things for most of the season, still are, and have been above .500 for most all season long. You win games...you blow out some games...you get blown up some games. Said it before and will say it again; you lose badly 2 games out of 5 but win the other 3 games, guess What? You are still 3-2. Off my soapbox now. This team is just FUN! There is just no quit in them. They lose the opener to KC in which they could have easily won, and seem to come back the next night, frankly, pissed off and go out and kick some ass. And they've done this before. Just imagine how good they can be with a little more maturation, and just another addition or two.

Santana got a lot of crap, completely unnecessary IMO, because he was human for a month and had some bad games mixed in with some great performances. He remains high quality, there is no evidence of a cliff coming, and I'm glad he is still a Twin. Berrios is only 23/24, I forget now, and showing great stuff and potential. Far better than Gibson. I've been a believer and apologist for some time in regard to Gibson. Despite his horrible start to the season, something happened to him in the Seattle series a month or so ago when Molitor chewed his ass on the mound. He still hasnt been great, but hes been more aggressive overall and has shown life, especially recently. But is this maturation and promise of tomorrow? Or an aberration? September will tell. While I'd love to see him "grow up" as a pitcher and just trust his stuff, I remain unsure. I think I'm in the camp of signing the best FA SP we can, and maybe holding on to Colon, and audition anyone and everyone for the 5th spot. Letting Gibson go brings some risk. But at the end of the day...how much? Its up to him to prove us wrong. He has September to do so.

I remember Brito well, and of course Hocking and the Twins players mentioned. But i am sorry to say I barely remember Russo even though I followed tne Twins milb back in thise days via Sporting News, Baseball Digest and other soirces. Either a failing memory or he just never got the hype of other guys. But thank you for this! It was fun going down memory lane.

I believe these stats on Rooker should be updated through last night's game. Fort Meyers: 37Games/ 132AB/ .288AVG/ .377OB/ .583SLG/ .961OPS/ 6-0-11XBH/ 22R/ 35RBI/ 16BB-43SO Obviously the SO are a little high, but entirely unexpected. But those numbers, even in relatively SSS sure look promising. I agree AA for 2018 looks like a strong posibility.

At 2 years, I'm in on Santana. At 3, I'm probably still in. More than that and frankly, I'm uncomfortable. But I like his bat, power, and the fact he can actually still play in the field. You brought up some very interesting SP options. Arrieta? Or buy lower and hope for lightening? (What the Cubs basically did when they got Arrieta in the first place). Not sure i know the answer, but will pkace my trust in the FO. But the point is to build the best team and win, right? Would it really be wrong or far fetched to also bring back Colon on a 1 year deal? The truth is, he can STILL pitch and he's good in the clubhouse. AS the old saying goes, there is no such thing as a bad 1 year contract. Mejia probably inherits the 5th spot with Rochester loaded! Tons of available depth, no pressure (for lack of a better word) to promote any of the kids, and there are trade possibilities as well. But then again, maybe in the long run the last two spots should be Mejia and an open audition. I also like most of the pen arms and it's potential. And even with the names you listed, Reed, Bard, Jay, Chargois and even Burdi are available and potentially ready at some point. I'd really like to find a second LH arm and still would be in favor of a veteran "proven" arm for stability, experience, leadership, etc. Overall, you state pretty much what I feel to be true; this team is really only a couple guys and continued development away from being a real contender.

Rooker....WOW! Anyone have any information in Jay? I know it's really SSS but looks like he's throwing well. I must have gotten confused because I thought he was having surgery.

LOVE watching Colon. He does well and has fun doing so. I'm in favor of he and Santana both on the staff for next season BECAUSE of experience, production, leadership, and the damn fun they seem to have! (Well...fun in Colons case at least).

Chicken chicken...Canadian bacon stuffed version of Colon bleu...winning dinner!

Has anyone ever seen Keanu Reeves and Curtiss in the same room? Just asking.