DocBauer

More encouraged than I have been for some time when looking at the SP option and depth in the system. And as mentioned, the list doesn't include Beeker, Jorge or Stewart. My best guess to begin 2018? FA/trade Santana Berrios Gibson Mejia They absolutely will, and should, make one move. Gibson really seems to have turned a corner mentally and mechanically and will not cost much to be brought back on a 1 year deal for depth. And this doesn't include May making a comeback. My projection doesn't include Slegers, or Gonsalves simply due to depth, but they will be in the conversation and fight for jobs. I just see them opening in AAA initially. Think about Rochester with Slegers, Gonsalves, Romero, Beeker and Jorge. Wow!

That was fun! If I were to pick at anything, it would be failing to score more when we had some golden opportunities. Just a shame Santana couldn't have gotten the win. Blow them out or win in dramatic fashion in the 10th, winning is still winning. Just imagine a little more clutch hitting and a little better pitching. Wow!

While there were certainly warranted questions regarding Rosario and an un-disciplined nature at times, I always believed he could do exactly what he is now. (With room to get better still). You read it in scouting reports, you saw it in milb production and he displayed flashes early in the ML. I think a pale comparison to Cares for Polanco is not a bad one. He makes contact, is difficult to SO, runs well, and he does have the good, quick hands with some pop. Whether he ultimately plays SS or 2B I think he will be fine defensively. I still wonder about he, Dozier and Gordon all existing in the team in some capacity. Would be nice! I don't think, based on potential, stuff and early returns, that it's a stretch to include Mejia here. He's only a rookie, but he has flashed. The biggest problem is economizing his pitches. He seems to largely get ahead of hitters but struggles at times to put them away. But the potential is there and the early returns are very encouraging. I really hope for a few good starts to close out the season.

You knows what baseball is? It's WAY beyond being "America's game". (The NFL has taken over that mantel, to a degree until you factor in longevity vs daily, etc). When was the last time you screamed out "touchdown, field goal, 2 point conversion!" To this day everything is about a base, (including romantic interludes), and a win. In baseball, we measure EVERYTHING. But what we can never fully measure is what baseball brings to us and means to us. Every game is a new day. Filled with hope and possibility. This team gets it. Win or lose, they fight.

Hey, you have days where you just lose and lose badly. We still won 2 out of 4. I just hate that it feels like we "lost" game 3 instead of them winning. Colon has been quality and a huge boon to this team. One really bad day doesn't ruin what he's done and may yet do the remainder of the season. I still really like the arms that Duffey and Pressly have, and all their potential. But both are just becoming very frustrating.

Hmmm...my post didn't post. Lol Let's try this again. Accurate or not, milb lists Moran at 6' 1" and 167lbs. These young guys can change and grow physically very quickly. And perhaps Moran is already bigger than this. But without more meat on his bones, perhaps his best role will be as a reliever.

Not sure this is accurate or not, but milb lists Moran as 6' 1" and 167lbs. Height is OK, but is he really that thin? These young guys can change so much physically, and quickly, that he may already have filled out more than that. But without more meat on his bones, would seem his best role could end up being in the pen.

I love prospect rankings from all sources. There is a validity to them for reasons. But how amazing is it that Hildenberger and Busentiz have become top relievers for this won't quit team over several top, albeit injured, much higher ranked prospects.

I am a fan of Escobar and admit it. He has hit above .250 now 3 of 4 years with an OB above .300. To my eye, he is solid defensively, if not great. 2 of his 4 seasons he has double digit HR. He runs well, though not a real SB threat. We can talk OPS, but we are also talking about a role player, not a full time starter. I also like Adrianza and speculated we may have found an interesting player way back in ST. He's better with the glove, has some speed and SB ability and has been quite productive. But he remains less proven than Escobar. (Though I suspect he's the real deal). Why isn't there room for both? 2 catchers, 4 INF, 4 OF, 2 utility players and one additional guy to DH, play a spot and DH, etc. That's 13 position players with a lot of position flexibility. What's more important, an extra bat on a team with a deep, versatile and talented lineup, or pure flexibility? That might be what it comes down to. I love Goodrum's potential as a very useful and versatile player. But I just wouldn't bank on him at this point, and think we're better off keeping both Escobar and Adrianza at this point.

Agreed Pressly and his SO stuff should play up in a setup role. And hopefully he can iron out those bouts of inconsistent control. Simply conjecturing that in a closer role like Kintzler was used, now Besisle, coming in to startbthe 9th might mitigate those lapses and make him an effective "finisher" if you will. Boy, his arm sure plays up though, doesn't it.

I have to echo this comment. Gibson has always had talent, but lacked consistency and seemed to break down too often in tough situations. And I'm not saying he will definitely sustain what he is doing now or has suddenly evolved...but...he overhauled his training regime and his delivery. He also appears to have "toughened up" on the mound this season. The delivery, new mental attitude, and even Buxton noticing him opening his shoulder too soon and making a correction, has lead to a nice run the past couple of months. If he keeps this up, I'd be in favor if bringing him back in 2018. Really hate to see him take his new self somewhere else and do well when he wouldn't cost much to bring back and be the 4th or 5th starter.

Wow, what a month of performers! Can't wait already to se how the various teams are stocked next season and what some of this talent does in 2018 with growth and new challenges. Just a note I think you meant Badoo was milb "hitter" of the month and not "pitcher". Unless you're holding something out on us. Lol

I don't think a closer and save numbers should just be dismissed despite a recent trend to do so and focus more on "high leverage" situations. After all, it's still an important function of a complete bullpen. But it does seem to me certain guys, for whatever the reason, do better with inherited runners than others. (I can pretty much guarantee you that ALL RP would prefer to start an inning or come in with no-one on base). When you watch Kintzler take over the role as he did, or the way Belisle has slid in to the role post Kintzler trade, (SSS I know), I have to wonder about Pressly maybe assuming that role next season.

Boshers is not just a nice story, he's been useful. Unfortunately, he was more useful last season. He's the kind of guy I'd like to keep around, but in AAA for when needed. Really hoping for Enns, Moya or Turley to lay claim to the second LH bullpen spot. Would love Jay, and his early rehab returns have been solid, but he's probably missed too much of the season to be counted on for the beginning of 2018. Does anyone have stats on Pressly? He's had a couple rough appearances...most relievers do...but since end of June, first of July, didn't I read somewhere that he has been pretty darn good? I'm still encouraged for his role next season.

To me, with Santana in the equation, Mauer should hit 2nd or near the bottom of the order. He lacks real power or any speed. He can hit, work the count, and has the high OB. That speaks to the top or bottom from me. Overall: Santana Mauer Sano/Dozier Dozier/Sano Kepler/Rosario Buxton Rosario/Kepler Castro/Garver Polanco I get BA, OB at the top of the order with power from the 1 spot. I can make different arguments for each of Dozier or Sano hitting 3 or 4 so kind of lumping them together. The 5 spot puts in a talented and dangerous young LH hitter, dependent on who is hotter, and maybe flip flopping Kepler and Rosario depending who is on the mound, Buxton breaks up the two LH hitters and remains in a prime hitting spot. (These 3 could do an awful lot of damage). Castro and Garver provide a little hitting and some power in a quasi-platoon spot for the 8 spot. And I put Polanco 9th, not because I'm doubting him, and I could see him in the 2 hole as well, but he provides a little bit of everything including some speed, at the bottom of the order ahead of Santana and Mauer, but also breaks up a run of the slower players on the team.

If they were to do that, and I saw elsewhere where you suggested it, Mauer hits second?

Great write up! Not only because it's smart, but because over the years I have delighted myself with how smart I am at creating quality lineups on napkins and the such. Lol I still believe in the philosophy of creating a "deep" lineup, meaning you don't just bunch all of your best hitters together...assuming you have more than just a couple good hitters...but try to create the best 1-9 you can. The "problem" with thjs team, with so many young pkayers still maturing, is where do they actually fit best? We are still riding some highs and lows in their development. Buxton, for instance. He was absolutely supposed to be a Raines, Henderson #1 before eventually moving down in the lineup. But he may end up skipping the leadoff hitter role at the ML level and become more of a middle if the lineup hitter. Dozier should absolutely take his solid speed, decent hitting and 60+ XBH and move down in the lineup. But face it, he's been good there, productive, and the best option at the time. Vince Coleman had little power, so-so OB, but was dangerous and even dominant at times hitting 1 for the Cardinals in the 80's with his speed and pressure on the pitcher and defense. But Wade Boggs, and even Brian Downing, in roughly the same era, provided more AVG, OB with power but zero speed. Right now, as the team is constructed, without a power bat at DH, I would look at a matchup of Mauer, Grossman and Polanco in the top 2 spots. (Others like Escobar, Granite and Adrianza can fill in when they play). I believe OB is more important than the prototypical "speed" leadoff hitter. No question Dozier and Sano should hit in some combination of 3-4. It can be debated, for various reasons, as to who should hit where, but those are their spots. 5-6-7, a combination of Kepler, Buxton and Rosario. All the faith in the world for Kepler to eventually hit lefties, at least to a certain degree, but Rosario hits them better now. Any kind of solid daily performance, much less a hot streak, if I'm a pitcher, I feel no relief facing this 3-some after the first 4 batters in the Twins lineup. 8-9 is no cakewalk either. Used properly, Castro and Garver has nice potential. And that leaves Polanco, Mauer and Grossman, based on the "everyday" lineup fitting in to the other spot at the bottom of the order. (Of course, allowing for bench players who aren't bad either). An exact lineup? No. Disagreeing with your lineup? Nope. Just focusing on the normal 9 and allowing for a little daily flexibility.

First of all, I have to pay respect to Molitor for playing these young guys and putting them in the situation they are in now. Wasn't it just a couple months ago many we complaining he wouldn't do exactly what he's doing now? (Lea we forget, Rogers wasn't exactly a proven high leverage guy when the season began, or even Duffey for that matter, but to a lesser degree). What's become fascinating to me is that when I was a kid, a "fireman " out of the bullpen was Mike Marshall, Doug Corbett, Pete Redfern and others. They came in for high leverage situations and actually got a ton of wins, and far fewer saves than what became a measuring stick. Somewhere along the line, and I think this has to due with agents playing with numbers, as well as the late 80's and 90's scoring explosion in the game, a guy who could "close" the game became all important. Top set-up men were still valuable, and some graduated to closer status. The Twins have a long list of this taking place. And the past few seasons...and this not meant to diminish the career or performance of anyone, or the need for a guy you can count on to finish the game necessarily...but it seems the game has reverted more back to what a "fireman " used to be. There are battles to be won, victories to be had, improvement and reliance to be proven, but I like the groundwork taking place. Setup man or closer, Pressly has the stuff, and has largely been good the past couple of months. Also, largely, in his first full year in the BP Duffey has been pretty good to good. Rogers had a bad streak, but has also looked very bright. Then you add Hildenberger and Busentiz and valuable "get your feet wet" time for Curtiss, and I'm feeling very positive. Much like Santana, and even Colon, has brought stability and experience to the rotation, I think a high quality veteran added to this mix could be invaluable. But I think something good is building here.

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!