DocBauer

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!

I think Maker's spot in the lineup is a very open debate, and one not easily answered. But it's also true of a lot of guys in the lineup. It does seem he should be hitting second. And I also have trouble with Dozier hitting 1st, but he does perform well there, and who else should hit there? And if you move Mauer to the top, who hits second? With Rosario, Buxton, Kepler and Polanco all continuing to improve and mash, a ton of scenarios play out in my head. It's actually kind of a nice problem to have. But I do think if Joe can maintain what he's doing, there is real value at the top of the lineup. But even if he keeps this up, and the kids continue to grow and mash, I still wonder about him low in the order, providing protection and OB for those in front of him, and to help set up the top of the order behind him. Especially if Dozier continues to his 1st. He needs guys OB in front of him.

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.

First and foremost, always been a big fan and appreciated him. Even defended him many times in the past, and hoped for the best post concussion/post move from catcher to 1B. I will also admit to almost hoping he would retire in the near future, (if not the recent past), to help adjust the payroll flexibility more, to not taint his past legacy as a diminished performer of his past exploits, to allow for a higher offensive performer to take his spot, and also, to just protect himself and his future. (So many injuries and multiple concussions. Secondly, I wish once and for all we could just drop the whole contract thing. (This despite my payroll comment above). There is an expression I absolutely loathe...but use myself..."it is what it is." The contract happened. The money is spent. At the time, had the contract offer not been offered and signed, the Twins would have been facing an army of torches and pitchforks. Also, had the concussions not happened, the entire situation would have made mostly, if not completely, moot. Something very interesting has been happening with home town boy Joe Wonder. Whether it is continued maturation from him, better overall health, a distancing from the concussions, or some combination, he is turning in to a very good and very productive player...again...right before our eyes at age 34. While I think there is certainly debate about how best to use him, batting order wise, and it has always been a fairly easy arguement/debate/frustration about someone so big and athletic to not hit with more power, or his seeming inability to pull the ball more, or his acceptance of allowing first pitch fastballs to pass him by in his approach, Mauer may be re-inventing himself. The proverbial cliff for Joe came in 2013. While not the MVP player he was in 2009 by any means, he was still an outstanding catcher, still hitting .300 with double and occasional HR power, had a .400 OB and .880 OPS before an August concussion seemed to derail his career. His numbers for the next three years following: AVG OB SLG OPS R 2B 3B HR RBI 2014: .277/ .361/ .371/ .732/ 60/ 27/ 2/ 4/ 55 2015: .265/ .338/ .380/ .718/ 69/ 34/ 2/ 10/ 66 2016: .261/ .363/ .389/ .752/ 68/ 22/ 4/ 11/ 49 Overall, his numbers are not abysmal. There is a respectable hitting and OB quotient there, with double digit HR years twice, but the doubles power severely declined 2 of the 3 years, and the decline...from his previous hitting ability is precipitous. Roughly figured, he was previously a career .300 hitter, .400OB, .470SLG, .800+OPS performer. Forgetting his tremendous previous production, his numbers from 2014-2016 would still be pretty solid for a catcher. (Or even a CF or middle infielder, which he is not). And while I still maintain there are many ways to build a roster, and a lineup that works...weaker offensively at a certain spot, but stronger than average at another to counter balance...the truth is Mauer was still a shadow of the player he was. But a funny thing happened on the way the Forum/ballpark. Joe has become one of the best defensive 1B in all of baseball. And I don't think that is hyperbole or overstatement in any way, especially considering quality defense has always been important, but also plays an important part in this current team's resurgence. I am borrowing now from the Pioneer Press, he is riding an 11 game hitting streak, has hit .438 over his past 22 games, and after going 4-4 in the romp over Kansas City Saturday night, left the game early without a chance to go 5-5. (Of note, his last 5-5 game was in 2013 just days before his last concussion). At close of business Saturday night, after the romp over the Royals, with 27 games left to play in the regular season, the potential Gold Glove Mauer was hitting thusly: AVG OB SLG OPS R 2B 3B HR RBI 2017: .303/ .384/ .417/ .801/ 58/ 29/ 1/ 6/ 56 He could slump, he could maintain. Regardless, his numbers are much closer to his outstanding previous career norms than anything we've seen the previous 3 season's. With 27 games left to play, he is in line to meet or exceed any of the previous 3 season's in regard to R, RBI or power numbers. He will never again be his MVP self...but we already knew that...and he will never again bring his offensive value back to being a catcher. (Again, we already knew that). But he may be, right before our eyes, re-inventing/re-juvinating himself as a productive ballplayer. Now, is he also a candidate to suddenly regress in 2018 as a 35yo? Absolutely. But isn't it also interesting and intriguing that healthy and a few years removed from concussions he seems to be finding his stroke again and is actually improving as the season gets longer? Look, I know there are questions to be answered yet. And chief amongst them, IMO, is where he should hit. Deft of speed, and with such a talented and emerging lineup, where should he hit? Much like Brian Downing or Wade Boggs back in the day, and others since, should he hit 1 or 2? Or still having somewhat limited power and no speed, again with this emerging lineup, is he better off hitting near the bottom of the order to flip things over? I just think we all need to take another look at what Mauer is, what he is doing, and what he may offer for next year...and yes...for what he could potentially offer for another season or two beyond that.

The purpose of the MLB team called the Twins, who we all love and support, is to WIN. Yes? We ALL spend so much time talking winning, roster construction, prospects on the rise, etc, that I think we lose sight of winning. This team has a roster of players growing, learning and developing that it's almost scary how good they could be. But pitching is still the key. I am equally excited for the 2017 team as it stands right now as well as the future of the franchise in 2018 and beyond. I can't wait to see Gonsalves and Romero and others. But don't we also want thjs team to win NOW as well as next season? The Twins should easily allow themselves additional payroll in 2018 for a SP, maybe a bat and RP. But there is also room for Colon. Maybe a 1yr deal for around $10M with incentives. Why on earth would you not want him back? Because he's not 24 and a long term solution? I thought his signing was smart. Then I thought he would be done unless he was willing to be a RP. Then he built his arm strength and endurance up and was suddenly the same guy who has been pretty damn good the 4 previous seasons for the Mets. So 2018 could feature FA, Berrios, Santana, Colon, a healthy Mejia and tons of competition and depth with trade possibilities. This bad how? The wheels could come off the Big Sexy wagon at any time. But they haven't yet. He absolutely loves playing, has had a positive affect on the team, has fun, and it would seem he has a positive affect overall. Why wouldn't you invest a 1yr contract at this point?

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.

Winner, winner and time for pizza dinner. See? It still works. Lol

Anyone else kinda excited to see Perkins pitch?

Anyone catch the radio broadcast early in the game where Gladden commented it was tempting to call an OF out as a "can of corn"? I was howling!

Cleat on neck...apply pressure

Escobar, Adrianza, Grossman, Granite, Garver...anyone else feeling better about the bench?

Is it just me, but between lineups, SP and Pen usage, especially trusting in some of the kids, does anyone else think Molitor is growing as a manager?

Anyone have recent stats on Pressly? I swear, except for a couple appearances, he's looked really good recently. Is he the 9th inning guy next season?

Don't buy in to run differential, overall. In any sport, SCOREBOARD is what matters. Get blown out here and there can skew numbers.

45+ years loving and following this team and falling in love with the game of baseball...this season is absolutely one of my most favorite seasons ever. Some of it is probably due to the number of poor seasons since we were winning and relevant. But it's more than that. This team loves to play ball. They believe in themselves. And the stage appears to be set for some exciting timed ahead!

Just think how much better we will be this year, and next year, and the year after that, and the year after that... <----handing over a napkin

I have toffee bars in the freezer! Think I'll have another beer

Agreed. Family in the stands may be part of it. But man, I swear I saw a couple curves tonight that were just NASTY. Did I forget he had a curveball?

You know what, I'll take greedy even though it didn't work. This team is, mostly, young, talented and aggressive. Got the lead, have a shot, I'm OK going for it.