DocBauer

I'm not saying we don't have a chance. (I actually think we have a really nice club that is pretty close and going to keep getting better). And I'm not saying to not make a trade, especially if it's for the long term rather than the short. But I find it interesting how conversation has shifted over the past few months...generally speaking...how this team wouldn't even finish .500 and we need to play the prospects. Now, this team is over .500 and playing the kids, and starting to play more of them. For example, Jorge getting a pair of starts, Hilgenberger, Busentiz and even Randy Rosario getting a first shot. ( Though we do need to see more of both Hilgenberger and Busentz). Reed and Curtiss are looking fantastic and should be in line for a look-see in the not too distant future. So which is it? We were supposed to be bad so play the kids. Now we're pretty good so trade some of the kids for other veteran players? Again, not saying the Twins shouldn't make moves, or that it would be a mistake. It's just an interesting twist of expectation vs results for this season. Personally, I'd kind of like to see how the pen shakes out a little more with the kids before making a move. It bodes well, potentially, for now and the future both, while allowing us to hold on to prospects for maybe a SP trade at some point.

Very interesting read and far more encouraging. In the game thread tonight, someone stated Buxton has been hitting around .258 since his initial 2 for 49/50AB to start the season. And he's looked so, so much better the past few games. Hopefully, we are seeing the awakening of Buxton's potential at the ML level.

Actually, never had a chance to listen to Smalley much before. I'm enjoying him. Seems to share a good grasp of what's going on and relaying it well.

I was going to bring up Larkin but got beat to the punch. I remember hearing him a couple of times and liking him. Has to be 2 or 3 years ago though, doesn't it?

IMO...FWIW: No to Neshak unless he may be open to re-signing and only cost a decent A level prospect. This team is still finishing a rebuild and there are young options close, or that should already be up. Maybe on Hand. But the cost to get him shortens prospects close to contributing, and shortens trade options for a possible SP now or in the off season. Maybe I'm just an optimist, but despite injuries and the such, there are several guys right now deserving of their shot to help this season and next while building for the future. Doesn't it make sense to promote and work with these guys? There is both FA and off season trades next off season if we just aren't happy with development. And again, if we're going to trade prospects, I'd rather go the SP route.

A team in Cleveland named the Turkeys? Well...there should be.

Great question. But also, doesn't his promotion and success make it all the easier to begin the movement to Rochester for the big 3?

Each prospect, his stuff, his mental makeup, what he needs to refine, etc, is unique unto himself. I think it's a bit arbitrary to simply say "this guy did it", (jumping from AA), whether it be a past Twin or someone from another team. And the jump to the majors is so large that even a very talented prospect with huge future success, (Berrios as a possible example here), will almost certainly have some growing pains. I'm not saying you shouldn't consider ML promotions/auditions for these guys. And there is no question the rotation for the remainder of this season and going in to next season is greatly enhanced if one of them can become established now, as Berrios and Mejia seem to be doing. But with the exception of a start such as the one Jorge had, I'd get all 3 of these guys up to AAA NOW. Challenge them. Work with them. Then let's see where they are by August. It's safe, but still aggressive. They all appear ready for the next level.

Rortvedt? Wow! Not sure what has happened there but he has been hitting and shows no signs of slowing down thus far. (Hope I didn't just curse him there). I know he's young and is at least a couple years away, but it sure is nice to see a potential top prospect in the system...to go along with Garver...who is a catcher.

When this season began, there was a debate as to whether or not it could win 80 games. Seems to me the bets were pretty much under. Warts and all, this is an above .500 team at the halfway mark built on a player roster of a few quality veterans and a load of talented 28 and younger players. Many of whom are far younger. And despite pitching concerns, no surprise there, there are still some nice pieces to work with. Despite the euphoria to have a winning and competitive team in 2017, and all the angst of losing teams for several season's, excluding 2015, this season was still about the rebuild and evaluation from the top down in the entire system. Despite some misgivings about roster construction, mostly the bullpen, did anyone really expect the new FO to wave a magic wand 4 months and construct a WS team? Right now, this is a winning team with an apparently better analytics presence and defense. It's is a team, as stated, built on some quality veteran players and a host of young and mostly young positional players, many of whom are still developing toward what they will become. Once again, the biggest obstacle is pitching. The injury to May, IMO, hurt a lot. Various injuries to the pen have also hurt. But even so, there are several young arms just about ready to break through, especially on the pen side. There are 3-4 arms that could help the rotation by the end of the year, or sometime next year at this time if not before. I think the greatest debate for our team currently is, do we trade talented young players and/or prospects for at least one quality arm? Or do we exercise addition patience...with hope for this season and what we have in house now...and look to FA, maybe, in the next off season, and bide additional time for those talented rotational and bullpen arms? I'm hoping for the latter, but am OK with the former as long as it doesn't cut/cost too deeply.

A really, really good game overall. A couple of thoughts: 1] I've said for some time now, echoed by non-Twins announcers and press, that Gibson seems to have all the ability in the world to be at least a solid ML pitcher. But it seems at times as though he nibbles, tries to be perfect...as if he doesn't trust his stuff or his defense...and then gets in to trouble. The numbers and results seem to indicate a change since his demotion. Even in the game, I want to say against Seattle, where he got the win but was rocked, he pitched much better after Molitor visited him on the mound and politely laid in to him on the mound. I've defended Gibson in the past, gave up my case when the season began, but have decided to re-open said case now recently. Is it possible he is starting to "get it" now? He wouldn't be the first good arm to wait until his late 20's or hitting 30 to really figure out his game. If he keeps this new, more aggressive attitude, I'd bring him back next season. 2] Can we just get off Buxton's back because he isn't an all star yet? Today is yet another day where we see the potential of this kid. He's STILL very young. He exudes ability. He was moved quickly through the minors, despite missing time, because of his success and ability. Hunter struggled at first. Span struggled a bit at first, if I recall. The Twins have up on Gomez too early. It appears they may have rushed and given up on Hicks too early. Can we just accept the difference he makes defensively, and all his tremendous talent, and accept that it may take a little time for him to put it all together? I know there have been teasers. I know there has been conflict in approach and batting stance. And I know there needs to be production, sooner or later, vs just potential. But can we ease off just a bit on expectation vs the process of development?

Absolutely LOVE this post! More to add, but busy with the holiday, and will comment more later, but had to take a moment to say I feel the exact same way. Awesome!

I had high hopes for Mejia this season. There's still a long way to go, and maybe he will tire in September who knows, and there will probably still be some bad days as well, but I'm really excited for this kid and his potential. I see a potentially string #3, and at worst a really strong #4 in him. He seems to want to take the ball and compete. He seems to have the build to suggest a big IP guy who's only real problem, other than being a rookie, is learning to economize more. Do the Twins now have 3 starters that can, more or less, count on? That's HUGE when considering the past few season's. And two of them are YOUNG. Can Santiago get his head on straight? Can Gibson keep attacking batters? (And be fair, he's been much, much better since his demotion). If so, the Twins may be able to focus on the pen for now and address another starter via trade or FA in the off season.

Der Kaiser with a shot!

Mauer! Wow! Was he using a Sano bat?

Confidence boost while taking him out? "Ya dis great kid. Let's finish this one off for ya."

Seriously...only 1 game, but older guys with AAA and some ML team can't get through 4 IP and look what this kid just accomplished. (Standing ovation!)

Can we really get 6 IP from Jorge? I dare to dream!

"Can we keep him mom? I promise I'll feed him and take care of him. Honest mom I will!"

https://youtu.be/rY0WxgSXdEE Another One Bites the Dust

Another to consider, referring to the recent article by Seth regarding the trio of pitching prospects at AA, is that he's been pitching better and better as the season has gone along. This is a bold move to be sure, but I think a wise one. Forget street FA, give a top prospect a day in the sun to experience ML life.

I like the idea of thjs move provided the Padres would be interested in a couple lower level prospects. I know said prospects could offer up a ton of upside, but lower level prospects, even talented ones, would be easier to lose and replace than guys that are the nucleus and pending nucleus of this team. Otherwise, I'd think strong about holding on to Kintzler. But if this move were made, he himself might bring back a decent prospect or two to help replace what is traded away.

Absolutely live updates like this! We get the daily milb game recaps with various tidbits. And we get various articles as well. But "quick hitters" like this give us a bunch of nice information in bunches. Love it! 1* Granite and Garber both deserve to be up. There's just no room right now when you see how the overall player roster is constructed, their potential, and how everyone is contributing. But it's a nice problem to have. 2* Live the Jorge move and think it makes sense. He's young talented, on the 40 man, a lot of this season is about evaluation and promotion, this offers him a taste of the league for a day, and how could he do any worse than some of the street FA that have had a shot? 3* Still think Pressly could be a factor and welcome addition at some point. Despite his good guy nature, veteran leadership and the such, Belisle being good 70% of the time and just awful the other 30% has got to give way to someone else. Despite awful luck with Burdi, Jay and Chargois this season, Reed and Curtiss are picking up the slack and making moves. (Bard is a little further behind). There is still some real hope for some young guns to assist the pen this season and going forward, even with the mentioned setbacks.

I believe Granite has the potential to be a future starter and pest at the top of the order with hitting, OB and speed. At worst, he's the same as a quality 4th OF. I also am a fan of Garver and believe he will stick and be solid, at least. Both deserve a shot. I just don't know that I give up on Vargas yet, despite a recent slump. Hey...guys run hot and cold. Adrianza has been hitting better than expected and is a nice looking player. Does he deserve to go? Barring injury, these are the questions that have to be addressed, and I'm not sure I have the answer. Frankly, it's a nice problem to have.

Were no another team looking to trade with the Twins, I'd be looking at Rosario and one of Romero or Gonsalvez as my starting point. If also be looking hard at Gordon. The potential problem of dealing Gordon is you then have to commit to Dozier. Not saying that is a bad thing, but a must. Polanco is good and going to get better. I like both Escobar and Adrianza, but like them best in the roles they occupy now. Vienna has a chance, but the other infield prospects are down in the low minors. Perhaps one of them might be included in place of Gordon? And while I'm not calling for a trade of Dozier at all, what if he were moved, along with keeping Gordon, for prospects to be included in a deal, or to return a couple prospects to replace those traded?