DocBauer

Great game and a big win taking the first one of 3 on the road. Ryan was tremendous. After a tough inning...the 5th?...and then a couple really quick innings from Kikuchi where Ryan didn't get much recovery time...Rocco showed a ton of confidence sending Ryan out for the 7th. Boy did he respond! What can you say about Kepler off the bench facing a LHP and coming through? Big HR from Santana who still seems to have a little life left after a horrendous start to the season. But let's not forget Miranda is showing real life again with another big RBI. He's hitting .295 with a .799 OPS since they brought him back up, and looking decently solid at 3B as well. Next for him is to tap more in to HR power, but that seems to be true for most of the club. I liked using Duran for the 8th against the top 3 in the lineup. Jax had to battle, but I thought he looked good. He was ahead of everyone, just barely missed with a few pitches, and might have been squeezed on one potential strike. The Twins aren't 100% healthy, and aren't firing on all cylinders yet, but they are confident, solid, and performing as a good, overall TEAM. My ONLY complaint might be Sands warming up so much he might be limited tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, VERY interested to see how SWR responds after his last performance, on the road, against a good team, and his former team. He's not the same pitcher the Jay's knew. But it's still a game against his former organization and a good team. Will he stay within himself? Let's keep it rolling guys!

Referencing @jmlease1, a couple guys may have been batting above their expected levels of late, but some aren't yet at expected levels, so it evens out. Now, basically, no Lewisbyet this year, a shadow wearing Wallner's jersey/name/number, Correa gone for a couple of weeks when he was off to a good start, and Kepler gone with a bad knee for a time as well. And a pretty much league average Buxton so far. And yet, they have been raking. And they've been doing so while behind almost any expected/projected HR pace. They've been doing it as a team, while previously they were losing as a team. Some of the names have changed...Larnach instead of Wallner at the moment for example...but this club was built to be a good offensive team. There will be highs and lows for everyone, some progression and regression, but there's also little reason to not believe they will remain one of the better offenses in the league.

I've been a believer in Jeffers for some time. I saw good game handling, good handling of the pitchers, and a ton of offensive potential. When he struggled in 2021-22 he still flashed at times. And I kept saying to give it time, don't ignore the injuries and the limited number of AB/PA he had so far. I wasn't surprised when he broke out in 2023, and I'm not surprised how well he's continued to perform this year. I do wish Vazquez brought more TO the plate, rather than just behind it. I'm disappointed he hasn't been able to just match his career averages, despite regular but balanced playing time that should keep him fresh. But he's been very good as a caller and receiver and blocker behind the plate. As someone else pointed out, his presence as a quality "backup" catcher allows Jeffers more time to stay fresh and productive and spend some time at DH as well. I am wondering a bit if next year, only a single season left on his 3yr deal, if Vazquez might be enticing in a trade for someone? Would the Twins feel Camargo and or Winkel...Winkel clearly not ready just yet...would be a solid replacement at a much lower $ than Vazquez? I mean, going younger and cheaper with some offensive upside is appealing, yes? But then again, for all the talk about how much Vazquez is being paid, Jeffers isn't very expensive. You're getting a great mix of veteran and younger player, solid defense from both, great offense from one, for only a little over $12M. That's pretty affordable.

I liked Cory Lewis better than Matthews initially. The hard knuckleball being just a fun, but functional reason. I just thought he had a little more velocity and pure stuff. And he did have the better 2023 overall. But Matthews has raised his game another level this season, and it's exciting to see. Festa has now been unleashed to go 70 pitchers plus, as long as he doesn't have one of those bad 30 pitch innings. Raya moved up to 55 pitches last time out and I'd suspect he'll be 60 plus pretty soon. Matthews is looking great. Culpepper is back on the mound again for Cedar Rapids and a lot of season still ahead. Hopefully, Lewis will be back in time for at least a half season of work to build on last year. Andrew Morris is quietly off to a solid start this season as well. HOPEFULLY, Pierson Ohl will get back on track and start looking like the prospect he was last season. No more injuries, no more setbacks for this group listed, the second half of this year could have us really excited about what's coming up and really, really close. Matthews keeps rolling like he has been...keep in mind it's not even mid May yet...I could see him at St Paul come August. But a single really nice start isn't going to get my "hope meter" up and running that he'll be ready sooner than that. But it's hard not to be at least a little bit excited about what the rest of this year might bring in terms of younger arms getting pretty close.

AK's entire ML career has been marred by his wrist issue...supposed fixed now...and then a bad shoulder late in 2023 when he dove and landed hard chasing a ball. Start and stop, start and stop. That's been his ML career so far. When drafted, he was seen as possibly the best bat to ball hitter in his draft class. His milb results would seem to back that opinion. So has stretches, when healthy, at the ML level. If there is no hidden, non reported injury at this time, I'd speculate he's in the "they adjusted and now I have to" phase. Does that mean a temporary demotion to AAA would be a bad thing? Not at all. But I dontnsee it happening until someone else comes back healthy. I don't think the Twins are ready to bring Wallner back just yet, and I don't see a 40 man spot for Keirsey just yet. So I think AK keeps working on it at the ML level. It's hard to believe, but he's on got a little over 800 PA in his ML career thus far. That's really not a lot! Worried? No. A bit concerned? Yes. But I full, healthy, playing daily 2024 will help him develop and prove himself. Or it might not. But really, 20 games of a slump for a kid with talent and only 800 PA is knee jerk to actually be "worried about" him.

First, I have to object to any reference to Martin causing the injury. Whether he ran or dove, he was in his proper path to the base. There was little to zero contact that caused any sort of injury. The injury occurred by a bad step on the base from the pitcher. Secondly, how could Kepler possibly know how serious the injury actually was? Was it pain or severe injury? How would he know? Guys sometimes hit the ground in pain, maybe get the wind knocked out of them, and it looks bad. A few moments later, they get up and jog it off and are OK. Martin was at no fault. And Kepler did nothing wrong but continue on with a live play.

Wow! Lopez dominate. The bats just keep producing. Funderburk wild but still punched out 2 and continues to show he's got a future. Nice to see Staumont back on the mound and K-ing the side, even if he was also a bit wild. (Still don't like Alcala being over used, and then sent down. If the Twins don't want to use him for 1 good inning at a time, I'm sure someone else would be glad to do so). Margot showing signs of actual life??!! Didn't Santana go on his homer binge right after an OP about sticking with him or cutting him loose, and how long of a rope did he have? And now Margot does the same thing right after a similar article? Who do we want to hammer next? LOL! Who needs a turnaround most? Twelve in a row, a loss, and then wins in 4 of the next 5. Seattle and Boston aren't bad teams devoid of talent. While they still aren't firing on all cylinders yet, this Twins team is starting to look like the one I envisioned before the season started. Lewis, Buxton, and Stewart back in the near future...hopefully Wallner as well...and my personal picture will be almost complete. Now let's go beat up on the Jay's!

I was torn between a CF option and just a RH BAT. I was big on Duvall...pretty neutral career splits...or Pham, or a couple other guys. I leaned towards the BAT with Castro, Martin, Helman, and Keirsey all available for CF to some degree. When the FO went for defense and speed instead, I was OK with that decision. Just a couple years ago Margot was a legitimate plus CF. He's been solid against LHP and a little under league average overall for his career, but not bad. Actually, he is a better "hitter" and OB% bat than Taylor, but less power. Again, initially, the move made some solid sense, even if it wasn't necessarily the move I would have made. And really, it's pretty silly to dump a veteran ballplayer after 1 month, even if it's been a brutal month. He could turn back in to the player he's previously been and we'll all forget about this OP. But right now, just watching him in the field and at the plate, he looks slow and utterly lost. I don't think he should be gone today. But he's been so bad so far with no positive signs, I think his removal has to be a consideration come June 1st. Keirsey is on the rise, younger, a terrific CF with some pop and speed. Can he hit ML pitching? We won't know until he tries. And I don't care at this point if he's a RH bat or not. Especially since roughly 75% of pitchers are RH anyway. Honestly, at this point, could he do any worse? Hey, I still have hopes for Helman as well. And maybe it's Wallner, ready to go and return, who is the best option. But if Margot doesn't turn it around, a decision is going to have to be made for the good of the team. Right now, Margot's only function is to balance the roster 13/13 for a total of 26 men.

Going to disagree with you slightly here. I think Martin's natural position is the OF, LF and CF to be precise. The problem was the Jay's sticking him at SS and the Twins following suit because they A] Didn't want to mess too much with him when first acquired, and B] The Twins kept him in the dirt at SS because they believed it would help his versatility at 2B and 3Bbecause, you know, it would only help, even though they stated he was a natural OF who could move there at any point. The problem is they DIDN'T just move him to where he should be! It's why a lot of us objected to the idea of him being a primary backup to Buxton, along with Castro, right out of the gate. His defense, and offense, needed more time at AAA. Taylor kept holding out for a better offer...which he never got...and that lead to the trade for Margot. EXCEPT, Margot is no longer considered a legitimate CF option by the Twins, has made a few bad plays in the corners, and has been barely average against LHP, and ABYSMAL against RHP, save a single RBI recently. I'm not one to take a bad month from a veteran and declare him toasted. Late starts and surprises...good and bad...happen. But Margot just looks utterly lost and appears to have fallen off a cliff. I hate being that "knee jerk" guy, but I would also drop him and bring up Keirsey at this point. He's on a 3 year run of finally being healthy and producing, while getting better and better during that run. He was great at AA in 2023, solid at AAA in 39 games to finish. He's been outstanding in 30 games this season. Do we really care he hits from the LH side as replacement for the barely competent RH Margot? He's a LEGITIMATE CF with speed and defense with some pop who MIGHT hit some. He and Martin can cover CF, along with Castro, who can continue to play anywhere. When Buck is back, you send down whoever makes most sense at the time. NOT a big fan of Santana. But at least he's providing good defense. I still believe he can help as a defensive replacement, and a solid RH bat against LHP. So far this season, he's been a much better batter against LHP, which is on cue for his career. I'm talking about almost .300 points better in OPS! IRONICALLY, he somehow has more RBI as a LH despite atrocious batting numbers. But I've heard Larnach, despite his changes in approach and stance that have lead him to sudden production, might still be suffering some from turf toe. That's kept him out of the OF mix somewhat so far if true. So while I'm not a fan of the Santana signing, there's enough there to work with that I'm not ready to bail just yet. At least he's contributed and shown signs of life. It really feels like Margot is just a mistake who's taking up space.

Seattle is a good team, and hot recently. You can't and don't win them all. I don't always agree with moves that Rocco makes, think he generally makes good ones, and over the past few weeks he's made a lot of good and right calls. But i did feel he made some poor choices in this game. 1] I just don't understand PH that early in the game to remove a couple of your best bats. What was it, the 5th? You still have a lot of game to play. 2] Ober was at 85 pitches through 5. In a close game, MAYBE it was time to pull him rather than try to squeeze another inning out of him. But as good as Sands has been this season, he's the ONE GUY in the pen who's "built" for more than 1 inning based on being a SP pretty recently. He should have at least started the 7th in hopes he'd have similar success as he did in the 6th. Alcala has shown time and time again that he has the ability to be good/very good for 1 inning. But they keep INSISTING he should throw 2 at a time! Why? The history of results show his production and final results are clear. 3] I don't understand running Farmer from 2B with 1 out and Jeffers at the plate. Was it a bad hit and run attempt? Being aggressive is one thing. Running yourself out of an inning is a big mistake. 4] Jackson is not a bad arm if he's your 8th or 9th option. STINKS that as soon as we get Duran back we lose Stewart for a week or two. Can Topa help offset his loss? I sure hope so. I don't like the idea of tossing away depth in the pen...and St Paul doesn't have a lot to offer...but when I look at a healthy Twins pen, I've got Duran, Jax, Stewart, Thielbar, Topa, Okert, Duran, Funderburk, and Sands. That's 9 before Staumont hopefully getting right, Winder hopefully getting right, and a couple veteran fliers like Blewett and previously very good Diego Castillo doing solid work. I know guys have bad days, and guys will have IL stints. And Jackson isn't exactly terrible, but he's not exactly good either. Would the FO dare to cut him when Topa is ready? Again, he's probably the 9th or 10th guy when everyone is healthy. How far do they take the "veteran depth" debate? KUDOS to Martin for his hustle! He BLEW that gimme triple, which happens for rookies, indicating he's still got stuff to learn. And that one play might have been the difference in tonight's game, along with mis-using Sands and Duran. But I'd still stick with him over Margot when Buxton is back. Other than a semi-decent bat, with no power, and a single RBI against a RHP a couple games ago, Margot just looks like someone who fell off a cliff. Time to get ready for game 3! Go Twins!

Like everyone else, I'm a huge fan of Arraez and always will be. He's an absolute unicorn: a generational hitter with a good OB% and clutch hitting, but limited power, little speed, and not much defensively. Boy oh boy is he nice to see at the top of your order in one of the top two spots. (Though he does seem to usually fall off some in the second half of seasons. Worn out perhaps?) But with what the Twins had, had coming up, and need in the rotation, it was the right move af the time to trade for Lopez, and it remains the right move today. I don't think any "winner" needs to be decided in the trade. Both teams benefited initially, but we have Lopez. And that's all I need to know. It's a long rabbit hole to go down if we wait and see what becomes of the prospects Miami received from the Padres. And that's a path I care not to follow.. On a side note, when Miami moved on from Kim Ng, I think it was obvious they were probably going to begin a rebuild, though with some years of control left, I didn't see them moving on from Arraez so soon. I really thought the Marlins still needed some young bats, and thought the Twins might offer up a collection of solid prospects...beyond the first 5 or 6 in the system... for Edward Cabrera, talented, controllable, but somewhat enigmatic. I thought it made a ton of sense for both clubs. Looks like no deal there was the best outcome for the Twins. Best of luck to Luis, except of course when he faces us.

Living in Nebraska...as stated in a previous post or two...I'm not affected by this situation. But that doesn't mean it doesn't concern or frustrate me as well. I'm literally watching my life long ML team destroy it's brand and reputation! What's so damn frustrating to me is how ownership has largely seemed to do "right" before this fiasco. In the community, from what I read, they've been very active over the years with various charities and organizations. When the pandemic shut so many things down, they were amongst the first 2 or 3 teams to announce they would not only avoid any layoffs within the Twins FO, but would also pay all milb players and staffers. They've invested in scouting and development and complexes in Florida and Latin America. They've consistently made upgrades to the "Target Field" experience for fans. Current and former players and coaches have raved how they and their families have been treated by the FO and ownership. I don't recall the comments made by Joe Pohlad concerning future expansion of the payroll, but I do know they hadn't cut payroll until this season, and in fact had raised it yearly for the past several seasons. So what on earth has happened, virtually overnight, to create this HUGE mess? We've heard grumblings for some time about Bally and the agreement the Twins had with them that restricted any further growth of revenue through streaming and the such. They KNEW when their contract was up! They had TIME to look for and examine all avenues for 2024 and future growth! Even if you suspected you MIGHT have to lower payroll, you wait until the warm, fuzzy, glowing feelings of reaching the playoffs and actually WINNING have faded a bit. It's almost akin to Christmas and receiving a present you wanted only to be told moments later your goldfish died. Not only was it the wrong time to make said announcement, but if there was any CHANCE of re-upping with Bally, then they should have not only said nothing at the time, but should have maybe hedged their bets a little and mad the decision to either not cut payroll for 2024...coming off a great season...or expect a smaller cut in their minds to hedge their bets on the unknown. What's even MORE frustrating is they SOMEHOW didn't know that the entire deal was still CONTINGENT on an agreement between Bally/Diamond and Comcast??? WTH? Alienate the fans. Mislead the fans. And then eliminate the fans that you have. That's the 3 things that ownership has accomplished this offseason. Just exactly who is running what up in those offices? By all accounts DSP is a salt of the earth guy who's done a lot for the Twins over the years. But lack of growth in earning opportunities and some very bad public statements makes me wonder if it's time to just move on for someone more in touch with today's fans and market place who can be creative and inventive going forward. Ultimately, does the TV/streaming fiasco lie at Joe's feet, or did the "family" intervene and override forward thinking for the future of the organization for one last payday? 6 months. That's all it took to virtually destroy all good will of a franchise and fan base riding high and looking forward to 2024 and the future. SOMEONE upstairs had better take a really good, long, hard, and honest look in the mirror when this season is done, realize and admit mistakes, and then take steps to rectify the situation going forward. And if it's not all on Joe's plate, then he needs to step forward as the man in charge and take control. It may take 2-3 years to undo what's been done in the past 6 months, but that journey begins by reflection, admittance, and then forward thinking to undo the damage.

SWR has been an enigma since acquired and I've been very torn on him to this point. I kept hearing how great a HS prospect he was, how much potential he had, how he was traded twice for a reason, but he was pretty bad when the Twins got him in 2021. But I pointed out how young he was, was rushed to AA, and how his whole season was a massive cluster with preparing for the Olympic team, going oversees, and then having to re-acclimate once back. He then went out and had a really nice 2022 and seemed to re-establish himself again. His first half of 2023 was horrible. Even his better second half wasn't exactly great when you looked at his peripherals. And I kept reading articles about "stuff plus" and we shouldn't give up on him. So I had some hope. And then I read about adjusting his mechanics, and new found velocity, and I had a little more hope. He's looked really good, for the most part, here in 2024. Being a rookie is hard enough, but facing the same team twice in 10 days...even the Dirty Sox...is pretty hard to do. I still expect rookie growing pains and bumps in the road. (witness Varland as a recent example). So I'm not going to proclaim him as a fixture at this point. But the command and control are largely there and consistent. And yes, his "stuff" I kept reading about looks genuinely nasty at times. Varland looking much better recently for St Paul, Festa starting to get stretched out now, Headrick hopefully back at some point in the near future, I'm feeling a little better about our depth. I'll feel even better as Raya keeps adding pitches/innings, Matthews looks good at Wichita, Ohl starts warming up, and Lewis makes it back. (I'm not including Canterino at this point).

So there actually ARE some decent relievers in the minors this year. LOL Blewett looks interesting. Another late bloomer project that's been uncovered perhaps? But he's obviously got to keep it going, but even then, he's a ways down the pecking order for promotion. Any recent reports on Diego Castillo's velocity? I thought he was a smart flier signing to see if he could get back to his previous form, which was good even in 2023. But I want to say he's been throwing in the low 90's last I heard? Blewett and Castillo are nice adds to St Paul, and possible depth options down the road. But behind Alcala, Funderburk, and possibly Staumont if he can make it at least 90% back, they've got a fairly long road ahead of them. Thanks for the report!

BRILLIANT! And deserved! a

Martin is probably the right call. He didn't look out of place in his first appearance, had athleticism and potential, and is on the 40 man. However, Keirsey is off to a great start at St Paul this year...following a pair of good back to back milb seasons...and is an excellent CF. Does it matter if he bats LH? Not to me. He's got to be considered an option at some point, especially in a long term situation.

SURELY you must be a Monty Python connoisseur? **golf clap. Or is that coconut banging?**

This means 2 things: 1] They have already decided Funderburk was going down in favor of Topa. 2] Boushley gives them a fresher arm for today's/Wednesday's game against the Sox. It's May 1st. Nobody is getting cut at this point, and nobody deserves to be cut. "I'm not talking about a temporary fill in like Bowman). Jackson might be the last man in the pen, but he's also done well. SOMEONE has to go down to make room for Topa and it was going to be Funderburk or Sands. Alcala didnt deseve to be sent down, and neither does Funderburk. Great depth forces decisions at times, so it's a good problem to have. The problem is, Topa doesn't need to be brought up yet, and shouldn't be until he proves something with the Saints. And one more game before a day off Thursday really shouldn't have required a need for Boushley anyway.

I live in Nebraska so I'm not in a blackout area, other than Royals games where I'm forced to the radio, or the Bally channel on cable that carries said games. So I'm lucky in that regard. But I do feel pain for those that are in the mess of blackout area and now Bally/Comcast FUBAR situation. I also work for a telecommunications company. Cable is dying quickly. For perspective reasons, I'd like to cover a few things. Why do cable companies "force" you to car4y so many channels? Part of it is federal regulations that require a certain number of "slots" for educational and local channels dependent on how many total channels said cable company offers. In other words, the more channels offered means even more channels must be offered. Additionally, there's about 5 HUGE parent companies that own all of the various channels available to us all on a trickle down affect. Example: Disney doesn't just own Disney, they own ABC and ESPN. Those parent companies want/need their channels to have viewers so they are sold to cable companies in packages very often. Cable TV costs more, overall, than a streaming service. That's the primary reason it's dying. Every couple of years, by law/regulation, a cable company must renegotiate deals/contracts with providers. Additionally, streaming services...while providing the SAME CONTENT...are regulated and taxed differently than cable companies and are not subject to certain restrictions as to blackouts or regional content. Further, when a streaming service carries local channels, they do so with an "umbrella" deal from the PARENT corporation that sets a standard fee for the COUNTRY and individual local stations are forced to accept these fees rather than negotiate directly with the local cable companies, usually for more money. Often times, when you look at a cable TV package of channels and compare it to a streaming service, the actual cost of channel per dollar is less, or equivalent, on cable to said streaming service. Not always, but ofter. Cable TV, previously, offered a more stable floor of known subscribers for someone like Diamond/Bally to make $M offers to sports teams based on subscribers and varying sports fees and rates. BUT, many people now want a different option with fewer channels and a lower monthly rate because it fits their viewing needs and habits better. Nothing wrong with that! I watch far less than half of the channels my company provides me, though it's nice to have them available. Streaming IS where ALL CONTENT is going. Many smaller companies across the country are already dropping TV service because it's expensive to provide with a very small profit margin. (Really, cable companies don't make near what you think they do by TV). Some larger companies are begining to offer smaller, less expensive packages for customers to stream, but without sports as they are the most expensive channels/content to supply. The Twins ARE going to be streaming, and probably next year. Some teams are already, and many more will be very soon as well. But it's going to get worse before it gets better gang. $19.99 a month to watch the Twins would need tens of thousands of households before they could come close to meeting the $45M plus mark of incoming cash flow they've had previously. And since there are teams, Yankees for example, that control their $/TV destiny, with a larger population base as well, the payroll instability in MLB is only going to get worse before it gets better. In the long run, more options for the consumer...though streaming services continue to raise rates as well...and a larger footprint to grow a fan base is good, and better for everyone. In the short term, it's going to be a mess. While not directly affected by these events, on the one hand, I can see the Twins Ownership accepting the $ for the one year deal presented to them at the 11th hour. But on the other hand, since payroll was already being reduced, I wish the owners of my favorite ML team had been forward thinking enough to begin embracing the future, and opportunities to grow their fan base and seek out new forms of revenue growth instead of a 1yr cash grab. It's a big cluster of a mess that might take a few years of instability across the sport until the floor stabilizes. The only good news, at the moment, would be that streaming is probably coming next year for everyone.

Since the Twins acquired him they've said he's a NATURAL OF. They've also stated the reason they kept him at SS as long as they did was because he was already doing so, and because as much time as could be spent "in the dirt" would only assist in his development as a possible INF option. We have to remember that Martin was drafted not only as a HITTER, but also as an INF. The Jays did him no favors, after missing an entire year due to covid, and putting him not only at SS, but also AA. And the Twins followed along. I blame the Jay's for trying to FORCE him to jump to AA AND playing his probably worst position after NOT playing for a year. I blame the Twins NOT for adjusting his hitting approach, but for keeping him at SS for some reason. Martin CAN probably play SS or 3B in an "emergency" situation. But he is OBVIOUSLY an OF. What's wrong with that? His development has been delayed because he's only now being allowed who he's supposed to be, along with injuries that have delayed him. He MIGHT be a starting player, or a role player, but the "who he might be" is starting now.

Actually, the 17 UDFA is about right. You need not only camp bodies to get the roster to the 89-90 limit...though a couple guys will be dropped after tryout camps and a possible NFL FA signing or two yet to come...but you're also searching for the diamonds in the rough that may turn out, like Pace last year, and others before him. I was surprised...maybe a little disappointed...that the Vikings didn't target a UDFA RB as I thought there were a couple pretty decent ones available and I'm not sold on veteran Gaskin, 2nd year McBride, and KR specialist Nwangu as depth options. I think they might have missed the boat here on opportunity. BUT, they nabbed a handful of UDFA that might turn out to be pretty good: 1] Gabriel Murphy-EDGE-UCLA: HIGHLY productive and athletic and "ALL EVERYTHING" here and there. He's athletic, fast, and productive. Draft grades had 3rd round plus, but lack of great size pushed him out of the draft. Sound familiar? 2] Dallas Gant-LB-Toledo: A tackling, downhill machine with solid speed and athleticism who is a very comparable player to the aforementioned Pace. 3] Doug Nester-OL-West Virginia: He's an OT who has barely allowed any pressures or sacks in his career. Good length and solid size with decent feet. I'm a little surprised he wasn't drafted by somebody as a G, which is probably where he fits best...if not too tall...and he could be a nice PS player. 4] Dwight McGlotheren-CB-Arkansas: He played at LSU for his first 2 yrs and was solid. He was 2nd team all SEC in 2022, and had a nice 2023 but missed a few games due to injury. He was projected to be a mid to late round draft choice. While slightly shorter and just a couple pounds lighter than Khyree Jackson, their draft profiles are almost exactly the same: Need to add strength, need to work on footwork for man coverage instead of zone first. POSSIBLE SURPRISES: 1] Bo Richter-EDGE-Air Force: WHO? His draft profile says muscles on top of muscles at 6' 1" and 248lbs and he had a 6-7th round draft grade. 19.5 tackles for loss in 2023 and 10 sacks. But his lack of length makes him dubious as an EDGE player. I'm betting the Vikings move him inside and place him on the PS for next year. You'd have to believe he's got the smarts to play in the middle, right? 2] Matthew Cindric- C-Califnoria: This one is a HUGE reach! He's older as he COULD have had a 7th college season in 2024 due to covid and injuries. He started 11 games as a redshirt freshman in 2019. He was a starter in the covid shortened 2020 year. And then he started 11 games in 2021. He then started 6 games in 2022 before a torn biceps ruined his season. He tore the OTHER arm biceps at the beginning of 2023 and lost that season. Why on earth would I possibly even consider this kid as a surprise? Because he's obviously pretty smart with his degree from Cal in 2022, and SOMEONE in the Vikings FO knows this kid and the potential he showed before a pair of unfortunate injuries. SOMEONE thinks he's worth bringing in as a potential PS player. Like every group of UDFA there's an additional group of fodder and potential surprises. Different year, same song and dance. A couple will be gone in a few weeks when an "invite" looks good. And the Vikes will probably still sign a veteran or two and need to release someone to make room. BTW, if I understand the FA vs future comp rules, signing Risner AFTER April, he DOESN’T count against the 2025 comp pick situation. Just saying. Someone might surprise, but that's just a general breakdown of some of the more promenade UDFA to keep an eye on.

I do think sending Martin down was the right call. I liked what I saw of him so far, and he had that look of "I belong". But he's also got the least amount of experience and could probably use a little more polish. I thought he looked OK in CF, though I did see a couple extra steps here and there. While Keirsey is having a fine season at St Paul, I'd like to see Martin get plenty of time there for his development. I like the approach Martin showed at the plate. He flashed XB power, patience, and contact, as well as some of his speed. But again, some additional experience and polish can only help him. He still has only about a half season of AAA under his belt. Margot has been a surprising disappointment, IMO, as a decent, solid veteran. Hopefully he gets untracked soon and performs to his career norms. Martin WILL be up again. IDEALLY, when that happens, he will replace Margot as a similar, but younger player with potential. But it's too early to just bail on a 30yo veteran 30 games in to the season. How good can Martin be? It's up in the air, but he's got a skil set to help "balance" the power/OB approach of this lineup. I want him to get more experience in CF because I think he's got the ability to be pretty good there as a backup option. He can be a nice bottom of the order contributor to flip the lineup, OR, continue to grow and improve and maybe be a #1 sparkplug with Julien sliding to the #2 spot. It was a solid debut. I'm actually expecting more from him the next time we see him.

Sorry, but busy and taking a couple days to rest from an ailment, I wasn't able to join the discussion until things concluded. My overview, FWIW: 1] I've been TORN who I like better than Williams...whom I'm not 100% on...between Daniels, Maye, and McCarthy. I'm just a fan, not a FO expert. I don't particularly like Harbaugh as I think he's a bit of a jerk, but I respect the hell out of his career as a coach at both levels. When he stated he believed McCarthy was the best QB in the draft, I listened. When I look at his HS and college career, I pay attention. When I look at his stats I pay attention. As a BIG 10 fan who's watched him do some really great things...despite being in a run first offense...I pay attention. He's a good athlete with a good arm and well coached and HUGELY successful, I think we got a POSSIBLE franchise kid who O'Connell and the FO believe in. I HATED trading up ONE SPOT and the cost, but I DO THINK the Broncos and others were about ready to pounce. 2] I HATED giving up even more draft choices to move up for Turner, but he was a consensus top 10-12 player. 3] I again HATED sitting still through rounds 2 and 3, but I understood this draft was about the top 2 picks, FA already signed, a few more that might happen, and still keeping the 1st round pick in 2025, along with GREAT payroll flexibility to sign JJ and other additions. 4] The Jackson pick looks really smart. He's long, fast, athletic, and hasn't probably topped out yet considering his career experience so far. If he can improve his feet and "hip turn" just a little more, he could be a real steal. 5] I DIDN'T see the Rouse pick, even though there might be a need at OT IF Brandel is the favorite for LG. I really like Brandel a lot, but I still see him as a 4 spot fill in who's practiced at Center to be an emergency offering there if needed. Since there is debate about adding a 3rd 3rd round pick in 2025 if Risner signs for $X elsewhere, I'm still expecting him as a re-sign, and letting Brandel be the 6th man on the line. Rouse makes sense as a big, smart, experienced potential swing tackle who gets a year to adapt and develop. 6] I honestly expected the Vikings to draft a kicker. My IMAGINATION said we could sign one of the top ones in UDFA, but I think we all understand how the game has changed. Hard to argue with Reichard and his career as a draft option. Here's hoping he's the RIGHT GUY for 8-10 years! (I'm old enough to remember when the Vikings actually had great kickers for YEARS) 7] Michael Juegens wasn't on MY list for G/C. But, unsurprisingly, with limited draft choices, he seems at least "interesting" as a choice. The bi*ch of lost draft choices meant a lot of G/C options I was hoping for were gone. But the kid has toughness and experience. And he has opportunity. Not a bad pick. 8] Levi Drake Rodriguez! I don't care if it's the 7th round of the draft! Who is this guy? Well, he's about 6' 4" and 290 lbs and raw as meat from your favorite butcher. He started out at NAIA and moved to the FCS level. He reportedly has a 100MPH motor and some quickness and speed and strength and has produced pressure and TFL and some sacks without good technique. Is this a steal from the scouting department? Everything I'm seeing is he's a PRIORITY FA and wondering if we didn't miss another decent draft option instead? UDFA: I LOVE Murphy from UCLA! Dallas Gant from Toledo MIGHT be another Pace. CB Dwight McGlothern might surprise. A potential PS possibility at least. Nester and Flax from WV and Kentucky might be transitional G options if given time. Not a bad haul for UDFA. Bo Richter from AF is really interesting if he can convert to an OFF THE BALL LB since he's tough as nails but small for an OLB.

I can't explain Raya specifically, but I read an interview/article on a different website where Festa stated he had just thrown his last, or was about to throw his last, game where he would be held at 70 pitches or less. Obviously 44 pitches is quite a bit less than 44. But how a guy looks, and if he throws 30 pitches or close to in a single inning sometimes also factors in to how long he's allowed to go. The point being that while different arms might be treated on a different schedule, they are using the first month of the season as part of a ramp up with the idea of going additional innings and pitches allowed per game. So based on what Festa stated, we should start seeing some extensions in May and beyond.

I get where you're coming from, Roger. I'd just pump the brakes a little bit at this point. He had a solid ST and the Twins seemed to like what they saw. He's had a nice SSS at St Paul and with the Twins so far, but I'd have to say Alcala and the "yet to appear" Topa probably rate a little higher on the pen totem pole. While his ERA is a little high, again SSS, Jay Jackson's K's per, AVG, and WHIP have been pretty solid as well. ONLY my opinion, but I think the Twins have been so impressed by what they've seen from Sands, I think Bowman was brought up as a substitute innings eater option. But yes, Bowman has looked good so far.