scottz

I suspect the Twins will piecemeal internal options for 1B and spend more than they want on a single good pitcher. I'd like to say they'll spend more than they want on two good pitchers, but I don't think they will. Too many teams want the same players. Also, a quick shout out for the Reds. I don't love everything they've done since last summer, but they are being aggressive in their moves. I hope to see them in the playoffs next year.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Eddie is exactly the kind of player to go to arbitration with every year until he is either injured or a free agent. Both sides present honest arguments as politely as they can, and when the arbiter decides, you shake hands, smile, and try to be the first one to grab the check and pay for dinner. Whatever that salary number is this year, the Twins can afford it. And whatever Eddie provides in value in 2020, it will almost assuredly be more than you'd get from 145 games of Wade or Cave (and also more than what you'd get from 145 games of any of the prospects).

I'm not interested in robot umpires. I'm not interested in super slow motion replays catching the single frame instant of a runner's foot sliding off a bag and so actually he actually was out actually actually. Maybe I'll change my mind someday - I don't mind how tennis uses their technology and challenges - maybe because it seems much more organic. The call happens, the player challenges, they show it on the screen, the crowd claps or cheers until the ruling is made. All within seconds. But for baseball and football, it's painful to the flow of the game. And basketball? Don't get me started.

He's the perfect guy for arbitration. Player and team throw out a number and argue about it in the nicest way possible. Pay him whatever is decided. I'm no arbitration dollars expert, but whatever jump he gets from the $4 million he had this year is something the team can swallow without impacting their quest for pitching. Keep playing him until one of the kids does to Rosario what Arraez did to Schoop. If nobody steps up, play the same game going into 2021. Also, Cave is a perfectly fine 4th outfielder. He is not Rosario's equivalent, in my opinion.

Hey Travis, thanks for doing this! You mentioned in one of your answers that you had a full-ride scholarship to USC on the table. Do you recall which other schools had offered you scholarships, and what reason(s) pushed your decision to USC? Was it a difficult decision to pass on the college experience to go pro?

Obviously there’s no stat for playing at full health. I think it’s a pretty logical leap that over a three year period, the pains and aches of nagging injuries across all the players of baseball would even out. But who knows. Maybe Eric Hosmer feels fresh all season long and maybe Rosario will someday learn to be healthier than all other professional baseball players.

2017-2019 total games played Kepler - 437 Rosario - 426 Cruz - 419 (SEA, MIN) Schoop - 412 (BAL, MIL, MIN) Gonzalez - 393 (HOU, MIN) Cron - 365 (LAA, TB, MIN) Polanco - 363 Sano - 290 Adrianza - 267 Buxton - 255 Garver - 218 Castro - 208 If you're looking across MLB, Rosario is tied for 51st in games played (Kepler tied for 37th). Eric Hosmer has played the most at 479. I think Rosario's been pretty healthy, both relative to our own team and to everyone else.

Was going to leave baseball alone for awhile. Astros up 3-1 over Yankees has me feeling better, and feeling good enough to comment. MVP - It's Cruz. We have lots of deserving baseball players, but my goodness, it is Cruz. He exudes leadership that doesn't show in WAR. He provides value while he sits in the dugout and 9 of his teammates are playing defense that also doesn't show anywhere. The Twins got it right, and in my opinion, TwinsDaily got it wrong. That's OK. Opinions are nice. Rosario - Speaking of opinions. Some of the negativity towards Eddie is deserved - I get it. He's an extreme free swinger that pitchers are able to take advantage of, and he only got on base exactly 30% of the time. Can he change that? Maybe. But he's not a nothing player, and he's not a guy you just cast aside - this year he played more games than anybody on the team except Polanco. Maybe everyone is ready for one of the prospects to step in and play 137 games, but if not, is Jake Cave going to out produce Eddie? Is LaMonte Wade? Also don't forget, Rosario clearly had some form of lower body injury that he was nursing over a couple of stretches, and he still played 137 games and struck out less than these players: Garver, Cron, Schoop, Polanco, Sano, Kepler, Cruz, Gonzalez, and Castro. Eddie probably wouldn't bring back a big name pitcher because of his flaws. So don't trade him! I think he's exactly the kind of player you just keep paying through arbitration (through 2022) unless he gets injured or doesn't make any adjustments. He was 27 years old this year only made $4 million. That number isn't going to jump to $15 million. Keep him, and pay him whatever happens in arbitration. I expect a big year out of Eddie in 2020. I hope it is in Minnesota.

One nit pick: Start Time: 8:40 PM ET / 7:40 PM CT Forecast: 60 degrees and sunny The sun sets at 6:43 PM CDT. It will not be sunny. Clear, perhaps, but not sunny.

Aaron Judge has won exactly as many championships as Eddie Rosario. Gleyber Torres has won as many as Miguel Sano. The Twins are playing as if every one of these guys is Mickey Mantle or Babe Ruth. Grow a pair and play ball.

I don't think so, but I hope so. Altuve just hit a 2 run HR in Game 1 of the ALDS.

I can see that comparison.

I'd like to say something really hyperbolic and probably very stupid. Watching Dobnak against the Tigers the other night, Greg Maddux kept popping into my head. I don't know why for sure, but Dobnak's pace, his consistent location, his ability to throw a set up pitch followed by the perfect swing and miss pitch, everything felt like Maddux. I'd like to be mocked and ridiculed now, and I'd like you all to tell me why I'm wrong and how different the two pitchers are and how I must be a moron for comparing a guy with 28 innings under his belt to a HOF guy with 355 wins. Thank you kindly for your harsh words.

Seems like it should be pretty simple to ask Dyson, "did you tell the Giants your shoulder hurt? tell us everything about that conversation." If he says anything like "they said not to worry about it" or anything else that dissuaded him from making a big deal out of it, then you have something to take to MLB for a third party to make some sort of judgment. That said, the judgment isn't going to be "let's give the Twins their prospects back." That's not happening unless what Dyson tells them is they gave him a series of cortisone shots and other medical treatments and scans and none of that appears in his files. And if I had to wager my house, I'd wager that's not what Dyson will say.

This is a great idea that could go MLB-wide. It’s fantastic. I’m only sad that I have no Jersey to participate. Where did you get the custom made Rivera jersey made? Was it on a jersey of the era? I could go for a Willie Norwood jersey.

Right now, I'm reading this while I'm working. Or, you know, not giving it 100%. Should he run hard every play? Sure. But that Excel spreadsheet would have more formulas in it if I wasn't typing this here.

Disappointing, but another reminder to myself to not get too hung up on the fates of “my” pro sports teams. Hopefully they can step up and finish the season strong, but if they don’t, or don’t do anything in the playoffs, my life will be unaffected.

What is Ober's mix of pitches? He obviously can't have much that screams "stuff" or he would be somewhere higher in the list of prospects. How does he get the results he gets? Whatever it is, I hope it continues to play as he ascends.

Flipped a coin maybe? Somebody gets it, somebody doesn’t. Or maybe the FO thought, “hey, Gordon had a nice big signing bonus. Let’s give a little more to Poppen.” Either way, that’s the way it goes sometimes, right? Somebody gets the goods, somebody else doesn’t. Also either way, I’m going to go have breakfast.

I’m looking forward to seeing where Ober shows up on updated prospect lists. It has been fun seeing his stats and box scores.

Chemistry matters, even if you can't quantify it. Schoop won't be with the team next year, but he's here for the remainder of this year. I don't see a situation where they DFA him at a point less than 24 days before rosters expand (i.e., anytime between now and Sept 1). Maybe he doesn't end up on the postseason roster if everyone is healthy, but that's not nearly the same as just letting him go. If they need another bullpen arm, they'll keep rotating the bullpen guys with options to and from Rochester.

Astros gave up their 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 22nd prospects (MLB.com rankings) for Greinke. The 3rd (Seth Beer) is the overall #100 (Larnach is the overall #97).

Astros get Greinke, Aaron Sanchez, Joe Biagnini. Twins get Romo and Dyson. Advantage: Astros

Fenton would have made a trade by now.

I haven’t been following all trade rumors 100% of the time, but this is the first I’ve heard of specifics (Larnach and Graterol) for Stroman and Giles. If that is correct, let’s do it already! It hurts a bit because those two seem pretty solid, but give some to get some.