gocgo

Carrasco looks untouchable so far.

Who's grasping at straws? I never said that he should say that nor would I expect it.

Mad at him? No. I get it that he has a tough job to do and it can be rough to let guys go that the fans favor, but I felt that he's trying to sell both sides. We unloaded assets that were going to expire at the end of the year and got back prospects in return...that's reality. For him to then say that he expects a competitive team on the field isn't reality. If you expect a competitive team on the field now, then that means you had a more competitive team on the field before you unloaded the assets. If that were the case, why unload those assets? The truth is that we didn't put a competitive team on the field, but we hope to in the near future.

No, you certainly don't put down Dozier and I know that they have to put the positive spin on everything, but talking about putting a great product on the field while your clearly selling is stretching it pretty far. If he would have said that we are looking forward to seeing what some of the young guys have to offer to assess offseason needs, that's fair. That's honest. Pulling out the sunshine pump and saying that we will be competitive while unloading some of our best players is just lying to the fans.

I'm also keeping my eye on Matt McGill. I know that sounds goofy, but I saw more 2 nights ago than I saw all year. His breaking ball had snap on it and he ramped it up to 97.

I don't know if the guys they got back will ever pan out. What I do know was that the sunshine pump was in high gear last night on the radio. Let me summarize what Derek Falvey said: ...toughest part of my job...blah blah blah...took the best deals we could get...blah blah blah...high upside...blah blah blah...successful future...power arm...power bat...blah blah blah...high expectations for the rest of the season...blah blah blah...competitive team on the field...blah blah blah...we'll see what free agency in the offseason brings...blah...blah...blah. I think that about covers it.

Gotta admit...I don't get it. If we were saving money, I'd get it. Forsythe should be gone at the end of the year if not before (August waiver?) The ONLY thing I can think of is that Dozier just wanted out and the FO granted it. The prospects that they got back are....young? I guess. Hope it works out. Hope Dozier catches fire. Hope he wins a world series.

Never mind what might happen and who might be traded...we actually got something for Lance Lynn. I'm still trying to absorb that.

Right, and there's a reason for that. He hasn't performed at a MLB level...and neither has Matt Belilse, but the only thing Belilse has done well is strand inherited runners. It seems like people make the assumption that the guys that are tearing it up in AAA will have MLB success. That has not proven to be the case. Now that we are in sell mode, yeah, bring them up. We've thrown in the towel. Let's see how they do. One thing for sure - he needs to throw more than a fastball for strikes and miss more MLB bats. If he can't do that, he wont ever be MLB ready.

I agree with your assessment and have said for a while now that I don't see Dozier getting traded...not because we don't want to move him. Rather because it's tough to sell what no one really wants to buy. I've detailed in other posts the 2B's that are out there and they are more attractive than Dozier. Time may prove me wrong, but I don't see him being moved.

Never given the opportunity? What have you seen from Busenitz that makes you think he's mlb ready?

I think that pitching well in AAA doesn't equate to pitching well in the majors. The pitchers that you mentioned have not proven they can pitch at an MLB level. That's why they are in AAA. It's not like this bullpen is holding anyone back.

I'm not in favor of trading Gibby for prospects. At this point, I think you know what you have in Gibson...a pretty quality MLB pitcher (tough to run on, smart, seasoned). Prospects are prospects....they often don't pan out at an MLB level. We've seen sure things turn into fools gold over and over and over again. I think you extend Gibson as he is a key part of the future.

Yeah...I totally cursed us. Bad call on my part. I actually thought Erv got hit pretty hard, but got bailed out by some good defense.

Started a great DP to end the game today. I don't see him being released. And I don't see Sano back that soon. He's had one good game at Rochester.

Erv just needs to keep the ball down in the zone and keep it in the park. The Jays either hit it out of the park or they struggle to score.

I know we are selling...but is anyone gonna buy what we have for sale? I mean, there are better options out there than Dozier at 2nd base...Merrifield, Lowrie, Gennett...I'm not so sure that Dozier ranks in the top 3 available 2nd basemen.

Well, if there was a doubt about whether we would be buyers, sellers, or stand pat, I think this series pretty much settled that. I'm guessing the phone lines lit up like a Christmas tree at the conclusion of this game. Offers include a couple of cracked bats and a bucket of abc gum. We got swept by a team that was 40 games under .500!....and we managed to look like we were the weaker team in the process. BTW, Buxton catches that ball to CF and we win 3-2, but that's neither here nor there. If we truly are in sell mode, I don't see how Belilse remains on the team. What's the point of using a spot on an aging veteran that isn't in our future plans? Busenitz...I just haven't been impressed. I know he can throw, but can he pitch? I've grown weary of watching this team.

Now with the early removal of Machado from the mix, the Brew Crew makes the most sense...unless we continue the tear on the 10 game road trip.

I am not convinced that Dozier gets traded. We tend to look at it from the Twins perspective, but looking at it from the buyers point of view, I'm not sure it makes sense to trade for him. The teams that I've heard as being potential suitors - Boston, Milwaukee, Dodgers, Seattle. Boston - Pedroia probably out for the year. Makes sense for them to pick up a rental. Jed Lowrie, Scooter Gennett, Brian Dozier, Whit Merrifield. You get your pick of those 4. Yes, Dozier starting to heat up.Yes, Billie Beane says they are buyers, but let's be honest, there's a lot of BS that gets spewed this time of year to position for the best deal. The A's are further back in the division than the Twins and they have 2 teams to hurdle in a tough division. Lowrie is older than Dozier and the A's have needs. It makes sense to move him rather than extend him. Gennett says he doesn't think he'll be traded. Maybe, but what would you do if you were the GM of a team in last place and had a sell high asset? I'd listen to the offers. Ditto for Whit Merrifield. Milwaukee - they are in the Machado sweepstakes and here's the interesting thing. If you are the Orioles, your are selling...but if you're smart you are taking offers right down to the wire. That could easily handcuff some teams as the pieces involved in the Machado offer will be tied up. Unless they are willing to fold their hand in the Machado game, it will make it tough to move forward on other deals. Dodgers - Jose DeLeon was the offer last year and we didn't like it. New year, new circumstances, but the offer certainly isn't going to go up. I'm not convinced we will get an offer that will make sense for the Twins given our recent surge. Seattle - Robinson Cano. They get him back for the last 6 weeks, but will miss him for the playoffs should they make it. Does it make sense to trade for Dozier when they get Cano back on August 14 for the playoff push. Right now, they have the second wild card. So, do you trade for Dozier for a couple of weeks and a possible wildcard game? Assuming that I have to pay more than a bag of peanut M&M's, my answer is no. There may be other teams that are interested, but I'm going to say that Dozier and his glorious hair stay in Minnesota for the rest of the year.

For some reason, when I see Busenitz out there, I think of Ebby Calvin Laloosh - Don't think. It can only hurt the ball club.

Perhaps some music will make us all feel better.

Not sure if all 3 of those runs are unearned...but they should be.

OK, I can buy that reasoning.

You think we have a better chance of winning a 5 game series against a superior team rather than winning a single game against a superior team?