tarheeltwinsfan

The Twins are in good shape for the next 3 games. Lopez, Gray and Ryan will start. The Astro's used Verlander, Abreu (he was nasty) , Neris and Pressly. I doubt these 3 Astro relievers will be able to pitch effectively, if at all, today , Graveman is not on the Astro's roster due to shoulder discomfort. On the other hand, the Twins have Duran, Jax, Stewart and Varlamd well rested and available and they will also be available Tuesday, with the off day Monday, in Minnesota and probably Wednesday too. The Twins have had a game to get over their visiting playoff team yipps and will be fired up for a key victory today. I know Valdez is tough, but just take lots of pitches, score some runs, get to the Astro's relievers and victory will belong to the Twins. I am more optimistic today than yesterday.

I guess so.

Nick, I was going to write that "the current Twins ain't your grandfather's Twins" either...but then I got to your last sentence in your fine article about the Astros and BANG...you said it. Great article which had the perfect ending to it. One of your very best articles, out of your many outstanding articles this year.

Sonny Gray is a pitcher I would go to war with. Hence the nickname, "Bulldog". I hope the Twins will sign him for three more years with some of the extra revenue the Twins will realize from winning the World Series in 2023.

Don't forget the red Homer Hankies. A nice touch.

video of Newman: "Hmm, you present quite the conundrum. "

Great article. I am so pumped after reading this article Nick. I absolutely agreed with everything, but one statement. "Emanating pure Derek Jeter qualities, Royce Lewis...." Yes, "The Captain", aka Derek Jeter had really good hitting stats in postseason play but "The Captain" was just so "Yankee cocky". I know Dizzy Dean and Mohamad Ali were both credited with saying: "It's not bragging if you can do it." But they were wrong. According to the definition of "bragging", it means "excessive talk or boasting about one's achievements". Both Dean and Ali had great athletic achievements also they both boasted about how great they were. That is bragging. Even in their saying the quote credited to them, they were implying that because they had achieved so much themselves, that they were allowed to boast excessively and the definition of bragging did not apply to them. My "North Carolina nice" raising taught me that bragging was not polite.

As far as I'm concerned, as long as the Twins are still playing baseball in 2023, Rocco is the best of all the managers.

I don't mind. I just close my office door and tell my secretary to hold my calls because I am in conference for 3 hours.

I'm happy with Duran. And like Forrest Gump, "That's all I've got to say about that."

Why is Jeffers at DH instead of Kirilloff? The A's are starting a right-handed pitcher. Plus Jeffers will be catching the day game tomorrow.

And more often it takes young kids time to adjust to the big show. None is bigger than the playoffs.

I feel you are underestimating Kyle Farmer and overestimating a good young player with no major league experience. I must respectfully disagree with bring Lee up to play now and later in the most important Twins' playoff games in 22 years. For me, Farmer's experience and better than adequate skills trump Lee's youth and promise.

Ryan should start the 3rd game, if one is necessary. Maeda can lose a game very quickly for some reason. Funderburk should be in the pen instead of Paddock. Playoff baseball is not the time to see if Paddock will be successful in a pressure filled playoff game. Save Paddock's re-entry to the big leagues for spring, 2024.

I was at Target Field last night. Each pitch was tense. The fans were into the game from the beginning. I watched the scoreboard along with 32,000 other fans as the Guardians' score went back and forth. I was even glad Cleveland finally won last night, so that the Twins could win the Championship by winning the Twins' game at Target Field. When the Twins got the last out on a beautiful Eddie Julien play, tears ran down my cheeks, just like many of the other 32,000 in attendance. My friends, Dick, LaTroy and Justin watched the game with me and as we discussed strategy and memories of past Twins' games and players, they were just as excited as I was the whole game. After the game, my friend, Audra, got me into the Twins clubhouse for the players celebration. She even introduced me to some of the victorious Twins players. I had a great post-game discussion with two other friends, Tim and Katie. We even looked at some videos of key plays, which they had. In the clubhouse celebration, the champaign and beer burned my eyes (I didn't have any goggles in my backpack like Joe Ryan did) and soaked my clothes. Then this morning I got to go back to Target field with my friend, Melissa, and she and I talked about the game and the season and discussed how much fun we had last night. She even showed me an incredible picture she took last night of the giant scoreboard proclaiming the Twins were the AL Central Division Champions 2023. In the picture the fans were still standing, and I swear I could hear them still cheering and yelling in that picture. In Melissa's picture she captured the the green grass of left and center field, the flags waving, the night time Minneapolis' skyline, the excitement of the fans and Minnie and Paul grinning and shaking hands after a thrilling Twins victory. Right now I have tears running down my cheeks, as I remember last night and write this heartfelt comment from my office, 1,224 miles away from beautiful Target Field.

Lopez will need to get through the first inning no matter who the opponent is. I don't know why the first inning has been a problem for Lopez, but I guess that is another topic for another day.

You have a good point about Gray and Lopez.

Great points about right fielder Kep. Great defense, but only in RF. If Kep played CF when needed, I might feel stronger about his value. For me, what places Castro above Julien is his defense and his ability to play every OF position well and the 3 key IF positions well. This has allowed Rocco to mix and match with effectiveness all year. Castro is a switch hitter, which gives added value to Castro. Castro also has set a new bar for Twins players in steals. His bunt and baserunning yesterday were perfect examples of his value. Granted Julien and Castro each have scored 55 runs and Julien has a higher OPS due to Julien having more walks than Castro. But as between Castro and Julien, for me the big difference is Castro's really good defense and Castro's defensive versatility vs. Julien's sub-par, but improving, defense at 2B this year. Both players are extremely valuable, and I am very happy with their play this year. Finally, Castro, like Lewis, is a spark plug who excites and ignites his team-mates.

Good article Matthew. Thanks for all the interesting stats. and the resulting conclusions.

Good points.

I agree with Dan Gladden. Castro is the Twins MVP. Who'd a thunk it?

Sonny Gray has made me forget Chase... what's his name? I feel my numerous prior complaints about that trade were just me being petty.

Great point about Vasquez helping Gray and the rest of the staff. I believe Vasquez has been a main contributor to the Twins pitchers successes this year. He is a knowledgeable pitch caller, an encourager and a fighter. I'd share a foxhole with him any day or night.

The Twins will have a better chance against all those Rangers' left-handed pitchers if Lewis and Correa and, yes, even Buxton, can bat to add right-handed hitting. As of the time I am writing this, all three are questionable due to injuries. Donnie Barrels, Farmer and Taylor must rise to the occasion. Luckily they are all professionals, who know what is at stake. I am confident these 3 pros will come through for the Twins and for the sake of all that is good and decent in this universe.

Matt, That was a good article for Sonny Gray winning the AL Cy Young award this year. However, your points reminded me of some of my closing arguments to juries. I learned long ago that in closing arguments, if the facts are in my client's favor, argue the facts. If the law is in my client's favor argue the law. If neither the facts nor the law are in my client's favor, quote the Bible.