tarheeltwinsfan

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.

Narrow the focus to the present. Be intentional. Just concentrate on what you can control. One day at a time. One game at a time. One pitch at a time. One play at a time.

Good luck with your knee replacements. I hope you get pain relief and vastly increased mobility.

Credit is due to the FO for building depth for every position, except catcher. Probably the alternating of Vasquez and Jeffers helped keep these 2 catchers healthy, plus some they have had some good luck too. It is interesting that several of the comments above mentioned the good health of this team, but Buck has been, and is out, and Correa is limping and limited and Buck's very capable back up, Taylor, is hurting too. I think it is important to get Buck or Taylor playing full speed at CF for the playoffs. I'm so glad Kep has had a huge turnaround and is having fun and playing his usual stellar "D" and is crushing the baseball the second half of this season. Hasn't Willi Castro been a wonderful addition to this team. I hope he makes the team in 2024. How long has it been since the Twins had a player with 30+ steals? If Correa needs to be out some, Farmer is more than adequate at SS. This is a well constructed team. Add Donnie Barrels to my list of outstanding additions. He and Lewis are such clutch hitters. But a lot of credit goes to the 2 rookies, Lewis, batting 3rd and Julian, batting leadoff. They both have been major, major contributors. The pitching has been among the best I can remember on a Twins team. Just outstanding pitching this year. Again, credit the FO for savvy trades (Lopez, Maeda, Ryan, Gray, Duran). (I choose to ignore the Mahle trade.) Incredible. It looks like Falvey has been able to acquire great pitching through crafty trades. I have really enjoyed this year's Twins team. A group of Minnesota nice, positive, team oriented, winners.

Another fascinating article. "turns his ERA sour and musty". Great descriptive writing. Thanks Matt

Great idea for an article. Ted, did you do a similar written evaluation of the trade from the Twins point of view for the Marlins writer to publish for Marlins fans? If so, I would be interested in reading it. Win win for both teams, both of which filled major needs. Win win for the fans, even though fan-favorites were traded away, because both players have also become fan favorites on their new teams, due to both players having outstanding seasons and both players being good, decent, likable men.

Good, well written, informative and quite timely article. Thanks Lou.

Great article about my fellow North Carolinian. Thanks Matt.

I think Lee will beat out Gordon, Larnach, Miranda and possibly Farmer. Lee will play 3B with Lewis moving to 2B and Julien to 1B and DH and Kirilloff to 1B and LF. That gives the Twins a capable SS playing at 3B, SS, and 2B. I worry about the sophomore slump for Wallner, Lewis and Julien. But then I am a natural worrier.

This makes the most sense to me. Thanks AZ.

That makes perfect sense. Thanks Ken.

In the Athletic I asked Dan Hayes about Joe Ryan going back out to pitch after an hour delay. In response, Dan posted that he shared my concern about the risk of injury, until he found out that Ryan had been pitching some under the stadium during the rain delay.

This is an article that none of us could have imagined being written at the beginning of this season. Most of the credit is due to the FO for obtaining professional baseball players who believe in team first and who seem to be really good guys. Much credit is due to Rocco for keeping them playing and team focused. Much of the credit is also due to the players themselves, who are actually the ones in the arena. No one is perfect and we all make mistakes. (New major league record for team strikeouts.) Even so, this has been one of my favorite Twins teams ever. And I have been a Twins/Senators fan since 1954. "The Twins Way" really stands for always playing hard, practicing hard, encouraging each other and respecting the game. Thanks, Nick, for an interesting article, which reminds me why I will a Twins fan for the rest of my life's journey.