HarmonK03

Read my whole post, I explained a solution to this line despite sub optimal options.

Technically these players were designated for assignment and then we agreed to give cash considerations to skip the waiver wire hierarchy. Bottom line these players were deemed no longer necessary to be on their former teams 40 man roster and the Twins made a move ahead of other teams to claim those players.

Shelton has been using this line for the last month or so. At some point, like now you just need to say this is your role to each reliever. If it doesn't work, switch out a period of time but not two games. Yes the options are not optimal and some days the plan will fall apart. But it is easier to adjust when you have a plan, when you have no plan then you are just shooting darts. Yesterday was a great example, Fundy was going to have to face Goodman as he was the third scheduled hitter, just put in your best option not the LH to face the first two LH scheduled hitters. It probably should have been Banda or Morris to come in if they had a real plan and defined roles.

This market has always supported winning teams the most. There are a lot of options with 4 major league sports, a division 1 college, and a thriving Arts scene. People can not support all of these options and will allocate their entertainment dollars based on perceived value and winning is part of that formula. It has always been that way in this market. Getting tickets for the Wild and Vikings has been easier in the last couple of years because they have not consistently been winning in the playoffs. As for downtown, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. There are issues with crime downtown but if you go to a game and leave with the crowd, the odds are pretty low that you are going to have an issue. If you stay after the game and hang out, yes the odds go up that you may find trouble. The problem is the perception that downtown is unsafe and the city leaders will not acknowledge this. They can trot out facts and say it is safe but they have to show people and change their perception but they refuse to. I remember a time before the Wolves and Twins that you didn't cross Hennepin Ave if you wanted to insure you were safe especially after dark. With the Warehouse district it is much safer in that area than it ever has been.

I would say don't trade anyone except maybe for Jeffers. The reason is do we trust this front office to make the right choices and decisions of who to trade. What is the vision of the organization, do they value athletic players, sluggers, defense, strong baseball IQ any of the above. The only trait I can see they value is versatility so they can platoon everyone, but what has that gotten us but sub .500 ball since 2020. Our infield has no one playing at the same position as opening day on a regular basis. Have Lee, Keaschall or Lewis regressed defensively from the end of last season. They made assessments over the offseason and said these three were going to play the infield, but halfway thru the season that has changed. That seems like either a very poor assessment or a knee jerk reaction with no real planning to change this much only halfway thru the season. And they have also had Keaschall take grounders at first. It feels like they are just throwing slop at the wall and see what sticks. Yes Lewis needed a reset for his offense which is not unique in baseball, even Hunter and Buxton were sent down a couple of times. But should this have meant a position change. Yes Keaschall's defense has been rough but it did seem to be better next to Kreidler, would stability and a better defender next to him help. As for Lee, he didn't move for Culpepper who is not up here and who knows when he will be but instead they trot out Gray on a regular basis who is similar if not less defensively than Lee at short. And remember they signed Bell to play 1B not DH, those were Falvey's words. Based on all reports he favored a collaborative approach so I have to believe there are still people advising Zoll and maybe Zoll himself that believed Bell could play 1B that are still in this organization and will be helping make the decisions at the deadline. Fortunately they finally figured out what the rest of baseball already knew, Bell is unplayable at 1B. Some have mentioned Lewis as a trade candidate, that to me would be a real indictment of this front office. One of the first people Shelton visited in person not on the phone after being named manager was Lewis. I have to believe this was part of the interview process discussing the core players and who to build around. That would tell me Lewis was near the top of the list. And they are having a jersey day for Lewis, this was planned in the offseason between baseball operations and marketing. It shows they valued Lewis as one of their core players. Yes he needed a reset but he has come back and has been producing. So a half season after identifying him as a core piece you say no he's not let's trade him. If I am Tom P. I would look at Zoll and seriously question his process and decision making abilities if he tried to trade Lewis. At the end of the season you could review this. Yes he needs to learn to layoff the low outside sweeper just like Buxton. And I know many don't like his eye black but that is not a reason to get rid of him. If last year's deadline is an example of their moves, I would like to see more of a vision. They traded for two more LH outfielders that were semi major league ready when we already had two similar players slated at some point in 2026. They did at least fill a void in the lower minor leagues for a catching prospect. And did get one starting pitcher, maybe two. I want to see a vision not just more prospects to say we have more prospects. So if you want to trade Clemens, Bell or one of the veteran relievers for a low A player, fine it at least clears roster space if you can find a taker. But otherwise don't let this management put us further behind. End of rant.

The cash considerations were just guys put on the waiver wire and we jumped the line by giving cash considerations. So maybe technically correct but not in spirit.

I am amazed that Keaschall was able to turn that double play, I thought he was a complete failure at 2B.

But he has made noticeable changes and improved because of these changes. Whether he should up or not can be debated. But there was at a least a reason for the improvement. That is what is supposed to happen in the minor leagues.

At least Raya got Goodman out.

Could have walked him, with a LH bat coming up. I know you don't want to walk the bases loaded but in rare situations it is the right call for and this was one of them.

And you are there pregame and can see he is not putting any work in. From all accounts, he has been putting in the work.

No

I hope you were perfect in your job in your first six months and everything went smoothly.

This is why their obsession with matchups is blinding them. Fundy comes in to face a lefty and Goodman is the third scheduled batter. Have some roles and put in your best option for that game situation regardless of what hand they throw with.

Until the last couple of years, I could always see at least an outline of a plan from this team. going back to the 70's And while they don't have to share every detail, fans should be able to have an idea of what they are doing. They are not in the secrets business, without fans they have no business. And personally I am a partial season ticket holder so yes I do expect them to explain to me why should I be investing my time and money in this team.

Who said we weren't going to see Fundy tonight.

And of course you conveniently cut off the part that says he has only started 167 games and played 1,450 innings which equates to just over 161 games. I see athleticism that should equate to being able to play the position and the need for reps. As I have said not every player comes up a finished product, Koskie is one recent example, he was a butcher at third but they had patience. But this team overvalues versatility over quality at one position.

You can't be serious, he has had barely a years worth of games at 2B between college, minors and major leagues and you are ready to say he can't play the position. Not every player comes up a finished product, Koskie never would have had a career with the Twins with this front office and management team. Why can Arraez turn into a passable second baseman and Luke can't.

Maybe give him more than a half season to determine if he can play a position.

Not sure he's made enough yet. This roster is Zoll's responsiblity and this is where I wish Tom P. would get off his butt and bring in a real baseball executive if even as a Senior Advisor similar to what the Angels just did.

Exactly, we have six players who are outfielders who will probably be ready for a shot either this year or sometime next year. Even if only two work out, will they get an opportunity or will we keep moving Luke around. At least move him to a position of need.

Does this team have any kind of plan. They move Keaschall because of defense without a replacement ready to step in to start there. Swapping with Clemens is no real plan. But yet they continue to start Gray at SS, who may not be as terrible as Luke but he is not a major league SS. When is the last time you saw an obstruction call like he had. We have a replacement short term and long term for Gray, why is he even on the roster. Why is Kreidler not in there until Culpepper is healthy. And I am not a believer in Kreidler but for shot term he is our best option. The moving of Luke really feels more punitive than anything else. The Giants can get Arraez to passable defense at 2B but the Twins can't with Luke who is more athletic. And he has not been the only culprit in playing bad defense. Maybe stop playing spin the wheel with the defensive positions and work with guys and give them a chance. There have been plenty of examples of players who get better at defense. Keaschall has had barely a year's worth of games at 2B over his college, minor and major league career.

Why do we keep pulling Buxton into these trade conversations. Most people are just projecting what they would do in his position. He has made it clear that he wants to stay. I don't understand the what we could get for him, why even discuss it. He can always change his mind but my guess is we wouldn't know it until a trade is completed.

They do throw back to back days and didn't throw many pitches last night. So keep the expectations reasonable.

No if we are going to trade, I want major league ready players, not a hope that they turn into something type. We have enough of those that we need to start figuring out what we have.