HarmonK03

Does Shelton know it is legal to pinch hit for someone and put someone else in for defense.

Bell needs to pinch hit here.

We know you don't like rookies, just stick with the thumbs down.

And Keaschall

Just think if we had another rookie to come up and give us a jolt like Culpepper.

A better throw home on the White double and we would have been out of the inning with no runs.

Our defensive stud didn't make a great relay throw there, probably could've had him with a good throw.

It might help if we would swing the bats, how many called third strikes are we going to look at.

That is what the marketing folks are telling them, so we will see. I would think they aren't doing this blindly, there has to be some data saying they will get fans.

The hockey team basically sells out every game in half the number of games. It seems like everyone says they won't draw. One thing you have is the visiting team's fans will go there, they may be more casual but they do follow their teams.

That is one area they need to upgrade. Kreidler has not done enough to say he should be on the roster next year.

That will look like a line drive in the box score tomorrow!

If Bradley would throw it near the strike zone, they might swing.

I watched him play last year, it is not sustainable.

It is purely a platoon function that the analytic nerds have given to Shelton as the best option to play Kreidler.

I can hear Shelty now after the game, we were able to DH Jeffers because Jackson is on the roster. And no will ask the follow up question, other teams do this without a third catcher, why can't you adjust if needed. Atlanta just did it last week against us. He will again try to justify his existence.

Then we wait until 2035.

Lackey went deep in his debut at Cedar Rapids, do we just call him now or wait until 2031.

That is probably what at least 28 other organizations would have done.

Diaz has not played an inning in the field this year, so I am not sure he is not becoming a DH only type now. But I will admit, I think Lewis should be the first baseman next year. Diaz would be an upgrade over Bell as DH only and that I would not totally be opposed to.

That is a manager checking in with his best player and shows his importance which is why he is not going on the IL if doctors say he can play. He is going to have good days just like last night and other days he will manage his effort. But as we saw last night, on his good days he is a difference maker.

4th catcher? You never know you could have a rash of injuries in one game.

You are correct in that there seemed to be some uncertainty last offseason. And Falvey didn't leave until right before spring training which at that the initial direction for the season had been set. They did have some money to spend, they did sign Bell and Caratini and I would have preferred go towards the bullpen. To me Joe Pohlad was not in charge of baseball operations, he was basically CEO over everything and Falvey was supposed to be leading the baseball operations on a day to day basis and I think he was. Yes he got the rug pulled out from under him on the payroll but I am still not sure he allocated the resources given to him wisely, this offseason being one example. My concern is Zoll has worked for 10 years under Falvey and it sounds like he has basically been his #2 for at least the last 5 years. There was chatter when Levine left as GM, that he had been kept out of the loop for his final 2 to 3 years and Falvey had been leaning on Zoll. While Zoll might be his own person, I don't want to take that chance. I feel like he is going to operate like Falvey 2.0 and there have been plenty examples of that this year, To be fair he has done a couple of things that feel different. I want an experienced baseball executive to lead baseball operations something Zoll has never done. I would hope that they would have a fresh set of eyes and say this is working and this isn't and set a direction for the organization based on their experience. I have mentioned this before, the Timberwolves did it the right way when they hired Tim Connelly, he is not afraid to make moves to better the team and take some chances, but he also has a plan. That is what I am hoping Tom Pohlad will come to the realization to do and stay out of the way of the professionals,

And Ross hits 15th HR for St. Paul, but hey we have no room for him either, Jackson is a better card player.

But he is only up because of injuries.