USAFChief

Pull a fit?? Harmon finished his career in KC because the Twins didn't sign him. sheesh.

No. Our own season prediction thread poll here at TD had the most people predicting 86-90 wins. I hesitate to call them all "homers." Some pretty smart posters were included in that. Almost nobody had them below .500. http://twinsdaily.com/topic/32597-poll-how-many-wins-this-year/?hl=poll Most national publications had them as solidly in 2nd in the ALC, with several predicting the Twins to win the ALC (7 of 32 Fangraphs preseason predictors picked the Twins.) Bleacher Report had them at 87 wins. Ceasars had them at 84 wins on their preseason over/under wager list. Off the top of my head, Harold Reynolds at MLB Network picked the Twins to win the ALC. USAToday picked the Indians to win the ALC, but put the Twins as a darkhorse most likely to surprise. And that's just looking up a few, I'm sure there were more. I don't think it was "idiotic" to predict the Twins had a very solid chance of contending in 2019. And further, IMO it's completely inaccurate to call the 2019 Twins "rebuilding." They're either "rebuilt," or it's time to tear down and start over. Virtually the entire farm system that they "rebuilt" with is up in the big leagues, and with at least a year or two of experience. Kepler, Sano, Buxton, Polanco, Berrios, Rosario, et al are not the players of a "rebuilding" team. They're the players you rebuilt with and now sink or swim with. Don't get me started on Pressly, but if the FO didn't think they'd contend, why Gonzalez? Cron? et al? Signing Cruz was not only a great idea, but almost zero risk. Taking ABs from nobody, and if not in contention, a great July trade candidate. Cheap. too. You didn't have to predict a career year to think he'd be extremely valuable.

I sit down a lot in the winter, so there's a good chance I will be. Prime nap time. But either way, point them out to me, because I don't pay much attention to them.

I believe we got David Arias.

Killer career OPS+: 143 Pucket career OPS+: 124 And that's with the last three years of Killebrew's career included, all three of which were below 100. Puckett had only one season with a higher OPS+ than Killer's career average. I'll certainly grant Puckett played a great CF for a number of years. Killebrew was just fine as a first baseman...not as valuable, for sure, but the offensive difference is pretty overwhelming. None of which should be taken as a knock on Puckett. I'd probably rather watch Kirby. But Harmon was the better and more valuable player.

I loved Kirby Puckett as a player. What a joy to watch. But he's nowhere near Harmon Killebrew as a baseball player. Starting in 1959, when Killer became a regular, his OPS+ for the next 14 years, through 1972: 137 142 162 138 147 153 145 157 173 131 177 159 138 138 When Harmon retired he was 5th all time in HRs in MLB history. One MVP, Top 5 in MVP voting 6 times, named on MVP ballots 11 times. 11 time AS in an era when ASG rosters were smaller and meant something. Led the AL in HRs 6 times, RBIs 3 times, BBs four times. Full season OBPs over .400 four times, OPS over 1.000 twice, over .900 another seven. Harmon was an iconic MLB player. As much as I loved watching Kirby, and he's a deserving HOFer, he's not in Harmon's league.

And...rain delay 2, bottom 8, Mets 1st and 3rd no out.

The pitcher with the 70-19 K/W ratio when traded. Looking at a reliever's ERA for a month is not a reasonable way to evaluate. He was clearly the Twins most talented reliever at the time of the trade. I think this is a case of people refusing to admit they were wrong, more than anything. I don't see a reasonable argument to be made that trading Pressly was anything but a colossal mistake, and looking at it a year later only confirms that fact.

You're right. My apologies. The rest...I disagree.

I think you judge a trade by what's known at the time. I dont care if Alcala wins a CYA. Still would call trading Pressly a clear mistake. "Wait five years, then ask me"? Weak.

lots of people predicted this team would be in contention. But even if not, what was the potential mistake of adding Cruz?

Carlos Santana sits on a change with 2 outs and 2 strikes in the top of the 10th, puts the Indians up 3-2. Really great AB. Brad Hand comes in, gives up a leadoff double, followed by a sac bunt, followed by a DP ball to Santana at first, but they only get one, as nobody covers first base to comple the DP, game tied . Walk, single, Mets Mets Emm EEE TTT ESSS METS!!!!

He was pretty sad when he was signed, too.

Pretty meager pickings, IYAM. Sorry Jeremy. I guess if you squint through rose colored glasses you can see Graterol perhaps having an impact. Maybe O'Rourke gets a key LH hitter or three down the stretch. I'll take the under on Alcala throwing 100.

that's pretty accurate.

ftfy

I think you judge a transaction by the information known at the time. If either Alcala or Celestino contribute at some point in the future, that does nothing to change the dynamics of what it did to the Twins in 2018 and 2019. And for the record, neither Alcala or Celestino, as prospects, were worth Pressly.

There was a lot of opposition to the trade at the time, and nothing has changed my mind.

Anderson's third inning single and the opening single in the 1st were solid hits. Everything else just bad luck and/or poor defense.

Cave...unhook the plow.

its not hindsight. There were many posters upset with the trade at the time it happened. As for "the trade was great, it's not replacing him that's the mistake," that's a lot easier to say than do, not to mention what they REALLY should have done is kept Pressly AND added similar talent over the winter. The Pressly trade was a clear mistake.

excellent question

ground ball up the middle, Schoop makes a nice backhand and flip. Polanco's foot came down 3 inches short of second base bag.

very little of that was on Odo. How does Polanco miss the bag on a force? Abreu hits a weak 22 hopper through the SS position. A broken bat humpback liner for an RBI.

I dont understand not shifting Abreu there.