Twodogs

I agree with the fact that the Twins should look to move Larnach and Bell. But no one wanted Bell last season so that kinda shows what he is worth. I mean maybe the Twins can get their soda machines filled for next year or something with Bell. Larnach is not really worth much overall either. I dont see anyone seriously knocking down the Twins door for Trevor, even though he is having an impressive season this year. Also, if the Twins do manage to offload those two I don't see anything coming back that will make a difference from taking the twins from a below .500 mediocre team to a 90 - 100 win team. Those guys just dont have a lot of value. Now they might be able to get a decent piece or two for Joe Ryan, but thats not really why im on here right now bringing this up. Im noticing a giant logjam in the OF on the Twins and in AAA. I mean Buxton isn't going anywhere for a few years. It looks like Austin Martin has carved himself a spot for a couple of seasons. Now they have Keaschall running around in the OF. The Twins still have Walner, Fedko, Gonzalez, Rhoden, Rodriguez, Mendez, Jenkins and with Larnach that's 11 OFers that are all already MLB players or are ready to be MLB players. Again don't get me wrong, i think Larnach needs to be shopped, but im also thinking the Twins could really actually get something valuable for the up and coming guys? I mean shop Jenkins, Rodriguez, Gonzalez and try to off load Walner and Larnach. If the Twins can get something really good and younger for one or two of those young guys, I mean they still have perceived value, Larnach has known value and with some moves like that the Twins could ready themselves for a breakout 2 or 3 years from now. What the Twins seem really good at doing is allowing talent to stagnate in the minors while picking up guys like Bell and Wagaman in every off-season. Its like they are trying so hard to not get some of these guys clocks started early that once they finally get a shot their time has run out. Like I said, we know Buxton, Martin, and now Keashall will probably be around for at least 2 more years, the Twins need 2 or 3 good OFers to provide depth, but they don't need 11 of them. They don't need to sign any more below average veterans either. I mean if they sign a difference maker thats different, but no more Wagamans etc..... they have too many high and getting old AAA prospects. They probably need to trade some of those guys for younger A or AA prospects that will be ready when someone like Buck is near the end?? I know people are going to start twitching because i said trade the young guys like Jenkins, people will be like he was our #1 draft pick, and I'm saying that's exactly why he has a lot of value attached to his name, or one of the other guys like him, Rodriguez, etc..... I'm hoping the twins could get multiple prospects for guys like that and load up to explode onto the scene in 2 - 3 years. I just feel like only trading a guy like Larnach will accrue another nobody that will clog up the system? I guess we will see. Hopefully the Twins can keep winning series for now.

Zebby looked really good though!

Maybe Lauer made an adjustment? That and the team is a little different than when they played Lauer earlier this season. Plus it sure seemed like the Twins players had no issue with the opener causing him to throw 30+ pitches, they seemed fairly loose against that guy. Im not saying you are wrong though with those said teams, but I think another way to look at it is that the Twins are just not a good baseball team, and haven't been for quite a long time now, so in a situation like that, they will probably lose to the teams that are usually better than them. Even when the team had decent seasons they were flawed in numerous ways. Id say over the last 15 - 20 years or so the Twins have over performed in comparison to what their talent level really indicated where they should be. They have usually done well in the Central division, but even in the playoffs seasons, the Twins were missing key ingredients to being a real good team. In the end it usually gets exposed, especially by the good teams.

Toronto is getting some work out of him in the bullpen. It seems weird to me that the Twins wouldn't have tried that approach also, I mean he was already on the squad and its not like the Twins have some lock down bullpen, im pretty sure they could have gotten some regular BP innings out of him. Im almost wondering if Simeon just wanted out of Minnesota and since its realistically a rebuild season, (even though they say they are in win now mode), maybe thats why they just let him go for potentially some cash? I mean, "if" he didnt want to be in Minnesota, then why force him especially since its basically a start over anyway? These are just my thoughts on why they'd just let a 25 year old pitcher go?

Like maybe they got their soda machines stocked for the season?? 😃

I kinda wish they would have given Simeon a little run in the bullpen? I mean its not like they have a bunch of lock down bullpen arms?

Well hopefully Austin Martin makes the Berrios trade productive. I know Berrios is currently hurt, but he has been 53 - 39 since he was traded. I know over and over again people said Simeon was better than Berrios and I really wished he would have been, but he wasn't. And now the Blue Jays have him back for nothing? I really hope Martin becomes a mainstay for the Twins for the next 5 - 6 seasons.

Zebby looks like he did well after the first couple of innings.

I think it comes down to balancing the pluses and minuses. Obviously the starting pitching has been a big plus so far. The Bullpen has been a big minus. Byron Buxton is on pace to hit like 50 bombs, if he can stay mostly healthy and continue to lead the team in everything that would be another plus. Joyce Lewis and Matt Walner have been a minus, Austin Martin and Trevor Larnach have been mild pluses this season. If the Rotation can hang tough, and a couple of dudes can step up in the bullpen. If Buck can remain mostly healthy, and Lewis and Walner can make their way back and have productive second halfs. If guys like Martin, Lee, Larnach continue to produce sporadically. All of the sudden there is a squad that has a shot to play a few games after the regular season. However, if the Rotation breaks down, the bullpen continues to struggle Martin and Larnach's chariots turn into pumpkins, Buck misses significant time and Lewis and Walner don't quite figure it out this season then we are probably looking at a 100 loss team. I feel like Shelton has infused some new energy into the squad. So im thinking right now that bringing in a new guy was the right thing to do. Hopefully they can keep it up!!!

If the playoffs started tomorrow the Twins would be the #6 seed in the American league. I mean St Louis would be in the playoffs in the National league also. So im pretty sure they were not picked to be there. Again its a small sample size, and the Twins are currently on a hot streak. But interesting none the less

I picked everyday at ss, but I actually think he should play 3 to 4 days out of 5 at ss and give him the occasional day off here and there to make sure he is learning on the job so to speak a little bit rather than just throwing him in there everyday.

Id like to see Culpepper get called up, play 3 to 4 games out of every 5 at ss and slide Lee over to 3rd. Just to see how he does, to see if he has proven that he is ready for the jump to MLB.

I didn't know "suckage" was a word but I like it. Im going to start using it more in my vocabulary ha ha. Anyway, Walner has a strong arm, as long as he is in the minors they might want to see if he can throw strikes? With his poor fielding and kinda knowing hes never going to hit well other than occasionally smashing a homerun here or there, might as well try to see if he can become a bullpen piece? I mean if he's going to be a .200 to at best a .215 hitter and a poor fielder, he's going to need to hit 40 bombs a year and I don't see him making enough contact to ever see that happening. Throw him on the bump and see what he can do.

Jamie Moyer would have killed to throw 92. Ha ha

Can they bring in, say, a left fielder to finish out the game yet? I mean a position player might get better results.?

Yeah, just ask Miguel Sano?

Did Sands just get moved to the IL?

Seeing this lineup, with Outman hitting .091 and so many other hitters hitting so poorly makes me wonder why MLB quit letting the pitchers hit? I mean a lot of those guys hit at least .091?? Maybe they could DH Bell for Outman and let Woods Richardson hit?

I didn't get to watch any of the game, how was Ober's velo today? I think last game he had a couple of pitches hit 91/92. Was he still in that range? Im just hoping he can re find some of his old magic from a couple of years ago.

Either one would be better, I meant Gabriel Gonzalez. But either is more hopeful than outman.

Bring up Gabriel!

I know there is no way to quantify this statement, no new found stat or anything. But it could be that with Falvey gone the Twins have a new Culture in the clubhouse?? Let's hope this can keep up for the season.

If he can consistently hit 90 - 91 that helps those 83 mph off speed pitches to work a little better.

Probably why guys who threw hard back in the day didn't get hurt nearly as often. Like Nolan Ryan, in his day and age he didn't need to show up to so many prospect camps and throw as hard as he could. Guys back then probably just played high school baseball and eventually got noticed, when they finally were fully developed. Some developed early and got noticed early some developed later and got noticed later??

Yeah I'm not one that thinks all pitchers must throw 100, but with his change up at 83 it would be nice to see him at like 91 - 92?