Twodogs

I didn't read the article nor the comments, but, I think I remember during the dome days that the Twins were often in the bottom 5 or so of payroll. I remember them signing Kirby to what was at the time one of the richest contracts in baseball. But other than that, they also have Mauer. But right now they have a few guys making good money. Buck, Carlos, Pablo I believe so I mean that wasn't normal in the dome days to have multiple well paid guys, not that I remember anyway.

I mean, to me, with the cost cutting Twins I'd rather have Martin, who should realize he is a bench guy rather that them going out and trying to sign the next Margot or some guy like that?

I mean I thought Martin looked like he proved that he can play at the MLB level. Maybe assume (hope) that Buck will play 100 in CF, if we are really lucky he gets 120 in, but that leaves about 60 games for Martin in CF and another 40 or so moving around to other spots. Martin would be the ultimate bench guy who can play a little bit of everything?

So it was all the assistant coaches faults?? 😀

I don't really think it matters who they hire as long as they are willing to go along with what the FO wants them to do.

I think the main or at least first issue is that the Twins will probably cut payroll again. So 6 mill for Kepler when you have Buck, Wallner, Larnach, Martin, Castro, Kirraloff, and with a few new guys in the minors Rodriguez, Kiersey, Hellman all possibilities, they have inexpensive ways to replace Kepler.

I think it's probably best for Max Kepler that he gets a make it break it opportunity elsewhere. I think if he ends up in the right situation he could give himself a chance to shine. I mean look at Rooker? You think he hits darn near 40 bombs if he didn't get an opportunity elsewhere? Had he stayed with the Twins he's at best a platoon player, probably out of baseball. But got an opportunity elsewhere. Maybe Kepler gets a shot somewhere else and hits 25 bombs again? I like him as a player and I like to see former Twins players do well, like Arraez, Rooker, Wade, etc..... My thinking is good luck to Max Kepler on your new journey. Hope he does great, except against the Twins.

I'm watching MLB channel and the commentator made mention of San Diego making a productive out and the other guy said that what the Twins can't do.

Who cares who is lined up to start game one of the playoffs if they don't make it? I say throw the kitchen sink out there to try and make it and then worry about the playoffs. JMO Hopefully they can get a little run in them this week and finish this thing off.

Makes sense? I mean Martin has more positional flexibility, but with Farmer playing better, Lewis learning some 2B, Julien, etc.... it would seem they just need a straight up CFer to spell Buxton?

The Twins don't need DH Buxton, they NEED CF Buxton!!

https://puckettspond.com/posts/jhoan-duran-called-out-twins-coaches-walk-off-home-run-guardians-01hyc10yzs3j It seems that he doesn't necessarily have complete control of what he throws, or when. So some of those pitch selections might not be his fault?

https://fwtx.com/culture/the-legend-of-billy-martin-—-baseball’s-lone-ranger/#:~:text=“I loved playing for Billy,loved his intensity%2C his competitiveness. Interesting read. You might be surprised what the players thought about Billy. Although self destructive, many of the players felt he always had their backs.

I'm not sure how that has anything to do with it? Jim Leyland managed in 4 different cities. Does that make him a worse manager than Rocco? My point was.... Which team is better? The team with more wins? Or the team with 4 titles?? I think people would say the team with the 4 titles??

I don't disagree, this is a fact. But let me give you a different way to think about it. The Minnesota Vikings have the 8th best overall record ever in the NFL, The Los Angeles Rams come in at 16th best record, barely over .500. So overall the Vikings have been better by quite a bit. But which teams fans are more satisfied? The Vikings fans who have never won the big one? Or Rams fans who have 2 Superbowl titles and 4 NFL titles overall? I mean TK won 2 world series titles with teams that were really probably out matched by their opponents. Just a different way to look at it.

Maybe, maybe not. He might have gone out and beat the crap out of Angel Hernandez for them. Everyone has suspicions about how people would react to someone from a different era, you know Billy might have gotten in someones face here and there, but, if they felt he always had their back, and would fight for them, you'd probably be surprised how many players, even today would rally around him. On the flip side when someone in the front office told him to pull a pitcher, or to platoon a guy, Billy would probably knock the crud out of that guy too. So anyone can try to predict or assume, but until it actually happens you really don't know.

I think comparing Rocco to almost any of the other managers with maybe the exception of Molitor is apples to oranges. I mean, if time travel were a thing and you could bring Billy Martin forward in time and have him managing today's Twins do you really think he'd give a crap what Falvey or anyone else in the front office thought? Do you think even one of his on field decisions would be influenced by someone in the front office. I mean he'd probably do the exact opposite if Falvey told him to play or sit some guy. I still think Rocco is a microcosm of the front office, I mean I'm sure Rocco has some leeway to make in game decisions, but I really believe the big picture is all run by the front office. Do you think TK would have given two spits what someone in the front office thought about when he should pull a pitcher or some other on field decision? So I think Rocco could be fired and he's just be replaced by another Rocco. Also trying to compare Rocco to guys who had more autonomy as far as decision making probably isn't completely fair to Rocco. I'm not a Rocco fan, but I do see the differences between the different eras.

That was a great day yesterday!!! Hopefully they can continue to be hot.

I agree 100% at this point in time the next time they win something it will be by luck, especially with the wild card rounds and all of that stuff. But 1991, I don't really know if that should be considered lucky. I mean they won the American League West by like 10 games or something crazy, plus the West had 7 teams in it back then and I think if not all almost all of them had a winning record that season. In the World Series, they took out Atlanta, with Smoltz, Maddux, and Glavine. That Atlanta team beat the Pirates who had Bonds, Bonilla, Van Slyke, Drabek. I mean That 1991 team were studs. The front office and ownership that year actually did some work by bringing in Chilli Davis, Jack Morris and trusting a rookie to play the Keystone in Knoblauch. I mean back before the wild cards it was hard to be lucky. But 1987 did seem a little bit lucky, but I remember Blyleven talking the previous season about how even that team could be special, so I don't really think they snuck up on anyone with Hrbek, Puckett, Viola, Gaetti, Blyleven, Brunanski, etc.... but 87 did seem unlikely as fans, but 91 i felt during that run that the Twins had a legit shot. JMO. But they have some work to do now. Could you imagine if there were still only 2 divisions? How many times would they have made the playoffs these last 10 years? They definitely have their work cut out for them. Fingers crossed 🤞 a little luck will be needed.

I just wish the Twins would get an owner that would at least do what it takes to go for it once in awhile. I get it in the lean years pull back and conserve and build up from within. But in these situations maybe try and go for it. But weird year with the TV situation and all of that. I'm just worried about exactly what you said, people not going to the games because ownership isn't trying hard. I mean they did that in Oakland and now they don't have a team anymore. So it's a double edged sword we as the fans wield. Boycotting works until it doesn't anymore and then we might not have a team to talk about. I'm just hopeful that the main guys, Lewis, Buxton, Correa, etc..... all stay healthy and with that, maybe we don't really need anyone else. I know that's blowing smoke, but I'm hopeful.

Most of the really good starting pitchers didn't get traded? Snell, Skubal, Crochet? They all stayed put. I think Scott would have helped a lot but getting Trevor Rodgers probably doesn't make them any better.

So just everyone's opinion, the Twins have the best record in the American League since April 22nd. I know they got some average reliever from Toronto, but if they make no real trades do they still have a legit shot??

I mean if there is an opening, you have to look at the production, right? I mean I know many on here hold grudges when they think someone isn't up to par, but if he is currently out producing the other candidates then you have to give that guy the shot, right? Maybe he is just a different pitcher now than he used to be, it happens all of the time, where some guy finds a new pitch and instead of being average to poor they all of the sudden become all stars. Who knows, Dobber could become that guy, most likely not, but he could be, so give him a shot. Can't be worse than Keuchel

I thought that when a guy got DFA'd that the new team only had to pay league minimum? I mean the Dodgers are on the hook if no one picks him up? So why wouldn't they still be on the hook? I mean unless the two teams worked a trade, then that would be different I'd think. No?

He kind of reminds me of Eduardo Escobar. A guy that wasn't really supposed to be anything other than depth on the bench but ends up playing a really important role for the club. And Flourishes doing so. Hope he can keep it up.