strumdatjag

With a probable work stoppage in 2027, the Twins should have stuck with a plan to build for 2028. That plan would have included less buying at the deadline (mostly NOT trading for Jeff Hoffman and keeping Dasan Hill). Not trading Jeffers was a mistake as well. Selling one or two left-handed outfielders for value would also have been prudent. Bringing up Jenkins keeps that 21 year old from playing minor league ball during the work stoppage and got his service time ticking. The continuing knee-jerk “Cheap Pohlads” criticism contributed to the organizations perception that it needed to make bad moves at this year’s deadline to satisfy a disgruntled but unwise part of their fan base.

It’s not. You run the team with the correct strategy. It was a mistake NOT to trade Jeffers. The additional right-handed bat in the line-up for a below .500 team was not worth the return he could have brought. Once they made the sell-off at the 2025 deadline, the strategy was to build for 2028. Add some relievers on the cheap, even trading Dasan Hilll, but only if there is a net plus for the future after the 2026 deadline.

The TD faithful are not the target audience for the failure to move Jeffers, Ryan (?) and a left-handed hitting outfielder or two. The people in the stands and on barstools complaining about “the Cheap Pohlads” were the target. The owners did not want to invoke their ire for a second year in a row. So they added Jeff Hoffman, Minter et al. Those fans don’t have a clue about the value of Dasan Hill in the minor leagues.

I was only 6 years old but I remember Ray Scott doing the play by play with Halsey Hall doing the color commentary. Bob Wolff was less memorable. Over the following years, Merle Harmon and then a young Herb Carneal came on board. These announcers pronounced our shortstop’s last name Ver-Sall’- Lees for years before they pronounced it correctly Ver-Sye’-Yez. Only a few home games were televised and not all of the road games. There were a lot of Hamm’s Beer and Twin City Federal commercials. Harmon Killebrew was the star of the team as a left fielder (in later years moving to 3B and 2B) . My Grandfather would call him “Killer Harm-a-brew”. As a young fan, I don’t remember Cookie Lovagetto (can’t even spell it) as manager, only Sam Mele. If one bought popcorn at the game, upon eating all of it, one could rip out the bottom of the cone-shaped cups and turn it into a megaphone to cheer (hey, this is the stuff six year olds remember). Long before Wally the Beerman, the Twins had a fun beer vendor who would often confuse the brand he was selling “Cold refreshing Grain Belt Beer —— No this is Hamm’s!” My friends and I would order a beer from him and he would say “Milk for you son!” Pat Reusse later wrote that the vendor had been a pretty good player himself (either in the minor leagues or negro leagues, I forget). He was a fixture at the games for decades in the third base lower deck area, later donning a black umbrella hat. During the 7th inning stretch the organist played “The Mexican Hat Dance” (not “Take Me Out to the Ball Game) while the crowd responded to each line with two claps (some slowed down and some sped up as a “challenge” for the fans). . The electric scoreboard displayed the line score and also gave messages on the “Twins O Gram” (it became “Vikings Logs” for the Vikings games). There were no “dance-offs”, no mascots, no overplaying and displaying if commercials. It was about the baseball, the organ player and the food (“Get your frosty malts!”). Who needs more?

Keep sending him out there. Prielipp has shown the ability to pitch longer into games.

Yep - that MAY be the SECOND one as noted above.

I’m hoping the hip is not a chronic injury. But saying that reveals my worry that the hip is a chronic injury.

The Twins also have an abundance of catchers in the organization next year (even after Ryan Jeffers leaves)? In addition to Caratini and Jackson, the Twins have Top 20 prospects Lackey, Tait, Diaw and Tinney - all catchers. The Twins need to balance their organization by trading one or two of those catchers, as well as two or three left-handed outfielders. In return, they can improve areas with less strength. such as right-handed outfielders and pitching.

Keep Pablo Lopez, along with other returning injured pitchers Festa and Abel. The Twins will probably trade Joe Ryan, but there will be enough here for a big competition for the starting rotation. Some will ultimately get converted to being relievers. Signing the likes of Casey Mize (even if they could) provides little benefit. 2027 is likely a CBA marred transition year once the season starts. The Twins drafted a bunch of arms. Let’s see what develops for 2028 and beyond.

Then again. Look at who the Padres had at 1B last night, a Gold Glover and Clean-up hitter in Ty France. Maybe just maybe The Twins could have kept him on board (with Royce Lewis ultimately taking over at 2B). I like what Josh Bell has done but that would seem to have a better overall benefit to the Twins. Find a DH in the organization. With Matt Wallner’s resurgence in AAA, he could fill the DH role now (although he wouldn’t have done it all season).

If there was a return for Eduardo Tait, another left-handed batter,, wouldn’t that be something to consider? He is having a mediocre season in Cedar Rapids, with an OPS of .701. There are concerns about Tait’s defense behind the plate. Finally, he is not athletic like Lackey. Tait is still highly regarded and could net a great player in return. He should not be viewed as untouchable. On the other hand, Diaw might not stick at catcher, That could make it harder to trade Tait.

Agreed. But the Twins have some minor league depth, Lackey, Tait and Diaw. One could be a piece in. a trade.

Once the CBA issues are resolved (and who knows when), some of that outfield (and catching) depth should be traded to bolster positions of need.

I’d like German Marquez to make a comeback, as well as Max Kepler. Just think of the upcoming momentous occasion when German pitches to a German. It’s probably happened already.

Whoever wrote that script had no idea about how the vast majority of us would say it. It’s “PLAY CATCH”!!!!!! and by the way - It’s POP (in Minnesota not “Soda”). Don’t let them easternize us!