strumdatjag

I’m in agreement. Now rate the moves the Twins did NOT make (Jeffers, Ryan, Larnach). That won’t look as good.

That is the position the Twins are in. Plan on a work stoppage marred season in 2027 while one among Lackey, Tait, Diaw … gets prepared for a late 2027 debut. The Twins should have their eye on 2028 and beyond, not the mess that will likely be the 2027 MLB Season. Not trading Jeffers and others at this year’s deadline was a mistake.

This is going to be unpopular, but I’d rather see the Twins use internal options. Jenkins/Buxton/Rodriguez/Keaschall for the outfield and DH options. Then there should be a further competition in Spring Training between Martin, Wallner, Sabato, Gonzalez, Larnach, Roden and anyone else that isn’t traded. Royce Lewis also has to “prove it” in Spring Training. Maybe the Twins could sign a placeholder at 2B. Kody Clemons should man 2B until Marek Houston (if he does) arrives (expecting Houston at SS and Culpepper moving to 2B). Caratini and a cheap backup should cover catcher until Lackey and/or Diaw and/or Tait arrive.

Vegas already has the Athletics. Maybe, Nashville, New Orleans, maybe even Louisville (which has a long history of supporting minor league baseball).

I was one of the very few in attendance. At one point, with a Cleveland runner on 3B, Emma Rodriguez had the task of throwing out that runner (after tagging up). Rodriguez was probably not going to throw him out anyways - but is anyone out there that thought his throw was a bit weak? He is supposed to have a “plus arm”. I know, it’s just one throw. But …

I have an ongoing problem with the Twins having names on the roster which are difficult to pronoune (or pronounced “wrong”). After trading for Dean Kremer, I initially thought his name would be pronounced like an additive to coffee. But NO - he wants to be a character on Seinfeld or Mad Money. I had no idea how to pronounce Keaschall when Luke was a prospect. Bohorquez seems to be easier than those two, but presents an accenting dilemma - first syllable or second. It’s easier for the fans if the Twins go with Riley Quick - that is, unless his fastball gets below 92 mph (then that’s a “nonconforming name” problem).

These admissions were not contemporaneous with the allegations. I remember “a friend” at the Dome repeatedly shouting “Steroids” at Canseco in the on-deck circle. Jose would respond by angrily looking up in the stands and scanning side to side like he was looking for the heckling accuser. He was not admitting anything at that time, only after retirement.

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.