Squirrel

Congrats, Rocco!

I wish there were a way to stop the bleed, but I guess it’s praise to the Twins FO for having so many of their personnel coveted by others.

The new AP poll has them at No. 7!

Because that’s what the topic is about. And it was a manipulation, justified or not. If there weren’t a service time issue, he would have been up. But the two players’ situations were not the same.

I agree that the players and the situations are not comparable, but is only in that there was service time manipulation. That's really the crux of the topic ... service time. In Bryant's case it was blatant, as someone said. There was nothing wrong with his play and it was obvious exactly what the Cubs were doing. Bryant was ready, he wasn't plagued by injury or poor play, he was ready, and his play that season proved it. The Cubs made some excuse of not being ready to send him down and called him up the minute they got that extra year control. While it might be to the letter of the law of the contract, it certainly wasn't in the spirit of it. I'm not sure Bryant will win his case because of that, but I think he has a case and has a grievance. Why make up excuses then? If by contract they can do what they did, then just say so? Why manufacture an excuse? And Bryant has turned down offers of extensions with the Cubs. I wouldn't be surprised if that blatant 'misuse' of the contract is a factor in that. As for Buxton's service time, again, it's not the same situation. I think that was the sole reason for his not being called up ... because they wanted that year back. I think there is justification for doing so and don't think Buxton has a case for a grievance in the same way Bryant did. I think Buxton's case is as you said, why that exists in the contract. I don't particularly care for it, but I get it and understand. But my question for GM's, is if you can do this rightfully, by the terms of the contract, then why not just say that's what you are doing? In Bryant's case it was obvious. By not just saying 'because we want the time of control, and the contract says we can take it', then why not just say it? Players who are affected by it will get upset, yes, but then that becomes an issue for the next negotiation, where it is clarified that the purpose for such a rule is for cases like Buxton's, but not for cases like Bryant's.

You were there???? Wow, how fun!

Where will they be ranked next week?

I just posted on FB, for the benefit of my PennState friends, ‘WE ARE ... SKI-U-MAH!!!!!!’

Now this. Ugh.

Geeez ... I can’t stand it! Heh.

I rarely follow football, pro or college, and even I'm excited about this game!

The title alone had me going back to bed and burying myself under the covers, unwilling to face the day.

I hope we win because I plan on posting on FB: WE ARE .... THE GOLDEN GOPHERS! I have several Penn Staters in my feed.

Stop the bickering and get back on topic.

I have a few friends who are Penn Staters. I get a little bored with hearing/seeing their ‘WE ARE’ stuff, so I would just love to post ‘SKI-U-MAH” in response next week.

Bottom line, whether or not a player has a preference, make the best offer. That is the only way to find out, and not guess or assume ahead of time they won't come here. People make decisions based on all kinds of things, and I don't think you can assume anything. So make the best offer and let the player decide. Go after Cole, make him the best offer, then we'll see. Wheeler is not even close to 2nd best and is not an ace. To not do it because you don't think he'd come here, well, that's a mistake, imo. It's 'rumored' that he wants to be with the Angels? It was also rumored that he wants to go where he's offered the most. Make the best offer. Of course, we will never know what tips the final decision. And many here will assume that the Twins didn't make the best offer if he's not in a Twins uniform next year. We have no idea what the reasons will be. You said you've made the decision on where to live because you want to be close to family. I made the decision to be where I am because of the prestige and pay of the job. I don't dislike where I live, but if I could have the job I have back in Minnesota, I'd probably choose Minnesota, but Minnesota can't offer what I have here ... one of the top positions in the world in my field. We all have our reasons. But ... bottom line for me where the Twins and pitching are concerned ... go after the best and make the best offer and then see.

May my many, many, many, MANY cousins infest, er, I mean, take up residence in the attic of your home.

But aren't they worried the bear will go rogue and eat the squirrel? I mean, that's my concern.

And if we needed a defensive replacement anywhere, I’d choose Adrianza over Astudillo. Yeah. We’re makinf decisions based on different aspects of his game. And to be clear, I wouldn’t have blinked if it had been Astudillo over Adrianza, but, my initial comments were when someone was suggesting Astudillo should be on the roster over Castro. If that’s something you think as well, then we have reached our ‘agree to disagree’ moment.

I’m not sure what this is saying, except maybe answering my question of who goes on off the roster for Astudillo. Yes, I already said, if you go with 11 pitchers, yes. As for Astudillo over Adrianza? No. Adrianza has been performing very well this year and is a far better SS than Astudillo. I’d also prefer Adrianza over Astudillo in a few other positions. If Adrianza isn’t healthy, yes, Astudillo is the likely next call up. But Astudillo is not an upgrade over Adrianza.

Sure. But that’s not the issue. Being able to think of spots where you might want to pinch hit for him isn’t reason to put Astudillo on the roster over Castro. And I think that’s what we’re responding to, that the thought that Astudillo should have a roster spot over Castro. That’s just a no, imo.

Concur. I think Castro and Garver make the perfect match for the catchers on a team. One is a great hitter and an okay defender who is maybe even improving over the big improvements already made, the other a so so hitter, at a position where you don’t really need it, and a great defender. Turtle isn’t a great hitter, but good, and he’s a terrible defender. If he’s on the playoff roster, it’s not in place of Castro, it’s in place of someone else, so who? There is no one else he has outplayed where he deserves a spot. Maybe, and it’s a big maybe for me, you could make the argument Schoop should be replaced by Turtle, but it’s not what I would have done. If Adrianza proves unwell or is reinjured, then Turle comes back. Or MarGo. But I hope not. The way the two of them have played, I think that’s an upgrade over Turtle. Or if we go with 11 pitchers next round, then there is a place for a position player and you can add him. Or Wade.

Join us in the game thread! http://twinsdaily.com/topic/35161-playoff-game-thread-twins-new-york-607-pm-cdt-1042019/

It's something that a lot forget, or downgrade.

Me, too ... wonder if he was on the plane, though? If he was on the plane, then no, I don't think they are completely confident but need Max for this series. Dunno. Just hoping for the best here ...