Squirrel

Even though I’m in town, watching on TV. Was at the park for a couple hours today and will be at the games tomorrow, that’s enough

Wrigley is iconic and if you haven’t been, go. But once is enough, imo. I wouldn’t waste money on it a second time unless you have great seats and have money to spare. Access and facilities aren’t great, food and beer so so. But, it is bucket list item for sure.

🥧 Pfft, details

Ober not yet in top shape form

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood! And Escobar is playing for the Jays! ❤️

I’m just glad the Yankees didn’t get him.

While I’ve already said elsewhere on this site, I worry about the offense. I wanted to see a big signing of a bat, not a pitcher, in FA. But I’m not going to worry about it in meaningless ST games. It’s just wasted energy, imo. But go ahead and complain if you want.

He was drafted in 2022, not quite 2 yrs ango, and played in just 31 games that year. And in those 31 games was aggressively moved up finishing his very short season in Wichita. Last year was his first full season of professional ball, mostly in Wichita, but moving up to AAA toward the latter part of the season playing a total of 38 games in AAA. My guess is he may get some time in at the majors this year, but I’m not sure why or how you can proclaim him ready. He has been moved through the system aggressively, imo, but hasn’t shown the numbers in AAA that scream ‘Major Leagues NOW!’ I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes north with the team next year, but not this year. And next year that will also depend on how he does this year in AAA. I don’t think where he’s at currently, at age 23, and not quite being there yet, is even close to anyone needing to be fired.

Episode 2 It’s a good series.

The problem with this is it’s such a waste of a beer …

What do you call a man who hangs on the wall? Art What do you call the old guy next to him? Pop Art

Child: Mommy, Mommy … what’s a vampire? Mom: Shut up and eat your soup before it clots!

Eeeek, totally forgot Luke Raley.

Yes 🙂🤣😉

At the time I thought it was a good, and fair trade. But I wonder … did we get the better end of it? We got a solid starting pitcher in Maeda and I think we will have a very good catcher in Camargo. I think some were disappointed in losing Graterol at the time, but I think it has worked out well for us in the end, even if we had some lean years in the reliever department.

None of this surprising. They will get more regular work and will be ready for a call up when/if needed. Well, mostly referring to Martin and Camargo with the call up part.

Make a case, then, based on his pitching why teams should want him. This is not about his personal life and we aren’t going to entertain deep throat conspiracy theories. We deal in opinions on this website and I stand by my opinions. But what kind of pitcher is he now? He had a couple of really good seasons years ago and hasn’t pitched in the MLB in two years. So you want to sign him based on past accolades? I think we would be a worse team with him than without him based on past comments. And two teammates (out of how many?) that you allegedly spoke to personally is hardly an endorsement from the many who have not stood by their teammate. I think team chemistry is real and I think Bauer would be as disruptive as Donaldson was to that. And I was one that was on board with that signing but it was not a good fit. Fit matters. And PR is a real thing. Teams need support of their fans. I’ve said this. Why would any team want to take that on? PR is real and does need to be considered.

Maeda is a proven MLB pitcher and a decent starter. Not sure what you meant by this. While our away lineup wasn’t our starters, Detroit had a home game, so they played a lot of their starters. Our lineup tomorrow, a home game, will be mostly our starters

It’s an away game. Most of the backups or those who need to be evaluated or need work on specific things play in those games. It’s why ST game results are pretty meaningless at this stage.

How many have told you this? Sure he has friends, but the majority of his teammates do not want him around, and that goes back to his time in college. There is a reason that Francona, one of the best managers in the game, had him traded in the middle of the season when the Guardians were in the playoff hunt. The Dodgers players were polled after Bauer finished his suspension if they wanted him back and his teammates voted no. This is well documented vs some hearsay, and claims of ‘I know people who know him’. As I said, I’m sure he has friends, but the majority of players don’t seem to want him around. Falvey was in Cleveland when he was there. Don’t you think he knows something? There is a reason no teams want him around despite how he may be able to pitch. It’s never just about skills and abilities. As for his abilities he has had a couple of really good seasons sandwiched in between more average seasons. And he has been away from the MLB for a couple of years. Might he be better than DeSclafani? Maybe, probably. But other factors matter. As for negative reaction from fans, it’s a real thing. You might not like it, but PR matters, and there is such a thing as bad PR. The Twins have always been noted as having a good clubhouse and mostly good guys. There’s a reason Donaldson didn’t fit in here and there’s a reason Bauer won’t, either. I’ve seen interviews with him and he basically says he doesn’t want to participate in whatever the team wants from him, that he will do his own thing. As I said earlier, he puts the ‘I’ in team, and that seems very contrary to what the Twins have always tried to build with their teams.

And now we have two outs.

And Kirilloff is on base to start the Twins

Read this article just now. It says the Yankees may open their talks again with Snell or try and work a trade for Cease from the White Sox. If we were going to go for anyone, I’d prefer these two to Bauer, and it seems the Yankees do, too. But I think the Twins are done and focussing on what they have at this point. https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-rumors-latest-trades-and-signings

Remember they won’t need a 5th starter for a few weeks. May break north with 4 and an extra BP arm then add either DeSclafani or Varland when the time comes. That said, DeSclafani is throwing his bullpen sessions.