jorgenswest

I really appreciate how Shelton has used Morris. He has outings of 40, 37, 47 and 67 pitches. If he ever needs to go into the rotation he is a few starts from being fully stretched out. It is possible to have a starter in the bullpen without restricting them to the bullpen for the duration of their careers. This isn’t new to Shelton. He used Luis Ortiz as a reliever then starter in 2024 with the Pirates.

I concur. I don’t see it is a terrible team though. I do see the bullpen impacting their record. If Kahnle doesn’t cost them a player and can be acquired without giving up a player I would give him a shot. He could return a player at the deadline. I would have Matthews up as well as Festa, Laweryson and Abel when they are ready. I am not sure Klein is ready. Maybe Rojas is ready. Both had time in the majors because they were in the 40 and had a rested arm at that moment of need, Is there anyone else long term shouldn’t be displaced by Kahnle? Is there a better chance of getting something for Kahnle than either Banda, Rogers or Topa? For now I would have Matthews up for Ryan assuming he is on IL. I would have Rojas for Garcia. I would have Kahnle for one of those three. I certainly would have Kahnle for Garcia. I don’t know what the Twins will do and I don’t really need to know. I will see it when they do it.

Kahnle’s deal is a little different. He has an upward mobility clause. According to NESN teams have until today to claim him and then the Red Sox have until Wednesday to put him on the roster, trade him or release him. Should the Twins offer anything in trade or hope that he goes unclaimed and the Red Sox release him? I don’t think I would offer anything other than cash. Lou Trivino had an opt out and the Phillies granted him his release.

fungible adjective FINANCE & ECONOMICS easy to exchange or trade for something else of the same type and value

I think the change came in 2025. It wasn’t a return to college days. He worked to improve his bat speed. It is still below league average but up a couple of ticks. The result was more hard hit balls according to statcast.

Outman’s WPA is 4th on the team among position players at 0.18. Wallner’s is last on the team at -0.95. WPA does not include a defensive contribution or taking an extra base (it includes stolen bases) so Wallner’s true contribution to wins is likely worse and Outman’s might be slightly better. Wallner only helps with his bat he needs to hit well above league average to contribute to winning baseball games. He would not help on the bench. Outman’s base running and defense can make a small contribution to winning games in his role on the bench. I am not sure if the Twins can count on Wallner’s return to the clearly above league average hitter the Twins need. I do think the Twins can count on Outman to be a good defender and base runner. I am not here to argue that Outman is the best use of that roster spot. Just here to notice that he has contributed to wins this year. I was not expecting to see the positive WPA. Outman would be exposed in regular play but I don’t think it will get to that point. I think Rodriguez would be in CF if Buxton does on IL.

There is a correlation to slugging percentage.

Clemens after 74 PAs. best exit velocity on the team (50+ PAs) 5th in EV90 5th on the team in xwOBA at .340 (league average .323) one of three players on the team with a positive DRS and OAA though he isn’t playing his best position of 2B 2nd on the team in stolen bases last on the team in BABIP at .220 9th on the team in OPS and below league average.

I care. I follow these guys as they get drafted and as they progress up the minor league ladder. I look forward to their debuts and by then I have learned some of their story. I care that Wallner does well and hope to see that happen in a Twins uniform. I am ready to be patient with Wallner and Keaschall and I would add Clemens to that list also. The front office needs to put emotions to the side. I don’t. It was great to see all three making key plays in yesterday’s win. This human part helps to make baseball a great game for me.

Pitching in AAA is less stress in the arm. There will be more rest between starts with Mondays routinely off. I doubt Prielipp has ever pitched on 4 days rest. The batters are not as good so there will be fewer high pitch innings and fewer at bats where he needs to bring his best stuff, You can see it in the pitch mix. While in AAA he threw 26% sliders in the majors he has thrown 47% sliders. It is his best pitch and he needs to use it to get major league hitters out. He is throwing slightly less fastballs in the majors with 35.7% to 33.1%. These are probably the most stressful pitch in the arm and combined he had to use them much more often in the majors. Is pitching in the majors going to be more stressful on his arm? I think most would say yes. Is that a reason to keep him in the minors? No.

I would put him in the Saints rotation when he returns. That won’t prevent him from being in the bullpen at some point this season. A starter’s routine will be better for his recovery.

That was a fantastic play off the wall and throw by Wallner to get Arozarena at second. Two runs were already in with the homer earlier in the inning and this looked to be another run and a player in scoring position when the ball left the bat. Instead it was inning over. In the bottom half of the order Clemens, Keaschall and Gray were on base 8 times with 3 runs and 6 RBIs. They had some big hits.

Thanks @Seth Stohs It would have been fun to be at that no hitter game. I think it was the first nine inning no hitter at any level in 2026. I have been to a lot of minor league games and haven’t seen a no hitter yet. There have been some close ones though. Andrew Pawling spoke about the momentum and I could feel that by the engagement of the fans in those close ones. Combined or not it is great entertainment and drama. Thanks for capturing some of that excitement for us.

Some random thoughts. Some pitchers will be hurt more moving away from the 3D strike zone. Walks are up 9.9% and hitters know that the pitch that used to be at the bottom of zone at the from of the strike zone and then drop out is no longer a strike. They can lay off those splitters. The swing rate for hitters is the lowest it has been in 12 years. The lack of defense behind Woods Richardson has been critical in each of his last three starts. In the Toronto game Wallner spun in circles on a ball hit a few steps behind him. Somehow it was scored a double from virtually a certain out. This led to a big inning. In the next game the big inning was spurred on when Keaschall somehow manage to make two errors on one play. In the next inning Kreidler and Lee turn two balls in the infield into hits. Kreidler’s was inexcusable with a hit probability of .150 and he is here for his defense. Lee’s was more difficult but an average shortstop makes that play. Neither was an error. Does an average shortstop turn last night’s ball in the 3 run inning into a double play? During the broadcast last night there was speculation that the colder weather makes it more difficult to control the splitter. I didn’t find splits related to weather but his career OPS in March/April games is his significantly worse than other months. We aren’t going back to the 3D strike zone. Middle infield defense doesn’t look like it is getting much better soon. The weather will get warmer.

I would be tempted to send out Lee and give him a reset with Gray and Kreidler at SS. Lee plays some 2B and 3B. It might not last long. Gray probably gets exposed playing regularly but then maybe they go to Culpepper. If not Lee I would send out Kreidler. I think Kreidler can play a decent SS and CF. He can run OK. I think Outman is better in the OF and on the bases.