MileHighTwinsFan

Another blow to the doomsayers. The owners are addressing their debt and positioning themselves for financial stability and along with that a return to competing for division titles. I don’t expect spending to skyrocket anytime soon. But if the team remains competitive this season, they may be willing to add at the trade deadline, rather than stand pat or sell.

I think he believes what he says. I don’t think he is lying. He is trying to win every year. However, he has to work with what ownership gives him.

You may not have liked it, but that is what he did. He got out of a contract that was never going to pay off, traded a bunch of expiring contracts, and relief pitchers to bring in future starters, relievers, and MLB ready position players. The team was going nowhere, he knew it, and he took action.

Thank you! Falvey has been saying this for weeks, but no one took him at his word. So maybe now we can put all this trade chatter and doomsaying to rest.

You are convinced that Royce Lewis is a bust, I think it is too early to make that call. There are plenty of examples of prospects that "fizzled" out of the gate, only to be All Star level players years later (I also acknowledge that there have been can't miss players who were busts). At this point there is no downside in giving Royce the runway to work it out. He probably has one more year to show meaningful progress.

Fine. How about Brett Rooker and Liam Hendriks.

Not all players come up to the major leagues and immediately produce. There are many examples of players on the Twins or players the Twins moved on from that ended up having All Star and even HOF careers (Sorry to bring up the David Ortiz thing.) Byron Buxton, Torii Hunter, Justin Morneau - just to name a few had their ups and downs in their early years. Patience is key. Royce Lewis is a prime example. A player with high expectations that has not fully realized his potential. Injuries may have lowered the ceiling, but he is still capable of great things on the field. Right now he is transitioning to a role as a key cog on a young team. He will either rise to the occasion or fail. Only time and more reps will determine that. And no, 900 at bats through several injury riddled seasons is not enough time to judge him. There is no question that the clock is running out on players like Julien, Larnach, and Miranda. Players whose options are expired or who are arbitration eligible have much smaller windows to work with. It is for this reason that seeing what we really have in these players for the next 5 weeks is key to the future. None of that would have happened if Harrison Bader, Ty France, Willie Castro and Carlos Correa were taking those at bats.

Best post-mortem on trade deadline to date. The team still has a talented, but underperforming core. The deadline positioned the team to truly find out what they have with these players. Some combination of the current players on the roster and the promising prospects in the minors will be the core of this team for the foreseeable future. Many are mourning what was lost at the deadline, with good reason. But the excitement is in what lies ahead. We should look forward to seeing who emerges from the young core as the key pieces of a future playoff run and judging the FO on whether they will build the pieces necessary around those players into a playoff team. I, for one, am here for It.

If you don't enjoy watching or following the Twins, then don't watch or follow the team. If calling it a protest makes you feel good about yourself - go for it. But of all the things you could "protest," this is pretty much at the bottom of the list.

As the Twins sit on the bubble of being a playoff contender, we are seeing lots of discussion on whether the Twins should trade talent to make a run or build for the future. Adding a big bat or top notch arm are not likely to happen, but there is a way that the Twins could still compete for Wild Card without giving up the farm. While there is lots of talk about dealing Griffin Jax, Joe Ryan, Jhoan Duran, and even Byron Buxton - it may be a few smaller profile deals that could help the Twins get better, not by adding, but by subtracting. The Twins have a talented young core of position players who should be on a major league roster. Austin Martin, Luke Keaschell, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Aaron Sabato, and even Edouard Julien have played well enough to get a call up at any time. Meanwhile, players like Willie Castro, Harrison Bader, Kody Clemens, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and Ty France could be attractive bats or gloves for a contending team to add. Castro, Bader, and Clemens have played well for the Twins, but moving them could get modest returns and open up spaces for Keaschell, Martin, and Rodriguez. Keirsey's demotion to AAA could give also give Rodriguez an opportunity. France, who has struggled of late with a +wRC and OPS below league average wouldn't get much in a trade, but moving him off the roster could make room for Sabato or Julien. There is no question these players would be missed, but adding the youngsters should be worth considering. Would bringing these players up be enough to grab the last Wild Card, who knows? However, the Twins should not be moving young talent at the deadline to nab a Wild Card spot, nor should they deal core players that would be key to a deep run in the playoffs in the future. As a Twins ticket holder, I would love to see these players at Target Field, as part of a playoff run or, at worst, as a glimpse at the future.

Analytics are a buzzkill. I would rather have seen this piece as an explanation after regression kicks in. For now, I want to just enjoy a talented young player having some success.

Expected this move. Given that Matthews and Festa may be protected from seeing lineups a 3rd time through the order, the Twins will need a long reliever. I also wonder about Twins using an opener when Festa and Matthews turns are up.

Another key hit last night where he shortened up and punched an outside pitch to right center to drive in two and clinch the victory. He is definitely taking a different approach with runners in scoring position, and it is working.

@Cody ChristiePresented data that says otherwise. Sure, he will always be a pull hitter, but I have seen Buck do a better job focusing on contact and the story's data seems to provide evidence of it. Debating whether Buck is hitting the ball the other way is not that important. All I know, is that it is my intention to sit back and watch Buck play great baseball.

Great piece. Buck is in a position to full advantage of his abilities, and it shows. His maturity and confidence at the plate combined with aggressive baserunning has been what we all have envisioned for him. With his legs healthy, he is able to use his speed to impact a game, which allows him to be a better situational hitter. I have seen him adjust his swing several times to emphasize hard contact instead of selling out for a bomb. He knows that when he gets into scoring position, he has an excellent chance to score. He is finally looking like the complete package.

Don’t think Lewis is injured. If he was, he couldn’t play, which defeats the purpose of sending him down. A rehab stint is limited so I don’t think it is a solution.

They are all serviceable. Probably a push with Gasper. I would like to see McCusker get a longer look. Problem is that McCusker and Keirsey can’t be recalled for 10 days after being optioned. So , they are not immediately available.

@NYCTKWho do you think should be called up if Lewis is sent down? I am curious.

I'm with you, brother. Let the complainers, complain.

Totally disagree. I would happily read an article a day on Royce Lewis' struggles/progress than another piece on prospective trades that will never happen or another article complaining about the Pohlads. Examining the performance of players on the squad is why I read TwinsDaily.

Good question, but the numbers for Gasper are eye-popping. Meanwhile, Julien and Miranda continue to struggle in AAA. I would rather see one of those two getting the call, but they have not earned it.

Lee and Castro could easily cover 3rd, providing Gasper ABs at second base. He could also be DH and be the number one PH option. Having another switch hitter on the roster would provide greater flexibility. My only concern would be his defense.

I have thought that the Twins should see it through with Lewis until the end of the roadtrip, then reevaluate. I have changed my position. He needs a full reset and it should start immediately. With Gasper raking in St. Paul, promoting him would make the Twins a better offensive team immediately. A productive Lewis down the stretch would be very important to the Twins' playoff chances. I would be fine with sending him down below AAA and allow him to slowly rebuild. I would not be surprised to see a timeline where he would be back with the Twins after the All Star Break. It would give him a chance to get fully healthy and be ready for the final 2+ months of the season.

Love this piece. There is a reason they call it the great American past time. Going to a game is about enjoying the leisurely pace of the game and the season. No one game means a lot, it allows one to live in the moment and just enjoy what is on the field. If your team wins - Great! If they lose, well you got to enjoy a summer day, have a beer and a dog, and there is a game tomorrow. In a time where life is creating stress from every direction - baseball should be the antidote. Enjoy the ride my friends and thank God you are not a Rockies fan.