Darius

This Rockies linueup is impressive.

Walks are still a little concerning. But only 6 hits and 10 Ks means his "stuff" was probably good. It can't be emphasized enough how huge it would be if he could figure some things out, and come back up and pitch well for a sustained period of time. Could be the difference between pretender and contender.

I would say no. I wouldn't call Porcello an ace either. I think it's just as much based on ability, and stuff, as stats and past performance. The ability to rack up strike outs generally is a common thread with true "aces." I don't think being a #1 on a staff constitutes ace either. I don't think there are more than 5-10 "aces" in the game at a time. They're good pitchers, but to me, an ace is a guy who you want to give the ball to twice in a 7 game series, or be the proverbial "stopper." As good as he's been, I don't think it's sustainable, and wouldn't be real confident going into a playoff series with him as the #1 pitcher, going against a Chris Sale or Max Scherzer type. I guess it all just depends on ones definition of "ace."

Is Steven Strasburg without the 80 fastball really Steven Strasburg, or just some guy that physically looks like Steven Strasburg? Not snark, honest question. I wouldn't be overly disappointed if they take him, it might be the right move. But, it's really hard to not to like the kid with the 80 fastball as a 17 year old, especially if we're throwing potential arm issues out the window. If we're not throwing arm issues out the window, it's even tougher to turn down a plus bat at a middle infield spot as a plan B.

If you're watching the games, there is a clear difference in his approach. That came from somewhere. I've heard Hunter, before working with Buxton as noted above, as saying he needs to loosen up and have some fun, and let the ball travel deeper, as opposed to trying to yank everything down the foul line. What exactly are you arguing, here? That Hunter's advice/work with him didn't help? That him hitting a slump at some point in the future, which is inevitable for even the best, is proof of that? That players don't sometimes get away from things have worked in the past, mechanically?

What I know: This offense and defense are for real, and could be here for a very long time. You can add Wade as the fourth OF, Gordon At SS/2B, another year under the belt of Sano, Kepler, Rosario, Buxton, Vargas, and Polanco...,and things are looking elite there going forward. There are high-end bullpen arms very close to being here (Burdi, Melo, Jay, plus some). I've been disappointed about how they handled it this year...but it's looking pretty bright for the bullpen going into next year as well. I'm my estimation, the missing part of this equation, obviously, are some starting pitchers. Maybe Santana has one more good year in him. Berrios is going to be good, I'm convinced of that. Mejia should be capable near the middle-back-end. There are guys like Romero and Gonsalves who could fill some holes. So, in reality, why wouldn't this team go make a move in free agency for a decent starter? We don't need a Max Scherzer move to compete in this division. Guys like Alex Cobb, Tyson Ross, Tyler Chatwood, etc could all be affordable, and could offer some upside. I think there are plenty of options to get a rotation out there that is serviceable enough to make a run. Trading a potential perennial MVP caliber guy like Sano at this point is insane. I'd give it a couple years before considering something like that. The bottom-line here: the Pohlad's need to keep their promise they sold everyone to get that new stadium (need it to compete for free agents) and pony up at some point. The, "Kansas City," approach is insane plan. That almost never works. That's like making your retirement plan the lottery.

Great for Berrios, and his confidence, but also great for the confidence of the whole clubhouse. Seeing a potentially high-end starter like Berrios come in and shut down one of the best lineups in the game today has be a game changer for some of these guys. It can go from "Wow, this is a cute little run, and sure is fun while it's lasts," to "We can sustain this thing and go take one of these playoff spots." They'd never admit it. But, If I'm thinking that from the outside looking in, some of those guys have to be thinking it.

Let's be fair, here. There are plenty of young kids that were brought in outside of the arbitrary "4-5" year mark, because they are from Caribbean (DR, mainly) and European (Germany) countries. For example, Sano and Kepler are arguably the two most important young players on the team, and are in a position to be franchise cornerstone's for the next decade. Both are also extremely good at the present time. There are pieces there like Kiriloff, Gonsalves, Romero, Blankenhorn, Diaz, Wade, etc, who either a) dropped off top 100s because of injury, or could get very easily end up on some of lists soon. I'm still by no means ready to give up on a premier athlete like Kohl Stewart, either. If he gets himself healthy and fine tunes some things, he could easily reenter to picture as a nice rotation piece down the road. On top of that, there are some serious high-end bullpen guys. I'll agree that the farm system isn't in an ideal place. But, a #1, either Greene or McKay, and a few guys getting healthy, will give it a nice shot in the arm next year. Let's also be honest. This team has far and away the best farm system in the game two years ago. At some point, that's going to turnover. If you consistently have the best farm system in the game, it probably means your big club probably isn't very good. I've been hearing some already calling for a trade of prospects for pitching help. I think that would be a huge mistake.

I'm only listening to the game, but I'll assume that was Mauer's fault, because everything is Mauer's fault.

Matt Belisle warming up.....ugh.

I think we're far enough along in the season where Molly can stop turning games over the what is, on paper, one of the worst bullpens in the MLB, most of AAA, and some of AA. Honestly, is it much of a stretch to say Chatanooga's bullpen is better than the Twins' at this point in time?

I'm out doing some scouting for tomorrow, so I'm listening on the radio....but that is flat out ridiculous. Sounds about right for Richard.

Great follow up Star Wars reference, that is. Very nice, that was.

Knock on wood, because he's not done yet, but really nice to Ervin rebound. He's like Luke Skywalker....our only hope.

I'd be even more dumbfounded by the FO's decision making if they trade significant prospects (especially a potential SS prospect) for a reliever. There have been two consecutive offseason to sign competent relievers to short-term, affordable deals. Passing on that, just to give away high-end prospects, in what is now a relatively baron system with the graduation of numerous kids, would be infuriating. Especially considering the whole premise for not signing competent relievers was the depth of power arms at RP in the minors that they have yet to give a shot. At this point, I'd prefer they deal with the bed they made themselves, and figure it out internally. This team isn't going anywhere significant with this starting rotation, anyway.

I stilly don't think it's all that mysterious. It's a mental thing. Lack of command hurts him, but I think it mostly comes down to getting nervous/anxious, pressing pitches and trying to do too much, and not really trusting his stuff....thus not getting ahead in the count. That's imperative in the big leagues. It's something he'll only work out with experience at the MLB level. He should've been up here all year, IMO. I still think he'll be a very good pitcher. The stuff is electric. It wouldn't shock me at all if he's the Twins' best starter the rest of the way.

There are plenty of outings in which Belisle has been bad, but not given up any runs. For instance, last night, he was on the verge of giving up the lead in the 8th, when they brought Kintzler in to attempt a 5 out save. Kintzler K'd the subsequent two batters, stranded Belisle's runs, and bailed Belisle out a blown lead or a loss. It goes both ways, ERA can be deceiving when it's on the low end also. In Belisle's case, his ERA should probably be higher than 9.00....and the fact that he's only given up runs in two outings is the deceiving part. Im of the opinion that it's rather ridiculous that the FO has put the team in the position that they're having to run a guy like Belisle out in high-leverage situations, and have to use Kintzler in that way (he's literally the only guy in the bullpen that you can rely on to get an out). Hopefully we'll see a guy like Hildenberger, Burdi, or Melo up soon to help that train-wreck of a bullpen. Another observation: At some point they have to move Wade up to AAA, right? Since there is no room for him in the everyday lineup, is imaging they'd want him to stay down and play everyday, but I'd love to see him fill the Grossman role pn the big club as the fourth outfielder eventually (who can actually be serviceable in the outfield).

It's been pretty bad. It didn't take take a lip reading expert to discern what Phil Hughes thought of him after he was yanked. That said, the pitchers have been pretty awful in their own right.

This just in: This pitching staff is in shambles.

Not sure if you ever had the privilege (and I mean that) of listening to John Gordon announce game on the radio, but he was the king of that. "....A high drive! Deep to left! And Visquel calls off the third baseman to make the catch on the edge of the grass...." Really miss listening to that guy. Nothing like cracking a cold one, wetting a line off the dock on a dead calm summer evening, and listening to Gordon call a game on the radio. Nostalgia overload.

Phil is not happy with that ump right now.

Polanco came from high-A to sit on the bench for a few weeks, largely due to asbuedly bad 40-man management. I wouldn't call that a shining example of the Twins spotting a guy who was ready for the majors, and taking a leap. The thing that boggles my mind about this (pitchers v hitters, and the early call up), is the backwards logic in the way they have historically go about it. Most pitchers have a certain number of live bullets in their arm before it blows. When you have an uber talented reliever like Burdi...what good does a load of AA/AAA inning do for the guy? Same for Berrios right now, who might be the best pitcher in AAA ball right now (I say with negative connotation, as in other teams don't leave those guys down this long). I can understand if you're loaded at the MLB level....but 7-8 of the Twins most talented arms, are currently not with the big club, in a wide open division. The big club's pitching staff is absolutely horrendous, while the wunderkinds carve AA/AAA. On the flip side, they bring position players up to flounder and/or sit on the bench, and play the back and forth yo-yo game for years, while preaching different philosophies at different levels. The effectively jerk with their approach and confidence level to the point where if they succeed, it's despite their development methods....not because of it. Of course, this is mostly referencing the prior FO regime. But, even considering the roster moves so far this year, it's mind-boggling. In my opinion, some of these GMs, managers, and FO personnel get so haughty with some of these decisions, that they get overthought and analyzed to a detriment. They turn checkers into chess, and create an heir that it's highly complex stuff, that only the best and brightest can understand, like they're astrophysicists at NASA putting a rover on a moon of Jupiter. It's a child's game....take the best baseball players and put them on the field if you want to win baseball games. It's no more complicated than that.

This ump's strike zone is horrendous.

Just making sure I have things straight: Too old to be a proespect. Pedestrian stuff, at best. Bad career numbers ....with putrid AAA numbers this year as a 30 year old.... ....So, this guy will immediately be signed to an extension and given a two-year leash, be next year's opening day starter, and will bump Berrios to the bullpen? The sad part is, given this club's track record, I can't even come up with a scenario ridiculous enough to be unbelievable.

Berrios just keeps using up those bullets in AAA. Not a huge fan of that right now. Honestly, what's the deal, here? Are they just praying he throws a clunker so they have excuse to hit some beneficial service time bench mark? There can't possibly be anything he can do in AAA to become a better pitcher, that he can't do in the MLB while simultaneously helping a pitching staff going down like the titanic. Is there? Honest question.