Rosterman

Buxton Arraez Kepler Cruz Rosario Sano Cron Garver Polanco

We got Dyson and Romo. Two of Holland-types, already. Don't need a third.

Looking at the minors, seems the first basemen of the future are Lewin Diaz or Jaylin Davis...especially Davis slugging the ball at AA/AAA. So I feel good about the future. Wait......!

Joel's Rule of the Pen: If, as a relief pitcher, you put two runners on base, you are pulled. Let the next guy give up the homerun.

Yeah...you add all these guys, but to remove them you lose them to anotehr organization. And some didn't have to be protected this year. That's either a lot of talent...or something. And, yes, anyone remember the 28-man rule for September...to keep teams from calling up any or all of their 40-man guys? And perhaps fielding an all-AAA lineup, I guess?

One of a couple of names that are expendable. Other being, perhaps, LaMonte Wade...unless the Twins manage to put Gonsalves on the 60-day. Waiting to hear if Buxton is still available to play this season. Tragic if he isn't. I'm still trying to figure out how all of: Gonsalves, Romero, Stewart, Poppen, Stashak, Smeltzer, Dobnak, Thorpe, Littell all fit into the future of the team. That is one heck of a lot of rookie arms protected on the 40-man. And who is this Marcus Diplan? That's 10 PITCHERS! 1/4 of the roster with rookie level experience!

I would like to see Arraez in the ledoff or second spot. He works the pitcher a lot more than anyone, and also ahs the ability to put the ball in play. Isn't that what you want at the top of the order? Polancho is also our best hitte at the moment. So seems logical that he needs to be near the top of the lineup. If we argue for Kepler, maybe he should be batting third. But Cruz has been dynamite in that position. Still, we have waaaay too many solo home runs. Isn't the buzz to put homerun hitters in a lineup AFTER guys who get on base? Why your best slugger should be batting fourth, assuming that you may have at least one, if not two batters before him on base? But once a game happens, the lineup goes array. Different people led off different innings. But until the opener becomes a mainstay, you still want your opening first inning salvo to be MAKING the opposing pitcher throw a lot of pitches so everyone watching from the dugout will get a good idea of what the guy on the mound might be trying to do.

If he held these stats and played another 30 games, maybe. But he also has ben all over the place in positioning. But you never know.

New Rule: Bullpen Arm, you put two batters on in an inning, no matter how many outs, you aare pulled. If runs score, you might be heading elsewhere.

The secret is your starters going deep into the game. No five innings stints (which is what I worry about with Pineda, Perez and especially Odorizzi). Gibson can shine. Berrios is pretty consistent if he can stay aheda in his counts. But getting six innings out of your starter, and maybe even 7 (if they can refuse to walk people) is the key. Nezt, the Twins bullpen. I have more faith than many in Trevor May. I like Zach Littell. It would be nice to have another lefty. Could that be Perez, Smeltzer, Ryan O'Rourke, Lewis Thorpe. If we had three lefties in the pen...wow! Duffey is doing well, along with Littell, and Ryne Harper is holding his own. Romo is a godsend. Dyson should be back. So the Twins pen looks pretty good. The joy would be to have TWO pitchers that can do long relief, like two innings, if the start is short. I do like that the Twins have taken a look at so many "future" pitchers: Dobnak, Stashak, Poppen, Stewart, Eades, Romero. Hildenberger could still be in the mix. The Twins have unknowns Diplan and Gonsalves on the 40-man. Ryan O'Rourke was an intriguing pickup. But a pen of Rogers as closer, Dyson and Romo as setup, Littell and May as long guys, Harper and Duffey in the mix. Perez could be in the pen if the Twins do decide to stretch out a rookie as the fifth starter (which I would do, especially in September). But for now, the Twins are in a post-season drive. They have to stay ahead of the Indians, or if they slip, ahead of everyone wanting a wildcard spot!

Right now, need to put together a pitching staff that is dependable. When you look at the Indians series, the Twins were outscored 28 to 23. It doesn't say a lot for the Indians staff of pitchers, but even less for our own. The Indians have proven to be a threat at the plate in this middle third of the season and they can also manufacture runs on the basepaths. I love that we are seeing new faces in the bullpen, all these minor league starters given relief stints. But looking at the guys overall (Dobnak, Stashak, Poppen, Stewart) I wonder if we see even a fourth or fifth starter in the bunch. Add in Smeltzer, who is unique to say the least, and Thorpe...well, just think...our #6-10 starters entering the season were Mejia, DeJong, Gonsalves, Littell, Stewart and even Slegers was briefly in the mix. How things change during a season in prospect land. Not to mention little talk now of Fernando Romero, and Jake Reed is all but forgotten as a future bullpen arm (like Tyler Jay). The thing is, when you are contending, you MUST be able to trust every single arm in the bullpen, and you also need a good bullpen mix. Yes, you can't predict what a pitcher WILL DO, but to have someone that is more of a groundball guy, or a fly ball guy, or a lights out strikeout king. And nothing says you CAN'T use a pitcher for one batter or one out. I still see Baldelli leaving in a starter to start an inning too much, or, like Rogers last night, he has loaded the bases but he could still get a double play and end the inning, or a ground out or pop up. Or maybe a strikeout (although at what point do you say "he doesn't have it" and bring in someone else who could get an out or give up a home run). You have to trust the pitchers and what they throw and contribute to the team. Seems we have been spending too much time building a bullpen of rookie arms that can just do the innings to protect the arms of the "important" guys, who are NOT needed if we don't have a lead. The season has bascially started over for the Twins in the division. Be interesting to see where we end up 40+ games from now!

The evils of team construction. You SHOULDN'T have anyone on the major league rister that you don't feel comfortable playing. The Twins have been unique in 2019 that EVERY player on the offense side brings soemthing to the game. They also have ahd a rotation which ahs started, like, 97% of all games with just five different hurlers. But the bullpen has been a mish-msh. You are being competitive. Every game does count. If you can trust to throw an arm out there for one batter, one out or one inning, why are they in the bullpen, period. And if you HAD the ability to go out and get someone that wasn't replacement level, or prospect possibility, why didn't you do it...be it as a rental or longer term. You can't keep ALL 150+ players in your minor league system forever. Every game here on out is playing for the post season. Not just getting us to the 7th, giving so-and-so a rest, but playing hard. Cleveland did this against the Twins...totally prepared starters, a hungry offense which worked the counts as much as possible, and a manager who would switch out an arm at a moment's notice. Sure, no one is perect. Their closer took a hit (but got the win) just like ours took a big hit. No one IS perfect. August 11th. A packed house. Excited when the game was tied in the 9th and the Twins even took a chance to steal the game trying to tempt fate with a throw home. Never ever have seen such a jubilant crowd that got sickened so fast. Hurt. Big Hurt.

One of those that you needed to be seeking him in order to make a trade. Looked good against the Twins and might be a sleeper...like a Kevin Tapani-type pitcher in the long haul, or maybe jsut another soft tosser with limited major laague tme. But would've ben a risk to take, if had known. Twins could've matched this trade easily (maybe Rocky de la Torre or Wander Javier as well as another mid-level prospect). The Twins have depth, but finding 40-man space, or even keeping in the system, will be a challenge in the next coming two years. You have to ask if names like Poppen, Dobnak, Stashak, Stewart and Thorpe are the future or just place-setters. We already have seen Gonsalves and Romero basically get passed by. The Twins could afford to lose 8-10 prospects in the system and not really see a development loss, unless they decide to ALL prospects in 2020 and forego any minor league free agents. But that is doubtful as we have already seen the Twins go to the dump to add players at Rochester and elsewehre, rather than promote system guys.

At some point, between the hits and a walk, you realize the guy doesn't have it and bring in someone else. You play this game to win. If the "bad" pitcher is losing it, another pitcher ain't gonna be the one to kill it for you, either. Heck, call it a long game and bring in Perez (we have an off day tomorrow). The batters can't keep coming back, only to lose it to bullpen misuse, overuse or not being stocked with the right arms for a playoff-caliber team.

You never know. At one point we would all be happy if the Twins played .500 ball...they seemed a shoo-in with a double-digit lead. But Cleveland played like the Twins did at season's beginning. Hey, look at the Mets 15-1 in the last 16 games. You never know. Remember when Oakland in Moneyball pulled off 20 straight? There is always the Wildcard race. The key is managing the team. Playing hard, still having fun, resting guys, etc. etc. The Twins never give up. It looks like they will have Dyson, Pineda and Cruz back in the next 10-12 days. Then September will see roster expansion. But the Indians have showed how a team CAN improve. They have the hitting the Twins have, so even their lesser pitchers just have to hold the otehr team down in the runs number. Twins have to do the same (which, again, brings us abck to managing. Don't let the hole get too deep, as you have the potential to battle back and score big ... especially against lesser bullpens.)

Berrios, Gibson, Odorizzi are locks. If the Twins need a 4th or 5th, and depending on the ultimate makeup of the pen, they could go with the "opener" route for any number of games, be it with their main thre, or Pineda. I would keep Perez in the pen along with Smeltzer...use the lefty as an opener for 1-2 innings and destroy the lineup plans for the other team. The Twins will have the luxury of a bigger bullpen, too, with Gonzalez, Adrianza or Arraez able to play multiple positions. Just hope Buxton AND Cruz are back for the post-season.

Well, if we have so many prospects, why the dumpster diving in the last month of the season, and who do they replace on the 40-man (Twins just got speedster Ian Miller from Seattle). Of course, having Rooker, Raley and Gordon on the IL means we have no offense to call-up from Rochester. Wait, Willians is rehabbing! And all these precious and priceless prospects...how many will the Twins try and cash out before September and what kind of smoke and mirrors do they play to keep them in the organization yet still off the 40-man, as many hed for their minor league free agent year. Right now, I wouldn't bring back anyone from the rotation for 2020 except Berrios, and who knows how that contract extension into free agency will go. And there is something fine about this mini losing streak. The veteran bullpen arms get little or no use, while the rotation of the rountrip from AAA eat up the bulk of the innings. That the Twins are still at x-amount of games over .500, same place they were months ago, is better than nothing, I guess. Two more games. Where will the Twins be before an off day on Monday!

I feel worse about the minor league disabled list. We could use a slugging outfielder (or maybe a temporary DH) but both Brent Rooker and Luke Raley are on the disabled list...too long. And even top prospect Nick Gordon is on the Il. Last year Zach Granite was on the DL and Jake Cave made the most of the opportunity, thus causing Granite to go elsewhere. With LaMonte Wade also ailing, the Twins have no excess 40-man guys ready for the majors, at least until Willians ends his rebah. I also feel for Trevor Hildenger, who should be working his butt off at Rochester insteda of putting time in on the IL. He may be passed and his days numbered. Not to mention Stephen Gonsalves, once the NEXT in-line for the rotation, who has an all-but-forgot season. Tyler Wells looked to be back after lost time, but is nowhere to be found on the diamond. Hector Lujan was a surprise but also injured, along with Cole Sands. And Akil Baddoo is losing a second season.

You gotta approach this series like it is the playoffs. If it means multiple pitchers in an inning, you do it. You DON'T allow your team to get into too deep a hole. You have Monday off, so everyone goes for broke. You push the boundaries. Mix in a little small ball if the players are capable. But always have your best at every position.

Baldelli, play to win. Best line-up each day. Use your pitching staff. Don't let starters stay if tanking like Perez and Berrios...don't need to dig THAT deep of a hole. If a bullpen arm puts two guys on base, pull him...let another bullpen arm mess it up if need be. Four big games. Then a day off. You can afford to skip Perez and use him out of the pen, if you wish.

I like the Twins getting a looksee at all this new blood: Thorpe, Dobnak, Poppen, Stashak. With Littell in the bullpen, and Stewart showing good signs. Well, it is a far cry from #6-10+ that the Twins opened the season with for their rotation: Mejia, Gonsalves, Stewart, DeJong, Littell, Slegers and possibly Romero. Definitely auditioning arms for possible fulltime duty in 2020. Shows how the life of a prospect can change. All new names for TOP starter prospects. Who will NOT be ehre in 2020 is now the BIG question!

The Twins will be losing 6-8 names alone to free agency. They have upwards of 15 players to consider for 40-man roster spots, the kicker being will any of the guys they NEED to roster contribute to the team in 2020. Right now, you basically have Gordon, Wade, Gonsalves, Romero taking up 40-man space without getting any or much of an oipportunity with the 2019 team. Will they all be back, because......? Yet the Twins will need 2 or 3 or maybe 4 arms in the rotation. They are getting a looksee, albeit in the bullpen, of some future arms: Poppen, Stashak, Stewart, Smeltzer, Thorpe. Are there sleepers in the wings to push apst even these guys (Jax, Braterol). I do feel the Twins LOST a big opportunity at the trade deadline. Would I have traded Buxton for Sven? Well, not sure what negotiations for a contract extension are like, although the Twins still have at least three more seasons of Buxton with Krillioff in the wings. But, right now, feeling THAT need for another starter.

Hummmmm...maybe the Astros will put Vrlande or Grienke on waivers to save money and the Twins could claim them.

Schoop will be a free agent. No need to cut him loose if he is contributing to team chemistry. September 1 is just around the corner. I had thought that the Twins might dangle him at the trade deadline. Ehire is another...how much do you spend to keep him around. He ahs contributed well this year, but is basically a carbon copy of Gonzalez.

Wow. Buxton will be tabled in contract negotiations. Cave shined last year. Partly because Zach Granite put himself on the disabled list. Wondered what would've happened if Granite had been available last year. Far from eprfect, he could play center and offered speed. Shows how an injury can slow your progress and also allow someone to leap frog you in the organization. Also, could've been an opportunity for LaMonte Wade to play. Better yet, Kepler in center and bring up Brent Rooker. Maybe get that 12th guy to hit 10 homers this year. Cave IS NOT cutting it in center. I like Cave and his state of play, but you have an open roster spot, let's see Rooker or Raley if/and when either becomes healthy. Heck, I would almost like to see Kirilloff get an early opportunity.