Rosterman

Carmago is an interesting case. I think he may be Rule 5 eligible and the Twins may not be able to stash him (or he might even be a minor elague free agent after this season). Performing at Wichita will go a long way to see if he will be kept by the Twins, who don't, as you showed above, have a lot of depth. And msot of the players mentioned could fall into the category of good solid third catchers, depending on next year. But we just don't know yet. Maybe someone will improve bigtime, but Winkel is still too far away to make that assessment.

Now the bats are hot but the pitching can't keep us in the game. This is...Baseball!

Who is calling for the "homer" pitch? Pitcher, catcher, dugout? Well, you have to admit...this is Baseball!

It's furstrating. But it IS the game of baseball. Players have streaks at bat. Starters do their job of have a meltdown (although experienced ones usually "gut" their way thru innings). I was hoping the rotation would be pitching deeper than they are, and pushing or surpassing that 100-pitch mark (forget about third or fourth time thru the order). Considering we will have 7 rotation arms when Ober returns, and only room for five! We have a closer, finally, in Duran...if the manager will trust him, and if the team actually gives him opportunities to close. But there are at least four arms in the pen that are...dare I say...worthless. I don't picture a return of Coulombe and Smith as refreshing. Alcala has been gone waaaay to long. Do I trust Cano to come up after a stay back in AAA? Is Ian Hamilton for real? Are Sisk and Schulfer hungry enough to shine, knowing it is pitch or bust? Thank goodness for a weak division, although the Twins are/were in the top three in the league for wins...remember that when talking about a division weaker than any other.

Thank goodness have Monday off, as we will use msot of the bullpen tonight. Maybe Winder can piggy-back with Bunday on Sunday.

If nothing else, Sano will slide into the DH spot...but at the expense of what rostered player...plus, who comes off the 40-man.

You mean they don't grill out in the bullpen during the game anyways? Always thought the only reason a relief pitcher came into a game was to bring in a few burgers and dogs for the dugout.

Pampering the starting rotation. ALL the pitchers should be capable of throwing 100 pitches. That should be more the rule than two times thru the order and the fear of a third. Maybe we need, then, at least two pitches that can pitch as openers so our precious rotation arms can start with the bottom of an order rather than the top. I'm also seeing it in the minors. Sure, there has been a lack of innings by most pitchers over the past two seasons and some concern about rebuilding their...endurance. And, plesae...use the same lineup twice. I always felt it was more important to have same people batting in front and behind you rather than total pitcher matchups. Players work off of each other. Get comfortable. See how a pitcher regularly approaches a batter before you. Sometimes I think Rocco is playing Fantasy Baseball!

Anyone!? 1`5 Players on the Twins team in 2025? How about 2026?

Let's make Henriquez a long-relief arm!

Right now there is a solid group of players that could be with the Twins the next 3-5 years. The ones you mention plus Jeffers, Kirilloff, Royce Lewis, Miranda, larnach, Kirilloff. Add in names like Canterino, Winder, Wallner. You might not find much in the way of bettering a team as you head towards the future. The question is more how to work in other promising players, when to part with others - like do the Twins part this year or next with Polanco and Kepler. I would love to see Duran stay healthy and be the Twins closer for 6-7-9-12 years, like the Yankees great. Is something like that possible? Affordable?

I honestly feel Jeffers would be better served with msot of a season at AAA ball. But almost too late for that. He has been thrust into the game and learning by doing. Same can be said, now, for a few more prospects...from Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober to Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach and Jose Miranda. The joy of learning at the major league leel is that the coaches and equipment is so much better. Going back to the minors, you are allowed to try and work a little bit more, possibly even fail at times. But if your work ethic is there, it will be recognized. In the majors, no matter how hard you try, batting against the best of the best will make you look foolish, and when fielding the majority of the hitters can hit the ball...often hard...and they also play with more analytics and are pushed to test arms, reactions and such. Few players walk into a major league clubhouse and excel right away. And, someone has to make a few of the 27 outs each game.

What I find so frustrating with the "short" starts is that you could anaylze better if a team "might" win or not, depending on who actually is pitching. But now it is all game by committee, and the batting has suffered...so anything goes. A abd day for one or mroe bullpen arms, and the game changes quickly.

First off, gotta trust your starter. They can go five and six innings. Please. Moran in 9th. Duran in 10th. Don't use closer unless you have the lead. Why are the Twins ONE of the teams that refuse to advance that guy standing on second to third, especially if they are capable of almsot walking to third. You pinch hit Jeffers, too. Pagan, Jax, Thielbar, Megil, Duran, Moran.....any rhyme or reason? You got two dynamtie lefties...bring in Thielbar for the fifth, Moran for the 8th. I won't fauly bullpen arms for giving up hits or homers...it happens. The White Sox did the same as the Twins. But.....I can't figure out the bullpen usage. Never, ever, zilch...except that the front office didn't think Rogers could be the closer.

One job…get the guy on second to third.

With an off-day for Winder's next appearance, he could comfortably pitch out of the pen on, say, Sunday, and still egt a start in before the All-Star break, as could Archer.

Lots of former ex-Twins looking for work. HANSEL ROBLES cut by the Red Sox. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/07/red-sox-to-designate-hansel-robles-for-assignment.html IAN GUBAUT works the popularity circuit, going from the Indians to the Dodgers and now stopping off in Reds land. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/07/reds-to-claim-ian-gibaut-waivers-dodgers.html SHAUN ANDERSON given walking papers by Blue Kays. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/07/blue-jays-dfa-shaun-anderson.html Sam Clay joins the Phillies. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/07/phillies-claim-sam-clay-pitcher-waivers-nationals.html In the Atlantic League, RYNE HARPER has been released by Kentucky, and JOHNNY FIELD announced his retirement from baseball after siging with High Point earlier this year. And inn other former Twins news: TYLER KINNEY. In other Rockies news, the team informed reporters that reliever Tyler Kinley underwent successful elbow surgery recently (Allentuck link). He’s expected to be sidelined roughly one calendar year. Colorado announced that Kinley would require a season-ending procedure in mid-June, but the team didn’t specify whether he’d need a full Tommy John procedure or a less invasive surgery. The one-year timeline would seem to point towards the latter outcome, although he’s apparently still unlikely to be back on an MLB mound much before next season’s All-Star Break.

He is that GREAT 26th player. Can he fill in fulltime at shortstop for a stint, that is the question. Who is this Tim Beckham tearing up AAA ball, by the way?

Interesting logic. It wouldn't hurt either player. I still don't see the need for Gordon to be playing so much outfield when you have both Garlick and Celestino on the roster, and Kirilloff taken outs in left field when Arraez plays first. Plus, the Twins have to keep working Miranda into the mix. I would do it!

Henriquez was overmatched in AAA. And, yes, maybe he would be BEST suited as a bullpen arm. Start doing it at St. Paul, and elevate Varland and maybe even Canterino to AAA as starters. The Twins also have to make a hard decision on Balazovic. Another guy who MIGHT be a good guy to try as a middle relief (mop up arm) arm, even at the major league level similar to what the twins did with Santana. He has just been so...inconsistent. I do wish the Twins would give Strotman a shot in the majors. He can't be any worse than the arms they keep shuffling thru. See if he can adjust...fast, if he wants a major league run. Someone made a comment above about how being a starter means a bigger paycheck. I remember when the Twins demoted Frankie Ropdriguez to the bullpen and he threw a fit just for that reason. Two things: (1) a top flight reliever can make decent dollars and even have a long career (2) you don't get paid anything if you can't stay in the majors. Back to topic. No one mentioned Cano and his light's out at AAA. I guess he might be the next Anthony Slama? We will see. And Schulfer and Sisk may be the frewsh arms the Twins bullpen will finally call upon once then jettisoned aged veterans (Thielbar, Smith) or run thru more of the AAAA arms that they have stocked in the St. Paul bullpen.

Won two. Only gripe: we shouldn't be playing one-run games and coming from behind against...the Orioles.

Short relief is primarily based on who is coming up to bat and the effectiveness of the bullpen arm against those specific batters. Plus a short relief pitcher COULD pitch multiple days in a row. Middle relief and having the guy pitch multiple innings or face a batting order is purely to see if they can get the outs, pretty much no matter the pitch count. A team used to have one solid long relief guy, in case of a short start. And often the majority of the bullpen was capable of pitching 2-3 innings if needed (back when pitching staffs were ten pitchers and starters pitched every fourth day). But it still helps if you have a closer, and someone who can, if needed, pitch multiple games back-to-back. And considering baseball NOW has all but eliminated the situational pitcher, that left who would pitch to just one or two batters - well, I can't keep up with the game. Like the Rays, the Twins had a group of starters who (fingers crossed) would make 30 starts and reach comfortably 150 innings each. Hapily, due to a brief moment of six manish, injuries and lots of short starts, looks like ALL the guys are set to make it thru the season and set the stage for aiming at 200 innings for 2023. The problem is, are there enough quality arms for the Twins to use in the bullpen role that can pitch 50-60 innings. There just might be. No longer do teams have set set-up guys. The Twins are showing a lack of a closer (do they not want to spend the money?). I imagine the Twin are hoping Duran will be their once and future closer, and hold the role for 5-7 years. Moran and Cano could be dynamite 8th inning guys. All three gaining valuable experience THIS season as the Twins play shuffle board with all the other spots.

Well, they want to get their monies worth, including the buyout. I imagine as much time as needed in the minors. He can still be the fulltime DH if push comes to shove. I like Arraez at first, Kirilloff in left, and Miranda as the bench/spell guy. Larnach could prove a problem if he needs play But the minute Sano starts to hit, try and trade him.

If ober comes back, I say the bullpen until someone really falters. Or, better yet, use him as an opener. Although I'm not sure if Archer's routine is to start a game. Some pitchers can't pitch releif without changing their whole routine, which doesn't always work.

Too bad can't give him more run support. He does well when he can control his syhthm on the mound, it seems. Remember...this is officially his first full season.