Rosterman

I wish Falvey ahd ben less cautious at the trade deadline and actually traded ffor some pieces that could be here in 2020, especially more pitching. The rotation will have two starters and 6-8 guys on the 40-man with limited experience but no one lights out. There are a couple of prospects, but expecting any of them to throw 150 innings is a dream. The Twins still have no true closer. Again, there might be a surprise arm or two in the minors, but no one stepping into fulltime work. Romero could find a place because he has to stay and if he works his butt off could shine. But who knows. The Twins need to replace a catcher (Willians), a second baseman (Arraez or Gordon). That's it. Everyone else returns a year older. No place for a Rooker or Raley yet. Still have an abundance of outfielders (but not in the 40-man). Do you resign Odorizzi, Pineda or Gibson? Depends on the price. Romo will walk. Not sure if you need him back. But the uncertainity of the rotation and no closer puts the Twins a tad behind this season, where they opened with five dependable starters (who have pitched the majorty of their games) and a depth of #6-10+, which was completely remake from the original group that included Mejia, Slegers, Littell, Gonsalves, Stewart, Thorpe. We lost Jay, but Jake Reed is still around, isn't he?

Cut pitchers and go with batters. For a five game series you need four starters at best. Having Arraez, Gonzales, Castro, Adrianza and maybe Cave gives you lots of possibilities. Most of all, though, you want all bodies to be ready to play everyday at their position. If even the slightly injured, elt them rest the series. The Twins have the depth. Best bullpen. But keep arms fresh somehow in case you want to switch out Smeltzer for someone, or maybe Hildengerger does deserve a moment. Gonna be interesting to see how the Twins play this stuff. Hell, September I would go the opener route more often than not if you are advancing Smeltzer, Stewart, Thorpe, Stashak to the team. Then I wouldn't be said f my "real" starter only gives us five innings. The Twins could really push this concept and let starters only throw 75-80 pitches and not face the top of the orer three times in any game.

Both Romero and Gonsalves have become dead wood in the system. How much stock do you put that you could carry either on the roster next year and they would produce better than anyone else "behind" them in the pecking order, but suddenly ahead. The Twins have Stewart and Thorpe and Poppen and Stashak and Dobnak and Littell and Smeltzer all holding 40-man sports and a better chance of making the Twins than two prime prospects from the past (with no trade value). Which kinda makes the trade deadline lackluster for a team that HAS too many players to protect come 2020 or 2021 and not enough spots. You talk about losing Romero to waivers if he doesn't make the team out of spring training. Hell, you could cut him in late October and still lose him, too. Or trade him for anotehr low level prospect. Or hope he has seen the light and him and Gonsalves will take one of the MANY open spots this team will have in the rotation OR bullpen in 2020. So, yes, there is still hope.

Arraex right now should be batting leadoff. We have another year of Cron. So maybe Sano will be at 1st base in 2021...if the Twins sign him long term Can Gordon, Polanco, Lewis, Arraez play third base? Do you want them to play third? Any names in the system strike as third abse material? At this point, we can say the Twins are pretty set for second base with Gordon maybe offering a challenge to Arraez for 2020. Lewis is still 2021 at the earliest. You can also trade Polanco (or Gordon for that matter). Then, again, some have talked of Lewis as an outfielder.

The Twins have a problem in the outfield. Who to extend and for how much. Rosario IS an atractive trade chip. At his best. You don't want to take the chance that he will flop in a season or two, and yet you have to figure that he will demand more than you might be willing to pay in a multi-year contract. Part of that issue is that you have Kiriloff and Larnach in the wings, not to mention Rooker and Haley and any number of other names. The Twins signed Polanco (making Gordon a luxury) and Kepler (so he is secure, or could be traded a la Span in the near future). Just like the twins approaching the offseason and wondering what it would take to resign Gibson, Odorizzi and Pineda, they also need to decide if they can find suitable pitchers for less money and longer control (they can, I'm sure). So it will be interesting to see where the Twins go this off-season with Rosario, Buxton and Sano, not to mention Berrios. They can easily just do arbitration for anotehr season and hope that none of them tank and are still suitable trade chips come the summer or next off-sesaon. Or they can extend and, thus, push aside prospects that they could've trded to upgrde the rotation and bullpen in the pennant drive this season. Is Cave longterm> Not necessarily. But he could make a good consideration for the job if the Twins do table Rosario for the next month. But with Buxton back, the Twins will still need to find regular playing time for Arraez, Gonzalez and Cave. (Hey, felt the Twins needed to dangle Schoop at the trade deadline, but the front office still seemed unsure about Arraez - at least they can let Schoop walk as they have Gordon or Arraez as possibilities for fulltime in 2020). But the Twins do have an abundance of riches in the outfield. But we still have to be sold that Buxton is a superstar possibility or just anotehr solid otufielder, and that Rosario is the real deal for the longterm.

I hate that he's not removing pitchers. Put two on, you are gone. Let someone else give up the homerun.

You just never know. I hope the Twins do their homework on the pitchers and make adjustments as the game goes. What I fear the msot is the rotation NOT being able to get to five innings. Other teams are learning that the Twins like to NOT throw strikes (see what happened when Pineda did it, he got 7 innings). They also need to manufacture runs. No one bunts. The stolen base is dead. Putting pressure on the opposing pitcher or fielders to make a bad move happens more as a fluke.

It is still exciting to watch and we can hope that they do break the major league record, although what would the Yankees be doing this season with Stanton in the batting order. Hoping the Twins can pull it off, maybe all-the-way to 300 dingers. Most notable is the few homers that the staff has given up!

The problem is the Twins have ONE space on the 40-man roster. Of course, they could move Buxton to the 60-day. Looks like Astulido and Wade are both in rehad and could be brought back. They will end the month with an option to Rochester but could be expanded to the major league roster come September 1. Astulido is a surefire add. He is the third catcher. He will remain as the second catcher once Castro goes into free agency. Wade could be up-in-the-air. Would you swap out de Aza or Miller for him right now? Of course, if Eddie is disabled, you need anotehr outfielder. The Twns also have infieler Gordon out there, taking up IL space with Rooker and Haley. I doubt that the Twins would cut loose Gordon. But, sadly, he is missing an opporunity to play and may not be in the pecking order. But he will hold his 40-man spot. The Twins should definitely promoto Smeltzer, Stashak, Stewart and Littell. They MAY NOT do Stewart. But if they don't, it tells you where he is in the Twins organizations eyes. The Twins have to make a decision on Romero and Hildenberger, both who could be promoted. If not, again, we will see thatthey have lost standing in the organization. Could eitehr be cut from the 40-man roster now? Gonsalves needs to pitch. Do you bring him up as an occasional arm in September to give him a few innings? Or has he, too, fallen off the radar...becoming a question mark for a 40-man spot. Seems the Twins wouldn't part ways with him...yet. Poppen is currently on the IL. Along with Dobnak, both could sit out September and come in strong, looking to fulfill some role in 2020. The Twins suddenly have A LOT of similar arms and have to make some longer-term decisions. They have one spot, basically, to add a player. Do they go with the youth and speed of Graterol, or worry more about keeping him in the system and off the 40-man for the proper amount of time. Can Ryan O'Rourke shine shine shine and become the situational lefty, albeit NOT keeping a 40-man spot no matter how well he pitches, sadly, in the short term. Oh, of course, they have Marcus Diplan holding down a spot. Who? With Gibson, Odorizzi, Pineda, Romo, Castro, Schoop opening up six spots...we see the Twins with 4 players (Cave, Astulido, Wade, Gordon) with the bat, and a whole host of pitchers that are worth keeping (Smeltzer, Stashak, Stewart, Littell, Gonsalves, Poppen, Dobnak, Romero, Hildenberger. Thorpe). That's 1/4th of the roster with basically unproven arms. I'm sure if anyone of them was waived off the 40-man, another team would grab them for their own 40-man. But the Twins can use the pitching, with starters making five innings at most. They actually have a logjam in the batting order, needing to play Gonzalez and Arraez every game, Cave coming back strong, Adrianza needing time in the field. Buxton and Rosario hurt could be tragic, but right now the Twins have an abundance of rich bats. I see them keeping Thorpe, adding Littell, Smeltzer, Stewart, Stashak, Romero, plus Astulido. I do picture them swapping out Wade and losing him, and adding O'Rourke, although it just might be for the end of this month to see how he does in 2-3 games...so we could still see Graterol. Of course, Diplan could also be swapped out and...surprise...a 100 mph arm added for September.

Well, you just never know. You could face the front-end of a poor team's rotation, not just once but twice. Especially if your rotation has been dismal (wasn't there some starting pitching available before the trade deadline)? Losing teams, at this point in time, can have new players, playing for the future. Plus, you don't have a lot of film = unpredictable. I like a comment made...that the Twins aren't playing as well at home as on the road...which accounts for why we lose two of three to the White Sox. Okay, the Twins had a pretty good lineup out there Thursday. What went wrong with the bats?

I know it wouldn't happen, but if the Twins culd've added a Grienke.......

Cruz being injured is a blessing, it ahs allowed the Twins to cycle guys thru the DH role. But if you decide to replace Cron at first, you should be looking at Sanop. You can have Gonzalez play third. Or, better yet, Arraez. You have to keep that bat in the lineup. And speaking of Cron, you also have to address Schoop. Both bring power to the lineup, but frankly Arraez and Adrianza are playing better ball overall. A luxury of the Twins offense. Too much and not enough poisitions to play everyone that is producing.

Buxton Arraez Kepler Cruz Rosario Sano Cron Garver Polanco

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.

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.

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.

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.