Rosterman

Aren't they doing a six man since the roster expanded to 28 and they added two more pitchers? Gant? Actuallyt, they should be piggy-backing more and have Strotman up. Let's see, who can they designate off the 40-man to add Moran and Hamilton, plus what position player can go for Miranda.

Who the Twins haven't advanced Miranda, Hamilton and Moran is beyond me. Also, might as well let Strotman come up and get clobbered. Learning experience for a future Twin. You are letting Jax take his lumps. I was hoping to see Balazovic for at least one game. Less than two weeks of Wichita ball left. Will he come to Saints land to end the season. For some reason, not excited about the return of Pineda,

Vinny Nittoli will be the next call-up and will get us out of the central cellar! Make My Words!

Ober, Ryan, Dobnak. Maybe Strotman and Jax. Barnes still in the wings. Maybe see Duran and Balazovic next year, although we said that this yeat. THE RETURN OF MIKE PINEDA! Season tickets for 2022 are NOW ON SAlE! Get them before they get HOT!

The Twins were striking out, and they let most of their relief pitchers walk. Would we have actually been happier keeping May, Clippard, Romo, Wisler? I bet we wish we still had Littell. For cheap starters, Rich Hill would've been a nice return, but didn't he really want to pitch in Florida. If the Twins had bunched ALL those dollars and gone after a top-flight closer (say Hendriks), or a real top-line starting pitcher? Well, you hope. Spring Training wasn't really showing hope, except that it WAS spring training. It is scary looking back at the pitching. http://www.thebaseballcube.com/topics/spring/stats.asp?Y=2021&T=17 Injuries were the ultimate killer for the Twins. We expected to be seeing both Duran and Balazovic by now. We expected that Smeltzer and Thorpe would be offering something and maybe cementing themselves as back-of-the-rotation guys. We had hoped to be competitive come the trading deadline and deal big. We also didn't expect that the Twins would fail so miserably in the bullpen in an extra inning game with a runner starting at second. And that Colome was the biggest factor oif the Twins decline in the early days. I wasn't totally disappointed in Happ, Shoemaker and Pineda. I expected them to be rentals, and was surprised the Twins stuck with Shoemaker as long as they did. The fact that we got something for Happ was amazing, and that we didn't for Pineda is equally amazing. And don't get one started on the hitters. Sure average is down in 2021. But.........

The good news is Simeon Woods-Richardson threw 40 pitches on scoreless ball in his first start for the Twins. He only walked three batters. Struck out two and...well...humm.....wait....was he playing the role of opener? I'm thinking if the Saints want to return to their winning ways, they have to make a deal with the Minnesota Twins to get Andrew Albers and Griffin Jax back into their rotation. Hummm...let us bring Balazovic up to the Saints for a day, and then trade him and Strotman to the Twins.

He gets five years in minor league ball before we quibble, before we start comparing him to Wander Javier.

Could the Twins batters score runs if they faced their own pitchers?

They never really do. Giving a Donaldson contract to a starting pitcher? They had their chance with Berrios, maybe last off-season. And, why would someone come to Minnesota...now. Look at expensive arbitration pitchers that other teams may not want to keep (Boyd at Detroit). The Athletics have pitchers they don't want to pay. Even as a one-year rental, it all depends what you need to give up in trade. Otherwise, comeback pitchers (been there, done that). Albers, Gant, Thorpe, Smeltzer, DObnak with Ober in the wings is the 2022 rotation. My call! St. Paul has Stortman, Ryan, Sands, Jax, Barnes.

The Albers story wsa a good one, while it lasted. Sadly, time to send him back to help St. Paul win. Four homers in three innings? We can bring in Strotman or Balazovic and let them get hammered, which isn't always bad thing to guys who have yet to pitch in the majors. Andrew Albers, was rooting for you (no, not quite as the opening day starter). Was even thinking long left out of the pen to compliment John Gant as long righty out of the pen. But.....

ting to feel bad for Strotman. A 40-man spot on the pitching rich Rays who suddenly find themselves with some arms they would rather keep. To the Twins, a wide-open starting field, and I'm sure he is pressing himself to shine, and sometimes that works against you. Seeing other arms go to the majors (including Albers who was not on the 40-man). And some of those arms NOT doing well in the long-run (Jax and Barnes). Strotman needs a chance as much as anyone. Get him a couple of starts in the majors. What's the worse he can do...give up 10 runs in five innings? That would be a lot of pitches and a learning experience. Maybe he can pitch five innings with one bad three run inning. That is a learning experience. The same can be said for the bullpen. Hamilton and Moran both have to be wondering just what do they have to do to get a call to the majors after watching Garcia, Vincent, Burrows, Barraclough all added and basically discarded. Wouldn't the Twins want...keepers? Sure, the Twins have found some life in Gibaut, Garrza, Farrell, Minaya, Coulombe. But who are the two best relievers in St. Paul for msot of the season. The guys are hungry, and start to make mistakes, and then the front office finds excuses not to call them up.

Whoever the Twins sign, they need the ability to eat innings. Odorizzi was lucky to go five in a game. Pineda isn't giving full seasons. Can the Twins find at least one workhorse that can push towards 200 innings and a couple of guys who can reach and go past 150 innings. Most of the rookies will be pressed to go 100-120 innings in their next go around (Duran, Balazovic, Enlow, Canterino with Sands, Strotman, Jax, Ober, Barnes, Ryan on the higher end of that spectrum).

I picture Kirilloff being the perfect 1st baseman. Wonder how Miranda will do at third, Arraez seems to have a weak arm for throwing across the diamond. Once again, what to do with Sano. (Or Donaldson). Right now, the Twins are a mess. Are you going with power strikeout pitchers, ground-ball pitchers, fly-ball pitchers? They know not what they have. The Twins seemed with the Simmons and especially Donaldson to want to shure up the ground ball defense for Dobnak and others like him. Only works if those guys pitch.

Buxton is making that $80 million Twins offering look tempting to himself!

Over on Major League Trade rumors, there was talk about how the Oakland A's are finding themselves heading into a lot of Arbitration Choices for the coming season, some maybe out of their price range. Rotation arms like Manara, Bassitt, laureano, Montas. Plus bullpen arms like Trevino and Diekman, plus old Twins prospect Guerra could probably be had for the right mix of prospects. Should the Twins try, would they pay $10 to Manara, $9 million to Bassitt. Something that could actually help the Twins go forward. And what prospects in the system would be ripe for the grab by the A's, of guys already on the 40-man (think Arraez, maybe Kepler). Besides the A's, any other "expensive for a team" arbitration arms you can think of that the Twins should trade, negotiate longer term, or just wait to see if they enter free agency? https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/09/athletics-trade-rumors-payroll-arbitration-olson-chapman-manaea-bassitt.html

Ah, Sano. He kept it from being a one run game!

Speaking of incredible hair, remember Taylor Motter. now hoping to come abck with the Red Sox? https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/taylor-motter-of-the-seattle-mariners-flips-his-hair-after-news-photo/670931828

Moran needs to be protected, bigtime. He was eligible for the Rule 5 last season, but wasn't taken. He ahs shined at AAA ball and deserves a chance. Cano, now he doesn't need to be protected at all. Old at 27, but just three years in the system. Was hoping Erik Manoah was going to continue to shine with his advancement. That's why you advance pitchers, challenge them. Ian Hamilton continues to be rock steady, but overlooked. Some other names lower down to watch are Donny Bentley, Zach Featherstone, Osiris German and Zaquiel Puentes!

I saw we use an opener in the opening game, followed by Ober...who could possibly get the win if he only pitches four stellar innings (or three) and the bullpen doesn't blow it.

Ober is it, for now. Which is WHY is is important that the Twins also let Strotman and Balazovic also get starts at the major league level in 2021. Gives them a good idea of what to work with over the winter (perhaps in Winetr Ball). And those two are on the 40-man. The killer was that going in 2021 we had Dobnak, Thorpe and Smeltzer as the reserves. Dobnak has a lot to prove this final month. But he is also in the position of being removed from the 40-man, but still kept in the organization and come back in the spring (shades of Perkins, maybe Balckburn and Mays of old). Both Smeltzer and Thorpe could be claimed, or just walk away if moved from the 40-man (unless the Twins care enough to do a Dobnak contract with either of them, too). We have seen Barnes, who is in the mix and a lefty. We have seen Jax and Ryan, both in the mix. We know we can find guys like Albers (and maybe even retain Albers on a minor league contract (you pay them more than 40-man roster contracts, who knows if they will stay). The Twins want to think of Gant as a starter. Going into 2022 they have Strotman on the rise (again, pitch him a few games in September). Balazovic and Duran are on the horizon, but for how many innings. Is Colina a starter or bullpen arm. They elevated Bryan Sammons to AAA to see what he can do as he is Rule 5 eligible and a lefty. Winder is a prospect on the rise. From AA they have Sands (Rule 5 eligible), the recovering Enlow, Simeon, and due for AA ball to start 2022 Canterino. Yes, they need a free agent ace, and another good innings eater. Pineda is a choice? Well the good news is no one kicked in the door to obtain him at the trading deadline, so his stock may have fallen. Cheap is a happy word in front office land. On a side note, on a post about Twins finding too many band-aids for their rotation, I did a quick look at 20 years of top of the rotation (innings) starters, and the 50+ games names of bullpen arms. You gotta love the memories of the name, but you see the same mistakes made over and over and that the Twins develop arms, but since Santana - no to Supermen. We just aren't getting innings, from developed pitcher or high-end rentals. Motivated me to look back at 20 years of Twins pitching. 2020: Berrios (53), Dobnak (45), Maeda (66), Hill (38) and our main arms in the pen: Clippard, Duffey, May, Romo, Rogers and Wisler squeaks in. Before this, let's look at 100+ inning for starters and 50+ games for bullpen. 2019: Berrios (200), Gibson (160), Perez (165), Odorizzi (159), Pineda (146). Bullpen: Duffey, Harper, Rogers, May. 2018: Berrios (192), Gibson (196), Lynn (102), Odorizzi (164). Bullpen: Rogers, Pressly, Addison Reed, Hildenberger. 34 pitchers used in the season. 2017: Berrios (145), Gibson (158), E. Santana (211). Bullpen: Belisle, Duffey, Pressly, Rogers. Team high 36 pitchers on the club that year 2016: Duffey (133), Gibson (147), Nolasco (124), E. Santana (181). Bullpen: Kintzler, Tonkin, Rogers, Pressly. 2015: Gibson (194), Hughes (155), May (114), Milone (126), Pelfrey (164), E. Santana (108). Bullpen: Boyer, Duensing, Fien, Perkins. 2014: Correia (129), Gibson (179), Hughes (209), Milone (118), Nolasco (159). Bullpen: Burton, Fien, Duensing, Perkins, Swarzak, Thielbar. 2013: Correia (185), Deduno (108), Diamond (131). Pelfrey (156). Bullpen: Burton, Fien, Duensing, Roenicke, Thielbar in at 49. 2012: Diamond (173), Liriano (100), Blackburn (98). Swarzak and Duensing (109) both started and relieved. Bullpen: Bennett, Burton, Perkins. A season that might rival 2021...25 arms used of little memory. 2011: Baker (134), Blackburn (148), Duensing (161), Liriano (134), Swarzak (102), Pavano (222). Bullpen: Perkins, Capps, Burnett, Mijares. 2010: Baker (175), Blackburn (161), Liriano (191), Pavano (222), Slowey (155). Bullpen: Crain, Duensing, Guerrier, Rauch. 2009: Baker (200), Blackburn (205), Liriano (136). Bullpen: Crain, Guerrier, Mijares, Nathan. 2008: Baker (172), Blackburn (193), Bonser (118), Perkins (151), Slowey (160), Hernandez (139). Bullpen: Crain, Guerrier, Nathan, Reyes. 2007: Baker (143), Silva (202), Santana (219). Bullpen: Guerrier, Nathan, Neshek, Reyes, Rincon. 2006: Bonser (100), Liriano (121), Radke (152), Santana (233), SIlva (184). Bullpen: Crain, Nathan, Reyes, Rincon. 2005: Lohse (178), Mays (156), Radke (200), Santana (231), Silva (188). Bullpen: Crain, Nathan, Rincon, Romero. 2004: Lohse (194), Silva (203), Mulholland (123), Radke (219), Santana (228). Bullpen: Fultz, Rincon, Nathan, Romero. 2003: Lohse (201), Mays (130), Radke (212), Reed (135), Rogers (195), Santana (158). Bullpen: Guardado, Hawkins, RIncon, Romero. 2002: Lohse (180), Radke (118), Milton (171), Reed (188), Santana (108). Bullpen: Guardado, Hawkins, Jackson, Romero. 2001: Milton (233), Radke (226), Mays (233). Bullpen: Carrasco, Guardado, Wells. 2000: Mays (160), Milton (200), Radke (226), Redman (151). Bullpen: Guardado, Hawkins, Carrasco, Wells, Travis Miller. The days of pitchers hitting 200+ innings seems a far reach, let alone have a rotation that can each pitch 100+ innings (can't wait to see 2021 breakdowns). One more call up and the Twins break the record of number of pitchers used in a season. Hard to think about the early days when the whole season was handled by 1965 (15), 1967 (12), 1968 (14), 1969 (15), 1970 (13), 1971 (14), 1972 (16) pitchers. I guess people didn't get injured, and I also believe was the era of 4-man rotations, and a total staff of 9. Plus the closer pitched multiple innings. And, as Bert will tell us, more complete games!

Dusten Knight advances to Orioles as September callup. He was a 2018 Rule 5 pick by the Twins from the Giants. Was released after 7 pitching games at AA ball.

Taylor Motter signed by Red Sox, possible infield depth while Rd Sox recover from COVID.

Missed it, Seth. Ober was the key. The lone effective starter on the staff who, sadly, only pitches five innings and usually doesn't get the decision. The off-season will be interesting. Names that the Twins have designated, yet went unclaimed. Should the Twins still do the same and hope they can woo guys back with minor league contracts (maybe do it now, like Tampa Bay did with Slegers). Pay Minaya, Garza, Thielbar, Coulombe, Hamilton, Gibaut bigger contracts to maybe end up at St. Paul - much better than 40-man roster money. Of course, they could be grabbed in the Rule 5. But like the decision that COULD be made on Dobank (depending on how he pitches), teams would rather pass than pay. One inning can kill a bullpen arm (like if Duffey didn't strike out three guys, that bases-loaded by Minaya could've been three runs easily). Since our rottion is now Ober, Jax, Ryan and pray for rain, the bullpen looks interesting. Rogers, Duffey, Alcala. Thielbar, Coulombe, Minaya, Garza, Gibaut, Gant, Farrell are all still in play. But, really, could you live with names like Moran, Cano, Mason in place of any of the minor free agents signed? Gonna be some tough questions, and hope the Twins don't get pillaged in the Rule 5 or minor league free agent marketplace Amazingly, we aren't talking about people like Thorpe, Smeltzer in the future of the Twins. Let alone Colina. Interesting note: the Twins could've advanced Duran to the major league roster to clear up a 40-man space by then putting him on the 60-day for September, but didn't.

I think Trey is eligible to be a minor league free agent. The 2020 non-season kept him back in the organization, but also prevented him from being grabbed in the Rule 5. He blossomed this year, so I wonder if the Twins will take a flyer on him to add to the 40-man. Truth be told, he should move up to St. Paul for the month and Miranda to the Twins.

Motivated me to look back at 20 years of Twins pitching. 2020: Berrios (53), Dobnak (45), Maeda (66), Hill (38) and our main arms in the pen: Clippard, Duffey, May, Romo, Rogers and Wisler squeaks in. Before this, let's look at 100+ inning for starters and 50+ games for bullpen. 2019: Berrios (200), Gibson (160), Perez (165), Odorizzi (159), Pineda (146). Bullpen: Duffey, Harper, Rogers, May. 2018: Berrios (192), Gibson (196), Lynn (102), Odorizzi (164). Bullpen: Rogers, Pressly, Addison Reed, Hildenberger. 34 pitchers used in the season. 2017: Berrios (145), Gibson (158), E. Santana (211). Bullpen: Belisle, Duffey, Pressly, Rogers. Team high 36 pitchers on the club that year 2016: Duffey (133), Gibson (147), Nolasco (124), E. Santana (181). Bullpen: Kintzler, Tonkin, Rogers, Pressly. 2015: Gibson (194), Hughes (155), May (114), Milone (126), Pelfrey (164), E. Santana (108). Bullpen: Boyer, Duensing, Fien, Perkins. 2014: Correia (129), Gibson (179), Hughes (209), Milone (118), Nolasco (159). Bullpen: Burton, Fien, Duensing, Perkins, Swarzak, Thielbar. 2013: Correia (185), Deduno (108), Diamond (131). Pelfrey (156). Bullpen: Burton, Fien, Duensing, Roenicke, Thielbar in at 49. 2012: Diamond (173), Liriano (100), Blackburn (98). Swarzak and Duensing (109) both started and relieved. Bullpen: Bennett, Burton, Perkins. A season that might rival 2021...25 arms used of little memory. 2011: Baker (134), Blackburn (148), Duensing (161), Liriano (134), Swarzak (102), Pavano (222). Bullpen: Perkins, Capps, Burnett, Mijares. 2010: Baker (175), Blackburn (161), Liriano (191), Pavano (222), Slowey (155). Bullpen: Crain, Duensing, Guerrier, Rauch. 2009: Baker (200), Blackburn (205), Liriano (136). Bullpen: Crain, Guerrier, Mijares, Nathan. 2008: Baker (172), Blackburn (193), Bonser (118), Perkins (151), Slowey (160), Hernandez (139). Bullpen: Crain, Guerrier, Nathan, Reyes. 2007: Baker (143), Silva (202), Santana (219). Bullpen: Guerrier, Nathan, Neshek, Reyes, Rincon. 2006: Bonser (100), Liriano (121), Radke (152), Santana (233), SIlva (184). Bullpen: Crain, Nathan, Reyes, Rincon. 2005: Lohse (178), Mays (156), Radke (200), Santana (231), Silva (188). Bullpen: Crain, Nathan, Rincon, Romero. 2004: Lohse (194), Silva (203), Mulholland (123), Radke (219), Santana (228). Bullpen: Fultz, Rincon, Nathan, Romero. 2003: Lohse (201), Mays (130), Radke (212), Reed (135), Rogers (195), Santana (158). Bullpen: Guardado, Hawkins, RIncon, Romero. 2002: Lohse (180), Radke (118), Milton (171), Reed (188), Santana (108). Bullpen: Guardado, Hawkins, Jackson, Romero. 2001: Milton (233), Radke (226), Mays (233). Bullpen: Carrasco, Guardado, Wells. 2000: Mays (160), Milton (200), Radke (226), Redman (151). Bullpen: Guardado, Hawkins, Carrasco, Wells, Travis Miller. The days of pitchers hitting 200+ innings seems a far reach, let alone have a rotation that can each pitch 100+ innings (can't wait to see 2021 breakdowns). One more call up and the Twins break the record of number of pitchers used in a season. Hard to think about the early days when the whole season was handled by 1965 (15), 1967 (12), 1968 (14), 1969 (15), 1970 (13), 1971 (14), 1972 (16) pitchers. I guess people didn't get injured, and I also believe was the era of 4-man rotations, and a total staff of 9. Plus the closer pitched multiple innings. And, as Bert will tell us, more complete games!