nicksaviking

Sure, but he clearly wasn't the main return, nor supposed to replace Sonny Gray. I just get frustrated with Mussolini also kicked a dog arguments. Clearly the front office messed up with their 5th/6th starter choice, but based on their track record with those kinds of pitchers, that was pretty much a given the moment they made that choice. There are considerably worse sins they committed so this DeSclafani stuff just seems like piling on for the sake of piling on.

So many new rumors/theories going around about the Vikings draft. I've seen several new sites suggesting Justin Herbert might not be a completely bonkers idea. The Chargers would have to eat a lot of money, but with a new HC and GM, they'd be able to pass that off as part of a rebuild and the sins of the former regime. Still think it's unlikely, but Harbaugh is a wild card and he likes to do what he wants, critics be damned. I've also seen reports that the Vikings want to stay at 23. That doesn't seem to make sense on the surface if they want to trade up for a QB, but it got me thinking about how all the theories center around the Vikings trading up using a bunch of 1st round picks. Honestly though, as much as we fans love to play around with picks, AZ, LAC and NE would probably love to get #11 and Jordan Addison more than a late 1st rounder. Those teams are desperate for receivers. The Panthers made their move last year by including DJ Moore, and while he's currently a better WR, Addison has many more years of control and productivity. Pick 23 would be a prime spot for the Vikings to grab another young WR if that's a position they feel best about evaluating. And after two years, it's really the only position I feel at all comfortable about them evaluating. On the same train of thought, the Vikings brought in FIVE LBs in free agency. Many formations they'll only be putting two or three on the field at a time. Rarely will they have four out there as evidenced by the fact that the Vikings had three safeties on the field 94% of the time last year, probably will only do that for formations if/when Greenard is slotted into a DE spot. Ivan Pace has to have pretty decent trade value but I don't see him on the field nearly as much next year. I wonder if he could be a player that's substituted for a pick. Wouldn't be valued as a 1st obviously, but could be the compromise between a 1st and whatever pick the Vikings are more comfortable including.

Third piece at best. I doubt DeSclafani by himself would be able to fetch Topa and his three years of control in trade, let alone a top 100 prospect.

Logjam or no logjam, I'm pretty sure the idea (here, won't speak to ownership) of moving middle infielders wasn't to just dump excess quality players, it was to acquire a Sonny Gray replacement. I still don't care that Polanco is gone, I care that the rotation is significantly worse than last year.

So trade JJ for a top draft pick because they're more reliable than late picks? Those are no less guesses than guessing at QB. And on top of that JJ isn't a guess, he is pretty much the biggest sure thing in the entire league. Trading JJ for a guess at C or DL and then you have to find another WR too. That doesn't come close to adding up for me.

I disagree about JJ. The payroll shouldn't be a problem for the foreseeable future. Most of the bad contracts are gone and they'll be done paying for those sins after this year. Of all the free agents they signed this year, only Greenard has more than a minimal future burden. The ledger is about as clean as it's going to get. Getting a stud young QB and paying him rookie wages for four or five years will really open things up.

One outing in AAA this year. And he went 3 2/3 innings?!? I guess the Twins original plan to stretch him out into a starter was legit? Just nine years early.

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/kwesi-adofo-mensah-there-are-multiple-qbs-were-in-love-with-in-this-draft Crap, here we go: “So, as I talked about earlier, skill-set-wise, if you’re talking about the ability to overcome context — well, if the guy has less ability but we have assets to go get somebody who is not going to put him in that situation, those things add up, too." No, this is the one position you can't take the lesser talent to gamble on talent in other areas. You HAVE to get one of the guys you think can be amongst the best at the position. Getting an upgrade at DT or LB or whatever is NOT going to make up for having an average QB. Does he understand how good a defensive tackle has to be to drag a team to the Super Bowl? It seriously has to be like Aaron Donald. Who still had a HOF QB.

Yeah, they could, but if they wait until 23, it's possible they could miss out on all six QBs. If five are off the board by the time the Broncos and Raiders have picked at 12 and 13 so there's only one left with ten picks to go before the Vikings draft, they'll probably end up having to trade trade up anyway or risk getting none of them. And then they don't get to choose their QB, they get what the other teams stick them with. I don't want them to be like the Twins in free agency. Don't get cute trying to keep as much equity as possible and just accepting what's left available, get the guy you really want.

I'd like Daniels, but not sure if KOC would put his legs to as much use as they should. Still, he looks like a good enough passer that he'd still work in the offense. I'm seeing tons of reports that Maye is below McCarthy on lots of evaluators lists. Some people have him below Penix and Nix. I still think the Vikings have a deal in place, it's the only thing that makes sense with them trading for that extra 1st round pick so early, but it's really hard to get a read on who they really want.

Thankfully, it usually goes well for the Twins this year.

It was a good long con. Walk the catcher, don't get the ensuing double play, then get Betts, the faster runner on a force at 2nd, and finally nail Ohtani while he's distracted checking his Fanduel bets while he's rounding 3rd.

So like 1% of the posters? 95% consensus is rare around here. Seems unnecessary to call out.

Like Ali and the rope-a-dope? Julien has been sitting passively in the batters box just bidding his time, learning and waiting to unleash the fury when everyone thought he was cooked? Works for me.

Few things would make me happier than Julien forcing Baldelli to have to justify all of this ineffective platooning during his post game presser.

Yeah, I know. Wringing every dime from the free agents you sign is more important than getting the free agents you actually want.

Could have had Justin Turner had the Twins not dragged out the largely fruitless Polanco trade so long that he signed elsewhere. I hope this past offseason shows the front office the dangers of trying to make all of your moves in the last minutes before spring training starts.

Source? That just sounds like wild speculation.

Already did. Manuel Margot and his 33% K rate. I'll show myself out.

Yeah, the St. Paul bullpen is made up of a bunch of 30-year-olds this team obviously liked more this off season than they did Tonkin. Not sure I like the idea of putting a guy on the mound who would be their fifth, sixth or seventh choice just to just to avoid the slim risk of losing one of the first four emergency choices. I think at this point I'd use one of the guys I like the best instead of the guy I'm most comfortable losing.

They could have had Tonkin when they signed the dozen other relievers this offseason. I wonder why they're sticking him on the active roster over Castillo, Jensen, Blewett and Brigham?

Like always, most of the best relievers the Twins will pull from the minors are still starters.

I don't like that the whole team plays better with Lewis on the field. I mean, isn't that why the organization always claims they acquire guys like Santana, Margot and Vazquez? For that vague, intangible and incalculable thing that makes the young players up their game? Maybe stop getting those guys and just get guys who put up good numbers you CAN calculate on the field.

Taking all the pitches is surly not the hitting coaches idea, it's an organizational one. Not defending it.

Or