Minnesota Twins Talk

Long time listener, first time caller. I thought I would share my pod interview with Nick Puntober on The Moonlight Graham Show. He was awesome all around but I think my favorite part was when he talked about getting hurt in 2004 when Mauer blew out his knee. They were sent down to florida to rehab. They sat on Mauer's couch and watched twins games every night and listened to rap music together. "Joe Mauer's rap game is solid." https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-moonlight-graham-show/e/51678602?autoplay=true

I don't think it was as catastrophic as some, but Granite stepping over first base last night was absolutely confounding to me. Think of all the times a ballplayer has run a ball out. Played ball when I was younger, then some town ball, then finally came to grips with the fact I could no longer catch up to a fastball, and finished up playing slow-pitch. I'm not sure my brain would allow me to over-step first base even if I tried. That's a whole lotta muscle-memory to re-direct. Interesting quote from Granite in Phil & LaVelle's story in the Strib: “I felt his momentum was taking [Kahnle] through the bag, and I was afraid I was going to step on h…

Darren Wolfon suggested that Sano may be dealing with a more serious injury than was let on, and could require surgery to correct it. Not sure what kind of surgery you could even do for a stress fracture on a shin, but either way that doesn't bode well for his offseason and preparation for 2018. Yet another one for the Minnesota Mystery Injuries medical textbooks. @DWolfsonKSTP "Don't be surprised to hear that #MNTwins 3B Miguel Sano will need some sort of surgery. He's in a lot more pain than many of us realized."

So, just looking around the league a quick bit. Would a package of, say, Gordon (top 30 on most prospect lists) and Gonsalves/Romero (top 100 on most prospect lists) + 2 top 20 system prospects (Wade? Littel?) be enough for any of these guys? These guys had good seasons on teams that should probably rebuild - Mets Jacob DeGrom - 3 years left - 30 years old next year. NL pitcher who has topped 200 just once (this year). 5 WAR pitcher last year. Phillies Aaron Nola - 4 years left - 25 next year - NL pitcher - 168ip is max so far. 4 WAR pitcher last year. Some injury history. Pirates Gerrit Cole - 2 years left - 27 next year - NL pitcher - 200ip twice - 3 WAR guy last year…

I would like to hear from everyone on what if the Twins don't bring back Molitor and the Coaching staff who would they bring in to manage and coach the team. If they do bring back Molitor what changes to the coaching staff would you make. How to fix the Bullpen and rotation and how the lineup would look like next year with either trades or Free agents.

Okay, Falvine moved on Mientkiewicz quickly so he can 'position himself to get another gig' for next season, right? Same should hold true for Molitor, right? As if they haven't left him hanging in the breeze long enough. Decision has to come quickly, right? What if the guy they have in mind is on the Indians' staff or some other team still in the playoffs? Do they just announce Molitor won't be back, and wait for the playoffs to end to name his replacement?

Joe's numbers are bad this year. There's no sugar coating it. But, as a true believer, I always find ways to believe in Joe. Here's 2017's version. Joe's hitting more fly balls. This is one of the first stats to stabilize (no complaints about small sample sizes). This is very good if they aren't pop-ups. Right now, he's hitting 36.5% ground balls - his career rate is 50%. nearly 42% of his hits are fly balls. Joe's hitting the ball hard. His hard hit percentage is at 36.5%. Career is at 33.3%. His average exit velocity ain't Sano's, but it is 89.9 mph - good for 60th in the league. Joe's insane plate discipline is insaner. He's swinging at 19% of pitches out of zone…

After watching the game tonight who can argue that we were even in the same class as either of these teams. Better pitching and more pitching and more pitching. We might have 3 pitchers that would even be on the rosters of the Yanks or Indians. We just didnt have the depth to compete. Next year maybe with May coming back, a front line starter addition and a bullpen overhaul we can be in the running. Position players on the other hand we can compete. Our Twins had a remarkable year and the young guns made great progress but the next step to the upper tier wont be easy.

We're heading into the dead of winter. Where we'll discuss if x pitcher is worth the price, if the Twins should sign a rock star SP, or build an elite bullpen. Some aren't afraid to open the checkbook for relievers. Others believe RP is unpredictable and prefer to go 1 year, low risk signings. Let's take a look at the MLB playoff teams this year, and how much they spend on their bullpens: These numbers come from spotrac.com LA Dodgers: $30.29 MM -- 11.62% of total payroll -- MLB rank 6 Arizona: $8.48 MM -- 7.14% of total payroll -- MLB rank 23 Colorado: $23.3 MM -- 16.68% of total payroll -- MLB rank 10 Chicago: $33.18 MM -- 18.19% of total payroll -- MLB rank 4 Washi…

Wow, short list! Fernando Abad (32)----not all that good/interesting Antonio Bastardo (32)----not all that good/interesting Jerry Blevins (34) — $7MM club option with a $1MM buyout----if he's not worth $7MM, he's not worth singing Craig Breslow (37)----uh, no. Brian Duensing (35)----un, no Zach Duke (35)----good every other year! but old. Boone Logan (33) — $7MM club option with a $1MM buyout----if he's not worth $7MM, he's not worth singing Jake McGee (31)----I'd certainly sign this one. Mike Minor (30) — $10MM mutual option with a $1.5MM buyout----I'd certainly sign this one. Eric O’Flaherty (33)----uh, no Oliver Perez (36)---uh, no Glen Perkins (35) — $6.5MM club opt…

I think it was reasonable to assume much improvement this year but I'm thrilled by what Buxton and Rosario did. This offense with a healthy Sano is easily a division challenger. I'm not sure what the 2018 forecast is for Gonsalves or Romero but improved pitching will be necessary. I would imagine the Twins will add a middle of the rotation starter in FA with Santiago's 8 million expiring. Perhaps some BP depth as well.

This signing was lauded by a lot this off season, but at this point it looks like a disaster that we are going to be stuck with for another 2 years. My issue wasn't signing him, as much as it was giving him 3 years. Not much of a hitter. No arm. Lots and lots of passed balls. I'm no expert on pitch framing, but last I checked the Twins staff wasn't exactly leading the league in strike outs as well. All of that is to say: At this point you look to unload him in the offseason, right? Go with Ramos even!

Here is the official roster for the Twins in the AL Wild Card game tonight...

Hey, I enjoyed chatting with you guys this past winter. I don't think too many of you saw the Twins here when we were discussing the Dozier-Deleon non-deal. I'm sure everyone who isn't a Yankee fan is rooting for the Twins tonight. Good luck!! A return to 1965 would be fun in October.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=araU0fZj6oQ And good god almighty it feels great to be back! I really think the tables are turned from the prior Yankee/Twins playoff games. They are now the team tossing the young bucks and we have a veteran at the helm. Throw out the stats, it's playoff baseball baby! GO TWINS

ENJOY! GET PUMPED!!!1! https://twitter.com/MvPuntoRipByTO/status/915255968119902209

I will say, here and now, that if Molitor orders a sac bunt in the first three innings of the game tonight, I'm gonna ****ing explode.

Aside from the first team to go from 100 losses to the playoffs (sort of), they may also be the first team to fire a manager just before that manager wins manager of the year. Maybe Molitor can turn the Tigers around.

Let's not forget how good the Twins have been without him. Next man up!

I know, I know, the narrative is supposed to be "Surprising Twins become first team to lose 100 wins and make the playoffs" - followed by "Damn Yankees. Twins season still a huge success, despite losing (again) to NY" Instead, since journalistic excellence requires folks to go back and try and figure out how they didn't see this coming, lets talk about what the narrative will be once the Twins hoist the trophy (and not one of the "participation" variety). Without further ado, I present to you the 5 reasons we should have seen this coming: Since Oct 5th, the Twins lead the MLB in runs The outfield defense is anchored by the best fielder in baseball, who himself is b…

Best Minnesota trip in a long time for me, Vikes win, and Twins win (both big time!) in the midst of tonight's ass kicking started talking with the old man about "remember this guy who played for the Twins?" Fun game. In honor, let's start a "remember that guy" thread for the Twins: Rules: -Name a guy who played for the Twins, no duplicates, let's see how far we can go. -No hall of famers, all stars, retired numbers or legends. That's too easy. I will start with two: Juan Castro Shane Mack Now go! Let's see how far we can get without a duplicate. If you want bonus points, list a stat, fact, memory, moment or anything you find on Wikipedia about the guy.

Very real chance that Perkins pitched his last game tonight, not just for the Twins but in pro baseball. Class act, all the way,one of my favorite Twins players and one of the best closers in a franchise that has had a lot of good ones. It shows a lot of guts, drive and heart for him to work his way back this year, even if the results were less than stellar, I have to think him being even in the pen had to have been a great thing for a bullpen full of youngsters. Started as a starter, and turned into an elite closer for many years, always great with the fans and always seemed to give it his all. Thanks for the memories and thanks for always battling your tail off …

I haven't decided if I'm going to lock myself in my house or watch at a bar somewhere in Minneapolis. What's everyone thinking?

I didn't see one, so I figured I would start a thread for those of us going to the game in New York on Tuesday-- should that game take place there. Let me know if you are going-- and if you have any interest in grabbing a beer near the stadium beforehand. Perhaps the TwinsDaily moderators would want to do some sort of informal gathering? GO TWINS!! #WEREGONNA

Assuming today's game isn't the second coming of Game 7 (and if Bartolo hurls ten shutout innings, oh boy) what has been the best or most memorable game of the 2017 regular season? The back-to-back walkoffs and the Dozier home run in Cleveland were great but I think the best and most exciting game may have been a game we lost. It was the day after the Twins scored 17 against KC when the blown call on the check swing cost the Twins the game and Cain proceeded to hit a lead taking triple.

I know some on these threads have never wanted Colon to throw a pitch for the Twins. I get that he took 15 starts that could have gone to young guys, but I don’t think we can overlook the significant contribution of Big Sexy, particularly if we look at it contextually. After his first Twins game, which amounted to his tuneup, Bart went on a nine-game run in which he threw 57.2 innings with an ERA of 3.59. He was 4-2 on a team that 5-4 in those 9 games, all of which were Quality Starts or very close to it. To have a stretch with that level of effectiveness from your No. 5 starter is significant. And while it didn’t have the drama of the later walkoff games, one could a…

1915 Senators 85-68-2, 4th place, 17 GB Best Player: Walter Johnson, 11.2 bWAR. This was a down year for him. Cough. 17.6 bWAR hitters, 27.5 bWAR pitchers 1927 Senators 85-69-3, 3rd place, 25 GB Best Player: Goose Goslin, 5.3 bWAR. 23.2 bWAR hitters, 15.6 bWAR pitchers 1976 Twins 85-77, 3rd place, 5 GB Best Player: Rod Carew, 6.8 bWAR 30.0 bWAR hitters, 6.8 bWAR pitchers 1987 Twins 85-77, 1st place, WS champions Best Player: Frank Viola, 8.1 bWAR 18.1 bWAR hitters, 13.0 bWAR pitchers 2001 Twins 85-77, 2nd place, 6 GB Best Player: Joe Mays, 8.6 bWAR 26.2 bWAR hitters, 15.2 bWAR pitchers 2017 Twins 85-77, 2nd place, 17 GB, First franchise Wild Card playoff berth Be…

Twins on pace to win 162 games this season. Twins team ERA on pace to be 1.0 Sano on pace to hit 162 home runs. Santana on pace to have the luckiest season of his career. Oh, and the Twins have the best record in baseball.

One of the things I do after every season is plug in the final standings using divison settings from the pre-wildcard era divisions to see if pennant races were hurt or helped by the wildcard. Since the new format came along the Twins would have won the AL West four times (2004 in a play-in game vs Anaheim), 2006, 2010.... and this season (note: Houston still plays in the NL West). We would be set to square off against Cleveland in the ALCS.

I didn't want to start this thread until the Twins clinched the postseason. Well it's happened! There are four games remaining and the Twins can prepare for their playoff game, most likely against the Yankees. In the last week, I've pondered over who should be named the Twins MVP for 2017. At the All-Star break, I'm sure the consensus pick would have been Miguel Sanó and now I don't think he's even in the top five. There are easily five or more candidates for Twins MVP for the season. I'll list a bunch of them with a short case for the honor. Alphabetically here are my candidates: 1) Byron Buxton--He leads the club in bWAR, mostly because of elite defense. After a…