Grain Belt beer tweeted out last week that Dan Barreiro and Lavelle Neal were discussing nicknames for the team on KFAN. One was the The Grain Belters. Coincidence?

 

Either a coincidence or LaVelle & Dan read Twins Daily! Very cool.

 

Whatever we're calling them, they're sure as heck fun to watch and have been the entire year. 9 game lead, wow!

 

 

double digits by the end of May seems rather likely at the moment. 

 

I would love to see this wrapped up by the end of June so we can use the trade deadline as a way to stock for the playoffs as opposed to acquiring players to help us get there.

Someone came up with "Tater Trot Hot Dish."

 

Like it.

I will only approve “The Grain Belters” or the “Tater Trotters”.

 

Nothing Else

double digits by the end of May seems rather likely at the moment.

 

I would love to see this wrapped up by the end of June so we can use the trade deadline as a way to stock for the playoffs as opposed to acquiring players to help us get there.

I’m making the prediction and predicting with 90% accuracy that Indians are selling at the deadline.

I’m making the prediction and predicting with 90% accuracy that Indians are selling at the deadline.

I bet they regret not trading Kluber last winter knowing what we know so far.

Gibby did a good job. His first inning was a lot like Berrios' on Friday, needing to work from the stretch right away, and he was working kind of methodical/slow. After a couple of innings he and Tortuga just meshed and cruised.

Couple more starts like this and it will be time to get Gibby extended for another 3 years.  When that's done, get to work on Odorizzi.  

Gibson, healthy, is a very good pitcher....

 

They have 4 games at Tampa Bay at the end of the month that should test them. They may not have Sale or Verlander, but their pitching has been pretty good all year.

Snell is pretty close these days.

Sounds like you read my blog post about the twins' 2009 draft!

I'm not sure why so many people are eager to move on from Adrianza, he checks off all the boxes for the role of utility infielder.

1-Be able to sit around for several days without showing rust when finally getting playing time..Check

2- Be above average defensively at the middle infield positions..check

3-Give competitive at bats when given playing time..check

Add to that the fact that he doesn't seem overwhelmed against very good pitchers. You don't need your utility guy to OPS over 800, you just need him to do exactly what Adrianza has done all year. 

That being said, I really like Arreaz and I've enjoyed watching him play. Its fun to watch the organization give the opportunity to an actual prospect as opposed to a minor league journeyman. 

 

I will only approve “The Grain Belters” or the “Tater Trotters”.

Nothing Else

How about The Minnesota Twins Lumber Company

 

I bet they regret not trading Kluber last winter knowing what we know so far.

 

They made enough moves and didn't make enough moves to strongly suggest that they were trying to move Kluber and Bauer and probably others. They basically walked into the shallow end of the pool during the off-season. They are already wet. They might as well submerge.  

 

From my couch, from the sideline with binoculars and a couple of pine trees blocking my view... just like the rest of us mere mortals. It looks to me like they would have traded Kluber but nobody met the ask is my guess. 

 

I believe the Indians are trying to avoid paying the club option on Kluber next year and the Arb dollars  that Bauer will get.  If they move now they should get a larger haul of prospects back in return to kick start what is sure to be a rebuild. 

 

I think they will move Kluber, Bauer for sure at the deadline. I think they will probably move Brad Hand.

 

They will also try to move Kipnis or Santana if anybody wants them (Nobody Does). 

 

They will probably keep Ramirez and Lindor but this might be a full scale rebuild. They will probably want to extend Lindor but If they can't lengthen Lindor's stay in Cleveland with a longer contract he will become a free agent while the club is rebuilding. 

 

In other words... why would Lindor sign an extension when the team isn't trying to improve right now and self inflicting damage for the future. Especially if they trade Kluber and Bauer. If he doesn't extend... or at least indicate willingness to extend... why would Cleveland watch him walk as a free agent, getting nothing in return, in the middle of a rebuild, when they would love the prospects he would bring back via trade. 

 

So Yeah... Might as well move Lindor and then... why not Ramirez. 

 

The Twins window in the A.L. Central is BIG. 

Twins still don't get much love from MLB.com.  Rarely an article on the front page.

They made enough moves and didn't make enough moves to strongly suggest that they were trying to move Kluber and Bauer and probably others. They basically walked into the shallow end of the pool during the off-season. They are already wet. They might as well submerge.

 

From my couch, from the sideline with binoculars and a couple of pine trees blocking my view... just like the rest of us mere mortals. It looks to me like they would have traded Kluber but nobody met the ask is my guess.

 

I believe the Indians are trying to avoid paying the club option on Kluber next year and the Arb dollars that Bauer will get. If they move now they should get a larger haul of prospects back in return to kick start what is sure to be a rebuild.

 

I think they will move Kluber, Bauer for sure at the deadline. I think they will probably move Brad Hand.

 

They will also try to move Kipnis or Santana if anybody wants them (Nobody Does).

 

They will probably keep Ramirez and Lindor but this might be a full scale rebuild. They will probably want to extend Lindor but If they can't lengthen Lindor's stay in Cleveland with a longer contract he will become a free agent while the club is rebuilding.

 

In other words... why would Lindor sign an extension when the team isn't trying to improve right now and self inflicting damage for the future. Especially if they trade Kluber and Bauer. If he doesn't extend... or at least indicate willingness to extend... why would Cleveland watch him walk as a free agent, getting nothing in return, in the middle of a rebuild, when they would love the prospects he would bring back via trade.

 

So Yeah... Might as well move Lindor and then... why not Ramirez.

 

The Twins window in the A.L. Central is BIG.

I'm pretty sure I remember reading Lindor has already made it known he won't sign an extension.

 

I believe they're operating under that as a given.

On WCCO just now:

 

Atteberry: Why do fans need to question if this is sustainable? Why can’t they just enjoy this?

 

Me: I’m pretty sure fans can do both those things at the same time.

 

Levine: Cruz, Garver have been out, Sano just returned, I don’t think this team has reached its true potential yet.

 

Me: ...

 

How about The Minnesota Twins Lumber Company

That was their advertising slogan during the 1977 season. Which proves it's a good name. But it's already been used.

 

I'm pretty sure I remember reading Lindor has already made it known he won't sign an extension.

I believe they're operating under that as a given.

 

Interesting 

 

Well if that's the case... Once you move Kluber and Bauer... You gotta move Lindor.

 

I'm sure they will pretend that Lindor is face of the franchise and tell all the GM's that they are keeping him... but that would make no sense to have Lindor standing next to a pile of remains as the face of the franchise. 

 

I'll guess:

Bauer to the Astros

Kluber to the Dodgers

Lindor to the Phillies (Segura to 2B) 

 

Hand to the TWINS!!!!

 

 

That was their advertising slogan during the 1977 season. Which proves it's a good name. But it's already been used.

Hey, if it was our slogan then, why can't it still be our slogan now?  Its not like we are stealing a nickname from the Brewers?

Edited May 26, 20197 yr by Kelly Vance

I’m making the prediction and predicting with 90% accuracy that Indians are selling at the deadline.

Your hawt taek stylings could use some work.

Your hawt taek stylings could use some work.

I gots lots of stuff that needs work.

How about The Minnesota Twins Lumber Company

I don’t approve.

When Kyle Gibson is pitching like this, he's basically your ace. He has always had that vexing slider that gets whiffs from righties and lefties. Now it looks like his whole repertoire has solidified, giving him command of all his pitches. It's beautiful to watch the man pursue his art. 

 

On the other hand, the Twins appear to have three other guys pitching like aces. Odorizzi's command looks razor sharp. Perez has a devastating cutter and a powerful fastball. Berrios has at least three whiff pitches, but his command of each one varies from day to day, even within one ballgame.

 

Coming off a prolonged absence, Pineda is lagging behind, but he has steadily improved, and appears to be rounding into form, chugging along with his low-zone cutters and sliders, pegging the low corners with his 92 mph heater and his baffling change. He's not flashing mid-90's heat (so far), but he's laying down quality starts without it. 

 

All in all, the Twins appear to have the best starting rotation in baseball. 

Edited May 26, 20197 yr by jimbo92107

When Kyle Gibson is pitching like this, he's basically your ace. He has always had that vexing slider that gets whiffs from righties and lefties. Now it looks like his whole repertoire has solidified, giving him command of all his pitches. It's beautiful to watch the man pursue his art. 

 

On the other hand, the Twins appear to have three other guys pitching like aces. Odorizzi's command looks razor sharp. Perez has a devastating cutter and a powerful fastball. Berrios has at least three whiff pitches, but his command of each one varies from day to day, even within one ballgame.

 

Coming off a prolonged absence, Pineda is lagging behind, but he has steadily improved, and appears to be rounding into form, chugging along with his low-zone cutters and sliders, pegging the low corners with his 92 mph heater and his baffling change. He's not flashing mid-90's heat (so far), but he's laying down quality starts without it. 

 

All in all, the Twins appear to have the best starting rotation in baseball.

 

Agree 100%.

 

Which is why I'm much more inclined to acquire bullpen help.

 

Unless you trade for a true, top of the order SP...and bump Pineda from the rotation...I just don't really see how you improve yourself. Depth? You don't just trade for a depth guy to sit in AAA and wait for an injury. You hope, if someone gets dinged, that Stewart, Thorpe, Litell, Smeltzer and hopefully Gonzsalves can fill in.

 

I've been singing the praises of the pen and their performance all season. And there is a reasonable chance that 1 or 2 of the "questionable" arms there are for real and will continue to do what they are doing. But long term and playoff time, could really use at least one more quality, proven guy.