The Rays are in town with our old friend Nelly Cruz. Not having him in the offense anymore makes me sad so I don't want to talk about the Twins offense today. The Rays are known for being one of the most creative teams and finding a way to get the most out of their pitchers by using them in unique ways. Or ending their season by pulling Blake Snell too early in the World Series. Either way. But, in honor of the Rays, I decided to get creative with the Twins 2022 pitching staff. Here's my idea:

"Full" Starters: Kenta Maeda, FA1, FA2

"Half" Starters: Bailey Ober, Randy Dobnak, Griffin Jax, Prospect1

"Big 3" Relievers: Taylor Rogers, FA1, FA2

Mid Relievers: Jorge Alcala, Cody Stashak, Caleb Thielbar

The Full starters get all the innings they can handle. Getting through 6 is the goal, though. Then after them you turn it over to your Big 3 relievers. So the Big 3 get a day off after most all their appearances (no more Rogers getting blasted on the 2nd night of back to backs).

Half starters split games. One guy is set for the first 5 innings. If he isn't able to make it through that the Mid relievers finish off the first 5 innings. The second Half starter takes over in the 6th. They never come in earlier than that as they will need to go through their whole pre-start routine so knowing which inning they're starting allows them to do that better. If they can't finish the last 4 innings they can use any of the relievers depending on recent usage.

Opening day would go to Maeda, followed by a half starter day, FA2, half starter day, FA3, original half starter pair, Maeda, and so on. This gives Full starters an extra days rest. The Half starter pairings would switch back and forth in who gets the first 5. Example: Ober starts game 2, gets through 5, Dobnak gets through 3. Game 6 is started by Dobnak with Ober getting the 6th on. Since this takes away a day between games for the half starters you switch back and forth between who's asked to get the 5 innings. I don't think anyone's arm will fall off if they go through 5 every 4 days, but why not give the chance for a little extra rest? And relievers can be used a little more during the dog days to give a little more support as well.

If/when one of the Full starters gets hurt, or is ineffective, the guy performing best as a Half starter takes their place and the next prospect up takes their spot in the Half starter role. As for who to sign as FAs, I want 50M or so to go to those 4 spots this offseason. Definitely bigger swings than Happ and Shoemaker types. I'm good with a Pineda type (or Pineda himself) for 1 starter, but want the other to be a bigger name than that. And I want 2 bigger names relievers. But specific players is another talk for another day. 

So that's my plan for the 2022 Twins pitching. And here are the lineups for today:

Starters:
Rays: Michael Wacha (2-3, 5.49 ERA)
Twins: Kenta Maeda (5-4, 4.69 ERA)

Lineups:
Rays: 
Brandon Lowe, 2B
Austin Meadows, LF
Nelson Cruz, DH
Ji-Man Choi, 1B
Wander Franco, SS
Randy Arozarena, RF
Joey Wendle, 3B
Kevin Kiermaier, CF
Francisco Mejia, C

Twins: 
Max Kepler, RF
Brent Rooker, LF
Jorge Polanco, 2B
Josh Donaldson, DH
Luis Arraez, 3B
Mitch Garver, C
Miguel Sano, 1B
Rob Refsnyder, CF
Andrelton Simmons, SS

Made it to Wichita today on my road trip from Texas to Minnesota. The Wind Surge stadium looks pretty cool. Too bad they’re on the road tonight, I could have been the Twins Daily on site reporter! 

Why was Arraez hugging Choi?

Brent “the glove” Rooker. 

4-0 lead? Cool!

Arraez hits a long over due dinger after Donaldson singles, sweet.

No worries about offense tonight, 2 dingers already.

Good game so far tonight ... let's keep it up  

7-0 and counting.

 

And i am not at the moment appreciating media.

 

Are we getting lots of guest appearances from 1991?

1 minute ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

Are we getting lots of guest appearances from 1991?

yes. well ... lots ... there was Aggie and Tapani ... was there another?

1 hour ago, Squirrel said:

Why was Arraez hugging Choi?

Did they ever say?

Just now, Rick Blaine said:

Did they ever say?

I didn't hear ... should have switched to the Tampa feed but wasn't quick enough

6 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

yes

I will regret missing the tales, right.

Sano just eked out that double ... 

I have one question:

Where the **** was this team in April and May?

Bremer learning some old school phrases from Kaat.  Like 'put a little hair on it'.

13 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

I have one question:

Where the **** was this team in April and May?

Um ... some were out sick ... do we really need to rehash that?

What  is the reason for Buxton to be away from the club?

1 minute ago, RickOShea said:

What  is the reason for Buxton to be away from the club?

What do you mean? Why isn't he sitting on the bench during games while he's recovering/rehabbing?

4 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

What do you mean? Why isn't he sitting on the bench during games while he's recovering/rehabbing?

No, I caught the back end of a comment by bremer that he had some personal business to attend to, before attending.

4 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

What do you mean? Why isn't he sitting on the bench during games while he's recovering/rehabbing?

 

Just now, RickOShea said:

No, I caught the back end of a comment by bremer that he had some personal business to attend to, before attending.

 

ah ... I'm only half listening ... per my usual game is on, but I'm not sitting right there so I miss some stuff here and there

I do like the score so far ... but ... nothing is a foregone conclusion as it ain't over 'til it's over ... 

6 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

What  is the reason for Buxton to be away from the club?

OF Byron Buxton (left hand fracture)
Expected return: Mid to late August
Buxton successfully completed three straight days of pregame hitting, fielding and baserunning with his teammates at Target Field from Aug. 9-11. Following several additional days of work, he left the team to attend to some family matters on Aug. 14, with the expectation that he'll return on Aug. 16. The club hopes to determine his next steps on Aug. 17, with the expectation that Buxton will be close to beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul.

"I think the best thing for him is to go out and play," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "We don't have all of that mapped out at this point. We won't until he returns." (Last updated: Aug. 14)

 

Just now, mnfireman said:

OF Byron Buxton (left hand fracture)
Expected return: Mid to late August
Buxton successfully completed three straight days of pregame hitting, fielding and baserunning with his teammates at Target Field from Aug. 9-11. Following several additional days of work, he left the team to attend to some family matters on Aug. 14, with the expectation that he'll return on Aug. 16. The club hopes to determine his next steps on Aug. 17, with the expectation that Buxton will be close to beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul.

"I think the best thing for him is to go out and play," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "We don't have all of that mapped out at this point. We won't until he returns." (Last updated: Aug. 14)

 

Thanks for all that ... now ... could you tell me why Arraez was hugging Choi when he got on base in the 1st inning?  

1 minute ago, mnfireman said:

OF Byron Buxton (left hand fracture)
Expected return: Mid to late August
Buxton successfully completed three straight days of pregame hitting, fielding and baserunning with his teammates at Target Field from Aug. 9-11. Following several additional days of work, he left the team to attend to some family matters on Aug. 14, with the expectation that he'll return on Aug. 16. The club hopes to determine his next steps on Aug. 17, with the expectation that Buxton will be close to beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul.

"I think the best thing for him is to go out and play," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "We don't have all of that mapped out at this point. We won't until he returns." (Last updated: Aug. 14)

 

Thanks.............appreciate it.

5 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

Thanks for all that ... now ... could you tell me why Arraez was hugging Choi when he got on base in the 1st inning?  

Why would Rocco bring cave in for Rooker?   Rooker, a rookie who's got enough at bats, or Rooker, who has a homer in today's game has used up his quota?

4 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Rooker, a rookie who's got enough at bats, or Rooker, who has a homer in today's game has used up his quota?

I’d definitely call for Rooker in that situation. 

9 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Why would Rocco bring cave in for Rooker?   Rooker, a rookie who's got enough at bats, or Rooker, who has a homer in today's game has used up his quota?

He's replaced several in the lineup ... my guess is, in a blowout like this, he's just getting people into the game?

Even if the Twins lose tomorrow they will have a winning record in the last ten games against all three division leaders in the AL