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Yes.

Look at the number of rbis Miranda already has. Compare his total with some of the teammates who have been on the Twins roster all season. Miranda is doing a great job of bringing home runners who get into scoring position. He was lucky with his first rbi today as his uniform was brushed by a pitch. Gordon set that rbi up by getting “hit” on a shoelace. I am super impressed by Miranda so far.

Bless the Detroit Tigers.

Guys are throwing way harder than ever, starters or relievers. That puts way, way more stress on arms. Guys are also pitching for strikeouts more than every, which also means walks are going to be up, which in turn raises pitch counts. We also have more data now than they ever had in the "golden years." Look at any pitcher back in the day and their numbers are very similar the deeper they get through the game (times through the order) that we are now. But now, we're able to justify that and have the numbers to back that up. Also, kids are now throwing more than ever at a younger age than ever. Elite young baseball players are putting innings on their arm year around from the age of 13+.

"If a man says something in a forest and there's no woman there to hear him, is he still wrong?" -Steven Wright

Leading off, Luis Arraez

I see this as the same thing as allowing paternity leave. It’s important to the player, and probably to the family. It costs the team a couple of games. They are humans. Treat them as such.

Ryan gave up a triple, then a single and a run, then got a couple outs ... and was about to face someone who was 2 for 2 against him ... while I get your angst about how the game has changed, in this case, I think pulling when he was pulled was the right decision. It's not always my choice in other games, but this game, and that's what this thread is about, I don't think the argument for not pulling him holds up as well.

I just checked on Baseball Reference and the average start in the major league this year is 5.2 innings. Joe Ryan went 5.67 innings last night so it was an above average length of start this year. My guess on why he was pulled was because the next batter was already 2 for 2 against him. Tight game. I also would have liked to see him go longer, but your comment about other teams having a different philosophy isn't backed up by the facts. There are a couple of teams that lead the way for longest starts and they are averaging 5.7 innings per start. That is a half inning longer than average, not much of a difference. You are complaining about a start where Ryan went essentially as deep into the game as an average start for the teams that lead the league in that stat.

This. Each season is an experience you don’t get back. Enjoy the current one and go from there. It’s kind of like having Correa. I know he is likely gone next year. I don’t care I’m just enjoying watching him play this year.

Good golly, they won, right?

He's playing in pain every day, and people want more. I hate people sometimes.

I get the argument that there is a too significant gap to close to contend against the Yankees and Astros. The argument follows that the Twins should not trade off the future chasing a dream that isn’t reasonably attained. I am not posting to debate that argument. I would argue there is significant value in pursuing the central division and winning a playoff series. I think that is attainable. To have a fighting chance they will need to add a starter at the top of the rotation and two back end relievers. The prospect cost will hurt particularly to get that starter (Winder, Larnach, Woods Richardson plus other marginal prospects?). A generation of fans have not seen a playoff series win and many haven’t seen a win in a playoff game. They need to see a playoff series win. It has to start there. Doesn’t it?

Quick review of Comerica: Really nice ballpark. Great sight lines, fairly close to the action. Minimal food options* in the ballpark proper, just endless repeats of the same few options, all blocking views from the concourses. Tough getting there, and leaving, but great built up area around the park for before/after. *Two really neat areas inside the park: a huge outdoor picnic area with a kid's ferris wheel behind HP with an actual working open pit BBQ that upgrades the food options by a million percent. There's also a kind of food court area with multiple good options and a merry go round. Best feature: the absute best seating I've ever seen, these are the last 10 rows or so of the lower bowl from 1st to 3rd. Spacious, comfy, table for every 2 seats, waiter service. Dunno what they cost, but from what I hear you can sneak into 1 by the 3rd inning or so.

This isn't the 60's-70's-80's anymore. Starters most often go 90-100 pitches and 6 innings now. You can scream at clouds all you want, but this is modern baseball. Relievers are better pitchers than they were then. I don't think it has anything to do with burnout, it's just a difference in strategy. A fresh bullpen arm generally is more effective than a starter later in ballgames.

Zero issue with Gray being pulled. He's a really good pitcher, but he's far from a workhorse. He's already been on the IL twice this year, and only threw 135 innings last year after a short 2020 (obviously). It is much more important to save Sonny for future starts than to push him to get 3 extra outs, especially in a 5 run game against a bad lineup.

The potential tying run was on deck, with Megill on the mound. I guess opinions on this can differ, but it felt unnecessarily close to me.

Dear Captain Obvious, What does an overpay look like? To quote Han Solo... "I don't know, i can imagine a lot." Sincerely, Corporal Confused

There’s absolutely value in winning a postseason series. Winning a series means more wins, which is literally the point of cheering on a sports team. If I didn’t care about watching wins and being entertained, why would I even care about a 162 game regular season?

Balazovic has really disappointed this season. Wonder what's going on there: is this residual injury, struggles to get back into form because of the injuries, inability to command a 3rd pitch, or a young pitcher getting his butt kicked at a higher level? He showed so much talent in the lower levels that it's hard to accept that he's gone to crap this way...but sometimes guys bust when they get to AAA. Really hoping he finds a way to get it together in the second half, but he's been bad all year. Steer is continuing to do a nice job in AAA. The power plays, he's showing good patience, and he's got to have raised his stock with more than just Twins fans. Wallner is struggling a little bit in AAA, but it's early yet and I'm encouraged that he's not just racking up a bazillion Ks as he adjusts to the new level.

Sano is due back. Unless he is traded he will be taking someone spot. My guess Garlick is sent down. I believe he has an option left. His performance is greatly exaggerated and over hyped. After all Sano can pinch hit and strike out too. Sano needs a new fresh start. Twins need a new fresh start without him. The worst thing would be for Sano coming back and taking playing time away from miranda, Arraez, or kirilloff. Please Twins move on from Sano.

And some of them demand more, not just want it.

Trading Correa shouldn’t even be a consideration.

Imo, most people would be happier if they enjoyed the journey, including winning a playoff series. The focus on the end.... leads to unhappiness.

Absolutely. You can't anything if you don't win a first series. I understand, we got no shot at winning it all. We didn't in 87 either. Yankees are on an all time pace and Astros are not far behind. Three of the four teams that have won 111 games in a season have NOT won the World Series. Get in and see what happens.

The value is the opportunity to win the next series.

So putting these badboys on the smoker before the game started was not a jinx (today).

"Spahn and Sain" (Ryan and Gray) this weekend: 11.2 IP, 170 pitches (112 for strikes), 6 H, 2 BB, 2 R (both earned), 14 K. 1.54 ERA, 10.8 K/9, 0.69 WHIP. And I'm sure the SABR folks here can add to this meaningfully.

If you don't push your starters every once in a while, they don't build their arms or build up their endurance. On the other hand, if your relievers are up and down warming up and pitching often, they tend to wear down their arms. Arm strength is unique for pitchers, and it usually dictates who make better starters than relievers.

One thing that went under the radar -- Sonny Gray has a fantastic outing with Gary Sanchez behind the dish. We know that Gray prefers to not work with Gary, but for the time being it looks likely that's going to be the more favorable option. Hopefully that battery can continue to gel.

Well, the tv guys, Perkins specifically, said Watkins was signaling to stop ("and Urshela blew right by Watkins), and the replay showed it. I'll go with what I saw.

There is value in winning any game at any time, period.

I think there is zero shot Garlick is shut down. Celestino doesn't hit and his CF defense isn't that much better than Gordon's. On the other hand, Garlick is one of the teams best 4 hitters vs LHP, and there are plenty of options to platoon him with.

He batted .348/.423/.826 in AAA - which is better than any other player this season including Garlick and Kirilloff. He needs to come up, if only to showcase him to other teams.

Twins offense showed up and we can hope the offense is the best in baseball going forward. The first game after the All Star game was a success and did show a need for Falvey to add a few pitchers via trades too. Ryan was fine and looked ready to exit. I am not always in agreement with the team strategies concerning pitchers but nobody should ever compare any Twin to Verlander. The Twins haven't had a pitcher capable of a decade of dominance since Blyleven. Johan was a miracle whose career merits massive praise but didn't last more than a decade. Verlander, Kershaw, Greinke, and Scherzer are special players. Ryan is having a terrific rookie season and I would suggest he has been handled well thus far.

You do know that Sano struck out 4 times on Friday night, right?

That's not the point. Do you hate yourself, as well? Or Is it your contention he should shut down for the year? That he should have quit playing in April? If not, the "pain" is irrelevant. It's beside the point. It exists. Either way. The point is the timing of the injection. He must have done it in order to be on the field more, correct? Then why delay it, which cost him at least 2 games? Not to mention, If he's "playing in pain every day," why would he go to an exhibition game? For the record, players opt out of the ASG all the time. I understand being proud of a selection to the game. Anybody would be. But intentionally forgoing actual games? That's just wrong.

Yeah ... well ... thankfully he didn't throw a lot of pitches, and with the day off on Monday, he could be used today, too. I'm not sure I would have used him, but, with our BP, I don't necessarily think a 4-run lead is safe, and I think it was important we come out of this game with a win.

I don't know of a good way to change the voting, but something should be done. These 2 men certainly deserved to be elected a long time ago. Kaat pitched for all thise years, won all those gold gloves, and was a total class act. Oliva won the batting titles, won a gold glove, and I'm old enough that I remember hearing that several opposing pitchers said he was one of the most feared hitters to face. Only injury could stop him. And what a great ambassador for the game of baseball!

Bullpen bewilders. Offense runs hot and cold. Twins show glimpses of huge potential mixed with baffling ineffectiveness. On the other hand, there's Luis Arraez, his optimism and his relentlessness. Arguably, the closest model to Kirby Puckett in a Twins uniform since Kirby Puckett. And the whole team continues to fight hard even on bad days. That's good enough for me. Good win tonight. Go Twins.

A thousand times YES to this

Sorry, but if this injection could have been done Sunday, or Monday, and was delayed intentionally to play in the ******* ASG...I would be pretty damn disappointed to learn that. In Buxton and in management.

So, counting days, if he would have gotten this treatment on Monday instead of Wednesday, he would be ready to play today. Hope the Twins sweep so nobody can look back and say these were the games that kept the team from reaching the playoffs.

No trade. You got him to compete this year. You're in position to do so. Maybe you lose him in the off-season, maybe you don't. He didn't cost you anything in terms of player capital. If you have a good run maybe you figure out a way to keep him. Trading him for prospects sets you back years. A year ago we traded our best pitcher for AA prospects who to this day remain AA prospects. You brought Correa in to take a shot. Take a shot.

Then how could Joe Smith, Sergio Romo and Tommy Milone stay in the majors?

Let's get a couple insurance runs now

Tony Oliva was spectacular, from the heart. He is a once in a lifetime treasure of a human being.

Sunday 1:10 pm CST: Sonny Gray (4-3, 3.71ERA) vs RHP Rony Garcia (3-2, 4.28ERA) I believe start time Sunday is 1:40 EDT, 12:40 CDT.

TD jinx strikes again...

Trade him for a bag of balls ASAP.