Game Score: Twins 3, Cleveland 0

Simmons wins the game.?

I have dogged the FO for darn near everything lately, but the Thielbar signing really seems like it needs to be appreciated. If this team were on the cusp of another division title, he'd be one of the crucial and maybe unsung heroes.

AND ... it seems like they totally won the Happ/Gant trade. A little lemonade out of the lemons of 2021. Build on the bright spots. See, I can be positive!

And another save for Everyday Alex. 

No Baldelli and Twins win again, hmmmm.

I like what Gant has been doing the last couple of games but if he can't get those walks under control he is still destined for the pen.  Was awesome to see him strike out the side but this is Cleveland not the best offensive club out there.  I hope he can take the next steps and be a starting pitcher but he still has a ways to go IMO.

Love and enjoy every game the Twins win. But a few comments to toss out there: 

1] I've been pleasantly surprised by Gant. I saw him as a toss-in when the trade was made. But not only have I been pleasantly surprised thus far, but I've looked at his career numbers a couple of times. They are nothing special, but they aren't bad either. His career K/9 is nothing great, but career ERA, AVG, and WHiP are solid. I get the Twins are looking at him as a POSSIBLE SP, and they kind of have to right now out of necessity. But everything about him just screams to me as him being a quality, dependable middle man. And there's real value in that. I hope that's where he ends up.

2] Good for Rooker. Just wish he could do that more often, as well as just make better contact. There's still something there to like and work with. It's all up to him at this point.

3] Anyone else paying attention to Alcala? Despite some good highs and really bad lows, he had a couple pretty good games before his IL stint. Since his return, he's had a few really good performances. I'm taking 2021 as a good building block for his future. 

4] Please don't make me duck and cover for this, but I'm starting to think the Twins would be smart to pick up Colome's 2nd year. (Initial and obligatory duck). Despite a few bad performances...which happen...the numbers for his last 30 games are pretty stellar:

2-0/ 2.73 ERA/ 11SV/ 1.21 WHiP.

I believe his 30G dates back to around June 1st. Since then, he's pretty much been what he was supposed to be despite a few hiccups. I absolutely want the Twins to bring in a quality RH arm for $5-7M to work with Rogers, and another $2-3M version of Robles that can, hopefully, be more consistent. Can't believe im saying this after April and May, but maybe keeping Colome as a veteran performer in a set-up role isn't so crazy if you look at his career and the past 3 months. 

1 hour ago, LastOnePicked said:

I have dogged the FO for darn near everything lately, but the Thielbar signing really seems like it needs to be appreciated. If this team were on the cusp of another division title, he'd be one of the crucial and maybe unsung heroes.

AND ... it seems like they totally won the Happ/Gant trade. A little lemonade out of the lemons of 2021. Build on the bright spots. See, I can be positive!

Might be a tad early to declare the Twins the "winner" in the Happ-Gant trade, but it appears to be trending in the right direction after Happ a not so wonderful start, albeit versus the Dodgers tonight. I have to tread carefully around the house on this one as my spouse of 28 years is a lifelong STL fan.  At the time of the trade----she was, to put it mildly---not happy that STL would trade for Happ.  Then to my chagrin Happ pitches like the guy Twins fans at the start of the season hoped for in his first 5 starts.  Now that he's got rocked his last 2 starts, I feel much better.  With so many spots available in our rotation next year, Gant, could make a strong claim for a slot if he can string together several solid starts over the last 4 weeks of the season.  I'd personally prefer him in a bullpen role, but at this point I'd be happy if we can get through April 2022 with being buried in last place.

1 hour ago, DocBauer said:

I'm starting to think the Twins would be smart to pick up Colome's 2nd year.

I can see another potentially-contending team signing him next year, and that wouldn't seem too foolish based on his recovery. But for the Twins? I think it'd be best to move on for '22.

No need to run for cover, though. He's shown a lot of fortitude in coming back pretty strong from an historically bad start. 

5 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

I can see another potentially-contending team signing him next year, and that wouldn't seem too foolish based on his recovery. But for the Twins? I think it'd be best to move on for '22.

No need to run for cover, though. He's shown a lot of fortitude in coming back pretty strong from an historically bad start. 

Totally agree. Sometimes there just isn't a fit and both parties need to move on. And I'm not so sure that isn't the case here as well. 

But you can also easily imagine Colome going somewhere else for a fresh start and simply performing to his career standards and voices clamoring as to why he didn't do that for a full season for the Twins and why didn't they keep him, etc.

I am NOT saying the Twins SHOULD keep him. I'm just saying, keeping him as a proven 7th/8th IP option shouldn't be discounted because of 2 terrible months.

gant's nickname should be mudcat.

9 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

And another save for Everyday Alex. 

Indeed.  I was kind of surprised Colome was used 4 days in a row - even though two of them were very efficient outings (11 and 9 pitches respectively).

8 hours ago, LastOnePicked said:

I can see another potentially-contending team signing him next year, and that wouldn't seem too foolish based on his recovery. But for the Twins? I think it'd be best to move on for '22.

No need to run for cover, though. He's shown a lot of fortitude in coming back pretty strong from an historically bad start. 

Yeah I tend to agree with you.  I had been thinking about this more as he has been pretty good recently but he has such a bad rap due to his historically bad start that anytime he struggles at all the fans are all over him.  It just feels like it would be best to have a fresh start for both the team and especially the player.  He needs a do over and I just don't think he will get that in Minnesota.

I know his recent results don't agree with me but I find his pitch mix too predictable.  If I am at the plate I wouldn't swing at anything and take my free pass.  He is rarely in the zone now and that appears to be how he needs to pitch to survive.  It is the cutter diving under the zone for a swinging strike or a ball way off the plate that is an easy take.  Last night he did throw a couple of fool me pitches in there so maybe he is working on that but as I said not sure I love the mix in general.

Given his recent results, the Twins familiarity with him and everything he has gone through only to get better I would not be surprised if the Twins did pick up the option.  Not to lean on him as the closer necessarily but as a middle relief or setup man that they feel they can use multiple days in a row.  Seems like a Twins thing to do but I guess we will find out what happens soon enough.

It is nice to see the good competitive games we all love.  Just a question.....by all this recent winning are they moving down in draft pick order?  It doesn't seem like they could move to far either way. 

I would be fine giving Gant a chance next year, but no matter what he does the rest of the year I do not say he has a spot for sure.  He has pitched several years, will be 30 next year and has never established himself as a starter.  Some of his numbers may be connected to pitching in new league for first time and once hitters see him again they will adjust.  Maybe the Twins figured something out for him, but I am concerned this is SSS.  Should we give him an invite to camp next year if he wants, sure, but if another team is willing to give a full MLB level contract as a starter I would not stand in his way. 

So I must have missed this somewhere, but what was the impetus for making Gant a starter?  Is it basically just an experiment since the season is shot anyway?

1 minute ago, SirLoin said:

So I must have missed this somewhere, but what was the impetus for making Gant a starter?  Is it basically just an experiment since the season is shot anyway?

Twins wanted to win a game , not have a rookie blown out.

A shutout! A SHUTOUT! AGAINST THE INDIANS!

22 minutes ago, SirLoin said:

So I must have missed this somewhere, but what was the impetus for making Gant a starter?  Is it basically just an experiment since the season is shot anyway?

They need to fill 4 spots next year.  3 if Ryan establishes a spot in the rotation.  If he shows he can be relied upon to start and If they intend to use 2022 to develop pitching prospects, he could bridge the gap until additional prospects are ready.  A reliable starter in his final year of arbitration to bridge the gap until a prospect pushes their way on to the team would be a nice asset. 

Filling one of those spots for roughly $3M leaves more budget for a front of the rotation SP or a SS.

12 hours ago, DocBauer said:

4] Please don't make me duck and cover for this, but I'm starting to think the Twins would be smart to pick up Colome's 2nd year. (Initial and obligatory duck). Despite a few bad performances...which happen...the numbers for his last 30 games are pretty stellar:

2-0/ 2.73 ERA/ 11SV/ 1.21 WHiP.

I believe his 30G dates back to around June 1st. Since then, he's pretty much been what he was supposed to be despite a few hiccups. I absolutely want the Twins to bring in a quality RH arm for $5-7M to work with Rogers, and another $2-3M version of Robles that can, hopefully, be more consistent. Can't believe im saying this after April and May, but maybe keeping Colome as a veteran performer in a set-up role isn't so crazy if you look at his career and the past 3 months. 

You can probably back up all the way to May 1st and his aggregate numbers aren't terrible. That said, I want nothing to do with him next year. I still see a guy who struggles with command, doesn't strike out enough hitters, and just seems to wilt in any sort of leverage situation. He isn't the historically awful pitcher we saw in April; I also doubt whoever pays him next season gets the 4 even-ish months we've seen. 

14 hours ago, DocBauer said:

Love and enjoy every game the Twins win. But a few comments to toss out there: 

1] I've been pleasantly surprised by Gant. I saw him as a toss-in when the trade was made. But not only have I been pleasantly surprised thus far, but I've looked at his career numbers a couple of times. They are nothing special, but they aren't bad either. His career K/9 is nothing great, but career ERA, AVG, and WHiP are solid. I get the Twins are looking at him as a POSSIBLE SP, and they kind of have to right now out of necessity. But everything about him just screams to me as him being a quality, dependable middle man. And there's real value in that. I hope that's where he ends up.

2] Good for Rooker. Just wish he could do that more often, as well as just make better contact. There's still something there to like and work with. It's all up to him at this point.

3] Anyone else paying attention to Alcala? Despite some good highs and really bad lows, he had a couple pretty good games before his IL stint. Since his return, he's had a few really good performances. I'm taking 2021 as a good building block for his future. 

4] Please don't make me duck and cover for this, but I'm starting to think the Twins would be smart to pick up Colome's 2nd year. (Initial and obligatory duck). Despite a few bad performances...which happen...the numbers for his last 30 games are pretty stellar:

2-0/ 2.73 ERA/ 11SV/ 1.21 WHiP.

I believe his 30G dates back to around June 1st. Since then, he's pretty much been what he was supposed to be despite a few hiccups. I absolutely want the Twins to bring in a quality RH arm for $5-7M to work with Rogers, and another $2-3M version of Robles that can, hopefully, be more consistent. Can't believe im saying this after April and May, but maybe keeping Colome as a veteran performer in a set-up role isn't so crazy if you look at his career and the past 3 months. 

I concur.  I have been shy about saying it myself, but Colome has looked pretty good for awhile now, and I am finally starting to trust him in the 9th again.  And Alcala has good stuff, he has just given up too many gopher balls; since that has settled down he has looked good as well.  And I am liking Gant as back end possibility; I wouldn't write his name in ink just yet, but a light pencil seems appropriate until he proves me wrong.    Good observations.  

1 hour ago, Rosterman said:

A shutout! A SHUTOUT! AGAINST THE INDIANS!

Have you looked at their lineup - this is not the Yankees.  Pitching yes, hitting no.  Glad to win, just do not want to make too much out of it. 

4 hours ago, MABB1959 said:

It doesn't seem like they could move to far either way. 

I just want them within the top ten so they don't get bumped by the Mets and their compensation pick in '22 for failing to sign their first round selection in '21.

I thought Rortvedt caught a good game.

6 hours ago, Dman said:

Yeah I tend to agree with you.  I had been thinking about this more as he has been pretty good recently but he has such a bad rap due to his historically bad start that anytime he struggles at all the fans are all over him.  It just feels like it would be best to have a fresh start for both the team and especially the player.  He needs a do over and I just don't think he will get that in Minnesota...

Thing is, that's exactly what my friend the White Sox fan said about. "He was pretty effective, but he was maddening to watch. I'm glad he's gone." I think that comes with the territory with him. 

I, too, am in the camp that says they might well (and maybe even should) bring him back. Even with the start, his ERA+ has actually gotten back to the plus side at 107. I do think that his propensity for walks and soft (bloop) contact makes him particularly ill-suited for the stupid extra-inning rule that has him starting with one of the bases already occupied.