Game Score: Twins 5, Angels 4

The Angels looked like little leaguers in the video.

Someone may have pointed this out already, but since May 12 the Twins have been between minus-9 and minus-15 games in relation to .500.  No higher, no lower.  That's an amazingly narrow band over ten weeks of play.

Just a couple quick comments besides "we won!"

1] Happ still has SOME value as a trade chip with his career and some good games this year. He may not bring a lot back, but I would be willing to bet someone would offer of a decent AA player or A+ flier for a veteran LH to make starts and hope for a couple months re-surgance in their drive.

2] I was always concerned that everyone seemed convinced that Jeffers was going to suddenly be a STUD after such a SSS to end 2020. Which is why I hoped for a cheap veteran LH catching option for depth. But in a lost season, and with inconsistency that I expected, I'm still seeing enough in Jeffers that I think he's going to be OK. And his continued development may allow Garver to spend more time at 1B and DH as well as being the #2 catcher to keep him in the lineup daily.

3] Gordon FINALLY got to play as a call-up. He showed a spark. Then he struggled. Surprise for a rookie with limited AB! He has also been transitioning to a position he has never played before on the fly. So he sits. And then he has a good game. Etc. I have no idea if Gordon will turn out to be a quality starter at any position or turn out to be a NICE utility player. I strongly lean toward the latter at this point. But in a lost season, again I say, let the kid play! You've protected him for 2yrs because you see potential. Then let him play, here, there, everywhere but let him play in a lost season and see what you might or might not have!

Nice win. Pecking away can pay off.

35 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

Just a couple quick comments besides "we won!"

1] Happ still has SOME value as a trade chip with his career and some good games this year. He may not bring a lot back, but I would be willing to bet someone would offer of a decent AA player or A+ flier for a veteran LH to make starts and hope for a couple months re-surgance in their drive.

2] I was always concerned that everyone seemed convinced that Jeffers was going to suddenly be a STUD after such a SSS to end 2020. Which is why I hoped for a cheap veteran LH catching option for depth. But in a lost season, and with inconsistency that I expected, I'm still seeing enough in Jeffers that I think he's going to be OK. And his continued development may allow Garver to spend more time at 1B and DH as well as being the #2 catcher to keep him in the lineup daily.

3] Gordon FINALLY got to play as a call-up. He showed a spark. Then he struggled. Surprise for a rookie with limited AB! He has also been transitioning to a position he has never played before on the fly. So he sits. And then he has a good game. Etc. I have no idea if Gordon will turn out to be a quality starter at any position or turn out to be a NICE utility player. I strongly lean toward the latter at this point. But in a lost season, again I say, let the kid play! You've protected him for 2yrs because you see potential. Then let him play, here, there, everywhere but let him play in a lost season and see what you might or might not have!

Doc:  Interesting comments with your take on Happ, Jeffers and Gordon. 

#1 I made this comment on another thread recently and I would compare your comment regarding Happ having "some" value as a trade chip comparable to my assertion that Colome might have some trade value.  You may well be right, but I seriously doubt ANY GM has an interest in giving up even a low A prospect for Happ.  I do hope your right as Happ has ZERO upside for this teams future as all he'd doing is eating innings that could be given to Jax, Barnes or 1 of our acquisitions from Tampa.

#2 Jeffers:  I've been guilty of jumping on the Jeffers bandwagon mainly due to my frustration with Garver's continued inability to stay healthy and his propensity to whiff (early season) at an alarming rate.  Agree with your point that Jeffers (my words) is a very serviceable Catcher #2 , especially with Garver getting semi regular ABs at 1B next season.

#3 Gordon:  I realize Gordon's numbers are pedestrian...263 average with little pop (1 HR/ 5RBI) with 22K's and a low OBP (.317). Saying that, I honestly believe with MORE ABs ( only 76 in 29 games) Gordon can turn into the type of utility player that we need in the future.  I did not watch the game on FSN, but the replay of him scoring the go ahead run was an indicator of how his instincts and SPEED can be a game changer.  I realize if Juan Lagares (Angels had ANY accuracy with his weak arm) Gordon should've been out by 15 feet-------but he wasn't!  Gordon's speed and instincts took over and forced Lagares to make a throw that I doubt he expected to have to make.  When was the last time the Twins (without it being Buxton) literally STOLE a run due to their aggresiveness?  I can't remember it.  Can you. Can others?  

With more players---Pineda, Robles, possibly Simmons---being dealt over the next 8 days------the EVALUATION PERIOD should go full throttle over the last 2 months.

The home plate umpire made the case for robot umpires. Hey they could do a little dance after called third strikes or say, "Good eye!" when batters drew a walk. It doesn't have to be boring...In any case, whoever was behind the plate today could use a robot or two to help out. (Sano was called out on a pitch that was at least two inches outside--the previous strike was about one inch outside--and Rogers got the called third strike on a pitch that was about four inches above the strike zone.)

(I got to watch the game and everyone was sad because Ohtani was given the day off. )

7 hours ago, DocBauer said:

Just a couple quick comments besides "we won!"

Checked the score - holy cow, the Twins came back from a 4-0 deficit by chipping away! We won indeed!

I agreed with your other points but I wanted to respectfully disagree with your thoughts on Happ. JA Happ is the worst starter in baseball. His record is 5-5 with a 6.14 ERA in 95 innings pitched. The only pitcher who's even in the same conversation is Mike Foltynewicz down in TX, who is 2-10 with a 6.11 ERA in 97 innings pitched. Even all the xStats look bad for Happ. So quite literally, he's either the worst or 2nd worst starter in the entire game of baseball. And he's old. No contender is going to give up even a shred of their future for this guy. He was a real solid MLB pitcher in his day, just doesn't have it anymore. These things happen.

Jeffers, Gordon, and Larnach coming through along with Sano - gotta love it. Keep playing these guys when they're hot! Hope Gordon is starting again tonight.

Jeffers as with any player will benefit from playing daily.  I have been a big fan of day on, day off catcher rotation Rocco incorporates.  The benefit for Jeffers that last few days has been the playing time.  He has played 6 of the last 7 days hitting .285 during that stretch.  So is he that kind of bat from an avg perspective?  Could be as I like his approach, patient, sees pitches and has some pop.  K rate is higher than anyone would like, some of that I think is he misses the one pitch he is looking for, fouling it off and then battles with 2 strikes.  Got off to a horrible start in April but has battled back from that to move the needle in the right direction.  I'm still on board with his trajectory of being a very serviceable catcher at the bigs level.