Reflections on the 2023 Twins Season from a Time Traveler

Sign me up! All of that looks good to me.

Those would be amazing!  I think Gallo and Lopez are most likely to actually happen with the Gallen trade the least likely.  Buxton having a real season and finding a gem in Julien would be awesome but I'm not holding my breath.  My fingers are crossed.

Lee isnt getting traded.

Was Max Kepler still in a Twins uniform on October 1?

Sounds good to me but I think maybe you might be off on the Gallen trade.

Did you see a Kepler bounce back?

You forgot that Emilo Pagan was named the Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the year :-)

Ha...I thought this was RandBall at first.....

Did you happen to notice who won the NCAA tournament?? Asking for a friend…

I think that maybe you just had a dream that you had a time machine.  Howeverrrr, If it were a real time machine, I think it may be defective.  But I like the way you think.  I'm just going to watch the season play out without such high expectations yet hope your machine is close.  See you at the ballpark.

Edit:  Except for the Brooks lee trade.  That ain't gonna happen.  (fingers crossed)

10 minutes ago, Chachi said:

Did you notice who won the NCAA tournament?  Asking for a friend…

I'd like a more complete bracket please.  I've picked the winner several times without doing well in a complete bracket.

That would be fun to watch for a while, but nobody will care if they got swept out of the playoffs again. 

FUN! Great read!

I actually have faith in a Gallo rebound, but I'd knock a few points off the BA down to about .220-ish, and the OB % down to about. 350. The HR numbers are very reasonable, unless MLB is playing with the ball negatively again.

I like the 41 bombs from Buxton and not going to argue that one. I also don't want to, LOL.

Are you sure you weren't a little confused or blurry eyed from your trip and it was Mahle that was actually the best SP? I'm pretty optimistic on Lopez. But my gut hunch says Mahle is just fine, and he and his new slider and other pitches are just ready at 28yo to take another step forward.

100% yes on Julien.

And I agree with others, Lee isn't going anywhere. The only way he doesn't appear in a Twins uniform at some time in 2023 is because the roster is healthy and performing and he isn't needed. Now, if that happens, I'm not saying he shouldn't be one of the limited September call ups, but maybe the 40 man is pretty packed and they'd just rather add him in 2024 when the dust settles and the smoke clears during the offseason. Either way, he's not going anywhere. 

I think a re-sign or QO or both for the pitchers on hand makes more sense than a trade for Gallen. If Lopez and or Mahle are that good, why not keep what we have instead of a trade?

Neither Lee or Ober are going anywhere.  Ober is going to break into the starting 5 sometime early in the season and become a solid contributer in the rotation. 

Fantasy fan fiction. Thanks for making me worry about Buxton’s Achilles!

7 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

Lee isnt getting traded.

I agree it’s unlikely….. however….. never say never. The Cubs traded Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease for Jose Quintana in 2017. This was a case of big prospect package for big arm in hopes of winning another World Series. Big prospects get traded all the time and with the depth of middle infield prospects the Twins have, none of them should be untouchable if they’re competitive at the deadline.

6 hours ago, MMMordabito said:

Was Max Kepler still in a Twins uniform on October 1?

He was! And he bounced back rather nicely! (Not 2019 nice, however😉)

5 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Sounds good to me but I think maybe you might be off on the Gallen trade.

Did you see a Kepler bounce back?

The Gallen trade is more so a fun little dream of mine that I insist on keeping alive! It’s unlikely to happen, but if it does some people might actually think I’m smart!😂

Kepler bounced back nicely! Not quite 2019 nicely, but he found a middle ground!

5 hours ago, gunnarthor said:

Fun article. 

Thanks for the read and comment!

5 hours ago, Chachi said:

Did you happen to notice who won the NCAA tournament?? Asking for a friend…

As a sports book connoisseur, I sure do wish I had this answer😂 great comment!

5 hours ago, Heiny said:

I think that maybe you just had a dream that you had a time machine.  Howeverrrr, If it were a real time machine, I think it may be defective.  But I like the way you think.  I'm just going to watch the season play out without such high expectations yet hope your machine is close.  See you at the ballpark.

 

Edit:  Except for the Brooks lee trade.  That ain't gonna happen.  (fingers crossed)

 

Is that why I was so sleepy when I returned!?😂

Optimistic? Yes. Dumb? Maybe. I just gotta have faith in my Twinkies!

3 hours ago, ashbury said:

 

Nah, just kidding.  If these events come to pass, have to like our chances.  A playoff series win, or even two, so much the better.  I'm all in for 93 wins, and just like our FO I'll backtrack on this if there are significant injuries.

Gotta love Jim Mora😂 great comment!

2 hours ago, DocBauer said:

FUN! Great read!

I actually have faith in a Gallo rebound, but I'd knock a few points off the BA down to about .220-ish, and the OB % down to about. 350. The HR numbers are very reasonable, unless MLB is playing with the ball negatively again.

I like the 41 bombs from Buxton and not going to argue that one. I also don't want to, LOL.

Are you sure you weren't a little confused or blurry eyed from your trip and it was Mahle that was actually the best SP? I'm pretty optimistic on Lopez. But my gut hunch says Mahle is just fine, and he and his new slider and other pitches are just ready at 28yo to take another step forward.

100% yes on Julien.

And I agree with others, Lee isn't going anywhere. The only way he doesn't appear in a Twins uniform at some time in 2023 is because the roster is healthy and performing and he isn't needed. Now, if that happens, I'm not saying he shouldn't be one of the limited September call ups, but maybe the 40 man is pretty packed and they'd just rather add him in 2024 when the dust settles and the smoke clears during the offseason. Either way, he's not going anywhere. 

I think a re-sign or QO or both for the pitchers on hand makes more sense than a trade for Gallen. If Lopez and or Mahle are that good, why not keep what we have instead of a trade?

 

I appreciate it!

I agree that it’s unlikely that Lee gets traded, but he’s the most valuable trade chip in a crowded crop of high end infield prospect talent, so if the Twins decided to let it all hang out, Lee would make sense. I don’t consider it too much of a stretch, especially with the Twins also possessing the number 5 pick in the draft this year.

As far as adding Gallen to a pretty solid rotation, I’ll say this; good is good, better is better. When it comes to chasing championships, any major improvements that can be made at the deadline should be made. I’m not saying the Twins will be in position to sell out at the deadline, but if they are, they have the pieces to make something like this happen and really go for it.

Again, thank you for the comment and support!

1 hour ago, Reptevia said:

Fantasy fan fiction. Thanks for making me worry about Buxton’s Achilles!

Maybe I should’ve used different descriptors😂

Interesting the Gallo gets MVP love by hitting Sano's career batting average and hitting Sano's per 162 number of home runs.

5 hours ago, Hunter McCall said:

The Gallen trade is more so a fun little dream of mine that I insist on keeping alive! It’s unlikely to happen, but if it does some people might actually think I’m smart!😂

Kepler bounced back nicely! Not quite 2019 nicely, but he found a middle ground!

Yes, may it be.

Bartender, please buy my friend another and I'll have what he's having. Looks like it's working pretty well.

I enjoyed pretending with you. Thanks it was fun. Now Twins, let's get back to work. Time, as we all know is fleeting, and the most important day of the year is the present day.

10 hours ago, Hunter McCall said:

I appreciate it!

I agree that it’s unlikely that Lee gets traded, but he’s the most valuable trade chip in a crowded crop of high end infield prospect talent, so if the Twins decided to let it all hang out, Lee would make sense. I don’t consider it too much of a stretch, especially with the Twins also possessing the number 5 pick in the draft this year.

As far as adding Gallen to a pretty solid rotation, I’ll say this; good is good, better is better. When it comes to chasing championships, any major improvements that can be made at the deadline should be made. I’m not saying the Twins will be in position to sell out at the deadline, but if they are, they have the pieces to make something like this happen and really go for it.

Again, thank you for the comment and support!

That # 5 draft pick is an important pick this year. There will be some top- notch talent available this draft at # 5. The Twins will do a good job in evaluating the prospects and I expect the Twins to be cautious. If the Twins are not going to pay for an "Ace" SP and don't want to trade numerous top prospects for an "Ace" pitcher, then this is the only other way to get one. Yes, drafting a pitcher is risky, but what is the alternative to getting that one great pitcher, as opposed to getting more above average pitchers?