Week in Review: Picking Up the Pieces

For a team just trying to get back into it, 5-2 seems to be a must this week. That means winning all the Berrios, Pineda and Happ starts and somehow squeezing a win out of Maeda or Shoemaker. I'd bring Thorpe up tomorrow and be ready for a quick hook on Maeda, if he keeps getting shelled.

Garver, Donaldson, and Kirilloff breaking out walked me back from the ledge this weekend. They might hit enough to get back into it.

If nothing else, that was fun to watch.

Hypothetically, what would an extension look like for Buxton? Whatever it was talked about before the season started is certainly out the window now that he's been playing like an MVP. 

For a team just trying to get back into it, 5-2 seems to be a must this week. That means winning all the Berrios, Pineda and Happ starts and somehow squeezing a win out of Maeda or Shoemaker. I'd bring Thorpe up tomorrow and be ready for a quick hook on Maeda, if he keeps getting shelled.

Agreed, we've got to win at least 5 this week. Thorpe should be up too.

For a team just trying to get back into it, 5-2 seems to be a must this week. That means winning all the Berrios, Pineda and Happ starts and somehow squeezing a win out of Maeda or Shoemaker. I'd bring Thorpe up tomorrow and be ready for a quick hook on Maeda, if he keeps getting shelled.

Probably a little early for musts but as always, a good week now makes the battle easier later.   Also, it could work the way you  outlined but, it being baseball, it could just as easily be Maeda winning twice, Shoemaker once, Thorpe once and squeezing a win out of Berrios, Pineda and Happ.

Shoemaker gets 1 more start. If he doesn't look decent, DFA him.

Morneau mentioned on last night's broadcast how strange it felt to note May games seemed like "must-wins," but damnit they absolutely have to go at least 5-2 this week. Here's hoping for the best.

Gleeman reports Dobnak sent down to AAA.  I'm sure this is a precursor to get him back in the rotation to replace the Shoe.  If Maeda returns to form, this is a strong rotation.  If not, you can probably forget about the playoffs.  This is why many Twins fans were vehement about FO adding a top-of-the-rotation arm in case Maeda regressed.  Wouldn't a Snell, Darvish, Lynn or Sonny Gray have made a sizable difference in the team's outlook now?

But the real problem is the pen, of course.  Colome was found wanting in Chicago so why did the Whiz Kids sign him as their top offseason bullpen addition?  Relievers are notably erratic from year to year, but there were clearly better choices this offseason.  Losing May and knowing Rogers was iffy should have been enough warning signs that a couple high upside FAs were critical to a successful 2021 season.  When you add in our continued inability to develop pitching in he minors and Rocky's poor decision-making, the bullpen was on everyone's worry list.

Let's hope next week's summary is uplifting. There are too many storylines right now. And you didn't even get to Cave who looked bad in LF last night and still hasn't found his bat. Rooker down so does Larnach get a chance? Will Sano come back and give us a boost or continue to be the opposing pitcher's Best friend? I like Arraez at 2B and Polanco at U.

Let's hope next week's summary is uplifting. There are too many storylines right now. And you didn't even get to Cave who looked bad in LF last night and still hasn't found his bat. Rooker down so does Larnach get a chance? Will Sano come back and give us a boost or continue to be the opposing pitcher's Best friend? I like Arraez at 2B and Polanco at U.

Wow! Six identical comments! Driving home your point or is the TD changeover not going well?  Just funning. I like your title for Sano.

Let Thorpe take Shoemaker's spot in the rotation. Send Shoemaker to the bullpen to be the long reliever. Release Colome. Release Cave. Call up Broxton to take Cave spot on the roster. When Sano comes back, let Garlick go.

They will give Shoemaker another chance or two before cutting him loose.  They could use Thorpe and\or Dobnak in the 5th spot if they need to.  The Shoe has looked they can't do any worse.  I am really surprised at how poorly he has pitched.  I guess there was a reason he was signed for just a couple Mil.  I just don't think they will give up on him this early though.

I agree we need a good week as it is a long road back to 500 right now.  Happy they took the three game series with the Royals but could have really used a sweep right there as well.

At least it has been back to watchable baseball.

Again, I'm a huge Kirilloff fan like everyone else but just wanted to point this out:

It's worth noting that Kirilloff had no other hits in his 12 at-bats this weekend beyond the home runs, and he posted a 1:6 BB:K in the series. He's now sporting a .184 average, .200 on-base percentage, 2.6 percent walk rate and 30 percent strikeout rate on the season.

Yes we should be encouraged. But let's keep things realistic. He could go 2 weeks before his next home run - let's hope he's able to get some singles and doubles to fall and start walking as well. He's still a rookie.

I am hoping for a new arm or 2 to get the call. Unfortunately, there has not been any MiLB games so not much to go on. Wish they would have at least started AAA 2 weeks ago. Let one spot in BP be a rotation of pitchers-Stashek, Anderson, Waddell, Smeltzer, Thorpe. Twins tend to be loyal to veteran players, Shoemaker may get more starts for a while.

Wouldn't a Snell, Darvish, Lynn or Sonny Gray have made a sizable difference in the team's outlook now?

“I think I may have found a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn’t have to give up that much.” - George Costanza

Try Shoemaker in the pen.

Gleeman reports Dobnak sent down to AAA.  I'm sure this is a precursor to get him back in the rotation to replace the Shoe. 

I was going to comment that the Twins probably send down Dobnak to get a start or two before having him replace Shoemaker. Good to hear the Twins are already on this.

It seems like I am in the minority here, but I would much rather hand the keys to Dobnak vs Thorpe as a permanent replacement. Track record means a lot more to a team like the Twins. 

I will not argue upside being in Dobnak's favor, but the data suggests the floor for Dobnak is MUCH higher at this stage. 

Again, I'm a huge Kirilloff fan like everyone else but just wanted to point this out:

 

It's worth noting that Kirilloff had no other hits in his 12 at-bats this weekend beyond the home runs, and he posted a 1:6 BB:K in the series. He's now sporting a .184 average, .200 on-base percentage, 2.6 percent walk rate and 30 percent strikeout rate on the season.

 

Yes we should be encouraged. But let's keep things realistic. He could go 2 weeks before his next home run - let's hope he's able to get some singles and doubles to fall and start walking as well. He's still a rookie.

I agree the K rate is something to keep an eye on.  With AK hitting HR's they will throw him even more breaking stuff as he is already K'ing on that stuff.  I think one of the reasons he is swinging early and for the fences is I believe they have been been throwing him first pitch fastballs and even when he hits it hard they have been hard outs.  With HR's you don't have to worry about it being caught.

To your point I think K's are going to be a problem for him just like they were for Rosario as they are close to the same player.  Hers's hoping AK can adjust.

Again, I'm a huge Kirilloff fan like everyone else but just wanted to point this out:

 

It's worth noting that Kirilloff had no other hits in his 12 at-bats this weekend beyond the home runs, and he posted a 1:6 BB:K in the series. He's now sporting a .184 average, .200 on-base percentage, 2.6 percent walk rate and 30 percent strikeout rate on the season.

 

Yes we should be encouraged. But let's keep things realistic. He could go 2 weeks before his next home run - let's hope he's able to get some singles and doubles to fall and start walking as well. He's still a rookie.

Nice comment. Here's hoping his HR streak continues this week, but one thing I'm encouraged by is that his BABIP is at an unsustainably low .130 right now. Also, his expected batting average is about 180 points higher than his actual batting average. This tells me that we should expect more of those singles and doubles to start falling soon. I agree that the K/BB rate has to improve, but I think that will happen as he gains more experience.

Like Kirby Yates or Trevor Rosenthal?

I don't disagree with your premise about Colome but signing "high upside FAs" in the bullpen is not quite as simple as you make it sound, even if you're willing to spend. The bet on Robles has looked decent so far, fwiw.

OK touche Nick!  Yates or Rosenthal were two of my preseason choices and both are on the IR list.  Colome looked like a reasonably priced FA addition but living here in Chicago, it did not take a tech genius to see he was running thru raindrops on almost every occasion.  The Sox were going for the brass ring so they went for the BPA in Hendriks.  The Twins not so much.  Many of us on TD pointed out the biggest weakness going into the offseason was the BP - and it still is.  Guys like Kennedy and Melancon were available, not to mention the ill-advised moves to trade Pressley, and dump Nick Anderson.  

My biggest problem with this FO is they generally nibble around the edges rather than go after difference makers.  And that's a shame, because the window is still wide open.  If the team is still in contention come July, will they change their MO and actually make significant additions.  They never have in 4 years.

I was going to comment that the Twins probably send down Dobnak to get a start or two before having him replace Shoemaker. Good to hear the Twins are already on this.

It seems like I am in the minority here, but I would much rather hand the keys to Dobnak vs Thorpe as a permanent replacement. Track record means a lot more to a team like the Twins. 

I will not argue upside being in Dobnak's favor, but the data suggests the floor for Dobnak is MUCH higher at this stage. 

What track record are you talking about? What made you think or what data suggests the floor for Dobnak is MUCH higher at this stage? I am lost.