LanceJS

Always found it ironic that the last regular season game in Metrodome history was unquestionably its best one.

One big difference with the Gallo signing as compared to Shoemaker, Happ, Archer and Bundy is the team already has replacements if Gallo falters (Gordon or Larnach come to mind) while the others were counted on to be ready every 5th day with no viable replacement should they falter. Look how many times each one made a start with only Bundy showing any signs of adequate performance.

I agree with this for all the reasons mentioned. How Harmon had to wait 4 years still boggles my mind. Oliva shouldn’t have had to wait until his 80s. Blyleven didn’t rack up the traditional stats save for strikeouts and it was at the dawn of the sabermetrics era that got him in. Something else that bugged me was Johan Santana not earning 5% on his one year. For a five year peak (2003-2007) there wasn’t a better starting pitcher in the game, he won two Cy Young’s and a pitcher’s triple crown, Sandy Koufax was dominant in a 5 year period and he’s a no doubter but Santana isn’t worthy of 5%? And NO, I am not saying Santana was Koufax - just that if a five year period of greatness is enough for one, why not all? Plus…I am sure if his peak years were with the Mets and his injury-plagued ones were with the Twins, he’s either in or very close.

I’m right there with you. You can argue that there’s no true ace, and I won’t disagree, but it’s a solid rotation top to bottom. I feel good with any of these guys making a start - can’t say I felt that way last year with Bundy and Archer. I also agree on the need for a long man in the bullpen. Jax or Winder, maybe?

I was surprised you didn’t add the annual off-season mantra - that the team/FO/Pohlads are too cheap to spend money on pitching. It gets very tiresome after awhile. I think the Twins, if healthy, stand a good chance to win a weak AL Central.

Is it just me, or does anyone else think Carlos made a huge mistake in opting out? Had he not, he would be guaranteed at least another $35 M and getting ready for spring training instead of all this drama.

Steven, I will be in attendance at the Saturday game at Yankee Stadium. Will have to meet up - being a Twins fan in upstate NY leads to a lot of pity and teasing, so it will be nice to meet a friendly face ther.

Great article - I was like you in the early days of the Metrodome with that many games - unfortunately I missed 1987 as I was in the Navy at the time (although my one game that year was great - game 1 of the ALCS). Moved to upstate NY in 1997 after meeting who is now my wife but since then I have seen the Twins once every time they visit NY, whether Yankee Stadium or Shea/Citi Field, including the 2017 Wild Card game. As you can imagine, much heartbreak there. Finally made it back to Target Field this year for the first time in 9 years for two games vs the Angels and White Sox at the last home stand. In NYC, I always wear Twins gear and am happy to usually find at least a few other Twins fans in my area of the ballpark. Since I don’t know when my next trip back to MN will be, please keep writing articles like this. I really enjoyed my two games at Target Field this year despite the team’s record at the time. And they won both games, making my all-time Target Field record 5-1 (saw 2 wins in 2012 and a win and loss in 2013).

I always thought Molitor was out because he was too “old school” so they replaced him with Baldelli who embraced analytics much more than Molitor. IMO, he would have been gone a year earlier had he not won Manager of the Year in 2017.

Meaningless to you, maybe, but because I hadn’t been to Target Field in 9 years, the Bailey Ober start on September 27 was special to me because I was there and saw a great pitching performance, something I always like. Hoping that is something we will see more often from him in 2023.

Only, and ONLY, if that is done in order to make a bigger trade, like how the trade for IKF went last season. I thought that was going to be the case with Gallo (Him or another OF moving). So now add yet another corner OF? Not much of a case was made for that IMO

I always find it so strange that Santana got dropped so quickly. Always felt that he would be in if it were the other way around for him - had his great years with the Mets and his injury plagued ones with the Twins. I don’t think the lost Cy Young to Colon cost him votes.

Because many voters also use championships to measure a player’s worthiness (something I detest), the fact the Twins won exactly one playoff game during his career will hurt him, especially when compared to Posey’s three WS rings. That said, I think he gets in, but not first ballot.

Living in the area where the independent league team plays, I saw all 5 of Rocker's starts and he was excellent. The few times he had multiple men on base, he pitched his way out, had good stuff on his breaking balls and was consistently over 95 on FBs. I was so hoping he would be available for the Twins. I can see him on the Rangers sometime next year - not this year, even in September.

I was in the 70-79 wins, now am at 80-89 wins. I believe the pitching will be better. Sure, there are still some concerns about the rotation - but compare some of the veterans obtained this year (Archer, Paddack, Bundy) to last year (Happ, Shoemaker) - while still not top line, that's an improvement. Correa is a breath of fresh air in the clubhouse compared to Donaldson and more productive as well - both on offense and defense. Only item I am still holding my breath on is Buxton's health