yeahyabetcha

If the choice for the starting SS next year is Gordon or Simmons, I take Simmons

Not sure how 12 starts this year is a better indicator than 5 years worth in the minors.

I was in attendance for this game, first time in a couple of years. It was a beautiful night to be at the ballpark, unfortunately the home team seemed to be just going thru the motions.

#6. Even you state he is not ready. #5 Speed is barely used by the Twins now. Buxton and Gordon both have it and it doesn’t seem to be utilized. This regime values homers. And this guy hasn’t really hit that well at AA #4 and #3 Don’t know a lot about these two, can they field the position? IMO that is important. Can they handle a part time position? They did have nice seasons, but not sure they would be much of an improvement. #2 if he isn’t playing every day, I would prefer he starts next year at SP #1 I do like his versatility, has pretty much quit hitting though. And he bats right handed. I am not even that big of a fan of Cave, but he did hit right handers pretty good a couple of seasons back, and was playing hurt much of this season. Wondering why you didn’t mention Larnach, Martin, Rooker or Garlick

Could you be specific about the “other worthwhile options “?

Barnes.

Enjoy the Season!!

Dantzler was not very good in the preseason. No way Zimmer was playing him over Breeland.

I bet the Twins see Cave as a backup outfield option for next year.

I only watched from the 8th inning on…but. Watching and trying to understand Rocco’s late inning maneuvers is painful. For instance, bottom of ninth, KC has a right hander on the mound, Twins have 3 left handed batters on the bench, Arraez, Gordon and Cave. Due up is Rooker, Kepler, Jeffers. Rooker gets to bat and makes an out, Kepler makes an out. So bottom of ninth with no one on and two outs, Gordon is sent for Jeffers and makes an out. Rortvedt goes into catch, Gordon goes to bench. Next inning Rortvedt gets placed on 2nd and Gordon is unavailable??? secondly, bullpen usage. Duffey, Alcala, Colome all get one inning each throwing around 10 pitches and are removed. Minaya gets an inning, struggles a bit, gets thru it with 20 plus pitches. He gets the next inning. Twins lose the game. I don’t understand analytics.

I guess in that case Kepler is doomed to be a .200 hitter who is unable to advance a runner from second with no outs.

And maybe if Kepler would just try to go to the opposite field once his shift would become less pronounced

If the opposition would have played the shift that Kepler gets against Carew, I am willing to bet he would have bunted alot more

Rocco must be a great manager. Didn’t most of these horrible players win the division last year?

You cannot be serious. And it is more likely that he is resigned for next year than DFA’d this year.

Your list includes 2 back end starters, a closer that had one bad month, a utility player and a glove first SS that the Twins knew they were getting. Go ahead and blame them for the season’s results, I just hope the FO sees it differently.

With the way Strotman has pitched in St Paul, maybe instead of a promotion, he should be removed from the the 40 man.

Given the current Twins strategy of only asking for 5, maybe 6 innings of a starting pitcher. I think money would be better spent on Buxton, a SS and some more reliable, veteran bullpen arms

He still managed to produce at least 10 good to quality starts. Is that horrible for someone who was brought in to be 4/5 starter?

I can see Ryan getting called up for some starts because Gant should not be starting and Ryan is probably the next choice, but let’s not kid ourselves, a couple of September starts mean very little for next year.

Rooker

Is there any film of an ineffective Strotman pitching in St Paul available?

I don’t see anything wrong with stretching Gant out and looking at him as a starter. Despite all the demands to promote others , the fact is none of them have been exactly been pitching all that well or at least consistent to demand a call up

I don’t think a trade is necessary. Sano-Polanco-free agent-Donaldson is your infield. Kepler-Buxton/Kirilloff is the outfield. Garver and Jeffers catch. Arraez, Miranda and three others is the bench.

He needs to play to prove he is healthy. That would improve his trade value this off-season.