Kelly Vance

One month into the season and the white flags already go up? Look, we've had injuries to two of our best young players and our #1 starter and you don't replace 3 position player starters (including Polanco in this) and a #1 SP on a young team without a hiccup. Meanwhile, the funk set in and we played bad defense. That needs to get fixed, pronto. And it won't get fixed playing Grossman in right and Kep in center. Rather play LaMarre in center and leave Keps where he is comfortable. Starters and relievers need to stop walking batters and stop hanging curves and leaving fast balls floating over the middle. Lynn showed up out of shape it seems. Based on his history, he will get better. Odor has been mostly respectable. . Gibson looks improved and Berrios is solid, but had a bad stretch (for him) which he will put behind him. If Erv comes back soon I hope it doesn't mean Romero goes down. I want to see if the kid can put together a good stretch. But I'm not waving any white flags. This team has a bunch of streak hitters on it and if they get hot, they could easily run off a ten game winning streak. They were only about 5 games back last I checked and it is only Cinco. There are signs of a resurgence. LoMo is starting to hit and looks like Dozier's slump could be over. But it is true, there is much room for improvement. I would like to see Buck hit enough to justify a leadoff spot. Mauer, Dozier, Keps, etc would be better if they had speed on base ahead of them. I like Rosario's swing a lot better than some of you. So I'm hanging in and not hanging my head. There is a lot of season left

Getting Odorizzi and Lynn, instead of Yu, lessens the risk of having nothing to show for it if an injury benches the newly acquired starter. IOW, it is, theoretically at least, half as likely that both starters get hurt than if we added just Yu. Other than that, it is far too early to tell about the acquisitions, but Morrison will likely bounce back and Fernando looks to still have some gas left in the tank. If he fails, Reed is a great addition. The other side is always greener does not just apply to humans though. It is why cows stick their necks through the wire fence to eat the longer unmowed (and ungrazed) grass in the ditch. Sometimes, the grass IS greener on the other side of the fence.

MLBPA would have no case, unless this is prohibited by his union membership, which I doubt it is because I doubt it would even remotely have been considered by the union. I think there i s a loophole. . It is a matter of contract between the parties. He might get beaned his first 100 at bats though

You know, I had this idea that Joe ought to sign a blank contract and give the Twins the right to write in the number. Andre Dawson did that in 1987 with the Cubs and guess who is in the HOF? But you know, Joe could become known as the greatest team player ever if he said "I've been given a lot by the Twins. I'll play 2019 for free." Things like that make a man immortal. It is so rare... that is why it will never happen. Still, my naivete aside, it would set him apart from everybody

forgetting, of course, that Mauer is more versatile than allofthoseguys

deliberately miss the point much? Fans revere Carew, Killebrew, Oliva, Kirby. But Joe is bringing in revenue way beyond those guys combined.

all of which ignores that he is the face of the franchise, puts butts in seats and sells #7 jerseys. Ever been to a Twins game? They are everywhere

what you said.... I'd rather have JT (who made the Dodgers and is doing well in the show) or Burdi than a guy Molly won't even send out until all is lost.

From your lips to God's ears.

Don't be so optimistic. But imagine if he got to hit against Twins pitching all those years. His numbers would be way higher. I don't mean to be overly snarky, but don't you think he could have hit Hughes and company? Anyway, I too was surprised to see his walk numbers so low, especially given what a picky hitter he is. But Mauer is a pure hitter at this point. If he hung on, he might get close to 3000, and I am hoping he makes it. It will all come down to how long he wants to play, and a little luck.

As a former coach (and third base coach) I offer these observations. Eddie is not dissed because of his skin color. His skin color has nothing to do with 27 homers and all those throw outs in his rookie year. He is still a raw talent. He is not afraid to throw the runner out at the plate, and we love that. But he is an instinctive player, and those guys make mistakes. Still in all, I want that kind of guy on my team. Miggie runs through a stop sign. (Nobody suggests that he did that because he was black. Or did they and I missed it?) He has up a head of steam, and went with his instinct. I like the desire and hustle. If I'm coaching third, I am pissed he runs through. But when he is safe, nobody grins bigger than me. Then I tell him "Don't ever do that again." But my takeaway is I am glad that Miggie wants to win.

The original whizzinator was a helluva football player. I would bunt against the shift allatime. Anytime you can use the other side's strategy against them, you should.

OK, I missed Grossman's appearance because I watch the game in the background while I work. But your idea is better. Note to Molly, use LaMarre. If you don't he may cool off just sitting. Besides, I think the PR, bunt him over, then PH strategy works better than having a 300 pound lawn ornament (Sano) as the lead runner.

I kinda thought Molly was going to run Adrianza for Sano and bunt him over to play a one run catch up strategy. Sano probably doesn't score from second (especially with his six foot lead) on a single. Then he used him to hit for the pitcher. But wasn't Grossman a better PH choice? Especially if Adrianza was on second? Oh well, no matter.

Lynn was signed late and this is really akin to a 3rd ST outing. But did anyone else notice that he looked kind of pudgy? Like 10 lbs overweight? He couldn't find the strike zone and had little mound presence because of his struggles. The rookie hit a high and outside pitch that must have looked like a cantaloupe. Yet he pulled it, so it wasn't THAT outside. But I am with Molitor, it was nice to see the kids battle back. Lynn will get better.

I nominate this for the most useful Twins article I've ever read.

Remembering the not-too-distant past, I'm just glad he didn't give up 5 runs. Count your blessings. Maybe the kid has learned to pitch. But give a man his due. Because under the harsh proverbial rule that "You are only as good as your last outing," that last outing was pretty good. And, in all fairness, even his critics should say "So far, so good." Because, so far its been real good. Way to go kid.

We had a brief discussion late last year about Dozier learning to hit the outside pitches for a single to right. This, as relating to his HR production as leadoff versus RBI spots in the order. So, since the coaches apparently believe in hitting the opposite way, why is Sano not getting the message? Is he just a stubborn kid? Am I going to have to send him a private message by Fed Ex?

He goes with the pitch. Sano needs to learn that.

He was just called out on a third strike all the way over the plate on the outside corner. I don't think he sees those pitches very well. He acts like he only sees every pitch that is middle in.

This article jinxed Lance Lynn. Grand Slam in the bottom of the first and three walks Yikes.

Sano is pulling his head and treating every pitch as if it needs to be hit ONLY to left field. That means he is pulling the head of the bat AWAY from middle out pitches. Someone needs to tell this guy how to hit those pitches to right field.

https://search.aol.com/aol/video;_ylt=Awr9Ilk0XMJaLxkAinNpCWVH;_ylu=X3oDMTByZDNzZTI1BGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?q=jim+mora+rant+playoffs&v_t=comsearch-b-hyplogusaolc00000002#id=6&vid=2edad7dbfd8d63e239963fc0d80a8510&action=view For those already expecting or talking about playoffs (I'm one of them), here ya go.

When the Twins traded for Rearden, I told my brother they are going to win the series. Of course I was just forecasting, but when you have that Alpha guy, it shortens the game.

Sano is pulling his head and trying to pull everything. Someone slip him a memo in study hall