Nashvilletwin

Brock, I graciously recognised your role and its inherent difficulties. But there really is no need for you to continue to denigrate the very people who come to this site and make it what it is. I don’t consider myself or anyone else on this site a “Random Joe” and you know nothing of my reputation or “motives” (whatever that means). I’m pretty sure if we ever met, we’d be pretty decent friends. You’ve made your point - the car is off the lot so there is no need to keep selling. That’s just some friendly advice from someone who cares about this community.

Brock, I didn’t mean to contribute to setting off a fire storm when you felt the need to comment about deleting some posts (mine included). Some might have enjoyed what I wrote, but others might not have. Although it didn’t contain any bad words or it wasn’t critical of anyone on the TD or the TD itself, it’s your call as the moderator. It’s a tough, thankless job. I get it. I’m glad I’m not doing it. So no biggie - I’m out of this politics thread (I’m really sick of the whole damn thing anyway and there is just no upside in it - it just causes dissension on the TD and I’m mad I got suckered into it this morning by Stu’s post) and will head back to the baseball posts and focus on our Twins.

Jim Kaat on growing up in 4,000 population Zeeland Michigan: “I wish every kid in America could grow up there.” He’s the best - my favourite (even including Bert).

News could have been worse, of course. But he was really in a groove at the plate and his enthusiasm seemed to be quite additive as well. Here’s hoping he’s back sooner rather than later - even if it is in St. Paul: every at bat counts for this young man. Of course, if he were a hockey player…….

The Twins probably have no worries about Martin being able to handle playing LF. But if they can keep him at SS and project him there, his value clearly goes up (in the trade market). I’m not a huge believer in the “tweener” concept. Not every player is five tool. Martin is clearly three/four (depending on your view of his arm - it may not be elite, but it is more than satisfactory) and two of his tools (hitting for average/OBP and speed are elite). Honestly, how many prospects do we have that are solid four tool players with two elite tools? So is Arraez a “tweener” because he can’t hit for power but still plays 1B? Well, I’d say give me the two possible leaders in MLB OBP with one having elite sped at the top of our order any day and I don’t care if they have to more than adequately play a position that usually is reserved for a strike out prone, 0.325 OBP, lumbering 25 jacks/year guy. Martin should be in our lineup by mid 2023 alongside Arraez - with both players hitting top three in the order - “tweener” label be damned.

Did Rocco learn his lesson from the previous game? He got Pagan up to be ready if Canó stumbled - which he did. Unlike getting someone up to relieve Duffy the night before. Maybe there’s hope……

Agree with a number of comments. 1, Why wasn’t Smeltzer staying in to start the 8th - especially with the lead off batter being a lefty. 2. Duffy stayed in too long. Too quick to yank Smeltzer and too slow to yank Duffy. Rocco was 0-2 tonight on his primary bullpen decisions. 3. DH - smeeH. How you don’t pinch run Gordon for Sanchez is unbelievable. Was anyone else screaming at the TV set “Pinch run Gordon!” In summary, a lot of the blame for this was is on Rocco.

Another Rocco loss headed our way. Sure he’s made some decent moves this year, but this one is on him.

1. The entire game turned on the foul ball off the knob of Correa’s bat. If that is a ball or HBP, I think the Twins win. But the upside is Correa wasn’t hurt. 2, Max’s K in the bottom of the 9th was an abysmal AB. What was it - 5 sliders, none were in the zone, he swung at all 5 with two weak fouls and three misses? I love Max, but that was a poor mental effort by a seasoned pro. 3.We’ve won way more than our share of games we shoulda/coulda lost this year. So one went the other way this time. No biggie - see you tomorrow,

Rec this. He did not get one strike. Ump called the first two pitches strikes that were balls. Then the needed fouls of out of the zone pitches. Then the punch out on a pitch that wasn’t even close. Yikes, he got screwed in that AB

Serious question for the stat gurus on the TD: when was the last time the Twins had two, let alone successful, sacrifice bunt attempts in a single game? Hell has officially frozen over……

15/16 saves, an ERA of 0.52 and a WHIP of 0.63. Hey, you win some and you lose some. This one we lost. It’ll be ok.

Rec this. But don’t forget about Kiriloff. He will be back.

1, Pagan is so nerve wracking. It’s literally unbearable to watch him close a game. Watching my kids compete in sports was less angst inducing than having Pagan come in to close - no matter how big the lead. Even Rocco, the ever staid, looked like he was dying inside. 2. Btw, there is a closer in the NL who leads the majors in saves with 15, and has an ERA of 0.52 and a WHIP of 0.63. I wonder what it would cost us to rent him for the rest of the season? 3. It’s often stated that good ball clubs make their own luck. If so, then this Twins team must be very, very good.

A 2025 infield of Miranda, Lewis, Miller and Kiriloff? That might be pretty dang sweet…..and still cheap at that point.

Question for my fellow TDers: if the FO is confident that Correa will be here throughout 2022 and believes there is a reasonable probability that he will be with the Twins in ‘23 and possibly ‘24, where is Lewis’s best position? Choices: 3B - currently held by Urshela with Miranda slotted as the long term solution. 1B - really wide open given Sano is likely done, Arraez is a misfit, and the true heir apparent, Kiriloff, has seemingly big issues. But would Lewis’s raw talents be wasted there? Corner OF - currently occupied by Kepler, Larnach, and Celestino - all of whom have been producing more or less. My take is that if your best prospect’s position is taken by essentially your best overall player, then you find the second best position that will maximise long term success for that prospect. Period. If someone else needs to change positions (Miranda, Larnach) or ultimately be traded (Urshela, Kepler), then you do what must be done to make Lewis successful. Lewis’s development and long term home are the priorities over all those other players. Don’t fret. Lewis will be back relatively soon and he, Buxton, Polanco, and, if we are lucky, Correa will be the core of this ball club for the next several years. That will be one awesome core.

The issue remains Correa’s long-term deal. If we are confident/sure Correa is going to be our SS for the next five years, the Lewis has to find a new spot - preferably corner OF, but maybe 3B. With Miranda likely headed down, there are ABs available at both positions now. Btw, this also sets up for Noah Miller as a potential replacement for Correa eventually. However, we don’t know that Correa is going to be around - I’d sadly wager the odds are more likely he’s not. So that means Lewis needs the reps badly at SS if that’s his position going forward. Most likely scenario is that he hangs around a couple of more weeks and then heads back to St. Paul to hone his fielding craft.

Agree - better rack up the W’s before the big kids get out of school.

Archer is not fun to watch. Incredibly boring. Must be tough to be in the field behind him…

Great post. Let’s throw a wrench in the discussion with a couple of questions: 1. Is Lewis a long term above average fielding SS and/or 3B? 2. Can we actually sign Correa to a long term deal? Note: this is all about producing the best team in ‘23 and beyond. Let’s not get sucked into thinking quite yet that this team is ready to contend this year and we’d be willing to sacrifice the future to try to prove it (call me in two months; I’m just not there yet). If the answers are yes and yes, you move Urshela for whatever we can get and a bit of salary relief. Your 2023-2024 infield is Lewis (3B), Correa (SS), Polanco (2B), Arraez/Miranda/Kiriloff (1B/DH), and Gordon (Utility). That is a long term contending infield and the best case scenario. If the answers are no and no, then you trade Correa and shoe horn Lewis into SS (he’s clearly passable) until a better option comes along. Keep Urshela for the time being to strengthen the left side. But, sadly, Correa’s value needs to be monetized. This is the worst case. If the answers are yes and no, you trade Correa and maybe Urshela too (depending how you feel about Miranda at 3B and Kiriloff at 1B), but maybe not until mid ‘23. This is the young, cheap infield case and probably the most likely, and still very attractive, scenario. If the answers are no and yes, you might actually move Kepler as Lewis is probably your RF of the future. Don’t fret everyone - with Larnach proving his mettle, Celestino demonstrating he’s a major leaguer, and Martin on the way, we have four great potential outfielders surrounding Buxton and all are on minimum salary. This is the second best scenario as we keep Correa and Lewis in the lineup everyday. Still might move Urshela as well. Lewis is uber talented and a tremendous young man. He needs to be a Twin for a long, long time. He is the heir apparent to Buxton in terms of team leadership. Hopefully we can keep Correa too, because any lineup with a core of Buxton, Correa and Lewis has a good chance to be a winner.

1. Lewis ABs are getting to be must see events. Congrats kid. 2. Rocco left Jax in too long. Jax had to endure a very long bottom of the fifth, probably leading him to lose some of his stuff. 3. Pagan is so scary. 4. Smith is so exceptional. 5. We need more articles from Ted about how bad Urshela and Sanchez are - his last one perked then right up! 6. Great division win to break the losing streak and get the bats back.

Well, the Twins we’re doing great until the bigger, better, and more experienced kids got out of school. Seriously, the Twins were badly outhit, outpitched, outran, outfielded, and, yes, outcoached. (They were even outumped). Was it just me, or did there just seem to be such a lack of fire in the belly from this team?

Legit major leaguer who had moments of great play, but suffered from a lack of consistent, reliable production. Couple that with below average fielding and consistently absurd strike out rates, and we are left with disappointment. So sadly, more bust than boom given expectations. What is perhaps most sad, is that this is a huge contact year for Miguel. There was rightly a lot of optimism that he would be focused on producing to earn one more big contract. The incredibly slow start now followed by the injury makes a big new deal unlikely. That’s too bad for Miguel - I was really cheering for him,

Lewis, Miranda, Larnach, Kiriloff, Jeffers, Arraez, Centerino, and, hopefully, Martin. Those are eight legit position players making essentially league minimum over the next several years. With Buxton and Polanco, we still have plenty of $ for CC. Add in one legit backup CC and maybe even Max hangs around two more years. That my friends, is a premier 13 player MLB position player roster in terms of talent and very manageable cost. The future could be quite bright.

Yeah, baby! Glad the initial diagnosis has changed. Huge news! Go Twins! Go Carlos! Go Royce! I’m in France tonight, but staying up to watch Royce - first pitch in about two hours at 2:10 a.m.