Don't Feed the Greed Guy

Let him play. I have this confidence: Brooks Lee, Royce Lewis, Austin Martin, Eduard Julien, Jose Salas and Tanner Schoebel (don't sleep on Schoebel!) provide the Twins with unparalleled middle-infield depth. Nobody wants to overpay in a trade, but if this club is in control of the AL Central at the trade deadline, make a deal for that ace who can win Game #1 in a playoff series. The best two prospects could bookend Correa at 2nd and 3rd base for the rest of this decade.

Keith Law is not a Marco Raya fan. He ranks Raya 13th in the Twins system. In the comments section of his Athletic piece, "Twins top 20 prospects 2023: Keith Law ranks Minnesota's farm league system" a commenter took him to task for the poor ranking. Law replied: "I feel very confident I have Raya in the right spot. He missed 2021 with arm problems. He’s smaller, needs a better third pitch, and didn’t blow low A hitters away like you’d expect someone with a +++ slider to do." The good news? Law is much higher on Jordan Balazovic than most others. To paraphrase, Jordy Blaze was hurt during the lockout, which meant he was also locked out of access to Twins doctors and trainers. "I’m writing the year off as a matter of injury and hoping he gets back to the top-100 form he’d shown in 2019 and 2021, where he looked like a potential No. 2 starter." Balazovic is the highest rated pitcher in his analysis of the Twins farm system, at #7. Connor Prielipp (#8), and Simeon Woods Richardson (#10) are the only other two in the top ten. Lots of shortstops! This also led to the general opinion that local writers seem to rank the Twins pitching prospects WAY higher than the national writers do. Boy howdy, I sure hope our local writers write right!

The two AL Central teams worth noting, the Guardians and the White Sox, don't have cupcake schedules, either. Chicago opens with a four game series in Houston, and they play 13 games against the AL East in April. They better pack a lunch if they want to be above .500 in May. Cleveland has an easier April, but if Seattle is all that they are supposed to be, watch out. They open with 4 games in the Emerald City. Then host the Mariners for three more. Then the Yankees visit for three games. The rest of their schedule is relatively easy. What will Boston have? They end up April with four games at Fenway. My prediction: Cleveland leads the division by two games on May Day, the Twins are in second, and Chicago is a game or two under .500.

The Twins don't need a(nother) front line starter--at least not right now. For this off-season, the Twins need to strengthen the bullpen and perhaps the back end of the rotation. I believe the analytics regarding starters' effectiveness when facing the top of a batting order for a third time. The numbers don't lie. That, and how many times did the bullpen roll over and die against Cleveland last summer? My dog doesn't "Play Dead" that well. Two or three more quality bullpen arms should be a priority. There may already be a Duran-esque candidate within the organization. Re-sign Correa as much for his defense behind our pitching staff as much as anything else. Put the darn ring on his finger. He dated Minnesota for a year. Go to the jeweler and buy the engagement ring. Don't waste it on a free agent pitching floosie. See how the marriage works, until mid-summer. If the Twins are in contention, then go get the best frontline starter on the market.

TightnTightness in the hamstring, according to the radio broadcast.

At the Saints game Simeon Woods Richardson gave up 1 run over 5 innings. Lowered his ERA to 3.29, and was in line for the win, but Smeltzer has given up 5 runs to the Royals AAA club. If it was KC, he'd look like an ace. But the real reason for my post: What's up with Sonny Gray? Out after 59 pitches? Any sign of injury? SWR is 21. The Saints have one 22yr old on their roster. The Storm Chasers have two. This kid has a future.

Ryan's 10th win. In all of the Twins Rookie of the Year discussion, and the focus on advanced metrics, you still have to be in a position to win ballgames. Ryan has done that better than any other Twins pitcher. Duran? You have to win the first innings before you can win the last ones. Ryan's my ROY.

Am I greedy, or is okay to wish for one more reliever? Please trade Joey Bagadoughnuts for a mid-tier bullpen arm. Please? It already feels like Christmas, though.

Stay tuned for this commercial break... Typical.

A deal for for Contreras only makes sense if the front office studies his defensive metrics at age 30 (what's up with the -6 DRS this year?). If they conclude that Contreras can improve the bullpen, handle Twins starters better than Jeffers & Sanchez, and bring valued playoff experience behind the plate for a postseason run--then a deal may make sense. The bat comes with the glove, of course...

On June 19th of 2016 I was in Chicago for a leadership conference. I arrived a day early and took the Red Line to the Addison stop. Pirates vs. Cubs. In the 6th inning, Wilson Contreras pinch hit for Kyle Hendricks, who dominated the Pittsburgh batters, with 12 k's--one run. It was Contreras' first MLB plate appearance. Contreras faced AJ Schugel with two outs and on on. Boom! Contreras hit a two-run home run over the ivy in center. Yes, Contreras would be the only upgrade on this list. At bat, and behind the plate.

There are so many bizarre details in this story. The craziest? Wes Johnson is in Cleveland with the team, and will likely be in the dugout and clubhouse all week. How's that for a long Minnesota goodbye?

How refreshing! Fox's play-by-play crew called out the official time of the first pitch. As someone who keeps score, and has 'official start time' on my scorecard. Everybody calling a game should do this, in my OCD opinion...

I was shocked when Correa chose to sign with the Twins last spring. That first shocking event has placed in motion a series of other events: a welcoming clubhouse, the Twins emerging as a first-place team, Correa's increasing value (.884 OPS in May, 1.611 so far in June), and now the tragic event--Royce Lewis' injury--and 12 months of rehab--the second time this has happened. Other events could unfold in 2022: a pennant race, a postseason run, and a degree of success and team and organizational chemistry built upon that first shocking event. This is the window of opportunity. Events have traspired. The Twins have a sudden longer-term need for leadership and stability at the shortstop position. Carlos Correa fulfills that need. Signing Correa long-term would be an historic event. But it is logical, and makes good sense. I wouldn't be "shocked" if the Twins organization lets Correa slip away, but I would be disappointed. That first shocking event has made the eventual signing of Carlos Correa to a long term contract both logical and probable. It just makes sense. Sign the man. I will not be shocked if it happens.

So should I drive 200 miles to the Twin Cities tomorrow for a Twins/Saints doubleheader? Rain in the forecast...