LA VIkes Fan

I think the A’s will want some MLB ready pitching in return for Montas, someone like Winder or Sands. I don’t think a package built around a position player, particularly one with Kirilloff’s injury history or a recent breakout like Steer, will work. I think it’s more likely they will want a winder or Sands PLUS a Miranda or Steer PLUS a non–40 man young pitching prospect. I just think the cost is too high for Montas given that I don’t think this team is one starter away from World Series contention. Maybe next year with more development and if Correa stays, but not this year. Mahle or Castillo are more realistic starting picture targets in my humble opinion, We probably will have to give up young pitching To get either of them since they both have a year and a half left before free agency, but they might realistically be had for a Winder or Sands type plus lesser position players or younger pitching. That’s the way I would go if we go for a starting pitcher at all. We do need at least one more bullpen piece but I’m hopeful that Maeda can be the second piece come August. He was a very good reliever for the Dodgers who would typically start him for the first 100 games and then put him in the bullpen. I think if we can get one more quality reliever and Mazda can be that second reliever come mid August through the end of the season, That probably does as much for us as anything else. Bottom line, I think this is a fun team but not one starter away from contending for the World Series so I would not trade away the farm to get that starter.

My prediction is he comes up for Saturday's game where the starter is TBD and then gets DFA'd after a decent but not great game. Helps both him and the team.

Except that's not the way you do it. You don't use a weaker middle reliver as an opener, you use one of your better 7th/8th inning guys. Remember, the opener is going to face the other team's best hitters at the front of the order and set the tone for the game. In order to make this work, you have to use seventh or eighth inning guy to start out and frankly, go more than just one inning. Most openers go two innings if possible. So that exposes your bullpen in two ways, it means that seventh or eighth inning guy isn't available later in a close game situation so you have to dip down one more guy, and by having him pitch more than one inning, he isn't available tomorrow or maybe even the next day. The opener strategy works but you have to have the people to do it. It's not the same as simply reversing the roles of the weak middle reliever and weak starter. So, in short, it is a strategic change. Effectively you're using a later inning relievers the starter, followed by own of your weaker starters, hopefully followed by your late inning relievers were are now down one of their number. This strategy requires enough bullpen depth to still have two or three solid late inning relievers available after you burn one as your opener. That is one of the reasons most teams don't do this; they don't have the bullpen depth to pull it off. In my view, the Twins don't either.

I agree that any trade for a starter needs to be for a near top of rotation guy. The only available guy I see is Frankie Montas but I'm certainly open to another with at least 1.5 years of control left. I would be willing to trade a hitting piece like Larnach, Steer or Kirilloff, plus a good AA or AAA pitching prospect and a more long-term pitching prospect for someone like that. Otherwise, I don't think trading for a starter is a good idea. This team is a year away from truly contending so let's use this year to give as many starts as possible to Ryan, Ober, Winder, Smeltzer, and even Sands. Let's see if they can develop into productive rotation pieces for the next few years rather than give starts to a mid-rotation or back end veteran guy. Keep Gray and Archer, dump Bundy. I would be a little more open to trading for a veteran reliever, but only by trading younger prospects rather than someone close to the majors. I would not be willing to give up one of our better prospects for a "name" reliever since that typically does not work out very well. Bottom line, I think this is a fun team in a development year. It would really be great to make playoffs and finally win a game or two, or even the series against a 6th seed if we can somehow win the division. I don't think adding one guy is going to make a difference so I would roll with the guys we have unless we can get that top of rotation starter who has at least 1.5 years of control and even then, I want us to have at least a chance of extending that guy before giving up our higher end prospects. We just aren't that close yet, but we could be by next season if guys develop. Next year might be the year to mortgage some of the farm to get a guy or two to put us over the top.

I don't think can opener strategy works very well for this team. The whole idea is to take a solid reliever who could give you two innings against the first six – eight hitters in the opposing team's Lineup but who you didn't want anybody to see twice, and then follow them with a "bulk" pitcher would hopefully give you three – five innings or 2 decent trips through the order starting at the back end instead of the front end in case it had to be more than 2 trips so the 7-9 guys get the 3rd hack. It's kind of way to take a back end starter, combine him with a decent reliever, and make one good starter out of the two of them. To make it work, you need a group of solid relievers so you can burn one for a couple days by pitching him 2 innings against the other team's best hitters, and a decent backend starter who can give you three to five innings, but can't seem to get anyone out that 3rd time through without getting torched. This team doesn't really have that "bulk" kind of pitcher unless it's Bundy and they don't have a lot of solid relievers so using one has a starter leaves the bullpen exposed. I guess maybe that strategy could work if you started with Jax or even Cotton and then went to Sands but you run a big risk of burning two pitchers and looking for more help by the fifth inning. Also, then you don't have that reliever for back end work for a couple of days thereafter. I think it's a strategy for a team with real bullpen depth but a shallow starting rotation. I think you need that kind of pitching staff to make the opener strategy work and we just don't have the bullpen depth. When not injured we have the opposite – decent rotation depth but a shallow bullpen. Bottom line, I think with this team really needs is Ryan, Gray, and Winder/Ober back in the rotation.

IS that the last inning of Bundy in a Twins uni we see?

I wouldn't trade Martin except as part of a package for Frankie Montas or someone of his level. Certainly not for a reliver or 3 month starter rental. there isn't a good reason to sell low on him yet. Not at 23 years old with less than 150 professional games in so far. By the way, trading for Martin Perez with Texas is not smart. Good for him that his year has been good so far. Bad for us if we trade for his inevitable fall off. I say we stick with what we have in the rotation unless Montas is available (or someone at his level). For the bullpen, trade for a veteran having a decent year but don't give up a top prospect and don't trade for a "name" reliever, those guys rarely work out long term. I say we run with what we have. Let's plant the seeds for next year now. Oh, and something we can all agree on, IL or DFA Duffy.

That's the problem - we don't have other options. My guess is that if Ryan and Winder's rehab starts go well, they will both be up to start next week for the end of the Seattle series or in Arizona. Until then, we have to keep Bundy and Sands in the rotation because we simply don't have anybody else. Gray isn't available until 6/14 and also may get a rehab start. Ober 6/18. It seems like the best case scenario is we have is to have a full rotation by the Arizona series a week from this weekend. That means Bundy gets at least 2 starts - tonight against the Yankees and next week against the Mariners. Even with that, we will need to start a Chi Chi type or have a bulllpen game this weekend against Tampa. Bottom line, Bundy probably has 2 more starts to show he can stay at the MLB level. Doubtful he will, so I expect him to be put on the IL or DFA'd by the end of next week. Tonight is critical for him.

He’s hitting .348/.375.692(1.068) in his last 7 games, and .348/.375/.652(1.029) in his last 15. Hard to send him down. This won’t last obviously but you gotta keep playing him. He’s an adventure in the field at first base, but maybe third base would be a better spot . With this team, it’s getting harder to see a spot for Kirilloff or Lewis on the 26 man before the cut to 13 pitchers. An injury will change that analysis and give them opportunities, but right now everyone on the roster is earning their spot.

I actually like Danchat's betting strategy. I used to bet baseball and stopped because it became a bit too much of an obsession rather than fun. Last night's bet did seem like a slam dunk for the Yankees but even if you lose you win because then the Twins win the game. Works for me. I'm thinking about tonight's game. Danchat, which of the online services is the best?

This actually answers a question that I had- is Buxton as bad a DH as it looks? Seems as though he is. I have to think playing 2 out of 3 games in CF is a better way to go with him. Some guys just have a hard time as a DH. Buxton May be one of those guys.

Yankees -1.5 runs, money line is Yankees -157, Twins +136. O/U is 8.5. Seems like the Yankees should be bigger favorites. What am I missing?

Please dear God, no. Same guy. Hot streak then disaster. If he's stays this good through end of July? Maaaaybe....

Wow, ugly matchups. I guess that's what one has to expect form a team down its #1, #2, #3, and #6 starters. I just hope we can find a way to win 1 game out of 3.

I tend to agree. His knee is robbing him of the three things that make them so special, his speed, defense, and power. It's an unusual combination and it requires a good base to pull off. He just doesn't have that base now to either run or form the solid back side while swinging. I'm not sure though that putting Buxton on the IL makes room for Kirilloff though. Assumedly, Celestino would have to play centerfield on a daily basis and you still have the logjam at !B, LF and DH if you bring up Kirilloff. Maybe that frees up a few more DH at bats for him but that's about it. I think the real choice here is between Larnach and Kirilloff, one up and one down, losing Garlick, demoting Miranda, or exposing Gordon so both Larnach and Kirilloff off can be on the team. Before the season I would've said that's an easy choice, simply lose Garlick. But with the way he has hit LH pitching this year, it's hard to not keep him around. Three weeks ago I would've said that's an easy choice, demote Miranda, and then Miranda turned into one of our best hitters over the last three weeks. The bottom line may be that Kirilloff failed to perform when given his opportunity and he will simply have to wait until someone gets hurt or goes into a prolonged slump before he gets another.

Assuming he's really back, there shouldn't be that big a problem finding him ABs. Essentially, we have 7 players for 3 positions if he returns - Arraez, Larnach, Kirilloff, Celestino, Sanchez (when not C), and Garlick, Miranda or Gordon (one of those three has to go to give Kirilloff a spot) for 1B, DH and LF. I would Catch Sanchez 4 days a week, Jeffers the other 2 (or even consider moving Jeffers to AAA to work on his hitting), but not DH Sanchez when not catching. That leaves Arraez, Larnach, Kiriloff, Celestino, and Garlick or Gordon for LF, DH and 1B. Arraez plays only against RH pitching with Kirilloff at 1B and Larnach in LF or DH with Celestino getting the other. Celestino plays CF when Buxton sits/DHs and occasionally in RF for Kepler. Garlick starts as the LF/DH against LH starters with Arraez at 1B and someone from the Larnach/Kirilloff/Celestino/Miranda group in the LF/DH spot. There is a path to playing Kirilloff 4-5 days a week. The losers here are Jeffers becoming the true backup Catcher, Larnach not playing every day, and either Garlick, Mirnda or Gordon gone with the other two not getting anywhere near as many at bats. That means you only do this IF you think Kirilloff will play/hit better than Gordon, Miranda, Larnach and Jeffers. Where it really becomes crowded is when Lewis is ready to come back. he frankly has played better at the MLB level than Gordon, Larnach, Kirilloff, Garlick, Miranda and Jeffers. Lewis should have first call on ABs over all of that group. Good problem to have but injuries will probably solve it for us.

At the risk of wading into the deep end, I just don't get this one from the players. One of the players was stating that his refusal to wear the patch was a "faith based decision". I don't know what his faith is (none of my business) but as a Christian, his faith must be something other than Christianity.

You have to think an IL stint is coming for Duffy. I watched him yesterday and he couldn't throw strikes with his curveball. The Jays just didn't even consider offering at his breaking pitches. They then jumped all over his fastball, even if it was 94 with some movement. He can't pitch his way out of this.

I'm not a huge Baldelli fan but I actually see him trying to react to the lineup issues. He called for a sacrifice bunt in the late innings today and he is definitely trying to manufacture runs with Correa out and Buxton and Polanco both hurting and not hitting. I think he's done a decent job with an undermanned bullpen. Overall, I'd give him a B/B- for the year so far. Not great, but not bad.

I think Polanco is playing hurt with a bad ankle. He doesn't complain but you can see him favoring the ankle when he gets fooled on a swing. I could easily see him going on the 10 day IL either when Correa comes back with Arraez moving to 2B and Miranda the full time 1B, or when Lewis comes back. It would probably be the best thing for him,

Agree both that Oakland and Cincinnati would want Lewis AND agree that that's a hard NO. Pretty much anyone else should be available except Miranda on the prospect list. How about Celestino, Larnach or Kirilloff plus SVR, Sands or Balazovic? MLB ready bat plus higher end pitching prospect. Or the reverse, Ober plus Martin or Steer? Young MLB starting pitcher plus higher end prospect? Unlikely we trade for either one unless the FO really believes they can sign them to a longer term deal. This team is fun, but it isn't one starter away from WS contention this year. Better to play this year out with who we got, with maybe adding a bullpen piece, and then see if one more starter could take us really into contention. If so, make a move over the winter.

Excellent summation. I do think that Ober and either Winder or Archer can hold down the ##4 and 5 spots once Gray and Ryan are back. Good luck until then. Bundy and Duffy need to be gone, I would actually start Celestino in LF - CF when Buxton sits or DHs - and make Larnach the LH DH. I'd like to see what Celestino can do playing every day. He would improve the defense and Garlick is out so why not? Hit him 8th or 9th and add some speed to the lineup.

Whew! More exciting than we needed. Can't blame the manager, Duran got hit by a line drive. No way he could pitch the 9th once the bruise set in. Smart of him to use the challenge to buy time for the reliever to warm up with Duffy imploding. Besides, that same manager brought a AAAA squad to Canada and beat the Jays 2 out of 3. Seriously, does Duffy have any options left? He should go to AAA, not Cotton.

Ok, well. I guess we now know why the team wasn't rushing to get Hamilton up here.

I can see Archer in the bullpen but not until Gray, Ryan, and Winder are available to start. Right now all we have is Ober, Archer and Smeltzer to start.