spanman2

all about the Benjamins and his avg defensive ability and mental lapses on the lower side OBP Certainly a fan favorite for the most part...less expensive options waiting in the wings. He will land somewhere. Hopefully not on the Southside.

IALTO

I would offer a I agree...well said. Maybe 12-14 this upcoming season and a club option in '22 for about 10 with a buyout attached if they choose not to resign in '22. I could certainly see the Twins giving him 2 years with the production on the field and how it seems from a fans perspective how he works with the younger players.

If he wants a 1 year deal get it done!!! if it is 30-35/yr so be it. If it is 5+ years we are obviously out. At face value it appears he prefers the yr to yr deal. Zero reason not to do it on a 1 year deal.

One thing I would like to touch on...when you advocate 'swing hard' go for it etc. If you are consistently doing that once you reach the playoffs it gives me the sense it would be difficult to flip a switch and go to slapping the ball the other way or putting something as simple as a bunt where no one is positioned. So much emphasis has been put on launch angle/power that players don't seem to have it in their game to be able to flip that switch and play the 2020 version of small ball.

If he is willing to sign a 1 year deal with a fair bump in pay to both sides if there is such a thing in professional sports anymore if I were the Twins I would do that in a heartbeat. My guess is he will want two years for sure. As others have mentioned there are certainly other factors to take into conisideration. Isoliating just one is the health of Donaldson...how many games can we count on him to play in the field? Several others as well but that is a huge 'what if'. Should be an interesting off season.

You can't make it up...0-17. I am not a stat geek but I would be curious as to the 'statistical probability' of losing 17 straight playoff games?

Enjoy the day games with same day drinking...hit a local watering hole or tell your boss unless you are self-employed you are taking a half day...Win Twins!!! Lets make a run this year.

Another Punto basher...define 'underperformer' if you have a 14 year MLB career. Was he an All Star caliber hitter? No way and I would never argue that point, but he could play 3b,ss,2b any day of the week. He was a player you could throw out there when a starter needed a day off and you wouldn't need to worry about getting a solid 9 innings out of him. I said in my post Gardy was absolutely the perfect fit personality wise in '02 for the players on that team and the circumstances the franchise was facing. Look at the lack of talent TK had for several years in the 90s...did TK forget how to manage? Of course not. You gotta have talent to go along with reaching your players as they are all different between the ears. One segment of the game that passed Gardy and the front office by during their tenure was embracing the analytics of the game. They now have a front office/manager that does. WIN TWINS!!!

I think Gardy was the perfect fit for the franchise in '02 when he took over for TK. His managerial style seemed to mesh well with the players who went out there for him. That season you could argue literally saved this franchise from relocating or being eliminated all together. Like many managers when the talent isnt there your record suffers. He had a good run with the Twins going back to his pre-managerial roles. Great personality no doubt. I could see the Twins giving him an advisor type role centered around spring training or perhaps offering other types of instruction in the minor leagues. Take care of yourself Gardy...Best Wishes to you/yours.

If that did occur it would certainly say the Twins are all in. That would be a statement trade for certain.

Well said Cap...He was not thinking when he said 'risking his life'...we can all list occupations that are truly putting it on the line. Blake...you would be playing baseball. Think about that!!! It is amazing some players still don't get the fact that they are playing a game...they are entertaining people. Owners are not innocent angels don't get me wrong. Both sides need to realize how blessed they are that so many of us are baseball fans and also realize how much we miss the game...if they screw this up they will do serious damage to the game that is already trying to attract new fans. They have a golden opportunity here.

Very interesting story. Appreciate the insight and you sharing it. Hopefully they are playing soon!!! Be well in Thailand. WIN TWINS.

Patrick is a character. I am originally a Fulda kid like him. He was a classmate of my Uncle. Class of '63. Patrick went back for the 50th reunion and wrote a column about it. He is great about remembering his roots. He is certainly a HUGE baseball guy. Was great on the Townball documentary last year. I believe he moved to Prior Lake in the 9th grade. I emailed him about his column the experience of a 50th class reunion and my Uncle. He was killed in Vietnam in Oct of '68. He was a helicopter pilot. Patrick was gracious with his time and memories of going to school in Fulda and with my Uncle Ronnie.

No doubt about this...that Knobby decoy saved the game at that point.

The MLB Network segment on Bob Uecker was highly entertaining!!! Several classic Uecker one liners such as the one quoted here.

They finally ran out of the leftovers from the Metrodome...just busting chops I thought it was kind of funny.

He certainly is gaining valuable experience at such a young age. Let's hope he can play 150+ games in '20. WIN TWINS!

Sorry to hear about the Wisconsin thing...just busting your chops. Thanks for sharing. Good stuff! WIN TWINS!!!

Agree 100% Kaat is fantastic!!!

Love it...I have a baby blue pullover with darker blue Twins in cursive script.

IALTO

Those $10.25 beers will have to go up to $10.75.

Interesting comment on 2000-10...2002 was my 3rd favorite Twins team of all time and I was 10 when the Twins won it in 87. Can't speak to 'remembering the early years. The teams in that decade from starting in '01 when they were beginning to figure it out were fun to watch. 2006 was an amazing season...2009 game 163 I mean a lot of good baseball in those years. Obviously not WS but still some good teams.

Correct...their words not the fan bases. Difficult to argue that fact.