bap3141

Indeed. I believe the real problem here is that Burnes took the arguments against him personally. You can find the link on Twitter -- a 2 minute interview. Essentially, he claims the team blamed him primarily for not making the post-season. Seems to me, $750,000 is not a large enough number to create a toxic situation with your superstar pitcher. Though, maybe they offer him a boat-load of money and extend him in season, you never know. Sounds like he's ready for a split though.

I read that as well. However, I read that before they ticked Burnes off in arbitration. I'm sure he's out the door this year, I'd be happy if the Twins started working on a deal now. Also, regardless of what you or I think about how the Twins should operate, I make an exception for Burnes. A top 5 pitcher in baseball, maybe top 2. Of course, I am only throwing out a conversation starter here -- I haven't read anything that suggests the Twins are even talking with the Brewers. So, let me ask you this, are you COMPLETELY out on Burnes if he were shopped today? Or is there a price you would be comfortable with now or at the deadline?

Saw an interview today thar Burnes wasn't happy with the Brewers after his arbitration hearing. Sounds like the Brewers might have created some anomosity over a measley $750k. So... does a package of Royce Lewis, Max Kepler and Bailey Ober at least get them to the table?

This is super helpful. My son and I only get to a handful of games each year and it's usually "in, watch the game/eat, leave". Much of this I didn't know and now that I do, I can plan a much more immersive experience. Thank you.

Zero interest in Trevor May. He's not good. Why trade away potential and rotation depth for him? Especially, as someone pointed out, there are still unsigned relief pitchers.

I agree. The poor fella is used to it. The Dodgers did that to him often.

I agree. I like what the Twins have done this off-season. I think they win the division also, if they stay healthy.

To be fair, it doesn't matter.

Once the BBWAA enshrined Harold Baines, I lost interest. It's all far too subjective. For our local guy, how in the h-e-double-hockey-sticks is Johan Santana one-and-done on the ballot, yet Mark Freaking Buehrle is not? Or Cliff Lee. (And I'm not even suggesting those guys should be in.) It's just such a joke. And these writers have their heads up their rears. Might as well start calling it the Hall of WAR.

I'm exhausted by this topic. How many times and angles do we need to discuss it?

It could also be the case that they just aren't comfortable relying on those guys to be healthy (Lewis), productive (Gilberto) or both (Jeffers) in 2023.

This "fIrSt BaLlOtT" nonsense is just silly. You're either a Hall of Famer or you're not. But, I get it. Some players need longer consideration. If only that were what's going on here. It's not though. BBWAA voters hold votes or vote for players at the expense of others just to keep players on the ballot because they're limited to the number of players that they can vote for. This is all common knowledge and discussed ad nauseau every year. Having said all that, are we certain Joe Mauer is a HOFer? His top comparison for his career, both by position and pathway, is Joe Torre. Who was not voted in the Hall based on his playing accolades, either.

Bingo. I want pitchers to be allowed to work out of jams. Obviously if they don't have "it" that day, the manager needs to make that call. However, the scenario where the Rays manager, Kevin Cash pulled his starter Blake Snell in the 2020 World Series for no good reason wheh he was dominating the Dodgers lineup and lost the game and the series to the Dodgers is a perfect example of the stupidity of these analytics-only managers in today's game.

Wrong! I never throw the manager under the bus for allowing starters to stay in. Like I said, a starter can go 200 innings or throw more than 100 pitches in a game. Also, way to competely dismiss my point on managers having a "feel" for the game.

I'm an analyst too. I work with numbers all day. I love sabermetrics and baseball analytics. But, you also need to have a feel for the game too. Baldelli does not. He's far too analytics driven. Tom Kelly kept Jack Morris in Game 7 of the '91 World Series, despite everyone (even back then) saying that 10 innings for a pitcher is insane. He was ready to pull him and Jack Morris talked him out of it. Kelly then made a gut decision. His head was in the game, not a spreadsheet. The data can tell you that the odds are better if you make a switch, but every situation is unique and different. Far too many managers these days pop up off the bench and spring out of the dugout like they've been shot out of a cannon once a pitcher throws his 100th pitch. It's annoying. Especially when they bring a reliever in who blows the lead. I have heard John Smoltz makes this point multiple times, when you have too many relivers in the game, you're banking on ALL of them being on their game on that particular night. Not just one or two. He's right. Nolan Ryan's philosophy was that you could take him out of the game if there was someone better to come in. Obviously the game has changed and pitchers don't throw 30 complete games in a season, or 10, or 300 innings, or 250; but a starting pitcher can throw 200 innings. They don't turn into a pumpkin once they throw their 101st pitch in a game. A pitcher can work out of a jam. They're just not given the chance too anymore. I'd rather have Sony Gray work out of his own jam than Emilo Pagan,