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,

I hope you're right. I'm not as optimistic.

Don't the Twins have an opening at DH? Who am I missing? LF - Gallo CF - Buxton RF - Kepler 3B - Miranda SS - Correa 2B - Polanco 1B - Arraez C - Vazquez Is the DH, Nick Gordon? Or whichever of: Gordon/Jeffers/Farmer/Kirilloff/Larnach fits Baldelli's spreadsheet? I'd be open to an upgrade at DH. However, I'd rather they upgrade the floor or their rotation first and foremost.

The Rays get a free pass because they compete in a division of big spenders. Consequently, players remember things like this. How much will it affect their ability to re-sign them? Who knows. The Twins did this to Berrios and the next season all we heard about was how Berrios wanted to test free agency in the off-season. Then he's traded to Toronto and signs an extension. Point is - letting a panel of arbiters decide the difference of a few hundred thousand isn't really a big deal, so why not just get it done without dragging the player through arbitration? It's never a positive way to build a business relationship with your players.

Paddack. Pagan, Gray. Three different pitchers, and the topic is Chris Paddack. You're ready to say that the FO is doubling down to prove they made the right move after a handful of starts? And what does Gray have to do with this? Pagan can go. Paddack can stay -- especially for that price. Gray can be extended. All three things can happen independent of one another.

Exactly my thoughts as well. Glad we had you on this forum to keep the hope alive this last round. ?

Absolutely. How the Braves continue to do that is amazing to me. It should be made into a movie starring Brad Pitt as Anthopoulos. Another one that puzzles me, is what the heck sort of photos Cleveland had on Jose Ramirez to get him to accept THAT deal.

Maybe I am just in a better mood now that the Twins got Correa, but the signing doesn't bother me that much. He was the top left fielder available, based on WAR. My vitriol on the move was that it CANNOT be THE signature move of the off-season. If he rebounds anywhere close to what he was, you're looking at a .350 OBP bat with 35 - 40 HR and strong defense. And he has every incentive in the world to do so, because it's a one year deal. I'm not a fan, but the signing doesn't bother me in the least. Losing out on Correa -- twice -- THAT bothered me,

It doesn't bother me missing out on Cutch. He's not what he once was, by a long shot. However, I do like the idea of him returning to Pittsburgh. That team doesn't have a lot to cheer for these days, aside from a 5,000 mph rocket off the bat of Oneil Cruz. Good for them. Now give us Bryan Reynolds. ? Or don't. I don't care, really. Trey Mancini anyone?

Looks like 3 years, $12.4M. I like this. It's like a mini-play pulled out of the Braves playbook. Lock up the studs while they're young. Ha! Seriously though, I like Paddack and was happy when they traded for him and sad when he went down. I hope he reaches his potential here, Good move.

Yeah, it's hard to see him leap frogging Manoah, Gausman or Bassit if all goes as planned. If last year's troubles are corrected, I think he slots in nicely to a rotation at 3 or 4. If he continues to battle dead arm and has another up and down (mostly down) season then I am concerned about the arm "Dead arm" can be so many things.