Hosken Bombo Disco

Is this the last day? I would like the Twins to do something decisive today!

I don’t know much about these Marlins guys, so thanks. I wonder what kind of interest these two pitchers drew at the deadline? It’s natural that other teams would value what Rosario brings to the table. Yeah if the Marlins are looking for that profile, major league left-handed bat, give them a call. But the Twins should tread carefully.

Good response, though as I read back, I see you dodged my question: What is a World Series worth to you? What is a World Series worth to this organization? Fans want to win, and I think that is why fans here will always disagree with you. The value premise does not mix well with winning. I’m not saying you don’t want the team to win, but winning does seem to come across as secondary.

You may have a point, but... by that logic, you think that character trait makes him more likely to sign with a coastal elite big city team? The Twins were not among his no-trade destinations last season, if I’m recalling correctly, while the big cities were.

I can only think of 29 losers to every free agent signing, 30 if you count the team that actually signed the free agent. And there is actually a good discussion on one of the threads about the Cubs cutting payroll and what a good exchange for Darvish might entail.

You say the next tier has been brutal, but you were in favor of signing Wheeler. As was I. I presume because you think he can pitch. As do I. So, how do you decide that Wheeler is well worth 5/105, but is not worth 5/125 or 5/135? You gain a great starter, and what does that extra payroll really cost you? How badly does this organization want a deep postseason run?

Max Scherzer signed a 7/210 contract in January 2015, just a bit outside the date range you chose.

Agree. But it’s Twitter and he needs to take it with a grain of salt.

I mean, look at how badly we needed a starting pitcher in the ALDS.

Phil Mackey wishes to call me and other fans morons. Fine. I just do not understand how so many media figures in this market have such contempt for their fans.

True. And David Wells pitched into his 40s. Those two had longer records of sustained success than Pineda. I will praise the Pineda signing once we see that it's not the last of the signings.

and No.

No.

Pineda is like a poor man’s Rich Hill. Effective when he is on the field, which isn’t that often. Fortunately, Pineda’s spotty schedule will suit the Twins needs of getting innings for their up and coming young starters, but unfortunately this signing does nothing for getting past the first round of the postseason. He’s 31 and out of shape, and I have a hard time believing there is any “upside” in this move. He is what he is. All of this is just my opinion, of course.

And what if we come to find out it’s Mauer leaving all those $10,000 dollar bills in those red kettles? Then what?

Listens to AM radio, you say? I blame Mike Max.

I am frankly surprised by this.

Here’s the thing: if Bumgarner gets less than Wheeler, then he better be signing with the Twins. And I will gladly eat Crow. Because Bumgarner at under 5/120 is a steal esp. considering the enormous need the Twins have for his services and the payroll space available.

That team had other shortstops and Lewis was more athletic than them, so Lewis was able to play all over the diamond. Why can’t that be the answer?

True, those are team employees but they seem authentic to me. Very little to no hedging, none of the “maybe this, maybe that, wait and see..” In any case, I felt that those direct quotes—by close up observers who see Lewis every day—should more than counterbalance out-of-date flat statements from national sportswriters (granted who do talk to scouts and insiders). Hey, if Lewis ends up in center, great. We don’t talk about trading Lewis and moving Buxton to short. but for now I just think it’s way too early to be casting doubt on Lewis’s ability at shortstop like we did with Polanco.

and as long as we are getting technical, you responded to a post in which I was asking the author of the article to comment on his opinion and selection of links, which the author hasn’t done yet.

Ok even if it’s not purely a “fan take”, it does seem unfair to Lewis to hold information against him that’s 18 months old. Here’s from the Athletic at the end of last season: “He’s making really big steps,” Fort Myers manager Ramon Borrego said last week from behind his desk inside the home clubhouse at Hammond Stadium. “He’s going to play shortstop. Obviously, he needs to learn a lot of stuff. Right now, we’re really on top of anticipation on relays. We’re teaching him.” ....... “The defense has been part of the positive developments,” Twins farm director Jeremy Zoll said. “There were so many questions from the industry. Is he actually going to be a shortstop or will he have to move to second base or center field? He’s made some really big strides and made some elite plays over there both with backhand and forehand diving stops. You see the athleticism just play.” https://theathletic.com/508528/2018/09/06/royce-lewis-shortstop-twins-throwing-fielding-fort-myers-miracle/ Maybe Keith Law will re-evaluate; don’t know. First hand reports go a long way, even from non-scouts, and maybe Law has not seen Lewis enough in the last year. As for this past season, it’s fair to ask: “Why didn’t Lewis play short in the fall league?” But if the answer is as simple as “There were other shortstops on this team and the Twins and Lewis were glad to let him move around the field anyway,” then, that passes the smell test with me, and is not something dubious to hold against him.

At least give me the courtesy of a link.Edit.. to the Fangraphs

Cody, can you provide some more background on the opinion Lewis is not cut out to play shortstop? My hunch has always been that this is a fan take without much substance, and your links above don’t take me anywhere.

This is fair, but Wheeler’s build is quite the contrast to Pineda’s build.