Hosken Bombo Disco

It’s good to have an article like this after the long weekend, to get us caught up. Thanks. I’m not afraid of ChiSox yet, but maybe I should be...

I hope you are right! Over a long season he should be an asset. Yet in a short series he is susceptible to underperformance. Cost-benefit.

True. I’ll just say we didn’t know that at the time of those two plays. But yes I agree.

You don’t believe it affected his pitching, and I do. Here’s a guy, Pineda, on the wrong side of 30 (to borrow a phrase from the Gibson/Bumgarner discussions), could never stay healthy, then in 2019 arguably put up his best career year, while come to find he had a banned substance in his system. If the calendar rolls around to January and February, and he looks in shape and hasn’t signed yet, and his agent calls, then I offer him a one year guaranteed deal, sure. Otherwise I just don’t spend much time thinking about him. By the way I’m glad to be in the minority on this.

Well let me talk about defense one more time anyway. First of all, I agree the lack of pitching and hitting is why we lost the series. But if Cron makes that routine catch, two runs are saved. Period. Later in the fifth, if Sano makes that non-routine play on the Gleyber Torres liner, two more runs might be saved. That’s a lot of “ifs and buts” but if the game stays close, and low scoring, and the Twins win, it can change the whole series. Also for the record Bergman failed to make plays on a few of the same hits Sano failed to get there. But yes I see what you are saying. It’s ultimately a cost-benefit and while there is certainty in getting the 4-5 plate appearances, it’s just not clear how much risk there is with chances in the field—which can be mitigated anyway, by shifts and how the batter is pitched to and such. In a long season, the offense is more important, but in a short series defensive mistakes can be magnified, and you just hope putting an insufficient defender in the field doesn’t backfire like the Cubs did with Schwarber in left in the 2015 playoffs. (Schwarber has gotten better over time.)

I’m not disputing the importance you assigned to those four aspects of the game, but what about the infielder who makes a great play to end a tense inning, or the outfielder with such good range that routine two-base hits to the gap are routinely turned into fly ball outs?

I think you are probably right, that Pineda will sign long before camp. I remain in agreement with the author and other posters that Pineda is a #5 for the Twins, and other competitive teams. I will make a prediction: Pineda’s eventual contract is less than Gibson’s, and also less than MLBtr’s 2/22 and maybe even less than your estimate too (though I think yours is not far off). I just think the Twins can aim higher.

I pretty much agree with you. My opinion is, because I do think he should be seen more like a fifth starter, that the Twins can wait as long as they need to before offering him that 1 year deal. Right before camp if necessary.

Sure, fine. Would you sign him back? What would your offer to him be?

Pineda was using a banned substance last year. I’m willing to believe that banned substance played a part in his success. Therefore, thanks but no thanks.

Donaldson would certainly be an X-factor in the clubhouse. He and Rocco would mix about as well as oil and water; Donaldson might have fit better with those Twins teams of the late 90s, early 2000s. Here, I am re-linking to one of the stories shared by another member in an earlier post. Its a long read, and I’m about half way through. Language warning. https://torontolife.com/city/life/home-josh-donaldson-blue-jays-resident-hothead/

If it’s just the Eastern short-season teams that are eliminated, maybe that’s not so bad. I don’t know. Don’t know if the fans of those teams are just tourists or summer vacationers, or if they have true fan bases. Like I said, I don’t know. Another article stated how MLB wants to trim the draft to 20 rounds and send those late round kids to classrooms and training facilities instead of the short season leagues. I wouldn’t be outraged by that. However, it would be nice to hear more or get some more reporting. I do think it would be rotten to eliminate any Iowa teams or other teams with established fan bases.

Next week’s satire headline: .031 Hitter Finishes Strong, is Released

Hey—I don’t think Gladden is mailing it in! Although you may be right, as I’ve noticed the number of his “special assignments” away from the broadcast booth seems to increase every year. I haven’t heard the Yankees announcer but i’ve heard Jessica Mendoza do color for ESPN Sunday Night Baseball and she’s as good as they come. Because working with data is becoming a more important skill, and is already in theory open to anybody, and “big league experience” being less important, do you see the change happening more quickly?

I could make a case for just about every player fromlast season. But collectively, all of them together, no.

And that’s the one player I would be happy to part ways with!

What if your rude teen son is more like Marty Cordova?

I agree, a win all around, and... highest single-season salary for a Twins pitcher, ever!

Ha—I might be wrong too! I love Bumgarner because of his “Rocky-Balboa-training-in-the-woods-in-winter* quality or personality about him, that I think front offices are going to bite on. Not to mention his postseason record and overall record. I would guess he gets a better contract than Wheeler, but I also wonder if Bumgarner is the most likely to extend (maybe for a small discount, maybe not) with his current team. *Rocky IV

Valid Points.. I assumed Schoop was good in the field, but maybe not. I do feel Schoop is much better around second base than Arraez and has a stronger arm. And the overall hitting profile weighs strongly in favor of Arraez. With Cron, the front office will have to decide if the thumb injury is what affected his performance in the second half. I’d give Cron the benefit of the doubt but that’s far from a lock, and have no gut feeling either way on what they will do there.

I could get on board with some of these suggestions. However I don’t understand the perception that Bumgarner is too old and therefore not worth a bid, but Wheeler gets a five-year deal. I don’t know what’s in Bumgarner’s heart, like if he’s inclined to stay with the Giants. If he’s not, I’d go hardest after him.

Great thread. I think they had Polanco throw more sidearm this year, and that improved his accuracy? (Or at least ironed out his flaws.) I’d try to sustain that with Polanco one more season. He can look really good at times... I’d give Sano one more season at third... and it will be interesting to see how Arraez holds up over a whole season. Schoop was good in the field. And I love defense. Cron is great with a good thumb. I’m not opposed to some infield upgrades but it might take more effort or payroll than is warranted, given the pitching situation. Which suggests that Odorizzi or other fly ball pitchers might be good bets for one more year, too.

Great win, great team. Nice to see some players on offense who look closer to pro than high school.

They are 9-0, first time since 1904! Chief, is this win as sweet as that 1904 team?