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The new Rosenthal article in the Athletic about Twins pitching analytics is fascinating. Honestly it’s the most enlightening article I’ve ever read about the team’s approach to preparation, which has puzzled me for a long time. Scripted bullpens with real time data feedback? Yes!

IDK... Garver has a wRC+ of 133 since 6/1. We need to keep building the pitching staff and Romero is a potential 1/2 type guy. We can’t move him. Realmuto is a premier catcher, no doubt, but I’d rather have the flexibility to keep or add arms and maybe try to fill one positional need heading into next year. Even though we are second in the standings there is a huge difference between the Twins and the top 4 teams in the AL right now. However, I do believe we can close a lot of ground by next year. Our roster already contains most of the hitters we’ll need to do it (they just have to rebound Sano/Buxton/Kepler or develop Kiriloff/Rooker/Gordon).

Laughs... you walked off the team on 4 pitches!! This team is entertaining!

Littel!!

Honda’s Minnesota marketing approach is offensive or infuriating, I can’t decide which, but it make me loathe their cars (even though I’ve owned a few).

FREe baseball!

Was LaTroy just narrating the media guide, again, when Maher hit that?

All sorts of ranches out there.

I enjoyed that very much. Good fun to see/hear a guy like LaTroy look awkward, which probably happens very rarely.

Just keep hitting them where they are.

Why are they pinch hitting for Gibby? He’s our best hitter!

I think Joe West upheld the call out of pure spite for instant replay.

I recognize those scorekeepers. Yup, that’s her. Way better than Marlins Jersey.

Robbie Big Fly!!

Holy blue shirt Batman.

Kyle Ohtani

I know we should be happy to have power and moving pictures considering what Puerto Ricans deal with on a weekly basis, but does anyone else think the center field shot looks blurry? Or is it just my eyes?

I’m scheduled to attend opening day with a group on Thursday. Haven’t heard any news, but there is no way they are playing right? Anybody know what the recourse is for ticket holders? I think this is a stubhub situation.

The Twins are in a good position with Dozier. No reason to extend him now. Make a QO this offseason and they’ll be able to beat most offfers because teams will be hesitant to give up a draft pick. I do hope we can keep him though.

Buxton is such a good base stealer because of his speed that pitchers do have to adjust. The message to hitters with him on base should be he can go at any time. Look fastball and if you get one to your liking, even if he’s running, try to punish it. If you get a breaking pitch and he goes, either take it or at least try to get on top of it.

Regardless of where Buxton hits I’d propose that the next 2-3 hitters should be the best fastball hitters on the team. Pitchers don’t want to throw off speed stuff with him on base. Without looking at fangraphs I’d assume that would be Dozier, Mauer, and Sano. So with that line of reasoning, Buxton should be hitting lead off. I get the reasoning for hitting him lower, but I’d rather give up some RBI opportunities for Buxton if it means putting our best hitters in an even better position 35% of the time.

Moustakas signed with the Royals today for 1 year at $5.5M. Ouch. That is a huge difference from the QO he turned down.

Woo! Baseball! Couple of nice pieces from Navaretto at the dish.

Danny Duffy would be great.

We saw some very good teams in the mid 2000s that were not upgraded midseason, or added to in big ways through free agency in the offseason. In hindsight, that lack of aggression from the FO probably hurt us. If we are in a good position at some point, I'd like to see a big move midseason even if it means giving up a Top 10 prospect. It's not totally feast or famine, but we are not a big market team. We have to pick our spots at some point and I think (I hope) this FO will not make the same mistake when that time comes.