DocBauer

What I love most about this OP is 5 bright points WITHOUT even going in to depth about all the milb and developmental and analytical changes. While not every move has worked out...and they never all do...I feel like this FO has a career BA of about .600 at this point! LOL Even when the 2018 FA moves didn't turn out, they were smart moves on the surface. Draft moves, I have reservations at this point, though I never expect miracles. So few make it, much less become stars. But it's also WAY too early to make any determinations on that regard. But Jeffers is huge and a great sign. I wish Rocco would embrace a little situational or small ball here and there when the offense is struggling, but I have zero complaints overall. I won't pass judgement on anyone's overall performance after a 60 game season which is 1/3 of a normal year, coming off an interrupted/abbreviated pair of ST...think Garver, Kepler, Marwin, etc, a LOT of players and teams...but I am mildly concerned about the loss of a handful of really good coaches and still being unsure about their replacements at this time. Going in to tonight's game against the Reds, the Twins are on a 99 win pace if this were a normal year. With that said, and my previous comment, this team wouldn't be where it is without Marwin, Adrianza, Avilla, etc, etc. Meaning some of our guys may have disappointed, but they are still better and helped more than the other team's guys. And that shouldn't be forgotten in this discussion.

Very excited for Colina. My understanding has been for some time he could be a potentially dominate pen arm, but that they wanted to keep him as a SP as long as possible in hope of developing a 3rd pitch. I am wondering now if that is still the plan/hope and he's in the pen now for opportunity and to get his feet wet, OR, have they already made a final decision on him? Guess I'm a little confused though by the Bailey move. With the potential of 5 and 7 game series beyond the first round, there is room for Hill as the 4th starter, but also room, potentially, for a 5th starter. It would appear they are set/comfortable/optimistic with Odorizzi or Dobnak in that potential role.

The bad news is Arraez sprained an ankle in an intrsquad game. That hurts, pun maybe intended, as we need him ready to go ASAP as he brings something different to the table for this lineup. May has been on fire and then had a bad hiccup tonight. Let's hope that's all it was, a hiccup. The robes thing by Donaldson is something I have NEVER seen in all of my years! Oh, I've heard of dinners, and I've heard of watches and other gifts AFTER a season, but I have NEVER heard of a teammate presenting a gift of this nature to his team DURING a season. (Ya think Donaldson is happy being a Twin maybe)? Leave it to Cruz to go the extra mile and make his robe a special wearable in the dugout for team spirit. This team won tonight with power, pitching, grit and determination. Things we saw last season. Don't tell me it was "Just Detroit". This not only clutch time and a race, but EVERY YEAR, there is a team, or teams, that have your number. For every champion team they had a team or two that drove them nuts. It's the Tigers and the Royals this year for the Twins. Four more to go! Need to win them all! *Great confidence building HR for Garver. *Tremdous throw home out for Rosario. *Solid 3 IP for Bailey for his first appearance in over a month plus. Long relief candidate? *Buxton...never going to be the leadoff hitter we all imagined once upon a time. So he won't be the next almost Henderson. What if he's the next Hunter? Guy is starting to really show what a difference maker he can be. Kuddos for holding up and not running in to the wall for a catch that might have been impossible and could have resulted in injury.

Just want to re-iterate that Stringer is posing a question, not stating an opinion. And I get it. But I think Cruz is still at the top of his game. A couple possible positives to come out of this short season is that Cruz, and Donaldson, are playing fewer games in total. This pushes father time's athletic clock for each further forward by almost a season. That leaves more gas in the tank for both as hitters, and Donaldson as a fielder. All of this places Odorizzi in the Twins hands as well, but that is a different topic. I don't believe a recent slump by Cruz diminishes his value in any way. Guys slump here and there. It happens. The problem may be demand from the rest of the league as the DH is sure to stick now. One of the many negative aspects of covid '20 is no milb season. The Twins, and ALL TEAMS, are affected in how to evaluate even top prospect readiness for 2021? Is Cruz worth even more as a proven comoddity? (Hate that term, but just being realistic). Or does age and financial implications keep the market down as we all expect? Cruz is not done, IMO. And he brings a real experience and leadership quality to this team that can't be denied. Maybe just as important, what does Cruz want? The Twins have treated him well. He seems to enjoy being part of this team, a team with an open window even beyond this season. I ABSOLUTELY would offer him for next season somewhere around what be bas been earning. Something between $12-14M. I might even offer a 2nd year with a nice buy out. Do you go a 2nd year guaranteed? Can you afford it? And that's the rub. He NEEDS to come back. But in the strange, unknown financial world of MLB right now, would some team offer him a guaranteed 2yr $30M deal? If so, I think the Twins might have to pass. But I just don't see that happening. I hope I'm right. But I would absolutely bring him back on a 1yr, even with an option that is decent. Sometimes, you have to be willing to eat a contract year, even if you are a mid-market team like the Twins.

We have 4 quality SP to roll out for the playoffs, depending on how you feel about Hill. I'm encouraged and optimistic by his performance overall, especially coming off his last start. There is still room for a possible 5th starting option, but certainly for a long man. That spot is between Oddo if the finger gets right, Dobber and Bailey. Healthy in 2019 and with some tweaks to his pitch selection, he was indeed league average and closed well. He was good in his 1 and only start this season. We're this a normal length season, he could be coming back to provide a boost. As it is, he could still provide a boost as a long man. Don't disparage just yet. There's room for 1 of these 3 to really help come playoff time.

This win was HUGE as there are so many implications involved the next week and a half. I HATE the 60 game season but love baseball and have clung to every crumb of this season that I could. If you truly love baseball, as frustrated as you may be, this is proving to be a September to remember for the post season, no matter how you feel about expanded playoffs. The Twins return home now with 5 games left they CAN win and maybe NEED to win. Things are not neat and tidy right now. There are a few things to play for, and let the chips fall where they may. I was beyond disappointed by the Sox series. And PO'd when they lost that first game to the Cubs. But the pitching is THERE. The Defense is solid. Can the bats step forward? Boy, they sure did so the last 2 games. Is this team peaking at the right time? There are signs that they are. I sure hope so. Cautiously optimistic, let's go home and win the next 5 and finish strong!

I think tonight's game is HUGE despite being 1 game. The entire road trip looks much better with a win and the Dirty Sox and Yankees both lost earlier today. We can pick up a game on each with a win tonight. That could be huge in final standings. The Yankees have to play 4 on the road against a decent Blue Jays team and the Sox have the Indians for 4, on the road, before a final 3 against the Cubs. The Yankees finish against the Marlins for their final 3, and the Sox clearly have the tougher finish. Can we pass the Yankees if we take care of business? Can we catch Chicago? Good time to be Blue Jay and Indian fans to close out the season.

Matt, I fully appreciate your sentiment and perspective. But I'm absolutely convinced you might like Berrios a little bit less in 2021 than now. Why? I believe it will be his best season thus far in his young career. Unfortunately, 2020 might have been that season were it not for the very strange nature of the year itself. I'm not going to get debate who is and what is an ACE caliber SP. And there are those like myself who believe in Berrios, and those who don't or just "like" him but don't love him. And for those that aren't the biggest fans or believers, I get it. There is the WANT for him to be a consistent, top of the order stated that is so palpable that anything less diminishes his achievements to this point. I'm not going to dig up stats online or from last TD articles that list them, but his first half performance/numbers in 2018 and 2019 made him a deserving All Star selection. It's has also been well documented as to 2nd half fades each of those seasons. Except, it's also been agreed by the Twins and Berrios himself his intense training/workout routine may be at least partially to blame. (In addition to still being a young SP gaining experience). Hence he began to reign in his in-season routine late in 2019 and rebounded to finish solid again after a poor stretch. The plan WAS to do the same in 2020 before the weird and shortened season. You are absolutely correct there remains a very human element to the ballplayers on our favorite team, and players in general. And it doesn't take a genius to look at the Twins, and players across MLB in 2020 to see all sorts of regression and weird stats to realize a pair of short trainings and an abbreviated season has thrown some guys out of whack. While the Twins have been mum on the point...to my knowledge...there was a very interesting OP a few weeks back suggesting Berrios was making some adjustments on the fly to begin thus season. (I believe by Parker but I could be wrong about that). His velocity is up, his control and "nastiness" seems to have come around after his mediocre start to 2020. Combine everything involved, I believe his best full season will be happening a year later meaning again in 2021. It will be when experience, tweaks, adjustments, work ethic and pure stoff coalesce for the best stretch of his career. And if that makes you "like" him a bit less as a result, I'm OK with that. (Wink and a nod)

If only Rosario weren't so bad at baseball. A HR and clutch RBI single is no way to be productive. Anyone can do those things. [sarcasm!] But seriously, it was a team effort in this win. Bombas, walks, singles, etc. Also nice to see Rocco not just sit back and relax. If we had done some small ball Friday, who knows, might have actually scored a run and won the game. What can you say about Wisler? I keep waiting for him to be revealed as something he's not like the Scooby Gang unmasking old man Withers, but he just keeps doing a great job. We didn't lose any ground, but didn't gain any either. Sox have a tough end to their season and the Yankees can't win out can they? All we can control is ourselves, win, keep winning, get sharp, and see how it all turns out.

Hilarious as usual. But it's funny how there are some teams that just hold our personal disdain. I mean, we can all agree we despise the Yankees, right? Lol And for obvious reasons we don't have to state. But while I love confidence and can fully appreciate a degree of cockiness, the reason I have loathed the Dirty Sox for years is not any game or player I can immediately think of. It comes from watching games on TV listening to Hawk Harrelson. That guy just rubbed me the wrong way. How weird is that? I think the Twins are absolutely the better overall team during a 162 game season. And the Sox are absolutely taking advantage of the weird, crazy 2020 60 game version. But I admit fully that their pitching staff has performed far better than I ever expected. Again, 162 games....we'll never know. I will admit though, that I am tired of the Dirty Sox hyperbole for the future. Don't get me wrong, they have talent and more on the way. And we're going to have to deal with them the next few years as real rivals. But position after position, spot after spot, it's not like the Twins are devoid of real talent. And we don't exactly have chum coming up through the system with Jeffers, Rooker, Kirilloff, Larnach, Lewis, Alcala, Colina, Duran, Balazovic and others not mentioned. The Indians won't just go away. But even with turnover, the Twins and Dirty Sox should be rivals for the next 3-4yrs easy!

I absolutely think Dobnak could be a great fit for the pen as a middle/long man. And I don't know you would possibly exclude him. With 8 games to play and some question about Odorizzi, he could still be your 5th SP, were one needed. Biggest issue I see...beyond trusting Hill and Odorizzi being healthy...is the pen in general. If Spycake is correct and we could have 14 RP, I still count 15 candidates, even while leaving Littell and Poppen off. Unless someone gets hurt, someone worth keeping and deserving is going to be left off the roster.

I can't believe Kepler's poor throw to 1B! He has a great arm and just doesn't make mistakes like that. I'm not blaming him for the loss, but that was a huge mis-plays. Buxton never should have been sent home on the one play. But damned if the replay didn't look to me as if his left hand slid between the catchers legs to beat the tag! I think he was safe, unfortunately, no challenge available. And the replay probably wasn't conclusive enough, but I think he was safe. I couldn't help but laugh at Donaldson. But what he did was immature and just shouldn't have been done. My only hope is it will provide both a laugh in the clubhouse but also spark a fire with 8 games left. But it never should have happened.

I am NOT going to bang on Rocco, the offense, the rotation or the pen. But losing the series to the Dirty Sox hurt, I was hoping for more of course, but a split and moving on a single game out of 1st I was OK with. I WANT that banner in Target Field that we won the division. But on the realistic side of things finishjng 1st or 2nd has little implications in regard to the playoffs. We still get home field 1st round. The opponent is yet be determined and changes almost daily. So any sort of hope/want/prediction at this time is rather fruitless. Winning the division is within the Twins grasp if they take care of business, 3 on the road against a good Cubs team, then 5 mkre at home against the Tigers and Reds. The Sox have the next 7 games on the road, 3 with the Reds and then a 4 game set against the Indians before finishing with 3 at home against the Cubs. I'm pretty sure I have home and away correct, forgive me if mistaken. The Indians have the next 7 at home and finish with 3 on the road against the Pirates. Again, pretty sure I have H/A correct. So what does all of this mean? It means, yes, time to kick it up a notch and get Arraez back, at least. It also means the Dirty Sox have the toughest schedule to finish out and we need to be Cleveland fans during that 4 game series. If the Twins just take care of business their last 8 games, that ALC 2020 pennant can still be theirs.

Oddorizi looked really good to me. Guy can't catch a break this year. I hope he's ready to go in 5 days. He can still make a difference before this season is done. THAT was the May we've seen before and need to see more of.

Agree with Trov and basically everyone else. 2020 will stand as it will in regard to numbers and the eventual champion. But there are so many weird aberrations in regard to performance numbers for pitchers and players in 60 games and a weird ST that I will pass no judgement. Kepler's best? A normal season, which we hope to see in 2021? MAYBE a little less HR power but a better overall hitter. 2020 does NOTHING to diminish what I think of his talent, ability, and foreseeable future. Same holds true for Polanco, BTW.

Someone had to go down. Dobnak has options and Odorizzi has to be looked at. I have no problem with this, even though it stinks. You still have to play the roster game. I think Blankenhorn has a future, but it's not NOW. Oddo pitching or not, it's time for the team to get angry and determined and make a statement the next 2 games.

It's still up to him how good he could be. At 24 and coming off AA with the St Paul experience, he should be close though he may not be fully ready until sometime in 2021. I think the comp to Gonzalez is fair, even though they are different players. Blankenhorn is larger and probably has more pure power. And it's very debatable at this point how good defensively he will be ANYWHERE. But he is athletic and has a strong arm. I object to conclusions he is slow as he has twice stolen double digit bases and has been successful doing so but with limited numbers. And he has more than enough speed to handle the OF. A few reviews of his play last season should show that. What he is is a so-so defensive player at this point with an OK bat with power who could, potentially, be a 5 position reserve. There is HUGE value in that! Now, can he be that or more is still up to him.

I agree he needs to play. There is no sense bringing him up to just sit, especially with the bats of Adrianza and Marwin being so quiet. Though Marwin seems to be beating up lately. But let him play and get his feet wet at the bottom of the order. The worst thing that could happen is he gains experience for the future. Despite not yet showing the defense we'd like to seem he remains a pretty good athlete from everything I've read. He's twice stolen double digit bases with a high % of success in his career. And he's looked good in the OF, range wise, from the few times I've seen him. So I don't think speed is an issue, though he is no burner to be sure. I'd like to think he has a chance to be a really nice 5 position bench piece with an OK bat and power. Up to him to prove he can be that.

I guess this is where I stand. You just can't have so many positive underlying numbers and a high BABIP and say the guy is cooked. But at the same time, there simply has to be something mechanical taking place he needs to figure out because even with only 17IP bad luck for his BABIP can only go so far. And then it means despite his other good numbers he's grooving a few pitches he hasn't the past 2 seasons. They have 2 weeks to get him right. And they need him right, whether he remains the closer or not. May is in the same situation despite not being the focus here. His velocity, SO numbers and most all peripherals seem to be career bests and yet he seems to be allowing HR at an alarming pace. Then he finishes things off by SO the side. Both this guys are talented and important with some big stuff. And both need to figure it out over the next 2 weeks. Need Johnson and company to work some magic and get them on a roll.

I'm with Chief and others on the RBI discussion. I fully understand RBI doesn't work as a tell all in regard to hitting ability. And opportunity...such as being put in a 3-5 spot in the order for a good team...only goes so far as an excuse for debate. Actually GETTING RBI is still clutch, still a moment, still a skill to actually come through when it matters. We had nobody do that last night. That stinks and is unexpected just with the volume of opportunity. But I'm not blaming Cruz just because he had a bad game. I love Rocco, but nights like last night do make me wonder why the Twins don't play just a little small ball. If you truly have a feel for the pulse of your team, which I think Rocco does, he should have felt it was an off night. Especially with so many guys out. It's would have been a good night, here and there, to try to manufacture a run or two, IMO. Still just ONE game.

I tend to agree with you. But the Wade I've been seeing this season looks comfortable at the plate and seems to just feel he belongs. I didn't feel that way last year. He's made some good plays in the field and looked very good at 1B the other day. (I confess I forgot he could play there some). I feel Celestino remains a good year away. The team is better keeping Kepler in RF and having someone else fill in at CF, other than a game here and there, of course. Right now, Cave is that guy and he's improved his defense tremendously, IMO, but he is not the productive hitter we got the second half of 2018 or 2019. Meanwhile, Wade is taking great AB and wearing pitchers out and tossing in some hits to go along with those AB. With Kepler and Larnach getting close, not to mention Rooker, the Twins may have to make a tough decision on Cave vs Wade in the near future.

Right now, there is a 3 man battle for the 4th SP option between Hill, Dobnak and Odorizzi, who should be back this week. IMO, this a sign of strength, not one of weakness. Dobnak has slipped his last couple of starts, but I'm tossing out his last one due to 3 days rest, suddenly too much movement on his stuff, a hit batter that didn't actually get hit, and a display by the young Jeffers for not getting his foot on the bag. Hill looks like he is ramping up a bit and has tons of savvy and experience. Odorizzi has the smallest chance as he has probably only 3 starts to show he is stretched out and fully good to go. Agree there is a chance one of these guys assumes more of an opener position but we have a couple weeks yet to figure it all out.

As long as Alcala is OK and May's back tightness is just that, with Odorizzi coming back the entire staff is 100% plus, even without Littell. The lineup is mostly intact and the offense has started to look like the one we expected. Catcher is the only real worry and Jeffers has been easing that concern. Everything is coming together at the right time. I don't think that's just a co-incidence with the way Rocco manages. Is Maeda a true ACE? Or still too early to call it? Image the team record without the Royals being involved. Just glad we won't have to play them come post season time.

I absolutely love Romo from his fire, his humor, his experience to his production. I thought he was a certainty to come back this year and was ecstatic when it happened. I want him back next year as well at this point. Love the guy. But without further information/clarification, i put the onus on Romo for this little dust up. I don't know that I have EVER seen a batter do what Lindor did, basically trotting sideways/backwards down the line and chirping. Uncalled form IMO, regardless of what was being said. Run it out, and then say something if you really feel you need/want to. BUT, he seemed to be smiling and laughing the whole time. MAYBE he said something completely uncalled for. Again, we don't knkw at this point. And maybe Romo had a right/reason to bark back. But he just kept going and going and didn't seem to want to calm down. As others have well stated, you have to be able to take it if you dish it out sometimes. Kudos to Sano for being the peace keeper/brick wall. Honestly, I think this is a tight race in a short season with a bit of a bubble around everyone and some cabin fever setting in and that is all.

I'm also going to echo twins-89. This is the PERFECT time for Gordon to get his feet wet. The problem is I doubt he is physically at full strength right now after such a prolonged bout of illness, and has something like 2 weeks over at St Paul. I really, really want to say just roll with Marwin and Adrianza who are experienced and we know they can do the job. I know they are struggling mightily with their bats right now, but like other hitters in the team, what if either or both gets in to a groove? We've seen what they can do previously. With this crazy season, I'd take a month and a half struggle from both with a strong finish. And that may be the smartest route to take. BUT, Blankenhorn is already on the 40 man. I think he has a future as an offensive super-utility guy who can be OK defensively at potentially 5 spots. The Twins think enough of him to protect him and played him a lot during both Set's. Give Blankenhorn a shot. Let him get his feet wet. Coming off 2 off days, another 2 off days in a week, the pen rested and the staring staff rounding in to form, there is nothing to lose. *I hate losing Adrianza at this or any juncture. And be won't come back 100%. But doing this now may keep him stronger for the finish to the season.