wsnydes

I think I'd rather they release Smith than take Strotman off the 40 man. That's no endorsement of Strotman, but it does free up a 40-man and active roster spot all at once.

I think Garlick or Celestino get sent down. I can't see the team not giving him a chance to show something. And frankly, a good Sano is something this offense could use. It's just a matter of whether that's what they get. But I don't see a scenario where they DFA him. He'll get a chance. And I don't think they'll release anyone to get him up either. The lone exception might be to DFA Smith, but I'm not sure that happens either.

I don't feel that it's likely that 80-82 wins takes the division, but it also wouldn't shock me either. This division is pretty sad.

I find myself hovering in the mid to high 80s yet. However, I'm starting to lean more and more towards my initial expectation of right around 80 wins. Sadly, right around 80 could still net them the division. The pitching remains the biggest problem, but the bats have not awoken in a consistent basis as I had expected. I do still think they can win the division, but they're going to need to get healthy in the pitching department and bring in outside help. I do expect plenty of ebbs and flows throughout the remainder of the season, for both the Twins and their division competition, and I think timing of those could become a huge factor.

Now that we're at the All-Star break, I'm wondering how everyone's outlook on the team is evolving. I've done this pole prior to the season and again at the beginning of May. Now that we're 94 games into the season and at the traditional "half-way mark" of the season, how has your outlook on the team changed?

I mentioned this in the game thread, and hinted at it in the intro, but it's one thing to lose heading into the break. Quite another to get bludgeoned, by a division rival no less, heading into the break. Not a good one to sit and stew on for nearly a week. Hopefully that wait has a positive impact.

This'll be a fun one to sit on for almost a week. It's one thing to lose before going into the break, quite another to not show up.

Better have another sampler! ?

Or basically anything by Don Johnson.

I knew what I was doing! ?

I haven't. I have my standards as well. Plus, a Christmas album almost by definition, must be semi-obnoxious. I also wasn't going to torture myself to find the right song to include.

Rye is usually a pretty good inspiration for me. Unfortunately, Sunday morning is a bit early for that.

It is tough. Especially when you have writers block or can't come up with anything to even build on. And you do far more of these than I do!

I actually had no idea what I was going to do for this thread opener until I found out it was Hasselhoff's birthday. It was like finding gold!

I've spent an inordinate amount of time on @USAFChief's lawn, but he has yet to offer a kiss. And I'm perfectly fine with that. I've found that it's more fun to do things all of the way, so I couldn't have referenced any music without actually including some! Just be thankful it wasn't any from the Christmas album!

Welcome back to another Sunday edition of everyone's favorite TD topic, the Game Thread! Today is July 17th, a busy day through the annals of history. Many of the events that have occurred on this date are less than ideal. Tsar Nicholas II and his family were executed on this date in 1918. TWA Flight 800 AND Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashed on this date. Of course, Disneyland opened on this date in 1955. Several notable deaths occurred as well. John Lewis, of civil rights fame, and Walter Cronkite both died on this date in 2020 and 2009, respectively. But, perhaps the most significant thing to happen on this date occurred in 1952. I'm of course referring to the birth of the most watched man on TV (according to the Guinness Book of World Records)...David Hasselhoff. Who can forget the countless hours in the Barcalounger watching The Hoff on the small screen? From his rise to prominence in The Young and the Restless (stop denying it, you did...) through the ride given to us by KITT to the slow motion beach scenes of Baywatch. I'd also be remiss to exclude his extension, multi-decade spanning musical career. From his 1977 debute on The Merv Griffin Show performing the theme for The Young and the Restless to his 2020 foray into heavy metal, "Through the Night", I'm sure the record sales are staggering. A who could ever forget his Christmas album?!?! Chef's kiss! What does any of this have to do with baseball, you ask? Well...um..."A" is the second letter in both the Hoff's first and last name. "A" is also the second letter in "baseball"! There, dots connected! Before I get to the baseball, I feel obligated to leave you with the soundtrack to the writing of today's thread opener... Now, to something far less serious and less near and dear to me...Scotch baseball. Today marks the traditional halfway point of the baseball season, the last game heading into the All-Star break. The Twins will finish the first half in first place, it's just a matter of by how much. Cleveland is just 2.5 games back with today's opponent being 4 back. With a win today, the Twins will have salvaged a series split heading into the break. With a loss, the Twins will have dropped a relatively key four game set at their home park with nearly a week to stew about it. The South Siders will send Dylan Cease to the hill. He's been good this season, sporting an 8-4 record with 142 Ks on the year and a 2.30 ERA. The Twins will counter with Chris Archer and his 2-3 record, 47 K and 3.08 ERA campaign. Lineup for the White Sox: Anderson, SS Moncada, 3B Vaughn, 1B Abreu, DH Sheets, RF Harrison, 2B Garcia, LF Zavala, C Engel, CF Lineup for the Twins: Arraez, DH Correa, SS Buxton, CF Kepler, RF Polcano, 2B Kirilloff, 1B Miranda, 3B Gordon, LF Sanchez, C Enjoy the game and the thread!

I'm not sure there truly is centerfield depth, but if the right deal came along for Celestino or Gordon, I wouldn't hesitate. Gordon might actually hurt more given his ability all over the field, but likely has less value. Cave poses an interesting scenario that I wouldn't hesitate to part with, but likely doesn't have a lot of value either. I'm completely comfortable with Kepler filling in at CF in the short term, but a prolonged Buxton injury may be an issue. If Kepler is dealt, this conversation gets much more complicated.

If he is to come back this season at all, a bullpen role is the only thing that really makes sense. He's not going to be built up enough to start. And if he's effective, he could be a very valuable piece in the bullpen down the stretch and in the post season.

When satire meets real life!

Well deserved congratulations for both! Hopefully the first of many! Enjoy the game!

Something would have to change in Cleveland and Chicago too I order for that to happen. Not saying it can't happen, but it really hasn't happened yet.

Have you seen the rest of said division?

This is the way...

Error, HR. I like it. As long as the twins don't repeat that on the defensive side...