Bill Brown69

Buxton Kepler Cruz Sano Kirilloff Donaldson Polanco Catcher Simmons Subject to change on who is pitching and who is hot but I would give the top 2 at least 15 games off the start to see how they do.

I honestly have never seen a lineup that I liked this idea but with Rooker, Krilloff and Garver all able to play first and Sano looking more like a true DH every day I think this might actually work> 2 of the 4 man 1st and DH and Rooker and Krilloff can both play outfield until the natural position for all is found.

Part of this conversation is why I think Kepler is a perfect #2 guy. Hit a ton of doubles from there and then someone with an eye like a young Mauer to take a walk so they can have the DP set up but it also makes for 3 run homers

I don't have it right now but look at how many years the guy hitting behind Walker led the league in RBI. He was an elite baserunner from an instinct point and was standing on second average of about 65 times a year.

They pay the front office to make these decisions. I am really not sure I would offer either a long term deal right now. They might have hit 2 homers on Keplar and Polanco over the winter. This winter lets hit 2 more but it is their decision on who to bet on.

I like the approach Rocco has took from the first press conference till now. We could fire him and he wouldn't be unemployed long enough to clean out his office. I think he is a great manager and hope that he is here for the next 10-20 years. The part that still makes me go WHAT? is that there are still those who wonder if we are going to make the playoffs.

I actually hope he plays nearly every game from here on out. Give a little rest to everyone else and get them fresh for postseason.

He got us 5 wins or more on something banned. We can look at this like he cost us the postseason or we can look at it like he gave us the postseason.

I am not sure on that or this. They have a decent chance of getting 5 over 30

I agree, 10 day IL and then 6 man rotation for September. I am fully confident that Twins win the division if they pick their rotation right to have the big dogs out against the Tribe.

I have posted this before but for those who don't know my Dad was a minor league catcher, but this can go to every position on the field. 2 stories about Dad and handling the pitchers. A young kid with a real live arm but control problems. 12 pitches into the game and not a strike thrown. 3 went to the backstop and 1 run scored. Dad took the ball to the mound, shoved it right under the pitchers nose and yelled " I got too F----ing drunk last night to chase this so throw it over the plate and let somebody else run after it." 9 innings later the pitcher had his first no hitter. Another pitcher with a live arm comes in the game in the 9th inning with 2 on nobody out up by 1 run. 4 straight balls. Dad goes out to the mound and tells him if he can get out of this jam he will set him up with that pretty blond in the 4th row behind the dugout. Made the kid look at her. Took his mind off being nervous and 3 outs with nobody scoring they won the game. Later this year that kid and my Aunt will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. Controlling a game cannot be measured, it has to be lived.

If the price is bearable I LOVE IT

First off Doc, thank you for the sight you give. I have mentioned before that my Dad was a Minor League catcher. If he would have had my stick or I would have had his glove,,,,,,,,,unknown. Hundreds and beyond hours of picking his brain, trying to learn the game from his side. Tiny things that make or break a player. That is why after 15 years of getting a check of some sort he spent the next 15 coaching youth baseball. His retirement from that was based only on not wanting to seem biased one way or the other on me.(or he was afraid of what home life would be if he did the right thing and I was the backup!) Somewhere in the 80's (I was done) he told me I had come over to watch a game. I went and watched with him. No idea, but Carlton Fisk was catching for the White Sox. About the 7th inning he looked at me and said "now you know why he is the best catcher ever" Dad was a huge fan of the big red machine in the 70's. ???? What about Bench I asked. His reply was Bench had a stick and the arm with a flair but give me Fisk every day. Joe Mauer is the only guy I have ever seen who Dad might have liked better. From all those hours of gleaning info and all the other things I have learned to look for IMHO Joe was the best catcher I have ever seen. I was born in 69 so I have seen a few good ones and a few HOF's Side note, I asked Dad who was the best he ever played against. Took him about 1/10th of a second to say Frank Howard. I asked him who was the best player ever and it took him about the same amount of time to say Stan Musial. Good luck Joe, you did us proud!!!

The best swing since George Brett!

Kris Attaberry