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 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

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!

Being left handed might hurt him some in those positions. I ABSOLUTELY do not think anything involved with 1st is a good idea. He is a very good fielding outfielder whose bat is starting to be a bit suspect, maybe. Put him at 1st and his bat becomes very suspect instantly and his defense is not nearly as valued. I have thought a ton of Max since the first 20 games I have seen him. I have touted him as a left handed version of Ellis Burks(50+ war career) So far he has not lived up to what I thought I saw but he needs to stay in the outfield. If he gets beat out and becomes a 4th OF, well that isn't the worst problem in the world.

Since 2012 he has played in at least 120 games every year. There is where manager comes in. I posted 120 games at 1B and 0 at DH. 120+ bench bat for 42!

I want Mauer back. Actually I want the old Mauer back but that doesn't seem realistic. I hope he doesn't even mentally flirt with the idea of 12 mil per year. More like a 2 year at 15-18 Mil total. 120 games at first next year, none as DH. The second year if Rooker is ready and Austin improves then maybe we have a quandary. For next year I don't see either ready to take over full time with a glove. Austin could get 100+ games as DH and have Joe help him with his glove work. Joe could go out as the best in Minnesota history, all he has to do now is be a player on a WS team and groom one of those 2 into a gold glove 1B!

I agree with both of the above posts. I can't believe how many of MLB players can't run the bases or slide properly! If you are going to use the opener concept it should be for 2 innings. I get the part about giving the "primary" a clean inning but the opener has to give you 2 for me to think it works.

I guess everybody has missed the "TRUE" highlight. Per official scoring Chris Giminez is the first Twins Pitcher to hit a home run since Jim Kaat in 1972.

I think it is a good thing for Jose to struggle down the stretch on a year like this one. It will only help him be better down the stretch next year when we really should be at least contending for a spot.

Just because my Dad was a catcher I think this move has more to do with another coach for Garver than anything. Wilson has maybe taught him everything he can and now maybe Gimenez can fill in a couple more things. This makes me think more than ever that the FO thinks Garver is going to be the C for the future, probably splitting time with a (if healthy) Castro for the first couple months next year and being the main guy from mid-June on.

My wild bird thought is that the switch of the outfielders last night was a tip. I think that they basically figured out that we have 4 guys who when healthy are starting OF's, not to mention that Krilloff is likely to be ready between July next year and April 2020. Showcase as much flexibility and talent as possible for a potential off-season trade.

Golf clap. Good move with no downside. We will now know something about somebody and as far as who closes this year, everybody that might have anything!

I don't think he thought it would stick or last but that is the story told by all 3. BTW he was the big brother.

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.

Great article. My Dad spent 11 years as a catcher in pro baseball topping out at AAA. Even after 40 years of watching baseball with him I know less than 10% of what really makes a good catcher other than it changes, often from pitch to pitch. If there was such a thing as a truly elite defensive catcher who was perfect in handling the staff, the ump and positioning of defenders I would take him every day on any team if he could hit .195

A few things #1 I am convinced Jim is more of a baseball fan than Carl was, thus more willing to open the pocketbook to a degree, #2 Being in the fray for a playoff berth increases the gate revenue but usually the 2nd year is when it gets really noticeable. #3 I doubt that every FA that is on the list will walk at the end of the year with nothing other than the minor league guys to replace them. #4 Falvey/Levine have proven to be pretty savvy at this game. Credit where credit is due. #5 Money coming off the books is not an indicator of a 90-100 mil payroll next year. #6 If number 2 is right then I expect one of the core to get signed to a massive extension before next year. That is my only beef right now is I wanted somebody signed by now. Polanco, Sano, Rosario, Buxton, Keplar and Berrios all have question marks. Maybe they are using this year as a prove it year but I want AT LEAST 2 to not hit free agency at their first opportunity. Yes there is risk with every big deal and if you make the wrong decision you might (rightfully) be fired but that is what you sign up for by being a front office executive and why they get paid like they do. Done deal! I want at least 6 playoff berths in the next 9 years, at least 1 of the core still here and no more than 1 season of under 75 wins. And if I was in the interview room when they interviewed that would have been put on the table as expectations. If you want the job convince me you can do it! So far I am convinced but my glasses are a bit rose colored!

I didn't have time to read all the replies so if this has been brought up, my apologies. IMHO adding an option year would have required at least a 15 mil commitment. This is a great deal FOR BOTH SIDES. No side is going to win on every deal every time period. Pineda gets 10 mil, all the training facilities to be back as the best possible. In return he is only on the hook for 1, maybe plus years of being healthy and showing what he can do when fully healthy. Then he gets to hit the market again and try for his big contract. If he hadn't blew his arm out he would have signed north of 100 mil. He still has that chance and we have a chance that for 1 year he might be a 15-20 mil pitcher for only 10. Win/win but if I were in his shoes there is no way I sign longer than 2 unless it is 15 mil a year minimum.