Radke's Change

The other super awesome thing about this team is who we have been able to plug holes with. It was very discouraging to hear about santana and perk this early in the season but it gives us an opportunity to take a look at some players that could be very important 5 or 6 seasons from now. In the past those spots would have been given to Phil Dumatrait and Clete Thomas types. Now we get to enjoy the young controllable envy of the league. Success will come!

The funning thing right now is that I'm far happier with where the team is now at 0-9 with lots of high upside struggling youth than just about any Twins team in the last 5 years. Talent takes time to develop, pump the breaks and recognize the process. Hopefully in a year or two we can appreciate some 9-0 stretches.

I think it's interesting how the paradigm shift in pitching to strikeouts has not led to a shift in hitting as well. Strikeouts are rightfully emphasized as hitters litteral do nothing in a strikeout AB. However as Seth has pointed out if anything hitters are more willing to accept strikeouts. Teams build their defenses around the strikeout because it is the most efficient and predictable outcome of an at bat. The best way to limit runs is to not even let the ball in play. On the offensive side of the ball, this line of thinking is totally ignored. To me it seems like a disconnect of how teams strategize to prevent and create runs.

I completely agree, I am very bullish about his major league prospects; just not this year. He looks like an excellent player who isn't reliant only on BA or SLG to have value. Unfortunately he has only shown this for literally one year, in the minors. He is 23, has never had extended playing time above double A and while he would be a better RF to start out than Sano, he is not a player that can survive on his defense alone. I have no problem with him getting more seasoning in the minor this year and I think that Kepler in the minors for NOW puts the Twins in the best position to win.

While this is true that this combination does create some interesting lineups, especially early in the year, it is a nice problem. Having quality with quantity on the major league roster will never hurt a team. Gone are the days of running out Jason Tyner (I always enjoyed watching him though) and Phil Nevin types. In my opinion this is a much more preferable issue than which stopgap/reclaim guy we can plug in. It is also absurd to expect the same lineup all throughout the season; rosters are fluid. The FO has put themselves in a position to plug holes with quality and youth in literally every spot in the order.

Assuming that Nolasco wins and assuming he pitches well, what will the FO decide to do with him? From every I have heard it sounds like he is gone if he can recoup any trade value at all. Any takes?