nicksaviking

Too many men on the field,five run penalty on the White Sox.

They're letting wives in the dugout now?

He still only swung and missed at one pitch in high school. Also he had that blue ox I believe.

I agree that they were way too late to do the rebuild, they should have started the youth movement after 2010, I know they won the division, but there were a lot of us who said the end was at hand after that season. Still, just because they were late with the youth movement and turning over the vets, they still need to do it. I also don't think the team was anywhere near close to a contender last year, the whole season seemed like a mirage, even when they were winning. Record-wise sure, just not ready to compete. I'm good getting vets once we know what we need, but they have to flush out the system first. We still don't know which of these young guys are going to be capable players, in my view that has to happen first or we're just blindly guessing, trying to fill future holes. Will we need bullpen help in 2017-18? We're not going to know until we see what Burdi, Chargois, Melotakis and Rogers can do. Does the rotation need another stable veteran? Who knows, we haven't seen nearly enough of Meyer, Berrios and Duffey and May is still banished to the pen. Will we need a catcher? Well uh, yeah, that's a given, go find a catcher if one is available.

I'd say the benefit would be giving Gene Glynn a reasonable audition this year.

I agree with the grievances, except for this one. If anything, I wish he would have gone even more youthful, particularly in the rotation and the pen. But I also wasn't expecting them to go out an win a pennant in 2016. However judging from Jim Pohlad's comments, that was what was expected from the organization. I wonder if they had any kind of organizational meeting last off season to discuss the goals for 2016, because it sounds like ownership thought they would make moves to contend, the front office made moves for development and the field staff is managing like they are in a pennant race. I'm beginning to suspect that the Twins notorious cloak and dagger level of opaqueness with the fans and media might not be systematic and internal communication between ownership/front office/field staff might also be lacking.

Great read and great effort, you must have stayed up pretty late writing that one. I think the bolded part is accurate, personally though, I don't see the importance of a hypothetical new manager getting the same responses from the vets as the kids. I really only care about developing the kids and getting as many of them as possible to reach their potential, I don't see any of the vets, save possibly Gibson, as important long-term pieces anyway. Most of the vets have been around the block, they've already had multiple managers and most have played for multiple teams, if they can't mesh with a manager who relates to young guys, the vets can take a hike. That's all strawman stuff I bring up though because Suzuki, Nunez and all the other vets appear to be committed and professional ballplayers. I think these guys would likely perform the same with any competent manager. Saying that, it also makes me resent Pohlad's comments laying all the blame on the players. These guys are working hard and it's evident, though it's not all clicking for some reason. I've been advocating for wholesale roster changes, but this 25-man and 40-man is made up of very likeable men.

Only 26 games in AA, but very encouraging. He has actually decreased his K% in the move up a level. If he can continue on this path, the Twins might have stolen a useful player. Maybe a promotion is in order simply to see if whatever infected him can rub off on Walker. Man, I see he's now striking out 40% of his ABs this year.

Buxton needs to re-tool his swing. I'm sure someone had the bright idea that it would be beneficial to him to limit movement in the batters box, but his swing is just a right-handed Denard Span. There is no stride toward the pitcher and no leg kick. He has the talent and I believe that he'll realize most of it, but he's not going to become a well rounded player being a Denard Span slap-hitting clone. I'm sure some in the organization see that as exactly what this club needs, and that's partly true, but they have to incorporate a more powerful swing or regardless of whether he starts making better contact, he'll never have a chance to live up to the expectations we had previously hoped for. Plus, plenty of guys improve their timing by incorporating a leg kick, it isn't all about making harder contact.

No he and Ulger got canned for being the sole causes of the 90 loss seasons.

That sounds Sweedish, you sure it's not ABBA?

The season's still young.

I don't know any Rihanna songs. And no that isn't an invitation to introduce me to them.

So who's getting DFA'd to add Juan Centeno or Carlos Paulino to the 40-man for their call up tomorrow? I know Dean has been a near unanimous target, but I think it's Vargas.

I think I like Murph more. I think. Start him the rest of the series.

Lane must be thinking that this is the last tolerable day outside in Houston until October so he might as well drag this game out. For the fans sake.

Murph, don't talk to the ump! Berrios screwed.

Murph, don't swing.

Eddie, don't swing.

Oh for shame, I guess it's different when Keuchel doesn't get his pitch.

I think another mistake of youth is thinking he'll get the same strike zone the reigning Young winner gets.

OMG Jack Morris just coherently summed up why it's near impossible to call up young pitchers in the most ideal scenario. Well done sir.

There is only one consistently good catcher in the game today. Unless they target Buster Posey, there probably shouldn't be a significant trade to make. I want the Twins to fix this, but it's not like the team is on lack-of-catcher-island alone, this is just a really, really bleak time in baseball history for the catcher position.

The Phillies are surprisingly in contention and they just lost their token veteran lefty in the rotation. It looks like they have a couple of young catchers in AAA and AA which look close, but not so exciting that they'd take a ransom. They already have their catcher of the future, and their veteran leader at the MLB level. A trade thus far hasn't worked the first time, but drafting hasn't been working either and good catchers rarely ever become free agents. If this team is going to get another useful backstop, I think continuing to try the trade route is still the best bet.

If this is a classic move that the front office unethically pulls, we probably would have heard at least one starter call them out on it, not to mention the MLBPA. I don't think a healthy pitcher WANTS to sit.