Jacksson

I see some qwful poor decision making by the new manager in both game #1 and game #2. Luckily, Twins won game #1 despite the manager. Game #2 was lost due to the manager with assists from: Parker, Cron, Kepler, Rosario and Polanco.

This loss is on Baldelli. Time to enroll in manager's school. Cluster F*** of bad or no decisions in the bottom of both the 7th and 9th by the rookie manager. Should have had a quicker hook on Parker in the top of the 9th. My 96 YO father could have done a better job and he's only half there mentally.

A year later, a different manager, and yet, poor execution. Ahead 2-0, bottom of the 8th, runner (Polanco)on !B with one out. (Hit By Pitch) To this point, the team has accumulated only 4 hits. Nelson Cruz is in the Batters Box and Eddie Rosario is on deck. Cruz is 1 for 3. Led off the bottom of the 7th with a single to Left. Rosario is 0 for 3. Struck out on 3 pitches in the bottom of the 7th = Change-up, Change-up, and Cutter. In the bottom of the 8th, Rosario doesn't attempt a steal. One throw over to 1B with Cruz batting with a 1-2 count. One throw over to 1B with Rosario batting with a 1-0 count. Polanco S?H?B standing on 2B via stolen base with Cruz and Rosario coming up to bat. He wasn't. He didn't try. Failure in game execution and strategy by Rocco Baldelli. POOR at bats in the bottom of the 8th by both Cruz and Rosario.

In case ANYONE is keeping track, I called this earlier this week

I believe the San Francisco Giants would entertain a deal involving Mark Melancon

Addison Reed has shown NOTHING this Spring. Either DL him and send him to the Mayo Clinic or release him and let him count his 8 Million. Meanwhile, try to trade Austin, Reed, and/or Cave for whatever you can get; Out of options pitching or minor league talent.

Twins are pushing for a rule change that when the Twins play the Yankees, the Yankees are: #1 not allowed to wear pinstripe uniforms, #2 only are allowed a 12 man game roster and #3 the Twins can use 12 men on the field.

Willing to bet we don't see him with the MLB Twins until AFTER the All Star Break.

WOW!! We sure dodged a bullet on that deal !! How's John Ryan Murphy doing for us??

Eliminate the Sacrifice Fly. Why is it that a runner can advance and/or score on an out on a fly ball that is hit a long way?

It’s hard to believe that NL fans would prefer to see pitchers hopelessly flailing at pitches or forever engaged in the sacrifice bunt as opposed to seeing a conventional offensive player at bat. I would also think they would prefer NOT to see a pitcher pulled during a tight game ONLY because a pinch hitter is employed. It is also a consideration that having the DH , doesn’t necessarily mean that an older or one dimensional player is utilized exclusively for that role. Many AL teams utilize the DH to rest star players from the rigors of performing a defensive position, enabling the team the opportunity to still treat the fans to that player’s offensive production. Remember also that just because the DH would be in effect, would not preclude pitchers such as MadBum from batting for themselves. Not only does the roster need to be increased, but considering the cumulative aches and pains as well as occasional illnesses that affect players during the course of the season, increasing the roster to 28 would be more practical.. Quality of play could increase as players that are nicked up could sit out a few games. Use of the disabled list could decrease. the Minor League shuttle of players to MLB could be minimized. An increase from 25 is long overdue. Also out of date is the 40 man roster and all the game playing with player’s lives as they are claimed on waivers and then DFA by the new team to enable them to be stashed. An increase to 45, at least for teams that lack the revenue streams to chase free agents and instead rely on the draft and their organization to provide a flow of talent to their team. 1

Both the 25 man roster and the 40 man roster are antiquated and totally out of date given the current conditions of the game. The 25 man roster should be increased to at least 28. The 40 man roster should be increased to at least 45. Perhaps not 45 across the board, as the big spenders could be kept at 40. In that way their spending puts in play one of their top 40 to a lower revenue team.

So, the REAL COST of adding 38 year old Cruz, who in reality has no defensive position and only plays DH - unless there is an emergency, is the COST of the loss of Slegers. He was drafted in the 5th round in 2013 out of Indiana University. He cost us his bonus payment PLUS the opportunity cost of drafting somebody else. Then there is the cost to the organization each year. Not only what was paid to Slegers, but also a portion of what was paid to the managers, coaches, trainers for the teams he was on as well as a pro-rated share of organization management. 2013 = Rookie, Elizabethton APPY League - Rookie 2014 = A, Cedar Rapids, Midwest League AND A+ Fort Myers, Florida League 2015 = A+, Fort Myers, Florida League AND AA, Chattanooga, Southern League 2016 = AA Chattanooga, Southern League 2017 = AAA Rochester, International League AND a cup of coffee with the Twins 2018 = AAA Rochester, International League AND a Bigger cup of coffee with the Twins All that time, all that MONEY, all those resources just thrown away for a $20,000 waiver fee.

More interesting would be to see dollar values on what it costs the organization each year to have a player at each of the minor league levels within their system. I'm talking, not only the cost of the player contract itself, but also the manager, coaches, trainers for that level as well as an allocated portion of the cost of other system wide personnel within the organization. That said, what is the cost to DRAFT a player. Not just the bonus paid out but also an allocated portion of all scouts compensation along with an allocated portion of the cost of other system wide personnel within the organization. Only when calculating this cost out can the observer gain an understanding of the TRUE financial cost of: "MISSING" on a draft choice, losing a player on waivers, losing a 6 year minor league free agent, trading a prospect, and releasing a player with multiple years within the minor league system.

Speaking of Excellence: Below is a recap of all the players the Twins LOST in the Rule 5 Draft: Below is a recap of all the players the Twins SELECTED in the Rule 5 Draft: RHP Dusten Knight (AAA Phase - Round #01, Selection #10) FYI: the San Francisco Giants have one of the lowest ranked Minor League Systems in MLB. So much for EXCELLENCE....

Shouldn't the Twins ATTAIN Excellence - BEFORE they try to SUSTAIN it?

Ok, let me get this straight. The Twins who have one of the top ranked Minor League systems in MLB lost NO PLAYERS in either the Major League or Minor League portion of the 12/13/18 Rule 5 Draft? The San Francisco Giants, ranked as one of the WORST Minor League systems in MLB LOST 3 PLAYERS. Explain.

Twins "PISSED" at Buxton for his inability to stay on the field (constant injuries) and his inability to advance his hitting skills. No call up = Message Sent. Probably also means he bolts when he becomes a free agent.

Having missed out on Patrick Corbin, The Twins are reaching out to Contact former Twin pitcher, Ray Corbin and get him signed for 2019.

"Rob Huff of MLB Trade Rumors predicts the Twins will have a $125MM payroll for 2019. That leaves them with $48MM remaining to spend this off season." WRONG!! The reality is that should Mr. Pohlad think from a perspective other than that of a Ultra Conservative BANKER, he would find that the Luxury Cap is $206MM. That means the $77MM already "Committed" can be increased by $129MM without running afoul of the League. The Pohlad Treasure Chest, which was accumulated off the backs of the citizens of the Twin Cities whenever they: rode a bus, went to their bank or drank a Pepsi could easily handle shelling out an additional $80MM Just think about the team that could be fielded with an extra $130MM ! Wouldn't more people attend games? Wouldn't more people purchase souvenirs? Wouldn't more concessions be sold? Wouldn't it build excitement in the Twin's market? Wouldn't both players and agents give the Twins more serious consideration? It WON'T HAPPEN! NO GUTS!!

We can probably get him without Lewis & Kiriloff IF we agreed to TAKE either Belt or Longoria off their hands. Ordizzi, Gonsalves, Mejia, Kepler, Granite & Hildenberger for Belt and Bumgarner. Bumgarner is an "outdoorsy" guy from North Carolina who may just enjoy all the outdoor activities available in MN all year round. He just may be interested in resigning after experiencing life here for a year. He has been banged up for 2 years with fluke injuries so probably has not been himself physically during that time. In addition, he's probably getting a belly full of being deprived of top level stats due to the Giants anemic offense and over matched bullpen.

The Pohlads have boatloads of money that has been earned off the backs of the unsuspecting citizens of the Twin Cities, every time they: took a bus, went to a bank, drank a Pepsi or saw the Twins play. When Carl was alive, he could have opened the purse strings anytime to field a winner for Eloise. He didn't. Neither will his kid. The Twins could spend up to the Luxury Tax limit of $206MM without any MLB repercussions. They won't. The Pohlad family embraces the "Fred Flintstone" philosophy of business,"You're in the business army now, your only friend is a BUCK and the more BUCKs you've GOT, the more FRIENDS you've GOT." They prefer to have the business "pay" for itself, when in reality, the operating loss incurred by spending in excess of revenues, could be offset against earnings in other businesses they own so that the operating loss of the Twins would DECREASE the overall income tax bill on all their holdings. While not "free money", those tax savings would DECREASE the fiscal hit of overspending in proportion to their effective tax rate. The over spending on the Twins is subsidized by income tax savings.

Can't wait to get food at the new Bald Deli.

New Sit Down Food Source: The Bald Deli !!

What would it take to get: Madbum, Belt & Panik from the Giants?