AceWrigley

Maybe they thumb wrestled in the womb with opposite arms . . . or something. Very nice article. Wouldn't they be a nice 1-2 punch to have in your bullpen.

I've never been a Manfred fan. I guess locking out the players wasn't enough; have to start locking out the reporters too. I'd call Manfred a pinhead but we don't want to get personal about it.

Not to be "Curt" about this, but he wasn't prime rib, he was "Chuck". ?

Nice catch by Joe Carter . . . cough.

Dobnak seems like a battler. I don't know if he will become an effective pitcher, but I'm pulling for him. Does anybody know if his new grip was responsible for his finger injury?

Time would stand still throughout Twinsdom when Harmon Killebrew was up to bat. You could be at the hardware store ready to check out and the clerk would say, "just a minute, Harmon is up." And for the next few minutes we'd all stand there listening to the radio hoping to hear the crack of the bat that would send another baseball deep into the stands. It was the best of times.

The dude threw 60 shoutouts (9th all-time). 60 SHUTOUTS! Pitchers don't even complete that many games in a career any more. The current active leader with 15 shutouts is Clayton Kershaw.

I can remember so many games where the Twins just couldn't score runs for him. His win-loss record would have been even better with better run support.

The Twins Prospect You’re (Actually) Waiting For: Royce Lewis. Because I have no idea what to expect.

I doubt neither the Twins nor Knobby would welcome any such interaction.

I don't see it as a lack of competency at all. They got a contract done agreeable to both sides before free agency. I think the deal got done now because it was the sweet spot so to speak of his career so far; a huge asset with MVP potential but injury prone. We've witnessed both and the new contract looks like a good mix of team friendliness and the potential to reward Mr. Buxton nicely as he performs well and stays on the field.

Man, you know we're entering lockout hell when the top MLB Rumors article is, "Transaction Retrospection: Alex Rodriguez Signs With The Rangers". Oh Crap.

In reference to the picture above: You have Rob Manfred on the right asking Master Magician Ricky Jay on the left if he could teach him some masterful slight of hand so he can pull a quickie over the Players Union and the owners can rule the baseball universe. The almost innocent bystander in the middle is musing, "I think he's serious." And so it goes.

“Reasonable people working off an existing framework should not find it so difficult to reach an agreement”. As if that statement isn't the kiss of death to a quick agreement.

One thing the lockout does is make the Twins look average when it comes to deal making since no deals are being made. The Twins fit right in.

I've always thought that the best way to manage the collective bargaining agreement arena is fine both sides as a tax for every day of unresolved expired contract. Pro rate the fines according to the benefit structure of the expiring contract and watch them come to an agreement. ?

AJ probably deserves to be in a Hall of Fame somewhere, it just isn't in Cooperstown. Pierzynski holds the AL record for consecutive errorless chances with 962. On June 13, 2012, Pierzynski was rated the most hated MLB player. In September 2021, A.J. was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in Troy, Michigan. Ron Kulpa: "ya know Pierznooski, you got a real mouth on ya." AJ: "Yeah, whatever dude. I know 3 blind mice who have a better strike zone than yours."

Rocco with Byron Buxton in the lineup . . . brilliant manager. Rocco with Jake Cave in cf . . . not so much. ?

1st rounders.

If it's an affordable short-term free agent they're looking at, I'd take Iglesias over Simmons or Galvis. I would think if the Twins feel Royce Lewis is the future shortstop they wouldn't sign a pricey free agent or trade for a shortstop. If neither Lewis nor Austin Martin are the "heirs of 6", then a Trevor Story signing or a trade for someone like Tampa's Taylor Walls or the Cardinals' Paul DeJong would plug the shortstop hole.

2014 - Nick Gordon - picked 5th - 16th in total WAR (Baseball Ref) 2015 - Tyler Jay - picked 6th - Pfffft! 2016 - Alex Kirilloff - picked 15th - 11th in total WAR 2017 - Royce Lewis - picked 1st - nothing so far 2018 - Trevor Larnach - picked 20th - 9th in total WAR 2019 - Keoni Cavaco - picked 13th - only Andrew Vaughn & Alex Manoah have appeared in MLB 2020 - Aaron Sabato - picked 27th - only Garrett Crochet & Reid Detmers have appeared in MLB 2021 - Chase Petty - picked 26th - No one from this draft has appeared in MLB The total WAR listed above is ranked by players from that year's 1st round draft. Nick Gordon, picked 5th, has 15 1st round picks from the 2014 draft who have produced more total WAR than he did. Only 64% of those drafted 1st round 2014-2018 have a positive WAR. This is just a small, limited analysis. I'm sure you could develop a Bill James style algorithm to project an estimate career WAR for minor league players and keep or trade accordingly. From quick glance here I'd say that draft picks might serve better as trade capital than not.

Are flame throwers ever used for good, really?

Ya but . . . at 6-8 he has tremendous downward plane. Where's Bert?

Bubble wrap.

May the Hall of Forgotten Cartoon Fame make you an honorary member of Peebles Pet Shop.