Game7-91

Correa is the lone player from last year’s class performing admirably, He's also the only one playing essentially a contract year. Zero guarantee this level of production is sustained if its a 7-10 yr contract. Rightly or wrongly, Twins leadership is allergic to longer term contracts. If somebody else is willing to go 7 years there is zero chance the Twins will compete with that. If he struggles to get substantial offers of that term, maybe they talk, but then what is the message to Lewis? I would be surprised if they seriously pursue an extension.

So, if in the future anyone asks why I still care about baseball, I will say nothing and instead show them this photo. Instant classic, thank you Mr Kluckhohn.

I love cold beans, but the Mrs failed to appreciate the resulting music, said it was either her or my cold bean habit. Had to think long and hard on that one. Some people just cant appreciate natural art forms.

Dutch is better!

Hurry up Thornburg, the days are getting shorter at this longitude.

Just now realizing Rockies have 1 hit. And the Astros thought a nono in NY was special!

Definitely be best to look both ways b4 crossing the street

Six zip. Is it safe yet? Tell when I can come out from under the covers

Schmoeman5'd (dust) bunnies

Tough to get promoted on inactive reserve

Its a bear market, my broker says buy low on Santa, pass on the bunny

What about hi-jinxes?

Cotton did the 6th, Polyster in the 7th? Wool to close it out!

Indeed, please do not invite karmic retribution.

Ever wonder where Twins would be if they were in the East?

This breeze is what Mn summer is all about! Darn near perfect tonight?

The universe is a strange and mysterious place.

Struesel on top, sounds like the Dutch plagarized the Getmans. ?

Is the Dutch rhubarb milder than its German cousin?

Twins made good contact, this SP for CR wont last 5. Positivity++

Thank you for raising an excellent point. IMHO, herein lies the problem: there is no one. There are zero reliable 3B options, reliable being the guy trusted to catch the ball 9.5 times out of ten, most especially in late innings with the game on the line, where that # should be 9.9 times out of 10. To answer your very fair question, in real time, its either Urshela or Miranda (Arraez, he's a gamer and tries hard, but 3B is not his position. He might with reps develop into a solid 1B, but how is AK going to develop then? And why are we essentially having positional try-outs on the mlb roster in-season?). Having to settle for unreliable defense is our reality in 2022 3B decisions. The FO has minimized the impact of substandard defensive play, especially with IF rostering decisions, a philosophy that means on any given night we are accepting the potential of poor play extending the pitching staff, increasing runs against and ultimately contributing to losses. I fail to see how this is a sustainable model to build a serious WS championship contending team.

Amen. Arraez cannot be part of that calculus. Barring injuries, Sano's return will cost Miranda or Larnach a 26 man spot. I too would rather see what they have with these guys, let them play. A change of scenery might help Sano, who knows. He's had a long leash here and its time to cut bait.

Yes to this. Case in point: 8th inning vs Clev, 1-0 game, bases loaded no outs, GB to Urshela,playing in as he should, but boots it, nothing special abt the bounce. Other than it bounced the right way after he muffed it. Throw out, barely, at home. Shows as a putout on stat sheet, but was less-than-inspiring. Later Thielbar coughs up a wounded duck on the throw to first...nice bounce, again, so Miranda caught it. Two poor plays that dont show as such. If run of the mill GB's are adventures in close reg season games, what are these guys going to do in a playoff series with two hands wrapped firmly around throat, in the immortal honesty offered by GMan years ago. I just expect better from MLB level professionals. Personally I wouldnt want Urshela, Arreaz, or Miranda on the field after the 6th inning in a close playoff game.

Defense is 1 part athleticism and 2 parts commitment/repetition. Polanco and Arraez initiated this FO trend of creating interchangeable infield parts. Polancos injuries necessitated a permanent shift to 2b, he has improved since. Arraez is treated like a positional wandering nomad, and the team suffers. His offensive contributions are mitigated by his defense. But its not all on him. Whats worrying is the number of guys being developed in the same way. Is Kiriloff a 1b or OF? If 1b, play him there. Regularly. Miranda? Ditto. Arraez? Ditto. Lewis...SS, CF, corner? Really? After how many years , still cant figure out where he plays? Martin? What are they doing with some of the other minor league infielders featured on this site? Advancing high level prospects to MLB roster and deploying them like 26th man utility players? IMHO it is not only depressing wins now, but if our team somehow navigates this god-awful division to make a playoff series, will most certainly cost runs and games when the pressure is really on. It is clearly an organizational philosophy, but its the wrong one, and is detrimental to individual player development and the actual MLB product. Identify their best positions, give them rep's in MiLB, let them develop. Unless MlB wants to do something really radical, and roster for designated defense and offense....but thats for another discussion?

Twins roster management 2022: