To quote Michael Corleone "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in". I was ready to give up on the season moments ago...losing 2 out of 3 to a bad KC team would have said a lot. But then Clemons hits a 2-out walk off dinger, and I'm pulled back in again! Just like Tuesday night with Royce snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, this club is resilient.
So now we're only 3 games out of first and just one out of the wild card. Our ace starter has missed the entire season, Buxton is out again, and something is wrong with Joe Ryan...and yet we're hanging in there. We lead the AL in runs scored with contributions from some guys I had never heard of a year ago, the bullpen has had a terrific July, and some of our young starters are looking sharp. It's a fun team.
It will be interesting to see what they do at the deadline. I think only Jeffers may go, and that will happen only if the return is really good. And they may give up a prospect or 2 to bring in a very good reliever. That would help.
Twins 2026 season
Re: Twins 2026 season
That was almost a horrific series against the Royals getting shut out by a couple starters that aren't far from super good. But like you said they ended up winning a couple games late which is what does seem to make this team different than last year. It seems like last year they would have lost at least 3 more games since the AS break and would be on the verge of showing the FO they might as well sell at least some.
Coles Sands coming back and being decent was a nice idea but if he wasn't gonna be that guy him being out the rest of the season now might be a positive in that they have a roster spot and not having to see what they have in him etc. It seems like their filtering through relievers MIGHT have had some success but we will see. I'd guess they add at least another somewhat worthwhile reliever at the deadline. Can they find another starter too?
Can the young prospects force their way into the MLB lineup by staying healthy and hitting? Kreidler has picked it up a little bit is now struggling at the plate it wouldn't be hard to envision Culpepper being able to hit bette than Kreidler and Grey had been hitting and also his defense will just have to be an upgrade over Lee and Grey. Luke K figuring out how to play in the OF would be nice. Meanwhile Clemens looks like he knows how to play wherever they are putting him. The Twins have sort of an impressive run of finding castoff utility players but man idk Clemans is making a case for being the best of them and there are some good players that have come before him.
Overall it's been a fun year and this team has overcome a number of injuries etc to be .500 at this point. Imagine this off-season saying that Lopez would be done for the season, Abel only able to pitch a handful of games, Festa injured and SWR DFA'd by the Twins and Bluejays and yet the Twins are a .500 team a few games before the trade deadline.
Coles Sands coming back and being decent was a nice idea but if he wasn't gonna be that guy him being out the rest of the season now might be a positive in that they have a roster spot and not having to see what they have in him etc. It seems like their filtering through relievers MIGHT have had some success but we will see. I'd guess they add at least another somewhat worthwhile reliever at the deadline. Can they find another starter too?
Can the young prospects force their way into the MLB lineup by staying healthy and hitting? Kreidler has picked it up a little bit is now struggling at the plate it wouldn't be hard to envision Culpepper being able to hit bette than Kreidler and Grey had been hitting and also his defense will just have to be an upgrade over Lee and Grey. Luke K figuring out how to play in the OF would be nice. Meanwhile Clemens looks like he knows how to play wherever they are putting him. The Twins have sort of an impressive run of finding castoff utility players but man idk Clemans is making a case for being the best of them and there are some good players that have come before him.
Overall it's been a fun year and this team has overcome a number of injuries etc to be .500 at this point. Imagine this off-season saying that Lopez would be done for the season, Abel only able to pitch a handful of games, Festa injured and SWR DFA'd by the Twins and Bluejays and yet the Twins are a .500 team a few games before the trade deadline.
Re: Twins 2026 season
Totally agree, monster... I was so pessimistic coming into the season, but they have really exceeded my expectations. And they also seem like a collection of good guys, so they're easy to cheer for.
I was just talking to my son about the trade deadline. A couple days ago I predicted they would trade Jeffers for prospects (and likely good ones based on how good he has been) but also trade a prospect or two for a good reliever. The second part happened in bringing in Minter (good move I think)...now we have to see what happens with Jeffers. I think I'm good either way, provided we get a good return if we trade him.
And looking ahead, the future is bright. A rotation headed up by Lopez, Ryan and Bradley is pretty exciting, and I like 4 or 5 guys behind them too.
I was just talking to my son about the trade deadline. A couple days ago I predicted they would trade Jeffers for prospects (and likely good ones based on how good he has been) but also trade a prospect or two for a good reliever. The second part happened in bringing in Minter (good move I think)...now we have to see what happens with Jeffers. I think I'm good either way, provided we get a good return if we trade him.
And looking ahead, the future is bright. A rotation headed up by Lopez, Ryan and Bradley is pretty exciting, and I like 4 or 5 guys behind them too.