Minnesota Sports Forum

This season was doomed by the off-season failure of Fal-vine. Both starters and all relievers signed during the off-season failed miserably. So somehow it feels good that the Twins lit up Hansel Robles...he of the near 5.00 ERA with us this year...with 2 HRs and 5 runs in the 10th to beat the Red Sox.

We should also keep in mind that Fal-vine may have redeemed themselves with some outstanding trades at the deadline that have really restocked our farm system. There hasn't been much talk about Alex Scherff who we somehow got back in exchange for the woeful Robles, but I think he will contribute in the next couple years. He has topped out at 99, and has an excellent changeup...if he can harness his 12 to 6 curveball, his ceiling is very high. He's currently on the 7-day DL, but this season he has struck out 46 in 29 innings this season. And then there is Joe Ryan who we got back for Cruz. He looks like a stud...17 K's in his 9 innings with the Saints since he joined them. Can't wait to see him at Target Field in September.

Meanwhile the entertaining and promising back half of this lost season continues. Other than another tragic weekend in NY, this team is winning consistently. Polanco continues his extraordinary season...got his 24th homer last night and may set the all-time Twins season record for HR's by a switch hitter (currently held by Chili Davis, I think). Sano homered again (495 feet...longest HR in the majors this season!), and looks much more like the Sano circa 2019 than the strike out machine we struggled to watch the first half of this season...his pitch recognition seems to have magically returned. Arraez uncharacteristically went hitless last night, but I think he will win multiple BA championships before he's done. Even Josh Donaldson is starting to sting the ball and looks much more like the guy who terrorized the Twins for years.

I'm digging this team right now.

Edit: And let's not leave out Bailey Ober. Another outstanding performance last night, and he has averaged more than a strikeout per inning this season. He'll be in the rotation next season.

Fun stat of the day:

The Twins have a winning record in extra inning games... after seeing the season turn catastrophic early with 8 straight extra inning losses out of the gate.

They're 11 - 2 in mostly meaningless games since.

It reminds me of the Love/Rubio/Pekovic Wolves team back in 2014. The team lost close game after close game... until they were effectively out of the playoff race. That team was a top 10 offense and top 10 (12) defensive team that couldn't even reach .500. In the moment, we knew it was because of close-game performances. But it would be lost if you simply glanced at the season record in close games.

The Twins continue to be worth following in a lost season. The last game shouldn't have gone to extra innings because of poor play in the field but they battled back and won. After losing to the white hot Yankees it's good to see them bounce back. Ober has looked pretty good if he keeps this up I think he has a spot in the rotation next year. Assuming they bring back Pineda that means they have 2 more starting spots left to fill.

Meanwhile Sano had a neat story behind the massive HR he hit. A HR ball from batting practice hits a kid and he gives the kid his autographed bat and the kid requests a HR and his Jersey. Sano is making it easier to cheer for him despite his obvious flaws as a player. I don't think he is going anywhere for another year so I'm hoping for the best. He is on a nice roll the last couple months.

Andrew Albers and the Twins pitch a shutout and get just enough offense to win the game. Oh and Buxton is back. :)

monsterpile wrote:Andrew Albers and the Twins pitch a shutout and get just enough offense to win the game. Oh and Buxton is back. :)

Albers seems like a terrific guy, and I couldn't be happier for him. And yeah, it's wonderful to have Buck back!

My honey is going out with girlfriends tonight, and I was looking forward to setling in and watching a Twins game. Unfortunately it's supposed to rain here from 2pm until midnight, so I may have to wash my hair instead.

FNG wrote:

monsterpile wrote:Andrew Albers and the Twins pitch a shutout and get just enough offense to win the game. Oh and Buxton is back. :)

Albers seems like a terrific guy, and I couldn't be happier for him. And yeah, it's wonderful to have Buck back!

My honey is going out with girlfriends tonight, and I was looking forward to setling in and watching a Twins game. Unfortunately it's supposed to rain here from 2pm until midnight, so I may have to wash my hair instead.

Washing your hair with rain water does sound amazing.

monsterpile wrote:

FNG wrote:

monsterpile wrote:Andrew Albers and the Twins pitch a shutout and get just enough offense to win the game. Oh and Buxton is back. :)

Albers seems like a terrific guy, and I couldn't be happier for him. And yeah, it's wonderful to have Buck back!

My honey is going out with girlfriends tonight, and I was looking forward to setling in and watching a Twins game. Unfortunately it's supposed to rain here from 2pm until midnight, so I may have to wash my hair instead.

Washing your hair with rain water does sound amazing.

Lol. Well, the rain cooperated and I got to watch the entire game. Another win against a first place team with late season surgers Sano, Donaldson and Polanco leading the way again. The defense continues to be sloppy, but the bullpen again held up.

Barnes had a couple nice innings and, even though his one bad inning had a lot of tough luck, I don't see him as a ML pitcher. He located his fastball well, but his short arm delivery results in it not having much life...mostly in the high 80s. His slider did look quite good against lefties though. Overall Barnes looks Triple A to me, much like Jax. I'm high on Ober however.

FNG wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

FNG wrote:

monsterpile wrote:Andrew Albers and the Twins pitch a shutout and get just enough offense to win the game. Oh and Buxton is back. :)

Albers seems like a terrific guy, and I couldn't be happier for him. And yeah, it's wonderful to have Buck back!

My honey is going out with girlfriends tonight, and I was looking forward to setling in and watching a Twins game. Unfortunately it's supposed to rain here from 2pm until midnight, so I may have to wash my hair instead.

Washing your hair with rain water does sound amazing.

Lol. Well, the rain cooperated and I got to watch the entire game. Another win against a first place team with late season surgers Sano, Donaldson and Polanco leading the way again. The defense continues to be sloppy, but the bullpen again held up.

Barnes had a couple nice innings and, even though his one bad inning had a lot of tough luck, I don't see him as a ML pitcher. He located his fastball well, but his short arm delivery results in it not having much life...mostly in the high 80s. His slider did look quite good against lefties though. Overall Barnes looks Triple A to me, much like Jax. I'm high on Ober however.

I think Jax has a better chance of being worthwhile as a starter but he isn't exactly in my plans for a future rotation. If Barnes wasn't a lefty he wouldn't be around at all.

I wonder if Donaldson is getting healthy. He was out there at 3rd in this game.

Idk what the Twins should do at SS but if they bring back Simmons cheap I wouldn't mind. It sounds like maybe some team would have taken him basically for free before the trade deadline but the Twins wanted to keep his defense for the young pitching staff which does make sense. I think it's pretty clear that they don't see Gordon as a regular SS (Roy Smalley agrees with this) and they don't want to move Polonco back there full time. I would like to see them get someone better than Simmons but he is still and above average defensive SS and I think a bounce back year offensively isn't out of the range of possibility. With the Saints in AAA they have basically just used some vet guys at that spot. You have to go to Wichita to see a prospect playing most of the innings at SS. Before Martin arrived who was that? Jermaine Palacios The guy the Twins gave up on the Odorizzi trade and he went to the Rays organization struggled and the Twins brought him back. He is having a nice season at the plate in Wichita including 18 HRs which is nearly equaling his HRs in his minor league career.

Another good outing for Ober and the pen. Colome with an eventful save and the Twins get another win.

Has anyone watched the broadcasts with Glen Perkins in the booth? How has he done?

monsterpile wrote:Another good outing for Ober and the pen. Colome with an eventful save and the Twins get another win.


Has anyone watched the broadcasts with Glen Perkins in the booth? How has he done?

I'm not a big fan of Perkins in the booth...kind of an annoying voice and not particularly insightful.

Yeah, I'm a big fan of Ober too. He seems to throw so effortlessly, and he continues to average over a strikeout per inning. Gotta believe he will be in our rotation next season. Our two other "experiments" have not fared as well. Barnes has been DFAed, and Jax looks like a AAA pitcher at best. Dobnak makes his return tonight, and the rumor is Joe Ryan may pitch tomorrow night. I'm really looking forward to that as he has been lights out in St. Paul!