All Things 2025 Minnesota Twins In-Season Thread

As much as I hate to say it, Judge is the more deserving MVP.
I get it. Judge is a first ballot HOF slam dunk flirting with a Triple Crown pretty much every year.
But a switch-hitting, Gold Glove-caliber defense catcher who can hit 60 homers? If you give me any one player to start a franchise with, I go Raleigh with no hesitation.
 

I get it. Judge is a first ballot HOF slam dunk flirting with a Triple Crown pretty much every year.
But a switch-hitting, Gold Glove-caliber defense catcher who can hit 60 homers? If you give me any one player to start a franchise with, I go Raleigh with no hesitation.
Based on age I’d take Bobby Witt over either. But in terms of discussing this year, Judge dominates Raleigh in every offensive stat besides HR. His WAR is 2 wins higher than Raleigh.
 



On This Date in 1984: Cleveland catcher Jamie Quirk's ONLY HIT of the 1984 season was a walk-off home run off Ron Davis with only three games left to play in the season. (Quirk entered as a defensive replacement in the top of the ninth.)

The Twins were tied for the Western Division lead with seven games to play but this was pretty much the nail in the coffin.

The night after Quirk's walk-off, Frank Viola and the Twins blew a 10-0 third-inning lead, again getting walked off in the ninth. The Cleveland starter in that game was Hermantown graduate and Golden Gophers all-time great Jerry Ujdur in what turned out to be the final game of his career.

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On This Date in 1984: Cleveland catcher Jamie Quirk's ONLY HIT of the 1984 season was a walk-off home run off Ron Davis with only three games left to play in the season. (Quirk entered as a defensive replacement in the top of the ninth.)

The Twins were tied for the Western Division lead with seven games to play but this was pretty much the nail in the coffin.

The night after Quirk's walk-off, Frank Viola and the Twins blew a 10-0 third-inning lead, again getting walked off in the ninth. The Cleveland starter in that game was Hermantown graduate and Golden Gophers all-time great Jerry Ujdur in what turned out to be the final game of his career.

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I’m gonna have nightmares tonight RD
 


On This Date in 1984: Cleveland catcher Jamie Quirk's ONLY HIT of the 1984 season was a walk-off home run off Ron Davis with only three games left to play in the season. (Quirk entered as a defensive replacement in the top of the ninth.)

It was Quirks only Plate Appearance for Cleveland that season, actually his only game ever for that franchise.

He did have 3 games earlier in 1984 for the White Sox, but no hits with 3 ABs.

 



Funderburk with his 11 consecutive scoreless appearance, further lowering his ERA to 3.51.

He has obviously figured out something down the stretch and his streak of consecutive appearances has included good offenses, such as: Phils, Yanks and D-Backs.

We have a legit lefty for the next year’s pen.
 
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Funderburk with his 11 consecutive scoreless appearance, further lowering his ERA to 3.51.

He has obviously figured out something down the stretch and his streak of consecutive appearances has included good offenses, such as: Phils, Yanks and D-Backs.

We have a legit lefty for the next year’s pen.

The Twins probably could get Caleb Thielbar back if they want. The Randolph Rocket is having a resurgence with the Cubs.
 

Austin Martin with a sneaky good year, as he’s hitting over .290 and making grabs like this from Saturday’s game -


Per Twins’ MLB Beat Writer, he’s playing himself into consideration as the 4th OFer for next year, with Buck in center, Wallner in R and Rodon with get every chance to win L. He thinks Larnach will be dealt due to his defensive limitations, Jenkins will likely be a mid-season call up. Rodriguez needs to stay on the field and needs a complete season of minor league development, not interrupted my his thumb.
 
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The Twins probably could get Caleb Thielbar back if they want. The Randolph Rocket is having a resurgence with the Cubs.
I like that reunion and Connor Philiep (sp) needs more innings anyway - we’ll likely see him at some point next season.
 



Austin Martin with a sneaky good year, as he’s hitting over .290 and making grabs like this from Saturday’s game -


Per Twins’ MLB Beat Writer, he’s playing himself into consideration as the 4th OFer for next year, with Buck in center, Wallner in R and Rodon with get every chance to win L. He thinks Larnach will be dealt due to his defensive limitations, Jenkins will likely be a mid-season call up. Rodriguez needs to stay on the field and needs a complete season of minor league development, not interrupted my his thumb.
I like Martin. A little like Keaschal in that he's an aggressive baserunner, can steal a few bases and puts balls in play.
Wallner still gives me pause with all the K's and empty at bats.
 

SWR with a QS to end the year -
6 Innings
1 Hit
0 Runs
9 Ks
Lowers ERA to 4.04
19 swinging strikes out of his total of 58 thrown (33%). 58 strikes out of 81 pitches thrown, which us 72%. Those numbers are beyond excellent and he’ll win a ton of games with that type of performance.
 
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I like Martin. A little like Keaschal in that he's an aggressive baserunner, can steal a few bases and puts balls in play.
Wallner still gives me pause with all the K's and empty at bats.
Understand your point regarding Wallner, but I’m guessing the beat writer’s premise is based on the following-

The Twins likely won’t trade or sign for a corner OFer this offseason.
Jenkins isn’t ready yet, he’s only had 102 ABs at Triple A.
Outman is a slightly better version of Keirsey.
Martin gets exposed if he’s more than a spot starter.

That leaves Larnach vs. Wallner for one spot, assuming Rodon is the LFer.

Age: Wallner (26)/Larnach (27)
Salary: Wallner 745K vs. Larnach 2.1M
Defense (Baseball Savant): Wallner average range with great arm vs. Larnach poor range with average arm.
WAR: Wallner has a higher one this season and in his career.
HR/AB ratio (2025): Wallner 1/15.27 vs. Larnach 1/35. Wallner’s career number is 16.2. If he had Larnach’s 502 ABs, he have 33 HRs.

Career numbers for hitters with 15.27 - 16.2, include: Big Hurt, Hank Greenberg, Stretch MCCovey, Big Papi and Albert Puljois and better than Hank Aaron.


Either 15.27 - 16.2 place him firmly in the Top 50 All Time of HR/AB ratio.

He no doubt needs to barrel the ball more consistently, but his combination of raw power and a ridiculous cannon makes his upside way too high not to be the staring RF next season.

He’s young and inexpensive, Let Him Cook
 
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Understand your point regarding Wallner, but I’m guessing the beat writer’s premise is based on the following-

The Twins likely won’t trade or sign for a corner OFer this offseason.
Jenkins isn’t ready yet, he’s only had 102 ABs at Triple A.
Outman is a slightly better version of Keirsey.
Martin gets exposed if he’s more than a spot starter.

That leaves Larnach vs. Wallner for one spot, assuming Rodon is the LFer.

Age: Wallner (26)/Larnach (27)
Salary: Wallner 745K vs. Larnach 2.1M
Defense (Baseball Savant): Wallner average range with great arm vs. Larnach poor range with average arm.
WAR: Wallner has a higher one this season and in his career.
HR/AB ratio (2025): Wallner 1/15.27 vs. Larnach 1/35. Wallner’s career number is 16.2. If he had Larnach’s 592 ABs, he have 33 HRs.

Career numbers for hitters with 15.27 - 16.2, include: Big Hurt, Hank Greenberg, Stretch MCCovey, Big Papi and Albert Puljois and better than Hank Aaron.


Either 15.27 - 16.2 place him firmly in the Top 50 All Time of HR/AB ratio.

He no doubt needs to barrel the ball more consistently, but his combination of raw power and a ridiculous cannon makes his upside way too high not to be the staring RF next season.

He’s young and inexpensive, Let Him Cook
Try hitting a home run with people on base. Just kidding. Good data, he just frustrates the heck out of me. I hate waiting around for the big blast, going base to base.
 

Thought people would like to know this.
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Thought people would like to know this.
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If I was a Dodger fan, I would be ashamed of only having 1 legitimate (non-Covid shortened season) World Series Championship with that kind of record during the run.
 
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If I was a Dodger fan, I would be ashamed of only having 1 legitimate (non-Covid shortened season) World Series Championship with that kind of record during that run.
It counts the same, and they were robbed of another (Astros).
 






I've generally been a Rocco defender - not so much that I think he's anything special but just that the criticism he got was over the top. I'm fine with firing him, as long as there is an understanding that there are about 1,000 issues with this organization that should take priority over this move.
 

I've generally been a Rocco defender - not so much that I think he's anything special but just that the criticism he got was over the top. I'm fine with firing him, as long as there is an understanding that there are about 1,000 issues with this organization that should take priority over this move.
Multiple things can be true. The Pohlad's suck and killed all momentum after 2023. Falvey isn't good at his job and most of his trades/signings have not worked out.

But despite all that, the Twins had the highest payroll in the AL Central each of the last two years and arguably the best talent. And they collapsed in both seasons. That still has to fall on Rocco. You can't say he maximized the wins from the talent he had the way TK did with awful teams in the 90's.
 

Anytime culture issues are repeatedly brought up, it starts with the manager.
 


I've generally been a Rocco defender - not so much that I think he's anything special but just that the criticism he got was over the top.
He won the division 3 times, to Gardy’s 6 and TK’s 2. He wasn’t a great manager, but he certainly wasn’t Ray Miller either.

I'm fine with firing him, as long as there is an understanding that there are about 1,000 issues with this organization that should take priority over this move.
 
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