All Things 2026 Minnesota Twins In-Season Thread

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Angry said:
This might’ve been answered already but, how did we not have insurance on Pablo Lopez? At least partial.
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Uninsurable is my guess or it was a unpalatable premium. Pablo was quoted, after his 1st elbow surgery (2014) it was expected to last roughly 10 years.

He surpassed expectations. If Pablo knew it, I'm guessing Lloyd's of London did too.

Maybe any previous Tommy John affliction is similar. In this day and age providing such insurance seems like a poor business model.

It feels like every MLB Pitcher falls into 2 categories:

- Those that have had TJ surgery.
- Those that will have TJ surgery.
 





I make a bet with a friend every year before opening day on the Twins record. The loser buys dinner. We usually come within a game or two of each other in our predictions. This year I predicted 74-88 and he predicted 62-100. It's a long season but I think I'm getting dinner.

Neither one of us saw this happening.
 



Ope3 said:
Brooks Lee improved, but still just shy of neutral. -0.1 WAR.

www.baseball-reference.com

Brooks Lee Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com

Check out the latest Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More of Brooks Lee. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, bats, throws, school and more on Baseball-reference.com
www.baseball-reference.com www.baseball-reference.com

What the frick.
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The Brooks Leech bias is real?

OR

It takes awhile to be updated?


Buck became the 8th Twins position player to achieve a 30 career WAR after last night’s effort
 



Gopher_In_NYC said:
The Brooks Leech bias is real?

OR

It takes awhile to be updated?


Buck became the 8th Twins position player to achieve a 30 career WAR after last night’s effort
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I think once the Game Logs are entered the WAR is updated.

1776266688191.png
 



GophersInIowa said:
The salary cap has to be pretty much a lock for so many teams to be signing these young guys for so long.

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I wonder what buyout provisions there will be if the Bonus Babies wind up sucking and/or injured.

I get the feeling for Players to agree to a firm Salary Cap these the Owners will have to move on reducing Free Agency from 6 Seasons down to 4 at least, probably 3. Maybe Arbitration will have to be lowered to 2 seasons as well.

Also will need to be a pretty generous Salary Floor.
 



Ope3 said:
I wonder what buyout provisions there will be if the Bonus Babies wind up sucking and/or injured.

I get the feeling for Players to agree to a firm Salary Cap these the Owners will have to move on reducing Free Agency from 6 Seasons down to 4 at least, probably 3. Maybe Arbitration will have to be lowered to 2 seasons as well.

Also will need to be a pretty generous Salary Floor.
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There's no way they will go all the way to 3 and probably not even 4 years. I'm sure they can get them to lower it 5 and maintain 3 years of arbitration so you're only cheap for 2 years.

Also probably adjust the rules so that any service time before September counts as year 1 to disincentivize holding guys in the minors until June.

The salary floor is the key. There's no reason for players to be against a cap if the overall spending of all 30 teams goes up.
 

howeda7 said:
There's no way they will go all the way to 3 and probably not even 4 years. I'm sure they can get them to lower it 5 and maintain 3 years of arbitration so you're only cheap for 2 years.

Also probably adjust the rules so that any service time before September counts as year 1 to disincentivize holding guys in the minors until June.
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Just from hearing players talk about it in on shows, I think it will have to go lower than 5 for a Salary Cap with any real meaning. Maybe there is a compromise in there somewhere at 4.5.

howeda7 said:
The salary floor is the key. There's no reason for players to be against a cap if the overall spending of all 30 teams goes up.
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For the rank & file players sure. For the already established Stars and players who envision themselves Future Stars, they are dead set against such a Salary Cap.
 

Ope3 said:
Just from hearing players talk about it in on shows, I think it will have to go lower than 5 for a Salary Cap with any real meaning. Maybe there is a compromise in there somewhere at 4.5.


For the rank & file players sure. For the already established Stars and players who envision themselves Future Stars, they are dead set against such a Salary Cap.
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The players are talking tough now. There are a lot more rank and file than their are superstars. That's why NFL players always cave.
 

Ope3 said:
I wonder what buyout provisions there will be if the Bonus Babies wind up sucking and/or injured.

I get the feeling for Players to agree to a firm Salary Cap these the Owners will have to move on reducing Free Agency from 6 Seasons down to 4 at least, probably 3. Maybe Arbitration will have to be lowered to 2 seasons as well.

Also will need to be a pretty generous Salary Floor.
Click to expand...
I really think just a salary floor would take care of a lot of the issues. And then I would restrict, to some degree, deferred contracts.
 
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howeda7 said:
The players are talking tough now. There are a lot more rank and file than their are superstars. That's why NFL players always cave.
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The MLBPA has a much stronger/longer history of NOT caving. That's why they had multiple decades without a Salary Cap while others have.

Average NFL careers are around 3 seasons. They have much more incentive to settle ASAP. Simply can't afford to miss game checks.

Baseball players dig in.
 

GophersInIowa said:
I really think just a salary floor would take care of a lot of the issues. And then I would restrict, to some degree, deferred contracts.
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While I agree, not even all of Owners agree on that. It's a mess.
 

SWR gives up 5 (4 earned) in the 3rd.

Martin with a homer in the first

5-1 BoSox
 

Unregistered User said:
SWR gives up 5 (4 earned) in the 3rd.
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I always been a supporter of his, as he’s always worked his tail off and showed some flashes last year, but I think he might be down to a couple more starts at this point.

Matthew’s has been blah, while Prielipp is second in the International in Ks, but has only three appearances/two starts and 10 innings.
Unregistered User said:
Martin with a homer in the first
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He made the most big his opportunity in the second half last season and glad to see he’s been rewarded with consistent playing time; great to have another speed guy besides Buck and his he’s a good defender as well, in addition to hitting over .300 so far.
Unregistered User said:
5-1 BoSox
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kominiarek-waterboy.gif
 


Got this from another site and it’s just one man’s opinion. I think he did a pretty damn good job with it

Twins All Time Top Fives (1961-Present)

Twins Top Fives



Catchers

1. Joe Mauer - HOF, #7 Retired, 1x MVP (4x Top 10), 6x All Star, 5x Silver Slugger, 3x Gold Glove, 3x Batting Leader, 2x OBP Leader, 1x OPS Leader, 1x OPS+ Leader, 55.6 WAR

2. Earl Battey - 3x Top 10 MVP, 5x All Star, 3x Gold Glove, 14.4 WAR

3. Brian Harper - WS Champion, .306 AVG, 13.4 WAR

4. Butch Wynegar - 2x All Star, ROY Runner-up, 15.3 WAR

5. AJ Pierzynski - 1x All Star, .301 AVG, 9.5 WAR



1st Basemen

1. Harmon Killebrew - HOF, #3 Retired, 1x MVP (7x Top 10), 11x All Star, 6x Home Run Leader, 3x RBI Leader, 4x Walks Leader, 1x Games Leader, 1x OBP Leader, 1x Slugging Leader, 475 HRs, 53.8 WAR

2. Kent Hrbek - #14 Retired, 2x WS Champion, MVP Runner-up, Rookie of the Year Runner-up, 1x All Star, 293 HRs, 38.6 WAR

3. Justin Morneau - 1x MVP, MVP Runner-up, 4x All Star, 2x Silver Slugger, 1x Games Leader, 221 HRs, 22.9 WAR

4. Don Mincher - 8.8 WAR

5. Doug Mientkiewicz - 1x Gold Glove, 6.4 WAR



2nd Basemen

1. Rod Carew - HOF, #29 Retired, 1x MVP (6x Top 10), 12x All Star, Rookie of the Year, 7x Batting Leader, 3x Hits Leader, 1x Runs Leader, 2x Triples Leader, 4x OBP Leader, 1x OPS Leader, 1x OPS+ Leader, 3X WAR Leader, 63.7 WAR

2. Chuck Knoblauch - WS Champion, Rookie of the Year, 4x All Star, 2x Silver Slugger, 1x Gold Glove, 1x Doubles Leader, 1x Triples Leader, 38.0 WAR

3. Brian Dozier - 1x All Star, 1x Gold Glove, 23.2 WAR

4. Luis Arraez - 1x All Star, 1x Silver Slugger, 1x Batting Leader, 9.6 WAR

5. Luis Castillo - 3.7 WAR



3rd Basemen

1. Gary Gaetti - WS Champion, 2x All Star, 4x Gold Glove, 1x Games Leader, 24.5 WAR

2. Corey Koskie - 22.1 WAR

3. John Castino - Rookie of the Year, 1x Triples Leader, 15.2 WAR

4. Miguel Sanó - 1x All Star, 8.1 WAR

5. Trevor Plouffe - 8.2 WAR



Short Stops

1. Greg Gagne - 2x WS Champion, 17.9 WAR

2. Zoilo Versailles - 1x MVP, 2x All Star, 2x Gold Glove, 1x Runs Leader, 1x Doubles Leader, 3x Triples Leader, 15.3 WAR

3. Roy Smalley - 1x All Star, 1x Games Leader, 18.8 WAR

4. Cristian Guzman - 1x All Star, 3x Triples Leader, 7.6 WAR

5. Carlos Correa - 1x All Star, 10.4 WAR



Left Fielders

1. Larry Hisle - 1x All Star, 1x RBI Leader, 22.5 WAR

2. Shane Mack - WS Champion, 19.6 WAR

3. Jacque Jones - 11.9 WAR

4. Eddie Rosario - 1x Triples Leader, 12.3 WAR

5. Dan Gladden - 2x WS Champion, 5.7 WAR



Center Fielders

1. Kirby Puckett - HOF, #34 Retired, 2x WS Champion, MVP Runner-up, 7x MVP Top 10, 10x All Star, 6x Silver Slugger, 6x Gold Glove, 1x Batting Leader, 2x Total Bases Leader, 4x Hits Leader, 1x RBI Leader, 2x AB Leader, 1x WAR Leader, Career .318 hitter (highest career batting average by right handed hitter since WWII), 51.1 WAR

2. Torii Hunter - 1x MVP Top 10, 2x All Star, 7x Gold Glove, 214 HRs, 26.4 WAR

3. Byron Buxton - 2x All Star, 1x Silver Slugger, 1x Gold Glove, 29.8 WAR

4. Jimmie Hall - 2x All Star, 14.8 WAR

5. Denard Span - 1x Triples Leader, 17.2 WAR



Right Fielders

1. Tony Oliva - HOF, #6 Retired, 4x MVP Top 10, 8X All Star, 3x Batting Leader, 1x Runs Leader, 5x Hits Leader, 4x Doubles Leader, 1x Slugging Leader, 1x Total Base Leader, 220 HRs, 43.1 WAR

2. Bob Allison - 2x All Star, 1x Runs Leader, 1x OPS Leader, 1x OPS+ Leader, 1x WAR Leader, 211 HRs, 30.7 WAR

3. Tom Brunansky - WS Champion, 1x All Star, 15.9 WAR

4. Michael Cuddyer - 1x All Star, 12.8 WAR

5. Max Kepler - 20.5 WAR



Designated Hitters

1. Nelson Cruz - 2x MVP Top 10, 1x All Star, 2x Silver Slugger, 8.3 WAR

2. Chili Davis - WS Champion, 5.2 WAR

3. Paul Molitor - 1x Silver Slugger, 1x Hits Leader, 5.2 WAR

4. Jim Thome - 4.5 WAR

5. Jason Kubel - 3.6 WAR



Utility

1. Cesar Tovar - 1x MVP Top 10, 1x Games Leader, 1x AB Leader, 1x Hits Leader, 1x Doubles Leader, 1x Triples Leader, 25.9 WAR

2. Jorge Polanco - 1x All Star, 16.8 WAR

3. Nick Punto - 10.3 WAR

4. Eduardo Escobar - 5.6 WAR

5. Denny Hocking - 0.4 WAR



Starting Pitchers

1. Johan Santana - 2x Cy Young Winner, 6x CYA Top 10, 2x MVP Top 10, 4x All Star, 1x Wins Leader, 2x ERA Leader, 3x Strikeouts Leader, 3x ERA+ Leader, 4x WHIP Leader, 3x Hits per 9 Leader, 3x Strikeouts per 9 Leader, 3x FIP Leader, 3x WAR Leader, 1x Starts Leader, 1x Innings Pitched Leader, 35.8 WAR

2. Frank Viola - WS Champion, 1x Cy Young Award Winner, 3x CYA Top 10, 1x MVP Top 10, 1x Wins Leader, 1x Win Percentage Leader, 1x Games Started Leader, 27.0 WAR

3. Bert Blyleven - HOF, #28 Retired, WS Champion, 1x All Star, 1x CYA Top 10, 1x Shutouts Leader, 1x Innings Leader, 1x ERA+ Leader, 2x FIP Leader, 1x Most Earned Runs Allowed, 2x Most Home Runs Allowed, 1x WAR Leader, 49.1 WAR

4. Jim Perry - 1x Cy Young Award Winner, 2x CYA Top 10, 2x MVP Top 10, 2x All Star, 1x Wins Leader, 1x Games Started Leader, 1x Most Earned Runs Allowed, 1x Most Homers Allowed, 26.3 WAR

5. Jim Kaat - HOF, 1x MVP Top 10, 2x All Star, 12x Gold Glove, 1x Wins Leader, 2x Games Started Leader, 1x Complete Games Leader, 1x Shutouts Leader, 1x Innings Leader, 3x Most Hits Allowed, 1x FIP Leader, 30.6 WAR

6. Brad Radke - 1x All Star, 1x CYA Top 10, 1x Games Started Leader, 2x Most Homers Allowed, 45.6 WAR

7. Camilo Pasqual - 4x All Star, 3x Strikeouts Leader, 2x Complete Games Leader, 2x Shutouts Leader, 1x WAR Leader, 33.2 WAR

8. Kevin Tapani - 1x CYA Top 10, 19.1 WAR

9. Jack Morris - HOF, WS Champion, WS MVP, 1x All Star, 1x CYA Top 10, 1x Games Started Leader, 4.3 WAR

10. Scott Erickson - WS Champion, 1x All Star, 1x CYA Runner-up, 1x Wins Leader, 1x Most Hits Allowed, 12.7 WAR



Relief Pitchers

1. Joe Nathan - 4x All Star, 2x CYA Top 10, 260 Saves, 18.4 WAR

2. Rick Aguilera - WS Champion, 3x All Star, 254 Saves, 15.5 WAR

3. Eddie Guardado - 2x All Star, 1x Saves Leader, 1x Games Leader, 116 Saves, 9.5 WAR

4. Jeff Reardon - WS Champion, 1x All Star, 1x CYA Top 10, 104 Saves, 4.2 WAR

5. Glen Perkins - 3x All Star, 120 Saves, 9.0 WAR

6. Jhoan Duran - 74 Saves, 7.3 WAR

7. Al Worthington - 1x Saves Leader, 88 Saves, 10.0 WAR

8. Taylor Rodgers - 1x All Star, 50 Saves, 6.5 WAR

9. Matt Guerrier - 2x Games Leader, 7.9 WAR

10. Juan Berenguer - WS Champion, 6.4 WAR



Managers

1. Tom Kelly - #10 Retired, 2x WS Champion, 2x AL Pennant, 1x Manager of the Year, 1140 Wins, .478 Win Percentage

2. Sam Mele - 1x AL Pennant, 524 Wins, .546 Win Percentage

3. Ron Gardenhire - 1x Manager of the Year, 1068 Wins, .507 Win Percentage

4. Billy Martin - 97 Wins, .599 Win Percentage

5. Rocco Baldelli - 1x Manager of the Year, 527 Wins, .511 Win Percentage
 


From Hamm's beer: Got this from another site and it’s just one man’s opinion. I think he did a pretty damn good job with it
Twins All Time Top Fives (1961-Present)
Twins Top Fives

I think it's pretty accurate. Only thought I have though being an older guy. I remember Al Worthington coming out night after night. Did they change the save rule that perhaps was harder back then? He typically pitched two innings at least at a time if I recall correctly. I would rate him higher.
 

#2Gopher said:
From Hamm's beer: Got this from another site and it’s just one man’s opinion. I think he did a pretty damn good job with it
Twins All Time Top Fives (1961-Present)
Twins Top Fives

I think it's pretty accurate. Only thought I have though being an older guy. I remember Al Worthington coming out night after night. Did they change the save rule that perhaps was harder back then? He typically pitched two innings at least at a time if I recall correctly. I would rate him higher.
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Link?
 


The Twins have to be worth at least $2.5 billion now. Good day to be a Pohlad.

 

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