Comments on: GameChat – Twins @ Pirates #3, 6:05pm http://knuckleballsblog.com/2012/06/21/gamechat-twins-pirates-3-605pm/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gamechat-twins-pirates-3-605pm "Like butterflies with hiccups" Sat, 18 May 2013 04:17:30 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jim Crikket http://knuckleballsblog.com/2012/06/21/gamechat-twins-pirates-3-605pm/#comment-15287 Jim Crikket Fri, 22 Jun 2012 12:42:36 +0000 http://knuckleballsblog.com/?p=12595#comment-15287 I won’t give a full reply now, frightwig, because there’s a post on the subject brewing. In short, though, I think the past month has crystallized the situation, Terry Ryan needs GOOD starting pitching. Sure, there are other positions that could be improved with a move here or there, but none of that will matter until the rotation is vastly improved.

For a number of reasons, I don’t think TR will be able to get GOOD starting pitching in a mid-season trade. If he can’t, then the only reason to trade players would be to slash payroll further and I don’t believe the Twins need to make trades to do that. They’re still going to sell 3 million tickets this year, so there’s no reason to trade good position or bullpen pieces if they won’t bring quality SPs in return. It’s not like I’m seeing a bunch of guys in Rochester looking so good that he needs to clear out veterans to make room for someone.

TR should be listening to any offer, but only pulling the trigger when a deal is clearly in his favor. You don’t get presented with a lot of those offers.

]]> By: frightwig http://knuckleballsblog.com/2012/06/21/gamechat-twins-pirates-3-605pm/#comment-15282 frightwig Fri, 22 Jun 2012 05:45:12 +0000 http://knuckleballsblog.com/?p=12595#comment-15282 JC: on May 14, when the Twins were 10-24, you held out hope that the Twins might become “competitive within the division” over their next 34 games, providing some fun for fans and giving Terry Ryan a reason not to pull the plug on this team. So, here we are. The Twins have been 17-17 since then to put them at 27-41, dropping from 8 games back of the Indians to 9 games back of the still-leading Tribe (and now 8.5 games behind the White Sox). Although the Tigers continue to slog through a disappointing season (for them), the Twins have picked up just a half-game on them.

A .500 stretch is better than .294 ball, of course, but then this part of the schedule was supposed to be a big opportunity for the Twins to make up ground in the standings, too.

So, what’s your verdict? Have these past 34 games changed your outlook on the team and what Terry Ryan should do, at this point?

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