OOTP 16 -- This is Twins Territory!

[Brananorama]

July 6th - July 12th
7/6/15 - Baltimore Orioles (25-57) at Minnesota Twins (26-56)
Wei-Yin Chen (2-9, 4.58) vs. Robbie Ross, Jr. (2-4, 7.82) - Baltimore 11, Minnesota 9
WP: Brad Brach (3-2, 3.40) / LP: Caleb Thielbar (1-4, 3.03) / SV: A.J. Ramos (3, 3.40)
7/8/15 - Baltimore Orioles (26-57) at Minnesota Twins (26-57) - Game One
Kevin Gausman (3-9, 3.81) vs. Trevor May (5-6, 3.82) - Baltimore 4, Minnesota 6
WP: Trevor May (6-6, 3.91) / LP: Brad Brach (3-3, 4.06) / SV: Glen Perkins (9, 4.01)
7/8/15 - Baltimore Orioles (26-58) at Minnesota Twins (27-57) - Game Two
Chris Tillman (1-8, 4.28) vs. Tommy Milone (4-5, 2.79) - Baltimore 8, Minnesota 5
WP: Chris Tillman (2-8, 4.03) / LP: Tommy Milone (4-6, 2.92) / SV: A.J. Ramos (4, 3.38)
7/9/15 - Detroit Tigers (44-42) at Minnesota Twins (27-58)
Alfredo Simon (3-4, 5.91) vs. Ervin Santana (1-0, 4.50) - Detroit 4, Minnesota 11
WP: Ervin Santana (2-0, 4.61) / LP: Alfredo Simon (3-5, 6.44)
7/10/15 - Detroit Tigers (44-43) at Minnesota Twins (28-58)
Anibal Sanchez (8-3, 3.10) vs. Shane Greene (4-5, 4.29) - Detroit 0, Minnesota 5
WP: Shane Greene (5-5, 4.00) / LP: Anibal Sanchez (8-4, 3.43)
7/11/15 - Detroit Tigers (44-44) at Minnesota Twins (29-58)
David Price (8-6, 3.24) vs. Robbie Ross, Jr. (2-4, 7.14) - Detroit 14, Minnesota 8
WP: Al Alburquerque (2-4, 2.82) / LP: Caleb Thielbar (1-5, 3.74)
7/12/15 - Detroit Tigers (45-44) at Minnesota Twins (29-59)
Kyle Lobstein (3-3, 4.00) vs. Trevor May (6-6, 3.91) - Detroit 4, Minnesota 2
WP: Kyle Lobstein (4-3, 3.92) / LP: Casey Fien (0-1, 1.60) / SV: Al Alburquerque (22, 2.75)

Game One: Into Target Field comes the only MLB team worse than the Twins so far this year -- early draft pick competition, the Baltimore Orioles. Robbie Ross, Jr. didn’t give up an earned run, but exited in the fifth after the O’s put their fourth run on the board. Michael Tonkin gave Baltimore four runs in the sixth -- the Twins retaliated with three in the seventh. Former Twin Delmon Young had an RBI triple and scored in the ninth.
Game Two: With every start, Trevor May’s ERA dips lower and lower and my confidence in him gets higher. May struck out eight, and Kennys Vargas knocked in four runs for the Twins.
Game Three: An inning after the Twins left the bases loaded after filling them with nobody out, the Orioles put a four-spot on the board against Tommy Milone. This one, overall, not pretty. Joe Mauer suffered a knee contusion in the ninth that will keep him out of action for one week, and allow Pinto some steady playing time at DH as Vargas hits the infield.
Game One: Back-to-back RBI triples in the sixth sum this one up for the Twins, who walked all over the Tigers. Trevor Plouffe retook the team lead with his 15th homer.
Game Two:Shane Greene got to take on the club he opened the year with, and he got plenty of early offense, including Josmil Pinto’s first homer back with the team. Greene pitched seven shutout innings as the Twins once again hit their way to a second consecutive victory.
Game Three: Both teams combined for 12 runs in the game’s first four innings, with Robbie Ross, Jr. failing to make it through 12 outs. Down 7-5 in the fifth, Oswaldo Arcia bombed a three-run shot to right to put Minny up 8-7. Seemingly desperate for a win today -- which would mean a change at the team’s first four-game winning streak, AND a sweep of the Tigers to end the first half -- the bullpen buckled down and held Detroit until the ninth, when the Tigers scored a disappointing six times.
Game Four: Down 2-0 in the fifth, Kennys Vargas matched Plouffe at the break with 15 homers, this one a game-tying, two-run shot, but a rare run-surrendering outing from Casey Fien allowed Detroit to split the series, as we head to the “halfway” marker in the 2015 season. With our offense finally clicking -- Escobar and Hicks mashing at the top, Schafer and Santana finally finding their swing at the bottom, and the middle of the order excelling -- all we need is some pitching to carry us through an above-.500 post-break record.

Twinjuries:

• 2B YUNEL ESCOBAR (15-day DL) suffers setback. (sprained ankle; 7 weeks.)

Twins Transactions:

• CF MIGUEL MONZON (International Free Agent) signed to a minor-league deal with a $252,000 signing bonus. Monzon profiles as a future #2 hitter, with great gap power and solid speed. He’ll need to work on his outfield defense big-time in the minors if he’s to be anything more than a DH.

MLB Injuries:

• 3B ADRIAN BELTRE (TEX) to 15-day DL (back spasms; 5-6 weeks.)
• SP MATT HARVEY (NYM) to 15-day DL (shoulder soreness; 3 weeks.)

This Week in the MLB:

• The Twins have no players selected to the 2015 All-Star Game.
• American League POTW: 1B JOSE ABREU (CHW) - (12-for-25, 1 HR, 6 RBI)
• National League POTW: LF LEONYS MARTIN (CIN) - (15-for-27, 1 HR, 4 RBI)
• Power Rankings: 1. STL / 2. LAA / 3. LAD / 30. MIN

2015 All-Star Game at Fenway Park: NL 9, AL 1 -- MVP: C Devin Mesoraco (CIN) - (2-2, Grand Slam, 5 RBI)

[Brananorama]

July 17th - July 19th
7/17/15 - Minnesota Twins (29-60) at Oakland Athletics (51-40)
Tommy Milone (4-6, 2.92) vs. Sonny Gray (8-9, 5.35) - MINNESOTA 4, OAKLAND 0
WP: Tommy Milone (5-6, 2.62) / LP: Sonny Gray (8-10, 5.27)
7/18/15 - Minnesota Twins (30-60) at Oakland Athletics (51-41)
Trevor May (6-6, 3.86) vs. Jesse Hahn (6-5, 3.14) - Minnesota 4, Oakland 7
WP: Tyler Clippard (3-1, 3.83) / LP: Trevor May (6-7, 3.93) / SV: Sean Doolittle (21, 2.54)
7/19/15 - Minnesota Twins (30-61) at Oakland Athletics (52-41)
Shane Greene (5-5, 4.00) vs. Jarrod Parker (1-2, 4.03) - Minnesota 2, Oakland 6
WP: Jarrod Parker (2-2, 3.69) / LP: Shane Greene (5-6, 4.30)

GAME ONE: Entering the back half of 2015, the A’s have put together a campaign that leaves them first in the Wild Card race -- with Kansas City right behind. Could we have another thrilling rematch of last year’s game? Facing his former team at the Coliseum for the first time, Tommy Milone broke a string of three straight losses in spectacular fashion: BY NO-HITTING THE OAKLAND ATHLETICS!!! It wasn’t until the sixth that I realized what was happening, and Milone never blinked, striking out five and cementing that he is, hands-down, the best pitcher the Twins have had this year -- and a worthy pick-up for Sam Fuld last season! Still young and finally reaching his potential, I could not be more excited about Milone’s future with Minnesota.
Game Two: The Twins caught a break in the first, when Oakland starter Jesse Hahn left the game after just one batter. Minnesota had to deal with their own injury in the fifth, removing Eduardo Escobar after a hard double-play slide. Trevor May gave up a three-run shot to Ike Davis, and exited in the fifth with a high pitch count. The bullpen then had difficulties, with Brian Wilson and Michael Tonkin helping the A’s put this one to bed.
Game Three: Shane Greene limped out of the gate, giving up six runs on ten hits and walking three in just five innings. The Twins got nothing off Jarrod Parker but a few scratch hits and two runs, leaving only four on base.

This Week in the MLB:

• SP ANIBAL SANCHEZ (DET) throws a no-hitter against Baltimore. On the same day as Milone!
• LF BRETT GARDNER (NYY) retires (broken elbow; career over.)
• American League POTW: 3B NICK CASTELLANOS (DET) - (9-for-14, 1 HR, 4 RBI)
• National League POTW: 3B BRIAN DOZIER (SF) - (8-for-17, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 6 R)
• Power Rankings: 1. LAD / 2. SF / 3. STL / 30. MIN

[Brananorama]

July 21st - July 26th
7/21/15 - Minnesota Twins (30-62) at Los Angeles Angels (57-35)
Robbie Ross, Jr. (2-4, 7.98) vs. Hector Santiago (9-3, 3.00) - Minnesota 1, Los Angeles 5
WP: Hector Santiago (10-3, 2.84) / LP: Robbie Ross, Jr. (2-5, 7.56)
7/22/15 - Minnesota Twins (30-63) at Los Angeles Angels (58-35)
Ervin Santana (2-0, 4.61) vs. Garrett Richards (6-2, 2.81) - Minnesota 3, Los Angeles 2
WP: Glen Perkins (3-0, 5.06) / LP: Addison Reed (1-5, 3.50) / SV: Caleb Thielbar (1, 3.71)
7/23/15 - Minnesota Twins (31-63) at Los Angeles Angels (58-35)
Tommy Milone (5-6, 2.62) vs. Anthony DeSclafani (9-5, 3.42) - Minnesota 11, Los Angeles 3
WP: Tommy Milone (6-6, 2.68) / LP: Anthony DeSclafani (9-6, 3.70)
7/24/15 - New York Yankees (49-45) at Minnesota Twins (32-63)
Michael Pineda (5-6, 2.82) vs. Trevor May (6-7, 3.93) - New York 3, Minnesota 16
WP: Trevor May (7-7, 3.85) / LP: Michael Pineda (5-7, 3.32)
7/25/15 - New York Yankees (49-46) at Minnesota Twins (33-63)
James Shields (7-8, 3.79) vs. Shane Greene (5-6, 4.30) - New York 2, Minnesota 5 - F/5
WP: Shane Greene (6-6, 4.19) / LP: James Shields (7-9, 3.83)
7/26/15 - New York Yankees (49-47) at Minnesota Twins (34-63)
Nathan Eovaldi (5-4, 4.71) vs. Robbie Ross, Jr. (2-5, 7.56) - New York 6, Minnesota 4
WP: Nathan Eovaldi (6-4, 4.70) / LP: Robbie Ross, Jr. (2-6, 7.36) / SV: Dellin Betances (15, 3.18)

Game One: Just days after no-hitting Oakland, the Twins looked en route to be one-upped by another Californian team -- but Aaron Hicks walked to break up Santiago’s perfecto in the 7th, and Kennys Vargas took the team lead in homers again, his 16th on the season breaking up Hector’s no-no.


Game Two: The talented Richards was removed due to injury in just the second inning. Kennys Vargas’ second homer in as many days put the Twins up 2-1 in the eighth during a tight duel between L.A.’s bullpen and Ervin Santana -- Santana pitching into the eighth and striking out seven. Unfortunately, Glen Perkins blew his sixth save of the year, and that was enough for me -- we’re going to try Casey Fien in that role for a while. The Twins won quickly after a sac fly in the tenth.


Game Three: LI’L PAPI IS ON FIYA! Kennys Vargas had a three-run shot in the first -- his third long ball of the last three days, and his 18th already on the season! I knew Vargas had 30-homer potential, but I didn’t think he’d have a shot at it in 2015! He should hit 20 soon and 30 is a realistic goal. He’s definitely enjoying a 100-RBI-type season, as well. AND IN HIS SECOND AT-BAT: LI’L PAPI GETS HIS 19TH HOMER to put the Twins up 4-0! What a ridiculously exciting young man to watch. Tommy Milone had no-hit stuff again through four innings. A six-run sixth aided the Twins in a series-winning rout.


Game One: Facing a difficult pitcher, a Twins team that’s been fired up since the no-no knocked Pineda out of the game with a second-inning seven-spot. Slap hitter Dixon Machado got his first major-league homer with a 3-run laser to the bullpens.


Game Two: It took the second called game of the year, but the Twins have put together their first four-game winning streak, beating the Yanks in just over five innings. Tomorrow, we’ll go for our first sweep, and try to win five in a row!


Game Three: Any hope of sweeping the Yankees was squandered by Robbie Ross, Jr.’s total inability to work up the stamina to pitch five-plus innings -- something I hadn’t noticed yet due to my tendency to pull him before that point. Is it time to give Berrios another look? Meyer? Ross isn’t doing us any favors, and this team has to be beginning to turn the corner into 2016.

Twinjuries:

• SS EDUARDO ESCOBAR (MLB) to 15-day DL (oblique strain; 6 weeks.) And the shortstop cycle continues. Dixon Machado will get some starting time with James Beresford remaining the backup.

Twins Transactions:

• RF TORII HUNTER (15-day DL) to active roster. After his second 5-week DL stint of the year (hip and thumb), Torii Hunter returns to the batting order to give our already potent lineup a little more power. This lineup is in the upper half of batting orders in the A.L., just like it was last year. That’s important -- with only a few pitching issues to solve this offseason, we’re closer to a worst-to-first run than our record relays.

MLB Transactions:

• CF CARLOS GOMEZ (MIL) to San Francisco. SP TIM HUDSON (SF) and CF GUSTAVO CABRERA (MIL - R) to Milwaukee. Gomez and Dozier -- two former Twins who never played together -- are now both All-Stars, on the Giants.

MLB Injuries:

• 2B NEIL WALKER (PIT) to 15-day DL (intercostal strain; 3-4 weeks.)
• SP MARTIN PEREZ (TEX) to 60-day DL (shoulder; 4-5 months.)
• SP FELIX HERNANDEZ (SEA) to 60-day DL (ruptured finger tendon; 3 months.) MLB’s earned run average leader will be missing the rest of the 2015 season.
• SP GARRETT RICHARDS (LAA) to 60-day DL (ruptured finger tendon; 3-4 months.) We were there for this one! The second ruptured finger tendon to a major AL West starter this week -- and this one has the chance to derail the first-place Angels a fair bit more.
• 2B HOWIE KENDRICK (LAD) to 15-day DL (sore shoulder; 6 weeks.)

This Week in the MLB:

• American League POTW: 3B MIKE MOUSTAKAS (KC) - (11-for-19, 1 HR, 9 RBI)
• National League POTW: RF GIANCARLO STANTON (MIA) - (9-for-24, 3 HR, 8 RBI)

Power Rankings: 1. STL / 2. KC / 3. LAD / 29. MIN

[Brananorama]

July 28th - August 2nd
7/28/15 - Pittsburgh Pirates (44-52) at Minnesota Twins (34-64)
A.J. Burnett (5-4, 4.87) vs. Ervin Santana (2-0, 3.43) - Pittsburgh 4, Minnesota 2
WP: A.J. Burnett (6-4, 4.65) / LP: Ervin Santana (2-1, 3.67) / SV: Mark Melancon (15, 4.43)
7/29/15 - Pittsburgh Pirates (45-52) at Minnesota Twins (34-65)
Francisco Liriano (7-5, 3.36) vs. Tommy Milone (6-6, 2.68) - Pittsburgh 1, Minnesota 4
WP: Tommy Milone (7-6, 2.58) / LP: Francisco Liriano (7-6, 3.29) / SV: Casey Fien (1, 1.54)
7/30/15 - Seattle Mariners (48-54) at Minnesota Twins (35-65)
Miguel Gonzalez (1-2, 3.15) vs. Trevor May (7-7, 3.85) - Seattle 2, Minnesota 5
WP: Trevor May (8-7, 3.73) / LP: Miguel Gonzalez (1-3, 3.62)
7/31/15 - Seattle Mariners (48-55) at Minnesota Twins (36-65)
Danny Hultzen (0-1, 4.09) vs. Shane Greene (6-6, 4.19) - Seattle 10, Minnesota 12
WP: Brian Duensing (2-2, 2.79) / LP: Danny Farquhar (5-6, 4.95) / SV: Casey Fien (2, 1.50)
8/1/15 - Seattle Mariners (48-56) at Minnesota Twins (37-65)
James Paxton (5-9, 4.59) vs. Taylor Rogers (0-1, 21.60) - Seattle 8, Minnesota 4
WP: James Paxton (6-9, 4.46) / LP: Taylor Rogers (0-2, 16.20)
8/2/15 - Seattle Mariners (49-56) at Minnesota Twins (37-66)
Mike Kickham (1-0, 2.25) vs. Ervin Santana (2-1, 3.67) - Seattle 6, Minnesota 4
WP: Mike Kickham (2-0, 2.86) / LP: Ervin Santana (2-2, 3.97) / SV: Danny Farquhar (14, 5.04)

Game One: Down 3-0 in the fifth, Danny Santana had an RBI triple and scored a run to bring Minnesota back to within one. Ervin Santana and Brian Wilson both pitched well, but we couldn’t get a whole lot of our key offense going.
Game Two: The dominating Tommy Milone went seven innings and gave up just five hits. Casey Fien struck out two in his first ninth inning as the official closer of the Twins - and just the second save of his six-year career.
Game One: In the opener against Seattle, Oswaldo Arcia hit his 16th homer of the year, moving him ahead of Plouffe for second on the team. I thought I should touch on Jordan Schafer in this recap -- he’s been relegated to a bench role, but his intense speed is too great to pass up on base-stealing opportunities, and he currently holds the MLB lead with 44 this season. I was debating cutting him in the offseason, but a pinch-runner like that is way too valuable. What a waiver pickup he was for Terry Ryan!
Game Two: Number 20 for Li’l Papi! A three-run bomb, 480 feet into the third deck in left, gave Kennys Vargas 20 homers and 71 RBI, good for third in the American League. In the same inning -- during which Minnesota scored seven runs before an out was recorded -- Oswaldo Arcia picked up homer #17. Then the Twins committed the unforgivable -- they allowed the M’s to tie the game after going up 10-2. Sure, the Twins retook the lead immediately following, and Casey Fien notched another scoreless save. Joe Mauer got four hits and knocked in four.
Game Three: Can we win four in a row? Can we open the chance for our first sweep tomorrow? Can Taylor Rogers take over as the #5 man the rest of the way? Well, maybe not -- Rogers gave up seven through five innings of worked and looked relatively unconfident, and Paxton largely held the Twins at bay. Dixon Machado hit his second career homer in the ninth.
Game Four: Ervin Santana got out to a rough start, giving up a pair of runs in each of the first two innings, but settled down and struck out seven over seven complete. The Twins had nothing doing against Kickham, but their bats caught fire against the pen -- they cut the lead to 4-3 in the 7th, then loaded the bases with none out in the ninth but failed to score more than one.

Twins Transactions:

• SP ROBBIE ROSS, JR (MLB) to AAA Rochester. SP TAYLOR ROGERS (AAA) to active roster. We’re gonna give Rogers -- who along with Berrios and Meyer has been one of our three rookie looks this season -- his second spin. Ross is no longer cutting it for me and I don’t think we’re getting anything more from him.

MLB Injuries:

• SS IAN DESMOND (WSH) to 60-day DL (torn thumb ligament; 2-3 months.)

This July in the MLB:

• American League BOTM: 1B MIGUEL CABRERA (DET) - (.309, 9 HR, 21 RBI, 22 R)
• National League BOTM: RF GIANCARLO STANTON (MIA) - (.321, 8 HR, 21 RBI)
• American League POTM: SP DALLAS KEUCHEL (HOU) - (5-1, 1.57 ERA, 29 K)
• National League POTM: CL TREVOR ROSENTHAL (STL) - (2-0, 0.60 ERA, 10 SV, 24 K)
• American League ROTM: LF RYAN RUA (DET) - (.294, 7 2B, 6 HR, 22 RBI, 14 R)
• National League ROTM: 3B JAKE LAMB (ARI) - (.329, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 11 R)

This Week in the MLB:

• American League POTW: 1B EDWIN ENCARNACION (TOR) - (11-for-25, 3 HR, 9 RBI)
• National League POTW: RF GERARDO PARRA (MIL) - (10-for-21, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R)

Power Rankings: 1. STL / 2. LAA / 3. CLE / 28. MIN

[Brananorama]

August 3rd - August 9th
8/3/15 - Minnesota Twins (37-67) at Toronto Blue Jays (56-50)
Tommy Milone (7-6, 2.58) vs. Drew Hutchison (7-10, 4.18) - Minnesota 0, Toronto 2
WP: Drew Hutchison (8-10, 3.94) / LP: Tommy Milone (7-7, 2.50) / SV: Brett Cecil (18, 4.24)
8/4/15 - Minnesota Twins (37-68) at Toronto Blue Jays (57-50)
Trevor May (8-7, 3.73) vs. Liam Hendriks (8-6, 3.49) - Minnesota 5, Toronto 4
WP: Trevor May (9-7, 3.84) / LP: Liam Hendriks (8-7, 3.82) / SV: Casey Fien (3, 1.46)
8/5/15 - Minnesota Twins (38-68) at Toronto Blue Jays (57-51)
Shane Greene (6-6, 4.36) vs. Mike Minor (1-4, 3.28) - Minnesota 12, Toronto 1
WP: Shane Greene (7-6, 4.20) / LP: Mike Minor (1-5, 3.48)
8/6/15 - Minnesota Twins (39-68) at Toronto Blue Jays (57-52)
Taylor Rogers (0-2, 16.20) vs. Daniel Hudson (6-9, 4.16) - Minnesota 2, Toronto 8
WP: Daniel Hudson (7-9, 3.96) / LP: Taylor Rogers (0-3, 10.47)
8/7/15 - Minnesota Twins (39-69) at Cleveland Indians (64-44)
Ervin Santana (2-2, 3.97) vs. Danny Salazar (5-8, 5.38) - Minnesota 1, Cleveland 8
WP: Danny Salazar (6-8, 5.10) / LP: Ervin Santana (2-3, 5.50)
8/8/15 - Minnesota Twins (39-70) at Cleveland Indians (65-44)
Tommy Milone (7-7, 2.50) vs. Carlos Carrasco (13-5, 3.68) - Minnesota 6, Cleveland 4
WP: Tommy Milone (8-7, 2.71) / LP: Carlos Carrasco (13-6, 3.81) / SV: Casey Fien (4, 1.42)
8/9/15 - Minnesota Twins (40-70) at Cleveland Indians (65-45)
Trevor May (9-7, 3.84) vs. Trevor Bauer (9-7, 3.01) - Minnesota 4, Cleveland 3 - F/10
WP: Caleb Thielbar (2-5, 3.92) / LP: Cody Allen (4-4, 2.77) / SV: Casey Fien (5, 1.38)

Game One: Another brilliant outing from Tommy Milone involved six full innings of three-hit ball, then a solo shot from Justin Smoak that put the Jays up 1-0. It was the lone blemish on Tommy’s linescore, but with the Twins offense not functioning this evening, it was enough for Toronto to win. They got another off Cody Hall in the eighth. Milone now qualifies among MLB’s ERA leaders, and ranks fifth overall!
Game Two: Joe Mauer, who’s been spending the better part of 2015 trying to get his average up to .300 -- it’s now .293, for reference -- corked his fourth homer of the year to give the Twins a 2-0 lead in the first. He was followed in back-to-back fashion by Kennys Vargas’ 21st, and Li’l Papi’s 74th rib-eye, third-best in the majors. And in the third - he got another one! Make it 22 homers -- his fourth multi-homer game this year.
Game Three: The 18th and 19th homers this year from Oswaldo Arcia made it 1-0 in the second and 4-1 in the sixth. Kennys Vargas had a three-run triple in the ninth, during which the Twins plated 7 without having an out recorded against them.
Game Four: Another rough start for Taylor Rogers...maybe time for some more Berrios action? Aaron Hicks hit his third homer of the year, and in 200+ plate appearances has hit his way to a .400+ OBP.
Game One: It’s been a long while since we’ve faced the Indians, and now they lead the Central, with Wild Card-leading Kansas City not very far behind. Time to start playing spoiler! Ervin Santana had big control issues during the opener and was pulled after a five-run fourth.
Game Two: After becoming the second team to 70 losses (Baltimore), the Twins sent Tommy Milone out to even the series. Milone pitched well until a two-run shot in the sixth made it a one-run game, still in favor of Minny. Torii Hunter hit his fourth homer of the year.
Game Three: Looking to become the first Twin to reach 10 wins this year, the Twins found themselves locked in a 3-3 tie after seven innings of play, with Danny Santana having hit his first homer of the season. This one went extras, with Trevor Plouffe doubling home the go-ahead score in the 10th and Casey Fien recording another save.

Twins Transactions:

• SP TAYLOR ROGERS (MLB) to AAA Rochester. SP JOSE BERRIOS (AA) to active roster.

MLB Injuries:

• RP MIKE MORIN (LAA) to 60-day DL (torn flexor tendon; 6 months.)
• DH DAVID ORTIZ (BOS) to 15-day DL (strained rib cage muscle; 3 weeks.)

This Week in the MLB:

• American League POTW: RF CHRIS PARMELEE (11-for-25, 2 HR, 4 RBI)
• National League POTW: 1B BEN PAULSEN (12-for-22, 2 HR, 12 RBI)

Power Rankings: 1. STL / 2. LAA / 3. TB / 28. MIN

[CatKnight]

Okay, you can do this. You're 40-72.

Figure win the next 50 straight, and you should still make it as at least the wild card!

[lukestephens2293]

following

[Brananorama]

Originally Posted by CatKnight

Okay, you can do this. You're 40-72.

Figure win the next 50 straight, and you should still make it as at least the wild card!

You know, with the offense producing as usual, and Milone + May becoming reliable members of the rotation, and Hughes coming back from an injury next season and primed to bounce back, I'm more optimistic than our record would generally have me.

I'll be okay with a top-three draft pick if we only have a couple holes to fill this offseason! Wild Card 2016 is still the goal.

[Brananorama]

August 11th - August 16th
8/11/15 - Texas Rangers (43-66) at Minnesota Twins (41-70)
Jhoulys Chacin (5-7, 4.71) vs. Shane Greene (7-6, 4.20) - Texas 4, Minnesota 3
WP: Nate Jones (3-2, 1.66) / LP: Casey Fien (0-2, 1.80) / SV: Alex Claudio (4, 1.75)
8/12/15 - Texas Rangers (44-66) at Minnesota Twins (41-71)
Jimmy Nelson (5-8, 3.98) vs. Jose Berrios (1-4, 5.63) - Texas 4, Minnesota 5 - F/10
WP: Brian Duensing (3-2, 2.89) / LP: Alex Claudio (1-3, 2.48)
8/13/15 - Texas Rangers (44-67) at Minnesota Twins (42-71)
Yovani Gallardo (6-10, 5.11) vs. Ervin Santana (2-3, 5.50) - Texas 9, Minnesota 0
WP: Yovani Gallardo (7-10, 4.75) / LP: Ervin Santana (2-4, 6.12)
8/14/15 - Cleveland Indians (67-47) at Minnesota Twins (42-72)
Carlos Carrasco (13-6, 3.81) vs. Tommy Milone (8-7, 2.71) - Cleveland 5, Minnesota 4
WP: Carlos Carrasco (14-6, 3.93) / LP: Tommy Milone (8-8, 2.85) / SV: Mark Rzepczynski (1, 3.29)
8/15/15 - Cleveland Indians (68-47) at Minnesota Twins (42-73)
Trevor Bauer (9-7, 3.05) vs. Trevor May (9-7, 3.84) - Cleveland 5, Minnesota 2
WP: Trevor Bauer (10-7, 3.03) / LP: Trevor May (9-8, 3.99) / SV: Cody Allen (28, 2.66)
8/16/15 - Cleveland Indians (69-47) at Minnesota Twins (42-74)
Corey Kluber (7-10, 3.57) vs. Shane Greene (7-6, 4.11) - Cleveland 7, Minnesota 5
WP: Corey Kluber (8-10, 3.53) / LP: Shane Greene (7-7, 4.32) / SV: Cody Allen (29, 2.65)

Game One: We have a nice opportunity to scoop up two or three wins here. Kurt Suzuki hit his 7th homer of the year, and he’s still batting over .300 -- not missing a beat from last season and leaving me with an embarrassment of offensive riches at the catcher position, with Pinto hitting really well and not even showing his full potential yet. Casey Fien imploded in the ninth, hitting two men and blowing his first save as a closer, allowing Texas to take the lead, and the Twins were struck out in order in the bottom half to give Texas a cheap win.
Game Two: In his first start back with the big club, Jose Berrios gave up two runs and struck out six over just shy of six innings of work, and the Twins rallied to tie it in the eighth from down 2-0, including the 80th ribby from Li’L Papi. Brian Duensing gave up two runs in the 10th -- but in the bottom half, we loaded the bases against the difficult closer Claudio, walked in a run with nobody out, tied the game on a Josmil Pinto single, and won on a Danny Santana walk-off hit in a three-run 10th! What an exciting finish.
Game Three: Three straight losses for Ervin Santana, and a grand slam by Texas in the fourth put him on track for loss #4. Yovani Gallardo had a three-hit shutout and struck out 7 men.
Game One: Tommy Milone has given up at least four runs in each of his last two starts -- both against Cleveland -- after not having given up more than four since June. Danny Santana tripled twice in the loss.
Game Two: Once again, it’s Trevor May versus Trevor Bauer. May walked seven through four innings and exited on the other end of a rain delay. Joe Mauer was injured during a defensive play.
Game Three: Another grand slam got the scoring started early for the visitors, and the Tribe set the Twins down effectively after that -- but Minnesota left the tying run at second by the end of the ballgame following a sudden two-out rally.

Twinjuries:

• RF TORII HUNTER (MLB) to 15-day DL (recurring back spasms; 4 weeks.) This will be DL stint #3 for Torii Hunter. What a waste of ten million he’s been this year! When he’s been in the lineup, he’s had a good bat, but he hasn’t gotten any playing time to due taking a few weeks off every few games. Just 49 starts this year for old Torii, and “old” is the operative here.
• 1B JOE MAUER (MLB) to 15-day DL (fractured wrist; 5 weeks) Say it ain’t so, Joe! We might be shutting down Mauer for the rest of the year. Five weeks today, plus a rehab assignment will likely put him out of commission for the remainder of the 2015 season. Time to try Vargas and even Pinto at first to see how we can best optimize this offense.

Twins Transactions:

• OF DANIEL FIELDS (AAA) to active roster. Fields is one of our two outfield prospects from the earlier trade with the Tigers. He’ll be taking over Rajai’s roster spot in 2016, and is strong in left and strong in center with good speed and a hopefully serviceable bat.
• 2B EDDIE ROSARIO (AAA) to active roster. End-of-year depth, with Mauer going down. He should be on through September.

MLB Injuries:

• 2B JOSH HARRISON (LAA) to 15-day DL (fractured cheekbone; 5-6 weeks.) The fifth separate injury for Harrison this year, and his second DL stint. The Angels definitely haven’t gotten too much out of the Harrison trade yet, as Josh has played just 45 games in Cali.
• CF COREY DICKERSON (COL) to 15-day DL (fractured cheekbone; 5 weeks.)

This Week in the MLB:

• American League POTW: 1B JOSE ABREU (CHW) - (10-for-25, 6 HR, 13 RBI)
• National League POTW: C JONATHAN LUCROY (MIL) - (12-for-20, 2 RBI, 2 R)
• Power Rankings: 1. STL / 2. CLE / 3. TB / 30. MIN

[Brananorama]

August 17th - August 23rd
8/17/15 - Minnesota Twins (42-75) at New York Yankees (61-55)
Jose Berrios (1-4, 5.45) vs. Nathan Eovaldi (7-5, 4.37) - Minnesota 6, New York 2
WP: Jose Berrios (2-4, 5.27) / LP: Nathan Eovaldi (7-6, 4.49)
8/18/15 - Minnesota Twins (43-75) at New York Yankees (61-56)
Ervin Santana (2-4, 6.12) vs. Masahiro Tanaka (8-8, 3.60) - Minnesota 3, New York 4
WP: Dellin Betances (6-2, 3.44) / LP: Caleb Thielbar (2-6, 4.06)
8/19/15 - Minnesota Twins (43-76) at New York Yankees (62-56)
Tommy Milone (8-8, 2.85) vs. Ivan Nova (2-6, 4.70) - Minnesota 4, New York 1
WP: Tommy Milone (9-8, 2.72) / LP: Ivan Nova (2-7, 4.72)
8/20/15 - Minnesota Twins (44-76) at Baltimore Orioles (41-78)
Trevor May (9-8, 3.99) vs. Wei-Yin Chen (7-11, 4.72) - Minnesota 5, Baltimore 17
WP: Wei-Yin Chen (8-11, 4.71) / LP: Trevor May (9-9, 4.23)
8/21/15 - Minnesota Twins (44-77) at Baltimore Orioles (42-78)
Shane Greene (7-7, 4.32) vs. Mike Wright (1-0, 2.57) - Minnesota 3, Baltimore 4
WP: Mike Wright (2-0, 3.46) / LP: Shane Greene (7-8, 4.33) / SV: A.J. Ramos (12, 3.88)
8/22/15 - Minnesota Twins (44-78) at Baltimore Orioles (43-78)
Jose Berrios (2-4, 5.27) vs. Kevin Gausman (3-14, 4.01) - Minnesota 9, Baltimore 5
WP: Jose Berrios (3-4, 5.24) / LP: Kevin Gausman (3-15, 4.26)
8/23/15 - Minnesota Twins (45-78) at Baltimore Orioles (43-79)
Ervin Santana (2-4, 5.44) vs. Chris Tillman (4-11, 4.10) - Minnesota 4, Baltimore 2
WP: Brian Duensing (4-2, 3.28) / LP: A.J. Ramos (4-8, 4.19) / SV: Casey Fien (6, 1.76)

Game One: We enter the series in the Bronx in another rut, but our offense came to life during a four-run 7th, putting the Twins up by a 5-2 score in the opener. Kennys Vargas had a three-hit day and Josmil Pinto had three hits himself, anddrove in a pair of runs.
Game Two: This one was hard-fought, with the score 2-1 after seven innings, but a combined thirteen hits. Jordan Schafer (48 stolen bases!) tripled and scored to make it 3-1, but A-Rod homered off of Brian Duensing, allowing New York to tie the game, and Wilin Rosario corked a solo shot in the ninth to walk off the Yanks against Caleb Thielbar.
Game Three: Jordan Schafer steals his MLB-leading 50th base! He’s getting more starting time with Torii out again, and the more he plays with us the more I realize what a valuable commodity he is. He’s on pace to break our single-season club record for stolen bases of 62 steals, set by Chuck Knoblauch in 1997. Meanwhile, Danny Santana -- who’s qualified in Pohlad’s eyes as being our shortstop upgrade! - is hitting over .300 again, and after some concerns about major regression, looks to be the real deal. Tommy Milone threw a complete game -- nearly a shutout, save for Wilin Rosario’s second homer of the series.
Game One: Our performance in the last series with the Baltimore could wind up being the difference between next year’s #1 draft pick and next year’s #2. Trevor May was having a solid outing until a six-run fifth got away from him and the O’s took control. The game continued to get away, and away...and away...well, take a look for yourself.
Game Two:James Beresford hit his first big-league homer as the Twins were up 3-0 as early as the second. However, the O’s came scratching and clawing their way back and took the lead in the 6th. Shane Greene pitched eight strong innings and the Twins got the tying run to second in the ninth, but dropped their second straight game.
Game Three: I wanted to save the pen a bit today, and wound up doubling up on complete games -- despite giving up four homers, Jose Berrios finished at an even 100 pitches in a complete game win over Baltimore. Danny Santana knocked in three.
Game Four: In our last game of the year with our draft pick rivals, Ervin Santana went seven shutout innings, but Cody Hall and Brian Duensing allowed Baltimore back in the game. What next, though? A two-run shot for Aaron Hicks -- who finished his day a SINGLE SHY of the cycle!

Twins Transactions:

• 2B YUNEL ESCOBAR (DL) to rehab assignment.

MLB Injuries:

• CF ANDREW MCCUTCHEN (PIT) to 60-day DL (torn labrum; 4 months.) The third-place Pirates’ woes continue, as now their best man is out for the remainder of 2015.
• 1B MIGUEL CABRERA (DET) to 60-day DL (ruptured finger tendon; 3-4 months.) And now the third-place team in the AMERICAN League Central has their best player go down for the rest of the season.

This Week in the MLB:

• American League POTW: DAYAN VICIEDO (DET) - (10-for-19, 2 HR, 8 RBI) …Okay.
• National League POTW: C YASMANDI GRANDAL (LAD) - (11-for-18, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R)

Power Rankings: 1. STL / 2. LAA / 3. TB / 29. MIN

[Brananorama]

August 25th - August 30th
8/25/15 - Minnesota Twins (46-78) at Tampa Bay Rays (72-52)
Tommy Milone (9-8, 2.72) vs. Alex Cobb (5-11, 5.09) - Minnesota 1, Tampa Bay 0
WP: Tommy Milone (10-8, 2.54) / LP: Alex Cobb (5-12, 4.91)
8/26/15 - Minnesota Twins (47-78) at Tampa Bay Rays (72-53)
Trevor May (9-9, 4.23) vs. Drew Smyly (11-4, 3.01) - Minnesota 4, Tampa Bay 6
WP: Jeff Beliveau (3-2, 2.09) / LP: Trevor May (9-10, 4.45) / SV: Jake McGee (17, 2.23)
8/27/15 - Minnesota Twins (47-79) at Tampa Bay Rays (73-53)
Shane Greene (7-8, 4.33) vs. Matt Moore (5-1, 3.89) - Minnesota 8, Tampa Bay 3
WP: Glen Perkins (4-0, 3.52) / LP: Matt Moore (5-2, 4.43)
8/28/15 - Houston Astros (64-64) at Minnesota Twins (48-79)
Brett Oberholtzer (8-6, 3.85) vs. Jose Berrios (3-4, 5.24) - Houston 6, Minnesota 11
WP: Jose Berrios (4-4, 5.34) / LP: Brett Oberholtzer (8-7, 3.93)
8/29/15 - Houston Astros (64-65) at Minnesota Twins (49-79)
Dallas Keuchel (10-8, 3.77) vs. Ervin Santana (2-4, 4.85) - Houston 6, Minnesota 4
WP: Dallas Keuchel (11-8, 3.77) / LP: Ervin Santana (2-5, 5.11) / SV: Luke Gregerson (13, 2.90)
8/30/15 - Houston Astros (65-65) at Minnesota Twins (49-80)
Samuel Deduno (8-8, 4.76) vs. Tommy Milone (10-8, 2.54) - Houston 15, Minnesota 4
WP: Samuel Deduno (9-8, 4.71) / LP: Tommy Milone (10-9, 2.98)

Game One: We could have a tough task on our hands facing the 1st-place Rays for a few games, but I’m dead set on getting Tommy Milone and May to their 10th wins this week, and from the moment this one started, I knew Tommy would get it -- he pitched an eight-hit shutout, reached 10 wins on the season, and gave the Twins the W in the opener at Tropicana.
Game Two: Trevor May had control issues, walking five through five innings, but Kurt Suzuki’s eighth homer of the year made it a 4-all game in the sixth. The Rays would then get two off Brian Wilson that decided the final.
Game Three: Shane Greene was removed due to injury in the fourth. Kennys Vargas broke a string of 23 days without a homer with a two-run shot in the eighth, his 23rd.
Game One: The first game with the ‘Stros was a messy, lopsided affair in which the Twins held a 6-1 lead, a 6-5 lead, and finally won by a score of 11-6. Josmil Pinto hit his 5th homer of the year. I’m SO excited to have this guy up from the get-go in 2016.
Game Two: The Twins went down 5-0 early but began scrapping their way back into things. Despite ultimately losing by two, the Twins loaded in the bases in the bottom of the ninth -- I’ll take the will to fight, and not back down when down a high margin, even though we didn’t execute in the end.
Game Three: This one hurt. Suddenly affected by a downpour of rain, Tommy Milone gave up eight earned runs, and his second-place position in the ERA race takes a big hit. He had a definite chance to win the American League title, but it’s going to take the same sort of poor outing from the current leader, Drew Pomeranz of Oakland. Kennys Vargas hit his 24th homer.

Twinjuries:

• SP SHANE GREENE (MLB) to 60-day DL (torn flexor tendon; 8 months.) This one sucks. With leaps and bounds of progress from Trevor May, May was looking like a solid #4 and Greene was going to be our #5 guy next year. Now it looks like he’s missing at least through April and probably through May with rehab -- meaning it’ll be another look at one of our prospects -- likely Alex Meyer getting another shot...although we’ll see how the big guy performs this September.

Twins Transactions:

• SS EDUARDO ESCOBAR (15-day DL) to rehab assignment.

MLB Injuries:

• CF LORENZO CAIN (KC) to 15-day DL (torn meniscus; 7 weeks.) A huge blow for the Wild Card-leading Royals, who lead the Red Sox and A’s by only a game and a half.

This Week in the MLB:

• TRIPLE CROWN WATCH! Jose Abreu, entering September, has a .325 batting average (1st MLB), 32 homers (1st A.L.), and 92 RBI (3rd A.L. -- second to Miggy, on the DL, and C.J. Cron of Los Angeles.)
• American League POTW: 1B JOSE ABREU (CHW) - (13-for-25, 4 RBI)
• National League POTW: 1B FREDDIE FREEMAN (ATL) - (11-for-23, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
• Power Rankings: 1. LAA / 2. STL / 3. TB / 28. MIN

This August in the MLB:

• American League BOTM: RF JOSE BAUTISTA (TOR) - (.300, 10 HR, 22 RBI, 21 R)
• National League BOTM: 1B ANTHONY RIZZO (CHC) - (.267, 9 HR, 27 RBI, 17 R)
• American League POTM: SP RICK PORCELLO (BOS) - (5-1, 2.72, 24 K)
• National League POTM: SP ROBBIE ERLIN (SD) - (5-1, 2.38, 27 K)
• American League ROTM: RF STEVEN SOUZA (TB) - (.381, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 21 R)

National League ROTM: 1B BEN PAULSEN (COL) - (.321, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 16 R)

[Brananorama]

September 1st - September 6th
9/1/15 - Chicago White Sox (62-68) at Minnesota Twins (49-81)
Erik Johnson (1-4, 5.53) vs. Trevor May (9-10, 4.45) - Chicago 10, Minnesota 4
WP: Erik Johnson (2-4, 5.35) / LP: Trevor May (9-11, 4.63) / SV: Zach Duke (3, 4.03)
9/2/15 - Chicago White Sox (63-68) at Minnesota Twins (49-82)
Chris Sale (10-10, 3.77) vs. Jose Berrios (4-4, 5.34) - Chicago 2, Minnesota 3
WP: Brian Duensing (5-2, 3.33) / LP: Jake Petricka (3-2, 4.88) / SV: Casey Fien (7, 1.67)
9/3/15 - Chicago White Sox (63-69) at Minnesota Twins (50-82)
Hector Noesi (4-12, 5.67) vs. Ervin Santana (2-5, 5.11) - Chicago 4, Minnesota 14
WP: Ervin Santana (3-5, 5.19) / LP: Hector Noesi (4-13, 5.89)
9/4/15 - Minnesota Twins (51-82) at Houston Astros (67-67)
Tommy Milone (10-9, 2.98) vs. Dallas Keuchel (11-8, 3.77) - Minnesota 11, Houston 3
WP: Tommy Milone (11-9, 3.03) / LP: Dallas Keuchel (11-9, 3.99)
9/5/15 - Minnesota Twins (52-82) at Houston Astros (67-68)
Alex Meyer (0-4, 25.36) vs. Collin McHugh (8-7, 4.53) - Minnesota 9, Houston 4
WP: Alex Meyer (1-4, 17.50) / LP: Collin McHugh (8-8, 4.80)
9/6/15 - Minnesota Twins (53-82) at Houston Astros (67-69)
Trevor May (9-11, 4.63) vs. Asher Wojciechowski (1-5, 5.88) - Minnesota 8, Houston 5
WP: Hunter Strickland (1-0, 0.00) / LP: Luke Gregerson (7-8, 3.45) / SV: Casey Fien (8, 1.64)

Game One: First off, some notes. As you can see below, we made quite a few call-ups that reflect the players who made brief appearances with us throughout the season. Kennys Vargas hit his 25th homer, raised his average to .301, and hit in his 12th straight game. If not for Jose Abreu, he would CERTAINLY be the MVP, and I expect him to finish Top 3 in voting, at least -- Miggy might sneak into #2. Unfortunately, pitching didn’t show up today, although Hunter Strickland had a perfect Twins debut.
Game Two: Jose Berrios pitched admirably, striking out seven through seven innings and allowing just one run. Tyler Collins got his third hit of the night with a game-tying double on the other side of the stretch. The Twins finally took the lead on an RBI walk from Oswaldo Arcia, and Casey Fien closed out his seventh game.
Game Three: Looking to win the first series of September, Danny Santana drove home the first run with his 9th triple of the year -- tying him for the major-league lead -- and Kennys Vargas extended his hitting streak to 14 games with an RBI double. The Twins then delivered with six in the sixth and cruised through to the end of a rout of the White Sox.
Game One: Josmil Pinto’s 6th homer of the year made it 4-1 in the second in the first game of the season at Minute Maid Park. Kurt Suzuki’s 9th homer made it 9-1 in the fifth. Kennys Vargas went hitless, his hitting streak ending at 14 -- but his batting average still sitting solidly at .300.
Game Two: It seems like every time we try to hit four wins in a row, we send our worst to the mound, and the same holds true for Alex Meyer, who’s been called up after being wholly awful in the bigs and mediocre in AAA. Do we have a bust on our hands? Might be too early to tell, but nothing’s been encouraging. Well, in Meyer’s first start since June 2nd: Oswaldo Arcia smacked his 20th and 21st homers of the year, surpassing his career high...Josmil Pinto went back-to-back with Ozzy, his 7th on the year...Aaron Hicks corked his 6th. As for Meyer? Seven innings, ten hits, four runs, a pair of K’s. Not the worst thing. What else isn’t the worst thing? FOUR IN A ROW! FOR MIKE YEO! FOUR IN A ROW! FOR MIKE YEO!
Game Three: So here’s the thing, Trevor May walked five in the first to raise his BB/9 to 4.3. He haaaaas to get that under control. Down 3-0 from an early point, the Twins rallied to tie it in the sixth but instantly gave the lead back to Houston, 5-3. The Twins would make it 5-4 and get the tying run to third in the ninth -- then go down to their last out -- then have the fifth and sixth scores walked in to even the ledger and take the lead, before adding on two more runs and getting a 2-K save from Casey Fien. What a roll we’re on!

September Callups:

• SP ALEX MEYER (AAA) /
• RP J.R. GRAHAM (AAA) / RP HUNTER STRICKLAND (AAA) / RP AARON THOMPSON (AAA)
• SS JORGE POLANCO (AAA) / LF TYLER COLLINS (AAA) Collins finished his year at AAA between Toledo and Rochester with a final line of .311/.386/.573 with 33 homers, 113 RBI, and 10 steals. SO STOKED FOR THIS KID! He’s profiling easily as our starting left fielder of next season.

This Week in the MLB:

• The Baltimore Orioles (46-89, 33 GB of Tampa Bay) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
• American League POTW: RF OSWALDO ARCIA (MIN) - (13-for-25, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 8 R) Nice!
• National League POTW: RF MATT KEMP (SD) - (13-for-30, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 3 R)
• Power Rankings: 1. STL / 2. LAA / 3. TB / 24. MIN

[Brananorama]

September 7th - September 13th
9/7/15 - Minnesota Twins (54-82) at Kansas City Royals (75-62)
Jose Berrios (4-4, 5.07) vs. Yordano Ventura (12-9, 4.00) - Minnesota 4, Kansas City 5
WP: Yordano Ventura (13-9, 3.97) / LP: Jose Berrios (4-5, 5.20) / SV: Greg Holland (31, 2.40)
9/8/15 - Minnesota Twins (54-83) at Kansas City Royals (76-62)
Ervin Santana (3-5, 5.19) vs. Danny Duffy (13-8, 3.06) - Minnesota 2, Kansas City 10
WP: Danny Duffy (14-8, 3.01) / LP: Ervin Santana (3-6, 5.67)
9/9/15 - Minnesota Twins (54-84) at Kansas City Royals (77-62)
Tommy Milone (11-9, 3.03) vs. Kris Medlen (3-5, 5.11) - Minnesota 1, Kansas City 5
WP: Kris Medlen (4-5, 4.74) / LP: Tommy Milone (11-10, 3.06) / SV: Greg Holland (32, 2.39)
9/11/15 - Minnesota Twins (54-85) at Chicago White Sox (65-74)
Alex Meyer (1-4, 17.50) vs. Erik Johnson (2-5, 5.79) - Minnesota 8, Chicago 11
9/12/15 - Minnesota Twins (54-86) at Chicago White Sox (66-74)
Trevor May (9-11, 4.76) vs. Chris Sale (10-11, 3.71) - Minnesota 3, Chicago 5
WP: Chris Sale (11-11, 3.69) / LP: Trevor May (9-12, 4.84) / SV: David Robertson (31, 4.25)
9/13/15 - Minnesota Twins (54-87) at Chicago White Sox (67-74)
Jose Berrios (4-5, 5.20) vs. Hector Noesi (4-13, 5.68) - Minnesota 9, Chicago 5
WP: Glen Perkins (5-0, 3.27) / LP: Michael Ynoa (0-1, 18.00) / SV: Casey Fien (9, 1.60)

Game One: A five-run fourth got the Royals off and running. Oswaldo Arcia hit his 22nd homer of the year to make it a 5-2 game in the sixth. Trevor Plouffe singled home two in the 7th to make it a one-run game. The Twins got pinch-hitter Jordan Schafer 90 feet away from tying the game, but saw their 5-game winning streak snapped by the closer Holland.
Game Two: Ervin Santana gave up seven over seven, and Duffy stifled the Twins until Tyler Collins clubbed his first homer with the Twins to make it a 10-1 game. Aaron Hicks then tripled and scored, but it was all Royals for eight innings of this one -- which was more than plenty of time for a Kansas City team -- fighting for their playoff spot -- to get the job done.
Game Three: The Royals got five runs, three earned, off Tommy Milone, as our “ace” lefty’s season begins to wind down. Eddie Rosario notched a trio of hits in the loss.
Game One: Kurt Suzuki became the fourth Twin in the middle of our order to reach double-digit homers with his 10th shot in the second -- but Minny was already down 4-0 thanks to a shoddy first by Alex Meyer. Well, Oswaldo Arcia made it a 4-2 lead by going back-to-back with Zuke for his 23rd of the year. If Papi continues his slump, we might see Ozzy break away with the team lead in dingers by the end of the year! This game was high-octane offense the whole way through, but Chicago always stayed one step ahead -- despite Arcia hitting another homer for #24, and Kennys Vargas smacking number 26.
Game Two:Josmil Pinto hit his 8th homer of the year, and the Twins scored three times, but it was another big inning -- a five-run second -- that forced the Twins to drop another one, their fifth straight loss since winning four in a row for the first time.
Game Three: Kennys Vargas made it 4-0 in the third with his 27th homer of the year, putting him at an even 100 RBI, and setting him up for a real shot at the first 30-homer season for a Twin since Josh Willingham did it in 2011. Tyler Collins homered to make it 5-0. Jose Berrios didn’t allow a hit until the fifth, but then gave Chicago six runs in their sixth inning -- yet another case of the crooked number ruining us. However, Trevor Plouffe single-handedly got the Twins back in the game, with two homers from the 7th inning on -- a solo shot in the 7th and a two-run blast in the 9th, giving him 17 on the year and putting Minny up a run. Oswaldo Arcia added homer #25 to make it 9-7. Casey Fien closed out the ninth.

Twins Transactions:

• 2B YUNEL ESCOBAR (rehab) to active roster.
• RF TORII HUNTER (15-day DL) to rehab assignment. With the the length of these assignments, Torii might find himself playing a handful of more games in a Twins uniform after all.

MLB Injuries:

• RP ZACH DUKE (CHW) to 60-day DL (torn flexor tendon; 12 months.)

This Week in the MLB:

• The Minnesota Twins (54-85, 26.5 GB of Cleveland) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
• The St. Louis Cardinals (93-48, 1st Place) have clinched a playoff spot.
• American League POTW: CF DALTON POMPEY (TOR) - (16-for-32, 3 HR, 8 RBI)
• National League POTW: 2B SCOOTER GENNETT (MIL) - (13-for-29, 1 HR, 4 R)

Power Rankings: 1. STL / 2. LAA / 3. CLE / 28. MIN

[Brananorama]

September 14th - September 20th
9/14/15 - Detroit Tigers (73-71) at Minnesota Twins (55-87)
Kyle Lobstein (6-8, 5.00) vs. Ervin Santana (3-6, 5.67) - Detroit 2, Minnesota 3 - F/11
WP: Hunter Strickland (2-0, 1.50) / LP: Joe Nathan (1-2, 3.72)
9/15/15 - Detroit Tigers (73-72) at Minnesota Twins (56-87)
Justin Verlander (14-7, 4.25) vs. Tommy Milone (11-10, 3.06) - Detroit 3, Minnesota 1
WP: Justin Verlander (15-7, 4.13) / LP: Tommy Milone (11-11, 3.05) / SV: Al Alburquerque (38, 2.57)
9/16/15 - Detroit Tigers (74-72) at Minnesota Twins (56-88)
David Price (14-8, 3.40) vs. Alex Meyer (1-5, 17.18) - Detroit 12, Minnesota 2
WP: David Price (15-8, 3.39) / LP: Alex Meyer (1-6, 17.38) / SV: Ian Krol (3, 4.26)
9/17/15 - Los Angeles Angels (89-56) at Minnesota Twins (56-89)
Anthony DeSclafani (12-8 , 3.39) vs. Trevor May (9-12, 4.84) - Los Angeles 4, Minnesota 6
WP: Trevor May (10-12, 4.78) / LP: Anthony DeSclafani (12-9, 3.45) / SV: Brian Duensing (1, 3.58)
9/18/15 - Los Angeles Angels (89-57) at Minnesota Twins (57-89)
Jered Weaver (6-2, 2.02) vs. Jose Berrios (4-5, 5.51) - Los Angeles 2, Minnesota 7
WP: Jose Berrios (5-5, 5.33) / LP: Jered Weaver (6-3, 2.44)
9/19/15 - Los Angeles Angels (89-58) at Minnesota Twins (58-89)
Drew Rucinski (3-7, 5.31) vs. Ervin Santana (3-6, 5.29) - Los Angeles 9, Minnesota 4 - F/12
WP: Joe Smith (2-4, 3.86) / LP: J.R. Graham (0-2, 7.36)
9/20/15 - Los Angeles Angels (90-58) at Minnesota Twins (58-90)
Nick Tropeano (11-4, 2.73) vs. Tommy Milone (11-11, 3.05) - Los Angeles 3, Minnesota 5
WP: Tommy Milone (12-11, 3.09) / LP: Nick Tropeano (11-5, 2.91) / SV: Cody Hall (2, 3.54)

Game One: This one was a pitcher’s duel throughout, with both teams scoring in the fourth to make it 2-1 Twins, and the Tigers tying it in the eighth against Casey Fien -- I had opted to see if Perkins had gotten his mojo back in lower-stress roles, so our closer for the past couple of weeks entered earlier than he had been. After strategically using four different relievers, Kurt Suzuki helped us win the game with a single in the 11th.
Game Two: Tommy Milone got his 100th strikeout of the year in this one, and pitched well outside of a 3-run sixth, throwing nine innings and giving up just eight hits. Unfortunately, J-Dawg was better, and the Tigers evened the series at a game apiece.
Game Three: Is it too early to call Alex Meyer a bust? Is it too late to trade him in the offseason while he may be perceived as a #1, #2 guy in the making? Will I regret dealing him after a few major league outings? Either way...nothing he’s done has shown me he can pitch in the MLB.
Game One: As we begin to close in on the 100-loss mark, we face the best team in the A.L. for four games. Kennys Vargas hit a two-run shot for his 28th homer on the year in a big four-run third. The Twins managed to stay just ahead of the Halos for the remainder of the game, with Trevor May turning in a strong six-inning performance.
Game Two: The Twins stomp all over the league-leading Angels, tagging them for 14 hits in a quality all-around effort. Oswaldo Arcia goes 3-for-4 with three knocked in.
Game Three: Down 2-0 for the majority of the game, the Twins got a pair in the 7th and took the lead in the eighth, brought back Glen Perkins to close the ballgame -- and immediately regretted it, as Perk blew his save giving up a solo shot to Mike “Effing” Trout. Maybe Fien IS going to close them next year.
Game Four: So! Here’s the deal. In order to make sure we don’t lose 100 games, we HAVE to win at least five games before 2015 is out. Before it’s all said and done, we’ll face the Indians twice, and Detroit and the Royals once each. The Twins took the series today, three games to one, with Aaron Hicks collecting three hits and Oswaldo Arcia driving in two. Tommy Milone had some discomfort in throwing the ball during the 7th.

Twins Transactions:

• 1B JOE MAUER (15-day DL) to rehab assignment.

MLB Injuries:

• CF BILLY HAMILTON (CIN) to 15-day DL (sprained ankle; 6 weeks.)
• RF GIANCARLO STANTON (MIA) to 15-day DL (knee contusion; 2 weeks.) A big blow for the East-leading Marlins, who aren’t good enough to qualify for the Wild Card and who are fending off second-place Washington by just a game.

This Week in the MLB:

• The Texas Rangers (60-84, 29 GB of Los Angeles) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
• The St. Louis Cardinals (97-48) have clinched the National League Central.
• American League POTW: 1B EDWIN ENCARNACION (TOR) - (9-for-23, 6 HR, 10 RBI)
• National League POTW: 3B MATT CARPENTER (STL) - (.522, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 6 R)

Power Rankings: 1. STL / 2. OAK / 3. TOR / 27. MIN

[Brananorama]

September 22nd - September 27th
9/22/15 - Cleveland Indians (86-62) at Minnesota Twins (59-90)
Danny Salazar (7-11, 4.58) vs. Alex Meyer (1-6, 17.38) - Cleveland 0, Minnesota 4
WP: Alex Meyer (2-6, 13.50) / LP: Danny Salazar (7-12, 4.53)
9/23/15 - Cleveland Indians (86-63) at Minnesota Twins (60-90)
Zach MacAllister (11-9, 4.69) vs. Trevor May (10-12, 4.78) - Cleveland 5, Minnesota 3 - F/10
WP: Cody Allen (5-4, 2.05) / LP: Hunter Strickland (2-1, 5.19)
9/24/15 - Cleveland Indians (87-63) at Minnesota Twins (60-91)
Corey Kluber (13-10, 3.03) vs. Jose Berrios (5-5, 5.33) - Cleveland 9, Minnesota 7
WP: Nick Hagadone (7-1, 2.43) / LP: Cody Hall (0-3, 3.46) / SV: Cody Allen (37, 2.01)
9/25/15 - Minnesota Twins (60-92) at Detroit Tigers (77-76)
Ervin Santana (3-6, 5.15) vs. Anibal Sanchez (13-11, 3.70) - Minnesota 5, Detroit 3
WP: Ervin Santana (4-6, 4.95) / LP: Anibal Sanchez (13-12, 3.77)
9/26/15 - Minnesota Twins (61-92) at Detroit Tigers (77-77)
Robbie Ross, Jr. (2-6, 7.36) vs. Kyle Lobstein (7-8, 5.00) - Minnesota 6, Detroit 2
WP: Robbie Ross, Jr. (3-6, 6.82) / LP: Kyle Lobstein (7-9, 5.27)
9/27/15 - Minnesota Twins (62-92) at Detroit Tigers (77-78)
Trevor May (10-12, 4.69) vs. David Price (16-8, 3.25) - Minnesota 1, Detroit 6
WP: David Price (17-8, 3.18) / LP: Trevor May (10-13, 4.79)

Game One: Looking for our first of four wins on the Road to Not-100, Alex Meyer finally showed up. Seven innings, six hits, no runs, and nine strikeouts. THAT is what we NEED! Eduardo Escobar was removed due to a collision at second base in the fifth.
Game Two: After allowing a homer that tied the game at 3 in the eighth, the best lefty reliever on the team, Brian Duensing, was removed due to injury - diagnosis pending. The Twins wound up giving two runs away due to shoddy 10th-inning execution, and dropped the second game. Still need three more wins.
Game Three: After falling down a run early thanks to a wild pitch, Oswaldo Arcia used his 26th homer of the season to tie the game -- putting him two behind Li’l Papi for the team lead. Then, after going down 4-1 following a poor defensive inning, Trevor Plouffe’s 18th homer -- a 3-run shot -- gave Minnesota the lead again. Danny Santana left the game in the following inning. Unfortunately, the Twins couldn’t field the ball to save their lives, as four errors led to five unearned scores for the Tribe.
Game One: Looking for win #2 in the opener with Detroit, the Twins got out to a bang early, and Trevor Plouffe hit his 19th homer on the year. An economical Ervin Santana pitched a complete game, giving up nine hits throughout the night. Two more wins to go!
Game Two: Looking to win tonight in order to make the team a victory away from avoiding 100 losses, Oswaldo Arcia hit a two-run shot in the second, his 27th on the year, as part of a four-run inning, and somehow, Robbie Ross, Jr. threw seven innings of two-run ball and K’d 7. One more win!
Game Three:Trevor May struck out plenty, but gave up 5 runs in his start to give Detroit one win this set.

Twinjuries:

• SP TOMMY MILONE to 15-day DL (back spasms; 5-6 weeks.) Well, close the book on Milone’s best season, but at least the injury isn’t worse. I was expecting a horrific 12-month diagnosis based on how unlucky that would be for us.
• SS DANNY SANTANA to 15-day DL (sprained elbow; 4-5 weeks.) His season may be over, but we know Daniel-San is the real deal after hitting nearly .300 and going 20-for-22 in stolen base attempts.
• SS EDUARDO ESCOBAR to 60-day DL (broken hand; 4 months.)
• RP BRIAN DUENSING to 60-day DL (radial nerve compression; 7 months.) We don’t have any extension funds this year, but there’s a couple team options I know I’m going to turn down, which was going to be used to re-sign our only free agent who spent all of 2015 on our roster: Duensing. However, with this injury, I may not want to risk him -- or maybe nobody will, and we can give him a cheap deal closer to the season.

Twins Transactions:

• SP ROBBIE ROSS, JR. (AAA) to active roster.

MLB Injuries:

• SP JORDAN ZIMMERMANN (NYM) to 60-day DL (ruptured finger tendon; 4 months.) Huge blow for the Mets, who are clinging onto playoff hopes in the East.
• SS JHONNY PERALTA (STL) to 60-day DL (ruptured finger tendon; 3 months.) Tough break for the Cards, who will be without their shortstop this postseason.

This Week in the MLB:

• The Seattle Mariners (71-80, 21 GB of Los Angeles) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
• The Pittsburgh Pirates (65-86, 35 GB of St. Louis) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
• The Houston Astros (76-78, 16.5 GB of Los Angeles) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks (70-84, 20.5 GB of Los Angeles) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
• The Milwaukee Brewers (72-83, 31 GB of St. Louis) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers (88-62, 1st Place in the West) have clinched the National League West.
• The Los Angeles Angels (92-62, 1st Place in the West) have clinched a playoff spot.
• The Oakland Athletics (92-63, 0.5 GB of Los Angeles) have clinched a playoff spot.
• American League POTW: 1B C.J. CRON (LAA) - (13-for-23, 3 RBI, 6 R)
• National League POTW: CF COREY DICKERSON (COL) - (12-for-24, 1 HR, 5 RBI)

Power Rankings: 1. STL / 2. LAA / 3. CLE / 27. MIN

[Brananorama]

September 28th - October 4th
9/28/15 - Minnesota Twins (62-93) at Cleveland Indians (91-64)
Alex Meyer (2-6, 13.50) vs. Corey Kluber (13-10, 3.21) - Minnesota 1, Cleveland 6
WP: Corey Kluber (14-10, 3.16) / LP: Alex Meyer (2-7, 13.12) / SV: Scott Atchison (3, 3.31)
9/29/15 - Minnesota Twins (62-94) at Cleveland Indians (92-64)
Ervin Santana (4-6, 4.95) vs. Trevor Bauer (11-10, 3.69) - Minnesota 6, Cleveland 8
WP: Trevor Bauer (12-10, 3.57) / LP: Ervin Santana (4-7, 5.49) / SV: Cody Allen (39, 1.97)
9/30/15 - Minnesota Twins (62-95) at Cleveland Indians (93-64)
Jose Berrios (5-5, 5.37) vs. Carlos Carrasco (17-11, 4.03) - Minnesota 4, Cleveland 3
WP: Jose Berrios (6-5, 5.24) / LP: Carlos Carrasco (17-12, 4.06) / SV: Glen Perkins (10, 3.15)
10/1/15 - Minnesota Twins (63-95) at Cleveland Indians (93-65)
Trevor May (10-13, 4.79) vs. Danny Salazar (8-12, 4.35) - Minnesota 3, Cleveland 6
WP: Nick Hagadone (8-1, 2.33) / LP: Aaron Thompson (1-2, 4.55) / SV: Cody Allen (40, 1.94)
10/2/15 - Kansas City Royals (85-74) at Minnesota Twins (63-96)
Robbie Ross, Jr. (3-6, 6.8 vs. Brandon Finnegan (5-2, 4.48) - Kansas City 9, Minnesota 4
WP: Jason Vargas (10-6, 3.60) / LP: Robbie Ross, Jr. (3-7, 6.68) / SV: Wade Davis (4, 1.10)
10/3/15 - Kansas City Royals (86-74) at Minnesota Twins (63-97)
Kris Medlen (6-5, 4.29) vs. Alex Meyer (2-7, 13.12) - Kansas City 4, Minnesota 3 - F/11
WP: Edinson Volquez (13-7, 4.54) / LP: Hunter Strickland (2-2, 4.63) / SV: Greg Holland (37, 2.70)
10/4/15 - Kansas City Royals (87-74) at Minnesota Twins (63-98)
Yordano Ventura (14-10, 3.95) vs. Ervin Santana (4-7, 5.49) - Kansas City 3, Minnesota 1
WP: Yordano Ventura (15-10, 3.88) / LP: Ervin Santana (4-8, 5.49) / SV: Greg Holland (38, 2.66)

Game One: Not only did Kennys Vargas extend his hitting streak to 17 games in the fourth, he did it by knocking out home run number 29 on the season, and raised his RBI total to 108. That was all the offense today for Minny.
Game Two: One stolen base shy of tying the franchise’s single-season record, Jordan Schafer left the ballgame. Is he out for the rest of the year, as well? The way our luck’s been going with six different players on the disabled list and one in rehab, probably. Oswaldo Arcia hit his 28th homer in the loss.
Game Three: In a well-played game, the Twins took a 4-3 lead into the ninth, handed the ball to Glen Perkins, and left with a win -- giving Perk his first save since July and ensuring that the Twins aren’t losing 100 games this season.
Game Four: Oswaldo Arcia has slugged his way to 29 homers, tying Li’l Papi for the team lead. Can they both homer this weekend to get to a combined 60 homers? Despite Arcia’s power, the Tribe displayed more, knocking four homers to score five of their six runs all on the long ball.
Game One: In the first game of the final series of 2015, Torii Hunter was greeted with cheers and applause as he jogged out -- to play center field. Torii homered in the fifth to put the Twins up 1-0. Kennys Vargas finally hit #30 with a three-run shot later in the inning! Unfortunately, Robbie Ross, Jr. would allow the Royals to tie it, and was charged for the run when they took a 5-4 lead. Understandably, the Royals are playing for their lives, trying to hold onto the Wild Card.
Game Two: This extra-innings loss included a four-hit game for Trevor Plouffe, who got his 20th homer!
Game Three: And here we are, already playing the final game of our first season as GM of the Twins. Kennys Vargas ended his season having hit in 23 consecutive games. Torii Hunter recorded a single in his last hit as a Minnesota Twin, and a double-play hit into by Kurt Suzuki closed the book on the 2015 season.

Twinjuries:

• LF JORDAN SCHAFER to 15-day DL (strained abdominal; 3 weeks.) One steal shy of the team record.
• RF OSWALDO ARCIA to 15-day DL (knee contusion; 2 weeks.) Eight men on the DL.

Twins Transactions:

• RF TORII HUNTER (rehab) to active roster.. Torii will come home to play with us against Kansas City -- after all, in a season in which he had more injuries than I can count, he may not play in 2016. I want him to have a nice homecoming in what could be his final days.

MLB Transactions:

• CF DENARD SPAN (WSH) signs a 2/$25.4 extension with the Washington Nationals. Notable because Span was one of our very early free agents we had an eye on before getting Collins, who should be starting in the outfield next year.

MLB Injuries:

• 3B EVAN LONGORIA (TB) to 60-day DL (ruptured achilles; 4 months.) Another massive slap in the face to another playoff team.
• DH VICTOR MARTINEZ (TB) to 15-day DL (torn quad; 6 weeks.) Suddenly, the Rays’ chances in the first round don’t look very good without their two best offensive contributors.
• LF ALEX GORDON (KC) to 15-day DL (flexor-pronator strain; 4 weeks.) Another blow!

This October in the MLB:

• American League BOTM: 1B EDWIN ENCARNACION (TOR) - (.317, 15 HR, 33 RBI, 25 R)
• National League BOTM: RF MATT KEMP (SD) - (.365, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 16 R)
• American League POTM: SP DAVID PRICE (DET) - (6-0, 1.13 ERA, 39 K)
• National League POTM: SP JEFF NIEMANN (MIL) - (4-0, 1.85 ERA, 32 K)
• American League ROTM: CF DALTON POMPEY (TOR) - (.318, 6 HR, 21 RBI, 19 R)
• National League ROTM: LF SHANE PETERSON (MIL) - (.411, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 8 R)

This Week in the MLB:

• Former Twin SP JOHAN SANTANA retires at age 36.
• LF TYLER COLLINS (MIN) wins the International League MVP.
• The Cincinnati Reds (73-82, 29.5 GB of St. Louis) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
• The New York Mets (80-80, 4 GB of Miami/Washington) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
• The New York Yankees (84-76, 9.5 GB of Tampa Bay) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
• The Tampa Bay Rays (91-65) have clinched the American League East.
• The Cleveland Indians (91-64) have clinched the American League Central.
• The Chicago Cubs (85-72) have clinched a National League Wild Card.
• The Kansas City Royals (87-74, 7 GB of Cleveland) have clinched an American League Wild Card.
• The Los Angeles Angels (94-67, 2 GB of Oakland) have clinched an American League Wild Card.
• The Oakland Athletics (96-65) have clinched the American League West.
• The Miami Marlins (85-77) have clinched a National League Wild Card.

The Washington Nationals (86-76) have clinched a National League Wild Card.

[Brananorama]

2015 MLB Playoffs

AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD GAME
Los Angeles defeats Kansas City, 1-0, by a score of 5-3.
NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD GAME
Chicago defeats Miami, 1-0, by a score of 7-6

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES A
Oakland defeats Los Angeles, 3-2. MVP: 3B Brett Lawrie (10-for-23, 2 HR, 3 RBI.)
AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES B
Cleveland defeats Tampa Bay, 3-1. MVP: 2B Jason Kipnis (5-for-16, 2 HR, 2 RBI)
NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES A
Chicago defeats St. Louis, 3-1. MVP: LF Chris Coghlan (7-for-16, 1 RBI.)
NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES B
Los Angeles defeats Washington, 3-0. MVP: C Yasmandi Grandal (6-for-9, 2 HR, 4 RBI)

AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Oakland defeats Cleveland, 4-0.
NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Chicago defeats Los Angeles, 4-3. MVP: SP Jon Lester (2-0, 0.47 ERA, 15 K.)

WORLD SERIES
Chicago defeats Oakland, 3-2. MVP: 3B Kris Bryant (7-for-24, 2 HR, 4 RBI.)
The Cubbies have broken the curse!

[Brananorama]

2015 Offseason

First off, some horrible news. Phil Hughes’ career? Over. Recovering from his shoulder inflammation, something happened to Phil and he’s decided to call it quits with a dysfunctional throwing arm. I couldn’t think of worse news -- at least now we know why he wasn’t in top form last year, but now I have yet another pitching hole to fill. This team can never contend seriously if we can’t back up our incredible offense with credible pitching. And then -- you’ll never believe it. You’ll literally never believe it. Not two days later, Brendan Ryan! Done. At least we were going to drop his option anyway. I’m having serious thoughts about firing trainer DAVE PRUEMER, especially after the disabled list fiasco of last season -- but I just signed him to a relatively cheap, 2-year deal.

Secondly, we had one team option decision due to Ryan’s career having kicked the bucket. 2B YUNEL ESCOBAR was on the hook for two team options at $7MM apiece -- no way. We decline Yunel Escobar’s 2016 option. So Escobar leaves the team, Ryan’s career is done, Hughes’ career is done, and just as I thought -- Torii Hunter retires. The Orioles, who finished with the American League’s worst record, have fired their gneeral manager.

Thirdly, Mr. Pohlad’s new goals:

• Play close to .500 ball. My goal is a Wild Card. Go big or go home, baby.
• Upgrade at center field. Byron Buxton will be up by May. How do you like that, Jimmy?
• Acquire a Cy Young Award winner. How else we gonna make the playoffs?
• Increase attendance to 22,000 a year. If you build the dynasty, they will come.
• Reach the playoffs in five seasons. Let’s do this.

Fourthly, the arbitration period has begun. I offered arbitration to Milone, Fien, Plouffe, Escobar, and Schafer, while not offering any contract to Robbie Ross, Jr. The pay increase to a million a year was way too much when we’re already a little over-budget.

Next up, awards season for the Twins. 1B Joe Mauer won a Gold Glove, his fourth career and his first at the new position. No Twins won Silver Sluggers, surprisingly, and there were no Relievers of the Year named that would be relevant to Minnesota.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

• AL: DH EDWIN ENCARNACION (TOR) - (.280/.367/.568, 37 2B, 43 HR, 104 RBI)
• NL: RF GIANCARLO STANTON (MIA) - (.282/.390/.563, 34 2B, 36 HR, 89 RBI)

CY YOUNG

• AL: RP KYLE CROCKETT (CLE) - (6-0, 1.09 ERA, 92 K - 74 IP) What an absolute shocker. 11.2 K/9, anyone?
• NL: SP CLAYTON KERSHAW (LAD) - (11-8, 2.39 ERA, 239 K) His third straight win.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

• AL: CF DALTON POMPEY (.298/.334/.506, 37 2B, 11 3B, 26 HR, 102 RBI)
• NL: 3B KRIS BRYANT (.261/.336/.469, 20 2B, 24 HR, 71 RBI)

Finally, I have to introduce our predicament. The big blow to this plan I had in the workings to get this time back to the playoffs this season. The plan to revamp the rotation and complement it with an offense that scored the 4th-most runs and had the 2nd-most hits in the American League. We have no money. Pohlad wants the payroll down from $98MM to $75MM next season. We are $23MM over-budget and have no money to sign or extend any players. This is abysmal.
Immediately, I begin looking for ways that we can cut our salary down and add a new pitcher. This is imperative -- just one. Right now I don’t know what next year’s rotation looks like. Can we really run with Tommy Milone, Trevor May leading the charge? No, no, we cannot. So what do we have to do? Well, it looks like we have to trade. I don’t think we can trade Ervin Santana -- he’s overpayed, underperforming, and getting old. But we need to get this rotation up to standards somehow.

Then I made a decision.

[Brananorama]

A rebuilding team is never supposed to trade its best assets: their prospects. But here’s the fact of the matter. We need funds for next season -- we need a high-profile starting pitcher -- and we have a great third baseman, and a great shortstop. Do we need Miguel Sano? Maybe not -- we’re getting great third base and a great bat from Plouffe and all the power we could ask for from the middle of the order. What about Nick Gordon? Perhaps no -- Santana is the future, I can see that after two years of him. Polanco is right behind and will be another great addition.
Do we need to get Ervin Santana’s contract off the books? We absolutely do. And finally…
Do we need Matt Harvey?
Hell, yes.
The Grand Small-Market Worst-to-First: MOVE #1

• 3B MIGUEL SANO (AAA) and SS NICK GORDON (AA), SP ERVIN SANTANA (MLB) to New York Mets.
• SP MATT HARVEY (NYM) and SP RAFAEL MONTERO to Minnesota Twins.

Here’s the breakdown. Plouffe has grown into a dependable major-league player and I don’t want to create more problems in the outfield by moving him there once Sano comes up, because Collins-Buxton-Arcia IS the future, which leaves Hicks and Schafer as awesome depth. So we stick Plouffe at third -- that’s his position, and he will get an extension. Sano goes. So does Gordon -- had to add him to add Ervin Santana, who leaves the team (and so does his contract.) Gordon’s role right now is being filled by another young, ready prospect -- Danny Santana. Jorge Polanco will be the safety net of Santana doesn’t pan out. John Aeillo is in the minors too, growing into the player Nick would have become -- just a season let.

In return we get last year’s major-league leader in ERA at 2.04, who can throw 98 mph and has an 8.1 K/9. He’s our number one for next year. The Dark Knight is coming to Minneapolis and he’s gonna transform this little city into Gotham overnight. He’s still signed for the major-league minimum. Salary freed up -- we have 5mil for free agents and already 8mil for extensions -- extension #1 is Plouffe. I signed him to an extension for five years, with a team option for the fifth year, that will keep him nabbing hot grounders at third until he’s 34 years old.

The Grand Small-Market Worst-to-First: MOVE #2

• 3B TREVOR PLOUFFE signs a 5-year, $36.85 million deal.

So now our rotation looks significantly different and with Shane Greene on the disabled list to begin the year, we need to fill the #5 hole for a bit. At the moment it looks like that’s going to be a job given to either Meyer or Berrios, and that’s going to depend largely on spring performances. As far as the bench goes, we now have two speedsters with good OBPs in Hicks and Schafer...I think we just might have a shot this year. Harvey and Montero transform this team. All we need is Milone to show up again, for May to develop even more, and for Greene to give it his all. This is already a championship offense.

And now we have the personnel to prove it.

[WeagleWeagle]

Just wanted to pop in and say been a long time lurker and I have enjoyed reading this dynasty report past few weeks. Some tough luck in offseason but solid move for Harvey. Interested to see how all those young prospects do