Wilbur

Way too early look at next year's lineup. 1. Julien-2B 2. Lewis-3B 3. Correa-SS 4. Buxton-DH 5. Wallner-RF 6. Kiriloff-1B (Or a free agent) 7. Jeffers/Vasquez-C 8. Larnach/Castro-LF 9. CF-TBD....Can Brooks Lee play here? Imagine Farmer back, maybe Nick Gordon. Solano a free agent. Going to have a lot of cash after they buy out Kepler and Polanco. I'd only bring Polanco back on a restructured deal. Pitching wise they are in the best spot they've been in for many years. If Sonny doesn't come back they've still got four guys that can go 150 plus innings. February a long ways away.

A change is needed in the philosophy at the plate. Wow did they strike out....a lot. Got the monkey off their back, but lost to a more complete team. Interesting off season ahead.

Probably not.

Polanco. Royce, Kepler..... Down to this.

Hey, he at least put it in play.

He's for sure in for 6 outs.

8th inning. Looks like Duran. That leaves only Pagan after him.

All the right moves except Thielbar IMHO. Paddack, and Jax lights out.

Really a step in a great direction for Paddack. Could be excellent next season.

I think they should've pitched around Abreu. That's a terrible match up....then he gets the lefty and have Paddack come in. Instead it's 3-1.

Thielbar in now? Thought you'd use him later.

Got to battle here guys. Not even fouling off pitches.

I'd say let Stewart go another inning.

3. Stewart 4. Stewart 5. Paddack 6. Varland 7. Varland 8. Jax 9. Duran

Lavelle just tweeted he's out next inning.

Our offense proved they can move the ball against some athletes when they played Boise State. And that was with a pretty hectic crowd to deal with. Bubba not putting the foot on the gas in this game and trying to score the football based on that NDSU isn't as good defensively as they've been in the past would be a mistake. Great time to get over the hump and beat them as FCS opponents. It may take living outside his comfort level a bit with taking some chances, but if we don't we are talking about "maybe in Fargo" next season.

Kepler and Polanco both on club options after this year. 10 million and 10.5 million. The buy outs on those two deals are a million each. I'd assume that the Twins go with Wallner next year, and Julien at 2nd with Royce at 3rd. You've got control years on Willie Castro and he can slide into the outfield in left if Wallner plays right. I think Brooks Lee is a winner, and wouldn't be surprised if he has a great spring training and starts pushing the envelope for time. I would guess they try and pay Sonny Gray with letting Polanco and Kepler go. Sets up next year's rotation of: Pablo, Sonny, Paddack, Ryan, Ober. Then your bullpen is Varland, Jax, Stewart, Thielbar, Duran, Moran, Funderburk, with options of Woods-Richardson and Ortega in St. Paul.

Thoughts on starting Vasquez tomorrow behind the dish instead of Jeffers? Today not on Jeffers obviously, but he's doing nothing at the plate for them. I'd stick with him but many fans I know want Vasquez tomorrow.

That error in the first will be what I'll always remember. Just a god awful time to do that. Completely different ball game if he picks that up steps on first and they tag out Altuve on second. Kind of what we've seen all year long with putting the ball in play with sloppy at bats. I don't care how you do it, but put the ball in past the pitcher and a run scores on the ground.....it just amazes me that professionals can't do this any more. Still have hope though. Its a 2 game season. One of those games will be pitched by Pablo, just have to get there.

Can't believe that a foul tip isn't a reviewable play.

Abreu's at bat is a great example for the young Twin's hitters. Fighting pitches off and staying in the at bat. Fighting through it. Didn't end up getting on base, but didn't swing hard three times and strike out. Long game to go, but that guy competed in that at bat.

And it's falling apart. Pagan in throw until his arm falls off.

Put the ball in play and you've got at least one run.

Sonny has to buckle down now and throw his @ss off to get through 5 or 6. Tomorrow is going to be a bullpen game, so they need all hands on deck when it comes to arms tomorrow.

From a possible inning ending double play, to a 4-0 lead for Houston.....you've got to take the outs your are given.....