Wilbur

After the 92 season things started to head south. They won 90 games that year, but pre wild card they didn't make the postseason. The 93 season their starting pitching took a bit of a dip. Then again, you had a young Eddie Guardado in the starting rotation. 1994 they were roughly .500 before the strike ended things, but that was it for Andy MacPhail (RIP Kirby Puckett's baseball career) and in comes Terry Ryan. Pitching wise other than Brad Radke, you just didn't have enough starting pitching the next few years. They even tried Rick Aguilera as a starter one of those years. After 92, it took until 2001 for TK to get the team above .500 with the likes of A.J., Hunter, Jacque Jones, Koskie, Mientkiewicz, Guzman, starting to figure out the major leagues a bit which many of them credited TK for their success. I'll say it again, the job that TK did getting that group to where they were before Gardy took over in 2002 was master class. Sweet Lou Piniella won the Manager of the year award in 2001, but the baseball writers got it wrong that year. The Rocco years are Karma for me not seeing what TK was doing with the hand he was dealt.

The Legacy kid headed to Northstar is a great hockey player. Probably the best defenseman in the state had he stayed. He would have played a ton of minutes for Mario. Wondering if Marcus Butts is sticking around for another year?

This is exactly what I thought. Minnesota makes the most sense with Cooley heading south.

Take a look at the rosters some of those years, down right scary. It did help them to be able to draft some really good players that helped turn the franchise around. It 100% wasn't on TK, and I was a dumb kid for thinking he could do more with what he had those years. Players were held accountable then.

Bump to Minnesota would make a lot of sense. Then a CHN story about tampering in the portal right?

In the EDC, the likely starters in the net for Fargo Davies and West Fargo High School are both taking their talents elsewhere. Davies kid headed to Northstar, WF Packer headed to Sioux Falls Power.

This is karma towards me years ago hating that Tom Kelly was managing the team the way he was during the lean years after the 91 series victory. What I wouldn't give now for a manager like him.

I'd like to see one for Tony Hrkac. Wait, he's done playing right?

Not Duran's night. Bullpen reeling a bit at the moment. Another day in the AL Central.

Another trade with Miami. Lopez heads south. Hearing rumblings of a right handed bat. Time will tell.

Wondering if something is wrong with Duran? I would have 100% used him last night in the 9th inning with the bleeding needing to be stopped. Kudos to Winder for eating up innings today. Off day tomorrow means bullpen should be fresh Friday.

Up 6-2, now down 8-6 and the bullpen has only recorded 3 outs.

I jinxed Pagan....completely my fault.

No ill will towards Jax....it happens, and he's been great. Would have been nice to throw a lefty at those two pinch hitters in the 9th. Great to see them battle back and win 4 in a row. Kepler with emotion. Nice to see as well.

One strike away and Kolten Wong....goodness. Stewart and Thielbar seem to be gone forever.

Emilio Pagan again....I hate talking about it because I'd hate to jinx it.... He has been great lately.

Another good outing for him in a high leverage spot. And it was like a five minute half inning.

Pagan in a big spot again!!! Ask me how I feel in 15 minutes....

Tip of the cap to Rocco putting Correa in the leadoff spot. Seems like he's more concerned with good contact now and not striking out a lot anymore. Julien turning into a great 2 hitter. Seems to have great at bats daily.

Nothing to be worried about....

Ohh God Pagan in a high leverage spot.... (Holding breath)

32 grand or something like that to make your young hockey player into a better play.....I meant a more spiritual young man. Heard a rumor from a friend from Alexandria that they've had issues with kids being dicks to billet families.

Twenty seven years ago today Kirby Puckett retired from the game. I'll never forget it as I watched it from St. Mary's in Rochester as my aunt was diagnosed with cancer and was getting treatment at Mayo Clinic. Whether it was a patient, doctor, janitor, you name it, there were tons of people in a family waiting area watching that press conference on TV. I think he would have easily joined the 3,000 hit club if he played another four seasons. Sad he only lived 10 more years, and unfortunately had his demons.

Paddack still with like two or three years of team control. Interesting to see what they do with Mahle, as he will be a free agent.

I personally think the pitching staff should be left alone, but if you've got a team that would give a lot for Maeda or Gray you've got to listen. I think Ryan, Ober, Lopez, you've got to keep around because you've got extremely valuable team control years. Gray-Unrestricted after this year. Could be a rental type guy for a team needing pitching. Ober-Pre arbitration years Pablo Lopez-Under contract until 2027, got to keep rolling with him. Ryan-Pre arbitration years. Maeda-Unrestricted after this year. Same as Gray. The bullpen is set for some time with some of the arms they have. Lopez, Duran, Ortega, Jax, Stewart, Alcala, Balazovic, Moran, Thielbar. You can let a guy like Pagan ride off into the sunset. The pitching staff has been successfully rebuilt in my opinion, just need to get a lineup out there that can produce a bit.