Thanks for all the info. i did not even think of just replacing it...
it is not welded/integrated into the frame, although i have not taken it off but looks like a separate part.
the derailur is surely twisted, on my ride home last night it was pretty clearly twisted. like the hand of a clock at the 12 and 1 position (maybe a little less so)
the trainer is a Kicker that came with an 11 speed cassette. the bike has an 8 speed and the kicker;'s cassette was replaced with an 8. the shim to compensate is installed (1.3 mm i think) first, then the cassette. not 100% sure if this is correct but it seems the most logical to me.
TH: i don't understand either unless the cassette cogs are not in the exactly same place relative to the deraulier but close enough. maybe i need to adjust the shifting between teh two and look for that happy medium. since i can see that the derailer is twisted i want to start with that first.
-scott