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In recent years, the Twins have managed to stock the farm with flame throwers who project as late inning relievers. Several are projecting as shut down closers. These days, MLB pitching staffs have developed from two positions, starter and reliever, into several positions: starter, long relief, LH specialist, 7th inning guy, set-up guy, and closer. The hierarchy moves two directions: long relievers want to be starters, 7th inning and set-up guys want to be closers (I don’t know what to say abo
Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch --- Today is the fifth installment in the top 40 Twins' Off-season prospects countdown, getting into the top 20 so the descriptions of the player and their rankings are a bit more detailes. You can find all installments here in reverse chronological order. Previous rankings: 36-40, 31-35 , 26-30 and 21-25. You can find the 2014 off-season summary list here In these listings in parenthesis, I am including their ranking in the last prospect list,
Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch. ---- Today is the fourth installment in the top 40 Twins' Off-season prospects countdown. You can find all installments here in reverse chronological order. Previous rankings: 36-40, 31-35 and 26-30. You can find the 2014 off-season summary list here In these listings in parenthesis, I am including their ranking in the last prospect list, which was the 2014 mid-season list, with "--" if not ranked. You can find that list here. 25. Alexis Tap
What do the Twins do about Plouffe and Dozier? Extend? Go year to year? Hope to sell high at 30? There has been some great discussion started by Seth on Dozier and Plouffe. There also have been studies that show aging curves in the post steroid era are changing. Fewer players are maintaining their peak seasons into their thirties. There are many studies to read. Here is one by Jeff Zimmerman for Fangraphs. I wondered how players currently around 33 years old have aged. With the help of pla
One of the highlights of the off-season for a core of Twins fans is the release of the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. Seth Stohs has worked to put together this fantastic book for the last seven years. In 2012, he gave me my first taste of helping with the book. By 2013, I was writing an article for the annual and for the last three years I have been among a trio of writers that includes Jeremy Nygaard, Stohs, and myself. In the first part of my top 30 list there are a core of young pitche
Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch ----Today is the third installment in the top 40 Twins' Off-season prospects countdown. You can find all installments here in reverse chronological order. Previous rankings: 36-40, 31-35. You can find the 2014 off-season summary list here In these listings in parenthesis, I am including their ranking in the last prospect list, which was the 2014 mid-season list, with "--" if not ranked. You can find that list here. 30. Ryan Eades RHP (19) RHSP,
Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch ---- Today is the second installment in the top 40 Twins' Off-season prospects countdown. You can find all installments here in reverse chronological order. This is the 31-35 rankings. Previous rankings: 36-40. 35. Mat Batts LHP (--), LHSP, DOB: 7/6/1991, 5'11", 190 lbs. The Twins drafted Harrison Mathis Batts in the 17th round of the 2014 draft from the University of North Calorina Wilmington. The Lefty breezed through 3 levels in the organ
You can download the new Talk to Contact (@TalkToContact) episode via iTunes or by clicking here, and if you want to add the show to your non-iTunes podcast player, this is the RSS Feed. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rZl6xXzEO6k/VJrNsvxH7yI/AAAAAAAAKds/tW7cZWGDkBk/s1600/phil-hughes.jpg Phil Hughes renegotiated a contract adding three more years to his deal and keeping him in Minnesota through 2019. This was such a momentous occasion that we asked the Twins Hangouts fellas, Seth Stohs and Jer
You can download the new Talk to Contact (@TalkToContact) episode via iTunes or by clicking here, and if you want to add the show to your non-iTunes podcast player, this is the RSS Feed. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rZl6xXzEO6k/VJrNsvxH7yI/AAAAAAAAKds/tW7cZWGDkBk/s1600/phil-hughes.jpg Phil Hughes renegotiated a contract adding three more years to his deal and keeping him in Minnesota through 2019. This was such a momentous occasion that we asked the Twins Hangouts fellas, Seth Stohs and Jeremy
Originally posted at The Tenth Inning Stretch -- The Rule 5 draft is done, the Winter Leagues are in full blow, Catchers and Pitchers are 2 months away, which means that it is time for the Twins Off-season top 40 prospect list. Like last year (you can find the summary list here with links to all the posts) I will do a count down 5 at a time starting from number 40. I will give detailed descriptions of the players and justification why I ranked them where I did when needed. In parenthesis, I
Terry Ryan and the Minnesota Twins extended Phil Hughes through 2019, effectively making his contract a five-year, $58 million deal. He will earn $9.2 million in 2015 and 2016 before earning $13.2MM annually from 2017 to 2019. Considering his 2014 numbers, the $11.6 million per year average salary is more than reasonable. This blog was originally published at Go Gonzo Journal. If you consider the Twins’ recent signing of Ervin Santana, the extension looks even better. Ryan cut a check to San
One of the highlights of the off-season for a core of Twins fans is the release of the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. Seth Stohs has worked to put together this fantastic book for the last seven years. In 2012, he gave me my first taste of helping with the book. By 2013, I was writing an article for the annual and for the last three years I have been among a trio of writers that includes Jeremy Nygaard, Stohs, and myself. I already released the first part of my top 30 list and there are so
You can download the new Talk to Contact (@TalkToContact) episode via iTunes or by clicking here, and if you want to add the show to your non-iTunes podcast player, this is the RSS Feed. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iCf_DF11x9E/VJmIjI9v2iI/AAAAAAAAKbw/3Xz8RCtKWGM/s1600/twins%2B30.jpg We're old and not going to write an episode description. Deal with it. Regular beer, baseball, and the news. Cody and Eric and Paul and no Jay (because of his grooming habits). Thanks for listening and en
<img src="http://assets.podomatic.net/ts/19/ad/da/paulpleiss/1400x1400_10197651.jpg" alt="itunes pic" /><br />We're old and not going to write an episode description. Deal with it. Regular beer, baseball, and the news. Cody and Eric and Paul and no Jay (because of his grooming habits).
<a href="http://talk2contact.podomatic.com" class='bbc_url' rel='nofollow external'>Source</a>
One of the highlights of the off-season for a core of Twins fans is the release of the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. Seth Stohs has worked to put together this fantastic book for the last seven years. In 2012, he gave me my first taste of helping with the book. By 2013, I was writing an article for the annual and for the last three years I have been among a trio of writers that includes Jeremy Nygaard, Stohs, and myself. There is a ton of work that goes into the creation of this book.
"Making a list, checking it twice. Terry Ryan got what he thought was nice." Even though the Twins are coming of four straight 90-loss seasons, there wasn't a ton of things the club needed to accomplish this off-season. The team seemingly had one one position player spot in the corner outfield. Terry Ryan also wanted to add depth to the starting pitching core. Just days after the winter meetings and the Twins have crossed both of these needs off their holiday wish list. At the beginni
Unlike any year in recent memory, I believe at this point in mid-December, the Twins likely are done with any meaningful acquistions that could contend for the 25 man roster. I just don't see the gaping roster hole that would make for a constant concern in the coming months. Sure, the Twins could sign another pitcher, another OF, and another catcher, but none of these potential signings seem vital to the health of the team. The starting rotation is finally in a position of surplus with an actual
I wrote: Sign Ervin Santana for a 5 year, $85 million deal. Sign Phil Hughes to a 3 year, $39 million deal. I really believed this to be a great idea. And many of you did too. While there is some cherry-picking of that blueprint and what the Twins have done, clearly, I have to admit that with regard to the pitching rotation, the Twins have done very well. Better than me, with regard to free agents. I just wrote that last sentence. And meant it.
You can download the new Talk to Contact (@TalkToContact) episode via iTunes or by clicking here, and if you want to add the show to your non-iTunes podcast player, this is the RSS Feed. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2DlY8fhFYnc/VIrB-oGbTsI/AAAAAAAAKW8/Mcz8TD-B5zc/s1600/smell%2Bbaseball.jpg This week the gang talks about Ervin Santana, the Rule Five Draft, and what the Twins rotation will look like to start the year. The guys were joined by TwinsDaily's Jeremy Nygaard to talk about who J
You can download the new Talk to Contact ( @TalkToContact) episode via iTunes or by clicking here, and if you want to add the show to your non-iTunes podcast player, this is the RSS Feed. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ImnpDCfYB8/VIrC3hg8ksI/AAAAAAAAKXE/GWQC-fsqNiA/s1600/hunter.jpg This week's show features the full fearsome foursome. With all hands on deck the gentlemen discuss the Torii Hunter signing and try to figure out if the press conference to announce the move was newsworthy in and of
You can download the new Talk to Contact (@TalkToContact) episode via iTunes or by clicking here, and if you want to add the show to your non-iTunes podcast player, this is the RSS Feed. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SkzPI34KLGs/VIrDNSlgWYI/AAAAAAAAKXM/LHh9tqPtQhs/s1600/mauer%2Bturkey.jpg This week we keep it short, under an hour, to discuss the new additions to the Twins coaching staff. It's just Jay (The master of underscores) and Paul this week, and they both started the podcast a couple
You can download the new Talk to Contact ( @TalkToContact) episode via iTunes or by clicking here, and if you want to add the show to your non-iTunes podcast player, this is the RSS Feed. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RWHl4V2BLG4/VIrDskYu_EI/AAAAAAAAKXU/fnk_RtwvH4U/s1600/no%2Btwins.jpg Jay and Cody chart a path through new territory as BOTH Eric and Paul sit out this week. Why? You must not have received the invite either. While the Pleiss twins frolic around the Pacific northwest in a cel
You can download the new Talk to Contact (@TalkToContact) episode via iTunes or by clicking here, and if you want to add the show to your non-iTunes podcast player, this is the RSS Feed. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2DlY8fhFYnc/VIrB-oGbTsI/AAAAAAAAKW8/Mcz8TD-B5zc/s1600/smell%2Bbaseball.jpg This week the gang talks about Ervin Santana, the Rule Five Draft, and what the Twins rotation will look like to start the year. The guys were joined by TwinsDaily's Jeremy Nygaard to talk about who JR Gr
Deuces were wild for Mendez on Wednesday in Vegas. In his Triple-A debut, the 22-year-old slugger went 1-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored and two RBI.
I am not a follower of Donald Trump. I have participated in several no kings rallies and am disgusted with what he and his followers have done to our country and the world. I would like to know what most Brazilians feel about the United States now and about the folks our citizens have elected to represent us.