MUST READ TWEET: Span Disses Twins?

[Seth Stohs]

Aaron Gleeman posted the following on Twitter on Tuesday night:

 

 

During the Nationals' division-winning celebration Denard Span said: "I feel like I was held back in Minnesota. I'm thankful to be here."

 

What do you think? Is Span right? Did Minnesota hold him back? If so... when??

[70charger]

Aaron Gleeman posted the following on Twitter on Tuesday night:

 

 

What do you think? Is Span right? Did Minnesota hold him back? If so... when??

 

He was on a lot of good teams in Minnesota, he signed an extension in Minnesota, he said he didn't want to be traded the year before he was traded from Minnesota.

 

I don't know what the deal is, but to answer your question, no he wasn't held back.

[USAFChief]

Held back from what?

[Seth Stohs]

That's the question. I don't know how he possibly thinks he was held back. He had his best two seasons in Minnesota, turned it into a big contract, played most every day, was taken care of during his concussion, and much more... My assumption is that it was a heat-of-the-moment comment that he just wasn't thinking when he said it. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Still maybe a little hurt he was sent off. Span's a sensitive guy. Human nature.

[Seth Stohs]

Tweet from Darren Wolfson:

 

 

Span via text on his comments aimed at #MNTwins: "There wasn't any malicious intent behind my comments point blank period." Left it at that.

[goliath]

Was it Span or someone else in the last year or two who commented about how he felt micro-managed in Minnesota?

[Nick Nelson]

I've heard many times that Span and Gardy didn't get along. Probably just sour grapes.

[Linus]

I propose that we just ignore convenient comments from players about their former teams. All of that stuff is worth nothing unless you were dreaming of span playing center for the twins

[Thrylos]

Whatever. Span declined every season he was with the Twins.  "Held back" because Gomez, a much better player was deemed the starter over him at CF that one season?  His play had decline from slightly above average to below average in his last season with the Twins.  Hard to blame the Twins for that or for the multiple times he fell asleep on the bases and got picked off...

[D. Hocking]

Still maybe a little hurt he was sent off. Span's a sensitive guy. Human nature.

I think he always viewed himself as the heir apparent to Pucket and Hunter.  He has been a decent player, but I think he has always thought he was better than he actually was.  He seemed to rankle at the suggestion he play anything other than center, even though he was better fit for right field.  I remember one year he seemed surprised he did not make the all-star game, and think it was not even one of his better years.  I think he was thrown when his name started coming in trade rumors, because I suspect he felt himself as one of the untouchables. 

 

I think he has reputation of being a nice guy, but I always thought there was a bit of a moody side to him as well, and while I don't think I would say he has sour grapes, I could see it still bother him that he was not considered indispensable (which to be fair would be perfectly natural and human nature).  Luckily we have a over-abundance of speedy outfielders and SS-outfielders, so he has not been needed.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I don't see how it could be sour grapes if he's in the playoffs and the Twins are in the cellar again. 

 

Maybe a little champagne fueled venting, but I think he's genuinely happy to be back in the playoffs again, and of course when you're doing well at your current gig, it's easy to state that it's better there than the last place. 

[big dog]

Span is within spitting distance of his career averages in just about all categories this year.  Not sure why he thinks this is some kind of phenomenal breakout- OBP is exactly .001 higher, for example.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I remember Span being held back quite a bit... by a concussion.

[Brandon]

he was also held up in the minors by his lack of talent. He hit .220 or so a few years there. 

 

I don't think anything of his comments.  its not like he was saying them to our face with a bunch of anger. 

 

But our minors had nothing and TR was trying to rebuild our system by trading for pitching prospects to speed up the rebuild.  and we are just now getting to the point of using those pitchers.  Span is a solid CF on the cusp of being an allstar but not a 5 tool player. 

[gunnarthor]

Maybe he was talking about the celebrations.  Can't party much if you win in game 163 and have to go to the playoffs the next day.  Washington is doing it right!

 

Anyhow, I liked Span, liked the trade and am glad he's healthy in Washington.

[Shane Wahl]

Not sure why this is unclear. He is likely talking about how the Twins had no real view of building a championship team. I imagine he is talking about being held back in terms of winning as a team. The Twins only real close chance of excellence was in 2010, and even then the pitching was not built for the postseason.

[gunnarthor]

Not sure why this is unclear. He is likely talking about how the Twins had no real view of building a championship team. I imagine he is talking about being held back in terms of winning as a team. The Twins only real close chance of excellence was in 2010, and even then the pitching was not built for the postseason.

Sure.  All the "I"'s in his comment meant he was talking about a team.  But I suppose we can move this thread down the "If only the Twins cared" road ...

[Mike Sixel]

I actually read it the same way Shane did, but then maybe I have jaded eyes for the twins right now.

[Kwak]

Yes, Twins fans are hurt when someone point-out that things aren't as  warm and fuzzy as fans perceive.  Consider:  Span wasn't even afforded the "trial run" in '07 on a team that had been written-off (Casilla got his "trial-run" when the respected Castillo was dispatched for (Butera and another MiL catcher);  the announced "competition" between Span and Gomez for Spring training with Span seemingly winning--only to be dispatched to Rochester;  Span's promotion to play for the injured Cuddyer (and Span's clearly superior peformance compared to Gomez) only to be (yet again) dispatched to Rochester when Cuddyer returned. 

No, Gomez wasn't better than Span during Gomez's time with the Twins--he was raw, had poor mechanics (recall his "crow-hop" before his OF throws?, and his wild swings at breaking-balls low and away?).  True, Gomez did have more upside--but the Twins couldn't develop him--so Gomez was traded for J.J. Hardy to fill the huge hole at SS.  BTW, the Gomez for Hardy trade a quite good for the Twins--until Hardy was thrown away for garbage. 

 

Summing up, yes, it's easy to see why Span has "hard feelings about the Twins".  If Meyer doesn't provide years of quality service in the rotation, the "Span trade" will be yet another misstep.

[Mike Sixel]

Agree with KWAK. Span=Pinto in this case, btw......