Article: Top 10 Stories For 2013: #2 Whither Justin?

[Jim H]

Thrylos, there is a difference striking 144 times in in low A ball and doing it at the majors. It is also fair to note that Sano only hit about 240 in low A ball as well. No one is doubting that he is a great prospect, I doubt however, that he is anywhere near ready to play in the majors. That could change quickly, like it did with Hicks, but it could take a couple of years as well. Lets see what he does at Fort Myers, after this year, I think we will have a much better idea about whether he can survive at 3B, and how soon his bat will be major league ready.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Agree about waiting for him to get better defensively in the hot corner, but that strikeout thing, which is mentioned way too often, is an exaggeration.

 

Check this out. Here are the Ks and BBs of the following Twins' power hitters last season. Nobody is complaining that they strike out much:

 

Willingham 76 BB 141 K

Morneau 49 BB 102 K

Doumit 29 BB 98 K

 

And here is Sano's. As you can see he has a better BB:K ratio that all 3

 

Sano: 80 BB 144 K

 

So, if someone is complaining about Sano's Ks he/she should be complaining about Willingham's and Morneau's and Doumit's....

 

Did you really just compare low A ball strikeout numbers to MLB strikeout numbers?

[Nick Nelson]

Did you really just compare low A ball strikeout numbers to MLB strikeout numbers?

 

Analysis!

[jmlease1]

A couple of curious things to me: 1) the assumption that Morneau wants to stay with the Twins. True, the Twins can make things difficult for Morneau ("Lohse him") if they don't trade him. 2) all the hate on Parmalee. He was "Gardyied" last Spring and didn't handle it. Whereas Plouffe also stunk-up the stadium but he was protected (Hughes whose Spring was comparable to Plouffe's got the axe) until his remarkable 5-week run saved him, but Parmalee got demoted. I sure don't recall a similar vitriol against Plouffe last Spring like there is with Parmalee now.

 

Returning to Morneau, the Twins are making it appear that they are in a full-rebuild mode, with the intent to become Tampa North--$65MM payroll with one very highly compensated star and the rest youth at minimum or near-minimum salaries. Given that hypothesis, why would the Twins retain Morneau? Until a new core is established (with some experience), retaining Morneau adds payroll, with at best a modest improvement in Wins, but at the expense of earlier draft placement (which may be required to fully rebuild).

 

I think the assumption on Morneau is based on him him seeming pretty happy and settled here and never showing much desire to play anywhere else except in Canada. The relationship with Morneau & the team & the fans has always been good. It's a pretty reasonable assumption.

 

I'm usually the first to put Gardy on the spot about how he handles young players, but in Parmelee's case I'll take him off the hook: Chris hadn't played a single game in AAA until last year, so sending him down after he struggled in MLB made perfect sense. I don't see a lot of "hate" for Parmelee, but there is some healthy skepticism. Personally, i think he's going to have a very nice year, but YMMV.

 

The Twins are definitely in rebuild mode, but your analysis of what they will spend in the future is pure speculation. I don't see them ever becoming big players in free agency as long as TR is in charge; it seems pretty clear that he thinks that's where teams overspend and you're better off hoarding your resources for your own guys over getting a splashy FA. But there's no reason to believe that the Twins won't push the payroll over $100M again if they're in a position to contend. If Morneau is playing well and is healthy, I think they'll at least try to re-sign him assuming they aren't blown away by a trade offer.

[stringer bell]

Morneau now has the tag "injury prone" and he is probably one knock on the head from retiring from baseball. How on earth can a team in rebuilding mode re-sign him? The Twins are unerring in going for less since Ryan has returned to the helm. Paying Parm and Arcia a half million each is pretty cost effective compared to Morneau making 14 Million per season. If the Twins can get something for Morneau at the deadline, I'm pretty sure they'll take it. Don't look for them to sweeten the pot by eating some of his salary. Do I agree with this? No, but it isn't my money.

[Rock65]

If he is traded on the last year of his contract with possible concussion concerns what will we get in return. VERY LITTLE! if he stays healthy and has a respectable year and he is willing to accept a contract that is reasonable to the questions around him, I think he should be resignedl