Twins Weekly for Feb. 2-8: Prospect Prognosticating

Nick Nelson · February 9, 2018

Was that celebration the one where Hocking got pretty badly spiked by someone, and was (understandably) real bitter about it? I seem to have some vague recollection of that.

Tom Froemming · February 9, 2018

Was that celebration the one where Hocking got pretty badly spiked by someone, and was (understandably) real bitter about it? I seem to have some vague recollection of that.

OMG I forgot about that! Per his Wikipedia page:

"Hocking broke his hand in the ensuing celebration. Hocking caught the final out of Game 5 and players piled on top of him. A player he believed to be teammate Jacque Jones stepped on the middle finger of his right hand and split the nail in two places.[2] This injury forced Hocking to miss the entire 2002 American League Championship Series."

Seth Stohs · February 9, 2018

Love that response from Hocking... very detailed. Very nice!

BJames · February 10, 2018

I've always been a big advocate of using the young guys in the minors. Sure, I'd love to sign Darvish, but I don't want him to ruin the team for the next five year either, with to big a contract, leaving nothing for Berrios,Sano,Kepler,Buxton etc. With the way the schedule is early in April and the amount of young guy on the Roster, I say give them a shot. I see no problem early in the year testing some of the young guys and giving them a chance to succeed. Look at how many times Berrios went up and down. It;s time some of these guys got their feet wet. If they Suck we have Duffey and Hughes to throw the Mid innings.

ashbury · February 10, 2018

but I don't want him to ruin the team for the next five year either,

He won't.

with to big a contract, leaving nothing for Berrios,Sano,Kepler,Buxton etc.

Sano and Buxton are under team control through 2021, Kepler and Berrios through 2022. By the time any of these are pulling down $20M a year or greater, Mauer and ESan contracts will be distant memories. Also I don't know of an "etc" who will be needing contracts of the magnitude to worry about in 2022; you named all the high-end young guys, with Rosario and Polanco likely a tier down in salary. Moreover, the Twin Cities are capable of supporting a $150M payroll if the team is winning; and if the players we're thinking about are able to demand the salaries you're worrying about, the team will indeed win.

Dozier's probably the only outlier in this. If extending his contract requires $20M a year in 2022 and beyond, I favor trading him, or else giving him a qualifying offer and letting him walk, in favor of our young infielders.

Sure, management has to worry about the negative "what-ifs", but they also need to plan for success. If the success doesn't materialize, then the plan at 2022 will be to pivot to some other strategy. That's why FalVine get the big bucks.

With years of team control for the key players, and the few current high-ticket contracts coming off the books, it can't be possible for a 5-year Darvish contract now to be an insurmountable obstacle to anything.

Mr. Brooks · February 10, 2018

I've always been a big advocate of using the young guys in the minors. Sure, I'd love to sign Darvish, but I don't want him to ruin the team for the next five year either, with to big a contract, leaving nothing for Berrios,Sano,Kepler,Buxton etc. With the way the schedule is early in April and the amount of young guy on the Roster, I say give them a shot. I see no problem early in the year testing some of the young guys and giving them a chance to succeed. Look at how many times Berrios went up and down. It;s time some of these guys got their feet wet. If they Suck we have Duffey and Hughes to throw the Mid innings.

I don't think anyone will disagree that you build your foundation through your milb system. But, I think for the most part, that foundation is pretty well set. Could probably see one more starting pitcher emerge this year, but there is room in the rotation, Darvish won't be blocking that player.

At some point, you also need to add walls, and a roof. Otherwise, no matter how impeccable your foundation is, it's still just a big hole in the ground.

Do you have any examples of recent WS champions who were solely built from within? I'd venture that most, if not all, eventually added a big time piece or two to put them over the top.

One might argue that they are still a year away from really needing that piece. And, typically I might agree.

This isn't a typical off-season, though.

With many of the big players seemingly sitting this one out, to reset the luxury tax for Harper and Machado next year, this might be the only legitimately reasonable chance that the Twins will have to add the best FA available.

BJames · February 11, 2018

I know most of these young guys are a couple year out on the big contract, but I'd like to see the Twins start signing them longterm now before they become F.O.'s. I'm more of the Trade Sano type and sign someone next year with Joe's $$$$ freed up. As, far as the ruin the team comment. How did it work out when we signed Joe to the Big contract. Morneau gone, Cuddyer gone, Nathan gone, Kubel gone. Nothing was left. I might be off but that's how I remember it. We have some time, I'm looking more long term with the money.

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Twins Weekly for Feb. 2-8: Prospect Prognosticating

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