Bark's Lounge

There is no need to get upset, We can all watch the Twins for **** sakes and angel food cakes, but in truth, the Twins are 6 feet under.

Oops. "Exactly".

My sentiments exaxtly.

I have long been a steadfast Gardenhire supporter. He has been a very good to great manager during his tenure. I realize a lot of fans are calling for his dismissal because of the last year of Twins baseball and some having been wanting his head on a platter for a much longer period of time. At this juncture, I now agree it is time for a change in coaching and managerial leadership. Ron Gardenhire: Gardy has lost his voice: No matter how hot around the collar or critical Gardy is about the play of his team, they do not seem to respond to his heated calls. Bad at bats, lapses of judgement in the field and non-execution of a strategic plan by the pitchers all fall on his head. (although it is impossible to blame him for the pitching as it is the worst in Twins History) His Staff: Rick Anderson: Rick has done a nice job in his tenure, but his advice and expertise are not paying off anymore. Maybe Liriano is his undoing, but whatever it is, it does not work here anymore. I commend him for his work with helping to develop Santana into the best starter in the AL and turning Nathan into one of the best closers of the late 2000's. That is now ancient history. Joe Vavra: This guy has over seen a few impressive offensive showings in his 6+ years as our hitting coach. Ranging from Mauer-Morneau-T. Hunt-Cuddyer-Span-Kubel. It should not be lost that these players have tremendous upside and it can be easy to coach very good talent. It is the stragglers that have brought concern to me (Valencia, Plouffe, Hughes, etc...). Vavra is a good hitting coach, but a change is needed. Weirdo Ullger: Scotty is a strange cat and I have to the utmost degree enjoyed his Q&A sessions as the manager after Gardy has been ejected or is on a leave of absence. What I have gathered he is most suited as a career AAA manager. Steve Liddle: Don't know to much, but he is a mediocre 3B coach and I cannot believe he is a very good bench coach Jerry White: Jerry has done a good job with the outfielders for the most part. He is in my opinion the guy that least deserves to lose his job. Maybe there is a scenario in which he stays, Final Analysis: I believe there needs to be a shake up. If it is to happen it will not happen until this upcoming offseason. Our only certain in-house candidate for a coaching hire is Brunansky as hitting coach. I would consider Ryne Sandberg or Tim Wallach as managerial candidates. I had good times as a MN Twins fan with the above mentioned Twins staff, but with it being how it is, being it Bill Smith's, Terry Ryan's or ownerships fault. A change of voice is needed and a change of culture is necessary to maybe reinvigorate some players or to have a completely new schematic change - hitting and pitching wise.

I have long been a steadfast Gardenhire supporter. He has been a very good to great manager during his tenure. I realize a lot of fans are calling for his dismissal because of the last year of Twins baseball and some having been wanting his head on a platter for a much longer period of time. At this juncture, I now agree it is time for a change in coaching and managerial leadership. Ron Gardenhire: Gardy has lost his voice: No matter how hot around the collar or critical Gardy is about the play of his team, they do not seem to respond to his heated calls. Bad at bats, lapses of judgement in the field and non-execution of a strategic plan by the pitchers all fall on his head. (although it is impossible to blame him for the pitching as it is the worst in Twins History) His Staff: Rick Anderson: Rick has done a nice job in his tenure, but his advice and expertise are not paying off anymore. Maybe Liriano is his undoing, but whatever it is, it does not work here anymore. I commend him for his work with helping to develop Santana into the best starter in the AL and turning Nathan into one of the best closers of the late 2000's. That is now ancient history. Joe Vavra: This guy has over seen a few impressive offensive showings in his 6+ years as our hitting coach. Ranging from Mauer-Morneau-T. Hunt-Cuddyer-Span-Kubel. It should not be lost that these players have tremendous upside and it can be easy to coach very good talent. It is the stragglers that have brought concern to me (Valencia, Plouffe, Hughes, etc...). Vavra is a good hitting coach, but a change is needed. Weirdo Ullger: Scotty is a strange cat and I have to the utmost degree enjoyed his Q&A sessions as the manager after Gardy has been ejected or is on a leave of absence. What I have gathered he is most suited as a career AAA manager. Steve Liddle: Don't know to much, but he is a mediocre 3B coach and I cannot believe he is a very good bench coach Jerry White: Jerry has done a good job with the outfielders for the most part. He is in my opinion the guy that least deserves to lose his job. Maybe there is a scenario in which he stays, Final Analysis: I believe there needs to be a shake up. If it is to happen it will not happen until this upcoming offseason. Our only certain in-house candidate for a coaching hire is Brunansky as hitting coach. I would consider Ryne Sandberg or Tim Wallach as managerial candidates. I had good times as a MN Twins fan with the above mentioned Twins staff, but with it being how it is, being it Bill Smith's, Terry Ryan's or ownerships fault. A change of voice is needed and a change of culture is necessary to maybe reinvigorate some players or to have a completely new schematic change - hitting and pitching wise.

I have long been a steadfast Gardenhire supporter. He has been a very good to great manager during his tenure. I realize a lot of fans are calling for his dismissal because of the last year of Twins baseball and some having been wanting his head on a platter for a much longer period of time. At this juncture, I now agree it is time for a change in coaching and managerial leadership. Ron Gardenhire: Gardy has lost his voice: No matter how hot around the collar or critical Gardy is about the play of his team, they do not seem to respond to his heated calls. Bad at bats, lapses of judgement in the field and non-execution of a strategic plan by the pitchers all fall on his head. (although it is impossible to blame him for the pitching as it is the worst in Twins History) His Staff: Rick Anderson: Rick has done a nice job in his tenure, but his advice and expertise are not paying off anymore. Maybe Liriano is his undoing, but whatever it is, it does not work here anymore. I commend him for his work with helping to develop Santana into the best starter in the AL and turning Nathan into one of the best closers of the late 2000's. That is now ancient history. Joe Vavra: This guy has over seen a few impressive offensive showings in his 6+ years as our hitting coach. Ranging from Mauer-Morneau-T. Hunt-Cuddyer-Span-Kubel. It should not be lost that these players have tremendous upside and it can be easy to coach very good talent. It is the stragglers that have brought concern to me (Valencia, Plouffe, Hughes, etc...). Vavra is a good hitting coach, but a change is needed. Weirdo Ullger: Scotty is a strange cat and I have to the utmost degree enjoyed his Q&A sessions as the manager after Gardy has been ejected or is on a leave of absence. What I have gathered he is most suited as a career AAA manager. Steve Liddle: Don't know to much, but he is a mediocre 3B coach and I cannot believe he is a very good bench coach Jerry White: Jerry has done a good job with the outfielders for the most part. He is in my opinion the guy that least deserves to lose his job. Maybe there is a scenario in which he stays, Final Analysis: I believe there needs to be a shake up. If it is to happen it will not happen until this upcoming offseason. Our only certain in-house candidate for a coaching hire is Brunansky as hitting coach. I would consider Ryne Sandberg or Tim Wallach as managerial candidates. I had good times as a MN Twins fan with the above mentioned Twins staff, but with it being how it is, being it Bill Smith's, Terry Ryan's or ownerships fault. A change of voice is needed and a change of culture is necessary to maybe reinvigorate some players or to have a completelt new schematic change - hitting and pitching wise.

I have long been a steadfast Gardenhire supporter. He has been a very good to great manager during his tenure. I realize a lot of fans are calling for his dismissal because of the last year of Twins baseball and some having been wanting his head on a platter for a much longer period of time. At this juncture, I now agree it is time for a change in coaching and managerial leadership. Ron Gardenhire: Gardy has lost his voice: No matter how hot around the collar or critical Gardy is about the play of his team, they do not seem to respond to his heated calls. Bad at bats, lapses of judgement in the field and non-execution of a strategic plan by the pitchers all fall on his head. (although it is impossible to blame him for the pitching as it is the worst in Twins History) His Staff: Rick Anderson: Rick has done a nice job in his tenure, but his advice and expertise are not paying off anymore. Maybe Liriano is his undoing, but whatever it is, it does not work here anymore. I commend him for his work with helping to develop Santana into the best starter in the AL and turning Nathan into one of the best closers of the late 2000's. That is now ancient history. Joe Vavra: This guy has over seen a few impressive offensive showings in his 6+ years as our hitting coach. Ranging from Mauer-Morneau-T. Hunt-Cuddyer-Span-Kubel. It should not be lost that these players have tremendous upside and it can be easy to coach very good talent. It is the stragglers that have brought concern to me (Valencia, Plouffe, Hughes, etc...). Vavra is a good hitting coach, but a change is needed. Weirdo Ullger: Scotty is a strange cat and I have to the utmost degree enjoyed his Q&A sessions as the manager after Gardy has been ejected or is on a leave of absence. What I have gathered he is most suited as a career AAA manager. Steve Liddle: Don't know to much, but he is a mediocre 3B coach and I cannot believe he is a very good bench coach Jerry White: Jerry has done a good job with the outfielders for the most part. He is in my opinion the guy that least deserves to lose his job. Maybe there is a scenario in which he stays, Final Analysis: I believe there needs to be a shake up. If it is to happen it will not happen until this upcoming offseason. Our only certain in-house candidate for a coaching hire is Brunansky as hitting coach. I would consider Ryne Sandberg or Tim Wallach as managerial candidates. I had good times as a MN Twins fan with the above mentioned Twins staff, but with it being how it is, being it Bill Smith's, Terry Ryan's or ownerships fault. A change of voice is needed and a change of culture is necessary to maybe reinvigorate some players or to have a completelt new schematic change - hitting and pitching wise.

It appears that Delmon's social skills are about as good as his defense in the outfield. Maybe some time spent in the klink will do him some good and with a hate crime attached to the charges against him it is certainly possible.

1. To hell with the naysayers. Mauer wins another 1-3 Batting Titles. 2. Stadium - Many might be angry about it and the tax repercussions. Me - so happy MLB baseball will be alive and well in the Twin Cities in my lifetime. I am Willing to pay the tax. 3. Beaten down and buried. Here's hoping to Morneau's future health. You are close to it. Prove the suckas wrong!

Wait! Don't judge too fast. She might have a Vienna Hot beef sandwich waiting for you or better... a Chicago Deep Dish Pizza.... yummmmm!

I must declare from the onset of this article that I am a Twins fan tried and true. from 1997-2000 I was a victim to their horrible performances, In 1998 a burgeoning slugger made the team following spring training. His name was David Ortiz, he didn't do too much offensively to warrant any negativity and he was sent down. From what I can remember, he was not doing things the way they wanted them to be done. The Twins that year had a horrible offense and if my memory serves me right, Molitor was our best hitter at a .285ish kind of clip, It was his last year... good job. 1999 was even worse. Mientkiewicz hit around .220, Chad Allen was our LF, T-Hunt was lack luster and our pitching sucked. Jacque Jones and Corey Koskie were the ones to provide future hope from that year. Although 1998-1999 were bad seasons, I did not mention 1997 or 2000. There is no need to open unhealed wounds as far as I am concerned. It seems to me that was the beginning of the new phase of Twins baseball that lasted until 2010. After another Yanks Playoff series loss and the impending Free Agency of some of our best relief pitchers, I knew they would not be resigned as the money they would warrant would be not worth their salt. We certainly did miss them, but that would have been all for not. Dateline 2012: We have no pitching, nothing at all. We have a couple of Franchise type position players who are doing alright, but have some work to do. My point is that we all know this 2012 team is going to suck and suck to an extensive degree. The success of a franchise is based upon wins and sustainability. This lull we are in might not last much more than 3 years and I cannot be kept captive again. Minnesota Twins take this to heart, feel it, realize it, take it for truth. There are a few of us who will walk away because we are disengaged. Win us back with a call to arms. Drafting effectively and using the free agent market to put us back in the fore front. God Damn it, we are your fans!

I must declare from the onset of this article that I am a Twins fan tried and true. from 1997-2000 I was a victim to their horrible performances, In 1998 a burgeoning slugger made the team following spring training. His name was David Ortiz, he didn't do too much offensively to warrant any negativity and he was sent down. From what I can remember, he was not doing things the way they wanted them to be done. The Twins that year had a horrible offense and if my memory serves me right, Molitor was our best hitter at a .285ish kind of clip, It was his last year... good job. 1999 was even worse. Mientkiewicz hit around .220, Chad Allen was our LF, T-Hunt was lack luster and our pitching sucked. Jacque Jones and Corey Koskie were the ones to provide future hope from that year. Although 1998-1999 were bad seasons, I did not mention 1997 or 2000. There is no need to open unhealed wounds as far as I am concerned. It seems to me that was the beginning of the new phase of Twins baseball that lasted until 2010. After another Yanks Playoff series loss and the impending Free Agency of some of our best relief pitchers, I knew they would not be resigned as the money they would warrant would be not worth their salt. We certainly did miss them, but that would have been all for not. Dateline 2012: We have no pitching, nothing at all. We have a couple of Franchise type position players who are doing alright, but have some work to do. My point is that we all know this 2012 team is going to suck and suck to an extensive degree. The success of a franchise is based upon wins and sustainability. This lull we are in might not last much more than 3 years and I cannot be kept captive again. Minnesota Twins take this to heart, feel it, realize it, take it for truth. There are a few of us who will walk away because we are disengaged. Win us back with a call to arms. Drafting effectively and using the free agent market to put us back in the fore front. God Damn it, we are your fans!

All of those who assume that Carroll will gladly take a bench role or a floating Utility player role after he has proven himself to be more than an adequate Shortstop will be disappointed. Dozier's only call-up will be to fulfill the role of 2B with Casilla being demoted to utility player. This will be Ron and Terry's decision. Straight up!!!

Span's departure which I solemnly am against cannot happen without a sure fire, sure bet # 2 starter. If this cannot happen than there is no negotiation, no bargaining, no nothing. Span is valuable. Enjoy it while you have it and quit hoping for Whatchamacallits to grow on trees with Crunch bar seedlings.

Damn, Gee whiz. There has been a lot of heartbreaking posts put on this thread. I am authentically compassionate to all of your plights. Someday the Twins will be good again. Not today, not tomorrow, not even next year... but maybe the next... maybe the one after that. At least our hometown team has won the big one - 2 times!!! Baseball has its ebbs and flows, Baseball can hurt like a lost love interest, Baseball can hurt like a never ending headache, baseball can damn well suck the life out of you. The Twins have been competitive for 11 years. That is awesome right? Right now it is our time to not be very good. We will have our day again. This I promise,

It certainly is, but without a 3B for the future, which Valencia is not, you need to find filler until the suitable replacement is found.

1. If you are a locked treasure chest. Valencia is not a key. 2. If you have a chronically bad back. Valencia is not a Chiropractor. 3. If you are a pirate and have lost your hand or foot. Valencia is not a peg or hook. 4. If you are a vegetarian. Valencia is a pork roast or a porterhouse steak.

Good Point!!!

Dear Spideyo, I have rethought my stance. Inge is the equivalent of Valencia offensively and most definitely his defensive superior. Sign him up! We have no replacement for 2-3 years as Sano is that player.

Is this a joke? If not... No. Absolutely not. I'd rather spend the time failing to develop Valencia into a starting Third Baseman. Maybe Deibinson Romero is the answer. Maybe Ryan is signing Inge as we speak.. uugghh...

Awesome! I am sure you have a wealth of knowledge on the subject of Twins History and that could be to the benefit of most of us. I am sure that everyone who has posted to this thread will watch or listen to the game also.

They better win more than 43. The pitching is beyond awful, but the offense has to make up the difference in some kind of fashion. I still feel like 70 wins is probable, but that's about it.

With every off season hope is renewed and it is a fresh start. Unlike the 2001-2010 off seasons, there did not seem to be a fathomable reason to believe we would have much more than a 70-80 win season coming into this year. One could hope that our offense would improve because of health even with the loss of Cuddyer and Kubel, but the pitching was an open wound that you just had this feeling would fester for a while. By not claiming the Ultimate Baseball Trophy, I can understand the bitterness of an opportunity lost by most passionate Twin's Fans in those 11 seasons, but it is not easy and most times takes a bit of luck. The 2006 season is my lost opportunity season. It is going to take awhile for the Twin's to revamp their pitching and we probably won't see .500 for a bit of time. You have to then disassociate yourself form W's & L's and focus on other achievements like Good Offense, individual successes, and the development of younger prospects turning into very good Major leaguers to bide your time between playoff contending seasons. Hopefully the last 2 and following 2 years can bring some good pitching prospects through the draft who can make a difference sooner than later. Me myself, am a baseball fan first and a Twins fan 2nd and I think I can say, for me at least, that you have to enjoy a bad losing season before you can truly enjoy a winning one.

TK has been fun. I don't know if it is good or bad, but the "Diamond Cutter" term has rubbed off on me. I do like the idea of Dick, Bert and Kelly doing a broadcast together - I hope it happens!

In all honesty, the fact of the matter is that neither Revere or Plouffe has much projectability as a long time Twins starting position player unless: (A) Revere develops an arm or ( Plouffe turns himself into an adequate Middle Infielder. The other Twins OF prospects (Hicks, Benson, Arcia, Morales, Rosario) will quickly surpass them when their development dictates as such. Benson and Hicks are already nipping at their heels. Also, Casilla is a filler player.