Bark's Lounge

I agree with TwinsNorth49 for using Bautista as an example. Of course the Apocalypse will be upon us if Plouffe hits 50 Jacks someday. Hell, Bautista was looked at as garbage leading up to his Bluejays breakout - I believe he jumped between 4-5 organizations and 4 of them did not think too much of him. It seems as if it takes a fair amount of time for some players to learn the game and come into their own. Shane Mack is a good example of a player who took a little more time to develop as a 1st round pick. He was 27 when he had his breakout campaign - he was our 2nd or 3rd best position player in 1991. I might regret using this one, but Cuddyer seemed to figure some things out in his age 27 season - he had his value. Plouffe is 25 years old, 26 in June. He is athletic enough to play the Middle Infield and the corner OF positions and has some HR pop. Give him a chance, he still has a pulse. The Twins have a pile of dead corpses they need to bury. Plouffe is not one of them.

He's one of the best in the business. You know you are in good hands when you are his patient.

April 24, 2012. Medical Experts announced this evening that they have found a cure for "Accute Baseball Slumpitis". According to the experts 1 Dose each of Marquisocillin, Cappscin and Blackburnaxone will immediately wipe away the symptoms of "Accute Baseball Slumpitis", and restore full health after a full 3 game series of taking the aforementioned antibiotics. The Medical experts also wanted to thank the Boston Red Sox for being their test subject during these breakthrough medical experiments and tests. Thank goodness for Modern Medicine!

These our best 3B the last 25 years: Gary Gaetti, Corey Koskie, Danny Valencia. Which one doesn't fit?

I'll circle that!

It's too bad, because Valencia has talent. His self obsession and arrogance are going to cost him mucho $$$ and a MLB career. He is the Anti-Jamie Carroll.

It is somewhat hard for me to recollect Liriano's performance at the end of the 2005 season and for the most part the 2006 season in which he was Koufaxian in his performance at times. Since 2008 in his return from Tommy John surgery he has struck me as being mentally weak to the utmost degree. Except for 2010 he has ultimately sucked. My hope was he would have a good start to the season this year and we would trade him for something of better than little value. That optimism was fool hardy and bit me in the ass. Maybe he can be good in the bullpen, but I hold out no hope for him. Great arm, great stuff, mentally weak and a lost cause.

I love it when I read the word "rebuilding". I do not see it on Twins Daily too much. It is the truth and reality that Twins fans need to face.

This years pitching staff is worse than a preschooler's paper mache collage. Hell, I might start eating paste if I choose to watch these awful pitching performances... which I will. The coaching staff has been a plus for the most part the last 25 years, Gardy's tenure started off well in 2002 with a playoff series victory - since then - regular season success, playoff disasters. I think it is true that a new voice can turn the fortunes of a franchise around to a certain degree, but we don't have the pitching, and who will the Twins hire as their new manager? My guess is that it would be TK as the permanent interim Manager.

If the Dominoes continue to fall like they are on April 22, 2012 in Mid-Late June. What will the Twins Brass do? Will they ride it out or will they gut the roster - trading veterans and cutting middling players, bringing up the young fellas to test their engines? Pros for Gutting the Roster: Getting a little value for the veteran starting pitchers and position players we have through trades. Maybe Span, Willingham or Morneau could bring something of exquisite value. All of the other veteran players - Pavano, Liriano, Marquis, Doumit, etc. won't fetch much, but something can be better than nothing. It gives the Twins a chance to see what they have in a Joe Benson, Ben Revere, Brian Dozier, Deolis Guerra, etc. and get them important MLB game experience. Pros for Riding it out: The offense looks like it could be fun. We will still lose, but a 10-7 loss is better than a 10-2 loss. Trading Span, Willingham and especially Morneau could be a P.R. disaster. We don't have any depth in the minors to replace the theoretical starting pitchers we could trade. I certainly would not consider the brigade of starting pitchers we have at AAA or AA a treasure chest of Riches by any measure. Scott Diamond and Luke French are probably the cream of that crop. (Blah!) It is only April and anything is possible, but if the dominoes continue to tumble over and it is appearing that might be this years trend something will have to be done to veer the course of this franchise in a direction that brings some kind of promise in the next 3 years.

If the Dominoes continue to fall like they are on April 22, 2012 in Mid-Late June. What will the Twins Brass do? Will they ride it out or will they gut the roster - trading veterans and cutting middling players, bringing up the young fellas to test their engines? Pros for Gutting the Roster: Getting a little value for the veteran starting pitchers and position players we have through trades. Maybe Span, Willingham or Morneau could bring something of exquisite value. All of the other veteran players - Pavano, Liriano, Marquis, Doumit, etc. won't fetch much, but something can be better than nothing. It gives the Twins a chance to see what they have in a Joe Benson, Ben Revere, Brian Dozier, Deolis Guerra, etc. and get them important MLB game experience. Pros for Riding it out: The offense looks like it could be fun. We will still lose, but a 10-7 loss is better than a 10-2 loss. Trading Span, Willingham and especially Morneau could be a P.R. disaster. We don't have any depth in the minors to replace the theoretical starting pitchers we could trade. I certainly would not consider the brigade of starting pitchers we have at AAA or AA a treasure chest of Riches by any measure. Scott Diamond and Luke French are probably the cream of that crop. (Blah!) It is only April and anything is possible, but if the dominoes continue to tumble over and it is appearing that might be this years trend something will have to be done to veer the course of this franchise in a direction that brings some kind of promise in the next 3 years.

Teflon, thanks for your comment. For some reason I am optimistic the Twins will resign Morneau when that time comes. I think he will take less years and a little less money. My gut feeling is he will become a DH type as his concussion symptoms will continue to get better, but will still hang around enough to warrant being a full-time DH - not that I think this the right thing or wrong thing... just my gut feeling. As for the pitching staff... I would not touch that topic with a 10 foot pole. That would take way too much time and I have a life I need to lead.

Out of curiosity: Who on this thread would have made the rumored trade from last summer (Span for Drew Storen of Tyler Clippard)?

Well put! I am in total agreement.

I don't like hearing trade talk about Span as he is one of my favorite players on this squad, but unfortunately I could see a trade involving him happen at some juncture in the next few years because our glutton of OF prospects and the fact that Hicks and Benson are true CF's. It is not often a team comes across a legitimate leadoff hitter like Span. I hope it does not happen, but it is certainly a possibility.

Hey Ho Silver Slugger. Thomas is just filler, but he could be a decent 4th OFer. Benson will definitely get his shot, not now, but soon. Parmelee needs no more seasoning. He is ready to hit, hit, and hit and will be a a proficient Outfielder. If Thomas pushes Parmelee to Rochester, there should be outrage, but I think Parm has become one of Gardy and Ryan's favorites. Unless he falls flat on his face, Parm is in the bigs to stay.

My assumption is that Burroughs serves as a quick replacement to Valencia as he is not favored by Gardy and his staff, which at this point am in total agreement with them. Valencia continuously has bad plate appearances and is a below average fielder because of his range. I would not be surprised if Burroughs is our starting 3B by mid-May. He can most definitely field and he will hit a bit (singles mostly).

In my estimation Parmelee has no less speed than Cuddy did, It is not Revere's lack of power that will hold him back, but his suspect arm, and i think that will ultimately be the deal breaker with him.

Wooooo... how do I even start this thread/blog/or whatever. It seems that most think Parmelee should be in AAA or they think he is a butcher on defense. How did this happen? Parmelee for the most part, if my memory is correct was projected to be a good defensive 1B from the time he was drafted and he has done nothing to prove that statement any different, Parmelee must now prove himself to be an efficient outfielder, he might not have wheels, but he seems to have a proficient arm, not much different than SS drafted Cuddyer or Plouffe. 1. Cuddyer is slow like Parmelee. What Cuddyer gained with experience was base running savvy. Cuddyer runs the bases well and can read situations better than most to take a bag. Molitor should be commended for that development. Cuddyer is slow, but a smart baserunner, who is to say Parmelee cannot be the same with some experience? 2. It took Cuddy 4 years before he was able to show some offensive fortitude. Plouffe has been over matched in his 2 years in the bigs. Parmelee looks comfortable and has NOT shown a propensity towards being an offensive burden. This guy hits and he hits with authority. 3. Parmelee is going to have to become comfortable with playing RF or even LF. Morneau is on the books for this year and next and Morneau definitely falls into the category of a player to resign based upon his popularity and production. If he clears his ailments off the dockett, to me this is a given and Parmelee will not play 1B, unless Morneau becomes a David Ortiz type. Parmelee is a very good ballplayer and can make the OF adjustment as he has played as much OF in the minor as he has played 1B. The moral of this post is to let Twins Fans and analyst know that: A. Parm is Ready for the Big Time, does not need anymore seasoning in the minors B. Parm is a good defensive player and will execute where he is dictated to play C. He adds a fearful bat to a line-up that has looked pretty good but would welcome it because of our horribly atrocious pitching staff - horrible, horrible, horrible!!! Parm is MLB ready. Jump on board or be left behind.

Wooooo... how do I even start this thread/blog/or whatever. It seems that most think Parmelee should be in AAA or they think he is a butcher on defense. How did this happen? Parmelee for the most part, if my memory is correct was projected to be a good defensive 1B from the time he was drafted and he has done nothing to prove that statement any different, Parmelee must now prove himself to be an efficient outfielder, he might not have wheels, but he seems to have a proficient arm, not much different than SS drafted Cuddyer or Plouffe. 1. Cuddyer is slow like Parmelee. What Cuddyer gained with experience was base running savvy. Cuddyer runs the bases well and can read situations better than most to take a bag. Molitor should be commended for that development. Cuddyer is slow, but a smart baserunner, who is to say Parmelee cannot be the same with some experience? 2. It took Cuddy 4 years before he was able to show some offensive fortitude. Plouffe has been over matched in his 2 years in the bigs. Parmelee looks comfortable and has NOT shown a propensity towards being an offensive burden. This guy hits and he hits with authority. 3. Parmelee is going to have to become comfortable with playing RF or even LF. Morneau is on the books for this year and next and Morneau definitely falls into the category of a player to resign based upon his popularity and production. If he clears his ailments off the dockett, to me this is a given and Parmelee will not play 1B, unless Morneau becomes a David Ortiz type. Parmelee is a very good ballplayer and can make the OF adjustment as he has played as much OF in the minor as he has played 1B. The moral of this post is to let Twins Fans and analyst know that: A. Parm is Ready for the Big Time, does not need anymore seasoning in the minors B. Parm is a good defensive player and will execute where he is dictated to play C. He adds a fearful bat to a line-up that has looked pretty good but would welcome it because of our horribly atrocious pitching staff - horrible, horrible, horrible!!! Parm is MLB ready. Jump on board or be left behind.

How does Parmelee weaken the defense? Where does Morneau fit into your plans if Willingham is DH? Your post was not clear.

What time on Monday?

Will there be a draft for players to give updates on? Or is it a free for all with many subscribers with the same players?

This just may be a waste of everyone's time, but what the hell - it could be fun, boring or whatever... Let's Do It! Opening day Line-Up 2015 (I will include a closer): C - Chris Herrmann 1B - Chris Parmelee 2B - Eddie Rosario SS - Brian Dozier 3B - Miguel Sano LF - Joe Mauer CF - Aaron Hicks RF - Joe Benson DH - Justin Morneau SP - Mark Appel C - Glen Perkins Let the games begin!

This just may be a waste of everyone's time, but what the hell - it could be fun, boring or whatever... Let's Do It! Opening day Line-Up 2015 (I will include a closer): C - Chris Herrmann 1B - Chris Parmelee 2B - Eddie Rosario SS - Brian Dozier 3B - Miguel Sano LF - Joe Mauer CF - Aaron Hicks RF - Joe Benson DH - Justin Morneau SP - Mark Appel C - Glen Perkins Let the games begin!