Bark's Lounge

I am glad you started this post. It is good to bring up these kind of topics sometimes as to keep it fresh in our minds that racism still exists and to firmly entrench in what we have control over to not let the horrible injustices and attrocities we faced as a nation happen again. I feel pretty confident the Twins are not a anti Latino or African American organization, but maybe we are Pro Hometown players and Pro Canadians... oops strike (Canadians), we did not resign Koskie. I agree with your view on Santana not wanting be a Twin. On the T-Hunt contract - his contract with the Angels is awful. 18M per season? He is at least 6M per season over paid... grotesque.

oooohhhhh.... ****.... this post could not have come at a worst time. Do you need some protection? I can help out. The animals are out on the prowl.

Willingham should stay in LF, but no doubt he has been great so far. He seems to be the 2nd player to conquer Target Field with his power, Thome being the only other. Keep it up Josh! To this point of the season you are looking like the best FA signing!

The AFL might have be a precursor to a more high octane result. Here's hoping to it!

Let's cut to the chase - Jim Bowden is an arrogant, self obsessed ball bag that has no business working in Major league baseball, let alone on a major sports reporting network. We should not have to hear or read his opinions on the Twin's situation or any other ball club. He is an opportunist who has taken advantage of 3rd world country baseball talents and looking back at his past photos from the early-mid 1990's, he dresses like a wanna be 1980's Jet-Set Millionaire (which he most probably is), he most definitely would be the perfect anti-hero in a 1980's John Hughes' Teen Film. He should never be a GM again and if any MLB team hires him in some front office capacity - integrity is not one of their prerequisites. Keep your collar up Jim - Let's rock to some "Flock of Seagulls" in your Frat House.

Let's cut to the chase - Jim Bowden is an arrogant, self obsessed ball bag that has no business working in Major league baseball, let alone on a major sports reporting network. We should not have to hear or read his opinions on the Twin's situation or any other ball club. He is an opportunist who has taken advantage of 3rd world country baseball talents and looking back at his past photos from the early-mid 1990's, he dresses like a wanna be 1980's Jet-Set Millionaire (which he most probably is), he most definitely would be the perfect anti-hero in a 1980's John Hughes' Teen Film. He should never be a GM again and if any MLB team hires him in some front office capacity - integrity is not one of their prerequisites. Keep your collar up Jim - Let's rock to some "Flock of Seagulls" in your Frat House.

That was the kind of game that can age a MoFo a few years, but it was fun to watch! The pitching was pretty lackluster except for Burnett. It was damn nice to see Mauer, Morneau and Willingham go yard and have Span play like I know he can. If Span, Mauer, and Morneau can stay healthy this can be a pretty solid offensive ball club. We will need to be as the pitching is going to continue to be substandard. Talent cannot be taught.

Whew... glad to get that out of the way. This is how the Twin's are going to have to perform to win games. We will need to score 5+ runs for the most part to win a game, but at least Carl gave us some innings. The inside job by Bourjos was a knee to the nuggets, but what the heck, it all worked out. Kudos to Willingham and Parmelee for their big hits. I have been an opponent of the Willingham signing, not because I don't like him or his contract, but more so for philosophical reasons on how I think the club should transition from the shamples of last season. Willingham seems to be a good power fit at Target Field so far - as some have predicted. The HR tonight was a BOMB! Big Time hit by Parm (The kid can hit). Pavano gutted it out and Perkins looked great and it was nice to see Capps get the save without blowing one first (confidence). Nice Win... On to game 6.

Whew... glad to get that out of the way. This is how the Twin's are going to have to perform to win games. We will need to score 5+ runs for the most part to win a game, but at least Carl gave us some innings. The inside job by Bourjos was a knee to the nuggets, but what the heck, it all worked out. Kudos to Willingham and Parmelee for their big hits. I have been an opponent of the Willingham signing, not because I don't like him or his contract, but more so for philosophical reasons on how I think the club should transition from the shamples of last season. Willingham seems to be a good power fit at Target Field so far - as some have predicted. The HR tonight was a BOMB! Big Time hit by Parm (The kid can hit). Pavano gutted it out and Perkins looked great and it was nice to see Capps get the save without blowing one first (confidence). Nice Win... On to game 6.

I actually don't think Varva is a bad hitting coach either. He has overseen some great individual hitting seasons and his joining the Twins staff in 2006 coincided with Mauer, Morneau, and Cuddyers offensive emergence. Not to mention 2 of T-Hunt's better offensive years. Those 4 guys are talented players, but Vavra should get a little bit of credit for their performance. I posted the Vavra topic merely to see what angry/despondent responses would be posted. With the 4 game losing streak to begin the season it has started to feel like the French Revolution on this site. Hopefully the guillotines won't be brought out.

Let's say Joey V. gets the axe. Who takes over his position? Is Bruno called up from AAA? Or would it be Scott "Weirdo" Ulger to assume that position? I assume the latter, although I would be pro for the former. What's your take?

Let's say Joey V. gets the axe. Who takes over his position? Is Bruno called up from AAA? Or would it be Scott "Weirdo" Ulger to assume that position? I assume the latter, although I would be pro for the former. What's your take?

He doesn't appear to be the answer to the long lasting void the Twin's have to fill. I'd rather give Hughes and Plouffe a try. they might not be any better, but at this point what is there to lose? Valencia is as we all know a lack luster fielder and if you have an OBP below .300, you should not be starting for any team... let alone he is a corner infielder who should provide some offensive pop. Not happening.

I feel assured this will be a tough season to watch, but there are always some things to appreciate in these kinds of scenarios. Maybe Mauer will rebound to fight for a Batting Title, Parmelee, Benson, Dozier and Hendricks - Could be fun to watch their development. Maybe we will fetch a decent return in a Liriano, Pavano, Willingham, Capps, or Doumit trade. Realistically, maybe we can get something decent for Liriano... outside chance - Willingham.

Parmelee will be a fine defensive player. He looks comfortable in the field and at the plate which is not common for a player with his lack of experience. He is a late bloomer and I believe will surprise people with his output. The reason he was drafted in the 1st round in 2006 was for his projected future ability. It is starting to take its form.

Although neither AJ or Mauer would be voted into the Hall of Fame at this juncture by any means. Mauer would get way, way, way, way, way, way more votes than Pierzinski. It seems as if this past season has birthed a breed of Mauer hating monsters. He has won 3 batting titles, more than any catcher in MLB history and when healthy, which he has been rather than not, he is a fantastic defensive catcher with a powerful arm. Don't get me wrong, AJ is a very good player, but no where close to Mauer's Class. NO WHERE!!!

T-Hunt is a yacker, which leads to positive and negative publicity. Everyone knows that people who talk too much and wear their heart on their sleeve are prone to having an opinion that is unrealistic or viable. I think for the most part he is still beloved amongst the Twin's Community. When he received 18M annually for 5 years from the Angels I was flabergasted and made my peace with it quickly and moved on from his loss. He has not come anywhere close to having the production to justify that contract. I'm glad it is on the Angel's Payroll and Not the Twin's. We could have used his clubhouse leadership in the years since he has left, but 18M per season for T-Hunt is and can only be... laughable.

I can only assume that Parmelee was slated for Rochester at the onset of Spring Training. Morneau, to me, just a simpleton fan, was never a guarantee and I must admit we have gotten a lot more out of him than I would have expected at this juncture. At the end of last season I was not sure he would be able to play again. He seems to be swinging okay and you take what you get. To respond to your question, Parmelee would be the RF. I think he is valued more than Revere for his speculated offensive prowess and on a team needing impact pop hitters you need to do your best to make it fit.

If DH-ing Morneau will keep him healthy and he can recapture his offensive ability, keep him there. Doumit is probably a one and done here and has never shown a propensity towards staying healthy for a full season. Parmelee should play everyday if he's on the big boy's squad - he has done nothing as of yet to prove he does not belong here.

Sorry, I am going to use Dozier in my hypothetical line-up, At the conclusion of last season I felt in my baseball heart that this would be a Rebuilding Season and not a Retooling Season. Although Willingham has looked okay at the plate so far, I would not have signed him, Carroll - No, Marquis - No, Doumit - Yes, he can be a good hitting back-up Catcher and Bench Player at a fair price. You might as well have a sub-par season playing young players to take their licks and get experience than squirting some Elmer's Glue on an amputated limb, hoping that will stop the bleeding. In my unprofessional opinion, that is what the Twin's Front Office is doing and are only delaying the future success of the ball club. CF- Span LF - Revere C - Mauer DH - Morneau RF - Benson 1B - Parmelee 3B - Hughes (I am a glutton for punishment) 2B - Plouffe (See Above 3B) SS - Dozier

Yo Seth. Do you know if Aaron Hicks has made any adjustments to his game? Last year for him was a step backwards except for the AFL. I remember a few years back reading a well circulated baseball rag that he had the potential to be an "Eric Davis". That made me think of 25+ HR's and 40+ SB's. His stats do not indicate that will ever be truth, but to go out on that analytical limb had me a bit excited (Eric Davis would have had a HOF career if not for the injuries... he was a game changer). Where are you on the subject of Aaron Hicks?

I agree with the majority that Target field is a fantastically beautiful modern facility with a nostalgic/old-time feel, but I am perplexed as to why they planned out the dimensions the way they did. Usually teams who have procured the financing to build a new ballpark build it around their star players and their strengths. I cannot remember if the Twin's were given the thumbs up to build the ballpark in 2006 or 2007, but at that time they at least knew Mauer's strength was as a gap to gap hitter and Morneau is a left handed hitting power hitter that when he is going good hits the ball to all fields, but can pull the ball very often also. They have made the ballpark way to difficult to hit out of the yard in the power alleys and right field is a nightmare for power hitters. Petco Park (Padres) has served as an example to not build super-pitcher friendly parks in a mid to small baseball market. No decent free agent hitter wants to sign a contract with them and they seemingly always have middling teams at best with pitchers who's stats don't really tell the story (Good Luck Matt Latos in the Great American Band Box). Do the Twins have a stubborn attitude about adjusting on the fly to accommodate their star players and strengths? Was it too late in the process to make the dimensions friendlier to their star hitters? They definitely did not have a star pitcher to accommodate as Santana was gone when he reached Free Agency and everyone knew that. What happened and what was reasoning behind the ballparks design? Unbalanced ballparks ruin the baseball enthusiast's realistic point of view, reasoning of the box score's end outcome and overall feeling that player performance cannot be judged by results, but by theory based upon a generic ballpark's dimensions. MLB should have standardized dimensions on how each team builds their ballparks. Based on Climate, Wall Height, and Length of the turf. Target Field is Astheticly beautiful, but in baseball fairness.... ugly.