Riverbrian

Going into the off season... I was hoping for One upper tier FA Pitcher... One Young Traded for Pitcher that is ready for the MLB and a bunch of affordable of FA pitchers. I wasn't worried about MI at all. I have not gotten my upper tier wish. I did get Worley in a trade and... Pelfrey, Harden, Correia qualify for my bunch of affordable FA Pitchers. Meyer and May were bonus pickups. B Minus... Sounds like a decent grade for me. Without Meyer and May... I would be in the C minus area.

I don't place much faith in "Framing Pitches" to influence Strikes and Balls. I have serious doubts how often the Ump actually sees the glove. Standing behind the catcher will block the view of the glove quite often. However, I do believe in Pop to Pop time as being important and more so... I believe that the ability of a catcher to call a game, handle his battery mate, QB the cuts, block and handle pitches out of the zone, defensive leadership and the prep work done by catchers in the film room is huge. A Solid Defensive Catcher plays a big role on a baseball team. However, I admit that I don't know how Butera does on all of these important areas in comparison to Mauer and Doumit or others around the league.

1. All Star Form? I'd say not because I expect other 1B around the league to have bigger seasons. I do think Morneau will hit around .290 with 20 Dingers. 2. Perkins will do a great job closing. I won't worry about the closer role at all. 3. 34 Dingers from Plouffe this year. BA still on the low side and defense will be solid. 4. Worley will be the staff leader... Deduno is my sleeper... He repeats his mechanics and his stuff still moves.

Although I would have liked to see another pitcher signed with bigger potential. I'm hopeful that the pure volume of arms to choose from will(at the very least) provide options to turn to. Our Twins will be improved if we can simply avoid handing multiple starts to pitchers who are tossing 6 plus ERA's like we did last year. If someone is not performing or injured. Hopefully we have the next guy to turn to.

That's a good question... (thinking)... In most cases yes... Just using your examples... Politicians... I don't trust any of them and stopped caring what they think a long time ago. I think the the process is corrupt and driven by special interest and not the people... But as I say that... I believe that the Politicians know what it takes to be a politician better than I... So Yeah to that... They know what it takes to get re-elected and what it takes to get re-elected is what frustrates me. CEO's... Yeah... They have to consider big picture stuff that we haven't even thought of. They would have to have a better understanding of what it takes to run a major company than I. Policemen... Most yeah... I don't get shot at doing my job. Bankers... ? The point you are trying to make... I assume... Is that there are people that are bad at their jobs. I agree... If you have 30 GM's... Someone is probably the worst of the bunch. Are we saying Terry Ryan is on the bottom rung? I think he did a good job his first go round. He started his 2nd go round in a hole. I think it's too soon to assess his 2nd go round. I'm willing to let him do his job.

To me... It's not about that at all... It's about letting the guy do his job. I have personally disagreed with all GM's on individual moves many many times. I also notice that the posters on this site provide a wide variety of individual opinion on every subject and very rarely do we see a uniform opinion on any topics brought up. So... I believe the odds of any GM being in lock step with everyone is pretty small and because of the impossibility of being in lock step with everyone... I believe the GM gets attacked unfairly. I think Terry Ryan did a great job his first go round and am willing to see what happens in the 2nd go round. I believe that the Twins have many employees beyond Terry Ryan... All of these employees have a full time job to make assessments and recommendations and they have information and direct contact that we don't have. None of us are employed full time to make assessments and recommendations. We do it as a hobby. I will tend to side with those who do it for a living. It's about letting Terry Ryan and his staff do their jobs.

Yes it does in the anonymity of the stands... It's ok tho... because he probably didn't understand your Canada accent but Morneau was laughing his ass off.

Not at all... It isn't just Twins... It isn't just baseball... It isn't just sports... and it isn't just famous people. Internet chat can get quite nasty. I'm doubtful that very few would say these same words to Nick Blackburn face to face. Anonymity brings out a whole different animal in people. I see it so much online that I've stopped recogonizing from time to time when it happens. It's so commonplace that I'm becoming numb to it. Am I counting on Nick Blackburn this year... nope... Do I want to see him do well... Yep. If he takes the mound for us... I'll be saying to myself... "C'mon Blackie... Keep the ball down and you'll do fine".

I'll take it from another angle... I like the entire 25 man roster to be used... I'd like to see players take a break just to get the other players in. The bench players will be needed at some time and they need some game action to prepare. What happened to Parmelee last year wasn't good. I'm on Gardy's side but I think he made a mistake with how he handled Parmelee last year.

To add to Seth and Cdog's sentiment... It may not matter to some... However... A majority of players probably read the comments posted on this site. They have access to the internet like the rest of us and most people will gravitate to places that are talking about them. Baseball players are just like us... They breathe air and bleed blood just the same. If you knew that Nick Blackburn was reading these words... Would it alter what you type. For some... obviously no... But it should be yes. Each player isn't a collection of stats without human qualities.

There's a lot of hurdles to clear... No doubt about it... As for not many Cities willing... I think quite a few would step up to the plate in some form or fashion but all it takes is one. When you have one... it can be taken for granted... When you don't have one... You have one way to get one... Intice someone to move. Contraction... was a joke... Desperation for leverage in my opinion. Moving that would be hard... but it would have happened over time. Money makes the world go around.

I do agree... The equity they have built up would be tough to throw away. It's also very difficult to move a team politically inside MLB itself because the entire country has already been divided up. If the Twins wanted to move to Portland... Well... the Portland market has already been claimed by Seattle. The Mariners won't allow it unless Selig steps in and says to the Mariners that it's going to happen. The Owners would most likely band together to support Seattle in that case because they don't want the Royals moving into their territory. As for being comparable to Tampa Bay and Miami... I wouldn't use the DMA Rankings as a guide. It will give you a false impression... That's the Designated Market Area. You have to factor in all the other markets as well. Atlanta, St. Louis and Seattle are regional teams for example. Every team has additional markets to add to the purse. Markets like Orlando... Memphis, Nashville, Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham... Sacremento... Buffalo... Columbus... The Twins have Fargo and Rochester and this is why the Twins are considered a small market team. The actual DMA doesn't provide an accurate picture. Tampa Bay is a low level team mostly because of the stadium and fan support. The Twins had a crappy deal with the dome and very little extra revenue to show for it. If Memphis came a calling with a new stadium and MLB said OK... We will smooth it over with the Cardinals and Braves... Market Size wouldn't have stopped them. The Tennesee Twins could have had Memphis and Nashville together which equal the Twins Cities, plus the rest of Tennesee. Knoxville is bigger than Fargo. All in all... It's complicated. I believe the Stadium was necessary for retaining the team for the long run. Eventually... They would have left. It just may have taken awhile.

And... If Minnesota doesn't do it... Memphis or Las Vegas will. Not to mention... The Economic impact... Now it's debatable if a "NEW" stadium augmented the revenue for city significantly in comparison to what the dome brought in... However it's pretty clear that the loss of the Minnesota Twins to Las Vegas would have taken dollars out of the community. I've seen estimates of around 100 million per year. Not sure of the accuracy of those estimates but I think we can assume that baseball is a good thing economically.

Thats what I want to see. A guy giving his all to stay in the game. I'll be behind that guy every time. I hope he cements himself a career... This is his window and it could be a short window. These players go thru a lot just to have a chance like this.

I'm actually kinda mortified... I sincerly apologize... I hope you understand that the last thing I wanted to be was offensive. I was just participating in the discussion and trying to rationalize why so many people sound like Torii. I just believe that understanding where people come from is important and was trying to express that. I do not want to be perceived as offensive or a bigot and regret whole heartedly if I came across that way. I hope that you, Psuedosabr or anyone else that may have been offended accepts my apology. That is honestly where "I" come from. I honestly had no idea that my words could be taken that way. I really thought it was just a discussion... I apologize.

As a member of the Half Full Club... Also a member of the See No Evil club... I've got the badges and I wear them on my sleeve proudly. I have a hard time trying to condense my reasoning for why I'm in these clubs. Actually I have a hard time condensing directions to the bathroom that's right around the corner. I guess the best way to condense my thoughts is this way: None of us have walked a mile in Terry Ryan's shoes. We don't know what he has planned long range. We don't know what offers he has made... What conversations he has had. We don't know what's on the big board in his office and I choose to trust. TR's first go round was successful and I don't expect results in his second go round with a snap of his fingers. I'm trying to exercise patience. Personally... I really want one of the upper level FA Pitchers and Marcum was the bottom of that tier and he's all that is left to hope for. I'm prepared for the seemingly obvious that I won't get Marcum on my team but I refuse to throw rocks because I don't know why. Is there a medical reason? The price just doesn't make sense? Is this just the wrong year for a large contract? Is every year the wrong year for a large contract? Maybe TR doesn't like him? Gardy?... Maybe Marcum has said... No Way I will consider the Twins? I don't know... I simply won't throw rocks until someone from the inside says here is why? I continue to assume that TR is working on improving the team and I assume that he hasn't really showed any of us exactly what it is. I can't remember if I've used the phrase. "Don't spend to just spend"... However... I do know that I don't care what the payroll comes in at. I trust that a plan is in place and that plan is in motion and if that means Kevin Correia... It means Kevin Correia. I'll watch him and hope he spots a couple of fastballs. Here's to the Twins!!! Will any of you clink glasses?

The Trade was Terrible... No Doubt about it... Sometimes you're the Louisville Slugger and Sometimes you're the ball... Sometimes it all comes together. Bill Smith has been removed from the OM position.

I would have used the Cleveland Indians for the Joke but it was just a joke. Even I... Put my Half Full Glass down and laughed at it. Please... let humor... even if it's humor that misses the mark... remain.

I have only seen the Documentary "Pelotero" and some occasional video clips of him going yard. I rely on "you guys" who have actually seen him for my opinion on his defensive ability. Having never watched him... The picture being painted isn't rosy... but one thing tells me to stick with him at 3B. He was originally a SS from the Dominican Republic. I'm not trying to stereotype at all but a SS in the Dominican Republic tends to have some skill. It's a SS factory down there. I'm sure the academy diamond that he played on was fairly well groomed but the majority of fields in the DR are very poorly cared for. The DR shortstop has to learn to handle all kinds of unique hops because of the conditions they play on. This suggests to me that Sano should be able to master 3B. Of course... I have no idea on this particulur individual. Just a blind comment on an assumed general thought. The individual will trump that every time.

Personally... I have a hard time being concerned about it... I look at Pete Rose... If he's not in... Obviously precedent has been set for inclusion. Like a diver in the Olympics. The Russian Judge has a different score than what the Swiss Judge has. To me... Fame means Fame... Good or Bad... but since a precedent has been set... Here's a solution that isn't serious at all. Create a basement section of the hall in Cooperstown. Call it Hall of Fame "Hell" or "Damnation" or something of the like... Decend the stairs or take the elevator into the bowels of Cooperstown... Be greeted by flames on the basement walls. Thermostat turned up to 100 plus degrees... Blood curdling sound effects piped in. In that environment... You can put Shoeless Joe... Pete Rose... Barry Bonds... Roger Clemens... Mark McGwire and (pause) Calvin Griffith.

It all hinges on improved pitching. With improved pitching the door can swing open and we will find out if we have some gamers on this roster. If the pitching improves to near average and we still struggle to win. We will know that we need different position players. It's hard to make that determination until the pitchers do better.

I don't believe it's Black and White. Very little in life is simply black and white. Grey area has to be considered. The Scouting department is not made of robots... They are not all eyes and gut. I don't believe that they steadfastly refuse to consider any metric analysis and simply toss aside the potential tools. I'm sure they do some of their own stats work to compliment what they do. It doesn't have to come from Goin and the intern. They will want to use every tool they can to make the right calls and recommendations. Eventually they will be replaced if the guys they recommend keep failing. I guess... I don't believe any organization should be all eyes and gut... nor should any organization be all Metric analysis. With that said... The department seems too small based on my impression from the article. Tons of Baseball being played... Tons of players and Tons of data to collect and sift through.

LOL... Jokin... You know that we "Speak No Evil Guys" are necessary right? Kinda like Batman to the Joker... A Ying to the Yang... If all this board had was doom and gloomers... The Core of this board would collapse on itself from the weight of gravity and explode like a Supernova leaving a black hole.

I agree with North... I think the Twins (like every other club) will say. We are looking at our options and we will go with the best of the 3... They Are Mastro, Hicks and Benson. I think the Twins (like every other club) will say publicly that whoever wins the job of the 3 will be starting game one. However, like every other club... They only kinda mean it. For Hicks to win the starting job he would have to look like Heyward looked. Hicks would have to be at least a foot more talented than Mastro and show it like Heyward did with Atlanta. If everything they say about Hicks is true. Hicks would have to already look like the best of the 3 but I think unless Hicks performs better by a country mile over Mastro. He will be sent to Rochester like almost every other prospect in baseball and wait for the Arb Clock. I'd be disapointed if they didn't do that. I don't want to see Hicks gaining a year of service of time for the difference of a 50 OPS points. As for Benson... In my opinion... He's gotta do something to erase 2012 first. Having his potential is one thing (everyone says he has tools coming out the wazoo) but the numbers he put up last year in AAA and AA are another thing and they have to be erased by decent numbers at AAA in 2013 first. If Benson comes up with the big club and continues with the production he had last year at the MLB level. He will start his career in a big hole and eventually he will be gone. For anyone who is a Benson Fan and I'm a Benson Fan. You should hope that he reports to the minors and starts his turn around. It's gotta be Mastro unless Hicks goes completely off the charts good in ST ala Heyward... Hicks and Benson start in the minors. I agree with Shane... I don't think they will sign a Nyjer Morgan type to back up but who knows... The CF backup will have to come from within. Wilken or Boggs... Ok... I've only seen a little of Boggs. Shane, Seth, Thrylos, Crikket and Rosterman are posters who I think have real good grasps on our options from the farm. I'll certainly take their thoughts on the subject.

I want Marcum... My fingers are crossed... If we don't get him... I'll begin to have reservations over the success of the off season. I'm gonna keep those reservations at bay until Marcum signs with someone.