Riverbrian

I'd have to imagine that almost anyone is still available for the right trade. When it comes to Revere... I'm the opposite of the Greatest Poster Alive. I'm a big fan of his style of play and think he has tremendous value. However, I would still trade him if the team improved pitching in the process. As for his Value. I don't know what that value is but his speed and outfield defense is near major league best. Top of the Class in anything has value. If you got one of the fastest guys period... Keep him... and if you move him... Get something good for him.

Mauer saw the lowest percentage of 4-seam fastballs in his career this past season. If you combine 4 and 2-seam it was the same as the previous two seasons. Snepp... I hate it when you use actual facts to bring down my well thought out and plausible theories. That kind of stuff may work in South Dakota but up here in North Dakota... We are all about the theory. I'm going with... That Mauer never saw a fastball when Revere was not on base... And Always saw a fastball when he was on base. Yeah... That's it... I'm going with that.

Where is Seth? I want to read what Seth has to say about this trade! I'm happy... I like what I've read... Hopefully I'll be happy with what I eventually see. Was hoping for an arm that we would see this year and maybe we will. He came out of College so he was 22 in his first year of pro ball. If you consider that there isn't much competition between him and the majors in our system... He could move thru AA/AAA fairly quick... Even for the Twins. It all depends on that Fastball/Slider Combo of his. If he hangs some zero's and produces some K's. What would prevent him from moving up by the end of the year? I'm happy but I'll wait to hear what Seth says.

I agree with you completely... Personally... Whatever the order is... It is... But Revere needs to hit in front of Mauer. If that's Revere in the 9 and Mauer in the 1... That's OK with me... Or Revere in the #2 and Mauer in the #3. Or #1 and #2. Don't break these guys up. Keep Revere in front of Mauer because he was a clear distraction for pitchers and a fastball producer for Mauer.

I was car shopping this week... I was amazed how many different cars are selling like hotcakes. I really really liked the new Dodge Dart and the sales guy says that those babies are humming. The entire town has come in to check them out... I can believe it... The Dart was damn nice but... I'd be looking at an Impreza and the sales guy says he can't keep them in stock. I'd be looking at a Civic and yep the sales guy says they are flying out the door. Focus... Fiesta... Fusion... Impala... Accord... Jetta... Scion... all of them... In demand... Moving... Big time interest. The Auto industry must be doing real well or these sales guys are less than honest and may be imbellishing the market a bit. I could be looking at an AMC Pacer and the sales guy would tell me that he's had 5 people look at it this week. The AMC Pacer Sales guy is the same guy who represents Pavano.

Personally... I don't want Liriano... I recognize his stuff and Do think its possible that he puts it together somewhere... Just not in Minnesota. The conclusion I have drawn from watching him is... Hole digger!!! Too many holes personally dug by him for the team to climb out of. I'd rather have the guy who gives up a run or two to often than the guy who gives up 5 in an inning to often. To contradict myself in the same post... I don't have a problem signing the guy for real low money because we need to acquire arms and lots of them... but we gotta have a clear exit strategy should he implode again. IE... He is cut or into the bullpen within a month of failure... and to contradict myself again... We need to take a chance or two on guys like Liriano... I'd rather take that chance on Hochever because at least he will be a fresh face struggling.

Terry wants 10 dollars... Frank offers 6 dollars... The blue book probably says 8. Span is a Banana... Upton is a peach. Atlanta still wants a Banana because you don't want a peach that hasn't hit above .250 the last 4 seasons hitting leadoff. Frank is offering 6 dollars because there are other Bananas around but Span is one of the top leadoff Bananas available. Terry is asking for 10 because he wants 10 and other have expressed interest in his Banana. Terry will either keep his Banana or trade him for 8 dollars or maybe get the full 10 dollars. I doubt that Terry will trade for 6 dollars because the Banana market will fluctuate.

The Braves don't have to be out of the running with the signing of Upton. They still have an OF need and value is still value. Does it knock down the need for an OF'er? Yes but Span would still be a nice leadoff hitter fit for the Braves... Upton is not a leadoff guy. The other side of the coin obviously. It takes one option off the table for all the other teams that could use a CF. Yes... I'd like some of that Atlanta pitching but as names come off the board... Theoretically... Spans value should increase. Theoretically means nothing because I'm making these theories from North Dakota.

I realize that Plouffe isn't the greatest contact guy. He chases way too much.... Poor discipline and that's correctable. It's often not corrected but correctable. However, his power is legit. 24 dingers last year in 422 at bats. That's a 30 homer guy with a full season of at bats. And you can say the same thing about 2011 between AAA and the majors. Yes... He has room to improve but is this really the guy to worry about right now? I'd say no. As for the hot streak... That streak was freeky... However... I keep reading posts that he was lucky... Almost like the posters are using the streak against him. Luck is certainly a factor but let's not use the streak against him. Anybody who can get that hot is worth trotting out there in case he does it again. Turn your attention to pitching..,. Provide competition for everyone... Mauer... Revere... Plouffe... Everyone... But to list Plouffe as an immediate concern is crazy... Pitching please... Please... Please...

Cue the Counting Crows... It'll be "A long December" (if everyone goes nuts and throws tomatoes at Terry Ryan every time a player signs with another team) "And there's reason to believe... Maybe this year will be better than the last" (it has to get better...TR has said he's focused on pitching) "I can't remember the last thing that you said" (I can't remember **** these days).

Parm had a great year in AAA. Myers was better in Fayetteville and Omaha. Does the difference matter... I don't know. I'd assume it does. The 3 years difference in age would be huge in my opinion. Personally... I think the Twins would move Parmelee for the right offer and they will be happy to keep him for the wrong offer. Perceptually Parm and Myers seem to be in different places. I don't know if Parmelee will be enough to bring Lester or Shields into the conversation. If you have to add an OFer to the package. Who becomes the primary? Parmelee or Arcia? Parmelee or Benson?

He probably won't amount to much but then again... He might. Nothing wrong with running him up the flagpole. He's got power... A little contact added to that and maybe it pays off. If he is in the way of anyone... I'm not sure who that is.

No problem here with Myers providing we land someone better in addition.

None of these guys have been non-tendered yet. It was just a partial list of potentials. We'll know by 12/1 Hopefully... We could use a couple of them. Worth rolling the dice on.

There are a lot of people on this list that interest me. Braden has his moments... Left Handed... We certainly have room for him in our rotation. Hochevar is worth a shot... The guy was supposed to be a superstar at one time. We have a rotation that has room to see if has anything... If there is anything there at all. Jurrjens... Of Course... He has had more than moments... He's had stretches of productivity. I hope TR is on the phone with his people right now. Lannen... Has been OK... Nothing exciting but we have room for an OK yet nothing exciting pitcher. Pelfrey... Is also worth a shot... Because we don't have anyone better. I'm not talking 10 year deals for these guys... I'm talking about giving them a run in 2013 and seeing if they are worth it for 2014. Sean Rodriquez?... I haven't seen him on any lists. Did the Rays actually give him up... If the Rays gave him up... We should be making a call to check on him for sure. No he's not Robinson Cano but he can play multiple positions... He has speed and Power... We don't have better options in the MI right now. Is Rodriquez actually out there? If he is... Yeah... I'd be interested.

Burton Cummings? Nikola Tesla? Louie Anderson? Are any of those 3 correct?

I will give Mr. Ryan his due. He is the biggest con man since P.T. Barnum!!! He is quoted last spring as saying he expected the twins to compete for the central division title. Now as for those incredible central division titles that we did win , remember how strong and mighty our division was. The twins would have been in last place in the eastern division.!! That makes Mr. Ryan a genious? Look at the studs he brought in last year. Jason Marquis. He sure put the fear in opposing batters. A part timer in Doumit? A shortstop who was ready for the baseball nursing home in Carrol? He did get some power from Willingham, but look at his batting average. Pitching and defense win championships!!! Where are they? We had the highest era in the al. we were tied for last in home runs in the al. We had a below average team batting average in the al. I almost forgot about our Japanese star,but then his performance was quite forgetable. Do I need to go on any further about Mr. Ryans genius? The worst Generation is something I've been hearing. I'm not sure what to think when I hear "Worst Generation" because I am part of it. As a Generation X'er.. i am right in the middle of it. Is the worst Generation... the Baby Boomer? X? Y? Right now we all go hand in hand. There are individuals that I know who can make me shrug the comment off and say nothing wrong with this generation Y or X at all. Im an optimist.. I believe in people. Just when I feel all optimistic about our Generation... The Twin Towers come down and instead of bringing us together it actually divides us as the majority of our attention is turned toward a different part of the world with more oil. We live through a time where everyone is entitled to a house I guess and everyone gets a house I guess. Not only does everyone get a house but with sheer greed added to it all... Profit was made on those sub prime mortgages down the line as Investment Agencies not only sold that debt to buyers two three times over... They also paid credit rating agencies to take the sub out of sub prime and the credit rating agencies did the deed and took the money. These Investment Agencies whose greed brought the world to the Financial edge... where it still sits today... were punished severely by being forced to take billions of our tax dollars. Our politicians are just as guilty in the financial mess because they live in the pocket of the investment banks. Our Politicians are severely punished by the incumbent re-election rate dropping from 94 to 85 percent. While deciding what to do about it... Very few decisions are made because it appears that all Parties have put Party in front of Country and the filibuster has increased from rare to common. You don't even have to stand for hours and hours anymore reading a phone book from cover to cover. The entitled Generation is entitled to an easy and even less effective filibuster!!! Filibuster reform will just be filibustered. Meanwhile... The guitar solo is gone from music and reality TV is making those Neilson Boxes ring and I'm complaining because my cell phone isn't downloading fast enough. I start to pull myself out of this negative "kids these days" "worst generation" thinking. All Generations have problems... Brokaws Greatest Generation was born out of necessity because things got really bad with a depression and Hitler. Maybe Generation Y will be a great generation out of Necessity as well... Maybe Generation X... because things are getting bad again. You won't know until Generation Y gets a turn at power and a chance to lead. Yeah.. That's right... I'm optimistic again... We've been in a hole before... We can get out of holes again... Then I read the post from trader t... WE ARE the WORST GENERATION!!!

I know some people will throw up on me for this suggestion. I'd like to see the Twins sign Jake Fox to a minor league deal and hope he still has a little pop in his bat. He can play third and he can play catcher and OF. Low BA but he can jack one and he would give the team a late inning RH bat off the bench if we need a dinger and be that emergency third catcher. If it doesn't work out... Release him like everyone else has. If not Jake Fox... Someone like him... Power... can play 3B and catch if need be. Im sure there is a reason he's been released multiple times but power like he has could be helpful. I can't think of anyone else who fits that description. That Pacheco kid from Colorado can play 3B and C but he doesn't have much power. I know I'm stretching a bit here.

This is exactly my thinking. I will view the off season a success if they go out and roll the dice on the guy they want and get him. Over pay or over year. Just one guy to a long term contract. Spmeone who can help this year and possibly be around when Sano and Buxton arrive(and by arrive... I mean arrive as the superstars we want them to be). Trade for a prospect pitcher as well... If god willing a team will trade us one... Grab a rule 5 since we have some rotation space to keep hold and audition. Next year... Do it again... If needed... and it will probably be needed... A Free agent and a prospect. We can compete this year and improve the farm at the same time. I'm hoping Terry Ryan is thinking the same.

I agree... Too many threads on this subject... Therefore... I choose to only participate in one and that is the thread started by Crikket. Damn it... I just posted on this thread to explain myself... Which means I've just participated in a 2nd thread on the same subject. It's really hard to stay with your convictions!!! I disapoint myself. .

Fair enough... and I'll dial back my indignation level if/when Terry Ryan makes some moves that indicate he's not still wearing the handcuffs ownership placed on him during his first tour as GM. In the end, hopefully, we'll both be happy. Look at how hard you had to work to get your point across on this topic. You had to explain yourself quite a few times for clarification. It just goes that way with words and I'm sure you understand that the words Terry Ryan and Jim Pohlad use are just as easily misunderstood and not nearly enough in volume to properly explain. In the end... You may be right... But you are not right yet. Good Luck to us Twins Fans this winter. There are some posters on Twins Daily that impress me... and of course... some that don't... You are always one of those who impress me. I just don't agree with your sentiment on this one. Keep making points and I'll read them. By the Way... Alice's Restaurant is big Tomorrow. Have a good Thanksgiving. You can get anything you want!!!

The decision making process when it comes to putting together a roster is a complicated thing and it can't be condensed to a paragraph. I will read quotes and I will filter them and I'm sure that I am filtering them wrong because putting together a roster is a complicated thing and it can't be condensed to a paragraph. Bottom Line for me... I don't expect the Twins to spend like the Yankees but I'm satisfied that they are spending when and where it makes sense so far. Mauer's contract is big and it brings the payroll upward... no question about that... but Mauer's contract shows a willingness to spend and it can't be discounted and used as proof that they don't spend. Going into 2012... Thinking the pitching staff was OK... was a mistake. I've made them before at my job and so has every other GM. However... Free Agents were signed... The Team was addressed. I'm hopeful that the Front Office makes good decisions but I am not giving them a free pass. I'm giving them the off-season to move in a direction of their choosing. Either acquiring decent pitching for a competitive 2013 or ditching some salary to rebuild the farm system for a run at a later time. If Spring Training rolls around and the Twins haven't made a significant upgrade on the mound or a significant upgrade to the farm. I will then join the crowd of the front office concerned because my biggest fear is status quo. If 2013 moves past the trade deadline and neither the mound or farm is upgraded. I will then join the throngs that call for Terry Ryan's head. Ultimately the Farm has to be rebuilt because that's the key to long term success. Free Agents are for need fill. This year we have huge needs to fill in Starting Pitching. We have no choice but to sign decent Free Agent pitching cuz the Farm isn't ready to produce. Once again... If we don't start the process of filling in the rotation... We better start working on the farm or this period of suckiness will be prolonged. I'm waiting until February at least before raising my indignation level.

Jim... If you are saying the Twins don't spend money. You are complaining pre maturely... If you are saying the Twins don't spend money wisely... We are in last place... You are correct. As for the quotes you use. You are being selective. Terry Ryan says "payroll won't hinder him from acquiring the Starting Pitching". You can interpret that as "I will find Pitchers at K Mart" or you can interpret that as "we have plenty of money to spend on the problem". I think the word fluid means up or down and I think Pohlads quote is also saying fluid... Up or down. Personally... I don't want to hang a guy for his words... It leads to less words and the answers are not easy to condense. I prefer to hang him after his actions warrant it. Top Ten payroll does not warrant the cheapskate tage. So... You just hung him for words. As for the "fooling ourselves that money is the answer" quote. In the end... It isn't... And the proof is all around you but the answer is much more complicated than to simply state... "Quit fooling ourselves that money is the answer".

If the Winter concludes and the Pitchers report and Twins pitching isn't significantly addressed. I will then be disappointed. Until then... I'm on their side.

Of course money matters. The option to spend and acquire Pujols matters... Of course it does. But what do you do when Pujols can't deliver a title by himself? Cuz he can't. The Twins problem going into 2013 has nothing to do with payroll. Another 4 million spent and the Twins are top Ten in payroll. I aint gonna complain about that. The talk on this thread leaves the impression that we are the Padres or A's. We made some bad decisions and we are going thru a bad harvest on the farm as a result. Real life farmers struggle when harvest sucks. No different for the Twins.