Riverbrian

I agree... Never say never... Who knows what the future brings. However... That hypothetical player will have to survive his high school coach who will look at him throwing left handed and hand him a 1st base mitt. If he survives the high school coach... He will have to survive his college coach who is laughing at the high school coach while handing him a 1st base mitt. If he survives the high school coach and the college coach... He will have to survive the MLB front office and all of the scouts and coaches employed by the organization that drafts him. And... If he survives High School, College and MLB and is still playing 3B at the professional level. He will have to survive the very talented other 3B in the organization who are right handed... Top of the line athletes who don't have to spin around completely just to make a throw on every ground ball hit to his right. Also knowing all of that... If I was that left handed third baseman. I would be begging my high school coach to be taken off of 3B and moved to 1B or OF... Because if you have the talent to be a major league player. The coaches will have seriously harmed his future by being irresponsible.

Parmelee puts his glove on the wrong hand for 3B. Not only would he have to play a position he has never played before. He would have to spin around and do a unique dance before making throws across the diamond. That's a tough thing to add to a guy who hasn't played the position before.

"Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic."

Nothing more than dumb luck. It won't happen again. lol... Yes it will... Not often... but... It will happen again.

Jinxed yourself.

The Frig is much too slow. You gotta put a frig at 1B.

lol... Yeah... We won a lot of division titles with those guys. Until Nishi came to town and wrecked everything.

Parmelee does his job. Well done

Blink of an eye... Ain't that the truth.

While Coaching I had my moments of thinking the umpire was an idiot. That all changed when I put the gear on... Grabbed a clicker and actually umped a game. It is hard.... I had no idea. Did the ball cross at the knees? The catcher will give a view and then shift as the pitch comes in and block your view. There is little sense for a catcher to try and frame. You can't see the glove anyway. Been umping a couple years now and it's still hard. I'm a lot more empathetic now. All coaches should try it sometime. Parents as well. With that said... Give the kid a break... He's looking for his first win.

I'm not sure if this is a pro or con statement about Juan Pierre. If it's Pro... I Agree... The Numbers look great to me. If it's Con. Not everyone can be Ryan Braun and besides Ryan Braun type players cost a lot of money. Very few teams can afford a lineup filled with Ryan Braun and Robinson Cano. The Big OPS Guys cost a lot of money. I believe a winning baseball team is a balanced team. You need Speed and You need Power... You need Pitching and Defense and the guy who can get a key hit or simply move runners over. You need to manufacture a run on occasion and you need a guy who can swat a three run homer every once in awhile. You need the Big Stars and lesser names hungry for recognition and a future. It's balance... It's all about not making outs on Offense and Making outs on Defense. Neglect one area and you will most likely struggle. I've seen teams that have loaded up on the Power Bats and Failed. Raise your hand if the Dombroski built 2008 Tigers scared ya a little. It didn't work and the Tigers were looking for balance the next year. Juan Pierre can play for my team. The Twins balance is off because of the Pitching and overall depth. We are gonna have to get some pitching. If it costs us some offense. So be it. We have to restore some balance.

If that is the case why is it that Ben has had huge slumps in back to back years? It's because it's not a sustainable way to get on base. You're right about making solid contact, but Ben doesn't consistently do that, contact yes, but not "solid". With a runner on second, You would take Ben because he has a higher BA? It's a .013 difference in BA this season and steadily declining. Denard has been a consistent hitter throughout his career and has a higher career BA with a much larger sample size. He is also more likely to get the ball out of the infield. As far as bunting, Denard is terrific at getting a bunt down when he needs to, either direction, although he's especially good at the drag bunt. I guess you don't remember those games this season where Ben popped up bunts late in the game where they needed to move a runner over, or maybe it's selective memory like the myth that Ben doesn't get picked off. I like both players, but I don't like the way people bash Denard. I'm just trying to point out his strengths, unfortunately I have to point out Ben's weaknesses. I have agreed from the beginning I would trade Denard first, but don't tell me there isn't currently a huge gap at the plate, cause the numbers and more importantly my eyes tell me otherwise. This obviously might change with Denard aging and hopefully Ben developing. All players slump and slump hard at times. For a variety of reasons. If they didn't... The .400 hitter would be a lot more normal. I just can't go along with the assertion that bloops and infield hits make you more prone to slumps. You can't say Ben slumps more than others. If Ben slumps harder than others... You would have to also say that he gets hotter than others as well because his average is higher than others. Nothing like a hot player. I contend his ability to leg one out is a plus during a slump stretch. Seems logical to me. To me it's not worth discussing who you want up with a runner on 2nd... Down by a run and two outs. I'm OK with both of them. I picked Ben over Denard by a hair and it was batting average based. Not just this year but throughout their careers. In that situation... I'll take the higher batting average. Even if it's slight... Ultimately... I want the guy who is hotter at that point in time. Some days it will be Ben and some days it will be Denard. Although the experience factor would give the edge to Span I suppose. If we are down by two... I'll take Span but I'm probably pinch hitting for both and trotting up Jack Cust. Bunts... The team doesn't do a lot of bunting. Is Span better? I have no idea... If the situation arises... I'd want all of them to get a bunt down. As for Ben popping up a bunt or two. Yeah... And he's gotten bunts down. I'd put down the branding iron. Not enough bunting happening to draw a complete picture. Personally... I don't like bunting unless you are dragging for a hit. Bunts are such a rare thing that it's barely a factor. I don't think it's necessary to bash either player. Span is a great hitter. So is Ben... Neither of them are blessed with power and both can run and both play great defense and neither have good arms. Denard is more valuable because he is experienced... Ben is more valuable because he is young. The reason to trade either of them is for Pitching. We need pitching... If Ben fetches a better pitcher than he's the guy to trade. I'm guessing Span has more value but I'm only guessing. If we don't get decent pitching in return..l see no reason to trade either of them. They are both fine players and we really don't know what we have on Arcia and Hicks yet. Bird in hand... Two in the Bush.

Pitching to Contact and Striking out hitters has nothing to do with each other. It's all about Pitch Counts. Keeping your starters in the game longer by reducing the number of pitches thrown if possible. Keeping your defense behind you awake. Keeping the game moving along. If you reduce the number of pitches... You cut down on the free passes naturally and your defense won't drift away on you. . Pitching to contact does not mean... Here you go... Have a cookie. It's a negative term in these parts recently because our pitching hasn't been very good. All Managers want the team back in the dugout ready to hit as quickly as possible.

When I was a kid I met Mark Belanger in the summer of 1969. His girlfriend (fiancee?) was the daughter of people my parents knew and they had Mark swing by my house one day after a ballgame. (I grew up in Richfield about 3 miles from Met Stadium.) He gave me a baseball with a bunch of autographs, including my fave player, Brooks Robinson, along with other players, Twins and Orioles. Later that year I went to the 1969 ALCS game at the Met. I caught a foul ball off the bat of Don Buford. The Twins got crushed, BTW. So I was pulling for the Orioles to beat the Mets in 1969 in the World Series. Where some saw incredible defensive plays by the Mets (Agee, Swoboda, etc.) I saw lucky catches. I saw Al Weis be a beast at the plate and bat double his career batting average. I saw Cleon Jones talk his way onto first base--the famous shoeshine on the baseball incident. In my view, the Mets weren't good, they were lucky. Fast forward to 1986. Game 6 of the World Series. I desperately want the Red Sox to beat the Mets and lift the curse. It's looking pretty good too with the Sox up 5-3 in the bottom of the 10th. But I'm sitting there thinking about how lucky the Mets were in 1969 and wondering how in the world they were going to wriggle out of it this time. We all know the story, culminated with Buckner's error. Then there was the swindle of the Twins known as the Johan Santana trade. So I don't like the Mets very much. Fair Enough... Seems like solid reasoning and a cool story to boot.

Doesn't this suggest he would be more effective leading off? No, because it's not a sustainable way to get on base. He'll always run into slumps which trickles down the line up. Also, there will be situations where the lead off hitter needs to come through with runners on. Let me ask, if it's the 9th inning 2 outs with a runner on second who would you rather see at the plate? Denard or Ben? Needing a bunt to move a runner over, who would you rather see at the plate? To lead off an inning in a 1 run game, who would you rather see at the plate? I can't think of situations where Denard isn't a more ideal hitter. As I mentioned I think they should trade Denard cause he has much more value but the slight difference between speed and defensive range does not make up the gap in ability at the plate. I like Revere, I'm rooting for him to be successful, but I have always thought he has the ceiling of Juan Pierre offensively and is a 4th OF on a winning team. I do agree that Aaron Hicks is the future, I love his upside. You got that backwards... The ability to get an infield hit keeps you out of slumps. Slumps come when you stop making solid contact for a stretch. The ability to beat out an infield hit keeps you somewhat productive through those times. The infield hit doesn't make you more prone to slumps... It is the exact opposite. Span is a better leadoff hitter because he does a better job working the count and drawing a walk. Revere is better in the two spot because when he reaches base he's a baserunning distraction for the pitcher which is a real benefit for Joe Mauer hitting after. Hitting leadoff is only guarenteed in the 1st inning. If Denard Span makes the last out in the 3rd inning... Ben Revere will be leading off in the 4th. Two outs runner on 2nd... I'll take Ben because he has a higher batting average and makes better contact. We don't need a double or walk in that situation. Needing a bunt to move a runner over.... I rarely see Denard Bunt. I'm not sure... I'd hope that Willingham can get a bunt down if it's that needed. Leading off an inning down a run in the ninth... I'd go with Span here but Revere doesn't scare me at all. The Gap at the plate isn't that large and the Gap in the Field isn't that large.

I think Kirby Puckett was a fantastic Apple and Joe Mauer is a Fantastic Orange. I predict that both of them will be in the Hall someday.

A. Of the players mentioned... Span... Revere... Hicks... Arcia... Only one has proven himself. That is Span. I got a good gut feeling about Arcia... My gut says he will be special but until he does it in the majors we can't really boot Span or Revere out... Hicks finally had a encouraging year.... I really hope that continues and he is a monster but he's hasn't proven anything yet... I'm hopeful... Revere has done a great job and he's a freeking ballplayer but he's young and needs to continue doing it... He has earned the right to keep doing it. Span is the only one that has proven anything. B. Saying Span has more power is like saying the 5-3 guy is taller than the 5-1 guy. Yeah he's taller but he ain't tall and a young 5-1 guy has the chance to grow to 5-3 or 5-6. You can't say it won't happen and you can't say it will. C. I keep reading this Juan Pierre Comp and it always seems to be phrased in a negative way. Why is it negative? What is wrong with Juan Pierre. 12 year career... 9 seasons of 600 AB's... .296 career average... 586 stolen bases. He was traded in 2005 for 3 pitchers including Ricky Nolasco and Renyel Pinto who was the Cubs Minor league pitcher of the year in 2004. He's been a starter almost his entire career. The only exception was his last two years with the Dodgers after they acquired Manny. If Ben Revere turns out to be a Juan Pierre. I'd be thrilled and if he does... Hicks and Arcia will have to do extremely well to take his spot. D. Ben is my favorite Twins player right now and I've always liked Span. I would still trade both of them for pitching. We need pitching.

Checking out isn't a good description. Im still fully engaged with my team and will be until the end of the season. However... I don't care about wins and losses anymore and haven't really since June. So I guess I checked out a little in June. What I care about is if they are playing well. The team can lose but if they play well in the loss... I'm ok with it and If they win and look bad in the process. I'm not Ok with that. Im watching the players now. The score only matters in the context of what needs to be done in the current situation and how the players handle it. Its all about the future for me and the Future is starting Right now.

How do you post video like this... Instead of a link to video.

Why the Mets at #1? Gotta be a story behind it.

First off... I gotta ask "every other year Alex Rios" Is that yours. Or is it something that had been already attached to him. It's brilliant!!! Seecondly... A pox on all of the White Sox. If I could... I would... but alas... I don't know how to inflict poxes of any kind. Heres my list of most hated Sports Teams. (Drum roll please) Dishonorable Mention: Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Manchester United, Man City, University of Michigan, Ohio State, University of Iowa, Denver U, St. Cloud St. and Minnesota Gophers Hockey Only...actually a fan in everything else. #5... Detroit Tigers #4... North Dakota State (pick a sport) #3... Green Bay Packers #2... New York Yankees #1... Chicago White Sox I gotta say that I really hate the Yankees. My hatred for the Yankees burns with the heat of a thousand suns and they are a distant second.

Throw the Fat Guy in the Fountain... That'll wake him up.

Agreed... I think the third catcher idea is goofy no matter how hard I try to sugar coat Butera. If I could take one thing out of Gardenhire's mind. Put that one thing in a locked box that can survive a nuclear explosion and than hand that thing in the locked box over to the captain of a freighter with instructions to drop that box exactly in the middle of the pacific ocean. It would be his goofy idea of needing a third catcher so catcher's one and two can DH. The Twins do indeed lack decent pinch hitting options and have all year long and the year before that. On the otherside... I only make my pro-Butera statements under the context created by Gardenhire. Butera on the roster allows Ben Revere to play. Under Gardenhire that does help this team. Under another manager it probably wouldn't be necessary.

Any consideration of the possibilty of Nerves with Vasquez. He seems like's overthrowing his fastball a bit but he has a nice change of pace. If he settles down and mixes things up. I can see him as effective. The nerves have to calm first.

I don't think anybody here is saying he is good in comparison to others who are on major league rosters. But as they say, even the person who graduates last in their class from medical school is still called Doctor. I'm also not sure what the point of posting this quote was in the first place. If it was to generate a discussion about how bad Drew is, then do we really have to start that discussion with picking apart a proud father's understandable statement? Exactly... It's a questionable way to make your point that Drew Butera is bad. From the perspective of a father. It would be hard to keep the pride from busting out. I thought his quote was very measured in consideration. Taking the father out of the conversation. Drew is on the squad because he can play defense and he isn't considered a prospect. He can spend time on the bench and serve that third catcher role. You don't have to worry about stagnating his future so much with bench time. He's an insurance policy that Gardy needs. Gardy isn't comfortable having Doumit or Mauer DH because it would compromise the DH position should one of the two get hurt during a game. Now personally, I don't believe that is necessary. Having a third catcher is crazy in my mind but Gardy has exactly 921 more wins as a MLB Manager than I do. (Although, I have less losses and I have more posts on Twins Daily). I'm not a Butera Fan... how can anybody be a fan really... But... I appreciate Butera in the context of this team under Gardenhire. Butera is the 25th guy on a 25 man roster. HIs presence on the roster gives Gardy the peace of mind to DH Doumit and Mauer and this keeps Doumit out of the OF for the most part and gives Ben Revere playing time and Ben has done well. Defense is improved and Doumit is in the lineup with Revere. So... It can be argued by me and I assume some others that Butera (despite his need for hitting improvement) actuallly helps this club. Isn't that what you want from a 25th guy on the roster... You don't expect him to be... THEE Guy... You simply hope his presence can help your ball club. And that doesn't even consider his defense skills, ability to call a game and work with the pitchers and the role (I assume) he plays in the film room and in the bullpen.