Riverbrian

Based on his numbers.. In my opinion... Vargas hasn't lost a job and he hasn't earned a job. I'm not sure that he has ever been seriously been considered for the job though. Don't get me wrong... I believe he got some chances last year and I do believe that Vargas didn't grab it with both hands so that is on Kennys... but let's not come to the conclusion that his numbers were brutal and let's not come to the conclusion that 241 AB's is serious due diligence either. I keep going back to July 2016 and I'm still pissed about it. Kennys was called up July 4th as Trevor Plouffe was placed on the DL. During July with an every day job (65 AB's). Kennys was on fire with an OPS of 1.056. August 2nd he lost his starting job and was eventually sent down in favor of Trevor Plouffe. The Twins benched him when he was as hot during a lost season. That will cool a guy off. That was a big mis-treatment of a guy trying to make it. I like Vargas and I like the Morrison signing because we picked up a guy who hit 38 dingers last year and it didn't cost a lot. But... Let's be clear... Morrison broke out last year at age 29. Take last year out of his career stats and look at what Morrison was... it can be successfully argued that Vargas has better stats. Hey... A break out can be a continued break out and I'm excited about that possibility... it doesn't have to be a one year blip. I'm happy we signed Morrison but I'm uncomfortable that it could cost us Vargas. Who I still think is 40 Home Run Plus Capable. I'd like Molitor to also use Morrison in the OF from time to time so Vargas can sensibly stay on the Roster. Although... I really doubt that would happen so it is what it is. We got a guy who can hit it out and a guy who the Twins will without a doubt play. Playing time is the for sure upgrade of Morrison from Vargas. The rest is kind of a wash.

I think Lynn or Cobb would have to fall into our lap with a significant price drop. Nothing to base that thinking on other than... we did add to our payroll with the additions of Odorizzi and LoMo. All in All.. It wasn't Darvish but I could see the clear effort the front office put toward the product on the field and I'm going to be OK because the sun will rise tomorrow.

I agree with you. I'm just for adding the assets period. Lefty or Righty... is the lesser consideration. I'd prefer a Righty but they just added a 38 home run guy (career year or not) for a very reasonable contract. Morrison may have been the equivalent of an impulse buy. Look at this 65 inch TV for 90% off. May have just been browsing. It doesn't matter... it's great value and they should gather assets where they may. I would have liked Gomez... Can play CF or any OF spot very well... Speed and Power. But... I didn't think it was going to happen. I assume there was a reason that Gomez was traded in the first place.

I'm for improving this team in any way possible. I'm for gathering assets any way possible. I'm happy with the signing because LoMo can help us win games. Many people forget that LoMo has also played 254 career games in the outfield. I have always wanted 25 guys who can play and roster flexibility so everyone can actually play by moving some people around from time to time to accommodate. I assume he isn't Byron Buxton in the OF but I also assume that he can play some OF so Sano can DH and Escobar can play 3B on occasion or if necessary. LoMo playing some OF doesn't mean that Kepler gets splinters if the manager gets it. A creative manager can rotate players around. We need power insurance because we don't know what is going to happen to Sano this year. I'm hoping LoMo can hit 40 dingers. I also don't believe it is necessary to cut Vargas to make room although that will probably happen. Because he can play a little OF... You could in theory cut Adrianaza or Grossman to make room although that probably won't happen.

Post of the Day!!! You are ready for the game threads.

The decline of the Panda could also be explained by the fact that he swung at everything and he got exploited more efficiently. I'm not saying anything definite. I'm just saying.

I personally do not know his work out habits... routines... diet... genetics or attitude. I personally will try to be a little careful making any assumptions about his work out habits... routines... diet... genetics or attitude.

Exactly The Twins didn't have a gun to their head. The only gun to their head was in the hand of the owner dictating that payroll has to be reduced. I think it is reasonable to assume that the Twins were not the only team that called the Rays about Odorizzi. They considered all the discussions and traded for the guy that their scouting department liked the best. That's how trades are supposed to work. No one got fleeced yet.

I'm with ya on this. However... it's a strange place for me to be. Before the off-season started I never dreamed the Twins would be in the hunt for a top end starter so I was hoping for complete focus on the bullpen and creativity with the rotation such as moving someone out of a bullpen role into the rotation like Minor. Now that Darvish was supposedly in play... My mindset has changed and now I can't shake the desire for a top end guy that will push the others down a notch. However... If they don't grab that top end guy... I will remained heartened by one thing. The Twins have quality depth and that hasn't been the case for quite a few years. We shouldn't have to throw a Cole DeVries or Scott Diamond type pitcher for 20 plus starts just to get through the season. I think this could be huge.

Welcome to Twinsdaily

Is it possible to absolutely love a trade while at the same time being underwhelmed by the level of improvement it brings your team? If so... that might be where I am.

What I remember when watching Odorizzi... Very quiet delivery... doesn't even look like he's trying. He was always more effective at the top of the zone. He'd throw some high cheese around 90 at the letters and batters couldn't seem to catch up with it. He's also got a nice little change that has a little drop at the end of it. Don't remember seeing many breaking pitches but I'll get a chance to watch him more. He's a good average MLB Pitcher that we didn't pay a ton for. Hat tipped to the front office. I still wanted Darvish tho

I'll wait for Plan B but It may be the only hope.

I really try to give the front office the benefit of the doubt. I'm trying not to assume that they drew a line in the sand with Darvish and lost him over a drawn line when you consider what it takes to land the player you want in Free Agency against competing teams. If the 5 Year 100+Million is true and that was indeed the formal offer. If I knew for sure (I don't) there was any indication that going to 6 years in January would have gotten the deal done... This is what I would say to Falvey and Lavine with all due respect: Moses and Jesus were playing golf. Moses steps up to the tee and drives the ball down the center of the fairway. Jesus is next and he takes a half swing and the ball slices into a pond. A fish then surfaces with the ball in his mouth... an eagle swoops down and grabs the fish in his talons... flies over the green and the ball falls out of the fish and lands in the cup for a hole in one. Jesus smiles at Moses and Moses says... Do you want to play golf or are you just going to screw around? So... Derek and Thad... Do you want to play golf or are you just going to screw around? Again... If... the reported numbers are correct... If a 6 year contract would have gotten the deal done... if they don't have an sensible executable plan B that is better than Anibal Sanchez and at least close to what Yu Darvish would potentially bring. That's would I would say. I get stared at a lot when I speak so I assume they would both stare at me as I'm ushered out of their office.

Yeah Understood... There are shades. I really didn't want to give the impression that it was above 17.4 or bust. I guess my point in a nutshell should have been this: Agents promise players results in order to convince them they should choose them over other agents who are also making result based promises. If you don't get the results? That agent has a current and future problem when it comes to the retention and acquisition of clients. If a player is advised to turn own the QO... It better turn out to be good advice.

And if the QO is 17.4 and possible that Lynn and Cobb turned it down expecting to be around that neighborhood. Darvish signing for 21M AAV seems rather bargain like.

Yes they have. Misreading the market is not rare... especially since it was complicated by the qualifying offer and the accompanying draft pick. And every time it happens... the agent risks losing current and future clients because they are not supposed to misread the market... ever. If a player turns down a QO... They are probably expecting higher AAV. Agents will try to show they gave good advice and hold out for it and as Darvish and others fall off the board and less similar options are available to clubs... they might get it.

Turns out they saw the clip and it slowed the process down. And coincidentally... I got a couple of speeding tickets and a jaywalking in the weeks to follow. I'm sure they were all unrelated... The Jaywalking charge occurred in a restaurant parking lot.

They turned down 17.4 QO. I realize that is only a one year QO but I'm guessing they will want the AAV to be above that or else they got bad advice from the agent.

I had to go to the post office one day. Sometime in March 2015. On the sidewalk outside the front door was a Camera on a tri-pod and a reporter for WDAZ Channel 8 News. As I randomly walked past... I was asked if I was willing to answer a couple of questions for the camera. I didn't want to, I didn't really have the time but agreed... My fault. The reporter was gathering public opinion on a high speed car chase that ended with the suspect getting shot by a University of North Dakota Police Officer. The reporter asked me "Could the actions of the police officer be considered excessive?" and then he put the microphone in my face. I replied: "Someone was shot... that is fairly excessive but police officers will continue to get my benefit of the doubt. It's a real hard and dangerous job. I don't know the circumstances other than it was high speed chase over a couple of counties and that means we have someone who was at the very least an extreme danger to the public over multiple counties and failed to follow the simple instruction that everyone clearly understands... pull over when prompted by the flashing light. I'll give the officer the benefit of the doubt and let his superiors handle it. That was it... I went into the post office and carried on with my day. Shortly after 6:00... I wasn't watching the news but my wife was. I heard her go "OH MY GOD ARE YOU SERIOUS". I walked into the living room to find out why she said that rather loudly. She said: "You defended that guy in the car chase?" Which of course triggered a lot of explaining on my part... from being absolutely clear that I wasn't defending the guy to being absolutely clear that I was defending our law enforcement officials to having to explain what I was doing at the post office. While explaining all of this to my wife... my phone starts going off... I'm getting texts from friends going... WTF? FB Messages suggesting I should wear the uniform for one day. My mother in law called immediately to say I looked nice. I asked my wife to rewind it. I didn't care enough to watch the news as it happened but I was real curious now. The reporter (loosest definition of reporter possible) was trying to force a narrative that the town was divided over the issue. All he used from my entire opinion was: "Someone was shot... that is fairly excessive". He was kind enough to lead into my out of context soundbite with "Some residents are adamant that the police officer had gone too far". In about a second's time... 24 frames? I was placed on the unpopular side of an opinion that wasn't mine... the randomly accidental representative of a criminal and all I wanted to do was apply for a passport. For about a month after that... I would occasionally run into an acquaintance who would say in passing "Saw you on the News". Anyway... the reason I typed all of that. I agree with almost everything you are saying on Darvish and I think you are absolutely right ... BUT... I don't believe we know what was offered or what parameters were discussed. The days of Edward R. Murrow are gone. Commonality in Reporting means nothing. Commonality is an echo. The press are easily manipulated. The audience is easily swayed by emotion. Emotion increases ratings... ratings increases revenue. Rinse and Repeat until facts no longer matter. I'm watching CNN right now and they had a nice long segment on the hero Florida football coach who was killed followed by a long segment on Karen McDougal and I get it because America's Top Model and CNN are coming out of the same Time Warner tap. Long way to go to say... don't trust what you are reading. I personally will never hang the front office over anything reported. I'm simply hanging them because Darvish will be pitching for the Cubs.

Player to be named later?

I'm glad you have optimism because I used to have it and I'm glad its in good hands. . I'm in the "Had" category right now but I realize there is time for the front office to recover. If they couldn't go a 6th year on Darvish... I don't think they go a 4th year on Lynn or Cobb. Someone else will

The Twins are not going to sign 3 or 4 contracts like this. Slegers moved up to the 4th spot after the Santana injury. I'm calling it right now. Sanchez will be on the roster come opening day.

It seemed like whenever Anibal would face us. He would hang a few zeros and then BOOM... he'd hang a crooked number. It seemed like he couldn't get through the order a 2nd time.

They can't go from Darvish to Tillman without repercussion. They would have been better off not even mentioning the name Yu Darvish.