Riverbrian

Yeah Maybe... But to me... The Intensity looks like fun. Eric Hosmer appears to be having the time of his life right now. I guess... I have the opinion... that everybody is better off. The Players and the Fans.

It sure seems like it is

I think it is difficult to sustain over 162 games. There is another game tomorrow... Another at-bat coming right around the corner... There is another pitch to be thrown. It becomes routine. However... I openly question that if being difficult to sustain is a legit excuse. You buy a ticket to the game... That maybe the only game you attend that year. Doesn't the ticket buyer deserve something beyond the routine? If you want them to come back. The players are well compensated to provide it. I don't want to buy a ticket and watch anyone lay up on a sinking liner or coast in second base when a triple was entirely possible. Serve a routine hamburger and you may not sell another and the cooks have to make hamburgers everyday. I get the playoffs are a whole new level. If you lose in July there is another game to play tomorrow... you don't stop playing. In the playoffs... you lose... it's time to go golfing. I get the difference... I'm just openly questioning... During the regular season. Why can't the players perform with playoff intensity. The difference is noticeable.

I've mentioned this before but I think it's worth discussion. It's on the top of my mind while watching the playoffs. When you purchase a mid-season ticket to watch the Twins play baseball. The Fan is getting ripped off!!! They are not getting implied full value for the price of the ticket. This discussion should be focused on what we know (the Twins) but I don't believe it's just the Twins. This is something that happens in San Diego, Texas, Tampa Bay, everywhere during the regular season. What proof do I offer? Nothing but an easy to make observation while watching the playoffs. Take notice of the intensity of the players involved. Look at the celebrations... the fist pumps... the jumping up and down in the dugout. A 4th inning pitch with a 2-0 count matters and pitchers are taking deep breaths because they know it matters. Do you see anything like this while watching game 97 of the 162 game season? It's not all on the players... Obviously the Full House and the Fan intensity plays a major role in this playoff atmosphere. People are talking about the length of games being a problem in Baseball. I contend it's not the length of the game that's a problem. It's the intensity that lacks during the regular season. Nobody is caring if the Royals/Orioles game takes 3 hours and 20 minutes or 2 hours and 30 minutes. When you buy a ticket... Each Fan has the right to expect this type of intensity... no matter what Month you attend. Each fan should get their money's worth.

In my opinion... If Hicks is on the opening day roster. A viable safety net with talent will be required.

My hair is not being pulled at all. It's not combed very well but I'm not pulling it out over this. I love it. If I was the Manager... (Still waiting for the phone call from TR that's sure to come)... If I was the manager... I'm getting both in the lineup as much as possible with the current roster. Santana will play CF and SS. Escobar will play all infield positions... Playing 3B when Plouffe plays some OF or needs a seat on the bench. Schafer is my backup OF and will play CF when Santana plays SS unless another CF is brought in. I'm asking TR for a trade or FA acquisition of a LF who can also man CF and whoever this player is... He's my only request outside of Pitching. Escobar and Santana can co-exist on this roster... Get playing time and compete for playing time. We only get into trouble when you lock in and say Santana is only a CF and Escobar is only a SS. It's a good problem... A problem all teams should strive for. It will only get better when Hicks arrives to stay. Buxton... Sano!!! Lineup creativity... The Twins can do this right now!!!

Disclaimer: I have no idea what Sano can do defensively... So.. I'm not comfortable calling him a 3B... OF or DH. But... I'm comfortable offering an opinion on what the Twins should do from a team management standpoint with the returning position players. In my opinion... The new manager is going to be key because the Twins are approaching "Good Problem to Have" territory. We will have options and the next manager needs to know how to optimize ala Joe Maddon. Gardy tended to lock in and that isn't going to work. Plouffe needs to play both 3B and OF in 2015 in prep for Sano's arrival. Santana can start at CF but he will need to play more SS in prep for Buxtons arrival. Escobar needs to start at SS and play some 3B and 2B in prep for Santana playing more SS in prep for Buxtons arrival. Vargas needs to play 1B in prep for Mauers next two month injury. The new manager has to have this Maddon type sense with no old school thought of playing this guy at the same position everyday. Having 13 players on the roster who can legitimately play is a good problem to have. Having a Zobrist type or two or three is a good problem to have. It also allows you to matchup against anything. Please bring in a manager with this Maddon sensibility. Back to Sano... If he can hit like everyone says he can. He's going to eventually claim a job wherever he is placed. So to me... You place him where he performs best in the field. Plouffe should not be a consideration because that would be short sighted.

Love the Post!!!

I remember 2011 was in the books. We had just lost 99 games. There was very little talent in the majors and there was very little talent in the minors. Sano was like 12 years old and a few years away. I remember thinking to myself...This is gonna take a little while... I told myself to be patient. I never expected a quick fix so I'm still in patience mode.

Dave St. Peter may feel differently then I do... And let me just say. That is all on him.

Over Twins Daily?

I'm under the impression that Terry absolutely did not want to let Gardy go. I think that was why he was retained last year and why I think it is killing him right now. What changed this year? Just a guess... The level of pressure from fans... Media... The Twins Daily website after another losing year. I honestly believe them when they sat together and said the decision was mutual.

Sometimes... But I've been plenty pissed off at high dollar players... sometimes. Keep in mind tho... I'm crazy... I think you can win with Ben Revere.

I agree 100 percent. I continue to be not concerned with the payroll number. I don't think it should ever be that systematic to say 30%... 52% or 110%. To me it continues to be about the play on the field. Whatever number is attached to that... is attached to that.

LOL... Who knows what is actually in Ozzie's honest to goodness heart. It was just a throw away quote of admiration of Castro that got out of control in Miami. I guess as long as they are coming over in rafts. I think any Pro Castro statement will be seen as Anti-Cuban.

The guts it took for Beane to make those moves. It was pretty clear that he did it for one reason... That was to win this year. Addison Russell and McKinney to the Cubs... Cespedes for a Rental. Wow... I admire his courage but if I was in his chair... I don't think I could have done it. But then again... I would have been right this time. Right now... I bet Beane wishes he had Cespedes and Russell back.

Mike and Kirby... Umm... You may have missed the humor in Nicksaviking post. Ozzie Guillen? Cuban Pipeline? As in... He was ran out of Miami because of his Castro comments.

Somewhere Brad Pitt was pacing in a weight room and hanging his head.

I thought Terry Ryan explained the contract extension very well. He didn't want Gardy to be constantly asked about his status with a one year deal. He basically said... He didn't care about the extra year of salary that Ron will be getting. I think he was given a two year contract so things would calm down on that front. As for the firing... It could be seen by some as a deflection of responsibility and if he would have thrown Gardy under the bus... I would tend to agree with that. However... He didn't... He manned up and did something that was painful to him. A change like this... in my opinion... is taking responsibility and accountability. I honestly believe that Terry absolutely hated every single part of it all. I believe him when he says it like losing a brother. I believe he puts that on his shoulders and I believe if the Twins don't turn around under a new manager. Terry will step aside. In my opinion... To me... It looked like two people taking the responsibility together. It was Gardy who said the team needs a new voice. It wasn't Terry... It was Gardy and I believe them when they say it was a mutual decision. It easy to see why they have worked together as long as they have. They are both classy individuals in my opinion. It makes me proud to be a Twins fan!!! We can question decisions that they make but I really can't see any reason to question character. I can't imagine a manager not wanting to work for Terry Ryan. This has to open up the list of possible candidates wider then it would normally be. To any prospective manager it's a job where the GM has your back and it took 4 losing seasons to finally cause a change. I was pro change as long as it was handled with the respect that Gardy deserved and I'm grateful that it was.

Did TR think that Gardy had an appreciably worse year then he himself had? I can't answer that. Terry Ryan is the only one who can. Does TR have to self impose this accountability? In my opinion... Well... if the Pohlads say he has the job for as long as he wants it... Then yes he does. Terry Ryan has already kinda self imposed that accountability when he said in reply. "I wouldn't hold Jim Pohlad to that statement... It wouldn't be fair to him" "I shouldn't have that type of comfort... We're losing way too many games here to put that kind of faith in anyone". Bottom line... I think its fair game to question Terry Ryan's overall performance and his role in our current position. However... I have never seen or heard Terry Ryan do anything to suggest that he isn't taking responsibility or is not accountable. I've never seen TR throw anyone under the bus and based on the press conference... He didn't throw Gardy under the bus once. Based on my limited information on Terry Ryan... I'd work for him with pride and feel secure that he will be always straight forward and that's a good boss. I'd have his back because I'm pretty sure he'd have mine and I think yesterday's press conference was an example of that relationship between Ryan and Gardy. It was a hard decision made for the team going forward. Gardy said the team needs a new voice. In case Gardy is right... They are going to try it.

Based on the size and length of contract. I think its safe to assume that TR felt Nolasco should make a difference.

I can't speak for Terry Ryan but I imagine his response to that question would have been something like this. There's plenty of blame to go around and it starts with me. I understand the accountibility of my office. We did make improvements to the roster and we need to make more improvements going forward. Responsibility for where we are starts with me and making hard decisions is part of what needs to be done.

He said I have bosses in the context of asking them to sign off. That isn't unusual... What would be unusual is Terry Ryan making this move and not talking to his bosses about it. He was asked and he answered. The press conference was pretty straight forward... Terry Ryan answered every question... Gardy was classy. Some large leaps are being made here... There was nothing remotely close in the press conference that led me to believe the owners demanded anything. Terry and Gardy have been working together for a long time. Longer then a large percentage of marriages last. It was a tough day for Gardy... A tough day for Terry Ryan... A tough day for the coaching staff... The players... The secretaries. I agree with Gardy... It was time. But I've seen no evidence of the owners forcing this. 4 90 loss seasons is reason enough. That's what was said in the press conference over and over again... By Gardy.

Bad day for Twins Managers. I hope Ray Miller is doing OK. Get well TK... You've always been my favorite,

I have no knowledge of any potential candidates personal philosophy... tact... teaching ability... Etc... Etc. Because I don't... I won't get too excited about the process. But... If I had a vote... Based on one thing and one thing only. I want Martinez... Because that one thing is his long association with Maddon. If he brings any Maddon style with him... That will be a good place to start in my opinion.