Riverbrian

Unless his shoulder is gimpy... Deduno is the 5th guy and potentially the 1st guy.

I think Pinto starts the year in Rochester... If he puts up decent numbers in AAA... He becomes the starter in Minnesota when Suzuki gets put on the DL. If Pinto continues to hit... Not a sure thing but possible... Suzuki gets Wally Pipped and Pinto will be the guy for a long while. His defense needs some work but it's not brutal by any stretch of the imagination.

I tried to put them all on a really big boat. Just a pair of them... Not all of them... Still The total mass made the boat sink!! Before it sank... You wouldn't believe the waste left behind... There was no time to actually navigate the sinking boat because I was cleaning up crap constantly. It was a lot of work. I was much more successful when I limited the cargo to a Zebra, Orangutan, Hyena and Tiger. Those 4 animals still left a lot of waste behind. I'm thankful for indoor plumbing.

Excellent post! This has been a great discussion... I also understand the desire of those who are Pro-Drew. I'm just not in that camp. Great points made on both sides regardless.

Even the "Actions" turn into "words" after interpretation of the "actions"... So... I'm with ya... I really do use the same grain of salt. Bottom line... The dynamic between Arizona and Drew is unknown by us outsiders... It's impossible for either of us to know. However... None of the other 29 teams were willing to put up a package of more that Jamieson for Drew. That's an action for 2012 and it wasn't that long ago and it still gives me pause. I'm not willing to think it was just injury related. As for 2013... He had a good year but it wasn't exceptional and it was even less wonderful in comparison to players that can really hit... And I mean really hit like Nelson Cruz. Its just better than Florimon and that's a low bar to clear. You are paying for position scarcity. It's too much money for what we get.

My answers to your questions would be... Starting with the gas station question... "It changes every day... New gas stations open and old Gas stations close and turn into Persian Rug or Navajo jewelry outlets all the time. Its a moving target but roughly... There are 27. The total mass of Earth changed significantly when Kirstie Alley left Cheers. Scientists are still working on the new calculations". Would I get the job?

Well said. I do want to be clear that I'm not saying the owner or Drew is right. My main concern is Drew's numbers are not worthy of 10 million plus at multi years. Quotes mean very little to me because they are often misleading. I only used it to show that something was up. To me actions speak louder than words. We can blame Arizona for trading Drew to Oakland for Jamieson and say Arizona is poorly run in hindsight. That may have been a mistake. I don't know. But... Can we at least assume that they tried to see if any of the other 29 teams were willing to offer more than a 17th round pick that was not performing well at Low A. No one else wanted Drew at that low price. That's an action that speaks louder than words. It happened in 2012. Arizona traded him for nothing and didn't have a replacement at the time. That's an action that speaks louder than words. It gives me pause. While pausing... I still believe that you are paying 10 million for position scarcity and not actual production and that's my biggest issue.

This shows exactly what I'm saying when I talk about the price tag of SS's and position scarcity inflating that price tag. Gregorious value is equivalent to Trevor Bauer and Shin Soo Choo. Justin Upton does not equal the value of Elvis Andrus or Jurickson Profar. With Drew you are paying big money because he is a SS. Not because he has consistently produced awesome numbers. As for D-Backs owner Ken Kendrick and if he's a bonehead. I've never met him. I wasn't in the room when he got frustrated with Stephen Drew. I don't know if he made assumptions or Drew said to him.... Screw You... I'm not risking my contract with someone next year or whatever. We don't know if it was Boras and Drew disagreeing with Team Doctors or Kendrick not listening to team doctors. I don't know. I'm not comfortable designating anyone as a bonehead without 1st hand knowledge of them. Owners... Typically have some ability. They were able to make enough money to buy the club and that isn't easy to do if you are a bonehead. In a lot of cases... They are able to accumulate a lot of money because they don't give away assets. Actions speak louder than words... Drew was given away. The A's gave the D-Backs nothing for him. It was compounded because it cost the D-Backs Trevor Bauer to replace him. You could say... Indirectly... The D-Backs gave away Bauer to get rid of Drew. It was just 2012... It wasn't that long ago. A decent 2013 with a winning team Boston doesn't say... I'm back... Ta-Dah!!! In 2012... Not along ago... The D-Backs gave him away... They hated him that much... It would have to be assumed that they tried to trade him to more teams than the A's. No team could beat the A's package of Sean Jamieson... a 17th round pick who was hitting .234 at Low A. Now consider position scarcity and the price of Gregorious and Andrus and I assume without proof that Drew was unwanted in 2012 by everyone and 2012 wasn't that long ago. Its going to give me pause. You won't be able to convince me to jump in first feet. I must pause.

Easily explained with your explanation... yet at the same time... Not really explained considering that the frustrated owner... hastily or not... Gave away a SS that is supposedly over 10 million in value today. I won't make any definitive claims myself... I will only say it gives me pause. But attitude aside... Offensively... His stats don't match up with the price tag... They match up with position scarcity.

Just for the record... There is something I like about Drew. Triples... He hits a lot of triples and triples to me are an indicator of aggressiveness and I like aggressiveness so I dont hate him. This has been an interesting discussion... Good job on both sides to all.

Drew was also called out by the owner publicly by name. On Drew, a 29-year-old shortstop who missed the second half of the 2011 season with a severe ankle injury and has not played this season, Kendrick said: “I’m going to be real direct about Stephen. I think Stephen should have been out there playing before now, frankly. I, for one, am disappointed. I’m going to be real candid and say Stephen and his representatives are more focused on where Stephen is going to be a year from now than on going out and supporting the team that’s paying his salary. All you can do is hope that the player is treating the situation with integrity. Frankly, we have our concerns. This doesn't mean anything... You never know if the context is correct. The owner could have been pissed off because his wife yelled at him in the morning or his lawnmower didn't start or something before he threw Drew under the bus. The owner could be a complete idiot... I don't know. But the above quote and the giving him to Oakland for nothing while not having a decent SS to replace him and the outrageous price of SS's is enough to give me pause.

I'm really not embarrassed by Florimon at all. Sure I'd like him to hit better but he's a fantastic defensive shortstop and that's what he has to be. Not that I'm hopeful but under 600 AB's... He isn't set in stone as a hitter. No need to focus on that. He's a defensive guy. If Florimon was expected to lead this team at the plate... I'd be embarrassed. He's not so I'm not. Florimon batting ninth was not this teams 2013 problem and it won't be the 2014 problem. The problem was Brian Dozier leading the team in home runs on a team that was built to slug. The problem was Josh Willingham slugging .360 something and Plouffe slugging .390 something. If we don't have speed we need honest to goodness sluggers. Under that context... I was more embarrassed(not the right word) by Hammer and Plouffe. I'm not willing to believe that Drew will slug over .400 again or stay healthy or be a solid influence on a team that may struggle. We don't have consistent proof of that with Drew on any of those worries of mine. What we have is improvement offensively over Florimon and that's a low bar to clear and not worth 8 figures. On attitude... It's easy to feel good when your winning with Boston. How are you with a club that isn't and a 10 million plus multi year contract in your pocket. Arizona threw a red flag with me by shipping him out for nothing. If I'm spending 10 plus million... I'd rather spend 10 million on Nelson Cruz who consistently slugs over .500 to truly help this current team offensively. More bang for the buck. Yeah... I'd sneak him some roids as well.. Ok... No I wouldn't... But... Yeah I would. I wouldn't... I despise steroids and the dark cloud it produced and hung over the game I love. The last full sized sentence was a poor attempt at humor and in no way reflects my integrity and sense of Fair Play!!! Someone like Glunn would have no problem injecting an athlete playing for his favorite team but he is a lawyer and he knows legal tricks in order to keep that player eligible. Ashbury is also a urine expert and in combination with Glunn the issue becomes less of a concern.

Drew hits better than Florimon but not 8 figures more. Florimon is top 3 with the glove and its nice to have that at the SS position when you don't have Tulo or Segura. Nothing embarrassing about Florimon at all. Its easy to compare OPS+ between Drew and Floriomon because they are SS's and say done deal. But you are comparing 10 Million a year (Drew)and 6 figures (Florimon). Now compare Drew's career numbers with someone else who makes 8 figures and it really doesn't make a lot of sense. If the Twins have 10 million to spend on offense... By all means... But spend it on someone who actually produces offense. Beltran or Cruz makes more sense because they consistently produce... You know... Actual offense... Not just average numbers like Drew... that just happen to be better than the current guy but not better than most guys. Don't spend 10 million plus on lack of positional supply. Spend it on someone who actually... You know... Rakes.

I do... I have SS sticker shock. 14 million doesn't buy much at the 6 position. Until the Twins can draft and develop a Tulowitzki (maybe by 2022). I'm fine with a glove guy and spending 14 million on someone who can actually rake at another position. At CF... Eventually we will be flush with em... Right now... Unless Hicks breaks camp with and runs with it. We are extremely dry come April.

I'm with you. I've never been a fan of Drew and Florimon just doesn't scare me enough to make a desperation signing. CF would be my biggest concern as it stands right now.

Hope all goes well!!!

His first child born and his appendix being taken out happened in short order. Kids used to cost an arm and a leg.

Gotta echo Psuedo. Worley, Deduno and Diamond... I'm not comfortable with any of them being given up on.

I echo the "ask questions of them" and I'd like to double its importance. Being interviewed is stressful and by asking questions it eliminates your stress and takes the spotlight off you. Interviewing someone new is also stressful for the interviewer... Asking questions of the interviewer brings them back into a comfort level of talking about something they know(the job) and away from talking about something they don't know(you). And most importantly... Asking questions shows a level of engagement that all employers are looking for. If you could show one attribute... Engagement is it. One other thing... don't over reach. Don't pretend to know something you don't. You don't want to drop the football during an interview after claiming you knew how to run with it. Be exactly yourself!

It all depends on the Hammer. If he hits like 2012... He should be considered for extension but... If the team is out of it... That type of performance will increase his trade value and that should be considered if we are out of it. If he hits like 2013... There is no discussion... Let him go.

I think Cmathewson was being funny as well... It's all good.

I'm pulling for Pinto... But the catcher position is more than Offensive stats and passed ball percentage and CS percentage. The catcher is your QB. He goes over the opposing team... He gets to know the pitchers and he calls the game. That stuff doesn't show up in the stats. We just invested millions in starting pitching. A Veteren backstop who can get the most out of them means more than batting stats. Is Suzuki that guy... I don't know. The pitching staffs that he has been working with lately have done pretty good. With Deduno... I have high hopes for him. I'm a fan... I hope that shoulder is solid and with Hughes... I hope he loves Target Field.

For the record... I'm for running anything up the flagpole. After last year... I was crying for position competition. We had sub par years in compared to expectation from everyone not named Mauer, Dozier or even Florimon. Yes Florimon because he wasn't expected to hit. Yet under performers kept playing everyday because no one could take their place. Bono could have played a role like that. We were a one dimensional team (power) that did not get that dimension. It was station to station baseball while Brian Dozier led the the team in home runs. No power... No speed and you can't win the close game and winning the close game is how improvement toward .500 happens. I'm ok with Bartlett but I was more OK with Bonofacio because his skill set was a bigger need for the current Twins. Backup 3B CF Leadoff skills and Speed. Moveable when Sano comes up... Moveable when Hicks comes up... Easily cut when they all come up. However... I trust Twins management... My vision very rarely matches up with anyone else's... Let alone the Twins Front office and I do not think the Twins are goofballs for not executing what is in my head. Nor do I think anyone else on TD is a goofball for not seeing what I think. I thought he was a perfect insurance policy for Plouffe not hitting homers and playing like a Pylon at 3B and insurance for Presley struggling in CF... Plus a great Corner OF defensive replacement for Hammer, Kubel or Arcia with a late lead or a Pinch running option when trailing late in games. I can't think of anyone who can plug all those holes and we have all those holes. The Cubs are going to love him. They just signed a backup for Lake, Ruggiano, Valbuena, Barney and even Castro.

2,299 at bats do not happen to players who are not major league quality.

Dang it!!! I'm ok... I just gotta walk it off.