Dantes929

When I see a report about a pitcher that throws high 90's or even 100 but have to work on secondary pitches I just go "meh". I assume in the several years it takes to advance they will need surgery or the other pitches just never appear or command is an issue. When I see a pitcher that throws 93 but with quality "stuff" I get a little excited. 17 years old. His frame could change significantly.

I think a better thing to hope for is that they look in the mirror and reflect on what they see and maybe consider changing what they see. I know this will sound condescending but I really wish people would get past their knee jerk responses to everything and do more reflection. Instead of just saying "hey look Griffith was a racist, lets take down any monuments to him" I hope the people that decided to take it down considered him in the time he lived and what he accomplished against some of the things he said. Likewise, I would hope those opposed would get past thinking its just another liberal leftist craziness and actually consider why they oppose it and what it really means to them as well as what it might mean to others. If they still conclude it should stay up so be it but at least go through the process. When Kaepernick took a knee my knee jerk response was "that's really disrespectful. There's got to be a better time and place" Getting past that first reaction I thought kneeling as a non violent protest wasn't such a bad thing and when I couldn't come up with a better time and place that would actually get any attention I started defending his actions. I thought it would be better to actually address his concerns so that he would have no reason to take a knee. Now if someone else takes these same steps and still concludes he shouldn't take the knee that is fine but it should be after consideration of why he is doing it, how else can he do it and why am I really so opposed to a respectful non violent protest to improve the country?

I could just as easily say ALL OF THESE SELF RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE OPPOSING RENAMING BREAKFAST PRODUCTS AND TAKING DOWN STATUES OF CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS AND RACIST OWNERS, ETC. ARE THE REAL PROBLEM. You are figuratively pointing your finger at those you imagine are pointing fingers. Take another look at this quote "I’ll tell you why we came to Minnesota. It was when I found out you only had 15,000 blacks. Black people don’t go to ball games, but they’ll fill up a rassling ring and put up such a chant it’ll scare you to death. It’s unbelievable. We came here because you’ve got good, hardworking, white people here."" You say he's not racist so please tell me what a person would have to say to be considered racist even given the context of that era.. No one is re writing history. Those in power 80-100 years ago decided to honor particular people and symbols of history (confederacy) just like 10 years ago those in power decided to honor Griffith. Nothing says we have to continue to honor those same people or symbols. I have never understood how the confederate flag, statues or forts honoring leaders of an army that killed hundreds of thousands of United States military for the purpose of owning people have ever been allowed to exist. This statue is less offensive to me and I would have been ok with it staying but understand how others want it removed so I am ok with it. Honestly, I would be ok if every statue or monument was removed. My life wouldn't be diminished in any way if Kirby or Harmon's statues were taken down. I wonder why you are so strongly opposed to taking Griffith's down.

I remember a time about mid season last year where Cleveland's outfielders were all batting about .190 and thinking they were crazy not to sign Span. I think he got offers well above minimum after the 2018 season but no where near the 11 mil he was making with Seattle. Kind of got squeezed and now with Covid there was really small chance of him continuing. Great wife, 2 very young kids and 56 mil in career earnings. He's doing all right.

Hunter was really good defensively but Buxton has redefined what great looks like for me. I liked Hunter but the only case you can make for him getting in is that Harold Baines got in.

He could easily have gotten over 60 by playing 3 more years but just like playing post concussion has already diminished his chances. I think playing more to get to that standard diminishes his chances more.............. Also, not true by the way. There are 102 players with higher WAR in the Hall many because they played more seasons than Joe. About 60 had fewer WAR including Puckett and many of them also with more seasons than Mauer. Harold Baines only had a WAR of 38 in 22 seasons for Pete's sake. I'm not going to lose any sleep if he doesn't get in but he is a solid candidate. But for a concussion I think Morneau might have ended up and even stronger candidate.

Even more so, that should be the tipping point for Oliva. Who's a better ambassador for the game and the Twins than he has been for the last 50 years?

"How much do Mauer’s batting titles help his Cooperstown Case?" Shorter answer. Without the batting titles = no shot. With the batting titles = 50/50

After the 2010 season his career average was .327. His career average was .306. That's a big deal. I agree with your conclusion of BVS. I also really like that you coined the phrase. I think Tony O should have been in because of his 3 batting titles. Again, do you want the Hall to be the Hall of Great or the Hall of Very Good for a Long Time?

Hah! Not quite equal. The South pressing on to DC that first battle may well have changed everything. Speculating on how one of today's players could have affected the 65 team flies in the face of what I love about the game. 65 team was capable of beating the Dodgers. The umpire calling a ball instead of a strike on a borderline pitch might have changed the outcome. Adding an all star to replace a mediocre player increases odds a little but history has lots of Billy Martin, Bucky Dent, Gene Larkin type coming up big. I liked my point about the 87 team. You could put Mike Trout into the middle of that lineup and it would be awesome but it also would have changed everything. The results of the South marching to DC is a little more predictable.

Kind of silly. We know the Twins lost so if you could replace any single Twin of 65 with any Twin of 2019 you would do it. We know Oliva and Allison hit below .200 so if you could replace them with Cave or the Turtle you would do it. Not saying that would have changed the outcomes but any player is capable of playing great over a 7 game series and we know for a fact that the Twins lost that series while having Cave or the Turtle would still be a question mark.. If your only choice to make a change was Nick Punto for Harmon Killebrew in 65 you do it. .Let me illustrate my point in reverse. Before the Twins won the Series in 1987 there would be a very large number of moves that you would want to make to improve that team. But we know they did win the series so if you had the choice to go back and replace Lombo with Lou Whitaker, Straker with Clemens, Randy Bush with Robin Yount and Joe Niekro with Dwight Gooden would you do it? The team would be exponentially better but you would be crazy to make those moves because that would change everything possibly including the outcome.

Besides the 19-1 streak they had another of 12-1 shortly after and were still 8.5 back. Crazy!. I also remember at the end fans and experts were saying it was absolutely essential that Santana run the table at the finish for the Twins to even have a remote chance of catching the Tigers. Twins lost two of his last 3. They also said since Detroit was hosting a horrible KC team it was absolutely essential that the Twins sweep their season ending series with the White Sox to have any chance of catching the Tigers. Twins lost 2 of 3. Ironically, the Tigers were in free fall to end the season but made the WS while the Twins were riding high and got swept. Its why I love baseball and also why I am still bummed the 2008 Twins got bumped in game 163.

I have no problem separating regular season from playoffs and 2016 was my favorite regular season of all 50 years I've been watching. I understand saying Santana was MVP and I also understand a case for Jeter being league MVP but disagree with both. The team ignited when Morneau ignited. I watched nearly every game that year. From that June 7th turnaround Mornea put up great numbers but the numbers don't tell the story. He may not have had a lot of walk offs but there didn't seem to be much stat padding. The production was more meaningful than the underlying stats. Santana deserved the Cy Young but he wasn't the best pitcher on the team for two of those months. We talk a lot about the Cy Young he deserved over Colon but if he does make the Hall it might be because arm injury took Liriano out of the running. Liriano had some good seasons after that. I never thought it was fair that he was only judged against his pre injury self.

I think Arraez and Dobnak are pretty cool.

I enjoyed the Dozier videos. Guy was hot and cold but awesome when hot. Wish video had included the base hit he got off the end of the bat that landed foul and spun back fair. Couldn't find it anywhere.

I think the general fan base did love him. It wasn't a sliver of minority that hated him but a minority none the less. It definitely included everyone that demanded his contract be extended or they would never follow the Twins again who then shortly and for evermore after claimed they were against the congtract to start with. The name that surprises me by its absence is Nicky Punto.

I thought it was a good trade at the time. Lombo was batting .209 and Herr was a decent hitter. Herr's attitude made it a horrible trade in retrospect. Then we were stuck with Wally Backman.

“There will be a major winter storm in five days and no one is ever going to shut up about it” That was funny! Oddly, there was also a major winter storm on Thanksgiving weekend that year and no one ever talks about it.

That was a beautiful quote. AJ should be in the Twins HOF for his good play and for getting Nathan, Liriano and Bonzer while making room for Mauer to play. Also, great pick with Sabbathia. Anyone that says "Man up and swing the bat" at guys that bunt and then throws at their head because he either can't or doesn't want to man up and field his own d@#$ position gets no respect from me. David Ortiz for constantly dissing the Twins. I thought he was a good hitter for the Twins and what he learned from them may have launched his career but all he did was throw shade. I've never cared one way or another about the Yankees but I have always hated the White Sox. Oddly, Crede, Konerko and Thome were guys I really liked. Really class guys. Didn't care for Mark Buehrle. Maybe at the top of my list is Tommy Kerr. He could have been really good with the Twins but instead was just a complete d()()che.

There were 4 teams competing for the WS in 87. If it played out 20 times the Twins probably win 3 times. The 2006 team in particular were competing against 7 other teams but if that one played out 20 times they also would probably have won 3 times. Those were the odds IMO. Nothing to do with talent, managing, choking or anything else. The results were just baseball being baseball.

I am ok with DH or no DH. I like the 3 batter minimum for relievers. This is a good time to trot out the automated strike zone.

And the big concern about signing any free agent to a long term deal is that they give us one good year and then get hurt or old or whatever. As far as free agents pitchers go next year I would rather have Odorizzi back but I would rather have Bauer on a one year deal than Odo on a 5 year deal. Of course depending on the numbers.

The price is going to seem very hefty because it is going to be a one year contract if Bauer holds true to his one year at a time goal. I actually respect that and am ok with it as long as the premium he is paid for accepting a one year contract is based on his 2019 year rather than his 2018 year.

He can't even get it here on TD. Look at the post on the best players from each state and then look at where Mack was born and what his WAR was for the Twins.

Shane Mack born in California but didn't make the list with 19.6 WAR in 4.5 seasons?