greengoblinrulz

He is a 4th OF in AAA, but he has always hit RHP well in minors...before this yr, & can play all 3 OF spots. He is our organizations version of Wilkin Ramirez/Matt Carson/Clete Thomas before they were released/traded. Not sure if he's a FA after this yr...drafted in 05, didnt play in 06 (visa issues I believe???) Too bad he lost large chunks of seasons to injuries in Ft Myers (playing great) & New Brit.....set him back from bein a real prospect IMO. Personally, still like him but he has lots to re-prove. Hope he stays

Barring trades....(assuming like everyone that Capps is released). I see the pen bein Burton/Swarzak/Burnett/Perkins/Duensing/Robertson taking up 6 of the 7 bullpen slots to start the yr (Robertson may be on bubble). Im not a Burnett fan as I favor more Ks in the pen & think he's been doin it with mirrors (better than not doin it). Gray & Perdomo (will be DFAd IMO (Waldrop on severe bubble of it, esp if not recalled in Sept) and Manshop & Walters are out of options & could/should be released to protect younger players. Doesnt bode well for guys who will be back like Casey Fien, Oliveras or Guitierrez who will end up in ROC. The wildcard is Blackburn. Will they keep him solely due to salary. If not, he will join Sam Deduno/Cole DeVries to possibly contend for a 5th starter spot....Sam is out of options & Cole will be back in AAA (if kept on 40 man) Diamond is the only 'sure' thing. I think they will resign Scot Baker to a better deal, as hinted in last wks Mpls Tribune. Kyle Gibson will start in ROC to monitor innings but I think barring a complete collapse in spring training, Liam Hendrix will also be in the rotation. So will MN acquire 1 or 2 starters in the offseason. If its 2, that takes care of the 5th starter possibilities (Maybe Deduno/DeVires is 7th pen/long relief guy). I created a small firestorm last wk by predicting that MN will stun everyone & resign Carl Pavano. I absolutely wouldnt, but it is the Twins way to say he's as good as any veteran out there--if healthy--and get him more cheaply than a normal FA.

Not like he's important, just curious on thoughts about his rehab (but Id take Eric Hurley over Blackburn right now) Rehab started July 1st 4IP 5h 3er 2k 2bb 70 pitches in first action July 6th 5IP 5H 0er 2k 73 pitches Shoulder problems after this start, but it appeared by the pitch count that they were ramping him up to get back into the roatation Rehabbed another month Aug 4th 2IP 0h 0er 0k 0bb 18 pitches Aug 9th 0.2IP 4h 2er 1k 1bb 33pitches...admitted it was his pitch limit not performance on why he left Aug 14th 2.1IP 2h 0er 3k 1bb 41 pitches Today 3IP 3h 0er 6k 2bb 59 pitches I realize he's rehabbing after a 2nd shutdown but..... After 4 starts, they havent gotten back to the point they were on the first rehab.....do you think they are just goin slow with a pitcher that isnt in the teams futures (out of options), or they dont plan on bringin him back in Sept (dont have to DFA someone then...gives them time at least). Curious also why every other pitcher rehabs some in Ft Myers but not Walters (either time)

At least when Gray is pitching, you know you're gonna get some action on the field!!!! Matt Carson pitching > Jeff Gray

Do you think both of them get to Ft. Myers next season? Last player I remember (dont remember many others) that essentially skipped Beloit was Rene Tosoni, who was 20 yrs old when he had a good but not spectacular yr in ELIZ. With the logjam of OFs that should be in BEL (or Cedar Rapids:)), who do you think could be that guy to get to Ft Myers?? Berrios would not be eligible, would he, as bein from Puerto Rico??

Dont need to use that. It's a given

Love me some Gray

wonder how MN will play it w/Kyle over the last 2wks...Ryan has said he would like to get Gibson a ROC start. If he pitches again FRI & WED (4 days rest) in Ft Myers, he could make the seasons final start for ROC on Labor Day Monday (Ft Myers done Sunday) Probably what they will do if the weather holds out????

just a joke....nothing personal

thats how our head of minor league works (by the book...no need to watch)

Arcia needs more seasoning says Terry Ryan as he's now fallen in love with Matt Carson as his probable starting RF in 2013, after they deal Denard's weak ass. Weak comment. which part???? Arcia/Ryan/Carson/Denard?????

Isnt New Brit considered a pitchers park, per se??? Remember hearing guys like Cuddy/Morneau saying something to that effect (anyone else?)

More numbers Twins love to say that Nick needs to get his sinkerball working 'again'. Went back & looked at his 'good' years in 08/09, per fangraphs 08...Ground ball rate of 44.9% for 38th best in MLB (only the qualified pitchers of 162IP) 09...Ground ball rate of 45.8% for 27th best in MLB (only the qualified pitchers of 162IP) 10...Ground ball rate of 50.8% for 20th best in MLB (160IPs as that what Nick had).... Liriano 11th, Pavano 15th in MLB 11...Ground ball rate of 53.5% for 13th best in MLB (140IPs as thats what Nick had) 12...Ground ball rate of 45.2% for 66th best in MLB (90IPs as thats what Nick has)..Diamond 6th More groundballs he throws, the worse he has pitched of the 800 IPs over that 5 yr period tho, Nick is 5th in GB% w/47.9%, but is last in Ks (4.24/9) among the top 30 ranked (Buerhle 4.89, JSaunder 4.99 next 2)....last in ERA @ 4.81 (Nolasco 4.5, AJ Burnett 4.43 next 2 ) 5 of the top 10 (last 5 yrs) K more than 7per (King Felix/Halladay/Lester/Ubaldo/AJBurnett)...so you can K guys & be a groundball pitcher 20 of top 30 have ERA's under 4....cant find anything to 'hang your hat' on Nick

Love the numbers start the season 7starts 1W 4L 33.1IP 46h .333BAA 8.37ERA 19k 13b 7HRs (.953OPS)....sent to DL, that was the problem After his DL stint 6starts 3W 1L 30IP 44h .333BAA 7.80ERA 11K 9bb 8HRs (.982OPS), sent to minors to correct the problems Sent to minors/recalled 6starts 0W 4L 35.1IP 53h .351BAA 6.11ERA 12k 4bb 8HRs (.943OPS), now noticing the problem These last 6 starts are the BEST he's pitched in over a calender year & there are NOW wondering whats wrong!!!!!

Gibson has his 2nd Ft Myers start today....game starting now 4IP 3h 1er (leadoff HR in 4th) 6k 1hbp 3groundout 1flyout

Im so not a Duduno guy & know that his control/wildness will eventually catch up to him, but I unfortunately find myself rooting against him so that it does

down goes Florimon, here comes Escobar

Dont even believe MN will be one of the teams 'rumoured' to go after Grienke. Think the organization has already ruled him out IMO. They will go after Jeremey Guthrie....as my prediction only...& he had a no hitter thru 6!!! Get excited!!!

Could buy that arguement, but CJ Wilson was horrendous in the playoffs last yr & it didnt affect his market value at all

Breaking off a topic in another thread.... Who are your predictions for the team. Rules Each Major League organization is required to provide six players subject to the following requirements: All Triple-A and Double-A players are eligible, provided the players are on at least a Double-A level roster no later than Aug. 1. One player below the Double-A level is allowed per Major League team. One foreign player is allowed, as long as the player does not reside in a country that participates in winter ball, as part of the Caribbean Confederation or the Australian winter league. No players with more than one year of credited Major League service as of August 31 are eligible, except a team may select one player picked in the most recently concluded Major League Rule 5 Draft. To be eligible, players on Minor League disabled lists must be activated at least 45 days before the conclusion of their respective seasons Arcia ineligle as he's part of Carribean Winter Lg....Hendriks also part of Australian Lg I think they will leave off Hicks as he's goin to winter ball I predict the following 6 Kyle Gibson....think Terry Ryan has already confirmed this BJ Hermsen....dominated AA, see what he does against the best of his age brackets Joe Benson.....horrible horrible year, can use this to springboard into 2013? Lance Ray......be their only A baller, see if he's a AA player next yr as New Brit's OF could be bare Evan Bigley....goin off what Tom Kelly had to say about him being thought off highly David Bromberg....try & get him some innings as the Cole DeVries of this AFL & see if he can springboard If not Bromberg then Matt Hauser ...promoted July 29 (was that a reason??)

Arcia as a foreigner cannot play AFL (you can have 1 foreigner, but I dont think Venezuelans) Heard Ryan last wk about the 2. Said the same about Hicks & winter ball. Said he was heading down to New Brit to make final decisions/reviews on players (could be there). Arcia bein on 40 puts him ahead of Hicks for sure. Media/fans will CRUSH Mn if they dont callup Arcia. Its not like there is ANYTHING you can tear him down on. Think we will see him but not Hicks (not acceptable by me tho)

I am so bloody sick and tired of reading this line or something like it on the forums. The Minnesota Twins were the most consistently successful small market team of the 2000s. They made the playoffs more often than not and while they struggled in the postseason, overall they posted one of the better records in all of baseball for the decade. So why shouldn't we have a little faith in the front office? Because the team had two awful seasons? Because of that, we should ignore the entire decade the preceded it? Jesus... People around here need to step off the ledge and take in a little perspective. Yes, the Twins are bad right now but their farm system is on the rebound and help is on the way. They have a solid core of young-ish players. They have money to spend. Stop cherry-picking the past two years of horrible baseball and ignoring the ten years that came before it. Can argue that, but I would say its OAK & Tampa w/MN 3rd. 5 one & dones in playoffs dropps em for me. Oak had 5 series & won only one, but had a much lower payroll & couldnt keep their key players. Tampa making the Series gives is to them IMO

I think the message that it sends by keepin him on the roster instead of cutting him is horrible to the fan base. There is nothing to be gained by keeping him. As a 12/13th/longman mopup guy on staff.....we already have those currently & may need out of option guys like Sam DeDuno or Esmeril Vasquez to do that.....Burton/Swarzak/Burnett/Perkins/Duensing/Robertson will be 6 of the 7/8 pitchers in pen next yr

Arcia needs more seasoning says Terry Ryan as he's now fallen in love with Matt Carson as his probable starting RF in 2013, after they deal Denard's weak ass.

not a Pearl Jam/Vedder guy at all. Sure it makes his beloved SEA fans estatic that he doesnt like the Mariners.