sotafan

If you were to go with this 6 man rotation idea the question is do you keep 12 or 11 pitchers? If they are willing to at least try this idea, one thing that could work and still keep 11 pitchers would be to have one or two of the starters not throw their bullpen/side session until the 7th or 8th inning of the game. So if you do needed a mopup/long man because the starter got shelled/hurt early, there would still be someone available. This would allow the bench to be full and not down a man.

NO, NO, NO, NEVER. He is Pavano, NO. I would rather sign no one and go with what we got then sign Dempster. He got tore apart in the AL last year. I would rather see Franky come back and that is making me puke in my mouth.

In '09 he posted his best FIP @ 4.37. That is a C'mon Man!! This year it is at 5.66. Really!! The dude sucks and always has.

And another 30 will come off this year. There were not alot of options out there for SP in this past offseason. Now if they fail to put some of that money towards a SP this offseason, there will be problems. We need to be sellers!!! There are a ton of teams that are still in contention. Not sure who we could get ASAP to fill the hole. Doubt a trade would be made unless it is a current AAA SP from a different team because Roch has NOTHING!!!!!!

If they can re-sign Doumit to a 2-year deal or something close to that, I have no problem keeping him. I would suspect that he would be a valuable trading chip for teams that are looking for a C/1B/OF/DH. There are many worst catchers out there then Doumit. The Angels and Rays come to mind as buyers for a catcher. I could see a decent SP come back from either of those teams for Doumit. They both have the depth to deal one.

I won't mind hanging on to Doumit at all. I like him in this lineup. I feel that if the Twins don't make that big signing in the offseason they will lose many fair weather fans. I think they know they are screwed with the depth for SP in the minors. The only way they can put a respectable rotition together is to sign at least one top pitcher. the FO and ownership doesn't like to lose anymore then we like to watch them lose. With so much $$ coming off the books, Morneau/Span/Mauer healthly, youngesters holding there own, and the pen in ok shape--there will be fair less ??? about next season like there were this year. They have show they will spend if they need to. I hope they know they need to.

Many of those #2 starters could be had for 2 yrs plus an option. If you could get Greinke on maybe 3yrs and 2yrs with options with the 4th being mutual and the 5th being team he could take it. I do like Bedard as well if he stay healthy and he looks solid over the last 9 months or so. Zambrano is a reach, threw him in there. Ryan needs to move away from that "veteran" pitcher. When has it worked in the past for him?? Never!!!! We need a #1 and #2 not more of the same #5 crap!!

Ok, there are a lot of different things people are throwing out there in regards to contending or rebuilding. There are pieces the Twins need to hang on to and there are piece that need the boot in the worst way. The 3-4 players that should be actively shopped at the deadline are the players that will not be here next year, Pavano, Capps, Doumit and Liriano. Just trade them for whatever you can get!!! We can save the money from their contracts the rest of 2012. As for trading Span, Morneau, and Willingham, C’mon MAN!!! They are the heart of this team and the main reason we are returning to respectable baseball. If you can get a haul for them then by all means, thanks for playing. The main question that really needs to be analyzed and discussed is “what are the options for 2013 via free agency?” There are people saying we are one good arm away, or two away from contention. Well we are at least two away IMO but check it. In 2013, the payroll that is committed is roughly 65-70 mil. Now, if Ryan has a similar budget as this year, there is about 30mil to spend in FA. How can that money be used? TWO Starting pitchers!!!! Here is who is available in the 2013 free agency class. Cole Hamels Zach Greinke Anibal Sanchez Shaun Marcum Erik Bedard Edwin Jackson Colby Lewis Carlos Zambrano The top 3 will be getting nice 5-7 year deals and they should because they are #1 pitchers. So pick one of the three—I like Greinke and he doesn’t like large market teams so we could make a run at him. I also like Sanchez for the #2 starter. Greinke will likely be in the 16-20mil range for 5 years. Sanchez would be in the 8-12 mil range for maybe 3 years. Hamels is a pipe dream, he will be way to expensive. The other five all can be that #2 starter and will likely be the in 5-12mil on 3 years deals. Let’s play this out. Greinke for 6 years at 18.5mil per Sanchez for 4 years at 11.5mil per Total is 30mil With those two starters at the top of the rotation, and Diamond/Walters/Blackburn/Hendirks/Gibson fighting for the other three spots, would you consider the Twins a playoff contender and a good chance at getting pass the first round?? You would have to keep Willingham, Span and Morneau. Will the FO be that bold and spend some money is the other question.

Ok, there are a lot of different things people are throwing out there in regards to contending or rebuilding. There are pieces the Twins need to hang on to and there are piece that need the boot in the worst way. The 3-4 players that should be actively shopped at the deadline are the players that will not be here next year, Pavano, Capps, Doumit and Liriano. Just trade them for whatever you can get!!! We can save the money from their contracts the rest of 2012. As for trading Span, Morneau, and Willingham, C’mon MAN!!! They are the heart of this team and the main reason we are returning to respectable baseball. If you can get a haul for them then by all means, thanks for playing. The main question that really needs to be analyzed and discussed is “what are the options for 2013 via free agency?” There are people saying we are one good arm away, or two away from contention. Well we are at least two away IMO but check it. In 2013, the payroll that is committed is roughly 65-70 mil. Now, if Ryan has a similar budget as this year, there is about 30mil to spend in FA. How can that money be used? TWO Starting pitchers!!!! Here is who is available in the 2013 free agency class. Cole Hamels Zach Greinke Anibal Sanchez Shaun Marcum Erik Bedard Edwin Jackson Colby Lewis Carlos Zambrano The top 3 will be getting nice 5-7 year deals and they should because they are #1 pitchers. So pick one of the three—I like Greinke and he doesn’t like large market teams so we could make a run at him. I also like Sanchez for the #2 starter. Greinke will likely be in the 16-20mil range for 5 years. Sanchez would be in the 8-12 mil range for maybe 3 years. Hamels is a pipe dream, he will be way to expensive. The other five all can be that #2 starter and will likely be the in 5-12mil on 3 years deals. Let’s play this out. Greinke for 6 years at 18.5mil per Sanchez for 4 years at 11.5mil per Total is 30mil With those two starters at the top of the rotation, and Diamond/Walters/Blackburn/Hendirks/Gibson fighting for the other three spots, would you consider the Twins a playoff contender and a good chance at getting pass the first round?? You would have to keep Willingham, Span and Morneau. Will the FO be that bold and spend some money is the other question.

Why the hell are you people talking about Trumbo. Get real about the need of this club. He DOES NOT fill a need. Not one. He sucks at 3b, Mauer is a better option. We have a 1b, DH and OF's. WE NEED PITCHING!!!!!! If you are not talking about what players we can trade for pitchers, then this thread is a waste of time.

I thought is was "Lame Handricks"

How can you keep him there when he is batting just as if not worse than Danny was?? Plus his D is worse. SANO, SANO, SANO!!!

Honestly, Sano. I just went throught the minor league rosters and that is the best I came up with. No one else is worth a call up. I know I know, he's still in A ball, only 19, he needs more time, bah bah bah, etc etc etc. It is either Sano or get someone in a trade because at this point there is NO ONE that can fill the needed 3B roll. Didn't need Inge huh?? Weird, he has hit like a mad man since Oakland claimed him.

At this point, do they need to sign Oswalt just to save face??

Great article, Nick. This ownership is getting embarrassed. They will not continue to take the losing with the awful play and with have heads rolling soon. If it doesn't happen in-season it will happen right after the season. They fired Bill Smith last year. First time we have seen the Pohlad's do that. They see this organization as a money making business. If they don't make money with this business, they will blame the people in charge(TR and Coaching Staff) and find people that will make them the money that is expected. This is not the '80's nor is it the '00's because what you did 10 years or 30 years ago is in the past. The entire organization is 2 or 3 steps behind most teams in baseball. There needs to be new, younger minds running this organization and I feel the Pohlads will do just that if this continues. I do think people's jobs need to be lost. They have been lost for a lot less!

Don't forget that they had Inge as the 3rd C in Detroit last year.

It has gone how I thought it would through the first month of the season record wise. The starting pitching is much worst than I thought it would be while the offense has been some what of a surprise. The Hammer was a great get this offseason and Doumit has held his own while providing a good replacement for Mauer. Morneau is back to his old ways and let's hope he keeps it up. Mauer is Mauer and without a new hitting coach he will never hit for power. I really don't want the Twins to even try to contend this year, only due to the fact that if they do start having some success they will stand pat like last year. Meaning, they won't trade for any one or trade away anyone. Pavano, Liriano, Capps and Marquis ALL need to be traded. We may see a few bags of balls and a few bats back if they are pitching like they currently are. The best we can hope for this season is those four to have ERA's in the mid to low 4's and we can trade them for some much needed pitching depth. We can only really expect mid-lvl prospects back but at this point that is better than nothing. I will be happy if they are close to 500 and have no shot at a playoff spot come the end of July. Here is to a great season of up's and down's. Go Twins!!! You are what you are!!

#1 Deal Span to WAS for Jordan Zimmerman--Straight up.....throw 2 or 3 mid lvl prospect at them to get it done if needed. #2 Trade the likes of Revere, Arica, and Hicks to a team(s) with top lvl pitching prospects. The club needs high end SP not a ton OF's. Trade a strength for a weakness. Make sense right?? (possible trade candidates ATL, TOR, OAK, TB, KC, PIT, SF and WAS) #3 Fire Varva!!!!!!!! Get a hitting coach that will kick MAUER in the a$$ and teach him to use the power that we all know is there. Fire Liddle as well.

The problem with this is that ALL of those HS players are position players!!! Not one player is a pitcher and that is a problem!!

There is not one catcher in the minors that should be called up and but on the bench(and ever start). NOT ONE!!!!!! Get over yourself Gardy. NOOO you DO NOT need a 3rd catcher. Thank God Ryan as a brain!!

Looks like you are wrong about that. Today's lineup has Willingham in the 4 hole, Morneau 5th.

When do we need to look at getting rid of Vavra?? We need someone that can teach these two how to hit again. Vavra is not the guy. We need someone to kick Mauer in the A$$ and make the needed adjustments. I agree with whydidnt about the 1st pitch for Mauer. Hit the damn ball. Morneau has the opposite problem, take a few pitches. Willingham needs to bat 4th while Span and Carroll need to steal each and every time Mauer is up(on the first pitch). I would rather have them get thrown out 25% of the time then have a GIDP happen. At least you are challenging the pitcher and catcher.

My biggest fear with this team this year is the same fear as last year, they are barely good enough to be contenters and don't sell by the deadline. We need prospects who are close to MLB ready in this system, the only way to do that is trade your pending FA's. Smith didn't have a clue how to do that last year. Let's hope TR figures it out this year.

I truly hope that is the case. We need new blood and brains in this club. We need people that take risks and know how to build a winner.

It doesn't matter if we find our bats. There is no way our pitching will hold up. We will need to score at least 5-7 runs per game to have a chance at winning 75 games this year. Our pitching SUCKS and we don't have the power or the players to keep up with anyone the in the AL. Here is to the #1 draft pickl in 2013!!!!!