Boom Boom

After watching Dozier play, I think his future is at second base. If he can hit some. I don't think he's got the range or the arm to make it as a shortstop long-term, but I wouldn't give up on him as a possible contributor in the near future.

I was a little surprised by some of the stuff Ryan said in John's interview. I think he's serious about getting some real pitching to help the team next year, however he has to get that pitching. Based on last season, I expect the Twins to strike early and often. Nothing too flashy, but nothing Ramon Ortiz-esque, either. Maybe this is finally the year that TR spends a considerable amount of dough on starting pitchers, but I think he'll still sign a bargain-basement starter or two anyway.

If the choice is between Escobar and Florimon, I'd take Escobar. But my preference would be neither.

TR keeps saying the pitching market is "thin", but it looks like one of the thickest I've seen in the past several years.

Way too much gets made of Grienke's anxiety disorder. I guarantee you that there are dozens of MLB players who also have anxiety disorders, but we've just never heard of it because they never sought help.

I believe it was on Dan Barreiro's show that LEN3 said that he thinks the Twins view Molitor as a manager, not a coach, and they don't want Gardy having to look over his shoulder at a possible replacement all season.

Natch! Good show friend.

I get that, but catchers don't play 157 games a year anyway. By the nature of the position, they just don't play that many games. This year the most games started at catcher was 136. Last year, it was 131. Every team needs another catcher, not just us. Not only that, but above I showed why he played so little at catcher this year. On top of that, you seem to be saying that the only time Mauer hasn't been in the lineup is when he's been hurt. That's not the case. As a catcher, Gardy just rested him as other managers do with their catchers. #1 - how many teams need three catchers? #2 - I know it's a fact of the position that catchers get time off, but that only proves my point that Fielder has more offensive value. He's in the lineup more.

If position isn't taken into account, or defensive ability, maybe. But comparing offensive output from a player who is primarily a catcher (or has been and likely will be again) to offensive output from a 1B straight across the board is something I try not to do (and Fielder plays a poor 1B too). For me, it's similar to the MVP debate this year. The two top candidates are a leadoff hitting CF and #3 hitting corner IF (in this case a 1B playing 3B...badly). If we don't dive too far into advanced metrics, we see Cabrera was #1 in BA, Trout #2. Trout #3 in OBP, Cabrera #4. Cabrera #1 in SLG%, Trout #3. Cabrera #1 in OPS, Trout #2. Trout #1 in OPS+, Cabrera #2. Pretty darn close there, no? Really close to each other in every one of those categories...Trout getting him in OBP and OPS+, Cabrera getting him in BA, SLG% and OPS. But again, one is a leadoff hitting CF and one is a corner IF. If we take into account position, isn't the CF more valuable? Then there is the base running and defense comparisons and Trout kills him in those as well. As far as the Mauer, Fielder debate, there are other factors. How much revenue does having the hometown boy done good bring into the team in tickets sales, concession sales from people who attend games, merchandise, etc. Especially in a place like Minny whose people REALLY take pride in home state players. How much does that need to be taken into account? As I said before, Mauer is now a 1/2 time catcher. The other part of that is the fact that the Twins are required to carry a lesser catcher on the roster to back up Mauer who doesn't play full time there. In Fielder's career, the fewest games he's played in a full season is 157. That's 10 more than Mauer has played in his healthiest season (which just happened, and Mauer's caught only 74 of those games). The Tigers don't need a backup 1B because Fielder is always healthy. As for the hometown boy thing, jersey sales, what have you, that's all guesswork. I'm sure Fielder sells a lot of jerseys too, and I bet there was a buzz around Tiger Stadium to go see Fielder play at least at the beginning of the year.

From '05-'10, only one player whose primary position is catcher played in more games than Mauer and none had more plate appearances. His games played per season from '05-12 are in line with most players whose primary position is catcher with the exception of two seasons. I believe his injury history is a bit over-exaggerated, especially when you consider he'd likely have a lot more games played if Gardy didn't feel the need to play his substitute players so much. Situations like Sub-Sundays, day after night games, and the last game of a 3 game series where we already won the first 2 games. This year, Mauer played quite a bit 1B, but that happened for a few reasons. 1: Doctors said if Morneau played both sides too much it could cause concussion symptoms to show up. 2. Mauer was the best option to fill in for Morneau. 3. With Doumit on the roster, it gave them a good option for replacement and then later, with Butera, he need his playing time too. I have no doubt Mauer could have played more catcher not only this season, but other seasons as well, but this year, with having three catchers and Morneau who needed rest, made sense to play Mauer at 1B more. I don't disagree with you, and I wasn't trying to make the tired old argument about Mauer being overpaid. I just think that Prince Fielder's contract provides somewhat better value to the Tigers than Mauer's contract provides to the Twins.

Really? Mauer - 8 years, $23 million per Fielder - 8 years, $24 million per Other factors - Fielder hits for more power and is never hurt. And he's one of the few hitters who can approach Mauer's OBP. Mauer's a 1/2 time catcher now, and has a well-documented injury history. I think I'd rather have Fielder's contract.

All I can think of is this http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/centaur-job-interview/1350447/

I wish they'd put something out there, because since the trees were uprooted that abyss beyond the center field wall looks awful. Is there any way we can hang some vampire seats out there or something?

OK, here's one that just came up - Dave St. Peter says the Twins will not be planting trees again beyond the center field wall. John, can you ask TR if the Twins have any plans to make the batter's eye not so disgustingly ugly?

On the other hand, being a lame duck boss makes it hard to instill confidence in the lower ranks. Removing the interim tag could be viewed as symbolic as well. As I've said all along, JR deserves more than 11 months to get this franchise back on track. If he fails to have a clear path forward a year from now, then it's time to think about moving in another direction. So far, he's done a pretty good job with the franchise. The last draft went off like gangbusters, most of the free agent acquisitions were either good or decent, and now he has his first full offseason to really lay out a plan. I agree with you on this - but can't it also be said that Gardy is a lame duck boss?

Yep, his acquisitions of players like Willingham, Doumit, Carroll and Burton certainly led this team right down the tubes. He should not only fire himself but commit seppuku on the mound at Target Field. Do you ever get bored of posting some variation of the same "fire everyone" comment on every thread? I don't recall thrylos98 ever calling for Rick Stelmaszek to be fired. It's really a valid question, I think. After a 96-loss season, Ryan gave himself a promotion. If Gardy says "I don't deserve a contract extension" then I think Ryan should at least be accountable enough to keep the interim tag (symbolic as it may be).

I'm sure you're going to ask him questions about acquiring starting pitching, so I'd like to hear how he feels about the Twins middle infield situation going in to 2013.

Well, if not getting out (OBP) is the best measure of offensive performance, then Joe Mauer must be the best offensive player in the league. No, because there are other players that get out at nearly the same percentage while also slugging at a much higher rate. If only Mauer slugged as well as Miguel Cabrera he might have driven in 139 runs.

Well, if not getting out (OBP) is the best measure of offensive performance, then Joe Mauer must be the best offensive player in the league.

It's because this time it's Girardi's ox that's being gored.

He only took the "old" approach after he had spent most of his money on Willingham and Doumit. I wasn't a fan of the Marquis signing but it's not as if he had a ton of money left over to go get a decent pitcher after spending $10m on those two players. This season should be different, as almost all of the front office's efforts will be focused on shoring up the rotation. I guess we'll have to see just how much the Twins' previous toe-dips into the FA starter pool were budget-driven and how much they were philosophy-driven. Until he proves me otherwise, my suspicion is that TR is petrified of inking another Joe Mays deal, no matter how much more money he has to spend.

They probably won't. Ryan got a good deal on Willingham. Why are you so adamant that he won't pay market value for a pitcher as he did for Willingham, Doumit, and Carroll last season? Add $6m over three years to Willingham's deal and you're suddenly in the market for a mid-range pitcher (aka. roughly the money Pavano made last season). Ryan showed that he's willing to go after a guy if he thinks the team will get value from the player. He did it last season and there's no reason to think he won't do it again because he has more money this offseason... well, he should have more, anyway. The only basis you have to assume that Ryan will only pursue $3m pitchers is that he often did so when the Twins' payroll was half what it is today. It's not solid ground on which to stand, as the circumstances are vastly different today than they were in 2004. He's got to do better than Marquis. I think most Twins fans realized the rotation would be a weakness, and Ryan took the same approach to improving it as he did when the Twins were in the Dome - find a cheap, older veteran on a 1-year deal.

Samuel Deduno and Cole De Vries were better innings-eaters than Marquis, and they only cost the league minimum. I think Pavano is cooked. 87-mph fastballs just won't get it done.

I always thought it was because the Twins have had such a rough time with the Yankees in the Gardenhire era. Jeter has been killing the Twins for a long time. Why should Twins fans cheer that?

He had a good June.... but an awful year. Liriano hasn't been a world-beater since 2006.