Siehbiscuit

Who projects as a better defensive OF? Buxton or Hicks? I have heard both have great arms, maybe a slightly better arm for Hicks and it sounds like Buxton is faster. Knowing this I would think Hicks in RF and Buxton in CF, but I haven't ever seen them play. Instincts are pretty important too. Gomez was crazy fast, but didn't have the instincts that Torii did.

Trout, also may be penalized by some voters because he is a rookie. It's not fair, but these writers have shown that objectivity isn't the way they always operate.

I think THE biggest things the writers will look at is the TRADITIONAL offensive numbers. Cabrera's defense is not great and Trout's is amazing. But the criteria for these voters is something like 7 parts offense, 2 part defense and 1 part how much the media likes you. Overall, if Cabrera wins a Triple Crown its his rather easily. If he just misses out on the TC, he squeaks it out on the lifetime achievement sympathy vote.

You bastard!!! Why would you even plant this into an already saddened and depressed fan base. You better get Part 2 up before the weekend.

I think you have to look at moving Morneau and Span. The dropoffs from both to Revere and Parmelee would definitely be noticed. Morneau has been raking in the 2nd half and Span, whether you love him or hate him, is a very good leadoff hitter. Defensively, Revere is better than Span, but offensively there is a dramatic decline. The Twins have few positions of strength and 1B (because any good bat can be plugged in there) and OF. Our weaknesses (SS, 2B and SP) are REALLY weak throughout the organization.Trading Span for an elite middle infielder such as the 2B in the Reds system was talked about at the deadline. If the Reds fall apart in the playoffs due to continued poor leadoff hitting/table-setting for Bruce, Votto and Phillips the Reds may be willing to do that. Morneau HAS value, because he is showing that he is healthy and when healthy he can hit. All it takes is one GM to take a chance on Morneau. You have to admit that with the way Morneau has been hitting, it will be attractive to teams looking for an impact bat this off-season. Whether we trade it for pitching or middle infield help doesn't matter to me. The Twins need GOOD players everywhere and trading players when their values are highest is the best way to build in both the short and long term. The pitching depth in free agency is much better than any middle infield FA we could sign. Best player available (excluding OF's) for Span and Morneau. Our weaknesses are REALLY weak. They have to be addressed.

"It is wise for the Twins to let 2013 play out before considering extending Willingham. It will be another year to see how he performs as well as seeing how the prospects progress." Initially, I agreed with your statement, but after thinking it through a little more I think adding another year may be worth it. If Willingham received another 7 million for his age 36 season that extra year may provide the peace of mind for him to replicate his 2012 season in 2013 and increase trade value or even help the Twins make an unexpected run. I highly doubt his contract would stay on the books in 2015, but sometimes guys press to get one more payday. If an extension can help him perform by eliminating this distraction I am all for it.

I haven't seen Sano play, like most of us I read a lot of stuff, but haven't analyzed his approach or his actual swing. Most everyone understands that with big-time power he will whiff a lot. My concern/question is truly one of ignorance. What is the reason for the strikeouts? Is it too long of a swing (think Brandon Wood) or is it just his approach or strike-zone discipline? If you don't recall Brandon Wood put up crazy power numbers at all of his stops in the minors but could never adjust to MLB pitchers due to a "long" swing. Is this Sano? Or does Sano just need to mature as guys like Jay Bruce and Jason Heyward have been allowed to (although at the MLB level)?

Move Span. OF of Willingham, Span and Parmalee. If we move Morneau at deadline, Parmalee can move to 1B fulltime and Hicks can take over in RF at that time. This will give Hicks a little more seasoning in the minors. Span will get better prospects than Morneau at this point.

Great idea, let's lower the return on a possible Morneau or Span trade NBA teams do this ALL the time. When you give up the best player in a trade or in this case a quality MLB player for the "potential" of an unproven minor leaguerthrow in your worst contract. A Span trade may be able to fetch the Twins two prospects, an A and a B prospect (what the Twins wanted from the Reds at the deadline). So to respond to getting a lower return on the trade...YES, it would absolutely lower the return, but to me getting Blackburn's $5.75 million off the books next year is worth only getting the A prospect. I would at least consider it in the trade talks, because his contract is a waste of valuable payroll and it eliminates the need to put him in the rotation just because he is paid so handsomely.

Package him in with either the Denard move or the Morneau trade that is made in the off-season. Getting his $5+ salary off the books is as valauble as anything, be it team chemistry (joy in knowing you aren't guaranteeing a loss every 5 days) and more $ for the payroll.

Trade him to Baltimore for Dylan Bundy!

Back to the pitching and reasons why... I haven't read anyone mention anything about our minor league pitching coaches and their inability to develop pitching. I look at the many teams around the league that every year have 2-3 AA and AAA guys that are competing for the last spot in the rotation and this happens year after year for those teams. Look at the Rays, they always have quality young arms coming up. I don't think the draft has been the problem at all. Injuries to the Twins parent club has derailed the team, but not having developed prospects has sunk the team. Did Liriano ever get better than he was when we originally got him San Fran? My biggest gripe is our pitchers don't seem to get better year after year. Our hitters seem to develop, not as greatly as a fan wishes, but more in line with the rest of the league. The Twins pitching philosophy might need to be changed, amended or tweaked. Not just the "pitch to contact"-thing, but more like what Nolan Ryan's philosophy has instilled in the Rangers. They don't have any "aces" that they brought through their system, but the get stronger and better year after year. With the Rangers its not about pitch counts its about each pitcher knowing their limits and pushing through a little more. Mental toughness is amazing in that organization and something that our team really needs. I love seeing our young bats developing. That is very encouraging. The pitching prospects need to grow in a similar way and that comes from an organizational philosophy and a staff that can implement it and push these kids to get better each time out. Our pitchers have to be better developed from the lowest levels to our parent club.

Hopeful 2014 lineup (with Gardy out there may be some platooning): C- Joe Mauer/Ryan Doumit 1B - Chris Parmalee/Mauer 2B - Eddie Rosario SS - Who knows??? Niko Goodrum/Brian Dozier/Levi Michael/FA 3B - Trevor Plouffe RF - Aaron Hicks CF - Ben Revere LF - Oswaldo Arcia/Joe Benson/Willingham DH -Josh Willingham/Doumit Seems promising in most areas. Plus, Sano should be on his way shortly after 2014 begins and maybe Buxton early 2015. Span and Morneau are moved for in the 2014 and 2013 offseasons for pitching.... ...and then I woke up and Gardy is still here and the Twins re-sign Blackburn to a two year extension.

Gardenhire is a very good manager. Period. BUT, he has lost this team. He will get another job and do well again. Terry Francona will be the manager for the Twins next season. Losing is extremely exhausting physically, but moreso emotionally. If you run out of emotional "energy" (can't get excited for games) you will play poorly. This is on the players as individuals, but this is difficult for coaches too. Gardenhire is not the only problem, but the best solution for the organization is a fresh start.

Kubel was the guy doing the majority of the b****ing in the clubhouse the last two years that Target Field was too big. He was not coming back. Even if you do agree that rightfield should be adjusted, that kind of negativity doesn't resolve anything. He wasn't going to come back.

Six years of Sano for super cheap is defintiely worth hanging on to him. Trading him is ridiculous.

Morneau is gone in the off-season. Butera is loved by the organization and Ryan Doumit was just locked up for the next couple of years. Mauer and Doumit equal 1 catcher, 3/4 DH and 1/4 1B. Parmalee will be at 1B 3/4 of the time next year as he is out of options after this year, kinda like Plouffe is this year. Morneau will be traded, but the Twins would get more in return (either in straight salary dump or in prospects, not both) by waiting and hoping Morneau can put together a solid last few weeks. @DPJ this team is not THAT far away. The offense may need some minor tweaks in 2013, but that has been the least of the problems. Even when Crain, Guerrier and Rauch leave and everyone is clamoring for bullpen arms, the Twins bullpen somehow gets pieced together and is respectable. The Twins minor league system is seriously lacking in quality starting pitching. Gibson and Wimmers injuries have greatly hindered the forecast for projected rotations of this year and next. The contract of Blackburn hamstrings the Twins next year as well and the injury of Scott Baker kills most of his availability of him next year if he were to be brought back. The Twins have to trade for or sign FA pitching this off-season. If Span doesn't go at the deadline, the Twins will deal him in the off-season for a solid starting pitcher. There are too many OF prospects on the verge to not do this. The immediate future isn't "bright" as in surface of the sun, but the Twins aren't a lost cause. Our pitching has had some really bad luck with injuries in both the minors and majors, but with Morneau coming off the books and Liriano, Pavano and likely Baker that is A LOT of money to put back into pitching. The Twins will be fine. So in summary, move Span and Morneau, because there are capable replacements in place. Get starting pitching for them because there is very little within the organization ready to contribute next year (Gibson at best by June).

The Pirates and Astros are both cheap. Pirates gave up cheap prospects to get Wandy Rodriguez. The Astros saw this as an opportunity to salary dump and get a little something in return. This is more of the type of deal I would expect for Morneau. If the Twins move him it is a salary dump. Liriano and Rodriguez may be similar, Rodriguez has a price tag that Liriano doesn't.

All it takes is one team that is desparate enough. Infante fills a need at 2B, and Sanchez a need in the Tigers rotation. Teams that think they are a player or two away OFTEN over pay in prospects, because the think they can win now with these minor tweaks. Sanchez is a rental and Infante has one year left on his deal. Span has TWO more club controlled years and is a better plater than Infante that can leadoff for a team. Liriano has the potential to be better than Sanchez, but Sanchez will be far more reliable and consistent. It only takes one team to over pay.

That is a pretty unfair statement. I am not talking about the entire draft. That can be very debatable depending on whomever you talk to. A couple of years ago the Twins had what many considered the best farm system in baseball. Prior to Buxton this year, the Twins have had 13 first round draft picks in the last 10 years (not counting the "sandwich" picks). 2002 - OF Denard Span (20) 2003 - 3B Matt Moses (21) 2004 - SS Trevor Plouffe (20), P Glen Perkins (22), P Kyle Waldrop (25) 2005 - P Matt Garza (25) 2006 - 1B Chris Parmalee (20) 2007 - OF Ben Revere (28) 2008 - OF Aaron Hicks (14), P Carlos Gutierrez (27) 2009 - P - Kyle Gibson (22) 2010 - P - Alex Wimmers (21) 2011 - SS - Levi Michael (30) On average, the Twins picks are picking around the 23 mark. You are absolutely right that "every team suffers injuries and prospects flame out," but the Twins have drafted relatively well in the higher rounds. Later round picks rarely produce quality major league players. Everyone on this list outside of Matt Moses Prior to 2008 has at least had a cup of coffee in the big leagues. 87.5% success rate is not drafting poorly considering that the Twins were not drafting lower than the 20th pick in any of those years and including Hicks at 14 in 2008 and Buxton in 2012 makes it twice in 11 years that the Twins had picks below the 20th selection. The FO saw what was coming and grabbed a couple of "soft tossers" (as you like to call them) in back to back years, with the teams low-20's pick. Gibson and Wimmers are and were excellent prospects both now and at the time of their respective drafts. If you look where the Felix Hernandez's and Justin Verlander's and other "flame-throwers" are drafted year in and year out. Its in the top 10. Picking up the Pavano, Hernandez, Marquis and Ponsons of the world is not the long-term answer, but maybe, just maybe the Twins thought they could catch a little lightning in a bottle and piece together a backend to their rotation. The Twins tried on R.A. Dickey and it bombed. The Mets gace it a go and it has been the best signing ever. Sometimes things come together, sometime you have a string of bad luck. The Twins tried numerous times to get some of these hard throwers. They traded Santana and got Phillip Humber as a part of the deal (top 3 pick) and he completely sucked with the Twins. Ramon Ortiz had a big arm, but couldn't avoid the middle of the plate. Injuries are the reason the Twins are where they are as well as Blackburn's terrible contract. A healthy rotation of Liriano, Pavano, Baker, Slowey and Gibson would have the Twins very competitive team in the AL Central.

I think A LOT of this can be blamed on something other than the front office. Injuries to our top pitching prospects has crippled this team. Back in 2009, when Gibson was drafted, I am sure the FO thought that he would be the team's #2 or 3 starter right now if not sooner. Fast forward one year and the Twins draft another promising RHP Alex Wimmers that goes Rick Ankiel and is shut down for nearly all of 2011 and then in 2012 is on the verge of Tommy John. Scott Diamond has proven to be a great find as a Rule 5 pickup. But with a healthy Wimmers and Gibson, would the Twins have still made the move? I would assume that the FO projections for the 2012 and 2013 seasons would have been closer to this following the 2010 draft: 2012 projections #1 - Francisco Liriano. Liriano was in the midst of a great campaign and looked like the Liriano of old. (Fail - underperformed) #2 - Scott Baker. Baker's stuff has always been very good. He just can't seem to stay healthy. (Bad Luck) #3 - Carl Pavano. Pavano was going to be a free agent but had pitched well. He would be brought back on a 2 year deal (OK-1st year, bad luck - 2nd year) #4 - Nick Blackburn. Blackburn was given a stupid and ridiculous contract so we knew he would be in the conversation. (Epic Fail) #5 - Kevin Slowey. Slowey was better than Blackburn. Period. NB's contract assured him a rotation spot. Left Slowey out in the cold. Then he pouted. (Fail) #6 - Kyle Gibson. Gibson was on the fast track to the majors and aside from a hiccup at AAA he had been excellent at every stop. (Bad Luck) #7 - Glen Perkins. Perkins wasn't exactly in good graces, but he still had potential as a starter. As a reliever he has been very good. (OK) #8 - Alex Wimmers. The FO probably thought that Wimmers would follow a similar path to the majors as Gibson. (Bad Luck) #9 - Brian Duensing. FO awarded Duensing a rotation spot after a solid 2010 season, but at this time he was still a reliever. (OK) 2013 Likely gone: Liriano-unrestricted FA, Pavano UFA Likely in the rotation: Baker (team option) Slowey, Blackburn, Gibson, Wimmers The plan wasn't terrible, but it wasn't the reason for total demise of the Twins rotation. 1. Baker cannot stay healthy and at that time (June of 2010) he hadn't been quite as fragile as he has been the last two years. 2. No one forsaw what happened with Slowey way back then either. He appeared to be a very solid #2-3 for years to come. 3. Blackburn sucks and he always has. Who knows what the FO was thinking here. 4. Gibson should have had a year and a half under his belt by now and would arguably be the staff's ace by now. 5. Wimmers would have had about 12-15 starts in 2012 and be a solid rotation guy in 2013. Injuries have crippled our staff and this string of bad luck coupled by the Blackburn contract has destroyed our rotation. So many argue how Mauer's contract hamstrings this team, but Blackburn's deal had a major cause and effect in the rotation both now and into next year.

Defensively, Hicks would be a GREAT RF immediately, but can his bat be ready for 2013? He deserves a Sept call-up. If Span can net a very good pitching prospect and/or middle infielder that can he should be moved. Span's value is still very good. He takes a lot of pitches per at bat and that helps Revere quite a bit. Span is a very consistent leadoff guy and I predict he ends up with the Pirates for a A level pitching prospect.

The Twins starting rotation in 2013 will be atrocious without a Willingham or Span trade that nets us a elite pitching prospect that will be able to make the rotation next year. The Twins do not hand out large FA contracts! The largest FA contract ever offered in the Twins history was this last off-season for Willingham @ 3years and 21 million. The offense is good, not great. This team needs Willingham's RH bat more than we need Span. There are a few mid-to high minor guys that could make the leap next year. As far a Liriano goes, the Twins will not go after a BIG fish in FA. A "sandwich" pick is probably less likely to make an impact (ever) as it is that Liriano can prove to be a solid pitcher for the rotation. The Twins will not be good in 2013, but they do need want to be competitive. Rolling the dice on Liriano needs to be done and by rolling the dice I mean offering a 3 yeart deal at $8-10 million a year. If he retains the present form, Liriano will be will worth the investment. If he reverts to a Jekyll and Hyde pitcher he will only be worth about half of that. His last two months alone has driven his trade value up considerably and unless one team falls in love with his potential and is willing to overpay with a soon-to-be ready pitching prospect, the Twins need to keep Liriano. I know thats not popular, but teams do see potential and as fans we see and hold on to the "warts" much more than the businessmen that are making these decisions.

How spoiled have we become as Twins fans?! Mauer is what he is (the best catcher in the AL). He isn't worth the contract $184 million he got, but coming off the season (MVP) he had and three batting titles (first catcher ever to have more than one) he got what the market commanded. He was beat up last year and tried to play through it. Relatively healthy this year, so far, he is 5th in the league in batting and has hit over .400 since the middle of May. What does Joe Mauer have to do to not be treated as the red-headed stepchild for our favorite team. He is great in the community, stays out of trouble, produces on the field. What are we expecting? Is there one better catcher in all of baseball than him? Maybe at this moment, someone could argue one or two. Saltalamaccia is having a great breakout season. Wieters is starting to show promise. Carlos Santana is injured again, but talented. Alex Avila is having a down year compared to last year's breakout season. Mike Napoli is banged up again. All of these guys have shown flashes of greatness, either this year or last. Mauer has proven at over several seasons and is at it again this year. Catchers get injured, the comes with the position (Where's Wilson Ramos? On the DL for the 2nd time in two seasons in MLB). Mauer will play as often as he can and when he does he will play well. He will be part of the solution for the Twins. He is definitely NOT, the problem or even part of the problem as many frustrated Twins fans tend to think.

That is all too possible!