stringer bell

The words got in there didn't they? I like TD and I really like a good discussion without name-calling, demeaning, etc. For the record, my opinion is that Presley is a fourth OF, who'll start the season as the Twins regular CF. I fervently hope that he is replaced by mid-May. If he isn't replaced, the reason for this happening in order of likelihood: 1) No potential replacement has stepped up to demonstrate they could be a regular CF or 2) Presley becomes a bona fide major league CF and leadoff hitter at age 28.

This three year stretch is certainly among the most frustrating I've witnessed and I've followed the Twins since they moved from Washington. After the surprising regular season success in every year but one between 2007 and 2010, I thought the Twins would stay competitive, especially since they were about to (and did) cash in on new stadium revenue. They won 90+ in 2010 without Morneau for half a season and for the entire season without Joe Nathan. Then luck changed, each trade seemed to fail and the farm system couldn't replace the players who left via free agency. The Twins haven't produced many good players in the past five years and they haven't developed enough starting pitching in a long, long time.

I'm sure it would be Presley. I think Mastro gets a chance to be a fourth OF this spring, and if he's healthy, he will get the job. When Hicks returns from exile in Rochester, Presley or Mastro is sent out.

Never was a fan of Clete. He was the center fielder until Presley was acquired (with Hicks demoted to AAA), so I guess I understand why he got as many ABs as he did. De Vries will probably get a chance with someone (his season ruined by injury). Roenicke was pretty good in the middle of the season, but "leaked oil" badly from some time in August until the end of the season. I fully expect more guys to be taken off the 40-man.

Blanco is key!

I could call it mixed feelings, I could call it being worn down by all the bad news from my favorite team, or maybe it is that I don't think it will make much difference whether Ron Gardenhire was retained. I can't get too worked up about the move. I heard the news and didn't respond. Maybe I'm numb. About 10 hours later, though, I'm starting to think about the whole process. What did Gardy do to get two more years? In my humble opinion, there was more justification to extend him a year ago than there is now. A year ago I thought Gardy should stay, but coming into today I thought it would be best for the organization if someone else took the helm. What does this move say about the Twins Front Office? Is three years of dreadful baseball acceptable? The Twins had one player make significant progress this year on a team where there were opportunities for many to make a place for themselves for the long term. Is that okay? In what area or what level did the Twins make real progress? After hearing Terry Ryan making circular arguments about free agency which virtually guarantee that there will be no top tier signing from the Twins and hearing him brand play as "unacceptable" but have no real plan to compete, I can't be optimistic. It seems the whole plan is "wait for Buxton and Sano" and that isn't a plan, it is just hoping. Ron Gardenhire is a good baseball guy and seems like a decent human being. I respect Terry Ryan's knowledge of the game of baseball and his ability to find talent. I just don't think either man fits in rebuilding a pretty good franchise and developing a team that can win it all. I hope my opinions are wrong, but I have seen precious little to refute my opinion.

Yes they did. I can't think of a more "out of the blue" batting champ--especially since Cuddy has a decade of sample size showing him to be a .270 hitter. Bill Mueller was one, but he was a lifetime .290 hitter, the other surprise batting champ that comes to mind is the late Norm Cash, considered more of a power hitter, who hit .361 in 1961 and won the AL crown. Cash was a good hitter (lifetime .862 OPS, 139 OPS+) but he never hit over .286 in any other year. He won his batting title at age 27.

Congratulations to Michael Cuddyer on winning a batting championship at 34 years of age. One of the more unlikely winners ever of a batting championship

Comment 6--Terry Ryan (JR for you BYTOers). The man knows baseball, and he is more of a straight shooter than almost any GM. However, I question whether he is the man to guide this franchise for the next ten years. A quote originally about Calvin Griffith comes to mind: "he throws quarters around like they are manhole covers". If he considers the 3-$21M contract for Willingham a "huge contract", he is not going to acquire or keep premium talent, especially pitching. Also, I think he might be too loyal to the guys below him in the organization. I believe it is time to clean house and let the new talent come in. Uh-oh, Mrs. Stringer is calling and I will miss the rest of the game. Enjoy!

Comment 5--Mauer. He's going to finish second in the AL in hitting. He remains a great hitter, but despite his reluctance I think it is time to hand him a first baseman's mitt and say "this is your position". While he wouldn't be as valuable as a great-hitting, modest power, 1B, getting 150 games per year would make up for the loss of value.

Comment 4--Gardy! He will miss out on 1000 wins for the Twins. While his moves and methods have been panned here, I think he's done a good job with flawed team. That said, I think it is time for a new voice and new emphasis. Gardy and his guys will find jobs somewhere else, I imagine, and it could be a win-win for Gardy and the Twins.

Comment 3--I am a Diamond fan and his regression was predictable. However, for him to fall so far, so fast, is astonishing. I think his arm was and may still be less than 100% and I think he will be in the rotation next year with results closer to 2012 than 2013. He's got enough stuff to be effective, but he does need command and good defense.

Comment 2--Plouffe finishes as the Twins #3 hitter. Miguel Sano is on the way. Ryan sounded a cautionary tone about Sano, but Sano remains a Top 5 minor league prospect. Does Plouffe have a future with the Twins? I see him as the ultimate tease, stiff and uninstinctive in the field, streaky and strikeout prone on offense. I would hope that the Twins could move him after a productive month or two. He has right handed power, something lacking on the Twins, but just can't sustain.

As a change of pace, I thought I might offer up some topics during the thread and see if my opinions are on the mark. Comment 1--Parmelee starts at first today. Does he have any chance of being a regular for the Twins? I think the chance is small but given the options, he might get an opportunity next year. Ryan said they needed to "fix" Parm. He might need to get in better shape in order to be a good player.

I want to echo the appreciation for RB's game day threads. These threads, with the tone set by RB, have been something to look forward to and enjoy during an increasingly dismal season.

The AM 1500 guys are interpreting Ryan's words as a signal they will go another way--Paul Molitor. He has seen and worked with the elite prospects in the minors and the team is going to be terrible next year, so they think Gardy is gone and Molitor will be the Twins' next manager.

I don't get the Ramirez love. He's an older basically career minor leaguer with no real obvious big-league strengths and a real stretch to put in center field. He would be on top of my DFA list. On the other hand, Mastro played most of last season for the Twins and demonstrated ++basestealing skills and enough defense to be okay in center field. This year was ruined by injury and he can't hit like he has since he returned to the Twins, but I think that Mastroianni breaks camp with the Twins in 2014 as the fourth OF and a platoon option for Presley.

With the weekend to go, Cuddyer has opened up a .012 lead on the field. I don't want to jinx Cuddy, but it sure looks like the 34 year-old ex-Twin is going to win a batting title and he may garner a Silver Slugger as well.

Really leery of signing speed guys in the 30s. Ellsbury is 30, has an injury history, and has put up one year of +.800 OPS. While I'm not a huge fan of Presley, he can hold center for Hicks and be a bitter better than replacement player. He would make a decent fourth OF when/if Hicks or Buxton claims center field full-time. From Mike's comments, I disagree totally with Aaron Hicks becoming solely a RH hitter, and Florimon has earned the starting job for the beginning of 2014 (no more-no less). I think Escobar profiles as a utility infielder with a ceiling of three-position "10th starter". Despite the offensive struggles, the area this teams needs the most turnover and improvement in is starting pitching. I would take a flyer on Mike Pelfrey if the price is right.

No, it isn't fair for RH hitters and I see Plouffe as at least the equal of Parmelee. That said, I don't think Plouffe's OF defense would be superior to Parm. I have more hope for as a hitter than you do, as well. Parmelee is younger, proved that he can play OF this year, and hits lefty. He may be no more than a replacement player, but I think 2014 should be his last chance to prove himself.

To summarize, perhaps finding middle ground on this issue: It is probably tough to have a strict platoon, in part because position player numbers have shrunk and in part because the right handed part of a platoon would only start somewhere between 23 and 30% of the time. While having a strict platoon doesn't and shouldn't happen much, the Twins have managed to send out far too many hitters going on the weak side of their platoon splits

Alex I'll dispute one thing you wrote--you said that all three regular Twins infielders were better against LH pitching. As has been noted on Twins telecasts since mid-season, Florimon has been brutal against left handers. He has a .478 OPS vs. lefties, as opposed to a still very pedestrian .655 against righties. Starting Escobar vs. lefties (.670 OPS) and spotting Eduardo for Plouffe and Dozier makes sense, although both Plouffe and Dozier outhit Escobar vs. righthanders (not significantly).

This has been an excellent debate with both "sides" making good points. Probably the underestimated part of this equation is the player himself. Joe Mauer is, as stated above, someone who likes to do the same thing over and over, perhaps to a fault. He was reluctant to even try to play first base and I would expect that he would be extremely reluctant to try to play a totally new position (3rd base or outfield corner). He is on the cusp of being a Hall of Fame catcher at 30 years of age and, I think, is reluctant to change some more. Mauer has to be on board with a position change or it won't happen. I expect that a medical warning that another foul ball to the mask might make him into Corey Koskie might have the effect of Mauer grudgingly accepting a first baseman's mitt full-time. Beyond this, I think the Twins need to forcefully say that they want Mauer to change positions.

Lacking the numbers to platoon at several positions, I've thought that using positional flexibility and switch hitters to fill three spots with four players would be ideal. Escobar filling in for Plouffe, Florimon (vs LH starters) and occasionally Dozier (big platoon split) would make sense. Likewise in the outfield, an outfield where one switch hitter replaces two or all three of the regulars depending on the handedness of the pitcher would allow the hitters to be placed in situations that give them a good chance to succeed.

True, but how many catchers were disabled this year by things unique to being a catcher (home plate collisions and foul tips)?