gmarais66

According to the Strib, the Twins have let Rick Stelmaszek and Steve Liddle go, and have reassigned Joe Vavra withing the organization. http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/blogs/172663381.html

According to La Velle, the Twins fired bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek, after 32 years of service with the team. http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/blogs/172663381.html

If you take apart this season and identify the problems that led them to where they are now, and if those problems can be addressed during the offseason, I think the Twins have a good chance of competing next season, if they stay healthy... As many have already said, the biggest problem this season has been starting pitching... How many teams, no matter how good their offense and defense is, could survive losing all five of their starting pitchers from the beginning of the season? Couple that with having few options to replace those starters in the upper levels of the minor league system and you have a real disaster on your hands... However, Diamond and Deduno, and to a lesser extent DeVries have shown some potential to contribute next season... Each now has some significant major league experience and all three could be even better next year, although I wouldn't want to bet on that... One bright spot for next season should be the return of Gibson. I think many people are severely underestimating how good he could be next season... The job for Ryan this off season will be to pick up two solid pitchers, who give the team a chance to win, every time they take the mound... Whether that's through a trade or a free agent signing, it has to happen and Ryan knows it. He did a great job picking up Willingham and Doumit last winter, if he can pick up the pitching versions of those guys this winter, the Twins will be in good shape. The Twins' offense had been pretty solid this season, including Span, Revere, Mauer, Morneau, Willingham, Doumit and Plouffe... The defense has made too many errors, but has been much better than last year... The one area the team could really use some improvement is to pick up one or two middle infielders. Between Florimon and Dozier, they might be able to adequately fill the SS position, but if they could get a good second baseman who can hit and get on base consitently, I think it would be a vast improvement in the lineup... So yes, the Twins can compete next season, but they have to make the right moves to make it happen...

I'm leaning toward signing him, but with the expectation that he probably won't pitch for the Twins until June... Look at how long it took Nathan to get back to normal... Every pitcher that has TJ is different, so it's a real gamble, and Baker has always been a bit inconsistent anyway... If they sign him for $1-2 million with incentives, it would certainly reduce the risk... If he works out great, if he doesn't, you don't lose much...

Hmmm... Does this sound familiar? I'm glad he's Chicago's problem now... http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_21511467/white-sox-move-former-twins-pitcher-francisco-liriano?source=most_viewed

I don't know if they consider him an elite defender, but I would think they regard him as a very good defensive centerfielder... He covers a lot of ground, makes some impressive catches and has a good arm... This combined with his skills as a high-quality leadoff hitter, who hits well against both left and right-handed pitching, make him a desireable centerfielder....

It's become obvious that the Twins' most significant need this off season will be pitching. They might be able to sign a free agent or two, but their best bet in obtaining a quality starter might be through a trade. The way it appears right now, with Revere solidifying his ability to be a starting centerfielder, and with Aaron Hicks and Oswaldo Arcia waiting in the wings, the Twins' most valuable trade chip this off-season will be Denard Span. Many teams are in need of a quality centerfielder/lead-off hitter and Span has put up consistently good numbers in his time with the Twins. His contract is also attractive to other teams that may be looking to acquire him. The one downside with Span is that he's had some injury issues, but injuries can happen to any player. There's a good bet that Span will be traded this off season, but what can the Twins realistically expect to receive for him, in the way of pitching? Is a top-line AAA pitcher out of the question? What are your thoughts?

Can anyone tell me why, in the Elizabethton box score, under the "Batting" section, they list Romy Jimenez as "Trinidad, R"?

Maybe we could trade both Blackburn and Nishi to the Sugar Land Skeeters for Roger Clemens...

According to MLB Trade Rumors: The Twins have signed Taiwanese pitching prospect Chih-Wei Hu for $220K, reports MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez. The 18-year-old right-hander reportedly runs his fastball into the low-90s.

To the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters for a hot-hitting shortstop...

They have 13 pitchers, because three starters in a row couldn't make it past the fifth inning and the bullpen has had to pitch half of each game.... They are way overworked... Not to mention, two of the starters were sent to Rochester.... It's not a change in organizational philosophy.... It's simply a case of some powerful bad starting pitching and an injury (BD)....

According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Twins signed 16-year-old left-hander Lewis Thorpe from Australia. Some scouts consider him the top amateur available in Australia this year. The Twins gave him a $500K bonus.

I can see where there's a chance the Twins would trade Span, but I would think it would have to be an awesome deal for Ryan to move him... After all the Twins are not a terrible team... Yes, they've had horrible starting pitching this season, which is why they are in the Central cellar.... If the Twins add a two or three starting pitchers in the offseason, it would completely change the outlook for next season... Getting rid of your top players, who are signed to team-friendly contracts, doesn't make a whole lot of sense, unless you get an awesome deal... Replacing Revere in right with Parmelee? Really?!? Have you seen him play outfield? In a pinch he can play in right, but he has no business being out there on a daily basis...

You people are amazing... Before they called Dozier up, everyone was upset, because he wasn't being called up, now everyone is complaining and saying he needs to be sent down... Dozier belongs with the Twins... He's a smart kid with a good mind for the game... This is where he needs to be to learn how to hit major league hitting... He's not going to learn that at Rochester.... And as is common with many rookies, he shows flashes of what his potential is, while other times he struggles.... By the end of the year I think he'll have settled in a will be playing more consistently, but it's a process... All of his growing pains this year will payoff next season...

The Twins got RHP Shairon Martis from Pittsburgh in a trade today, according to MLB Trade Rumors.... He looks like organizational filler...

Man... I can't believe how many "Debbie Downers" there are out there... You guys can find a gray cloud in any blue sky... Quit finding fault or possible faults with the guy and just enjoy the ride...

I agree that there isn't a snowball's chance in July that Oswalt is going to sign with the Twins... However I have to disagree with all the posters on here that say the Twins do not need vets... The Twins have losts of youth... Any really good team has a good mix of vets and young players.... A team of all young players doesn't have much of a chance...

According to Joe C.... The Twins are not putting Doumit on the DL... However Blackburn is being put on the DL with a quad strain...

That's not what I'm saying at all... I'm asking why he's complaining about a marginal minor league pitcher not being called up to the big leauges... He really has no argument for why he should be called up at this point... There's no place for him on the roster and his addition is not going to make a lick of difference to how the team performs... What's the point?

REALLY!?!? With all the problems plaguing the Twins this season, from poor hitting, terrible starting pitching, unexplainable mental errors, a lack of replacement talent in the upper levels of the minor leagues, you choose to complain about one marginal minor league relief pitcher, who you feel should be on the big league club? The bullpen has actually been one of the few bright spots for the Twins... Who would Slama replace? Would it really make an impact on what's happening with the team? It's like complaining about the brand of bubble gum the Twins are using...

It would appear the next Rochester starters in line to be called up to the Twins are PJ Walters and Cole DeVries.... Since Liriano shows no signs of turning things around, I think it's time to make a move with him (bullpen?) and give one of these guys a shot... Realistically, it would be tough for them to do any worse... Walters line so far this season is 3-1, 33IP, 25 SO, 7BB, 2.70 ERA, 1.17 WHIP.... DeVries is 0-2, 28IP, 27 SO, 6BB, 2.89 ERA, 1.00 WHIP.... Anyone know more about them?

If you don't want the Rule 5 player you drafted, you can waive or trade that player, but the Rule 5 status follows that player to the next team... If no one else takes the player, you can offer him back to the team he came from...

Yikes.... Well, at least he has confidence....

Plouffe is having trouble getting a read on those balls hit to him in the outfield... I think that's the issue... Outside of 2011, Plouffe has nothing in his minor league stats that suggests he is some great talent that just needs time... I think we've seen the top of the Plouffe mountian and the view ain't that great... Komatsu at least has a minor league history of strong play, suggesting he has potential...