JB_Iowa

Well, I spent some time this morning going through the numbers: 2012_Baseball_Revenue | Flickr - Photo Sharing! To my chagrin, I have to apologize to the Twins for being so p*ssy over the 50% "rule". Apparently most other teams abandoned it long ago -- or never honored it. So, if the Twins don't talk about it if they go over 50%, I'll stop talking about it now that they are likely to be significantly under 50%. The salary figures were opening day 2012 figures based on Cot's baseball contracts. I'm sure they changed for all teams over the course of the year but I doubt if the changes were so significant that they would change the rankings very much. The top 10 teams in % of revenue devoted to player salaries were: Angels, Phillies, Tigers, Red Sox, Marlins, Rangers, Giants, Brewers, Twins whereas the Padres, Pirates, A's and Astros were all only spending about 30%. (I'm assuming that Forbes' figures compare "apples to apples" and that one team isn't significantly better at hiding revenues than another). It did surprise me that the top 10 teams in operating income were the Cubs, Orioles, Padres, Nationals, A's, Pirates, Astros, Red and White Sox. And the ones with "losses" being the Angels, Rangers, Marlins, Mets and Tigers (not totally surprising except for the Rangers). Overall, I guess I'd conclude that the Twins are still being more honorable with their fans than are the majority of teams in baseball. I apologize for any mistakes -- I was putting the info in a spreadsheet at 6 a.m. so there may be some errors.

I don't really understand "operating income" so it's hard for me to judge. I saw team's with much higher values & revenues with losses and teams with lower revenues with higher operating incomes so I really need someone to explain the concept. One thing I did note was that the Twins' estimated revenues were right in the middle of the pack (I think 16th but within 2 million of Seattle and Chicago so very close). I also noted that Houston's new TV deal will be about $80 million/year -- more than double the Twins' TV revenues. You can have a really bad team for a number of years but you still get the TV revenues based on market size. That's a disparity that seems hard to solve -- a real gap between the "haves" and "have nots".

I like the 2 column set-up on the articles -- less scrolling. I continue to dislike the set-up of most of the right column (not the fact that there are ads -- that's a given; but the set-up of everything else.)

Thanks Mr. Brooks - that's exactly what I wanted to know.

Isn't Lohse basically in a similar position to Pavano was in a couple of years ago (although a couple of years younger and with a change in the draft compensation rules)? I'm sure that players and their agents weigh the risks involving loss of a draft pick -- and those of you who said that Boras misjudged the market are probably right but the market could change significantly with a few injuries to starting pitchers. (OTOH, if everybody stays healthy, it may not change much at all). I do have a question, though. At what point does the draft pick loss become a moot point? Is this an entire-season problem for Lohse & Boras or is there a point a which teams could sign him without the draft pick compensation issue?

Well, I take a break for a few days and feel like I've missed everything but I do have a few observations. 1. I think Brock's post earlier about "in season" vs. off season has a lot of merit. And frankly, despite the fact that there are spring training games going on, to me these last couple of weeks before the season are actually worse than the earlier off-season. Frankly my own level of snarkiness (in general but not really expressed on this board) simply increases as we get closer to opening day. I'm ready to see what this Twins team REALLY looks like to start the season. I guess I would urge the mods to chill a little until the season starts. 2. While I don't enjoy reading pages of snarkiness, a little back and forth doesn't bother me. I'd rather have some kind of report button where people can complain if they think something is severely getting out of hand or too personal. As an outsider, it's hard for me to judge sarcasm vs true mean-spiritedness when I don't know the backgrounds of the relationship between the people who may be snarking. I usually just ignore it. Maybe the mods are familiar enough with all the posters to know what's really going on but I'd still feel better if they had some input by way of a report button (because LACK of input would also tell them something.) 3. In general, it seems to me that there has been less activity on the site in recent weeks (I have no idea if the site traffic numbers bear that out). Snarkiness may play a little factor in that. The site re-design may play a factor in that. But I sincerely believe that most of it has to do with the fact that the off-season just seems to be dragging. Personally, I rarely get involved in much back and forth but unless it gets truly mean-spirited, it doesn't bother me and at times it is amusing. While this board is business for the founders, for most of us, it's just a place to hang out. And I like my hangouts to be relaxed and pretty tolerant.

I have loved watching Deduno's intensity in the WBC. I don't know if he could sustain that intensity over the course of a season but it has been a joy to watch.

I'm not saying quiet guys can't win. But as important as Mariano Rivera was the Yankees, I don't think anyone would call him the primary leader of that team. (That was probably "The Captain's" role but they obviously had other leaders as well). I am not saying that Joe Mauer isn't a valuable player. But can you look to Joe Mauer to be the PRIMARY leader on your team? I have a lot of doubts on that front. But when his salary takes up 25%-30% or more of your payroll, can you (or will you) have another player (or two) who can demonstrate a more active, enthusiastic leadership style? (And, keep in mind that it also has to be a leadership style that doesn't undercut Joe Mauer in any way given his position on the team). I've thought in the past that perhaps Morneau could do it but of course, his injury situation over the last few years makes it more and more unlikely. And despite what anyone may think of his skills, I think that Cuddyer did serve that purpose in earlier years. But as Mauer ages and as this becomes more and more HIS team, it seems to me that it becomes harder to bring in anyone else who DOES have leadership skills that are different than Mauer's. I am not knocking Mauer as a ballplayer. And I don't expect him to change his personality. But I do seriously question whether he can be the primary leader of a championship team. (As for the WBC, I've enjoyed it thoroughly -- and I really appreciated the intensity and heart demonstrated by the DR, Italy and Puerto Rico. I'm also looking forward to watching the Dutch and Japanese. My understanding is that the WBC is partially owned by the players -- if they can't get "their own" American players to take it more seriously, then shame on all of them).

Not to intrude on all the Mauer-love here but IS THE USA PLAYING IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND? He may be perceived as a leader by the national media and by all of you posting here and I will acknowledge that he is a really, really good, really really professional ballplayer but until he actually LEADS a team past the initial rounds of the playoffs, I will continue to have my doubts. (Yes, I know he did it in High School but as a non-Minnesotan, I need to see it in mlb). I am not blaming Joe Mauer for the USA's failure to advance into the next round (that is a lot more on the pitching staff than anything else). But look at how some of the other teams played -- the enthusiasm and the energy that seemed to make them better than they really are. I mean, a DR team that has Sam Deduno as one of its two primary starters? I'm very happy for him but c'mon, he isn't even assured a starting spot on the Twins, one of the pitching-thinnest teams in major league ball. The teams that advanced all seem to play with heart, energy and enthusiasm. I just don't know that cool, controlled Joe Mauer can ever INSPIRE his teammates to play that way. They may emulate him but will that make them CHAMPIONS? He still has a lot to prove to me on that front.

Same problem on Chrome and in IE10 on a laptop.

I forgot that. And, actually, that's about what they started with.

I understand the frustration over Butera (and have expressed it a few times myself) but given Joe Mauer's health in 2011, it is quite arguable that the Twins started the year in 2012 with about 2 1/3 catchers. And frankly, Mauer is still probably only about 1/2 a catcher if you want to keep him on the field. Now, if you believe that Doumit is easily a full 1/2 catcher (or better), there's obviously no need for a third catcher. But Gardenhire's need for a security blanket has a lot to do with both Joe Mauer's durability and his flexibility in terms of positions. I hope that Gardenhire is confident enough in Mauer and Doumit that he doesn't need a Sweet Drew blanket this season. From my standpoint, that would be a very good thing because it would indicate some pretty strong confidence in both Mauer's and Doumit's health (and a little bit of "risk taking" on Gardenhire's part).

Wish Team Italia could have bought a reliever or two. The late innings of both of their last 2 game were difficult to watch (not to mention some fielding plays in which they looked like stooges). Am assuming that Colabello gets to go to Twins camp now (major league side)? Will be interesting to watch.

Looking forward to watching him tonight v R. A. Dickey (and the batters from Team USA).

Thanks for both links. I enjoyed the original story and the side trip into the difference between baseballs. (And I believe the story about the dog being able to sort baseballs. A friend's dog was visiting one night and about went nuts trying to get to a ball that had accidentally gotten beneath the couch -- in a back corner. We couldn't see the ball but she knew it was there -- we had to move the couch to get to it.)

Interesting notes ... Thanks. The Sano comment jumped out at me, as well. So how long will they leave him at 3B?

Brock, Thanks for your responses. I just want to be clear on why I keep bringing up the text over avatars question. It is NOT just that I find it cluttered in IE10. I find it cluttered in Chrome and FF, too. Again, maybe that's just my tired eyes. And maybe it doesn't bother anyone else. But to me, it looks like a "mistake" even though I know it was your conscious choice. Even in Chrome or FF where it is easier to read, it just looks like something is screwed up. (I've even thought about whether it would look less screwed up if the avatar was centered. I don't think that would help all that much but at least the box would look symmetrical that way). I don't know if anyone else has that reaction although when i showed it to a few people, they also thought something was wrong (in Chrome). But maybe this is a generational split thing. I'll get used to it but I do have to wonder if it doesn't contribute to people's feel about the front page being "cluttered". (Not the prime reason but a factor). Thanks for your rationale on the FB and Twitter icons. I find them annoyingly large but then I despise FB and am only a Twitter voyeur and I do understand your need to drive traffic. And thanks for the info on the meaning of the post icons. Since I don't post on that many blogs, I didn't realize that this was actually a feature found on other sites as well. And I do really like the little green arrows to indicate where I've posted. Thanks again for all your work.

Isn't it more whether Josh Hamilton 2013 = Josh Hamilton 2012?

Brock, I just read your last post. I honestly didn't understand the "hot", "superhot" thing. Once you've made your decisions on colors, etc., maybe you could put together a little post on the features of the new design. (e.g. it took me a while to get that the arrow meant moved and I had no clue on the color meanings.)

I don't think you're too picky, badsmerf but several people commented on a different thread that Brock posted when the new site was unveiled so that may be why you're not seeing much response here. (Also the site has seemed curiously silent the last few days -- waiting to see if that changes as we get closer to the season). Overall, I like the new look but on the front page, there are a couple of things that bother me. One is the size of the facebook and twitter icons. Are they sponsors? If not, do those icons have to be so large? They just seem out of place for me. And actually seem to detract from the "advertisement" above them (which I probably wouldn't care for if I were a sponsor). The second thing (I'm a broken record on this) is the text over the avatars. I know this is a design decision and that you really like it, Brock, but it does seem cluttered to me (and makes legibility really hard in the IE browsers). I wish you would try it with the avatars to the side of the text and let readers give you feedback on what they prefer. Ultimately it is your decision but it just seems like the site would feel "cleaner" with the text to the side of the avatar. I'm a little puzzled on the size of lettering. I know Brock mentioned that bigger lettering is a design trend. As one of the "older folks", I'm just used to changing my zoom feature a lot to aid in reading. But the bigger lettering does seem to affect the relationship between all the items. It doesn't really bother me, I'm just not sure that it's a good design trend. But I also know that I typically look at TD on my laptop and that it may look a lot different on other devices. Thank for incorporating a little more space between the thread titles. It does help. And for all of the time you've put into this, Brock -- including all the time you've spent responding to people's suggestions.

Great story by J. P. Morosi about Colabello and Team Italia: Italians are the talk of the World Baseball Classic - MLB News | FOX Sports on MSN Just in case anybody else missed it a few days ago.

As I recall, they fired the head trainer but retained the medical staff. I think fans basically had concerns about the whole arena -- diagnosis, treatment and prevention. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. Thanks for the link -- his red/green/yellow system is interesting. And seems pretty accurate but there are always a few surprises.

Gotta love it. Italia is a fun team to watch.

I'm not a beer drinker anymore but I'll find some Summit for guests. Thanks to the TD crew and to Summit for showing faith in them and the TD community.

The forum title posts are now over the avatar in IE10 but the avatars are still too bright to make reading the title easy. The background avatars are much brighter in IE10 than in chrome or FF. Also, did you always have the thumbnail clicks down the left side of the top photo on the home page. I thought when I looked this morning it just scrolled among the pics from the articles. I really liked the look of the photo without the thumbnails (of course, maybe I just imagined that). Thanks - just giving an update.