JB_Iowa

I was also disappointed in the TV deal. I had hoped that they would end up more in the range of Detroit - about $35-$40 million per year. Given market size, $29 million still looks low given that it was a recently negotiated deal but I suspect that it was depressed by demographics and by the Twins lingering memory of how they screwed up on TV rights in the early 2000's. My guess is that they were reluctant to take too hard a position given how the earlier negotiations played out. Of course, in my opinion, FSN could also save money by reducing the number of talking heads on Twins broadcasts and focusing on the game instead of all this folderol in the stands and in the booth and that money (though not particularly significant) could have been put back into the rights equation. I think we can all agree with Mackey that the Twins need to spend more wisely and I really didn't have a problem with this year's payroll level given all the health uncertainties that lingered from last year. BUT I do have a problem on the 52% question. IF the Forbes calculations are so wrong, the Twins can easily correct that. All they have to do is break the silence and release the actual figures (in some veriified or verifiable manner) -- but they don't do that. They simply tap dance around. Until they release figures that show the Forbes calculations to be wrong, I think fans have a right to expect that they WILL spend 50% - 52% of the revenues that Forbes estimates. Would it guarantee a winner? Of course not. But some upgraded starting pitching is very likely to have increased the number of wins this year.

Let's see if Anderson whispered some magic between innings since Butera obviously idn't in the 1st.

Thank heavens for the DP.

On the question of moving the fences, it still looks to me like someone would have to do a detailed study of where the "close but no cigar" balls landed. In 2010, the Twins hit 44.8% of the HR hit at TF In 2011, the Twins hit 36.5% of the HR hit at TF Thus far in 2012, the Twins have hit 43. 5% of the HR hit at TF UNLESS a disproportionate number of the "close" balls are being hit by the Twins, why would you want to move in the fences? As long as the Twins are hitting less than 50% of the HR at TF, moving in the fences would only seem to favor opponents. Now, if a detailed study of this question proved that moving in the fences would actually move the Twins over 50% because more Twins-hit balls were falling close but not going out, that would make a major difference. But until the Twins hit more than 50% of the HR at TF, it would seem to me that it benefits the Twins if TF suppresses HR.

Thanks for all of the clarifications starting with the article that JeremyNygaard cited plus the follow-ups from Thrylos and JC. If the Twins end up with a team in the PCL, another possible city mentioned was Oklahoma City. I know nothing about the ballpark or ownership but the article indicates that it is one of the best in the PCL. It also says that the ownership group likes to make a "splash" so that may leave out the Twins but the distance (788 miles straight down I-35) plus the possibility of combining it in a road trip with a stop in Kansas City or even on to Arlington, makes it interesting.

Too true, unfortunately. And, alas, now I'll be singing "The Boxer" all day .... and he carries the reminders of every glove that laid him down ... kind of like Twins fans.

I'm not sure why anyone would want to see the fences moved in -- unless you just want to see more HR hit in general. But you can build a team that plays better to the home park (while not sacrificing road games) and it looks like the Twins are doing that. I didn't look at numbers for 2010 and 2011 but in 2012, the Twins have hit 49 HR on the road and 51 HR at home -- pretty even. But looking by player: Wilingham - 17 H and 12 A Plouffe - 12 H and 7 A Morneau - 4 H and 11 A Doumit - 4 H and 9 A Mauer - 3 H and 4 A Span - 2 H and 1 A Mastroianni - 1 H and 1 A Dozier - 3 H and 2 A Parmelee - 1 H and 1 A Butera - 1 H and 0 A Thomas - 1 H and 0 A Casilla - 0 H and 1 A Valencia - 2 H and 0 A So the big swings are that Willingham and Plouffe hit for HR significantly better at TF while Morneau and Doumit hit for HR significantly better on the road than at TF. That may not be all bad but if you want to see it changed, they could certainly try to replace Morneau with a power hitter whose game plays better at TF at some point. More significant is that if there have been 117 HR (including last night I think) hit at TF this year, the Twins have only hit 43.6% of them. Would moving the fences change that percentage or would we simply see a lot more HR hit by opponents? I guess you'd have to look at where all balls landed and how the fences would be moved. According to ESPN's park factors, TF ranks 11th in runs scored this year while ranking 19th in HR. Some parks are going to rank at the top and some at the bottom -- and obviously the home team's pitching staff has something to do with this. I just don't see any justification in these numbers for changing TF's configuration -- and it looks like fans are seeing plenty of runs scored at Target.

I hope you are right. I just don't see the Twins ever investing the money and years to "buy" a #1 starter. If I'm right about that, they have to find another way to acquire a #1 -- since kidnapping is probably out, that means trade or draft. I hope that he can somehow finesse his way through trades over the next 1 1/2 years to get a couple of prospects with #1 - #2 potential (hoping that one pans out). As for next year, I don't think he'll spend $25 million unless he gets Morneau's salary off the books. If Morneau is on this team, I believe that he'll spend $15-$19 million (at most). Targeting one #2 -#3 type starter (a solid innings eater) for no more than 3 years. Plus taking a 1 year "flier" on someone like Bedard or Baker (although I have a hard time seeing Baker really ready before July). I understand their need to keep people in the stands but it is hard for me to see Ryan spending the money to acquire (2) #2-#3 types. I hope they are saying a lot of prayers -- and making some voodoo sacrifices -- to try to get what they have in the system to solidify.

I wondered about this, too, especially in light of the mention in Scooter Now's column (cited by Parker) that the Twins put aside their work on several endorsement deals for Nishioka last winter given his play. Have to wonder how much non-baseball factors played into signing him and now giving him this new opportunity; however, Ryan must be willing to go along with it. To me, the "interim" tag gives Ryan a fair amount of power. Play too many games with him and I would guess that he'll chuck it a 2nd time -- but I do see him as fiscally conservative so it must be hard for him to see the money squandered on Nishioka so he's probably willing to see if anything can be recouped.

I'm encouraged by Ryan's comments in this article as well as the ones in Mackey's column (cited by Bonnes). I want to see them focus on really building a contender and that means significantly better pitching is needed -- even if they have to sacrifice some position players to get it. I know that is a longer range approach than many would like but I sincerely hope that the Twins are patient enough to take a few more lumps if that is what it takes to build a good pitching staff . And I have to think that Ryan's comments on Revere mean that Span will definitely be on the trading block again this winter. The other tidbit I found interesting: "Chats with several companies about endorsement deals for Nishioka were put on hold when the Twins dispatched the infielder to Rochester this season." My gut feeling has always been that marketing had a lot to do with signing Nishioka in the first place. I HATE to think that it is now playing a role in deciding his future with this club.

I expect Plouffe to be back but I'll admit that I was a little disheartened by his comments last night about how much the thumb still hurts.

Serious question: Do they honestly think they can put Nishioka on the field at TF? Wouldn't expect Cleveland fans to boo him - why would they? But I can't see a very good reaction from Twins fans to his performance the last 3 days (despite the wins).

Nish-ventures. It's hopeless.

I don't think hat they knew he was worthless. I think that this was a MASSIVE ORGANIZATIONAL FAILURE -- and that's why no one was fired over it. I suspect that there was some failure in scouting -- my bet is that the scouts raised some concerns but that they didn't put up a "stop sign" on signing him. And then, I think that the desire to gain an entree into the Japanese market overrode any "red flags" that the scouts may have raised. A failure at all levels in the process. We can only hope that they've learned a lesson from it and that they keep marketing out of the baseball decisions.

I want to believe that Morneau's health issues are behind him .... but I have a hard time forgetting that it isn't JUST the issue of his concussion or even his concussion AND his wrist. He also had a fairly serious back problem in August/September 2009. Do you just dismiss that and figure he'll be okay from here on out? Do you think about that in conjunction with the concussion and wrist and his age and see Red Flags? Do you think that the change in his training routine will help him avoid injury (less is more and concentrate on the core? I like Morneau and have previously (2009/2010) argued that he was more important to the team's success than Mauer -- in part because I think Justin has leadership skills and now that he is playing regularly and well, I think he might exhibit more of them. But there may be a short window for capitalizing on a return for him. I just feel like we're holding our breath waiting for something else to happen.

But is that what's best for his long-term future (and the team's long-term future)? He's had a long taste of the big leagues -- maybe a return to AAA to work on some specifics is what he needs. I honestly don't know the answer but I'm not willing to dismiss the possibility that he goes to AAA, works on some things and is better off for it in the long run. (Yes, I know there's the possibility that it works the other way but then that tells you something about him, too.)

You can only keep playing Nishi until he starts demoralizing pitchers. Fortunately the Twins came through in the 2nd last night and made Nishi's personal performance a non-issue in terms of the outcome of the game. But that probably won't always be the case. We've got some fairly inexperienced pitchers out there. Having to overcome fielding errors is probably helpful to a point but at some point it has to demoralize the pithcer -- and the team.

I keep hoping that MLB will make them fix the "black hole" as a condition of awarding the AS game to the Twins. (Yeah, I know, not likely with Bud).

Not sure who the Twins might want from Cleveland but I'll be thrilled if TR can pry away some pitching when TB comes to town.

I assume that you are basically saying that Casilla is the odd man out which isn't really a problem since he is undoubtedly gone after the season anyway and probably has little (if any) value on waivers. I assume that Carroll would then fill in at 3B until Plouffe comes back and would then after that would be a fill-in where the Twins need him since Plouffe should also be getting as much PT as possible. And, if Nishioka is still a disaster, it is a daily reminder to the front office of a massive failure in scouting and signing him -- one we can only hope they've learned from.

Didn't Nishioka have a bit of a "hot streak" at some point recently? I seem to recall some tweets and Dick/Bert talking about some good hitting games. May have just been very temporary.

Nishioka. Well, this should be interesting.

Anybody surprised by that one? I doubt it.

The mediocrity of the AL Central keeps on rolling.

Thrylos, I asked this in the other thread, too but do you know why he wasn't signed until he was 20 (or almost 20)? Is there a Dominican league that he was playing in?