jokin

Beat me to it, if someone took every one of Ryan's quotes to the bank, just since September, they would have been flat-broke by the Spring Opener.

I'm with this. Hick's history has been as a slow-adjuster before he demonstrates mastery at a particular level. Even if he meaninglessly has a ST line of .450/.550/.950 there's absolutely no harm in waiting a couple weeks or even a tad bit longer, and plenty to gain in service time and confidence- and competence-raising. Once he's called up, I'd like to see it as a permanent move with no possibility for a return trip back for more "seasoning", like last year's fiasco with Dozier.

Actually, restoring velocity, or not, is highly relevant for pitchers that rely more heavily on velocity and TJ guys historically take up to 18 mos. post-TJ to regain their velocity. Pelfrey will be gone by then. And the rest of my response was on what level of risks Ryan has taken in this offseason relative to the money spent. The point is, it is very possible that the $4+M plus incentives for Marcum is arguably the least risky move of all of the "risky" moves made so far this offseason.

Outstandingly LOL-worthy

No. Actually, it hurts....

Ahh, so the Mets are incentivized and invested in having Marcum fail, I see now....

So you're saying that "philosophically" the Twins Way is maintaining the status quo as the 30th ranked team in pitching, because as a mid-market team, the FO can't afford hurting someone's feelings if they've reached their Peter Principle level of incompetence? Now there's some dysfunctional pretzel logic that exemplifies why the FO should be swept clean.

Didn't say that I did know, but see my post above. It's your choice to "know" even less, at your own risk.

I think it's even more telling that the Mets passed on Pelfrey! Marcum could be more risky, but he's not coming off of September TJ (Pelfrey) and his last year of pitching effectiveness wasn't 2009 (Harden, w/ catastrophic shoulder surgery overlooming any potential comeback) or being extremely sucky for an entire career (Correia). Also, Marcum was never a power pitcher and still has produced vastly superior "power pitcher"-like results over the alternatives who throw faster. His potential "bounceback" from his current medical issues won't be nearly as dependent on restoring velocity, just throwing his dime-store cutter and restoring overall command. Nearly 75% of what Pelfrey throws is FBs and Split-Finger FBs.... in addition....His career peripherals pale in comparison to Marcum's, if his FB starts to touch below 90 this year, he will be basically useless for 2013.

You've got me trumped on your last sentence, and demonstrative of your Canadian politeness and humilty, you're not even from the United States and find this offensive. I'll say it for you, those comments are absurd and delusional.

This small-town, self-loathing, lightfoot doesn't border on the absurd, it puts you right in the center of the Twilight Zone. I liked you a lot better when you were singing about that other Northern Shipwreck, the Edmund Fitzgerald. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adZiVjXFfKk

The problem with this analysis is the greater risk that Ryan has already taken on deals much less certain to work out.

Not as confused as the mythical apologists club....

PITCHf/x Pitch Velocity Postseason | Projections | Minor Leagues | Regular Season [TABLE=class: rgMasterTable, width: 100%] [TH=class: rgHeader]Season[/TH] [TH=class: rgHeader]Team[/TH] [TH=class: rgHeader, align: right]vFA[/TH] [TH=class: rgHeader, align: right]vFT[/TH] [TH=class: rgHeader, align: right]vFC[/TH] [TH=class: rgHeader, align: right]vFS[/TH] [TH=class: rgHeader, align: right]vFO[/TH] [TH=class: rgHeader, align: right]vSI[/TH] [TH=class: rgHeader, align: right]vSL[/TH] [TH=class: rgHeader, align: right]vCU[/TH] [TH=class: rgHeader, align: right]vKC[/TH] [TH=class: rgHeader, align: right]vEP[/TH] [TH=class: rgHeader, align: right]vCH[/TH] [TH=class: rgHeader, align: right]vSC[/TH] [TH=class: rgHeader, align: right]vKN[/TH] [TR=class: rgAltRow] [TD=class: grid_line_regular]2007[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular]Blue Jays[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]87.6 [/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]86.2[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]82.8[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]75.8[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]81.3[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: rgAltRow] [TD=class: grid_line_regular]2008[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular]Blue Jays[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]87.0[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]88.4[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]86.6[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]83.4[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]75.4[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]81.4[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: rgRow] [TD=class: grid_line_regular]2010[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular]Blue Jays[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]86.9[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]86.6[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]84.1[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]75.3[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]80.6[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: rgRow] [TD=class: grid_line_regular]2011[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular]Brewers[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]86.8[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]86.6[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]83.9[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]80.2[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]72.1[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]79.3[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: rgRow] [TD=class: grid_line_regular]2012[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular]Brewers[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]86.3 [/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]86.3[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]84.7[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]80.2[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]73.0[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]80.2[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: rgRow grid_total] [TD=class: grid_line_regular]Total[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular]- - -[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]87.0[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]86.6[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]84.5[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]82.3[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]73.9[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right]80.3[/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [TD=class: grid_line_regular, align: right][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] And, he basically has replaced half his fastballs with a cutter.

Right, exactly right, except the qualifier number is "...about 29 other major league teams." When you have local columnists "scooping" the trail balloon that Hermsen has a decent shot at starting out the season in the big league rotation, you know that no one in this collection of misfits, castoffs, has-beens and never-weres are going to block anybody if they can even hint at possibly being an effective MLB starter.

1) Half right, Marcum's risk is actually lower, potential reward at least as high, possibly higher. 2) I would say that something's seriously wrong everywhere in the FO this offseason, this is just dumb, in-over-your-head thinking and insulting to the fanbase, at least to the only-81% left who renewed their season tickets.

Well, yeah, but according to Manolo, Marcum is barely better than Correia, so why bother accounting for their off-the-chart difference in WAR value (and hence trade valuation coveted by the rest of the teams) and the futility in trying for "3-5 extra wins" which is only blocking the org. from moving forward?

Except for ignoring the fact he wasn't a FA pickup... good point....

Check with Thrylos for dissent on this issue. He has a 2500 word tome on Ryan creating SP blockage all the way down to E'Town what with all the flurry of signings of big league and AAAA arms under contract.

Missed it by that[ ] much!

Another one bites the dust. Last spec-upside guy left available is Dallas Braden. When's the Brandon Webb audition?

No. But feel free to direct your own "wrath" ol'nurse's way.

...Uhh, what's the "blockage" problem like, again? I want to be prepared in plenty of time to have something else to "focus my wrath" about besides signing Correia....

You covered the single act of Comission, how about all the other acts of Omission?

Not sure you're qualified to give that medical diagnosis...