jokin

It turns out it's happened, this is the Twins version of fasttrack. Check out Rene Rivera's Twitter account. He's not happy about the Twins decision, probably the end of the road for both he and Towles, but then, they helped determine the end themselves by their performances.

Did anyone else notice that the Dick Bremer calling the game tonight was from a slightly similar parallel universe? Early on, he insisted that Plouffe hadn't hit a homerun since early July, and then in the 9th, after the Trevor longball correctly noted by Bert as # 21, Dick then interjected: "Plouffe finally gets his 20th Homerun!" Fairly odd...

From the depths of despair yesterday to the faintest glimmers of hope tonight. For the Twins to have any chance at success in 2013 is largely dependent on some quantum jumps up in consistent major-league level performances next year by the fringy and prospect-level guys like Trevor, Parmelee, Revere, (Hicks? Arcia?) and the pitching staff. Plouffe had a real nice clutch AB in the 9th against a very talented up-and-coming premiere-potential reliever- but the biggest turn-the-corner play that helped make the HR possible was that stop of the screamer to his right in the 5th. It appears one of the keys to his continued success at the plate is solidifying his play in the field at 3B. FWIW- ESPN had his defensive gem as the #3 play of the day- behind only the Marchado walk-off and the Packers fake field goal TD.

Unfortunately, the Yanks have the easier closing schedule of the East contenders- 10 games- with the Twins and Toronto on the road- and then closing at home against the Red Sox. The guilty schadenfreude of the Twins somehow taking a couple from the Pinstripers that ultimately denies them a playoff appearance would slightly soften the double gobsmack seasons of the unwatchable 2011-12 MN Twins.

ROYALS (65-77) 1. David Lough, RF 2. Alcides Escobar, SS 3. Alex Gordon, LF 4. Billy Butler, DH 5. Salvador Perez, C 6. Mike Moustakas, 3B 7. Lorenzo Cain, CF 8. Eric Hosmer, 1B 9. Johnny Giavotella, 2B Starting pitcher: RH Luis Mendoza (7-9, 4.63 ERA) TWINS (59-84) 1. Denard Span, CF 2. Ben Revere, RF 3. Josh Willingham, DH 4. Justin Morneau, 1B 5. Trevor Plouffe, 3B 6. Darin Mastroianni, LF 7. Eduardo Escobar, 2B 8. Drew Butera, C 9. Pedro Florimon, SS Starting pitcher: RH Liam Hendriks (0-7, 6.20 ERA)

Funny, I was just going to post this and it looks like hindsight.....but there was no reason to play Butera. This means Doumit could have been at C, Revere in LF, and Parmelee in RF to get him some more at bats. Now there's apparently plenty of reason to play Butera. The Twins just posted tonight's lineup. Butera starts at C again- It's the first "one-catcher" lineup I can remember in recent weeks. Doumit gets a much-deserved night off from his nightmare game yesterday. Revere stays in RF, Mastro in LF.

They need games like this to hit rock bottom. The ownership has to stop the rationalizing and make the necessary and sweeping changes. This is 2 very bad teams playing, one playing with a purposeful motion, the other going through the motions purposelessly- at home- and nary a boo from the fans. Whose "prospects" look like they care about their future career opportunities?

Delmon Doumit in LF! Even D Young could never achieve the "hat trick".

This may be splitting hairs, but his earlier higher average in AAA was due to an amazing first two weeks. He was in the start of the slump when called up. I've also pointed out elsewhere, as have others that it's very dangerous to put too much stock in those A+/AA numbers as he was among the oldest players in those minor leagues. .As I've said, he has yet to show sustained success at a "developmentally appropriate" level. So, imo, his overall struggles both at AAA and the majors are not all that surprising, but I definitely agree that the Twins handled him extremely poorly. I don't think they've scapegoated him, but for an organization that is usually patient with players in the minor leagues, and even if they weren't his original call-up wasn't warranted or needed. In late-April, early-May, just before his call-up, Dozier batted .310/OPS .739 in his last 8 games, so it appears he was not in the start of a slump, but rather, was just coming out of his late-April slump quite nicely. Having said that, I agree that he has a long way to go to prove himself as an above-replacement level player. I think he has Nick Punto-type upside (for better or worse), if he gets past his well-documented mental and physical hurdles.

Of course. They need to hold Gardenhire accountable as they should have at least six years ago. He's incompetent, stupid, and has been at the helm for two consecutive near-100 loss seasons. No players will play for him. I don't know how he got the job in the first place. There's not an organization on earth that would keep someone this awful on the job. I think he's created a climate of fear with the connivance of the media to treat him as if he's Sparky Anderson or something, some great guy who's also a winner. In actuality, he's a louse, and a loser. Minnesota nice be damned. He's a drag on this team and he needs a swift kick in the rear. Holy (thread) Hijack!

The additional issues with Dozier and the hints from the front office regarding Dozier are about not being in the right position before the play starts and some other issues that involved decision making and not stats. Not sure how big of a deal these are, but my guess is that considering Gardy was pretty high on him, I'd bet that they played just as big a role as his lack of hitting (though hitting below .200 in AAA certainly didn't help). That's speculation on my part, but I don't think he gets called back up unless he starts hitting well, clears up those issues or in the case of injuries. "(though hitting below .200 in AAA certainly didn't help) " I agree with your overall assessment, but, to be fair, at AAA he did bat .276 with an OPS of .710 before his call-up, coming off of a terrific 2011 year in AA/A+ (BA .320/OPS .890). Culminating with his last disastrous media interview, Dozier clearly had crumbled under the pressures of the season-long spotlight- on a struggling team that has made a convenient habit of finding convenient scapegoats when the timing was right- it was not surprising that his struggles continued late-season in Roc. As I also speculated- and am in agreement with you, he has a long road back. It's possible that they put him up next spring as "competition" with Plouffe for the 3B job, with the intention of giving him the SS job again at a depleted Rochester infield. (The logical move is trying him out at the lower-pressure job at 2B, but it appears that the Twins aren't looking in that direction).

not as long as Gardy is the manager & TR is the GM I'm rather meh on the whole lot of them, but it appears the braintrust have talked themselves into forcing Florimon into the spot for 2013 and stats nothwithstanding, he does play the position more confidently and athletically and with a better arm. That leaves Escobar and Dozier fighting for 2B and Carroll as the UI. I'll speculate that the Twins declare 3B "open" and set up a competition for the spot between Dozier and Plouffe. However it finally shakes out, there will be huge needs to fill the glaring hole in MI positional depth in Rochester, as little to nothing is coming through to them from New Britain. Escobar and Dozier could very well be the starting Red Wing Middle Infielders in 2013- which hopefully means that the Twins acquired someone better in the offseason...there are published reports that a "certain" Orioles SS ( who just moved into the #1 spot for ESPN's AL SS WAR rankings at 3.1 http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/position/ss/league/al/sort/WARBR/order/true ) might be replaced by an up-and-coming phenom in Baltimore...naw, "not as long as Gardy is the manager & TR is the GM".

Seth, there is a typo in your column- Achter's innings were actually 74.1, not 94.1.

I like how the kid battles with very little to work with in his quiver, the prototype "poor man's Greg Maddux", with the local-kid-made-good angle going for him, besides; it's a feel-good story in an otherwise year of one pitching disaster after another. He's earned a shot at a 2013 SP spot, but he definitely hasn't "earned a scholarship"- "scholarships" should be only set aside for guys with special elite talent- period. There is no pitcher on the current 25-man roster who employs that level of talent. "Earned Scholarships", ala, Butera, Blackburn, et al, was the type of thinking that has led the Twins organization down this disastrous road to where they now reside.

Really? "Na-na-na- I'm not listening"- and-"I know your are,but what am I" is your refutation? Pathetic. Facts are facts, on this we agree, then why are you ignoring the facts from the previous 2 posts?

No. The Twins are trailblazers here. They are cutting payroll while the ballpark is still brand new. Most teams use new ballparks to increase payroll while the Twins cut payroll in the attempt to bring revenue to a manageable level. They were spending too much money on green eye-shades, carbon paper and new technology like abacuses. The Pohalds are trying to copyright this strategy with the tagline: Think Different Last 2 seasons in Metrodome: 2008: $56 million 2009: $65 million First 2 seasons in Target Field: 2010: $95 million 2011: $112 million Your post was bad, and you should feel bad. Living in the Past with your 70s Charger, 70charger, doesn't win a debating point. Here's what the club has done for you lately: 2012: <$100M 2013: </>$85M?? The club has left wiggle room and hints at a cut, look for a payroll to emerge somewhere in this area. If this, in fact, turns out to be what happens, will you feel bad?

No Shelley Duncan to pick on tonight, he was DFAd by Cleveland on August 29.

An enigma? ..., wrapped in a riddle inside a mystery? Kind of epitomizes the FO thinking on this, too.

I don't know what Slama's velocity was this year, but here's his velocity chart for his FB for 2010 and 11- http://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfxo.aspx?playerid=3064&position=P&pitch=FA

What does that make Jeff Gray?

Brock, I advise you to look at photo's of Puckett from 1991, they're not any different... As for the hits argument, yes a poor stat, but basic indicator of differences as hitters. It's almost apples to oranges despite similar OPS's, which you prove here: ...And Lofton is the one 70's HR behind. Fact is, despite his place on WAR lists, Kenny isn't close to a slam dunk to make the HoF, yet we've already agreed Kirby is unquestionably worthy. I'd say that means they're not as comparable as you're saying outside being CF's. Since Ted Williams name has been invoked, I proffer his oft-cited quote_ "Hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports" http://www.axonpotential.com/hitting-a-baseball-the-hardest-thing-to-do-in-sports/

You're going to use hits as the sole indicator of a player's worth? I think it's pretty apparent I was comparing the entire player, not just his hitting style. Lofton had 70 more HR, 450 more BB, 20 less 2B, 500 (!) more stolen bases, and 50 more 3B than Puckett. The comp isn't 100% accurate but they were both centerfielders who were well above average during the peak of their careers (and had overlapping careers). Lofton just lasted a little longer than Puckett. Kenny spent the bulk of his career posting an OPS+ of around 10-15 points lower than Puckett and ended his career with an OPS+ 20 points lower, while Lofton posted a career 64.9 WAR against Puckett's 48.2. They're not as different as you'd like to think. Puckett was a better player but not by much and "someone" could make a damned good case that Kenny was the better overall player. I wouldn't buy it but the argument could easily be made. Whiplash Effect. "Someone" just did in your previous post: I agree with your statistical assessment, but the HOF voters give special credit to key players from multiple World Series Champs, and also those whose careers are cut short tragically and project to levels of greatness like Puckett did. In addition, they love hits- while you are to Kirby Puckett what Buddy Ryan was to Chris Carter ("all he does is score touchdowns"). Also, if you're going to make a health argument, you can't gloss over or ignore Puckett's incredible durability and penchant for grinding out 150+ games played, season after season- Lofton hit that mark all of once- The HOF voters love "gamers", too. Finally, you are absolutely wrong about HRs--- Puckett 207 career HR. Lofton 130. Also, "Lofton lasted just a little bit longer than Puckett"??? In Lofton's case, that extra 5 years is extending a career by 42% over Puckett, significantly more, not just a little bit longer.

Hacker has two good years as a starter in the hit-happy PCL sandwiched around a dreadful year with Rochester in 2011. Given the Twins new love for late-20-something journeyman (and provided bridges haven't been burned), what's the harm in the Twins claiming and signing Hacker to a minor league contract (provided the Padres don't beat us to it) and give him a chance at a starting spot for 2013?

What are those results for the entire Gardy/Andy years?[/QUOTE] AKA, the Era of Flamboyancy...

Gardy, Andy and TR: somehow "flamboyant" doesn't come to mind when trying to characterize them adjectivally. At least the braintrust have proudly accomplished No. 1 rankings in Contact Rate and Double Plays, Woohoo!