jokin

Yep. And things got simplified a bit with Torii's announcement out of the way. Time to get back to work, Terry. (the problem is he has tended to get enamored with these feel-good reunion and underappreciated veteran deals over taking on a shot on a home run- a lot less muss and fuss... and $$$-> Pohlad has already come out and stated that he doesn't like the back-end cost of these long-term deals- which pretty much rules out Wieters. And don't forget, Ryan would be reticent to risk looking foolish by signing or acquiring another high-cost catcher- so soon after making a big splash with the big Zuke extension).

Wait. What? Did Hicks get traded?

- Yep. Never said it was a good plan. - A little bit better than nothing plan? Probably. (Remember, at the very least, a semi L-R platoon should offer an increase in offensive production at the position, and definitely guarantees that Zuke's 2017 option doesn't vest). - A plan that is quickly determined by TR to be: better than nothing when all other options fail after less than 100% commitment to getting Plan A and Plan B done- and the Twins' default SOP least-path-of-resistance/bring- home-another-aging-vet-whose-defense-is-better-than-his-numbers-indicate-type plan? Likely. So then, I would say that 2016 is going to be sold as a serious team that, basking in their "successful" veteran leadership upgrades, with Torii in 2015 and Zuke in 2014, will go to the well one more time and sell AJ as one of the remaining missing clubhouse/on-field leadership ingredients that will make all the difference in 2016. (Remember, you heard it here first )

Yikes... My google name search tells me that whatever you have to say is fine with me, Sir! (Anything else one can do to keep you laughing not in a mean way?) http://www.wisconsinbjj.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mike-sixel.jpg Mike Sixel Neutral Ground Martial Arts & Fitness - Competed in 13 Amateur and Professional MMA Fights - 5 Dan Black Belt in Pankration - Ranked #2 on North American Sport Karate Association circuit (2000) - Ranked #1 in the State in Point Sparring (1996-1998)

Perhaps I'm not following you. If Ryan ends up settling for AJ after all other angles fail to materialize, is that still not a net upgrade in 2016 from the current situation?

I'm not hearing a lot of love, more a temporary marriage of convenience.

One problem with your valid and logical points. Because TF was developed as a public/private business partnership, there is an obligation on the Twins' part, either implied or contractual, to service the needs of all of the community.

You'd think that restoring the black spruce backdrop to bring back the original CF ambience would be a part of this plan.

Any comments from KLaw about any of the other 6 guys? Garver and Turner are making a good showing, thus far. I have no idea what Hildenberger can offer at the MLB level, but statistically he's done well in 4 appearances. Walker's been Walker. Burdi has one official and one unofficial very successful performances- it would be nice to here from KLaw on his new-found control.

How about Gonsalves for McGuire or Contreras?

Yes, he "could" plummet quickly, that's part of the risk. But, you can't just ignore that the risk will be mitigated somewhat in utilizing a L-R platoon to some degree. And isn't the current defensive combo already just about the worst in the league? At least there would be the chance to add some punch to the bottom of the lineup. Again, AJ should be a Plan C. But... there's plenty of risk in signing Wieters and his shaky health situation as a Plan A (even though this is the catcher I prefer that they target). And the costs of trading for a catcher has its own set of costs and risks- Plan B.. There's only so much that Plouffe and Arcia can get you, especially when other teams know how much you wouldn't mind getting rid of them.

Bum of the year? That's a little harsh- save that for signings of guys like Stauffer. Kurt Suzuki produced -0.1 fWAR in 2015, AJ produced 2.1 fWAR in part-time duty- that's not the production of a "bum". It would certainly serve the interests of both the Twins performance-wise, plus the fan-base if they make some move, any move, in the offseason to both upgrade the catching position and give them flexibility with Suzuki after 2016. Accomplishing the ideal- signing Wieters or acquiring a top veteran or up-and-coming youngster via trade are costly and/or risky options. Signing AJ on a one-year deal is a good Plan C in my book. It wouldn't be a great signing, but it would be a lot better than standing pat. And it has the added benefit of allowing for the mid-season emergence of Garver or Turner- making it easy to either trade or DFA one of the veterans.

Nope. Far from it.

Well, at least he was accurate in describing the situation. And he only needed one Gardyism to get his point across...

The problem here is that the poster wasn't a reporter paid to get a story, but a fan who was paying money to hear a story. Was there a transaction, implied or otherwise that gave these fans the inside info, but required them not to disclose it? This appears to be more of a problem created by the name-namer- unless there's some Skull and Bones-type blood oath of secrecy that season ticket holders are required to take, how can they expect fans not to name the names they're given?

Agreed. But it was the critical call in the AB. Instead of the countf going to 3-1, with a count heavy in the batter's favor, it became 2-2, forcing a defensive swing on an unhittable pitch from Davis for strike 3.

Yep, very entertaining and the best team won. But I'm still wondering why FS1 bothered to replay Revere's pitch sequence during and after his AB, and never mentioned the possibility of the 2nd strike being a ball. And where was "FoxTrax"?

And this was likely the first and last time I would ever use A-Rod as the source leading to the definitive source. But it was definitive. That picture you posted shows that images from the pitcher's point of view can be deceiving. Did you see the overhead video? Huge amount of space between the outside of the plate, from front to back, on where the ball passed the zone. It was clearly a ball- by a mile. The robot would have caught it and called it a ball, which is what it was.

A-Rod confirmed what I think we all saw. The ump robbed Revere on Strike 2, clearly a foot outside. Why didn't FS1 present the evidence of that ridiculous call in real time? Game changer- Lil' Ben was forced to swing at an unhittable pitch on Strike 3, with one out and the tying and winning runs in scoring position.

Ohhh, there'll be plenty of time for that. I have a strong feeling that he's going to be the focal-point of the big off-season "splash".

The scenario presented by the original poster was that it was St Peter speaking in front of season ticket holders in a Q & A. How would you enforce a non-disclosure agreement with 1000s of prospective or actual paying season ticket holders? Why would you try to impose such a potential PR disaster on your biggest paying customers in the first place? Re: Questions 1 & 5: In what organizations would such a breach-gaffe by the President be a firing offense? Especially since this isn't exactly the first time he's been responsible for PR disasters?

To be clear, my posts weren't intended to be antagonistic and argumentative, just... pointed... in my disagreements and differences of opinion about certain names and certain perceptions about the relative strengths/weaknesses in the Twins approach in the draft selection past the 1st round in the 2010s as well as the international FA strategies since the Twins hit the jackpot in 2009. Your work in this area is greatly appreciated and indispensable to many of us, Seth. (Also appreciated is your willingness to respond and engage in this forum). 1) Perhaps I wasn't clear. My question about where you might have gotten your information on Navarretto was not meant as a slight or indictment of you. In point of fact, it would be poor reporting if you didn't reach out to get comprehensive information on each and every prospect from inside sources who work with, or see the kids year-round. You would have to admit though, that when a kid who hasn't done anything to particularly stand out so far in his professional career and suddenly jumps into the top 20 will cause some of us to inquire further to determine the source to establish the validity of that jump. 4) I highly doubt that even going all the way back to early Babe Ruth League that Butera ever showed anything that suggested the hit tool of Buxton, Hicks, Plouffe. And if there was any doubt, his career MiLB numbers: .214 BA .607 OPS in 1829 PAs should have been sufficient evidence that he would turn out to be- the worst hitter in all of baseball with 850 PAs or more since 2010. His wRC+ is 39. Here's the supporting link. His lifetime .185 BA at least has made Mario Mendoza very, very happy- futility has a new name to rally around in Drew Butera. Butera is so off-the-charts bad, the 2nd worst hitting catcher, Mike Zunino looks like Mike Piazza when comped to Drewbie. 5) Again, I was not criticizing your picks of two possible future back-up catchers. Just questioning the conventional wisdom about organizational strength. I hope that one or both blossom in 2016 and begin to solve the Twins' catching black hole, I prefer being optimistic if given good reason to do so.

Feel free to do so. In contrast, I am confident in what I've seen of him over his MLB career, that never having been rated in the Twins Top 30 prospect list was confirmed by what he's accomplished on the field.

Only one way to find out. And I don't think anyone would argue that the MLB opportunity and need was there for the Twins to take the chance and find out. They obviously didn't know about Duffey until they were forced to do so in a numbers game. And it's important to note that at one point (as I posted at the time), Rogers was 36/1 in K/BB vs. LH hitters.

All fair rebuttal points, and definitely good food for thought. Five questions for your consideration to counter: 1) You mention some "people think" with regards to Navarretto, I'm assuming they helped in convincing you that there's more than currently meets the eye with him? Are these people inside the organization, or outside? 2) Drew Butera has accumulated all of -1.7 of bWAR in parts of 6 seasons- shouldn't we question, at least a little bit, all of these people who consider him having any more value than as a BP catcher? 3) Do you have any idea what Butera's highest Twins prospect ranking was? 4) If Butera was touching 94 in his Twins outing as a pitcher- and he has a 10.13 K/9 in his limited pitching duties- without ever taking the pitching thing seriously- who's to automatically dismiss what his chances were at becoming a MLB RP? 5) Doesn't every organization have at least a half dozen Eric Fryer's up and down their organizational chart who can get plugged in as the MLB back-up catcher at a moment's notice? I'm still unconvinced that a guy with a back-up catcher ceiling should merit much fan excitement about that organization's great/deep farm system. Based on your rankings here, the Twins may very well have 2 back-up catchers in their Top 20. Hopefully, Turner builds on his second half and changes the ceiling projection for good. I still say your team's system isn't all that deep with back-up ceiling catchers in the Top 20 and RP-ceiling pitchers in the Top 10.