roger

Just so we're clear, this policy does NOT mean that we can't be critical of Ryan or of moves he makes or doesn't make. It just can't be a personal attack. Granted, but if you are going to have a policy against everyone in the game, why exclude front office personnell? Being critical is one thing, but the negative comments about them and certain people constantly saying they should be fired etc. get old very quickly.

Thank you John! I think one addition is needed to Rule #1. Please add 'front office' to the list of teams, players, agents, etc. In regards to that, I recall reading many very negative comments about Mr. Ryan or the FO in the past week regarding what should be done about Nick Blackburn and Tsuyoshi Nishioka. When Mr. Ryan did what some of us wanted and few expected, I have been returning to this site expecting to see several of those posters leave comments that they were wrong. I am still looking for those admissions or apologies.

I am so bloody sick and tired of reading this line or something like it on the forums. The Minnesota Twins were the most consistently successful small market team of the 2000s. They made the playoffs more often than not and while they struggled in the postseason, overall they posted one of the better records in all of baseball for the decade. So why shouldn't we have a little faith in the front office? Because the team had two awful seasons? Because of that, we should ignore the entire decade the preceded it? Jesus... People around here need to step off the ledge and take in a little perspective. Yes, the Twins are bad right now but their farm system is on the rebound and help is on the way. They have a solid core of young-ish players. They have money to spend. Stop cherry-picking the past two years of horrible baseball and ignoring the ten years that came before it. +1, thank you!

Seth, I saw Jurrjens pitch against the Red Wings twice this year. The games were about a week apart. In the first, the Wings hit him all over Frontier Field. He really struggled to get outs. The second start went to him as the Wings couldn't do anything. Not certain what I feel about this guy. I know he was an all-star not all that long ago. But which Jurrjens are you getting? Maybe a minor league deal of some sort or a one year deal with a lot of incentives, but no way over one year.

93.75mph

Yes, it is unrealistic to expect Rosario to become that player. But we can dream, can't we? And someday, some kid is going to become that player who will hit more home runs than Henry. Why can't it be Rosario? Now it is time to put the computer away, take a shower and go out and drink some wine!

I always think back to my youth when I read descriptions of Rosario such as you posted today. Reminds me of a player who came up for the Braves when I was a kid. Came up as a second baseman with good speed who would go on to play outfield. He wasn't real tall with a slight build. His strength was his quick swing with incredible wrists. Sounds exactly like Rosario, doesn't it? The player I saw as a kid would go on to hit over 700 home runs. We can't expect Rosario to be that player, can we?

Knowing how the Twins work in the draft, etc, I expect they have saved a few dollars so they can add a little bump to the six guys they want to sign for $50k or less. As we saw in the first draft under the new CBA, they kept a few hundred thousand and used part of it for Zach Larson. Expect they will do the same with the International budget.

Seth, they signed Josh Guyer. Never saw what they paid him, but likely he could be part of the added amount. Here is the link to the Aussie's story... http://www.ibaf.org/en/news/2012/07/31/minnesota-twins-sign-aussie-josh-guyer/a484960c-8e30-4d32-a891-3911b8060f0a

So why can't we just enjoy the improvement and enjoy the success, instead of advocating that we blow up the whole team and plan for 2015? Thank you

I posted the following in the post on Nishi. Read into his comments what you want. Also, the player I saw wasn't someone who was doing everything he could to impress the Twins or anyone else. Before leaving for vacation, I watched nearly half of Rochester's games the past couple weeks. A couple games before Valencia was called up, he allowed two balls to go right under his glove about a step to his left. The first night, the official scorer changed it to an error after initially calling it a hit. A day later, the exact same play they again called a hit. He also grounded into two double plays that day, running about 2/3 speed to first base. I suspect his comments when talking to Jim Mandelaro didn't help with Twins management, when he was quoted as saying he was playing for 29 teams other than the Twins.

John, Before leaving for vacation, I watched nearly half of Rochester's games the past couple weeks. A couple games before Valencia was called up, he allowed two balls to go right under his glove about a step to his left. The first night, the official scorer changed it to an error after initially calling it a hit. A day later, the exact same play they again called a hit. He also grounded into two double plays that day, running about 2/3 speed to first base. I suspect his comments when talking to Jim Mandelaro didn't help with Twins management, when he was quoted as saying "he was playing for 29 other teams than the Twins." As for Nishi, he no longer looks out of his element as he did with the Twins last year and to a lesser extent early this year in Rochester. He has been hitting for more power of late, including several key extra base hits in big rbi situations at important points of the games. I recall two specifically in the past ten days or so, including a bases clearing double into the right-center gap. Is he someone you want to pencil in as your starter, probably not. But I think you will see a player who no longer looks like he doesn't belong.

Was watching the game Seth. Looks like it was a last minute decision for no apparant reason.

Watching the Rochester Columbus game. The Columbus announcers just mentioned that the Twins-REds were in serious discussions. A bit later mentioned that Span had turned down trade. May be same source.

I can't imagine him having a no trade clause either. If he does, that would be another worse than bad move by Bill Smith.

I fully expect that Gardy will retire at the end of this season. I doubt that physically, he can take much more of this losing. As for a replacement, A leading candidate should be Gene Glynn, the first year manager at AAA Rochester. Has ton's of experience coaching a couple long stints in the majors as well as coaching/managing in the minors. He could easily bring his two main assistants with him, Tom Brunansky and Bobby Cuellar. IMO, would be very solid manager to lead the team in its turn around that should begin next year.

Was a tough year for Nishi, eh? Broken leg first week of the season followed by a disappointing return together with things going south in his personal life. All that going on while he was dealing with a new culture, language, etc. Glad to see him playing well since his return from the DL earlier this season.

No. The Red Sox got one with their new ballpark a few miles away. It is one of the things the Twins are working at getting out of a new agreement with Lee County that Bill Smith is working on.

After signing, Kepler and his Mom moved to Fort Myers in September. He enrolled at the high school across the street from the Twins complex and began his career in EST. The next spring he was in spring training followed by a summer in the GCL. I am not certain how long his Mom stayed in Florida, however, I don't believe she was in Elizabethton in 2011.

Seth, the Fort Myers score was a 5-4 loss, not a 9-5 win! Have a great day Seth

I see comments like this all the time, yet is it true? 2007...Ben Revere taken in the first round is developing into an exciting outfielder and lead off hitter. Rams and Morales second and third haven't panned out. Not a great draft, but it did have a very good one in the first round. 2008...Gutierrez should be here by now and Hunt was a disaster. Hicks still has the potential to be special, but is coming along more slowly, somewhat like Hunter did. Hermsen was an excellent pick in the sixth round and Pugh and Tonkin both are intiguing lower round picks. A sub-par to average draft based on how Hicks develops. 2009...Gibson projects as a #2 starter who had his development delayed by TJ surgery. Bashore was lost because of injuries. Bullock was used to obtain Scott Diamond. Chris Herrmann remains a solid prospect with Brian Dozier, who is starting for the Twins, having the potential to be a starter for a long time. With Gibson, Diamond, Herrmann and Dozier, certainly above average while losing a first round pick to career ending injury. If Gibson reaches his potential, a very good draft with three starters including Diamond. 2010...Certainly to early to tell, however, having Wimmers go down with another injury hurts. But you can't project most injuries. Goodrum, Rosario, and JaDamion Williams were high school picks who we won't know the outcome for years, however, all could be special. Dean and Darnell were both college lefties who are moving up the ladder as expected for guys taken after the first round. Toss in several pitchers, Achter, Gallant and Hauser, and you have a class that could be average or very special should Rosario and Goodrum reach their potential with Wimmers getting healthy. 2011...Don't need to say anything more than Boyd and Harrison. Two young kids taken high who are doing very well in their first exposure to professional ball. Add Boer, Williams and Summers and you have three college pitchers who could all make it. Then there is Burris and Malinowski who are two more young kids doing very well out of the chute at ETon. When you take a lot of high school kids you won't know for five or more years what the draft was like. Certainly too early to say this was a poor draft, however. Will any of these classes be above average? 2009, 2010 and 2011 all have a real chance of being very good. If not, they should be at least average? Have they drafted poorly in the last five years? I would have to disagree with that statement, although 2007 will likely only contribute Ben Revere.

I am in agreement with most of your claims until this one. Being a director or officer of a corporation in no way signifies that you are also a shareholder. Most closely held corporations, which this is, will have many officers who are not in fact shareholders. As for the comment about the operating income. They do not show their source or explain what they mean by operating income. Normally however, normal GAAP accounting standards would have operating income different than 'net income.' Thanks for an interesting post!

+1. I believe that Scott and Mr. Ryan will work out something beneficial to both sides. Seth, there was language in the old CBA that restricted the amount a player could be cut, etc. Are you aware of any limitations in the new CBA that could make working something reasonable out with Baker impossible?

I agree with your comments John. And doesn't Revere's constant smile say it all?

What is missing from all of these numbers is the players age when in Elizabethton. If you add that, you will see a trend beginning to develop, ie, younger players with great numbers means the player has a real chance of being something. Older players have to have obscene numbers and even then only one of many will develop into something, ie, Dozier. Of the younger players, Sano, Arcia and Rosario all had big numbers at a young age and remain top prospects. So did Morales, thus, he proves that not all will make it. As for Jimenez/Trinidad, he didn't play much last year but is also older than Morales/Arcia/Sano/Rosario were at ETon.