old nurse

I would say from reading posts on other places many people view many of the entitlement programs as money for people who do nothing. They are mad about that. They get nothing. While I agree with the sentiment, I do not agree with their solution. It is far easier to hate on the freeloaders than it is to hate on the handouts given to corporations. From what I could gather from various sources, more is spent on corporate welfare than those who could otherwise work. It may even well be true that more has been lost due to people defrauding the government from medicare scams and military waste than is spent on welfare for those who can work. But again, despite the claim made that corporations are people too, it is easier to arouse the base for a dislike of tangible people. Sometime in their lives it seems like everyone has seen or heard of someone paying for their groceries with EBT and getting into a new Cadillac. Arouse hate for the obvious cheater, each and every one of them receiving benefits is one. So the belief, IMO, is that the Ryan plan will fix that. They do not pay attention to the rest. If they believe in trickle down economics claiming the same worked for Reagan and the Bush tax cuts then, IMO, they listen to too many media talking heads.

They will probably play Casilla for the next couple of weeks. If they start playing September call ups then you can bet Casilla will be gone.

If one wants to start arguments, thryloss would be better off dissecting when Andre Martinez will join the starting rotation of the Twins. The only good that comes from this thread is Rocketpig's imagery of what may have been happening on a NYC street. BTW, they could have been eating Frankenberry and that is what set Delmon off.

The conventional wisdom is that Romney has hurt himself by not releasing more years. If you think insistence on the issue hurts Dems, fine, but the poll numbers don't seem to support that. And Reid and Pelosi aren't running for President so it doesn't matter in this presidential race if they put out more returns. Romney has been effectively hurt by the issue but continues to refuse to divulge more tax returns to the American public (while requiring his potential VPs to divulge more to him). That suggests that his undisclosed tax returns show even more tax shelters or other issues that wouldn't sit well with many voters. He's hurt by it because thats the angle of the lefts attack. But were not talking about what has been done, we're talking about what is happening now. Poll numbers can not reflect anything but the past, and in my opinion the Democrats are only hurting themselves. His tax records will be very similar to those he's already released, the left will have fun with that and it's to close to the election to allow that. The left asked for his tax records, he released them, and ever since the momentum from that ended the left has been asking for more daily. His dad released several years when he ran for president and if he ended up becoming president I might care. Why doesn't Warren Buffet pay his secretary a fair wage? Not releasing them at this point will not make one reasonable voter assume he doesn't pay taxes, the lefts spin might sway a few undecideds. I think when we ignore the charitable givings we're left with two choices. Lobby the heck out of Obama to ban charitable givings from lowering taxes, or admit your to partisan for your opinion to mean anything. 1. Warren Buffet's secretary makes more than a fair wage, that has been well documented. 2. The issue is not if Romney paid taxes but the ethics behind how he filed taxes. There is a murkiness to his dealings. Through all the years of running for office there is all the information on Pelosi and Reid if you go digging. Disclosure is out there.

Jack Morris might be the only free agent starting pitcher they ever signed that worked. Technically Cole Devries was a free agent

You know what the good teams go, they prepare and add depth up the ass for things like that. The moment you think you're deep at a position, you realize you're not through injuries bad luck or whatever. Pavano was in his mid-30's and Blackburn is the type of arm that could fall apart at any moment. Baker & Slowey were always banged up and spending time on the DL. Hell Liriano is really the only one out of that group who I didn't see this coming, but goes to show what I know. The point is depth is the greatest thing you can plan for during a major league offseason. Prepare yourself that people are gonna get hurt, prepare yourself for losing guys in the majors and minors. The Twins have long relied on having a respectable farm system for kids to come up and fill those holes in the field or rotation. Now that the farm system has tailed off those kids aren't there and you're left giving 38 year infielders multi-year contracts or having a rotation of a Duensing, Blackburn, Daduno, Diamond and the DeVries. 2010 Redwings starters Perkins, Manship and Swarzak. All have seen time with the Twins. Bromberg and Matt Fox were the other predominate starters for that team. New Britain had Gibson. Guerra, Guitterez, and Tyler Robertson starting. The latter three are now relievers. Robertson made it, the other two might. It is fair to say the Twins staff could not add a third quality pitch to many of these pitchers. I have every reason to believe they tried. Anything below those levels to me are always wishful thinking I am not going to say anything about middle infielders on a pitching thread.

At this point in 2010 Pavano, Liriano and Slowey were having good seasons. Blackburn and Baker were signed through 2013. The FO could have thought the rotation was set for a few years. Wimmers was in the low minors and would not have been part of the plan for 2012. Gibson would have allowed them to trade Slowey. The FO did not extend his contract, he would have been the odd man out. Who could have foreseen how 2011 played out with the ineffectiveness of those starters, then the injuries that continued into 2012.

Just looking at his k-rate is foolish, but it is a telling stat. When the ball is constantly being put in play against you odds are the ball is gonna find holes or go over the fence. His groundball rate is ok, but not elite that will cover up the lack of K's. I got nothing personal against BJ, I wish him the best. But I just see no chance in hell that he's gonna survive in the majors with the numbers and stuff he's shown in the minors. His k/bb is respectable. If it were better his ceiling would be higher. A comparable pitcher to project based on his current numbers would be Carlos Silva. He gives up less homers, but might be facing a lot more warning track type power. A year in AAA will clarify his prospect status.

Are you basing your opinion on what you see on paper or have you seen him pitch? How good is the movement on his pitches? He may not strike out a lot of hitters, but he does not walk them either. His hits allowed total is not high either. If you want to base analysis only on one metric there is not much analysis going on.

Forbes is using an estimate when they project revenues. They have attendance figures but not discounts for tickets. They estimate revenue generated by the stadium and merchandise without any real clue.

Nishi led AAA in what? Scott Diamond did not exactly do great last year. There is learning what not to do. There is hope that Hendricks can learn that for a major league level. Clearly he gets it a the AA level.

Unless Gibson is ready opening day there is not much help in the minor leagues for a talent upgrade for the start of 2013. Arcia could make it real hard for them to send him down with a good spring training. No middle infield help for a long time.

Well maybe we should look at differently. Mauer, Span, Morneau, Revere, Ploufee, Garza, Perkins, Ramos, Santana (they did rebuild him once he got to MN) Cuddyer, Kubel & Baker (plus I'm sure I'm missing some guys) Now name me another teams that's produced that much MLB talent in the last decade? I agree that the last 5 years have sucked as far as player development, but you make it seem like every teams is pumping out All-Stars from every draft. Crain, Mijares, at lot of players traded for and developed, Liriano, Guerrier, Lohshe, Bartlette, a few more journeyman relievers like Romero come to mind Part of Ryan'ssuccess was plucking people off from other minor leagues.

But I don't think he's gonna be a good 4-5 starter. When you have that small of a K-rate against AA hitters while not getting groundballs at a healthy clip then the ball is getting put in play way way too often. I see little to no chance of BJ having any kind of success unless he makes some drastic change to his arsenal of pitches. Sorry, I was trying to find a diplomatic answer. Yes the outcome is different when most of the the hitters no longer have warning track power. Maybe the Twins could trade him to a club in the central division. There is one team with a lineup 3/4 full of warning track power Hermsen could find success against.

Benson's problems at AAA earlier this year were well documented, as were Tosoni's. I recall at the time that Tosoni was called up there were not many other options. Why he regressed this year I do not know. Would they as players be better off working to push to make the playoffs in AA versus playing out the season in AAA is a good question. Can any of them learn to carry a team? That is a skill sorely lacking with the Twins. They have players that can play well, even sometimes all stars when not by default, but none that IMO can carry a team. Maybe one or two of them will get that experience at New Britain and bring it with them forward. Do the Twins have filler at AAA and AA. All the names you mention at AAA. I think they view Rivera as filler, not a third baseman. Colabello I think started as such. AA is the highest level he has played.

With enough Vodka on board to want a $20 hooker Dave can't remember.

It is not like any of those players are blocking anyone's development. If Arcia is major league ready next year he will play in the majors regardless if he spends time in Rochester. No one else shows up as really being above average. Benson being a basket case earlier at Rochester will effect a mid season promotion.

Say that he might be a good 4-5 starter? That is the usual way it is done when someone changes their stance on a pitcher they do not like.

You are right for the wrong reason. With a Tapani/ Morris and the three best remaining starters the team would do very well. The problem is in the lineup. Who is the player that could say "Jump on my back" Willingham or Morneau maybe. The rest, no. Mauer has the talent but not the makeup.

I think thryloss read the post about positivity. Couldn't resist

If instead of scholarship you said allowance to undeseriving children or welfare program people might have got the clever joke.

It looks like Deduno does not give up a lot of home runs nor doubles. I haven't watched him pich but if I would think if the hits he gives up have been on the ground he would be more effective as the defense behind him is better. The walks then become double plays. In another month we will have an idea. Pitching Deduno is better than a retread.

Before Pavano the last ace they traded for was Smiley in 92, the last free agent was Morris. There was a lot of filler signed. I doubt there would be a change of behavior. There will be someone out there that they sign to fill out the rotation. The will last a halff a year before being jettisoned.

The outfielders mentioned are under Twins control for two more years. By then Arcia would be ready to play.True you might have Morneau for only one more year. The reason you would claim and keep a Lee is the belief you can make a run in the playoffs. Memory is that Lee steps up in the playoffs. It has been a while since the Twins had someone like that. Going deep and maybe even winning it all would solve the added expense of Lee

For 2013 there would be five things the Twins would need to believe in. Diamond would have to be number two starter. Gibson would have to be ready at the start of the year to be a number three starter. The other two choices for starters would have to be serviceable. Morneau can return to near old self for production. Span, Willingham, and Revere are not having career years and will regress in 2013. If you believe in those 5 things and that Cliff Lee will return to form, you should get him.