Badsmerf

The way Appel has pitched, there is no way he is making it to the Twins. Boras has little leverage now and teams don't have to be scared to draft him. If Boras holds out again, he will have cost Appel millions. His best strategy would have been to let him sign and play right away because he might have seen serious MLB playing time this season. Now, he is backed up a year and if he doesn't sign he is backed up again.

Urgent. Need scrappy MI to hit in 2-hole and balance the line-up.

It isn't a worthless stat at all, you need a hand slap for that. Different players bring different skill sets. Revere's value is driven by his ability to make contact at an insane rate. Add in his speed and most GB's aren't turned into DP. He hit 295 ground balls last season, only 8 resulted in a double play. I couldn't find GIDP successful %, but I'm guessing it is pretty low. So, for a player like Revere, hitting a GB is a very successful approach. He also avoid infield fly balls, which are the worst type of contact. Hicks is a different type of player, true. His OBP should be pretty good, despite his high amount of K's. That is still valuable. I will completely argue, an OBP driven by AVG is better than an OBP driven by BB because hitting the ball moves runners and forces the defense to make plays plus there will be a % that go for extra bases. Like kab said, striking out a lot makes it difficult to have a good average. Add in a small amount of power (potential to continue development) and it makes it even less likely. My guess for Hicks this season is .250/.320/.410, and that is being pretty optimistic.

So cmathew, you're basis for Hicksie's numbers is on his approach and maturity. I can understand the optimism, because that is why I see him as a potential 800 OPS player that settles in the upper .700's. Pretty good player really. The problem is that even last season he has contact issues. He K's at 20% per year and his average was supported by a .346 BABIP. Now, that isn't a crazy BABIP, but he's alternated between a little above .300 to around .350. Sooooo.... anyway, you have your opinion and we'll just have to let it play out.

First off, your argument is based on what? Those averages and formulas you referenced are based on years of results from all prospects, not just non-prospects but guys like Mauer and Cabrera who outperform their minor league careers. Dismissing them is simply ignoring overwhelming evidence, or just being ignorant of them. I would like to know more about why you feel Hicks can outperform his past 4 years results by 20 or 30%. The numbers you referenced are what I am hoping from Hicks in his prime (with a little more power) not his rookie year! I like him and his approach, just would like to know where these high expectations are coming from. Also, if my wife is fat, I'd tell her. I firmly believe in not lying to your wife, including things she might not want to hear. You owe her that much IMO. If she doesn't want to hear it, she shouldn't ask.

Still too far away and too small sample size to judge. Gray is a fast riser, but Stanek and Manaea have had scouts all over their business for a while now. Houston took the fast riser last season so I could see them do it again with Gray.

Thinking Hicks will be a future all-star is naive. I think kab is pretty close to what he'll look like. He has contact issue and not enough power to off-set it. He is patient and draws walks so I'm more interested in his OBP this season. To me, an OBP of .330 would be a good season for him. I don't think it is too far fetched to hope for a .700 OPS with 20+ steals.

Michaels was a SS in college so that is where I would guess he plays. I wouldn't rule out a nice season by him. I'm sure they will all have a shot to start at some point.

Isn't Lanigan done as a starter? He didn't start a single game in 2012. I would imagine Nate Roberts would have to start in NB...

If yesterday's game is any indication for the season, I believe he will be fine. All I ask is for a competent line-up, solid situation decisions and correctly handling young players. I have doubts he can win in the postseason as evidence by his horrific record. I think moving on from him would send the wrong message IMO. He should have been let go after the last ugly playoff series where the players looked beat from the first pitch. Funny, he was AL Manager of the year that season. Now, you would be moving on from a guy that was given a terrible roster for 2 season and paid the price.

Baseball is won pitch by pitch. You can dissect each pitch into the whole scheme of the game. Its a balance between playing for today and playing for tomorrow because of the length of the season and playoff teams are separated by 1 win most years. With as many games that are played we are also able to watch players grow or deteriorate. Its a game of grace and grit. Some games are more exciting than others, but there is always something to watch for and appreciate. I enjoy watching a hitter lay off a nasty 1-2 slider in the dirt more than watching a 3 yard run off tackle in football. The mental part of baseball is so significant it can take players over for good or bad. You think Punto would be in this league if he didn't Battle His Tail Off every moment he was in a game? You could argue it is like Hockey and Socccer (with much more scoring and action IMO) in that it isn't just about runs on the scoreboard.

We comin.... we comin...

Wow Plouffe got screwed on those calls.

See: Nick Blackburn

Florimon should have had that.

Better question, does Sano make that play?

Its just different. Everyone will get used to it I think. I always felt Interleague play was a little hokey to begin with.

I think its because baseball is a right of passage during summer. The start of the baseball season reminds me of spring, summer, days at the beach, grilling with the game on the radio, fresh tomato basil salad, 90 degree days that make me wish it was winter for like 10 minutes... and many more. Baseball isn't just a sport for me, as I'm sure many, it is something I've grown up with and apart of my life.

Good job on the line-up to Gardy. The top 7 should be comparable to any team in the league. Hopefully this team will at least score some runs and play decent defense.

No, I'm just giving you the two options to keep things simple.

Not a huge fan of the kitchen. Like the floors and ceilings, not a big fan of the layout. Don't get me wrong, it is much better than the house I'm currently living in lol. Hopefully when I grow up (or get a job that is stationary) I will build my own house.

I'm not very convinced by this. A lot of optimism thinking this team could even come close to 80 wins. The starting pitching just isn't good enough. Diamond is going to regress, Worley will pitch have a dip in number while changing leagues, Harden might not be a starting pitcher anymore, Correia is going to struggle with the league change, Pelfrey might not make it through the season, and Hendriks is still unproven. I hope your optimism because reality, but future looks bleak.

So I was curious the other about my believed ineptitude of the Twins at the DH position. So I looked up basically the last 10 years of position specific hitting. Surprisingly, the Twins have utilized the DH pretty well. Obviously, they are not Boston with David Ortiz, but it hasn't been Rondel White numbers either. In the recent history, they had Thome which clearly boosted their numbers. For a few years they were right at the top of the league! I stopped a second, made sure I was looking up the right position (not catcher/1b) and said "good play Twins, we'll see how long that lasts." Despite their lack of a true DH, they have usually been middle of the pack. However, the one that hurts is in 2006 when the DH posted a .676 OPS only slightly above Seattle. While I can accept the Twins haven't been completely inept at the position, it still bothers me the way they handle it. Obviously using Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Micheal Cuddyer, Jason Kubel at DH have boosted the numbers since 2006. Needless to say, they are all position players, and using them as a DH inserts a back-up into the line-up..... and most likely, a futility infielder or no-hit catcher. That, is the part the bugs me. So while the DH numbers have looked ok, it is covering up the fact that position in the line-up is actually being occupied by someone that has no business getting 400 MLB AB's in a year. Things are starting to come together a little now, right? I'm advocating for a legitimate full-time DH. One that can post an .800+ OPS for the position without help from other players, one that can hit for power, and one that MN fans like. I'm advocating for Josh Willingham to move to DH for the next 3 years. His contract is only through next year? If he is healthy all off-season you extend him 2 years at about the same money he is at now an move him to DH where he can stay healthy. This does a few things. First, and best of all, it takes AB's away from futility INF like Florimon, Escobar, Carroll (wait, that is like all our MI INF... whaaaat). Next, when guys like Mauer, Plouffe, ect. need a day off, they can actually take a day off and not just DH. That is one of the things that bugs me about Gardy. If you want a guy to take a rest (Mauer) give him an actual rest! I get the keeping the bat in the line-up thing, but the Twins have a pretty decent bat in Doumit now, and have an ok option in AAA once Doumit leaves in Herrmann. He could still do this on day Willingham gets off, but I'd accept more games without Mauer in the line-up at all if we had a DH like Willingham where the drop-off in the line-up is only one position. I think it would also allow Mauer to catch more games, which would be another added bonus. The Twins have a glut of OF coming in the near future (Hicks is already here). Arcia coming up could push Willingham to DH instead of Parmelee to 1b like many are speculating. This would allow the Twins to bring Arcia up as soon as this year. I'm in favor of a real DH. An asset to the line-up. A RH power bat to drive in runs. I want this team to win, regardless of my distaste for ineptitude of the front office. I hope they consider it, because moves like this are what teams that want to compete do.

So I was curious the other about my believed ineptitude of the Twins at the DH position. So I looked up basically the last 10 years of position specific hitting. Surprisingly, the Twins have utilized the DH pretty well. Obviously, they are not Boston with David Ortiz, but it hasn't been Rondel White numbers either. In the recent history, they had Thome which clearly boosted their numbers. For a few years they were right at the top of the league! I stopped a second, made sure I was looking up the right position (not catcher/1b) and said "good play Twins, we'll see how long that lasts." Despite their lack of a true DH, they have usually been middle of the pack. However, the one that hurts is in 2006 when the DH posted a .676 OPS only slightly above Seattle. While I can accept the Twins haven't been completely inept at the position, it still bothers me the way they handle it. Obviously using Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Micheal Cuddyer, Jason Kubel at DH have boosted the numbers since 2006. Needless to say, they are all position players, and using them as a DH inserts a back-up into the line-up..... and most likely, a futility infielder or no-hit catcher. That, is the part the bugs me. So while the DH numbers have looked ok, it is covering up the fact that position in the line-up is actually being occupied by someone that has no business getting 400 MLB AB's in a year. Things are starting to come together a little now, right? I'm advocating for a legitimate full-time DH. One that can post an .800+ OPS for the position without help from other players, one that can hit for power, and one that MN fans like. I'm advocating for Josh Willingham to move to DH for the next 3 years. His contract is only through next year? If he is healthy all off-season you extend him 2 years at about the same money he is at now an move him to DH where he can stay healthy. This does a few things. First, and best of all, it takes AB's away from futility INF like Florimon, Escobar, Carroll (wait, that is like all our MI INF... whaaaat). Next, when guys like Mauer, Plouffe, ect. need a day off, they can actually take a day off and not just DH. That is one of the things that bugs me about Gardy. If you want a guy to take a rest (Mauer) give him an actual rest! I get the keeping the bat in the line-up thing, but the Twins have a pretty decent bat in Doumit now, and have an ok option in AAA once Doumit leaves in Herrmann. He could still do this on day Willingham gets off, but I'd accept more games without Mauer in the line-up at all if we had a DH like Willingham where the drop-off in the line-up is only one position. I think it would also allow Mauer to catch more games, which would be another added bonus. The Twins have a glut of OF coming in the near future (Hicks is already here). Arcia coming up could push Willingham to DH instead of Parmelee to 1b like many are speculating. This would allow the Twins to bring Arcia up as soon as this year. I'm in favor of a real DH. An asset to the line-up. A RH power bat to drive in runs. I want this team to win, regardless of my distaste for ineptitude of the front office. I hope they consider it, because moves like this are what teams that want to compete do.

Only if the Twins don't acquire any talent or a top college pitcher shoots through the system this summer. I maintain, that if the Twins could have at least been competitive by adding a good SP this offseason. Depending on how the season goes, they could be in the playoff hunt as early as next year. It wouldn't even take that many good breaks.