I can't handle it. Too many frustrations in this thread. Lol you took the most facetious part of my post and argued against it. Good times. Really!!!??? All the young players like Cuddyer, Kubel, Bartlett, Lohse, Parmelee, could throw in Delmon and Garza for the heck of it. He has a terrible rap with young players. He hasn't been as bad lately, but the Twins have also sucked so he hasn't had the chance to be a dick. First of all, the Twins haven't lost much talent since Gardy took over. Guys that fit your bill: J.J. Hardy, Pierzynski (was pretty good when he left), Bartlett, Garza, Lohse, we could be adding Kubel soon too, luckily they have Perkins or he would be on the list... That isn't incredibly short. OK, the year the Twins sign a legit back-up catcher and Butera still finds a way to get 111 AB's. The year before he got 234 AB's and 142 AB's in a year the Twins won 94 games (2-8 the last 10) and got swept in the playoffs. The Texas Rangers had a 92m payroll in 2011 and went to the WS. The Twins that year was 112m... in 2010 when the Rangers made the series they had a payroll of 55m, the Twins had 97m. Tampa Bay in 2008 had a 43m payroll. Detroit Tigers had a 82m payroll in 2006 and went to the WS. 2005 Chicago White Sox 75m. Is that enough yet to change your mind? I can keep going with examples if you'd like. Ohhhh. So what has changed? The people making the decisions? The organizational philosophies? Pretty sure JR said in a quote that they will continue to do what they have always done. Nothing will change until there is new blood making decisions and changes.