Twins Daily Admin

Stay tuned. Aaron and I have been talking about the same thing and are talking to bars. I should hear back soon.

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Here's a pretty good synopsis, though there is more to the story. http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2012/03/phil_mackey_1500_espn_reporter_blasts_no_accountability_bloggers_on_twitter_gets_blasted.php

I consider Camden Yards to be one of the top 5, and maybe top 3, ballparks in MLB. I haven't been to Nationals Park yet. I should point out - you're also just about two hours from Citizen's Bank Park, which is also very nice (and has a wonderful beer collection). Basically, living on the east coast is a great way to make a half dozen weekend trips to baseball games. Everything can be reached within about 8 hours: BOS, NYY, NYM, PIT. Plus Rochester and the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Make a special trip to see Pittsburgh (where the Twins play in June).

Here's the thing: Terry Doyle wasn't just another rule 5 guy. He was the 2nd one picked. That (hopefully) wont happen again or some time. So how come, with all those available names (and all the Twins apparent needs) the Twins couldn't find a guy worth keeping? Is the Rule 5 that weak now, or was the scouing that bad? Or both?

What options are you talking about? Specifically, I'm talking about a utility infielder who can play shortstop. I don't see any options like that in camp.

Thryloss, I didn't see that post, but it was your comment on my story that made me wonder about it. I gotta say, I think it's a huge long shot. I think I'd pass. Here's why: 1) I believe the Twins can get a different utility player without that same 2-year commitment 2) I'd be a little worried about Gardy falling in love with him and playing him too much. But I wouldn't be upset if they did bring him back, even with that contract. He has his uses.

I'll give two rival reasons he was on the roster the last two years: 1) The Twins were desperate. This is undoubtedly true for why he was originally called up. 2) Bill Smith was in charge. Ryan seems to be a lot more interested in competition, and it's showing. I don't think Burnett is on this roster on 4/6.

Thryloss, I love this idea. Is there a link where we can always find an updated version? Perhaps on your site? Or maybe a google doc that we can share? I'd love to figure out some way to have this more visible on an ongoing basis.

I've heard privately that Gardenhire isn't alone in the organization for thinking that Gutierriez is wasting his considerable talent. Sometimes players who don't respond suggestions get clubbed publicly and sometimes they should.

One important difference between Nathan and Zumaya: Nathan worked his butt off. The knock on Zumaya has been that he doesn't work hard enough on rehab/conditioning which contributes to his injury history. I'm not particularly encouraged that Zumaya was a late scratch for Twins Fest.

I'm looking forward to seeing these!

There is no question he's the starting second baseman. The question is his health and if he can last the whole season. I'll admit I've always been more optimistic on Alexi than I should be given his history. Thanks a bunch for reeling me back in!

This is an excellent point Cody. There is no doubt - none - that Sano would not be viewed as the same prospect if he is a couple of years older, and the then possible suspension adds a whole new layer to it. I had forgotten about that controversy when he signed. Thanks for posting this.

So, Cabrera is due approximately $21M per year for the next four years. VMart gets $13M or so for the next three years. And now Fielder is going to be getting ~$22M or so the next nine years. And Verlander is getting $20M for the next three years. So for the next three years, they have $76M tied into those four guys. Right about now I wish I could say that is going to hurt them long term - but I'm not sure at all that is the case. Ilitch will just spend more, right? He's spent over $130M twice in the last four years. It ain't quite the Yankees midwest - but when you look at those contracts, it kinda feels like it.

Thanks for the story. It's every bit the softball you hint it is. One the one hand, the Tigers won 95 game last year. On the other: on August 17th they were only 7 games above .500, two games and heading into a three game series at Cleveland. They swept the Tribe and racked up a bunch of late season wins in a divisional race that was already over. Their second best starting pitcher has a 4.53 ERA last year. And their biggest offseason move was signing Dotel as a setup man. I think there is plenty of reason to be optimistic about somebody catching them.

I like the signing, but this is absolutely a high-risk/high reward signing, regardless of the contract. The risk isn't financial; that signing him cripples the Twins financially if he comes up lame (like he has the last FIVE consecutive years, by the way.) The risk is that there currently isn't a backup plan for him. So there is at least a 50/50 chance that this signing means nothing, which Twins fans would obviously (and justifiably) be irate about. ON the other hand, there is a chance that Zumaya is a dominant late-inning reliever. I like the signing - but I would like it a LOT more if another arm was added to mitigate the risk.

I like the name of Burroughs, but that illustrates a the key point here: they could have their pick of a bunch of leftover DHs for incredibly cheap. Vlad, Matsui...I might kick the tires on Nady. When Overbay is signing for 1/1, the market just isn't there for these guys. How about Ibanez? Ordonez? Conor Jackson? Carlos Guillen? Isn't an insurance policy worth $1M?

I'd love me some Coffey. But at this point, I'd take just about anything. Such are the effects of Stockholm Syndrome.

Who will be more valuable this year - Ben Revere or Delmon Young?

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?116-Stuff-I-Didn-t-Know-About-Josh-Willingham

He’s Kind Of A Catcher As a 23-year-old, after a couple of years in the Marlins organization, Willingham began playing catcher. Over the next few years he spent most of his time in the minors behind the plate, playing 60 of 66 games there in AAA. In fact, his first promotion to the majors happened because an ex-Twins catcher was experiencing back stiffness. It was Mike Redmond. But catching didn’t last. The plan going into 2006 was for Willingham to get extensive catcher-specific coaching from manager Joe Girardi and bench coach Gary Tuck, who is often credited for molding Jorge Posada into a capable catcher. They worked with him all spring, but on Opening Day he was their left fielder. Even then they planned on him catching a couple of days per week, but by the end of April, he was the full time left fielder. He hasn’t caught since. In the majors, he’s been almost completely a left fielder, laying there 662 in 799 games. While he’s only played first base for four innings in the majors, it’s worth noting that he played all around in the minors, including 119 games at 3B and 68 games at 1B. In fact, in the minors, he was viewed as a possible utility player, though not a middle infield utility player. Of course, the Twins need a right fielder, since it makes zero sense for Ben Revere’s exceptional range and suspect arm to play in Target Field’s tiny right field. Willingham has only played right field 35 times in his professional career. If the move to right field is a deal breaker, the Twins are going to need to do some roster shuffling – or still go get a right fielder. He’s Been Injured, But Not THAT Injured Looking at Willingham’s injury history, one sees lots of indeterminate injuries like a bad back, sore knees and stiff neck. These aren’t exactly injuries that play to the Twins medical (limited) strengths. But the good news is that while his injuries often sideline him for a couple of days, he hasn’t lost too much time to the DL. Not that there haven’t been some serious issues. He had a brutal September in 2007 due to a herniated disc and it sounds like he needs to lots of maintenance to keep his back strong and healthy. In his first year of catching (2003), he ended up have meniscus surgery on his right knee. Just a couple of years ago his season ended in mid-August because of surgery on his other knee. He’s also been on the DL for an Achilles strain (last year) and a stress fracture in his arm cost him a couple of months back in 2005. But the reports almost always have him coming back from lesser problems after a couple of days of rest. Given the organization’s frustrations with players sitting out with nagging injuries, it’s easy to speculate that Willingham is viewed a gamer who toughs things out.

He’s Kind Of A Catcher As a 23-year-old, after a couple of years in the Marlins organization, Willingham began playing catcher. Over the next few years he spent most of his time in the minors behind the plate, playing 60 of 66 games there in AAA. In fact, his first promotion to the majors happened because an ex-Twins catcher was experiencing back stiffness. It was Mike Redmond. But catching didn’t last. The plan going into 2006 was for Willingham to get extensive catcher-specific coaching from manager Joe Girardi and bench coach Gary Tuck, who is often credited for molding Jorge Posada into a capable catcher. They worked with him all spring, but on Opening Day he was their left fielder. Even then they planned on him catching a couple of days per week, but by the end of April, he was the full time left fielder. He hasn’t caught since. In the majors, he’s been almost completely a left fielder, laying there 662 in 799 games. While he’s only played first base for four innings in the majors, it’s worth noting that he played all around in the minors, including 119 games at 3B and 68 games at 1B. In fact, in the minors, he was viewed as a possible utility player, though not a middle infield utility player. Of course, the Twins need a right fielder, since it makes zero sense for Ben Revere’s exceptional range and suspect arm to play in Target Field’s tiny right field. Willingham has only played right field 35 times in his professional career. If the move to right field is a deal breaker, the Twins are going to need to do some roster shuffling – or still go get a right fielder. He’s Been Injured, But Not THAT Injured Looking at Willingham’s injury history, one sees lots of indeterminate injuries like a bad back, sore knees and stiff neck. These aren’t exactly injuries that play to the Twins medical (limited) strengths. But the good news is that while his injuries often sideline him for a couple of days, he hasn’t lost too much time to the DL. Not that there haven’t been some serious issues. He had a brutal September in 2007 due to a herniated disc and it sounds like he needs to lots of maintenance to keep his back strong and healthy. In his first year of catching (2003), he ended up have meniscus surgery on his right knee. Just a couple of years ago his season ended in mid-August because of surgery on his other knee. He’s also been on the DL for an Achilles strain (last year) and a stress fracture in his arm cost him a couple of months back in 2005. But the reports almost always have him coming back from lesser problems after a couple of days of rest. Given the organization’s frustrations with players sitting out with nagging injuries, it’s easy to speculate that Willingham is viewed a gamer who toughs things out.