Thrylos

Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch --- Today the Minnesota Twins unofficially had their first game of the Spring Training, which was an intrasquad contest. Here are some of my thoughts from what happened in this game: Pitchers seem to be well ahead of hitters: Phil Hughes pitched 2 scoreless innings throwing 21 out of 27 strikes, striking out 4 (including Buxton and Sano) and his FB was 91/92 mph Kevin Correia also pitched 2 run-free innings with 14/26 strikes, a K and a BB. Kyle Gibson hit 94 mph on the gun and also pitched 2 scoreless innings (18/25 strikes) [*]Phil Hughes said that he will not throw the slider (a pitch he primarily threw in 2013 and a lot, 21.3% of his pitches were sliders; but with not much success, resulting in -0.8 runs per 100 pitches) and will replace it with a slow curve (9% of his pitches last season with about average success) and a cutter, a pitch he did not throw consistently since 2011. The cutter was very good in 2009 and 2010 but not as good in 2011 and he abandoned it. A curve is a pitcher that he will throw primarily against LHBs and the cutter (and slider) against RHBs. [*]I am not convinced that Kevin Correia will be with the Twins for a long time. I can see Gibson pushing him to the trading block during Spring Training [*]Eduardo Escobar played 3B (replacing Sano) which is his worst fielding position, instead of Shortstop (his best fielding position; he won the Gold Glove for the Venezuela Winter League this off-season). I feel that Escobar can replace Florimon as the Twins' starting shortstop, if given a chance and it is frustrating to see Gardenhire playing him out of position. [*]The big boys did really well defensively Miquel Sano had several good plays at third base including several strong throws, which is good news for the shape of his elbow Kennys Vargas maybe made the defensive play of the game with a diving stop and throw to the pitcher (Worley) who was covering first. Both of these guys' defense is better than certain people might want you to believe [*]I hope that Byron Buxton's performance today (0-3, 3K, 1BB late in the game) will land on earth the fans who think he should be the Twins' starting Centerfielder in 2014. He has a great future, but patience is needed. [*]Josmil Pinto played today, which is good news meaning that his back is better, but Rob Antony said on the radio that the Twins think that he came to Spring Training "a bit heavy", which is bad news, because it sounds like the Twins' brass is preparing the ground for a demotion and going with Suzuki as the starter, a non-optimal situation. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8124/8607106528_5592ff77b8_z.jpg

If that is true, why would the Diamondbacks make that trade then? And I think that you are severely underestimating Pinto's Defense...

I suspect some of them can play LF at least as well as Willingham

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Depends on how the $12M is being spent... In 2013 the Twins paid: $15 Million to Morneau $5.5 Million to Blackburn $3.75 Million to Carroll $3.5 Million to Doumit $.65 Million to Butera That's about $29 Million. Not spent that well/effectively.

Hard to determine the strength of a schedule based on past season's records. Schedule Schmeadule. They play pretty much the same teams as Detroit, KC, Cleveland and the Sux. If they win early and often, they will be alright.

I call bull on that one. Look at the draft picks in the 00s under Ryan. Or the lack of trades of veterans for prospects. Ryan's draft record has been historically bad overall since the 90s.

Bill Smith was an administrator. He traded Hardy and singed Nishioka because Gardy wanted more speed. He got Capps because Gardy n Andy wanted "a proven closer". He traded Garza for Young because Garza would not listen to the way Andy wanted him to pitch. If you want to point fingers point them right at the Twins dugout.

This one hurts: http://www.sportsworldcards.com/ekmps/shops/sportsworld/images/minnesota-twins-tommy-herr-191-score-1989-major-league-baseball-trading-card-51040-p.jpg

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Got some confirmation from Aussie sources who know both players: He looks like a Righty Mike Gonzales with equal "ability" on the field, but has more power than Gonzales. Time will tell. Nothing bad about getting another HR hitter on the team

Certainly. I totally agree. Established above that the current MiLB minimum equates to $6.25 and hour. Trade apprentices get paid. Here is the current average for plumber apprentice wage data. $9-$19 mean $13. Minor leaguers would love that. As far as internships go, they get paid at least minimum wage. There are free internships, but here are the government criteria that allow to not pay minimum wage. And all have to be satisfied: 1. The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment; 2. The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern; 3. The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff; 4. The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded; 5. The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and 6. The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship. Very hard for a MiLB player situation to satisfy the bold terms.

The Twins got to sign him: a. LHP Brooks Raley RHP Todd Van Steensel LHP Sean Gilmartin LHP Kris Johnson RHP Virgil Vasquez these are the starters the Twins signed/re-signed/acquired this off-season. Which one of them will put more rear ends on seats in Fort Myers, New Britain and Rochester than Johan? B. Lets say that after a successful rehab/tour of the aforementioned places the Twins add him to the 40 man roster. Who doubts that the first 2 games he is scheduled to start at Target Field are sold out?

Two words why I am against this: Bo Jackson and two more: Mark Prior

Yes and no The Federal minimum wage of $7.25 overrides and is the floor of State minimum wage. States can set the minimum wage higher than that and be the effective minimum wage for employees at that state. Here is a current list of state minimum wages. The Twins are conducting minor league business in: Connecticut ($8.70), Florida ($7.93), Iowa ($7.25), New York ($8.00) and Tennessee ($7.25). Minnesota is $7.25 also. The minimum minor league salary of $1,150 (/4.25*40) translates to around $6.25 an hour. Unless the Twins are running a family farming business, there are issues here It is the big picture and perspective and ethics too: MLB teams are throwing senseless money left and right, while they are treating their minor leaguers like undocumented seasonal workers. It will take about a $1M dollars to double each and every minor leaguer's salary in an organization. $1M is usually the buyout of a bad option. How much did the Twins play Blackburn not to play in 2013 again? MLB cannot call themselves good corporate citizens, unless they fix this...

Agreed, but how would you characterize what happened to Slowey, Thome, Liriano, Young, Burnett, Hendriks et. al. and a bunch of minor leaguers including Angel Morales in the past few seasons?

Good stuff! The only problem I have with Fryer as a back up catcher is that this will mean that Suzuki will be the starter and Pinto in AAA, which decreases the possibility of the Twins winning in 2014.

Hard to tell about the pen this season. Perkins, Burton, Swarzak and Duensing are the only 4 locks in my book. Plus there are some outsiders like Oliveras and Guerra who are finally healthy and knocking on the door as well. Interesting to see what happens

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Berardino is a really hard worker and he is the class of the Twins' beat writers these days. If Correia and Willingham say stuff, he has to report it. Period. Do not shoot the messenger.

with Deduno, Worley and Diamond out of options and the guys not in bold with options, a lot can happen. I seriously would be surprised if Thielbar and Pressly make the Twins this season. It is hard to separate pitchers between starters and relievers because starters who do not make the rotation can be relievers in a pinch. Also, IIRC you listed 6-7 starters in each minor league roster. Now there are 10-11 relievers there too. Soon will run out of space for position players I expect that several of these guys will get cut the coming month...

I would suggest that you read a little bit about what is going on in Venezuela right now. The current (Socialist - remember Chavez?) government is clashing with the many people who are protesting the current economic situation and rising crime there. Here is a good summary from CNN. So I suspect that the (formal and informal) US policy is against the Socialist Venezuelan government and for the people who are protesting (which is exactly the opposite of your hypothesis.) Thus my comment in the original post up there, that what is happening in Venezuela is akin to what happened in Europe 30 years ago...

Every save (and win) for Detroit harms the Twins. There is no way that he can do well and not be harmful to the Twins...