Thrylos

Nah. That is not the point. The point was what made the Santana Mauer and Morneau and Gardernhire and Ryan teams different than the Puckett, Hrbek, Viola, Knoblauch, TK and MacPhail teams. They both had talent, so the "ERA, FIP, Strikeouts" etc were all taken care. What made one group of TALENTED Twins' teams win 2 World Series in 4 years vs the other group of (potentially more) talented Twins' teams be one and out post-season losers. This is the point of discussion.

You know that Ford "loud and clear" vs "loud or clear" commercial? This is what this sounds like...

It might be prima facie invalid, but if you did deeper, clubhouse and team culture, as corporate culture, is determined by the leaders (who as you said turn over at a lesser rate; and at a painfully slow rate in the Twins case) and not the workers/players. The front office can determine the type of culture they want to have and go get those kind of players. Apparently the MacPhail Front office has been more successful that the Ryan (and its derivatives) front office in creating a winning culture...

I would not compare apples: to oranges As far as winning goes. And the different results of these 2 groupings make this false: To go from being a competitive team for 4 seasons with one and outs in the post-season to wining 2 World Series in 4 seasons, apparently you need more than talent. in 1987 and 1991, the Twins did not have the AL Cy Young and AL MVP play in the same team. In 2006 they did. Arguably, the 2006 team was more talented than either of the World Series teams. Why did they not win? Not because of talent it seems... Heart, Chemistry and Desire to win are huge as well... Or find me another explanation about the postseason Gardenhire loser teams, which does not involve "luck", "dice" or "the Yankees". I am all ears.

I was really impressed by the way Fryer runs the bases. I saw him stretch a double into a triple vs the IronPigs in Gibson's near no hitter earlier this season. Really impressed with that part of his game. But for some reason he really does not look like a catcher to me. Same way that Rohlfing does not look like a catcher to me. On the other hand, Herrmann and Pinto and Koch do. Hard to put my finger on what it is, but it is there.

I think that you trade Willingham now, sign someone like Michael Young to keep 3B warm for Sano and be in the DH rotation, and move Plouffe full time at OF/DH. Have an DH rotation of Plouffe, Kubel, (with Arcia and Young taking breathers there). Full time OF of Plouffe-Hicks-Arcia (L-R) with Presley as late inning replacement/4th OF. This would work for me. Just don't want to see Willingham on the field again, and I know that if he is around Gardy will play him.

They tried to convert him but he was god-awful in Beloit. Like falling on his rear end, having balls hit over his head etc awful. Making Delmon look like Willie Mays. It was not a pretty sight. I think that the Twins had the intention of penciling him at the OF because of Morneau (and Winfree, remember him?) He has improved, don't get me wrong. I think that he is better than Willingham or Doumit, but that does not say much... His range is miniscule.

Here is Parmelee's maxpreps page before he was drafted in HS. His High School positions are stated clearly (along with some really cool baby Parms pictures.) He was drafted as a first baseman (not as a LHP obviously) who got reps in the OF so he has versatility. The Twins thought of converting him to RF in his second season (in Beloit) because of his arm (he was a pitcher) and because of Morneau. However most of his pro career in the minors from 2008 on (ie. after that failed experiment in Beloit in 2007) has been at 1B (393 games at 1B vs 155 at OF, almost 3 to 1), because he was an awful OF early on. And the above is a fact Here is his senior season HS baseball roster that clearly indicates his positions as well...

Did Mattingly say this right now, right in the middle of the off-season? If he had issues he had many chances to say so after particular games against the Cardinals. Any idea if any Cardinals were hit by Dodgers' pitchers last season?

That would be Terry Ryan, Ron Gardenhire and Rick Anderson. They are all on the record saying that Baker should try to pitch through this...

That's one good OF (Hicks), 2 works in progress (Arcia, Plouffe), 2 DHs (Willingham, Parmelee) and a Pitcher (Pressly) you got listed up there... Presley is a bench OF not a starting guy

I still don't get why some Twins' fans dislike Valencia. If he did not play the way he did in 2010, the Twins would have not won the division... Yes he is outspoken and has some personality unlike the majority of Twins players these days. Is that such a bad thing?

I am not sure that Pelfrey was defended (or needed defending for that matter) the Twins' signing was. And I am not going to comment on what was written at yahoo, in absentia of the author here, but I would have to agree that (and I commented on the article when it was posted here) that it really was one-sided and not any good data-driven arguments were given against the signing (other than ERA numbers) and most of the argument (that has been repeated here and in podcasts) was that the Twins were throwing away money because Pelfrey is perceived by someone(s) to be "horrible". Some of us (including Nelson - twice here and here- and me) tried to look at the reasons with data that the Twins actually might had in mind when they signed Pelfrey and how this could potentially be a positive signing. On the other hand, all the arguments that we hear against the Pelfrey signing is (practically) that "he is horrible", "he is slow" and he had a "high ERA". As as far as the Twins throwing money away gambling, Pelfrey's annual contact value is exactly what they paid Blackburn not to pitch last season and about half of what they paid Pavano the season before...

Nothing is final yet Wait until spring training starts at least. Lots more changes coming

Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch ---- It has been reported that the Minnesota Twins have Signed 30 year old C Kurt Suzuki to an 1 year $2.75 million contract plus incentives. He will provide catching depth, allowing the Twins to pace the use of Josmil Pinto and Chris Herrmann at the catcher position in a way that it is most appropriate for them. He would also act as insurance, in case one or both of the rookies need additional work at AAA. The Twins would need to create a spot on the 40-man roster for Suzuki, which likely means that 28 year old Eric Fryer, who was slated for this role now filled by Suzuki, will be taken off the 40-man roster and designated for assignement. The 5'11", 200 lbs, Suzuki, who is from Hawaii, was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 2nd round of the 2004 MLB June Amateur Draft from California State University Fullerton. He flew threw the Athletics system at a pace of a level a year starting as a 20 year old in short season A Vancouver and ended up starting 2007 in AAA Sacramento. Baseball America had him ranked as the 89th best prospect in Baseball before that season. Mid-season 2007 he made his debut with the Athletics where he stayed until the 2012 trading deadline when he was traded to the Washington Nationals. He returned to the Athletics, traded back by the Nationals this trading deadline, to support thens in their post-season run in 2013. His career slash line is .253/.309/.375 (.685 OPS, 86 OPS+). The right hand hitter seem to be consistently declining with the bat since his age 25, 2010 season when he hit .274/.313/.421 (.734 OPS, 93 OPS+) . Last season between the Nationals and the Athletics he hit .232/.290/.337 (.627 OPS, 73 OPS+) in 94 games (316 PAs), which is what the Twins should probably be expecting from him (in fewer PAs) in 2014 and his $2.75 million one year contract reflects this. He is a right hand hitter but hits both lefties and righties equally. Suzuki does not walk a lot, but he does not strike out a lot either (about 8% BB rate and 10% K rate). He makes contact, but does not have much power. He is a good bunter and can move runners on; also suited for hit and run plays. Suzuki's defense behind the plate, his ability to block balls in the dirt, to make hard plays and to stall runners has been praised. So has his clubhouse presence. So has his game calling by managers and his pitchers. He has been extremely healthy spending only 24 days in the 15-day DL in his career for an intercostal muscle strain in 2010. Even if he might not be able to contribute with the bat as a starter, he would be an invaluable mentor for both Pinto and Herrmann. All in all a great addition for the Twins. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7425/11466426665_b7d3a26469_z.jpg

This is kinda of a slippery slope, because you are mixing ethnicity (e.g. Hispanic) with race (e.g. black/African American, white, Asian, native etc). African Americans/blacks can be Hispanic or not. Dominican republic is part of the Americas so people with Dominican origin are also considered Americans. That said, I suspect that you are asking why there are so few non-hispanic blacks in the Twins' system. I think that your count is off. I counted at least 6 who played with Cedar Rapids last season: Josh Burris Byron Buxton Niko Goodrum Tyler Jones Adam Walker J.D. Williams might even be more. Getting inner city kids in the US (African American or not) to play baseball has not been very successful, thus programs like RBI. And it is not the Twins, it is the whole league.

Not necessarily. Antony might be Radcliff's new boss (instead of TR), as it looks like he is Goin's, Steil's, Morse's and likely Johnson's. Simple.

This is not the Twins only. Especially for promotions like the majority of those announced. Those job openings are not advertised, they are not competitive, they are just handed. As far as employers are concerned MLB baseball is stuck in the 40s and 50s. MiLB baseball is better but it is a whole different ballgame there (pun intended.) Positions like GM and Manager are pretty much the only visible ones open for a search (in most clubs) when they are vacant. Other positions like interns and communications people and grounds etc are open. Speaking specifically about baseball operations here. Those positions are handed. Example: The Twins had a new Director of Minor League Operations last off-season. Was that job posted? No. Was that job handed? Yes.

I like to have a look at those things first. If they are anything close to batting helmets, expect major issues with pitchers.

Correct for a lot of those (same job, fatter title) but here is Antony's new role from the press release. What I have in bold are new responsibilities: Rob Antony joined the Twins organization in 1988 and has served as the team's Assistant General Manager since 2007. In his role as Vice President, Assistant General Manager, Antony will be responsible for major league contracts, including arbitration; the evaluation of major and minor league players; and day-to-day oversight of the club's video, baseball analytics and baseball communications departments. Prior to being named Assistant General Manager, Antony worked as Director, Baseball Operations (1995-2007); Director, Media Relations (1991-1995); and Assistant Director, Media Relations (1988-1991). A Minneapolis native and graduate of the University of Minnesota, Antony and his wife Lynn have two children and reside in Plymouth, Minn. He used to be responsible for contracts. This whole player evaluation and personnel decisions used to be under Radcliff as VP of player personnel; the rest (analytics, video, communications) used to be directly under TR. Not sure how that will play out...

Yeah. Noticed that in my proofreading and corrected it. Getting old

Being there for most of those, I got to say that 1987 was much ahead of 1991. First title in MLB or NFL in Minnesota. Big thing. In 1991 we kinda knew it was going to happen and that the Twins will not lose at home and win it all out, because of 1987. And I am ranking those from a fans' perspective not individual performance perspective 1.I'd put as number one the single biggest impromptu people driven athletic moments in history. What he has as number 5. 60,000 of us for a good reason stormed downtown and the Metrodome. Things like that just do not happen. It was unbelievable and hair raising. It was like Occupy Metrodome in a time and place before the word of mouth could be spread by social media. 60,000 plus people had the same thought at the same time and acted. Never happened before will never happen again in the sports world... He was probably too young to remember (if he was born) Not exactly the same as marching to break the Berlin Wall, but a lot of similar elements. 2. Last pitch of the 1987 series. (what he has as #3) 3. Last pitch of the 1991 series (what he has as #2) 4. And we'll see you tomorrow night (what he has as #1; cannot be ahead 2 WS wins) 5. 10/7/1987: The first postseason game in the dome and the first time a local paper gave away something called the "homer hanky". 55,000 crazy fans were waving it and screaming at the Tigers' pitchers' windups making the dome a hell house for visitors. And it continued to be until the Twins' fall. Remember the decibel meters? Good luck seeing this today in a ball park (unranked) 6. Sunday September 27, 1987. Against the Royals. Crowd of 55,000. Last regular season game in the dome. With Blyleven starting, Pucket, Hrbek and Gaetti all hit HRs leading the Twins to and 8-1 victory and having them up 6 games in the division with 6 to play in Arlington. All they needed was to win one. And they did win just that one. But at that point we all knew that the Twins have made it to the post-season (unranked) 7. 4/12/2002. Home opener. The one that might had not happened if Carl Pohlad and Bud Selig had their way (unranked) 8. Hrbek's grand slam (#6 in his list) 9. Dan Gladden's grand slam to cap a 7 run inning in game 1 of 1987 (unranked). 10. Kirby's memorial (#10 in his list) And opposing players hitting milestones ranks really last on my list of any moments in sports... So many of those things one can put, there is just not enough space...

It is individual. Check the career BABIPs of these former Twins: Non selective and slow guys: Scott Stahoviak: .324, Marty Cordova: .314, Corey Koskie: .323, AJ Pierzinski .330 (while with the Twins) Selective and Speedy guys: Matt Lawton: .281 I'd say that Stahoviak might be a good Valencia comparable

What's Buxton's BABIP again? There is no such a thing as a normal BABIP for hitters and you can compare hitter's BABIPs only to the ones of other seasons of that hitter. Valencia averaged BABIP throughout his career (in the majors and minors) has been well in the .300s with the exception of 2012 (.222) and 2011 (.275). That is about 8 seasons, which suggests that 2011 and 2012 might be the aberration here. Maybe something was up with him that was not there in 2013 or maybe he made swing adjustments or "got it" in 2013. If you look at his 2013 numbers, his BABIP was above .300 in both MLB and AAA and (even more importantly maybe) his isoP was close to .250 (career high) in both leagues (for reference his isoP with the Twins was .137 each of his 2 seasons) I guess the Royals took a bet that this is the case. We shall find out.

Here is another perspective for this: From 1999 to present only 19 NPB players were posted. Of those 17 were Japanese (the other 2 were Timo Perez and Ramon Ramirez - good trivia question.) From those 19 players, 10 signed major league deals, 3 minor league deals and the rest did not reach an agreement. For those 13 players that a fee had to be paid, the fee was higher than $20M in 3 occasions. So we are talking about a situation that may happen every 4-5 years. Too much ado for something so rare... you can find all posted players here. And, yes there were a lot of other Japanese players (like Hideki Matsui) who came over here as free agents without being posted because they became free agents there (like Tanaka will be for 2016)