Thrylos

No, I do not think that Revere is as good as Span is at this point... Span is a 2-3 win player, Revere is an 1.5-2.5 win player. So I think that the biggest drop is like 1-2 wins. Adding a 2-3 win pitcher and maybe another 2-3 win player, it will be an overall win for the Twins this season and beyond, if you factor Revere in this season or Benson/Hicks/Morales later... They are 2 things that worry me about Span (and I do like him a lot, but you got to sell high) : a. his BB% has been dropping the last few years (he seems more aggressive and less patient - and the numbers confirm that. His PAs average 3.75 Ps vs close to 3.9 a couple years ago, and his out of zone swinging % has been increasing) and b. he seems to have mental lapses on the bases occasionally (and I looked it up to confirm it and has negative base running runs recently.) I know it is nit picking on a good player, but they got to sell high to fill other holes since they can quasi replace him (at least after this season for sure). This team has been selling low on everyone (Young, Slowey, Mijares, etc) and it is about time they stop doing that.

That's too bad... He has been a class guy with the organization since day one and was pretty good last season with the Rock Cats. This organization frustrates me sometimes. They do sign nonprospects and clog the system and get rid of some of their own prospects because they are having hick ups... Add Tony Davis to Dan Osterbrock and Pedro Guerra on the list of boneheaded releases this season. Wishing the best to Tony.

Unfortunately, Mackey has a post up at ESPN 1500 saying that the Twins are looking at the possibility to sign him...

Good to see Span healthy and productive again. Nice thing is that he is actually hitting lefties this season in an ok clip (like he has always done before last season.) Could be a good building block, could be a better trading block; we'll see how it ends up.

Inge is 35 and he has been on the south side of his career with the bat ever since they started testing for steroids. Has been under the Mendoza line for the last 3-4 seasons and the last couple seasons he's been fighting the Butera line. No thank you. (Let's sign Juan Rincon too he is attempting a comeback) On the other hand, Delmon might be a free agent soon too

That was a great trade by the Vikings. Worked out pretty well. Now they have 13 total picks (12 left.) They might still trade up and pick (a DB) today...

I love the Twins win and lose. Period. I watch every single game ableit 10% canned. However, I would like them to win and I cannot stand it when they lose. When there are specific reasons why the lose (IMHO) I open my mouth about it. So when I think that this team needs severe change on the top, I say it because I love them and I want them to win, not because there is a "bandwagon" and I am off it. Nope. I don't get the fans who accept loss after loss after loss and are happy with the people who are ruining their team. I suspect that they are the same funs who go to the ballgames and sit by the concession stands and talk about food and beer instead of watching the game.

Down to .290 in AAA and to .243 overall (and .557 overall OPS) right now

So this team is actually doing worse than the 2011 99-loss team in the same games...

Well, I would agree with the conclusion if: a. there were more data showing the WAR of others ie. college position players, high school pitchers and high school position players, so we can compare b. Career WAR is an interesting metric for thing like HOF. WAR/season is more important and esp since a lot of the players in the list are still active So unless I see the comparisons, I cannot really say that the data support the hypothesis

Yeah... That was an awful call. My takes from today: Another close game, but another loss and another sweep. Based on how they pitched tonight, I do not mind seeing Swarzak in the rotation and Hendriks to AAA (only other with options is Burnett) when they go to 12 Ps. Burroughs does not belong in the majors. I start having Butera-like feelings towards him. Umpiring consitency really lacks (esp. regarding arguing balls and strikes the last 2 days) and something should be done and the big ones: - I hope Parmelee is ok, good to see him looking good in the dugout - wishing the best for Willingham and his family with their new baby

15 BB vs 23 K's not that bad of a ratio. At his age Prince Fielder had a similar ratio (in Beloit btw) and Miguel Cabrera a much worse ratio. Both had much less power and OPS. Hope that makes you feel better about it

Nobody. They have an off day and he is skipped

I think that we have been differing on this for ages and it is ok. I would rather reward a kid in the organization who might have a future in the team with a promotion and extra $ than the Rochester management and fans (who really do not like the Twins) with another aging AAA player who has no future for the Twins, in what, hopefully, is the last season of the Twins there...

The only way that this may make any sense, is if Dozier gets promoted when they get down to 12 pitchers and Florimon would naturally come up. And he is a AAA and not a AA level player anyways...

Ok, Morneau is .063/.318/.250 with RISP, but Mauer is .389/.450/.667 with RISP. Cannot ask for much more...

To a MiLB deal and assign him to Rochester. Career .226/.305/.323 line in parts of 7 MLB season. Just a fill in at this point, esp. because of Nishioka injuries, but they could have rewarded a AA kid...

He tweeted this a bit ago. I tried to look for announcements and listening to Ft. Myers pregame show with no news. I know that his start this season has not been that great but it is a long season. Just hope all is good for him

A little anecdote about Boston's lineup tonight: Valentine had to change it, because originally he thought that Liam Hendriks was a LHP and filled it up with righties.

Yeah. Give him a couple weeks and will be off the list.

Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch ---- This is the first version of the 'who is NOT hot in the Twins' minors' series for 2012. I have been doing the Who is hot in the Minors series for a few years now and I decided that a complimentary list might be in order. I will be updating those every month or so, as well. The current who IS hot list can be found here Without further ado, here is the list, going from AAA to A. The clubs represented are AAA Rochester Red Wings, International League, AA New Britain Rock Cats, Eastern League, A+ Fort Myers Miracle, Florida State League, A Beloit Snappers, Midwest League: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5152/7098789651_02fb66b359_z.jpg Catchers: J.R. Towles (RHB, 28, AAA) .111/.200/.222 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3 H, 31 PA Jairo Rodriguez (RHB, 23, A+) .100/.182/.167 0 HR, 3 RBI, 3 H, 35 PA Infielders: Tsuyioshi Nishioka (SHB, 27, AAA) .203/.299/.237 0 HR, 3 RBI, 3/5 SB, 68 PA Estarlin De Los Santos (SHB, 25, AA) .231/.250/.231 0 HR, 1 RBI, 40 PA Angerson Hidalgo (RHB, 23, A+) .143/.200/.286 0 HR, 0 RBI, 31 PA Andy Leer (RHB, 24, A+) .074/.167/.111 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2H, 30 PA Tyler Grimes (RHB, 21, A) .145/.288/.236 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2/4 SB, 66 PA Outfielders: Darin Mastroianni (RHB, 26, AAA/AA) .207/.258/.224 0 HR, 1 RBI, 63 PA Ben Revere (LHB, 24, MLB/AAA) .211/.211/.211 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 38 PA Marc Dolenc (RHB, 27, AA) .182/.217/.182 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2/4 SB, 44 PA Danny Rams (RHB, 23, A+) .069/.206/.069 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2 H, 34 PA 1st basemen/DH: Matt Rizzotti (LHB, 26, AAA) .256/.256/.282 0 HR, 5 RBI, 2 H, 39 PA Rory Rhodes (RHB, 20, A) .146/.204/.188 0 HR, 4 RBI, 54 PA RH Starters: Marty Popham (24,A+) 5.40 ERA, 1.800 WHIP, 6.6 K/9, 1.57 K/BB Matt Summers (22, A) 7.36 ERA, 1.636 WHIP, 4.91 K/9, 0.89 K/BB LH Starters: Logan Darnell (23,AA) 5.21 ERA, 1.632 WHIP, 4.74 K/9, 1.00 K.BB RH Relievers: Brendan Wise (26, AAA) 5.40 ERA, 2.100 WHIP, 2.70 K/9, 0.4 K/BB David Bromberg (24, AA) 15.00 ERA, 2.833 WHIP, 3 K/9, 0.5 K/BB Bruce Pugh (23, A+) 9.45 ERA, 2.700 WHIP, 10.80 K/9, 1.6 K/BB LH Relievers: Tony Davis, (24, A+) 15.19 ERA, 2.438 WHIP, 6.75 K/9, 1.33 K/BB Bart Carter (24, A) 6.43 ERA, 1.857 WHIP, 11.57 K/9, 2.25 K/BB Clint Dempster (22, A) 3.68 ERA, 1.909 WHIP, 6.14 K/9, 0.83 K/BB

Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch ---- This is the first version of the 'who is NOT hot in the Twins' minors' series for 2012. I have been doing the Who is hot in the Minors series for a few years now and I decided that a complimentary list might be in order. I will be updating those every month or so, as well. The current who IS hot list can be found here Without further ado, here is the list, going from AAA to A. The clubs represented are AAA Rochester Red Wings, International League, AA New Britain Rock Cats, Eastern League, A+ Fort Myers Miracle, Florida State League, A Beloit Snappers, Midwest League: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5152/7098789651_02fb66b359_z.jpg Catchers: J.R. Towles (RHB, 28, AAA) .111/.200/.222 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3 H, 31 PA Jairo Rodriguez (RHB, 23, A+) .100/.182/.167 0 HR, 3 RBI, 3 H, 35 PA Infielders: Tsuyioshi Nishioka (SHB, 27, AAA) .203/.299/.237 0 HR, 3 RBI, 3/5 SB, 68 PA Estarlin De Los Santos (SHB, 25, AA) .231/.250/.231 0 HR, 1 RBI, 40 PA Angerson Hidalgo (RHB, 23, A+) .143/.200/.286 0 HR, 0 RBI, 31 PA Andy Leer (RHB, 24, A+) .074/.167/.111 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2H, 30 PA Tyler Grimes (RHB, 21, A) .145/.288/.236 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2/4 SB, 66 PA Outfielders: Darin Mastroianni (RHB, 26, AAA/AA) .207/.258/.224 0 HR, 1 RBI, 63 PA Ben Revere (LHB, 24, MLB/AAA) .211/.211/.211 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 38 PA Marc Dolenc (RHB, 27, AA) .182/.217/.182 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2/4 SB, 44 PA Danny Rams (RHB, 23, A+) .069/.206/.069 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2 H, 34 PA 1st basemen/DH: Matt Rizzotti (LHB, 26, AAA) .256/.256/.282 0 HR, 5 RBI, 2 H, 39 PA Rory Rhodes (RHB, 20, A) .146/.204/.188 0 HR, 4 RBI, 54 PA RH Starters: Marty Popham (24,A+) 5.40 ERA, 1.800 WHIP, 6.6 K/9, 1.57 K/BB Matt Summers (22, A) 7.36 ERA, 1.636 WHIP, 4.91 K/9, 0.89 K/BB LH Starters: Logan Darnell (23,AA) 5.21 ERA, 1.632 WHIP, 4.74 K/9, 1.00 K.BB RH Relievers: Brendan Wise (26, AAA) 5.40 ERA, 2.100 WHIP, 2.70 K/9, 0.4 K/BB David Bromberg (24, AA) 15.00 ERA, 2.833 WHIP, 3 K/9, 0.5 K/BB Bruce Pugh (23, A+) 9.45 ERA, 2.700 WHIP, 10.80 K/9, 1.6 K/BB LH Relievers: Tony Davis, (24, A+) 15.19 ERA, 2.438 WHIP, 6.75 K/9, 1.33 K/BB Bart Carter (24, A) 6.43 ERA, 1.857 WHIP, 11.57 K/9, 2.25 K/BB Clint Dempster (22, A) 3.68 ERA, 1.909 WHIP, 6.14 K/9, 0.83 K/BB

Part of the rebuilding blocks would have come by trades. As I said: They have to re-build their SP next season. This is a fact. They could have started this season (and save some $ to throw at some free agent SPs next off-season too). Here is a thought: Take a lineup of Revere CF, Benson RF, Tosoni/Mastroianni/Dinkelman LF, Parmelee 1B, Casilla 2B, Dozier SS, Valencia 3B, Mauer C, Morneau DH a pitching rotation of Hendriks/Swarzak/Blackburn and a couple people in the afforementioned (Pavano/Span/Baker/Liriano etc) trades and a pen of Perkins as the closer, Tyler Robertson, Burnett, Duensing, Deolis Guerra, Lester Oliveros and maybe a couple people who would have come in trades or other AAA guys. would that team be much worse than 5-12 at this point? how much more? 3-14? Would that matter that much? OR Would the extra experience for these guys, the extra $ saved towards a good SP next season, the prospects and the extra draft pick (from Capps) matter more? I do think so.

Admit that it was a rebuilding season; not signing Marquis/Willingham/Carroll and re-signing Capps; trading Pavano/Span/Baker/Liriano (and anyone with trade value) this off-season for prospects; and rebuilt.

Yes. His peripherals, other than BB/9, HR/9 and BABIP, which are less than last season, are the same as last season. When they regress to the mean he will be the same pitcher he was last season. And that is worse than Liriano. Heck, Blackburn last night was worse than Liriano