Reginald Maudling's Shin

It sounds like only way to get a minor league club closer to Minnesota would be to purchase and start up a AAA team in the PCL, but there are no markets nearby large enough to sustain a AAA franchise. The two teams with the closest minor league affiliates (outside of the east coast) that I can recall off hand are the Giants and the Mariners. San Francisco has a High A team in San Jose (50 miles away, but really next door) and Seattle has had a AAA team in Tacoma (30 miles away). St. Paul is much closer to Minneapolis than these two examples, although I think all 3 have the minor league team in the same TV/attendance market. I think the MSP market is probably bigger than (or at least comparable to) Seattle so it would not be completely unprecedented. But, the Twins may not like the competition from having a team 10 miles away so that's probably the deal breaker. Also I assume Midway isn't close to an acceptable facility for a AAA team. There might be a fairly significant start up cost for an area that just paid for an MLB stadium, NNCAA football stadium, and NFL stadium.

Greetings from the East Bay. I realized the night before last that this game was being played in San Francisco (for some reason I thought it was at the dome, probably because they play in the regular season there), so I scrambled to find some tickets online and made the game. Granted it's the first preseason game so you can't gauge much, but dammit I'll try. Before I get to the game, I have to describe this weather. As a Minnesotan by birth, it is in my DNA to discuss weather in depth at any possible opportunity, so I must share this with you (mainly) midwesterners. At noon it was 100 degrees of blazing, intolerable heat when I went out to lunch. At 5:00 after I crossed the Oakland Hills, past the Bay and into the San Francisco peninsula (30 miles give or take as the crow flies), it was upper 50's, cold, and windy. I know, I'm a wimp for complaining about 50 degree weather. But you know, I haven't been this cold since I moved out here over a year ago. And you try to endure a 40 degree temperature change in 1 hour, tough guy. Kudos to the San Francisco 49ers cheerleaders, by the way. They gutted it out and kept on their skimpy outfits for the entire first half, and only added light jackets in the second. Is it bad that I feel like Morris from "Slapshot" when describing cheerleaders and their outfits? OK, to the game: Christian Ponder continues to provide no insight as to whether I think he's going to be a long term success in this league. He made some nice throws to Kyle Rudolph, and did have a 52-yard completion on the first possession of the game, but this ball was late and under thrown. Stephen Burton completely burned his man but had to stop and wait for the ball. That was the only ball that I recall him throwing downfield. They did move the ball against the first team defense pretty well, with no Peterson and no Harvin, so there's that. I still feel nervous with him in the pocket. I don't know if this is the kickass offense, or the receivers, or lack of protection, or him, but he seems to be trying to do too much too often. Favre got away with that scrambling, staying in the pocket too long, improvisation crap when he was here because he had years of experience and a huge arm. Ponder has neither and if he keeps going after 4 yards when he ought to throw the ball away he's going to get killed behind this line. Of course, the wide receivers didn't help things. I think as a group they may have had more drop than receptions. Again this is the first preseason game but I've seen most of these guys before, and it baffles me how the Vikings are going to try to develop a young QB with minimal weapons at WR. I mean Michael Jenkins? Really? Defensively the team looked pretty lousy and allowed a merely decent running team to look like the 1980's Nebraska Cornhuskers on several plays. Brandon Jacobs ran around Mistral Reymond like a pylon. Colin Kaepernick scored on a 78-yard bootleg (vs. 2nd team, but still, that was really bad). Of course Jared Allen was out and his replacement got blown out several times. Winfield didn't play, but I don't know how much you can count on the wounded veteran CB at this stage in his career. After Joe Webb entered the game this one turned ugly. I don't know what to do with this young man, as he has glimpses of raw talent but long stretches of ineptitude. I guess he kind of is what he is, not quite good enough to invest a lot of game time in to develop. As bad as this game was to watch I was impressed by a few players. Kyle Rudolph runs smooth, crisp routes and has soft hands. Harrison Smith made a nice play staying at home on a reverse to Kyle Williams. I hope he wins a starting safety job over the duds they have starting now. Matt Kalil is huge. He may have been burned a time or two but I think he'll be the real deal. He looks like he has the tools: agile and quick feet. Definitely not another Bryant McKinnie (who IMO relied more on size than technique. And he enjoyed cunnilingus with greasy strippers. Yuck). Our kicker Walsh was impressive. I lol'd at LaMichael James trying to run one back 13 yards deep in the end zone. Finally, everyone should be happy they never have to go to Candlestick Park. Besides being in a rough neighborhood, impossible to drive to, constantly cold and windy, it is a pain in the ass. The concession stands had deep, stationary lines the entire game, making it impossible to get something to eat if you actually wanted to watch football at a football game. Keep in mind this is the first preseason game and the place was maybe 1/2 full, probably more like 1/3. I'm not one to complain about the food at a sporting event, but at least at the Metrodome you can get to the food if need be. Most of the fans were pleasant and cordial. The vast majority, really. Most people here remind me of midwestern folks, always friendly, courteous, and looking to help you out. There were a lot of Viking fans in attendance. However, the economy in the bay area must be doing really well, as dozens of degenerates can afford to spend $100 a ticket for the opportunity to get hammered and hang out in the upper concourse to try to start fights with random people the whole game. Kudos to the 49ers for extracting 30 grand per ticket for a PSL to price these losers out of the next stadium. Your family is poor Kenny! Please tell me Viking fans don't behave like this at the dome. What do I take away from this game? Nothing, as it should be. I think the Vikings still need massive upgrades in several areas, and obviously nothing from one preseason game is going to alter that opinion. It would be nice to see improvement from the disaster that was last year. Hopefully they got their draft picks right and Kalil, Smith, etc. will help. Hopefully Ponder continues to learn to play the position (and hopefully he has the skills to do so). But that's really all we have is hope, as this is going to be a long rebuilding process. But at least we don't play at Candlestick.

Greetings from the East Bay. I realized the night before last that this game was being played in San Francisco (for some reason I thought it was at the dome, probably because they play in the regular season there), so I scrambled to find some tickets online and made the game. Granted it's the first preseason game so you can't gauge much, but dammit I'll try. Before I get to the game, I have to describe this weather. As a Minnesotan by birth, it is in my DNA to discuss weather in depth at any possible opportunity, so I must share this with you (mainly) midwesterners. At noon it was 100 degrees of blazing, intolerable heat when I went out to lunch. At 5:00 after I crossed the Oakland Hills, past the Bay and into the San Francisco peninsula (30 miles give or take as the crow flies), it was upper 50's, cold, and windy. I know, I'm a wimp for complaining about 50 degree weather. But you know, I haven't been this cold since I moved out here over a year ago. And you try to endure a 40 degree temperature change in 1 hour, tough guy. Kudos to the San Francisco 49ers cheerleaders, by the way. They gutted it out and kept on their skimpy outfits for the entire first half, and only added light jackets in the second. Is it bad that I feel like Morris from "Slapshot" when describing cheerleaders and their outfits? OK, to the game: Christian Ponder continues to provide no insight as to whether I think he's going to be a long term success in this league. He made some nice throws to Kyle Rudolph, and did have a 52-yard completion on the first possession of the game, but this ball was late and under thrown. Stephen Burton completely burned his man but had to stop and wait for the ball. That was the only ball that I recall him throwing downfield. They did move the ball against the first team defense pretty well, with no Peterson and no Harvin, so there's that. I still feel nervous with him in the pocket. I don't know if this is the kickass offense, or the receivers, or lack of protection, or him, but he seems to be trying to do too much too often. Favre got away with that scrambling, staying in the pocket too long, improvisation crap when he was here because he had years of experience and a huge arm. Ponder has neither and if he keeps going after 4 yards when he ought to throw the ball away he's going to get killed behind this line. Of course, the wide receivers didn't help things. I think as a group they may have had more drop than receptions. Again this is the first preseason game but I've seen most of these guys before, and it baffles me how the Vikings are going to try to develop a young QB with minimal weapons at WR. I mean Michael Jenkins? Really? Defensively the team looked pretty lousy and allowed a merely decent running team to look like the 1980's Nebraska Cornhuskers on several plays. Brandon Jacobs ran around Mistral Reymond like a pylon. Colin Kaepernick scored on a 78-yard bootleg (vs. 2nd team, but still, that was really bad). Of course Jared Allen was out and his replacement got blown out several times. Winfield didn't play, but I don't know how much you can count on the wounded veteran CB at this stage in his career. After Joe Webb entered the game this one turned ugly. I don't know what to do with this young man, as he has glimpses of raw talent but long stretches of ineptitude. I guess he kind of is what he is, not quite good enough to invest a lot of game time in to develop. As bad as this game was to watch I was impressed by a few players. Kyle Rudolph runs smooth, crisp routes and has soft hands. Harrison Smith made a nice play staying at home on a reverse to Kyle Williams. I hope he wins a starting safety job over the duds they have starting now. Matt Kalil is huge. He may have been burned a time or two but I think he'll be the real deal. He looks like he has the tools: agile and quick feet. Definitely not another Bryant McKinnie (who IMO relied more on size than technique. And he enjoyed cunnilingus with greasy strippers. Yuck). Our kicker Walsh was impressive. I lol'd at LaMichael James trying to run one back 13 yards deep in the end zone. Finally, everyone should be happy they never have to go to Candlestick Park. Besides being in a rough neighborhood, impossible to drive to, constantly cold and windy, it is a pain in the ass. The concession stands had deep, stationary lines the entire game, making it impossible to get something to eat if you actually wanted to watch football at a football game. Keep in mind this is the first preseason game and the place was maybe 1/2 full, probably more like 1/3. I'm not one to complain about the food at a sporting event, but at least at the Metrodome you can get to the food if need be. Most of the fans were pleasant and cordial. The vast majority, really. Most people here remind me of midwestern folks, always friendly, courteous, and looking to help you out. There were a lot of Viking fans in attendance. However, the economy in the bay area must be doing really well, as dozens of degenerates can afford to spend $100 a ticket for the opportunity to get hammered and hang out in the upper concourse to try to start fights with random people the whole game. Kudos to the 49ers for extracting 30 grand per ticket for a PSL to price these losers out of the next stadium. Your family is poor Kenny! Please tell me Viking fans don't behave like this at the dome. What do I take away from this game? Nothing, as it should be. I think the Vikings still need massive upgrades in several areas, and obviously nothing from one preseason game is going to alter that opinion. It would be nice to see improvement from the disaster that was last year. Hopefully they got their draft picks right and Kalil, Smith, etc. will help. Hopefully Ponder continues to learn to play the position (and hopefully he has the skills to do so). But that's really all we have is hope, as this is going to be a long rebuilding process. But at least we don't play at Candlestick.

I think this is hilarious. We haven't had a player this legendarily horse-sh!t since Houston Jiminez.

I guess we are supposed to expect high-upside arms when trading players that aren't in the future plans of a last place team? Valencia is the definition of no value - hits like a middle infielder but can't field a corner infield spot. Who cares what the guy they received profiles as...it's a possible asset attained from a non-asset. Even on the slim chance Pineda makes it to MLB when Revere is there and you have "duplication"...so what? You've developed a MLB player out of thin air, and you have an even greater asset to flip for something else.

What's the difference who the manager is with starting pitching this horrible? Ideally the guy to replace Gardy would be someone who could take the team to the next level (i.e. win a playoff series). Now what's the point? They're not going to be competitive for at least two years, probably three, then at that point who knows. OTOH, do you guys really want Gardenhire to be the guy handling the next wave of players like Hicks, Benson, Arcia, Rosario etc.? Do we want him choosing "his guys" and seemingly arbitrarily publicly trashing those that aren't "his guys" again? I don't, but I don't think Gardy wants to wait around until this happens, either. Let him retire after this season or next, at his discretion, with a little dignity.

The Giants probably could use a first baseman, too. They've jerked Brandon Belt around from AAA to the majors so much they might have messed him up in the head. They had Sandoval play there recently until he strained a hammy but I think that's temporary. But the main thing they are looking for is a closer (Chris Perez most likely) or RH power bat. Nick's right, Hammer is the only potential play here, albeit unlikely.

Does Perkins have any trade value? Is he considered a "proven closer" yet?

These statistics don't provide for any variation for pitches in the strike zone, just because he's swinging at strikes doesn't mean they are good pitches to hit. Also he's swinging early in the count and making contact... Revere is dead last among (qualifying) Twins hitters in pitches per plate appearance at 3.47. League average is 3.85. Mauer is at 4.31. Willingham 4.25. Carroll 3.98. Age PA Pit Pit/PA JoeMauer* 29 337 1451 4.31 JoshWillingham 33 353 1499 4.25 JameyCarroll 38 318 1267 3.98 RyanDoumit# 31 269 1057 3.93 DenardSpan* 28 355 1392 3.92 League Average 3.85 TrevorPlouffe 26 259 992 3.83 BrianDozier 25 228 857 3.76 JustinMorneau* 31 283 1040 3.67 AlexiCasilla# 27 189 662 3.50 BenRevere* 24 231 801 3.47 Team Total 29.0 3302 12820 3.88 Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 7/14/2012. Again, just because it's a strike doesn't mean you have to swing. This is very important for Revere, since he has so little power. If he could just work his way deeper into the counts and wait for the 1 pitch per at bat that he can really drive, pitchers would be more careful with him, thus, his BB rate would improve.

I'd like to see more patient, professional at-bats from Revere. Take some strikes, be selective. Just because he can make solid contact, doesn't mean that he should offer at every pitch in the zone. He's a talented hitter, he shouldn't have a problem working counts and making contact with two strikes. Revere's AB last night in the 8th provides an example for what he can do better: He decided he was going to bunt for a hit, so he offered at the first pitch he saw that he thought he could hit and popped it up for an easy out.