Don't Feed the Greed Guy

No mention of Edgar Ibarra? AA All-Star, -2.00 ERA at New Britian and Rochester? Must be an oversight...

Dozier, was quoted on the Twins Jumbotron that if he could have a drink with anybody it would be Jesus Christ: So, here's a little prophecy, edited from the Gospel According to John, chapter 3: "Dozier said, ‘I am not the [b future second baseman,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.'" He, of course, is Eddie Rosario. Sickels mentions scouts who clearly divined that Dozier could make it in the MLB as a utility infielder. Or, perhaps a super utility infielder with some pop in his bat. In two years this will be Brian Dozier's contribution, and that is my prophecy. Amen.

In 2012 we had a rookie shortstop named Tryin' Dozier. Methinks he was replaced in 2013 by a rookie second baseman, named Brian Dozier... If two or three of the rookies on Seth's list show that sort of Sophomore transformation, I'd be more than content (Hicks, Gibson, and Arcia, please...).

How about this angle... Joe Mauer likes to catch. He's an elite athlete who turned down a potential career as a professional quarterback in order to play catcher. It's what he likes to do, and he has done so at the highest level for the last ten years. There is no position in baseball like being behind the plate, calling the game. Mauer is not a cage rattling, fiery personality. He has a low key, understated quality, especially when interacting with the media. But he has been very outspoken regarding his desire to catch next year. Again, here's Mauer in his own words, three days ago, taken from an article by Tyler Mason of FSN: "Mauer reiterated Monday that he still wants to catch. "I have every intention of coming back and catching," Mauer said. "That's what I do. But right now I have to take care of this situation so I can. I look forward to getting out on the field next year as a catcher and whatever else they need me to do." Catching is what Joe Mauer does. He likes to catch. He wants to catch, and he will catch if his mind and body allow it. Previous posters say, "move him to first base. Try him at third." Yes, the positions of Koskie and Morneau. Playing those postions sure protected those two from concussions... Hey, the man thinks he can catch at a high level for a few more years. He's good at it, and it sounds like the general manager is supporting him, saying things like, "that's his position." Let the man do what he wants to do. In this case, he wants to catch.

Nick, I tend to enjoy and agree with your articles. Not this time. You write, "And here's another reality we must face: Mauer's days of catching are done." Reality? Are you sure you want to name reality as a columnist/blogger, or would you be willing to defer to a neurologist? Not all concussions are alike. If Mauer is medically cleared to catch--just as football players are routinely medically cleared to return to full contact--why shouldn't he go back behind the plate? As Twins fans, we have reason to be wary. Morneau and Cory Koskie are both cautionary examples of worst case scenarios. But even you admit that we just don't know much about concussions. I'm glad that the Twins shut Mauer down. It makes perfect sense at the tail end of a 90 loss season. There was no need to rush him back. But if his doctors, his wife, his general manager, and his conscience tell him to catch again next spring--that's Mauer's reality. I will wait to hear that verdict. Until then, keep up the good insights Nick--even though I disagree with this one.

Thanks AJ, wonderful to hear from you again. Nice image with the ligaments/Twizzlers thing. Our family--especially my boys--wish you well. They are big fans, after you took the time to visit with them this summer after a home game. It was after 11:30 p.m., the mosquitoes were thick outside the stadium, and your wrist was probably throbbing, but you signed their game balls, talked about your blog with me, and made their vacation out East even more special. Rest well, heal up, and we'll be cheering you on next year! Take care.

Thanks for the daily minor league updates, Seth & Company. Your write-ups were a morning staple, with my first cup of coffee in the morning. Nice work.

Nice work, Jeremy. So, does anyone want to venture a guess on how much Terry Ryan spends on free agent starting pitching in 2014/2015? More than he spent on Correia & Pelfrey?

The talent in the organization is in position players who won't be arbitration-eligible until 2016+. 1b: Open (Parm? Colabello? Mauer? Free agent?) 2b: Dozier: arb, 2016; free agent 2019; Rosario: 2017+ ss: Florimon: 2016; 2019 3b: Sano: 2017+ Rf: Arcia: 2016; 2019 Cf: Hicks: 2016; 2019; Presley: 2015; 2018 Lf: Buxton: 2017+ C: Pinto: 2017+; Herrmann; 2016; 2019. So, I wouldn't be surprised if Terry Ryan goes after two more Correia/Pelfrey-level arms for 2014-15 ($20-30 M). Or, perhaps a deeper push for a Johnson, Hughes, Lincecum, Santana-level pitcher who could emerge as an ace. With the $ he has saved: (a) with Blackburn and Morneau off the payroll, and ( with Willingham and Doumit due to go by the end of next year, or via trade--Ryan is due to spend some dough. By 2015 we can hope that May, Meyer, Berrios, Gibson, etc... will take command, but the time is now to roll the dice on one or two more free agent starters. Financially, there is more to lose by NOT entering into the free agent market--in order to put a marketable team on the field. As my old man said, "You've got to crack some eggs in order to make an omelet."

Kill him? I say trade him. Baltimore might want to swap their budding 3b prospect. He hit 6 hr in 92 at bats with the parent club, posting a .293/.330/.587 split. Ever heard of him? Daniel Paul Valencia. But, you can call him Danny.

How often do you have to bite your tongue? In other words, Mr. Provus, could you talk frankly about the balance between telling it like it is (Morneau, payroll cuts, salary dumps, etc...) and supporting the party line (propaganda?).

6. Who will the Pirates' PTBNL be?

This spring I was touting a return to .500 ball this year, with contention in 2014, and a dynamic stretch from 2015-2018, that would culminate in Mauer ascending to the upper echelon of HOF catchers. What was I smoking? Now? .500 in 2014 seems a stretch. Maybe the Twins contend in 2015, but only if Von Ryan hits blackjack on the free agent market, and the roulette wheel of top 100 minor league talent lands on "Sano, Buxton, Rosario, Meyer, May, Berrios..."

"I expected my head and heart would battle about trading Justin Morneau. But I didn't think that my heart would focus more on the future than the past." My head and heart keep repeating two words: Minnesota Marlins.

I'm hoping that the PTBNL is some stud who's in a minor league playoff push with one of the Pirates' organizations. If so, we'll find out later... Go Justin! Come October, Raise the Jolly Roger!

My winter nightmare: Plouffe and Parmelee open the 2014 season as our corner infielders...

Especially Beresford over Bernier.

Phil Miller does a nice job of laying out the pro's and con's of dealing the Hammer to Baltimore: Postgame: Twins have tough choice to make | 6-4-3 | StarTribune.com I say take the salary dump, and parlay it toward a free agent pitcher $7 million + would go a long way to make this happen. I'd rather gamble on a free agent pitcher than a 35 year-old liability in left field. It's possible that Willingham could reach back into the time machine and duplicate his 2012 (age 33) season, and his 35 homers and 110 RBI, but to what end? Trading Willingham would give Parmelee one more month to prove himself in the MLB, and the first half of 2014, until Arcia, Buxton, Hicks, Richardson, or others push him out, or he produces. As for the Twins return on Willingham? How about the Orioles #20 prospect, Parker Bridwell? He's a 22 year-old RHP, who has an 8-9 record, and a 4.67 ERA in 25 starts at Delmarva (A ball). 141 k's and 57 walks in 138 innings. WHIP: 1.39 He's a wild, power arm, who has time to develop another pitch. 2013 Prospect Watch | MLB.com: News

He's twenty-four years old. It's not foolish at all to think his best years are still ahead of him. We all can hope. I'll be watching too.

The reverse is also true: Mauer, Morneau and Cuddyer never made the list: Mauer collected 85 RBI in 2003, over 509 at bats--his high in the majors is 96 in 2009. Morneau drove in 97 runs in 471 at-bats in 2001--he went on to have four 100+ RBI seasons in the majors. And Cuddyer had 87 RBI in 2001. He drove in 109 in 2006. Again, OBP, SLG, and RISP are much more significant than RBI.

One mock draft has three college pitchers as the top four players drafted--five of the top nine. If 2015+ are the years of Twins productivity, I would love to see one of those college-age arms in the Twins rotation. Mike Wants Losses? So does Mark 2014 MLB Mock Draft | 2014 MLB Draft | MLB Draft |

This comparison, while helpful, does not factor in Morneau's above average glove, and Willingham's below average defense. I have mentioned on other Morneau posts that he is on the top of the list among American League first basemen in most defensive categories, according to Baseball America, including Total Zone Runs and Range Factor (see below). The Twins can sign Morneau--money is not the issue. The Twins should sign Morneau--he's the best option at first in the organization--by far--on the field, and at the plate. And, the Twins need to preserve a face to this organization. Our Canadian goalie turned first base stopper, married to a Minnesotan, is all that fans have left post-Hunter, post-Cuddyer, post-Kubel... Signing a free agent doesn't accomplish this, not even a Willingham. :Justin Morneau Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com [TABLE=class: stats_table wide_table no_highlight] [TD=align: center] Putouts† 2013 AL 945 (2nd) [/TD] [TD=align: center] [/TD] [TD=align: center]Putouts as 1B 2013 AL 945 (2nd) [/TD] [TD=align: center] [/TD] [TD=align: center] [/TD] [TD=align: center]Double Plays Turned as 1B 2005 AL 123 (3rd) 2006 AL 113 (4th) 2007 AL 122 (2nd) 2008 AL 149 (1st) 2013 AL 112 (2nd) Active 983 (10th) Career 983 (83rd) [/TD] [TD=align: center]Total Zone Runs as 1B 2005 AL 10 (2nd) 2010 AL 12 (1st) [/TD] [TD=align: center]Range Factor/9Inn as 1b 2005 AL 9.89 (4th) 2012 AL 9.73 (4th) 2013 AL 9.77 (1st) Active 9.41 (10th) Career 9.41 (78th) [/TD] [TD=align: center]Range Factor/Game as 1B 2006 AL 9.20 (4th) 2012 AL 9.61 (1st) 2013 AL 9.73 (1st) Active 9.15 (3rd) [/TD] [TD=align: center]Fielding % as 1B 2007 AL .996 (5th) 2008 AL .997 (2nd) 2009 AL .997 (2nd) 2013 AL .997 (2nd) Active .996 (5th) Career .996 (9th) [/TD] [/TABLE]

Mientkiewicz's behavior will likely result in a suspension by the Florida State League. This is the body that will play judge, jury and prosecution in this case, not Terry Ryan. Pimping after a home run is not going to result in a suspension by the Eastern League. One suspension is an external matter, subject to league policies. The other is an internal matter, handled from within the Twins organization. That doesn't mean that Ryan didn't take Mientkiewicz behind the woodshed for a good verbal lashing. Mientkiewicz deserves it. We just won't read about it.

Another interesting generational comparison is Rod Carew and Eddie Rosario. Carew jumped from A ball to the majors. No way Rosario makes that jump today, especially since he's being transformed from an outfielder to a middle infielder.

Since when does Parmelee catch, especially Albers? Herrmann brings far more versatility to the Twins MLB roster, and Parms has had his shot, both with the Twins and at Rochester.