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Otto von Ballpark

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Everything posted by Otto von Ballpark

  1. Otto von Ballpark
    Here are some answers, as I know them: MLB.TV features archived full game replays as well as condensed versions. It requires a subscription, but these are not blacked out, only the live video is. And if you buy tickets from the Twins, you have the option to scan the ticket off your phone at Target Field. (Also for some tickets bought from StubHub.)
  2. Otto von Ballpark
    Steve Lyons scoffs at your high threshold for pants removal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTOAI5CHC34
  3. Otto von Ballpark
    I should have amended this question to include "draft/international signing bonuses" (and prioritize/emphasize it) among the "other things" list.
  4. Otto von Ballpark
    ashburyjohn's questions from a recent post: http://twinsdaily.com/topic/15654-souhan-postseason-rewards-brains-over-bucks/page-2?do=findComment&comment=288230 Does "gross revenue" mean what normal people think it means, e.g. the numbers we see in the Forbes reports on MLB, or are they using some standard accepted accounting practice, e.g. major things like repayment of the TF loans comes off the top and "gross" is smaller?Does "player payroll" include only the major league totals we see in the neighborhood of $85M lately, or does it include other things such as minor leaguers, meal money, and other expenses?We've heard "roughly half" defined more like 52%, but do they consider 40% to be "roughly"?
  5. Otto von Ballpark
    You had me right up to "window of success". That's more applicable to 1-year deals, deadline deals, etc. I am looking for long-term assets. Admittedly hard to get in domestic FA, a little easier in international FA, but either way, those are the kind of moves you should ALWAYS be looking to make, especially if you have some present/future payroll wiggle room. And I've been critical of TR because I think he hasn't looked at this much, defaulting to just hope and waiting for prospects. Hughes was a great find, but was it more of a desperation measure? Will be interesting to see what he does in the future.
  6. Otto von Ballpark
    I'm not sure what point I am making anymore either, so at least we're in agreement on that. You just seemed to be very dismissive of improving one's roster using money, like it is a mark of failure, or some kind of unnatural act. That's kind of the vibe I've always gotten from TR and the Twins too...
  7. Otto von Ballpark
    "Expected to have" Sano and Buxton, the former having never appeared in AAA, the latter never in AA? Hughes/Nolasco do not equal Abreu, either. The money is similar, but the upside was much larger with Abreu (and the possible benefit, as he's signed for 6 years).
  8. Otto von Ballpark
    Pretty sure Nick examines TR's past actions in his article, and also discusses future actions he hopes for. But I will simply drop this line of discussion rather than tell you to re-read anything.
  9. Otto von Ballpark
    I don't think all teams are participating in Cuban or Asian free agent markets, no. Over half of MLB teams have bought notable Cuban or Asian free agents since TR took over in 2011. I do not think they were reactive.
  10. Otto von Ballpark
    That's great, but to use your charitable interpretation of TR's comments, you have to look at his actions too I don't think anyone EXPECTING to play meaningful games in September would settle for the Twins recent offseason hauls. I have no doubt he was HOPING to play those meaningful games, but hope is cheap.
  11. Otto von Ballpark
    100% a reaction to their farm system? Is that why over half of MLB teams have bought international FA during the last 3 years? Were all of them reacting to their farm systems, or did they see an immediate risk-reward opportunity that wasn't available to them anywhere else?
  12. Otto von Ballpark
    Well, acquiring talent is part of his job. If he's been trying for 3 years and has been shutout (or the biggest spend he could make was Ricky Nolasco), that's hardly a mark in his favor as GM of a MLB team.
  13. Otto von Ballpark
    Not sure where they get that payroll data. I see 6 of the top 11 payroll teams in the playoffs, versus only 4 of the bottom 19. And 4 of the teams that missed the 2014 playoffs despite a top-11 payroll, made the playoffs between 2011-2013 and won pennant(s) between 2009-2013.
  14. Otto von Ballpark
    I am actually OK with that, assuming the 5 starters are there by merit and we're not afraid to make a change (or best case, spin off an extra asset). Better to start with too many options than not enough. My objections to Meyer staying in AAA for the duration of 2014 were more about who was getting the looks/experience in MLB ahead of him.
  15. Otto von Ballpark
    I thought the same about Hughes last offseason, but he took a 3 year deal (admittedly less AAV than $12 mil). Hughes had very similar career earnings at that point as Rasmus too. Maybe that's the balance between getting some decent money/security now, and still being able to hit the market again before age 31. Although according to B-Ref, Hughes was at best a 2 WAR starter with NYY, while Rasmus has been basically a minimum ~2 WAR starter his whole career outside of a disastrous debut with Toronto in 2011.
  16. Otto von Ballpark
    They also said: Which suggests he will have a host of similar one-year offers to choose from. Not saying he's necessarily a bad target, but you will want to be comfortable with your backup plan.
  17. Otto von Ballpark
    Uh, I specifically mentioned Hughes and Suzuki in the context of being the good moves. And regardless of the specifics of the White Sox situation, their (relatively modest) cash-only risk on Abreu was mutually exclusive of their prospects and farm development.
  18. Otto von Ballpark
    I've seen Rasmus' name mentioned by fans of other teams too. Suggests he could cost more than you think, and it may take some luck to land him.
  19. Otto von Ballpark
    The big question: will Twins Daily payroll decline significantly next year? Do you expect to be making meaningful posts next September?
  20. Otto von Ballpark
    Not only is it difficult to sustain in the regular season, it might actually be counter-productive. While it is fun to see Arcia get fired up, these guys are professionals with a precise routine that they've honed for years. Screaming before and after each of 600 PA all through the summer is probably an easy way to lose focus.
  21. Otto von Ballpark
    We've needed starting pitching for the last 3 years. Outfielders too. In my opinion, this is the wrong way to look at free agency. Signing FA for need is almost as bad a drafting for need. Outside of avoiding obvious, immediate position conflict (i.e. signing Cano when you have Pedroia), you should pursue the best players available based on your scouting, valuations, and available resources.
  22. Otto von Ballpark
    How innocuous is it when his efforts to follow through on the statement amount to Hughes and Suzuki and then a pile of Mike Pelfrey (twice!), Kevin Correia (for two years!), Nolasco, Kubel, midseason Kendrys Morales, etc.? While a division rival found an impact bat and leapfrogged us in the standings too? If you don't want to criticize the statement for being disingenuous during a rebuild, you can certainly criticize the results.
  23. Otto von Ballpark
    If our drafting and development was so poor as to completely dry up the pipeline, perhaps that's a good time to look outside the org for young/international FA who only cost cash but have the potential to become the long-term assets that you sorely lack. Or, just wait 5 years to see if you can draft better. Either way, I guess. Also, while I am sympathetic to the Mauer/Morneau concussion angle, in 2012-2013 Mauer was just fine and Morneau was only -2.5 WAR from his pre-concussion average. We still lost 96 games both years.
  24. Otto von Ballpark
    Can you expound on this point further?
  25. Otto von Ballpark
    I don't watch that intensely for most of the season either, though. I also notice that for some of these playoff teams, the intensity wanes after a loss or two, even close losses (or maybe especially close losses?). That's the Twins most every year lately (and every October from 2002-2010).
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