Lesser Dali

I read the article - It is a shame Mr. Hunter feels that way. You would think with all of the money he has made, that the fire and brimstone of his beliefs would have crumbled away. I guess for some, religion has its place, but this line of thinking is rooted in the dark ages. It is disappointing

Nice write up Nick. Smoke and Mirrors. I have been a Twins fan for a quarter of a century. We got our stadium. We were told revenue would increase to stay in the fold of the upper echelon of baseball teams. Except for the opening season at Target Field, I have not seen much of anything. Although the Twins signed Willingham and Doumit last off season, they were replacing players that received a lot more on the open market. This years speculated rotation looks much worse than last years. I will not lie and say that I did not approve of the trades the Twins have made this offseason, but the signing of Correia was dumbfounding and barring a miracle signing - our SP staff is garbage. If it looks like a rebuild and smells like a rebuild... it must be a rebuild. It would have been nice for GM Ryan to at least be honest with the fans. It seems like the new era of successful ballclubs signs billion dollar TV contracts. If that is indeed the case - we are screwed. If Hicks win the CF job this upcoming season, I will watch Twins Baseball for the fun of seeing if a top prospect can cut it and impress, If not, I will spend my valuable time elsewhere. Thus far, we might as well have ignored the free agent market.

To hell with "Legatron". It is the "Blair Kick Projects" time to rise.

Straight up for Olt - Hecks Nah. Straight up for Profar - Hecks Yah, but that's not going to happen. Since the Twins will most probably be dragging their knuckles on the cellar floor next season - it is best to give Plouffe a solid final look over at the hot corner in 2013, even though most people on this site think he is destined for failure - whats the worst thing that can happen? An error he commits loses the Twins a game. I believe the game(s) he loses for the Twins will be lost in a sea of losses caused by embarrassing awful starting pitching.

Maybe Kevin Correia will have a paradigm shift which leads him to throw harder, have better stuff, and have a better mental make-up to be a starting pitcher. One never knows. It is too bad this signing came so late in the Christmas season. If it were a month earlier, maybe some of us could have sent Santa Claus a letter, asking for him to give Correia these gifts. But alas, It is too late for that... oh well, maybe next year.

This is how I look at it: Terry Ryan is a ranger at a dog park. One of his job requirements is to pick up dog feces. The thing is, instead of throwing the feces into the garbage, Terry Ryan takes them home and makes models out of them. Kevin Correia is one of these models and he is entering him into a State Fair competition. The problem is this - the competition is a cake baking event. I cannot see how this can end well. Yuck.

There is no need to drag metrics into this crime scene. It is gory enough the way it is. I find it some what funny that you threw your business partner and colleague under the bus on this one. LOL!

When I read this thread last evening - my thought on it was blah and not worth anyone's time. But I gave it some extra consideration and my opinion has changed. In my opinion there are two ways you can go with making this movie stylistically: 1. A Film Noir Style - I really was impressed with the way Scorcese executed "Shutter Island". It was a mix of Hitchcock's "Vertigo" and Polanski's "China Town". It would be interesting to see the A-Rod Film delivered in this package. 2. An Oliver Stone Film - I could see a movie like this being a mix between "W" and "Natural Born Killers". It would be ridiculous and exaggerated and that would probably included some good laughs at the expense of Rodriguez. This could make for an entertaining movie. I could see the NC-17 Rating working for this kind of film.

For the glass half empty guys: he soon will be gone and all of those mediocre years and failed prospects under his reign will be behind you... take a deep breath and enjoy. Savor this moment. For the glass half full guys: 2 World Championships in 4 years... fantastique! A plethora a very good and a few great great players under his watch... great as well! If you were alive and cognizant of those Championship Years, the joy of those accomplishments remain - an everlasting hangover. My thought is that it is almost impossible to be a "Arm Chair" Farm Director. If you are displeased and want to blame someone on the Twin's Mediocrity - blame the owners. After all, they are the ones who have the power to change or not change things.

Although it is a nice thought to sign Eric Chavez, I think it is improbable and more likely impossible. Who would have thought that Chavez would have the year that he had. After seeing him play the last few years before this season it seemed like his power was sapped from him because of his chronic back issues. This season, he had a good offensive year and seemed to be able to hold his own at the hot corner. Chavez is almost 35, but needs much more maintenance and days off than Jim Thome did in his age 39/40 season. If I were Eric Chavez, I would stick with the Yankees. He will be a bench player, but that is best as I cannot believe he could up playing more than 100+ games, he plays in a ballpark that is offensive friendly and he might have a chance to win a World Championship. If he were to sign with Twins and wrestle away the starting 3B assignment from Plouffe, he would not last health wise, and most probably he would be on a losing team. The Situation he is in right now is the best for him, and hopefully being the Swan Song of his career (A World Championship)..

I'm sorry, what? "Strategy" is not code for sacrifices and hit and runs, it is making decisions to put your players in position to succeed. Read books so you know what words mean. I am thinking this exchange of words between us was like a first date - not only did we hold hands, I believe we did some open mouth kissing. I cannot wait till our next exchange - what will that bring? Meow!

That's interesting. I'd like a manager that makes the correct personnel and strategic decisions to maximize the team's ability to score/prevent runs, rather than someone who "relates to the modern baseball player" and "played for the Twins so maybe he'll be willing to accept less money." That's interesting. Strategy is still used by managers in MLB, but is overblown and overrated - sure, Joe Maddon might be one who fills your "strategy" desires. If you read my post to the end - I said "Mike Redmond or a similar candidate". That did not mean the "similar" candidate had to come from the the Twin Organization or be a former Twin. On the topic of money - why would I give a "Bleep"? I don't pay the salaries. For the amount of years Gardenhire has been at the helm, some would consider him underpaid. I have made my peace with the "Twins Way" and how they use their money - If one has not, they are in in a state of critical denial. I am steadfast in not wanting some Blue Hair taking the reigns of the Twins Managerial position - new and young blood is needed in the managerial/coaching ranks. If you are one that wants to adhere themselves to statues of past, and hold so closely to your buxom the thought of some crafty veteran manager coming in and changing things for the better - good luck to you!

I was an observer of this site awhile before I became a member because it is a very good place to gather breaking Twins news and read some decent articles. Kudos to the humans that make Twins Daily possible and a good read.

Does "Spirit of Vodka Dave" have a no trade clause? He seems to be a clubhouse chemistry detriment. What can Twins Daily get for him?

I am in agreement with everything you have said except Martinez having a mediocre career. Dave Martinez's career was anything but mediocre. Mostly a 4th Outfielder type, who played 16 years, with 1,500+ hits - that's a super dream come true for most of the Tom, Dick and Harrys of the world. Dave Martinez definitely had his value as a player.

I don't have any names, but the profile of the Rochester's next manager will probably be similar to Gene Glynn's.

When the name Mike Redmond is mentioned as coaching candidate, it seems to infuriate a handful of TD participants. It is quite apparent who the Twins MLB coaching staff will be at the start of next season, unless their is major curve ball thrown our way (Gardenhire, Anderson, Ullger, Vavra, Brunansky, Glynn, Cueller). There is no spot for Redmond and I could not even begin to speculate where Redmond will manage or coach next season. Maybe the Red Sox will acquire John Farrell from the Bluejays and offer a coaching position to Redmond, maybe Redmond will retire from baseball and open a bowling alley in the Seattle area - who freekin' knows? Let's say next season is Gardenhire's last as the Twins Manager, and the Twins are in hunt for a new manager next off season. Am I going to want a longtime baseball guy like Gene Glynn - sort of maybe (Blah). Will I want a Manager who has drifted around the big leagues for the a while like Jim Tracy - I'll pass. Would I want to get on the phone and try to coax a Piniella or LaRussa type out of retirement with the offer of big time Pesos - No! If I were to unleash the inner General Manager in me, I would want a younger Manager, who played in the Majors somewhat recently, who can relate to the modern baseball player and who has the tenacity and personality that naturally creates a steep level of respect from his players - To me Mike Redmond would have a great chance to fit that bill. While traversing threads on this site, I have only come across one individual who has stumped for a Managerial Candidate like a Mike Matheny or a Robin Ventura (I am sure there are more, but I have only seen one). If the Twins part ways with Ron Gardenhire next season. My hope is that the Twins follow the lead of the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox and Hire this kind of manager, whether it be Mike Redmond or some other similar candidate. It is the Way of the Future... the Way of the Future... the Way of the Future...the Way of the Future... the Way of the Future... etc, etc.....

3 things to comment on - 1. It's to bad about Molitor not being a fit for one of our coaching vacancies. I am not sure what kind of impact Molitor would have had at the end of the day, but with him being one of the best offensive tradesmen of his era might have had a better than decent impact on the position players who will be on the roster next season. His expert baserunning knowledge could have played well with a guy like Revere. I understand that Molitor coaches the players in spring training, but to have access to a coach with Molitor's experience and uber success on a day in and day out basis would have much more of an impact than only spring training. 2. There are 3 places that Ben Revere will be next season. a. Starting in the outfield for the Twins b. A bench player on the Twins MLB roster c. Starting in the OF in Rochester He has no trade value, thus he will not be traded 3. If Vavra and Ullger indeed become the base coaches for the Twins - I will lose no sleep, I will not punch a hole in the wall, I will go about my daily business as I always do. Whether it is right or wrong - the world will not end - Unless you are a 2012 Mayan Calendar conspiracy theorist. Good Luck with that nonsense.

I have to say, this is a strange proposition. Unless the person asking for the Charity handbook is a child, I find it hard to believe that an adult individual would ask for the said donation. Adult humans in tough situations have pride and honor and most probably wouldn't request such a low level of donation. If you cannot afford the handbook, how can you afford having internet access? The library is an option, but it seems a bit far fetched. I have no problem with this proposition, but I have a hard time believing participants on this site need that type of charity. Maybe I am wrong, and believe me, I do understand the ins and outs of being impoverished. Maybe what I am about to say is destined for the slippery slope - if you cannot afford a $7.00 handbook, why would you waste your time delving into this website or any other one at that? It would seem that their are bigger fish to fry if an individual is immersed in that kind of predicament.

I'd rather have Bourn or Upton than Hamilton. Hamilton = Much, much more money, substantial risk and possible franchise destroyer, which = Not worth the gamble. I can understand that, but I doubt either Upton or Bourn goes for less than $15M per. I'd like to say your wrong, but unfortunately you are most probably correct. Neither one of those guys are worth that kind of dough per season. What do you think Hamilton gets on the market? My guess is 22M per, for 5 years with some team option years. That's my guess, not what I would offer.

I'd rather have Bourn or Upton than Hamilton. Hamilton = Much, much more money, substantial risk and possible franchise destroyer, which = Not worth the gamble.

It is too bad they don't give out Academy Awards for starting a thread. It is reminiscent of Leonardo DiCaprio's performance in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape". BRAVO!!!

It seems kind of strange that Terry Ryan has Jerry Jones like control without being the owner. Maybe Ryan has some Dirt on the Pohlads. My guess is that he is physically abusive to Jim Pohlad and has him under his thumb. Who knows, Jim Pohlad might want to be a big spender, but Terry Ryan has stifled his desire by intimidation and physical violence. Maybe Ryan is the recipient of the extra pesos the Twins bring in with the new stadium. If this is the case, I hope he spends it on making snuff films, mink coats, and collecting Peter Kürten memorabilia.

It appears as if Sloth has escaped from his cage at Chunk's House and has accessed their computer. Who could have guessed he was a Twins Fan? Yowza!

Mr. Torse. Don't be a party pooper. Everybody has their own way to filter fun and enjoyment into their lives. If you do not like it, move on to a new thread. For example: My most enjoyable time was in the late 1960's, in the San Francisco Bay Area. I don't want to get into what my fun was, but I feel assured that most would not think my "fun" is acceptable. If writing a parody of an Elton John song about Nishioka brings a little joy to a few posters... what's the harm? Lighten up sir and find your fun place.