Kwak

For many years the Twins have thumped their chest about not walking opponents, and have often issued the fewest in the AL. "Throw the ball over the plate..." the common remark from announcers, coaches and managers. The careers that ended because of "not enough strikes", these factors have driven home the bias of the Minnesota Twins toward pitchers. Face it, high K rate pitchers are in greater demand (sort of like high HR hitters) and their salaries escalate. The Twins have had a philosophy of "low payrolls" since their inception. It should be expected that their strategy would be "low-priced" pitchers to reduce payroll. Combine that goal with the fans' bias toward hitters v. pitchers for popularity only further emphasizes why the Twins took the path of PtoC pitchers instead of the high K/9 starting pitchers. The expansion of team revenues have permitted the change to higher velocity pitchers for the Twins (and BB in general--though many teams typically favored the high V-type pitcher anyway).

Cueto is pitching for likely the best defensive team in the AL, and their stadium is no bandbox, and his results are disappointing... This a guy who the PITT crowd booed him to the breaking point. Unh, unh. Twins need someone who is mentally tough--and that trait is not on display.

I think that there are more (good) potential trading partners for Plouffe than cited earlier. The key is thinking outside the box. Many say "Catcher" are ignoring other alternative that may land a better return. The Twins need improvement at several positions--so horizons should be expanded beyond Catcher. A true top-of-the-rotation pitcher is needed, consider Plouffe and a prospect or two (or one of the young OFers). Escobar is not the final answer at SS, even if he is Ryan's favorite, he's mediocre and won't improve. The Twins need premier talent to be a serious year-round competitor--there's no longer need for C+ players, because they have plenty of those guys. There is need for a second HR hitter (and one with .270 average who take "his" walks). Irelevant what position he plays--they can "make room" for him. The Twins need to trade for "skill-sets" (what a guy will do) rather than what position he plays.

Note: I'm not a big fan of Plouffe, but he is not blocking Sano. Sano is playing every day--just at DH.

Ellipses score extra points...

Reading posts from TD an outsider might conclude the Twins are soon destined for the World Series--despite all of the factors in their disfavor.

Nix on Cueto. This guy folds like the Argentine Army in big games. Character is more important than statistics.

Moving Mauer to bat in another spot isn't going to improve his hitting. Smugly saying "fixed" hasn't "fixed" anything. Dozier isn't a leadoff hitter--he flourished early in the season when he was considered a prototypical leadoff batter, taking pitches, hitting to RF and CF. After the league "wised-up" that he was a dead-pull hitter looking to hit the ball over or off the LF fence, he was pitched differently--away, away and away. he ended the season as a .236 hitter and the HRs were reduced. Dozier isn't a leadoff hitter. Mauer might succeed there, but he has little speed. Moving Sano to bat 3rd, means there is no legitimate clean-up hitter. The problem is complex. True, if Mauer returned to a .300 hitter he would be OK at #3 (he won't!) but the Twins still lack a legitimate #1 hitter, and are in dire need of a second HR hitter. Until that problem is fixed rearranging the chairs is pointless.

This discussion reminds me of the "Three Teams" thread. Example: How would the Cubs or Astros deal with this problem? So entertaining.

Souhan berated Mauer's defense at 1B, yet he concludes that he would succeed at other positions (that he hasn't played!) that require more athleticism than 1B! This would be called trolling if he published on a blog rather than on a newspaper. Mauer will not improve as a hitter because he moves to a different position--nor will anyone else. If the twins want to sit Mauer--OK, it's their team, but to imply that moving people around like living room furniture will improve their performance is lunacy. Souhan's last sentence was a veiled urge to return Mauer to Catcher. Will it happen? I doubt it--especially when there were so many public statements about Joe, concussions, and the Catcher position. The Twins painted themselves in a corner with respect to Mauer ever playing Catcher again.

Why are the Cubs ahead of the Twins? 1) The Cubs committed to change the way they functioned. 2) A completely new management built those who won in the toughest division (which now is the NLC) including World Series. 3). Their goal was to build a team that was the very best in MLB. 4) They were willing to take more risks in order to acquire top talent, both on and off the field. Yes, those risks involve spending more money, but nonetheless they took those risks. But, the story of the two teams isn't over. We need to wait another year or two to see the next step each takes in order to verify that there was as much as a difference as I claim exists. I am confident the Cubs will continue to expand their payroll commensurately with their demonstrated success on the field--and that the Twins will "be more prudent". But Arrieta is simply one result of their process, not the only one, nor for that matter the most important one.

late to the party and sooo many topics to cover. Cubs, Astros, Twins--different team philosophies having different organizational goals caused by having different owners. Cubs and Astros they want to win consistently including the World Series. Twins--win just enough to mollify fan base to buy tickets, watch TV, say "'ya never know", maybe catch lightning in a bottle very 30 years, all while reducing risk to profits. Hey, some people put bonds and utility stocks in their investment portfolio. Cubs, new owner, new thinking, new strategy--new people. Twins, same ownership group for almost 30 years. Change? NO!! they boast about stability! Maddon is an outsider--BOO! Management must be properly vetted. Talk to Maddon?--Did anybody say the conversation was specifically about him managing the Twins?--or maybe the subject was his pitching coach, Neil Allen? Hmm. Jake Arrieta. Luck--what a crock! The Twins never claimed Johan Santana's success was luck, nor the Twins targeting him in the Rule 5 Draft. Therefore to claim that Arrieta's success is luck but Santana's was due to his hard work, talent and the savvy of the Twins to convert him to a star pitcher is beyond hypocrisy and sour grapes. The "rebuilding process". The Twins initial goals was to cut payroll and hopefully build a competitive team with low-priced players scraped from the depths of baseball. After the 2013 season a change was made to spend a bit more money--and put it into starting pitchers--despite the previous proclamations against "overpaying on free agents". Apparently the failure of the Independent Leagues to provide adequate pitching talent was grudgedly accepted. When even that expenditure proved inadequate more money was "found" and Hunter and Santana became Twins players. I am not predicting an increase in payroll due to the success of the 2015 season. But, I do expect that the Cubs and the Astros will increase their team payroll--and likely dramatically--thus highlighting the differences between the franchises and their respective goals.

The Strib had a similar article today: phil.miller@startribune.com where Ryan was quoted "Trevor Plouffe won't be moved off third base, and Joe Mauer is the team's first baseman". If "moved" means "a position change within the Twins" or "traded" is unclear. My interpretation from the article (which includes the quote "I would like to [determine his future] this winter, so he can prepare for it.") is that Sano would be rotated and also would play the outfield. Another quote from the article "Trevor May will have an answer before training camp opens in February about whether he will remain a reliever or return to the starting rotation...". Ergo, I believe he stays in the bullpen or gets traded.

Or, perhaps the people here underestimated the Houston players (and overestimated the Twins players?). TD posters are hardly unbiased and dispassionate in their evaluation of baseball talent. As far as a middle path, most TD posters (you too?) have advocated that the Twins should open their checkbook and buy some talent--after all that was the raison etre` for Target Field (OK, and sign Joe Mauer to a long-term contract). I conclude that this "middle road" as you term, was actually demanded (and correct) as a rebuild policy. POLICY differs from PRACTICE.

It was the last year of Dombrowski's contract. Since he signed shortly later with Toronto it is likely that Toronto had to inform Detroit (permission?) that they would approach Dombrowski. I concluded that he was leaving Detroit in any case. But that is only my assumption.

Expectations? Whose expectations? TD posters, average fans, or the Pohlads? I don't believe for a moment that the expectations of the Pohlads is to build a WS champion--it is to build a dividend-paying machine to provide funds for investment elsewhere as well as income for the trustees. Fans? I've read too many posts stating how happy they are that the team had a "winning season" to be convinced that they expect a WS winner (though of course they would enjoy one!). It is only some posters that seem to believe that management's responsibility is to build a consistent winner that ultimately results in a WS championship. I expect to see a payroll cut--though I'm not requesting a cut!

What will be next year's budget? I recall last October where Ryan and St. Pierre had a joint news conference and smugly proclaimed that $85MM was enough for 2015. Magically another $20MM appeared in November and Hunter and Santana were signed. The Twins have six free agents and several arbitration eligible players along with almost $70MM committed in contracts for existing players. I'm all in favor of a higher payroll, but I don't believe the Twins agree with that thought. If they want to hold the line to the 2015 level, and address the bullpen problem--people have to go--and Hunter's name is right after Pelfrey on the expendable list. If these guys need "further mentoring", then I predict they are not the foundation for a winning team. It's time for the boys to grow up and put the big-boy pants on and demonstrate that they can carry the responsibility, even if 2016 has a losing record as a result.

David Ortiz.

Whatever trades the Twins make will be for major league players not "prospects". They might trade a prospect or three, but they will be players they can use immediately.

The Twins "showcased" Nolasco Sunday for the purpose of enticing a trade partner--and... . There won't be one! I think he may surprise people next season, so placing him in the rotation at the start of the season is not unreasonable. Plus, I am confident that the Twins will play the "service time card" with Berrios next year so there will be a need for another starting pitcher. Nolasco will replace Pelfrey in the Twins rotation--and at no extra cost (TG!).

NO. It's time to move on. Whatever good things he could provide--he has done so. There is no need to repeat second grade.

Whaddya mean "waiting..."--there's the "hot stove league" season!

If the Twins had acquired AJ it is a certainty that he would have been asked about the circuitous route of his career--and he would have responded: "they traded me away to make way for Mauer at Catcher, and now that Mauer can't play catcher anymore they traded me to replace Mauer." Followed shortly by: "...I bet I'm the only guy who was traded so someone else could start, and then reacquired to replace my replacement." Awkward. So, no AJ. I'm not surprised.

Amen! Given the standings at June 1, I classify this season as : coulda, woulda, SHOULDA! There was money and people available to improve this team to a WC.

Mauer and Hunter are virtual locks to start--somebody will have traveled 100 miles and expects to see familiar faces. Sano at 3B, and Nunez someplace are distinct possibilities. Hermann may well be the catcher.