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Kwak

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Everything posted by Kwak

  1. Kwak
    No, it isn't clear. Revere was a marginal OF. Worley's poor play permitted the Twins to select earlier in the draft (think Kohl Stewart and Gordon). Plus, the real kicker--Trevor May might become at useful starting pitcher.
  2. Kwak
    This doesn't match with most of the posts I've read on this thread. Many of those who I thought were of the "rebuilding mode" sure changed their tone the last week or so ago. Initially I thought 'they are on the payroll', but now I think they really believed the Twins were on their way to the playoffs and just needed a bit of luck, and for management to promote 2-3 guys from the the minors to the Twins. They are likely more representative of the public (than several TD posters) given the "welfare checks" written to billionaires for new sports stadiums. They are impatient and truly do want to "win now"--even if it results in being eliminated 1st round, or missing the playoffs entirely by 1 game.
  3. Kwak
    IIRC, Mauer has had numerous knee problems/surgeries. Everyone else i've observed who has had multiple knee problems moves a lot slower and more akwardly than before said injuries. there may well have been a window for Mauer to become a 3B-man, but that window closed years ago.
  4. Kwak
    I'm convinced LEN3 does have a source. I'm guessing Gardenhire spit venom at the front office last season when Hicks failed--and there was no safety net available. This season somersaults were performed to try to prevent a reoccurence of last year--and Hicks fails again and infielders are brought in to play CF. Likely more venom from Gardenhire. Thankfully, Santana has hit well (actually way, way) above expectations to mollify the situation. But, the egg is still on the FO--so they begin a whisper campaign against Hicks. But that's how things are in most big cities. Hicks didn't help himself when they golfed at Pebble Beach and shot 80. It makes it appear as if he wasn't focused on baseball. Oh well, hopefully he can get bundled in a trade to give Gardy a veteran catcher to spell Suzuki--and then hit lights-out!
  5. Kwak
    Why? A) The Twins "bet big" on him--and the results make them look foolish. The Twins are huge about playing "The Twins Way". Hicks is perceived as not getting it. C) Hicks had "lost his future CF status" the moment Buxton was drafted--Hicks became expendable. The fact that Hicks "has struggled" means when Hicks' value has plummetted to "bust" status. The hoped-for return (think trades of Revere/Span) for "moving" Hicks is neglible. D) Even worse, if Hicks winds-up at another team, turns everything around and becomes a useful ML player--the Twins look even worse than they do today vis`a vis` Hicks. So yes, there are many who are "upset" with Hicks.
  6. Kwak
    No, it isn't--sending him down in favor of Hermann/Fryer is far worse than a bad thing.
  7. Kwak
    Some of what is discussed here was covered in another thread--"Half-In, Half-Out". It is obvious that Gardenhire was promised "better players" given the large number of veterans signed. It seems reasonable to conclude for this expenditure that are performance metrics that must be met. Pinto has made too many throwing errors on base-stealers to rate him as anyone better than "adequate at most" defensively. He does have power, but inadequate ABs negate that--but, Suzuki has hit way better than expected and justifiably is starting most of the games. Wins must be obtained, and that means Suzuki starts given his productivity. The real problem, as I see it, is the Twins are content with being a 75-85 win team and thus are more concerned with "not stinking now", than in developing young talent to win many more games in the future. Or "Half-In, Half-Out".
  8. Kwak
    Junk balling LHP--and Hicks sits? He has moved from the doghouse to jail.
  9. Kwak
    If there was a "mind set" change it occured during the off-season. "...guys who have 'won' before..."--Gardenhire. The Twins went out and signed beaucoup veterans to staff this season's team. Kubel is the latest to be released--likely there will be more. The Morales signing is simply another step in the same plan of providing "guys who have won before"--at affordable prices. The fundamental plan was to put a competitive team on the field to try to regain attendance and TV ratings. What will be interesting is to see what happens six weeks from now. I guess we will just have to wait and find out.
  10. Kwak
    So true. After 2011, some changes were made and it was projected: "we are competitive, last year was due to injuries and 'bad luck'." More changes every year with same mantra--followed by "...ya never know". Clearly the Houston/Miami tactic wasn't employed (slash and burn)--nor the Boston/Toronto (and others) tactic of "spend our way out of this mess". As a result, the Twins tactic is half and half. Despite blaming struggles on inadequate starting pitching and lack of timely hitting, this seaon's rule 4 Draft implies that the starting pitching "problem" is solved, the hitting will improve soon when the top prospects have all arrived and all that is needed is better SS productivity and a tighter bullpen--combined with a measure of "ya never know" optimism.
  11. Kwak
    I think that Willingham will be offered a raise for 2015 on a 1-yr deal. The Twins are light on OFers, power-hitters, and TPTB still want "veterans". Plus, he "fits in".
  12. Kwak
    Hmm. I think this "negotiation" was done awhile ago, but announcement had to be delayed until after the Rule 4 draft was concluded to eliminate the compensation for signing Morales. It certainly wasn't clear that Willingham and Arcia would return firing on all cylinders. I believe Morales was signed to cater to the probability that one (or both) would revert to last season's form. I also think that Morales was signed so the ASG announcers would not be commenting about how the Twins fell from 2010 to perennial losers (a last place team). I don't think Willingham, Morales, or Suzuki will be traded this year. I think the Twins will re-sign Suzuki and either/or Willingham and Morales for next year. Many posters talk of defense--but those 3-run HRs more than make up for that. Don't buy playoff tickets yet! There will be some star players made available in six weeks--and they won't be coming here.
  13. Kwak
    The Twins FO are spin-meisters. They have been downplaying this draft forever. It is a tactic that any successful draftees was due to superior insight on their part, but failures have already been dismissed by claiming that "it is a weak draft." The claim that "everybody we wanted was gone by the 4th round" is hollow--it is to be expected that the top 150 will be gone by the 4th round. What I find amazing that none of the ten selected are hitters, that given their "large body", might "pan-out" and become a power hitter. Most of this season's wins include HRs and doubles that have been big run-producers. Guys like Willingham (or Collabello) aren't worth a top a top 50 selection, but one would certainly expect to see a couple drafted (a bit later) "just in case". Power hitters have great value--especially those who were "diamonds from the rough" and don't carry a high price of investment.
  14. Kwak
    I echo all of the posters who are disappointed with the draft. When Burdi was selected in the 2nd round, I thought it the equivalent of drafting a kicker. I never guessed that they would draft the rest of the "special team". Ryan's quote: "...lots of LHP pitching", when he was asked about the draft. Apparently I can add "guys who can hit" to his statement.
  15. Kwak
    Why is it avarice for a player (his agent) to use leverage to secure the most money he can--especially compared to what the owners do to: fans, cities, media broadcasters, everybody they can?
  16. Kwak
    "Hate"? Ok, he's your favorite--but that's really incendiary because other raise legitimate questions concerning Gordon. At 5th overall, teams need to look for big impact players--foundation stones of a rebuilding franchise. Does Gordon qualify as one? Consider that some tools are more valuable to a team than others The "hit" tool, the "power-hitting" tool, and the "starting pitching" tool are more valuble than the fielding tool. Many American-born teen-age SS just can't stay at SS because the either get too big, or they never really had the skill-set in the first place. These guys were SS's because they were the best player on their team(s) since 8 years-old. Can Gordon transistion to a new position? Is Gordon's lofty ranking based on him being a SS (as I think) or, is it as a position-player/hitter (in general) and his skills and value as a player remain unchanged at a different position? If he is SS or else--then it is way too risky for 5th overall given the Twins minor league stable of position players--unless Gordon is a premium hitter. There in lies the quandary (and the discussion)--but it's not hate.
  17. Kwak
    The risk for pitchers has to be accepted because a so very few position players have transitioned to starting pitchers and succeeded at the major league level. The restriction on SS has been raised because 2B is no longer a fall-back position for a "failed" SS, and the 5th OA draft slot is so valuable. Teams typically target a guy who is projected to be a top hittero starting pitcher. Gordon is neither of those--his projection was a solid fielding SS who "hits well for a SS". Hence my question (which didn't receive a response)--is Gordon viable at 3B? Both as a fielder and as a hitter? If so, then he can be drafted 1-5. But if not, then pass on him.
  18. Kwak
    Ah, but does Gordon have the "quickness", "arm", and "hitting" to play 3B? This lofty ratig is predicated on Gordon remaining a SS. Twins experience with American-born SS is that said player won't "be there" come ML-time. Add to that the likelihood that Sano won't stay at 3B given his "physical nature" and previous experience. If Gordon doesn't "hack it" at SS, where does he go? Not 2B. Hopefully not another tryout at OF. Plouffe can be "choked-down" as a 3B for now (but not after free-agency for him)--so is Gordon viable at 3B? If he isn't viable at 3B, then he is too risky to take in hopes he can be a SS long-term (say 6 years).
  19. Kwak
    Baseball team points a gun at city's head: "Build a new stadium for us--or we will move!" Some things never change. The equivalent distance is like from Eden Prairie to Minneapolis. Plus, a potential to sell many more tickets, at a higher price, and keep a higher portion of the gross--of course they want to move!
  20. Kwak
    Posters here are wound too tight. It's just baseball. Watch the game, enjoy,--it isn't life or death.
  21. Kwak
    This has been the problem all season! This is why there is/was a Bartlett, Kubel, Guerrier, Pelfrey, etc. problem. The focus was about CYA, fantasy, and short-term goals instead of long-term goals of developing people to build a consistently winning team.
  22. Kwak
    And the Twins are expected to trade? for an extra 2-3 wins? So the Twins can win maybe 75--and still be irrelevant? No. As posted he's 29, and would just be in the way after this year. Take the lumps (and the losses) by playing who is on the roster and draft one or two slots higher in June 2015.
  23. Kwak
    The Twins need hitting not fielding. It would be ridiculously foolish to trade someone who is deemed "part of the future" to satisfy a temporary need in CF--for a losing team. Another "replacement level" CF only clouds the issue.
  24. Kwak
    No, Taylor does not own the Twins. (Though, he just made a mountain of unrealized profit by the ridiculous price Balmer paid for the Clippers.) This same shift was employed by Oakland in the '06 playoffs and basically rendered Mauer useless as a hitter. Of couse the are "adjustments"--and most LH batters do try to pull the ball. True, they can be more strikeouts--but there will be more hits, and extra-base hits, since there are only two OFers to cover 85% of the field. What the LH taketh away, the RH gives back. But this does involve Mauer taking a different approach to hitting--and few are willing to change their swing given consideable success. Golfers have done it, BB players probably not so much.
  25. Kwak
    This makes far more sense. Change must be throughout the organization with committment to turning the Twins into a consistent winner--and not on maintaining status quo.
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