Kwak

Perhaps we can learn from today's events concerning the Veteran's Health Administration. A well-respected, most honorable, and very highly praised Secretary (the "boss") was ' "relieved of command" so as not to be a distraction to fixing their problems. If change is required--it should be at the top--DSP needs to be "relieved of command". In that way a new "boss" can observe and assess performance of the entire organization and make all of the changes he deems necessary. We should not expect a "quick fix". This FO has contended that they could "make quick fixes", (and likely "on the cheap"). That policy has failed. A new direction can only be obtained by new leadership. Recycling old ideas has failed, and no one should be surprised at that outcome.

Santana as a CF leaves me empty. This is the second "throw home" that has missed the plate and allowed a runner on third to score. The arguements about hitting in AAA ignore the obvious logic: if it's easier to hit "down there" then Hicks is going to be prepared to hit for the Twins--but if hitting in AAA truly is relevant preparation, then Hicks should play for the Twins and prove himself at the major league level. Watching Gardenhire run "open mike" CF auditions is exasperating--especially when the plan is to play Buxton in CF.

IIRC, when Nolan Ryan was first promoted to the Mets (age 19 I think!!), he was considered: raw, wild, only has a fastball, and in general dismissed. I would be more afraid of missing out on the next Nolan Ryan than on the next Brad Radke.

Mauer won't change--nor leave--he knows he doesn't have to change. He is so connected to the local machinery there is no reason to jeopardize that in hopes of winning a trophy. It is also likely that he too has "drunk the Kool-Aid" and "believes the Twins will rise again" and maybe win a World Series.

At 5th overall, the Twins should be seeking a player who could be either a middle-of-the-line-up hitter, or a #1 pitcher. True, that guy may not exist, but taking the "safe" choice, or compromising to obtain a certain position player would be a big mistake.

Signing a replacement level player from another franchise makes no sense--especially one in his late 20's--he isn't going to improve. The Twins aren't in need of hole-pluggers, they need bonafide every day players. They need the foundation of talent to build a winner--cornerstones, building blocks and a keystone--not role players to plug a hole. People chafed at Gomez--yet he improved! How God-awful was Plouffe?--and voila` he is considered an every day player by this franchise (not by me though!). Pitchers often struggle before they succeed. There will be some who only fail (maybe Hicks is one of those guys), but replacing Hicks with a replacement-player makes no sense at all.

I totally disagree. The plan should be to build a consistent winner, and a team that will occasionally make a serious run at the World Series--not try to have a fantasy run for the benefit of face-saving. This Twins team is in "frame-off" rebuild. The foundation stones have yet to be found (proven!). Seasons like 2014 should be used to assess who should what role (if any) with the team and develop them, accepting the missteps and gufaws along the way. Scraping the dumpster for the castoffs of other teams discards with the hope that they can build a winner is only useful after the "core players" (foundation stones have been identified and proven). Having "open mike" for is not how good teams are built.

I guess the Twins have given-up on Hicks, every warm body is being trained and auditioned as a CFer.

For those who want to draft a Brad Radke I say: "Patience, and draft him in the later rounds just where the real Brad Radke was drafted."

Fear not about not selecting Kolek--he will be gone by the Twins turn! Whil he Twins shudder at a power pitcher (especially since the 100-pitch-count philosophy would be jeopardized) other teams still prize power pitchers.

"What's the rush"? So few games played to ascertain if Pinto should be the #1 catcher, nor enough to ignore Suzuki's past and proclaim him the #1 catcher for the next 3-5 years. Trade? That depends on who is offered. A contender who has just lost their #1 catcher might yield a juicy return--but that scenario hasn't happened (yet). Patience.

Adding pitchers does add matchups--for Twins pitchers--but at the expense of Twins hitters. The extra RPs are only used in the late innings, but the extra position players can be used at the start as well near the end of a game. Couple that with 'the three catcher rule", and the manager is truly limited in "matchups" and resting tired or struggling position players in order to get a "favorable matchup" for the RP--which can be negated if the opponents use a pinch-hitter!

Do you mean like every other boss claims credit for success? If things are turned-around, all of Gardenhire's superiors will also claim credit. Will the Twins change managers if things have turned-around? Why would they? Success doesn't bring change--especially with this organization. If Gardenhire gets replaced it will be because he just leaves or things didn't improve.

The Twins have people who fit that profile now. There is no reason to spend such a valuable chip as the #5 selection on a guy who won't hit much--unless he is a pitcher. Drafting an injured man (Hoffman) before his recovery process has started is suicidal. How would the GM, scouting director, nay the entire management explain away that they drafted a known, seriously injured player, if said player "washes-out"? There is so much unknown that Hoffman can't be projected as highly as he was before this injury.

Catching-up on all of the posts--and wished I had been reading them earlier! The "roster problems" stem from two sources: 1) the failure of the FO to keep the pipeline full of future quality major league players from bottom to the top and 2) the need to sell sizzle because there is no steak to sell. Ownership keeps the management around because the profit is "there". What is the basic difference between 2011 and now? The payroll was reduced $30MM--coindentially the reported team profit last year. So why change the FO (if you're an owner)? The jingles about "these are your Twins--get to know 'em", "outdoor baseball" (buy a ticket or four!), etc., aren't working so a new jingle (marketing plan) was formed--"the old gang is back" (or something like that). Consequently management by short-term marketing jingles, a constrained budget, and by the same group that put the team in this predicament in the first place--this is the result! I am not surprised. True, the number of injuries is well above a level that could be expected. But the lack of depth is inexcuseable. I am also surprised by the number of posters complaining about watching Hicks struggle. The time is (was) now to assess whether Hicks is viable for the franchise--and that requires that he play for the Twins. Buxton is coming and it would be criminal to hold is progress back to allow more time to assess whether Hicks has a future with the Twins. Much the same for the other "near-major leaguers" whether position-players or pitchers--play them and assess them in the majors and abandon any fantasy of "wild-card contenders" in 2014.

I don't for one minute believe Gardenhire isn't involved in these roster changes. This organization believes in consensus. There was nothing to indicate that a replacement of Darnell was needed--and certainly not by Guerrier. This harkens back to the policy of "bring the 'old-gang' back together". You might as well blame Bill Smith for this roster if you are holding Gardenhire blameless and a complete puppet in roster construction.

I like Morris, but the brief time I listened-in tonight, Morris was boring to irrelevant. Morris needs to "liven-things-up"--or forget TV.

David Ortiz.

"Best bat" doesn't mean better than 4th/5th/ or even 10th best pitcher. Additionaly, my point is that I believe the Twins will select a pitcher based on the evidence of a large outlay of cash for pitching. Also consider that this "stiched-together line-up" has out-performed the "purchased" staff. By far and away the drafted (and so far) inexperience Gibson has way out-performed the free agents. These evidences strongly suggest that the Twins will continue to focus on pitching in the draft--especially this draft where the pitchers have demonstrated a clear advantage. I also think the Twins should take a pitcher.

I fear you misunderstood my comment. Spending all of that money (likely not planned two years ago!) should be sufficient reason to select the best starting pitcher available.

What timing for a trade! Why not wait until July or August when players like Burton are normally traded? G.L! Gardy has his 13 pitchers (anybody surprised?) there are plenty of others to pitch. Also, consider the timing of Burton's blow-up--Twins down by 3 in the 9th on a crummy night--they were going to lose anyway, so Burton's disater didn't cost a game.

How many $MM's did the Twins commit for pitching this offseason? Was the pitching problem fixed?--or at least ameliorated? What is the probability of an 18-year old American remaining a SS? One thing we should all agree on concerning this draft--the Twins can't afford to whiff on that 1st round selection. Years with a talent-rich draft and an early (enough) slot to select are few and far between, there is no room for another BJ Garbe or Adam Johnson.

People get blinded by perception and wear rose-colored glasses for their favorites. Reading this thread it is easy to conclude that Florimon is one of the very best fielders in decades and stops beaceau runs--and all of the potential replacements are schlubs. Neither opinion is accurate. That being said, extending the leash on Florimon to the end of April should be clear, andlikely to the middle of May before "pulling the plug". Quite possibly there will be a parade of SS-candidates this season, sort of like what was done for pitchers. Eventually, the need may (will) arise to dip lower than AAA to find a SS. So be it.

To me it's a coin-flip. Heads: They are MLB players (not rookies either!), hence they are carp--season is open year round, with no limit; Tails: The Twins aren't playoff contenders--they are rebuilding! Enjoy their misery and hope that they can draft/develop their way out of this mess ASAP.

Cheaper hotels in Bloomington--and take the train to the stadium $1.75 each way per person.