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Kwak

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Everything posted by Kwak

  1. Kwak
    I have posted several times that I believe we will see mostly veteran retreads "coming North". The Twins are desperate! The "rushed" baloney has been used repeatedly. The "show me results in AAA" also. As Twinsfan stated, AAA isn't a 'progression" step--it's a regression step. Teams may send a guy to AAA on the way to the majors as a warning--"don't mess-up or you will be back to this dump". When those who "need a lesson" in humility, or have 'messed-up"--back they go to AAA. The Twins are wont to say "further experience is needed"--but it really is a punishment. I think it's used to hide faults--player's and management's. As noted through the years Gardenhire has demonstrated his "preference" for veterans--even those of lesser quality. I believe he demanded more veterans on the Active Roster as a condition to re-sign with the Twins. I also think Ryan wants to give Worley every chance to succeed so people won't critcize him for trading a popular, and decent CF for two pitchers who don't belong in the majors.. Thus, I am now convinced that Worley will be the #5 SP (barring injury). Meyer and May will stay buried in the minors as long as possible, because if these two (also) fail the Twins will be buying free-agent pitchers for four more years (expensive!).
  2. Kwak
    There was an article published a few weeks ago (Strib) that was about Antony. I don't have a link, but it was about his "journey" through the FO. Hired as an intern, and over time promoted to Director of Marketing. It was emphasized that this is a destination position. Then, he "took an assignment" as a scout, and later participated in contract negotiation. My point: the article was likely a Twins press release about that Antony "has the qualifications" (as opposed to the "run over by the bus" Bill Smith) to be a GM. In short, yes he has experience in player personnel. How skilled Mr. Antony is in that area wasn't published/isn't known.
  3. Kwak
    I expect the April Active roster will be veteran laden. The rookies, 1st year guys will be in Rochester. I've changed my mind and now think only 12 pitchers on the roster, thus 13 position players. The OF will be Willingham, Presly, Kubel, Parmelee, and Mastroianni. The Infield: Plouffe, Florimon, Dozier, Mauer, and Escobar. Catching: Suzuki, Fryer, and Herrmann. Bartlett will be promoted if one of the INF falters and Bartlett is productive at Rochester. Arcia is the 1st OF to be promoted. Pinto stays in Rochester until Suzuki is traded, or September comes. This isn't my preferred roster--but is what I think will happen.
  4. Kwak
    Apparently many have forgotten that most of the Twins pitching prospects are years away from the majors. Thus, when most of these contracts have expired that nobody has been "blocked" from advancing to the Twins. With regards to Pelfrey, I don't think that much of him--but I think a lot more of him than the dreck I saw last year that (fortunately) is no longer with the the team.
  5. Kwak
    These are guys in the age-group for peak performance--and yet for zero of them is it certain that any of them belong at the major league level. My points: we as fans should not expect any of them to be a cornerstone on the Active Roster, and any pitcher (in the peak-performance age group) who can't make the worst staff in MLB isn't worth keeping in hopes of "obtaining value"--he has so very little value! In about 10 days the Twins need to reduce to 15 pitchers in ML camp, so everybody "gets their innings" to be fully prepared for opening day and for those in the "decision group" (keep/demote/release) also have enough innings to make an informed decision.
  6. Kwak
    Quite likely information planted by player agents.
  7. Kwak
    But the the SS aren't the BPA!
  8. Kwak
    If we were to combine the information from other threads (articles) concerning Santana (SS) and this thread, it is highly unlikely the Twins draft any SS this June. Plus, there is (so far) so much strong-positive information on pitchers (both college and HS) and combine that information with the fact the Twins just paid mega-millions on free agent pitchers (which is unprecedented at this scale for the Twins), I would be most surprised if the Twins did not select a pitcher at #5 this June.
  9. Kwak
    Wellll, there was a reason for Souhan's article in the Tribune this weekend... But, I need to know--does Santana "get after it"? Maybe "slide into 1st base"? "All of the tools" should include power hitting--but I bet it doesn't in this case. Especially when he "chops it".
  10. Kwak
    uh, Micheal Jordan "talked trash". So did many other of the great players.
  11. Kwak
    On most teams--there is no need for a third catcher. But this team has Gardenhire as its manager.
  12. Kwak
    Might this man have been in charge of the farm system during the previous decade? If so, that might explain why the cupboard was found bare in 2011.
  13. Kwak
    I think the Twins believe they have the solution to their SS problem--in the minors. I also believe that the Twins are very high on Pinto--but Gardenhire wants veterans! I am convinced that the Twins want to delay calling-up 'their future" until next year--bringing them up all at once and delay "their clock." Plus, the Twins do believe in time at AAA.
  14. Kwak
    In today's Star Tribune, Jim Souhan touched on the subject of SS (sorry, i don't have the link, I read it in a newspaper). In short, it was stated that it was accepted that Florimon can't hit enough, but that Santana was deemed the "SS of the future". This is why the Twins have passed on Drew--they believe they have as good (or better) for and much less money. Don't mention payroll to me--I've expressed my opinion on payroll often enough that the dots can be connected.
  15. Kwak
    It's difficult to conceive that Gardenhire wouldn't make demands [to the effect] of having better players to manage if he is to be held responsible for the Twins' W/L record as a condition of signing a new contract. With respect to the "public apology" it seems that the addition of sooo many veteran players was to provide those "better players". "Meaningless ABs" is a vague term. No, Doumit wasn't signed to be a building block--he was signed to "win now" (at least as much as practicable--like 70+ games). Gardenhire is not, and never was to be the sort of manager to "build a team"--his job was always to "win now". So, if Doumit was played--it was to "win now". It is/was someone else's responsibility to develop the players. The extended minor league service time of most Twins-developed players indicates just that. The Twins do not use the philosophy of pushing prospects to the majors, get them 3 years or so experience, and then sign them long-term--or trade them before they get expensive.
  16. Kwak
    Tulowitski is a pipe dream. Guess who will be looking for a SS next year? Hint: they can afford anybody.
  17. Kwak
    Of course it was to improve the team's record. But nobody would have been "rushed", there were "plenty of arms" in 2013 and the "open mike" continues with the acquisition of even more "arms" this off-season--and I don't mean Nolasco or Hughes. The rotation would have included most of the Red Wings staff with the requisite shuttling between Rochester and Minneapolis. Deja` vu. Given the ages of Meyer and Turner it isn't realistic to conclude that they would be "rushed" to the majors if they were on the Active Roster.
  18. Kwak
    What evidence? The Twins said they made an offer to Garza. Few if any details--and nothing about the back-and-forth discussions, like what Garza requested--dates weren't given. My point--said they were "comfortable with $80-85MM" last year maybe they would be comfortable with more this year. But the coincidence of nearly identical payroll from year to year is illuminating especially in light of the previous statement.
  19. Kwak
    Sure--once somebody accepts an offer, they can withdraw an offer to someone else.
  20. Kwak
    The reference Mackey article implies that Smith was fired for "...a lack of confidence...". However, it also states that people didn't want to see Ryan [leave], and also stresses that Smith background wasn't consistent with others who became GMs. It seems that there was "a lack of confidence" in Smith right from the start. Reaching a game 163 in '08, a division champion for both '09 and '10 "saved" him--but one disastrous season--and "you're outta here"? Oh, and it's just a "lack of confidence"? Then there's the gratuitious statement about the Twins are "unlikely to make a big splash in free agency due to payroll restrictions". What? Restrictions? Why even broach the subject of "a big splash in free agency"?--It isn't like a "big splash" is discussed every season. But a huge increase in spending without a compensating revenue increase--yes, I can see that causing ownership to lose confidence in their GM.
  21. Kwak
    "Philosophical reasons" was stated and the article proceeded to "next season's budget is projected to be about $100MM"--a reduction of $12MM from a team that just lost 99 games. Further seasons have seen payroll continue to drop until [what has been stated as a"comfortable" range] of $80-85MM. Circumstantial evidence is generally considered to be the best type of evidence.
  22. Kwak
    Amen. The Front Office can't create a boogieman as cover when they extol their collegial and collective atmosphere. Smith was a facilitator, he never had brach Rickey-type power. Forgotten in this thread was the attempt to acquire Cliff Lee. Ramos was offered (perhaps more) but Seattle wanted a treasure chest. [Aside, it turns out that those prospects requested are today's ? marks.] When the Cliff Lee trade talks ended, then they went to "acquiring a proven closer". Gardenhire had complained 'I can't manage without [a proven closer]'--so they "got him one." The "other" trades? Ryan was supposed to trade Santana and Hunter after the '06 season--avoiding the "bump" for Hunter's option and the huge increase for Santana. It was decided to "keep the gang together" and see if '07 could yield a World Series. Both of those two would have been easier to trade before than after '07 season, but... . Summing up, the disasters of the trades, the past three years W/L records can't be dumped on Bill Smith. The Twins acted like "The Borg" and the entire organization, its people, its organization, and its philosophy carry the blame--not just one guy. Especially not a guy who wasn't all that powerful (by design!).
  23. Kwak
    Most pitchers are failed starters. But, Perkins wasn't a total bust--and as was pointed-out he had a very good fastball and slider. The "failures" I'm referencing don't have anything resembling "+ stuff". In a similar vein, in 2008, the Twins were convinced that they should "obtain value" for Livan Hernandez. So they hung on to him (starting him) which kept a rather successful Liriano in Rochester. Livan ran out of magic dust and the Twins frittered-away some games before DFAing him and promoting Liriano. Liriano was "more than effective" on his return. Oh, the season ended in a game 163 loss--one more "win" in the regulation 162 and the Twins win their division and go to face the Rays in post-season. Sometimes a team just has to "cut bait". This Spring will be another of those times.
  24. Kwak
    One must consider that this is a rebuilding team and retaining players who failed before, and failed during this preseason doesn't make any sense. This skill-level type player is always available--so losing one (or more) is no loss. Every manager has to make cuts--and some will have to go! The article defined several successful bullpen pitchers, it would be foolish to demote one of them to retain a failed starter.
  25. Kwak
    Why the AAAA veterans you ask? Because shelling-out $30MM for pitching wasn't permitted and/or wasn't claimed to be necessary. Those who were at TD's WinterMeltdown heard that "... got nothing from Worley..."--and that wasn't expected. Last year, watched Diamond turn into graphite and virtually every starter not named Correira get shelled repeatedly. In short, the 2013 plan of "ordinary" starting pitchers blew-up in the Twins face--and they didn't think that would happen! Learning fom experience (and being blessed with many $MMs available from players no longer with the team), money was spent on free-agent veteran pitchers--and the payroll remained in last year's "comfortable" range. We wait for the season to start.
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