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Kwak

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Everything posted by Kwak

  1. Kwak
    No, and I qualified my post--but i will explain. Every "Top Ten List" has ten names--but that doesn't imply that all ten are, or must be, "elite". It's very likely that only a handful are actually "elite", but the list still has ten names. But if there aren't ten guys who actually are "elite" the bottom of the list needs to be weighted with those on the cusp of the majors to reflect their success over time and the likely promotion to the majors. There may be more than ten "elites" (if a team is really fortunate)--but only ten are on the "Top Ten List".
  2. Kwak
    "That said, I think guys like Harrison, Goodrum, Kepler, Berrios are likely to be one year at a time types." That's a red flag. The elite guys will have either skipped a level or have been doubly promoted at least once as they progress. It seems to me that those types don't make a "Top Ten List" until AAA or in a weak organization.
  3. Kwak
    If you're waiting for the Twins to accept blame for the Ortiz decision, you will be waiting forever.
  4. Kwak
    More plausible (and a great deal better than what did happen) Ortiz is tendered and a contract arbitrated for '03, and then repeated for '04, and Boston doesn't have Ortiz in '04--no WS for them! and it's Ortiz batting against Rivera instead of Kubel in the '04 playoffs. Ortiz leaves via free agency after '04 and the Twins reap a nice draft choice in June '05 as compensation!
  5. Kwak
    Those who don't play "The Twins Way" won't stay long--then or now.
  6. Kwak
    Because Ryan said so.
  7. Kwak
    So many interesting points posted. I remember that Ortiz was publicly thrashed by the Twins claiming he had "an attitude problem". I also remember that in '02 he wasn't "hopeless defensively" as a 1B, though he was clearly inferior to Mientkewitz. Earlier today I read an article ("important dates...") that included a statement that sometimes teams threaten to release a player in an arbitration year as a tactic to negotiate a lower salary. Maybe that was part of the reasoning in '02? {Note: I hate those poker player who when caught bluffing berate their opponent for calling them, and winning!, on a trashy hand}. I also remember that Matt LeCroy was "the replacement" for Ortiz and was cited as "providing the same power-hitting bat--but right-handed batting--and that he "played" catcher. Was this the first instance of accomodating Gardenhire's need for three catchers? On a side note, LeCroy's defense (and speed) were no better than Ortiz's so berating Ortiz on these points is a non-issue. On a different note, I do find it entertaining that two of the "defenders" are taking passionate, but opposed sides of this issue. It is clear that the Twins "whiffed" on this Ortiz-decision--his hitting stats are clear. Ryan and his crew can not continually take kudos for trading AJ yet ignore this fiasco of a decision. It was 11 years ago, so we as Twins fans should be able to "move on". It is simply a reason to not put people on a pedestal--mistakes have been (and will still be) made, nobody is perfect.
  8. Kwak
    Why do we continue to read this blather about "can't build a team entirely through free agency"? No one has advocated that, nor has any team attempted it. But there have been some excellent teams that have used free agents very successfully--we watched the final four teams this past playoffs do just that. This issue called blocking? Non-existent. Two-year contracts? To sign somebody the Twins won't want in three years is nonsense, considering the team is in the rebuild phase. Sign quality--players the Twins will want three plus year--or don't bother! Reclamation projects? What for?--welfare for baseball players? Are there still posters who want to follow a team (but seats!) for the (marginal talent) that was presented this past summer? It makes no sense. Raise the standards. C+ players should not be used as the standard if putting a winner on the field is the goal.
  9. Kwak
    No, I always post somebody else's opinions--especially those with which I disagree.
  10. Kwak
    The contract extension for Gardenhire signifies that Pohlad is supporting "the plan". So far that plan has been replace expensive veterans with much cheaper young players. I fully expect this "plan" to be continued. The statement "the money is there" is vague and non-committal. A multi-year deal means the "team" need not focus on adding a few extra wins in 2014 at the expense of following "the plan".
  11. Kwak
    One thing I've noticed about the pitchers--they haven't thrown very many innings. I fear their results are skewed because they are rarely tired nor spent long enough in a game for the opponents to "get a read" on them.
  12. Kwak
    You seem to be taking both sides of the issue. This is your second post in this thread about groupthink where you imply that if Bill Smith had never been GM things would be much better. Yet other posts bash the "groupthink" and "closed system". So which is it? If its "groupthink" then Smith is only one of many voices and likely one that didn't have as much authority as his job title implied. Or, Smith somehow bullied the group into making bad personnel decisions/trades/drafts.
  13. Kwak
    "At least if there was a consensus on the order, no one can really say the wrong choice was made..." Sounds like it's from a scriptwriter for the Twins' PR department. I am also fearing selection of another "toolsy OF" this June.
  14. Kwak
    Addressing the new GM/search issue: I don't know (do you?) that there wasn't a "search". For example maybe one or two people were "approached" and their response might have been along a similar line to Smith's--spend a lot of money. Or, "perform major surgery on the organization". Or "...if I'm in charge, I must have complete control..."; or other unacceptable answers according to the owner. The type of close-knit, group-think organization did not happen by accident and change would be considered anathma, outright heresy. Quite likely everything originates from the top, and then change can only happen when initiated from the top. Continued healthy profits would likely prevent any sea change in organization.
  15. Kwak
    I find it damning that the organization tries to fix the entire blame on Bill Smith. The Twins, an organization that professes group-think, yet when things went South, it is one guy that gets all of the blame. Recently I read a claim that the problems of today were caused by the bad trades Smith made! Not only does this ignore the group-think of the Twins but also those responsible for new player drafting and developing. I'm not trying to defend Smith, but it is clear to me that there is considerable animosity toward him (or is it just plain-old scapegoating?--blame he who isn't here) as if he challenged "the established order". Another comment that disturbs me is the animosity toward a free agent because he "is blocking somebody". This smacks of favoring longevity over performance--"it's not how well you have performed, but how long you have been here". That attitude will doom an organization.
  16. Kwak
    If Jones is projected as a relief pitcher, then age shouldn't matter as much as for a starter. To me, his evaluation should be based on his level of dominance and the likelihood that this could contribute. A really good RP can last to a 40 year-old. But this raises the question: should there be a separate "prospect list" for relief pitchers? Their function limits their impact in any game.
  17. Kwak
    My question: what type of rotation are the Twins trying to build? The names mentioned in this list as pitchers sound like they are simply less experienced versions of the pitchers that are/have been in the rotation the past few years. Continuing to develop this type as a starter inevitably leads to adding the most successful as "tryouts" to the rotation. The answer is already in--these aren't the guys! The bar for the rotation must be set higher in order to actually develop the rotation required to win consistently. Melotakis, (I thought) had the most success of the named bunch this past season, projects (to me) as a Craig Breslow--who is actually a darn useful pitcher! Another thread is neded for Breslow--so back to Melotakis, develop him for what he really is/can be. A very useful pitcher can be had, and not in an interminable period. Geese should not be confused with swans despite how much you truly want swans.
  18. Kwak
    I think the interview is just PR to mollify the choir so they stop singing off-key. Consider what really happened--no change! Same "leadership team" and we'll soon see mostly the same players--just provided with yet another opportunity to see if they can somehow succeed--which would permit "valididation" for "leadership". If failure occurs (when?) in 2014 expect a recycling of excuses--after all everybody has a second year on their contract.
  19. Kwak
    Why on earth should we care about the accounting of a posting fee? The owner says "SPEND"--let's sit back back, wait, and find out how serious is this directive.
  20. Kwak
    Or, did things hinge on the removal of Scherzer too early, especially in Game 2?--thus making this "point" completely irrelevant. The $10-12MM player probably falls into these categories: 1) the guy on his way to $20+MM (ex. Mauer in '09); 2) the fortunate mid-range guy who was highly sought after by several teams; 3) the aged star, getting a 1-yr deal. Player #1 should not be confused with the others despite their salary similarity--which is temporary.
  21. Kwak
    "...even if he only hits like Drew Butera he'll still be as good as Drew Butera overall." Wow. The new benchmark for Twins players--Drew Butera. I never knew the Twins couldn't have too many of Drew Butera clones. My baseball appreciation has just increased from reading another TD thread.
  22. Kwak
    .500 season is a fantasy. 76-86 would be a huge improvement, this team lacks more than just starting pitching.
  23. Kwak
    $12MM seems high for a net reduction to the Twins. It's the cheap seats that don't get sold. These are the $13-$17 seats mostly. Include a bit more reduction for the $8 seats sold at "demand pricing" for walkups. Concessions--the Twins get a % of the gross as net revenue. $6MM reduction for that 300k attendance loss. The big dollar seats (between the bases from the suites down to the field) get sold.
  24. Kwak
    To modify things slightly: "...Victorio has hit for his entire major league career..." Hicks would need to spend all of 2014 in Rochester to adjust and prove that this adjustment works!
  25. Kwak
    Radke wasn't special and such an accolade would be woefully wrong.
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