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Kwak

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Everything posted by Kwak

  1. Kwak
    It's easy to find flaws in these pitchers--but then compare them to what the Twins have and the alternatives!
  2. Kwak
    Not bothering to buy pitching--repeat 2011,2012, and 2013--rinse, lather, and repeat. The stated figure: "up to ...", seems like there is basis for it. But as far as I'm concerned I fully expect a repeat of last off-season's "free-agent dance", with a resultant similarly sized payroll reduction. A few more wins result because there won't be another September implosion. "Progress" will be claimed, and statements like "we're turning the corner" due to another 4 to 6 wins.
  3. Kwak
    My-oh-my how the faithful value anybody called "prospect". Did people forget how many balls fell in front of Hicks?--his defensive metrics suffered significantly because of that. Hitting? 'nuf said. "Tools"?--of course but they are expected for his level of baseball--it's results that seperate the stars from the duds.
  4. Kwak
    Second Round Pick?--I recall the Twins complaining that they couldn't find real talent at 20th overall--so a 2nd Rounder should be expendable.
  5. Kwak
    Back to Morneau... I don't think his agent was magnamimous in approaching the Twins--I think he realized that Morneau was permanently damaged goods and that he was making "a preemptive strike" to try to convince the Twins they could "get a bargain" by signing Morneau to an extension. Methinks his present statement on "looking for a winner" is true. He expects a number of "sharply reduced" offers (like say $1MM) and he will choose the team that he believes has the best chance of winning. Let's be blunt--Morneau is RICH--he can easily afford to take a much lower offer to play for a playoff-bound team, that a hopeless loser.
  6. Kwak
    2014--back to the cellar of the ALC for the Twins.
  7. Kwak
    BB players are like other collectibles/investments--buy quality.
  8. Kwak
    I listened to a tape of a SUX roundtable discussion about what they should do for 2014. One point they agreed--the SUX have to put a good product on the field to sell tickets, as opposed to the Cubs (and the Twins!). They spend to improve--using their former GM's plan--fill holes with veteran FAs--yet recognizing they (SUX) aren't the Yankees and have to live on a budget! No need to add what the Twins are doing!
  9. Kwak
    Why not raise the bar? How about someone who is not only better than all of the others, but would nicely fit in the rotation of about 20 other teams? Perhaps even somebody who the Twins can expect to have at least 4 more decent years left in his career? My point, choose somebody who can be projected to be part of the success rather than just a bridge to the success. Of course this pitcher costs more--a lot more! But I believe it is better to put the FA pitcher budget all to one guy who can help later as well as now. One good pitcher rather than 3 KCs or 3 Pelfreys.
  10. Kwak
    Pelfrey is a thrower--a one-pitch-pitcher (2-seam fastball). He really can't strike batters out with any consistency, all he can do is feed them pitches to hit and hope that they mi**** them. Of course he's willing to re-sign. The competition for his services will be weak.
  11. Kwak
    Recall: The number of times mentioned that the Twins (Ryan) were complicated as the "way to run a team"; the quote from Moneyball about "...if we win, it will change baseball."; the numerous times the AJ trade has been referenced; GMs have individual goals too--and egos! Recall just before the '08 season that the Twins deemed it a "rebuilding season". Hence, there was no consideration to allocating the Santana and Hunter salaries to new players. Goodness knows the Twins knew they had a big hole at 3B, major holes in the OF, a rotation comprised of rookies and 1-year guys. So, Livan Hernandez was the only FA added! Folks, I believe the real cheapskates are the owners. The new stadium was already approved and design underway--no need to spend on ballplayers to try to repeat earlier success. Ryan is their GM because he wants (craves) the accolades from other GMs on how savvy he runs things on a low budget. It's so sad that Houston and Miami have undercut the Twins so substantially on payroll, that anything less than a World Series will pale in comparision to Houston and Miami on the subject of "running a tight ship". Instead, the Twins are simply viewed as a bad team with an albatross of a contract for one player and millions committed to veterans who won't make a difference.
  12. Kwak
    But can we really believe the posters who make these predictions without them having an inside informant?
  13. Kwak
    Pelfrey would have nothing of the minor leagues, and I don't know when that issue was ever raised. Free agent pitching?--nearly impossible when the goal of the organization is to slash payroll. It isn't necessary to have a press conference announcing budget cuts--just look at the year-over-year payroll--it speaks for itself.
  14. Kwak
    #1 Low hanging fruit. #2 Pointless. There already exist ML-ready alternatives to Mauer and Doumit. Though, you might be right given this is the Twins we're discussing. #3 I hope you're correct--if it's for a starting pitcher. #4 Disagree. Last year's Hicks experience will make the the tradionalists win the arguement--and Sano will spend most of the season in the minors. Service time and the potential for another early selection in the Rule 4 draft (in 2015) are other considerations/factors. #5 Disagree--they will pay him. Woth Pohlad saying he "will spend!" this off-season--to be chinchy with Duensing (who is on good terms with the Twins) is just inconsistent with stated policy. After all, it's only for one year!
  15. Kwak
    "Fixing the draft problem"? Replace those responsible--presumably from teams that excel in that skill.
  16. Kwak
    Those teams that "fail" at drafting and developing pitchers can, and for much less than the price of a FA pitcher, lure (promotions and pay raises) personnel from those teams that do succeed at drafting/developing pitchers.
  17. Kwak
    Some search for excuses for failure--and seize on payroll difference. Others search for a solution to find success and continue the struggle to find it.
  18. Kwak
    Last night's game clearly showed the type of pitcher(s) required to win in the playoffs. Planning on holding opponents to four runs--and you get run out!
  19. Kwak
    ...but if the Twins toss in Duensing...
  20. Kwak
    I never posted that the Twins should (obviously because they couldn't) select Miller. My point was that the Cardinals are very good at scouting pitchers--and much better than the Twins. It may also be that they are much better at development also. I understand the desire to rush to the defense of the Twins' FO--but let's not edit someone else's post to do so.
  21. Kwak
    Yahoo sports misidentifies Lynn's background (they were my source) sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8650 My"google search" for Micheal (Lance) Lynn, yielded a draft in supplemental round 1, 39th overall in 2008 by the Cardinals--and that he signed. Trusting Yahoo does have its risk. But again, another player selected not at the top, and in that area that the Twins complain they can't find talent. Twins draftee before Lynn--Aaron Hicks 1st Rd, 14th overall--still trying to learn to hit enough to be a bench OFer.
  22. Kwak
    I clicked-on the Cardinals site to research their rotation--here's what I found: 1) Adam Wainwright--drafted 2000 1st rd, 29th by ATL. 2006 was first ML appearance. 2) Lance Lynn--Undrafted Univ of Mississippi signed as FA by StL. 3) Shelby Miller--2009 drafted 1st rd 19th. Note: Twins selected Gibson 1st rd 22nd U of Missouri @ Columbia. How many tink that StL scouted Gibson closely--and passed on him because of their scouting? I do. 4) Joe Kelly--2009 drafted 3rd rd. 5) Micheal Wacha--drafted 2012 1st rd 19th Texas A&M Univ. Please note: None of these guys were TOP 3 or whatever. One was a 3 round, another was undrafted, signed as a free agent! Wacha is already at the major league level! And was drafted only last year!! Some teams don't force their premier talent to pay excessive dues in the minors like the Twins. Dare anyone call this success LUCK? Luck happens once in a while--but consistent success? NO! Not LUCK! As for those who claim that the St. Louis players are using PEDs--please show something resembling truth to your claim--or desist until you have said proof. The Twins could (but maybe not can) learn from St.Louis. But at the very least the Twins should be poaching (with appropriate position promotions and salary increases to match) some of St. Louis' scouts/player (pitcher) development personnel, because clearly StL is on to something and the Twins are adrift and rudderless.
  23. Kwak
    Frame this and give a copy to the front office: a) there is a lot of talent in the draft other than the top three players; it isn't luck that teams find these players; c) you have failed to credit the Cardinals (and others) to deveelop this young man into a quality MLB player--or is that luck also?; d) it is a pathetic response to obscure the failure in the Twins organization by claiming that success by others is luck.
  24. Kwak
    Is La Russa around? NO. Did he assemble these players? Do the present Cardinals give the impression of rampant drug use? NO and NO. When MLB cast its net this year, were any Cardinals mentioned/cited? And if any present-day Cardinals really are users, how does this fall on La Russa?
  25. Kwak
    Who is presently in the minor league should never influence who should be drafted. All of these comparisons to Trout are hollow--they add nothing to who the Twins should select in 2014. Clearly, there can be (and often are) big changes in the rankings of "draft prospects" from Fall to June's draft day. Patience will be required. However, Ryan has definately painted himself in a corner. The rotation was cited as most responsible for 2013's poor result. You know the one that was going to be fixed by adding three pitchers last offseason! If there aren't several meaningful veteran pitchers added this offseason it's a near certainty that the first selection in June will be a pitcher. Citing the main problem and failing to even address said problem--means the problem is really the guy in charge!
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