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Kwak

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Everything posted by Kwak

  1. Kwak
    I fall into the group that bellylaughs at the idea these two could be traded--unless it was for someone worse! The Twins picking-up all salary but rookie minimum would be a prerequisite--and for what? Good teams already have guys who do what these two do and bad teams can't use them anyway. Doumit and Willingham taking ABs away?--from whom? Those that we saw from August didn't convince me they "earned" any more ABs than these two.
  2. Kwak
    Has anyone noticed that number of low scoring games (so far) in this year's playoff games? Does this alter anyone's opinion of the importance of seeking dominant starting pitching in the draft?--and always selecting it when it's available? I cite the Dodgers of the 50's and 60's that enjoyed enormous success despite their difficulty in scoring runs.
  3. Kwak
    Livan Hernandez won 10 games with the Twins for 4 months total--true, he was blessed with luck. The other two were cheap vets (both Ryan and Gardenhire prefer older players). Another reason they were signed was "the pitching cupboard was bare", and this was Ryan's attempt to patch the hole. Reference this all yee who want to blame Smith for the present-day Twins lack of quality pitching--this is a chronic problem and has been nearly forever.
  4. Kwak
    That must be some kind of crystal ball they have--to know in 2012 that Kohl would be the guy available to draft when it's their turn!
  5. Kwak
    How do you know "The best player available"? Does he have initials tatooed on his forehead? My real point--"BPA" as you call it is defined differently by team and by evaluator. Consider what team are you trying to build--and who would make the most impact? If your goal is to win playoffs games and maximize the likelihood of winning a World Series--then pitcher. But if your goal is to consistently beat non-playoff opponents--then hitter, assuming of course there is a position you can assign this man without detracting from his offense. Answers like best player or best pitcher are glib and basically useless, and show the bias of the responder. The nature of baseball is that hitters play the "good-guy" role, and pitchers play the "bad-guy" role. Hitters sell more merchandise, but pitchers will determine how far your team advance in the playoffs. Which team do you prefer? Then choose accordingly.
  6. Kwak
    Debt service is low. They are (have been) using a policy of accellerated short-term debt sevice repayment. They have provided no explanation why, because short-term debt is at a much lower interest rate than the bonds underwritten (6% coupon if memory serves me right).
  7. Kwak
    "Collectively these teams have...". The teams are sharing revenue--Team "A" doesn't get to use team "F" 's revenue. "Collectively"--if five teams account for $600MM (hypothetically) the other teams account for the "other $82MM"--not enough to really enough to warrant inclusion in your point. It's really the top 5 teams that make the difference. The other teams are simply a red herring.
  8. Kwak
    He is a pipe dream for Twins fans. We have already been prompted that the 5+year contracts are a "no-sale". Any team will require at least a six-year contract in order to amortize the cost of the bidding fee adequately. Then there is the annual salary...
  9. Kwak
    +10
  10. Kwak
    What on earth do people expect from a PTBNL??? I expect that he will be given his "cup-of-coffee" such that we are forced to listen to what an amazing deal the Twins received (let me be blunt just getting a salary dump was adequate)--and when he fails, there will be a cacaphony of silence when he is released.
  11. Kwak
    You must have overheard Pohlad!
  12. Kwak
    So the FO isn't accountable? Why? Is it because every team must "take it's turn"?, or ownership won't give them the resources?, or success is random?, or must be cyclical? Ergo, there are "forces" above and beyond the control of management that require the Twins to stink? One constant has been that the Twins always cite reasons for failure. Sometimes it's "the big, bad Yankees--we just can't compete with all of their money" (this despite the money transferred to the Twins from MLB [mostly from the Yankees!]), or "injuries", or whatever! They continually provide excuses. Most teams don't do this. I conclude this front office is far more concerned about their image than in actual success--"sell the sizzle, not the steak". I have lived in many cities that have MLB teams, but Minnesota is the only team that I have encountered, that has people shouting about how good management is and how lucky we fans are to have this group running "our favorite team"--especially during periods of failure. How can this be?
  13. Kwak
    A team isn't rebuilt all at once--typically one maybe two at a time. This is one of the points used by those who advocate signing a high-quality free-agent.
  14. Kwak
    Before you worship at the altar of Beane, you need to determine how older players have "a resurgence" when they go to Oakland.
  15. Kwak
    Well, you had better get to the drug store and buy something for your stomache! That payroll is going to fall. We have already been prompted about what to expect on the free-agent market: Pelfrey, some over-the-hill position player who has played on winning teams--think Jamie Carroll clone who hails from winning teams (Omar Vizquel?) or dare I say it: Nick Punto, and maybe a Correira-clone. The price for those three (remember to deduct the $4MM paid this season to Pelfrey from your total) will be less than Morneau's 2013 salary. Expected 2014 payroll $65-$70MM. I didn't include for the possibility that Burton or Doumit get traded--which would further reduce the payroll.
  16. Kwak
    It comes down to the definition of success. Is it? A) be the Cubs; millions of people love us win or lose so pump up the volume of good cheer, happy talk, and Minnesota Nice and the owners will rake in the cash be like the Vikings; lots of good cheer, banter, countless Central Division Champion banners flying--waiting for the inevitable butt-kicking in the post-season followed by tears in the beer all while the owners rake in the cash; C) be like Atlanta--lengthy periods of success (including championship) followed by short periods of stink before resuming long-term success--and apparently their owner also rakes in lots of cash too; D) be like Arizona, keep a low payroll and try to build for one super-year in ten. Oh, and the owner rakes in the cash. Which model?
  17. Kwak
    Alex Presley will be the starting CF because Ryan traded to acquire him to be the next starting CF. He's the GM, the GM who shouts from the pulpit that he is "dealmaker", the "scout of scouts"--and the final personnel authority. Please consider that the Butera to LA trade didn't just dump a useless salary, and/or provide a pitcher for the system--but the #16 prospect in the entire system! Ryan is the GM and can make that call. Last season, Gardenhire lobbied hard (and successfully) to have Hicks as the starting CF. One point was made very clear in the contract extension of Gardenhire--it was Ryan's decision. I'm concluding any lobbying will be more subdued in the future. I don't expect Buxton to be with the Twins soon. Presley will be extended every opportunity to succeed, without looking over his shoulder, such that he can be traded for someone more useful like the previous CFers.
  18. Kwak
    You are very PC. I would have posted: "Until hell freezes over, they are going to continue to limit significant payroll bumps."
  19. Kwak
    Only four?
  20. Kwak
    Innovation? Why would they innovate? They have "the best minor league system in MLB"--all because Terry Ryan resumed duties as GM. This despite multiple statements through the years that Ryan "defers to the scouts" when it comes to drafting. His wizardly trades will produce the talent to win--just like in the previous decade. I'm curious about the following: is the plan to produce a division winner, a World Series winner, or just a team that wins more than it loses? Oh, and what is the schedule of this plan and how was it determined?
  21. Kwak
    The Twins reward loyalty and punish "disloyalty"--so that is expected, it's our fault that the team loses.
  22. Kwak
    "However the only thing worse than making a move to appease the players is a move to appease the fans." Really? It sounds as if the hierarchy in this fantasy world is: Pohlads>Twins>Ryan>Gardenhire>Players>Fans Or are there some more entities between Gardenhire and the fans?--Like say local government and local businesses and gosh knows--and finally at the very bottom--fans. WOW! It makes me wonder who really wrote that? But, I will concede that it sure appears as if the TPTB consider the fans are nothing more than sheep to be sheared and later slaughtered. Consider--Not even ONE change in management! It's as if had been a total success--World Series Champions, best regular season record, over-full stadium with people panting ("overpaying") to get a ticket from a re-seller,... I lived in chicago when the Bulls had their championship runs--and that's what is was like.--I'm sorry is that happening in Minneapolis/ Even the most successful companies make some changes--competition requires constant improvement!--But Not the Twins! Simply shuffle the cards, but a "vet" who "has won" (clearly there aren't any on this team!) sprinkle a few new faces bent on "overachieving"--and we're good! The fault lies with (drumroll please) injuries and underachieving (disloyal?) players. They are good sandwiches--but I don't consider them that good.
  23. Kwak
    Basically all four above the Twins will target pitching 1st--with a slight possibility of WSOX going SS/3B. The way the Twins have screamed starting pitching Monday, they have pretty much painted themselves in a corner to select a SP--which is good! What can't be done is to draft a guy who has had a serious arm/shoulder injury--even if he projects to Nolan Ryan II! When Gibson was drafted, the rotation was "functional" and the reward justified the risk. It would be almost as big of a mistake to pick a Wimmers II wasting a 5th OA selection in a "good year" of the draft. The likelihood of a nearly-ready, top-of-the rotation pitcher falling to the Twins at 5th is remote. They should not select the "safer, quicker" college guy but rather roll the dice and select the best high-school pitcher who projects much higher. The Twins tend to promote at a glacial pace anyway--take the younger guy!
  24. Kwak
    Ryan needs to validate his CF for P trades. Worley flat-out stunk. Meyer's shoulder problem causes "concern". May has to be pushed to see if he really is part of the solution. If none of these guys succeed--oooh my!
  25. Kwak
    I have a few "thoughts" about "opt out"/trade request. A) Mauer would never "opt-out" unless he wants to retire from playing--that would be STUPID; trade request? The Pohlads did more than just "pay him and give him a "no-trade" clause, they "helped" him obtain the car dealership which provides him a "higher level" in the Twin Cities community; C) Mauer may have "plans" after baseball (IDK) but it's quite reasonable to think so; leaving the team may "interfere" with said plans; D) I also think that a public statement showing non-support of management might be construed (a clause in the contract?) as a trade request.
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