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Kwak

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Everything posted by Kwak

  1. Kwak
    The Twins are going to have to adjust to a different mindset. Arcia and Sano have their own agendas--they aren't going to be Mauer clones! Promoting Sano this season is simply enabling him. This season is in the toilet and "the new wave" won't save it. Invite Sano to Spring training (non-roster) and then assign him to Rochester. Force him to prove himself at AAA before promoting him--and at the very least hold him back to gain the extra year of control. Sano won't make the difference between making/not-making the playoffs in 2014.
  2. Kwak
    I also agree with your analysis. If I may add: window of opportunity. During the off-season I didn't think Boston would be viable for the playoffs this year. It was known that some of the Yankees would miss considerable time due to injury. The Yankees are also "old" and thus the Yankees are "vulnerable". However, given two years, both Boston and NYY could/would acquire several top free agents propelling them back to the top. Combine that with the talent out West, and there would be near zero chance for a wild card. It would be "win the division or watch the post-season". Did they gamble? Absolutely! But this just might be last, best time to go "all-in".
  3. Kwak
    I did not imply "not winning"! I'll try simpler words. "Mr. Ryan your assignment is: Clean-up this mess; replace underperforming players with younger, healthier, more motivated, and better players; remember we're not the Yankees!" Is this upbeat enough?
  4. Kwak
    That strategy was used by many a company--to its woe! Management played it safe, built an insulating bureaucracy and acted as if they were the actual owners. Something like government. Examine the Twins. Built-up to be just good enough to convince the public to fund a stadium--but never extending themselves to seriously threaten baseball royalty. Sounds a lot like what you advocate. In fact, I believe that the actual Twins policy is as you describe. Ryan (in corporate speak) is a turnaround specialist. Eliminate unproductive assets and wasteful spending and build a profitable team. I wouldn't at all be surprised that there is a "Five year Plan" complete with full ownership backing.
  5. Kwak
    The tone of this thread was made in the header--Basically "which of these misfits should the Twins sign"? There are no perfect players to sign, and all are gambles. True, the Twins can wait until they have a winning season and then search the FA market. But we have been down that road before and there weren't any major FAs signed. When this team turns it around I'm confident we'll read words like: "don't need him", "overpaying", "blocking so-and-so", usw. But back to "the list", as much as the Twins need starting pitching, they need hitting. It is clear that the reduction of a premier hitter to an ordinary one (Morneau) has really hurt. The hitting of the departed OFers (all of them) has not been replaced. A good hitter would definately help. You say "blocking"? This season's experience has shown that struggle should be expected in the rookie season and said rookie should be on a short leash.
  6. Kwak
    There was even more evidence that "he didn't play the Twins Way" and was perceived as a "malcontent". Please remember I said "trade 'B' talent", not throw it away for nothing.
  7. Kwak
    The Twins need to adopt the policy of eliminating the "B" talent after 4 years of MLB service because these guys get too darn expensive for what they are worth. So, give Dozier (and Plouffe, Parmelee, and the rest) their chance but if a man isn't "A" talent--trade him for prospects. The "A" talent gets a long-term talent. The "C" talent (hopefully) has been scubbed long before this time. IMO, Dozier isn't--and will never be--"A" talent. Applaud his success because it will make him enticing to another team, but don't be deceived by his charm and smile.
  8. Kwak
    "We come not to bury [Correira], but to praise him." On a more serious note: when is the problem that caused the KC signing, solved?
  9. Kwak
    His last day? Isn't KC #2 in the rotation?
  10. Kwak
    There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that the Twins sign Bastardo!
  11. Kwak
    If Morneau was perceived as a 25HR/100RBI guy, he would be offered more than that by a winning team. Hence, watch Morneau closely, this is his last year as a Twin.
  12. Kwak
    I think a comparision to Pelfrey is in order. Pelfrey is only 1 year removed from surgery compared to two for Gibson. So much for the "slow as you go theory". Pelfrey appears to have regained whatever he had lost. Pelfrey's results too tepid for your tastes?--Maybe he wasn't as good as advertised. But to me, the biggest difference I se between them is that Pelfrey fights--every pitch, AB, inning. He loses several of these scrapes, but doesn't stop. Gibson emits an odor of arrogance. He believes he's just that good that he will prevail [somehow]. But he sure doesn't display that he is a budding dominant pitcher. Maybe an off-season will change his attitude. I sure hope so because there is a lot riding on Gibson being one of the cornerstones of a "new" Twins.
  13. Kwak
    No, I don't! The fact that the list is devoid of upper MiL talent is indicative of the failures of the previous decade. We all hope (me too!) that the newly drafted pitchers (6/12 and 6/13) all pan out. But, they won't be in the majors soon and definately not soon enough. I won't bother with the failure rate of pitching prospects because that's obviously way too negative for you--so I'll just assume (like the rest) that these new guys all succeed. But, there is ample evidence to conclude that it won't be in two years. That means two more years of the same guys. If you're Ok with that--well great! Enjoy. There will be BB in 2016 too and quite likely with a much better cast of characters than today.
  14. Kwak
    The International market is where SSs are found. The "high-ceiling" American teens are way too likely to eat their way out of SS.
  15. Kwak
    Their mission is to slash payroll. Second is to build a winning team without spending much. There was a line in Moneyball where Beane (Pitt) says "...if we win we'll change baseball." This is the gospel to Ryan--he wants to be hailed as the GM who won without spending. Ownership is more than glad to give him plenty of leeway--though they will quip that they approved a higher budget than what Ryan spent.
  16. Kwak
    He wasn't improving he was regressing. A team can't say "No scholarships" and then ignore Hicks's chronic failure to perform. The Twins are also big believers in "learning in the minors", so this move is expected.
  17. Kwak
    Many posters thought this team would be competitive as well as building. They expected 2014 to be near .500 and 2015 to be in serious playoff contention. They also expected the FO to add some "pieces for the future". Realization has come. This team isn't going anywhere fast. Hicks, Arcia, and Gibson were all highly touted "prospects", they have struggled mightily suggesting that the rest of the new wave won't all have a rookie season like Mike Trout. In other words, the losing will continue even longer and that the likelihood of signing high-quality free agents to help the rebuild is nil. In short, they are depressed and frustrated.
  18. Kwak
    My goodness what do think they have been doing? The #1 Minor League system! Prospects! 2015! For the fans of Elizabethton, Ft. Myers, and Cedar Rapids thingas are Jake--but for us in Minnesota? It's well "Trust us", "Free agents are overpaid and a total waste of money", "we are building this team 'The Right Way', ... .
  19. Kwak
    It seems most everyone is in agreement that we need to see some better players next year but not everyone. Some contend--just stick with the failed talent drafted in the previous decade and augment them with cheap, mediocre FA, in order to put nine on the field, lose to draft higher, and wait for the #1 MiLB system's prospects to mature. Further, they add that spending on 30+yr olds is a complete waste because (for some reason) they can never be a part of a turnaround to a winner. Then, there are those who say--promote all of youth to the Twins so we can watch the future, now, as these guys (inevitably) develop into top MLB players. It seems that scenario was tried before (2011 the most recent) and those guys lost at an unconsiously high rate that the ticket-holders went into revolt. In came Willingham, Carroll, Doumit. When even they weren't enough, Corriera and Pelfrey (dare I say Worley?) were added. How would the spin doctors of the Twins promote a team of Mauer and the 24 wannabes?--at the vastly higher Target Field ticket prices? Weren't there some "promises of competitiveness" made by the Twins as justification for public subsidy for Target Field? I believe so. If the Twins want to become Miami (or Houston) North, then just cut the ticket prices in half for every seat until the next 2001 happens. But if maintaining these prices is paramount--then put some real MLB talent on the field--even if it means (swearword alert!) overpaying.
  20. Kwak
    Are they also at the bottom of BB in pitching? Everyone?
  21. Kwak
    I must agree John. Combine your statemnts above with those of the "Ten Best Pitching Prospects" Thread and I can't see how 2014 can be 10 games better than 2013 or that 2015 can be 25 games better than 2013 will finish without a substantial influx of veteran free agents that produce and cause the youth "to click".
  22. Kwak
    What a sorry list! Only Albers is as high as AAA, and he sounds a lot like a white Bruce Chen-clone. Pheew! Meyers and May at AA--because the Twins PR machine has to agree with Ryan's trades--I sure hope they are correct, but my skepticism meter is flashing red. The rest are A-ball and lower--total hype for now. There has been much back-and-forth in other threads blaming GM/not blaming GMs but let's face it the scouts, the cross-checkers, the whole personnel gang has been in place forever. If there is a group to blame it's them!
  23. Kwak
    I wonder if Morneau has hit the August waiver wire--yet?
  24. Kwak
    I hope Rochester can continue to win.
  25. Kwak
    Calling Dr. Rudy Wells--stat!
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