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Kwak

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Everything posted by Kwak

  1. Kwak
    They will make a run for him--but Baker would only sign as a last resort. Baker still has "the feet of clay" problem.
  2. Kwak
    The pitcher a lot different too! Generally of considerably less quality, or he would get the same $18MM per season.
  3. Kwak
    I detect a weakening in the position of "don't get a FA pitcher that gets a five-year contract until...". Or has "until" happened? But seriously, there are two glaring needs on this team and one is starting pitching. Strive for excellence, even "overpaying" {oh I love that word} and keep it for five years--because the Twins will need that type of pitcher now and every year. Of course, I believe in "developing" from within. I witnessed last night a guy get into a jam, and just on the cusp of success--he "clutches". Twins' pitchers must learn in their development how to finish 'em off.
  4. Kwak
    Apparently that was "The Twins Way".
  5. Kwak
    I think you misunderstood. Plans would be submitted, reviewed, maybe amended and then approved. If the plan included a projected team W/L record--and it didn't include post season play--then having a few less wins isn't going to matter, especially if the "financials" are obtained. At the end of the season, very few GMs are replaced yet we know that 20 teams didn't get to post-season play and only 2 got to the Series.
  6. Kwak
    GMs are like other business executives--they are paid to do many things. Their compensation is quite incentive-based. Profit to an owner is likely more important than a few more "wins" in a season.
  7. Kwak
    Given the number of ex-Twins on the All-Star roster, I don't think people believe it was Gardy, magic and mirrors anymore!
  8. Kwak
    "Stick with the team for longer than three days"? DONEsing is at the top of my list of next to DFA, so darn right Tonkin got a chance to stick!
  9. Kwak
    Oh, he had a hand, probably both! His final GM team player evaluations would have formed the basis of the '07 trades. Add to that his aversion to free agents. The Twins wanted OFers--good ones, no Rondell Whites! Every off-season there are oodles of OF available--but the good ones are expensive and demand lengthy contracts. The entire organization carried the philosophy of FA = "overpay", and Smith and the rest of them would have that philosophy flowing in their veins. So how do they get good OFers if they can't buy them?--they trade for them! SP were in excess and by golly the OF problem would be solved by trading pitching--Santana and whoever (it turned out to be Garza). Yes, Ryan was involved, his disciples had the Twins' [his] philosophy and acted accordingly. Recall, that Ryan said [in '07] he wasn't completely gone, he had a "consulting role".
  10. Kwak
    Why are the Twins in this predicament in the first place? Ryan can't be exonerated because he was GM during the time frame when this team's core players could/should have originated. GM's write a complete player/team evaluation every year, and Ryan would have written his prior to his "retirement". The Twins believed they were "flush" in staeting pitching at the end of 2007--so much so the approached Tampa Bay to "take their pick" in order to make a trade for Delmon Young (apparently the evaluation included a strong need for OFers). Where are those pitchers today, and how much career success did those guys have from 2008-present? It's safe to say that at best only one (Garza--the guy traded!?) could be evaluated as in or at least close to top 30 starting pitchers. Further, of these young pitchers, only one is still with the Twins (Perkins) and he has had to ressurect his career as a relief pitcher. Why? I think that the team philosophy (which comes from the top) did not develop them to be top starting pitchers--they wee developed to hit bats! Point: Unless Ryan is changing team philosophy to develop dominant-type SPs [now] the very best he can accomplish is a repeat of 2008/2009 of winning a weak division (eventually DET will fall apart) and then get clobbered in the post-season by an opponent who saw the need for dominant pitching and developed and/or acquired it. Grade Ryan on that basis and not on his ability to sign bargain basement veterans and trade them for "hopefuls".
  11. Kwak
    The point of this thread is to grade Ryan's performance. But patience until next April will completely remove the illusion of competing if the salaries of Morneau, Blackburn, and likely Carroll are just removed from the payroll (except of course the minimum salary that their replacements make) and not utilized to add significant talent. \ The arguement of "we can't use the money now" could be replaced with: "we are prepared to lose more games by not adding veteran talent, by operating at a lower payroll."
  12. Kwak
    So finish the statement! I am well aware that the Twins are very likely to not spend the $14MM on pitching if Morneau is not re-signed. However, re-signing Morneau is a huge waste--and worse--provides a cover story for not spending on pitching (or anything else!).
  13. Kwak
    This is the Napoli who had his contract radically changed due to a physical problem. Also, why would he leave a 1st place team/playoff contender most every year, for a team going no place soon, that has a history of jettisoning high-priced veterans? Invest in good starting pitching--it will improve the Twins more than some 1B.
  14. Kwak
    Smalley's comment was about Florimon switching to batting LH only. He did include that it would apply to others. IIRC, during Hicks' April "struggles", announcers were saying RH is his "better" side. I think he should continue switch-hitting.
  15. Kwak
    Is this the same Scott Baker that the Twins were very confident that they would sign for 1 year and a 1 year option {just kidding}. Oh and the Twins are paying Nick Blackburn $5.5 to hopefully not pitch for them at all this year.
  16. Kwak
    The Twins need to promote and "cut bait" faster. All this back-and-forth will people who will never be more than marginal poisons the well. Focus on those that indicate high potential for success at the ML level and shunt the marginal off to the side as filler and promote faster. Pitchers have a limited shelf life.
  17. Kwak
    My guess on Hicks is that he stays--and plays--and next year he hits 15+ HR and has a .270 BAVG. Then the Twins trade him! We've yet to see how the last CF for pitcher trades pan out, so it will likely take 2-3 more years to see if that one works to the Twins favor. I'm hopeful, but skeptical.
  18. Kwak
    If all Corriera can fetch is "third tier prospect(s)", then why trade at all? Omit the obvious salary dump to increase annual profit. The Twins don't have a 2014 rotation and will have to enter the FA market this offseason. While I earnestly hope they do sign a top 60 pitcher, they would likely have to add a second pitcher just to get to five for the rotation. Trading Correira means signing another pitcher--better to keep him. Besides they could trade him next year anyway.
  19. Kwak
    Hmm, maybe this can simplify matters: Justin Morneau or upgrade in starting pitching? Cast your vote. Me, upgrade in starting pitching.
  20. Kwak
    The whole point is to win the game--so yes wins count! Pitchers need to show that they can deal with success.
  21. Kwak
    One should consider that if Morneau is not retained that Parmalee is at least as likely to remain in RF as he is to be a 1B. I think that 1B by committee is also a possibility. My point: the discussion should not be Morneau or Parmalee. The criteria to use for retaining Morneau should be what is more valuable to the Twins: Morneau at whatever price; put said money into other players and fill 1B from within the franchise (including minor leaguers); put money saved into Pohlad's pocket. I vote for option #2, but am expecting option #3.
  22. Kwak
    The appropriate grade is: Incomplete. The Twins are very much like last year's team but have benefitted from the implosion of the CWS. The OF for pitching trades? I'll be generous and say "Incomplete". Span and Revere are experiencing some difficulty--but compared to: Hicks, Mastroianni, and Worley?! Meyer and May are still in the minors so we have no choice but to wait to see how they pan out. AFIC, prospect rankings are not a substitute for major league performance--which is what is required to assess those two trades--and that will take a few years. Success at the low minors? That's very nice and is encouraging, but not a substitute for major league success. Hence, we must wait before we grade. It's a very big jump from low minors to the majors. Then there is the mostly unstated: what constraints is Ryan operating under? Is it (as I believe) a mandate to bring the payroll below $70MM and rebuild from the draft, the discard pile, the hospital, and a trade? There appears to be about $10-15MM available to add veteran placeholders to field a team that isn't terrible (Mia/Hous) and obscure the fact that the Twins are in total rebuild mode. If the constraints are onerus, it is highly unlike that we will be seeing a winning team soon and grading Ryan's performance would have to include the imposed constraints.
  23. Kwak
    It's more like using millions of dollars as charcoal for your backyard grilling.
  24. Kwak
    I say take Justin's $14MM salary add the $5.5MM of Blackburn's salary and sign the best free agent pitcher to a 5 year deal--even if it's Matt Garza! The Twins can pocket the residual. Who would play 1B? There are many in-house candidates--take your pick.
  25. Kwak
    When is the last time the Twins provided details for a proposed trade--that never happened? Point: just because a trade didn't happen, doesn't mean that there wasn't a discussion about a trade.
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