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cmathewson

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Everything posted by cmathewson

  1. cmathewson
    That was the thread I was warned about. I said it was not realistic to think that all these bad things could happen at once. Sure, they are all possible, some were even probable, but the combination is highly unlikely. In that sense, it is easier to over-emphasize the negative than to think critically about the positive. As Nick said in his response, you can't predict another Orioles rise. I disagree. It is harder, but it is not impossible. It requires predicting improvement, which few want to do. Put another way, few get called on projecting negative regression that turns out inaccurate in reality. But when you project positive regression (like I'm predicting with Hicks), you get labeled a Pollyanna.
  2. cmathewson
    This is a really good point. If part of the purpose in the CBA is to level the playing field, it isn't doing its job. The Twins would have Drew at short if the Red Sox hadn't QOd him. As I said in another thread, they effectively Bogaerted available shortstops when they did that. If part of the purpose of the CBA is to help players get better opportunities, it is obviously not doing its job for those players given QOs. Rules that are neither good for players nor the owners are changed in the next CBA revision.
  3. cmathewson
    I agree with the bolded part, assuming there was someone like that available, either internally or externally. The field staff didn't think Presley was that guy. I was shocked when they made that decision, because I thought he had a decent September. Not that he would challenge Hicks in any real way, but he would provide depth at a thinning position. This thing happened just as Buxton's wrist injury appeared more serious and the same week they released Mitchell on the minor league side. If something happened to Hicks, it's Mastroianni and really nobody else. That's the thing that doesn't make sense to me. But I have higher hopes that he can resurrect his career. He spent most of 2012 and half of last year rehabbing. By the time he was healthy, he couldn't find any takers. Like I said, it's a long shot. And I don't put much stock in the chemistry thing. That's Gardy speak. If he doesn't perform, he'll be gone and they'll call up Mastro. This is either a two month experiment with a bench guy or an unlikely success story.
  4. cmathewson
    I was looking for the Red Wings roster before its official release yesterday and saw a preliminary roster with him in the rotation in place of Alex Meyer. So apparently someone thinks he pitched better this spring than last year. I look forward to a healthy season for him, wherever he lands.
  5. cmathewson
    This is close to my opinion. Negativity is contagious. And some equate thinking critically with negativity, as though you are a Pollyanna if you are optimistic. I posted something like that in another thread and got warned, so even the moderators apparently hold that position. But as I have posted in this thread, it is harder to be optimistic this year because of spring results. A week of good play against weak teams could cure that. Some have defended the lack of offensive upgrades. I think they could have upgraded the offense if they were willing to give up draft picks for short-term fixes. This line-up would look better with either Morales or Drew in it. On the other hand, we aren't privy to those discussions. Maybe we made offers that fit the value of the player for this team but the agents for those players are waiting until June to get a better deal. I don't agree with those who say you sign them to long-term deals and deal with the consequences if and when Santana or Vargas or Walker or whoever are ready. If Morales and Drew are having a hard time getting contracts, they will be hard to trade down the road. In the end, the team decided on low-risk additions like Kubel and Bartlett. I'll be rooting for them.
  6. cmathewson
    The Christians are the last people who I would expect this from. You know the thing about judge not lest you be judged? Many of the others expressed concern for him after he retired and gained 100 pounds. But that was born out of love. The other thing is, there is an unwritten rule that what happens in the clubhouse (and the clubs) stays there.
  7. cmathewson
    Those options went poof this spring with the Sano injury, the baffling absence of Rosario and Buxton's wrist.
  8. cmathewson
  9. cmathewson
    I wouldn't call it optimism lost, but the pessimism gained. Pessimism has grown steadily this spring. All the factors you list are in there. I continue to think the main reason is spring training stats. The fact that none of the regulars had a great camp made people think they won't have a good year. Last year, we had Hicks to root for. This year, Hicks' spring was almost as good as last year, but it was easy to discount it because it didn't translate into the regular season last year. After Hicks, the line-up was mostly poor this spring. What people forget is that a lot of veterans take it easy in the spring and turn it up when the season starts. That's why I am withholding pessimism until after the first week of the season.
  10. cmathewson
    Yes to all of this. He was the life of the party, and that clubhouse was a perpetual party that spilled out into the clubs after everyone was dressed. He and Gladden were the leaders. But Hrbek and G-Man were right in there, at least until Gaetti found Jesus.
  11. cmathewson
    Joe has it. He was a three-sport star who was All-State at quarterback, point guard and catcher. Those are the positions that require leadership. Most of his leadership is on the field. Off the field, he leads by example. He's never been a rah-rah guy. And he sometimes clashed with other rah-rah guys like Hunter, whom I believe is the origin of most of the "Joe lacks leadership skills" talk. Not that he initiated those clashes. Hunter frequently threw him under the bus for injuries. And Hunter's personal media caddie--LENIII--was all too glad to stir up the controversy. Joe never responded in kind.
  12. cmathewson
    The topic is about public perceptions. So, yes, it is relevant. I didn't make any of it up. It all came out in the trial and divorce proceedings. They even interviewed his mistress. The public conveniently forgot most of it because he was such a beloved character.
  13. cmathewson
    I think Sulbaran will be the first one promoted. He came in out of shape and has been held back some as a result. But once he's doing what he as doing last year, I expect he'll join Berrios in Ft. Myers.
  14. cmathewson
    Perhaps a trade is in the works. A reliever for an outfielder?
  15. cmathewson
    Berardino is reporting that Michael Tonkin is in Chicago, in anticipation of a roster tweak. Could the Twins be trading a reliever for an outfielder?
  16. cmathewson
    And it wasn't just after he retired. He was a legendary carouser on the road who had numerous affairs, one lasting for nearly his entire marriage. I still love Puck. But he was no saint, to say the very least.
  17. cmathewson
    I heard on the radio that Michael is going back to the Miracle. Don't know where Goodrum is going.
  18. cmathewson
    How many times was he fired by Steinbrenner?
  19. cmathewson
    I would tend to discount Bartlett's 2012. He only played less than a month, and some of that time, he was trying to play injured. At the very least, you have to cite small samples. If he happened to be slumping and injured during that month, you would expect awful results. Can he return to 2010 levels? Probably not. He's a 40/60 shot to return to 2011 levels, if I had to lay odds on it, given that he's healthy for the first time in three years. If he can, that's probably good enough for a futility guy. Then again, he will not be called upon to hit all that much. His job is to fill in defensively when guys get pinch hit for late in games. He might start a game here or there, but his bat will not hurt that much. He isn't even second in line for shortstop, that's Escobar. I expect Esco to get twice the ABs and games than Bartlett. The Twins are taking a big risk here. If he succeeds, they'll look like geniuses. If he doesn't, ..., they'll look dumb. Either way, it won't affect much of the outcome of this season.
  20. cmathewson
    Arizona Diamondbacks - 80.5 UNDER Atlanta Braves - 87.5 UNDER Baltimore Orioles - 80.5 OVER Boston Red Sox - 87.5 UNDER Chicago Cubs - - 69.5 OVER Chicago White Sox - 75.5 UNDER Cincinnati Reds - 84.5 OVER Cleveland Indians - 80.5 UNDER Colorado Rockies - 76.5 UNDER Detroit Tigers - 89.5 OVER Houston Astros - 62.5 OVER Kansas City Royals - 81.5 OVER Los Angeles Angels - 86.5 UNDER Los Angeles Dodgers - 92.5 UNDER Miami Marlins - 69.5 OVER Milwaukee Brewers - 79.5 OVER Minnesota Twins - 70.5 OVER New York Mets - 73.5 UNDER New York Yankees - 86.5 UNDER Oakland Athletics - 88.5 UNDER Philadelphia Phillies - 76.5 UNDER Pittsburgh Pirates - 83.5 OVER San Diego Padres - 78.5 OVER San Francisco Giants - 86.5 OVER Seattle Mariners - 81.5 OVER St. Louis Cardinals - 90.5 OVER Tampa Bay Rays - 88.5 OVER Texas Rangers - 86.5 UNDER
  21. cmathewson
    It certainly was a rough spring for most of the regulars. Even Mauer finished at .280 or something.Hicks was the only bright spot, and he spent most of spring trying to win a job by alternating with Presley. Those with jobs seemed like they were just trying to get their swings in. They didn't look like they had a plan up there. Let's hope when the bell rings, they find another gear.
  22. cmathewson
    That's a good analysis. Perhaps the assignments are not all about ability.
  23. cmathewson
    The jury is out. When he was drafted, he looked like a future #4 starter. He hurt his shoulder last year, and pitched with it, which affected his stuff. He's healthy this spring and back to the guy he was in 2012, according to reports. He would be in the AAA rotation but for the Diamond situation. It's more of a matter of space than anything. I'm sure it was really close between him and Darnell.
  24. cmathewson
    Berardino is reporting that Buxton had another scan that showed significant healing. Should be out another 10 days. It was probably a little worse than they at first thought. Wrists are tough to diagnose. At least it's headed in the right direction.
  25. cmathewson
    Gilmartin's AA in 2012 was decent: 3.49 FIP with good peripherals. Last year, he was injured. So we'll see. But I do like rewarding Darnell for his good pitching and forcing Gilmartin to earn his way in this organization.
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