J-Dog Dungan

there are several points that I would like to make about this blog: 1. I really like the Carroll signing because it brings stability and defense to the infield. 2. Zumaya's deal wasn't horrible, it was just a low-risk, high-reward kind of deal that went towards the low risk. 3. I believe that the Twins are actively shopping both Morneau and Willinghammer, but that don't mean that they have found the right one yet. 4. I think most GM's, like me, would put last night's debacle with Liriano up to one of those bad starts that all pitchers have sometimes (Verlander in All-Star Game , but you are right, it probably does lower his trade value 5. Lester Oliveros, when healthy, hasn't been that bad and looks like a fairly good bullpen guy if he can keep injuries and walks under control. With Cole Nelson, you are probably right; but then again, we all thought the Billy Bullock for Diamond deal was the wrong move to make. 6a) Nobody was expecting Capps to get injured, as he had stayed relatively healthy while with the Twins 6b) Not many people would be giving away a "proven" (for what it's worth) reliever/ closer in May, because the likelyhood of you getting a good deal that early in the season is very low. 7. Ryan isn't holding on too players too long, he is (hopefully) letting them build up their trade value so that other teams would be desperate to get their hands on them so they might give up more for the Hammer or Morneau than we might think they should. 8. If we could have spared the payroll, I wouldn't have minded the Twins resigning Nathan, because he has been deadly while with the Rangers this year. 9. The Capps deal was all right and was fairly effective until he got injured 10. the Marquis deal, again, was one of the low-risk, high reward kind of deals that made Ryan look like a genius the last stretch he was GM 11. I have to believe that Span is just going through a slump and/or dealing with the same kind of stress at the Trade Deadline that he did last year. 12. I would say that Josh Willinghammer's peak value is right now, actually, because there are so many teams that are desperate for a righty power bat that the Twins, if they get the right offer (and believe me, the Twins should make sure the deal for them is like the Hershel Walker deal was for whoever traded with the Vikings), might actually be willing to part with Willingham.

I think that if teams are wanting a "quality" (relative term) starting pitcher and relatively successful leadoff hitter and CF'er, they might give up more than they would this year because of the new playoff format.

there are several points that I would like to make about this blog: 1. I really like the Carroll signing because it brings stability and defense to the infield. 2. Zumaya's deal wasn't horrible, it was just a low-risk, high-reward kind of deal that went towards the low risk. 3. I believe that the Twins are actively shopping both Morneau and Willinghammer, but that don't mean that they have found the right one yet. 4. I think most GM's, like me, would put last night's debacle with Liriano up to one of those bad starts that all pitchers have sometimes (Verlander in All-Star Game , but you are right, it probably does lower his trade value 5. Lester Oliveros, when healthy, hasn't been that bad and looks like a fairly good bullpen guy if he can keep injuries and walks under control. With Cole Nelson, you are probably right; but then again, we all thought the Billy Bullock for Diamond deal was the wrong move to make. 6a) Nobody was expecting Capps to get injured, as he had stayed relatively healthy while with the Twins 6b) Not many people would be giving away a "proven" (for what it's worth) reliever/ closer in May, because the likelyhood of you getting a good deal that early in the season is very low. 7. Ryan isn't holding on too players too long, he is (hopefully) letting them build up their trade value so that other teams would be desperate to get their hands on them so they might give up more for the Hammer or Morneau than we might think they should. 8. If we could have spared the payroll, I wouldn't have minded the Twins resigning Nathan, because he has been deadly while with the Rangers this year. 9. The Capps deal was all right and was fairly effective until he got injured 10. the Marquis deal, again, was one of the low-risk, high reward kind of deals that made Ryan look like a genius the last stretch he was GM 11. I have to believe that Span is just going through a slump and/or dealing with the same kind of stress at the Trade Deadline that he did last year. 12. I would say that Josh Willinghammer's peak value is right now, actually, because there are so many teams that are desperate for a righty power bat that the Twins, if they get the right offer (and believe me, the Twins should make sure the deal for them is like the Hershel Walker deal was for whoever traded with the Vikings), might actually be willing to part with Willingham.

While my dad may not agree with me, having that catcher that can come out and tell you what he is seeing and working with you on staying comfortable and relaxed on the mound is one of the greatest luxuries in baseball. The Twins are fortunate enough that they have catchers who are proficient at several different positions in the field so that they can still be in the lineup if Drew is the pitcher's "personal catcher" and getting 2-3 AB's at the bottom of the order. When Drew is working with certain pitchers, they seem to be slightly more effective than when others are catching him, not that Doumit and Mauer call bad games. This is why Gardy kept putting with Pavano the last few years, because Pavano felt the most comfy with him. Gardy is clearly comfortable sending Butera out to work with a pitcher that he feels isn't as comfortable with Doumit or Mauer, and he does call a good game.

Torii has said previously that he would be interested in returning to the Twins, and I am sure that he would be welcomed back with open arms by many fans (me included). However, I think the Twins will have to pry him away from the Angels to get him, as he has also expressed interest in staying with the Angels, and if they are willing to overpay to keep him, I am just fine with that too. While he would be a strong, Old Guard MN presence, I am not sure that his hitting style really fits Target Field. If the Twins don't move Span or Willingham, I don't think that they bring him back. It is more likely that they will go with Hunter if they trade Span, move Revere over to center, and keep Willingham in left. While this would keep Parmalee from having a starting spot, Torii would be well worth the veteran addition to the clubhouse that he would bring.

While I could care less where Rochester ends up, I think that Beloit will stay with the Twins, as it is fairly close to the Twin Cities and has a strong Twins' fan base.

Highabove, I think you were right the first time. If Liriano doesn't accept their qualifying offer and signs with another team, I believe that the team who lost the free agent gets two picks. But I could be completely wrong about this.

I do think we need to get the wait over and trade him because the rumors appear to be affecting his play, if only a little. We are definately in the position to ask for a lot for Span, because he is a valuable commodity on the trade market and if we are going to part with him we will only do it reluctantly.

What wasted spaces on the 40-man roster are you talking about?

How does the competitive balance lottery work, and what do you have to do to be eligible for it?

How does the competitive balance lottery work, and what do you have to do to be eligible for it?

Looks like most of the pitchers that the Twins picked have done well so far. Here's to them keeping it up. Hopefully, the hitters that they picked and signed will start to produce a little better.

Not that I wouldn't be open to trading Danny V, but honestly, who is going to want to give up anything for him?

Yes, and this is what I hope they do with him in the offseason.

Did Beloit or Lake County win their game?

Seems like Span has been having some trouble concentrating recently, but I would hope that he would be able to overcome it enough to get traded. I think that if I were the Twins, I would be playing Parmalee in RF a lot down in AAA. I also agree with everyone who says that the Twins should keep Willingham; it would send a horrible message if they did deal him, and his bat overcomes his problems in the field.

Who exactly do the Dodgers have in the way of pitching that would interest us in moving the Hammer?

1)What is the record of the GCL Twins? 2)What is Joe Benson's average? 3)How has Sano done in the field recently? 4)Which of the Twins affiliates are competing for a playoff spot?

Too bad Plouffe didn't answer Willinghammer's HR's with one or two of his own yesterday.

Now you have to put someone else in for Mazzeli, because he didn't sign before the deadline.

Darvish is the kind of rookie that Ichiro was when he came over, a rookie, but not really; Smyly has been good, but not great on a seriously mediocre Tigers team; Chen is doing well but has given up 15 HR's, which is tied for 20th. Parker, though, looks as good as Diamond does on paper.

Have you been watching ANY Twins games lately when Liriano is pitching? It has always been Butera catching, because he seems to be able to get through to Liriano on the mound where nobody else has been able to.

1) Why do they need Span and Revere to hit home runs if they get on base at really high clips 2) When they get on base, they are good table setters for Plouffe and Willingham 3) Teams don't need too many power hitters, otherwise a team will have the stats of Mark Reynolds a lot of HR's, but a HELL of a lot of K's. 4) Revere's arm has very rarely cost the Twins anything this year; I am sure that they would prefer his range to having a Torii Hunter-esqe arm 5) Why is right field weak? 6) The Twins need pitching so much more than they need a right fielder, it is not even funny. Trade Span for pitching before trading him for a RF 7) The Twins have several power hitters in Morneau, Willinghammer, Plouffe, as well as Mauer and Doumit to a certain extent. Honestly, that is all the power a team needs. As much as a team needs guys who can hit the ball out of the ballpark, said team also needs guys who are good at getting on base to set up said power hitters. 8) The Twins need pitching more than a RF if they were to deal Span or Willingham. They have outfielders galore in the minors; get over wishing the Twins had another one.

Slowey was terrible in the first place. He had no trade value, so Turpen was probably the best guy that they could get.