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D. Hocking

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Everything posted by D. Hocking

  1. D. Hocking
    Plus, it is not like it was not discussed at all on the board. There were a few threads heavily discussing the potential of Torii returning the last couple of weeks.
  2. D. Hocking
    Being that he said the following last week, I agree. Not that he does not have some genuine emotional response on coming back, but we were not his first choice (he understandably wanted to be on a stronger contender) but he either did not get the offers or we simply had a much better monetary offer. "Hunter told the Los Angeles Daily News on Saturday that Baltimore, Seattle and the Rangers are at the top of his list. Hunter said Minnesota, his original club, is also a possibility but not as likely as the other clubs."
  3. D. Hocking
    This was either incredibly brave or incredibly foolish.
  4. D. Hocking
    Worse -- largely because of the two years, but also because while Cuddy is a little younger, I think Hunter is more likely to remain healthy throughout the season.
  5. D. Hocking
    I am sure the media will be too busy finding fresh, new stories and angles to explore than to repeat this mantra over and over again in multiple articles and radio sound bytes.... Or at the very least, they will do an in-depth look of his locker room presence, positive and negative, and not just say broad statements like he is always smiling and plays with fire.
  6. D. Hocking
    Yes - and I don't even mind the fact that he called him out - but on the way he did it.. I remember him being on Barriero's show and obviously talking about Mauer (but not named) not playing through pain. Dan got all excited and asked if he was talking about Mauer. Torii just kind of giggled and would not confirm it - but it was clear he was. If you are a leader - talk to the person directly or at least be direct with the media - don't try to make coy comments while trying to smooze a radio host knowing you are feeding into one of his obsessions.
  7. D. Hocking
    I am not overly thrilled with the move - I would rather see someone who can be part of the future get the experience and become part of the team. I also don't think he is the club house leader is the popular belief. I don't think he is toxic, but do think he can get passive aggressive when he is not happy, and ultimately it seems like it is all about Torii. I think he could be good energy if things are going well, but don't think he will have a positive effect if we are struggling and will be looking at and focused on what is next for him as he did in 2007. But mainly, I would prefer not to have Kubel 2015 (although I think he has a lot more potential to be good offensively). Still I did not think it was a horrible move until I read this: If the Strib collective things it is a good move -- it can only bring tears. I also suspect half of the comments were able to work in a slam against Mauer while praising Torii.,
  8. D. Hocking
    This might make you the Brett Favre of Twins Daily.
  9. D. Hocking
    I actually think he might have come back too early from that bruised heel and it might have been one instance where a DL stint, while not popular with the fans might have been smart. It was definitely effecting him, and I have always wondered if he over-compensated and that helped lead to some of the knee issues that derailed him that September and really was the start of what would develop the following year in the bi-lateral leg weakness saga. I remember him (or one of the coaches) saying he had to overcome a number of bad habits he picked up while playing with the bruised foot. There have been times when I have wondered if Mauer could have returned from an injury sooner, but seeing him get some whopper foul tips etc behind the plate and continue playing, when it comes to bruises, as a catcher I give him the benefit of the doubt that it is not an ordinary bruise that keeps him out of a game. With all the talk of him being soft, and maybe there are times when he could have played, due to his former position he probably has experience and played with more pain than a lot of his critics.
  10. D. Hocking
    Yes - it is a short quote and no real follow-up by Souhan. I have seen enough newspaper article quotes where once I have seen or heard the full quote or had more context of what else the person said, discovered the how the quote was used in the article was not truly representative of what the person said or meant. I believe I have even found Souhan guilty on occasion. I remember one occasion hearing the full quote in a radio interview Souhan did himself and then read an article by him the next day and had to ask -- did you even listen to your own show and your own interview? I do think Mauer (and probably a lot of veteran players) can be a little stubborn about trying new things. However, I think he would be receptive of hearing things from Molitor. I think there is a mutual respect, and Molitor would not shy away from offering some constructive criticism. I think Gardy felt Mauer's natural skills were so superior to his there was not much he could say. I heard him say in a few interviews, what could I tell Mauer about hitting. I know Mauer is always going to be an issue and not saying this should not be debated or written about, but for one of his first articles about Molitor after being officially named GM, couldn't Souhan have gone with a fresh angle instead of rehashing his Mauer thoughts again. Although I suppose this topic will guarantee hits and comments.
  11. D. Hocking
    The 2017 World Series should be fun with Maddon managing the Cubs against the Twins managed by "To be determined" (my current guess is Lovello). It will be interesting to see how Maddon will do with the Cubs. With his IQ and Theo's track record I suspect it will be a good match, but you never know. Sometimes for some unforeseen reasons what should be a sure-thing does not always work (or repeat itself in a new environment) when it seems like it should. I was a little critical for not more of an active seeking out of Maddon, and have not always liked all of Terry's moves, but he is sharp fellow. I am guessing he knew this was already a done deal when Maddon made his announcement (or shortly afterwards).
  12. D. Hocking
    I am gullible and naive enough that I would have (probably foolishly) given them the benefit of the doubt if they had not hired him because either he did not want to come, or they really felt he would not have been a fit, and maybe would have understood had they felt that one of the other candidates would have been just as good for a cheaper price, if they would have at least contacted and talked to him. For them to not even do a cursory chat due to budget reasons not only seems like a bad choice baseball wise, but for any business not to talk to someone who is the best at their job when you have that particular need seems like a bad business move period. I am not of the mind-set where I think spending money is the answer (you need to spend wisely - but sometimes you should spend), but after this it is going to be harder to swallow any of the spouting of their low salary philosophy when rationalizing a cheaper payroll. I am less likely to believe that they want to spend wisely, but simply that they are cheap and are more interested in their balance sheet than their win-loss columns. [sorry that was rambling and incoherent - am working on something convoluted at work and this was a mental health break. Not sure the mental health is any better.]
  13. D. Hocking
    He is excited because the Pohlads offered him the Roseau/ND leg of Twins Caravan next winter to cinch the deal. He now knows he is going to an organization that will do anything to build a championship team.
  14. D. Hocking
    I am not not happy the news broke during a busy work afternoon, so I cannot properly be distracted by it and can only sparingly check the sharp insight and predictions by the minds of Twins Daily.
  15. D. Hocking
    Bear? Look at the body language - you can tell there is already a lot of tension and animosity between the two. http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/AutographLine2.jpg
  16. D. Hocking
    There have been a couple of interviews where if I did not hear who they were interviewing I would have thought it was an old clip of Cuddy. I am not sure where I stand on the importance of a club house leader, but I have heard Gardy say Dozier will get on people in the locker room. If a club house voice is important, in addition to his solid defense, his personality and growing experience could be an asset in the club house. Plus, there is the hair.
  17. D. Hocking
    I think numbers post DL might be realistic. Baseball has such a razor edge from being a successful hitter to floundering. It does not take much mentally pr physically to throw one off. Think of all of the issues Mauer had to address the beginning of the season: returning from a concussion, losing a good chunk of the off-season conditioning because of the concussion, learning a new position,feeling pressure about making the all-star team when at the home field, back issues, (hopefully due to not being able to condition off season and not a sign of future problems), oblique (ditto). It will be interesting to see how he is next year. One more year removed from the concussion, knowing more what to expect playing first base and hopefully try a few new off season conditioning techniques. It is possible that he is just aging quickly due to his career as a catcher, but I also think it is possible that he will have a bit of a rebound and while his best days are behind him, be a respectable player for a few more years. If healthy, I also think his defense will continue to improve.
  18. D. Hocking
    I have always felt that was a big reason he left was because he did not want to make those decisions. Part burn-out, part avoidance. Plus, I have always thought he had some input on some of the decisions Smith made when he first became GM. At the very least, I don't think Smith made his early decisions without strong input from someone. Not that Smith did not make some bad decisions (Nishi alone..), and Ryan has made some very good decisions, but I think sometimes things get oversimplified and every bad decision is blamed on Smith and Ryan is completely disassociated from some things where he had some involvement.
  19. D. Hocking
    I think the trib comments tend to lean more towards poisonous bile than snark (or at least the last time I read them, maybe they are much more thoughtful, civil, and rational now).
  20. D. Hocking
    There might have been a time when I would have considered Ozzie, but he seemed to get more unbalanced and narcissistic as time went on post-2005. His comments went from being uncensored and entertaining to being all about him and his team seemed secondary in his thoughts. I am guessing Dan has also managed to find a way to blame Mauer for this as well (unless he has stopped beating that horse).
  21. D. Hocking
    Very classy of Gardy to come to the press conference to thank the club house and staff and the people letting him go. Terry sounded choked up when he said Gardy was like a brother. This was probably necessary, but still a bit sad.
  22. D. Hocking
    Yes - this is from Lavelle. I suppose some could be rehired by the new manager: LaVelle E. Neal III ‏@LaVelleNeal 31m Holy moly, the entire coaching staff is not being brought back!
  23. D. Hocking
    About a month ago I thought he was gone, and then like others heard enough from others where I thought he would be back (and there seemed to be a change of momentum on the team in September -- the July swoon did not continue through September.) While I don't place the main blame on him, I think it is time for a change. Still, feel bad for the guy - best of luck to him in the future.
  24. D. Hocking
    I am hoping that is something as simple as his neck still bothering him and it will correct itself with some rest. I thought I read (or heard) on of the sports media say that the velocity significantly dropped after he reported the neck soreness.
  25. D. Hocking
    This is not a very mature or productive thought, but part of me would like to see Mauer get it just to see the heads explode and the less than positive reaction on the Strib comment section by the anti-Mauer crowd. Obviously, you should go with the best person, and if it is one the people mentioned in this thread - great (and I don't have a problem with any of them), but I also would not mind seeing some fresh blood from completely outside the Twins system. Hiring from within and being loyal to your employees is great, but sometimes you need some new ideas and new ways of thinking.
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