D. Hocking

Twitter is pretty active with this. Too bad the concussion happened, would have liked his to do a couple more years (gradually playing more and more first base), maybe get another gold glove and all-star start. Still, probably the right move after the concussion and might even extend his career a few years with less wear and tear on his knees etc. Will be interesting to see how or if his numbers changed. I think it is most likely best for the team, but it must be a little bittersweet for Joe to have to finally give it up, although even pre-concussion he was dropping hints in interviews that he knew his time at catcher had an end date.

It is no surprised to anyone reading the news that not every football player is exactly a boy scout, and some are literally felons. I would imagine a locker room without a strong leadership could be a toxic for someone targeted. One of the Vikings was interviewed on 1500 yesterday, and he almost seemed more critical of Martin than Incognito, saying he would have dealt with it internally and told Incognito where to go (I was actually trying to be productive at work, so I might have misinterpreted by not completely listening.) I thought it had kind of a blame the victim attitude, plus confronting Incognito might have been easier said than done if you feel the rest of the team is tolerating or even approving his behavior.

This might be the longest quote in the media I have seen for Kubel. His interviews made Mauer seem overly verbose and animated. It is kind of wild how the team has turned over. Who would he really know besides Mauer and Perkins and I guess Duensing? A few others might have been there his last year (where he was off the field much of it for the heel injury). I liked Kubel for the most part, but I agree with other posters where we don't need another hitter with less than ideal speed etc. I do hope he finds some place and gets a nice rebound season.

I have heard Mauer and Morneau got pretty offended everytime they had to look across at this. Although there is a difference, while Minny and Paul are white, I don't think the designer of the logo was making a comment of the white race, whereas with the Native American logs etc, their race and heritage is what is being represented and in a way commented upon. I recently read an interesting comment that said even the more noble representations of the Native Americans could be considered offensive, because they are parts of their heritage being used as another group (usually white) and basically being minimized as a mascot (I am paraphrasing this badly, it was well written). All and all an interesting discussion that has a lot of elements to it. However, regardless of all the elements and complexities of the discussion, the Cleveland Logo is about as subtle as Sambo or a 1930's Aunt Jemina and I am amazed it was not jettisoned years ago.

Not that the gold gloves really reflect defensive value anymore, but Mauer was just announced one of the three AL finalists for the catching position. Whether he is a worthy finalist or not, he was better behind the plate. Whatever the real story behind his 2011 injuries were, I think it was something significant enough where it still effected him defensively in 2012 (although some of that might have just been bad habits he picked up playing injuried in 2011). I know he took a lot of heat in 2011 for not playing more, but I do think he was pretty messed up (although and the team could have handled the PR a little better...) I also think whatever took him down in 2011 effected his defense in the second half of of 2010. I have always kind of wondered if he came back too quickly after jamming his foot on first base back in June, and did too much compensation favoring the injured foot effecting his defense and leading to the knee injury that took him out at the end of the season and created the 2011 mess. I am not medical expert, just my speculation. It is too bad the concussion ended his season early, not just for the obvious reasons for concern of his health for him on a personal level and what it might mean for future impacts. It would have been helpful to know what his total game total would have been in both games played and games caught. Would catching in September been an issue etc. Pre-concussion, I would have said keep him out there longer, now I would be fine with him making the switch. I suspect what will happen, if there are no more concussion issues, is that the first half of this year he will play mainly catcher, but then the tranisition to being more of a first baseman will start to accelerate. Although this should not be an issue, I suspect after the all-star game Mauer will play more and more first. Not that is the only reason Mauer still wants to catch, I think he still wants to catch period. The Mauer issue always generates a fair amount of comments. Reminds me of an old Randball column -- someting like the most boring controversial figure out there (boring not really meant as an insult). Sorry, this was kind of long, rambling, and incoherent.

Regarding age -- 55 is the new 35 -- at least that is what I tell myself...

True -- although with your post we know what Gardy's nickname for him will be if we do end up getting him.

I know of a perfect candidate to take on the role of team leader. This player is primed to come out of retirement and reassert his role as one of the top utility players in the league. His leadership and incredible athletic talents helped drive the Twins to the play-offs in 2002, he is better prepared to deal with the dangers of team pile-ups, and he is looking for something to do besides posting on Twins message boards.

Semi-related comment. I meant to post this last week on the Torii Hunter thread, but think it is applicable here as well. It is nice to see a thread/message board that attracts some opposing views not devolve into a personal attack blood bath of ugliness. For the most part, people have expressed some strong opinions without bashing the prior comments that they are in disagreement.

The 2008 to 2010 teams were pretty quiet (except for Hudson, who it was later revealed drove people crazy). They have had winning teams post-Hunter. Cuddy (and later Thome) might have been more vocal, but I don't think that was a difference maker. He was also on the 2011 team. The difference between 2010 and 2011 was not because of a loss of a leader -- it was injuries etc. I do think a lot of who is declared the leader by the media is the one who gives the colorful quotes. I heard a couple of the radio people saying how much they missed Hunter after he gave some colorful quotes after his fence flip. It had nothing to do with his leadership and everything with being something they could easily put in an article. I do think an outgoing personality could help, but the real need is talent. I don't think we are losing because the club house is quiet, although one of the reasons the club house is so quiet is because they are losing. Get some talent and victories and you might see some more personality.

I would not mind him getting a ring at some point, but I would rather see the Tigers lose. I think the Twins could use a more extroverted personality, and I think on a good team, Hunter would greatly contribute to a spirited atmosphere. At this point, I am not sure how much he would contribute to a team struggling to regain relevance. When things aren't going well for him he can get a little moody and passive-aggressive. I think he understandably felt under-appreciated in 2007, but it got old reading every away game interview where he was telling the opposing team reporter how their team/city is one of the few he could see himself playing. Even his criticisms of teammates seemed to be largely to get the sound byte than to improve the team. I thought I remembered an interview of Morneau the next year where he implied Torii never spoke to Joe directly about his issues with him. I actually do like Torii, but I don't think he would be the tonic for an ailing team (although he might be a boost for a team on the rise), and at this point of his career would he even want to be part of a rebuilding process. Plus, as someone mentioned earlier, he can't pitch.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ENgVcx4tEYc/US0nI8rEoFI/AAAAAAAAQyE/45WEZu6NDQ8/s1600/jets85.jpg Is this from the pool of free agents Ryan is looking at? He might be able to get some cheap multi-year deals. I see some potential 4 or 5 pitchers who would do some good pitch to contact.

I don't know why, but I was surprised to hear Molitor is actually older than Gardy. I did not get that it is likely that Gardy is gone from that interview. It did make me think it is possible, but I still think there is over a 50% chance he will be back. This is probably better suited for the other thread, but I thought that was the strongest that Ryan was about hinting it might be best to move Mauer.

Not many boards have this kind of complex analysis and intellectual tidbits on both baseball and non-baseball topics. If PBS and NPR could endorse a baseball board - this would be the one.

Did you get to see Nishi play?

I think it is time for a walk to DQ. I am hopeful it will be a tie game by the time I get back.

As a Twins fan that should not be an issue, since you should know "how to do things the right way" and being able to "battle your tail off" or something like that.

Since we really should have some baseball discussion, if the Twins dyed their hair red would they get more hits or pitch better?

Go Go in 2008 spring training, before he had played one game for the Twins. Humble from the start. "I am going to create a lot of RBIs for (Justin) Morneau, the catcher and the other guy." I suppose the other guy could either be Kubel or Cuddyer.

Carlos never had self-esteem problems....It is also on Yahoo sports.

It is on the Yahoo MLB page - sounds like he admired his home run and then had some verbal interactions as he rounded the bases, and got into it with McCann at the plate -- benches then cleared. He never did have a self-confidence problem.

I am leaning towards that it is time to make the move to first. I was kind of hoping he would get a couple more years as at least a part time catcher, but I think his window is closing, and the concussion does change my perception of what he should do. However, I suspect (unless worst case scenario he still has symptoms in six months) he will do some catching next year, despite what some of the talking heads on the radio are predicting. On a petty note, one of the radio personalities, who I generally like but can be a bit smug and is act more like his opinion is the only worthwhile opinion (I guess that could be a few people...), I would not mind seeing his melt-down if he is wrong on this.

A concussion is a little different -- you come back and it is only 80% healed and you get hit on the head, you are really messed up. Wasn't that part of why Koski took years to recover (if he is even fully recovered now)? I doubt Mauer is using the concussion as a fake excuse to stay home. He is aware of the criticism of not playing games, and would be playing if he could simply to counter that talk. Plus, I am guessing he is a lot more competitive than his critics suggest. He knows he was in contention for a silver slugger -- possibly golden glove etc. He would be playing if he could.

Not that this is the same thing, but I knew a Baltimore fan feel the team would have been better served had Cal Ripken sacrificed his streak and sat out some games, because by the end of the season he was not playing as well as he would have had he been a bit more fresh, and was not at his most effective during the end of the season play-off hunts.

It still aches on a rainy day.