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shimrod

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Everything posted by shimrod

  1. "Did Smith get fired for spending money or for spending money poorly?" Exactly the point. Ownership has a track record. Shoddy play and low payroll? Management stays. Elevated payroll and shoddy play? New management. The GM can screw up on the low side for years and still have a job. Screw up spending money and you're out the door.
  2. Article: "Know what happened the last time the Twins planned for a season with true championship aspirations? They set a franchise record for payroll, under Bill Smith, at $113 million. That was in 2011, when they were coming off their last playoff appearance." Wikipedia: "The Twins fired Smith as general manager on November 7, 2011, and replaced him with his predecessor, Ryan." Is there any doubt the new front office is aware of this history? As a few others have stated, it's not a myth until it's proven wrong.
  3. The defense is one aspect of a problem that's been developing for years. In my opinion the team fundamentals have been on a downward trajectory since TK left. Gardenhire coasted on the reputation of the Kelly era Twins for years as the team regressed in defense, baserunning, and general baseball IQ. It infuriated me listening to the announcers blather about the Twins playing "the right way" as Gardy's players were picked off first, caught in run-downs, missed the cutoff man, etc. I had hoped the hiring of Molitor would turn the trend. So far I'm not seeing it. Maybe an attempt to hold the players accountable explains the new prospects sitting on the bench, a situation that has prompted many complaints at this site. Improvement has to start in the minors. The fundamentals are the same at every stop from A to MLB, there's no reason prospects should appear ignorant of the basics when they reach Target Field.
  4. I don't doubt there is opportunity for U.S. kids, esp. those whose parents can afford to "pay through the nose". I still have trouble believing baseball camps and traveling teams offer training equivalent to full-time professional coaching. I've had no experience with either situation so I'll defer to your expertise.
  5. "When the Twins drafted Buxton, a concern surrounding him was the fact that he played his entire amateur career in rural Georgia." This has bothered me for a while. A promising young baseball player in the DR (or Germany) can sign professionally and benefit from professional coaching at 16 years of age. U.S. youngsters are stuck with amateur coaching until they graduate H.S. I'm sure there are quality coaches in some districts but none of them were working the rural MN school where I played my H.S. ball. I expect there's more knowledge and experience on a MLB coaching staff than most (if not all) college programs, plus the benefit of year-round instruction and facilities. In this regard I think the U.S. kids are at a definite disadvantage.
  6. "I used that first pitch to see the pitchers motion and time it up." I did my timing in the on-deck circle, so I was ready to hit when I stepped in the box. An earlier comment noted that swinging at the first pitch more often would make the pitcher less comfortable throwing a cookie down the middle. If the pitcher's concerned Joe might swing maybe that first pitch is a ball, and Joe's ahead of the hitter. It's a league of adjustments. The pitchers have adjusted to a freebie strike every time Joe steps to the plate and it's time for Joe to adjust by making them pay. Once they stop throwing fastballs right down the middle he can adjust back to doing what he's done his entire career and stare at the first pitch with his bat on his shoulder.
  7. When I was substantially younger (mid-20s) I would occasionally experience back spasms while playing basketball. Never kept me from playing the next day. A week is disturbing. Now, if the Twins reported he was experiencing bi-lateral leg weakness we would all understand...
  8. "knowing the effort that Mauer puts into his craft on a daily basis," And how do we know this? There's a mention earlier in the thread that Mauer was never suspected of using PEDs... No kidding, I don't even think he lifts. The move to first should have included a move to the weight room. It's a different role and requires different preparation.
  9. It's sad that with the money we have committed to Mauer our consensus biggest hole is catcher.
  10. If they weren't buying they needed to be selling. The trade they did make was a slap in the face to every player on the roster, much less the fans.
  11. Had to pause while I took my kids out to walk the dog. So, I'm still watching this debacle...it isn't getting any better..
  12. You can put up with one Arcia....a limited fielder with a promising bat. But if you're going to run Arcia out to one corner every game you'd better have someone who can field his position in the other corner.
  13. I'm willing to put up with Santana's growing pains...he's playing his natural position and he's young. Although I'm hoping Molitor will correct the loafing (giving up on the ball that went under Dozier's glove) It's the Torii Hunter misplays that drive me nuts...
  14. May produced a number of weak grounders and flies....most of which were booted/dropped by various Twins.
  15. May didn't allow those, the "Defense" did.
  16. How bad have the Twins become when our fans would be happy with .230 and 10 homers from the starting right fielder?
  17. Hunter was signed to mentor Hicks, right? Maybe he should be doing that in Rochester. Hunter and Arcia would have to hit .400 to make up for the defensive miscues.
  18. It's many years since the Twins played elite defense.
  19. How come no error on the Dozier/Santana play?Home cookin'? Which bad play are you referring to? The grounder neither player fielded or the botched double play where they failed to get anyone out?
  20. The Twin's D is brutal....big contrast with the Royals.
  21. That was often the case under Gardenhire. I don't think we should assume it will be under Molitor. But as the article concludes, that remains to be seen. Perhaps Gardy had no say on who made up his roster. Molitor may be in the same boat. I'm sure they get to express their opinion but that doesn't mean their boss is paying much attention to it.
  22. Watched the first couple innings of the Monday night Boston game.....what a heaping pile of crap. And why, why, game after game, do our players (aside from Vargas) look like sticks beside the opponents? Is Mauer on the John Travolta work out program? He's a corner infielder now, it's time to hit the weights and make an impact.
  23. The only argument for a one year signing of a Masterson is it may provide enough improvement in the W/L record that the Twins can attract a front-line starter in 2016, when the top prospects have (hopefully) shown signs the Twins are ready to contend in 2017/18.
  24. I have no idea which of the three will make the best manager, but I'd like to see the Twins get back to playing strong fundamental baseball. A recent article included a quote from an ex-twin during the WS era, something to the effect of "we knew when we took the field we would be fundamentally better than the opponent". That has not been the case for a long time, and I'd say the fundamentals have deteriorated as long as Gardenhire has been managing. Defense, base running, pitching....we are bested at fundamentals on a regular basis. We know the ownership isn't going to outspend anybody...the only hope is to play better baseball. If we don't improve on the basics we're doomed to mediocrity.
  25. "Actually all OBP is created equally." No. Runner on second or third....is a walk the same as a hit?
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