Steve Lein

I love it for the same reasons as you. My team actually has our annual fundraising "Beer Bust" this weekend, where pretty much the whole town will show up. It's always a blast.

That's awesome that you've watched the Millers play, I know they are always one of the top Class A teams. I still (*try to) play, but after tearing up my knee running down a fly ball in the outfield, it's much tougher q;) We've got several ex-college player's in our league, even have had a few former Minor Leaguer's come through and some guys that played before they were drafted. I absolutely love it, so I won't be stopping anytime soon!

Growing up in MN, did you ever play ball in the Town Team Leagues? I know the weather isn't the greatest here for playing ball year round, but the highly organized and competitive MBA (Minnesota Baseball Association) is by far the largest amateur baseball association in the U.S., with over 300 teams, and 3 classes, so baseball is definitely huge here!

Just want to point out on the payroll front, that the fact the Twins are Top 10 or Top 30% in payroll, means absolutely nothing when you actually consider the money they spend. What is the biggest free agent contract the Twins have ever handed out?...It happened this year...was for 3 years and 21 million dollars...to Josh Willingham... Sorry, but that's the definition of what a small market team is. Look at the Angels, who can spend $240 MIL on Pujols, and $77.5 MIL on C.J. Wilson in one offseason. That's 15 times more free agent money for 2 players than the Twins highest free agent signing ever. Also, consider the actual payroll numbers. Yes, the Twins were number 9 in the MLB last year with just shy of a $113 MIL payroll. The Yankees were obviously #1, with a $203 MIL payroll. So doing the math, the Twins spent 55.66% of the top team. Doesn't sound all that "big market", does it? This year, their payroll has fallen to just short of $100 MIL, and they'll be somewhere in the middle of the pack in payroll, no longer in the top 10. Big market teams get top-flight free agents, and even in Target Field, the Twins have yet to do anything of the sort. All the new stadium has done, is allowed them to keep one homegrown superstar who if they were still in the Metrodome would for sure be gone right now. Take his $23 MIL off the books, and what's their payroll? Bottom half of the league, that's what. The increase in revenue at Target Field has not allowed them to spend a bunch of money and bring in impact players, it's allowed them to keep one player. Fact is, The Twins certainly have not all of the sudden turned into a "big spender" or been transformed into a "big market team".

I absolutely hate this. If you're going to expand the playoff's, at least make it an even number and add a round, but I'd even hate this. I think the MLB had it perfect and I liked the exclusivity associated with winning your division. Adding a single game doesn't do anything from a money standpoint for teams in the grand scheme either, it's just a ploy for the MLB to ensure that it's biggest markets are always in the playoff's, which is a complete sham.

Missy Peregrym. I love her, that is all.

Good to hear! Hopefully by the end of the year he has the confidence that the injury is behind him, and can come ready to contribute in 2013

Yes, base-running essentially is as high risk, but you have to understand that baserunning is an occurrence that puts him on the field of play far less than playing 1B does. If He's DH-ing, he's in the batters box for maybe 20 pitches a game, maybe on the basepaths for another 20. If he's playing 1B, add 100+ pitches to that equation of opportunities for something to happen to him (or 27 more outs if you want to look at it that way). That's why I say DH him.

I'd expect Boyd to pitch in the GCL, with maybe a bump for a few games with E-town, or play E-towns full schedule this year if they're impressed enough by him. Best case scenario I could envision for Boyd if everything goes right and he's a stud, is the path Jeremy Hellickson took with Rays. He didn't get bumped up a level midseason until his 4th year in the minors (could argue his 3rd, as he pitched only 4 games his first season).

Thanks for bringing up A-Rod, kinda mad I forgot about him as I actually saw him play in A-Ball for the Appleton Foxes when I was a kid. He still didn't stick until '96 though.

Sounds like Justin really wants to give it another go, but is nothing close to confident that he'll be able to keep playing. Any way you look at it, what a shame it is that his career has taken this path. And I'm with those that say DH him exclusively.

Has a high school draftee ever made it to the majors in 1-2 years? Fastest moving player I can remember was Ken Griffey Jr., and he made his MLB debut in his 3rd season. With the Twins way of player development, I think this scenario is impossible.

I'll be taking plenty of pictures while I'm down there next month. Can definitely pass them along.

I think it's very foolish to NOT be concerned about Mauer's health. He's a catcher who's had multiple knee surgeries, and complications stemming from it, he also had shoulder issues last season and a common cold or "general soreness" have kept him out of the lineup before. I'd be very concerned. Does this mean he won't stay healthy? No. But I'm not close to being ready to say "everything is behind him so lets put this conversation to rest." I believe it's VERY valid to be concerned.

15, with only 3 of them at Target Field.

I agree with this emphatically!!! Something is wrong with me if there isn't any Surly in my fridge!

I'm with you on Lance Ray. He was one of the more interesting players to follow in the minors for me last year. Started out terribly, striking out more times the first 5 weeks of the season than he did the entirety of the year before. But he settled in and started mashing good enough to get his numbers up to respectable levels by the end of the year. Another favorite of mine, is Nate Roberts. He's an on-base machine who scored 55 runs in just 68 games for Beloit. For reference, Beloit's leader on the season in runs scored was Lance Ray with 76 - In 132 games... I don't imagine Roberts will keep getting hit by pitches at the rate he did (29 times in those 68 games), but his regular walk-rate is still high, and he doesn't strike out much. He'll also swipe a few bases.

gunnarthor - there will almost be "too much" for you to see! Drills on whatever fields aren't being used for B-games, and probably a few Minor League games with scouts sitting behind the fences. If you've ever played or gone and watched any of Minnesota's Town Team games, you'll understand the environment you'd be walking into. Very up close and personal, informal, and a blast to watch and be around! If the MLB-ers are taking batting practice in the morning, they'll let you into Hammond Stadium to watch too. My advice to any true fans of baseball, is you NEED to go to Spring Training. No if's, and's, or but's about it.

Ya, I'd classify guys like Brian Buscher as "warm bodies", nothing else. They will contribute what they can if ever needed, but will never be a MLB mainstay. I could care less about those guys, as every team in the league has them. I want guys who will claim a roster spot for good. Chris Parmelee will not be Justin Morneau 2.0. If he can hit .275/.340/.450 over his career in the majors, which is pretty much Jason Kubel, I'd be happy. But I don't think he's quite a "Kubel"-type either. Either way, if he's the 1B, that's average at best production for the position. Which is nowhere near what Justin Morneau has done. And John, I've talked that scenario about drafting a college pitcher with Seth and others before, I see it the same as you, they need that pitching talent As Soon As Possible. If the pick has to be Giolito, I'll take it, but that basically means over Joe Mauer's Prime, the Twins will have NEVER had an ACE pitcher to compliment him, which is my biggest problem with the Twins lack of interest in finding that "ace" at whatever cost.

I'll be there from March 20th to the 27th. We're staying in Fort Myers Beach, which is way cooler than Fort Myers, FYI q;)

Ya, Rosario had a better avg. and hit more HR's than Sano did, but Rosario's power is line-drive gap-to-gap-esque which played up on Appalachian League fields. Lots of stories of Rosario's HR's just clearing fences, whereas many of Sano's were no-doubters (excluding his 1 inside-the-parker). As gunnarthor says, it's about the Tools at this point, and I don't think anybody would rank Rosario's power as greater than Sano's.

One thing I noticed down there that's much different than in MN for drivers, is the amount of U-turns you are forced to make on the roads of Fort Myers. We stayed at a hotel on Cleveland Ave, and I swear we made at least 100 U-turns on that road over the course of 4 days.

I'll try to have some extra fun just for you! (And I'll take lots of pictures)

haha, is that my picture?! We'll be down there from March 20th to 27th, can't wait to walk up to that entrance again!

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