Richie the Rally Goat

My recollection follows with CMat, there has been a lot of call for "sign free agents, what do you have to lose, it's only money," types of arguments here at TD and at other Twins boards.... but every team, even the Yankees and a Dodgers need to sign quality free agents to risk-adequate contracts. It has yet to be seen if the pitchers signed this offseason are quality contracts. Deduno has been relatively successful compared to the rest of the rotation, but his control is terrible, and in turn his innings per game are low like a mop up reliever anyways. I recall Perkins being quoted as saying something to the effect of it took him a while to learn how to be a relief pitcher. Once he put his mind to being a relief pitcher, then he sought coaching, and the rest is history. I think Deduno could benefit a lot from reducing his pitch selection to 2, and focusing on getting those two right for 3 outs. Give him time to figure out his new role. Maybe we'll see him in higher leverage situations come August. Bartlett (and Kubel at ST break) was a mystery to me, just like having 13 pitches and 3 catchers on this roster baffles me now. I get the extra reliever since the starters can't get thru the 5th, but good golly couldn't you send down Hermann to get your thirteenth pitcher? Or is Hermann now the super utility guy? Are we going to see Hermann taking fielding practice at SS? I don't see how a team can break ST without someone capable defensively to back up CF, and it wasn't fair to Bartlett, the team, or the fans, to shoehorn him into a role he was destined to fail. yes I'm aware that I just said, give Deduno time to figure out his new role, but Bartlett is already a failure at his new role. I think it's less of a stretch for a 30 year old somewhat successful pitcher to change his approach at the rubber, than it is for a 35 year old who didn't play ball in any capacity for the last season and a half to learn how to track slicing line drives.

Canibal the Musical

If only those stats were used in HOF voting...

dead on, but if there's no lead off, or cleanup hitter around you to do their job around you, what good is it? You can't "carry a team on your back" ala Kirby Puckett without hitting home runs. That's the expectation of the best player on a team. Now I disagree with it, but that's why...

As the Vikings fans here know, the most popular guy on a losing football team is the backup quarterback. Joe's the quarterback of this team. It doesn't matter how many outs he's avoided if the team loses 90 games, he's still the quarterback of a 90 fame losing team. Truthfully I'm a fan of what Mauer did as a catcher. He was one of the greatest catchers we may ever see play this game. I'm reserving judgement as a first basemen. I understand where a lot of the issue is with Joe. He isn't the player, that so many fans want him to be.

I think the signature characteristic of Joe Mauer is (when healthy) he is the most consistently very good hitter to have played the game. Doing so from the catcher position doesn't matter anymore as it is only contextual to the past.

Why is Joe Mauer a lightning rod? Because he's the rod and not the lightning. Sure the rod is darn important, but it's not explosive. He's not a catcher anymore, he's a highly paid veteran leader first basemen, and highly paid veteran leader first basemen are supposed to be the lightning. They're supposed to be the vocal leader who bats cleanup, and hits a lot of home runs. The only problem is Justin Morneau circa 2009 is in the past. Who is going to be the lightning?

I wonder if Nunez says more about Rosario's and or Santana's timeline. Frankly I don't really care about Florimon, he's a stop-gap player, but Santana is supposed to be an excellent hitting 2b turned SS I assume to make room for Rosario at 2b. I pictured Rosario a call up this year, until the suspension but Rosario went AWOL (excused sure but still gone). Maybe the plan is to move players back to their original positions?

According to John Shipley http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_25517121/twins-pick-up-eduardo-nunez-hoping-more-offense Nunez trade is spinned as a move to add offense in addition to or replacement of Florimon's anemic hitting, and the move to have Hicks, Arcia, Willingham, and Kubel as your outfielders with no defensive replacement available (until recently) proves this teams willingness to sacrifice defense for offense. If this is to be believed (and I buy it) then the logical reason to have Nunez in AAA is to shop Escobar or Florimon to make a 25 man roster spot.

Slick! Thanks John

What's better than a decrepit old man on the bench who can't play?

Since Mastrianni is out of options, I would guess Hermann goes back down, unless Willingham needs to be DL'd

Money not withstanding, you don't think a GM in a pennant race that would want to go get Perkins or Mauer?

I think no matter the standings, the Twins will try to go young. Even if every other team in the division implodes, they still won't be in it. They will sell their experienced players with value (Duensing, Willingham, Dozier, Deduno) in exchange for prospects.

Players are diagnosed by team doctors. As far as I know, there are no independent MLB doctors.

The Twins made room for Hermann by placing Bartlett on the DL for an ankle sprain. Suspicious much?

I stand corrected. Regardless, I'm happy he's up, and the Twins have a back up outfielder/super utility guy who has proven ability to play the outfield. I don't care that he's a poor hitter, I was ok with Presley in the outfield 4th fielder guy who can't hit last year.

If I recall correctly, the Hermannator played a game or two at CF in relief of Clete last year

With Arcia and Willingham unavailable, I would like to see Dozier 2b Mauer 1b Plouffe 3b Colabello DH Kubel RF Pinto C Hermann LF Hicks CF Florimon SS bench Arcia OF Willingham OF Escobar Inf Suzuki C

And he leads the AL in RBI! It's a feel good story, and I hope for Chris and the Twins that he can sustain. thanks for the great story John

Then what do you do with the guy? You certainly can't put him in a game...

Pinto is the last player on the bench

you're right it's home opener. He still needs to get to TCin time

Escobar PH for Bartlett? Huh...

Didn't he get pinched for selling alcohol to minors?