Mike Sixel

How is not signing FAs working out for this team, exactly? Which teams are actually winning more games? Of course the contracts almost never work out over the entire length, that's the cost of being in the game of MLB or NFL or NHL or NBA. If you aren't willing to pay that price, you'll pretty much never sign a big FA, meaning you are at a huge disadvantage. Look, if you want to own a major league sports team, and you aren't willing to sign big time FAs? Maybe you shouldn't own a major league sports team. Of, you should just admit you are never going to be good over a sustained period, and you'll never likely buy that one missing piece. If that's your strategy, then you have to be one of the best at acquiring and developing talent. Does anyone think the Twins are significantly above average at either of those?

Teams that spend on FA to fill that "one last hole" don't have Jason Tyner, DH, either.

so just give up on one of the ways to acquire talent, and admit you are can't really compete?

As the GM of the WS champion Cubs states, if you are rational about FAs, you won't sign FAs. He was also the GM of the WS champion Red Sox. He also signs FAs to big deals.

how about one of them being the plan? And, one of them or Duffey or Haley being the 2nd choice? NO ONE is saying get rid of all the veterans. I take great umbrage to people saying deciding to go young is a slogan, not a strategy. Here is how the STRATEGY could be different: 1. Don't sign Gimenez, because you want to give Murphy one more chance, and have Garver in AAA to take over. If you do sign a guy like that, make it a guy where the primary plan is to have him in AAA as insurance. That's a plan. A strategy. Not a slogan. 2. Don't sign another veteran SP, especially one who is old and hasn't been good for 4 years. Plan to have one of May, Berrios, Meija, Duffey, or Haley as your 5th starter, with the next guy on the list as plan B. That's a plan. A strategy. Not a slogan. Maybe even pencil Hughes in as a starter, but not pen, in case his velocity is off. Heck, maybe decide to move him to the bullpen, and start a young guy. If the young guy fails, you can move Hughes back to the rotation if needed, especially for a spot start or two. 3. Don't sign 4 veteran RPs, decide you'll have Chargois on the roster based on what you've seen so far. Decide Haley is in the bullpen. Give every young guy that you think is close a real shot at making the roster. It's about the opportunity you create, or your plans you set. NONE of that is a slogan, it is all an actual strategy to put youth first. I keep reading "what if they fail"? As many of you have posted, if the youth fail that they've drafted, signed, or traded for, it won't matter who they sign, they need the youth to be good if they are going to be good. So please, don't condescend to me about youth being a slogan and not a strategy. We've seen plenty of teams go young over the years. We've even seen the Twins do it the last time they built their core.

I'm getting close. Especially my "christian" friends that somehow think this budget is cool and all.... this is 100% a hatred of a black man with a funny name as president, and of years of brainwashing that taxes are bad and government is evil. People are literally defending cutting meals on wheels. People that claim to be followers of Christ.

Ha, no, I just like internal consistency some...... Like, the girl that used the pine needles to kill the guy(s), who was then captured while she was distracted. That kind of thing was perfect, in showing they could fight, but that they could still be caught. Should have been a lot more of that.

so, if three starters are out of the rotation, it will be hard to have depth behind the replacements? Other than the Dodgers, isn't that true of every team in baseball?

good point, forgetting why one of thousands of minor leaguers was suspended, in a chat where you are answering questions quickly, that's a good reason to dismiss what the person said totally and forever.

streaming it....they look completely overmatched.

It would appear that everyone that said MN was ranked too highly in the tourney was correct, alas.....though I guess there is still time. Glad I didn't leave early to watch this...

Less than ideal first half.....MTSU looks VERY active on defense

Not looking promising.....gonna be down 7 in the first half soon. Not over by any means....

Disagree. completely. choosing to put one of your two mid-20s catchers at backup, to see what you have and let them learn here, is a strategy. choosing to promote pitchers younger, before they get hurt and while they throw harder, like I read other teams are doing, is a strategy. Trading off veterans for youth, is a strategy.

shouldn't we compare him to average players? These are HOF names.....they can do things no mortal can.

Spending more than the next 12 nations combined on the military wasn't enough? cutting the coast guard makes us safer? letting companies poison the air and water makes us safer? Letting people discriminate against non-whites, or non-heteros, or non-christians makes us safer? taking healthcare from poor children makes them safer? huh.

Mike Napoli. They offered him more money than TX....who I guess is only 35. My bad. Like that's all that different.....

wrong thread?

ha, no.

It would appear that not one RP will make the roster from the minors to start the year. It's even possible Chargois won't. I just can't see how that is consistent with a youth movement at all.

meh, a quick comment in a chat being close by not quite, doesn't bother me much.....but yes.

thoughts on the upcoming ghost in the shell, other than an almost naked Scarlett Johannsen....

bernie 1:27 Eddie Rosario has 828 at bats over two years with 23 HR and .268 average. I understand the horrible plate discipline. But he's starting for Minnesota. Why isn't he a $15 player? Eno Sarris 1:28 Also gives back value in other ways, has been popped for PEDs, doesn't seem to have the trust of his team, funky swing... But yeah, he's interesting this year.

I'll take that bet on being one of the 5 youngest teams to start the year. edit: And who did this FO ADD this off season?

/thread probably, maybe, depends really...