KOHG

You are correct - location is more important to an extent. However, the slower the pitch the more time you have to react to where the location of that pitch is (pitch recognition). So 161 strikeouts - apparently, he couldn't recognize pitch location when facing 85 mph. Not to mention the fact that high velocity can cause you to get away with pitches every once in awhile that will likely get crushed at 85 mph simply because of reaction time. Not to mention its not like the Korea league is full of Greg Maddux es. I am worried..and the fact that the twins won the bidding war at 12 million makes me more worried that A) it only took 12 million 25 other teams didn't think to bid higher C) 29 years old not much room for growth - he is what he is D) Position value is nothing E) Way to many high strikeout guys as it is.

Please explain to me how a guy who strikeout 161 times in 528 at bats facing 85 mph fastballs is supposed to have transferable success facing 93 mph plus fastballs and breaking pitches the same speed as fastballs in the Korean league? 3 - 5 mph difference in pitch speed is a lot of reaction time.If you can't make consistent contact against 86 mph how can you make consistent contact against 92 mph? As the article stated - You have the Target Field center right field factor - not to mention that he hit most of his HR on fastballs and only 7 against 90 plus fastballs - isn't this enough to diminish his plus power factor? If his power is diminished then how do you justify the strikeouts? I just don't see it with this guy it seems like a big long shot and someone just looked at his HR numbers.

People seem to be looking for reasons for the twins success this season. Yeah, having even a remotely decent starting rotation helps, but something i think that people are over looking is team speed, not individual speed but team speed. Something that the stats and variable don't put enough weight on. Think about it... what can team speed do for a team.... 1) Stretch a single into a double. 2) Ability to take that extra base from 1st to 3rd. 3) Maybe stay out of a double play. 4) Get an infield hit. 5) Put the runners in motion. 6) Able to tag from 1st to 2nd or from 2nd to 3rd taking the extra base 7) RANGE - ESPECIALLY IN THE OUTFIELD - A DOUBLE TURNS INTO FLY OUT 8) Range defense can turn a double into single for the opposition. 9) Stolen bases, not the be end and end all, but can be a positive that puts pressure on the opposition pitcher and defense. 10) Range and speed can turn looping singles into sliding catches. etc..... 11) The opposition defense may have to play in opening up the field. Molitor Baseball! Now look at the twins players with what I would say plus average speed. Rosario, Hicks, Dozier, Santana, Schafer, Nunez and Robinson... Hunter, Mauer, Trevor, and Suzuki, are not Bartolo Colon either. Think how many times in a single game that a few of those 11 situation can occur in a game! Now replace those situation with Willingham, Arcia, Vargas. Those guys have to put up pretty great numbers to justify their short comings and lack of speed which up to this point they haven't so far - in the case of Vargas and Arcia. (Willingham did for one season) SPEED KILLS and this twins team has it. Just not the complete emphasis on stolen bases. I think that team speed is a major reason for the twins success this season and should be considered going forward in the present baseball state and future roster decision.

I guess back problems are also an indication? Hopefully its not serious.

This thread isn't about Joe not hitting home runs or 23 million etc..I have heard everything under the sun regarding his down year. What I haven't heard and what I might expect is that he is getting old fast. Has his bat really slowed down that much? He is missing pitches that I don't think I have ever seen Joe miss. Is their evidence that can prove this? Bat speed? Strikeout rate on specific pitch location that he normally hasn't had in previous years? etc

This angels lineup is good like 4th in all of baseball in runs! After Gibson performance yesterday and now Pino I am going to hold off judgement until a few more starts from Pino. It also looks like both pitchers are getting sqeezed this game. I am just hoping the Santana injury isn't the knee....This team and prospects and injures is unbelievable.

Aaron Hicks...Yes, its his career, but the twins have spent alot of money, resources, and time that could have been used else where on his career. He is an employee he needs to do what the employer wants. They are paying him and developing him.

Injury update on Buxton? Did they amputate civil war style and top it off with medication from a 1920's medicine cabinet When is this guy expected to play again? I understand caution, but how serious is this thing? With Alex Meyer's short high pitch starts - is their concern regarding the shoulder? Is their some type of statistical track record (their has to be) regarding minor league players who have been demoted in the minors AA to A and from like A to Low A and what type of success rate do they have at getting to the majors? What type of player at the majors do they turn out to be? What percentage drop off does being demoted affect percent chance of making the majors compared to others who have not experience demotion at any time in there professional career in the minors.

That was an error on Willingham correct? Dozier comes through after struggling. Needed this win. I do like the move of bringing in your best relief pitcher with the game on the line on the road in a tough spot to get out of the jam and if you do take the lead the next relief pitcher has a lead and a fresh inning if you don't it doesn't matter either way...its a good move by Ventura and out of the box thinking. So Gardy won't think to do that. I also think its pretty obvious that Perkins back is bothering him...evident by the high pitches. Good win, time to see what the minor league guys did tonight.

The thing is all these hitters would have to do is not even bunt, but adjust the back foot that would change the angle. Just an inch either way. Do that and you can't help but hit the ball where they are not. I used to get shifted on in Babe Ruth and in highschool ball which is 100% comparably with MLB and that's what I did. You cant swing across you body is forces you to hit the ball where you plant... If Joe wanted to pull the ball to beat the shift he would need to go with a more wide open stance. However its very difficult for players who have done something for along time and had success to change. Just like anything else, but success can lead to complacency. Hell you wouldn't even need to change you feet, but cut down your swing. Eventually, team will have to play you honest. I always though shifting was kind of cowardly...Smart but cowardly.

Can he hit with runners in scoring position or get a big hit? This is what this team needs, guys who want to drive runs in.

Do you think Morales may have a multi year contract with the twins at the end of the season. Especially, when both KC and Willingham are coming off the books.

One more question... A SS is far more valuable then a CF...but what about splitting or 1/3 of Santana's starts in the minors when he gets sent down to be in CF to gain experience as a backup plan. With his arm and speed he should be able to play both positions very well.

I don't know how you guys managed to keep talking about roster transaction when watching the game out of the corner out of your eye and having a walk-off and not show any emotion and manage to stay in character... are you robots or really tired? I was yelling and screaming...wasn't Nunez out of the base line? He practically ran a triangle into left field? I love the show, you guys know your stuff and keep us informed on the minor leagues which most us don't follow enough to know enough. Thanks

I agree with the idea of specialization and specific weight training is the cause. Looking at stats of inning of pitchers in the 20-40s its amazing how much throwing they did. The thing is - those players also worked for a living. They had jobs on the farm in the off season giving their body more of an overall workout especially when they where young. Now a days a kid goes to school and all he does is throw a baseball once every 5 days. Weight lifting is "specific" it targets one group of muscles. However, the other muscles, ligaments, bones aren't keeping up strength wise because they are not being strengthened at the same rate because they are not being targeted. Its like building a brick house and using wood glue for the motar..eventually its going to break. Also, they used to throw alot more when they where younger building up arm strength targeting the exact muscles, bones, and ligament that they would be using - the key was constantly and consistently. Another way to look at it...My dad was a sheet metal worker for 25 years he would lift and adjust a sheet metal slab for his lazer cutter he never had back problems or muscle problems he would come home and then work in the yard. I did that one time along time ago for a couple of weeks and I thought my legs and back where on fire and I couldn't move the next day. Its about consistency over a long period of time, its about an "overall" workout which strengthens all parts of the body at the same rate. Its also about some of these justin beiber, metro sexual kids who spend all of there time with there face in a tablet or pc not really doing any type of physical labor work over along period of time, when all of the sudden they have too and things break. Also, they just don't throw enough early and often, they should throw more not less. These guys just aren't as tough as the greatest generation because they don't have to be. This is my theory anyway