USAFChief

I'd post, but I'm at work, so I'm not able.

I know he doesn't fit the parameters, but Tsuyoshi has to be somewhere on this squad. Has to be.

I like your new haircut, North. Boss!!

you misheard. "Begins in April. Ends in April. But please, continue to watch. "

that's the eject button

Concur.

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/16336-article-twins-extend-phil-hughes/?hl=%2Btwins+%2Bextend+%2Bhughes Here's the thread accompanying the announcement. Short synopsis: near universal approval from TD posters. Glowing praise, even.

My bad, I misunderstood. I'd prefer a combination of the two styles. The Cubs didn't get where they are by rebuilding solely through the minor leagues, for example. They brought in some front line external talent as well.

If "stay the course" is the goal, then there is no point in making ANY change. Just stay the course, because no change in philosophy or execution is necessary. Personally, I hope if there is a change, the new guy tries to win sooner than later.

I really, really think this organization needs new blood. A fresh perspective. Someone who will look at every single thing without existing bias. Consistency is a good thing, but like any good thing, it can and sometimes does become a liability when taken to extremes.

Serious question: do you know when, exactly? Have a reference? I know I remember there being a penalty for selling the club, but I can't remember the details.

Aaron Hicks had virtually a league average bat last year (97 OPS+) in 390 PAs, with enough defensive ability to play CF, at age 25, and trending up with the bat. That isn't "at least competent?" Is it possible you're letting your opinion of him influence your analysis?

I hope he ends up with a .870 career MLB OPS. If that's over 15 years, with peaks in the .900s, I agree he's a very good player. I'm not sure that's a superstar, and I don't expect that level of production anyway, but I'd sure be happy to see it. And his A ball OPS is .828. You can chop it up any way you wish, it comes out the same in the end.

I don't think they expected Murphy to displace Suzuki as the starter.

Yes.

HR #2 tonight.

You screamed on a fake roller coaster?

You think it is reasonable to lower expectations for Buxton because of his ML at bats thus far. I think maybe it's reasonable to lower expectations some because they were too high for someone: - with an .870 career MiLB OPS, - who reached that level of production only in AAA (his rookie, A and AA OPS's range between .790-.830 - who hasn't displayed a lot of power, and doesn't look like he will develop it any time soon AND - who struggled mightily in his first small taste(s) of the big leagues, including an alarming inability to make contact, or punish pitches that he did make contact with

Shouldn't you go clean up the vomit from the roller coaster?

Why the long pause?

Recent roster moves, in graphic form.

Seriously funny post. Well played sir. Well played.

I'm not sure it's fair to describe the Twins team that left spring training as "talent laden." To be sure, there's been underperformance. Some injury issues as well. But the roster is built mostly on proven mediocrity and high hopes for what young players might become. There is no "there" there. Many predicted Rosario would struggle. Buxton the same. Suzuki had a hot first half in 2014, but he's not a .670 OPS player, nor is he someone playing for his defense. Lets be honest...Mauer is a mediocrity at first base and as a three hitter, incapable of carrying a team for a week like genuine middle order hitters are. Sano seems legit, but he's young and probably out of position. Dozier and Plouffe are nice players, but not front line talent. Would anybody describe the pitching as "talent laden?" Half a decade after his return, the GM has assembled a roster that needed massive overhaul a month into the season. That's not a reason to pat him on the back, and it's not an indication this is simply a good team he's assembled that's playing bad. Which isnt to say they're not playing bad. i dont expect poor or mediocre players to play great day in snd day out. But i do think its fair to ask why this team is so poor at basic execution. You can't watch this team for more than a game or two without seeing a laughably bad baserunning mistake. A missed cutoff, a mental lapse, inattention to opposing base runners...the list goes on. Why is it unfair to ask if some of that falls on the manager and/or coaches? Just my opinion, but while things are probably worse than they had to be...part of the "worse" isn't simply on the players. It's on the GM and manager, too. And I'd go so far as to say that's the core issue.

I'm not sure any organization, ever, held the standard of "very likely to be an improvement over the status quo" when the status quo is " failure." And "keep in place" through rough patches isn't exactly an overriding concern either, IMO. There's a very good chance by October this team will have accumulated 550 losses over the past six seasons. One playoff win in decades. Current roster in shambles. All with basically the same management. "Not likely to be worse" seems a more appropriate standard to me.

Schmidt had an OPS+ of 76 his first year (SSS) and 92 his second. Buxton 56 and 38. Start somewhere else.