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gunnarthor

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Everything posted by gunnarthor

  1. I suppose that was aimed at me? Did I say "Mike Wants Wins" doesn't give a **** about LGBT issues? No, I did not. But I was surprised how many people thought LGBT was a big issue when no one ever talked about on this site (except me) before he got here and the main support LGBT issues recieved here was "Hunter's a jerk." So, yes, I do think some posters - without naming them - used the LGBT issues b/c of a dislike they had for Hunter that they wouldn't have used on guys like John Smoltz or Matt Birk. If that's not you, fine. I never said it was you, Mike. Find me some people that are actually upset about Hunter's comments at all. He's beloved by fans, players, coaches, managers. Some anonymous bloggers seem to have a problem with him but I haven't seen any minority writers, for example, attack him.
  2. Except he never really said that either. He was speaking at a round table discussing the decline of African Americans in baseball. He used the word "impostor" in an 'off-the-cuff' manner to discuss the increasing number of Latinos in baseball. The reporter ran with the impostor story (instead of reporting on the panel). Hunter did try to clarify - "What I meant was they’re not black players; they’re Latin American players. There is a difference culturally." I think it's pretty clear that other players didn't take offense at his comments so most probably understood the context.
  3. I suspect his views aren't as liberal as mine but I doubt he's cared as much either. I've invited people to attend the pride parade with me here on TD. While arguing anonymously about gay rights is simple enough, no one bothered to take me up my offer. I think, generally, people still don't have a lot of passion for LGBT issues on either side. My guess it's an issue he doesn't spend a lot of time thinking about. Hunter did claim his quotes were taken out of context (and the ... in the original article suggests that). http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/31/torii-hunter-detroit-tiger-gay-teammate-uncomfortable_n_2387575.html. He also did an ad for the GOP governor in the AK election which is brought up a lot but the part that's often ignored is how little SSM was an issue. The democratic nominee openly opposed SSM and voted against LGBT issues while he was in the House. It wasn't an issue there. My thoughts are that his views are more or less common place in baseball and people generally bring them up because they have a different ax to grind with Hunter, usually b/c he's been outspoken on racial issues in ways that are tough for whites to appreciate.
  4. I think he's pretty overrated by Twins fans. Until he fixes his huge plate discipline problem, he's not going to produce at the ML level. Klaw said he was close to a "non-prospect" b/c of the strike outs. While others haven't been as harsh, it's a formidable problem.
  5. I think this is a solid group but they all seem to have a big question mark. I probably still like Meyer ahead of any of them. I've mentioned this before, but Jason Parks said Walker could be an elite prospect - IF he could get plate discipline. It doesn't look like that will happen. But man, what a fun lottery ticket he is. I like both Gonsalves and Stewart but I think Gonslaves ceiling is a backend starter. (I think only Berrios, Meyer, Stewart and Jay have the potential stuff to be a #2 or better in our org. A healthy Thorpe, too). I have no idea what to think of Stewart so I'll just hope and see what happens next year. I'm not as high on Polanco as others but I'm glad he's in our system. I think Burdi probably surprised me the most this year. I thought he'd destroy AA hitters and be on the ML roster by now. But he still looks like a great bullpen arm. Very exciting pitcher.
  6. Nice interview, Seth. I mentioned it before but I really liked both the Blankenhorn and Cabbage picks. Hopefully, they become big time prospects for us.
  7. Davis would be a nice fit and the plan makes sense although I don't know what that would do to the overall payroll. I think they'd have to drop another salary or two to make it work. I do think other teams would pay more for him but here's hoping. The big concern is how well the Twins think Sano can play third. Since they have him playing it in winterball, I suspect that they are thinking about moving Plouffe. (Frankly, it would also make sense to get Davis, keep Plouffe and move Mauer to the bench).
  8. I think it would make happen only if Span was looking to regrow his value on a one year deal but 1) I don't think he'll have to do that and 2) it might be easier to rebuild his value in the NL. But if he did want to come back here, that's fine. He'd be good insurance although it would probably mean Arcia is done. But the Twins could start with an outfield of Rosario/Hicks/Span w/Kepler and Buxton in AAA. When Buxton is ready to come up, Span would be good insurance against a major regression by Rosario (like Danny Santana last year) or Hicks. And if all 3 of those guys look good and Buxton is ready, then the Twins have some trade bait.
  9. Interesting list. Tough to rank guys like Javier who are only 16 so this feels like a safe spot for now. I'd probably keep Meyer higher - he was so disappointing that I understand the ranking but he's going to be a major leaguer and while he might not be the ace we dreamed of, he could still be what we all hope Burdi becomes. I'd probably still have him in the 6-8 range. I have no faith in Vielma until he starts hitting but smarter people seem to like him so that's good.
  10. Yeah, I could see that. In fact, unless he doesn't want to do it, I think that's exactly what happens.
  11. Really great career. He's not often compared to Mauer favorably but from 2001-2012, he amassed the same amount of WAR Mauer has in his 12 year career. Obviously, Mauer had bigger peaks and valleys. Nice career, hope he enjoys his retirement.
  12. I don't think we'll get Lucroy but everyone who does expects that he'll perform closer to his career numbers than the numbers he put up last year in an injury plagued season. Lucroy could still be an all-star type at catcher while Mauer will not be one anymore.
  13. That's interesting. Presumably, one of these years the Yankees will have to get younger (although they could use their $ and nab guys like Heyward and, in a few years, Harper). Sanchez seems like the clear replacement for McCann but McCann's under contract for 4 more years(!) and if they could get some other younger bats in the process they might trade him. They actually have a pretty young rotation. Plouffe would be a good fit for them to replace Headley at third. Kepler would be the type of exciting prospect they'd like in NY. Jorge Polanco would probably be an improvement over Drew at this point. Hicks might hold some interest for them if they are giving up on Ellsbury in center. Nick Gordon's dad used to play for them. And we have some good arms if they wanted some. Arcia can't play defense worth spit but his LH bat in that stadium would be pretty tantalizing. I know nothing of their system so I don't know the internal options they have but I do think the Twins could make a package of some kind that would interest them. (Or Boston with Swihart).
  14. I'm not sure I loved drafting all those power arms but we still have to wait and see how it works out. Most picks taken in those areas (only two, Burdi and Bard, were top 60 picks and Burdi's in an entirely different class as he was a projected 1st rounder who fell) don't make the majors. So if Duffey and one other of those arms makes an impact, the Twins are probably ahead of the curve.
  15. I'd be pretty surprised if we get Lucroy. I'm sure that Ryan will inquire but after Mauer, Morneau, Koskie and Span's wrecked seasons, the Twins probably worry about concussions more than most teams. I can't see them paying the premium on Lucroy that the Brewers will want (and that someone will pay). I'd bet they go with a Suzuki/AJ combo next year.
  16. [Moderator's note: I merged comments from another thread here in this thread gunnarthor started.] Real bummer, obviously, I only knew him as a coach who made the T-Wolves relevant but I had a friend who had met him a few times and swore that Saunders was one of the nicest and most competitive people he had ever met. Thoughts and prayers to his family. Cancer sucks.
  17. This sounds about right. The 2012 and 2013 Twins systems were absolutely loaded. Jason Parks said about the 2013 group that are #11-20 would be better than "3 or 4" teams 1-10. But those lists still included back up catchers and relief pitchers.
  18. Yeah, and the Twins got that out of guys like Dozier and Plouffe.
  19. I think it would be tough for the Twins to pass on 2016 by trading those three, unless the return was amazing. Dozier, I think, can be replaced by Polanco but I don't know if Sano can handle third and, if he can't, then we have someone like Nunez there. The AL central next year should be open for us. Detroit and Chicago suck and, while Cleveland has some supporters, they always seem to underachieve. The Royals are losing a lot of important parts (Cueto, Gordon, Zobrist, Morales, Madson, Young) and have options on a few more that might not be picked up. The Twins can reasonably expect better years from a lot of their players and still have some good minor league depth behind them. I wouldn't trade Dozier for someone who isn't going to immediately help (unless the Nats wanted to give us Gioltio or something crazy like that).
  20. I really liked the Blankenhorn and Cabbage picks. I said about Cabbage and I think it goes for Blankenhorn as well that they both might take a little longer to develop, sort of like Kepler, but they were the nice upside picks in the 3rd and 4th rounds. I probably would have them both ranked close to each other in the 16-20ish area, myself, but I haven't really studied the system like Seth has.
  21. All these trades depend on what you get back. I do think that Dozier would be easier to replace with Polanco. Sano can outhit Plouffe but I'm not sure he could handle third base and if he can't, we're looking at someone like Nunez there.
  22. It always amazes me that the Braves fans think Hrbek did anything wrong on that play. He merely kept the glove on Gant who lost balance, all by himself. They even memorilized Gant's misplay in a statue. http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/640*480/hrbekGant.jpg
  23. I liked the Cabbage pick a lot but I think he'll develop a lot like Kepler - it may take a few seasons before he finally breaks out. He's probably ranked about right for now but if he was a stock, I'd buy it while it was low. I like Harrison more than most people do. His plate discipline is great, esp considering his age. But he does have to develop power. I think he can do that. He should be back in AA next year and we'll wait on his power to show up.
  24. Yeah, I didn't list everyone obviously. I don't think Santana (or Perkins or Mauer or Suzuki) are going to be discussed so it wasn't really worth trying to figure out what tier they belong in.
  25. You have Gonsalves ranked far too high, it is very likely that his ceiling is Milone. Actually, you have several of the minor league guys ranked too high, but to each his own. Jay can be traded after the WS ended. MLB changed that rule b/c of the Trea Turner fiasco.
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