Platoon

When using a deep playoff run, not just a one and done second WC as a bench mark, I think that window is open, but not as far as I had thought it would be a few years ago. The failure of so many of the high velocity BP arms to produce, the continuing lack of a legitimate #1 starter, and a fairly mediocre level of defense in the IF makes this a far more difficult project than I had anticipated. Spring training will flesh out the roster issues somewhat but it seems the SP issue will go unresolved, some due to options, and some due to indecisiveness. And the Sano issue could be an all season problem for any of several reasons. If the division is as weak as it seems we may pad our win total to allow a second WC appearance. Yawn.

Your article never addressed the most compelling question. What exactly did you guys decide to eat? Or did you even manage to order before the lunch menu time frame expired? Instead of the intern you should have taken me. For one thing I have never been to a Cheesecake Factory. And for another I will go with anyone who picks up the tab. Plus I am decisive. I would have immediately went with the spaghetti and meatballs, likely the cheapest option. This also would have given you a closer comparison to what being Falvine is really like. .

The problem with extending Dozier is you almost have to then trade some MI talent. And they haven't shown any indication of trading anything so far. If you can't count on one or two of their MI prospects making the jump soon, there is no sense in having a scouting or analytical dept. Tat said, I would not extend Dozier, and since it's too late to effectively trade him I would let it play out. I highly doubt I would then keep him. In a perfect world I would use that money on pitching.

I agree three years for Yu is about the farthest I would go. But, and there is always a but, then there has to be an alternative. And I don't see one. They exist, for example a trade for someone like Archer, or signing a top end arm next year. But neither really seems plausible. The teams window is now. That is the only thing that makes me think Darvish at 5-6 years makes any sense at all. He should fill a spot when it's most needed. Five years from now, if Twins history and MLB history in general are any bell weather, Darvish and his dead contract will be a moot point. They won't have the talent to compete anyway. They will be back into full rebuild mode, and his money won't really make a difference. While I said I don't think a trade for an Archer type would happen, it would still be my preference. A Sano for Archer? Crazy? It could be if you thought that Sano would fulfill the prophecy and become the elite hitter he was projected to be. I wish he would, but I just can't see it. There's too many flags already, and I doubt we have saw the last of them.

I think the impression was that the new Twins FO would make for a change in the manner in which high end FA were pursued. The Twins have always proclaimed themselves in on the newest shiny object. The Twins were always "interested", be it FA, trade possibilities, or Cubans. But so far in the SS alloted to the new FO the process is eerily familiar. While Darvish has yet to announce, it seems very much like the ever familiar "gosh, we were right into until the end, we thought we had a very good chance". This is likely the reason skepticism abounds, and optimism is bleak as regards any significant action on the pitching front. Whether one thinks Darvish is the answer or not, the fact of the matter is the Twins are never going to significantly change their position on top flight FA's. While I do believe there is a chance for the new FO to improve the roster by some better evaluation of talent, and hopefully improvise MiLB functions, I have no hope for big time acquisitions or trades. In those two instances the new FO is just like the old one, simply with more hair.

"The goal at the end of the day is to try to help your pitcher keep as many strikes as possible," Castro said. "And to not do anything to take away from presenting pitches that are in the strike zone to the umpires that would lead them to believe that any given pitch is not a strike." Maybe the most pertinent thing said on this topic so far. Don't give away strikes being jumpy or awkward.

Well the skeptic in me figures he would have left as soon as he was a FA. . But the bigger question is: Why is Brian Dozier driving that Gator in the parade?

And you probably aren't "Mr. Big Stuff"!

To expand a little on Jimbo's take. My lifelong neighbor was a very good amateur catcher and later a very good plate umpire. He always told me pulling the glove is useless. It's too obvious. But turning your body in to the plate, and catching the corners with the glove turned in shows the umpire the baseball. As does getting low and ease of movement. While I know that the line between balls and strikes in MLB is much finer, the principles are the same. In some of the frames shown Castro seems to be blatantly pulling the ball. On that point, as an umpire, when my friend heard a catcher question a non strike call after the catcher had pulled the ball over the plate he would ask the guy, "if it was so good, why did you have to pull it"? That was generally the end of the discussion. That said, I know that there are MLB catchers that are better than others at framing. The seemingly recent discover surprises me though. But then you read the Gladden comment, and wonder how Danno got a job as an analyst having not noticed something that I taught my kids

Dangle Darvish. Sign Miley. I don't know about baseball, but in retail I think that's called bait and switch? .

My top three would be P. Jones, B. Smith, and D. Toles. Now some may question whether these names appear on either the Twins MiLB or MLB payrolls. I have no idea, but with the spelling Police out in full force, I considered this much safer than someone like Hosae Berriohs .

So we are simply left to accept your eye test of the Radish as fact? It's well documented that personalities affect the perception of a Radishes worth. Old line FO types in the Radish league are getting very hard to find. It's a new era. Show us the facts.

I know RF is considered tougher at Target Field than left, but I sure would prefer that arm of his was in RF vs LF. Especially when Robbie G. Is in RF!

I don't think Rosario ever ran exceptional routes to a baseball. But what he did do was throw the ball with velocity and accuracy better than most. That certainly impacts the eye test in evaluating his defense. Some of those throwing opportunities are now gone, the extra base ones where there was a reasonable chance to get an out. Players seem to have quit taking the dare. One other question, or point. Did Rosario spend more time this year shuttling around the OF filling in for Kepler, or some time spent in CF? Or is that simply my perception.

I won't even begin to try and put numbers on a Buxton extension. But as a general point, if I was going to extend anyone, maybe anyone in MLB, it would be him. His ceiling is stratospheric. And his floor is only going to be determined with an injury, which is unforseeable. His defense is already elite, as is his speed and baserunning. His hitting may not end up elite, but I bet there will be a lot of guys on the stat sheets looking up at him. As for whom, Buxton or Sano to tie down first? I don't see that as much of a decision. Injuries and other issues have riddled Sano with question marks. He, not Buxton would be the one I let settle in for a year. Btw, I totally agree with the poster that said without some more quality pitching, this whole conversation may be irrelevant.

So? In other words you operate just like everyone else on here, myself included. :)

You had me until you said "market deal". Perhaps I am jaded by years of MN sports history, but when one lists the Twins, Astros, and Cubs in the hunt, it doesn't seem a market deal will suffice.

I am nowhere near a metrics guy. But this one seems so flawed by its inability to consider location. Pitching is like real estate, location, location, location. While this seems a good tool to measure "stuff", it would sure seem to ignore control. While I am sure there are far better examples, Samuel Deduno comes to mind. Electric "stuff", but couldn't hit a barn door with it.

Baseball is an entertainment business. As such it relies disproportionately on the fans perception of their products likeability, unlike say a plumber. Their product is a sum of its parts, players and staff. This makes Sano's alleged behavior(s) part and parcel of his value. The relationship is inescapable. This would apply whether the act was as alleged, or if it was shoplifting, armed robbery, or a DUI. For each act there would be consequences to the player. Civil, criminal, and MLB related. From there on it is also unavoidable that each FO, field staff member, advertiser, and fan would form their own opinion of how they would proceed with not only their perception of the player, but in some cases his continued financial value to them, be it on the field or as a trade piece. These considerations are inescapable. I don't know whether Sano did what he was accused of, nor do I know what MLB will do in regards to it. But there will be fans who do not go to games because of it, and fans who do not care. That is to each their own decision. I don't live in their world, nor do I have to approve of their values. FO's types will use a far more calculating metric on the moralities of his alleged actions. Each has different types of constituencies to consider. And those groups will impact Sanos value to that GM when he considers whether it's feasible to put the teams uniform on his back. Like it or not, the recent allegations about Miguel Sano will remain intrinsic to his value for a long time, if not the entirety of his career.

While I disagree that there is a 50/50 chance on Darvish coming here I liked the rest of your comments. The place where something like WAR gets over emphasized is when specific needs are ignored. This is such a case. Gordon's rankings and future seems to be going downhill lately, and I cannot believe that with the exception of his really cool name Zach Granite is quite easily replaceable. Jay would be a concern, but one has to give up something to get anything. To me, and I would imagine many others, the Twins need for SP is so desperate, that while not throwing caution to the winds, it certainly impacts their leverage in trade considerations. While that is not a best case scenario, it is what it is.

If I could find a trade partner whose team is in a market that could overlook recent issues that have surfaced, and those teams do exist, then I would trade Sano if I could get some reasonable return in the starting pitching department. There are so many flags here, both on and off the field. And that's a shame, I was very much looking forward to his career with the Twins. I thought he would end up something special. I am not sure that will ever happen.

None of the numbers seem overwhelming, but one seems underwhelming. Buxtons BA. I think it will be north of .270. That's the good news. But Sano is the bad news. I doubt that suspension or not he will be ready to play effectively this spring. For years he was, and I thought he would be, a cornerstone of the offense. I am not so sure that is still a given.

One more thought before I move on with my life. I am sure JP does make an attempt to make the Twins more appealing, on or off field. He is a businessman and knows the need to market. But all businesses also decide whether money's spent on improving the product get a desired return. Some fans think Pohlad should spend some of his "own" money to bring in high end FA simply because as an owner he should also be a fan. There are a few owners like that. JP is not one of them. Therefore while I would liker to see a legitimate big name signing, I won't be disappointed when it doesn't happen. Nor would I bash Pohlad. It simply is what it is.

While I commented about Pohlad and his ownership, I don't have an "issue" with him. He does all the things you mention. Which is why I find it so interesting that so many Twins fans believe there is a modicum of truth in the annual FO pronouncements that JP will allow the Fao to spend whatever necessary to improve the club. That's just the FO falling on their sword. I would imagine that JP enjoys the status that owning a MLB franchise provides. I would doubt he revels in it. A true Twins fan and JP both have large investments in the team. But they are likely of a far different nature, with a far different accounting at the end of the season.