John Bonnes

Download attachment: Mauer_Joe_FirstBase_US_720.jpg Aaron and John review a plethora of weird roster moves, wonder about the impact of Joe Mauer's bat, discuss pineapple sauce with Lindsay Guentzel, endorse Eduardo Escobar, compare John's facial hair to Jack Morris' and interview Aaron's favorite bartender at Stella's. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Stitcher or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]~~~ Sunday's win was big because it gave the Twins a series victory heading into a long and difficult road trip. It was also big because it gives YOU 50% off your order from PapaJohns.com on Monday with the promo code "TWINSWIN." ~~~ Click here to view the article

Download attachment: Hughes.jpg Similar to the consumption habits of most Americans during Thanksgiving, the Minnesota Twins are devouring free agent starting pitching at a frenzied pace. On Wednesday, it was Ricky Nolasco. On Saturday, the Star Tribune’s LaVelle Neal reported that they were in agreement with Phil Hughes on a three-year deal. The deal, which is contingent on a physical that Hughes must pass, is a three-year, $24 million contract. Hughes' numbers, both last year and over his career, are underwhelming. He was 4-14 last year with a 5.19 ERA and is 56-50 with a 4.54 ERA for his career. His strikeout rate is mediocre (7.6 K/9 for his career) and he has been hurt by home runs, especially lately (59 home runs in 337 IP over the last two years). But there are several caveats to those numbers that made Hughes attractive to other teams, including the Royals, Marlins and Mets. The Twins have been targeting him since at least July. You may also remember that Hughes was mentioned as part of the package the Twins requested from the Yankees during the Johan Santana trade talks. That's a pretty good place to start with why Hughes remains in favor despite recent struggles. In 2008, the Yankees weren’t willing to trade Hughes for Santana. Read that last sentence again. Actually, let me rewrite it, with the hidden words shown. In 2008 (eight years into their “drought” of not winning a championship), the Yankees (for whom dollars are nothing more than monopoly money) were not willing to trade (21-year-old pitching prospect) Hughes (with all of 72 innings of major league experience) for Santana (who had finished in the top five of Cy Young voting for four consecutive years). That speaks to exactly how highly Hughes was thought of. And it’s not like the Yankees had too much pitching. Their starting rotation was mediocre (16th in ERA in MLB) and their winningest pitcher was Chien-Ming Wang. Santana was exactly the guy they needed, and all they needed to do was swap some prospect for him and pay him, just like the Mets did. But they wouldn’t part with Hughes. Hughes was one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, and was projected to become the new ace of the Yankees staff as early as 2008, starting to fill in for the aging arms of Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens, all of whom were over 35. But a fractured rib derailed 2008 and raised questions about his durability, which we’ll get to later. Part way through 2009 he was moved to the Yankees' bullpen, where he was outstanding, helping the Yankees win their only World Series title of the millennium. He returned to the rotation in 2010, where it became apparent he was a poor fit for Yankee Stadium. Hughes is an extreme fly ball pitcher, and right-handed, which makes Yankee Stadium’s short right field porch his bane. His career ERA pitching in the two Yankees Stadiums is 4.96, versus 4.10 on the road. The difference? He’s given up more than twice as many home runs at home. The hope is that escaping from New York, whether it be the ballpark, the media or the expectations, will allow Hughes to become the pitcher everyone expected five years ago. That hope might be even more realized if his home park is Target Field. Because he was so young when promoted by the Yankees, he will be only 27 years old through the first half of the 2014 season. He’s entering his prime. From a raw stuff standpoint, he’s solid (7.5 K/9 and 92.4 mph fastball last year), has good control (2.6 BB/9) and isn’t afraid to throws strikes (66.7% of first-pitch strikes over the last four years). The biggest concern is his durability. He’s battled some nagging back and shoulder issues, but has made 61 starts over the last two years, throwing 337 innings. Hughes represents a calculated risk/reward move for the Twins. If the move away from NYC works, he has the potential to be a solid #2 starter for the next few years at a relative bargain price. And then he can hit the free agent market as a 30-year-old for a big pay day. If not, the Twins are overpaying a back-of-the-rotation pitcher, an asset of which they already have a glut. There are big numbers on both sides of the ratio, but the Twins can afford the risk and desperately need the reward. It also means the Twins are likely done adding pitching. At least three spots in the rotation are now spoken for by free agents signed the last two years: Ricky Nolasco, Kevin Correia and Hughes. It seems likely Samuel Deduno, who posted a 3.83 ERA last year before being sidelined with a shoulder problem, will also have a spot if he shows he’s healthy. That leaves a last spot for several younger pitchers with lesser track records, like Scott Diamond, Vance Worley, Kyle Gibson and Andrew Albers. Click here to view the article

Twins Daily is not an online newspaper. I know – it sure looks like one. That’s how we fool you. That’s how we draw you closer to the trap. But our stories are just the surface of the water, and if have the gumption to reach out, you’ll find out what’s just under the surface.Start by commenting on a story. I promise – it won’t hurt. Twins Daily has the most respectful, civil and intelligent discussions you’ll find in sports, or maybe on any topic. (We maintain that civility by making you register to leave a comment.) Then check out our forums. Here you’ll be able to learn a lot more about the Twins than just what makes it to the front page. Members are posting links to Twins news stories, blogs, minor league results, farm reports, etc. You can also add to these or ask a question, even start your own thread about whatever topic or story you like. There is also our minor leagues – the Blogs page. You may like some of these stories or you may not, but there is always new content being posted there by some talented writers. And if you would like to try your own hand at writing, you can create your own blog from that page, too. It will appear on the Blogs page, and if it’s a good story, you may find it promoted to the front page alongside the rest of our writers where thousands of Twins fans can read it and comment… and the cycle begins again. See what I mean? Twins Daily isn’t an online newspaper - it’s a community. And you are welcome. Click here to view the article

If The Twins Are Willing To Trade Justin Morneau This Offseason, There Should Be Options Download attachment: justin-morneau.jpg Last week, as the trade deadline approached, Justin Morneau was featured in the latest trade rumors. That made sense. First, Morneau had been productive and healthy. Second, Chris Parmelee is raking at first base in AAA but shut out in the majors. Finally, Morneau is still owed about $19M for the rest of this year and next. Moving him would give the Twins that much more money to spend on pitching this offseason. No deal was consummated, and it doesn’t sound like one was close, but that doesn’t mean the end of the rumors. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] They’ll flow into this offseason and will likely gain additional steam because this year the crop of free agent first basemen is so bleak. There is no Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols or even a Paul Konerko in this class. The top name? Would you believe the 37-year-old Carlos Lee? Yes, the same Carlos Lee who was already salary dumped this year and then was rumored to be on the block again. He has all of six home runs, but at least he’s hitting .292. Now look into the rest of the void…. Sure, They’re Old, But At Least They’re Hurt. Lance Berkman He has just 75 at-bat this year because he’s been out the last two months after knee surgery, and that was following a previous stay on the DL for a calf injury. There will be serious concerns that his 36-year-old body can’t take it any more. Aubrey Huff Similarly, Huff is 35 years old and has only has 61 at-bats this year (and is hitting just .148) because of several DL stints which include an anxiety disorder and knee tendonitis. Carlos Pena Ok, he’s not hurt, but he’s hitting .193, so who could tell? He's also 35 years old and still can’t hit left-handers. Like the others, he’s worth a flyer, but who would rely on him for more than that? Bad, But Bad In A Youngish Way Casey Kotchman He’s just 30 years old, but he has never hit more than 12 home runs in his career, is struggling against left-handers and is hitting just .223. James Loney He’s the reason the Dodgers were talking to the Twins about Morneau at the deadline. He’s hitting .257 with two home runs. Two As in two more than I have hitting for the Dodgers this year. The only thing he has going for him is that he’s only 28 years old. They’re Old. They Also Don’t Start. Ty Wigginton All you need to know about the 35-year-old Wigginton is that the only way he’s available is if the Phils DON’T pick up a $4M option on him. That should clarify his value. Eric Hinske Yes, I’m talking about the 35-year-old bench player for the Braves for the lat 3 years. He has not seen 400 at-bats from a team since 2005. Winner: Justin Morneau Morneau, by comparison, is 31 years old, hitting .275 and has 15 home runs. Those numbers don’t justify a $14M salary next year. And if he was a free agent, he would not garner any offers for that kind of money annually. However, he is also the class of that list. If Morneau was a free agent, right now it looks like a two-year deal (for maybe $16M?) would not be out of the question. A three-year deal might be in play. If he and his agent insisted on a one-year deal (to increase his value for another run at free agency), a $9-10M deal might not be out of the question. But more important than the numbers is simply supply and demand. This offseason, the supply of first basemen who can be a middle-of-the-order presence for a competitive team is limited. In fact, it could be just Morneau. If Terry Ryan decides he is willing to trade Morneau – either to make room for Parmelee or to free up $14M in cash – there sure should be some desperate teams out there. Click here to view the article

Download attachment: Greinke_600_321.jpg Aaron and John talk about Aaron's "healthy" new look, discuss next year's middle infield, tell listeners how they can get a free audiobook, and review the expected free agent starting pitchers and give Aaron's choices, John's choices, and the Twins probable choices. Here are: the podcaststhe rss feed if you want to subscribe and the podcast on iTunes. Click here to view the article

Twins Daily is very excited to announce that you will now find our minor league coverage on Pioneer Press' website TwinCities.com. Twins Daily wants to reach as many Twins fans as possible, so we've always shared our content. You may have discovered us through one of our existing agreements with StarTribune.com, KFAN.com and ESPN.com. The Star-Tribune (and particularly Howard Sinker) was one of TwinsCentric’s earliest supporters. KFAN.com posts a story from Twins Daily every week, broadcasts Gleeman and the Geek, and will be broadcasting MLB draft coverage at 9:00 this Thursday night with Seth, Jeremy and myself hosting. And ESPN.com designated Twins Daily as a member of its Sweet Spot Network before Twins Daily even existed. Download attachment: Logos.jpg But our agreement with the Pioneer Press will be our most extensive partnership yet. First, it’s going to bring more attention to our independent writers, which hasn’t been an easy option in the past. You’ll see all our minor league stories, including those contributed by other bloggers, on the left side of the TwinCities.com's main Twins page. Second, this is just the start -– there should be even more integration coming. Finally, everyone we’ve met from the Pioneer Press is an enthusiastic partner. They have been very supportive and complimentary of Twins Daily’s content and community, and aggressive in getting this implemented in a hurry. We would like to thank Twins Beat Reporter Mike Berardino, Vice-President of Marketing Lori Swanson and Sports Editor Tad Reeve for their optimism and working hard to make this happen. We’re very excited to see where working together takes us. We will to continue to grow new partnerships and expand existing partnerships with media that are interested in our independent and in-depth Minnesota Twins coverage. We don’t (and will never) believe in charging for our content –- baseball is our religion, and evangelists don’t charge admission. The Pioneer Press gets that, and we’re grateful that they’re willing to share our obsessive minor-league coverage with their audience. We hope we all enjoy the benefits it brings. Click here to view the article

Download attachment: ron-gardenhire.jpg The Twins set their coaching staff today, adding Bobby Cuellar, Tom Brunansky and Terry Steinbach to the coaching staff and clarifying the roles of Scott Ullger, Joe Vavra and Rick Anderson. Rick Anderson will keep his role as pitching coach, and holdovers Joe Vavra and Scott Ullger will take over third and first base, respectively. Newcomers Cuellar and Bruansky, both of whom coached in AAA-Rochester last year, will become the new bullpen coach and hitting coach. Finally, Steinbach, whose inclusion was not previously rumored, will be the bench coach and work with catchers. Manager Ron Gardenhire will continue to be the manager of the Twins, though his contract with the organization expires at the end of this year. Click here to view the article

Download attachment: catcher.jpg There has been more and more talk lately about catcher framing, which is the ability of catchers to impact the runs scored in a game by garnering strikes from pitches outside the strike zone. My initial skepticism around it has largely been due to the huge impact it can have. For instance, last year the difference between the best pitch framer (Jonathan LuCroy) and the worst (John Buck) is estimated at 50 runs. That's a five win difference. That's hard to believe.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] But today I wanted to look at different aspect: its predictability. That is, if a catcher is good at framing in one year, can we reasonably assume that he'll be good at it the next year? One way to look at this is to look at all catchers and how they did from year to year. If they did well one year, did they do well the next and vice versa? (I wondered about this because I was looking up Kurt Suzuki's framing numbers. They're usually been negative, but there have been some positive ones sprinkled in. I wondered how common that is.) There is a neat little statistical gizmo to do this called a correlation coefficient. A correlation coefficient examines two sets of numbers and gives back a number between -1 and 1. 1 means there is a perfect correlation, like between the temperature in Celsius and the temperature in Fahrenheit.-1 means there is a perfectly negative correlation, like the amount you spend in a month and your checking balance.And if it's 0, that means the numbers have no correlation, like Joe Mauer's batting average and the migratory penguin population.You can find the results of my study here. The bottom line: there is a lot of predictability. The runs per season had a correlation of .76, which is high. But the correlation on pitches per game is even higher .82. So catchers who have had a large positive effect end up continuing to do so. Unfortunately, most of the Twins who will play catcher this year didn't have a large positive effect last year. In fact, none of them did: Kurt Suzuki: -9.1 Josmil Pinto: -4.3 Chris Herrmann:-4.6 Eric Fryer: -0.8 I didn't choose that order to emphasize the negative. I chose to list them in my predicted order of innings caught. It's almost as if the worse they are at pitch framing, the more likely they are to play catcher. And this is where John starts rubbing his temples. And yet, that still might be better than last year. Because last year Joe Mauer was average (0.4) and Ryan Doumit was horrendous (-15.9). Still, it appears the new catching corps may not do the Twins revamped pitching staff any favors this year. ~~~ Since I'm sure you might want to do something like this yourself (and really, why wouldn't you - YEAY MATH), I thought I'd spell out the steps. 1. I pulled all the data I could from this great site and pasted it into a spreadsheet. It has all the catcher framing data from 2013 through 2007. 1b. I forgot to mention - I also limited the study to catchers with at least 3000 "samples" in a season which I assume are pitches. 2. I added one column to that data: "Prev Yr." You'll see why in a minute. 3. I imported that spreadsheet into an Access DB twice, once as a table called "Following" and another as "Previous". 4. I created a query joining those two tables, joining fields First Name, Last Name and "Prev Yr" from following to "Year" from the Previous field. I pulled the Names, Years, Per Game and RAA fields from each table. 5. Copy and paste the results from the query back into an Excel spreadsheet. 6. Use the "Correl" function to compare the values in the two "Per Game" and two RAA" fields. Ta Da! Click here to view the article

Download attachment: Wedding_Cake_Baseball.jpg Aaron and John talk about Joe Mauer moving from catcher to first base, being sponsored by another Twins podcast, the Twins' odds of actually signing Ricky Nolasco or another big-money free agent pitcher, recapping Dave Chappelle's marathon show at First Avenue, Jason Bartlett rejoining the Twins, Hebrew school reunions, Pedro Hernandez' 2014 ERA, Twitter beefs, John breaking his toe, and Aaron getting married. You can listen by clicking below, download us from iTunes or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Click here to view the article

Download attachment: DSC07370.JPG You know how in between innings, sometime the mascot comes out with a pneumatic gun and shoots t-shirts or hot dogs or whatever into the crowd? Have you ever seen him shoot out pizzas? Want to know why? Because there’s a lot better way to give away free pizzas. By now you’ve noticed that the Twins and Papa John’s have teamed up to offer 50% off pizzas using the ‘TWINSWIN’ promo code the day after a Twins win. What you don’t know is that Papa John’s is also giving away a few hundred pizzas this year to the Twins Daily community. And in a far less messy manner than having TC launch them out of a potato cannon. We’re going to start giving them away with this story. We’re going to give away 10 pizzas to Minnesotans who comment on this story, with the rules below. But as I am wont to do, I‘m going to make a broader heartfelt point. Hang in there. Pizza’s on its way. Twins Daily believes in the power of community. We believe we’re stronger as a group than we are individually, which is why Parker, Nick, Seth, Brock and I ditched our individual sites to make Twins Daily. We further recognize that this community is stronger because of all the individuals making contributions to it – writers, moderators, commenters, editors, contributors, supporters AND sponsors like Papa John’s. Furthermore, we believe that gifts like several hundred pizzas should support efforts to build that community, and to reward those who continually do so. Download attachment: papa_johns_logo.jpg Today, let’s work on getting people to join the community. To enter, just leave a comment below with a) your favorite Twin and your favorite kind of pizza. Unfortunately, the codes are only good for MN Papa John’s stores; apparently this potato cannon also has its limits. But if you win one and want to give it away to a friend in Minnesota (or a fellow Twins Daily member you want to honor), that’s fine. We’ll let it run through the weekend and then pick 10 participants randomly and send the winners a promo code for a free large, 2-topping pizza from Papa John’s. I’d like to thank Papa John’s for their sponsorship, and I’d like to thank our members who cooperatively work to make this a community which adds a great deal of satisfaction and enjoyment to our lives. Now get after it. The pizza party starts now. (Sans the pneumatic potato gun.) ~~~ Also, since the Twins beat the Blue Jays in the first game of Thursday's double-header, you can get 50% off a L or XL pizza from PapaJohns.com if you use the 'TWINSWIN' promo code. ~~~ Click here to view the article

Download attachment: buxton_byron.jpg With the second overall pick in the 2012, the Minnesota Twins selected high school outfielder Byron Buxton out of Appling County High School in Baxley, Georgia. In doing so, they chose one of the consensus most talented prospects, but one with his share of risks. Buxton’s athleticism has earned comparisons to Eric Davis, Matt Kemp and even Willie Mays. (Read that last sentence again.) He is blessed with speed that is among the top seen in a prospect and an arm that has hit 97 miles per hour when throwing from a mound. He projects to stay in center field. He’s dominated his competition, and shows all the physical traits of a natural hitter who should add power. Like most first round picks, he is not without risks. Even again sub-standard competition, he only hit three home runs in his senior year. But he shows significantly more power in BP and in a home run Derby in Wrigley he hit the last row of the left field bleachers with one blast., finishing second in that competition. He is obviously far away from contributing to a big league club and the Twins as an organization are more starved for pitching talent than hitting talent. Opinions vary slightly on the top talent at the draft, but nearly everybody had him listed as a top three position player and most listed him at #1. Also, there is almost nobody who doesn’t believe he has the highest upside of anyone in the draft. At the very least, the Twins chose one of the most interesting players available. For more on Buxton, check out this summary of him by the Houston Astros blog Crawfish Boxes. For a more entertaining read, including a few mind-blowing non-baseball examples of Buxton’s athletic ability, check out this Sports Illustrated story. Click here to view the article

Aaron and John visit Rye Deli on the same day the offseason ends and discuss what we want to see from the 2014 Twins, what to expect from the pitching staff and how to start their own bar with zero experience. Download attachment: tumblr_lwc0mtikOJ1qllv4co1_500.jpg You can listen by clicking below, or download us from iTunes, Stitcher or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Here's this week's breakdown: 2:00 - Aaron’s moving update 3:30 – Brunch 4:20 – Players in the best shape of their life 8:00 – John & Aaron’s public speaking schedule 14:00 – John meeting Aaron’s Mom 17:30 – Twins claiming LHP Brooks Raley 24:30 – Underrating and overrating Derek Jeter 37:20 – Rye Deli owner David Weinstein tutors John & Aaron on how to start a restaurant/bar with no experience 44:30 – What’s important for the Twins 2014 season? 59:40 – What can we expect from the starting rotation in 2014? 1:05:00 – Valentine’s Day 1:12:00 – Mailbag 1:29:00 – The first kiss 1:31:30 – Parker’s Second Chance Video Click here to view the article

Download attachment: Morales_Kendrys_TerryRyan_JB_720.jpg Aaron and John talk about the Kendrys Morales signing, Josmil Pinto's future being in flux, John's amazing dance moves at the KFAN party, Jason Kubel being let go, Nick Gordon and the Twins' draft picks, when to cut bait on Kevin Correia, trolling the Joe Mauer waters, wedding dock collapses, mailbag questions from listeners, and when not to get married for money. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Stitcher or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Click here to view the article

Comments have been pretty negative about yesterday’s decision to grant Ron Gardenhire a two-year extension and retain the Minnesota Twins coaching staff. And that’s not just on the Twins Daily forums; check out stories on the Minnesota Twins Official site for some real vitriol. Twins fans are upset. Download attachment: Gardenhire_Ron_Pensive_600.jpg A lot of those comments are rhetoric, which has the advantages of being powerful, entertaining and fairly obvious after a third year of futility and an especially brutal September. But rhetoric is also often logically dubious. One side will claim Gardenhire should be fired for three straight 96+ loss seasons. The other claims he should be retained for six division titles. Both are results which managers probably influence, but so do a lot of factors, like talent. Beyond the rhetoric, there are plenty of concerns regarding Gardenhire’s performance history. One of the biggest is whether a rebuilding organization can entrust a youth movement to Gardenhire and his coaching staff. Certainly, that was a problem this year. Aaron Hicks was a disaster. Chris Parmelee wasn’t much better. Trevor Plouffe stagnated offensively and maybe even regressed defensively. Only Brian Dozier – a player Gardy publicly lobbied to be promoted – ended up overachieving. That raises the question of how many past players really grew under Gardy’s tutelage. Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, certainly, but they were always viewed as “can’t miss” stars. Jason Kubel probably didn’t have quite the career we expected, but there was the injury. Michael Cuddyer certainly developed, but it took him several years to shake the “underachieving” label. And the generation before developed mostly under Tom Kelly, breaking through largely in 2001 before Gardenhire took over. Similarly, there are questions about the development of the pitching staff under pitching coach (and former Gardenhire minor league roommate) Rick Anderson. Both Gardenhire and Anderson have been widely lauded for the development and handling of their bullpens, and this year’s group was no exception. But the organization is floundering largely because its rotation is among the worst in major league baseball and has been for three straight years. Again, questions arise about how successful this coaching staff has been in developing starters. Brad Radke carried a heavy load for several years, but he came up under Kelly. Johan Santana shined, but the turning point in his career is universally acknowledged to be when he perfected a changeup taught to him by AAA pitching coach (and current Twins bullpen coach) Bobby Cuellar. Kyle Lohse improved after leaving. More recently, Scott Baker and Kevin Slowey both were serviceable for a time, but never took the final step to be consistently excellent. Nick Blackburn followed the path of Carlos Silva, looking like a true success story but regressing back to a dismal finish. Finally, Francisco Liriano is starting tonight in the Wild Card game, resembling the pitcher we were waiting for him to be – the year after he left the Twins. It seems odd to ask whether a coaching staff that had a decade of success can develop young players, because a decade of success almost demands that they be able to do so. But looking at past examples, and especially looking at recent failures, the question is there. At least from the outside. It must not be for Terry Ryan. Because yesterday’s decision essentially entrusts Gardenhire to oversee the final developmental steps of a farm system widely viewed as one of the best in baseball. Beyond all the rhetoric about wins and losses, that is what yesterday was about. And perhaps that is why so many are upset. Click here to view the article

Download attachment: TD Only.jpg TwinsDaily.com’s goal is to help you find the best independent Twins writing on the web. Here’s the short version: Amateur Status Read all you want; everything’s free. “Home” brings you to our favorite stories. “Forum” is where our community dissects all things Twins. “Blogs” bring you to our members’ blog posts. On the left you’ll find links to specific entries for all of these, including Twins blogs that aren’t on our site. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]Signing Day When you’re ready, just SIGNUP. It’s free. Now you can add your own comments to the bulletin board. Just play nice. We’re all on the same team. Double A When you sign up, you get your own blog. (Click on “Blog” and then “My Blog.”) You can ignore it, or you can customize it and write your own stories, which members can find on the main blog page, or on the left. If you already have your own blog elsewhere, don’t sweat it: you can double post and include links back to your main blog. We want people to find you. The Show We promote the best blog posts and writers to the front page. Welcome to the majors. So step up to the plate. For more details, check our Frequently Asked Questions or ask us directly. THANKS, TwinsCentric Click here to view the article

Terry Ryan says the Twins aren’t going to be able to buy themselves out of this funk they’re in. He’s absolutely right, especially when it comes to second base, where the Twins OPS ranks 29th in the majors. Because there is almost nothing to buy.Download attachment: carroll.jpg The free agent market for middle infielders is often limited, but this year’s market for second basemen is especially sparse. I count one starter – Toronto’s Kelly Johnson. Johnson is 31 years old, has a 692 OPS and is slightly below average fielding (according to UZR). And he’s the class of this group. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] There are several who have found their way into a bench job, including Jeff Baker (DET), Adam Kennedy (LAD), Jeff Keppinger (TB), Maicer Izturis (LAA) and Ryan Theriot (SFG). I find Keppinger the most interesting, slightly above Izturis. With the Rays, the 33-year-old Keppinger has hit awfully well but has been slightly below average defensively. And for his career (over 2300 AB) he has a .336 OBP. Everyone else has either been designated for assignment or hurt or both or retiring. It’s thin gruel. With those options, ones thoughts can’t help but turn to Jamey Carroll, who only has a 626 OPS but at least is getting on base at a .334 clip. The bigger concern might be that if he reaches 401 at-bats next year, then 2014 becomes a player option, albeit one that only pays him $2M. Frankly, that looks like a bargain and Carroll looks like a better option than anything Ryan is likely to find on the shelves this winter. Click here to view the article

The June 4, 2012 edition of Sports Illustrated had a story by Tom Verducci where he attempts to document... well, he's a better writer than I'll ever be, so let's let him tell you... Download attachment: midapril_0002.jpg “This is a story about the real cost of steroids in baseball -- not the broken records, not the litigation, not the talk-show drone about the elite players who juiced and how to weigh their Hall of Fame candidacy. This is a story about the hundreds, even thousands, of anonymous ballplayers whose careers and lives were changed by a temptation that defined an era. It is also a story about the secrets we keep and the casualties we create when we allow the corrupt to go unspoken -- especially when the corrupt is something far more horrific than steroids.” The story is especially interesting to Twins fans because it is mostly about Dan Naulty, a reliever from the Twins from 1996-98 who came up through the Twins farm system. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] It compares his career to those of three similar Twins pitching prospects from the 1994 Fort Myers Miracle. Because of offseason steroid use, Naulty added about 60 pounds to his frame, 10 mph to his velocity and carved out a four-year career as a reliever. None of the other three made the majors, topping out in AAA, and the piece tries to focus on how a generation of clean players were cheated in their attempts to reach the majors, sometimes by teammates like Naulty who were covertly injecting steroids. But is also documents the costs to Naulty and this is the most comprehensive part of the story. It talks about why Naulty turned to steroids - how desperate he was and how few options he felt like he had. It also mentions personal challenges he had faced from childhood, including episodes of being sexually abused. It follows his major league career, which turned into an addiction cycle between performance-enhancing amphetamines and alcohol. It talks about him hitting rock bottom the night after winning the 1999 World Series and talking about suicide. And it talks about his recovery, his honesty in the Mitchell Report, and his new career as a pastor. Tangentially, it talks about the Twins organization at the time, but Verducci refrains from pointing any fingers. There are some details that probably make Twins officials cringe a bit. Verducci points out that of the six players from the 1994 Fort Myers Miracle who made at least $500,000 in their MLB careers, at least three (Naulty, Matt Lawton and Dan Serafini) are know PED users. However, especially in the naïve 90s, it's certainly feasible that Twins officials didn't recognize that Naulty’s offseason gains were due to drug use. His fellow pitchers certainly didn't. Brett Roberts, one of the fellow prospects that Verducci followed, reacted to the news about Naulty: "I guess I should have been suspicious. How can a guy go from 85 miles an hour to 95 in three or four years? As I look back on it, it's so clear and obvious that I can't believe I was that naive and incredibly stupid. All the signs were there." Roberts, who made it as far as AAA but no further, talks later about how cheated he feels. “’It's cheating,’ says Roberts, who bristles at the steroid users who made it. ‘It sticks in my craw because I know how hard I worked. Was I going to be a guy with a five- to 10-year career? Probably not. But I know I could have been there.’" That is another point of the story – how thin the line can be between making the majors and not making the majors, and how tempting it can be to do whatever it takes to cross that line. Later in the article, Verducci talks about how Naulty joined a Yankees prayer group that included Andy Pettitte, Mike Stanton and Jason Grimsley – all of whom found their names in the Mitchell Report. Nobody was immune. It’s a thorough, well-researched story and worth the half hour it will take you to read it. If you’re ready to dive into a depth beyond the effects steroids have on the record books, check it out. You can find the on line version here. ~~~ Twins Daily already has a lively discussion on this story. You can add to it here. Click here to view the article

Download attachment: las_vegas_strip.jpg Aaron and John talk about Aaron Hicks' odds of being the Twins' Opening Day center fielder, the pros and cons of service time shenanigans, dreaming of buying a bar together, betting on the over/under win totals for every American League team, why the AL Central is once again underwhelming, the dangers of parallel parking, Ryan Doumit and evaluating catcher defense, unprofessional bathroom breaks, and the stability of one-run games. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]Here are: the podcaststhe rss feed if you want to subscribe andthe podcast on iTunes.Or, just click below: Click here to view the article

Download attachment: carl-pavano-trade-766138.JPG Aaron and John broadcast from Lindsay Guentzel's MLB Fan Cave Voting Party. They discuss each of the Twins pitchers, including a spirited discussion about the relative values of Carl Pavano and Scott Baker. Then they finish by talking about the new TwinsDaily web site. You can find: the podcaststhe rss feed if you want to subscribe and the podcast on iTunes (where you can also subscribe and leave reviews).Thanks![PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Click here to view the article

Wilkin Ramirez has had to demonstrate a lot of patience in his career. The 28-year-old finally made his way onto an Opening Day roster last year, only to have his season shortened by a concussion and ended by a broken tibia. But the Twins were patient too, re-signing him this offseason. Maybe he could surprise them again, like he did last spring training? Or maybe it shouldn't be a surprise any more. Surrounded by Twins prospects in the late innings of a tie game with the Orioles, Ramirez delivered the decisive blow: a three-run blast over left center in a staggering ninth inning. The kids surprised too, finishing with a 9-2 win after being handed a 1-2 deficit in the late innings from the starting lineup. "I didn't have to start managing until I got the starters out of here," joked manager Ron Gardenhire. "That's what I just told those guys. 'You guys are in here high-fiving, but we didn't do nothing until you guys got out of the game.'" That's not entirely true. Vance Worley started the game and got some good things done: specifically, he threw strikes. Determined to put a miserable 2013 behind his, he's come into camp completely healthy, lighter and with confidence in his arm slot, which is something he couldn't say last year. He threw two scoreless innings, although he was helped by an over-the-outfield-wall catch by Darin Mastroianni. Ron Gardenhire liked what he saw. "I liked what he did," said Gardenhire. "He had a good angle going down. He threw some really nice tight breaking balls that were down in the zone. Worked fast. Was throwing it over. They hit a couple of balls on him, but he went right at them." The teams traded runs in the fourth. Ramirez picked up the first of his four RBI on a single that drove in Chris Colabello (who had been walked for the second time). But the Orioles responded with their first run when Aaron Thompson misplayed a dribbler off the bat of Nelson Cruz that plated Nick Markakis. The Twins fell behind in the 6th inning. Trevor May had recorded four outs and Gardenhire liked what he saw, specifically the changeups May was throwing. Unfortunately, Orioles slugger Chris Davis, who hit 53 home runs last year, liked what he saw too. "I elevated one that [Davis] elevated right back," reflected May. The solo shot put the Twins into a 2-1 hole. It turned out OK - the pitching prospect was just setting the table for some of his minor league teammates. Infielders Danny Santana and James Bereford both played on the AA New Britain Rock Cats with May last year. In the eighth inning they worked together to tie the game when Beresford singled and Santana drove him home with a triple. That ended up being a precursor to the fireworks in the final frame. Top prospect Byron Buxton lit the fuse and nearly provided a memorable explosion. He hit a rocket line drive that cleared the center fielder's head and bounced (sigh) OVER the wall for a ground rule double. Had it not, fans might have seen a rare inside-the-park home run on a ball in which nobody stumbled or took a odd bounce. Buxton was rounding second base as it cleared over the wall. "I would have liked to have seen him running that thing out," mentioned Gardenhire. "After it bounced out, I was kid of disappointed." That feeling likely dissipated quickly. Buxton was driven in two batters later by prospect Max Kepler before Ramirez's rocket shot. With just 70 games of big league experience, Ramirez is looking to surprise people the same way he did last year coming out of spring training. "He's pretty sure of himself," says Gardenhire. "Confident, confident young man. He's healthy. He made my team last year doing the same thing and he knows what's at stake here, so he's coming out and ready to play." The kids continued to follow his lead, including Santana, whose locker was right next to Ramirez in the visiting clubhouse. Santana hit his second triple of the game later in the ninth, driving in two more runs. The speedy shortstop has left an impression with Gardenhire. "As I've told people, this guy's pretty exciting. He's got jets. I'm pretty confident when he walks up to the plate something is going to happen." Plenty happened today, even if Twins fans had to wait until the late innings for it. It's only fitting that it was Wilkin Ramirez leading the charge in a game in a game that required patience. Click here to view the article

Download attachment: Plouffe.jpg In the TwinsCentric interview with Terry Ryan last week, (the 9-page entirety of which you can find in the 2013 Offseason Handbook), we asked about his confidence in Trevor Plouffe. John Bonnes: Are you comfortable with [Trevor] Plouffe at third base? Terry Ryan: Well, he needs some work too. Defensively, he’s a work in progress. JB: He hasn’t played that much at third base in the minors, right? TR: No, he hasn’t, but he’s and ex-shortstop and he should be able to make that transition. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Because usually that would be an easier one that going from third to short. JB: Sure, it’s a little lower on the defensive spectrum. TR: The ball gets there quicker and it’s different angles and different throws and – there’s a lot that’s different. But, he’s an infielder. He should be able to catch the ball. He’s got enough arm. His accuracy was difficult. So, we’ve got to make a decision. Alright, is he going to take the next step forward? He’s got enough bat to play there. He’s got enough power to play there. Now it’s whether he’s going to be able to play that position so we don’t have to worry about it defensively. It’s a work in progress. JB: But you haven’t made that decision yet? You’re not sure… TR: He’s coming in as the third baseman. Yes, he will. I need to create some competition over there though. And we will. And he’s aware of that. Nothing wrong with competition. JB: Does that competition include Joe Mauer? TR: Nope. I’m going to create some competition, but I didn’t say anything about Joe Mauer. JB: I’m just asking. Have you thought about or talked about Joe Mauer moving to third base? TR: No, I haven’t. Some fans have, but I haven’t. So the good news for Plouffe is that he is expected to have the job at the hot corner. The bad news is that the Twins are going to be hedging their bets this offseason. If the Twins are looking for competition, they had one such candidate this year, but Sean Burroughs became a free agent. Burroughs was an interesting option because he hit left-handed, and the right-handed hitting Plouffe still has a big split (911 OPS vs LHs/ 691 OPS vs RHs) against the more plentiful side of the rubber. Looking at the Offseason Handbook, there are a few other fairly inexpensive options that might make sense. Eric Chavez put up very good numbers for the Yankees, but the left-handed hitting 34-year-old only had 33 at-bats against southpaws. It’s not clear how affordable he could be, but if he can’t get a job as a platoon player, a spot backing up an unproven guy like Plouffe could be a very nice option. Most of the other names one would recognize bat right-handed, but each has some other interesting traits. For instance, Brandon Inge used to play catcher. So instead of carrying Drew Butera as a 3rd catcher, Inge could fill in udring an emergency. He had shoulder surgery at the end of the season, but is expected to be recovered by spring training. Placido Polanco struggled this year, but he was also dealing with a back injury. In the past, the Twins have been rumored to be interested in him and the 37-year-old might be able to occasionally fill in at a middle infield spot. Meanwhile, another 37-year-old is rumored to be retiring, but the always intense Scott Rolen might be an interesting veteran to add to a clubhouse filled with kids. These aren’t going to be moves that transform the Twins, nor should any of them be used as an excuse to overlook bigger issues. But this might be something to watch late in the offseason, when leftover free agents are searching around, or whenever news of a six-year minor league free agents signing trickles out. Whoever the Twins sign will hopefully be nothing more than an insurance policy as Plouffe shows he belongs as a full-time starter. Or, like Sam Deduno and PJ Walters, that obscure signing could play a much bigger role than anyone anticipates this winter. Click here to view the article

Download attachment: TD-birthday.JPG About 15 months ago, Nick, Parker, Seth and I began talking about creating a Minnesota Twins website for independent writers and fans. It became clear we were on the right path when the question we asked ourselves changed from "Are we going to do this?" and became "Why the hell didn't we do this five years ago?" So, really, today should be Twins Daily's sixth birthday. If it was, this site would make a lot more sense. Six years seems about the right amount of time to generate 1200 Twins stories by independent writers. 2500 registered members over that time would seem reasonable. Over 6 years, 14,000 posts and comments per year would get us to the 84,000 that have already been entered. And we would be doing backflips over 6.2 million page views during that six-year period. Except that we didn't start it six years ago. Those numbers are all from this first year. And you're the difference. You're the difference in a lot of other ways, too. We are daily witnessing members find their voice, either in the blogs or in the forums. Our community has become the definitive source for Twins minor league coverage. Also, discussion about the team is increasingly centered around thoughtful analysis, both internally and in the corporate media. You're the driving force for all of these. Best of all, the community, content and interaction just keep growing. Our numbers are showing 30-50% growth this year, even as the Twins are selling 25% fewer season tickets. But we're determined to do better, so please let us know your thoughts about the site. So Happy First Birthday everyone! Go for it - stick your whole face in that cake. The site is in its infancy, but you've already made our wildest dreams come true. Thank you. We'll do our best to continue to deserve your attention and support. Click here to view the article

~ sponsored by Ticket King ~ Often Blue Jays don’t migrate, staying in cold weather most of the year. This year’s flock follows their example, coming to town during a cold snap, confident they can feast on a Twins team they beat five times in six tries last year. They shouldn’t count on it; unlike their namesakes, these Blue Jays live indoors. So for hardy Minnesota Twins fans, which game is the best ticket? Download attachment: 166.jpg The History The Blue Jays aren’t often listed among the ranks of MLBs most depressing clubs, but last year they “celebrated” 20 years since their last postseason appearance.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Management (and ownership) certainly did their best to end the streak prior to last season, buying half the Marlins team at a Miami fire sale. But instead of lifting them to the top of the division, age and injuries sunk them to the bottom of the AL East. They’re faring a little better this year, scratching their way to one game over .500. That’s a pretty fine record considering they’ve had to face the Rays, Yankees and Orioles already this season. But then again, since they’re in the AL East, they’ll be facing those team another 47 times. Oh, and none of them are the reigning AL East champions. Maybe it’s not so hard to see why it’s been 20 long years for Blue Jays fans…. The Offseason Last year’s uninspiring performance meant very few moves this offseason. You can hardly blame ownership, who already had $137 million dollars sunk into the payroll. However, the Blue Jays apparently came very close to signing to free agent pitcher Ervin Santana this spring when five veteran (and highly compensated) players – Jose Bautista, Mark Buehrle, R.A. Dickey, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Reyes – said they were willing to defer their salary to bring him aboard. It was so close to happening that the MLBPA (the players union) had been approached and approved the deferrals. The Ticket That didn’t happen, so the Twins won’t face Santana, and instead face the three starting pitchers with the worst ERA on the team. Don’t get too excited about that. As we count down to the best ticket, you’ll see there are plenty of challenges ahead…. #3 – Tuesday night – Brandon Morrow vs Phil Hughes. Morrow is the right-handed flame thrower and he struck out nine in his last game. He teased for years, seemingly broke through to stardom in 2012 and then suffered through a miserable and injury-filled 2013. This year his ERA is 5.73, but he sports a 13:2 strikeout to walk ratio. That bodes well for the Jays. If you like raw stuff, here’s your game. Download attachment: dickey_ra_knuckleball_US_600.jpg #2 – Wednesday night – R.A. Dickey vs Mike Pelfrey The former Mets teammates battle in the American League. Dickey (who you might have mercifully forgotten, played with the Twins in 2009), is a knuckleballer, so it was damn hard not to pick this as The Ticket. His ERA is 5.30, but he’s still just a little over a year removed from a Cy Young Award. Get seats as close as you can and watch that butterfly hiccup. #1- Thursday night – Dustin McGowan vs Kyle Gibson Who would choose Dustin McGowan over RA Dickey? The answer, of course, is “almost everyone, six years ago.” That’s when McGowan was 26 years old and looked like an upper-half-of-the-rotation talent. It was also the last time he won a game EXCEPT for last week, when he beat the Orioles to garner his first “W” since 2008. He’s 32 years old, now, has been through a litany of shoulder woes and is scrapping to stay out of the bullpen. I’ll be rooting for him, well, to lose, obviously, but to lose a tightly contested matchup to Gibson. Also, Thursday is a day game. And it’s supposed to snow on Wednesday. That might have had something to do with my ticket choice, too. ~~~ In past years the Blue Jays have traveled surprisingly well, but this is looking like a great series for bargain hunters. TicketKingOnline.com has $3 tickets for all three games – and I see four seats in the Champions Club for just $135 apiece on Tuesday night. That’s $100 less than I’ve ever seen those. Plus, if you use the promo code DAILYDOUBLE, you’ll be supporting Twins Daily and get 10% off. Whatever your needs, your local ticket supplier, Ticket King, can help. Click here to view the article

Tonight The Voice of Reason™ and I went to a St. Paul Saints game. We soaked in a gorgeous Minnesota summer night, watched a bunch of kitsch and thoroughly enjoyed a game in which we had almost no emotional investment. Because it’s baseball. And it doesn’t last forever.Download attachment: Ballpark.jpg I hear Minnesota sports fans lauding the turning of the calendar page, anxious for football and the (albeit limited) hope new seasons bring. I’ll enjoy watching the Gophers and Vikings too. But I’m a baseball guy, and I can’t devise a night much better than I just had. So go ahead, tell me how tough it is for you to watch a Twins game right now. Or take it a step further; tell me how you won’t watch a Twins game right now. I won’t be upset. More like puzzled, because I see all kinds of things that are exciting to watch over these last six months of the season. Let’s count down the top six. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] 6. Sam Deduno The original sin in baseball is to overestimate how much you really know. Sabermetrically and historically, Deduno doesn’t make any sense. But maybe we don’t know everything about this game just yet. I’m very excited to see how this ends. 5. Chris Parmelee “Prospects” kind of get lumped together, and we’re poorer as fans for it. So let’s be clear – nobody has had a season like Parmelee is having in AAA since the Twins moved to Rochester. Not Cuddyer. Not Kubel. Not Morneau. That doesn’t mean he’s a star in the making. But I sure want to see what he can do. (And that includes what he can do – shudder – in right field.) 4. Liam Hendriks & Brian Dozier Two guys who were rushed through AAA, brought up to the majors and predictably struggled. I’ve seen enough from both to think they’re on the right path, they just have a ways to go. I’m convinced these stories are going to have a happy ending. 3. Denard Span & the Twins Medical Staff When Span is deemed unavailable for the 15th straight day, will the Twins finally feel comfortable putting him on the DL? Or perhaps they'll decide that they don’t need their medical staff any more, relying solely on the player’s self-diagnosis. When they need a second opinion they'll draw cards from the board game Operation. (The Wacky Doctor Game!) 2. Other September Callups I think we’re going to be disappointed by how few additional September callups there are, but I’m hopeful we’ll get to see some pitching. I’d love to see if Esmerling Vazquez’ recent hot streak represents a breakthrough. I’d like to see if Anthony Slama and his video-game-like stats prove the organization’s brain trust wrong. I’d like to see if Deolis Guerra could have a role next year. 1. Joe Mauer and Ben Revere As a Twins fan in the 70s, it wasn’t uncommon to have nothing more than a Carew batting title to root for come August. I’ll readily admit my fascination with Mauer and Revere’s longshot chances are based on that being an annual occurrence of my childhood. I’d likely be just as fascinated if they brought back the bullpen car. (Of course, who wouldn’t?) Click here to view the article