John Bonnes

I'm fairly optimistic about Dozier this year. I hope this was just a bad day.

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1519-Twins-Daily-Blog-Links-4-4

I'd like to try establishing a "Twins Daily Newsroom." It would basically consist of several - maybe as many as dozen or so - members who look through RSS feeds of Twins news and take turns posting some of the more interesting stories each day as threads in the forum. Exactly how we would set up the access and coordinate things is something we'll work out, but for now, I just want to gauge interest. So, if you think that sounds like it might be kind of fun, PLEASE SEND ME AND EMAIL at John at Bonnes dot com. Please DO NOT send me a Twins Daily message or volunteer in the comments below - I'm afraid I'm going to miss something. Thanks, John

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1507-Gleeman-and-the-Geek-Ep-87-Opening-Day-Minnesota-Twins-Podcast

John and Aaron talk about loving Opening Day at the ballpark and on the couch, the Minnesota Twins' lowest expectations ever, moving Joe Mauer up and Brian Dozier down in the batting order, what to do with Justin Morneau, appreciating the greatness of Johan Santana, bullpen and bench usage issues, finding what you need on Ticket King, exactly how bad the rotation can get, and why baseball is so damn comforting. Here are: the podcasts the rss feed if you want to subscribe and the podcast on iTunes. Or just click below:

John and Aaron talk about loving Opening Day at the ballpark and on the couch, the Minnesota Twins' lowest expectations ever, moving Joe Mauer up and Brian Dozier down in the batting order, what to do with Justin Morneau, appreciating the greatness of Johan Santana, bullpen and bench usage issues, finding what you need on Ticket King, exactly how bad the rotation can get, and why baseball is so damn comforting. Here are: the podcasts the rss feed if you want to subscribe and the podcast on iTunes. Or just click below:

On the other hand, a lot of people can say they saw Carew play. But how many can say the same about Kusick?

We'll happily put up with your comments and occasional posts until that novel project comes together. In fact, I think I'll do the same.

Ken Rosenthal wrote a story on 12 managers that are thin ice, including Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. He can't figure out why the Twins would fire him and things Gardy will be fine if they do... I suspect he's right. If Gardy wants to keep managing (and he seems like the kind of guy who would) he'll be hired by someone fast. Don't you think? Both L.A. managers among 12 skippers on the hot seat for 2013 - MLB News | FOX Sports on MSN

Do we have official word on what happened here? He had an option, I thought. So that leaves either a trade or they took him off of the 40-man roster and subjected him to waivers. Huh.

One thing I just realized is missing - poutine. How tough can it be to make a decent poutine?

For discussion about the updated comment policy: http://twinsdaily.com/minnesota-twins-talk/5759-updated-comment-policy.html

Lord, but he was good for the Twins. I wonder, assuming he never comes back - was he good enough to retire his number? Off the top of my head, I say no, though the Twins Hall of Fame is a lock. Anyone want to do some research on that?

Perfectly stated Brock. The problem isn't that a team can never cut payroll. The problem is that the Twins did so despite glaring holes and other, better options. I loved the tweet because the Twins have been consistent on this message: Ryan had the money, he just didn't spend it. It isn't what Ryan DID that's so egregious (other than Correia). It's what Ryan DIDN'T do that's so egregious.

So of course my mom turned me onto this. Glen Perkins home was recently featured in MSP's Home magazine. Gotta say, lotta cool stuff in here. Someone in that family has some creativity (or a hell of designer). Shop + Style Features | The Best of the Twin Cities | Mpls.St..Paul Magazine

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1490-Top-10-Stories-For-2013-2-Whither-Morneau

[ATTACH=CONFIG]3601[/ATTACH]“Look at every path closely and deliberately, then ask ourselves this crucial question: Does this path have a heart? If it does, then the path is good. If it doesn't, it is of no use.” - Carlos Castenada It was seven years ago – in 2006 – that Justin Morneau won his American League Most Valuable Player award. That year Brad Radke was still pitching. Johan Santana was still a Twin. All that existed of Target Field was the funding. And Justin Morneau was just 25 years old. This year, he’ll turn 32. And his six-year contract with the Twins, which was signed a year after he won the MVP, will end. The question is whether that will also be the end of his Twins career. ~~~ This is a story from a free ebook that TwinsDaily is publishing on Opening Day that previews the Minnesota Twins 2013 season. To get your free copy, just make sure you follow @TwinsDaily on Twitter or Like our Facebook page. ~~~ Morneau followed that 2006 season with three-and-a-half productive seasons, never giving anyone cause to doubt that he would finish his career as one of the top Twins of all time. But midway through 2010, which was shaping up to be the best season he had ever had, he slid into second base and his head hit John McDonald’s knee. It gave him a concussion, ended his season and ruined huge stretches of two more. By most observations, that seems to be behind him now, as do the nagging injuries and rust that the hiatus also brought. Morneau is in a position to have a healthy, productive season. Whether he will or not is one question. The second is what the Twins will do if he does. Worst Case Scenario We’ve seen the worst case scenario. It’s the second half of 2010. And 2011. And the first half of 2012. The worst case scenario is that Morneau is hurt – a wrist injury or a back injury or a case of hypothermia from returning to Canada sometime before June. But worst of all would be another serious concussion, which might end his career. Best Case Scenario The tougher question is “What is the best case scenario?” Obviously it involves Morneau rediscovering his boom-boom stick (as Bat Girl used to call it). But then what? Your answer may depend on whether you want to follow your head or your heart. Your head is going to ask whether it makes sense for the Twins to invest in a 32-year-old with a recent injury history that would give even the Canadian health care system pause. This is a team that is actively rebuilding, who has several high-upside prospects approaching the majors, and some of them have their own boom-boom sticks. Is it time for Morneau to make room, just like it was time for Doug Mientkiewicz to make room for him? But your heart wants to know why we would cut bait on a player who could still end up as one of the best Twins of all time. Morneau has a decent chance this year of moving up to fourth all-time on the Twins home run list, and third place (Bob Allison) and second place (Kent Hrbek) are within reach before his career is over. Morneau can serve as a bridge from one generation of the Twins to the next, just like Brad Radke did for the last generation. Plus, he lives here. He married here. Can’t we, as Minnesota Twins fans, EVER have nice things? Signs To Look For Obviously, a lot depends on Morneau. He needs to stay healthy. He needs to be productive. It would be best if he could hit left-handers again like he seemed to over the second half of last season. But he’s not the whole equation. Playing about 50 yards behind Morneau on the diamond is “right-fielder” Chris Parmelee. Like Morneau in 2006, Parmelee is 25 years old. Like Morneau, he’s a left-handed hitter. Last year as a 24-year-old, he slugged 17 home runs in just 228 AB in AAA-Rochester, or one every 13+ at-bats. (Morneau slugged 22 in 288 AB – or one every 13 AB – as a 23-year-old.) Finally, Parmelee’s best position, where he started all 62 games in Rochester, is first base. It’s probably fair to suggest that if Parmelee hits well, it would make losing Morneau easier on the Twins front office. There is also the Toronto Blue Jays. They’ve coveted Morneau both for his performance and Canadian ties for years. And despite their other expensive roster additions, their designated hitter is still Adam Lind, who hasn’t cleared a 734 OPS since 2009. If they find themselves in the middle of contention and with a black hole in their lineup, why not pay the freight on Morneau? But will the Twins listen? It might depend on whether they want to trust their head or their heart. You'll get to kick off Opening Day with your free @TwinsDaily Minnesota Twins 2013 Season Preview Ebook. Just add us to your Twitter feed by following us, or tell us you like us (we're pathetic like that). We'll publish a link to the free ebook on Opening Day on both sites.

You should be so lucky. :-)

"or"?

I did not know baseball-reference had this. That is awesome. I've just spent 15 minutes playing with it. I learned: 1) that the Twins have had a LOT of 20th picks in the draft, including Span, Plouffe, Parmelee and Torii Hunter. 2) the fourth pick in the draft can net some pretty good players.