John Bonnes

This has been one crummy February, and this slowness of this thaw is killing me. You're right - it's hard to imagine that baseball is mere weeks away.

I don't think anyone believes that money is the only factor. Nor that winning is. There is a balance. But for a guy looking at a 1 year $7 million deal, and a 1-year $8 million deal, I got to think it comes down to the money. And it probably should.

I don't think so. I think there is a minimum amount of time before you're allowed to trade a player who you signed as a free agent. It's a real pickle Lohse is in. I don't know how he gets out of it if he doesn't sign with the Cards. Is there a point at which he no longer costs the signing team a draft pick?

I'm sorry I didn't check in on this thread before today. The Twins Daily community prides itself on the respectful way it treats fellow members of the community. Starting on the second page of this thread, a few condescending comments violated that statndard of behavior, and it's led to increasingly personal attacks. I suspect some of these comment are meant to help police the site, but you can't attack other members, even if it's not vulgar. We can't have the board operate like that. It only leads to additional attacks, both by the attacked and by others who view it as the way the board works. If, instead, you want to flag the initial post for the moderators, please do so. If you can't trust yourself to comment in that way, then please remove yourself from the conversation. (There are plenty of other threads and topics which you can enjoy.) I've already sent out a few warnings, and bans are next. Thank you for your understanding.

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For years, it's been clear that the Twins belong to Joe Mauer. It's nice to to get a little divine confirmation. [ATTACH=CONFIG]3368[/ATTACH] Late last night news broke that Joe's Mauer's wife, Maddie, is pregnant with Twins. (Oops. I meant "twins." The capitalization has become a habit. Though I suppose it is possible that she could be pregnant with future Twins. Gotta love Mauer those genes.) According to Joe, everything so far is "so good." Yes, yes it is Joe. For all of us. Let the "extra-base power" jokes begin! Of course, Joe's not the one who gets to carry not one, but two human beings inside himself for the next couple of months. Maddie might want to approach the next eight months with the same attitude Denny Hocking did when his wife had twins. When someone pointed out to him that he was the first franchise player to have twins while playing for the Twins, he replied "At least I don't play for the Sixers." I'll be honest, this news has put a little hop in my step today. first, because it is the most Minnesotan story ever. For most of the rest of the nation, if the news broke that a ballplayer was going to "have" twins, they would have assumed they looked like this: [ATTACH=CONFIG]3369[/ATTACH] Nope, not in Minnesota. We assume two overweight, overly-friendly guys, shaking hands over a river. (Maddie can be happy she isn't carrying THAT for the next eight months, too.) I also love that the Twins franchise player is having twins. Three years ago, when I reviewed that $23 million per year contract that Joe got, I didn't think of this as a possible benefit. And if this news came down today and Mauer was a Yankee or a Red Sock, I'd be a little bummed. It would have been just one more log on the "We're Minnesotans and we can't have nice things" bonfire. I'm a little tired of watching that thing burn. Instead, the more ethereal of us can talk ourselve into this being a positive omen. The Baby Jesus having twins? Our favorite Twin having twins just about the same time that the Twins are themselves being reborn? That's GOT to be good, right? I can get a little carried away. Why not? It's spring. The time when a young man's mind wanders to love, and baseball, and babies. And Twins. Er, twins. Oh, hell - TWINS.

MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger has a gracious profile of Chris Colabello, the 29-year-old first baseman who toiled for six years in an independent league but has an outside shot as a bench bat with the Twins sometime this year. There are plenty of good quotes I could pull, but let's go with this one from a different writer.... Incidentally, Robert Frost played some baseball, at least casually. There are pictures and everything. Chris Colabello is trying to go from the independent leagues to the Twins | twinsbaseball.com: News

I wonder how this story is going to go over.... Phil Miller watched Mauer and Bruno go out for some extra swing practice on Wednesday. Afterwards, Bruno talked a little bit about why... The assumption among Mauer-haters is that he's uncoachable, or even unapproachable. So I'm sure some will view this as a member of the coaching staff grabbing some reins. When, in fact, it might be that Mauer worked with Vavra much the same way, and we just didn't have Miller there to report it, or Vavra didn't talk afterwards about it. It's interesting to me that this is going to be such a great blank canvas for people to project thier paradigm upon. It'll be fascinated to see reactions. Mauer has private lesson to work on his swing | StarTribune.com

I defy you to read this Pioneer Press story about Darin Mastroianni and not end up rooting for the guy. First, because he's just a spiteful SOB: But also, because he's our best chance to see a Minnesota Twins with a straight steal of home. He stole three his senior year in college, two of which were in critical games. But the majors.... I want this to happen so bad. And then I want a Parker Hageman gif fest breaking it down. Minnesota Twins: Speedy Darin Mastroianni keeps proving doubters wrong - TwinCities.com

Mike Berardino notes that Chris Parmelee has a poor and a good throw in today's game. And it was discussed by Gardenhire: I think he's safe in right field, regardless, but I hate hearing stuff like that. Minnesota Twins: Chris Parmelee plays good throw, bad throw in field - TwinCities.com

Tom Powers of the Pioneer Press has a feel-good story about 20-year-old Twins prospect Max Kepler. What is a successful year for Kepler this year? Does he need to have a big year in Cedar Rapids? Is it a step backwards if he doesn't end the season in High-A? Tom Powers: Minnesota Twins' German prospect considered wunderbar - TwinCities.com

Ben Revere made some remarks to 1500 ESPN's Phil Mackey (among others) today and had nothing but praise for the Twins.... ....and especially for Terry Ryan.... 1) I'm going to miss Ben Revere 2) I think it's pretty clear that the overwhelming criticism the Twins received for drafting Ben Revere has been proven wrong. Not only did he make it to the majors, not only was he productive (especially when you include his defense), but because he skill set is rare, the Twins flipped him for two players that might be his equal. The Ben Revere era was very good for the Twins. http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Ben_Revere_speaks_highly_of_GM_Terry_Ryan_in_return_to_Fort_Myers022713

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Tyler Mason interviews Twins President Dave St. Peter, mostly about off-the-field stuff, but ends with some talk about this year's team. Good news Dave....you can still jump on that 64.5 over/under in Vegas. http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/02/23/13/St-Peter-I-fully-expect-us-to-be-competi/landing_twins.html?blockID=868973&feedID=3546

Phil Mackey tells us that folks seem very impressed with Trevor May, the starting pitching prospect the Twins received in a trade for Ben Revere this offseason. Last year in AA, he was pretty wild, but the Twins hope they can change that: If I remember right, May's second half of the year at AA was quite a step up from his first half. Spring training observations are nice, but I'm most encouraged by that. Spring Observations: Trevor May is good representation of new approach - Minnesota Twins news | 1500 ESPN Twin Cities ? Minnesota Sports News & Opinion (Twins, Vikings, Wolves, Wild, Gophers) | Sportswire: Minnesota Twins

Plouffe played today, going 1-2 with an RBI. He played four innings at 3B, though he didn't get any opportunities. He doesn't sound too bitter about waiting a couple of extra days now that he's back: Plouffe goes 1-for-2 in spring debut | MLB.com: News

As of Tuesday morning, he's awaiting for trainer's clearance: Minnesota Twins: Anthony Swarzak feeling great, waiting for OK to play catch - TwinCities.com

Ron Gardenhire started all three center field candidates in the outfield yesterday (and encouraged La Velle E Neal to take the three-hour road trip to Dunedin to see them.) Mike Berardino wants a nickname for them, and Joe Benson hasn't been able to help him.... Are we that creative? Well, are we? Minnesota Twins' speedy outfield needs a name - TwinCities.com

Phil Miller gives some notes from today's 8-5 win. Pitcher Mike Pelfrey was chased before his two innings were complete, but felt good about most of the outing. He's been the "feel good" story of camp so far. I'll feel good when his velocity picks up quite a bit... Pelfrey gets much of it right | StarTribune.com

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