John Bonnes

The Cardinals ranked 5th overall in hitting and 7th overall in giving up runs. Their starters ranked fourth overall in ERA. This is a very solid team and very balanced. It's probably worth noting that while their manager changed this year, their GM changed before the 2008 season. John Mozeliak might be the best GM nobody's ever heard of. They had won the World Series in 2006 (the surprising win over the Tigers) and finished 3rd in their division the year before. In his first year, they won 86 games, but finished 4th. The next year they won their division - and lost in the first round. In the three years since then, they haven't won their division, but made it into the playoffs two times as the wild card, wining the World Series last year and advancing to the NLDS next year. The most games they've won in his tenure....91 games. But the least is 86. And that's in the weak NL Central. That sure sounds a lot like the Twins of the last decade. I don't know the secret sauce for winning in the playoffs. Chutzpah is as good a name as any, but it's good because it's so nebulous and easy to claim after the fact. When the Cards were down to their last out, with a lone runner on third, did anyone here think "No problem. The Cards have Chutzpah!" Hell no. If you can identify that, get a bookie. T hat doesn't mean it's all luck. It just means it isn't something one can plan for.

I'm hesitant to find stick two guys who are still developing into major leaguers on the bench. I'm not a fan of Parmelee being sent back to AAA, but if he's going to be the odd man out, then Gardy has to really work to get him into the lineup at the beginning of the season when he has a lot of healthy veterans. I don't see that happening. And Herrmann needs to play in AAA or AA everyday. Butera is a perfectly acceptable option to have 150-200 AB, though I'd be just as happy without a 3rd catcher.

FWIW, if this isn't already a topic in the forum, I'd be interested in seeing what the wider community thinks about it. Especially when you're writing a short entry and asking for feedback, it makes sense to post it in the forum.

I like the story and I like your style of writing Brad. I'm looking forward to reading more. Thanks.

Thanks everyone. Reserve plenty of accolades for yourselves. What makes this a great community is the community.

In the New York Times, there is a story about the Lindell AC, the famous dive bar in Detroit where athletes used to rub shoulders with the fans. It's also the setting for one of the most infamous stories in Minnesota Twins history, a story that would be unbelievable if it happened today. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/09/sports/missing-the-lindell-ac-in-detroit-where-athletes-mixed-with-fans.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&tntemail0=y&emc=tnt Maybe we can get Kyle Lohse back here this offseason so he and Gardy can reenact it? If so, it won't be at the Lindell AC. It closed in 2002, but it had a heck of a run.

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?1087-On-Writing-Coaching-and-Paul-Molitor

“If I want to write about baseball, what should I do?” It isn’t uncommon that I’m asked this question by some well-meaning younger person who is trying to find their spot in what feels like a crowded world. Bluntly, but as tenderly as I can, I usually say: “Write. Preferably, about baseball.” I’m blunt, because there are so many ways to write about baseball. Start a blog. (If you want an instant Twins audience, you can used the one you have here.) Or write an email to friends. Or use a forum thread as a chance to research and write about a topic. The barriers for entry have disappeared. But I also respond with tenderness because I suspect that most of the people that ask me this question will not write about baseball. If they wanted to write about baseball, they would already be writing about baseball. What they’re really asking is “If I think I might want TO BE PAID to write about baseball, what should I do?” The answer is the same. In fact, the answer is the same if you’re wondering which of those two questions you’re really asking. Just write, preferably every day, about whatever you want, and you’ll figure it out. If you do that, you’re already a baseball writer, and now you just need to figure out how to get paid. You’ll also figure out that there is more to writing about baseball than writing about baseball. Such as marketing yourself, finding an audience, generating ideas and asking uncomfortable questions. If you don’t like it, then you were interested in drawing a paycheck, but you didn’t want to write about baseball. Which is fine. Try again. You’ll likely find something you like better and get paid to do that. Not every job is that cut and dry. I make my living as a business systems analyst and I’m happy being one. I love problem solving. I like figuring things out and teaching others what I’ve figured out. I like building things that people can use. All of these are aspects of being a business systems analyst, but I don’t know that I would do it every day just because I liked it. The regular hours and solid paycheck have plenty to do with why it’s my trade. But writing about baseball is that cut and dry, and coaching is like that too. The litmus test that both pass is “Would a lot of people do it for nearly free?” If so, then you had better have enough real passion to do before you become. This is why I’m always so puzzled when Paul Molitor’s name comes up as a possible assistant coach for the Minnesota Twins. Molitor last served as a full year coach for a team back in 2001, when he was Tom Kelly’s bench coach. He served in that capacity for three years. Since then, he’s had other jobs, mostly roving around the minor leagues as a special instructor, but he hasn’t managed a minor league team. I can’t recall him even being an assistant coach for a Twins minor league affiliate. That seems odd for someone who wants to be a baseball manager. Like writing, if someone wants to manage a baseball team, they should manage a baseball team. Mike Redmond, for example, has been managing baseball teams (and succeeding) at High-A and Low-A the last two years. Not surprisingly, he’s being mentioned as an option if (or more likely, when) the Marlins dismiss Ozzie Guillen. If you remember Matt LeCroy, he’s managing too, for the AA-Harrisburg Senators, a Nationals affiliate. That’s also someone who is doing what they want to be. Just so I'm clear - I'm not knocking Molitor. I have no doubt that if he wanted to be a coach, there are all kinds of teams and affiliates that would welcome him with open arms. I'm knocking us for inserting his name in the discussion when there isn't much evidence that is what he wants to do. To their credit, the Twins seem to share this philosophy. The three rumored new assistant coaches, Tom Brunansky, Bobby Cuellar and Gene Glynn, would join the Twins after coaching AAA-Rochester last year. Each has shown they know how to handle the role for which they are rumored to be hired. Because they’re already doing it.

“If I want to write about baseball, what should I do?” It isn’t uncommon that I’m asked this question by some well-meaning younger person who is trying to find their spot in what feels like a crowded world. Bluntly, but as tenderly as I can, I usually say: “Write. Preferably, about baseball.” I’m blunt, because there are so many ways to write about baseball. Start a blog. (If you want an instant Twins audience, you can used the one you have here.) Or write an email to friends. Or use a forum thread as a chance to research and write about a topic. The barriers for entry have disappeared. But I also respond with tenderness because I suspect that most of the people that ask me this question will not write about baseball. If they wanted to write about baseball, they would already be writing about baseball. What they’re really asking is “If I think I might want TO BE PAID to write about baseball, what should I do?” The answer is the same. In fact, the answer is the same if you’re wondering which of those two questions you’re really asking. Just write, preferably every day, about whatever you want, and you’ll figure it out. If you do that, you’re already a baseball writer, and now you just need to figure out how to get paid. You’ll also figure out that there is more to writing about baseball than writing about baseball. Such as marketing yourself, finding an audience, generating ideas and asking uncomfortable questions. If you don’t like it, then you were interested in drawing a paycheck, but you didn’t want to write about baseball. Which is fine. Try again. You’ll likely find something you like better and get paid to do that. Not every job is that cut and dry. I make my living as a business systems analyst and I’m happy being one. I love problem solving. I like figuring things out and teaching others what I’ve figured out. I like building things that people can use. All of these are aspects of being a business systems analyst, but I don’t know that I would do it every day just because I liked it. The regular hours and solid paycheck have plenty to do with why it’s my trade. But writing about baseball is that cut and dry, and coaching is like that too. The litmus test that both pass is “Would a lot of people do it for nearly free?” If so, then you had better have enough real passion to do before you become. This is why I’m always so puzzled when Paul Molitor’s name comes up as a possible assistant coach for the Minnesota Twins. Molitor last served as a full year coach for a team back in 2001, when he was Tom Kelly’s bench coach. He served in that capacity for three years. Since then, he’s had other jobs, mostly roving around the minor leagues as a special instructor, but he hasn’t managed a minor league team. I can’t recall him even being an assistant coach for a Twins minor league affiliate. That seems odd for someone who wants to be a baseball manager. Like writing, if someone wants to manage a baseball team, they should manage a baseball team. Mike Redmond, for example, has been managing baseball teams (and succeeding) at High-A and Low-A the last two years. Not surprisingly, he’s being mentioned as an option if (or more likely, when) the Marlins dismiss Ozzie Guillen. If you remember Matt LeCroy, he’s managing too, for the AA-Harrisburg Senators, a Nationals affiliate. That’s also someone who is doing what they want to be. Just so I'm clear - I'm not knocking Molitor. I have no doubt that if he wanted to be a coach, there are all kinds of teams and affiliates that would welcome him with open arms. I'm knocking us for inserting his name in the discussion when there isn't much evidence that is what he wants to do. To their credit, the Twins seem to share this philosophy. The three rumored new assistant coaches, Tom Brunansky, Bobby Cuellar and Gene Glynn, would join the Twins after coaching AAA-Rochester last year. Each has shown they know how to handle the role for which they are rumored to be hired. Because they’re already doing it.

So we were wondering how many prospects the Twins might have in BA's top 50 or to 100 list next year. Assuming about an even split between hitters and pitchers, the answer seems to be four or five, but they might all be in the top 50 or thereabouts. That's awfully good to see.

I am fairly certain Span and Parmelee would not net you James Shields. It would take more than that. FWIW, I talked to Jason Collette, who I trust to know as much about the Rays as anyone, about a straight up Span for Shields trade. He thought that made quite a bit of sense. Shields is relatively cheap for his contract, but it's still an expensive contract ($9M in 2013 I think? More in 2014?) and he's not a dominant pitcher, just pretty reliable.

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?1085-Gleeman-and-the-Geek-Ep-62-Coaching-Changes-and-Seth-Stohs

The Minnesota Twins blow up their coaching staff, so Seth Stohs joins Aaron and John to talk about Ron Gardenhire's leash, the TwinsCentric Offseason Handbook, what the shopping plans are for free agent pitching, casting ballots for team MVP, why no one seems to want Paul Molitor, the futures of Trevor Plouffe and Liam Hendriks, how to lessen the upcoming outfield logjam, and why long podcasts are the best podcasts. Here are: the podcasts the rss feed if you want to subscribe and the podcast on iTunes.

The Minnesota Twins blow up their coaching staff, so Seth Stohs joins Aaron and John to talk about Ron Gardenhire's leash, the TwinsCentric Offseason Handbook, what the shopping plans are for free agent pitching, casting ballots for team MVP, why no one seems to want Paul Molitor, the futures of Trevor Plouffe and Liam Hendriks, how to lessen the upcoming outfield logjam, and why long podcasts are the best podcasts. Here are: the podcasts the rss feed if you want to subscribe and the podcast on iTunes.

I know from our recent poll that the $6.95 initial price isn't onerous to most of our readers, but I also know that the last thing we want to do is exclude any offseason junkies because times are a little tough. So let's do it this way.... 1) I assume people might be hesitant to ask for this publicly, so if you want a TwinsCentric Offseason Handbook, but feel like you can't afford it, EMAIL ME (not message me through the system) at John at Bonnes dottt com. Since we only have five to giveaway, please only do so if you feel like you otherwise cannot afford it. Also, please include your Twins Daily username. 2) If anyone wants to make a similar pledge to purchase as Anonymous is, whether it's one more copy or ten, post it in the thread below. And THANK YOU. I'll find time to cross compare the pledges with the sales logs, tally up the giveaway copies that have been purchased and send out copies to the first X number of requests we get. Let's try it this year and see how it goes. Maybe it can be an annual thread. Or maybe it's a logistical disaster. I'm willing to find out. John

What evidence is there that this is the case? The Twins signed Willlingham at a reasonable price, Doumit too. Maybe Carroll.

This breaks my heart. Healing prayers go out to Pat and Stephanee.

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php?1080-2013-Offseason-Handbook-Presale!

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?1077-Twins-Daily-Meetup-Tonight

Fixed. Now I've got to go fix it on the Strib. Stupid late-night writing....