John Bonnes

At long last our national nightmare is over. Span will be put on the DL today, 19 days father he was injured, having played in four games and getting five hits. Also, one game before rosters expand.

Seriously, it's like the Twins DL moves are a farce. I may need to write one. Theater of the absurd. Span to the DL on August 30th? I couldn't have made that up.

Cool post. Do you have any links that talk about the statistics you're quoting? In case someone wants to learn more about FDP?

In the past, they've always extended it by a year so he isn't a lame duck. If I had to handicap what will happen, I'd say it would go like this... 90% Extension 7% - no extension and ride it out 2% - He walks away 1% - He's fired. I'm probably understaing the likelihood of an extension just because I wanted us whole numbers. 95/4.9/.1/.01 might be better.

I second that request. Look forward to the addition of new locations as players are called up or signed to the team in the coming years. I'd like some suggestions on this. We've had a few different items that I would have loved to have on a reference page. This, the salary chart, spring training battles, etc. But I haven't found a great way to do that. I suppose we could just start a story with all these references and then put a link on the front page that points to it, and then update the reference page when stuff like this comes along. Any other ideas?

Well, that obviously rocks. Anyone else struck by how much thicker the map is out east than out west? I would've expected a lot more flags in California. Do the different colors mean anything?

It looks like the Twins specifically opened up a 3rd spot on the 40 man by outrighting Gray. So I'll start with Vasquez, Slama and...I kinda think Hicks. With Span dinged up (shocker!) I think theyll roll with anothert CFer. And Ill go with Dozier & Carson, not Escobar. That'll be it, I think. Except for Bruno. I bet we hear Bruno is around too.

The timing on this is the interesting part. If the goal was to add Parmelee, one would think they could wait three more days.It seems like the goal was to outright Gray, meaning it was to open up a spot on the 40 man.... So who are the three Sept callups not on the 40 man?

You are really a talented writer. Thanks for writing this up. I found myself nodding on every point.

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?983-Video-The-85-Metrodome-All-Star-Game

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2191[/ATTACH]Well, this is just precious. The last time the All-Star game to be held in Minnesota was in 1985. The night of the game, just prior to the national broadcast, Channel 11 (when they were WUSA, not KARE) had a half hour special covering it. It's a half-hour long, so make yourself comfortable if you want to watch it. You won't regret it. Among other gems, it includes.... A lead story about how the Metrodome is a terrible ballpark. Tom Ryther, out of breath and in short shorts, trying to catch flyballs in the outfield. Coverage of the pregame events. I did not remember that Tom Brunansky won the home run derby. Of course, I also didn't remember that Jefferson's Marching Band played in the pregame, which I should probably have known since I likely knew several people in that band. Jeff Passolt and Randy Shaver are assistant sports guys, doing on-site introductions for features. A review of "the last time" Minnesota hosted the All-Star game: 1985. Lots of 80s-tastic hair. Interviews with both Calvin Griffith and also with Carl Pohlad after owning the team for one year. It includes a great quote about how he never anticipates the team being a great financial investment. The main theme in the pregame show? "A Family Gathering" that shows how important family life has been in Minnesota throughout its history. It was put together by Tommy Walker, who "also did the opening ceremonies for the Olympics." Tom Brunansky and Kent Hrbek dressed up as the "Bruise Brothers." All-star memories from ex-Twins like Jim Perry, Harmon Killebrew and Bob Allison. And a musical salute to the Twins and their 1985 All-Stars. It will be interesting to see the corresponding coverage that the 2014 game garnishes now that it includes all the hype the internet can generate it. Let me hear your favorite parts of the video or your ideas of how Twins Daily can add to the absurdity of it all.

Souhan gives us "thin" in double quotes, but then doesn't give us the quote by Ryan where he uses that term. Ugh. Maybe we can get the context that was used. I agree - last I looked the market was anything but thin. More interesting to me was the speculation about Ryan's future.... But then Souhan suggests that Ryan is going to be around long term? Ryan's quotes make it sound like he views this as a project (to turn things around) rather than an ongoing job. All I can figure is that Ryan is playing his status close to the vest because he wants to negotiate with the Pohlads or just because he wants to defer to them and let them make the decision?

I have two questions, one factual and one opinion... 1) If Mauer is claimed, and the Twins decide to let him go, can he veto it because of his no-trade clause? Is it a "trade" or is it "waivers?" 2) Can we see any way the Twins would have the balls to do that? One more... 3) Should they do that? I'll admit, I'm torn on 3.

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?973-Back-of-the-Napkin-How-Far-Are-The-2013-Twins-From-Contention

How far are the Twins from contention? One side looks at their dismal record and wants a complete makeover. The other looks at the team's players and thinks they’re just a couple of arms away from a pennant race. Which is it? Let’s do some back-of-the-napkin figuring. As of right now, the Twins are 111 runs under .500. Not wins under .500, but runs under .500. That isn’t good. The Indians are the only American League team that’s worse. The three teams who have the most runs over .500 also happen to be the division leaders. The outlier is the Orioles, who are 45 runs under .500 but still have a shot at the wild card. But for the most part, the teams that are around 40 games over .500 have a decent chance at a playoff spot. So how do the Twins, in 2013, get from -110 to +40? Can they? Is that realistic? It ain’t easy, but the Twins are both blessed and cursed by the same trait – they’re starting pitching is truly dreadful. That’s not breaking news, but just HOW awful they are is both stomach-turning and hope-inducing. They’re the worst team in the American League, and it’s not particularly close. The starting rotation’s ERA is currently 5.56. Next worst is almost a full half run better. The AL average is more than a run better. The median team is 1.2 runs better. And the best team, the Devil Rays, is more than two runs better per game. So where’s the hope? It’s in some simple math. The average AL starting rotation pitches about 990 innings, or about 110 full games worth of innings. If the rotation improves to just second worst in the AL, that’s worth 55 runs. A move to mediocrity brings them another 110 to 130 runs. That at least sounds close to contention. It turns out both sides are right. The Twins are dismal. And they’re a few non-terrible arms from contention. So the argument shifts: how tough is it to cobble together mediocre starting pitching? That depends on who you talk to. The Orioles might say it’s not that daunting, considering their rotation improved from dead last in 2011 to 9th this year with nothing more than a couple of cheaper free agent pickups. On the other hand, the Royals haven’t been better than the 10th best team in the AL since 2003, which is also the last time they were contenders. Twins optimists might point to Scott Diamond, a Rule 5 pickup, as an example of how decent starting pitching can come from where one least expects it. Twins pessimists might point to the other ten players who have started atop the mound at some point this season. None have thrown even 100 innings as a starter. None are likely to. If the front office could find pitching talent, wouldn’t they have found some in the 107 games started by those pitchers? I’m not sure I know the answer. But watching the last few weeks of the season and seeing the performances of Liam Hendriks, Sam Deduno and hopefully Esmerling Vasquez could – and probably should – play a part in the overall direction of the franchise this season. So maybe neither side is right, at least not yet.

How far are the Twins from contention? One side looks at their dismal record and wants a complete makeover. The other looks at the team's players and thinks they’re just a couple of arms away from a pennant race. Which is it? Let’s do some back-of-the-napkin figuring. As of right now, the Twins are 111 runs under .500. Not wins under .500, but runs under .500. That isn’t good. The Indians are the only American League team that’s worse. The three teams who have the most runs over .500 also happen to be the division leaders. The outlier is the Orioles, who are 45 runs under .500 but still have a shot at the wild card. But for the most part, the teams that are around 40 games over .500 have a decent chance at a playoff spot. So how do the Twins, in 2013, get from -110 to +40? Can they? Is that realistic? It ain’t easy, but the Twins are both blessed and cursed by the same trait – they’re starting pitching is truly dreadful. That’s not breaking news, but just HOW awful they are is both stomach-turning and hope-inducing. They’re the worst team in the American League, and it’s not particularly close. The starting rotation’s ERA is currently 5.56. Next worst is almost a full half run better. The AL average is more than a run better. The median team is 1.2 runs better. And the best team, the Devil Rays, is more than two runs better per game. So where’s the hope? It’s in some simple math. The average AL starting rotation pitches about 990 innings, or about 110 full games worth of innings. If the rotation improves to just second worst in the AL, that’s worth 55 runs. A move to mediocrity brings them another 110 to 130 runs. That at least sounds close to contention. It turns out both sides are right. The Twins are dismal. And they’re a few non-terrible arms from contention. So the argument shifts: how tough is it to cobble together mediocre starting pitching? That depends on who you talk to. The Orioles might say it’s not that daunting, considering their rotation improved from dead last in 2011 to 9th this year with nothing more than a couple of cheaper free agent pickups. On the other hand, the Royals haven’t been better than the 10th best team in the AL since 2003, which is also the last time they were contenders. Twins optimists might point to Scott Diamond, a Rule 5 pickup, as an example of how decent starting pitching can come from where one least expects it. Twins pessimists might point to the other ten players who have started atop the mound at some point this season. None have thrown even 100 innings as a starter. None are likely to. If the front office could find pitching talent, wouldn’t they have found some in the 107 games started by those pitchers? I’m not sure I know the answer. But watching the last few weeks of the season and seeing the performances of Liam Hendriks, Sam Deduno and hopefully Esmerling Vasquez could – and probably should – play a part in the overall direction of the franchise this season. So maybe neither side is right, at least not yet.

OK, just to add a log to the hot stove.... The primary objection seems to be that the Twins aren't a King Felix away from contention. So what about this... 1. Trade away Morneau for a mediocre starter, maybe even one that isn't especially cheap but not especially expensive either. 2. Trade for Felix. You can argue what prospects it costs, but I gotta think it can be done for some high upside guys. Come the next prospect rankings, I think you're going to have a couple of 5 stars (Sano, Hicks, Buxton) and a couple of 4 stars (Rosario, Arcia, Berrios at least) to offer. Now the rotation looks like Felix, Diamond, Morneau trade guy, and some combination of Gibson, Hendriks, Deduno, De Vries, Vasquez and Blackburn as the fourth and fifth guys. Is that team really far from contention?

I'll say this....I think the Mariners would at least consider that trade. The big problem is that King Felix is only under control for two more years, so the Twins would need to add his $20M salary AND find pitchers for the other three spots in the lineup.

Great photos. Just great. I especially love Nate Roberts mustache. That is inspired. I also love the tidbit about Vargas' home run and hearing about the young (and promising) relievers. Finally, are you sure Saturday's game didn't seem long because of Mr. Horror Pants "Mr. Shuck" jokes?

:-) Nice job. For future reference, feel free to add a link back to your blog at the top of the story telling where this was originally published.

An opposite field home run (that almost looked like a fly ball off the bat). Nice. Thanks for sharing these TCAnelle. I'd love to see ideas on how TwinsDaily can gather, catalog and share picture like this. I'm afraid I don't know enough about organizing pictures to really lead something like that, but I think we would all support it. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them.

I wonder exactly what the penalty should be. It needs to be commensurate with the risk/reward factor but also allow the possibility of a mistest. The problem is that the risk/reward for someone like Colon or Cabrera is so crazy. Cabrera was supposedly a perennially gifted underachiever who went from barely getting a job to talking about a guaranteed $80m contract. What possible punishment could make that not worth it? What's interesting about the players union being so upset about it is that one punishment would be the the money suddenly becomes not guaranteed. That opens up players to all kinds of possible abuses and they would REALLY need to trust the system. But what if the testing was that they gave samples and some of those samples were saved for future testing when better tests are available? And that in addition to a one-year suspension that player lost all future guaranteed money if they are ever discovered?