diehardtwinsfan

http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshbenjamin/2015/11/09/byung-ho-park-wont-fix-the-minnesota-twins/ worth reading. I'm a bit too intoxicated to comment. But probably worth bringing to attention. The gist is that Park won't fix what's wrong with the Twins. Thoughts?

the K/BB rate? He sported a 1:1 ratio at one time... something Walker never did. He Ks, I get that, and it's a concern. But Walker doesn't exactly walk (AFL not withstanding).

yeah, got in to S1E3 today. I could be hooked. Too bad Netflix doesn't have it. As a technical guy who knows quite a bit about hacking, not impressed. As a viewer... this show is excellent.

Your problem is assming the either/or. The choice isn't Democrat vs. Republican. That's statist vs. statist. Your choice is statist vs. change. Neither Dems nor Reps represent change. That's a fact.

and they are woefully wrong. This is a man that sold our nuclear secrets to the Chinese for campaign finances. He should be in jail. His only saving grace was to be much like his wife is now and recognize where the wind is blowing and be out in front of it. But he was very much responsible for the mess we are in. Glass-Steagle was repealed under his watch. He was a PR disaster wherever he went, and sold the country out to corporate interests whereever he could. Look, I'm not a Bush backer by any means, but Clinton wasn't what I'd call a good President.

I was a big fan of his dad. He's not quite there in that category, but yeah, he's better than the rest. Problem is that he's become too mainstream for his dad's followers and is too scary for the establishment.

Now that is funny.

You lost me right here. He balance the budget (which I liked). Beyond that, not so much. He had a Republican Congress for most of his time, which essentially means he didn't get much done. I suppose in today's politics, not getting anything done is preferable to the alternative, but great is not an adjective I'd use to describe that.

As an R in the 90s who now votes Independent, I'll say this. The D's seem to have changed fundamentally in much the same way as the Rs. They both support the same elite interests that have bought them out. The PLATFORMS have changed little since then. The results, on the other hand, only change based on what will benefit their sponsors financially... which sadly is very little. Both party's aren't two separate entites, but "two wings of the same bird" leading this nation to destruction. That bird is statism. I really think this country would be benefited by two (or more) parties not named Democrat or Republican. Like it or not, both of them have sold out their base. Their base keeps holding on to the idea that they serve an ideal that they've long since forgotten or serve a cause that, quite frankly, they are better being in the 'fixing' category (like the Dems in gay marriage or the Reps in abortion) than what they'd actually be in if these issues were resolved as it motivates their base to the polls. Statism is the true evil, as it keeps Americans polarized over insignficant things such as abortion or gay marriage while they continue to move this country on a path to destruction.

Really? I'm still searching for a legit candidate from those eras? Regan? Spending increased? Clinton? Well, he balanced the budget at least. Unfortunately, I have little positive to say for him other than that.

I know a thing or two about SPC due to a degree that I earned and never used. 5 data points in a row above average is considered something more than random distribution, which is essentially a factor that can be changed. 4 is not. That means that the home/road splits are right on the border. Given the numbers you posted, I think there's a difference, but it really isn't that much... certainly not enough to mortgage the farm.

Based on your math, the team gets 1 additional out every 3rd game at home, or if you want to simply it, every 2/3 game total. That's not a guaranteed K either, so at best (based on the park factors mentioned above) .6 K/9. Most likely .2 K/9. His home/away splits are a bit more beneficial there as they say there's a 1K/9 difference, so perhaps the means of calculating them are wrong? Not sure. That said, I'm not sure I'd mortgage a lot on Sonny Gray. I'm guessing Beane won't be asking for Nolasco and Gibson, and that is what I'd want to give.

Seriously... Shields isn't an upgrade anymore... Look at his stats... and remember this was in a pitcher's park. Stay away. Kimbrel and Norris, absolutely, but Shields is Nolasco 2.0.

What jumps out here is the Mets (in the WS) and the Yankees (who always compete). No one mentioned the Mets in the article, but there's a need, a drive, the fact that they are close, and I'm pretty sure they have pieces we could use. Thoughts there?

I place the odds south of 25%. I think Ryan likely has a good idea of what he can get for him and already has some framework that he can accept. I like that idea. I like Plouffe as well, but I think at this point, he helps the team more in a trade than he does staying.

I got to admit that I nearly spit my lunch out today when I saw the ESPN ticker. Completely unexpected. I'm a tad bit skeptical, but I have to admit that I really like the them going for it. It's an aggressive boom or bust move, from a team that could use some impact players. My somewhat random thoughts: 1) If it fails, I hope they don't do a Danny Santana or a Nishikoia move... send to to Rochester if it's clear he isn't ready. 2) I don't think this means the Twins lost leverage with Plouffe. If anything, teams will know he's on the block, and given the lack of 3B options out there, I think the Twins will move him for something of value. I don't see it being Lucroy (as the Brewers are rebuilding), but I could see Norris or Braves prospect Christian Bentancourt, whose internet searches seem to get confused with Christiana Bentancourt for some strange reason I could also see them moving him for a couple of high ceiling low A prospects, and given the top heavy nature of the system right now, I wouldn't be against that if they have another means to fill the C spot. 3) I do hope that the Twins have a fall back plan if this doesn't work. They have a few ways to juggle the roster as they can move Mauer to OF, or call up Kepler/Buxton/Vargas, which I suppose that's the likely scenario. 4) I have to think that this the end for Arcia. Perhaps he still starts in RF, but there isn't going to be a DH spot for him if his defense is attrocious as always. I wouldn't be shocked if he's moved this offseason as well. I'm a bit down on that if he is. Too much potential in that bat, so unless he's the prospect moved for a guy like Lucroy, I'm not a fan. 5) I really hope that this isn't it. Given the oddly aggressive nature and the rumors of the Twins planning on going crazy internationally next year, I'm really thinking that there may be a couple of other bold moves that aren't so characteristic of Ryan. I may rethink my thoughts on him stepping down at the end of the year if he keeps this up... even more so if he hits on some of them.

yeah, no to AJ. I'd plug Arcia in there for now as primary DH/part time OF. He's out of options. That said, if you could pull off #1 and get Zunio for Arcia/Harrison/Jorge, I'd pull the trigger pretty quick. Not quite so sure if Seattle will pull the trigger there, but if that were an option, I'd do it. Zunio is certainly young enough that he could still be the major leaguer people thought he'd be.

Gibson was a top 10 guy that fell due to injury. That's not a safe pick by any means. He was an upside guy. I think we forget that given his heavy sinker, but he got quite a few Ks in college and really upped that this season. I wouldn't be shocked at all if he takes another step forward in 2016.

You apparently haven't met my parents. I took one look at his platform and that was good enough for me to say no. My dad thinks Carson is the savior of the world. Trump will be fun to watch for the trainwreck that will at some point unfold, though I'm rather surprised it hasn't happened yet. If he keeps it going for another year, he's your next President... then we get 4 years of trainwreck..

Keep voting the lesser of two evils, and that's all you'll ever get. These types of elections will go away when enough people say screw it and vote for a 3rd party candidate. The other two will get their acts together quickly or quickly become as relevant as the Federalist party.

So I caught S1E1 on Delta studio this week on my flight to Tampa. Not typically impressed with hacking moves, and like any hacking movie, it's pretty clear Hollywood doesn't have decent security people on their pay roll, though at the very least they used the word 'root kit' in a contextually accurate context... Regardless, beyond that I really liked the first episode. Anyone else seen this? It's apparently on Hulu.

That looks disgusting. Then again, I've never been a fan of Nachos.

yeah Seth, if you ever get him on here to do a Q&A, that would be nice. A bit surprised how low he is on Thorpe given how high he was last year, though I know he takes injury into account. Pretty good list.

Figured I'd post a link here. He's a Twins fan and does them first when he puts his list together. Still a top 10 system even after graduating a few. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/11/5/9677606/minnesota-twins-top-20-prospects-for-2016

There's no reasonable room for an ace and no one is going to take a package of Plouffe, Milone, and Nolasco to get one. The Twins need to trade all of these guys and I'll be quite honestly surprised if more than one is in a different uniform to start 2016. We have a nice promising young corps of pitchers with Gibson, Duffey, and May as well as Hughes and Santana who can be pretty solid number 2s (and possibly pitch like that ace for a stretch). Not to mention that there's Berrios waiting in the wings. Go get help in the pen. Get help at catcher. Find a decent fall back plan in the OF if Rosario, Buxton, Kepler, Hicks, and Arcia all do not pan out, but do not go mortgage the farm/future to add to that log jam of pitchers.