minn55441

So does Plouffe's HR grant him a stay of execution? After he struck out with the bases loaded and only one out, I was ready to release him before he got back to the dugout. I have always liked Plouffe and thought he would eventually come around, but I have given up on him, even with the latest HR.

I guess we knew this when we signed him. Very productive when healthy, but has trouble staying on the field. Hopefully this will only be the 15 day's and we get him back.

I don't remember where I heard it but someone quoted Gardy with something like " I hope we take pitchers that can throw in the mid 90's with all 5 of our top picks". Nice to hear that he is on the same page with the rest of us.

Is that correct? Danny is 0-8 so far at Rochester with one K? I thought he had been there all week?

Agreed, he has to learn to field his (a) position. He is too young to already pigeon hole him into the DH role. He's young, let him learn the game. Both in the field and at the plate.

You have to keep Doumit's bat in the lineup everyday end of discussion. I have always been a big Plouffe backer and I've always thought if we just gave him a chance, he would eventually produce. I have now given up all hope. He has had chances at SS, 2B in the outfield and now at 3B. Not only does he struggle in the field and at the plate, he now can't even make simple baseball plays 1) like getting in a run down so that a run can score from third and 2) getting a good jump from third on a squeeze play. I'm not even going to mention the missed pop up in front of the plate. I'd like to see Drew stick around, but we need a another middle infielder or 3B. Hopefully Danny can get things figured out in Rochester and reclaim his spot at third and allow Gardy to play Lexi only as a Utility infielder. The short answer to your question is that although I too would like to see Drew stick around, when Mourneau comes off the DL, he needs to go back to Rochester.

The only question is when do we start cleaning house. Do we wait until the all-star break? Is there anyone that isn't on the trading block besides Joe? I don't see our guys taking the mound to see who earns a spot for next year, rather it is just a matter of who can create some trade value for us this year? It's time for the youth movement. For the last week, when you look up and down the lineup and on the mound, there isn't a lot of Major league experience.

there was another article about trevor Bauer last August in IS. Here is the link http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1189170/index.htm Essentially the same message. He has his a routine with Science behind it as to what is needed and it has been a challenge to get people in baseball to buy into what he is doing. If you have the time, in this same issue, they had a really entertaining article about Dustin Pedroia. I didn't really like the guy until I read the article. Interesting character.

You got it right Alex. We played well enought to go 0-6 this road trip. We were outplayed and outpitched every game. We got lucky the other night and were given a win. I keep thinking we have hit bottom, but just like last year it just keeps getting worse.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. talent evaluation includes not only those outside the organization,but also those inside. Have we over valued our pitching? Try giving away, Liriano, Pavano, Blackburn, Slowy, Hendricks.... right now. Following the 2010 season, when we were on top of the division, should we have known that we had this much downside risk with out pitching? We let a good portion of our bullpen go and we decided to hold onto our starters. Was this a good call? Granted hindsight is 20/20 but who is making the evaluation on our current players and comparing it to what is available outside the organization. Don't even look at the position players, when was the last time we picked up a pitcher that turned out to be better than expected? If the season continues as it is currently headed, what are we going to do for starters in 2013? Who is TR going to rely on to evaluate a possible trade or how agressive we need to be in acquiring a specific free agent? We will have money to spend, but will the money be spent wisely? I just don't have confidence that the people making the decisions over the last 4 to 6 years are going to suddenly get better at their jobs and identify value that no one else sees. Bartolo Colon has thrown 47 innings for the A's with a 2.83 ERA, opponents are only hitting .231 against him. Jason Hammel of the Orioles has spent 6 years with two different teams and the Orioles aquire him and he is currently 4-1 with a 2.09 ERA, batters are hitting only .196 against him in 38 innings? Who made that call? Our best pitching pickup has been Pavano and he certianly hasn't set the world on fire, especially for what he is making.

I agree, we need young arms. The key is multiple arms. A one for one straight up trade for a closer makes no sense what so ever. I can see a group of young prospects for Span, but we need to look to the future. We need some arms that could be ready to contribute in 2014 and 2015.

The big question mark for the Twins to start 2012 was pitching. The first 26 games have done nothing to change that opinion. There was a serious lack of talent in both the starters and relievers at the major league level and I think most would agree the cupboard is bare of young arms in the system. We are currently looking forward to the promotion another teams cast off (Diamond) that already had a chance last year and failed. Is there a solution in sight? The only way to bring quality arms into the organization is to draft (they all end up needing Tommy John surgery), trade (Capps) or through the signing of free agents (Burton, Malony, Marquis and Gray). It's not working. This isn't about money. Take a step back and look at what is happening throughout the rest of the league. Some teams have truly emerged this year because of pitching. Take a look at any of the teams that were projected to finish at the bottom of their divisions and you will see that it is pitching that has kept them in the hunt so far. Just for discussion, look at the Oakland A's. Billy Bean was really questioned this off season for trading away all of the teams good young pitchers. They were said to be mailing in the season by fielding a triple A team and virtually conceding the division to Texas and the Angels. They have a team ERA of 3.43 (twins 5.69), opponent batting average for the team is .245 (Twins .290), as a team they have 162 strikeouts (twins 125). How much are we paying our pitching staff compared to many of these low budget teams? They are getting it done, day in and day out they are sending quality arms to the mound. Gardy make a similar comment in an interview recently "these teams keep bringing out these young pitchers that throw 93,94 mph, one after another. Where are they finding them?" Is it our scouting staff? Is it the way we develop them? Is it the way we coach them at the major league level? Is this something Terry Ryan can fix? Has a new level of talent evaluation been adopted by some teams and left us in the dust? I don't have the an answer to the cause but I think it is very apparent that we have a problem and I'm not sure Terry Ryan has the people in place to make the change.

I've always been a Valencia fan, but he has really looked lost at the plate the last few games. Ok this season. Gardy has never been real happy with his fielding. I think he is the odd man out with the promotion of Dozier. When he came up in 2010, I really hoped that he would claim the position as his and not give it up for 10 years. He played much worse in 2011 and I think there has been another drop off so far this season. As most everyone agrees, Lexi has probably played the best of the three and Carrol has been about as good as expected. Even with his low avg, he has been getting on base and you can tell Gardy likes the quality of his at bats. He has fielded his position as good if not better than expected. The guy that needs to sit and earn his way back on to the field is Danny. [h=1][/h]

So where does Dozier get his first start. SS on a day where we give Carrol the day off or 2b, 3b?

both have played well and have earned a shot. It would be nice to see someone come up and really make an impact. Earn a spot and force their way into the everyday lineup.

Jeremy, thanks for the article.

I wasn't there, but we have to remember this article was written from the perspective of the opposing team. I would never encourage a player to show up a pitcher after a home run. A prime example would be Carlos Guillen, showboating around the bases agasint Jared Weaver last season. Under no cirmcumstances should that be tolerated, at any level of baseball. With that said, with the pace of your ordinary baseball game, you know things are said between dugouts throughout the game. It is a big moment for a player to hit a 2 run dinger in the 9th to take the lead. What is the appropriate amount of time to round the bases in such a situation. I'm sure it is percieved to be a different amount of time whether you are on the celebrating side or if you are in the opposing dugout. I guess we leave it to the Beloit coaching staff to be addressed or not.

Jim, Thanks for the link to the article. A twin with an attitude, I wonder how long they will let that exist? I think we need a few more guys in the organization that have that attitude. I'm good and I'll prove it to you.

I agree, this came down to Plouffe and Butera, Evidently Gardy was not happy with the play of select players, I guess Plouffe is now in the doghouse. How else do you explain this?

Goodnight Irene. 9 runs through 4 innings, just adding to the worst Team ERA in the league.

Adjacent, that is the best statement ever posted on Twinsdaily.

Thanks for the updates TK. It's nice to have the updates in one location.

16 strike outs in 26 at Bats. Now we are at .615, this is worse than Adam Dunn from 2011.

15 strike outs in 25 at Bats. I'm pretty sure I could make contact with more regularity than that.

I understand Chief, but there is a serious problem with our roster management if we are in a position where a guy that strikes out 60% of the time is in the starting lineup. There is a reason that the Tiger's cut him. I was originally on board with the transaction. Give the guy a chance, but he had his chance and it didn't work. Time to cut ties and move in a new direction.