strumdatjaguar

I'm in agreement on years 3 and beyond. Darvish will be worth the money, probably for two more years. I'm also the guy with the Japanese, Twins-fan Mother-in-law who still wears her Kurt Suzuki Jersey, and would go ga-ga if Davish came here. So, part of me wants him here for non-baseball reasons.

The problem is that the punishment is the least of it. There is the resentment that Sano and teammates close to him will have toward those who they perceive "sided" with his accuser. I see this as a big problem in this clubhouse. I hate Twitter even more than I used to hate it.

OK - Let's discuss the elephant in the clubhouse. The one that was not present at TwinsFest! At least one player on the team and a former player (Plouffe) have tweeted supportive comments for Sano's accuser. I suspect others more quietly are supportive of their teammate Miguel Sano. I believe Twins fans should be concerned about a likely divided clubhouse between the factions that will line up on each side of this, regardless of how well it is investigated by MLB or handled by the team. It could be a potential "Dominicans versus everybody else" split as well or other potential cultural splits ("Good Old Boys" vs. those with a more current cultural viewpoint, for example . . . ) And don't give me that "They are all professionals once the game starts" stuff. I frankly am concerned about a culture that is abusive towards women in professional sports. Still, i am also a Twins fan and I am concerned that a rift in the clubhouse is likely. Such a rift is not conducive to a successful season for a team. Sano is an all-star, not just some third string catcher or utility guy. Sano-gate leads to all kinds of questions including whether Sano should be traded, or whether he has a significantly diminished trade value at this time, and whether that matters. Is there addition by subtraction?. Sorry about the touchy subject, but it is relevant to the Twins success on the field, and a poor handling, or even a good handling, of the investigation could affect attendance as well. Again, this question is not about whether or not the accusations are true or not - It is about the affect on the team and the fan base in the upcoming season. I suggest Sano-gate cannot be a positive influence on the culture inside the clubhouse and in the stands at Target Field, and I'd like to think the team could do some things to diminish the problem (i.e. trade Sano for anything).

Just read it on Yahoo Sports. Apparently, the Twins want to see if they can sign Yu Darvish first. I'd rather have the younger Chris Archer (great contract), but don't tell that to my Japanese, Twins-fan Mother-in-Law.

The three you mentioned are more likely breakout stars. The Twins will excel if there is a real surprise among two of the following: Garver, Gibson, Busenitz, (Circle me) AdalBERTo Mejia.

My favorite unconventional Twins moments when I was in attendance - ranked #5 thru #1: 5. On Teen Challenge Day at the Metrodome, the ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by two young people who were successfully in the process of overcoming significant chemical dependency issues. After the pitch, the P.A., System blasted Roxy Music's "Love is the Drug". 4. At Metrodome with my young kids, who were always taught never to leave a game early. Down 9-1 in the bottom of the 9th, the Twins scored 7 runs to bring the score to 9-8, with a man on second and the winning run at the plate. The few remaining fans rocked the joint right up till the last out which lost the game. 3. At Spring Training, there was some bragging about the tough/rowdy crowds by Philly fans sitting next to me (even though Twins took on the Marlins that day). I recited my story of the toughest crowd I ever saw, at the Chicago Stadium for a North Stars/Black Hawks Stanley Cup Game. After the Stars went down 4-1, the rowdy crowd became conciliatory to me in my Minnesota Regalia. Then it was 4-2, then 4-3 then 4-4 and ultimately our squad won 5-4. I started singing "Go For A Goal North Stars" at the top of my lungs. I am lucky to be alive. After finishing the story, the Twins fan in the floppy hat in front of me turned around and said, "I was there, Lou Nanne". and we shook hands. 2. Watching the Dave Kingman pop-up that got stuck in the Metrodome roof, and my friend obliviously shouting through the shocked crowd silence, "Somebody call for it.!" 1. I was sitting four rows behind the plate at the Metrodome in a well-lubicated group of four friends, when the batter attempted a bunt. The catcher ran forward to field the bunt as the batter ran to First. But the bunt was fouled downward into the dirt and bounced directly up into the umpire's crotch. The umpire dropped to the ground in obvious discomfort. Others near us stared with great disapproval as the four of us laughed uncontrollably. The more we tried to stop laughing, the more it made us laugh and made the concerned onlookers more disgusted with us. Honorable mention: anything involving interaction with the beer vendor at the old Met who wore the umbrella hat!!!

AWA's Greatest Moment. Greg Gagne puts Bobby Heenan to sleep, and Bobby Heenan wakes up in the infamous "weasel suit."

Twins are just above.500 (82-79), as we wait for a big push in 2019. 2018 top six highlights: 1. Jose Berrios leads the staff with 17 wins. Establishes himself as a "potential" ace by the end of the year. 2. Byron Buxton is an All-Star finishing the year with another Gold Glove, batting average of .304, 22HRs, 90 RBI.; 3. Max Kepler has a break-out season. .285, 20 HRs, 80 RBI Twins plan for annual Kepler Bratwurst Night starting in 2019. Plans to bring back Nickle Bier Stein night are rumored and then scrapped to the dismay of some fans. 4. Steve Gonsalves joins team at midseason and struggles for two games before establishing himself as a legitimate #3 starter and maybe better. 5. An ever-heavier Miguel Sano has an injury around August 1rst which ended a troubling season which included a 10 game suspension and many disparaging newspaper articles from Reusse and Souhan. There are rumors of clubhouse riffs with players choosing sides regarding allegations of assaulting a photographer during an autograph event a few years earlier. However, Nick Gordon is called up and provides help with other infielders (Adrianza, Polanco) in filling up what looks like a pretty good infield by the end of the season. Wander Javier and Royce Lewis continue to rise thru the farm system. The infield future is bright! Biggest surprise of the year: Phil Hughes returns to be a very reliable 7th and 8th inning set-up man, who closes some games.

It's all about the corroboration of the accusation. At this time, Sano's denial is corroborated by the denial by Butch Davis (especially for those of you who believe multiple accusations add to the credibility of the accusations, like Roy Moore - the same should hold true for multiple denials of similar accusations). She may have as good reason in her mind for the delay in reporting. However, the delay alone makes the accusation less credible and also makes it less fair (since it denies the accused the ability to potentially prove innocence via the Mall surveillance recordings and by interviewing other witnesses before their memories fade)

Unfortunately, the lawyer should have avoided making it look like "spin" with its gratuitous statement on how Sano "deeply sympathizes" with those who have been sexually harassed. C'mon, Miggy hasn't previously weighed in (possible bad pun) on the issues of the day. I did a quick internet search and found nothing on the hurricanes in the Carribean for example. Nevertheless, both Sano and Butch Davis are completely denying the accusations. Credibility should not be presumed, although a less lawyerly and more Sano-esque denial would have been more credible

Today's STRIB article includes a denial provided by Sano, that does not appear to be written in a way Sano would speak (after watching many of his interviews). The statement was clearly written by his lawyer. Nevertheless, it is a complete denial. Butch Davis also makes a complete denial of accusations from the same accuser. A prompt reporting of the alleged misconduct could have led to a viewing of the Ridgedale Mall's surveillance recordings. After two years, these are almost certainly destroyed. For those who believe these accusations are always or almost always true - go look up the case of Emmet Till and then read about the Duke Lacrosse team, and then go read about Mattress girl at Columbia Univ . . . Fairness requires that the accused persons as well as the accuser be given fairness in the investigation of this matter. .

Tough case to prove in a criminal trial. This is a report of activity two years ago. I suspect this will play out as a disciplinary matter with the Twins and MLB.

You've seen postings online, and many of you are convinced you believe the accusation. The more prudent and fair course is to give Mr. Sano an opportunity to respond as part of a responsible investigation by the Twins Management. That was my first thought. My second thought was that such an accusation paints a terrifying picture of this big man forcing a woman into submitting to his sexual demands - what a #%@*!. My third thought was that Twins fans should be thankful that the team has many options in the infield and should stop considering trading Gordon, Javier, Lewis, etc, The team may need to jettison a player who can't control his actions and libido any better than he can control his diet. Then again - maybe that was really my first thought and only thereafter did I start thinking about being fair. Then I just gave in and thought -move Polanco to third and hope Gordon wins the SS job in ST (otherwise, Adrianza). Frustration and anger!

The forgotten man who could contribute in the pen is Phil Hughes. Just saying!!

So, if one of us notices the high level of success of players from the Dominican Republic versus all other players in the world, does that mean that person is a Dominican Supremacist? Not any more than if one notes that Japanese players tend to play at a higher level than baseball players from Vietnam (if there are any!) It is legitimate to note that certain cultures have better youth baseball programs and place a greater cultural emphasis on playing certain sports (Canada and Hockey for example). Posting millions to northern Asian baseball leagues has not been a successful formula for the Twins so far, and baseball fans may be legitimately wary of diving into that process again. I think my Japanese mother-in-law might even agree. Although, as a die-hard Twins fan, she is really ready to trade in her Kurt Suzuki jersey for a Darvish, Ohtani or even Uehara jersey - her Nishioka jersey is long gone!!!. You are not a victim!

No Jaime Garcia nor Nolasco nor other mid or low rotation types. The Twins indeed should make no free agent moves on the starting pitching market. If they are competing in July, then they look to make a trade to upgrade talent wherever that need may be. Until then, they can add Kintzler and/or some other reliever, invite some potential bounce back players to sign MiLB contract, but mostly go with the program and add on IF they are making a playoff run in July! At this point, it's Santana, Berrios, Gibson (short leash), Mejia (shorter leash) and competition for the fifth spot (Gonsalves, Slegers, May, . . .)

It's probably not a good idea to have Bautista and Castro on the same roster, after what happened in Cuba - January 1, 1959.

I think it is likley the Twins resign Belisle. This FA signed him last year and he produced during the second half. That and some twisted SABRE-justifying will get them to bring him back. Plus, I expect he wants to be back here.

So, here are my picks for Regression: Starters: Ervin Santana - He's the most obvious. Getting older and coming off of a career year. (I believe Big Sexy will retire, so I didn't consider him) Relief: Matt Belisle - Another aging player who showed he was capable of poor performance during the early part of 2017. Might have one good season left in him, but the most obvious nominee for regression on the staff. Starting Nine: Tougher Choice here. Looks like Joe Mauer has regained his stroke, along with excellent fielding - so Joe is not my nominee. Hard to bet against Dozier, too. So, I'll pick Eddie Rosario - just because there will be some regression somewhere in the line-up and I still don't trust his approach at the plate. Bench: Ehire Adrianza was never expected to hit as well as he did this year. So, it's not a stretch to expect some regression. Nominees for Progression: Starters: I expect that the popular choice would be Berrios. However, I'm picking Kyle Gibson. In the last half of this season, it looked like he turned the corner. I'm hoping and thinking he can carry that into next season and show what we expected earlier from this former No.1 Draft Pick.. Relief: Ryan Pressly - I'm hoping!!!! I'm hoping!!! He's got the stuff, but can it translate into actual effectiveness (or is he just another Michael Tonkin tempting us on the radar gun?) Starting Nine: Byron Buxton: He turned the corner. If he can stay healthy, he becomes an MLB superstar in 2018. Bench: Mitch Garver. Should improve at the big league level, and hopefully becoming the starting catcher by mid-2018.

OK, they might blow it down the stretch and the odds are that they lose in Wild Card Game - But here goes: I think the Twins go with a three man rotation, Santana, Gibson and Berrios in that order, within reason. Mejia is the fourth guy when needed and Big Sexy goes to the pen. Belisle is the closer, with Hildenberger and Busenitz as set-up guys - Rogers as LOOGY. The final two relievers are Duffey, and Boshers.(with great worry about that last one). The starting eight in the field, Castro, Mauer, Dozier, Polanco, Escobar, Kepler, Buxton and Rosario. The Bench (including the DH): Grossman, Adrianza, Giminez, Vargas, Granite and MIGUEL SANO (remember Kirk Gibson who had just one at bat, a walk-off HR in World Series - If he's marginally healthy, Sano must be on the post-season roster!!!!)

I'm hoping hittersw can learn to use the bunt to beat the now over-shift-happy MLB

Maybe the FO could have handled it by having a Falvine make the call, but then Dougie would have complained that a Pohlad should have made the call. Doug's reaction was certainly not classy, and reveals why the move was probably made. You're 42 years old and every year since you finished school you've been able to make a living playing or managing in organized baseball, almost all of it with theTwins organization. Where's the gratitude? At least have the class to fake some gratitude.

Add Berrios - dump Garver, Granite or Boshers

Colon has certainly earned another start or two. I also want a lefty in the rotation (Mejia)

This season solidifies Mauer in the Hall but not on the first ballot. If Joe puts up just one more season above .290 (presuming he does that this year and that additional year), and continues to field well, he starts to get into a first ballot HOF conversation. His years as a catcher were so phenomenal that a resurgence this year makes the HOF likely.