powrwrap

This is true but by examining new stadium deals and digging up info from the CBA, we can make good guesses. The concession revenues at Target Field are basically an ATM for the Pohlads. The profit margins on everything is incredible. How many beers an hour do they have to sell at $7.25 a bottle to show a profit, including paying the guy hawking the beer? Two beers? I'm pretty sure that beer vendors sell more than two beers an hour. Ha! I've heard similar things about the player's share decreasing, but I think it's still above 50% but just barely. The Twins have said their payroll is 55% of their gross revenues, to which I would respond--Yeah, and what year was that and for how many years? In any event, if the Pohlads want to increase payroll beyond their percent of revenue threshold, they probably make a personal loan out to the company. They simply cannot keep doing this, unless they are idiots for businessman, and I don't think they are.

That's not it at all. The numbers show this team is worse than last year's team, even with Mauer and Morneau being healthy. Their won-loss record is worse and their run differential is worse, ergo, they are a worse team.

Lots of Twins fans pine away for the Pohlad's to spend more money on payroll. Did you ever stop and think about the transactions that must take place before they can do that? In other words, where does the money come from? The Minnesota Twins LLC is a limited liability corporation. Jim Pohlad is the CEO, Dave St. Peter is the President. The board of directors include Jim Pohlad, Bob Pohlad, Bill Pohlad, Dave St. Peter, and Jerry Bell. It is likely that these five individuals own stock in the LLC and that the Pohlad's own a controlling interest. There are probably other shareholders as well. So if the Twins want to increase payroll they have to find the money somewhere. It's either in a bank (or other financial) account under the corporation's name or they have to get a loan from a bank or from individuals. I'm guessing that if the Twins need money they don't take out a bank loan, rather they get it from the Pohlad personal fortune. So how does the Pohlad's money get into the Minnesota Twins' bank account(s)? I'm guessing that the Pohlad's make a personal loan out to the Minnesota Twins LLC, with the expectation of getting paid back at some point. I doubt that they issue more shares of stock, but they could. In other words when fans clamor for the Pohlad's to quit being so cheap and spend more money in essence they are asking them to loan their personal money to a corporation. The Pohlad's don't write out personal checks to Joe Mauer every two weeks to cover his contract. The money comes out of the LLC. So the calculation that the Pohlad's and the Twins board of directors must make is: 1. How much money should I loan to the company? and 2. When and how will I get paid back? The construction of Target Field helped the owners capture more revenues than they were getting at the Metrodome. That's why payroll went from $65M in 2009 to $98M in 2010. The Twins owners knew they could recoup their money. It also helps to explain why the Twins had such lousy payrolls in the mid to late 90's. With the MetroDome lease they couldn't see a way to get their money back. Some owners might have a higher tolerance for the time frame needed to recover their money, or they have more revenue streams than the Twins, or both. For example, it is easy for the Steinbrenners to sink their money into the Yankees because they own the YES TV network, the new Yankees stadium, etc. etc. and they can be (mostly) assured that they will recoup their money. When fans yell for owners to spend more money on the team what they are really asking them to do is make riskier loans to the corporation. Their personal wealth is not the deciding factor. No baseball owner is going to throw money away on their team without the expectation of getting it back. My point is that there is the wall of separation between an owner's personal money and the money that the corporation controls.

I sure hope not. But as of Game 85, with a healthy Mauer and Morneau, this team is worse than last year's team, and this is in a division with a weaker Detroit and Cleveland teams. BTW, my preseason prediction was that the Twins would win 75 games this year.

I figure he fetches two players, one of them will be a pitcher. Probably some other team's version of Cole DeVries or P.J. Walter. Given the Twins fascination with utility infielders they probably get another SS/2B guy from A ball.

Depends on how you look at it. After 85 games the Twins are 36-49 and on a pace to win 69 games. Last year after 85 games the Twins were 38-47 and on a pace to win 72 games. In 2011, after 85 games played they had a run differential of -76, this year it's -87.

Are you seriously suggesting that if Diamond has 1 to 3 less starts this year it will 'save' his arm for next year?

Look at the video at about the 14-15-16 second mark. Where did he step towards home?

Yeah, I know it's not a published rule in MLB. Here's a screen grab. I t's awfully close, but I don't think his front foot crosses the back of the rubber. If anyone has a good look at it, it's the first base umpire. Well, no. This is where the 45 degree argument comes into play (sorta). Since his leg motion was ultimately toward first base and not toward home plate and he threw the ball to first base, no balk. I don't think he missed the call but that's the nature of judgment calls. They're debatable. Of this there is no debate!

I haven't listened to KFAN for ages but am familiar with Paul Allen and Loserville, USA. It has to do with the major market areas with pro teams in the Big 4 sports (baseball, football, basketball, and hockey) and how long it's been since any one of their teams have won the championship. Turns out Minnesota is the city with the longest championship drought. It has nothing to do with contending or making the playoffs and has everything to do with winning the championship title. So I don't see the Twins Cities getting that monkey off their back in "2012 and the future." I think the Twins feel pressure to spend, esp. on starting pitching just to ensure that their fan base doesn't completely desert them. They've got to keep attendance steady or increase it so that wonderful cash ATM machine known as Target Field Concession Sales will keep churning out the dough. Although the Pohlad family might be richer than those other families (not sure) it has more to do with how soon can they recover any money they personally lend to the team than any other factor. That is essentially what we mean when we say "owners spend big". They are actually making personal loans to the corporation, of which they are CEO's or CFO's, that owns the Twins. Suppose if they inject $30M more for payroll for next year it will ensure that they will profit $10M a year. That's a three year recovery period. But suppose they spend $50M on payroll next year. That's a 5 year recovery period and they still don't know if they will win it all. The Pohlad's are from Minnesota. I say the almighty dollar overrules the desire to say they won it all. Other owners from other cities might be OK with saying they won it all and they don't care if they won't recover their money for 10 years or more. I don't see the Pohlad's having that mindset.

Williams said so many dumb things last night I was amazed he has a job as a commentator. He constantly 'predicted' what the next pitch was going to be and/or the location of the pitch and he was wrong probably 90% of the time. He incorrectly predicted when runners would attempt steals. He described defensive shifts incorrectly. On and on it went. http://twinsdaily.com/showthread.php?2119-Twins-vs-Rangers-07-07-2012-6-15pm&p=31999&viewfull=1#post31999 I think the first base umpire is shaking his head no, because in his judgment Holland's free foot did not cross the back plane of the rubber. That's why there was a non-balk call. Of course Williams botched the explanation. BTW, the 45 degree landing spot is a rule of thumb that umpires will sometimes use to help determine if a left-handed pitcher's throw to first was deceptive. Lefties also use it to practice their pick-offs moves. Thus, if a lefty throws to first base but his front foot lands in front of an imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the first base foul line to the pitching mound it is an indicator of an intention to deceive the runner. (The 45% angle is derived from an imaginary line drawn from first base to the pitcher's mound and then drawn from the mound perpendicular to the first base foul line.)

How many times can commentator Mitch Williams be wrong?

That one was a beaut!

Evan Longoria Justin Verlander Dustin Pedroia Joey Votto

Are you suggesting that Parmelee should be in Rochester? If so, what's he going to prove down there? He's got an OPS of 1.208. He needs to get more at bats up in the majors.

In last 60 days, Twins are 28-27. Detroit is 26-30. KC is 28-26. Cleveland is 27-29. Chicago is 31-23.

Urinary tract infection on New Year's Eve. Yahoo Serious, Carrot Top, and Pee Wee Herman hosting a fundraising marathon on TV. Coors Light.

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Good points. It's not stupid in this discussion. Someone that has never played competitive baseball, even as low as the high school level, simply does not personally know the effects that pressure situations can have on a player's performance. To say that there isn't any because statistics don't bear it out, is "friggin' stupid." [and I know you are not saying that.]

Players and coaches and managers all say that pressure exists in MLB and that players sometimes react to it, some altering their game for better results some altering it for worse results. This is not going to be shown via statistics.

Yep, and major league players and major league coaches and major league managers say that it happens.

Yet, major league players and major league coaches and major league managers say that it happens. Because we all know that major league players are gods...

You mean a businessman type or a lawyer? No thanks. Give me a guy that can spot talent over a guy that knows how to find loopholes in contracts and amortize money.

The Tampa Bay Rays. They build their team mostly through their farm system, i.e. their entire starting rotation is home-grown and are very good. They junked their bullpen last year and rebuilt--and were excellent. They are winners with a lower tier payroll. They have the best manager in baseball. They play great defense and are excellent base runners. They can consistently beat the Yankees and the Red Sox. Beating the Yankees on the last day of the season last year after being down 7-0 was awesome. I started being a fan of theirs before they were good. I've got a Devils Ray hat that I wear more than my Twins cap. When I encounter people wearing Yankees caps I growl "G-r-r-r-r" and point at the D-Rays logo on my cap. It always gets a reaction.

Does anybody here think the Twins should get Youkilis? If so, who would you give up?