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one_eyed_jack

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Everything posted by one_eyed_jack

  1. one_eyed_jack
    ---Yeah Rodgers is a good comp. After 2 dozen NFL starts, he was still looking increasingly clueless with each sub-100-yard passing performance, even though he had the best running back on the planet at his disposal and wasn't being asked to do much. That was sarcasm in case you missed it.
  2. one_eyed_jack
    When you have a trade this big between a team that is known for consistently doing smart things and a team that is known for consistently doing dumb things, and the latter is clearly making the move out of desperation, it's hard not to assume they got fleeced. It's fascinating to see praise heaped on the Royals for this trade. If Ryan had offered up a package centered around Sano and Gibson for Shields and Davis, I doubt you'd see the same reaction. I understand what the Royals are trying to do here. They've been the "Team of the Future" for a long time now. With the AL Central as weak as it is, it shouldn't take much to compete. Getting Shields may even put them #2 behind Detroit on paper. But a move like this only makes sense if you're a James Shields away from being a serious contender to win it all. The Royals were not even close to that.
  3. one_eyed_jack
    A 20-game winner, huh? So even though he's never had more than 16 playing for an annual playoff contender, you think he'll be able to beat that by 4 by going to a team that hasn't been relevant in 20 years?
  4. one_eyed_jack
    Ponder is to the Vikings what Johnny Flynn was to the T-Wolves. Collective WTF?! reaction from fans after they were drafted as a high as they were. Likeable guys, showed some early promise, but just aren't big league material. Except that the Vikes didn't draft a quarterback equivalent to Ricky Rubio when they drafted Ponder. (How's that for a Vikes/Wolves analogy on a Twins site.) I've tried to be patient with Ponder, but he's at the point where things should be starting to click, and he's regressing.
  5. one_eyed_jack
    Simmer down, people. Most of the discussions on this board are pointless when you get down to it, be we all needs our Twins fix. Even with the T-Wolves, my winter distraction, poised for their best season a long, long time, I still need a regular hit of baseball. And I haven't quite adjusted to the idea that the T-Wolves are relevant and the Twins are not. It's weird.
  6. one_eyed_jack
    Let me pose this question: how many games will it take to win the AL Central in 2013? In 2012, Detroit won it with 88, 3 games better than Chicago. Nobody else had more than 72. I think we're looking at a win total in the high 80's again - tops. If the Tigers stumble, it could be mid-80's. I don't see dramatic improvement from any of the other teams, the Whities will probably take a step back. Could the Twins achieve 85-89 wins? Not likely, but I don't think it's beyond the realm of possibility either. If the Twins were in the AL West or East, forget it. But remaining competitive in this field is within reach, and quite achievable if some things break the Twins way.
  7. one_eyed_jack
    ---Really? Detroit had the 7th-best record in the American league last year (playing a much softer schedule than the 6 teams from the other 2 divisions who finished with better records) and needed a late-season collapse from a very mediocre White Sox team to even get to the post season Yes, they have some very talented guys, but they are a stars-and-scrubs team, very top heavy without a lot of depth. Once you get past Verlander, Scherzer, Fielder and Cabrera, what do you really have there? A team with holes in its lineup that is bad defensively and has a suspect bullpen. Certainly, the Tigers would have to be considered the favorite to win the division going into 2013, but they're not some unstoppable powerhouse, the fact that they got hot for a couple of weeks in October notwithstanding. The signing of Torii and V-Mart's return makes them not unstoppable, but certainly prohibitive favorites to not only win the Central but enter as the clear favorite to win it all in 2013: Odds to win the 2013 MLB World Series from BETONLINE: Detroit Tigers 6/1 New York Yankees 7/1 San Francisco Giants 10/1 Texas Rangers 12/1 Washington Nationals 12/1 Los Angeles Angels 12/1 Philadelphia Phillies 14/1 St. Louis Cardinals 14/1 ---Those kinds of odds do not make the Tigers a "clear favorite to win it all." That kind of oddsmaking started immediately after the World Series ended, before any offseason activity took place. http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/eye-on-baseball/20740003/detroit-tigers-favored-to-win-2013-world-series I'm sure they'll change quite a bit between now and opening day.
  8. one_eyed_jack
    ---Really? Detroit had the 7th-best record in the American league last year (playing a much softer schedule than the 6 teams from the other 2 divisions who finished with better records) and needed a late-season collapse from a very mediocre White Sox team to even get to the post season Yes, they have some very talented guys, but they are a stars-and-scrubs team, very top heavy without a lot of depth. Once you get past Verlander, Scherzer, Fielder and Cabrera, what do you really have there? A team with holes in its lineup that is bad defensively and has a suspect bullpen. Certainly, the Tigers would have to be considered the favorite to win the division going into 2013, but they're not some unstoppable powerhouse, the fact that they got hot for a couple of weeks in October notwithstanding.
  9. one_eyed_jack
    The Twins are not punting, and should not be punting in 2013. Look at the state of this division. Not a powerhouse in it. It was the weakest in baseball in 2012, and I don't really see it being any better next year. If the Twins can upgrade their starting pitching and middle infield from godawful to competent, they'll be able to hang in the race for a while.
  10. one_eyed_jack
    We do realize that this discussion is purely academic due to Mauer's no-trade clause, yes? But sure, let's indulge the fantasy for a moment. Let's suppose Boston gives us a few promising prospects in exchange for taking on the remainder of Mauer's unbearable contract, thus removing a source of endless angst and hand-wringing in Twins Territory. What then? Willingly endure losing as these youngsters take their lumps and learn to play with the big boys in hopes that one day after the next presidential election, we might see a record north of 80 wins again? Ah, but children, there's a problem you see. Cheap little cubbies do not stay so forever. Before you know it, they're all grown up and want big bear contracts. And by then, they'll be even bigger and scarier <gasp> than the one that had been giving you nightmares before it moved away to Boston. Then what? Surely, we do not want more Big Bad Contracts in Twins Territory. The last spread unhappiness and despair throughout the land. Perhaps the heroes from beyond the eastern horizon will rescue us once again and leave a few of their young behind for us to raise for them. And so will continue the once unpopular but currently trendy fairy tale of "The Quaint Little Farm Team".
  11. one_eyed_jack
    At a reasonable 1-year deal, it's worth a shot. I was as frustrated as anyone with him last year, but when you're in the situation the Twins are in, needing not just 1 starter but 3 or 4, you've got to at least consider him. If he doesn't work out, deal him for whatever you can get at the deadline or move him to the bullpen.
  12. one_eyed_jack
    2015? Really? So in response to 2 years of losing, we should willingly accept 2 more, then hope and pray that winning somehow materializes in year 3? Sorry, that's too many steps down the slippery slope to Royals/Pirates perpetual rebuild mode for my taste. And sticking with a young pitcher who consistently gets shelled for 2 seasons is no guarantee he'll turn into Frankie V. or Radke. Yes, many great players struggled early in their careers. But most struggling young players do not go on to greatness.
  13. one_eyed_jack
    I understand the general frustration with the 2012 Twins, but not some of the specific criticisms of TR. I'm with him on the re-shuffling thing, I would have preferred a complete house-cleaning and fresh start. But the Molitor thing is tired and overdone. He expressed interest, the Twins said no. A bit surprising, but I don't believe that a) he is such a clearly better choice than anyone on the current staff that it was a rippable offense not to hire him or being a popular local boy who had a great playing career means you're entitled to a job of your choice with the Twins organization upon request. On a non-baseball note, the Seimone Augustus inclusion was kind of a cheap shot. 1 awful game in the finals in what was otherwise a great season should not get you lumped in with the likes of Danny Valencia. It was still a deeper playoff run than any we've seen from the local boys teams in the last few years, so I have a hard time with anyone from the Lynx on this list.
  14. one_eyed_jack
    ---Yeah the win-now or build-for-tomorrow is a false dichotomy that's thrown out way too often. It doesn't have to be an either/or. The Twins should always be looking to improve themselves now and beyond. IMO, when you start to concede seasons because you've got some grand plan to start winning 3 or 4 years down the road, you're sending the message that it doesn't matter whether you win now or not because you're not trying or expecting to win, and that breeds a culture of losing. Look at the Royals and Pirates who have been trying to "rebuild" under these multi-year schemes for 2 decades now. I view "we're rebuilding" as nothing more than a euphemism for "we suck".
  15. one_eyed_jack
    ---When you're talking more than 1-2 years out, is ceases to be a "projection", and amounts to little more than pure speculation. There are too many variables. 2006 was 5 years ago. Think of all the things that happened between 2006 and this year with the Twins. Success is not guaranteed from year-to-year, never mind 5 years out. And why is everyone talking about the Tigers like they are this insurmountable obstacle? Yeah they got hot for a couple of series in October. But let's not forget that they finished with the 7th best record in the AL, despite playing in what was by far the weakest division in baseball, and wouldn't have even made the playoffs but for a late-season meltdown by the Whiteys. They were abysmal defensively last year, and don't figure to be much better next year. They are still a top-heavy stars-and-scrubs team. They may be one or two players away from joining the league's top teams, but they are also one or two key injuries away from being bottom-feeders again. The AL Central is going to be weak again, it shouldn't take much for the Twins to at least be in the mix in 2013.
  16. one_eyed_jack
    ---The name notwithstanding, Silver Sluggers are awarded to the best offensive player at each position. If coaches and managers are voting based on home runs, then they're doing it wrong. And Ichiro shouldn't have won any. If it were just about home runs, there would be no need to vote, the guy with the most HR's at each position would automatically get it. If it's about games caught, that's fine, I can understand that. That leads to the conclusion that Mauer, or any other guy who spends a lot of time at multiple positions, can't be considered at all no matter how good he is offensively. And it would not have been entirely unprecedented to give it to him. Guys like Giambi and Vlad G. won them for positions in years they spend a lot of time DH'ing. But it's a valid point. But the idea that AJ deserved it over Mauer because he hit more HR's, even though Mauer had him beat in every other offensive category is silly.
  17. one_eyed_jack
    Ridiculous and bizarre. I don't know if Mauer got penalized for not catching enough games or the Twins bad record. Or maybe they remembered AJ's strong start while not noticing how badly he tailed off over the last quarter of the season. But it's hard to justify. AJ had a nice year, but it wasn't THAT great. Mauer was better in every statistical category except home runs. Some by a lot. AJ drew 28 walks. Only 10 other players with at least 500 PA's drew fewer.
  18. one_eyed_jack
    ---Nope, AJ according MLB on Twitter.
  19. one_eyed_jack
    Not seeing the basis for all of the angst about this. The guy was given every opportunity to cement himself in a starting role here, and he consistently failed to do so. He had a few good spurts, but they were always followed by longer, awful spurts. Too many lackadaisical moments from him to convince me that he brought it every night. This was his year to prove that he was part of the solution and not part of the problem, and I don't think he did it.
  20. one_eyed_jack
    Apparently Angels are talking to other teams now. Knobler says deal to Red Sox not happening, so maybe Twins still in this one.
  21. one_eyed_jack
    Hmmm......all of the "let's be like the Tigers" talk has gone oddly silent. But seriously, talk about "anything can happen in the playoffs". Who would have thunk that the Tigers could embarrass the Yankees in a 4-game sweep, then follow that up by embarrassing themselves while getting swept in the World Series? I picked them to lose, but I thought it would go 6, and the defense would be the Tigers downfall. I did not expect their big bats to be completely silenced like that. Their hitters looked helpless and clueless up there most of the time, particularly Fielder. Barry Zito had more RBI's than Prince Fielder in the World Series. That's pretty messed up.
  22. one_eyed_jack
    Yes, strikeout pitchers are grand and all, but let's be realistic here folks; we're not going to be able to assemble a staff full of Verlanders between now and spring training. So there is some wisdom in contemplating ways to improve the rotation that are actually within the realm of possibility. And it's not like Buehrle can't strike people out. He had 125 K's last year. Not exactly an eye-popping number, but it's more than any Twins pitcher had. Plus the fact that he doesn't win by overpowering people makes it a lot more likely that he's got a few good years left in him. The Twins need guys who can pitch well enough to eat innings and give them a chance to win. Buehrle fits that bill. Plus in terms of a veteran to rub off on Diamond, Gibson and some of the other younger guys, you could do a lot worse than Mark Buehrle.
  23. one_eyed_jack
    ok just some perspective here. in 2012 Justin Morneau hit: .267/.333/.440, 19 HR, 77 RBI for the Twins making $14MM and Delmon Young hit: .267/.296/.411, 18 HR, 74 RBI for the Tigers not that much different. (speaking of selling low...) ---I don't see how this is even relevant to anything I said, much less adds perspective.
  24. one_eyed_jack
    Here's my problem with the various "let's trade Span/Morneau/Mauer/Willingham pitching" problem: the offense is decent, and potentially good, but it won't be anymore if you trade away the guys at the top of the order. Dealing Morneau now is selling low. And selling low as been part of what has gotten the Twins here. They have rarely sold high. They have either sold low (e.g. Delmon and Hardy) or simply let guys walk away (Cuddyer, Kubel, Nathan, Hunter).
  25. one_eyed_jack
    A bit surprising, but not totally shocking given the history. When the Twins were winning division titles in Ryan's first term, their bullpen was a huge strength. And in the era of pulling starters based on pitch counts, many games are won and lost on middle relief. While I'd like to see the middle infield upgraded, the free agent market is pretty darn thin at those positions while there are some decent relievers available. So it would be easier to improve the bullpen without giving up anything of value. Maybe Flormion and Dozier are the answer, I don't know. I hope so. It sure would be nice to see some continuity there. The Yankees have been able to start Jeter/Cano there in most games going back to the '05 season. How many combos have the Twins cycled through in that time?
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