jlovren

1000% agreed. The Twins play their best when Span is on base and creating havoc. Now if we can find someone to bat second and get on base then we will have something. Mauer's rbi totals are low because we never have anyone on base for him to drive in.

Does Parmlee still have options left? If so, another season of AAA might be his best option (if Morneaus stays healthy). Regular at bats always trump riding the bench.

I think it's too early to tell what kind of hitter in the bigs he will be. I do think that it's worth a look and we should try and get him as many quality at bats to see.

The Twins have had an excellent past with retreads, I think they are probably thinking we got some kids in the minors who are real close to being able to contribute. Who those kids are, no one knows.

I agree with Fanatic Jack, The Twins have made some weird moves that defy logic or a real plan. These days you have to have a great bullpen and if we got a kid that shows real promise as a reliever than why on earth are we trying to amke him a starter?

Just what the Twins need.... another High ERA pitcher who can be dominant at times and falls apart at others. If Dickens wrote a novel about the Twins would he call it " A Tale of Two Lirianos"?

I think the park plays more for spray hitters and OBP guys. It's up to the front office to get guys who are more suited for that type of game. Guys who can hit to the opposite field gaps would have career years in our park.

The Twins will be a better team with Willingham in the game, whether it is in right field, left field or DH. My personal vote is right field with Span in center and Rever in left. Speed to cover the gaps and open space.

Well that seems to answer my question of how come I never hear anything from Venezuela anymore. I stand corrected on the level of activity. I do however think we are missing a gold mine with latin players.... Open a new academy in the Dominican, Panama or Columbia.

At what point do we say enough is enough with Liriano? He clearly never regained his form from his rookie year. At best Liriano can get hot for a month. The Twins need to trade him to a team and try and salvage something for him.

Venezuela has produced a number of good ballplayers over the years, some even for the Twins. What has our academy produced in the last 10 years? Can't think of anything? Neither can I, and that my friends is the problem. Where is the pipeline of talent? Why is it that the Yankees always have prospects to trade for established stars? Because they pour money into their international signings and develop players abroad. The Twins have an Academy where pretty much no other team does and yet I can't name one player to come from there. So here is my solution to the whole shebang.... Think of the Academy as a minor league team. Send the low level prospects there.... Send top notch coaching therre.... Send American players there.... If the Twins want a certain type of player, a certain style of play than coach the kids in the Academy to play that way. Actively recruit and sign Venezuelan players, south american players and Central American players. Make the Minnesota Twins the "home" team in Venezuela.

Venezuela has produced a number of good ballplayers over the years, some even for the Twins. What has our academy produced in the last 10 years? Can't think of anything? Neither can I, and that my friends is the problem. Where is the pipeline of talent? Why is it that the Yankees always have prospects to trade for established stars? Because they pour money into their international signings and develop players abroad. The Twins have an Academy where pretty much no other team does and yet I can't name one player to come from there. So here is my solution to the whole shebang.... Think of the Academy as a minor league team. Send the low level prospects there.... Send top notch coaching therre.... Send American players there.... If the Twins want a certain type of player, a certain style of play than coach the kids in the Academy to play that way. Actively recruit and sign Venezuelan players, south american players and Central American players. Make the Minnesota Twins the "home" team in Venezuela.

I constantly ask myself what does our organization need to differently in the draft to become dangerous in October. Well, in my opinion, we need to draft three types of players. Player type 1: No contact power starting pitchers. The Twins have proven that a staff completely made of "pitch to contact pitchers" will get you to the first round of the playoffs and then lose badly. The Twins need to have a slight change in philosophy regarding their pitching staff. Draft strikeout pitchers- exclusively. We have enough guys who throw in the low 90's and are control type pitchers. Our entire farm system is littered with them. Spend 15 rounds drafting guys who make batters miss the ball. I guarantee you that teams who constantly advance in the playoffs have more than 3 guys on their staff who can strike you out. Player type 2: Gap power hitters. In the two years that Target Field has been in existence we have learned a few things. Hitters who can hit the gaps will have a great year in Target Field and hitters who don't will fail miserably. Draft guys with some bat control and who can place theirn hits at will and the team's runs will sky rocket. The answer is not drafting guys with huge power potential, the answer is simply draft guys who hit a ton of doubles. Player type 3: Big time college programs. The Twins need to bolster their farm system in the following levels- AA and AAA. We cannot possibly do that by drafting high school kids. I am not saying that we should never draft high school kids but maybe take a year or two off and draft kids from big time college programs who have faced serious talent on a daily basis and who are a little more ready to contribute. If you remember when we drafted Todd Walker, he came out of college and was immediately ready to contribute. That is exactly what type of player the Twins need to focus on in the next year or two. Of course all of this easier said than done but the Twins need to start thinking a little outside of the box.

I constantly ask myself what does our organization need to differently in the draft to become dangerous in October. Well, in my opinion, we need to draft three types of players. Player type 1: No contact power starting pitchers. The Twins have proven that a staff completely made of "pitch to contact pitchers" will get you to the first round of the playoffs and then lose badly. The Twins need to have a slight change in philosophy regarding their pitching staff. Draft strikeout pitchers- exclusively. We have enough guys who throw in the low 90's and are control type pitchers. Our entire farm system is littered with them. Spend 15 rounds drafting guys who make batters miss the ball. I guarantee you that teams who constantly advance in the playoffs have more than 3 guys on their staff who can strike you out. Player type 2: Gap power hitters. In the two years that Target Field has been in existence we have learned a few things. Hitters who can hit the gaps will have a great year in Target Field and hitters who don't will fail miserably. Draft guys with some bat control and who can place theirn hits at will and the team's runs will sky rocket. The answer is not drafting guys with huge power potential, the answer is simply draft guys who hit a ton of doubles. Player type 3: Big time college programs. The Twins need to bolster their farm system in the following levels- AA and AAA. We cannot possibly do that by drafting high school kids. I am not saying that we should never draft high school kids but maybe take a year or two off and draft kids from big time college programs who have faced serious talent on a daily basis and who are a little more ready to contribute. If you remember when we drafted Todd Walker, he came out of college and was immediately ready to contribute. That is exactly what type of player the Twins need to focus on in the next year or two. Of course all of this easier said than done but the Twins need to start thinking a little outside of the box.