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twinssporto

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  1. Interesting write-up. Thank you.
  2. Thanks Mike, good information. I read a few of those links yesterday as well. As mentioned I got lazy and didn't bother with some of the bad FA signing but two jumped out at me yesterday (because of the Twins affiliation) that I almost wrote about. Thanks for mentioning them both...Sanata/Mets and Silva/Seattle. One point about these long-term FA contracts that hasn't really been discussed is the guaranteed money aspect. MLB is unusual in that these contracts are all guaranteed. Unlike other sports where that is not always the case (some or very little of the large contracts are guaranteed). Its gotta drive the finance guys within these clubs nuts doing forward time value of money calculations and future cash flow analysis. I'd love to see the insurance policy premiums on some of these contracts as well. It probably adds another 10% to the cash outlay these teams make when doing these big contracts. Maybe they self-fund the insurance pool to save costs...
  3. With all the talk and speculation around Yu Darvish the last few months it got me thinking about large free-agent contracts for starting pitchers that have actually worked out. This is a Forums post and not a blog so I did not spend a lot of time researching the answer to this question but did come up with a few (not necessarily large dollar contracts either) that did work out well. Greg Maddux - 5 years $28 million. Leaves Cubs for Braves (3 Cy Young awards first three years of contract). Impressive. Randy Johnson - 4 years and $53 million. At 34 signs the contract and wins the Cy Young all 4 years of that contract. Amazing especially at that age. Darvish turning 32 at the end of the contract doesn't look so bad now. Roger (The Juice) Clemens - 4 years and $40 million. Like Johnson signs contract at 34 years old with Toronto and first two years goes 41-13 with a 2.33 ERA. Oh, and two back-to-back Cy Youngs. Other notable good free-agent pitching signings included: CC Sabathia, NYY 3yr/$60mm, Zach Greinke ,LAD 3yr/$70mm Hey, if we land Yu Darvish you never know how it will go. I'll stay positive and hope we land him. If we do I'll remain hopeful he can turn a 5yr/$25mm or 6 yr/$25mm contract into no brainer. I was too lazy to research all of the dud free-agent pitcher signings that have occurred the last 20 years but I'm hopeful someone will post a few in their responses. Is it Spring Training yet? I'm ready to watch some baseball!
  4. Very solid signing! This creates more depth within the bullpen and should give Molly additional consistency.
  5. Great story, thanks for sharing. Kirby is still one of my all-time favorite Twins. I remember driving home from baseball practice as a kid listening to Kirby's first game on WCCO. My coach at the time said this guy is gonna be good. Seth - I was at Cooperstown for Kirby's induction as well. Remember it like it was yesterday. My sister worked for the Marlins (still does) and got me tickets to the event. The Marlins were playing the Reds for the Hall of Fame game that year so she got to come along too. Ended up having coffee with Pete Rose the following day...Interesting story. No sense deflowering the nice Kirby story with that story...Will save for another time.
  6. John - Thanks for starting this thread. I've been on this site for a few years now and love it. It's my "go to" place for Twins information. All of my contributions have been through the forum sections only. I've even done a number of game thread introductions. I contribute because its fun and I enjoy the banter amongst other Twins fans. Now that I better understand the blog portion I will make a few attempts at contributing that way as well. Can't promise anything riveting but will give it a shot. I don't think anyone who is really passionate about writing about the Twins will be doing it for a few bucks here and there. They will do it because they think they have a good point to make or an observation that will be appreciated by other Twins fans. Couple of quick thoughts on developing/encouraging more bloggers: 1.) If you see a good post in the forums section, PM the author and encourage them to expand or develop their idea further in a blog. 2.) If you read a decent blog that might not yet be ready for the front page reach out to that individual and say good job. That might be the only encouragement they need to try another one. The more people write the better they get. Its intimidating to put yourself out there and write something for everyone to see but if you want more people to do it they might need to be nurtured somewhat. A little recognition goes a long way.
  7. I can't believe this move would make me so happy but it does. To second another posters comment, "all is right with the world now..."
  8. Good for Paul! Good for Falvey and company too. Can you imagine the blow back from the average Twins fan out there if we would have let Paul go and he wins MOY??? Mr. Pohlad looks sage now too.... I'm going out to my deer stand this morning to ponder these things some more.
  9. This is a great thread! Thanks for starting it John... The Twins WILL do something with a splash this year. Personally I hope its a little bit of both: starting pitching and bullpen help. You will see some larger dollars spent along with a few interesting trades with our minor leaguers. The core is in place but there seems to be a "timing lag" in talent coming up from the pitching side. Something will be done. A few key additions and this team could really roll...I don't have any proof to back this up about trades or big spending but I've followed this team for 35 years. I feel it in my bones.
  10. Nobody that I know of on here or elsewhere said to focus only on analytics and ignore relationships. My point (obviously poorly expressed) was that I think a younger team like the Twins would fare better under a more qualitative management approach than with a management style designed for more veteran type players (and possibly a more analytics driven approach). I don't know what the players thought of Molitor last year. Dozier's comments were said a week ago about this year. I'm not sure if anything changed from last year or not. Wish I had better access to the players to dig a little deeper into that subject!
  11. I'm glad they kept Molitor. It seems silly to mess around with a cohesive team atmosphere with great chemistry. Dozier came right out and said he supported Molitor 100% and also said he speaks for the entire team when he says that. I love the new analytical approach to things in baseball but I sometimes think focusing on only that component blinds people in their approach to coaching, instructing, managing, etc. (I'm going to post a topic on this subject soon). At this point I think a more qualitative approach to managing a young team is better than a quantitative approach. Molitor does provide a unique perspective after playing for 20 years. He most likely has been apart of toxic clubhouses and cohesive clubhouses. After all these years in baseball I would bet he's learned what not to do as well as what motivates a team (analytics aside). As a Manager, either of baseball players, employees or soldiers it's his or her job to get the most out of their people and guide them in the direction you want them to go. I also don't think he earned the players respect this year but he earned it last year. Close relationships and mutual respect are usually forged in difficult times not great times...
  12. What's with all the negative talk? We've waited a long time to field a competitive team and now its finally arrived. If this team had an average age of 28,29 or 30 I would say lets talk regression. However, I really don't see regression coming from Sano, Kepler, Rosario, Buxton or Polanco. These guys are so young now and only getting better. We were the best hitting team the second half of the year and I would think we can carry that over to next year too. Mauer may even improve as well. Most players do the last year of their contracts. You might see some regression from Santana and Belisle but I think it would be minor. Santana has kept the consistency for two years now. Let's get some new arms going for the bullpen and starters. It's gonna be a fun team to watch!
  13. I highly doubt the FO will can Molitor. The main reason is this (which I don't think anyone has mentioned yet in this thread). This is a team made up of mostly young and less experienced players. If I'm Falvey, why would I want to mess with the team chemistry? Why take the chance of bringing in a new manager that could blow the whole thing up? I don't see a lot of meaningful upside by bringing in a new manager. I also think its important that these younger guys have some stability in the area of manager. Tom Kelly "grew up" with the younger guys that came in the early 80's and so did Gardy with the team in the 90's. We don't know what goes on behind the locker room doors before and after the game but my instincts say these players like Molitor. Does Molitor make some questionable decisions during the game? Yes. Is there any real meaningful upside by bringing in a new manager especially as we are ready to break out as a team? Statistically speaking I think it would be very minor. He does some unorthodox things occasionally but nothing that would be a fireable offense.
  14. Thanks Chief! I was literally looking up that post when I saw your like come through. I might go buy a lotto ticket tonight. Fun year!!
  15. Look at the post #111 above. I tried telling this to the media but they didn't pay any attention to me...
  16. Hildenberger - do you want cheese or bacon on the berger?
  17. Buxton is a stud. No if's, and's or butt's about it. WOW!!!!!
  18. I was looking for the Dozier rant but couldn't find it. Crow for sure!
  19. I'm totally confident. If you were discussing the Vikings it would be a different story.
  20. I love that term "playoff crucible"! Well done! That's why I hang out on this site. Intelligent banter and snappy conversation. Could be the name of a book!!! Even better than the "Crucible", horrible book!
  21. If the White Sox had any divisional manners they would beat the Angels tonight.
  22. 3 innings and 4 pitchers. Awesome! Love the excitement. Molitor is going hard core tonight for the win.
  23. Everything is going to be ok...
  24. I'd take Eddie over Hicks right now. and a lot of other players too.
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