okobojicat

Yes, but which Surly? Is it furious?

Actually a lot of stat guys (like myself) will acknowledge that you only have to win by one. But by giving outs away (such as bunting) you reduce your chances of scoring 1 run or 3 runs. Let's say you're down 1 run in the bottom of the 6th inning. 1 out, guy on first. Parmalee is up. Do you bunt? How about Span or Revere? No. Moving the guy to 2nd base with 2-outs reduces your chances of scoring 1 run, 2 runs, or any amount of runs. Basically, in order to regularly justify bunting, you must have someone that is offensively inept as Butera. Otherwise, it almost never makes sense.

DeRosa was NEVER a major league capable SS. That's the reason the Braves moved him off SS way back when. He doesn't have the range for 2B anymore. He'd probably be ok defensively at 3B and 1B, as a fill in when you're short people. But there's no reason to expect him to hit more than .250/.300/.350. He's been hurt a lot lately and no reason to expect him to suddenly get healthy. There is no way he'll get anywhere near .800 OPS or even 15 hr this year. Carroll plays a good defensive SS/2B and has proven to be quite excellent at getting on base and taking pitches. That signing might have been the best signing of the entire major leagues all off-season.

Most teams have really tried to bring their minor league teams close so that they can partner in marketing terms. However, there are no "decent" sized cities near MSP without a AAA team already. Des Moines and Omaha already have teams. Sioux Falls, Rochester, Duluth, St Cloud and Mankato aren't really big enough for your normal AAA size city. But then I thought about the Mariners and they have their AAA team Tacoma pretty much in the same metropolitan district. Its a great way to build a regional consciousness of a team. I would put the AAA team in Bloomington, perhaps in a new stadium down by the Mall or near the river. There really isn't a lot of stealing of ticket sales as people go to the games for different experiences. I do think the St Paul Saints would be pretty upset. Any other ideas? Where would you put the AAA Twins.....if you could put them anywhere?

Metrodome Target Field (though, weirdly not for a Twins game, I saw the first game ever played there, the Gophers vs. TCU???) Safeco (my favorite stadium) Coors Wrigley Comisky (before it became the cell phone company) Fenway (mehhh) Petco (really nice) Oakland Colliseum (blehh) Kaufman (nice, but nothing great) Milwaukee County stadium (the old, disgusting and nasty) Camden (very nice) Nationals Park (communist, clean, but boring) Citizen Bank Park (Fun stadium - I had a really good time at the game, but I don't remember anything distinctive about the stadium)

There is a surprising lack of Safeco mentions. It is gorgeous, and on a long August evening, its a great place to watch a game. Probably my favorite. I live in Denver now, and Coors is ok, but it still behind Safeco in my book. I grew up a Cubs fan, and Wrigley, while it has its charms, is also kind of disgusting. Fenway is weird. Its gorgeous when you are on top, but underneath it looks and feels like a crappy AA stadium. I actually have little desire to go back. I haven't been to Camden in years, but I remember it being beautiful. Petco is also great, but in some ways Petco is like a vacation; it almost feels fake. The fans aren't too intense about the game and there are dog parks in the outfield.