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whydidnt

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Everything posted by whydidnt

  1. To me, it looks like the pitching staff will be ok, but I'm not sure the offense is going to be that productive. Other than Hicks, it doesn't seem to feature many real high-upside type guys. I hope some of our younger guys continue to play well this year, and we get to see some of the guys in A ball moved up quickly.
  2. spideyo, I agree 100%. Over the last several years, I think the Twins have been exceptionally good when it comes to dealing with players personal issues. The good news is that it sounds like she is doing better and Marquis will be back with the team tomorrow.
  3. I'm not going to go back and analyze each game to point out the specifics, but we've seen things like bunting in the 1st or 2nd inning (playing for a single run early?). Getting relief pitchers up early, bring the closer in before he usually does, letting the closer pitch longer than normal, etc. If you watch most the games you see that Gardenhire manages a certain way, and often against the Yankees he makes decisions that are "strange", at least for him. I'm still waiting for one of you nay-sayers to provide a reasonable explanation for the 20-63 record that goes beyond the talent difference, which we know isn't 43 games. What is it? Or do you just know that it's nothing because you saw it?
  4. It's really not surprising to me. Usually these shows offer such little insight, I can't change the station quick enough. I can only hear this stuff for so long before my BS meter goes off. I guess I may be in the minority, but it's the same for me whenever an athlete is interviewed on the air. It's just painful for me to listen to so many cream puff questions tossed out, only to hear a dozen cliche's or so as answers. Seriously, when was the last time Gardenire said something like "Well, Nishi can't hit and is completely lost with the Glove. He doesn't listen to instruction, but we laid out close to 15 million for him, so I'm running him out there every day anyway." --which is what he should have said last summer about the guy, but never would because he can't. My point being you rarely hear anything that isn't already known or vanilla on these shows.
  5. I guess some of us understand that there has often been talent gap between the Yankees and Twins. However, it does NOT explain a 20-63 record (including Playoffs) against the Yankees since Gardenhire took over. Especially when you consider the Twins record vs. everyone else during this time. There is something else going on, and 83 games is more than enough to just blame it upon a small sample size. If you want to blame it on ducky's and bunny's that's your business, but those of us that have actually watched the games have seen first hand how the manager mangages tight and that can only rub off on the players. If you refuse to believe that the mind has any impact on a a player/teams performance then I'm not going to change your mind, despite "something" being at play here.
  6. Pretty much what has been predicted here previously. I don't see any reason for Burnett to have made the team. It makes no sense and shows a real lack of quality pitching in the system. As for Burroughs vs. Dinkelman. Neither has a track record of being very good offensively, and I'm not sure either is really that great with the glove either, so I'm not really sure why either of the is on the team. I guess as a 25th man, it's not the end of the world, but I'd rather see some sort of specialist - a pinch runner, a slick glove, etc. in this spot.
  7. Did I say that? Perhaps you need a reading lesson. Isn't it just possible that it could be a combination of the two? Does it ALWAYS have to be black or white? Seriously, was the difference in talent, experience and health between the teams enough to make the Twins play like the 61 Mets and the Yankees play like the 27 Yankees? Because that's about how the results have been. Those are the facts, there is nothing in the difference in talent, experience, etc. to explain the domination the Yankees have shown over the Twins. It really ticks me off when people put words in my mouth...especially when I clearly posted something different.
  8. I disagree - when you are psyched out, it's the most critical moments you makes mistakes. Base running errors, Nathan melting down, etc are MENTAL mistakes you make when you feel too much pressure to do the right thing. Since this has spanned more than a generation of players, it's more likely tied to the manager and coaching staff feeling the pressure and as a result the players acting upon the fact the manager just told him not to screw up three times. Sure the Yankees had better and more expensive players, but that doesn't explain the TOTAL domination they have shown over the Twins for almost a decade!
  9. Bullpens are always the hardest to predict since relief pitchers seem to put up the most inconsistent performances from year to year. However, even the most die-hard Twins fan has to be a little concerned that the group the Twins are running out there this year has a lot of similarity to the guys they ran out last year and that was simply a disaster. We have 1 player (Perkins) out of 7 that you can have some level of confidence in performing well based upon past performance. Just 1!!. We all hope Capps pitches better, but even at his best, he's simply average. The rest of these guys are all a crap shoot. Things may not turn out as poorly as last year, but there is certainly a chance of sorts that it does. If so, we have no one to blame but Ryan. Quite simply put - I don't think there is another team in the AL that would willing sway bullpens with the Twins at this point. If you think there is name it and give me a comparison of why you think the Twins are better. The only one that I could think of is perhaps the Orioles. I hope these guys all find themselves this year and are successful, but I have serious doubts that even 1/2 them will do that.
  10. I think they have played like they are intimidated, and it all starts with the manager who I think manages extremely tight against the Yankees. The results speak from themselves. No way the Yankees are THAT much better than the Twins, yet their record is incredible. i think that among the major sports baseball is the one that is most mental, and in this case the Twins obviously don't play right against the Yankees. I think most of us that have played baseball, or even softball for any amount of time know how much more difficult it is to hit when you are thinking too much and not just playing the game.
  11. Oh my gosh, this would be more the definition of high risk, low reward. Silva's upside is that of a 7th starter. He was never that good, the definition of a guy that got lucky and turned it into a fortune. What possible upside is there to allowing him to pitch another inning for the Twins? He's done. I think VodkaDave was hitting the vodka a little heavy when he posted this..LOL
  12. I think considering we finally have a backup that can hit some, and plans for Mourneau to DH more frequently, we're more likely to see Mauer at C less than 100 games and probably start at first 40-50 times allowing them to ease Parmalee in. If my thoughts hold true, and no freak injuries occur, we could certainly see him playing 150 games for the first time in his career.
  13. If the Twins plan on Morneau at DH most days, it really minimizes the need for a third C. If Doumit is in RF or Mauer at 1B, they can move to C without issue, eliminating Gardy's phobia of having a pitcher hit.
  14. If I was to read between the lines, it looks to me as this means Parmalee is starting the year with the Twins. They found a guy to take his spot in Rochester. I do agree with the Phillies questions at 1B this year, seems odd they were willing to let him go for cash.
  15. The problem is that as soon as we start allowing umpires to "exercise some degree of judgement" you end up with things like the messed up strike zone we currently have, where one umpires strike zone is completely different than another's and neither of them agree with the rules of the game.
  16. I'm really hoping Bromberg bounces back. He certainly looked like a guy who might be able to help the Twins before his injury. Slama is a mystery to me. I think it's quite possible the Twins are right and he doesn't have the stuff to thrive in the majors. But when you consider the guys they have promoted instead of him the last few years, it really makes you wonder. It's not like Hoey, Burnett, Dumatriat, etc. have done anything anywhere to make you think they can get major league hitters out anywhere. If he comes back and pitches well at Rochester this year and the Twins still don't promote him, then I guess he ticked off Gardenhire or Ryan at some point...maybe he made a pass at one of their wives or something?
  17. I'll take this a step further, if the Twins had been willing to spend even couple million more they could have landed someone like Eric Bedard, or Chis Capuano instead of Jason Marquis. Both are injury risks (just like Marquis) but both have a much higher upside. I'd go so far as to say they would have been better off adding the 2 million they spent on Carroll to what they spent on Marquis and sticking with Dozier at SS. Oh, by the way Colon signed for 1.5 million. The Twins couldn't have "stretched" to give him 2 million? Sure he's a risk, but he was also darn effective last year. My gripe is that if they hadn't been so married to the guys that have proved to be questionable or ineffective in the past, they could have certainly improved. It's almost as if they didn't try.
  18. This: " The front office didn't focus much on adding reinforcements during the offseason, signing only one new player who figures to be the fifth starter. Instead, they'll rely on improved health, effectiveness and accountability from the incumbents." is all you need to know. They basically have no plan, but are simply hoping and praying the guys they had are better than they have shown in the past. It may be even worse than last year, when you consider the lack of reinforcements at AAA this year. Other than Hendricks, who are the Twins hoping to get help from if, or rather when a couple of these guys fail or get hurt? Is anyone really comfortable with the fact they are thinking of using Maloney and Swarzak as their 4 and 5 to start the year...making an already questionable bullpen even more questionable?
  19. Except in '87 they also had Frank Viola and Bert Blyleven. I've seen Viola and Blyleven pitch, my friend, and it's an insult to those men to compare ANY of the current pitchers to those two.
  20. Have to agree. Rumor has it that revenue was in excess of $230 million last year. They have historically spent 50% of revenue on payroll, yet now when revenue goes up thanks to a Tax Payer funded stadium, they decide to pocket more of the money. Completely frustrating! I was thinking of buying season tickets this year, but decided since the owners refuse to invest in the team, why should I?
  21. @pogofan: Doesn't matter to me. A rule is a rule. If you don't want the World Series decided by a balk, then why do we have balks? Why should we allow rules to be broken because of the situation, be it baseball, basketball, or whatever the sport. My argument is that if the violation isn't strongly relevant to the game's outcome than remove it from the rule books. The argument that plays that happen in the ninth inning are somehow more important than plays in the 3rd inning is very weak.
  22. I disagree completely with this concept. A penalty or foul is still a penalty or a foul regardless of when it occurs. If the rule doesn't make sense for the final minutes of a game, then it shouldn't be a rule. I grow so frustrated watching games where the referee just let's everything go at the end. This is just as bad in hockey as it is in basketball. Imagine a 3-2 Twins lead in the bottom of the 9th and the opposing team has a player running the bases, but CLEARLY misses third on his way to scoring the tying run..should the umpire not call him out simply because it's a close game? Anyone think that's a fair way to settle a close matchup? Same should apply to basketball and hockey. Change the rules if you ain't going to call 'em in the last 2 minutes!
  23. I have to agree that if the Twins take Parmalee north, their won't be a need for a 3rd catcher, and it opens a spot for utility guy. Theriot is a better player than the current internal choices, but I'm not sure the Twins have interest. He was available for just over a million this off-season and the Twins ignored him then. If they take Parmalee north, then a guy like Florimon also might not be the worst choice. The Twins will have choices to pinch hit for Casilla or Carroll and also leave themselves with a defensive replacement in that case.
  24. I think Burroughs and Holliman are similar offensively (not good, but not Nishi like either), so I'd keep Holliman, just for his positional flexibilty. He's 29 and certainly nothing more than a ML bench player, but I'd like to see them give him a shot. Burroughs really hasn't looked good at 3B so far in ST, and has a reputation has a mediocre fielder. He's not going to hit much, based upon his track record so where's his value? I really don't think Ryan is going outside the organization at this point for a utility guy. We've got too many potential players in camp and fairly set IF. I think if he really thought they could contend this year they might bring someone else in, but at this point what are they going to gain?
  25. Butler Doumit Hafner Dunn Raburn I think Butler might add some HR power to his already good line. Head and shoulders above the rest. Dunn could very well surprise and hit 30 HR this year, but he was SO awful last year, no way I'm ranking him above guys like Doumit and Hafner here. Raburn would be a great pick if the league was made up of all LH pitchers. Until Leyland trusts him against RHs he has to be at the bottom of this list. I think Doumit could put up a .285-15-75 line, but something tells me Gardner is going to find ways to keep him on the bench 2-3 times a week. I hope I'm wrong.
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