Paul Pleiss

If you're not first, you're last. -Ricky Bobby

I'm not a noted Rick Anderson hater. Phil Hughes emergence this season isn't going to change that. I don't think Rick Anderson is worth the price of the uniform on his back, or the pack of gum in my pocket. He's Gardy's guy, and that's it, and I'm sure that's the only reason he's still around. I can't stay Anderson. I have no good things to say, so I'll say no more.

How about a 2-0 win. I like it folks. Also, Joe Nathan, guy seems to be falling apart. I know the run he gave up was unearned, but jeesh. Not the guy I remember.

No risk. No reward. If the Twins are serious about 2014 I think they make this move, because it makes the team better. We may all be clammoring for May/Meyer and the rest of the guys down in AAA, but I don't expect any of them to come up and be good right away. Remember what happened with Gibson last season? The guys in AAA still have something to learn when they get to the Twins, Cahill could provide an immediate boost to the pitching staff and someone who could help them win now. Rick Anderson and his crew are good at teaching guys how to not walk people, seems like a good idea to bring in Cahill and let him pitch to contact to the Twins defense which has been top-5 in the league at turning GB's into outs. It's a lot of money to invest, and comes with future money for next season, but hey, if yo want to win, you have to play the game, and you have to pay to play. Welcome to Minnesota Trevor.

Aaron Hicks, if you're reading this, I still love you. I just wish you'd smile more, like Benny Revere. Don't listen to these guys who say you can't hit, you can, I know you can, and you have of late, you just keep getting hurt. I believe in you. If you put your mind to it, anything is possible, my 3rd grade teacher told me so, and teachers can't lie, it's a rule. As advantageous as a DL stint may be here for the Twins while they try to decide what to do with Hicks with Santana continuing to play over his head offensively and Fuld set to come back, I hope that he's able to get back into game shape. I like the direction things are headed for the 24 year old Hicks. Lots of potential still to be realized in that young man.

http://assets.podomatic.net/ts/19/ad/da/paulpleiss/1400x1400-558x558+394+15_9669899.jpg If you're listening to this podcast, you probably have more than a passing interest in Twins baseball. You've probably read about all of their draft picks, even guys drafted after the first few rounds, like Minnesota native Pat Kelly, who was taken in the 10th round. Jay is driving the episode this week, so prepare your ears for a little different sound, but have no fear, other than lots of cat noises in the background, the show is pretty stellar. We start the episode by saying goodbye to one of the most handsome red beards to ever grace the outfield grass in Minnesota, Jason Kubel. Kubel is gone, but highlighting this last week was the acquisition of Kendrys Morales who along with the emergence of Eduardo Escobar and Danny Santana gives the Twins arguably one of the best line ups in the American League. We talk a little draft, but save most of the draft talk for our guests from the Twins Hangouts (@TwinsHangouts), Jeremy Nygaard (@jeremynygaard) and Seth Stohs (@SethTweets). With the help of those two we dive into the draft and discuss the Twins moves and what it could mean for this club in the near and long term.A lot of weird things have happened in the world of baseball this week, and we cover most of them when we go around the league, to include banana and mayo sandwiches, a Seminole Indian rain man and a fatty mass with tentacles. Yikes. Source

That's a lively bunch of commentors! Not many that I'd be inclined to have a baseball conversation with.

GCL, FSL, tomato, tomato. (use humor to hide embarrassment)

I also try to avoid Bleacher Report, but they've been hiring some people who are good at WRITING, and are using all those clicks to generate money and better content. They're becoming a force. Hopefully they don't choose the dark side.

Remember that the GCL has a lot of larger parks due to them being the ST homes of many MLB teams. It's never bad to want more homers, and I think we'll see these young guys adjusting well as they move through the season. The power will come. Be patient grasshopper.

Seems far to soon to worry about the debate between Morales or Hammer. I like both being in Twins uniforms for the time being. I think it's unlikely either is back in Minnesota for 2015 with big bats and young players looking for time at the major league level. If the Twins are in it, moving either of them doesn't make sense at the deadline, if they're not, then moving either, or both (if they are healthy and hitting) seems like a good idea. Too soon for this debate.

I like just about everything here except sending Hicks to AAA. Even when Fuld comes back, I don't think a combination of Fuld/Santana is the right mix for CF. I keep saying this all over all the forums, but let Hicks figure it out. He's getting on base, and as long as he keeps doing that there's no reason you cant send him out to CF and let him get his ABs at the bottom of the lineup.

You're probably right, Hicks probably gets sent to AAA, but I don't think that's the right move. There's plenty of other dead weight on this team. Hicks needs to see major league caliber breaking pitches, and there are probably more of those at AA than AAA. Keep him in the big show, and run him out there 5+ days a week.

I had big dreams for Chicken Parm, hopes and dreams the size of Mt Rainier. That's big folks. But he's just not getting it done. Maybe he's just a AAAA guy. Maybe he has a future in Japan or Korea, but I just don't know that he has a future in MLB.

While living in Seattle, I noticed, one afternoon, a bunch of protesters gathering on the corner of my street with signs and creating a big hullabaloo as they prepared to go do something civicly inclined. I cracked a beer and went out to my balcony to investigate. I asked what was going on and what all the fuss was about. Their head honcho told me that they were going to pickett a restaurant down the block that wasn't paying their employees enough (although they were paying above minimum wage). My thought on this was "If they're not paying their employees enough, those employees should seek work elsewhere." After reading through this thread, I feel that mlhouse brings a lot of good points, points that line up with my sentiments about the restaurant workers above. But this is baseball, a game making billions, and I feel like it would be easy for them to make changes to significantly improve the minor league lifestyle. I WANT baseball to do better by the players toiling in the minor leagues. I want them to take care of those guys who are giving so much of their youth to pursuit of their dreams, but I'm not sure they HAVE to. Not paying players who are at extended spring training or spring training seems like a bad maneuver for the big league ball clubs. There is clearly room for MLB to give a little more on this without having to spend money. But are they legally required to do so? That's a question for the courts to decide. I hope for the best for the players.

if Jared Burton is still pitching for the Twins the next time they see the Tigers, the bombs we'll be seeing will come from Tiger bats. Jared "just bombs" Burton and his 6+ ERA need to go.

I think Chicken Parm is the clear answer for demotion. Hicks is improving, and even with Fuld, I don't think you can lose Hicks. His BA is just a couple ticks below Pinto going into today...

You might thing that giving up a 2nd round pick was worth it, but the FO didnt. And Nelson Cruz was coming back from a PED suspension, so there's some risk. I don't think a lot of people expected him to have anywhere near 21 HR at this point in the season. Hindsight, would Cruz have been a great guy to have in the lineup? Yes, but I don't think that his offense puts the team in contention for the Al central title. The team struggled with starting pitching in April. Cruz's bat doesn't help that. The offense sputtered in May, but the pitching was better. I like the team as presently constructed, and I like that the Twins went out and signed Morales. I'm not sure I would have been very pleased had the Twins signed Cruz. They're building for the future, Burdi will be part of that. Would Cruz have signed with MN? Would he stick around for the future? Were the Twins thinking of contending in 2014 this past offseason?

I don't know that Hicks needs to profile as a corner guy. Play him in CF. he's the best CF on the roster, or in AA/AAA. He's can do it. He can. I promise

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES. I LOVE YOU, LET'S BE AARON HICKS BEST FRIENDS FOREVER. But seriously, this is my feeling exactly. Santana is a SS, saying it's irresponsible to put him in a corner spot seems strange. Probably just as irresponsible to put him in CF.

I don't think you're wrong, but because you started calling for a rebuild doesn't mean the FO thought it was time. I, like many Twins fans, was disappoined with the playoff losses, but thought the team could rebound with an addition of pitching (that never came), but then injuries did what they did and Twins fans began to wonder what exactly "Bi-lateral leg weakness" is (and they're still wondering). But I think we're on the same point going forward. I like the direction the Twins are moving and there is legitimate hope for the future and even some not so irrational hope for 2014.

The Morales signing indicates the Twins want to contend. (YES) If this is their objective then other changes need to be made (YES). The following are my suggestions. They are a mix of what I want while also considering the reality of what the Twins might do. Roster moves: 1. Morales is added and Kubel is released (YES) 2. When Fuld comes back Parmelee is sent back to AAA (if he clears waivers) (YES) Lineup/playing time 1. Santana remains in centerfield as an everyday player and bats leadoff (No, no, no no, no! You said so yourself that Hicks is slowly improving. Let him continue to play and continue to improve. he's 24 and gets on base 34% of the time. bat him near the bottom of the order, but let him play everyday unless he proves he cant, at which point send him to AAA. I don't believe this is the REAL Santana. Ride Danny until his bat falls off, but he needs time at SS this season and Ecobar has a firm grasp on that spot at the MLB level. What's the use in developing Santana to be a CF with Buxton coming up?) 2. Dozier bats 2nd and stays at 2B (I like moving Dozier out of the leadoff spot, maybe even putting Mauer in front of him. Heck, even Escobar!) 3. Mauer (I like him in the 2 spot, Escobar (Santana, when he's playing) leading off, Dozier at 3) 4. Willingham stays in LF everyday and bats cleanup (YES) 5. Morales DHs batting 5th (No, Arcia at 5, let Morales prove he can still hit before you put him ahead of Ozzie) 6. Arcia (when healthy) bats 6th and plays (No, 5th) 7. Plouffe keeps doing what he has been (YES) 8. Suzuki and Pinto share time catching (YES, with more opportunities for Pinito to catch since he is losing DH days to Morales) 9. Escobar bats last and plays everyday at short (Or bats first, Hicks in the 9 slot.) Other position players -Hicks relieves Santana and Arcia a day or 2 a week. It's not ideal for him to stay in the majors but there really isn't anyone else who needs to come up in AAA and Hicks has slowly been getting better. (Hicks is improving. Let him keep working things out at the MLB level. He needs to play more than 2-3 games a week) -Fuld is used primarily as a pinch runner or defensive replacement for Willingham. Shouldn't really get many (any) starts. (No. Defensive/Runner? let him spell guys in the OF the way a 4th OF should. Let Santana be a pinch runner. He makes a better utility guy and pinch runner/hitter than Fuld ever could). -Nunez gives Plouffe and Escobar days off when They need them. (YES! Also more room to play Santana here)

You guys can't see it, but I'm playing a violin for Parms and Kubel. It's really sweet music. It'll make this next sentence easier to hear. Goodbye Chris, Jason, it's been great seeing you again, but, well, it's just not working out anymore.

WHY IS EVERYONE HATING ON AARON HICKS!?! He's getting on base at a good clip. Let him continue to figure out this hitting thing at the MLB level, getting on base 34% of the time is not the mark of someone who needs to get sent down. I know you weren't arguing for that here, but I just wanted to take this opportunity to speak up for Hicks, who I think is a valuable member of this team, BA aside.