Paul Pleiss

Tank! I've been watching the draft pick order as close, if not closer, than I've been watching the Royals and Nats fight their ways back into playoff contention. The Twins are playing young players, a AAAA roster at best, and we're seeing some of those players do well. As a fan, watching the team down the stretch, that's what I'm looking for, young guys getting a taste and doing well, getting their licks, and if that means the team loses a few more games and moves up the draft order, well that's just fine by me too. Let's go Twins, and also, let's not go. #Twinning

Hold on to Rosario. Dozier needs to show he can be the 2nd-half 2013 guy for more than half a season. No need to move Rosario... yet. For a team that has struggled to have competant middle infielders, it seems unwise to trade away a young talent like Rosario after limited success from Dozier. If the Twins have too much depth at 2B, that seems like a good problem to have. I would suggest that it seems Dozier can continue to be a very good 2B with excellent pop for the position, but I want to see more. Patience.

http://assets.podomatic.net/ts/19/ad/da/paulpleiss/1400x1400-248x248+30+2_8714365.gif The Minor League season has ended for all of the Twins MiLB affliates except for the Rochester Red Wings. We take a look at some standout seasons and team reviews around the Twins system. We also spend a good deal of time discussing Aaron Hicks' role in 2014 and the possible leadership void left in the wake of Justin Morneau's trade to Pittsburgh. 84 minutes of cantankerous babble. Source

http://assets.podomatic.net/ts/19/ad/da/paulpleiss/1400x1400-316x316+323+0_8681567.jpg We're going old school this week and talking radio! This week's Twins topics include bad pitching, bad hitting, and the rise of Pedro Florimon. We also discuss the Arizona Fall league assignments and Down on the Pond we talk about Matt Tomshaw's THING! Source

Episode 49 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://puckettspond.com/files/2013/08/7574644-590x392.jpg This week Paul returns from the wilderness to banter with Eric and Cody about Andrew Albers who continues to impress and pitch well with his 86mph fastball, Brian Dozier and his silky smooth hair, the loss of Jamey Carroll, the return for Drew Butera and other happenings surrounding the Minnesota Twins. You can follow Cody on Twitter (@NoDakTwinsFan) or read his writing at NoDakTwinsFan, and you can find Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) and read his writing at Knuckleballs! If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes(ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers, which help us become warlocks and spread the word about our podcast. __________________ Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter Check out the Talk to Contact Podcast (@TalkToContact) or email the show: talktocontact@gmail.comwww.baseballtwins.com

http://assets.podomatic.net/ts/19/ad/da/paulpleiss/1400x1400_8625621.jpg This week Paul returns from the wilderness to banter with Eric and Cody about Andrew Albers who continues to impress and pitch well with his 86mph fastball, Brian Dozier and his silky smooth hair, the loss of Jamey Carroll, the return for Drew Butera and other happenings surrounding the Minnesota Twins. Source

http://assets.podomatic.net/ts/19/ad/da/paulpleiss/1400x1400-1180x1180+4+420_8605731.jpg Paul went camping this weekend and we never heard from him, so while he's PROBABLY not dead, he CERTAINLY isn't on the podcast this week. Don't fret, because we're joined by Jesse Lund (@TwinkieTown) from TwinkieTown.com to talk all things Twins and Twins blogging, and Cody and I do our regular exciting Twins talk. Join us for 84ish minutes of baseball noise. Source

Episode 47 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://puckettspond.com/files/2013/08/povano-590x393.jpgThe sexiest mustached Twins fan in existence. For the first time in many moons Cody takes a break and Paul and Eric are forced to go it alone. We talk about Aaron Hick's demotion to AAA, whether or not the Twins are "rebuilding" and who the winners and losers were at the trade deadline. Adam (AJ) Pettersen is this week's minor league prospect profile; will he ever get a cup of coffee in the big leagues? Google image search black holes, good summer beers and lots more on this week's episode of the Talk to Contact podcast. You can follow Cody on Twitter (@NoDakTwinsFan) or read his writing at NoDakTwinsFan, and you can find Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) and read his writing at Knuckleballs! If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes(ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers, which help us become warlocks and spread the word about our podcast. __________________ Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter Check out the Talk to Contact Podcast (@TalkToContact) or email the show: talktocontact@gmail.comwww.baseballtwins.com

Episode 47 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://puckettspond.com/files/2013/08/povano-590x393.jpgThe sexiest mustached Twins fan in existence. For the first time in many moons Cody takes a break and Paul and Eric are forced to go it alone. We talk about Aaron Hick's demotion to AAA, whether or not the Twins are "rebuilding" and who the winners and losers were at the trade deadline. Adam (AJ) Pettersen is this week's minor league prospect profile; will he ever get a cup of coffee in the big leagues? Google image search black holes, good summer beers and lots more on this week's episode of the Talk to Contact podcast. You can follow Cody on Twitter (@NoDakTwinsFan) or read his writing at NoDakTwinsFan, and you can find Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) and read his writing at Knuckleballs! If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes(ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers, which help us become warlocks and spread the word about our podcast. __________________ Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter Check out the Talk to Contact Podcast (@TalkToContact) or email the show: talktocontact@gmail.comwww.baseballtwins.com

http://assets.podomatic.net/ts/19/ad/da/paulpleiss/1400x1400-996x996+354+2_8575561.jpg For the first time in many moons Cody takes a break and Paul and Eric are forced to go it alone. We talk about Aaron Hick's demotion to AAA, whether or not the Twins are "rebuilding" and who the winners and losers were at the trade deadline. Adam (AJ) Pettersen is this week's minor league prospect profile; will he ever get a cup of coffee in the big leagues? Google image search black holes, good summer beers and lots more on this week's episode of the Talk to Contact podcast. Source

http://assets.podomatic.net/ts/19/ad/da/paulpleiss/1400x1400-378x378+76+0_8547152.jpg Just remember that Clete Thomas is your savior. Forget everything else.Talk to Contact. Source

http://assets.podomatic.net/ts/19/ad/da/paulpleiss/1400x1400-338x338+0+27_8529529.jpg This week on the podcast, Cody and Eric break down the Twins' recent series wins against New York and Cleveland, recap their 1st half Twins MVPs, and contemplate the future of Ron Gardenhire. Down on the Pond they talk about Low-A Cedar Rapids Kernels' RHP Dallas Gallant, and they even try and give away a "Magic in Minneosta" DVD, listen up for details. To close out the show the two talk Beers from Around the World and then go Around the League, finishing with a couple of BOLD predicitons for the 2nd half. 68 minutes of internet money! Source

http://assets.podomatic.net/ts/19/ad/da/paulpleiss/1400x1400-317x317+60+79_8487983.jpg This week Cody and Eric get down on a bunch of Twins news from the past week+, including a mediocre Kyle Gibson, roster transactions, a surging Aaron Hicks and a slumping EVERYONE else. Down on the Pond is about the Twins' recent #1 draft pick Kohl Stewart. After that Cody and Eric talk beer, baseball, and the news. 76 minutes of unmitigated baseball talk. Source

Give Parmelee all the time he needs, or until Arcia is ready to come up, whichever happens first. No need to panic, the Twins are winning, the season is young, and there's a chance he could be an everyday regular out there in RF until A) Morneau is traded becasue Parmelee figured out how to hit or Arcia comes up after mashing AAA and Parm continues to look hapless. Hope, my friends, hope, hold on to it tightly and look to the horizon for brighter days ahead.

I would peg Roenicke as the first guy down, and by the time both Swarzy and Diamond are back there could be someone headed to the DL to replace them, if not, I think Hendriks or De Vries could be headed to pitch in the AAA rotation. Robertson is always an option too, but if I had to choose 2, Roenicke goes first, followed by De Vries. I think the Twins will give Hendriks a chance to suceede before sending him back to AAA, I'm not sure what else he has to prove down there after a very successful 2012 AAA season. -P

This is how I watch almost all Twins games. I'm not a big fan of Dick and Bert, but I like the radio broadcast, not so much Danno, but Provus calls a good game. I can usually get them pretty well synched up w/out too much issue. Sometimes I'm a second or 2 behind live so I have to be careful watching twitter/game chats, but it gives me the best of both worlds. -P

I have a TV w/ digital bunny ears, local channels in crystal clear HD for free. I don't get ESPN or other cable channels, but I've got MLB.tv, NHL gamecenter and if there's a game on ESPN or another channel I don't get that gives me a great excuse to head down to the local watering hole to watch the game and have some brews. Cable, good riddence. Baseball willl ride out whatever wave follows the crash of cable companies, but that being said, i don't see the fall of cable happening anytime soon.

I live in Seattle, a city known for rainy days and craft beer. I like it here, and while I'm a long way from my beloved Minnesota Twins, the Mariners community here in Seattle is quite welcoming. After watching the Twins fall to the Tigers on Opening Day I headed over to the open house held at Safeco Field. (this post originally appeared at http://www.baseballtwins.com) The Mariners opened the stadium at 6pm with free admission for all fans, free parking and 5-dollar beers all evening. 15,000+ Mariner fans showed up to watch the game on the newly installed jumbo tron, the biggest in all of baseball. I got a chance to walk around the warning track and enjoy a wide variety of craft beers around the stadium before finding a seat and watching Felix Hernandez stifle the Oakland Athletics. I even picked up a Seattle Pilots cap which I'll be sporting around Seattle in the days and weeks ahead. The Pilots, who left Seattle after one season to become the Milwaukee Brewers, had one of my favorite caps in MLB history (http://shop.mlb.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1915837&CAWELAID=1808382631&cagpspn=pla). A big thank you to the Mariners for putting on the Open House. It was fun being able to walk around the warning track and take in the new additions to Safeco field. There's a great patio seating section in Center field now that they've moved the fences in, and Seattle legend Edgar Martinez was on hand signing autographs and taking pictures in Edgar's lounge. A neat way for Seattle fans, and baseball fans of all sorts, to get back into the baseball mode. It was fun being back in a major league ball park watching baseball. And while I didn't get to see the Twins or the Mariners play in person, the huge screen, the roar of the crowd, the smell of hot dogs, beer and fresh grass was enough to have be back in baseball heaven after a long and somewhat depressing off-season. Baseball is back, and I'm looking forward to another season of America's pastime.

I live in Seattle, a city known for rainy days and craft beer. I like it here, and while I'm a long way from my beloved Minnesota Twins, the Mariners community here in Seattle is quite welcoming. After watching the Twins fall to the Tigers on Opening Day I headed over to the open house held at Safeco Field. (this post originally appeared at http://www.baseballtwins.com) The Mariners opened the stadium at 6pm with free admission for all fans, free parking and 5-dollar beers all evening. 15,000+ Mariner fans showed up to watch the game on the newly installed jumbo tron, the biggest in all of baseball. I got a chance to walk around the warning track and enjoy a wide variety of craft beers around the stadium before finding a seat and watching Felix Hernandez stifle the Oakland Athletics. I even picked up a Seattle Pilots cap which I'll be sporting around Seattle in the days and weeks ahead. The Pilots, who left Seattle after one season to become the Milwaukee Brewers, had one of my favorite caps in MLB history (http://shop.mlb.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1915837&CAWELAID=1808382631&cagpspn=pla). A big thank you to the Mariners for putting on the Open House. It was fun being able to walk around the warning track and take in the new additions to Safeco field. There's a great patio seating section in Center field now that they've moved the fences in, and Seattle legend Edgar Martinez was on hand signing autographs and taking pictures in Edgar's lounge. A neat way for Seattle fans, and baseball fans of all sorts, to get back into the baseball mode. It was fun being back in a major league ball park watching baseball. And while I didn't get to see the Twins or the Mariners play in person, the huge screen, the roar of the crowd, the smell of hot dogs, beer and fresh grass was enough to have be back in baseball heaven after a long and somewhat depressing off-season. Baseball is back, and I'm looking forward to another season of America's pastime.

I agree, Plouffe and Parmelle are keys to 2013, but no more than Hicks and the rotation. The Twins had good offensive production last season but I expect some regression this season. The rotation cant be much worse than 2012, and Worley and Correia each gave the team a chance to win in the first two ball games. Can we expect that from the each time they take the ball? No, but the success of Pelfrey, Worley and Correia along with Diamond, Hendriks and the rest of the guys in the rotation will be much more telling than either Plouffe or Parmelee when all is said and done. I've got low expectations for the team this season, but I am excited for this team as well. Plouffe, Parmelee and Hicks will all need to prove their ability to hit at the MLB level, and with other youngsters surely to break into the big leagues this season, there is a lot to look forward to. The team may well lose 90 games again this season, I just hope to see progress towards a brighter future in Twins Territory.

He needs to hit, more than anything else. Organizationally the Twins have a lot of catching depth; for him to be anything more than organizational depth at the lower levels his bat will have to come alive. Minnesota doesn't need another Drew Butera.

I thought Gardy's use of the bullpen in the walk-off victory was well done, however in the first game I would have liked to see better use when the Twins were down just 1 run. Hindsight is always 20-20, and while I'm no Gardy appologist, I am a fan of his work and the small sample size this season seems to suggest better management of the roster. While I am not a fan of Escobar, he came up big today, and having him instead of Butera on the roster is a plus; today that payed dividends.

Episode 31 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/openingday2013.jpg In Episode 31, Paul, Eric, and Cody get together to discuss Twins news leading up to Opening Day, the Twins 25-man roster, and they make their MLB predictions for each division, for the World Series, and for MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year. Cody does a great job in his first full show on Talk to Contact, and while his segways are initially weak, he gets stronger as the episode goes along. Along the way we’re joined by Bryan Craves, the Displaced Tigers Fan, to talk about Opening Day, Justin Verlander, and what might happen in the Twins’ first series of the year. Brace yourself for more than 130 minutes of awesome. http://puckettspond.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/themes/advanced/img/trans.gif If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes (ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers, which help Wilkin Ramirez get playing time). You can follow Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) or read his writing at the Knuckleballs Blog. You can follow Cody on Twitter (@NoDakTwinsFan) or read his writing at NoDakTwinsFan. Once again thank you to Egon's Unicat for letting us use their music on the podcast. __________________ Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter Check out the Talk to Contact Podcast (@TalkToContact) or email the show: talktocontact@gmail.comwww.baseballtwins.com

Episode 31 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/openingday2013.jpg In Episode 31, Paul, Eric, and Cody get together to discuss Twins news leading up to Opening Day, the Twins 25-man roster, and they make their MLB predictions for each division, for the World Series, and for MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year. Cody does a great job in his first full show on Talk to Contact, and while his segways are initially weak, he gets stronger as the episode goes along. Along the way we’re joined by Bryan Craves, the Displaced Tigers Fan, to talk about Opening Day, Justin Verlander, and what might happen in the Twins’ first series of the year. Brace yourself for more than 130 minutes of awesome. http://puckettspond.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/themes/advanced/img/trans.gif If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes (ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers, which help Wilkin Ramirez get playing time). You can follow Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) or read his writing at the Knuckleballs Blog. You can follow Cody on Twitter (@NoDakTwinsFan) or read his writing at NoDakTwinsFan. Once again thank you to Egon's Unicat for letting us use their music on the podcast. __________________ Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter Check out the Talk to Contact Podcast (@TalkToContact) or email the show: talktocontact@gmail.comwww.baseballtwins.com

Episode 29 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://puckettspond.com/files/2013/03/wbc-590x442.jpg"Murica! This week on the Talk to Contact Podcast, the brothers Pleiss dicusss, among other things, their plans for the weekend, Anthony Slama, Hudson Boyd, Bob Allison and Roy Halladay, among other Twins related topics, to include Aaron Hicks, Jamey Carroll and some dude named Eduardo Escobar. Paul gets drunk early in the podcast, Eric tries to remain competent and everyone has a good time. Happy St Patrick's Day everyone!http://puckettspond.com/files/2013/02/TalkToContact-Wide-590x209.jpgThanks to Mark Smith (@MarkArtSmith) for the new logo! You can follow Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) or read his writing at the Knuckleballs Blog.Once again thank you to Egon's Unicat for letting us use their music on the podcast. If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes(ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers, which help us become warlocks. __________________ Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter Check out the Talk to Contact Podcast (@TalkToContact) or email the show: talktocontact@gmail.comwww.baseballtwins.com