Paul Pleiss

Episode 13 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://puckettspond.com/files/2012/11/285_7460922-207x300.jpg(This woman allegedly wants to give us 7.5 million. Listen to the podcast for the details! Woot!) This week Paul and I take a look at Twins prospect (?) Daniel Ortiz and Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew. We again field a bunch of questions from the interwebs. Among the topics discussed form the mail bag: Joe Benson and his mullet, the Miami/Toronto trade, and regular season wins versus playoff success. We also have an update on the email from Larien who wanted to have a relationship and a business proposal. Tune in for Minnesota Twins banter and a whole lot more. 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.) 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. __________________ Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter

Episode 13 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://puckettspond.com/files/2012/11/285_7460922-207x300.jpg(This woman allegedly wants to give us 7.5 million. Listen to the podcast for the details! Woot!) This week Paul and I take a look at Twins prospect (?) Daniel Ortiz and Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew. We again field a bunch of questions from the interwebs. Among the topics discussed form the mail bag: Joe Benson and his mullet, the Miami/Toronto trade, and regular season wins versus playoff success. We also have an update on the email from Larien who wanted to have a relationship and a business proposal. Tune in for Minnesota Twins banter and a whole lot more. 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.) 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. __________________ Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter

Episode 12 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://puckettspond.com/files/2012/11/mail-call-300x168.jpg This week on the podcast Eric and I discuss Jim Kaat's place in the Twins Hall of Fame, we take a look at the high-A ShortStop prospect Daniel Santana and we dive into a dozen or so questions we received from listeners covering a wide variety of topics from the best Patrick Swayze movie, to a romantic business proposal and a whole slough of Twins topics. We also take a look at the Twins radio and TV broadcast teams and give them a ranking on the 20-80 scale. A special thanks to @Jessicann713, @BransonWerner, @Nimi_badger, @youcancallmeAde, @mntwinsforever, @mntwinsisters, @mikeywaldo and @sideburg for submitting questions to this week's podcast. 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.__________________ Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter

Episode 12 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://puckettspond.com/files/2012/11/mail-call-300x168.jpg This week on the podcast Eric and I discuss Jim Kaat's place in the Twins Hall of Fame, we take a look at the high-A ShortStop prospect Daniel Santana and we dive into a dozen or so questions we received from listeners covering a wide variety of topics from the best Patrick Swayze movie, to a romantic business proposal and a whole slough of Twins topics. We also take a look at the Twins radio and TV broadcast teams and give them a ranking on the 20-80 scale. A special thanks to @Jessicann713, @BransonWerner, @Nimi_badger, @youcancallmeAde, @mntwinsforever, @mntwinsisters, @mikeywaldo and @sideburg for submitting questions to this week's podcast. 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.__________________ Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter

My DY prediction: He strikes out 150+ times in 2013 and takes only 20 free passes. The Houston Astros pay him $6mil/yr for 3 seasons and he is their everyday DH, although plays almost 20 games in LF/RF over the course of the season.

In 2014 I will be selected from amongsts Twins bloggers to become the official twitterer of the Twins. Eventually I accidently post my own tweets on the Twins twitter feed and am quickly fired. The Twins go on to win the WS in 2018, and I return to the blog-o-sphere and live a happy life drinking cheap beer.

I don't know if people want to or don't want to come to Minnesota to play baseball, but money talks. I do know, however, that most people I've met across the nation, except those from the Mid-West area have little to no interest in moving up to Minnesota to take in the seasonal beauty that exists in MN. But, money talks, and have a solid organization. Might be more difficult to sign some of your aging stars looking to chase a ring as the Twins dont look to be hyper competetive the nexy couple seasons, but if the Twins offer them good money, players will sign.

Episode 11 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://puckettspond.com/files/2012/11/56042_10100367579036021_1162141622_o-768x1024.jpg (This post originally appeared at www.PuckettsPond.com, pictured above is my friend Mondo and his spawn all dressed up for Halloween) This week the brothers Pleiss discuss the Gold Gloves and any perceived snubs, the Twins Diamond Awards and my feelings on photos of peoples children clogging up my Facebook/Twitter timeline. We also spend a few moments looking at Twins prospect J.O. Berrios, Twins Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett and some early happenings in the off-season before getting into a few other topics including a traveling stuffed banana. You can follow Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) or read his writing at the Knuckleballs Blog. __________________ Follow @BaseballPirate on Twitter

Episode 11 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://puckettspond.com/files/2012/11/56042_10100367579036021_1162141622_o-768x1024.jpg (This post originally appeared at www.PuckettsPond.com, pictured above is my friend Mondo and his spawn all dressed up for Halloween) This week the brothers Pleiss discuss the Gold Gloves and any perceived snubs, the Twins Diamond Awards and my feelings on photos of peoples children clogging up my Facebook/Twitter timeline. We also spend a few moments looking at Twins prospect J.O. Berrios, Twins Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett and some early happenings in the off-season before getting into a few other topics including a traveling stuffed banana. You can follow Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) or read his writing at the Knuckleballs Blog. __________________ Follow @BaseballPirate on Twitter

I, like Bark, think that the Twins need to build for the future, rather than try to spend for now, especially if spending now impacts what the team can do 2+ years from now. I think the front office needs to spend to make the team better, get back to .500 and put a quality team on the field, but to compete for a division title with little to no hope for a post-season run seems silly. -Paul ---------------------------- Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter www.PuckettsPond.com

I don't think the Twins will be competing for a WS championship in the next 2 seasons, so I think the smart move is to say no to the high dollar free agents that would cost a draft pick in return. Play for the long haul, and when (hopefully) our propspects in the mid-low levels of the system start to perform, then you go out and add a piece here or there and pay the price, be in draft picks or prospects, to put the team in contention for a WS title. -Paul ---------------------------- Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter www.PuckettsPond.com

According to Fangraphs, data from last season suggestes that 1 WAR is equal to somewhere between 4-5 million. That's a win above replacement level, not a win. A win, for WAR purposes is somewhere around 10 runs I believe? So no, the long and short is no, they're not the same. But without the numbers in front of me I'm not entirely sure what that figure is, and since I'm at work on a Saturday I cant quite go find the numbers for you, but head over to Fangraphs and you should be able to find way more data on the subject than you've ever wanted.

Thanks Thrylos, sometimes I need to take my writing to a little bit sillier places. And sometimes when I'm scrolling for Twitter looking for something to write about I come across Twins prospects posting pictures on Twitter and remember that they're real people living lives just like the rest of us.

He definitely appears to be doing quite well for himself. He has an attractive lady-friend AND he can carve pumpkins, classic double-threat.

Nate Roberts and that beautiful beautiful mustache. What a gem.

Episode 11 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://puckettspond.com/files/2012/11/56042_10100367579036021_1162141622_o-768x1024.jpg (This post originally appeared at www.PuckettsPond.com, pictured above is my friend Mondo and his spawn all dressed up for Halloween) This week the brothers Pleiss discuss the Gold Gloves and any perceived snubs, the Twins Diamond Awards and my feelings on photos of peoples children clogging up my Facebook/Twitter timeline. We also spend a few moments looking at Twins prospect J.O. Berrios, Twins Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett and some early happenings in the off-season before getting into a few other topics including a traveling stuffed banana. You can follow Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) or read his writing at the Knuckleballs Blog. __________________ Follow @BaseballPirate on Twitter

Episode 11 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://puckettspond.com/files/2012/11/56042_10100367579036021_1162141622_o-768x1024.jpg (This post originally appeared at www.PuckettsPond.com, pictured above is my friend Mondo and his spawn all dressed up for Halloween) This week the brothers Pleiss discuss the Gold Gloves and any perceived snubs, the Twins Diamond Awards and my feelings on photos of peoples children clogging up my Facebook/Twitter timeline. We also spend a few moments looking at Twins prospect J.O. Berrios, Twins Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett and some early happenings in the off-season before getting into a few other topics including a traveling stuffed banana. You can follow Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) or read his writing at the Knuckleballs Blog. __________________ Follow @BaseballPirate on Twitter

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?1138-Down-on-the-Pond-MiLB-Prospect-Profiles-and-Twitter-Photos

Tough inning for Gibson, but I continue to believe that he will be part of the Twins rotation early in 2013, probably not out of ST, but by sometime in May

In my last Down on the Pond post I took a look at how the Twins players were doing down in the Arizona Fall League, and rather than look back in at how they're doing, or even taking a look at the guys who are playing Winter Ball around the Southern Hemisphere, I thought I'd use my position here on the Pond to share some photos that players throughout the Twins system posted to the Twitter machine and use that as a jumping off point to talk about some of the guys that are toiling down in the Twins system who you may not have heard of. http://puckettspond.com/files/2012/05/down-on-the-pond.1-300x180.jpgThis post originally appeared at www.PuckettsPond.com We'll start first with a pre-Halloween trick. Hurricane Sandy (Post-tropical cyclone, as the hipsters are calling it) was not kind to Twins AAA reliever Bobby Lanigan (@BOBBYLANIGAN). Sandy flooded his street and took his car for a ride and totaled it in the process. I hope the insurance claim comes quick and that Bobby and his family are safe and dry. Lanigan finished the season 7-5 across AA New Britain and AAA Rochester throwing just over 70 innings on the season out of the bullpen in 44 appearances. He finished the season with an ERA over 4, and struck out only 49 batters to go along with a WHIP (walks+hits per inning pitched) of 1.373. At 25 and in his first season in AAA there still may be some hope for the young righty, but his numbers over his minor league career are not much better. Since being drafted in 2008 Lanigan has a career 4.05 ERA and has given up more than a hit per inning. This was his first season working out of the pen so it will be interesting how he fairs in a full season at AAA in 2013. I typically have no idea what Manuel Soliman (@SOLIMAN30)is tweeting because everything is in Spanish, and even though I could quickly translate using google or Tweetdeck, I'm generally not that interested. Here's a photo he tweeted a couple days ago that I thought was pretty awesome. Soliman signed with the Twins as a non-drafted free agent in 2007 and in 2009 converted from third base to pitcher. The move worked well and lead the Elizabethon Twins in strikeouts in 2010 (74). In 2012 Soliman threw only 5.0 innings after having been moved up to Ft Myers after a successful 2011 in Beloit. He had shoulder surgery early in the season and the Twins will be cautious with him as he makes his return, he may lose his "prospect" status if 2013 is not a big year for the young righty. James Beresford put up this photo on his twitter (@JamesBeresford2) that golfers around the world will recognize as the result of not hitting your tee-shot past the ladies tee. Beresford was promoted to New Britain last off-season and played second base and shortstop for the Rock Cats to the tune of .266/.330/.314 (AVG/OBP/SLG) in 114 games and committed only 10 errors in 491 chances, good enough for a .980 fielding percentage, but 9 of those errors were at SS where he played just over half of his games. While those offensive numbers are nothing to write home about, the Twins would have done well for themselves in 2012 had they had a big league SS who could have put up similar numbers. Daniel Rohlfing (@DanRohlfing), who replaced fellow AA catcher Chris Herrmann in the Arizona Fall League last week, posted this absolute GEM of a photo featuring all of the Twins AFL prospects sporting mustaches like their fellow Twins prospect Nate Roberts. Rohlfing played 91 games between A+ and AA this season and spent most of his time behind the plate but also saw a handful of games in the outfield. Rohlfing is not a monster at the plate, in fact he's rather more Drew Buteraish, as his slash line in 2012 across both levels was .235/.295/.311, but he did show skill behind the plate as a defensive catcher, throwing out 37% of would-be base-stealers. Alex Wimmers (@AlexWimmers21) does not hand out candy, he just puts out a bucket for the tricker-treaters to take what they want; he also carved a pumpkin. Wimmers pitched in only 2 games in 2012 and spent most of the year trying to rehab an elbow injury to avoid surgery. He will likely miss most of, if not all, of 2013 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery performed this past August. Can the former 2-time Big Ten pitcher of the year come back and be successful in a Twins uniform? All we can do at this point is wait and hope. The Twins 16th round pick in 2011, Austin Malinowski (@A_Mali24) carved a TC pumpkin for his doorstep. Malinowski pitched 31.2 innings for the Twins rookie league Gulf Coast Twins and struck out 32 batters while walking only 11 batters in his first year of professional baseball, but he did give up 35 hits as well. Mali was drafted out of high school and has a long road ahead of him if he ever hopes to make it up to the big leagues. P.J. Walters (@PJwalters33) who recently signed a minor league contract with the Twins after being removed from the 40-man roster last week is dressed as one of the Avengers and is off to save the world. Walters made 12 starts for the Twins last year posting a 5.69 ERA (gave up 41 runs (39 earned) in just 61.2 innings!); prior to his promotion he was 3-3 in 14 starts for the Rochester Red Wings with an ERA just a tick over four (4.01). Walters will join the Twins in spring training this spring, hopefully Terry Ryan and the front office bring in some better starters via trade of free agency or Twins fans may be getting more Walters in their lives and I don't foresee that being good for anyone. That's all for this week, I hope you all had a Happy Halloween full of treats and welcomed the Great Pumpkin into your hearts once more. __________________ Follow @BaseballPirate on Twitter

In my last Down on the Pond post I took a look at how the Twins players were doing down in the Arizona Fall League, and rather than look back in at how they're doing, or even taking a look at the guys who are playing Winter Ball around the Southern Hemisphere, I thought I'd use my position here on the Pond to share some photos that players throughout the Twins system posted to the Twitter machine and use that as a jumping off point to talk about some of the guys that are toiling down in the Twins system who you may not have heard of. http://puckettspond.com/files/2012/05/down-on-the-pond.1-300x180.jpgThis post originally appeared at www.PuckettsPond.com We'll start first with a pre-Halloween trick. Hurricane Sandy (Post-tropical cyclone, as the hipsters are calling it) was not kind to Twins AAA reliever Bobby Lanigan (@BOBBYLANIGAN). Sandy flooded his street and took his car for a ride and totaled it in the process. I hope the insurance claim comes quick and that Bobby and his family are safe and dry. Lanigan finished the season 7-5 across AA New Britain and AAA Rochester throwing just over 70 innings on the season out of the bullpen in 44 appearances. He finished the season with an ERA over 4, and struck out only 49 batters to go along with a WHIP (walks+hits per inning pitched) of 1.373. At 25 and in his first season in AAA there still may be some hope for the young righty, but his numbers over his minor league career are not much better. Since being drafted in 2008 Lanigan has a career 4.05 ERA and has given up more than a hit per inning. This was his first season working out of the pen so it will be interesting how he fairs in a full season at AAA in 2013. I typically have no idea what Manuel Soliman (@SOLIMAN30)is tweeting because everything is in Spanish, and even though I could quickly translate using google or Tweetdeck, I'm generally not that interested. Here's a photo he tweeted a couple days ago that I thought was pretty awesome. Soliman signed with the Twins as a non-drafted free agent in 2007 and in 2009 converted from third base to pitcher. The move worked well and lead the Elizabethon Twins in strikeouts in 2010 (74). In 2012 Soliman threw only 5.0 innings after having been moved up to Ft Myers after a successful 2011 in Beloit. He had shoulder surgery early in the season and the Twins will be cautious with him as he makes his return, he may lose his "prospect" status if 2013 is not a big year for the young righty. James Beresford put up this photo on his twitter (@JamesBeresford2) that golfers around the world will recognize as the result of not hitting your tee-shot past the ladies tee. Beresford was promoted to New Britain last off-season and played second base and shortstop for the Rock Cats to the tune of .266/.330/.314 (AVG/OBP/SLG) in 114 games and committed only 10 errors in 491 chances, good enough for a .980 fielding percentage, but 9 of those errors were at SS where he played just over half of his games. While those offensive numbers are nothing to write home about, the Twins would have done well for themselves in 2012 had they had a big league SS who could have put up similar numbers. Daniel Rohlfing (@DanRohlfing), who replaced fellow AA catcher Chris Herrmann in the Arizona Fall League last week, posted this absolute GEM of a photo featuring all of the Twins AFL prospects sporting mustaches like their fellow Twins prospect Nate Roberts. Rohlfing played 91 games between A+ and AA this season and spent most of his time behind the plate but also saw a handful of games in the outfield. Rohlfing is not a monster at the plate, in fact he's rather more Drew Buteraish, as his slash line in 2012 across both levels was .235/.295/.311, but he did show skill behind the plate as a defensive catcher, throwing out 37% of would-be base-stealers. Alex Wimmers (@AlexWimmers21) does not hand out candy, he just puts out a bucket for the tricker-treaters to take what they want; he also carved a pumpkin. Wimmers pitched in only 2 games in 2012 and spent most of the year trying to rehab an elbow injury to avoid surgery. He will likely miss most of, if not all, of 2013 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery performed this past August. Can the former 2-time Big Ten pitcher of the year come back and be successful in a Twins uniform? All we can do at this point is wait and hope. The Twins 16th round pick in 2011, Austin Malinowski (@A_Mali24) carved a TC pumpkin for his doorstep. Malinowski pitched 31.2 innings for the Twins rookie league Gulf Coast Twins and struck out 32 batters while walking only 11 batters in his first year of professional baseball, but he did give up 35 hits as well. Mali was drafted out of high school and has a long road ahead of him if he ever hopes to make it up to the big leagues. P.J. Walters (@PJwalters33) who recently signed a minor league contract with the Twins after being removed from the 40-man roster last week is dressed as one of the Avengers and is off to save the world. Walters made 12 starts for the Twins last year posting a 5.69 ERA (gave up 41 runs (39 earned) in just 61.2 innings!); prior to his promotion he was 3-3 in 14 starts for the Rochester Red Wings with an ERA just a tick over four (4.01). Walters will join the Twins in spring training this spring, hopefully Terry Ryan and the front office bring in some better starters via trade of free agency or Twins fans may be getting more Walters in their lives and I don't foresee that being good for anyone. That's all for this week, I hope you all had a Happy Halloween full of treats and welcomed the Great Pumpkin into your hearts once more. __________________ Follow @BaseballPirate on Twitter

Will any of the AFL players, aside from Gibson, see time with the Twins in 2013?

Episode 10 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact, is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. (This post originally appeared at www.puckettspond.com) http://puckettspond.com/files/2012/10/IMG_1651-300x225.jpg This week Eric and I are joined by Chuck Ruether of www.AllSportsAlways.Blogspot.com to discuss the recent coaching assignments and 40-man roster predictions. We go on to discuss the arbitration process and take a look at how the Twins prospects down in the Arizona Fall League have done before getting into a host of other topics including Joe Benson, beer and the World Series. You can follow Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) or read his writing at the Knuckleballs Blog. __________________ Follow @BaseballPirate on Twitter

Episode 10 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact, is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. (This post originally appeared at www.puckettspond.com) http://puckettspond.com/files/2012/10/IMG_1651-300x225.jpg This week Eric and I are joined by Chuck Ruether of www.AllSportsAlways.Blogspot.com to discuss the recent coaching assignments and 40-man roster predictions. We go on to discuss the arbitration process and take a look at how the Twins prospects down in the Arizona Fall League have done before getting into a host of other topics including Joe Benson, beer and the World Series. You can follow Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) or read his writing at the Knuckleballs Blog. __________________ Follow @BaseballPirate on Twitter