Jump to content
Our first free agents ranking has launched, click here to see the top 40+ names in free agency! ×
Twins Daily
  • Create Account

nicksaviking

Community Moderator
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    25,657

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    126

 Content Type 

Profiles

News

Minnesota Twins Videos

2026 Minnesota Twins Top Prospects Ranking

2022 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks

Minnesota Twins Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

Guides & Resources

2023 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks

The Minnesota Twins Players Project

2024 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks

2025 Minnesota Twins Draft Pick Tracker

2026 Minnesota Twins Draft Tracker: Picks & Bonuses

Forums

Blogs

Events

Store

Downloads

Gallery

Everything posted by nicksaviking

  1. nicksaviking
    IV John Danks, circa 1985 http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRLTKYVrn0mEH0aRj5mHL9-ePmDXwbcqgG48BJLdtrCmZAnrDaFamtthPTURg
  2. nicksaviking
    If he dies, he dies. Four runs, four RBI on four singles. Looks like it's back to 2006. We're playing piranha ball again now?
  3. nicksaviking
    But that's not what the scout is saying, he's saying a middle-of-the-road 1B is his floor. $10M for a floor that is average is pretty good when you consider what the ceiling may be. I'd also argue that until this year Loney was a well below average 1B and Reynolds has been below average his entire career save one year. I'd also prefer Tanaka, but I think he is going to be much more expensive and if the new posting rules surface, where the player can choose between three teams, he's almost certainly going to chose a coastal city with a larger Japanese population unless the Twins have a substantially higher offer. If these new rules take hold, it is going to make it near impossible for the Twins to get a top Japanese player. Not that they seemed likely to get one in the first place.
  4. nicksaviking
    To be fair, this is the entire quote: "If he is simply what he is right now, he will probably develop into a middle-of-the-road first baseman with '80' raw power, who guesses and kills mistakes and inferior pitching but struggles against top-quality guys," the scout said. "That's not a bad floor, actually, and that's the reason why he'll get paid anyway. But he may disappoint the expectations of 'best hitter on the planet' that some have already placed on him." Most players struggle against another team's ace and feast on the back of the rotation arms. If he's not going for more than $10M/per, I think a guy with a floor of a middle-of-the-road 1B is a pretty good bargain.
  5. nicksaviking
    I agree with your take on years for Ervin Santana and Hughes and I also think Chargois still has a decent shot. However, I don't think Johan Santana would have actually had the surgery if he wasn't going to attempt a comeback. I'd still be interested in him as the 2014 Zumaya/Harden flier.
  6. nicksaviking
    It's not the losing that is the problem, it's what inevitably results from an extended period of losing in a group dynamic that is concerning. If present, the sense of negativity, desperation, resignation and futility is that I want the younger players removed from.
  7. nicksaviking
    Heisenberg would NEVER wear that tie. Ha, indeed. Without trying to start another intra-TD payroll war, if someone photoshopped Ryan into this picture I'd finally take the time to find out how to put a picture by my name on the right! http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTYJJl7DCcP1C5XLD2DzCSZGZ2--xBGdI0yI-2VH_6B1SbH_z1j
  8. nicksaviking
    I think people expect too much of the team's prospects. Getting average production from a non-elite prospect is a pretty solid expectation. That being said, Arcia has the tools to be a pretty good player. His 30% K rate is very troubling. It is quite odd though considering his career minor league K rate was less than 20%. Even if his triple slash line were not to improve much, I think it's more than likely his K rate will decrease. On a possibly unrelated topic, I worry about what kind of effect all the losing may have on the young players. There certainly has to be a pall over the club's veterans who are playing for a 2014 roster spot instead of a trophy and an almost certainly despondanct managerial staff who may view every defeat as a nail in the coffin of their carreers. Is it possible a rookie may not even enjoy his first taste of the big leagues if there is a negative enough cloud hanging over the clubhouse? I don't blame Gardenhire but I want a change for 2014 soley because I think it is a naturally occuring phenomenon that negativity is contageous, and I think it's very difficult to scrub off of a manager. The stink may not be comming from Gardy, but by now it surely is in his clothes.
  9. nicksaviking
    I think the disagreement you are going to get is that luck should not be the overriding factor. Some teams seem more skilled at either scouting or development and if the Twins are not toward the top of the food chain in these areas it's time for a change. Back on track and nicely done. I'd be interested in Maddox simply on the hope that the pitching staff may improve, but he kind of strikes me as an old school manager who happens to have harder throwing pitchers. However maybe that idea only stems from the fact that he played in the 1980's, an enjoyable period of baseball but a completely different game that is no longer played by 29 of the league's 30 teams. I'd like a new school manager in the Joe Madden mold, but as discussed elsewhere, that would probably require the removal of Terry Ryan.
  10. nicksaviking
    Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher were bigger external free agent signings than anything the Twins have ever made. Though I did not like the players, I applauded Cleveland for the effort. Regardless, shouldn't we be setting our sights a little higher than Cleveland's pitching staff? No one would expect that group to win a playoff series.
  11. nicksaviking
    Bobby Cuellar, the bullpen is the only thing that isn't a mess. Nice work Rook.
  12. nicksaviking
    Something about Terry reminds me of the characters on Breaking Bad.... http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/565/978/terry-ryan-ap2_display_image.jpg?1346725331http://img2-2.timeinc.net/ew/i/2012/08/30/breaking-bald.jpg
  13. nicksaviking
    I so disliked Moses but it was entirely because he replaced Tom Brunansky in RF. Obviously like every sane Twins fan I disliked Tommy Herr more, but Moses was a close second even though the disdain was irrational. I do remember getting a kick out of Moses pitching however. He was the first position player that I had seen do it and it was a novel idea to me. He actually made it to the mound in three games.
  14. nicksaviking
    Exactly, and then the Twins will have the surplus and enough of a safty net to move the more seasoned arms for more prospects, ala the Oakland cycle. You can't start the cycle with the Correia's, Deduno's and Pelfrey's of the world, you won't get a return for them.
  15. nicksaviking
    Like the Cubans, I don't believe any Japanese players are relegated to international signing limits but unlike the Cubans, I don't believe there are any age restrictions on the Japanese players. Anyway, the Japanese owners may be taking heat from the players association. The Japanese players association hates the posting system as the players only get to negotiate with one club. If the MLBPA sees an unfair practice, they sure as hell don't sit down and take it. I doubt the Japanese players association is content with the current agreement. Anyway, no matter what the rationale for change is, I'm not sure why you're disagreeing that change is likely in the air, it's all over the internet. Plenty of credible publications are getting suckered it would seem: There could be a big change to the Japanese player posting system this offseason | HardballTalk Report: Major changes to posting system are in the works - CBSSports.com Impact of changes to posting system - MLB Rumors Blog - ESPN Japanese Posting System May Change This Fall: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com
  16. nicksaviking
    Franco had a great year and I can see how a case can be made for him. He strikes out less but he's a year older and Sano's OPS is much superior and he has a much longer track record of exceptionalism. Franco has little history of sustained success until this year.
  17. nicksaviking
    Nice article. The idea that the Twins can skimp on payroll and still duplicate the success of the small market Rays, A's and Pirates is folly if this article article is to be believed. If you want to win, having a low payroll can't be the only similarity to these forward thinking clubs. This article helps to demonstrate that taking advantage of 21st century analysis and actually utilizing the results is a key.
  18. nicksaviking
    I'm not weighing in on what I think should happen, but this is the reason I'm fairly sure Mauer will be catching at least half the games next year. The best and highest paid players on the team generally get to call the shots, even if they have to be a diva, or threaten diva behavior to do so. Mauer says he wants to catch. He wasn't diplomatic about his desire, otherwise he would be saying stuff like "best for the team" or "whatever the skipper thinks will help us win." Thus Mauer will catch simply because that's what Mauer wants.
  19. nicksaviking
    "There's no sense in having him risk more brain damage to win a couple meaningless games." Is it possible to get more brain damage? He's from St. Paul after all. Plus Mauer probably wants to be their for Gardy's going away party in the clubhouse after the final game, I heard they were having sheet cake.
  20. nicksaviking
    I agree with the sentiment that the Twins are too conservative, not only in the front office but on the diamond but I don't know that all of these are issues, or at least still issues. The Twins have done a fair amount of hit-and-running in the past, but they haven't had too many guys with even modest speed recently and even fewer guys with on-base skills to be in the position to run. The hit-and-run has dropped off with Mauer batting #3, but I think that has more to do with Mauer's tendancy to drive the ball up the middle, which would be where the middle infielders are heading during a steal. And let's face it, unless Mauer's at the plate, the hit-and-run is kind of stupid with a bunch of sub .300 OBP guys at the plate. While I agree the Twins Way has limited power in the past by preaching going the other way, I think that changed last year when they let righthanders Willingham and Plouffe rip away to left field. I do agree with other complaints though. I hate playing for one run, and I hate pinch running for your best hitter who is standing on 1st with two outs in the 8th or 9th. I hate how much playing time back up catchers get.
  21. nicksaviking
    Well it's not like it's Bleacher Report, this is coming from a reputable publication. I'm not sure what the NPB has to gain aside from eliminating some MLB teams from putting a large bid in simply to block other teams and then not following through with a contract. Also, while Japanese players are under contract for 9 years unless posted, they do not have to sign with a Japanese club to begin with. It could be a preemptive move by the Japanese Leagues in case they fear the youngsters would start to come directly to the US. By modifying the posting system, it would make it easier (and more lucrative) for the players to at least stay a few years at home. Just spitballing, but the article seems pretty legit.
  22. nicksaviking
    Don't shoot me, I'm just the messanger (who read between the lines and threw in his interpretation of how things would play out): Sources: Major changes coming to Japanese player posting system
  23. nicksaviking
    I guess my biggest issue with the love of "The Twins Way" is summed up in paragraph two: "But what is The Twins Way? We have some vague idea that it’s about playing good defense, running the bases intelligently, moving runners effectively and, yes, “pitching to contact” To me it just seems so arogent to think the Twins have cornered the market on this. Aside from the archaic PTC philosophy, doesn't every team strive to play good defense and run the bases well? Are we to think the Twins are special because they teach their youngsters fundementals of baseball? EVERY team wants to play good defense and run the bases wisely. Every team wants to move runners over as opposed to hitting in front of the them. Every team wants their outfielders to know when to hit the cut off man. It's conceited to think the Twins either invented these philosophies and/or every other team abandoned them.
  24. nicksaviking
    It is reported that there may be a change to posting the Japanese players, possibly starting in November. The posting Japanese team may now be able to choose three MLB bidders with the player having the final say where he goes. I can't see this being good new for the Twins. With the current (but totally rediculous) system, any team, even the Twins could blow all the other teams out of the water with a bid should they choose, and then have exclusive negotiating rights. If this system happens, even if the Twins came in with the high posting fee, they'll still have to contend with the contract offers of two other clubs. I'd imagine the Twins fear of commitment (see lack of years) and the lure of a large market would take the Twins out of the running for any big names.
  25. nicksaviking
    I think you are way over-valuing Berrios. He would be about the third biggest piece if he was included in a hypothetical Price trade.
×
×
  • Create New...