nicksaviking

...and they'd look good crumpled in a pile on your bedroom floor.

Happy bday. Enjoy the corned beef.

I'm not watching this on TV. So what does the dead arm look like? I'm picturing: http://content.deltas.com.au/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/z/o/zomb_hand.jpg But hoping for: http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/img/xu50984956.jpg

I haven't seen a posts that argue to get rid of the GM and manager based on any win/loss record, though considering the goal is to win games it likely would be fair to do so. The win/loss record for a pitcher is often immaterial because the pitcher may be on a bad team with little run support. The win/loss record for a GM shows that he has fielded a poor team. I've also yet to see a no-decision show up on a teams win/loss record. I don't think anyone would argue that a 90 loss team is a success.

No disagreement here, the Twins surely do value plate discipline. It is one of the tennents Sabrmetrics and old school baseball have in common.

No team that significantly uses advanced metrics would put a rotation like this together. Feel free to contradict me if there is evidence to the contrary, but in no way shape or form is Kevin Correia a Sabr Sweetheart. Not a chance a team that embraces advanced metrics fields a staff that has next to no ability to strike anyone out. Allowing baserunners to this magnatude is absolutely not something Bill James would advocate. I don't know how this isn't proof enough that the Twins are quite poor when it comes to using complicated numbers. Amendment: Perhaps there is a small chance the Twins do check out advanced statistics, however if they do, they don't know how to interpret them or put them to use.

Did you read the article? Because the tease made it sound as if they would not incur any substantial penalties. I think most teams would consider not being able to top 250k for an individual player quite a sacrafice. Everyone assumed the Cubs and Rangers liked this free agent class so they decided to go all in despite the hinderence next year. I'm just wondering if for some reason there is less of a penalty than we assumed. Again it is behind the paywall.

Theilbar not covering home isn't a fireable offense. He's been up what, three days? If anyone should get fired for him not covering home, it's probably Gene Glynn who I guess we could say failed in this instruction over the other 95% of Theilbar's season. But like I said, it's not a fireable offense and Glynn is going nowhere. There are plenty of reasons to get rid of Gardy but rookies making rookie mistakes and playing poorly isn't one of them.

Jim Callis says the Rangers and Cubs will only face minor penalties for exceeding their international spending cap. It sounds like they found some kind of loophole. It's behind BA's paywall, does anyone have any more information about this? The rules seemed pretty clear, they should not be able to spend more than 500K next year. I really hope this is still the case and Callis just thinks the restriction is a minor penalty.

You make it sound like moving Mauer to 1B will be received positively and will offset letting Morneau walk. That won't happen, and a full-time or even half-time move to 1B may actually give Mauer an unintended black eye. If it is percieved that Morneau had to be cast out because Mauer stole his position, how do you think the average Morneau-loving fan will react? Probably not the best. I didn't hear the quote myself but from the original poster, Gardy mentioned a position change, not necissarily 1B. Perhaps the team is well aware of the kind of poisonous fruit planting that seed might produce.

Yes, many of the promotions have seemed like a welcome change this year, but the last statement is what always puzzles me. Ft. Myers is the Twins home base outside of Target Field. They seem to put the better coaches and instructors are always there. They also have the best facilities. So why does the team almost always insist on keeping the youngsters in the Midwest League for an entire season? I would think if there was one stop they would try to keep players for an extended period of time it would be Ft. Myers.

I wouldn't be happy if the Twins gave up a player like that if they were in the playoff hunt, but that's only because I would rather have the prospect than get to watch the Twins lose an additional three games to the Yankees. However if I were a team that has eyes on winning playoff games...

Mostly because I don't see the long term solution anywhere in sight. I'm fine sticking with the guy we know instead of comparables we don't. I'd be fine if a deal was for one year. Morneau surely would beg to differ. If you're asking why I would give him a two year deal if push came to shove, I guess my answer is I'd rather have the bat upgrade over Colabello/Permelee then play those two in 2014 simply because the team doesn't want to risk the slight chance that a better 1B opportunity presents itself in 2015. If one does, Morneau's bat and decreased salary would finally be an asset on the bench anyway.

Well a multi-year deal is broadly interpreted. I don't think anyone wants to give Morneau a long term deal, particularly Terry Ryan, but I don't think a two-year deal would be a negative unless someone truely thinks Parmelee/Colabello are the answer.

If Arcia needed to moved I could buy into that but I think it's a little early, espcially considering that he looks to be the only competent hitting outfielder above A ball aside from the declining Willingham. The outfield would be an abyss of depression until Buxton arrived. I'd prefer Arcia and his sketchy glove in the OF with a league average 1B than Arcia at 1B and Thomas/Rameriz/Mastroiani/my grandmother in RF. If Willingham is hurt or moved, that means two of them are starting outfielders.

Well Cooper had a month to work with Liriano, Anderson had years. If we can not definitively determine if it is the coach or the players, why are we not hedging our bet by replacing everyone? As stated in this post, and a thought I'm sure is held by plenty of others defending Anderson, he is not the best pitching coach. So why is it a crime to try to upgrade?

People keep saying this but no one is providing reasonable examples. I don't think the Twins have even been linked to Abreu. McCann would also be double or triple the largest contract Ryan has ever handed out. Besides, if he finally does break the bank in free agency, aren't we all hoping it will be for a pitcher? The younger internal options look like they will not cut it and/or are two or more years away. You suggested Napoli, Lind, Loney, Morales, Morse, and Reynolds would be preferable to Morneau. Please explain why; Morneau would likely be as cheap or cheaper and there is no reason he should require a longer deal then the other players. I would imagine to most neutral teams searching for a free agent 1B, Morneau would be at the top or near the top of this list.

Sano isn't a 1B, he plays 3B and by all accounts he's playing it quite well. Again, why are we holding two positions open for Sano? He's not going to be playing both. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't think many truely think Plouffe, Colabello, Parmelee or Romero will be more productive than Morneau over the next couple of years. Vargas, Hicks and Harrison are still in A ball and none are even organizational top ten prospects. None will likely be ready for two years and even so, the odds are unlikely they will be league average 1B. Two questions. 1st, which free agents are you talking about? I'd be thrilled with the Cuban, Abreu, but let's get reasonable, Ryan almost surely won't pay $60+ million for him, the same goes for Brian McCann. What other available free agent 1B don't have production/injury concerns on par with Morneau? Lind, Napoli, Morales, Morse? You want James Loney? Well he's the answer to your question about guys having pedestrian season in their late 20's who for some reason return to form, and Loney's season seems like a lot of smoke and mirrors. Question 2. If the other options are comparable, why wouldn't you rather have Morneau? His stated desire to be a Twin more than likely means he would come cheaper than comparable options. Honestly, previous to this discussion, I didn't think Morneau would be returning and I thought that would be for the best. However I haven't heard any convincing arguements on not resigning him. I really doubt it is a personal dislike for him as everyone seems to like the guy, but the arguements for letting him walk seem pretty flimsy. I just can't tell what the motivation is for getting rid of him. He won't be expensive and he's not blocking any prospects of any significance. I suspect it is a deeper desire to rock the boat and clean house. I have that urge too, but it starts with the front office and works it's way toward the coaching staff. Morneau is pretty low on my list when it comes to the blame game.

But you realize you are arguing against singing Morneau because you want to hold two positions open for Sano? You can't structure your roster planning for your young players to fail. 1.0 WAR isn't impressive, but there are only ten 1B with a war over 2.0. Only ten with a OPS over .800 and that includes DH's Adam Lind and Adam Dunn. He's still league average or at least within shouting distance. Aside from the long shot that Sano will be playing 1B in the next two years, who do you see internally who will likely be comparable to Morneau over that time frame?

Where? I don't think you can. I'd like Miguel Gonzalez and I'd take him and let Morneau walk in a heartbeat, but is that really realistic? It would be about triple the largest free agent contract Terry Ryan has ever handed out. You keep alternating between saying league average and replacement level though those are different things. This year Morneau has been about a league average 1B, his 1.0 WAR is not great but it's 18th overall for a 1B, he is 19th in OPS. Thus far in the 2nd half of the season those ranks are 14th and 12th. With no one in the system who looks to have the ability to rank in the 10-20 range for a 1B I'm not sure what you are hoping for. You mentioned moving Sano to 1B, but reports are not that his glove is playable at 3B but that it is becoming a positive asset. Even if he struggled, there is no way he would be moved from 3B without at least giving it a chance for a full season.

I think it would be best to trade Morneau to a contender and hope he gets a ring. He says he wants to stay in MN, if true, they can re-sign him, 10-5 rights will be gone and Morneau would come back to town a seasoned vet who suddenly remembers what it is like to play on a winning ball club. A rebuilding team needs some experience, I sure don't trust a bunch of 24-year-olds to learn how to play and win like Major Leaguers on their own. I'd understand if Morneau isn't back next year, but I also don't mind having him on this team as much as others do however. The Twins have a lot of 1B/DH types, but most should be moved. Doumit needs to go, as should Willingham. I'd like to see more of Parmelee/Colabello, but the Twins aren't playing them now even during this terrible season. I guess if Morneau is moved for the rest of the year, some evaluation could be done on both of those guys. However, let's say the Twins gave Morneau a hypothetical three year deal, make it two if you like. Now take a hypothetical poll, over the life of that two or three year deal, who will be a more productive player, Morneau, Parmelee or Colabello? We can also ask that question in regards to the veteran DH types, Morneau, Willingham or Doumit? I'd put the odds very high on Morneau being the most productive even if he is only league average or slightly below.

Well now I'm torn. This would explain his K/9 dropping from 8.8 last year to 7.4 this year. Masahiro Tanaka Minor League Statistics & History - Baseball-Reference.com Not surprised the Twins are interested as he has already willingingly taken to the pitch to contact approach. What does a Japanese League 7.4 K/9 look like at the MLB? Ugh, I'm happy they are looking internationally, but why, WHY can't they go after a power arm?

Like buying a plane ticket?! That's encouraging both in the fact that the Twins may have learned it's best to scout Japanese players in person in lieu of YouTube and in the fact that the Nishioka incident has not completely scared the Twins away from Asian prospects.

I can understand (barely) the quibble about how it might not ALL be about eating Morenau's money, but what about the player compensation justification? Gardy said they want a young ballplayer who can help them next year. Unless they actually think they can get near MLB ready top prospect from AA or AAA that means they are likely willing to accept more AAAA filler like Hernandez and Escobar. Why? Regardless if they are hung up on money or prospects, unless on the unlikely chance they get an actual top prospect from the upper minor leagues, they are going about this whole situation the wrong way.

When you put it that way, we as fans have actually let the Twins down.