rdehring

I will join you Doc in hoping that the Huskers return to national prominence on the gridiron, although not at the expense of my Badgers. Fell in love with the program back in the early 80's when I built a couple properties in Omaha and Lincoln. Met Devaney once, impressive man. Really thought that Riley would get it done. Boy was that wrong. As for this front office, I like how they have set certain standards and stick with their convictions. Appears that one of those is length of contracts for older free agents which seems to be the problem with Bumgarner, assuming there was any real interest on his part. Personally, I gotta respect that position.

Back in the '60's I had an involvement with taxes when I represented a couple dozen small Wisconsin towns and villages correcting errors in the State distribution of individual income taxes. So taxes have always been something I am aware of. Can't point you to the specific posts, but I have commented here and elsewhere numerous times over the past several years. And when I think back it was really interesting having access to the individual tax returns of every person paying taxes in the State of Wisconsin back then.

Great article, Nick. Thanks, Thanks, Thanks!

I'll take a swing at that, Mike. Although I question whether it makes sense, expect they will play out trying to sign one of Bumgarner, Ryu or Koechel. If they are successful, next work at getting a AAAA or reclamation starter. Then move on to a lefty for the bullpen and someone to fill the void from when Cron left. And I would promote the idea as the way to do that is to sign the best defensive experienced shortstop on the market. Then move Polanco to second, Arraez to third and Sano to first. Should they not get one of the three, they should then move on to fill the #4 slot via trade. Don't have a clue what that could look like, although I think they should try to do something similar to the Odorizzi trade. I don't think they should give up a package including a couple of their top three to five prospects for a potential #1 starter who will be here for a year or two. The four young guns from last year and the reclamation project battle it out for the #5 spot in the rotation. The second best gets Pineda's five or six starts in April and early May. I look at the young gun as the replacement for Perez. Expect the results at year end will be better than what we got from Perez last year. Although the pitcher they trade for may not be perceived to be as good as Gibby, it is likely his performance would be better than what we got from Gibby last summer. Although not splashy moves, they would strengthen the team's chances to repeat.

You are right, I didn't watch most of game 1 because it wasn't on tv...at least any station I could get. Did watch the next two games. Failure in 2019 does not mean that pitchers like Berrios, Pineda and Odorizzi can't succeed in 2020. Whether or not they will remains to be seen. And I don't see it as a hope and prayer that any of the three can pitch winning games in the 2020 playoffs...assuming we get there.

What's the saying, Doc? I couldn't have said it better myself. Well, truth is I couldn't have said it anywhere near as well as you have. As I have said previously, I hope the Twins don't sign any of the current big 3 for whatever it takes as I am fearful that contract will come back to bite'em. Would much prefer your recommendations above.

Although I get tired of reading all the bitching about who the Twins didn't sign, I would much rather read that than a few years from now be reading about how pitcher X is getting paid a ton, isn't producing squat and is keeping the Twins from keeping several prospects who are nearing free agency. As for winning in the playoffs, nothing says that Berrios or Odorizzi can't go out and pitch one of their best games of the year and beat those blasted Yankees. Am I disappointed that the Twins didn't sign Wheeler, yup. Do I look forward to their signing any of Kuechel, Ryu or Bumgarner...not really. I think all three will be ok in 2020 and a drag on the team by the middle of their too long contracts. Hopefully, the Twins sign some reclamation project for #4 and he losses his spot in the rotation by July to whomever wins the right to pitch in Pindeda's spot the first six weeks.

Love La Tortuga. With that said, think his best role for next year is either as the 26th player or at AAA where he is a phone call away should one of the catchers be injured. Don't know what effect his personality has in the dugout, as it seemed they wanted him around last summer while an injury extended until the Sept.1 roster date.

Thanks, Seth. That is fantastic news!

Expect he is talking about North Carolina Chief! But yes, Northern Colorado does have a baseball team. They play in the WAC against teams like New Mexico, NM State, Air Force, etc.

Will anxiously await the results of the Rule 5 draft, John. Expect the chances are better than 50/50 that at least one of Javier, Jax or Rijo won't be a Twin come noon. Would be gut wrenching to lose two of them and I really hope I am wrong.

Loved what Dobnak did last fall and look forward to him producing for the Twins in 2020. As for which of the four young guns becomes the Twins #5 in 2020, not a clue. Should be exciting to see them battle it out in spring training. Still believe, however, that Thorpe may be the winner. Yes, he was more inconsistent last year, but there were spots where he was awesome.

Reality is hard to accept some times, Ted. Thanks for the realistic look at what the Twins face this offseason. With very few good options available on the free agent market, I suspect the Twins must turn to the trade market to find their fourth starter. Fully expect starter #5 to be one of the four young guns we saw last year. Maybe as a #5, or maybe one who follows an opener every fifth day. Personally, I like Graterol coming on in the third inning after Littell gets the start.

Thanks, NIck. Agree that we don't know which slot Pineda will slide into once he gets back in late May. Twins may look awfully good if we see the Big Mike we saw last August. Personally feel that we are going to see them sign one more starter and that will be it. Wake up every morning and come here to see if today is the day we find out who. Unfortunately, no news this morning.

Informative article, thanks Nick. It was difficult to watch Castro last summer, as his 19% caught stealing number is something I recall. To be honest, I don't remember his throwing anyone out. I will be so happy when we have robots calling strikes and we can stop hearing about pitch framing. It is a stat that I put little faith in, although I don't understand exactly how it is calculated. I assume, perhaps wrongly, that it is based on the number of pitches that were called strikes but were actually balls. Do they offset that with the strikes that were called balls? And how do they know that it was based on what the catcher did versus the ump being out in left field with his strike zone that day? And with the way umps are all over the place with their strike zones, I don't understand how you can calculate anything like pitch framing. A great defensive catcher to me is one who throws runners out, blocks almost all the balls in the dirt and does a great job managing his pitchers. I can see the first two, don't have a clue about the third other than from the results of the game.

Everyone is forgetting Thorpe. Yes, he was more inconsistent than Dobnak or Smeltzer last year. But I saw a pitcher who could dominate an opposing batting order. The Twins have pushed Thorpe hard since his return from missing almost all of two years with injuries/illness. Maybe, just maybe he got the experience he needed last summer and will be the big surprise of the spring. And there is also Graterol. I expect they will want to control his innings. That could be done by pitching 4-5 innings a game following an opener. Can you imagine how overpowering he could be once he settles into this role? I sure can!

I don't understand your comment SmellEm. If the Yankees sign Cole the Twins off-season will be a complete failure. How is something the Twins have zero way of controlling affect what they are doing over the next three months? Cole is a free agent. As a free agent he is free to sign with whomever he chooses. All indications are that he prefers to go home to southern California. Yes, the Yankees may throw so much money at him that he foregoes his preference. What can the Twins do about this? As I see there is nothing they can do as he wouldn't come here even should the Twins exceed whatever the Yankees may, or may not, throw his way. I don't understand how whatever Cole does means the Twins get an F for their offseason moves...whatever they are.

Agree that Littell isn't going back to starting. But he might be one heck of an opener. And along the lines of what birdwatcher was talking about above, wouldn't be surprised if that one last deal is something similar to the Odorizzi trade from two years ago. Some fairly good pitcher in a trade for a mid-teens to 20 something prospect. Somebody we won't get excited about, yet, will go out and pitch very well every 5th day. I believe the only way the Twins are going to get that true ACE will be from their minor league system. Do they have him down on the farm right now? Don't know. Maybe Graterol or Balazovic or Oder or whomever is that three or four years from now. In the meantime, we have to pray that Berrios finally takes that last step and becomes as close to ACE as we can expect the next few years.

Do I remember correctly that Tampa Bay took Houston to 5 games last fall? And didn't they do lots of interesting stuff with their pitching staff? Could the Twins be thinking along those lines? Could the Twins best starter next season be a combination of say Zach Littell and one of Dobnak, Smelzer, Thorpe or Graterol? Littell could be a great opener. Pitch 2 innings every fifth day and still be available for one short appearance over a couple days between starts. Then bring on Dobnak, Graterol, Thorpe or Smeltzer for say 4+ innings. Is it possible that combination could be better than anyone out there on the free agent market...other than Cole and Strasburg?

Thanks TTKiller for the mention of his defense. He fits well with Garver as a left handed hitter. Although I seem to recall that he was very good defensively back whenever playing with the Tigers, I wasn't certain that was true. If it is it fits perfectly with Garver starting 90+ games a year, Avila at 50+ and Astudillo getting 10-20 starts at some point during the year.

When I read your comments TTKiller, I get a bit down and begin hoping that the Twins do not sign Baumgarner. Then when I think of the fact he would be moving from the NL to the AL, I get a real pain in the gut. But if we don't get either of the big 2, or Wheeler or Baumgarner, who fills out those remaining three spots? Hopefully, they are working now to get Pineda under contract. I could see him picking up where he left off before the suspension. That was good, very good. So who else is there? Are the Twins having discussions with Teams A, B and C about trading for a very good young starter? Discussions that won't get into high gear until the big 4 are gone. Someone with several years control remaining. Someone who could slide into a top 3 spot in the rotation with Berrios and Odorizzi. Then do they roll the dice and sign one of the reclamation projects, someone who once was very good but is now a long shot, someone none of us will be happy with? If he would return to anything close to what he was, great. If not, I have no problem with the 5th starter being the winner of a Thorpe, Smelzer, Dobnak or Graterol battle in spring training. No matter how much money they offer any of these top 5, the fact is there is a good chance we don't get them. After all there are more than 5 teams after these same 5 guys and all are being encouraged to throw tons of money at 'em. And as we learned yesterday, there are many reasons why the Twins are the longest of shots to get some of these guys...maybe all of them. So signing one of these guys may have been Plan B all along. Its just that they have to play it out before moving on to what just may have been Plan A.

Like your thinking Thrylos. I would be shocked if the FO wasn't already looking at who they will have to protect come November, 2020. Makes a ton of sense to pick a couple of those players and move them this winter. Whether that is part of a bigger deal or for prospects further away from being Rule 5 eligible isn't relevant. What is important is not losing them a year from now.

I see another long-term strategy that the front office needs to get working on. It is time they persuade several single Minnesota gals to get out there and latch on to some of the top young pitching prospects. Then when we get to free agency say five years from now, there will be several Cole's and Wheeler's begging to come to Minnesota to keep their mate happy!

If they would do that, Seth, it sure would be a fun spring training. Should they sign Pineda, who I think would be a good signing, one of the four would also get those four or five starts before he is released from MLB prison.

Know little about him, Seth. But will go with your recommendation and get on board. Right now that would be as one of three starters. You put him between Berrios and Odorizzi. Of that pair, who do you consider #1? Personally, could see arguments to go with either as #1. And a question, Seth. Do you think it is possible the FO decides to go into spring training with the #5 spot open? Let the four rookies from last year and a couple reclamation projects (or AAAA) battle it out? That would mean they only need to fill two more spots.