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goldy313 wrote: My opinion: Carl will bank his money, pay this team next to nothing over the next 4+ seasons then try to sell the Twins at a huge profit by 2012, the stadium will be his legacy not the pathetic product that will be put on the field.

I won't disagree that this isn't the plan, but theres a fly in the ointment.

Carl won't be around in 2012 to sell. Small consolation I know, but...

I dont know if they will buy or not. What I do knwo is what they should do.

1. Sign Hunter.

2. Forget about Santana

3. Continue to see what the young pitchers can do

4. Sign a hitter

I dont agree with sending Slowey down. But OK, then lets give Garza some starts. They have some pitching depth. Forget Santana and keep the everyday players and add to that by signing a hitter.

If Hunter goes and they keep Santana, they will have the highest paid .500 pitcher since Nolan Ryan. Johan will win on game 2-1 and lose the next game 3-2.

I think if they follow the packerboy plan, they will be very competitive going into the new park.

Souhan's article in the Red Star this AM is more plagarism of this forum and the thoughts of the fine posters who post herein.

He is sayng that Ryan needs to do soemthing while he has the core of players that he does. He needs to trade a ptching prospect for a hitter, sign Hunter (our subliminal campaign has worked on some) and get some more pop for the batting order.

Daahhhh.

I hope to see the HR Derby tonight. When was the last time a Twin was in it ....if ever?

packerboy wrote:Souhan's article in the Red Star this AM is more plagarism of this forum and the thoughts of the fine posters who post herein.

He is sayng that Ryan needs to do soemthing while he has the core of players that he does. He needs to trade a ptching prospect for a hitter, sign Hunter (our subliminal campaign has worked on some) and get some more pop for the batting order.

Daahhhh.

I hope to see the HR Derby tonight. When was the last time a Twin was in it ....if ever?

Torii in 2002... it was a disaster. I think he hit 2.

I went to the HR Derby back when the All-Star game was in Minnesota circa 1985 and I think Brunansky was in it. Beyond that unless Puckett hit in one I can't think of a Twin that would have.

goldy313 wrote:I went to the HR Derby back when the All-Star game was in Minnesota circa 1985 and I think Brunansky was in it. Beyond that unless Puckett hit in one I can't think of a Twin that would have.

Brunansky in 1985
Gaetti in 1989

Lee

I thougt you didnt like baseball, Lee.

I suppose since the season is about 2 weeks long for Dulutherans, it doesn't have much appeal.

Anyway, didnt hear much from you around the baseball tournament time. How come you didnt come down to support the Hounds and look up ole packerboy for a beverage?

packerboy wrote:I thougt you didnt like baseball, Lee.

I suppose since the season is about 2 weeks long for Dulutherans, it doesn't have much appeal.

Anyway, didnt hear much from you around the baseball tournament time. How come you didnt come down to support the Hounds and look up ole packerboy for a beverage?

Oh, I still follow it but just not with the same frenzy I once did

And, we actually have a team in the Northwoods League (Duluth Huskies). It's a chance to get out to good ole Wade Stadium on a nice night (one of the ten we have each summer), eat some popcorn, maybe a brat, and watch some college kids who play because it's fun, not because they're being paid millions to play. A lot of nostalgia for me at the Wade going back to the 60's when my old man used to take me out there to watch the Duluth-Superior Dukes play. Good times those were.

Hey, if I can't make it down when the Hounds go to state in hockey, what are the chances I'll make it down there when they go in baseball?

I was happy (surprised) they made it, but getting past CDH was going to be extremely tough for them. While they usually have fairly decent teams, the sport takes a back seat in Houndsville to a couple others. Unless you play for the baseball team, that is.

Lee

Well, here we are.

From 29-29, they get to 46-43. Hardly a tear.

But they are only 3 games behind last years pace and much closer to first place than they were last year at this point.

I like their chances of having a successful season and winning something in the high 80s.

As long as the pitching gets a little better and the defense plays well, they will be OK.

But I cant see them over taking either CLE or DET.

Even if they did get passed one, I dont know if that would be good enough for the WC.

There is a long way to go.

Lets get hot. Win 15 of 20. Get back in it. Lets go.

Hmmm, only confident enough for the 80s? At least 90.

You don't think they have a shot of the postseason? Why not? I don't think they'll take the division, but as you said they're closer to 1st than they were last year. I don't think we'll beat Cleveland until the AL championship series, but we can take Detroit for the wild card easy.

HShockeywatcher wrote: but we can take Detroit for the wild card easy.

Quick show of hands of posters who want some of what he's on...

Reasons why the Twins can make the post season
1. Nathan for the 9th inning
2. Neshek for the 8th inning
3. Santana is 41-4 after the all star break since '04
4. Hunter is under contract for the duration of this season.
5. Mauer hasn't had a two week stretch of carrying the team yet.
6. Punto's glove
7. Bartlett is the starting SS
8. Justin Morneau is a binge HR hitter
9. All the important bats are finally healthy and in the lineup together
10. The Tear is still out There

Reasons why the Twins can't make the post season
1. Punto's bat
2. Leftfield
3. Bartlett is the starting SS
4. Justin Morneau is a binge HR hitter
5. Rincon isn't good anymore
6. Bonser isn't in shape YET.
7. DH
8. Seattle is 14 games over .500
9. after scoring 32 runs on 36 hits on a Friday they managed four tiny RAF's over the next two days.
10. Cirillo, Ford, Rodriguez, and Tyner is your bench depth

4 out of 4, sweeping the A's and a couple of our horrible pitchers winning after the all star break, I say we'll be fine.

Irishmans Shanty wrote:Reasons why the Twins can make the post season


Reasons why the Twins can't make the post season
1. Punto's bat
2. Leftfield
3. Bartlett is the starting SS
4. Justin Morneau is a binge HR hitter
5. Rincon isn't good anymore
6. Bonser isn't in shape YET.
7. DH
8. Seattle is 14 games over .500
9. after scoring 32 runs on 36 hits on a Friday they managed four tiny RAF's over the next two days.
10. Cirillo, Ford, Rodriguez, and Tyner is your bench depth

#1 wouldnt matter if #2 was fixed.

#7 is critical.

I dont think #8 will last.

Everything else is something that all of the other teams have to deal with too.

It all gets back to: sign a hitter and HIT THE BOOFIN BALL!.

They cant beat DET by one game last year, stand pat while DET signs Sheff and expect to win again.

The Twins make the postseason if they can some how win 92 and CLE goes away.

Yeah, it'll be a close race with CLE and DET. Either one could be #1 at the end of the season. The twins are 11th over (MLB) right now, and seeming to only go up, but when Detroit and Cleveland are 3rd and 4th respectively that's a tough one. Head to head games are where it's at. We just need to start winning a few against Cleveland and we'll be fine.

Wild Card Leaderboard

Cleveland +16 (92)
---cut line ------------
Seattle +14 (90)
Twins +6 (92)
New York +2 (90)
Toronto -2 (92)
Oakland -5 (93)

I think an explanation is in order.

I've got golf on my mind with the British Open teeing off Thurs.

As of today, CLE is your wild card winner. By the end of the year 92 wins will be needed to win the the wild card, that's a +24.

Well, while you are dreaming of Cardigan sweaters, knickers and Hogan's alley, tell us if CLE wiil fade.

How worried about the Yankees should we be?

What would you guys say to this?

Have Neshek start every game and work towards pitching (or pitch count) thru the starting order. Then have your starter come in and take over?

He seams to screw up the opposing batters with his delivery, timing ECT...

Do you think that would an advantage?:?:

packerboy wrote:Well, while you are dreaming of Cardigan sweaters, knickers and Hogan's alley, tell us if CLE wiil fade.

How worried about the Yankees should we be?

CLE - Their staff consists of CC, Carmona, Bird (4.71), Lee (5.67) and medley of junk at the five spot. Count on CC to be tough all year, however look of Carmona to tire in August as this is his first year as a starter, he's already at 100+ innings. CLE's starting pitching isn't great and they have a rather pedistrian closer in Borowski. CLE can only get to 92 victories if they continue to out bash their opponents.

Conclusion- CLE won't fade but I think they are a slightly over .500 team from here on out.

NY - They need to go on a real binge but they are a factor. NY has the 4th best record in baseball since June 1. They've got the sticks to get to 92 but I don't know if they have the pitching. I see the Yanks are still running Kai Igawa out there every fifth day so that's a good sign.

Conclusion - Arod, Matsui, Cano, Cabrera, Damon, Jeter, Abreu, and Posada hit too well and can make Clemens, Pettite, & Moose look five years younger than they really are. Yanks have a major charge left in them.

SEA - With being way out west and with very few English speaking players, they may be isolated from the media enough to not know they aren't suppose to be this good. They might be the best team in the hunt because their bombers (Ibanez, Sexson, and Beltre) haven't done much yet based on their career numbers. If this trio can contribute the way they are paid, they could be tough to catch. In addition with Hargrove out, this team can relax now. The franchise (Ichiro) and Hargrove didn't like each other. Notice Ichiro accepted the extension soon after Hargrove mysteriously quit.

Conclusion - I think the Mariners are for real but I hope time proves me to be wrong. Twins have at least one series left with these guys at home, need I say... sweep.

MIN - Hit the Boofin Ball!

I agree with all of that.

I dont "trust" CLE yet because of their pitching. But they will win a lot of games and probably 90 at least.

I think SEA is playing over their heads and will fade and not win 90.

The Yankees scare me. They have such a powerful lineup and even though the pitching isnt great, if they score 6 runs agame, it doesnt have to be. I think they will win 90.

The Twins will win 90. I think Baker, Garza, Boof and Silva will pitch well enough. Santana remains automatic. The bullpen is solid with Neshek really stepping up when Crain got injured. Rincon is OK and Nathan has been exciting but very effective.

The hitting is up and down which will make things more exciting than they should be with the amount of pitching they have. But I think Mauer has a good amount of up side in him from here on in. His injury set him back for a awhile but he looks like he may be ready to go on, dare we say, a tear.

Morneau looks beautiful. Hunter will continue his outstanding year at the plate and Cuddyer is pretty soild. Bartlett has some up side left and Castillo is.....Castillo.

If Kubel, Punto and anybody else could throw in something, they will be even tougher.

Defense is as good as any.

Lets go. We called for a 15 out of 20 stretch. We have 4 in a row. Now lets win 11 and lose 5 and see if that doesnt get us under 5 games out.

Lets go. Get hot, stay hot and last but not least...HIT THE BOOFIN BALL!

Hi,

My name is Neutron, and I live in the city of Centennial. This is my first time calling in to your show.

My question is, given the spotty nature of our hitting, and help doesn't seem to be on the way, shouldn't we focus on more reliable pitching? Every day with you guys its "hit the boofin ball", "hit the boofin ball".

I'll hang up now and listen to your respose.

Thanks

packerboy wrote:I agree with all of that.

I think Baker, Garza, Boof and Silva will pitch well enough. Santana remains automatic. The bullpen is solid with Neshek really stepping up when Crain got injured. Rincon is OK and Nathan has been exciting but very effective.

Agreed the pitching is good enough. Let us not forget what they had to ride down the stretch last year. The big three were Santana, Boof, and Garza. Liriano and Radke were both DL'd and Silva was in the morgue. I don't even remember who the 5th body was then.

We stand by hitting the ball, because when he do we win. Our pitching is just fine, but a pitcher can't win games on his own. People are putting the pitchers down. Remember that game against Detroit Baker pitched 7.2 shut out innings? He let in a run after that but one or two runs by us and it would've been ours. Then the other two games we hit the ball and won the games. Hmmm. There are three games we scored 5 runs and lost in this month and last, a couple more with a few less. All season we've had one 6 run loss and one 7 run loss. Combine that with being an "after the all star break team" and it equals out to "we score 5 and we win."

It's that simple.