Meet your 2008 Twins!

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:36 pm

Govs93 wrote:
packerboy wrote:This is a departure form their usual practice of not rushing people. Maybe they think he is ready.

They want to put somebody on the field to show something for the Santana trade and I think that is what is driving this. I hope they dont get him in over his head.

They have hitting coaches in the minor leagues, which is where players should be developed.

I hope he hits .270 and steals 60 bases. But I doubt it.
Well, to be fair, CarGo is batting just under .300 (.294) for the spring and has stolen 10 out of 11 attempts (he was finally caught today by the Cards). In a situation where you're dealing with what might be the equivilent of AAA pitching - even though pitchers are widely regarded as being way ahead of the hitters in ST - those are respectable numbers.

He needs to have a better feel of the strike zone if he's going to be a lead off guy though - 2 BB in 51 plate appearences isn't going to cut it - but I don't see why 50-60 SB isn't realistic for the kid (provided he stays healthy). Everybody on earth knows he's going to be running probably better than 50% of the time, and even with perfect execution by the pitcher, catcher, and middle infielder, he's going to be damn near imposssible to stop.

Govs, maybe the guy is ready.

ST stats dont mean anything but maybe they have seen enough to figure he will hit well enough.

He will steal 60 for sure...IF he gets on base enough.

I agree, its interesting, very interesting.

Govs93 · Post by **Govs93** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:57 pm

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire reacts to the news that
more money has been spent to actually keep a 4th of his
major players under contract for multiple years.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:25 am

They let Santana and Hunter go without anybody even close to being able to fill their shoes and then they sign Nathan.

I am OK with signing Nathan. He is a good closer and may bring value in a trade when they are 20 games out this August because they dont have an ace in the rotation , an every day CF, nor a lead off hitter.

But it seems like they are willing to sign a guy just because they can, economically , without regard to what the team might need. I hope Joe gets 30 saves but I dont know if he will get that many opportunities.

They let go a 2nd basemen /leadoff hitter; an ace starter; and an All Star CF with absolutely no one to replace them but sign a relief pitcher which they have plenty of.

Interesting, very interesting.

Govs93 · Post by **Govs93** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:00 am

packerboy wrote:They let Santana and Hunter go without anybody even close to being able to fill their shoes and then they sign Nathan.

I am OK with signing Nathan. He is a good closer and may bring value in a trade when they are 20 games out this August because they dont have an ace in the rotation , an every day CF, nor a lead off hitter.

But it seems like they are willing to sign a guy just because they can, economically , without regard to what the team might need. I hope Joe gets 30 saves but I dont know if he will get that many opportunities.

They let go a 2nd basemen /leadoff hitter; an ace starter; and an All Star CF with absolutely no one to replace them but sign a relief pitcher which they have plenty of.

Interesting, very interesting.

I'll take Delmon Young in place of Torii Hunter - I call that one a wash. No, he's not a CF, but would you prefer Young and Gomez or Hunter and Ford/Tyner/Kubel/Rondell? After the fact, the Twins have actually upgraded their outfield, not downgraded - and they got a hell of a lot younger out there. Gomez and Young are each what, 22?

Besides, the defense of the "Three ARMigos" out there are going to account for a decrease in runs against for years to come. It's a big reason why you have to keep Nathan in the loop. I like it. There are still holes that will have to be filled down the road - SS, DH, possibly 2B & 3B (although let's see what Harris & Lamb can do... ERE says we're in for a treat with Lamb - I'm holding him to it!

), but you can't buy a pre-made skyscraper... you have start building the framework, and that's what they're doing.

sachishi4 · Post by **sachishi4** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:06 am

Twins are on FSN at noon if anyone is interested in watching. The squad is almost set for the season so we should get a look at our opening day team

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:45 am

Govs, I would prefer Hunter and Young.

Getting Young and losing Hunter is not a wash. Defensively there is no comparison and Young hasnt come close to Hunters offensve numbers....yet.

I didnt like Ford nor White nor any of those other guys either.

We begged them to trade one of their top young pitchers for some hitting for 3 years here on the bored and they finally do it but after Santana and Hunter are gone.

I like a lot of what they have done.

Certainly Lamb, Everett and Harriss will be better additions than Castro, Batista , and White were.

Livan shoud be a notch up from Ponson and that other guy.

Adding Young was huge for the long haul. We will see about Gomez.

But are they better this year?

Garza, Hunter, Santana and even Silva helped them win a lot of games. They are gone. It should be interesting, very interesting.

sachishi4 · Post by **sachishi4** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:47 am

im hoping the lack of pressure will help this young team. They arent expected to go out and win 100 games. This should help the pitchers especially. This gives them a chance to try things out, and if it doesnt work, its not the end of the world

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:39 pm

2008 Twins...

I'll leave this "as is" until the break.

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:43 pm

Congratulations to Tic!

Well earned!

EREmpireStrikesBack · Post by **EREmpireStrikesBack** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:10 pm

Read in the PiPress that Nathan's extension has made him more attractive to a trade than he was before because of the lack of uncertainty now that FA would have added. No more rent-a-player. Trade him now.

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:14 pm

Matt Tolbert

"He was a guy that I was anxious to see on an everyday basis," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We're looking for some entertainment off the bench -- more speed, more versatility. And I think we're going to get those things [in Tolbert]."

Nicknamed "Hummingbird" by the coaching staff for his inability to stay still for very long, Tolbert gives the Twins not only an option at all four infield positions, but he can also play all three outfield positions.

Poor guy. I guess it beats Tinkerbell...

Its going to be interesting...

Govs93 · Post by **Govs93** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:18 pm

Neutron 14 wrote:Matt Tolbert

"He was a guy that I was anxious to see on an everyday basis," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We're looking for some entertainment off the bench -- more speed, more versatility. And I think we're going to get those things [in Tolbert]."

Nicknamed "Hummingbird" by the coaching staff for his inability to stay still for very long, Tolbert gives the Twins not only an option at all four infield positions, but he can also play all three outfield positions.

Poor guy. I guess it beats Tinkerbell...

Its going to be interesting...

Nice pic.

Did somebody barge in with a Polaroid while he was on the crapper or something?

Can't Never Tried · Post by **Can't Never Tried** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:20 pm

Govs93 wrote:
Neutron 14 wrote:Matt Tolbert

"He was a guy that I was anxious to see on an everyday basis," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We're looking for some entertainment off the bench -- more speed, more versatility. And I think we're going to get those things [in Tolbert]."

Nicknamed "Hummingbird" by the coaching staff for his inability to stay still for very long, Tolbert gives the Twins not only an option at all four infield positions, but he can also play all three outfield positions.

Poor guy. I guess it beats Tinkerbell...

Its going to be interesting...
Nice pic.

Did somebody barge in with a Polaroid while he was on the crapper or something?

As Shanty would say Yes: It Can Happen

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:32 pm

Matt "Hummingbird"Tolbert

Tolbert, a 16th-round pick in 2004 out of Mississippi, entered the season a career .275 hitter in the minors.

"He's a switch hitter, your utility-type guy who kind of plays anywhere like Denny Hocking," Rochester manager Stan Cliburn said.

Its going to be interesting...

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:57 pm

No locker room is complete without at least one flakey teammate.

Tolbert will fill that role nicely.

We lose Castillo, Hunter, Santana, Garza, Silva and Bartlett and we think we will be better.

Interesting, very,very interesting.

Govs93 · Post by **Govs93** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:58 pm

packerboy wrote:No locker room is complete without at least one flakey teammate.

Tolbert will fill that role nicely.

What's Punto then?

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:59 pm

Govs93 wrote:
packerboy wrote:No locker room is complete without at least one flakey teammate.

Tolbert will fill that role nicely.
What's Punto then?

Released if he doesn't start hitting.

Govs93 · Post by **Govs93** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:01 pm

packerboy wrote:
Govs93 wrote:
packerboy wrote:No locker room is complete without at least one flakey teammate.

Tolbert will fill that role nicely.
What's Punto then?
Released if he doesn't start hitting.

Are you trying to tell me that .125 isn't going to cut it?!

Oh...

We'll miss him.

Govs93 · Post by **Govs93** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:05 pm

Govs93 wrote:
packerboy wrote:
Govs93 wrote: What's Punto then?
Released if he doesn't start hitting.
Are you trying to tell me that .125 isn't going to cut it?!

Oh...

We'll miss him.

Whoops... looks like Nicky put up an 0-for-1 today. Make that .122.

Sorry about that.

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:13 pm

packerboy wrote:We lose Castillo, Hunter, Santana, Garza, Silva, Ford, LeCroy, and Bartlett and we think we will be better.

Starting Staff
Baker
Bonser
Hernandez
Liriano
Slowey

How are these guys going to get Hafner, ACabrera, Blake, Sizemore, Sheff, Ordonez, MCabrera, Martinez, Peralta, Rodriguez, Guillen, Dye, Swisher, Thome, OCabrera and Konerko out 19x27x3 times this year?

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:51 am

Adam "Alfalfa" Everett

Now that pitchers can't pitch around him in the 8 slot, is the sky the limit for this .248 career hitter?

It will be interesting...

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:15 am

Irishmans Shanty wrote:
packerboy wrote:We lose Castillo, Hunter, Santana, Garza, Silva, Ford, LeCroy, and Bartlett and we think we will be better.
Starting Staff
Baker
Bonser
Hernandez
Liriano
Slowey

How are these guys going to get Hafner, ACabrera, Blake, Sizemore, Sheff, Ordonez, MCabrera, Martinez, Peralta, Rodriguez, Guillen, Dye, Swisher, Thome, OCabrera and Konerko out 19x27x3 times this year?

Thanks IS, I had forgotten about the serious losses involving Lou and Matthew.

Our brave new heroes will get enough guys out to keep any above average hiting team in ballgames until the 6th.

The big question though is are the twins above average in hitting?

I doubt it.

We need one more guy who can HIT THE BOOFIN BALL out of the park frequently.

Which would make things.........interesting, very interesting.

Govs93 · Post by **Govs93** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:01 pm

Congratulations to "good clubhouse guy" Nick Punto who continues his rapid ascent toward the Mendoza Line by going 1 for 4 this afternoon, raising his average to a sizzling .133.

Look for big things from this superstar in the making in 2008.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:17 pm

Should this team have any one around like Punto?

The starting pitching has taken a hit.

They need to score some more runs.

I dont think the Twins a can afford the luxury of a defensive specialist.

I've given this considerable thought and have decided that they need someone who can HIT THE BOOFIN BALL

DmanDad1980 · Post by **DmanDad1980** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:25 pm

packerboy wrote:Should this team have any one around like Punto?

The starting pitching has taken a hit.

They need to score some more runs.

I dont think the Twins a can afford the luxury of a defensive specialist.

I've given this considerable thought and have decided that they need someone who can HIT THE BOOFIN BALL

You're right Packerboy!
I worry about this club getting to 70 wins...

I took a look at CBS Sportsline last night, they had the rankings of each position & starting pitcher; for both the NL & AL in combined rankings... Twins were definitely bottom feeders at 2nd, SS, 3B, & CF... CarGo may surprise us in CF, but our starting pitching could really be down this year... Hernandez could be the worst starting pitcher for the Twins since Allan Anderson some 20 years ago...

Mauer, Young, Cuddy & Morneau will be fun to watch