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Yankees.

Interesting column by Reusse in the Red Star today.

He claims that Ryan is getting out at the start of a down cycle. He thinks the Twins wont win for awhile with or without Hunter.

It could happen ,its baseball, but I think he is full of it.

I think they could bounce back nicely next year.

2006 wasnt reality. They arent as good as they were for that stretch. But neither is 2007 the reality.

They still have an MVP at first, a batting champion at catcher and a 2 time CY Young award winner as the ace.

They will have with Hunter a mutiple Gold Glove winner in CF who is just learning how to hit.

The starting rotation is unproven but if just a couple of those guys can
become quality major leaguers, they are in good shape. If Liriano can regain his form, even better.

The bullpen wasnt what it has been but guys like Crain, Nesheck, Guerrier are very capable and lets see how Perkins does.

I like this club.

The cupboard is not full, they have to fill some holes, but it aint bare.

Yankees. They have been and will always be my #1 team. I'm feeling pretty good about this year.

EREmpireStrikesBack wrote:Yankees. They have been and will always be my #1 team. I'm feeling pretty good about this year.

The Yankees are the AHA Stars of major league baseball. The best that money can buy and still can't get it done!

Ah, the Yankees have gotten it done 26 times.

AHA only has 24 more to go.

What have you done for me lately?

Blasphemous as it is, I personally wouldn't mind if Los Cerveceros found a way to get in and make a little run.

It's pretty clear that they went to the Twins' School of Ballclub Building, so it would be nice to see a "blue collar", small market, midwest group like them do well... despite their lousy city.

Govs93 wrote:Blasphemous as it is...

No chitt-lins...

Rather have the Yanks. And I hate the Yanks.

Not for the faint of heart.

You've been warned.

Ahhh, they're justifying his existance in the majors by moving him from a traditionally productive position to a traditionally unproductive one so hitting around .230 won't be such an issue.

PB, I agree with you on Mauer. No question he is a tremendous catcher but my question is with a tweaked hamstring could he play 1st base? He can't play catcher with one and leg/hamstring problems seem to be chronic with him. He needs to be in the lineup and he'll catch less than 90 games this season.

The Yankees are now 3.5 back of Boston, Minnesota plays the Red Sox the final 4 games of the season, I'll be glued to my TV if that series has any meaning.

Nice win today. Cuddy hit a big home run and Kinsler helped out with the dropped pop up to help us win it. Slowey didn't look too bad. Punto-Casilla, with what I see, Nick is the better choice, hate to say that. But he has better defense and Alexi has not proven he can hit...

It only took 5+ months but an opponent finally just gave the Twins a victory. Cuddyer takes advantage of a mistake instead of fouling it off and Kinsler says, "here you go, now let's go home."

Mauer is a great catcher but moving him to third isn't a terrible idea. He has the arm and the athleticism to play there. I'm not calling him soft, but he has shown he can't take the pounding that a catcher needs to be able to take every day. If Morneau leaves move him to first. Find a servicable catcher. Heintz hasn't looked horrible for a rookie. Redmond still has a year or two left.

State Champ 97 wrote:Mauer is a great catcher but moving him to third isn't a terrible idea. He has the arm and the athleticism to play there. I'm not calling him soft, but he has shown he can't take the pounding that a catcher needs to be able to take every day. If Morneau leaves move him to first. Find a servicable catcher. Heintz hasn't looked horrible for a rookie. Redmond still has a year or two left.

Which of his injuries were due to taking a "pounding" at catcher? IMHO, he's the best catcher in the Majors, and you want to move him? Stupid idea...

I have a bad feeling that all of this year's holes and next year's potential holes will simply be filled with whatever they have in house right now.

2B Punto
3B Buscher
LF Jones or Tyner
DH Kubel, with his knees, I believe they see him as the DH
CF Your guess is as good as mine

The Twins won't sign anyone of relevance but the could acquire someone is they decide to move Nathan.

With regard to Mauer, nothing has been proven regarding his reliability from an injury standpoint. He hasnt been around long enough.

He could go the next 5 years without missing a game due to injury.

He is one of the best catchers in baseball.

The closest example to this that I can remember is Robert Smith of the Vikings. His first 2/3 years he was injury prone and chicken pox prone. He was never going to last. Right.

From what I can tell from playing sports and watching sports and with my own boys, the biggest and maybe the only factor in getting injured is........luck.

Neutron 14 wrote:

State Champ 97 wrote:Mauer is a great catcher but moving him to third isn't a terrible idea. He has the arm and the athleticism to play there. I'm not calling him soft, but he has shown he can't take the pounding that a catcher needs to be able to take every day. If Morneau leaves move him to first. Find a servicable catcher. Heintz hasn't looked horrible for a rookie. Redmond still has a year or two left.

Which of his injuries were due to taking a "pounding" at catcher? IMHO, he's the best catcher in the Majors, and you want to move him? Stupid idea...

Not a stupid idea. I said he is a great catcher. The best in the majors? Maybe. The beating catchers take behind the plate leads to fatigue which makes you more succeptable to injury.

State Champ 97 wrote: Not a stupid idea. I said he is a great catcher. The best in the majors? Maybe. The beating catchers take behind the plate leads to fatigue which makes you more succeptable to injury.

Then use the same rationale for our most clutch hitter, and have Torii DH so he doesn't bang into walls.

When Mauer catches, there is no running game.

I know Redmond had a game where he threw out 3 guys, but I saw that game, two of them were botched hit and runs and the other guy was as clueless on the bases as Ford (not Dan Ford).

Ah, thats Disco Dan Ford to you son.

Now, they will have to go on a tear......just to finish all square.

I addition to Mauer shutting down the running game, do you believe some of the blocks he makes to keep the ball in front of him with runners on. The Twins have never had a catcher as good as he is right now.

There is no way they move him from behind the plate, unless they develop somebody comparable defensively.

I dont know for sure but I think thats why they drafted him. They didnt expect him to hit for power and the batting champ thing was way above what they expected of him.

packerboy wrote: I dont know for sure but I think thats why they drafted him. They didnt expect him to hit for power and the batting champ thing was way above what they expected of him.

You may be onto something here, The Twins don't want superstars because A) they don't like the pricetag those stars come with B) they don't want the fan backlash when these stars leave.

If you asked whoever is running the front office these days, Would you like to see Mauer become a 5 tool player? They'd look you square in the eye and say..... NO.

On a tear.... to finish all square.

Last year they were 90-62 at this time.

Seems like a huge difference but it isnt. Not in baseball.

I like the way they are giving the ball to the young starters.

Casilla needs to get back on the field.

Rincon is over with.

There is no way they sign Silva, not with the young arms thay have and the hope of Liriano.

I am surprised no one in the hunt has made them an offer for Silva that they couldnt refuse.

I would sign Hunter and see if I couldnt get an established hitter , a hitting prospect and a pitching prospect for GMtana (just like he suggested).

The 2008 rotation then is Bonser, Baker, Garza, Slowey and Liriano.

If one of them falters, Perkins, otherwiswe he is the first guy out of the pen, followed by Crain, Neshek and Nathan.

Trade Santana to Texas for Blalock and some prospects; Sign a DH who can hit .270 with 20HR and 85RBI ;and we are back in business boys and girls.

Whataya think?

Lets get back to the Vikings Baseball is over this year..

Oops wrong thread.......sorry!

CNT wrote:Baseball is over this year..

So is football.

packerboy wrote:CNT wrote:Baseball is over this year..

So is football.

Touche!