Twins 34-34 on 6/18

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:57 pm

I am really looking forward to the World Series. It has been a little clunky this year with the sweeps in the AL and the weather but hopefully it will be worth the wait.

I am not looking forward to the end of baseball.

I really used to enjoy football but I can hardly watch it anymore.

I hate instant replay. A lot of the players are in jail and half of the ones that arent should be and act like jackasses on the field , college and pro.

It was great listening to Denny's melt down. I know my son was inspired.

When does Spring training start?

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:24 pm

I Agree PB. I'm also eagerly awaiting the World Series. The NL games just don't hold my attention like the AL does. The AL post-season has been somewhat of a downer in that they have only played one game over the minimum due to the sweeps.

During the NL snoozer last night that guy sitting behind the plate rolling his arms like that lady used to do during the Mets' '86 run was cracking me up. Now that's humor I get.

Over the last couple of years I've been forming a list of players under the heading Incredible Shrinking Men. Those topping the list are Pudge, Sosa, Giles, and Giambi. I'd like to add Scott Speizio to that list. Did he forget half of himself when he left Anaheim?

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:10 am

They have gotten smaller. Pudge and Giambi especially.

I dont like talking about this but if its the worst thing that happens in baseball its still alot better than the NFL who has this problem and a whole lot more.

But I mention Pudge and Giambi. Giambi hit 37 HRs this year. The most he ever hit was in the low 40s a couple of times.

Pudge was never a consistent home run hitter but did have a couple of years in the 30s. He hit 13 this year but he aint gettin any younger and that s about what he has been doing the last 4 years or so.

Ive played a lot of ball and coached alot of ball. I cant see where the juice is really going to help that much if at all. Its bat speed , hand /eye, pitch recognition and sound fundamentals that make you a good hitter.

It will be intersting to see how these guys continue to do off the juice. I dont think we will see that much difference.

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:53 am

The juice maybe doesn't do as much as many believe. A skinny Bonds and a now skinnier Giambi and Pudge are still great players. Afterall, maybe that's why baseball ignored that it was part of the game for a long time.

A Twins thought here. How much would you like to have Pudge in a Twins uniform once his contract is up in Det? His time with Florida and Det tells me he is a difference maker with the staff and with his bat. Mauer moves to 3rd, maybe this adds a few more years of good health to the end of his career. I'm certain Mauer has the tools to play 3rd quite well.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:55 am

I dont think Mauer wants to play 3rd. He is a catcher and you get the most out of him at that position.

What we need is some pop . Where you get it is usaully at the corners and in the OF. !st base is taken for the next 10 years hopefully. CF and RF are locked up for now.

That leaves LF and 3rd base. I think Rondell is your LF for next year. I think he will give us some pop , maybe 20 HRs out there if he plays 150.

Punto at third is not great but defensively he is very good and I think we could live with him there IF we get a DH.

If I were Ryan thats what Id be looking for. Frank Thomas slipped past him last year. Think about our lineup with the Big Hurt at DH.

It doesnt have to be ARod, Soriano nor Lee. Just get a Dh who can bang 30 out of the park.

Is that so hard?

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 11:11 am

The guys who earn a living doing what we do here for fun say to be good you need to be good up the middle. With Mauer, Hunter, Bartlett, Castillo, Crain, Nathan, Neshek, Santana, Bonser, Liriano, and Rincon up the middle and on board for '07, I like their chances to be good.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 11:16 am

Absolutely. Thats what got them in the playoffs.

What caused their early demise is that they didnt hit the Boffin ball.

Being strong up the middle is the way to go. But it would be nice to have a DH hit 30.

Blue Breeze · Post by **Blue Breeze** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 1:15 pm

DH has been an achilles heel for a long while now. Add another right-handed power bat to this lineup, and it could be among the best in the league. I just hope we can find one, the market seems to be pretty bare after the elite prospects.

EREmpireStrikesBack · Post by **EREmpireStrikesBack** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:17 pm

packerboy wrote:It doesnt have to be ARod, Soriano nor Lee.

But it does have to be Lee, he is the answer.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:06 pm

Well ER , I would take Soriano over Lee in a flick of an elks tail.

But neither will be here because they arent going to sink that much money into it. And,IMO they dont have to. The next level would be fine.

EREmpireStrikesBack · Post by **EREmpireStrikesBack** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 4:05 pm

I know, I know. But I can still have hope right?

Lee looks poised to go to Houston and Soriano to some big market.

I would like to see Rondell in LF all year, he hit tons better when he played in the field and he might not be the best out there, he isn't too bad. I really want to see a big slugger at DH or get a stellar 3B, oh and a SP. I doubt they will spend big on any of these, but it will be interesting to see what happens.

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:19 pm

What's our new director of scouting doing? We need a list of this year's free agents. DH needs to be addressed, who's available?

I was snooping around on kchock.com, the boys in their forum are targeting Nevin as the guy to fill their DH void. Should I steer their discussion in another direction or let them find out the hard way.

I feel like I still owe the Royals something for all they've done recently.

Blue Breeze · Post by **Blue Breeze** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:51 pm

I was waiting for packerboy to give me our official payroll limit. It seems these are the guys within reasonable range:

Moises Alou
Aaron Boone
Jeromy Burnitz
Pedro Feliz
Jose Guillen
Shea Hillenbrand
Javy Lopez
Jay Payton
Preston Wilson
Dmitri Young

My job is done, time for the front office to move...

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:09 am

Well, Neut , ChrisK and I are reviewing all of that right now.

Attendence was up and we got a little money from the playoffs so the payroll will be up a little too.

I leave these decisions to goldy but Boone may make the most sense.

ChrisK thinks we need another pitcher so he is no help.

ChrisK · Post by **ChrisK** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 10:10 am

Hey, I think we need a pitcher AND a bat, whether it be 3B or DH--or both if we can pry the owner's wallet open.

I hope packerboy is joking about Boone, one Boofin' Boone fiasco is enough.

I don't have a problem with Rondell in LF.

From Breeze's list:

Alou is old and had injury problems last year but put up good numbers. If he's healthy I think he'd be a good addition to the Twins.

Burnitz might be a possibility at DH, he's got pop but only hit .230 last year

Feliz has more pop than Burnitz and hit .244 last year

Guillen good hitter w/pop but has injury problems. Will probably re-sign w/Washington.

Hillenbrand's numbers are OK, but his antics in Toronto last year make him unappealing.

Lopez doesn't do much for me

Payton, I like him but he doesn't have much power and where would you play him?

Wilson has some pop but not enough to make me overlook his .263 lifetime BA

Young has hit in the past, but why did the Tigers release him? Being released could be a motivator or he could be done.

So, of the choices Breeze has presented I think Alou, if healthy, would be the best fit. He's a solid veteran hitter who has power, average and doesn't strike out much.

In regards to pitchers, I hadn't been too keen on Suppan but after the numbers he's put up the last half of this season and his playoff performances, if he's available at a reasonable price the Twins have to go after him.

This was a page back but packerboy asked what the juice adds to a player and my understanding is that the major benefit is increased stamina or endurance. As the season winds down, the bat doesn't slow down as it would without the juice and it's easier to bounce back onto the field for a day game following a night game. Like you said it's probably not going to add bat speed so you have to be good to begin with but it does help keep a good player at that level.

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 1:00 pm

Suppan's $ just doubled with his efforts over the last week and a half.

No longer part of the Twins' future, if he even was in the first place.

ChrisK · Post by **ChrisK** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 1:19 pm

You're probably right Shanty, the guy has been a stud in the playoffs and someone (Steinbrenner?) will probably overpay to get him.

I only saw the highlights but it looks like last night's game was a classic. The name 'Molina' will cause the same cringe in a Mets fan that 'Dent' probably still causes for a Red Sox fan. And Chavez's catch! A rookie closer striking out the Mets most deadly hitter with the bases loaded to end the game! Wow. Let's hope the World Series can match that.

EREmpireStrikesBack · Post by **EREmpireStrikesBack** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 1:01 pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2637773

Liriano Leaves Rehab

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:17 pm

Like I said, don't count on Liriano throwing another pain free pitch again. I hope management is preparing for a future without him.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:34 pm

Whats the deal?

I would scope it and try and find out. If the diagnosis is correct, this shouldnt be happening. If its a mild strain, it should have cleared by now. There must be a tear which has to be fixed.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:51 pm

Well, its just like Ive been sayin all along.

They really should be thinkin about goin out and getting another pitcher.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:11 pm

So, can we finish the Series before Halloween?

You hate to react to one bad Oct weather wise but think if this happened for 3/4 years in a row.

I think the playoffs are good but they do drag on and create a lack onf interest.

Its too late to be playing baseball in the midwest.

Should we move just the World Series to a neutral warm weather site?

ChrisK · Post by **ChrisK** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:37 pm

Nice Slappy impression there with the quick change of opinion on the Twins pitching, packerboy

One of the things I like about the World Series (and the NBA and NHL finals for that matter) is that it is a community event partly because the games are held in the respective cities. In some cases the stadiums are part of the identity of the team, for example it would be a shame if the Cubs made the World Series and didn't play in Wrigley. True, it doesn't hurt the Super Bowl but that thing is a media event, a circus where the game is almost secondary.

With the low ratings so far for this year's Series they'll probably consider doing something like that. It's a little strange, from what I understand attendance at games this year was up, records were set, it was more popular than ever but noone watches the biggest games of the year.

I was thinking the same thing you were though about the season going too long. It would make sense to go back to 154 games and end the regular season a little earlier but I don't see the owners being too happy about losing 8 games worth of revenue.

According to my Twins calendar, yesterday was the 19th anniversary of the Twins 1987 win against the Cards to take the Series and tomorrow will be the 15th anniversary of the Twins epic game against the Braves. So the added playoffs haven't added too much extra time to the season.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:24 pm

The teams do get some number of home games the first 2 rounds so the stadium thing is there.

I dont care if the season is a little longer, its the weather that concerns me. We've got all the players wearing winter gear.

Its not baseball. We put up with it in the spring but cold weather for the Series isnt right.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:06 am

The Tigers are schitzo. They are either very good or very bad. Weird.