2007 Minnesota Twins

[boblee]

Twins vs. Yankees today at 12:05 on EPSN

[Neutron 14]

***BREAKING NEWS***

Matthew LeCroy has been cut. All hopes for 2007 are officially gone.



Also cut: Mike Venafro, Tommy Watkins, Glenn Williams, and Brad King - but who really cares? Big Country is gone!

They send him down, or cut him clean?

FT. MYERS -- The Minnesota Twins announced prior to today's game that they have reassigned the following players to Minor League camp: left-handed pitcher Mike Venafro, catchers Brad King and Matthew LeCroy and infielders Tommy Watkins and Glenn Williams.
Venafro was 0-0, 0.00 (10.0 ip, 0 er) with four walks and six strikeouts in 10 appearances, King was 0-for-5 in 10 games, LeCroy batted .225 (9-for-40) with three doubles and a rbi in 20 games, Watkins batted .107 (3-for-28) with one home run and two RBI in 23 games and Williams batted .167 (7-for-42) with one double, one home run and four RBI in 25 games.

The Twins now have 29 active players (3 non-roster) in camp - 13 pitchers (one non-roster), three catchers, 7 infielders (one non-roster) and six outfielders (one non-roster).

[Govs93]

Venafro was 0-0, 0.00 (10.0 ip, 0 er) with four walks and six strikeouts in 10 appearances

You know your ballclub has a stacked bullpen when that line won't get you a plane ticket north.

[Blue Breeze]

PB, your points are all spot on. But I'm still waiting for the answer to "who" should the Twins have signed? I don't think there was anyone on the market who either: A) Made financial sense, or B) Could have made a bigger impact that somebody currently on the roster. If you present one of those, I will concede this argument to you.

[Irishmans Shanty]

***BREAKING NEWS***

Matthew LeCroy has been cut. All hopes for 2007 are officially gone.



Also cut: Mike Venafro, Tommy Watkins, Glenn Williams, and Brad King - but who really cares? Big Country is gone!

LeCroy won't be available long. He's sure to be in another big league clubhouse by tomorrow.

Two days in a row now the mercury has eclipsed 80 in my backyard and my lawn turned green sometime between Sat. morning and yesterday afternoon. It is time for the gladiators of summer to start throwing, hitting, pitching, and running the bases in anger.

[Govs93]

Two days in a row now the mercury has eclipsed 80 in my backyard and my lawn turned green sometime between Sat. morning and yesterday afternoon.

Unrelated to baseball, but fair warning to all duffers...

Even though the courses are open and things are turning greener, it's probably not wise to slam your loft wedge into the ground after it lets you down (yet again). It's still frozen below the surface.

My arm is still killing me...

[boblee]

Bonser has looked pretty good today, just two mistakes.

Also, Cirillo is hitting well.

[packerboy]

BB, Whatever you do dont concede anything, it would take all the fun out of it.

I have to admit that I dont know the answer to your question(which will never stop me) because I dont know the deals that were made with the guys that were out there.......with one exception, Frank Thomas. That would have been doable and I think he wanted to come here. I think TR muffed that one.

I think they could have signed Thome and should have. Then when it comes time to sign the Morneaus, Mauers etc, trade him, for a young pitcher.

I refuse to believe that there wasnt any way to help these guys go a little deeper into Oct. without "mortgaging the future" or breaking the bank.

[Govs93]

BB, Whatever you do dont concede anything, it would take all the fun out of it.

I have to admit that I dont know the answer to your question(which will never stop me) because I dont know the deals that were made with the guys that were out there.......with one exception, Frank Thomas. That would have been doable and I think he wanted to come here. I think TR muffed that one.

I think they could have signed Thome and should have. Then when it comes time to sign the Morneaus, Mauers etc, trade him, for a young pitcher.

I refuse to believe that there wasnt any way to help these guys go a little deeper into Oct. without "mortgaging the future" or breaking the bank.

I thought they were putting out feelers for Piazza as well, were they not?

Of course, whether you're looking at either Thomas or Piazza, odds are you're looking at a 1 year fix. DH is a problem year after year for this team - big bats don't come cheap. Their best bet for the long term is probably trying to develop Kubel and hope for the best.

[Irishmans Shanty]

PB, your points are all spot on. But I'm still waiting for the answer to "who" should the Twins have signed? I don't think there was anyone on the market who either: A) Made financial sense, or B) Could have made a bigger impact that somebody currently on the roster. If you present one of those, I will concede this argument to you.

A couple of seasons ago, what did the Twins do when Dye was available?

These guys were all available this off season. It's not the entire list, but it is a sampling of bodies the Twins passes on. There is one guy here that makes a lot of sense in a position of need. Once again, someone in the division who already hits very well, went out and got him. Who is he?

Mike Piazza
Luis Gonzalez
Bernie Williams
Trot Nixon
Frank Thomas
Moises Alou
Jay Payton
Preston Wilson

[packerboy]

One year fixes are fine if they win a championship for you.

The Twins have been in an enviable position the last few years. Because of the great job they did with the young guys, they have had a low payroll and can still contend. It would not have taken much to put them over the top.

People forget. 87 and 91 were preceded by some significamt veteran aquisitions. They werent top shelf but they werent bargain basement either. Reardon, Blyleven Gladden in 87 and in 91 it was Pags, Chilli Davis , and Morris.

They need to do that again.

[east hockey]

Two days in a row now the mercury has eclipsed 80 in my backyard and my lawn turned green sometime between Sat. morning and yesterday afternoon.

Unrelated to baseball, but fair warning to all duffers...

Even though the courses are open and things are turning greener, it's probably not wise to slam your loft wedge into the ground after it lets you down (yet again). It's still frozen below the surface.

My arm is still killing me...

Thanks for the reminder of why I gave up golf and took up bowling many years ago

Well, that and a horrible-and-not-getting-any-better game due to not getting out enough.

Lee

[Govs93]

Is there a reason that Toby Gardenhire is with the major league team for today's game (other than the obvious)? I mean, the novelty is cute, but the kid has no chance of getting called all the way up this year - or probably ever.

Is this just throwing the skipper a bone or what?

[Govs93]

Is there a reason that Toby Gardenhire is with the major league team for today's game (other than the obvious)? I mean, the novelty is cute, but the kid has no chance of getting called all the way up this year - or probably ever.

Is this just throwing the skipper a bone or what?

Well color me embarrassed...

Toby Gardenhire grounds one to 2nd that gets booted, driving in the winning run in the bottom of the 9th.

I think we found our new Matt LeCroy, boys!!!

[Blue Breeze]

A couple of seasons ago, what did the Twins do when Dye was available?

These guys were all available this off season. It's not the entire list, but it is a sampling of bodies the Twins passes on. There is one guy here that makes a lot of sense in a position of need. Once again, someone in the division who already hits very well, went out and got him. Who is he?

Mike Piazza
Luis Gonzalez
Bernie Williams
Trot Nixon
Frank Thomas
Moises Alou
Jay Payton
Preston Wilson

The answer is Trot Nixon. How does he help? RF is not a need, and his numbers are comparable to what Kubel/White can do in left, and he does not have the range to play LF at the metrodome. Piazza and Thomas are way out of the price range and they're on their last legs. Bernie's prime was about 6 years ago, he was awful last year. The rest of the guys are average players who we have plenty of.

[packerboy]

IS, Cleveland signed Nixon (he is not a crook) but I dont what the Twins woud do with him except DH....well,maybe LF

I dont know that Kubel cant do as much as Nixon based on recent history.

PS I agree with BB but didnt see his post otherwise I would not have bothered.

[Irishmans Shanty]

Kubel - Been a prospect for how long now? Healthy? Is he anything more than average? Did he play after the first of August last year? Kubel to this point is the newest Kielty/Buchanan/Restavich.
White - he's no gazelle out in LF anymore and he makes Kenny Lofton's arm look like Dave Parker's when he was dancing to "We Are Family". Rondell is a .240's hitter from this point forward.

Yes, there is a need in left and the Twins didn't bone up to do anything about it. Spend some money and give me Frank Catalanotto for crying out loud. Not a thumper but he makes that position a lot better than it was when they went out without a wimper last October.

[Blue Breeze]

Who was our best position player in that playoff series? It was Rondell. It's not as though he was the weakness that held that team back. I'm not saying he is the answer in left, but after he got over his shoulder injury last year he was a very productive hitter. I would put money on him hitting over .240.

Is Kubel average? Perhaps, but he has the potential to be more. Is Catalanotto average? Yes. He hits for average, but his lack of power at a corner OF position and his average at best defense have made him expendable at every stop he has been to.

[packerboy]

I agree that we are vulnerable in LF and DH but I dont think Nixon would help much.

IS you are right about Kubel. He had 2 good weeks last season...thats it.

Rondell was indescribably bad at the plate for most of the season. I have coached little kids who look better than he did. It looked like it was his first year playing baseball, ever.

But Kubel has shown some promise and they dont want to give up on him.

Rondell looked like the guy we thought could hit 22 and drive in 80 some for most of the last part of the season.

We will just have to see how many runners go from 1st to 3rd on a base hit to left

[Irishmans Shanty]

Who was our best position player in that playoff series?

Yes, Rondell was the tallest midget between that Tuesday and Friday.

We can go in circles here and were both right and wrong at the same time. I just think the Twins got a little bit weaker by standing pat with what they have.

Everyone else in the division seemed to recognize that whatever they had last year wasn't enough.

[Blue Breeze]

Who was our best position player in that playoff series?

Yes, Rondell was the tallest midget between that Tuesday and Friday.

We can go in circles here and were both right and wrong at the same time. I just think the Twins got a little bit weaker by standing pat with what they have.

Everyone else in the division seemed to recognize that whatever they had last year wasn't enough.

I agree, but the Twins put their priorities on investing in some of their young talent. They avoided arbitration with Morneau, got Mauer for 4 years, and Crain for 3. Hopefully Cuddyer and Nathan are next. Not holding out much hope for Johan.

The Tigers got Sheff, but that's about it, they also have two overused arms in Bonderman and Verlander who may take a step back this year. The Indians pretty much stood pat, The White Sox got rid of some talent and half their team is one bad step from a wheelchair. The Royals threw big money at a pitcher who sucks. In this case, I would say staying the course isn't such a bad idea.

[Irishmans Shanty]

Crain, I forgot all about him.

Why didn't they turn Rincon into a starter? They've got nothing but arms in the pen.

[Blue Breeze]

Crain, I forgot all about him.

Why didn't they turn Rincon into a starter? They've got nothing but arms in the pen.

He was a starter at one time and struggled, he has thrived in the pen so I don't think keeping him there is such a bad idea.

We can go in circles here and were both right and wrong at the same time.

Agreed. Only time will tell, possibly the argument may never be decided. It's a good debate though. Thankfully the season is only 6 days away and we can figure some things out then.[/quote]

[schwang17]

Everyone else in the division seemed to recognize that whatever they had last year wasn't enough.

Not really, IS. Cleveland isn't any better defensively and they asign the closers role to Borowski, who is average at best. They outscored their opponents by over 100 runs last year and will score a ton this year, but I still don't think they're any better in the areas that caused them to faulter last year(bullpen, defense). If their starters give them decent pitching they'll have a chance.

Detroit gets Maroth back and added Sheffield, but is basically the same team. I expect them to be the favorite and the team we most need to worry about.

Down here in Chi-town people are pissed off. The starting rotation is questionable at best(they traded away 2 SP's) and Ozzie Guillen is said to be on the hot seat. Dye isn't likely to have the season he had last year, either. I think this division is just as "Up for Grabs" as it was last year. I expect it to be a tight race.

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

So 2 years ago he wins a WS and wins a ton of games last year (all while hearing he is such a great manager the past 2 years) and now he's on the hot seat? Wow! Tom Kelly woulda been outa here in the early 90's if that was the case.

And they were stupid in how they just threw away those SPs, they were very good IMO and McCarthy had a bright future. Garcia ate innings and was well above average.