Twins 29-29, All Square & Ready To Go On A Tear

[Wild4hockey]

I heard Gardy this morning on the Powertrip morning show talking about how Liriano has been cleared by his doctors and appears to 100% heading into the season.

[NumberCruncher]

Is Cuddy really worth the $8 million a year?

[Govs93]

Is Cuddy really worth the $8 million a year?

Carlos Silva is evidently worth $12m a year.

The answer to your question is yes.

[NumberCruncher]

Ha I meant not relatively speaking though. Personally, a little overpriced I think.

"Do they help the team, though? Cuddyer, who was jerked around for the first four years of his MLB career, has become a serviceable right fielder, with a career-high EqA in 2006 and comparable productivity in ’07. He’s improved his walk rate and K/BB in each of the last two seasons, pushing his OBP above .350. The power spike he showed in 2006—a .504 SLG and .220 ISO, both career highs by a wide margin—is probably not going to be repeated. Cuddyer’s seasonal slugging averages have been .429, .431, .440, .422 and .433 outside of 2006; it’s pretty clear what he is. The Twins appear to have overreacted to his RBI counts—109 and 81 the last two years—which have as much to do with playing time and the guys in front of him than his performance."

[packerboy]

OK all you geniuses ( said in my best Sid impersonation voice)

Chew on this:

. Mauer hits .329 and adds a little power to hit 20 HRs

. Morneau hits .300 38 Hrs and 125 RBI

. Cuddy hits .280 25HRs and 95 RBI

. Da Kid hits . 290 23 HRs and 100 RBI

. Liriano is back and pitching like '06 for 18-5 with 3.15 ERA

. Boof, Baker and whoever pitch well

. The bullpen is back to '06 form

. The new guys from Houston do well.

Now, how in the Boof can you trade Santana?

If he is back to Cy Young form and the above happens( YES: It Can Happen) its the playoffs and then some.

If you have a chance to make the playoffs with him , do you trade him anyways?

[Govs93]

Ha I meant not relatively speaking though. Personally, a little overpriced I think.

"Do they help the team, though? Cuddyer, who was jerked around for the first four years of his MLB career, has become a serviceable right fielder, with a career-high EqA in 2006 and comparable productivity in ’07. He’s improved his walk rate and K/BB in each of the last two seasons, pushing his OBP above .350. The power spike he showed in 2006—a .504 SLG and .220 ISO, both career highs by a wide margin—is probably not going to be repeated. Cuddyer’s seasonal slugging averages have been .429, .431, .440, .422 and .433 outside of 2006; it’s pretty clear what he is. The Twins appear to have overreacted to his RBI counts—109 and 81 the last two years—which have as much to do with playing time and the guys in front of him than his performance."

I think for what he produces offensively, $8m is probably the nature of the beast these days, I don't think it's way out of whack.

But the thing that may mean more is his defense - particularly his arm - in right. Ultimately, his assists will go probably decrease, but that's a good thing. Just the threat of having him out there makes a lot of baserunners think twice. That alone can be enough to change games at times.

If you combine both offense and defense, I'd argue that they may have even got a good deal on Cuddyer for the salaries that are being tossed around the league now.

[schwang17]

I think for what he produces offensively, $8m is probably the nature of the beast these days, I don't think it's way out of whack.

But the thing that may mean more is his defense - particularly his arm - in right. Ultimately, his assists will go probably decrease, but that's a good thing. Just the threat of having him out there makes a lot of baserunners think twice. That alone can be enough to change games at times.

If you combine both offense and defense, I'd argue that they may have even got a good deal on Cuddyer for the salaries that are being tossed around the league now.

I 2nd that...

[Can't Never Tried]

OK all you geniuses ( said in my best Sid impersonation voice)

You needed to add that throat clearing sound, otherwise it sounded great!

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

Ha I meant not relatively speaking though. Personally, a little overpriced I think.

"Do they help the team, though? Cuddyer, who was jerked around for the first four years of his MLB career, has become a serviceable right fielder, with a career-high EqA in 2006 and comparable productivity in ’07. He’s improved his walk rate and K/BB in each of the last two seasons, pushing his OBP above .350. The power spike he showed in 2006—a .504 SLG and .220 ISO, both career highs by a wide margin—is probably not going to be repeated. Cuddyer’s seasonal slugging averages have been .429, .431, .440, .422 and .433 outside of 2006; it’s pretty clear what he is. The Twins appear to have overreacted to his RBI counts—109 and 81 the last two years—which have as much to do with playing time and the guys in front of him than his performance."

I think for what he produces offensively, $8m is probably the nature of the beast these days, I don't think it's way out of whack.

But the thing that may mean more is his defense - particularly his arm - in right. Ultimately, his assists will go probably decrease, but that's a good thing. Just the threat of having him out there makes a lot of baserunners think twice. That alone can be enough to change games at times.

If you combine both offense and defense, I'd argue that they may have even got a good deal on Cuddyer for the salaries that are being tossed around the league now.

He's great for them off the field too. Always positive in the dugout and is a great spokesman for the team. I think he's a good price.

[goldy313]

Yes, I think you have to trade Santana, the alternative is you get a compansation draft pick. It's not a palatable situation by any means, I think you either have to lock him up now or he's gone after the season at the latest and if that's the case you'd better get what you can for him - and he'd better go to an NL team.

[packerboy]

But goldy, what if you were convinced that with Santana you could go deep into the playoffs?

[goldy313]

I've been convinced of that before and the Twins have faltered. Long term gain outweighs short term success. like I said it's not a palatable situation but I think you have to look out for the long term success, not a hope of 1 year. The Twins have won before, they're not looking for a stadium deal, and they're locked into Minneapolis for a long time. If it were the Vikings in a similar situation I'd go the other way.

[Govs93]

Here's an interesting blog entry from an interesting source.

[packerboy]

I just get tired of the "looking to the future" , "long term" attutude when it never materializes into anything.

1991 is now 17 years ago.

[tomASS]

I love reading your guy's stuff. This is where I go for my Twin's info.
The bored's baseball brain trust. I do appreciate it! Good stuff

If I can ever pay you back with soccer info or news let me know (key the crickets chirping)

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

Trade him. I know it's future, future, future... but if we can get a 2000-06 run again, I say it is worth it. No doubt.

[schwang17]

I agree, but this isn't the 2000-2006 Central Division anymore. I don't see a team making a run like that in this division for quite some time. The Indians, Sox, and Tigers are all making hefty moves to win right now, and if the season started today I'd put us in the middle of the pack even with Santana. They're banking on somebody paying alot at the deadline to push them over, which in return will give us more than we've been currently offered. It'll be interesting to see if that happens.

I agree with Govs' source that Pohlad should just pay in petty cash until the new stadium gets here...