Twins had the opportunity to take Eduardo Morlan, the minor league reliever they dealt in the Young-Garza swap, in the Rule 5 draft... they didn't and instead picked something called Jason Jones, who isn't bad but I doubt he has the upside of Morlan.
Twins also announced the signing of Punto to a 2-year, $8M deal, with a $5M option for 2011. Gardy says he is the starting shortstop. If they're set with that, they won't be moving Casilla to short, so all 2Bs are out of the question in a trade. The only way to improve this team now is at 3B, meaning one year of DeRosa or Beltre (good options, but not for long), or multiple years of Wigginton (decent option), Atkins (bad option, especially since we'd probably have to give up more for him than for Wigginton or DeRosa), or Kouzmanoff (horrible, horrible option).
Showing posts with label Minnesota Twins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Minnesota Twins. Show all posts
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Torii's Future
Over at SBG today, I saw this link to a Jonah Keri article on espn.com. I encourage you to head over there and check it out, because Keri is a member of the national media who understands why the Twins have been great this decade - and he's the only person I've seen associated with ESPN who isn't enamored with Torii Hunter.
A link in Keri's article sent me here, where Jason Williams points out that the contracts of Hunter, Luis Castillo, Carlos Silva, and Ramon Ortiz coming off the books next year will free up $25.2 million for the Twins. I've been optimistic so far on the Twins ability to keep Johan Santana around, and having that much more cash to play with in the offseason gives me even more hope. As Keri writes, the Twins have much bigger fish to fry, in Santana and Justin Morneau, than to pay Hunter (and in my opinion, regrettably, Joe Nathan as well) into his (their) declining years and risk losing an MVP or Cy Young.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Random Thoughts
- Ramon Ortiz is the only player not to have reported to Twins training camp on time, but this is fairly common for players traveling from Latin America. Personally, I think it would be best for the team if he didn't show up at all. I still think J.D. Durbin will be a good #3 starter for a major league team - but it is unlikely the Twins will have room for him, as the starting rotation is likely to be Santana-Bonser-Silva-Ortiz-Garza (I figure the Twins have conceded the first four spots already, and only the fifth is up for grabs). Durbin could still make the team out of the bullpen, and I'd like to see it if only to keep him in the organization. Many forget (or didn't know) that he likely would have been called up instead of Garza last August had he not gone down with nerve damage in his elbow.
- The Twins appear to have re-entered negotiations with Justin Morneau. I'd love to see them come to an agreement soon, but I can't see Morneau's value being much higher a year from now than it currently is. In short, I'd love to see them lock him up long-term, but I won't lose any sleep over it if a deal doesn't happen this summer.
- Kevin Garnett and the Timberwolves continue to be consistently mediocre. A loss at Washington tonight dropped them to 25-28, though they still hold the 8th seed in the Western Conference. It is nice to see Randy Foye starting, but still frustrating to see the other rookie, Craig Smith, continue to get declining minutes in favor of Mark Madsen and Marko Jaric. I'd love to see the team cut some of the dead weight by Thursday's trade deadline, but it seems incredibly unlikely to me that any team would be willing to take it on.
- The Wild, on the other hand, continue to impress me. I caught most of the game versus Dallas tonight, and once I started watching I couldn't look away. The Wild play an exciting brand of hockey. I'm definitely not a hockey expert, but it is the most exciting g
ame out there when the games are close. The Wild lead the league with 20 overtime games (in which they are 15-5), so they are a lot of fun to watch. The team has been on a roll since star winger Marian Gaborik's return in January, and goalie Niklas Backstrom has been filling in admirably for the injured Manny Fernandez. In fact, I think Backstrom has played better than Fernandez. Tonight, Mikko Koivu provided the game-winner in the third frame of a shootout as Backstrom stopped all three Dallas attempts - moving the Wild into 7th in the Western Conference and just one point behind Vancouver for the division lead. As long as Gaborik stays healthy, this team can hang with anyone, and can potentially make a run deep into the playoffs.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Twins Ink Cuddyer
The Twins signed right fielder Michael Cuddyer to a one-year, $3.575 million deal today, locking up the last of their arbitration-eligible players. The deal carries a $50,000 bonus if Cuddyer reaches 650 plate appearances. Cuddyer, like Justin Morneau, is not eligible for free agency until 2009, so the Twins have plenty of time to sign him to a long-term deal.
While the Twins stated their priorities this offseason as signing the heart of their order - Mauer, Cuddyer, and Morneau - to long-term deals, I think that a one-year deal for Cuddyer is the best option at this point. Cuddyer certainly had a great season last year, but I'm not entirely convinced he won't regress a little this year. I'd like to see more than one solid season from Cuddyer before making a long-term commitment to him. With Johan Santana's free agency rapidly approaching, the Twins have to be careful with their payroll. I'd hate to see them make a commitment to a guy like Cuddyer and then see him regress to his 2005 form. I do think Cuddyer will continue to do well, but I have no problem at all with the wait-and-see approach the Twins are taking.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Twins, Mauer Reach 4-year Deal
According to espn.com and the Twins official website, Joe Mauer has signed a 4-year deal, which will keep him in Minnesota through 2010. The terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed.
I'll have more to say once we hear how much the deal is worth, but I'll be very happy if it's in the ballpark of the previously rumored $33 million.
UPDATE: The deal is worth $33 million over 4 years. According to espn.com, the deal pays Mauer $3.75 million in 2007, $6.25 million in 2008, $10.5 million in 2009, and $12.5 million in 2010. Mauer can also earn award and performance bonuses.
Now that Mauer is signed, I expect Morneau to sign a very similar deal in the near future. I'd like to see his contract last a year longer than Mauer's, for reasons explained here.
My only concern is the money this locks up for 2009 and 2010, the first years of a potential Santana contract. Pohlad has been more willing to open his wallet lately, and I think they'll still make a run at Santana - but if Morneau's contract is structured similarly to Mauer's, it can't help their chances.
I'll have more to say once we hear how much the deal is worth, but I'll be very happy if it's in the ballpark of the previously rumored $33 million.
UPDATE: The deal is worth $33 million over 4 years. According to espn.com, the deal pays Mauer $3.75 million in 2007, $6.25 million in 2008, $10.5 million in 2009, and $12.5 million in 2010. Mauer can also earn award and performance bonuses.
Now that Mauer is signed, I expect Morneau to sign a very similar deal in the near future. I'd like to see his contract last a year longer than Mauer's, for reasons explained here.
My only concern is the money this locks up for 2009 and 2010, the first years of a potential Santana contract. Pohlad has been more willing to open his wallet lately, and I think they'll still make a run at Santana - but if Morneau's contract is structured similarly to Mauer's, it can't help their chances.
Friday, February 9, 2007
We Could Have Done Better
The Mets are reportedly close to a deal with right handed starter Chan Ho Park. The deal is worth $600,000 and could earn Park up to $3 million with incentives.
Given the Twins recent fascination with signing washed-up, once-brilliant starters, I'm amazed we didn't hear any rumors of Park heading to the Twin Cities.
Now, I'm not going to argue that the Twins should have signed Park, because I wouldn't want to see him in the way of guys like Matt Garza, Glen Perkins, Kevin Slowey, J.D. Durbin, and Scott Baker. However, I will argue that Park would have been a much more positive signing than Ramon Ortiz. Park posted a 4.81 ERA with a 1.39 WHIP last season for San Diego, while Ortiz had a 5.57 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP in Washington. On top of that, we have the obvious: Ortiz is guaranteed $3.1 million, no matter how poorly (or how well, if you're really a glass-half-full kind of person) he pitches for the Twins. Park will only make $3 million if he reaches all his performance incentives. And finally, it seems that Park would be the more likely of the two to regain his past form. Park has posted an adjusted ERA, or ERA+ of 115 or higher in three seasons, and injury contributed to his down years in Texas. Ortiz's best ERA+ was 115 in 2002.
Of course, both pitchers are far from brilliant, and I'd rather give some starts to one of the Twins' young guys than either of the two. But given the choice, I'd much rather have Park at $600,000 plus incentives than Ortiz at $3.1 million guaranteed.
Given the Twins recent fascination with signing washed-up, once-brilliant starters, I'm amazed we didn't hear any rumors of Park heading to the Twin Cities.
Now, I'm not going to argue that the Twins should have signed Park, because I wouldn't want to see him in the way of guys like Matt Garza, Glen Perkins, Kevin Slowey, J.D. Durbin, and Scott Baker. However, I will argue that Park would have been a much more positive signing than Ramon Ortiz. Park posted a 4.81 ERA with a 1.39 WHIP last season for San Diego, while Ortiz had a 5.57 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP in Washington. On top of that, we have the obvious: Ortiz is guaranteed $3.1 million, no matter how poorly (or how well, if you're really a glass-half-full kind of person) he pitches for the Twins. Park will only make $3 million if he reaches all his performance incentives. And finally, it seems that Park would be the more likely of the two to regain his past form. Park has posted an adjusted ERA, or ERA+ of 115 or higher in three seasons, and injury contributed to his down years in Texas. Ortiz's best ERA+ was 115 in 2002.
Of course, both pitchers are far from brilliant, and I'd rather give some starts to one of the Twins' young guys than either of the two. But given the choice, I'd much rather have Park at $600,000 plus incentives than Ortiz at $3.1 million guaranteed.
Monday, February 5, 2007
Morneau (and others) Reach Deals With Twins
A lot has happened since I last posted.
We had some real baseball news, which I've been craving for the last few weeks. The Twins reached a 1-year, $4.5 million deal with the AL MVP, Justin Morneau. Nick Punto was signed for 2-years, $4.2 million; Juan Rincon for 1 year, $2 million; and Lew Ford for 1 year, $985,000. Also, the word is that the Twins and Joe Mauer are nearing an agreement in the ballpark of 4-years, $33 million, which I think is a steal. That deal would lock up Mauer past his first year of free agency.
I can't argue with any of those. I'm guessing Morneau will be signed to a long-term deal sometime before the season is over, a contract structured very similar to Mauer's. Ideally, I'd give Morneau one year more than Mauer, for two reasons: A) I wouldn't want to have to worry about re-signing both of those guys to massive contracts in the same off-season. B) Morneau seems to want to stay with Mauer. If Mauer re-signs in 2011, Morneau may be more likely to re-sign in 2012.
I like the Punto deal as well. I would have liked to have given him a little less money, but two years is the perfect length for a player like Punto. If he proves that 2006 wasn't a fluke, the Twins have plenty of time to sign him to another extension. If he reverts to his prior form or gets hurt, they only have a two-year commitment.
The Rincon and Ford deals are likely the last they'll receive from the Twins. I'll be very surprised if either of them is in a Twins uniform in 2008.
In other news...
We had some real baseball news, which I've been craving for the last few weeks. The Twins reached a 1-year, $4.5 million deal with the AL MVP, Justin Morneau. Nick Punto was signed for 2-years, $4.2 million; Juan Rincon for 1 year, $2 million; and Lew Ford for 1 year, $985,000. Also, the word is that the Twins and Joe Mauer are nearing an agreement in the ballpark of 4-years, $33 million, which I think is a steal. That deal would lock up Mauer past his first year of free agency.
I can't argue with any of those. I'm guessing Morneau will be signed to a long-term deal sometime before the season is over, a contract structured very similar to Mauer's. Ideally, I'd give Morneau one year more than Mauer, for two reasons: A) I wouldn't want to have to worry about re-signing both of those guys to massive contracts in the same off-season. B) Morneau seems to want to stay with Mauer. If Mauer re-signs in 2011, Morneau may be more likely to re-sign in 2012.
I like the Punto deal as well. I would have liked to have given him a little less money, but two years is the perfect length for a player like Punto. If he proves that 2006 wasn't a fluke, the Twins have plenty of time to sign him to another extension. If he reverts to his prior form or gets hurt, they only have a two-year commitment.
The Rincon and Ford deals are likely the last they'll receive from the Twins. I'll be very surprised if either of them is in a Twins uniform in 2008.
In other news...
- Brett Favre announced his decision to return for next season. I remember being told that we'd only have to wait two weeks for that news. A month later, he reveals his intentions - and gets the media attention he craves. As far as the effect this will have on the playing field, I'm not sure what to think anymore. I can't stand the guy, but he doesn't strike fear in anyone anymore. Favre will not go out on top - a playoff berth is possible (though unlikely) and I wouldn't expect anything more than that.
- The Indianapolis Colts are the champions of Super Bowl XLI. My pick (which I forgot to post here) was Colts 23, Bears 13. The Colts won, 29-17, so I wasn't too far off. Peyton Manning was named the game's MVP. While Manning was solid, I would've gone with Dominic Rhodes.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
4/14/06 - Twins 5, Yankees 1
The countdown rolls on. 17 days until pitchers and catchers report, 27 until the spring opener.
Since there isn't much new to report on, I'll take a (quick) look back at the first game I attended last season, the April 14 showdown with the Yankees. I sat in the cheap seats ($10, premium game and Pro Shop convenience fee) with Pete, a friend of mine who goes to UW-Madison. Scott Baker took the mound for the Twins, who were facing Mike Mussina. New York entered the game at 5-4, the Twins at 4-5 (coming off a sweep of Oakland).
The boxscore and play-by-play are available here. A recap is available here.
Items of note:
Since there isn't much new to report on, I'll take a (quick) look back at the first game I attended last season, the April 14 showdown with the Yankees. I sat in the cheap seats ($10, premium game and Pro Shop convenience fee) with Pete, a friend of mine who goes to UW-Madison. Scott Baker took the mound for the Twins, who were facing Mike Mussina. New York entered the game at 5-4, the Twins at 4-5 (coming off a sweep of Oakland).
The boxscore and play-by-play are available here. A recap is available here.
Items of note:
- Juan Castro's batting average of .346 - it was only ten games in, but surprising nonetheless.
- Scott Baker pitched a great game, giving up three hits over seven innings. At this point, it looked like he'd have a great year in the bigs.
- Another note on Baker - some may remember his "wardrobe malfunction" in this game. Up in the cheap seats, I worried he was hurt when he came off the mound. A guy with a radio gave us the news rather quickly - Baker's protective cup fell down his pant leg - and had a few good laughs.
- Lew Ford made an impressive assist from right field. I think we've got a much more reliable guy out there now, though.
- I saw what I believe is the only Tony Batista double I have ever seen in person. It plated Justin Morneau (who went 2-4 to raise his batting average to .237), and finished the scoring for the Twins.
- Mike Mussina lost his third consecutive decision against the Twins, after starting his career 20-3 against them.
Monday, January 29, 2007
I Even Miss Silva...
Twins pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers for spring training in 20 days. Not soon enough.
Things have been incredibly slow around the Minnesota sports scene these days, as the only major recent events I can think to make note of are Kevin Garnett's All-Star selection, TwinsFest and Brian Rolston's two-goal, two-assist performance in the NHL All-Star game. While I love watching good pro hockey, the All-Star Game - with no hitting or any real strategy - bores me. Plus, like many others, I had no idea it was on television.
In other news, the Wolves got their first win under "interim" head coach Randy Wittman on Saturday, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers, 101-87. More impressive to me was the way Craig Smith dominated the Sonics on Friday night, scoring 15 first-half points... and then not playing at all in the third quarter. After re-entering the game in the fourth, Smith added 11 more. And of course, the next day, he was rewarded with a whopping 18 minutes.
Glen Taylor and Kevin McHale (I'll put money on that duo as the Strib's next Co-Turkeys of the Year without even knowing what is to come in the next ten months - any takers?) think this team is more talented than they are perceived to be. I agree - but I don't see that talent in Blount, Davis, James, and Hassell like McHale and Taylor do. The talent is buried on the bench - Randy Foye, Craig Smith, and even Bracey Wright deserve more playing time than their veteran counterparts. Add Rashad McCants to that list when he comes back.
The Wolves are too guard heavy, they trust their young talent even less than the Twins, and the front office is delusional. As much as I try, it's tough to see any hope for the near future.
The Wild are exciting but inconsistent. Plus, they only play 2-3 games a week and most of them are at 9 pm. And I don't know enough about hockey. When its playoff time, I'll be tuned in - provided the Twins aren't on.
Super Bowl XLI will be a nice diversion - but there isn't anything there to excite me in the week leading up to the game. Manning and Dungy might choke, Grossman isn't very good - same things I've heard the last three weeks. Some hype...
I NEED the Twins. I wish FSN would cover all of spring training - everything - I'd (seriously) sit and watch some long-toss between Chris Heintz and Scott Baker ahead of watching the mess that is the Wolves. Anything Twins-related except for Mike Redmond's naked batting practice. I could go for a spring training, Twins-Devil Rays, Silva vs. Jae Seo matchup right now.
They say that hope springs eternal. Sadly, spring is still a few weeks away.
Things have been incredibly slow around the Minnesota sports scene these days, as the only major recent events I can think to make note of are Kevin Garnett's All-Star selection, TwinsFest and Brian Rolston's two-goal, two-assist performance in the NHL All-Star game. While I love watching good pro hockey, the All-Star Game - with no hitting or any real strategy - bores me. Plus, like many others, I had no idea it was on television.
In other news, the Wolves got their first win under "interim" head coach Randy Wittman on Saturday, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers, 101-87. More impressive to me was the way Craig Smith dominated the Sonics on Friday night, scoring 15 first-half points... and then not playing at all in the third quarter. After re-entering the game in the fourth, Smith added 11 more. And of course, the next day, he was rewarded with a whopping 18 minutes.
Glen Taylor and Kevin McHale (I'll put money on that duo as the Strib's next Co-Turkeys of the Year without even knowing what is to come in the next ten months - any takers?) think this team is more talented than they are perceived to be. I agree - but I don't see that talent in Blount, Davis, James, and Hassell like McHale and Taylor do. The talent is buried on the bench - Randy Foye, Craig Smith, and even Bracey Wright deserve more playing time than their veteran counterparts. Add Rashad McCants to that list when he comes back.
The Wolves are too guard heavy, they trust their young talent even less than the Twins, and the front office is delusional. As much as I try, it's tough to see any hope for the near future.
The Wild are exciting but inconsistent. Plus, they only play 2-3 games a week and most of them are at 9 pm. And I don't know enough about hockey. When its playoff time, I'll be tuned in - provided the Twins aren't on.
Super Bowl XLI will be a nice diversion - but there isn't anything there to excite me in the week leading up to the game. Manning and Dungy might choke, Grossman isn't very good - same things I've heard the last three weeks. Some hype...
I NEED the Twins. I wish FSN would cover all of spring training - everything - I'd (seriously) sit and watch some long-toss between Chris Heintz and Scott Baker ahead of watching the mess that is the Wolves. Anything Twins-related except for Mike Redmond's naked batting practice. I could go for a spring training, Twins-Devil Rays, Silva vs. Jae Seo matchup right now.
They say that hope springs eternal. Sadly, spring is still a few weeks away.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Twins Batting Order - 2007
What I think we'll see from Gardy on opening day:
1. Castillo, 2B (S)
2. Punto, 3B (S)
3. Mauer, C (L)
4. Cuddyer, RF (R)
5. Morneau, 1B (L)
6. Hunter, CF (R)
7. White, LF (R)
8. Kubel, DH (L)
9. Bartlett, SS (R)
What you'd see from me on opening day:
1. Luis Castillo, 2B (S) - A perfect leadoff hitter for the Twins (I wanted him there over Shannon Stewart at the start of last season) - he takes pitches, has great at-bats, and gets on base.
2. Joe Mauer, C (L) - Hasn't yet developed the power of a #3 hitter. I think putting him second gives us a much better chance to send our power hitters to the plate with runners on base in the first inning. He takes a lot of pitches too, Cuddyer will have seen a lot of the opposing pitcher's stuff by the time he gets to the plate. I'm sure some would argue that more speed belongs in the #2 spot, but don't forget that Mauer has great baserunning skills.
3. Michael Cuddyer, RF (R)
4. Justin Morneau, 1B (L) - He belongs in the cleanup spot. More often than not, he'd bat in the first inning of games - with a runner on base - and give the Twins a great chance to jump ahead.
5. Torii Hunter, CF (R)
6. Rondell White, LF (R) - I struggle with who should bat 6th (White/Kubel) but ultimately I put White there because he will often be pulled for a defensive replacement late in games. I like the L/R/L/R format whenever possible, as it doesn't allow opposing bullpens to bring in a lefty/righty specialist to face many consecutive batters. Also, if White were pulled for a defensive replacement in the 7-spot, it would set up the 4-consecutive-non-power-hitters that we saw so often last year late in games.
7. Jason Kubel, DH (L) - I can't believe how many people are off the Jason Kubel bandwagon. He put up monster numbers in the minors, and looked very promising before his injury. I expect him to be healthy and return to form this year. (Also, when he got regular playing time before his knees acted up this year, he was an RBI machine).
8. Jeff Cirillo, 3B (S) - I thought Cirillo was a great offseason signing for the Twins. He provides insurance for a Punto injury or simply Punto returning to his previous form. Personally, I think Punto will return to his previous form, and Cirillo can be counted on to bat near or above .300. Plus, he kills lefties, hitting them at an obscene .413/.451/.493/.944 clip last year). If only Gardy didn't think a platoon was a kind of boat...
9. Jason Bartlett, SS (R) - In my world, he's a great #9 hitter. In the real world, I expect this spot to belong to Cirillo when Punto fizzles, with Bartlett moving up to the 2-hole. I certainly wouldn't object to that either, but I feel like Mauer fits the #2 role better.
Any thoughts? What changes would you make?
1. Castillo, 2B (S)
2. Punto, 3B (S)
3. Mauer, C (L)
4. Cuddyer, RF (R)
5. Morneau, 1B (L)
6. Hunter, CF (R)
7. White, LF (R)
8. Kubel, DH (L)
9. Bartlett, SS (R)
What you'd see from me on opening day:
1. Luis Castillo, 2B (S) - A perfect leadoff hitter for the Twins (I wanted him there over Shannon Stewart at the start of last season) - he takes pitches, has great at-bats, and gets on base.
2. Joe Mauer, C (L) - Hasn't yet developed the power of a #3 hitter. I think putting him second gives us a much better chance to send our power hitters to the plate with runners on base in the first inning. He takes a lot of pitches too, Cuddyer will have seen a lot of the opposing pitcher's stuff by the time he gets to the plate. I'm sure some would argue that more speed belongs in the #2 spot, but don't forget that Mauer has great baserunning skills.
3. Michael Cuddyer, RF (R)
4. Justin Morneau, 1B (L) - He belongs in the cleanup spot. More often than not, he'd bat in the first inning of games - with a runner on base - and give the Twins a great chance to jump ahead.
5. Torii Hunter, CF (R)
6. Rondell White, LF (R) - I struggle with who should bat 6th (White/Kubel) but ultimately I put White there because he will often be pulled for a defensive replacement late in games. I like the L/R/L/R format whenever possible, as it doesn't allow opposing bullpens to bring in a lefty/righty specialist to face many consecutive batters. Also, if White were pulled for a defensive replacement in the 7-spot, it would set up the 4-consecutive-non-power-hitters that we saw so often last year late in games.
7. Jason Kubel, DH (L) - I can't believe how many people are off the Jason Kubel bandwagon. He put up monster numbers in the minors, and looked very promising before his injury. I expect him to be healthy and return to form this year. (Also, when he got regular playing time before his knees acted up this year, he was an RBI machine).
8. Jeff Cirillo, 3B (S) - I thought Cirillo was a great offseason signing for the Twins. He provides insurance for a Punto injury or simply Punto returning to his previous form. Personally, I think Punto will return to his previous form, and Cirillo can be counted on to bat near or above .300. Plus, he kills lefties, hitting them at an obscene .413/.451/.493/.944 clip last year). If only Gardy didn't think a platoon was a kind of boat...
9. Jason Bartlett, SS (R) - In my world, he's a great #9 hitter. In the real world, I expect this spot to belong to Cirillo when Punto fizzles, with Bartlett moving up to the 2-hole. I certainly wouldn't object to that either, but I feel like Mauer fits the #2 role better.
Any thoughts? What changes would you make?
Friday, January 19, 2007
I Don't Like This At All
The Twins are reportedly close to signing right-hander Ramon Ortiz to a one-year, $3.1 million deal that is contingent on his passing a physical.
Last year, Ortiz posted a 5.57 ERA in a pitchers park (RFK) in the National League. I don't know the exact translation, but I'm pretty certain that equates to something around or above 6 in the AL.
Until today, I thought Terry Ryan and Gardy had learned from their mistakes, and would start to give the youngsters a shot. I was wrong.
The way I see it, the opening day rotation will most likely be Santana-Bonser-Silva-Ortiz-Ponson. If that doesn't send shudders down your spine, you must have much more faith in Rick Anderson than I do. (Even if Anderson can fix these guys, I'd still rather have him work with Garza, Perkins, Baker, Slowey, etc. and see some of them in the rotation)
Maybe the plan is like last year. A 25-33 start before cutting the dead weight and playing .700 ball the rest of the way. But I don't think that works two years in a row.
Going into a 3-game series, it's possible that an opponent will face Silva, Ortiz, and Ponson as starting pitchers. If the Twins skip the fifth starter when possible (barring injuries), look out for May 21-23 at Texas, where many home runs will be hit. If they don't skip the fifth guy, doom and gloom comes even earlier, May 8-10 against Chicago at the dome. Sadly, I'll be at school in Eau Claire, not collecting Jim Thome balls while eating dollar dogs in the cheap seats.
My apologies for the rant, but needless to say, I'm much less optomistic about the Twins 2007 season now than I was when I predicted this starting rotation.
UPDATE: That may not even be the worst of it. In signing Ortiz, the Twins had to make room for him on the 40-man roster. They cut loose Alex Romero, a 23-year old AAA outfielder, who projects to be a reliable backup outfielder and perhaps even a solid starter. I'd actually rather have him on the big club than Lew.
Last year, Ortiz posted a 5.57 ERA in a pitchers park (RFK) in the National League. I don't know the exact translation, but I'm pretty certain that equates to something around or above 6 in the AL.
Until today, I thought Terry Ryan and Gardy had learned from their mistakes, and would start to give the youngsters a shot. I was wrong.
The way I see it, the opening day rotation will most likely be Santana-Bonser-Silva-Ortiz-Ponson. If that doesn't send shudders down your spine, you must have much more faith in Rick Anderson than I do. (Even if Anderson can fix these guys, I'd still rather have him work with Garza, Perkins, Baker, Slowey, etc. and see some of them in the rotation)
Maybe the plan is like last year. A 25-33 start before cutting the dead weight and playing .700 ball the rest of the way. But I don't think that works two years in a row.
Going into a 3-game series, it's possible that an opponent will face Silva, Ortiz, and Ponson as starting pitchers. If the Twins skip the fifth starter when possible (barring injuries), look out for May 21-23 at Texas, where many home runs will be hit. If they don't skip the fifth guy, doom and gloom comes even earlier, May 8-10 against Chicago at the dome. Sadly, I'll be at school in Eau Claire, not collecting Jim Thome balls while eating dollar dogs in the cheap seats.
My apologies for the rant, but needless to say, I'm much less optomistic about the Twins 2007 season now than I was when I predicted this starting rotation.
UPDATE: That may not even be the worst of it. In signing Ortiz, the Twins had to make room for him on the 40-man roster. They cut loose Alex Romero, a 23-year old AAA outfielder, who projects to be a reliable backup outfielder and perhaps even a solid starter. I'd actually rather have him on the big club than Lew.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Twins Sign LeCroy
The Twins brought back designated hitter Matthew LeCroy on a minor league contract yesterday (as found in the "Welcome Back" section near the bottom of this article). Before playing last season in Washington, LeCroy had spent his entire career in the Twins organization.
I like this signing, for the exact same reasons I suggested the Twins bring back Phil Nevin. If he makes the team, LeCroy gives a powerful bat off the bench, as well as an emergency catcher (as long as he can avoid making managers cry).
In addition, LeCroy will definitely pose no harm to team chemistry, as he was considered a clubhouse clown and was loved by teammates in his previous stint with the team.
I like this signing, for the exact same reasons I suggested the Twins bring back Phil Nevin. If he makes the team, LeCroy gives a powerful bat off the bench, as well as an emergency catcher (as long as he can avoid making managers cry).
In addition, LeCroy will definitely pose no harm to team chemistry, as he was considered a clubhouse clown and was loved by teammates in his previous stint with the team.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
The Season That Was
Twins pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers 33 days from now, on February 18. Ten days later, the Twins play their first exhibition game of the spring against Boston. Between now and then, I'll share my thoughts on the season that was - and maybe ease some of my regrets about not blogging last season.
The First Installment: Overview
I attended 16 games at the dome in 2006, the most I've been to in a single season. The first was the April 14 series-opening win over the Yankees, the last was the Game 2 ALDS loss to Oakland. I watched the spring training opener against Boston and season opener against Toronto from my dorm room in Eau Claire, and heard about the season-ending loss to Oakland while visiting a friend at Notre Dame. I'd estimate that I either attended, listened to, or watched at least 140 games this year, and plan on sharing my thoughts on some of the most memorable.
The First Installment: Overview
I attended 16 games at the dome in 2006, the most I've been to in a single season. The first was the April 14 series-opening win over the Yankees, the last was the Game 2 ALDS loss to Oakland. I watched the spring training opener against Boston and season opener against Toronto from my dorm room in Eau Claire, and heard about the season-ending loss to Oakland while visiting a friend at Notre Dame. I'd estimate that I either attended, listened to, or watched at least 140 games this year, and plan on sharing my thoughts on some of the most memorable.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Bring Back Nevin?
Phil Nevin wasn't the most popular player on the Twins during his September stint with the team, and he didn't perform particularly well (.190 with 15 strikeouts in 42 at bats). Though he didn't have much success, Nevin enjoyed his stay with the team, and has publicly stated that he'd like to come back. However, with the Twins signing of 1B/DH Ken Harvey in December, it seems very unlikely that he'll be re-signed. I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I'd like to make a case for Nevin's return to the Twins.
Nevin only hit .190 in his 16 games with the Twins, but posted a respectable OBP of .340. The Twins actually went 13-3 in games that Nevin appeared in, and he reached base in all but one of the games he started. Nevin also provides a power threat off the bench that the Twins have lacked. Last season, the Twins often played batters with no power in the 7th-2nd spots in the order. These are all from a very small sample, and Ken Harvey or others could probably fill those needs, but the biggest reason for bringing Nevin back is that I believe it would make Joe Mauer even better.
Through July 24, Mauer was batting .380. From that point on, Mauer batted .294. While .294 is still a very good batting average, it seemed clear that catching almost every day was taking a toll on Mauer. The Twins have a great backup in Mike Redmond, and it is possible to use him to give Mauer a rest without taking Mauer's offensive production out of the lineup. Ron Gardenhire, however, has an irrational fear of putting both catchers in the linup at the same time.
The logic is that if the starting catcher would get hurt, the catcher at DH would have to move behind the plate, and the Twins would have to forfeit the DH for the remainder of the game and send the pitcher up in his place. Now, the odds that any player will get hurt and need to be taken out of the game are slim enough. Now think of the odds that the starting catcher would get hurt early enough in a game that a pitcher would be sent to the plate for a significant number of at bats. And even if he were, who says it would cost us the game? Gardy, of all managers, should know it wouldn't. He started Juan Castro in 48 games last year, which is just like sending a pitcher to the plate for 156 at-bats.
All joking aside, could you imagine the spike Mauer's late-season production would have if he and Redmond split time behind the plate, with Mauer DH'ing the other half of the time? Enter Phil Nevin. Nevin has some catching experience, making him the emergency catcher if the starter were to go down. Just like that, Gardy's irrational fear of losing the DH would be put to rest.
I'm sure its not something we'll ever actually see from the Twins, but doesn't it seem worth giving it a look?
NOTE: As I've been trying to start up the next great Twins blog, I've noticed quite a few that are already great. One more that I suggest you check out: Twins Junkie
Nevin only hit .190 in his 16 games with the Twins, but posted a respectable OBP of .340. The Twins actually went 13-3 in games that Nevin appeared in, and he reached base in all but one of the games he started. Nevin also provides a power threat off the bench that the Twins have lacked. Last season, the Twins often played batters with no power in the 7th-2nd spots in the order. These are all from a very small sample, and Ken Harvey or others could probably fill those needs, but the biggest reason for bringing Nevin back is that I believe it would make Joe Mauer even better.
Through July 24, Mauer was batting .380. From that point on, Mauer batted .294. While .294 is still a very good batting average, it seemed clear that catching almost every day was taking a toll on Mauer. The Twins have a great backup in Mike Redmond, and it is possible to use him to give Mauer a rest without taking Mauer's offensive production out of the lineup. Ron Gardenhire, however, has an irrational fear of putting both catchers in the linup at the same time.
The logic is that if the starting catcher would get hurt, the catcher at DH would have to move behind the plate, and the Twins would have to forfeit the DH for the remainder of the game and send the pitcher up in his place. Now, the odds that any player will get hurt and need to be taken out of the game are slim enough. Now think of the odds that the starting catcher would get hurt early enough in a game that a pitcher would be sent to the plate for a significant number of at bats. And even if he were, who says it would cost us the game? Gardy, of all managers, should know it wouldn't. He started Juan Castro in 48 games last year, which is just like sending a pitcher to the plate for 156 at-bats.
All joking aside, could you imagine the spike Mauer's late-season production would have if he and Redmond split time behind the plate, with Mauer DH'ing the other half of the time? Enter Phil Nevin. Nevin has some catching experience, making him the emergency catcher if the starter were to go down. Just like that, Gardy's irrational fear of losing the DH would be put to rest.
I'm sure its not something we'll ever actually see from the Twins, but doesn't it seem worth giving it a look?
NOTE: As I've been trying to start up the next great Twins blog, I've noticed quite a few that are already great. One more that I suggest you check out: Twins Junkie
Friday, January 12, 2007
Twins Rotation - 2007
As has been well documented, the Twins face a new challenge in 2007. There are more holes to fill in the starting rotation than in recent years, and I figured I'd share my thoughts. (If you're looking for great, in-depth predictions, check out today's post over at Seth Speaks)
A look at the potential starters for the Twins in 2007:
Johan Santana - Coming off his second Cy Young Award (and what should be his third in a row), Santana shows no signs of slowing down. The only uncertainty about Santana is of whether he'll be around past the end of the 2008 season. Santana is clearly the ace of this staff, and barring injury, he'll be in the Cy Young race in the fall.
Boof Bonser - Last May, I was among the many clamoring for Boof to get a call-up - not only due to his name, but because he dominated in AAA. While I had high hopes for Boof, I certainly didn't expect to be spelling "B-O-O-F" on shirts with some friends at the dome in October as Bonser started game 2 of the ALDS. Boof had a few decent starts in his first stint in the Twins rotation, but was yanked around between the majors and AAA between June and August. Once the Twins gave him a consistent turn in the rotation, he pitched admirably the rest of the way. Bonser seems to be the clear #2 starter for the Twins in 2007.
Carlos Silva - Last season was a train wreck for Silva. Somehow, thanks to injuries to other starters and Gardenhire's apparent fear of inexperience, Silva made 31 starts (second most on the team, behind Santana) and nearly was penciled into the postseason rotation. Silva, known as an effective ground-ball pitcher who lets opponents put the ball in play, had trouble keeping the ball down in '06. Silva's good starts were few and far between, and when he had one, it was ended without warning due to fatigue from base-running or a stomachache. Like many other Twins fans, by the end of the season I was about as far from the Silva bandwagon as possible. I had argued that the Twins shouldn't have picked up Silva's $4.5 million option for this season, but after the obscene amounts of money given to free agent starters this off-season, it looks like a reasonable move. If Silva returns to his pre-2006 form, the Twins have a steal. However, if Silva once again has trouble keeping his ERA below 6.00, I'd hate to see Gardy be as lenient with him as he was last year. The Twins have some young options with tons of potential who should do well if given a shot in the majors. The Twins appear to have penciled him in as the #3 guy, I'd probably put him in the #5 spot, with a very short leash.
Matt Garza - Garza appeared in 10 games and started 9 for the Twins last year. While shaky in his first start against Toronto, he showed significant improvement and had quite a few solid starts the rest of the way. Garza shot through the Twins' minor league system last year, posting a 1.42 ERA in A ball, 2.51 in AA, and 1.85 in AAA. I've heard there is a possibility of Garza starting the season in AAA and not being called up until June, to avoid Garza accumulating a year of major league service time, and therefore becoming arbitration-eligible at season's end. While I like the idea of avoiding arbitration with Garza for an extra year, he is too valuable to the Twins' rotation. I think Garza will open the season as the #4 guy for the Twins, and have a great season, posting an ERA under 4.
Scott Baker - I was very disappointed with the performance of Scott Baker last season. I thought he would follow up a strong rookie season with another solid year in 2006. Baker started 9 games in 2005, posting an amazing ERA of 3.35. In 16 starts in 2006, Baker's ERA rose to 6.37. For whatever reason, Baker struggled to keep the ball down in his big league starts. Perhaps, like Bonser, he was yanked around too much by the organization - even with the Twins, as fifth starters, their starts were often skipped, often leaving them to pitch only once in a 10+ game stretch. In AAA, Baker posted an ERA of only 2.67 - more in line with his previous seasons in AAA and his '05 MLB campaign. I expect Baker to take a step forward this season, and show the consistency that made him a joy to watch pitch in '05. If not, many believe this could be his last chance with the Twins. I think Baker will be the #5 guy, and will exceed expectations.
Glen Perkins - Perkins was called up to the Twins in September, appearing in 4 games and pitching 5.2 innings with a 1.59 ERA. While this is a very small sample, I was at the game he appeared in during the final series of the season against Chicago. Perkins pitched 3.2 very strong innings, at one point retiring ten White Sox in a row. Perkins looked very good, but would probably benefit from some more time in AAA, where he only made one start last year. In AA, Perkins posted a 3.91 ERA, and probably needs a little more time to develop to become a reliable big league starter. I'd love to see another lefty in the Twins rotation this year, and Perkins is the best option to join Santana. I think he'll start the year in AAA, but he'll see some time in the majors if anyone gets hurt.
Kevin Slowey - Slowey was the Twins' second-round pick in the 2005 draft, and like the first-round pick (Garza) has impressed in the minors. Slowey was dominant with a 1.01 ERA in 14 starts at class A Fort Myers, and handled the call-up to AA New Britain well, posting a 3.19 ERA in five starts. Slowey will get a look in spring training, but will likely start the season in the minors. Look for Slowey in 2008, as the Twins build their rotation of the future.
J.D. Durbin - Once touted as "The Real Deal", Durbin has fallen off the radar of many Twins fans. In his lone major league call-up in 2004, Durbin appeared in four games, starting one, with an ERA of 7.36 in 7.1 innings. The following season, Durbin struggled with confidence, but regained some of his top prospect status in 2006. Durbin started 16 games for Rochester last season and likely would have recieved a call-up had his season not been derailed by a nerve problem in his pitching arm. Durbin is out of options this season, and the Twins will likely lose him if he does not make the team out of spring training. Durbin still has great potential, and even if he can't take over the fifth rotation spot, the Twins could use him as Scott Eyre's replacement in the bullpen rather than risk losing him. That, however, could hinge on how the Twins feel about the Venafro/Cali/Choate trio and the possibility of having another lefty out of the bullpen. I am very unsure about Durbin. I'd love to see him stay with the team, either as a starter or reliever. I think he will open the season in the Twins' bullpen, or perhaps the Twins will stash him on the DL as the season begins.
Sidney Ponson - The Twins recently signed Ponson to an incentive-laden, 1-year deal that would be worth between $1 and 3 million if he makes the major league team. Personally, Ponson strikes me as Tony Batista if he were a pitcher. He had some good seasons, but his prime is clearly behind him. The Twins have hope that Rick Anderson can work wonders with him and return him to his 2003, 3.75 ERA form. The good news is that the Twins won't have to pay him much if he doesn't make the team out of spring training. The bad news - Gardy loves to come north with veterans. Personally, I can't see Gardenhire feeling too comfortable with a rotation that boasts only Santana and Silva as vets with more than a year of big league experience. Also, I'm worried that the time Anderson spends with Ponson could take away from the much-needed work that Scott Baker needs. In my mind, Baker is the one that would be more valuable to the 2007 Twins rotation.
A quick glance at the phases of the 2006 Twins rotation
2006 Twins Rotation - April
1. Johan Santana (L)
2. Brad Radke (R)
3. Carlos Silva (R)
4. Kyle Lohse (R)
5. Scott Baker (R)
2006 Twins Rotation - June
1. Johan Santana (L)
2. Brad Radke (R)
3. Francisco Liriano (L)
4. Carlos Silva (R)
5. Boof Bonser (R)
2006 Twins Rotation - September
1. Johan Santana (L)
2. Boof Bonser (R)
3. Carlos Silva (R)
4. Matt Garza (R)
5. Scott Baker (R)
2006 Twins Rotation - Postseason
1. Johan Santana (L)
2. Boof Bonser (R)
3. Brad Radke (R)
2007 Twins Rotation - Projected
1. Johan Santana (L)
2. Boof Bonser (R)
3. Carlos Silva (R)
4. Matt Garza (R)
5. Scott Baker (R)
The uncertainty around the Twins starting rotation in 2007 has many fearing the worst. However, the Twins began the 2006 season with a rotation of Johan Santana, Brad Radke, Carlos Silva, Kyle Lohse, and Scott Baker. In the end, ten pitchers started at least one game for the Twins in 2006, and eight started more than seven games. In comparison, I don't think a consistent rotation of Santana, Boof Bonser, Silva, Matt Garza, and an improved Baker looks any worse. Radke struggled terribly through April and May last year, and it can be argued that a full year of Bonser would not be much, if any, of a drop-off. Silva will either improve or be replaced by someone who would be an improvement, Lohse is replaced by Garza, and Baker should improve and show signs of the form that made him reliable in 2005. While it would be great to have Liriano, the Twins can get by with Santana, Silva, and some young but very talented starters.
On an unrelated note, my NFL picks for this weekend:
Indianapolis Colts 20, Baltimore Ravens 17
New Orleans Saints 34, Philadelphia Eagles 20
Chicago Bears 24, Seattle Seahawks 10
San Diego Chargers 30, New England Patriots 27
A look at the potential starters for the Twins in 2007:
Johan Santana - Coming off his second Cy Young Award (and what should be his third in a row), Santana shows no signs of slowing down. The only uncertainty about Santana is of whether he'll be around past the end of the 2008 season. Santana is clearly the ace of this staff, and barring injury, he'll be in the Cy Young race in the fall.
Boof Bonser - Last May, I was among the many clamoring for Boof to get a call-up - not only due to his name, but because he dominated in AAA. While I had high hopes for Boof, I certainly didn't expect to be spelling "B-O-O-F" on shirts with some friends at the dome in October as Bonser started game 2 of the ALDS. Boof had a few decent starts in his first stint in the Twins rotation, but was yanked around between the majors and AAA between June and August. Once the Twins gave him a consistent turn in the rotation, he pitched admirably the rest of the way. Bonser seems to be the clear #2 starter for the Twins in 2007.
Carlos Silva - Last season was a train wreck for Silva. Somehow, thanks to injuries to other starters and Gardenhire's apparent fear of inexperience, Silva made 31 starts (second most on the team, behind Santana) and nearly was penciled into the postseason rotation. Silva, known as an effective ground-ball pitcher who lets opponents put the ball in play, had trouble keeping the ball down in '06. Silva's good starts were few and far between, and when he had one, it was ended without warning due to fatigue from base-running or a stomachache. Like many other Twins fans, by the end of the season I was about as far from the Silva bandwagon as possible. I had argued that the Twins shouldn't have picked up Silva's $4.5 million option for this season, but after the obscene amounts of money given to free agent starters this off-season, it looks like a reasonable move. If Silva returns to his pre-2006 form, the Twins have a steal. However, if Silva once again has trouble keeping his ERA below 6.00, I'd hate to see Gardy be as lenient with him as he was last year. The Twins have some young options with tons of potential who should do well if given a shot in the majors. The Twins appear to have penciled him in as the #3 guy, I'd probably put him in the #5 spot, with a very short leash.
Matt Garza - Garza appeared in 10 games and started 9 for the Twins last year. While shaky in his first start against Toronto, he showed significant improvement and had quite a few solid starts the rest of the way. Garza shot through the Twins' minor league system last year, posting a 1.42 ERA in A ball, 2.51 in AA, and 1.85 in AAA. I've heard there is a possibility of Garza starting the season in AAA and not being called up until June, to avoid Garza accumulating a year of major league service time, and therefore becoming arbitration-eligible at season's end. While I like the idea of avoiding arbitration with Garza for an extra year, he is too valuable to the Twins' rotation. I think Garza will open the season as the #4 guy for the Twins, and have a great season, posting an ERA under 4.
Scott Baker - I was very disappointed with the performance of Scott Baker last season. I thought he would follow up a strong rookie season with another solid year in 2006. Baker started 9 games in 2005, posting an amazing ERA of 3.35. In 16 starts in 2006, Baker's ERA rose to 6.37. For whatever reason, Baker struggled to keep the ball down in his big league starts. Perhaps, like Bonser, he was yanked around too much by the organization - even with the Twins, as fifth starters, their starts were often skipped, often leaving them to pitch only once in a 10+ game stretch. In AAA, Baker posted an ERA of only 2.67 - more in line with his previous seasons in AAA and his '05 MLB campaign. I expect Baker to take a step forward this season, and show the consistency that made him a joy to watch pitch in '05. If not, many believe this could be his last chance with the Twins. I think Baker will be the #5 guy, and will exceed expectations.
Glen Perkins - Perkins was called up to the Twins in September, appearing in 4 games and pitching 5.2 innings with a 1.59 ERA. While this is a very small sample, I was at the game he appeared in during the final series of the season against Chicago. Perkins pitched 3.2 very strong innings, at one point retiring ten White Sox in a row. Perkins looked very good, but would probably benefit from some more time in AAA, where he only made one start last year. In AA, Perkins posted a 3.91 ERA, and probably needs a little more time to develop to become a reliable big league starter. I'd love to see another lefty in the Twins rotation this year, and Perkins is the best option to join Santana. I think he'll start the year in AAA, but he'll see some time in the majors if anyone gets hurt.
Kevin Slowey - Slowey was the Twins' second-round pick in the 2005 draft, and like the first-round pick (Garza) has impressed in the minors. Slowey was dominant with a 1.01 ERA in 14 starts at class A Fort Myers, and handled the call-up to AA New Britain well, posting a 3.19 ERA in five starts. Slowey will get a look in spring training, but will likely start the season in the minors. Look for Slowey in 2008, as the Twins build their rotation of the future.
J.D. Durbin - Once touted as "The Real Deal", Durbin has fallen off the radar of many Twins fans. In his lone major league call-up in 2004, Durbin appeared in four games, starting one, with an ERA of 7.36 in 7.1 innings. The following season, Durbin struggled with confidence, but regained some of his top prospect status in 2006. Durbin started 16 games for Rochester last season and likely would have recieved a call-up had his season not been derailed by a nerve problem in his pitching arm. Durbin is out of options this season, and the Twins will likely lose him if he does not make the team out of spring training. Durbin still has great potential, and even if he can't take over the fifth rotation spot, the Twins could use him as Scott Eyre's replacement in the bullpen rather than risk losing him. That, however, could hinge on how the Twins feel about the Venafro/Cali/Choate trio and the possibility of having another lefty out of the bullpen. I am very unsure about Durbin. I'd love to see him stay with the team, either as a starter or reliever. I think he will open the season in the Twins' bullpen, or perhaps the Twins will stash him on the DL as the season begins.
Sidney Ponson - The Twins recently signed Ponson to an incentive-laden, 1-year deal that would be worth between $1 and 3 million if he makes the major league team. Personally, Ponson strikes me as Tony Batista if he were a pitcher. He had some good seasons, but his prime is clearly behind him. The Twins have hope that Rick Anderson can work wonders with him and return him to his 2003, 3.75 ERA form. The good news is that the Twins won't have to pay him much if he doesn't make the team out of spring training. The bad news - Gardy loves to come north with veterans. Personally, I can't see Gardenhire feeling too comfortable with a rotation that boasts only Santana and Silva as vets with more than a year of big league experience. Also, I'm worried that the time Anderson spends with Ponson could take away from the much-needed work that Scott Baker needs. In my mind, Baker is the one that would be more valuable to the 2007 Twins rotation.
A quick glance at the phases of the 2006 Twins rotation
2006 Twins Rotation - April
1. Johan Santana (L)
2. Brad Radke (R)
3. Carlos Silva (R)
4. Kyle Lohse (R)
5. Scott Baker (R)
2006 Twins Rotation - June
1. Johan Santana (L)
2. Brad Radke (R)
3. Francisco Liriano (L)
4. Carlos Silva (R)
5. Boof Bonser (R)
2006 Twins Rotation - September
1. Johan Santana (L)
2. Boof Bonser (R)
3. Carlos Silva (R)
4. Matt Garza (R)
5. Scott Baker (R)
2006 Twins Rotation - Postseason
1. Johan Santana (L)
2. Boof Bonser (R)
3. Brad Radke (R)
2007 Twins Rotation - Projected
1. Johan Santana (L)
2. Boof Bonser (R)
3. Carlos Silva (R)
4. Matt Garza (R)
5. Scott Baker (R)
The uncertainty around the Twins starting rotation in 2007 has many fearing the worst. However, the Twins began the 2006 season with a rotation of Johan Santana, Brad Radke, Carlos Silva, Kyle Lohse, and Scott Baker. In the end, ten pitchers started at least one game for the Twins in 2006, and eight started more than seven games. In comparison, I don't think a consistent rotation of Santana, Boof Bonser, Silva, Matt Garza, and an improved Baker looks any worse. Radke struggled terribly through April and May last year, and it can be argued that a full year of Bonser would not be much, if any, of a drop-off. Silva will either improve or be replaced by someone who would be an improvement, Lohse is replaced by Garza, and Baker should improve and show signs of the form that made him reliable in 2005. While it would be great to have Liriano, the Twins can get by with Santana, Silva, and some young but very talented starters.
On an unrelated note, my NFL picks for this weekend:
Indianapolis Colts 20, Baltimore Ravens 17
New Orleans Saints 34, Philadelphia Eagles 20
Chicago Bears 24, Seattle Seahawks 10
San Diego Chargers 30, New England Patriots 27
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
In Other News...
It has been reported that the Twins have signed left-handed reliever Randy Choate to a minor league contract. Choate will join Mike Venafro and Carmen Cali as possible options as a second lefty out of the Twins' pen in '07. The trio of Venafro, Cali, and Choate is similar to the Gabe White/Darrell May/Dennys Reyes trio brought in on minor league deals last spring. The hope once again is that Rick Anderson can turn one of the three into a quality option for the Twins' 'pen, and I can't disagree with the strategy. It seems to be a solid bet that at least one of the three will be a serviceable option for the club.
This leaves me to wonder where exactly the Twins stand on J.D. Durbin. I've heard this offseason that Durbin was the frontrunner for the final bullpen spot, as the Twins will likely lose him if he doesn't make the club out of spring training. I remember the hype of "The Real Deal" a couple years ago, and while he flamed out in his lone MLB call-up, the potential is still there. I'd love to see Durbin as part of the Twins long-term plans as a starter, but it seems his best shot this year is as a long reliever. I'm not sure where to stand on this one. I'd love to see Durbin stick around and realize his potential as a Twin, but I also feel like the Twins need more than one left-handed option out of the 'pen, with Gardy's tendency to use Reyes as a LOOGY.
Any thoughts?
This leaves me to wonder where exactly the Twins stand on J.D. Durbin. I've heard this offseason that Durbin was the frontrunner for the final bullpen spot, as the Twins will likely lose him if he doesn't make the club out of spring training. I remember the hype of "The Real Deal" a couple years ago, and while he flamed out in his lone MLB call-up, the potential is still there. I'd love to see Durbin as part of the Twins long-term plans as a starter, but it seems his best shot this year is as a long reliever. I'm not sure where to stand on this one. I'd love to see Durbin stick around and realize his potential as a Twin, but I also feel like the Twins need more than one left-handed option out of the 'pen, with Gardy's tendency to use Reyes as a LOOGY.
Any thoughts?
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