Turnover is inevitable on any sporting team and much more so for so called Mid-Level markets such as Minnesota.  People buy jerseys and t-shirts with their favorite players, and more often the most popular on them - anywhere from Gaborik for the Wild to KG for the Wolves to Santana for the Twins.  People move on for varying reasons such as growing tired of a bogged down offensive system, allegedly mailing it in for the finish of a non-playoff season or because their contract becomes just too expensive.  

Where am I going with all of this?  In 2002 before I was married and had a lot more expendable money, I saw a young Venezuelan pitcher by the name of Santana pitch.  Soon after, I found myself in the Twins Pro Shop picking out the most expensive Twins official jersey and had a big, shiny #57 placed on it.  I thought with a guy this good, there is no way the Twins ever let him go - Great investment!  Soon after I also thought, you know what, I can't have just the one so I proceeded to get a white and gray jersey, too...  On the white one, I placed a young and upcoming stud named Romero #33 and a can't miss 2nd base prospect Rivas #2 (one out of three ain't too shabby, right?).  

Last year, I got very lucky and swapped out "ROMERO" for "MORNEAU" (so if you see me at the dome with a too white name plate on my slightly non-white jersey, you'll know who I am).  I debated for the whole season on the gray one to go with a 28 BLYLEVN or a 32 GLADDEN but I couldn't decide.  

So here's my dilemma:  What name do I put on my way too expensive (now) jerseys to not wear?  I'll want someone who will hopefully stick around for a long time meaning someone good that won't be leaving for a few years (Gomez, Young) but someone who isn't too popular (Mauer) and someone who isn't middle of the road (Harris).  I'd also prefer a player over a pitcher for the everyday factor but would go for someone who is a complete stud (Liriano).  

Give me a compelling reason why or why you personally wouldn't put someone on your own jersey and/or if you think someone else is deserving.  I'm pretty open to options at this point and am thinking of '08, '09, '10, . . .

It's voting time: Jersey '08

This Could be good news for those that would like Johan traded to:
A. The Dodgers
B. The National League
C. Anyone not the Yankees
D. Anyone not the would be stacked Red Sox.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3143653

 Does this open up the possibility of the Dodgers as a trade partner?  My favorite line from the story:  "Light-hitting Juan Pierre, who had been in center field, could switch to left -- potentially reducing playing time for Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier."

A conversation I'd like to hear:  "Hello, Bill Smith?  Ned Colleti, Dodgers here.  We want Johan and we hear you need a centerfielder.  Let me tell you about Matt kemp..."

Does this signing of Jones to LA bring the Dodgers back into play?  Would they be (the best!!) a match?

What do you all think?  Does Joe stay or go?  If he stays, do you resign him?  I know a lot of people have said he's just too expensive so it's just a matter of time until he's gone, right?  

The reason for this is to determine, for me thank you, where you all think he goes and what the Twins obtain for him.  I like Joe Nathan and will miss him at the end of gamaes, but there has to be a GM out there with an itchy trigger finger that doesn't have a good enough arm for the end of games that wants a dominant closer.

So, to Milwaukee for Hart?  He played 34 games in center last year - is he good enough to do that for a full season?  He would fill the goofiness that departs with Nathan - Have you seen the size of Hart's head?  Wow.  I'm not sure how the batting helmet contains that melon.  He's 6' 6" - is that too tall for a center fielder (range/speed/etc)?  

To Milwaukee for Weeks?  Do the Twins need another second basemen?  Would Milwaukee even trade him?  

To the Dodgers for LaRoche and ??  This would be good as it would fill the 3b hole.  But the Dodgers already have Saito so would this work?  

National League only?  Do you trade to the American League?  lots of questions...  Should be an interesting upcoming week.

Wow - I'm shocked. Charley Walters actually wrote a good article.  Well, technically, it is just an interview so it wasn't filled with "Little Birdie" information and it was with Frankie V.  I think it was quite a good bit of timing since the last time Minnesota traded their best pitcher for a ranson was Sweet Music.  Frank makes some great points about what the Twins should wait for and be able to get - very honest and what we all hope happens.  Check it out here:  

http://www.twincities.com/dailydose/ci_7595915?nclick_check=1

It's a tossup for my favorite quotes:  

Viola said: "I don't want to see (center fielder) Coco Crisp in a Twins uniform. I want to see that Ellsbury kid to go along with (Jon) Lester, who I think is a terrific lefty pitcher. And maybe get another young talent."  I agree - I don't want to see Coco Crisp in a Twins uni either.

And then he followed it up with this:  "As good a job as Nick (Punto) has done, I think he's made to be an (ex-Twin) Al Newman type of player, one of those role players."  I also completely agree with this one.  Don't get me wrong, I don't think Nick Punto is very good at all, but his defense is good enough to fill in once a week at SS/2nd/3rd.  I think he's a great util player but nothing more.  

Anyway, It looks like The Yankeess might be back in it since they're thinking of including Phil Hughes.  Is he any good?  

Is that the question?  Aren't small market teams perpetually in rebuilding mode in some sense of the word?  It's sad to see Torii go as he has been a big part of the Twins for quite a while now...  but that is the economics of baseball and the Twins are living proof.  

To rebuild?  Does it make sense to rebuild since the reality of what most of us knew was going to happen anyway happending with Torii leaving?  Does it make sense to trade Santana?  Does it make sense to trade Nathan?  Would the Twins be really that much worse?  If the Twins were to obtain a young CF, a decent 3rd base option with which any offense was provided, a decent LF/DH option (Kubel taking care of one or the other), is the offense really going to be any worse than last year?  

How about the pitching?  With Garza, Slowey, Baker, Bonser and the return of a healthy Liriano and Perkins, the pitching will be solid.  That's not even mentioning the up and comers in the minors.  

If the Twins got a major league ready 3rd basemen and CF for Santana (plus more) and a major league ready DH/LF for Nathan (plus something more), would it make sense to pull those triggers and begin rebuilding?  With these moves, the Twins would be a very young team - a lot of growing pains and stupid mistakes, but it would be fun.  And they would contend again very soon.  

I know it is much easier being an Arm Chair GM than what Bill Smith is going through but without the money that the big market teams have, it might make sense to rebuild now and have the youngsters ready for 2010 and the new stadium.  Tickets and budget aren't going to be a problem for the next two years as the new stadium will sell out regardless of what's on the field in '08 and '09 - but there has to be a winning product for '11 and beyond - look at Pittsburgh and Milwaukee - they dropped by a lot in attendance after their first year becuase they didn't have a winning team.  I say go for it and trade Santana and Nathan - their value won't be higher than it is now - and be some what ready for next year and gear up for a big push in the new stadium.

Yea.  I'm ecstatic :|  accorindg to ESPN, the Twins sent out Jones and called up Rondell White

What kind of difference can RonDL make this year?  Torii seems to think he is a savior and it will be someone to protect him in the lineup - is that a rip on Kubel?  

How long until RonDL gets injured again?  I put the over/under on 3 weeks.  Luckily, he cannot do any worse than Garret Jones did - unfortunately, his at bats will come at the cost of (most likely) Kubel.  

Can RonDL or Kubel play right while Cuddyers is out?  Kubel and his arm seem like a more natural fit in right...  McDonald sure doesn't seem to be anything special.  

So your thoughts - what happens - what kind of stats does RonDL put up?  Will the team play better?  Does this mean the Twins are not buyers since they have a "left fielder"?  

Looks likes it's Santana, Morneau and Hunter.  Let's vote early and often to get Neshek there as well.  Vote Pat Neshek!!!

http://www.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2007/fv/ballot.html

It's not shocking that the Twins got three there as all three players are having outstanding seasons but Neshek is deserving as well

Is this a good thing or bad?  From the PiPress:

"Skipping a starter: With a day off Thursday between series in New York and Miami, the Twins will skip Slowey's turn in the rotation this week, in order to keep Silva and Santana working with four days of rest. That means Boof Bonser, Silva and Santana will face the Marlins next weekend, with Slowey's next start coming Tuesday, June 26, in the Metrodome against Toronto. That will be eight days of rest for Slowey."

Is that going to be a good thing or bad thing for Slowey?  I don't have any stats and it isn't due to his ineffectiveness but it seems Twins younger pitchers in the past have not fared well after this much rest.  But what do you do?  You can't skip Johan, Silva is pitching well and Boof is a horse...  

Who Would You Trade?
I was checking out Roger's arcticle over at Twin Cities Dugout (http://twins.scout.com/2/620210.html) and I am amazed at the number of pitchers in the Twins Minor League System (Good work, as always, Roger).  When viewing what Rogers writes and then seeing what Tom Verducci writes over at CNNSI (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/tom_verducci/02/20/al.watch/index.html), you have to think that Tampa Bay and Minnesota have to be natural trade partners.  Minnesota really could use a left and center fielder for the future (assuming Kubel can't play the outfield and Hunter leaves via Free Agency) and Tampa Bay really needs pitching.

From Verducci: "Elijah Dukes, OF. The Rays like Duke's skills so much they will consider carrying him on the major-league roster even if they can't guarantee him regular time -- a rarity for a young player with such a high ceiling. Tampa Bay seems set in the outfield with Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli and Delmon Young, but a big spring and continued maturity as a professional might earn Dukes a promotion. And if Young and Dukes each establish themselves as prime-time ready, Tampa Bay can shop from its outfield surplus to find pitching."

Crawford has stated he isn't a center fielder so assume he stays in left.  Also, I would assume MN would not want Delmon Young because of character issues and Dukes would be untouchable.  Since pitching is such a premium in any organization and the Twins "seem" to have so much of it, who would you trade to get Crawford or Baldelli?  Both are in their 25 year old season this year.

Crawford is signed for 07:$4M, 08:$5.25M, 09:$8.25M club option ($2.5M buyout), 10:$10M club option ($1.25M buyout).
Baldelli is signed for 07:$0.75M, 08:$2.25M, 09:$6M club option ($4M buyout), 10:$8M club option, 11:$9M club option ($2M buyout - 2010 & 2011 options must be exercised together).

You're Terry Ryan:  What would you trade to get Baldelli?  What about Crawford?  All things the same, would you rather trade for Baldelli or Crawford?  If you got Baldelli, would you trade Hunter this year?  If you got Crawford, would you trade Hunter and ask Crawford to play center for a couple of months?  

Joe Nathan is underrated.  Well, to those outside of Minnesota, he is underrated and seeminly not appreciated.  Over on ESPN's Hot Stove Heaters (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove06/columns/story?id=2763130), they are going through a bunch of different stories.  Yesterday was the Bullpen.  The Twins was 6th in the Majors according to Sean McAdam.

In there, it contained the following line about about the Angels Bullpen (#3):

"Francisco Rodriguez has led the American League in saves in each of the last two seasons and boasts a ridiculous strikeout ratio (189 in the last 140 1/3 innings). "

Joe Nathan, in his last 138 1/3 innings has the same amount of strikeouts.  It confused me how they don't give him more credit.  Another line is (and this is an amazing stat to me even though I've seen most of the these blowns saves) that he has only blown 10 saves in the last three years!!  K-Rod hs blown 16, Mo Rivera 11 (153 1/3 IP with 135K the last two years), Wagner 12 and Ryan 9 (in just the last two years).  

It's scary to see how much he could get on the free agent market - Wagner got paid 10.5 million last year (albeit from the other NY team) and BJ Ryan got an average of nearly 9.5 million - if Terry Ryan doesn't get something done.  He's younger than Mo, Wagner and only a year older than BJ Ryan.  

What kind of contract should he expect?  I would think that Ryan really can't backload it due to Joe being 36/37 at the end of 4/5 year contract to coincide with the new stadium.  However, he hsn't shown any signs of slowing down and has been (knock on wood) very healthy since the team picked him up.  Also, Neshek, Durbin or Crain could be groomed for the job...  

Would he give Minny a home town discount since they rescued him from SF and made him into a closer where he'll be making a lot more money than he ever would of as a middle reliever?  

What would everyone think of a left fielder like Manny Ramirez?  What would it take?  Any chance Carl (or his son) would take on that money?  Manny would look awfully good behind Mauer and before Morneau.  Of course he would look awfully bad in left field, too.  

Rumors say Boston is looking for a closer and I know of one on the Twins roster that could close in Boston and will be making a bit too much money for the Twins taste.  Could the Twins survice without Rincon?  What else would have to be included?  

Gosh, I wish the Twins would spend a bit more money.  

I am a dreamer.  I enjoy pipe dreams (A-Rod to the Twins for a pack of gum and the Yankees will pay 15.5 million of the 16 million owed to him)...

But I'm also a realist (and hopeful that the Twins will spend money) so here are my more realistic (still a long shot) thoughts that I would hope some of you much smarter than me would chime in on:

"If the White Sox would be willing to part with Brandon McCarthy, they might be able to pry away left fielder Carl Crawford from the Devil Rays."
-- Daily Herald

"A scenario in which the Cubs trade for Yankees superstar third baseman Alex Rodriguez is not completely out of the question, in the wake of Aramis Ramirez filing for free agency Monday."
-- Daily Southtown

If the White Sox would give up McCarthy to get Crawford, would the Twins give up Garza to achieve the same?  Would you even trade Garza to get Crawford?  Would he play in left or center?  Would Slowey work or have to be included?  What else would have to be given up?  Would you explore this trade considering his age and relatively small contract?  By the time it was up, we'd have the new stadium for "additional" revenue to (hopefully) pay Morneau, Mauer, Santana and Liriano . . .

How much is Aramis Ramirez worth?  Could the Twins sign him?  Would it be worth it for someone reportedly as lazy as he is?  Would the Twins want someone cursed not only playing for the Cubs but the Pirates as well?  He would be, IMO, a HuGE upgrade at 3rd and I always secretly hoped he would file for free agency and now that he has, I only wish that he would sign with the Twins.  However, I think Torii would have to be traded to allow his salary (5 years, $65 million me thinks).  

What would you consider turning points for the season?

Here's my list:

For the Offense - Justin Morneau sitting down with GardenTool in May and being told to remove head from arse - I'm sure diagrams were included.  Result:  Justin go BOOM

For the defense - Kicking Tony Fatista to the curb and soon after shipping Crapstro to Trader Krivsky and the Reds.  Result:  Grounders being fielded; Offensive production from the left side of infield.

For the Wild Card - Changing the left side of the infield.  Result:  More wins, better defense, better morale.

For the playoffs in general - I would have to go with inserting Fransisco Liriano into the rotation.  Or Fransisco coming back only to be hurt again but having young guys step up (Garza, Boof).  

For the Division Title - Morneau turning on a 1st pitch fastball from Zumaya.  After that, you had to know something special was happening.  Result:  Twins on FiRe!

1.  Nick Punto needs a day off.  Two errors in two days.  Not good - he simply needs rest.  He hasn't been a full time player prior to a couple of months ago and has played nearly every day since.  While he did go 4 for 4 the other nite, I think he plays too darned hard to keep it up like this.
2.  Jason Bartlett is good - better than advertised me thinks.  I don't know if he can keep it up all year (or in the future - we'll see how he adjusts as the league adjusts to him) but he is (as of today's game thru the 8th inning) batting .343 with an OBP of .414 (.414!!!).  For the players on the team with significant at bats, he is third in OPS at .861 (not qualified due the lack of being called up sooner but we all know about that).  
3.  The starting pitching is scary.  Scary good - see Santana and Liriano - and scary bad - see Boof's outing today, Baker's yesterday and most of Silva's outings.  And us Twins fans might be the most scared of all - if Liriano has any sort of long term - heck even short term injury - you can pretty much write off their wild card chances this year if he is out for any time.  
4.  I'm concerned that Scott Baker may not be all that he's cracked up to be. However, the silver lining is looking at Detroit - look how bad they were a couple of years ago.  They had pitchers that were 19 and 20 game losers - crazy bad and they turned out ok.  Apparently Detroit is good this year and their pitching might have something to do with it?
5. Jason Kubel needs to go on the DL.  He is getting slower and slower by the day.  I nearly crapped my pants when he actually went from first to home on a double during a game a few days back.  I thought for sure that he would miss some games because of that distance that he ran.  Has anyone seen him at the games - does he look faster in person than he does on the TV?  My thought - Put Kubel on the DL, let Lew have one more chance and if (and more likely when) he fails, send him to the minors and trade him for a bag of peanuts in the off season (or Bronson Arroyo if Krivsky's looking for another outfielder).  

Silva is horrible.  Silva is terrible.  How does he still have a starting job.  Every time he pitches, I am scared.  First time through the order he gives up 6 hits?  Wow.  I could go out there and throw a "power" sinker and get more outs.  Not really, but my goodness.  Isn't Scott Baker in our system?  Even Lohse has GOT to be better than this.  Ouch Ouch Ouch.

Please get Silva out of there.  I don't want to see a three game losing streak.

Silva just got hit!  Please tell me they'll put him on the DL now?  Dang.  Doesn't look like it's going to happen.  

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to see the game last nite - how did Bartlett do?  

I see by the boxscore that he went 2 for 4...but what kind of hits did he have?  Were they screaming line drives, slow rolelrs through the left side of the infield, texas leaguers to right?  I'm not sure what kind of a hitter (I'm blanking on last fall) he is and if he has adapted to the Twins style of hitting it the other way.

And how did he do in the field?  Did he show leadership that the Tool has craved?  Did he show improved range over Castro?  And on that note, did Punto provide adequate defense for third base?  With Radke giving up  only 5 hits in 6 innings and splitting his ground balls to fly balls 7 to 8, I would have to imagine (and hope) with his fastball in the upper 80's and lower 90's that some of the balls that would have gotten through just the day before between Castro and Batista were scooped.

Thankfully, I didn't get to (have to) watch the game last nite.  Dinner out with friends was much more entertaining after reading the wrap and seeing the boxscore.  And to think, I was going to ask them to turn the channel to the game...

What needs to be done?  Where are they going to get a spark from?

I have a thought about spending money and releasing players and here it goes:

If they are going to spend the money anyway, why not release the guys (Castro and Batista) that really aren't doing anythying and chalk it up as lesson learned?  Wouldn't it be better to spend an extra (pro-rated) $325K on someone that could help beyond this year (see Bartlett, Jason and Kubel, Jason)?  This would only raise the payroll by around $500k total instead of playing the immobile stones we call the left side of the minnesota infield.  Could Kubel and Bartlett really do any worse?  Put Ron-DL on the bench and have him be our "professional hitter/late inning guy" that Sierra won't be for a while (if again).  

And, on that note, couldn't the Twins bring up Moses to see if he can handle it?  I'm just not sold on Glenn Williams or Terry Tiffee.  There is a reason they are the age they are and not in the majors.  L-Rod deserves more playing time, too, but he's not the long term answer.

I'm not necessarily ready for rebuilding but (obviously) SOMETHING, ANYTHING needs to be done.  

Say what you will about Tony Batista, but last night he put a good ride into a mistake thrown by Haren.  It is my observation (read: no proof) that the Twins often don't hit pitchers mistakes.  Look at Morneau last night - he had a high fastball that was pretty darned fat - and he fouled it straight back.  Between him and Torii there have been way too many times where a pitchers makes a mistake (hanging breaking ball, belt high fastball) and they don't take advantage.  It was good to see that Batista jacked that pitch last evening...especially since it put them ahead.  Thoughts?

It's good to see Kubel and Morneau hitting better off of lefties so far this spring. . . my only question is what are the Twins going to do with them in the order somewhat this year but more so in the future?  If Mauer is batting third, White batting fourth (at least for this year and next) Morneau batting fifth and Kubel seemingly a natural number five hitter but pushed down to the sixth spot, where do the lefty righty splits come in?  I'm learning from a lot of you on the minors (thank you for all of your knowledge and research) on the up and coming hitters but I'm not sure how this will play out in the future.  

Assuming Shannon Stewart is gone and on the off chance that Hunter gets traded this summer or next winter that makes it looks like this:  Alex Romero is in left, Denard Span  is in center and Kubel is in right. (Exciting outfield) How does the order fit together?  

2007 MN Twins??
Span CF Bats L
Castillo 2B (will he re-sign?) S
Mauer C L
White DH R
Morneau 1B L
Kubel RF L
Moses? 3B L
Romero LF L
Bartlett SS R

Or if Castillo leaves, will it be Maza R or someone else?  Either way, that is a lot of lefties.  Does Lew hang around because he is cheap and hits right handed?  Where does Cuddyer end up as his salary goes up?  I suppose some of this depends on who the Twins pickup this summer to replace Batista (like him but think...no, know that the Twins have to be able to do better) as their 3rd baseman.

I like this lineup but Gardy, just as he doesn't prefer rookies/younger players on the pitching staff, leads me to believe that he doesn't want to have that many inexperienced players in the lineup.

Two Questions:  Would it be possible and What would the Twins have to give up to get Cabrera from the Marlins?  It seems that they have enough mid to upper level prospects to complete such a trade.  IMO, Baker could go for someone like that considering Cabrera's age and relative cost (arbitration elgible around $5 Million next year) though I still woulnd't trade Liriano.  

What would the Twins lineup look like with Cabrera batting Cleanup?  After Stewart is gone next year, he could move back to left and the Twins could go after someone else or bring up Moses and let him learn on the job...