
cmathewson
Mar 26, 2008 Nov 09, 2009 313 7438
I generally try to give Twins management the benefit of the doubt. But when they make what seem to be obvious mistakes, I call them on it. An example was the Bartlett/Castro position. If two players are demonstrably the same, I think you should take the younger player with more upside and athleticism. And I thought Bartlett was much better than Castro, especially in the field. So it made no sense to me to hold him back in favor of an aged utility player with no track record as an everyday player.
I also believe in a balance of numerical analysis and scouting. Unfortunately, we don't have access to proprietary scouting reports. So I rely more on numbers than scouting. Still, if I find people trying to demonstrate stuff with numbers that only constitute partial proof, I'll call him out. And I make claims that rely on my scouting eye, such as it is. I long for the day when the MLB runs its scouting like the NFL, opening up information on prospects to the general public. We as bloggers could make much more informed positions if they did.
If you want to know more about me in real life, read my LinkedIn profile. Briefly, my real name is James Mathewson. cmathewson is an homage to my father, who's first initial was C. He was a huge Twins fan, and I became a fan of the Twins in the '60's by listening to the radio with him in the back yard or on his sailboat on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. He didn't know much about the game (when he coached, he taught all the players to slide into first). But his passion for players such as Cesar Tovar and Kirby Puckett was infectious. The fact that my nome de plume is also the initials of the greatest pitcher of all time not named Maddux (and a shirt-tail relative) is just a bonus.
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a fan of
Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Tiger
Not a fan
Not a fan
Muhammad Ali
Not a fan
Lance Armstrong
Pete Sampras/Roger Federer
Recent activity
Commented meh on Implications of Picking up Cuddyers Option and Trading for Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/10/09 12:20 PM EST
Commented I think he did a good job in spite of himself on SB Nation Awards: 2009 American League Manager of the Year on Twinkie Town - 11/10/09 11:39 AM EST
Commented Gardy makes himself a fool on personnel decisions on GM Meetings Day 2: Open Thread on Twinkie Town - 11/10/09 11:37 AM EST
Commented My mistake on Implications of Picking up Cuddyers Option and Trading for Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/10/09 11:36 AM EST
Commented Do the Twins have the Huevos? on Alberto Callaspo on Twinkie Town - 11/10/09 11:25 AM EST
Commented Cuddyer vs Bay on Implications of Picking up Cuddyers Option and Trading for Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/10/09 11:21 AM EST
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Commented Well, Kubel won't have the benfit of "supplements" on baseball-reference sim scores updated for 2009 on Twinkie Town - 11/10/09 9:35 AM EST
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Commented The Twins have too many "prototypical Twins pitchers" on Twins add Morillo to 40 man on Twinkie Town - 11/10/09 9:32 AM EST
Commented You know, torn testicles on Alberto Callaspo on Twinkie Town - 11/10/09 12:30 AM EST
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Commented He's also 36 years old on Implications of Picking up Cuddyers Option and Trading for Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 11:50 PM EST
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Commented Let's see what Bay gets on Implications of Picking up Cuddyers Option and Trading for Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 11:11 PM EST
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Commented He would get taken in the Rule 5 and kept all year by some team on Twins add Morillo to 40 man on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 10:42 PM EST
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Commented The investment ais actually closer to $200 million on Implications of Picking up Cuddyers Option and Trading for Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 7:59 PM EST
Commented I'm not all that fond of his defense on Alberto Callaspo on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 6:36 PM EST
Posted Twins add Morillo to 40 man on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 5:15 PM EST
Commented Good one! on Implications of Picking up Cuddyers Option and Trading for Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 4:35 PM EST
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Commented No way you trade Kubel on Implications of Picking up Cuddyers Option and Trading for Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 3:30 PM EST
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Commented Assuming he's healthy on Alberto Callaspo on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 3:26 PM EST
Commented Perhaps it should be a cap the whole baseball operations budget on On Payrolls on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 3:23 PM EST
Voted for Ron Gardenhire on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 3:14 PM EST
Commented I used to think you could do it with great talent evaluation and thrifty signing on On Payrolls on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 2:03 PM EST
Commented He is worth at least $10 million on the open market on Implications of Picking up Cuddyers Option and Trading for Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 12:00 PM EST
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Commented I'd take him in a heartbeat. on Alberto Callaspo on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 11:53 AM EST
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Commented I don't think that was the offer on Organization Review (Center fielders) on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 11:49 AM EST
Commented Good call on Organization Review (Center fielders) on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 10:29 AM EST
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Commented Slowness on How Good Is J.J. Hardy's Defense? on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 10:21 AM EST
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Commented Making money on Implications of Picking up Cuddyers Option and Trading for Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 10:11 AM EST
Commented Yes on Organization Review (Center fielders) on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 10:04 AM EST
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Commented Smith has indicated that he will on How Good Is J.J. Hardy's Defense? on Twinkie Town - 11/09/09 10:02 AM EST
Commented I read those comments and thought "bitter fan looks for any reason to hate former Brewer" on How Good Is J.J. Hardy's Defense? on Twinkie Town - 11/08/09 10:41 PM EST
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Commented That was the most ridiculous MVP vote ever on Kent Hrbek as a Rookie on Twinkie Town - 11/08/09 6:03 PM EST
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Commented I don't know about that on Implications of Picking up Cuddyers Option and Trading for Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/08/09 5:59 PM EST
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Commented "Unless the Twins really open up the pocketbooks..." on Implications of Picking up Cuddyers Option and Trading for Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/08/09 2:15 PM EST
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Commented Yes, and we've discussed how I think you undervalue ISO and overvalue BA on Organization Review (Center fielders) on Twinkie Town - 11/08/09 2:07 PM EST
Commented I don't hate Revere on Organization Review (Center fielders) on Twinkie Town - 11/08/09 2:00 PM EST
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Commented I hadn't heard that on Saturday Morning Poll: How Do You Feel Now? on Twinkie Town - 11/07/09 11:36 PM EST
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Commented +1 on Saturday Morning Poll: How Do You Feel Now? on Twinkie Town - 11/07/09 11:33 PM EST
Commented Ichiro has 84 HRs in 9 seasons at the majors on Organization Review (Center fielders) on Twinkie Town - 11/07/09 11:28 PM EST
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Commented Am I crazy to think the Twins might go all in for 2010? on Saturday Morning Poll: How Do You Feel Now? on Twinkie Town - 11/07/09 7:55 PM EST
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Commented Revere on Organization Review (Center fielders) on Twinkie Town - 11/07/09 7:46 PM EST
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Commented Pridie is the better defender on Minor League Report...November 7, 2009 on Twinkie Town - 11/07/09 2:50 PM EST
Voted for Hell yeah! on Twinkie Town - 11/07/09 2:48 PM EST
Commented "He's a great pitcher but is head is bad." on "I am going to create a lot of RBIs for Morneau, the catcher and the other guy." on Twinkie Town - 11/07/09 11:07 AM EST
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Voted for I'm on board for Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/07/09 11:06 AM EST
Voted for I didn't want to see Gomez leave, but it was a good trade. on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 11:27 PM EST
Commented k on Twins trade Carlos Gomez for JJ Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 7:33 PM EST
Commented I would wait 'till spring to project the line-up on Twins trade Carlos Gomez for JJ Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 7:31 PM EST
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Commented I would say Tosoni is first, but Benson is in there on Twins trade Carlos Gomez for JJ Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 7:29 PM EST
Commented I still want to dream that the Pohlads will outspend their budget and sign Figgins on Twins trade Carlos Gomez for JJ Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 7:28 PM EST
Commented It was worse than gallows humor on Twins trade Carlos Gomez for JJ Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 7:26 PM EST
Commented Trades aren't judged by the players you get at first on Twins trade Carlos Gomez for JJ Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 6:23 PM EST
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Commented Everything except his face on Twins trade Carlos Gomez for JJ Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 6:21 PM EST
Commented Must be better than Pridie on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 6:15 PM EST
Commented Except he played there for teh Sox in 49 games for the Sox last year on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 3:47 PM EST
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Commented 1. Going to the mound and yelling at Mijares on What was your favorite Orlando Cabrera moment? on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 2:11 PM EST
Commented I would have traded either straight up for Hardy on Twins trade Carlos Gomez for JJ Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 1:47 PM EST
Commented I'd take Crisp in a heartbeat on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 1:46 PM EST
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Commented Moot on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 1:03 PM EST
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Commented Also, I picked two underperforming former first rounders on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 12:57 PM EST
Commented Fair enough on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 12:28 PM EST
Commented I would have dtrade Santana for Hardy, Rauch and Guerra on Twins trade Carlos Gomez for JJ Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 12:23 PM EST
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Commented Gosh, I feel so prescient. Good guess, I guess on Twins trade Carlos Gomez for JJ Hardy on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 12:22 PM EST
Commented You have no idea how much value these guys have on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/06/09 10:08 AM EST
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Commented Not true on And NOW THE OFFSEASON BEGINS! on Twinkie Town - 11/05/09 6:52 PM EST
Commented That's what I'm saying on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/05/09 6:48 PM EST
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Commented I want to puke when I hear the name Mike Lamb on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/05/09 4:58 PM EST
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Commented Charlie Walters reads our blog, I guess. on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/05/09 2:19 PM EST
Commented For the right guy, maybe on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/05/09 1:37 PM EST
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Commented Not much better than replacement level on White Sox Trade for Mark Teahen on Twinkie Town - 11/05/09 1:16 PM EST
Commented Dye>>>>Teahen on White Sox Trade for Mark Teahen on Twinkie Town - 11/05/09 11:42 AM EST
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Commented Over the last five years, teams have offered arbitration like 90% of the time on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/05/09 11:38 AM EST
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Commented I could se it for a front-line starting pitcher, but not for a middling middle infielder on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/05/09 9:50 AM EST
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Commented No Type A free agents, please on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/05/09 12:28 AM EST
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Commented The difference is, Punto makes the same kind of mistakes and he's been in the league for seven years on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/04/09 10:10 PM EST
Commented Which Punto will show up next year? on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/04/09 6:28 PM EST
Commented Right, but standing on a hard surface puts more stress on his back than on a soft one on Should the Twins Bring Back Joe Crede? on Twinkie Town - 11/04/09 2:33 PM EST
Commented Yeah on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/04/09 1:48 PM EST
Commented Restovich>>Winfree on Organization Review (Corner Outfielders) on Twinkie Town - 11/04/09 1:41 PM EST
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Commented +1 on 2010 Free Agents on Twinkie Town - 11/04/09 10:55 AM EST
Commented He has split time equally between RF and 1B the last two years on Organization Review (Corner Outfielders) on Twinkie Town - 11/04/09 10:52 AM EST
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