Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: The Gift Of The 2003 Tigers

The_jet

cmathewson

Mar 26, 2008 Feb 12, 2012 403 14583

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.

a fan of

Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball Team

Minnesota Timberwolves National Basketball Association Team

Minnesota Vikings National Football League Team

Minnesota Golden Gophers NCAA Men's Football Division 1A Team

Minnesota Golden Gophers NCAA Men's Basketball Division 1 Team

Tiger Golfer(s)

Not a fan NASCAR Driver(s)

Not a fan Mixed Martial Artist(s)

Muhammad Ali Boxer(s)

Not a fan Soccer Team

Lance Armstrong Cyclist(s)

Pete Sampras/Roger Federer Tennis Player(s)

Recent activity

Twinkie Town Commented Yes on More Than You'll Ever Need to Know About Darin Mastroianni on Twinkie Town - 02/12/12 10:02 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Well, Appel is the consensus #1 overall on Scouting Reports on Potential Twins Draft Choices on Twinkie Town - 02/12/12 9:58 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Revere is a much better hitter than Butera on More Than You'll Ever Need to Know About Darin Mastroianni on Twinkie Town - 02/12/12 7:32 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Joe Mauer says hi on Scouting Reports on Potential Twins Draft Choices on Twinkie Town - 02/12/12 4:26 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Well, at least they would hate him knowing the truth on Joe Mauer answers your #AskATwin questions from #TwinsFest ... on Twinkie Town - 02/12/12 3:41 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented "There was a lot of misinformation out there last year" on Joe Mauer answers your #AskATwin questions from #TwinsFest ... on Twinkie Town - 02/12/12 12:29 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Dude on It's Not a Prediction If it's Going to Happen on Twinkie Town - 02/12/12 1:10 AM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented I appreciate all the hard work on It's Not a Prediction If it's Going to Happen on Twinkie Town - 02/11/12 1:59 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Voted for No on Twinkie Town - 02/11/12 1:57 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Stupid collisions on MLB.com: Hughes Out 3-4 Weeks w/Shoulder Sprain on Twinkie Town - 02/11/12 1:20 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Right on The Twins' "Budget" on Twinkie Town - 02/11/12 1:06 PM EST (2 replies)

Twinkie Town Commented Attendance in the 00s was spotty every year until the team demonstrated that it was a winner on The Twins' "Budget" on Twinkie Town - 02/11/12 11:56 AM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented With the exception of contraction on The Twins' "Budget" on Twinkie Town - 02/11/12 11:52 AM EST (2 replies)

Twinkie Town Commented +1 on Twins claim OF Darin Mastroianni from Toronto on Twinkie Town - 02/11/12 10:57 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Say Plouffe struggles in the outfield.... on More Than You'll Ever Need to Know About Darin Mastroianni on Twinkie Town - 02/11/12 10:56 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Don't exaggerate on Twinkie Town 2012 Top 50.....Final Round! on Twinkie Town - 02/11/12 10:54 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Better than Revere's ISO on Twins claim OF Darin Mastroianni from Toronto on Twinkie Town - 02/10/12 10:10 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented He will get his chance this year on Twins claim OF Darin Mastroianni from Toronto on Twinkie Town - 02/10/12 10:06 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented You need to be a good hitter to have OBP skills on More Than You'll Ever Need to Know About Darin Mastroianni on Twinkie Town - 02/10/12 9:26 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Wow on Twinkie Town 2012 Top 50.....Final Round! on Twinkie Town - 02/10/12 9:22 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Nice Marmite on MLB.com: Hughes Out 3-4 Weeks w/Shoulder Sprain on Twinkie Town - 02/10/12 9:19 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Summers is not an outlier on 2012 Minnesota Twins Consensus Top 30 List on Twinkie Town - 02/10/12 9:16 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Glad we didn't listen to everyone on this site calling for us to sign him on More Than You'll Ever Need to Know About Darin Mastroianni on Twinkie Town - 02/10/12 1:30 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented He needs to either develop gap power or walk more on More Than You'll Ever Need to Know About Darin Mastroianni on Twinkie Town - 02/10/12 1:29 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Mastoianni has higher upside than Revere offensively on More Than You'll Ever Need to Know About Darin Mastroianni on Twinkie Town - 02/10/12 1:00 PM EST (3 replies)

Twinkie Town Commented Me too on Twinkie Town 2012 Top 50.....Final Round! on Twinkie Town - 02/10/12 12:00 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Point is, they both had one good year on Twins, Alexi Casilla Head to Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 02/10/12 11:32 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Don't even try Jesse on Twins, Alexi Casilla Head to Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 02/10/12 11:30 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Pimentel? Really? on Twinkie Town 2012 Top 50.....Final Round! on Twinkie Town - 02/10/12 11:25 AM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Girls are my favorite on More Than You'll Ever Need to Know About Darin Mastroianni on Twinkie Town - 02/10/12 11:21 AM EST (2 replies)

Twinkie Town Commented I had high hopes for Robert California on More Than You'll Ever Need to Know About Darin Mastroianni on Twinkie Town - 02/10/12 11:21 AM EST

Twinkie Town Voted for Luis Nunez on Twinkie Town - 02/10/12 11:20 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Injuries on Twins 2012 PECOTA Comps via Baseball Prospectus on Twinkie Town - 02/10/12 11:19 AM EST (2 replies)

Twinkie Town Commented Can't wait for Bert to try to pronounce his name on Twins claim OF Darin Mastroianni from Toronto on Twinkie Town - 02/09/12 11:38 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented on Twins, Alexi Casilla Head to Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 02/09/12 10:23 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented The top closer went for 4/50 on Dave Cameron Ranks "The 10 Worst Transactions Of The Winter" on Twinkie Town - 02/09/12 8:02 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented The top closer went for 4/50 on Dave Cameron Ranks "The 10 Worst Transactions Of The Winter" on Twinkie Town - 02/09/12 8:01 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented The likelihood of better years from keys guys like Hicks is pretty good on Twins Farm System in 2012: Middle of the Road? on Twinkie Town - 02/09/12 7:54 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented I just clicked the link that Jesse posted on Twins 2012 PECOTA Comps via Baseball Prospectus on Twinkie Town - 02/09/12 7:45 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Voted for Derek Christensen on Twinkie Town - 02/09/12 4:44 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Bulger on Twins 2012 PECOTA Comps via Baseball Prospectus on Twinkie Town - 02/09/12 4:33 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented I'd say the odds are 50/50 on Dave Cameron Ranks "The 10 Worst Transactions Of The Winter" on Twinkie Town - 02/09/12 10:21 AM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented If I had to vote over, I'd say Gonzales on Twinkie Town 2012 Top 50...Round 50c! on Twinkie Town - 02/09/12 9:00 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented I think it was just a meniscus tear on Twins, Alexi Casilla Head to Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 02/09/12 8:52 AM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented No need to qualify on Twins, Alexi Casilla Head to Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 02/08/12 11:35 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Voted for Alexi Casilla on Twinkie Town - 02/08/12 11:29 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Then you're some kind of miracle worker on Ron Gardenhire tells Iowa audience his opening day (for now) lineup on Twinkie Town - 02/08/12 6:59 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Yep on Baltimore Orioles Trade Jeremy Guthrie to Rockies for a few balls on Twinkie Town - 02/08/12 6:56 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Valencia is a solid major leaguer on Ron Gardenhire tells Iowa audience his opening day (for now) lineup on Twinkie Town - 02/08/12 6:50 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Voted Pugh on Twinkie Town 2012 Top 50...Round 50c! on Twinkie Town - 02/08/12 6:47 PM EST (2 replies)

Twinkie Town Commented The Big Papi factor on Aaron Gleeman at Baseball Prospectus: Santana Trade Was Lose-Lose on Twinkie Town - 02/08/12 3:11 PM EST

Twinkie Town Voted for Bruce Pugh on Twinkie Town - 02/08/12 1:48 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Was just scanning numbers on Twinkie Town 2012 Top 50...Round 50b! on Twinkie Town - 02/08/12 9:46 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented So you're accusing them of fraud? on The Twins' "Budget" on Twinkie Town - 02/07/12 4:55 PM EST (2 replies)

Twinkie Town Commented on Twinkie Town 2012 Top 50...Round 50b! on Twinkie Town - 02/07/12 4:47 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Teams need stadiums. Stadiums need public funding. Get over it. on The Twins' "Budget" on Twinkie Town - 02/07/12 2:40 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Are we following the same team? on The Twins' "Budget" on Twinkie Town - 02/07/12 2:39 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented First vote without any prospects on Twinkie Town 2012 Top 50...Round 50b! on Twinkie Town - 02/07/12 1:59 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Voted for Kennys Vargas on Twinkie Town - 02/07/12 1:58 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented The Twins can afford to sign another reliever on The Twins' "Budget" on Twinkie Town - 02/07/12 1:54 PM EST (2 replies)

Twinkie Town Commented Your POINT is? on The Twins' "Budget" on Twinkie Town - 02/07/12 1:15 PM EST (2 replies)

Twinkie Town Commented Which game? on Ron Gardenhire tells Iowa audience his opening day (for now) lineup on Twinkie Town - 02/07/12 12:55 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented In hindsight, not trading would have been better on Aaron Gleeman at Baseball Prospectus: Santana Trade Was Lose-Lose on Twinkie Town - 02/07/12 11:54 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Yes, but... on Aaron Gleeman at Baseball Prospectus: Santana Trade Was Lose-Lose on Twinkie Town - 02/07/12 11:21 AM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented That was my concern about him on Twinkie Town 2012 Top 50...Round 50a! on Twinkie Town - 02/07/12 10:57 AM EST (2 replies)

Twinkie Town Commented Some of this is predictive on The Twins' "Budget" on Twinkie Town - 02/07/12 10:27 AM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented He's left handed and breathing on Twinkie Town 2012 Top 50...Round 47! on Twinkie Town - 02/06/12 9:32 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented That can't be! on Mauer money, Mauer problems on Twinkie Town - 02/06/12 9:30 PM EST

Twinkie Town Voted for Jario Perez on Twinkie Town - 02/06/12 3:32 PM EST

Twinkie Town Voted for Jairo Perez on Twinkie Town - 02/05/12 3:03 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Hardy was one of the better shortstops in the league in 2010... on Mauer money, Mauer problems on Twinkie Town - 02/04/12 11:56 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Span ranked in t he 40s on most list five years ago. on Twinkie Town 2012 Top 50...Round 48! on Twinkie Town - 02/04/12 11:48 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Polanco on Twinkie Town 2012 Top 50...Round 48! on Twinkie Town - 02/04/12 2:36 PM EST

Twinkie Town Voted for Jorge Polanco on Twinkie Town - 02/04/12 2:36 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Not to get too political on The One That Strengthens Our Resolve on Twinkie Town - 02/03/12 5:13 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented I looked at his stats last year on Five Questions for the Twins Leading Up to Spring Training on Twinkie Town - 02/03/12 4:36 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Forgot Morris and Erickson on 1979 Twins commercial from tcmedianow.com via It's a long season. The 1979 Twins went 82-80.... on Twinkie Town - 02/03/12 4:31 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Koos and Goltz on 1979 Twins commercial from tcmedianow.com via It's a long season. The 1979 Twins went 82-80.... on Twinkie Town - 02/03/12 4:30 PM EST (2 replies)

Twinkie Town Commented Jesse's program probably had the Geek's stats on 1979 Twins commercial from tcmedianow.com via It's a long season. The 1979 Twins went 82-80.... on Twinkie Town - 02/03/12 4:28 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Happy Friday! on A Thin, Baseball-ish Gruel on Twinkie Town - 02/03/12 4:17 PM EST

Blog Memberships

Minor League Ball

John Sickels 

Jun 06, 2005 1512

4 FanPosts
0 FanShots

672 Comments

View recent activity »

Twinkie Town

Minnesota Twins 

Nov 17, 2005 32

147 FanPosts
148 FanShots

13909 Comments

View recent activity »

Beyond the Box Score

Sabermetrics 

Jan 31, 2011

0 FanPosts
0 FanShots

0 Comments

View recent activity »

Baseball Nation

All Things Baseball 

Jan 24, 2012

0 FanPosts
0 FanShots

2 Comments

View recent activity »