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cmathewson

Mar 26, 2008 Dec 09, 2009 317 7626

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)

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Recent activity

Twinkie Town Commented That's WIlliams on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Wednesday: Kouzmanoff, Perkins, Quinlan on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 7:08 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented I'm convinced on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Tuesday: Pavano Accepts Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 7:04 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented I've given up on DeRosa on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Wednesday: Kouzmanoff, Perkins, Quinlan on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 7:00 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented I hope she doesn't read this site on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Wednesday: Kouzmanoff, Perkins, Quinlan on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 6:58 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Who doesn't need young pitching? on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Wednesday: Kouzmanoff, Perkins, Quinlan on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 6:55 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented That's funny on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Wednesday: Kouzmanoff, Perkins, Quinlan on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 6:54 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Porcello is not married... on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Wednesday: Kouzmanoff, Perkins, Quinlan on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 6:00 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Voted for Danny Valencia on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 5:58 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented No on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Wednesday: Kouzmanoff, Perkins, Quinlan on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 4:03 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented If they nontender Crain and make a couple of other similar moves, they'll be at $85 mil on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Wednesday: Kouzmanoff, Perkins, Quinlan on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 3:58 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented I like Morales a lot on Twinkie Town 2010 Top 50...Voting for Prospect Number 6 on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 3:14 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented I actually started writing... on The Best and the Worst on TV on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 2:30 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Yeah, and his 590 OPS in the second half should make Gardy's statements suspect on their face on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Wednesday: Kouzmanoff, Perkins, Quinlan on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 2:26 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Yeah, I saw that on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Wednesday: Kouzmanoff, Perkins, Quinlan on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 2:05 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented I would prefer Boof to Keppel on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Wednesday: Kouzmanoff, Perkins, Quinlan on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 1:40 PM EST (4 replies)

Twinkie Town Commented His problem at AAA was patience on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Wednesday: Kouzmanoff, Perkins, Quinlan on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 11:18 AM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Wow on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Wednesday: Kouzmanoff, Perkins, Quinlan on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 11:15 AM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented No on Bradley on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Wednesday: Kouzmanoff, Perkins, Quinlan on Twinkie Town - 12/09/09 11:14 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented I'd like them to get a better outfielder for the bench on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Tuesday: Pavano Accepts Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 8:19 PM EST (2 replies)

Twinkie Town Commented If they sign Quinlan, Harris gets DFAd on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Tuesday: Pavano Accepts Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 8:18 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented It's not that bad on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Tuesday: Pavano Accepts Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 8:08 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented I'd pass out in the third inning on The Best and the Worst on TV on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 8:06 PM EST

Twinkie Town Voted for Danny Valencia on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 5:10 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented I agree on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Tuesday: Pavano Accepts Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 5:09 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented The reason we have Young instead of Gomez is the Brewers wanted Gomez more on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Tuesday: Pavano Accepts Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 3:59 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented +1 on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Tuesday: Pavano Accepts Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 3:06 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented I think A. Jackson is the victim of Yankee prospect hype on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Tuesday: Pavano Accepts Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 2:41 PM EST (2 replies)

Twinkie Town Commented I'm not that high on the Jackson they got on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Tuesday: Pavano Accepts Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 2:22 PM EST (2 replies)

Twinkie Town Commented Add these on The Best and the Worst on TV on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 2:11 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented He probably wants a taco with that monkey on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Tuesday: Pavano Accepts Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 2:07 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented How about Perkins and Scrappy Do for Lowrie on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Tuesday: Pavano Accepts Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 1:36 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Yeah, I know on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Tuesday: Pavano Accepts Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 11:10 AM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented He was lobbing it over there from SS in June on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Monday on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 11:06 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented If the dollars worked, they probably have enough to get Halladay on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Tuesday: Pavano Accepts Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 11:00 AM EST (2 replies)

Twinkie Town Commented I don't mind D&B so much after the TBS debacle on The Best and the Worst on TV on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 10:57 AM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented You're right to be worried on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Monday on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 10:38 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented I thought he'd hit 30 some day on Twinkie Town 2010 Top 50...Voting for Prospect Number 5! on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 10:29 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Follow him here on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Tuesday: Pavano Accepts Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 9:18 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Yes. My guess is they nontender Harris before officially signing Pavano on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Monday on Twinkie Town - 12/08/09 9:09 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented That's why you trade Perkins and Punto for Lowrie on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Monday on Twinkie Town - 12/07/09 8:18 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented We're not just competing for the Central Division Championship this year on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Monday on Twinkie Town - 12/07/09 6:41 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Revere would be too much on Will the Twins be active in the Winter Meetings? on Twinkie Town - 12/07/09 6:38 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented or bunt, or run to first base, or stop rounding third, or ... on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Monday on Twinkie Town - 12/07/09 6:36 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented I voted Valencia on Twinkie Town 2010 Top 50...Voting for Prospect Number 5! on Twinkie Town - 12/07/09 6:35 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented I agree with this, mostly on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Monday on Twinkie Town - 12/07/09 6:31 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Voted for Danny Valencia on Twinkie Town - 12/07/09 5:43 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented How about Pavlov on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Monday on Twinkie Town - 12/07/09 5:32 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented I'd rather have Punto than Castillo at this point on Winter Meetings Open Thread, Monday on Twinkie Town - 12/07/09 2:10 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented DaRosa wants $10 milion a year? Yeah right. on Winter Meetings Primer, 2009 on Twinkie Town - 12/07/09 1:32 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented I don't like to compare Revere to Span on Twinkie Town 2010 Top 50...Voting for Number 4 on Twinkie Town - 12/06/09 11:40 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented In the Santana rumor mill, it was often said he would end up at second on Winter Meetings Primer, 2009 on Twinkie Town - 12/06/09 11:37 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented That's where Gutierrez started on Top Twenty Prospects on Twinkie Town - 12/06/09 8:06 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Yeah, let's get a team full of guys entering their prime on Will the Twins be active in the Winter Meetings? on Twinkie Town - 12/06/09 8:05 PM EST

Twinkie Town Voted for They'll pull off some kind of a trade on Twinkie Town - 12/06/09 8:04 PM EST

Twinkie Town Posted Will the Twins be active in the Winter Meetings? on Twinkie Town - 12/06/09 7:12 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented My fourth vote for Gibson on Twinkie Town 2010 Top 50...Voting for Number 4 on Twinkie Town - 12/06/09 6:50 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented I mean the high 30s--31 to be exact on Twinkie Town 2010 Top 50...Voting for Number 3 on Twinkie Town - 12/06/09 6:50 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented There aren't a lot of effective soft tossers in the bullpen on Minor League Report...December 5, 2009 on Twinkie Town - 12/06/09 6:44 PM EST

Twinkie Town Voted for Kyle Gibson on Twinkie Town - 12/06/09 6:42 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented I think he'll start in Ft. Myers. on Top Twenty Prospects on Twinkie Town - 12/06/09 5:30 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented I toyed with adding him to my top 25. He's in the low 30s in my ranking in the Twins system on Twinkie Town 2010 Top 50...Voting for Number 3 on Twinkie Town - 12/06/09 5:28 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented That could turn out to be a great trade long term on Minor League Report...December 5, 2009 on Twinkie Town - 12/06/09 5:27 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Not just his bat on It's official: Red Dog won't be back on Twinkie Town - 12/06/09 5:07 PM EST

Twinkie Town Voted for Kyle Gibson on Twinkie Town - 12/05/09 5:17 PM EST

Twinkie Town Posted It's official: Red Dog won't be back on Twinkie Town - 12/05/09 12:14 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Right, but I thought your point was, you wanted to see pro experience before making a determination on Top Twenty Prospects on Twinkie Town - 12/04/09 10:19 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Voted for Kyle Gibson on Twinkie Town - 12/04/09 6:01 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Garza? Span? on Twinkie Town Top 50...Voting for Number 1 on Twinkie Town - 12/04/09 12:17 PM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Would you say the same for Strasburg? on Top Twenty Prospects on Twinkie Town - 12/04/09 11:51 AM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented That's BS on Twinkie Town Top 50...Voting for Number 1 on Twinkie Town - 12/04/09 11:41 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented #2 on My top 25 Twins prospects on Twinkie Town - 12/04/09 10:18 AM EST

Twinkie Town Voted for Kyle Gibson on Twinkie Town - 12/03/09 11:43 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented According to Jake Mauer on Top Twenty Prospects on Twinkie Town - 12/03/09 11:42 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented I back up all my work files on a work RAID on My top 25 Twins prospects on Twinkie Town - 12/03/09 11:39 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented He's off the market on December Important Dates on Twinkie Town - 12/03/09 1:15 PM EST

Twinkie Town Commented +1 on My top 25 Twins prospects on Twinkie Town - 12/03/09 11:01 AM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented Hunt's stuff is below Gut, Gibson, Bullock, Tootle, and Guerra on Top Twenty Prospects on Twinkie Town - 12/03/09 9:47 AM EST (1 reply)

Twinkie Town Commented We don't need a speed guy on Pavano Offered Arbitration on Twinkie Town - 12/03/09 7:51 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented I can buy that on My top 25 Twins prospects on Twinkie Town - 12/03/09 7:49 AM EST

Twinkie Town Commented Also, Ramos' numbers were hurt by his injury last year on My top 25 Twins prospects on Twinkie Town - 12/03/09 7:47 AM EST (1 reply)

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