Venting... Need for Changes

by SDTwinsFan on Apr 28, 2006 10:14 PM EDT

It's amazing how the Twins manage to just always catch a pitcher when they are "on their game" or "pitching a hell of a game". Watch the post game show tonite... I'll bet you regardless of who the interview is with, you'll hear "Nate Robertson was just great tonite" or something along those lines. Forget that... if the Twins weren't completely inept, Robertson wouldnt look like a freakin all-star. I'm sick of hearing how good the opposing pitcher is. It's not the opposing pitchers, its Torii Hunter hitting at right at the Mendoza Line, or maybe R. White doing nothing but striking out or hitting into double plays. Time and time again, hitters 4-9 are making opposing pitchers look like vintage Santana. And how hard is it for Brad Radke to not serve up two gopher balls a game... seriously, he's terrible. The Twins need to do SOMETHING.

Heres a list of possibilities:

Tonite was the perfect opportunity to stretch out Liriano. Reyes is ready, he's dominating at AAA and from what everyone's saying, his move has improved as well. Why not bring Liriano in and make the move tomorrow. It makes sense, get Liriano some innings at the bigs and catch Reyes between starts and bring him up. The Twins are wasting one of if not the best young arm in the league. It'd be different if they were using him out of the pen in long relief, but every time he throws an inning or less, the length of time its gonna take to stretch him out increases. When he's ready, its time to make a move with somebody. I hate to say it, but if Radke doesnt get his stuff together, the Twins should consider moving him to the bullpen or entertaining trade options to a contender (I dont know if he has a clause, or if anyone would take him, but if they can dump 10 mil in salary, and get some young talent (at 3rd) then why not). Radkes been a hell of a Twin and earned a chance to improve, but even he shouldnt be allowed to be this bad and stay in the rotation for long.

Trade Torii Hunter!!! This guy is hands down the most overrated player on the Twins team if not in the league. He can't hit with runners in scoring position (hell, he usually can't even put the ball in play). 12 million dollars... thats what the Twins get for a guy hitting .200, that hasnt even come close to 30 HR or 100 RBI in the last five years. His value is still good, especially for teams desperate for a center fielder (see LA Dodgers) and the Twins arent gonna bring him back next year, not unless he has what would be a career year. And don't even start with how much his defense means to this team, no amount of defense can justify a guy hitting like he is.

Finally, I'm not suggesting anything by this, just curious, but how long do the Twins let this go before they start looking at areas other than players. I think there's a pretty clear consensus that there have been some strange decisions made by the coaching staff this year.

Perhaps I'm being too critical (I am writing this while enraged at the Twins for tonites game) but the Twins need to make a decision... play for this season, or start playing for next. IT IS starting to reach that point. The White Sox and Indians aren't going to magically collapse, there just too good, and if the Twins wanna compete this year or next, there gonna have to shake things up.

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Great comments...

...although Hunter is only making $10.75mm this year. $12.0mm is the amount they would have to pay to keep him on next year's option.

by roger @ Twinkie Town on Apr 28, 2006 11:22 PM EDT reply actions

Excellent comments

When you consider the percentage of payroll tied up in, say, Radke and Hunter...whew!

At some point you have to make a call on Radke. Is he injured. Should he retire. Should the Twins write-off the millions. I would rather not see them repeat the Joe Mays sitauation of last year...not give others a chance who would pitch no worse.

Torii Hunter is the face of the Twins this season...still. He ahsn't passed the baton to Joe Mauer or even Johann...or at least Twins amrketing put a lot of worth on this character. I like Torii. He's great on defense, is a good mix in the otufield if he is surrounded by power or speed. But he isn't and doesn't bring anything special. You want someone to hit 20 homers, you can find them. You want someone to bat .250, you can find them. Hey, Batista. I will acccept, say, Batista and Morneau both hitting 30-40 homers and batting .239...okay, I'll only accept one of them doing that. But I want more, generally, from the Twins outfield.

Stewart is on his game this season, with free agency looming. Right field is a mess. And we pay Torii millions to, what, bat fifth or sixth? He's getting paid low-market clean-up or third-in-the-batting order rate.

I still haven't figured out the new world of managing and coaching. Is the manager a cheerleader, the voice of the team and management. Does he surround himself by experience, or people with laptops. Do you need pitching and hitting coaches that can work with veterans, or stick with system guys (yes, that works if the bulk of your players have come up thru the system).

I can't totally argue with the Twins bench staff. What other team could call on Oliva, Molitor and Carew to come in and offer pointers. That's a wealth of talent to basically have on call.

On another point, what minutely ticks me off is reading somewhere that although the Twins have a new stadium, that doesn't mean increased spending (not always necessary...why pay, say, a Radke or a Hunter more for less) until the new stadium is actually built and flowing more revenue.

by twintown on Apr 29, 2006 11:25 AM EDT reply actions

Torri Quote and My Concerns

I don't know if this got much press, but I just read this in this week's edition of SportingNews and found it a bit disturbing. The magazine pulled a quote from a recent Pioneer Press interview in which Torri told reporters (referring to Molitor, Carew, etc): "Those guys played in the big leagues a long time. I don't think Vavra ever played in the big leagues. He can't teach me anything."

I found this troubling for a number of reasons. First, it leads me to believe that the Twins players do not respect the current coaching staff (at least the hitting coach) and therefore do not take anything he has to say seriously. Second, it reaffirms my growing disdain for Torri Hunter. He is supposed to be one of the "team leaders" and yet we read quotes like this from Torii just about every week, in which he puts down the coaching staff, fans, other players, and blames everyone else for the team's struggles. This quote seems to reinforce my belief that Torii actually believes that (a) he is a good hitter, and (b) he always thinks he is right--both of which could not be further from the truth. Finally, Torii is undeniably one of the most undisciplined (and perhaps worst) hitters in the AL, yet he sees no reason to listen to the hitting coach. Whatever advice Molitor and Carew have given him to this point, it isn't working.

On a related note, I am becoming more and more concerned about the team's inability to develop any hitters. I don't really think that the Twins have been completely lacking talented hitters in the organization for 20-plus years. We have seen guys do as well in the minors as other teams' top hitting prospects, and yet an incredible number of our guys flounder once they reach the big leagues. Case in point, Justin Morneau. He was a career .310 hitter in the minor leagues with excellent power and decent walk totals. In the majors, he has kept his power, but is now a .230 hitter who never walks, has poor plate discipline, and zero confidence. As good as the Twins have been developing pitchers, they have been equally pitiful developing hitters, particularly power hitters.

by MauerPower @ Twinkie Town on Apr 30, 2006 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions

What needs to happen

If the Twins keep on their current pace of gulp mediocricy, I want some changes around this team, some should be asap, while the others should happen before the trade deadline.

ASAP:

Liriano moves to rotation -- This is a no-brainer.
Jesse Crain is demoted to AAA, D. Reyes promoted -- I don't care what Jesse did last year, he's sucking it up and needs to find himself again.
Try Morneau in the cleanup role for 1 series, and see how he handles it. -- I will not sit around and watch 2 sub-mendoza line hitters in the 4 & 5 hole. It's better than R. White
Jason Bartlett promoted to the Majors. -- At least he was hitting well in ST. I love J. Castro, but we REALLY need some offense.

~~~~Trade Deadline~~~_

I love you, Torii, but I won't be sorry to see you go anymore. I'm sorry. I can't handle having a $10,000,000+ sub-mendoza batter.
You stayed 1 year too long, Brad. I think you've been given enough time. You weren't even in the WBC. We might still get a AA prospect for you.
Bye Bye, Lyle. You money sucking pig. At least you have some quality starts.
Depending on the team's needs, I have a good feeling Ford or DJ Cuddles will be dealt.

About this time, If gulp the Twins are out of contention, It's time to bring up the kids. Namely:

Denard Span
Jason Kubel
Boof Bonser
Glen Perkins
Matt Moses

by Twinsboy14 on Apr 29, 2006 7:39 PM EDT reply actions