Saturday Morning Poll: How Do You Feel Now?
by Jesse on Nov 7, 2009 5:47 AM EST
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PrintHappy? Sad? Hung-over?
After yesterday morning's blockbuster trade that sent Carlos Gomez to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for J.J. Hardy, we had a pretty extensive conversation on not just the merits of both players but also the fall-out for both teams.
But now that you've had a night to think about it, how do you feel? Are you (like me) still happy that Hardy is the new Snoopy? Or are a little broken up over losing Captain Zoom?
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Can I just say...
how much enjoy talking to intelligent baseball minds on this blog. Before I joined here, I would read the comments on ESPN.com. I decided to do that again to see more opinions on the trade, but quickly realized how ridiculous those boards are.
Anyways, I am on board with Hardy. I loved Gomez more than anyone I know, but even I like this trade. Clears the logjam in the outfield, fills an organizational need in shortstop with a guy with some pop and a glove, and our top prospects are all outfielders with just as much upside as Gomez. However, I will say the Brewers have just become my new National League team to cheer for.
by NYCisTwinsTerritory on Nov 7, 2009 7:56 AM EST reply actions
I hope you're not married,
or have lambs kids:
I loved Gomez more than anyone I know
by montanatwinsfan on Nov 7, 2009 2:27 PM EST up reply actions
I am not married and do not have kids.
However, I was referring to me liking Gomez more than most people liking Gomez. I was wearing his shirt/jersey yesterday before the trade went down.
by NYCisTwinsTerritory on Nov 7, 2009 2:30 PM EST up reply actions
lolz!
“or have lambs kids.”
"Is it normal to wake up in the morning in a sweat because you can't wait to beat another human's guts out?" -Joe Kapp
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Nov 7, 2009 6:30 PM EST up reply actions
Hardy/Gomez
I still believe Gomez will be a good player. I also think that Hardy can turn it around. He will either be a comeback player, or a Morgan Ensberg.
Fair trade for both teams. I won’t miss the Gomez AB’s though.
Still believe Gomez will be a good player?
Based on what? He hasn’t done anything in the major or the minors to warrant the hype. Had he not been part of the Mets organization, no one would be talking about his potential. It just isn’t there and the Mets always have overhyped prospects.
I think this is good for both
Perhaps it’s just a new place. Perhaps Gomez will turn into what we had hoped he would, perhaps he will still come in below expectations. The same goes for Hardy. Either way, I think both teams win and possibly both players. I like the clear potential in Hardy, and at this point, we need alot of that infieldwise. My personal thoughts, looking at the situation in Milwaukee as far as Harding was concerned and his performance last year, may have been more of a fluke then the true Hardy. He has put up solid numbers for the most part. Now we need to get 3rd taken care of.
"That is the craziest sonofabitch I ever saw, how many more like him do you think are up there?"
by VikesFaninNM on Nov 7, 2009 12:45 PM EST up reply actions
I wish there was another choice
I liked Gomez. He was fun, unpredictable and I loved knowing that any flyball in the outfield had a good chance at getting caught.
But infield was our weakness. This move makes us a stronger team.
love it
I admit that I figured it would be Perkins, but Milwaukee had a greater need in not resigning Cameron, which allowed us to use one of our better trade chips for something else. I would have preferred to see Gomez in AAA to start the season, but I’m guessing that the organization wouldn’t do that, so trading him makes a lot of sense, and filling a major need is even better. He needed to play every day. He wasn’t going to do that in Minnesota, so I’m quite happy with that.
I wish him luck, but I’m quite happy with the results. We are a much better team today than we were on Thursday.
Emotionally and Not Rationally or Statistically
This sucks—I just really liked Gomez. But it is a great move. I too will be rooting for the Brewers.
I like the move.
Hardy plays great defense and has some power. Since 2005, Twins’ shortstops have hit .253 with 31 homeruns and 285 RBI in 810 games. In that same span, Hardy has hit .263 with 75 homeruns and 267 RBI in 570+ games.
If we’re getting the ‘07 or ’08 Hardy, we’ll be very happy I think.
As far as losing Gomez: I really liked his energy and defense, but I do think this is better for him. He’ll have a shot to play whereas in Minnesota there would have been yet another logjam. This means no O-Cab which stinks as far as leadership and what he meant for the ’09 season.
Go-Go Gomez
If he’s playing center for Milwaukee, the cheers will be loud when the Brew-Crew come to the Metrodome (too bad the Mets aren’t coming, soon).
Gomez would’ve been supplanted in futrue seasons by Revere, Benson or Hicks, anyways. So the Twins did good to fulfill a need.
Someone, somewhere, mentioned if this means now that Plouffe is expendable? Considering the Twins still have two more years of the young Trevor under control on the 40-man, and one more year of Punto, and who knows how the Harris/Tolbert situation will turnout…Plouffe still has backup possibilities (shades of Dinkelman, Tolleson, Singleton AND Gardenhire) so he’s not going anywhere — can he play third? He’ll get one mroe year to blossom in AAA and then a real decision can be made…ship away, become a utility…or the next Matt Moses. I would still keep a 40-man spot for him over the aforementioned names.
IF the Twins can sign a second baseman, looks like the speed will disappear from the lineup, although Span did good on the base paths last year.
I wouldnt hate if we opened the year, again, with the young starting rotation and the bullpen is set.
But the question remains, who’s on second AND third. Punto and Harris/Tolbert are just backups, with Morales and an oufielder still to be determined, who might also have the capabilities of playing another position (first?).
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Bill Smith
Made it clear that Gardy still wants Punto playing and I think he said he would be interested in giveing Crede another chance if the price is right.
If Crede happens, we will see Punto as our every day 2B – I would rather have him there than at 3B…
by clutterheart on Nov 7, 2009 12:31 PM EST up reply actions
Punto
will end up playing somewhere, I’d prefer it to be second rather than third due to his arm. I just don’t see us bringing in two more infielders…
by Adam Peterson on Nov 7, 2009 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
Thoughts the morning after
well, really the morning of, for me. Somehow I completely missed this yesterday. Could be the return flight from San Diego…
- I think this is a good, potentially great move for the Twins. We traded a plus defender at a position of depth for the organization for a plus defender at an organizational black hole.
- I point to two numbers from Hardy’s 2009 season as reasons behind his collapse. His SO% jumped sharply to 20.5% from 12.3% and 17.2% (career 15.8%) the previous two seasons. His BABIP also took a nosedive, down to .264 from .306 the year before and .280 career. I’m confident Hardy will bounce back to an above average hitter, which would make him a 4+ WAR player, extremely valuable.
- I’m fine with letting Milwaukee hope for Gomez to reach his potential. NL is a better fit for Carlos, they can bat him #8 with very little pressure.
- I wish Milwaukee had been willing to take Delmon Young straight up for Hardy. Wouldn’t have made any sense for them, considering they have Braun and Hary in LF and RF. I guess we’re getting a full season of Delmon in LF, unless we do something wild like buy out Cuddyer or trade for / sign a CF.
- Sure, we have some decisions on the 40-man, but there is still a lot of offseason left before pitchers and catchers report.
- I don’t like our outfield defense right now, but it’s basically what we ended the season with, except for Gomez as a defensive replacement. At least there are clear, established positions now.
- Getting Hardy shores up one of our three infield holes. I’d look at 3B next. With all due respect to Dan Uggla, I’d prefer we make a run at Chone Figgins. Wouldn’t cost us a bunch of prospects, and Figgins gives us additional flexibility. Could start the season at 3B and move to 2B if Valencia earns his way into the lineup. Plus, Figgins’ career .363 OBP (.395 last year) and switch hitting would be perfect between Span and Mauer.
1. Span CF
2. Figgins 3B
3. Mauer C
4. Morneau 1B
5. Cuddyer RF
6. Kubel DH
7. Young LF
8. Hardy SS
9. Punto 2B
That, ladies and gentleman, is a lineup that could win a World Series.
by Adam Peterson on Nov 7, 2009 10:24 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Add Rich Harden
To our starting rotation and all we have to do is find a place to put the trophy!
by clutterheart on Nov 7, 2009 12:34 PM EST up reply actions
Harden would be nice...
…but also quite the risk, given his injury history. I guess it would take something in the $10M per year range to sign him. Consider that Hardy made $4.65M last year, he’ll probably be in the $6M+ range in 2010 (two years of arbitration left). I don’t think I’d want to blow pretty much the remainder of our budget to get Harden when we still have larger holes (IMO) at 2B and 3B. We probably need another starter though.
by Adam Peterson on Nov 7, 2009 1:52 PM EST up reply actions
+1
Id be happy with Punto and Valencia/Crede if it meant Harden, Bedard, or Sheets. The rotation really needs a big impact pitcher – Baker is not exactly the answer here. Baker is a good #2 pitcher, but I do not see him as ace.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett
you just named 3 injury prone pitchers
that’s all kinds of retarded.
And Slowey is our best pitcher
http://twinkietalk.com
http://thecollegehockeyblog.com
know another way to get an ace?
If they could afford an ace who wasn’t injury prone, they’d have signed CC Sabathia (or kept Santana).
They need an ace badly, so yes, they should roll the dice on a one or two year contract with a high risk, high reward injury prone stud. If he flames out, it’s a lot easier to eat $10 or $20 million than $200 million.
Yes!
Add Harden. He’s high-risk, but he’s about as close to an affordable ace as there is. Upside is Cy Young. The lack of ace-ocity is clearly the biggest hole at this point. Spend there first I say (assuming there’s money left to spend).
And I’d love a Crede or (better and costlier) Figgins. That lineup above is really beautiful. I’d obviously love to see Valencia break out big next year, but I feel like that’s wishful thinking for a guy who’s not a major prospect. I guess we may need to go cheap somewhere though…
I've decided to be pleased.
We traded from a position of strength to fill a weakness. I think it was a good day for both Milwaukee and Minnesota.
Best of luck, Go-Go.
http://www.realityfish.com
by Robin G on Nov 7, 2009 10:38 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Strength vs weakness
I totally agree. Also, we’re not buying on “potential” in this trade, as we were with Tampa Bay for Delmon.
by Adam Peterson on Nov 7, 2009 2:05 PM EST up reply actions
still happy about this
good to deal from a position of organizational strength to better a position of organizational weakness.
I may be nuts, but I would have felt less happy about the deal if it had been for DY.
Not me
I’d have been more happy if it was for Delmon. Sure, Delmon has potential to be an all star hitter (supposedly), but his defense would cancel out much of it. With Gomez, he can be a 4+ WAR player even if he improves no farther than a bit below league average offensively.
I’d rather run out a Span-Gomez-Cuddyer than a Young-Span-Cuddyer OF next year.
by Adam Peterson on Nov 7, 2009 2:08 PM EST up reply actions
The only downside I'm seeing this morning
is that we are losing a lot of team speed. Apparently Hardy is very slow. If we bring back Crede or someone like him, it leaves us with just Span and Punto to motor around the bases. Believe it or not, Delmon would likely be the third biggest base-stealing threat in that line-up.
So, whoever the Twins get for the 4th outfielder needs to bring a lot of speed and has to be able to play CF when Span needs a blow or gets injured. Likely this means Pridie, though can Tosoni play CF and can he run? I have no confidence in Pridie’s bat, but maybe that won’t matter as long as Span stays healthy.
Ultimately, this is going to put Revere on the fast track, or whomever can play solid D, run the bases and capably fill in should Span go down. Unfortunately, being the Twins, they will try to limit service time of their young up and comers, which is kind of dumb in that they have a big logjam between Hicks, Revere, Morales and Benson.
Should be interesting to see who that 4th OF is — but he has to be able to play CF.
We're losing team speed
but stolen bases simply do not bother me. Gomez hasn’t run nearly as much after the first two months of 2008, and when he’s run, he gets caught far too often to be a weapon offensively.
We still have Casilla (probably) as a backup infielder, Span, Punto, and a number of smart baserunners (Mauer, Morneau) who may not be fast, but get the job done taking the extra base.
The battle for 4th OF will be interesting.
by Adam Peterson on Nov 7, 2009 2:13 PM EST up reply actions
Speed......
Span ahd triples and stolen bases, but few doubles. Hummmmm….yet some people (okay, Not Young) do hit doubles, which is nearly as good as a single and a stolen base, right?
Ultiamtely, the secret is to get on base, often further than first, and come home. Speed is good for moving from first to third, yes. Or scoring on that short fly to the outfield. But if the Twins can switch out a weak hittigng infielder or two and an outfielder for a couple of guys who can deliver 20-25 homers and 80+ rbis…I don’t see alot wrong with that picture. One mroe pick up, be it Figgins or someone at second, means the Twins can play Punto (if they wish) or try out Valencia, and still have one of the strongest lineups in baseball.
And even if they don’t sign a pitcher…look…Baker, Slowey, Blackburn, Duensing, Liriano…then Perkins, Boof, Swarzak, Manship…not looking too shabby…and the bullpen is strong and deep…just needs a cheap Mahay and all is set!
BRING BACK DOUG MIENTKIEWICZ!
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Smarts > Speed
Does you no good to get to 2B really quickly if you overrun it…
Hardy IS extremely slow.
I never thought his range at SS was all that great, but he maximizes it with good positioning, a soft glove and a great arm. Historically a very good fastball hitter. His best years at the plate generally came in the #2 spot in the order (in front of Braun and Fielder) and he occasionally mentioned he didn’t like hitting late in the order, though of course that was in the NL where hitting 8 means you often don’t see strikes. His 2009 BABIP was why some argued that Hardy shouldn’t have been benched for Escobar late in the year. I’d be very surprised if he didn’t return to +4 WAR status in 2010.
What begins in fear usually ends in folly.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Nov 7, 2009 2:37 PM EST up reply actions
Bat him in the 2 hole
He will see a lot of strikes in front of Mauer and Morneau. our top 6 hitters would be pretty darn good.
Span
Hardy
Mauer
Morneau
Cuddyer
Kubel
There Should
Be another option saying “Extremely Sad to see Go-Go go but is now on board for JJ”
Anyways I was really not liking this move when I saw it. For 1 even though you may not say it, you know you loved watching Go-Go play. He was just a spark, and I really thought he could develop into an All-Star someday, but whatever.
Now taking more look at this and thinking about it, I’ve come to my conclusion, that this was a great trade for the Twins. They got rid of that logjam in the OF and they got an All-Star calibar SS.
This will be a pretty good lineup this year. I do however agree with Adam Peterson. I think itd be a great move to go get Chone. Stick him at third and I’m scared for the AL Central. Because when you have 2 MVPs, 4 former all-stars, 2-3 guys that play at an all-star level, your Basically looking at the Yankee roster.
CF- Super Span (2-3 guys playing at an all star level)
3B- Mr. Utility (Figgins) (All Star)
C- Sweet Baby Joe (MVP)
1B- The Candian Crusher (MVP)
DH- Kubes (2-3 guys at AS level)
RF- Cuddles (2-3 Guys at AS level)
LF- Demon Young ( HEY Im hoping we’ll get Demon to start out the yr and not Delmon)
SS- JJ Hizzle (All Star)
2B- LNP (………………………….. Ummmmmmm………… uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…. He’s LNP)
Purple Haze is the worlds greatest Natural Resource.
by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Nov 7, 2009 11:23 AM EST reply actions
5th OF
I gotta go for Dustin Martin, he’s got a career .354 OBP in the minors which is better than anyone else we have that is major league ready. Winfree might be a good option as well but he can’t play CF. Heck Cuddyer can play CF if we need him to (yes I’m joking).
I like the move but I am a bit worried about our defense. I really liked the idea of Span Gomez Cuddyer out there next year but we have lots of good CF’s coming up in the system so this shouldn’t be a prolonged issue for the club. It’s been said here many times that we needed to see what Delmon Young can do with full playing time and now we get that. The nice thing is Revere is supposed to be a polished prospect. If he has a good year at AA and Young continues to struggle then maybe Revere makes the jump either at the end of this year or the beginning of next.
Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?
Jermaine Dye
Is now a FA. Put him in RF with Cuddy at CF
Young
Cuddy
Dye
With Kubel as the backup, every single flyball would hit the ground!!!
by clutterheart on Nov 7, 2009 12:41 PM EST up reply actions
Negative range factor?
I thought you were serious at first. I think that OF may actually cause a few non-fly balls to hit the ground as well. Not sure how, but if any OF could do it…
by Adam Peterson on Nov 7, 2009 2:21 PM EST up reply actions
I was fairly sure Gomez would no longer be a Twin next year...
…But I’m not excited the return for him is JJ Hardy. (Heck, I expected GoGo to be gone mid-season last year—and if he was at least a little bit better at the plate, he might have.) I don’t know? Maybe GoGo wasn’t worth more than JJ Hardy? To tell you the truth, I don’t know what else might have been out there—I didn’t know this was.
The statistics have been very well presented here (which is one reason I love this site so much), and I won’t regurgitate what has been offered. I’ll just say that, statistics aside, my gut doesn’t get a good feeling here. IMHO, what this infield does not need is another “project.”
I pray a deal will be done for Chone Figgins—that will make me feel a little better about the off-season prospectus of the infield. When/if that doesn’t happen, however, it will take a lot more praying “things will work out.”
Let's Go Wild!
i thought Gomez would be at AAA next year
I am very suprised Bill Smith was able to get value for him..
by clutterheart on Nov 7, 2009 12:44 PM EST up reply actions
Your gut must have $hi# for brains
Just kidding, I just wanted to use that line. I do disagree with you, I think this is pretty excellent value for the Twins. Hardy had two years where he hit at an all star level and Gomez has done nothing offensively to prove himself. I still like his potential but Hardy goes beyond that. He’s a young player who’s proven it for two seasons that he can be one of the best in the league and he had a down year. The Twins bought low on him and I’m very impressed with this move. Even if it ends up not working out I can’t be angry with Smith for pulling the trigger on this deal.
Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?
If it makes you feel any better...
… the majority of folks over at brewcrewball are saying the same thing with the names reversed. “I knew Hardy was going to get dealt but I thought they’d get more for him than Gomez.”
What begins in fear usually ends in folly.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Nov 7, 2009 2:40 PM EST up reply actions
I feel like I appreciate Gomez more than most,
but I was shocked we could get JJ Hardy for him. Former all-star SS entering his prime who’s had one down season (for a team trying to trade him and manipulating his service time) for a guy who hasn’t ever demonstrated an ability to hit at the major league level. Yeah, Gomez is a blast, I love him, he’s a defensive machine; but it was only a matter of time before he and Span put each other into a coma going after a fly ball in the gap.
I'll miss Gomez...a lot.
One of my favorite “unknown” baseball players to watch. So much energy and even though he hasn’t shown it at times…he has so much potential.
But hey, no use living in the past I guess.
Welcome, Hardy.
Hummmmm.........
Were all those vans coming from the different Twins pro shops delivering their stock of Gomez Jerseys to the Metrodome for the Twins BIG garage sale!
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Am I crazy to think the Twins might go all in for 2010?
Forgive the lunatic ravings of a guy drunk on the acquisition of a real shortstop. But consider this trade:
Glen Perkins
Jesse Crain
Alexi Casilla
Jose Moralse
Rene Tosoni
For: Roy Halliday
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
I'm not sure what to think of that offer.
In some ways I think it’s a lot. Hell, it’s a lot of major league talent, and more than the Jays would likely get from any legitimate offer. Four of them have spent time in the majors, and Tosoni is the next big outfielder coming through the system. All of them are under team control through at least this year.
On the other hand there are no sure things in this group. The Jays would look at this group and see a good reliever, a promising but raw catcher, a couple of guys who haven’t lived up to their potential and a prospect who really isn’t considered an “A” prospect.
This would definitely be an offer of quantity over quality. I suppose it would depend on what other teams would be willing to part with.
Hasn't Roy indicated in the past that he'd block a trade to the Twins?
by ckb on Nov 7, 2009 9:46 PM EST up reply actions
I hadn't heard that
I heard JP asked for the moon before the trade deadline. Now JP’s gone, so who knows? I look on the free agent market and I don’t see any front-line starters. Webb would be good, as would Harden, but both are significant injury risks. When I look on the trade market, the best name I can think of is Halliday, assuming the Jays want to rebuild in earnest. Then it’s like, what would it take to get him? A lot.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
DBacks picked up Webb's option
Trading for him is much different than free agency. Given the injury risk, I don’t think I’d want to trade for Webb. Unless injuries can void the trade – I’ve never understood how exactly that works. Pre-trade injuries cancel the trade, but not post-trade injuries?
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Nov 8, 2009 12:20 AM EST up reply actions
Maybe I am way off on this, but what do the Jays need?
If I am the Blue Jays, I’m going into major rebuilding mode if I trade Halliday. I’m going to want prospects more than I want MLB ready players. I don’t know how long the Twins have any of those players under team control, but if I’m the Jays I only want them if I get most of them for at least a few years. If they trade Halliday they will give up on short-term success. They’ll need promising prospects, rather than MLB-ready players who (arguably) haven’t lived up to their potential.
I don’t think the Jays take this trade unless they see more promise in Perkins and Casilla than the Twins do. And unless they get most of those players for a few years (anyone know where to look up how long teams have players under their control?)
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Nov 8, 2009 12:33 AM EST up reply actions
Twins all in!
I think the trade might be a bit fantasyland, but I think you’re onto something. The Twins are showing that they are going to strike while the iron is hot—the “iron” being Joe Mauer’s prime, and to a lesser extent that of Morneau, Nathan, Kubel, Cuddyer, and Span. That’s why I don’t think a move for a Figgins is or another fairly big-time multi-year free agent is out of the question. The answer isn’t trading depth or mortgaging the future, it’s adding payroll.
And how appetizing are the Twins for free agents right now? Anyone joining up now for a few years knows they are going to be on a perennial contender and play in a new ballpark alongside one of the greatest players of a generation (and no, I’m not talking about LNP).
So here’s a question for the peanut gallery or maybe a future TwinkieTown post: what are the chances the Twins put up a payroll north of 90, 95, or 100(?!?!?!) million? My understanding is that they tend to follow their little revenue formula, but they have to seriously consider the concept of adding a little leverage to Mauer’s prime by leveraging while the leveraging’s good. Or is this typical small-market dreaming?
one of the greatest players of a generation (and no, I’m not talking about LNP).
Such kind words about Matt Tolbert!
As for payroll – I think we have to think of it like we aren’t Twins fans, or even baseball fans, but businesspeople. What will be the most profitable course for the Twins? That’s the course the ownership will follow.
Personally, I think payroll will rise because revenue will rise with Target Field (no more sharing with the Vikings). I also think it makes good business sense to start 2010 with a bang. The Twins will already have a lot of good publicity going into the season, thanks to the new stadium, a core of solid star players, and the late season excitement of 2009. Add a few more key players, make this a championship-caliber team, and watch the fanbase (and thus profits) soar.
Of course, maybe that’s just my optimistic thinking. No matter how much I try to think in terms of business, I’m still a Twins fan. But I think now is as good a time as any to spend more on the team, for the reasons I said above.
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Nov 8, 2009 12:17 AM EST up reply actions
Pohlads definitely aren't poor.
They could afford to up the payroll, at least for Target Field’s inaugural year. It only seems fair to the fans, who are footing the bill for part of the stadium. Sign Mauer for a long term contract (10 years or so sounds nice:) and you’ll have fans falling over themselves to make sure Target Field has good revenue.
Or maybe that’s my version of optimistic thinking: that the purse strings will open up a bit more and that Mauer will be the cornerstone of this franchise for many, many years. Ahh, allow me to live in this la-la land for a while. :)
Money
It may not truly be happening, but the assumption for 2010 is that the stadium will be pretty much pre-sold for the entire season. But with so many ticket prices and fans not sure what seats are where and show what, much of that might just be gobbled up by the re-sellers. Plus, the weather factor.
The Twins will get total signage, advertising, suite, concession and some aprking revenue.
You’d picture that revenue, alone, might icnrease as much as $50 million. Of course, the bean counters will tell you that they do have to repay themselves for not only their initial investment in the stadium, but the supposed $100 million in upgrades and improvements.
Part of the reasoning behind the recent blowout of stuff at the Metrodome (and not at Twinsfest) is that the Twins will be premiering new color uniforms, and probably news hats and stuff like that….stuff that will pretty much premiere at Twinsfest and the hopes is that the fans will purchase this much overpriced merchandise then and early, which benefits the coffers even more, than the old stuff that basically can be sold for cost and not a loss.
It will be all about money and I’m sure we are going to get sick, very fast, of all the sponsorship tie-ins the Twins will flood the Twin Cities with in 2010 (hey, I’ve even seen Twins-logo cement mixers around town, official concrete pourers for the new stadium).
It wouldn’t surprise me if someone was figuring out how to put a “official bright and clean air sponsor” label on clouds floating in the sky above downtown Minneapolis come spring!
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repaying themselves?
I’ve now heard a few references to the Twins needing to repay themselves for their investment in the stadium, and it scares me, because with no leverage against them anymore, there’s nothing stopping them from rationalizing their cheapness. It sends chills down their spine, because it’s so believable. But the truth is it’s total BS. They’ve already been paid back for that money many times over, and they haven’t even spent it yet. The resale value of the team now reflects a massive increase in future revenue due to the stadium (most of which wasn’t even paid for by them). They are richer right now, because of the increase in franchise value. And, they still get to keep all the extra revenue it will produce too.
Their line has always been that 50 to 55 percent of revenue would go into salary. Meaning, give us a subsidy, and we won’t even put that free money back into the team, we’ll pocket half first, which never made sense to me. But if they don’t do at least that, people will storm the place with torches.
Fire sale
Lots of folks at the Metrodome on Saturday buying old stuff. Maybe they spent $100 million? More or less? Was that a semi backing up unloading Carlos Gomez jerseys at the alst minute?
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