It Appears I'm Eating Crow
by SouthSotaPop on Feb 5, 2010 2:38 AM EST
Email
Print
Some of you may remember way back in October that I stated the Twins were likely to take the spectator role this offseason, and not do much, but maybe bring in a Veteran Leader, and a "Gamer" type player to light a fire under Punto. Well, it now appears that I will be feasting on Crow at every Twins game this year. I was pumped beyond belief when I heard that we had traded for JJ Hardy, even if we were getting rid of possibly the player with the biggest upside to get him. Gomez was an outstanding fielder, who busted his ass for the ball every time it was hit anywhere near his range. I loved watching his smooth running style, and will miss his post game interviews. Peanut Butter mouth had one glaring weakness. He was impatient. If he can get some patience at the plate, he's going to be a force in the MLB, but enough waxing nostalgic about GoGo. We finally have a legit SS again, but I knew Free Agency couldn't end there or we were looking down the barrel of another one and done. That being said, we waited a while, let things simmer a bit, and then signed Jim Thome to be a Pinch Hitter, and bat off the bench. A nice predicament to be in, to have two DH's capable of jacking 25 to 30 a year. I wouldn't argue if I were Ron Gardenhire, and I'm sure he's not either. Finally the icing on the cake for the season is the signing of Orlando Hudson. After spending the better part of two weeks reading he was going to be a National or a Ray at 9 million dollars, I was shocked to log onto the internet and find out today that he came to Minnesota for 5 million. That now gives us a legit batting order top to bottom. Plus, if the rumors are true, we still have an offer on the table for Jarrod Washburn, and he is interested in joining the Twins, but is still weighing his options. If he does come to Minnesota, that would make one of our young pitchers *Cough*Perkins*Cough* expendable. We are now in the luxury of offering a package of Perkins Cassilla, or Perkins Prospect, for a third baseman, or extra outfielder, and then either roll with Harris/Tolbert/Punto, or sign a Crede and wait on Vallencia. Frankly I'm not overly concerned, as I think Harris will be ok at Third, and we can put him at the bottom of the order, and not have to worry, and if you do go this route we can put Perkins in the bullpen, and then we have an extra arm there, and Alexi C. can still work on getting better, and maybe be our future second basemen we thought he'd be two years ago. Or we could not sign Washburn all together, and just go into the season as is, and I'd still be quite comfortable. No matter how you shake it, our lineup will be quite potent.
Orlando Hudson
Jason Kubel/Jim Thome
JJ Hardy
Brendan Harris/Nick Punto/Whoever else.
To me the only glaring holes are the bottom two slots, but I expect Hardy to turn it around, now that there is no sure shot replacement breathing down his neck, and Harris' bat is mediocre, and Punto shows flares of mediocre AB's at times, although he's usually well below average. But still one easy out is way better than the 4 or 5 we had last year.
<!--Session data-->
<!--Session data-->
23 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Nomnomnom.
Although, I think they should be done now. Perhaps bring in a defensive outfielder on a minor league deal like Endy Chavez or something like that, but I’m cool with rolling with what we got. No to Washburn.
by TheBlackFreighter on Feb 5, 2010 4:15 AM EST reply actions
Looks like I'm one of two who have voted "no"
I love what we’ve done so far, but we need to close on the Mauer contract. If that happens, then this goes down as perhaps the best offseason I can remember.
by Adam Peterson on Feb 6, 2010 7:52 AM EST up reply actions
Nice one.
Props to you for admitting when you’re wrong, you get a lot of credit for that (because I have to do it a few times a year).
The thing is
As a 9 hitter, I can’t call Punto or Harris a hole in the lineup. Harris shows some good flashes and goes on good streaks, Punto can be amazingly patient as well. Aside from the every other year thing with Punto (hits better in even years) it seems those were also years he was not handed a starting position at the beginning of the year. He was given 3B in 2007 and SS last year before the season even began. Now he’s gotta fight a bit more, hopefully Punto puts together a solid year at 3B.
Also, as far as a 4th outfielder goes, I think the Twins need to bring Pridie up, I could see them finding him some competition and that’d be alright. Another option depending on how the year goes would be for Ben Revere to make the jump towards the end of this season. If his speed has translated to good fielding he’d be a great 4th outfielder that could also be an asset offensively. Just a thought.
Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?
Yeah, they aren't "outmakers" like we've had there in the past
CHONE projects Punto to have about league average OBP, with Harris not much worse than that. I Harris is playing mostly against lefties, I expect that number to go up. Neither of them are great hitters, but they get on base enough to turn the lineup over at a good rate. Honestly, what more can you ask from the last hitter in your lineup?
by Steven Ellingson on Feb 5, 2010 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
I voted Yes
But only because
No, not until the ink on Mauer’s extension is dry
wasn’t an option.
me too
but we couls sign an endy chavez or willy Tavaras to a minor league deal and Washburn to a minorleague deal too if he wants to come here and extend Mauer.
Washburn could be that guy that we sign at the allstar break or whenever someone gets hurt. So if he doesn’t get a good offer he can sit at home for us and be ready for that call. That way we won’t have to trade a prospect for another pitcher should we lose 3 of them again.
Doofenschmirtz Evil, INC.
Phineas and Ferb
If someone tried to tell me that the Twins would
end up with JJ Hardy, Carl Pavano, Jim Thome, and Orlando Hudson for Carlos Gomez and about 18 million dollars, I would have put you in the same category as the guy who said we were going to sign Jermaine Dye. So I wouldn’t feel too bad about being wrong, I don’t think anyone expected the offseason to go this ridiculously well.
by Steven Ellingson on Feb 5, 2010 11:51 AM EST reply actions
Roster moves
The Twins could waive Butera, Pridie or Hughes — hoping any of the three will slip thru the already full rosters of otehr teams. Remember, the other team does have to keep the player on their 40-man (or make room and try the waiver game themselves).
Casilla is a question. Do the Twins need him in the wings (and on the roster becuase he is out of options) as a backup for 2011?
The tells for 2011 are: (1) Will Valencia come up and be the third baseman of the future, freeing Harris for 2nd or the super-sub role…thus allowing Punto to depart.
Is Trevor Plouffe ready to advance in 2011 to the super-sub role.
If the Twins sign Washburn, they have a 6th starter. Chances are always great that someone won’t be ready for the season.
Otherwise, Liriano starts in the pen and Duensing and Perkins start at AAA Rochester.
For all the talk about Perkins, he still has life in his pitching, has three years of arbitration, and could be that valuable long-lefty in the bullpen if he can’t crack the rotation. Considering the Twins lefty situation…I would keep him in tow as long as you can. Duensing proved alst year he is better suited to the rotation than the bullpen.
Nathan is the closer. Crain, Guerrier, Rauch and Conrey all come in from the right side. Whew! And we still have Neshek in the wings, remember that, folks. He’s #1 on the call-up list if someone goes down or someone becomes tradebait. I’m sure Pat doesn’t want to start the year in the pen, but, who knows. And beyhind him — Delaney and Slama. So the Twins could move at elast two the the right-handed arms with no trouble at all from the depth charts.
But the big question is who leaves because of Hudson. I see Pridie or Hughes, sadly. I doubt ANYONE would grab Pridie for their 40-man spot. Outfielders seem a dime a dozen out there. Hughes needs more time at AAA. He doesn’t read like a Tolleson, good solid abckup infielder and bench guy…yet. Smoke and mirrors time.
Visit www.TwinsCards.com and check out "rosters" to see my collection!
Pridie probably makes it through waivers
But they’ll have to open up a roster slot again in the spring to put him on the 25 man roster. Butera has the inside track to be on the opening day roster, I can’t see them cutting him.
Butera
I don’t get the love for Butera. He’s an all glove, no hit catcher who has had legitimate questions brought up about his defense. He will clear waivers, and quite frankly if he’s gone it isn’t a big deal, as we still have Ramos. Hughes is expendable as well, though I could see someone claiming him just to give him a shot to see if 2008 was legit.
Here’s the problem with this team. They have too many guys. For all the talk about Casilla, the problem with him is that he has not gone out and earned his shot when he’s had the chance. Save a 2 month stretch 2 years ago, the guy has been aweful. Perkins is also an extra piece. This team will likely be carrying 7 relievers, and that assumes Perkins is not with the club. He’s getting traded. He has some value, so we should get something nice.
by diehardtwinsfan on Feb 6, 2010 7:05 PM EST up reply actions
No love for Butera
Just this: Morales is injured. Ramos is raw. Butera might be the best option by default. I hope not. I think Ramos will beat him out. Gardy has said as much. But who knows?
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Too many guys
Better knock on wood after that statement. That’s a great problem to have!
With all the $$$ they have spent...
…1) the offer to Washburn has to be off the table; 2) Pridie has now locked up the fourth outfield spot because he is a minimum dollar player; 3) Perkins and Casilla are both out of options, so neither is going to go to Rochester, thus, the Twins have to be trying very hard to trade one of them this weekend. Although the 40-man shows Hudson on the roster and Thome not, I suspect that is an error on the website. Hudson likely has to pass a physical which gives them a couple days to make their next move.
I agree
You don’t waive a guy who’s the heir apparent to a regular role on the team—Gomez’s role off the bench was significant in the second half. And, with Morales’s injury, you can’t risk Butera getting claimed. They’ll try to trade Casilla. If they can’t before they have to make a roster move, they’ll DFA him, which will buy them 72 hours to trade or release him. Only after no one wants him will they release him. My guess is, like Boof, some team will be willing to give up a PTBNL for him.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Pridie
I don’t know, aren’t there other guys they can sign to a minor league contract that are basically the minimum, maybe a bit more. I just wonder if they’d be better off getting a guy who has had a bit of major league experience? Just a thought.
Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?
If we could get Chavez or Tevaris for the minimum on an MFA, we would
I suspect they’re holding out for more than the minimum.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
I didn't
necessarily mean that Punto/Harris were detriments in the nine spot, just that Punto has been a middling hitter at best, and Harris hasn’t been much over middle of the pack. Out of the nine spot I’m not as worried about it, and if we go into the season now I’m more than content. We have five solid to good starters, depending on if they can show up for a whole season, we have an all-star infield, the best catcher in baseball, a solid outfield, with a lot of offensive potential, a DH with the ability to hit 30 HRs, and a bench that would offer another 30 HR guy, a guy with good speed, and an ability at times to steal bases, and a young guy with some promise, plus a very good every third, day after night, catcher. I was just stating that from what I heard on ESPN was that Jarrod Washburn’s offer has not been removed, and if that were to happen, one of two things would happen, we send down one of our pitchers (Unsure who has options right off hand), and force Perkins into the Pen, Giving us a Rotation likely of Baker, Slowey, Blackburn, Pavano, and Liriano, not necissarily in that order, and Perkins arm in the pen for a loogey, and then find something to do with Casilla, OR we could package Casilla, who has upside, and Perkins, who has upside, and possibly one other prospect, and try to get a third baseman or fourth outfielder. With our depth in the outfield in the Minors I would lean towards a third baseman, and then we would be that much better. Either option we are in a good situation.
Also, if we are going to wait until we are in the middle of the season to sign Washburn, why not just try to bring in Pedro, or a Smoltz or someone like that, who is going to draw even more fans, and possibly give a swagger, and confidence that people are looking for. Washburn isn’t bad, but he doesn’t ease minds. Pedro walks out, people say, “He could pitch brilliantly tonight, and just throw nasty stuff.” Washburn had that effect last year but fell off fast. Not to say Pedro wouldn’t do the same, but his name is associated with winning. Again, now we’re just splitting hairs, but it would be nice to see one more move. Plus signing Joe
If a guy ever had to eat crow
this must be like the Filet Mignon of crow. Crow Mignon? Well whatever, its an awesome way to be wrong.
I always loved that one.
I Totally Agree
It’s the best friggen Crow I’ve eaten, and I’m so glad the Twins have proven me wrong. Maybe all it took was for me to say they weren’t doing shit.
Mmmmm...Crow.
"What is best in life?"
"To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women."
Erik Bedard Signing
I would’ve liked to see the Twins explore this option but really not too disappointed. Very good low-risk high reward signing by the Mariners. This is the kind of contract I expected Sheets to sign too, guess not.
Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
