State of Play: Monday, November 28

by Jon Marthaler on Nov 28, 2011 9:00 AM EST in News

Here's hoping you had a good Thanksgiving weekend. Here's your grumpy reset of last week's news, and a look forward to the week ahead:

* The Twins hired Gene Glynn to manage Triple-A Rochester. I'm ashamed to say I made it as far as "Glynn, 55, is a native of Waseca" before deciding that this is the best possible hire. He's a Minnesotan, which presumably means he was raised by Minnesotans, which must mean he'll do fine. (I'm sure you can provide examples where this hasn't worked. I'm equally sure I don't care to hear them.) Glynn has been the first or third base coach for half the teams in the major leagues, which I guess is a plus.

* Glen Perkins will not be the closer next year. It can't be a good sign for how your manager uses the closer when everyone agrees that it'd be better if the team's best reliever isn't the closer.

* Joe Nathan, who didn't want to be traded and who collected $1.75 million per saved game over the past two years, turned down the Twins and signed with Texas for only slightly more money because he "wants to pitch in the playoffs." To Joe I say, thanks for six great years in Minnesota, but I will not remember your exit as graceful. Also, I'll say that in six playoff appearances with the Twins you had the same number of saves, blown saves, and losses (one each), and you gave up nearly two baserunners an inning. Be careful what you wish for.

* The team will offer Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel arbitration. Even better, they will get compensation for Matt Capps without having to offer him arbitration and thus risk the fresh hell of another season of Matt Capps.

* The new CBA is (head spins). Head over to MLB Trade Rumors for the full breakdown. The biggest changes are the limits on spending on draft picks and international signings, which should be good for the Twins, who don't like spending money for anything. Also there are some changes to the playoffs, but I'm hoping everyone forgets about them before they can be implemented, because they are stupid.

* CHRIS HERRMANN IS THE FUTURE OF CATCHING. The 24-year-old, who spent most of the year at AA New Britain, hit .380 and had an OPS north of 1.000 in the Arizona Fall League. He'd never caught before last year, and played nearly 40% of his games in the outfield or at DH last year, but after one good season in the AFL I think we can all agree that the Twins might as well trade Joe Mauer right now because we have seen the future and his name is spelled with two 'R's and two 'N's.

Tracking This Week

The Winter Meetings start a week from today. We could not possibly be more excited.
If you stare at the above photo of Ryan Doumit long enough, your skin will crawl. I don't know why this is. Maybe it's the Pirates uniform.
I heard Sid Hartman say on the radio that the Twins want to re-sign Cuddyer and not Kubel. However, I also heard him say at least two demonstrably false things, and one sentence that can only be written in the Klingon language, so take this with a grain of salt.

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Comments

It's the eyes

And if the alternative is Capps, I want Perkins as closer.

by amiller92 on Nov 28, 2011 9:19 AM EST reply actions

agreed

the inky black eyes stare into our soul. With a hint of surprise, according to the eyebrows.

by 6 of 10 interviewed on Nov 28, 2011 11:38 AM EST up reply actions

Yes...

Maybe the Twins can sign this guy and we can have an undead battery every fifth game.

by gonzobob on Nov 28, 2011 1:47 PM EST up reply actions

I do think the Twins want to resign Cuddy

I just think other teams will offer more money. Hopefully Colorado.

by Gunnarthor on Nov 28, 2011 9:19 AM EST reply actions

Herrmann had caught before last year...

He was Ft. Myers’ catcher in 42 games in 2010. He played left or center field in 63 games. He did not catch at Elizabethton in 2009. This year he actually caught in 66 of 121 games at Ft. Myers and New Britain (54.5%). He then caught exclusively in the AFL.

I recall there was talk of him being used as a catcher on draft day in 2009. That has been difficult because some have said he was the best defensive corner outfielder in the organization.

by roger13 on Nov 28, 2011 9:34 AM EST reply actions

Twins have plenty of good defensive outfielders

Most CF can handle a corner spot with no issues.

by DJL44 on Nov 28, 2011 9:51 AM EST up reply actions

I think what made him the best defensive corner outfielder

Was that his bat made him a corner outfielder, whereas Revere might be a good defensive outfielder, but not a true corner outfielder.

That, I think, is how it was meant.

by twinscrazy_german on Nov 28, 2011 10:24 AM EST up reply actions

The comments I heard were that his defensive play...

…was as good or better than anyone else in the organization. Had nothing to do with his bat, at least what I heard.

by roger13 on Nov 28, 2011 10:55 AM EST up reply actions

By that logic

You could argue that Joe Mauer would make a good defensive corner outfielder based on one game played in 2011.

I'm a proud fan of the Minnesota Twins and Dallas Cowboys!
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by Jessy S on Nov 28, 2011 11:49 AM EST up reply actions

Herrmann's rep isn't based on one game...

…he played only outfield at ETon in 2009, more outfield than catcher in 2010 and a handful of games in the outfield in 2011. When playing left field, he is very, very good!

by roger13 on Nov 28, 2011 12:53 PM EST up reply actions

True

But Joe Mauer is a legend in his own right.

Besides, I was responding to Twinscrazy.

Check out my eBay items.

by Jessy S on Nov 28, 2011 6:14 PM EST up reply actions

And making no sense at that

But I guess I didn’t make my point clear – which in itself is now pointless, since roger already stated how he mean his statement about Herrmann.
And if his defensive proficiency in the outfiled coupled with his skills behind the plate will help Herrmann become a backup for Joe that can also be used in more ways that one, more power to him!

by twinscrazy_german on Nov 28, 2011 6:28 PM EST up reply actions

That was dumb of me.

By last year I meant 2010. Even though it wasn’t last year. I am an idiot.

by Jon Marthaler on Nov 28, 2011 10:20 AM EST up reply actions

Or it was two seasons ago

Oh well, I guess we do know that it is a fact that the sun rises in the north and sets in the east.

Check out my eBay items.

by Jessy S on Nov 28, 2011 11:52 AM EST up reply actions

I don't blame Nathan for leaving at all.

I don’t think the Twins are truly serious about re-signing him or any of the other 3 FAs, except maybe Capps. I think this is the same song and dance we heard about Hunter and Santana. I hope I’m wrong.

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
#OccupyTwinkieTown

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Nov 28, 2011 9:43 AM EST reply actions

Doumit

I was going to run that picture with the Friday post, but couldn’t sacrifice the opportunity to make another Bruce Chen joke. But yes, he’s wearing black contacts and playing keyboards for a Marilyn Manson tribute band that’s really big in Ohio/western Pennsylvania. They’re called Fools of Ignorance, and the lead singer is a actually a woman dressed as a man dressed as a woman. Andy Van Slyke is the drummer.

by RandBall's Stu on Nov 28, 2011 9:51 AM EST reply actions

And so when they told him to "dress like a pirate"...

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
#OccupyTwinkieTown

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Nov 28, 2011 9:55 AM EST up reply actions

I agree, it's the eyes

Looks like the love child of one of those Roswell aliens.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Nov 28, 2011 9:54 AM EST reply actions

His disguise does not fool me

We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile. We are the Borg

You sir, are a mouthful.

by Att. Bob Loblaw on Nov 28, 2011 10:11 AM EST reply actions 4 recs

Doumit - it's not the eyes. It's his facial expression.

Afterall, Joe Mauer has the same eyes:

by twinscrazy_german on Nov 28, 2011 10:21 AM EST reply actions

He will be assimilated

You sir, are a mouthful.

by Att. Bob Loblaw on Nov 28, 2011 10:24 AM EST up reply actions

Quite different eyes, actually

Same color, different shape.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Nov 28, 2011 10:54 AM EST up reply actions

And they could be long lost brothers.

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by Jessy S on Nov 28, 2011 11:57 AM EST up reply actions

According to the picture, Doumit only has one lazy eye.

According to the internet, Mauer actually has TWO LAZY EYES AND TWO LAZY LEGS AND A LAZY IMMUNE SYSTEM GET OFF THE BENCH JERK.

by Brad B. on Nov 28, 2011 11:50 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs

The Doumit picture reminds me of this

by Flip27 on Nov 28, 2011 12:13 PM EST reply actions

Who you gonna call?

by spanspanspan on Nov 28, 2011 6:19 PM EST up reply actions

That is exactly why we Signed Doumit (doh-mitt)

to a 1 year deal, this allows us to make way for Chris Herrmann in 2013 as the backup to Mauer, and maybe eventual starter, although i’m not that optimistic.

Yoenis Cespedes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW9ge8l3jY8
^ the bottom video ^
MLB Move Type "B" compensation to the post second round, pre third round area.

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Nov 28, 2011 4:37 PM EST reply actions

Those eyes look to have hypnotic powers

I believe our starting pitching staff will have a much better season when those eyes are telling them not to elevate their pitches.

Remember, remember the seventh of November.

by Go Twins! on Nov 28, 2011 5:00 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

He might have telepathic powers too

Either way, he rocks already.

Or does he prefer grunge?

by twinscrazy_german on Nov 28, 2011 5:03 PM EST up reply actions

Here's

Video of Doumit checking out of his hotel after the last road trip last year.

by amiller92 on Nov 28, 2011 5:12 PM EST up reply actions

ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD!

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
#OccupyTwinkieTown

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Nov 28, 2011 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

From now on, I'm calling Ryan Doumit "The Hypnotoad."

by Jon Marthaler on Nov 28, 2011 6:03 PM EST up reply actions

CHRIS HERRMANN

is also ready made for “HERRRRRM” chants by the crowd… or “MANNNN…”? Certainly not “CHRISSS…”

On second thought, I think a few “woots”, hollers and golf claps might be better.

"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona." ~George F. Will

by SooFoo Fan on Nov 28, 2011 9:00 PM EST reply actions

I plan on translating from German

And calling him Mister Man.

by ColossusOfRhode on Nov 28, 2011 9:09 PM EST up reply actions

Why not just hold up photos of this?

by DJL44 on Nov 28, 2011 10:42 PM EST up reply actions

try again

by DJL44 on Nov 28, 2011 10:43 PM EST up reply actions

Teutoburger Wald is Twins Territory!

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
#OccupyTwinkieTown

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Nov 29, 2011 8:45 AM EST up reply actions

Bier mir!

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Nov 30, 2011 11:35 AM EST up reply actions

That brings back memories!

I haven’t been there in quite a while.

Mach schnell, kauf a Schell!

by gonzobob on Nov 30, 2011 11:37 AM EST up reply actions

You left out the other stupidest part of the new CBA!

YEAR-ROUND INTER-LEAGUE!

I dislike this change even more than the expanded playoffs. They claim it won’t be more inter-league, just more spread out… but I dunno. Watching Justin Verlander bat on opening day? Watching David Ortiz sit on opening day? Or on the last day of the season? Dunno… It also it takes some of the charm away from the World Series. Not really sure why MLB feels the need to do it, things don’t seem that “broken” or in need of improvement as they are now.

"It happened in the moment, and it happened." - Carlos Gomez

by myjah on Nov 29, 2011 12:55 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

Also

Just think if you’re an AL team in a tough division battle going down to the wire and you have to play your final series against the NL and have to do it without your DH! It could be a factor in some team missing the play-offs.

The other teams could make trouble for us if they win. — Yogi Berra

by Twnzfan on Nov 29, 2011 6:23 PM EST up reply actions

Is that a disadvantage

Because you don’t have your DH, or an advantage because you get to play an NL team?

I don’t get why people get all worked up about interleague. The issues seem to wash out over a 162 game season, and it makes sense to have the natural rivalry teams play each other every so often (Cubs/Sox, Mets/Yanks, Twins/Brewers, Dodgers/Angels, Rangers/Astros, Phillies/Pirates, Nationals/Orioles, Indians/Reds, Giants/As).

by amiller92 on Nov 29, 2011 6:32 PM EST up reply actions

Interleague as it is is OK

I’m not the hugest fan, but I just don’t really like the interleague everyday stuff. I like the concept of the World Series being two teams who rarely play each other etc. It’s just been the history of the sport.

"It happened in the moment, and it happened." - Carlos Gomez

by myjah on Nov 29, 2011 7:52 PM EST up reply actions

My main problem with interleague play is the crappy schedule against the AL

I’m OK with a couple of rivalry series and perhaps a showcase series around the All-Star break. But when you play 19 games against the NL, it leaves precious few against the best teams in the AL, such as the Yankees and the Red Sox. Not only does this make for more boring baseball, it makes for more one-sided playoffs. It’s no coincidence that we haven’t beaten the Yankees in the playoffs since interleague play started. The season no longer prepares us for tougher series.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Nov 29, 2011 8:19 PM EST up reply actions

Is that interleague

Or is that the unbalanced schedule? I always thought it was that we know play so many more division games instead of playing the whole league.

by amiller92 on Nov 30, 2011 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

I don't mind unballanced schedules

But when you combine them with an inordinate number of interleague games, it means fewer games with potential playoff opponents. What I have proposed is reducing interleague play to 12 games (six against the rival and two other series) and reducing divisional games to 60 games (15 games per team). That would leave 90 games to play the other 10 teams in the AL, or three 3-game series.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Nov 30, 2011 11:40 AM EST up reply actions

Still seems like all the division games

Are the real problem to me. If nothing else, because there are so many more of them.

I like your proposal though.

by amiller92 on Nov 30, 2011 12:22 PM EST up reply actions

Hey now

Don’t be screwing with the Twins chances. All those extra games against weaker divisional opponents is hugely helpful. Fair? Who cares?

by archie2227 on Dec 1, 2011 4:44 PM EST up reply actions

I don't really see the difference

Between all the teams playing interleague at the same time for two weeks of the season and two teams playing interleague every day of the season. I mean, as is MLB gets to hype it like it’s extra special, but I’m not sure having that go away is a bad thing, from a tradition point of view.

And I don’t think there is enough of change the World Series from two teams who rarely play each other.

by amiller92 on Nov 30, 2011 11:23 AM EST up reply actions

The main difference is

That the interleague play setup, as of now, works because the games are done by the end of June or early July. The new setup actually hurts baseball because you could get off to a horrible start because you can’t use your desired opening day lineup or miss out on the division by one game because you finish in a national league city against the best part of their pitching staff, and your opponent in the division has a good time with the cellar dweller.

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by Jessy S on Nov 30, 2011 12:48 PM EST up reply actions

Theoretically, the schedules would be balanced,

meaning if your divisional competition is facing an easier team at the end of the season, and you are facing a more difficult team, at some point earlier in the season, those roles were reversed.

My guess would be that both opening and closing interleague series would be hosted by the AL team, in order to avoid losing the DH.

by Caleb A on Nov 30, 2011 1:18 PM EST up reply actions