THAT'S Unexpcted

by AdamOnFirst on Jan 31, 2008 11:42 PM EST in News Comment 4 comments

Amid a lot of negative attention, both nationally and locally, aimed at the Twins, a bit of encouragement to fans is coming from an unexpected place.

Torii Hunter, who spent much of the last two seasons bashing the Twins organization for several reasons and saying how great it would be too play any number of other places, had this too say about the players the Twins got in the Santana trade, and the young players left on the roster overall.

From an article today by Kelly Thesier:

"It's just like in '98, '99, and 2000 when that group of us came up, it took awhile for people to take us in and embrace us," Hunter said. "Once we won that division in 2002 and made it to the ALCS, the fans fell in love with us. And that's what it's going to take for these guys too."

Despite the losses the club suffered this winter, including his own, Hunter doesn't believe it will take long for the Twins to get back on the track of winning titles. He praised the club's additions, like that of Delmon Young, as signs the club is not going to suffer a significant setback.

"I don't think they are rebuilding," Hunter said. "I think they are trying to put pieces in place around Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer. I think the bullpen is still the same. The starters, they are going to be young, but they are talented. This team has many of the right pieces already in place."

After spending the last couple of years liking Hunter less and less because of his double-talking attitude towards the organization, ending with e being indifferent too his loss beyond his skills as a player, that was the kind of quote I wasn't expecting, especially after he left town he still talked about how the Twins weren't dedicated too winning. At any rate, it's nice too see SOMEONE around baseball see what the Twins are trying to accomplish by dealing Santana, even if the value of their package is up for debate.

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Hunter

I think it just got more and more uncomfortable for Hunter as he was one of the last guys left from the 2002 team. He had been the leader of that group and he didn't feel he as as accepted as the leader of the next generation. So he acted impatiently, wanting the team to be more aggressive in rebuilding and preparing for the next wave. And that rebuilding included sending him to another team.

But Ryan wanted to at least try to win now and get ready for the next wave at the same time, and he pulled it off in 06. Irnically, the leader of the 2002 team was the biggest goat of the 06 playoffs. Now we have nobody left from 2002 and it's clearly Joe's, Justin's and Michael's team.

Looking from the outside, he can admire what Smith is doing to put all the next gen pieces together more because he's not so close to the situation.

Just my two cents.

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

by cmathewson on Feb 1, 2008 10:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree cmath

and I promise this will be the last time I write this for awhile, but I really think everyone of you will do yourselves a favor and not take a player's desire to get a bigger payday so personally.

Final hypothetical case in point: Nathan expresses his love of Minnesota, his desire to be a team player, team leader, and be part of the new Twins organization for the rest of his career. So, he signs a reduced contract of 3 years at 39 million, or 4 years at 48.

THEN, the Twins don't compete this year or the next and they ship him off to Cincinnati or Kansas City for a few good prospects.

He never wanted to play in Cincinnati, he sure didn't want to move his family there. He sure doesn't want to live there, and now he has a sub market level contract to play there.

In other words, for all his "good guy-ness" just so that all of you can love him, he gets FU@*!D!

The same could have been said of Hunter (of course assuming there is not a no-tade clause). Hunter could have re-signed at $48 million instead of the $90 he got in order to stay with the Twins and he still could have been traded to the Angels for prospects and be out the extra 40-50 million.

This isn't meant to be a shot at anybody, and certainly not you Adamonfirst. Just a reminder that you all will have better mental health if you stop taking these things personally.

by montanatwinsfan on Feb 1, 2008 11:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I

I was never angry that Hunter took the money. He got paid crazy money way beyond what he probably merit even, and I don't blame him at all for taking it. I don't like his behavior for maybe 15 months before that, and even a few weeks afterwords.

Baseball is great because you cant take a knee or kill the clock. You gotta put the ball over the plate and give the other guy his damn shot E Weaver abridged

by AdamOnFirst on Feb 1, 2008 11:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not an excuse or a justification

Just an explanation. Hunter could have handled his last two years here better. He got really squirrelly after Jacque left.

But I don't blame him for taking the money. I'm in the minority that says ballplayers earn what they get. And they have to do what they can to make as much as they can for the short time they're in the money.

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

by cmathewson on Feb 1, 2008 1:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs