Free agent negotiations are strange thing sometimes. On one hand, you have those players that decide to sign their deals right away, at the first sign of a suitable offer. On the other hand, there are those that decide to play the waiting game, regardless of what offers are out on the table. Neither way is right or wrong, in all reality. They're just...different.
It's all a guessing game, when it comes down to it. If you choose to sign immediately, without letting more offers come in, are you giving yourself a fair chance to make the most money you can? Some might contend that signing right away equals signing too early, that the opportunity to consider other potentially greater offers is missed. Some may also suggest that the first offer received may potentially be the best available, and consider it a smart decision to take it. Yet others believe that letting all offers filter in, and giving yourself options is the best course of action.
In the case of Michael Cuddyer, the jury is still out. Cuddyer received a 3-year, $24-$25 million contract offer from the Minnesota Twins a little over one week ago, thus far the only offer received, at least publicly. Prior to that offer, there had been mild interest shown by a couple of teams, namely the Philadelphia Phillies and the Colorado Rockies, yet, neither have offered the right-handed outfielder a contract.
As the days went on, the Twins found themselves coming to a crossroads. Do they hold out for Cuddyer to make a decision, hoping he elects to accept their offer and re-sign with the Twins? Do they pursue other options in the outfield, assuming Cuddyer receives a better offer from another club? Do they somehow find a way for both?
At first glance, it appears they may have chosen the second option. On Thursday, they finalized a 3-year, $21 million deal with free agent outfielder Josh Willingham. Willingham would be the right-handed outfield replacement for Cuddyer in the Twins' lineup if they are not able to re-sign the 11-year Twin. Given the decision to trim the payroll in 2011, it doesn't seem as though re-signing Cuddyer would be an option anymore.
That being said, if the Twins are now out of the picture, where does that leave Cuddyer? One week after the Twins made their offer, the Cuddyer camp is still awaiting that elusive "other" offer from one of the other interested teams. Is this an instance of possibly waiting too long? With Willingham signing for only $21 million for three years, has Cuddyer's value now been lowered in the eyes of other ball clubs?
Some people with knowledge of the Twins have suggested that maybe Cuddyer's decision to possibly sign elsewhere is not a money-based one. The current direction of the team may also be a huge deciding factor for him. Being 32, his drive to contend for a World Series Championship may be greater than any desire for a big contract. If that's the case, then look for Cuddyer's decision to come much later, as contending teams put the final pieces of their puzzles together. However, if the decision is primarily value and money based, then look for a team in the middle of the pack to snatch up Cuddyer to be a strong leader in their clubhouse.
One way or the other, we should know soon.
Showing posts with label Michael Cuddyer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Cuddyer. Show all posts
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
The Twins Cannot Repeat History
After reading a great article from Star Tribune sports writer Patrick Reusse ("This has all the earmarks of a lengthy Twins dive"), I realized how familiar this Twins season is becoming. Reusse is spot on with his observations, and quite honestly, it's scary to truly see the similarities between the Twins of the mid-90's and the current iteration.
Hopefully, however, this current version of the Twins, both players and front office alike, will learn from the mistakes of their predecessors, and re-write history.
As fans, we have to believe that what we're seeing in 2011 is nothing more than the anomaly. The debacle that has been the 2011 season is nothing more than a season filled with incredibly bad luck, right? I mean, the injury issues alone couldn't reproduce themselves again in 2012, could they? There's really no way possible that the Twins big guns can't get back to their usual MVP selves, is there?
The problem is that, unless the organization decides to be proactive and do something, what Reusse speaks about will become gospel in 2012 and beyond. So, what can the team realistically do?
For starters, let's assume the major injuries of 2011 resolve themselves this offseason. Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, and Denard Span will all be back at 100% at the start of Spring Training. Let's just pretend, for a moment, that the Twins are able to re-sign both Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel to solidify the core of the lineup, as well as come to terms with Joe Nathan on a multi-year deal that will enable Joe to end his career with the Twins, as it appears he wants to do. And lastly, let's also say, for argument's sake, that the banged up starting rotation returns from their myriad of arm issues. Assuming all of these things, where are the areas for the Twins to make significant changes to ensure that 2011 was nothing more than a minor speed bump?
One glaring hole needing immediate resolution going into the 2012 season is the middle infield, specifically the shortstop position. After choosing to not bring back J.J. Hardy after the 2010 season in favor of the unknown and unproven Tsuyoshi Nishioka, the Twins took a major step back. Oddly enough, the Twins front office felt Hardy's injury problems were too much to invest another year in, opting instead to let him go in trade to the Orioles. Should they feel the same way about most of the injured 2011 roster, we may be in complete rebuilding mode. In 2009, the Twins made a late-season trade to acquire Orlando Cabrera to bring some veteran stability to an important position, but decided his price tag was too high for 2010, instead signing Hardy. The problematic pattern presenting itself in this case seems that the Twins are unwilling to pay for stability at a very important position. The current options at shortstop are Trevor Plouffe and Nishioka. Plouffe has shown some signs of being a viable offensive solution at short, but his defense leaves quite a bit to be desired. Nishioka needs a major overhaul, both offensively and defensively. Until that happens, "Nishy" should be relegated to nothing but utility duty. Finding a solid veteran shortstop, either through trade or on the free agent market, should be a priority for the Twins to give themselves at least a couple of options going into spring.
Another hole needing attention is that of the bullpen. Middle relief was a major hurdle to overcome for this squad, particularly from the likes of Jose Mijares and Alex Burnett. Combined, the two relievers had an ERA near 5.00, striking out 61 batters while walking 51. Not the poster children for reliability, that's for sure. Mijares lost his late inning specialty role to Glen Perkins, who was seemingly the only bright spot in the bullpen this season. The middle relief roles, both right and left-handed, occupied by Burnett and Mijares respectively, need to be re-cast. Given the free agent market for relief pitchers in 2012, this might have to occur through trade. Regardless of how it gets done, the Twins need to address this pressing issue before pitchers and catchers report in February.
The last area needing to be seriously looked at in order to avoid a long spell of sub-par seasons is one which wasn't considered back in 1993. It's not an easy option to consider, but it should be something at least discussed. That option is a change in the coaching staff. Back in 1993, Tom Kelly was in his seventh full season as the manager of the Twins. It was hard to argue with two World Series titles in five seasons, so it seemed understandable that a change at the helm didn't need to be made right away. The coaches, however, could've possibly been shaken up a bit. With Tony Olivia retiring as the Twins' hitting coach after the 1991 season, Terry Crowley took over. Again, it might've seemed a bit rash to replace Crowley after only two season as the team's hitting instructor. Dick Such remained the team's pitching coach through the 2000 season. It's possible that a change there might have sparked something with the pitching staff, but it's difficult to say.
Fast forward to 2011, and we have a different coaching scenario than we had back in 1993, when the run of losing seasons began for the Twins. Now, we have two members of the coaching staff, hitting coach Joe Vavra, and pitching coach Rick Anderson, who have been in their positions six and eleven years, respectively. With the exception of an increase between 2007 into 2008, the Twins, as a team, have seen declines in batting average, hits, and runs under Vavra. Vavra is the second-longest tenured hitting coach in all of baseball, behind only Mickey Hatcher of the Los Angeles Angels. Similarly, Anderson has the third longest tenure amongst pitching coaches behind Dave Duncan of the Cardinals and Dave Righetti of the Giants. Before things get too out of hand, as they did in 1993, it may be wise for the Twins front office to decide to take the leadership of the team into a different direction.
2012 does not need to be the "end of the world" for the Twins, pun intended. It will only end up that way if the team decides to allow it to happen. Let's hope, for the sake of the players and fans, the decision is to erase 2011 from our memories by repeating the feat of the 1991 team, that being to finish in last place the year before contending for the title.
Hopefully, however, this current version of the Twins, both players and front office alike, will learn from the mistakes of their predecessors, and re-write history.
As fans, we have to believe that what we're seeing in 2011 is nothing more than the anomaly. The debacle that has been the 2011 season is nothing more than a season filled with incredibly bad luck, right? I mean, the injury issues alone couldn't reproduce themselves again in 2012, could they? There's really no way possible that the Twins big guns can't get back to their usual MVP selves, is there?
The problem is that, unless the organization decides to be proactive and do something, what Reusse speaks about will become gospel in 2012 and beyond. So, what can the team realistically do?
For starters, let's assume the major injuries of 2011 resolve themselves this offseason. Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, and Denard Span will all be back at 100% at the start of Spring Training. Let's just pretend, for a moment, that the Twins are able to re-sign both Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel to solidify the core of the lineup, as well as come to terms with Joe Nathan on a multi-year deal that will enable Joe to end his career with the Twins, as it appears he wants to do. And lastly, let's also say, for argument's sake, that the banged up starting rotation returns from their myriad of arm issues. Assuming all of these things, where are the areas for the Twins to make significant changes to ensure that 2011 was nothing more than a minor speed bump?
One glaring hole needing immediate resolution going into the 2012 season is the middle infield, specifically the shortstop position. After choosing to not bring back J.J. Hardy after the 2010 season in favor of the unknown and unproven Tsuyoshi Nishioka, the Twins took a major step back. Oddly enough, the Twins front office felt Hardy's injury problems were too much to invest another year in, opting instead to let him go in trade to the Orioles. Should they feel the same way about most of the injured 2011 roster, we may be in complete rebuilding mode. In 2009, the Twins made a late-season trade to acquire Orlando Cabrera to bring some veteran stability to an important position, but decided his price tag was too high for 2010, instead signing Hardy. The problematic pattern presenting itself in this case seems that the Twins are unwilling to pay for stability at a very important position. The current options at shortstop are Trevor Plouffe and Nishioka. Plouffe has shown some signs of being a viable offensive solution at short, but his defense leaves quite a bit to be desired. Nishioka needs a major overhaul, both offensively and defensively. Until that happens, "Nishy" should be relegated to nothing but utility duty. Finding a solid veteran shortstop, either through trade or on the free agent market, should be a priority for the Twins to give themselves at least a couple of options going into spring.
Another hole needing attention is that of the bullpen. Middle relief was a major hurdle to overcome for this squad, particularly from the likes of Jose Mijares and Alex Burnett. Combined, the two relievers had an ERA near 5.00, striking out 61 batters while walking 51. Not the poster children for reliability, that's for sure. Mijares lost his late inning specialty role to Glen Perkins, who was seemingly the only bright spot in the bullpen this season. The middle relief roles, both right and left-handed, occupied by Burnett and Mijares respectively, need to be re-cast. Given the free agent market for relief pitchers in 2012, this might have to occur through trade. Regardless of how it gets done, the Twins need to address this pressing issue before pitchers and catchers report in February.
The last area needing to be seriously looked at in order to avoid a long spell of sub-par seasons is one which wasn't considered back in 1993. It's not an easy option to consider, but it should be something at least discussed. That option is a change in the coaching staff. Back in 1993, Tom Kelly was in his seventh full season as the manager of the Twins. It was hard to argue with two World Series titles in five seasons, so it seemed understandable that a change at the helm didn't need to be made right away. The coaches, however, could've possibly been shaken up a bit. With Tony Olivia retiring as the Twins' hitting coach after the 1991 season, Terry Crowley took over. Again, it might've seemed a bit rash to replace Crowley after only two season as the team's hitting instructor. Dick Such remained the team's pitching coach through the 2000 season. It's possible that a change there might have sparked something with the pitching staff, but it's difficult to say.
Fast forward to 2011, and we have a different coaching scenario than we had back in 1993, when the run of losing seasons began for the Twins. Now, we have two members of the coaching staff, hitting coach Joe Vavra, and pitching coach Rick Anderson, who have been in their positions six and eleven years, respectively. With the exception of an increase between 2007 into 2008, the Twins, as a team, have seen declines in batting average, hits, and runs under Vavra. Vavra is the second-longest tenured hitting coach in all of baseball, behind only Mickey Hatcher of the Los Angeles Angels. Similarly, Anderson has the third longest tenure amongst pitching coaches behind Dave Duncan of the Cardinals and Dave Righetti of the Giants. Before things get too out of hand, as they did in 1993, it may be wise for the Twins front office to decide to take the leadership of the team into a different direction.
2012 does not need to be the "end of the world" for the Twins, pun intended. It will only end up that way if the team decides to allow it to happen. Let's hope, for the sake of the players and fans, the decision is to erase 2011 from our memories by repeating the feat of the 1991 team, that being to finish in last place the year before contending for the title.
Monday, August 22, 2011
It's Time To Change It Up A Bit, Ron!
If you've been reading "The Sporting Mind" since I started blogging back in May, you know that I tend to not hold anything back with regard to the Twins. There isn't a team I root for more in sports than the Twins. I consider myself a die-hard fan. The great thing about being a fan is that you're entitled to opinions.
Opinions can be about anything, really. They can be about individual players or they can be about individual plays. They can be about aspects of the team, or just aspects of the game itself. Regardless of what the opinion is, we as fans are entitled to those opinions. They may not be right, they may not be wrong, but what they are is our voice.
As with anyone who follows a team, you have players you really like and some you just don't. If you've been reading this blog for a while now, you know that I was never a huge Delmon Young fan, and I'm definitely not pro-Tsuyoshi Nishioka. I've been very hard on the likes of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, but have been very complimentary toward both Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel. That being said, just because I might take issue with players like Mauer and Morneau doesn't mean I don't think either are good ball players, so let me be perfectly clear on that.
Now that I've gotten that out of the way...
As I watch the Twins' season quickly unravel, I start to wonder what the game plan actually is for these next six weeks. The team has been so ravaged by injuries that it's been difficult to get a good grasp on what they actually have going forward. Assuming the news on Monday that the Twins had placed both Kubel and Jim Thome on waivers means that neither will be back with the team next year, and assuming the Twins might not get anyone Major League ready in return should both be dealt, what do they have in store for DH and right field? With Nick Blackburn hitting the disabled list on Monday as well, who might they give an opportunity to replace him in the rotation? And, with the inconsistent play up the middle, might there be other options to fiddle with to try and put the pieces together to make a run next season?
It would be very difficult to get answers to all of these questions in just a few weeks. Realistically, the team has no chance to climb back into the divisional race, which should provide Ron Gardenhire a unique opportunity to experiment a bit with what he does have. As with any company, sometimes it's not so much about the personnel one has, but more about how that personnel is used and where that personnel is placed in order to get the most success from that individual.
So far this season, we've seen Cuddyer playing right field, first base, second base, and even pitch. We've seen Mauer take his first ground balls at first base, as well as his first fly balls in right field. Alexi Casilla made the move from short stop to second base, and Nishioka the reverse. These are the types of alternatives Gardenhire needs to continue exploring. Would Mauer potentially be able to play third base in the event he doesn't catch and Morneau is in the lineup at first? Does Danny Valencia have the necessary range to be a short stop? Might be worth a look.
Another thought would be to juggle the lineup a bit. Looking through all of baseball, it's clear that the major run producers throughout the league find themselves hitting third, fourth, or fifth in their team's lineup. Typically, these spots in the order are reserved for the big guns, the guys that hit the ball out of the park and drive in runs. With the Twins, however, this isn't always the case. Without taking away too much from Joe Mauer, it's evident that he is one of the best contact hitters in all of baseball. Unfortunately for Twins fans, it appears both Mauer and the team are content with a high average, but little "production". This isn't the type of hitter that belongs in the number three spot in the batting order. Again, that's not to say he isn't a great hitter, just not a great hitter for that spot in the order.
Looking at Mauer's numbers this season, and understanding that he was hurt early on, it is a concern going forward, at least for this Twins fan. If you compare the number of extra-base hits Mauer has and the frequency in which he has them to other hitters batting third in their respective lineups, you would see that he falls way behind the average. Joe slugs something other than a single once in every 17.86 at-bats. The top 20 run-producers (RBI's) in the American League average an extra-base hit once every 8.63 at-bats. Seven (7) of those top 20 hit from the third spot in their lineup. Those same 20 guys also average an RBI every 5.50 at-bats. Mauer's average? One RBI every 10.42 at-bats. A high batting average is great, but it doesn't always translate to runs if the majority of those hits are singles.
Taking those numbers into account, it might be worth an extended five-week look for Gardenhire to see what either Cuddyer (an RBI every 6.9 at-bats) or Kubel (one in every 6.62 at-bats) could do in that number three spot in the order, and perhaps move Mauer down to either the fifth or sixth spot in the batting order. If Denard Span is able to come back this year, and the Twins decide to play both Span and Ben Revere in the outfield, and bat the two of them first and second in the order, having either Cuddyer or Kubel hitting third might be a better thing, given their ability to hit more extra-base hits than Mauer. If Span and/or Revere get on base with a single, it's difficult for them to score on a Mauer single, which has been the tendency for Joe this season, which explains his minimal 25 RBI output thus far.
So, let me hear from a few of you out there. What are some other "experiments" you believe the Twins should try over the next few weeks to try and prepare themselves for an offseason of change?
So far this season, we've seen Cuddyer playing right field, first base, second base, and even pitch. We've seen Mauer take his first ground balls at first base, as well as his first fly balls in right field. Alexi Casilla made the move from short stop to second base, and Nishioka the reverse. These are the types of alternatives Gardenhire needs to continue exploring. Would Mauer potentially be able to play third base in the event he doesn't catch and Morneau is in the lineup at first? Does Danny Valencia have the necessary range to be a short stop? Might be worth a look.
Another thought would be to juggle the lineup a bit. Looking through all of baseball, it's clear that the major run producers throughout the league find themselves hitting third, fourth, or fifth in their team's lineup. Typically, these spots in the order are reserved for the big guns, the guys that hit the ball out of the park and drive in runs. With the Twins, however, this isn't always the case. Without taking away too much from Joe Mauer, it's evident that he is one of the best contact hitters in all of baseball. Unfortunately for Twins fans, it appears both Mauer and the team are content with a high average, but little "production". This isn't the type of hitter that belongs in the number three spot in the batting order. Again, that's not to say he isn't a great hitter, just not a great hitter for that spot in the order.
Looking at Mauer's numbers this season, and understanding that he was hurt early on, it is a concern going forward, at least for this Twins fan. If you compare the number of extra-base hits Mauer has and the frequency in which he has them to other hitters batting third in their respective lineups, you would see that he falls way behind the average. Joe slugs something other than a single once in every 17.86 at-bats. The top 20 run-producers (RBI's) in the American League average an extra-base hit once every 8.63 at-bats. Seven (7) of those top 20 hit from the third spot in their lineup. Those same 20 guys also average an RBI every 5.50 at-bats. Mauer's average? One RBI every 10.42 at-bats. A high batting average is great, but it doesn't always translate to runs if the majority of those hits are singles.
Taking those numbers into account, it might be worth an extended five-week look for Gardenhire to see what either Cuddyer (an RBI every 6.9 at-bats) or Kubel (one in every 6.62 at-bats) could do in that number three spot in the order, and perhaps move Mauer down to either the fifth or sixth spot in the batting order. If Denard Span is able to come back this year, and the Twins decide to play both Span and Ben Revere in the outfield, and bat the two of them first and second in the order, having either Cuddyer or Kubel hitting third might be a better thing, given their ability to hit more extra-base hits than Mauer. If Span and/or Revere get on base with a single, it's difficult for them to score on a Mauer single, which has been the tendency for Joe this season, which explains his minimal 25 RBI output thus far.
So, let me hear from a few of you out there. What are some other "experiments" you believe the Twins should try over the next few weeks to try and prepare themselves for an offseason of change?
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Stay Positive, Just Don't Get Your Hopes Up
It's pretty hard to stay upbeat when you're 13 games under .500 and nine and half games out of first place in the division, but getting too negative and uptight isn't good for anybody.
With what we've seen over the last three weeks from the Twins, there's seemingly been very little to be positive about. Sure, they've started to get some of their injured players back (Span, Kubel), which is a plus. Sure, they're closer is back in the saddle again, and throwing almost like he did before having Tommy John surgery. But, there's nothing really positive about a team that considers itself a perpetual contender, to go over three weeks without winning a series against some of the better competition in the American League.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a more up and down Twins season than this 2011 campaign. Most of troubles have been due to numerous injuries, which have ravaged the team. The struggles, however, can't all be blamed on the injury bug. Even with some of their bigger stars on the shelf, the Twins had players who'd had major league experience filling in. They may not have been the most talented players, but guys like Matt Tolbert, Trevor Plouffe, and Drew Butera have all seen fairly significant time in the big leagues. If we're honest about it though, the utilization of those players isn't totally to blame, either.
When a team is struggling at the plate, and is having a hard time getting runs on the board, it's absolutely vital that pitching keep them afloat. Therin lies the key to the 2011 debacle. With inconsistency in the starting rotation, a bullpen that couldn't maintain the minimal leads the offense was giving them, and a closer in Matt Capps whose fastball rivals that of some of the kids pitching in the Little League World Series this month, it's no wonder the Twins found themselves looking up at the rest of the American League Central.
The offensive struggles have come primarily from three sources: Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Joe Mauer, and Delmon Young. Since returning from his leg injury, Nishioka has struggled mightily at the plate, proving that the Twins may have made a mistake, not just in signing him, but in not pursuing that which they already had in J.J. Hardy. So far, Hardy is hitting .275 with 21 HR and 40 extra-base hits. He currently has more extra-base hits than the primary Twins middle infield (Nishioka and Casilla) combined. Hardy is making $5.85 million this year, with Nishioka making only $3 million, however, if you count the $5.4 million bid the Twins spent to just speak to Nishi, they're into him for over $8 million this year. Hardy seems like the better investment at this point, wouldn't you say?
Mauer and Young have vastly underperformed this year. Mauer is riding the injury excuse, at least for another couple of weeks, but with Young, what you see is truly what you get. Both players were handled poorly during the offseason, with the Twins needing to take more of a hands-on approach with Mauer's rehab, and also a more aggressive approach trying to find a better home for Mr. Young. The result has been a combined 5 HR's and only 30 extra-base hits. And remember, J.J. Hardy has 40 himself. I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'.
All is not lost, however. The Twins do have some positive things to take from this season thus far. Michael Cuddyer has shown this team that he truly does have the heart to be the team's leader, on and off the field. Jim Thome is on the verge of making history with his 600th home run, which couldn't happen to a better guy. Jason Kubel has emerged as the Twins' best overall hitter, hitting for both average and power. Danny Valencia has shown some of the pop in his bat that the Twins expected when they called him up last year, sitting second on the team with 12 HR's. Ben Revere came up and proved himself to be a tremendous fielding outfielder, albeit with a tremendously weak throwing arm. And Glen Perkins has seemingly found himself a suitable role as the set-up man for Joe Nathan.
All of these things are very positive, and should be looked at as such. If the starters can improve their performances, and the veteran hitters like Mauer and Young can help to produce a few more runs, coupled with the positives mentioned...there's no reason the Twins can't still make a run for the division crown.
I just wouldn't hold my breath.
With what we've seen over the last three weeks from the Twins, there's seemingly been very little to be positive about. Sure, they've started to get some of their injured players back (Span, Kubel), which is a plus. Sure, they're closer is back in the saddle again, and throwing almost like he did before having Tommy John surgery. But, there's nothing really positive about a team that considers itself a perpetual contender, to go over three weeks without winning a series against some of the better competition in the American League.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a more up and down Twins season than this 2011 campaign. Most of troubles have been due to numerous injuries, which have ravaged the team. The struggles, however, can't all be blamed on the injury bug. Even with some of their bigger stars on the shelf, the Twins had players who'd had major league experience filling in. They may not have been the most talented players, but guys like Matt Tolbert, Trevor Plouffe, and Drew Butera have all seen fairly significant time in the big leagues. If we're honest about it though, the utilization of those players isn't totally to blame, either.
When a team is struggling at the plate, and is having a hard time getting runs on the board, it's absolutely vital that pitching keep them afloat. Therin lies the key to the 2011 debacle. With inconsistency in the starting rotation, a bullpen that couldn't maintain the minimal leads the offense was giving them, and a closer in Matt Capps whose fastball rivals that of some of the kids pitching in the Little League World Series this month, it's no wonder the Twins found themselves looking up at the rest of the American League Central.
The offensive struggles have come primarily from three sources: Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Joe Mauer, and Delmon Young. Since returning from his leg injury, Nishioka has struggled mightily at the plate, proving that the Twins may have made a mistake, not just in signing him, but in not pursuing that which they already had in J.J. Hardy. So far, Hardy is hitting .275 with 21 HR and 40 extra-base hits. He currently has more extra-base hits than the primary Twins middle infield (Nishioka and Casilla) combined. Hardy is making $5.85 million this year, with Nishioka making only $3 million, however, if you count the $5.4 million bid the Twins spent to just speak to Nishi, they're into him for over $8 million this year. Hardy seems like the better investment at this point, wouldn't you say?
Mauer and Young have vastly underperformed this year. Mauer is riding the injury excuse, at least for another couple of weeks, but with Young, what you see is truly what you get. Both players were handled poorly during the offseason, with the Twins needing to take more of a hands-on approach with Mauer's rehab, and also a more aggressive approach trying to find a better home for Mr. Young. The result has been a combined 5 HR's and only 30 extra-base hits. And remember, J.J. Hardy has 40 himself. I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'.
All is not lost, however. The Twins do have some positive things to take from this season thus far. Michael Cuddyer has shown this team that he truly does have the heart to be the team's leader, on and off the field. Jim Thome is on the verge of making history with his 600th home run, which couldn't happen to a better guy. Jason Kubel has emerged as the Twins' best overall hitter, hitting for both average and power. Danny Valencia has shown some of the pop in his bat that the Twins expected when they called him up last year, sitting second on the team with 12 HR's. Ben Revere came up and proved himself to be a tremendous fielding outfielder, albeit with a tremendously weak throwing arm. And Glen Perkins has seemingly found himself a suitable role as the set-up man for Joe Nathan.
All of these things are very positive, and should be looked at as such. If the starters can improve their performances, and the veteran hitters like Mauer and Young can help to produce a few more runs, coupled with the positives mentioned...there's no reason the Twins can't still make a run for the division crown.
I just wouldn't hold my breath.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Twins Have Some Tough Decisions Ahead
After the Twins left the field on Sunday following a 7-0 loss and three-game sweep to their arch-rival White Sox, it became clearly evident that this team is not ready to compete this season. I know that sounds like I'm stating the obvious, but with a couple of promising weeks, it truly seemed like this team had turned the corner in June. Given what we've seen over the past two weeks on the road, and then their return back to Target Field this past weekend, there is no question that they need to begin looking at 2012, rather than trying to look at the remainder of 2011.
The Twins need to focus on a couple key areas over the next six months. In nor particular order:
With Cuddyer, the Twins need to find a way to bring him back to this team for the next couple of years. There's no doubt his price tag has gone up, but given his value to this team, both on the field and in the clubhouse, it's imperative that they not lose the heart and soul of their team...AGAIN. This happened before with Torii Hunter...not the greatest player they've had, but the face of the franchise and the best guy in the clubhouse. Michael Cuddyer deserves to succeed in Minnesota, nowhere else.
Given their inability to perform this season, Liriano, Capps, and Young all need to find new homes, sooner rather than later. Next season, the three combined will require about $20 million. Their level of production this season warrants more along the lines of about $8 million. Liriano lacks control, and doesn't seem to be paying much attention to Rick Anderson. Capps lacks an overpowering array of pitches, which leads to him being knocked around all over the park. Young is the biggest underachiever, having only one good season in 2010, and struggling at the plate in 2011. The $20 million that would be occupied by all three would be better suited for other free agents.
The Nishioka experiment has been a failed one thus far. Uncomfortable, over-matched, and lacking confidence. Those adjectives are the most applicable to Nishi. There seems to be a stigma with Japanese players that, once they're here, they have to remain in the majors. Unless there's something we're not aware of in the contract that Nishioka signed with the Twins, there's no reason they shouldn't send him down to Triple-A for the remainder of the season to try and build up his confidence and comfort level with the American game. What we're seeing right now is the equivalent of having a high-school junior quarterback into an NFL game. It's too fast, everyone is too big, and the offenses run are far different than high school. The same can be said for Nishi to the Majors. The game moves faster, the players are bigger and more athletic in America, and the game has different nuances here than in Japan. The better place for him to learn these things would be at the minor league level, as opposed to be thrown to the wolves at the Major League level. If the Twins wish to turn the experiment into somewhat of a success in 2012, they need to consider this as an option, and not worry about hurting his feelings.
The last seven weeks of the season would be the perfect time to mess with the lineup, after all, what's the worst that could happen. When you look at guys like Joe Mauer, Jason Kubel, Danny Valencia, and Delmon Young...would they be better suited hitting somewhere different in the lineup? When the Twins get Justin Morneau and Alexi Casilla back, the lineup will probably look like this: Span, Casilla, Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer, Kubel, Valencia, Young, Nishioka. There are a couple of issues, in my opinion, with this lineup. The first is the third spot in the order, customarily held by Joe Mauer. Again, we understand he's been hurt, but what people don't get is that Joe is not a third-spot hitter. When you look around the Majors, the likes of Albert Pujols, Ryan Braun, Jose Bautista, Evan Longoria, Joey Votto, Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton, to name a few, are the guys you're seeing in the third spot in their respective batting orders. Looking collectively at the other 29 guys in MLB this season hitting in the third hole, they sport the following numbers: .288, 16 HR, 57 RBI. Joe's numbers this season: .286, 1 HR, 21 RBI. Number three hitters should not be "table setters". Those roles should be reserved for your lead-off and second hitters. Joe's mentality at the plate is that of a table-setter. His focus seems to be to get base hits, not to drive runners in. If that's the case, then the Twins need to address the issue. Either turn Mauer into an RBI guy, which means they should look at batting him 5th or 6th in the order, or have him be the single-slapping table-setter he seems to want to be and move him into the #2 hole permanently. Coupled with that, why not put someone like a Jason Kubel or Delmon Young into the #3 spot in the order? Kubel has been one of the better run producers on this club over the last couple of years, so maybe he is more fit for hitting third in the order. Experimenting with the order now is the best time to do it. If you happen to catch lightning in a bottle over the last seven weeks and make something happen...great. If not, you've got a better understanding of what you can do next season with the guys you have.
With this weekend having been the reunion of the 1991 World Series Champions at Target Field, it brings to light a very glaring weakness the Twins have, and that is starting pitching. What helped the '91 team succeed was the strength of their starting rotation, namely Jack Morris, Kevin Tapani, and Scott Erickson, who combined for a total of 54 wins during the regular season. If the Twins' starters this season keep their current pace, they too will win 54 games this season. The only problem: they're doing it with five starters, not three. The "big three" in '91 won no fewer than 16 games. The Twins might be lucky to have two 10-game winners this year. The fact that the '91 team knew they had a great chance at winning every time those guys took the mound was crucial! It's amazing what that feeling can do for a team. With this team, you really have no idea what you're going to get. Are you going to see the Francisco Liriano that blows people away, or are you going to get the one that walks six guys in four innings? Are you going to get the Nick Blackburn that picks his spots and effectively works the strike zone, or are you going to get the guy that appears to be lobbing beach balls at opposing hitters? When the offense doesn't have confidence in pitching, it brings a feeling of "how many runs are we going to have to score today in order to win?" That's a feeling that won't get a team into the post season, let alone win a championship. The Twins need to show a sense of urgency this fall and throughout the offseason, with regard to trying to land a front-line starter or two. Yes, the bullpen has been a mess this season, but when you look at when the pen was at its collective best, it was in the month of June...when the starting rotation, for even a brief couple of weeks, looked dominant and had the ability to work deep into games. When they can't, the bullpen struggles. The starters the team currently has, Carl Pavano included, seem to be inconsistent with what you're going to see. Finding a true ace this offseason should be near the top of the Twins' "to-do" list.
Sadly, the team isn't far off from being a contender. They've been down this road before. They need to put together a game plan, and execute, no different than anything else. If they can take care of a couple of these glaring issues, there's no reason this team shouldn't lock up the Central Division, and look towards playing into October next season.
The Twins need to focus on a couple key areas over the next six months. In nor particular order:
- Figure out how to bring Michael Cuddyer back.
- Look at unloading a bit of salary, namely through Francisco Liriano, Matt Capps, and Delmon Young
- Make a decision on Tsuyoshi Nishioka
- Make a few lineup changes
- Find a way to bring in a front-line starter
With Cuddyer, the Twins need to find a way to bring him back to this team for the next couple of years. There's no doubt his price tag has gone up, but given his value to this team, both on the field and in the clubhouse, it's imperative that they not lose the heart and soul of their team...AGAIN. This happened before with Torii Hunter...not the greatest player they've had, but the face of the franchise and the best guy in the clubhouse. Michael Cuddyer deserves to succeed in Minnesota, nowhere else.
Given their inability to perform this season, Liriano, Capps, and Young all need to find new homes, sooner rather than later. Next season, the three combined will require about $20 million. Their level of production this season warrants more along the lines of about $8 million. Liriano lacks control, and doesn't seem to be paying much attention to Rick Anderson. Capps lacks an overpowering array of pitches, which leads to him being knocked around all over the park. Young is the biggest underachiever, having only one good season in 2010, and struggling at the plate in 2011. The $20 million that would be occupied by all three would be better suited for other free agents.
The Nishioka experiment has been a failed one thus far. Uncomfortable, over-matched, and lacking confidence. Those adjectives are the most applicable to Nishi. There seems to be a stigma with Japanese players that, once they're here, they have to remain in the majors. Unless there's something we're not aware of in the contract that Nishioka signed with the Twins, there's no reason they shouldn't send him down to Triple-A for the remainder of the season to try and build up his confidence and comfort level with the American game. What we're seeing right now is the equivalent of having a high-school junior quarterback into an NFL game. It's too fast, everyone is too big, and the offenses run are far different than high school. The same can be said for Nishi to the Majors. The game moves faster, the players are bigger and more athletic in America, and the game has different nuances here than in Japan. The better place for him to learn these things would be at the minor league level, as opposed to be thrown to the wolves at the Major League level. If the Twins wish to turn the experiment into somewhat of a success in 2012, they need to consider this as an option, and not worry about hurting his feelings.
The last seven weeks of the season would be the perfect time to mess with the lineup, after all, what's the worst that could happen. When you look at guys like Joe Mauer, Jason Kubel, Danny Valencia, and Delmon Young...would they be better suited hitting somewhere different in the lineup? When the Twins get Justin Morneau and Alexi Casilla back, the lineup will probably look like this: Span, Casilla, Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer, Kubel, Valencia, Young, Nishioka. There are a couple of issues, in my opinion, with this lineup. The first is the third spot in the order, customarily held by Joe Mauer. Again, we understand he's been hurt, but what people don't get is that Joe is not a third-spot hitter. When you look around the Majors, the likes of Albert Pujols, Ryan Braun, Jose Bautista, Evan Longoria, Joey Votto, Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton, to name a few, are the guys you're seeing in the third spot in their respective batting orders. Looking collectively at the other 29 guys in MLB this season hitting in the third hole, they sport the following numbers: .288, 16 HR, 57 RBI. Joe's numbers this season: .286, 1 HR, 21 RBI. Number three hitters should not be "table setters". Those roles should be reserved for your lead-off and second hitters. Joe's mentality at the plate is that of a table-setter. His focus seems to be to get base hits, not to drive runners in. If that's the case, then the Twins need to address the issue. Either turn Mauer into an RBI guy, which means they should look at batting him 5th or 6th in the order, or have him be the single-slapping table-setter he seems to want to be and move him into the #2 hole permanently. Coupled with that, why not put someone like a Jason Kubel or Delmon Young into the #3 spot in the order? Kubel has been one of the better run producers on this club over the last couple of years, so maybe he is more fit for hitting third in the order. Experimenting with the order now is the best time to do it. If you happen to catch lightning in a bottle over the last seven weeks and make something happen...great. If not, you've got a better understanding of what you can do next season with the guys you have.
With this weekend having been the reunion of the 1991 World Series Champions at Target Field, it brings to light a very glaring weakness the Twins have, and that is starting pitching. What helped the '91 team succeed was the strength of their starting rotation, namely Jack Morris, Kevin Tapani, and Scott Erickson, who combined for a total of 54 wins during the regular season. If the Twins' starters this season keep their current pace, they too will win 54 games this season. The only problem: they're doing it with five starters, not three. The "big three" in '91 won no fewer than 16 games. The Twins might be lucky to have two 10-game winners this year. The fact that the '91 team knew they had a great chance at winning every time those guys took the mound was crucial! It's amazing what that feeling can do for a team. With this team, you really have no idea what you're going to get. Are you going to see the Francisco Liriano that blows people away, or are you going to get the one that walks six guys in four innings? Are you going to get the Nick Blackburn that picks his spots and effectively works the strike zone, or are you going to get the guy that appears to be lobbing beach balls at opposing hitters? When the offense doesn't have confidence in pitching, it brings a feeling of "how many runs are we going to have to score today in order to win?" That's a feeling that won't get a team into the post season, let alone win a championship. The Twins need to show a sense of urgency this fall and throughout the offseason, with regard to trying to land a front-line starter or two. Yes, the bullpen has been a mess this season, but when you look at when the pen was at its collective best, it was in the month of June...when the starting rotation, for even a brief couple of weeks, looked dominant and had the ability to work deep into games. When they can't, the bullpen struggles. The starters the team currently has, Carl Pavano included, seem to be inconsistent with what you're going to see. Finding a true ace this offseason should be near the top of the Twins' "to-do" list.
Sadly, the team isn't far off from being a contender. They've been down this road before. They need to put together a game plan, and execute, no different than anything else. If they can take care of a couple of these glaring issues, there's no reason this team shouldn't lock up the Central Division, and look towards playing into October next season.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Twins Trade Deadline Opinion - Good Or Bad?
Hey folks. It's been a couple of weeks since I've blogged, and after some time away, it's time to get back at it.
To start back in...I wanted to talk a bit about the MLB trade deadline that came and went Sunday afternoon. More specifically, I'd like to discuss the activity (or lack of) of our Minnesota Twins.
As the 4pm eastern deadline neared, the Twins were rumored to be completing a trade which would have brought in Washington Nationals closer Drew Storen in exchange for starting center fielder and fan favorite, Denard Span. When the deadline passed, Span remained a Twin, much to the satisfaction of almost all Twins fans, including myself. Yes, the Twins have been in major need of a boost to the bullpen, but that bolstering should not have come at the expense of Span. Afterall, what would the Twins have done with a third closer, with both Joe Nathan and Matt Capps already sitting out in the bullpen?
So, what was it that upset people more? Was it the fact that the Twins were considering a trade of one of their brighter, young stars? Was it the idea that they were try to acquire another closer from the Nationals, a year after sending top catching prospect Wilson Ramos to the Nats to get Matt Capps to close games for the remainder of the season? Or, was it the simple reality that the team didn't pull off any kind of deal to either try and win this year, or to better themselves for the future? My opinion? It was all three.
Going in to July, I was of the mindset that the Twins had a couple of players who should've been shopped to teams, either those contending or those willing to take some expensive contracts off our hands, in order to either make a run at the Central Division title this year, or to prepare for another run next year. Those couple of players were Kevin Slowey, Justin Morneau, Delmon Young, and Francisco Liriano. Slowey has clearly fallen out of favor with the club. Morneau has not played in a playoff game since 2006, with the Twins making two playoff runs each of the last two seasons without him. Young continues to under-achieve, despite a 2010 season to which he finally played to his potential, but otherwise proves to be mediocre at best. And Liriano, who appears to do nothing but flip a coin to decide whether he will pitch a good game or not, and lately, that coin has fallen on "not". Yet, during the days leading up to the deadline, the names Denard Span, Michael Cuddyer, and Jason Kubel continued to be mentioned.
The Twins, in their current form, have the potential to compete for the division title, and even win it. Where the Twins have fallen flat over the last two post seasons has been in the starting pitching department. This season seems to be following suit. Brian Duensing and Scott Baker have been the two steady hands in the rotation throughout July, although Duensing has struggled a bit since the All-Star break. The other three starters, Carl Pavano (6.87), Nick Blackburn (7.45), and Liriano (4.01), have combined for a 6.08 ERA in the month of July. It's no coincidence then that the overall team ERA has spiked from 3.08 in June to a pathetic 4.59 in July. When the Twins cut their Central Division deficit from 16.5 games out of first place to six games out in the month of June, it was because of their starting pitching. Now that they've faltered a bit in July, it's because of their starting pitching. Yet, the only deal at the trade deadline that was close to being made was for a closer, not a starter? Why doesn't that make any sense?
As strange as this may sound, the Twins will encounter a big problem later this month. With Span returning from the disabled list Tuesday night in Anaheim, and Justin Morneau returning some time in the next couple of weeks, the team will have to start trying to figure out a way to get everyone the at-bats they need in order put the best lineup on the field. The problem results from an overabundance of outfielders.
With Span back, they will have six (Span, Cuddyer, Kubel, Young, Ben Revere, and Jason Repko). Given the injury situation, this hasn't been much of a problem over the last couple of months. With Morneau out, Cuddyer has seen more time at first base than he has in the outfield. With Span shelved, Revere has been able to prove himself as a very viable major league player. Kubel being down allowed a few opportunities for Repko to see some action. Until Morneau's return, Cuddyer will continue to spell him at first, which takes him out of the equation until then. Given the production from Span and Kubel (pre-DL), Cuddyer's all-star year, and Revere's emergence, the logical choice to move should've been the under-performing Delmon Young. With his salary only a shade over $5 million, the price tag would seem to have been affordable for many teams looking to add an outfield bat for a stretch run. Unfortunately, there aren't many teams interested in a below-average fielding .264 hitter with only 2 home runs and a measly 27 RBI's this season, regardless of him costing them only a portion of his $5 million contract.
If they were going to make a move, the Twins needed to improve their pitching situation, both from a starting standpoint as well as a bullpen one. It's understandable that in order to get something, you'd need to give something. Packaging some combination of Slowey, Morneau, Young, and Liriano should've been enough to land both frontline and relief help to make a push towards the post season. Unfortunately, the Twins didn't seem to pursue a trade, rather, let a team like the Nationals pursue them. As fans, we're lucky the deal with Span never culminated. We're unlucky, however, that our team's front office seems unwilling to seek improvement.
To start back in...I wanted to talk a bit about the MLB trade deadline that came and went Sunday afternoon. More specifically, I'd like to discuss the activity (or lack of) of our Minnesota Twins.
As the 4pm eastern deadline neared, the Twins were rumored to be completing a trade which would have brought in Washington Nationals closer Drew Storen in exchange for starting center fielder and fan favorite, Denard Span. When the deadline passed, Span remained a Twin, much to the satisfaction of almost all Twins fans, including myself. Yes, the Twins have been in major need of a boost to the bullpen, but that bolstering should not have come at the expense of Span. Afterall, what would the Twins have done with a third closer, with both Joe Nathan and Matt Capps already sitting out in the bullpen?
So, what was it that upset people more? Was it the fact that the Twins were considering a trade of one of their brighter, young stars? Was it the idea that they were try to acquire another closer from the Nationals, a year after sending top catching prospect Wilson Ramos to the Nats to get Matt Capps to close games for the remainder of the season? Or, was it the simple reality that the team didn't pull off any kind of deal to either try and win this year, or to better themselves for the future? My opinion? It was all three.
Going in to July, I was of the mindset that the Twins had a couple of players who should've been shopped to teams, either those contending or those willing to take some expensive contracts off our hands, in order to either make a run at the Central Division title this year, or to prepare for another run next year. Those couple of players were Kevin Slowey, Justin Morneau, Delmon Young, and Francisco Liriano. Slowey has clearly fallen out of favor with the club. Morneau has not played in a playoff game since 2006, with the Twins making two playoff runs each of the last two seasons without him. Young continues to under-achieve, despite a 2010 season to which he finally played to his potential, but otherwise proves to be mediocre at best. And Liriano, who appears to do nothing but flip a coin to decide whether he will pitch a good game or not, and lately, that coin has fallen on "not". Yet, during the days leading up to the deadline, the names Denard Span, Michael Cuddyer, and Jason Kubel continued to be mentioned.
The Twins, in their current form, have the potential to compete for the division title, and even win it. Where the Twins have fallen flat over the last two post seasons has been in the starting pitching department. This season seems to be following suit. Brian Duensing and Scott Baker have been the two steady hands in the rotation throughout July, although Duensing has struggled a bit since the All-Star break. The other three starters, Carl Pavano (6.87), Nick Blackburn (7.45), and Liriano (4.01), have combined for a 6.08 ERA in the month of July. It's no coincidence then that the overall team ERA has spiked from 3.08 in June to a pathetic 4.59 in July. When the Twins cut their Central Division deficit from 16.5 games out of first place to six games out in the month of June, it was because of their starting pitching. Now that they've faltered a bit in July, it's because of their starting pitching. Yet, the only deal at the trade deadline that was close to being made was for a closer, not a starter? Why doesn't that make any sense?
As strange as this may sound, the Twins will encounter a big problem later this month. With Span returning from the disabled list Tuesday night in Anaheim, and Justin Morneau returning some time in the next couple of weeks, the team will have to start trying to figure out a way to get everyone the at-bats they need in order put the best lineup on the field. The problem results from an overabundance of outfielders.
With Span back, they will have six (Span, Cuddyer, Kubel, Young, Ben Revere, and Jason Repko). Given the injury situation, this hasn't been much of a problem over the last couple of months. With Morneau out, Cuddyer has seen more time at first base than he has in the outfield. With Span shelved, Revere has been able to prove himself as a very viable major league player. Kubel being down allowed a few opportunities for Repko to see some action. Until Morneau's return, Cuddyer will continue to spell him at first, which takes him out of the equation until then. Given the production from Span and Kubel (pre-DL), Cuddyer's all-star year, and Revere's emergence, the logical choice to move should've been the under-performing Delmon Young. With his salary only a shade over $5 million, the price tag would seem to have been affordable for many teams looking to add an outfield bat for a stretch run. Unfortunately, there aren't many teams interested in a below-average fielding .264 hitter with only 2 home runs and a measly 27 RBI's this season, regardless of him costing them only a portion of his $5 million contract.
If they were going to make a move, the Twins needed to improve their pitching situation, both from a starting standpoint as well as a bullpen one. It's understandable that in order to get something, you'd need to give something. Packaging some combination of Slowey, Morneau, Young, and Liriano should've been enough to land both frontline and relief help to make a push towards the post season. Unfortunately, the Twins didn't seem to pursue a trade, rather, let a team like the Nationals pursue them. As fans, we're lucky the deal with Span never culminated. We're unlucky, however, that our team's front office seems unwilling to seek improvement.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Seriously, Who's Running The Show For The Twins?
The Twins have 86 games left in the season. It's a pretty good bet that means they only have 57 games with Joe Mauer in the lineup. Why? Because it appears Mauer needs to have a day off every third day. At first glance, it appeared that manager Ron Gardenhire was the responsible party for keeping Joe out of the lineup. To be honest, I'm not so sure it's not Joe himself.
I've been one of the biggest proponents of keeping Mauer behind the plate and not playing him anywhere else in the field. My rationale was simple: he was drafted a catcher, he's been one of the best catchers in baseball since he became a permanent starter, and he signed a huge mega-deal to play catcher. Simple as that. But extreme times call for extreme measures. With Justin Morneau hitting the disabled list earlier this week to have surgery on his neck, and Delmon Young landing on the DL Sunday morning with an ankle issue, the Twins had two open spots in their lineup.
The active outfielders on the roster going into Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers were hitting a combined .235, and were only even that high because of the .292 batting average that Michael Cuddyer has put up. The starting lineup included Ben Revere, Michael Cuddyer, and Jason Repko in the outfield, and after a double-switch late in the game, Rene Tosoni was brought in to play right field when Cuddyer slid into the infield to play first base. Again, we all know my disdain for Delmon Young. I'm not shy about bringing that up. And yes, a couple of weeks ago, I suggested playing Jason Repko in place of Young in the outfield, because Young refuses to show up during a contract year and I thought the Twins needed a little shake-up in the lineup.
Today, I'm changing my tune a little bit. I still think Delmon Young is worthless in the outfield (and at the plate). But, I do believe they need a little shake-up in the outfield. And the person who might need to shake that outfield up is #7 himself. One problem, however, is that apparently Joe doesn't care to play anywhere else, as evidenced by his absence from the lineup on Sunday. A gaping hole in left field and another at first base, and yet Mauer sat for the second time in five days.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the point of putting him on the 60-day disabled list to ensure that he was going to have enough strength in his legs to catch five or six games in a row and be effective doing so? I swear I heard the Twins saying they didn't want to bring him back too soon. But, it would appear that Mr. Mauer's legs are a little weaker than they should be, since he's continuing to take an abnormal number of days off. What's the definition of a "team player"? Clearly, right now, it's not Joe.
So, what does it take to get through to Mauer? This year, we've heard it all. We've heard that Joe and his "people" were the ones monitoring his rehabilitation from the off-season knee surgery he went through. If the Twins were taking the bull by the horns, so to speak, they would've started his rehab out much sooner, and we may have had him up to full speed by the end of spring training, as he should've been. We've heard that Joe is the one telling Gardenhire that he "needs a day off" when his manager asks if he's able to play. I guess the inmates run Gardy's asylum. Last time I checked, the manager was the one that filled out the lineup card, not the players. When you have a player on the roster like Michael Cuddyer, who is a fantastic clubhouse guy and seemingly willing to play any and everywhere you'd need him to play, someone like Joe Mauer appears to be more of a prima donna or a "diva" each and every day. Yet Mauer is the face of the franchise, and the name on the back of over 50% of the jerseys you see at Target Field. Hmm...makes you wonder some times.
When you add all the pieces together; injuries to both Morneau and Young, a day out of the lineup on Thursday, and the fact that the Twins were playing their final game in a National League ballpark, it would seem logical that the star player, the face of the franchise, and the supposed team leader would've made every effort to find his way into the lineup, even hiding himself in the outfield if he had to. Instead, his legs should be well rested to start the series against the Dodgers this week.
I've been one of the biggest proponents of keeping Mauer behind the plate and not playing him anywhere else in the field. My rationale was simple: he was drafted a catcher, he's been one of the best catchers in baseball since he became a permanent starter, and he signed a huge mega-deal to play catcher. Simple as that. But extreme times call for extreme measures. With Justin Morneau hitting the disabled list earlier this week to have surgery on his neck, and Delmon Young landing on the DL Sunday morning with an ankle issue, the Twins had two open spots in their lineup.
The active outfielders on the roster going into Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers were hitting a combined .235, and were only even that high because of the .292 batting average that Michael Cuddyer has put up. The starting lineup included Ben Revere, Michael Cuddyer, and Jason Repko in the outfield, and after a double-switch late in the game, Rene Tosoni was brought in to play right field when Cuddyer slid into the infield to play first base. Again, we all know my disdain for Delmon Young. I'm not shy about bringing that up. And yes, a couple of weeks ago, I suggested playing Jason Repko in place of Young in the outfield, because Young refuses to show up during a contract year and I thought the Twins needed a little shake-up in the lineup.
Today, I'm changing my tune a little bit. I still think Delmon Young is worthless in the outfield (and at the plate). But, I do believe they need a little shake-up in the outfield. And the person who might need to shake that outfield up is #7 himself. One problem, however, is that apparently Joe doesn't care to play anywhere else, as evidenced by his absence from the lineup on Sunday. A gaping hole in left field and another at first base, and yet Mauer sat for the second time in five days.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the point of putting him on the 60-day disabled list to ensure that he was going to have enough strength in his legs to catch five or six games in a row and be effective doing so? I swear I heard the Twins saying they didn't want to bring him back too soon. But, it would appear that Mr. Mauer's legs are a little weaker than they should be, since he's continuing to take an abnormal number of days off. What's the definition of a "team player"? Clearly, right now, it's not Joe.
So, what does it take to get through to Mauer? This year, we've heard it all. We've heard that Joe and his "people" were the ones monitoring his rehabilitation from the off-season knee surgery he went through. If the Twins were taking the bull by the horns, so to speak, they would've started his rehab out much sooner, and we may have had him up to full speed by the end of spring training, as he should've been. We've heard that Joe is the one telling Gardenhire that he "needs a day off" when his manager asks if he's able to play. I guess the inmates run Gardy's asylum. Last time I checked, the manager was the one that filled out the lineup card, not the players. When you have a player on the roster like Michael Cuddyer, who is a fantastic clubhouse guy and seemingly willing to play any and everywhere you'd need him to play, someone like Joe Mauer appears to be more of a prima donna or a "diva" each and every day. Yet Mauer is the face of the franchise, and the name on the back of over 50% of the jerseys you see at Target Field. Hmm...makes you wonder some times.
When you add all the pieces together; injuries to both Morneau and Young, a day out of the lineup on Thursday, and the fact that the Twins were playing their final game in a National League ballpark, it would seem logical that the star player, the face of the franchise, and the supposed team leader would've made every effort to find his way into the lineup, even hiding himself in the outfield if he had to. Instead, his legs should be well rested to start the series against the Dodgers this week.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Twins Getting Confident (And Hot) At The Right Time
Here we are, sitting on the 15th of June, and the Twins are in last place in the American League. All of this recent talk about realignment in baseball, and the Twins would be sitting 15th out of 15 teams in the AL. So, if the Twins are in last place, with the worst record in the American League, then why are Twins fans getting excited?
With Wednesday night's 4-1 win over the White Sox, the Twins have now won 10 of their last 12 games. Their bats have started to come alive a bit, their pitching has greatly improved from earlier in the season, and they are starting to do those "Twins-type" things once more, like stealing bases, hit-and-runs, and moving runners over. Add all of those facets together, and you have one of the more dangerous teams in the American League Central.
Oh, and there's one more thing to mention. Health.
Wednesday afternoon, the Twins outrighted left-handed reliever Dusty Hughes to Triple-A Rochester to make room for Tsuyoshi Nishioka. And that's not all. It is expected that All-Star catcher Joe Mauer will be back in the starting lineup on Friday. Combine those with the returns of Justin Morneau, Jason Kubel, Jim Thome, Glen Perkins, Joe Nathan, and Denard Span over the next two to three weeks, and this team will finally be healthy again, and become a serious threat in the Central Division.
So, we've covered the health aspect, and we've mentioned the "back-to-basics" mentality of stealing, bunting, and hitting and running. But the biggest factor right now that has led the Twins to one of the best records in baseball in June is the fact that, as a team, they've begun to realize that the can win. The confidence of each player is at a season-high right now. Alexi Casilla, who was having a hard time hitting out of a paper bag in April and May, was hitting .374 for June going into Wednesday's game. Delmon Young, who was having a hard time hitting thin air when he swung, as begun to hit balls hard, and has almost as many extra-base hits in June as he had throughout the first two months of the season. Michael Cuddyer has suddenly become more of the leader than many people, including myself, thought he should be in the absence of Joe Mauer. The starting rotation has been incredible throughout the last three weeks, including two complete games by Carl Pavano, including Wednesday's gem. All told, if you've watched the Twins play over the last two and a half weeks, you would think this was the team leading the division, not bringing up the tail.
What the Twins need to do is continue executing their game plan. As they've been executing the plan, each player has been gaining confidence. That confidence has become contagious. It will be incredibly important for the players currently in the lineup to foster this confidence further, as the returning players start to reintegrate themselves back into the lineup. Mauer, albeit a three-time batting champion, has not been hitting well during his rehab stints over the last 10 days. Those rehab games were primarily meant to get him used to catching games again, but the hope is that the bat will quickly return to what we're all used to. Nishioka had a very rough start to his Major League Baseball career before he went down with the leg injury. It will be important for the guys to make sure his confidence begins to soar, just as theirs has been. Likewise for the others as they gradually return from their various injuries.
If anything could derail the Twins right now, it would be a sharp detour from the "team" attitude that these guys have right now. As some of the guys begin to return and reclaim their spots, guys like Drew Butera, Matt Tolbert, Luke Hughes, and Ben Revere will likely see their playing time diminish. If those guys let their egos get in the way of the team, the confident, gritty team we've seen in June could quickly become the train wreck they were in April and early May. It will be up to the leaders of this team to hold it all together. The Mauers, Pavanos, Cuddyers, and Morneaus will need to ensure that these young guys know they're still a very important part of this squad. They will need to make sure they understand that importance, because no doubt they will be needed at some point in the future. It's up to the veterans to get this message across.
What we're seeing now is the beginning of a great comeback run by the Twins. They're playing the right way, they're playing with confidence, and we as fans need to make sure we have confidence in them to make this miraculous run a reality in July, August, September, and hopefully into October.
With Wednesday night's 4-1 win over the White Sox, the Twins have now won 10 of their last 12 games. Their bats have started to come alive a bit, their pitching has greatly improved from earlier in the season, and they are starting to do those "Twins-type" things once more, like stealing bases, hit-and-runs, and moving runners over. Add all of those facets together, and you have one of the more dangerous teams in the American League Central.
Oh, and there's one more thing to mention. Health.
Wednesday afternoon, the Twins outrighted left-handed reliever Dusty Hughes to Triple-A Rochester to make room for Tsuyoshi Nishioka. And that's not all. It is expected that All-Star catcher Joe Mauer will be back in the starting lineup on Friday. Combine those with the returns of Justin Morneau, Jason Kubel, Jim Thome, Glen Perkins, Joe Nathan, and Denard Span over the next two to three weeks, and this team will finally be healthy again, and become a serious threat in the Central Division.
So, we've covered the health aspect, and we've mentioned the "back-to-basics" mentality of stealing, bunting, and hitting and running. But the biggest factor right now that has led the Twins to one of the best records in baseball in June is the fact that, as a team, they've begun to realize that the can win. The confidence of each player is at a season-high right now. Alexi Casilla, who was having a hard time hitting out of a paper bag in April and May, was hitting .374 for June going into Wednesday's game. Delmon Young, who was having a hard time hitting thin air when he swung, as begun to hit balls hard, and has almost as many extra-base hits in June as he had throughout the first two months of the season. Michael Cuddyer has suddenly become more of the leader than many people, including myself, thought he should be in the absence of Joe Mauer. The starting rotation has been incredible throughout the last three weeks, including two complete games by Carl Pavano, including Wednesday's gem. All told, if you've watched the Twins play over the last two and a half weeks, you would think this was the team leading the division, not bringing up the tail.
What the Twins need to do is continue executing their game plan. As they've been executing the plan, each player has been gaining confidence. That confidence has become contagious. It will be incredibly important for the players currently in the lineup to foster this confidence further, as the returning players start to reintegrate themselves back into the lineup. Mauer, albeit a three-time batting champion, has not been hitting well during his rehab stints over the last 10 days. Those rehab games were primarily meant to get him used to catching games again, but the hope is that the bat will quickly return to what we're all used to. Nishioka had a very rough start to his Major League Baseball career before he went down with the leg injury. It will be important for the guys to make sure his confidence begins to soar, just as theirs has been. Likewise for the others as they gradually return from their various injuries.
If anything could derail the Twins right now, it would be a sharp detour from the "team" attitude that these guys have right now. As some of the guys begin to return and reclaim their spots, guys like Drew Butera, Matt Tolbert, Luke Hughes, and Ben Revere will likely see their playing time diminish. If those guys let their egos get in the way of the team, the confident, gritty team we've seen in June could quickly become the train wreck they were in April and early May. It will be up to the leaders of this team to hold it all together. The Mauers, Pavanos, Cuddyers, and Morneaus will need to ensure that these young guys know they're still a very important part of this squad. They will need to make sure they understand that importance, because no doubt they will be needed at some point in the future. It's up to the veterans to get this message across.
What we're seeing now is the beginning of a great comeback run by the Twins. They're playing the right way, they're playing with confidence, and we as fans need to make sure we have confidence in them to make this miraculous run a reality in July, August, September, and hopefully into October.
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