My Twinkies

**RhoadsRage** · 01-30-2010, 01:38 AM

Anybody else out there pi**ed off that we have one of the richest owners in bball(Pohlad), but yet we never go out and get that last 1 or 2 pieces we need??? I love the fact that we have argueably(?), the best minor league system in the majors but I really wish we could get some much needed free agents to bolster our lineup sometime. I'm sick and tired of hearing about the Wankees and the Sawks having all the cards and getting all the FA that are worth a damn. WE NEED A 3B AND A COUPLE SP NOW!!!! NOT IN A COUPLE YEARS WHEN THEY MATURE.

**helechopper** · 01-30-2010, 01:40 AM

Yeah, I don't understand either. The fan support for the Twins is amazing, they go to the games, buy merchandise and got a new stadium right downtown. You'd think he'd throw us a bone.

Go figure.

**hurdleisu24** · 01-30-2010, 07:03 AM

Well he is trying to resign Mauer to a long term deal and that's going to be expensive

**RhoadsRage** · 01-30-2010, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by hurdleisu24

Well he is trying to resign Mauer to a long term deal and that's going to be expensive

Ya if we lose him that would be a huge blow!!

**Iastfan112** · 01-30-2010, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by RhoadsRage

Anybody else out there pi**ed off that we have one of the richest owners in bball(Pohlad), but yet we never go out and get that last 1 or 2 pieces we need??? I love the fact that we have argueably(?), the best minor league system in the majors but I really wish we could get some much needed free agents to bolster our lineup sometime. I'm sick and tired of hearing about the Wankees and the Sawks having all the cards and getting all the FA that are worth a damn. WE NEED A 3B AND A COUPLE SP NOW!!!! NOT IN A COUPLE YEARS WHEN THEY MATURE.

1. Baker
2. Slowey
3. Blackburn
4. Pavano
5. Liriano/Duensing
Waiting in the wings: Manship, Perkins, Swarzak.

If the Twins wanted to acquire another pitcher the only thing worth going for is a guy with the potential to be an ace, and the only guy left out there to fulfill that role is Bedard who is incredibly risky. The Twins made nice moves to get Hardy, Thome, and to a lesser extent resigning Pavano. This is the most active and producting(aka no signing washed up folks like Livan).

A 3B or 2B signing would be nice just have to see how much Mauer costs(I'm betting he signs before the end of next weekend, just from comments out of the Twins org and Mauers agent) and how much guys like Orlando Hudson and Lopez will sign for.

Edit: Also, Polhad is dead, sons own/run it now.

**Steve** · 01-30-2010, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by Iastfan112

1. Baker
2. Slowey
3. Blackburn
4. Pavano
5. Liriano/Duensing
Waiting in the wings: Manship, Perkins, Swarzak.

If the Twins wanted to acquire another pitcher the only thing worth going for is a guy with the potential to be an ace, and the only guy left out there to fulfill that role is Bedard who is incredibly risky. The Twins made nice moves to get Hardy, Thome, and to a lesser extent resigning Pavano. This is the most active and producting(aka no signing washed up folks like Livan).

A 3B or 2B signing would be nice just have to see how much Mauer costs(I'm betting he signs before the end of next weekend, just from comments out of the Twins org and Mauers agent) and how much guys like Orlando Hudson and Lopez will sign for.

Edit: Also, Polhad is dead, sons own/run it now.

I agree with all of your points. I would also like to throw in a plug for Liriano. It wouldn't surprise me to see the Twins assign him to the pen to begin with to prove himself. Based on the reports out of the Dominican league, I can see him in the rotation by June with a chance at putting up 15 wins. Supposedly he has consistently shown the velocity, control, and nasty slider that has been missing since 2006.

**bawbie** · 01-30-2010, 01:41 PM

The Twins have done a better job filling in spots and spending money this year, with Pavano, Thome & Hardy. Their payroll will be over $90m for the first time.

**RhoadsRage** · 01-30-2010, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by Iastfan112

1. Baker
2. Slowey
3. Blackburn
4. Pavano
5. Liriano/Duensing
Waiting in the wings: Manship, Perkins, Swarzak.

If the Twins wanted to acquire another pitcher the only thing worth going for is a guy with the potential to be an ace, and the only guy left out there to fulfill that role is Bedard who is incredibly risky. The Twins made nice moves to get Hardy, Thome, and to a lesser extent resigning Pavano. This is the most active and producting(aka no signing washed up folks like Livan).

A 3B or 2B signing would be nice just have to see how much Mauer costs(I'm betting he signs before the end of next weekend, just from comments out of the Twins org and Mauers agent) and how much guys like Orlando Hudson and Lopez will sign for.

Edit: Also, Polhad is dead, sons own/run it now.

Baker 15-9
Slowey 10-3 (injured 1st half last year)
Blackburn 11-11
Pavano 14-12
Liriano 5-13 (don't trust him anymore)
Duensing 5-2 (9 starts)
Manship 1-1 (5 starts)
Perkins 6-7 (17 starts)
Swarzak 3-7 (12 starts)
My point was that I think we needed a top level guy(Ace as you put it). These guys can do a decent job but we need that 1 guaranteed win in every 5 days.

**jdoggivjc** · 01-30-2010, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by bawbie

The Twins have done a better job filling in spots and spending money this year, with Pavano, Thome & Hardy. Their payroll will be over $90m for the first time.

This. While we haven't had any "blockbuster" signings, they've actually done a very good job this off season. Plus I believe they're trying to save something to be able to give Mauer his long-term contract.

**Steve** · 01-30-2010, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by bawbie

The Twins have done a better job filling in spots and spending money this year, with Pavano, Thome & Hardy. Their payroll will be over $90m for the first time.

I'm hoping that one of the benefits of signing Thome is to give Morneau a little more rest so that he doesn't hit the wall at the end like he has historically done. I know that he had the fracture last year, but he has tired down the stretch before that incident. It doesn't have to be Thome filling in at 1st. He can DH while Cuddyer plays 1st with Kubel in RF.

**Tpups21** · 01-30-2010, 01:48 PM

Orlando Hudson and Reed Johnson are the missing links for a World Series run.

**jdoggivjc** · 01-30-2010, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by RhoadsRage

Baker 15-9
Slowey 10-3 (injured 1st half last year)
Blackburn 11-11
Pavano 14-12
Liriano 5-13 (don't trust him anymore)
Duensing 5-2 (9 starts)
Manship 1-1 (5 starts)
Perkins 6-7 (17 starts)
Swarzak 3-7 (12 starts)
My point was that I think we needed a top level guy(Ace as you put it). These guys can do a decent job but we need that 1 guaranteed win in every 5 days.

I think one of Baker, Slowley, or Blackburn is going to blossom into the Twins' ace this year. Both Baker and Slowley were hot down the stretch last year (I was at the Dome for Baker's 2-hit shutout of the Indians - it was the most dominating pitching performance I have ever seen in person), and while Blackburn went on a mid-to-later season swoon last year, he pulled it together in time for the post season run. While it would be nice to pull in a big-name free agent ace, it may not be necessary.

**jdoggivjc** · 01-30-2010, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by Steve

I'm hoping that one of the benefits of signing Thome is to give Morneau a little more rest so that he doesn't hit the wall at the end like he has historically done. I know that he had the fracture last year, but he has tired down the stretch before that incident. It doesn't have to be Thome filling in at 1st. He can DH while Cuddyer plays 1st with Kubel in RF.

I wouldn't worry Morneau this season, now that we know that Cuddyer is a more than capable 1st baseman. If Thome's playing in the field, it's because we're desperate.

**RhoadsRage** · 01-30-2010, 01:55 PM

I also realized the Pohlad thing.....I was talking about Jim not Carl.

**Iastfan112** · 01-30-2010, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

I think one of Baker, Slowley, or Blackburn is going to blossom into the Twins' ace this year. Both Baker and Slowley were hot down the stretch last year (I was at the Dome for Baker's 2-hit shutout of the Indians - it was the most dominating pitching performance I have ever seen in person), and while Blackburn went on a mid-to-later season swoon last year, he pulled it together in time for the post season run. While it would be nice to pull in a big-name free agent ace, it may not be necessary.

I don't, none of them have overpowering stuff, which is what it takes to be a true ace, I see Baker fulfilling the Radke role of being a passable number 1 but not a true ace(Slowey could as well though).