Other Baseball

Here's a great piece from MLB.com's Corey Brock on how the San Diego Padres use both scouting and stats to improve their team. I suggest you take the time to read the whole thing but if you don't have that kind of time, here's some great excerpts: Padres' assistant GM AJ Hinch on the scouting department: Hinch on who to hire for the scouting positions: Cubs director of professional scouting Joe Bohringer on using analytics: It's clearly a dedicate balance of how to introduce analytics to an industry that has been built on gut instinct. Some teams have found it challenging to adapt to the new world balance and it sounds as if the Twins, who are trying to lea…

What's most amazing, to me, is where he thinks the ball is going (down to the left) and where it did go (up to the right). Tigers can't keep him there much longer. I think there's longer video link from si.com. http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2012/story/_/id/7709712/miguel-cabrera-detroit-tigers-takes-hard-grounder-face

If anyone is interested in Fantasy Baseball, you may or may not enjoy this. I thought it would be fun to post the results of my fantasy baseball draft. It is a 14 team, weekly head-to-head points league. Each week, we start (C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, MI, CI, OF, OF, OF, OF, 8-P). 24 round draft. Serpentine draft. I have the 14th pick in the first round, and then the 1st pick of the second round. I plan to post the draft results after each round. you can feel free to Comment Live... or, if you're looking for a Live Draft to help you figure out a draft strategy, or get an idea of where people are going. Feel free to advise!

According to Jack Curry, the Yankees have signed Andy Pettitte to a one-year minor league deal worth $2.5 million dollars. The almost 40-year-old lefty, who retired at the end of the 2010 season, did not pitch in all of 2011 after throwing 129 innings the previous year. Ten more seasons and he'll catch up to Jamie Moyer.

I remember hearing about a an upcoming PBS documentary focused on the '09 Rochester Red Wings season, but I don't remember it being broadcast? Did anyone see it? Was it actually aired? I can't seem to find much info on it now. I'd be interested in seeing it now if was available somewhere.

It seems like it's not uncommon that players get drafted at one position, and the get moved to another position. Other than just being terrible at a position, what leads coaches and managers to try and convert players to other positions? What do they look for at each position when working with young players?

Re-assigned to their MiLB camp

Hi gang, I just finished making my AL team wins over/under picks with Aaron Gleeman. I thought I better record them somewhere for posterity. I'd love your reactions and picks. AL West Angels (92.5) - Both Aaron and I stayed away from this Rangers (91.5) - Both Aaron and I chose the over. Mariners (72) - I'm under, Aaron stayed neutral. A's (71.5) - We both stayed away from this. AL East Yankees (93.5) - We both like over. Red Sox (89.5) - Aaron likes the over. I kinda do, but stayed away. Devil Rays (87) - We both like the over on the Rays Blue Jays (81) - We both stayed away. Orioles (69.5) - I like the under. Aaron stayed away. AL Central Tigers (…

Congratulations to friend of Twins Daily, Lindsay Guentzel, on being named this morning as one of nine people who will spend the season in the MLB Fan Cave in New York City. What an honor for her! It should be great and anyone who has MLB Network will be able to keep up with her all summer as many guests will visit her and the other guests.

I have seen the Twins at Royal's stadium and County stadium vs the Brewers. I've also seen games at Fenway, and Busch stadium. Where have you been?

I just finished reading an article from the Wall Street Journal about the Giants stealing signs to win the pennant in 1951 aka Bobby Thompson's "Shot Heard 'Round The World!" and I was wondering what everyone thinks about stealing signs? Here's the article if you want to read it. It's very interesting and explains how they did it: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB980896446829227925.html There's a video of Joe Mauer allegedly stealing signs that I'm sure most of you have seen. The title of the video even has the words "not cheating" in it so you know what the person who took the video thinks of sign-stealing. Is sign-stealing still prevalent in today's game? Or at…

...and don't say "all of them." SFG is the one I want to see the most. Safeco is 2nd. After those, I'd go with the entire Grapefruit League.

I'm heading to Yankee Stadium in April to see the Twins series and then taking in Citi Field for the weekend series. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions on what I need to see or do at each park? I plan on taking a tour of both stadiums.

FoxSports' Ken Rosenthal tweets today that sources have told him that baseball will expand from eight to ten teams, adding that one-game wild card play-in. This means that 33% of all teams will make the playoffs in 2012. That's a hefty number - not quite NBA or NHL big - and it certainly dilutes the meaning of the 162-game regular season just a bit more but it also adds excitement of fall baseball to fringe teams' fan base who would have otherwise been focusing their attention elsewhere. Your thoughts: Is this a good or bad thing for baseball?

Saw this on Mpls/St. Paul Biz Journal: According to the North County Times he will be the pregame and postgame host on the Padres' broadcasts.

Is anyone by chance going to the Season Opener in Baltimore? I think I'm going to make the plunge since they're so close to New York. I'll probably try to hit up Saturday too

The Twins took Jason Varitek with their first round pick in the 1993 MLB Draft (21st Pick) but he failed to sign with the team. The Red Sox went on to draft him the next year and he is forever etched in their club's history. Any thoughts on Varitek as he is set to retire?

Some of you may be aware that in addition to being a member of TwinsCentric, I also run an apparel company called DiamondCentric where we provide sports-themed t-shirts. This venture has mostly focused around the Twins but has since branched into other local sports teams. If you are a follower of ours on Facebook, you know that we often do Caption Contests, giving the winner who amuses us the most a free tee. I thought we'd bring the practice over to the Twins Daily community and rewards those of you who have visited our new site. So, for a free Duenslinger t-shirt, give us your best caption for this picture:**Winner will be chosen tomorrow (2/24 at 5 PM Twin Cities time)…

In an unrelated Twins alumni update, the Los Angeles Angels have signed reliever Juan Rincon to a minor league deal. The 33-year-old Rincon pitched last season in the independent leagues for Bridgeport. Also happening today, Jose Mijares reported to Royals camp after a visa delay.

and the MLB does not like the outcome. The vote was 2-1. What a travesty! And the reason that he won was on a technicality. He claimed that the sample was left unattended for 2 days and could had been tampered with... if the glove doesn't fit...

The Indians edged out the Twins for second place in yesterday's poll, so let's hear who you think will win 3rd place (especially given Justin's quotes today). As usual, feel free to add a comment with your reasoning.

Yesterday, the Tigers earned the top spot with 70% of the vote - but who's next? Just like yesterday, place your vote and then add to the thread below. We'll go again tomorrow for 3rd place honors.

Take a minute to read this article. Wow. This does indeed sound like a scary situation. A haphazard job of cleaning up a bone spur in his back could have killed him.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, 27-year-old Elijah Dukes was arrested for possession of marijuana. The Times reports that Dukes' '11 Camero was pulled over around 1 AM in Tampa: This is like a scene out of Trailer Park Boys. Dukes gets pulled over by the cops. Cops come up the window. Dukes, in efforts to hide the drugs - which at this point has already been spotted by the police - tries to EAT THE ENTIRE bag, not just the weed inside of said bag. Because Ziplocks are so easy to swallow, the cops easily get the bag back out of his mouth. But wait, it looks like it doesn't matter whether or not they obtained the bag as Dukes had a fatty blunt rolled and sitting …

Let's do our division picks, poll style. Today I'll post a poll for who will win the AL Central. Tomorrow we'll eliminate the winner and post a poll for who will finish second and we'll repeat on Thursday and Friday. Don't just vote - give your reasons.

Anyone have mlb.tv? I am subject to the backouts for twins games but want to check out out of market games. Was wondering about quality and features - is it as good as MLB makes it sound?

What happens when a Cubs fan buys up a website that would become the Red Sox stadium site?? http://www.news-press.com/article/20120221/SPRINGTRAINING/120221024/Cubs-fan-buys-jetbluepark-com-much-Red-Sox-Nation-s-dismay?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home

Savvy move by Beane or is Manny destined to fail?

Am I the only one who thinks that its odd that Roy Oswalt still has yet to sign with a team now that spring training has started? Is it just injury concerns or his asking price? I'm guessing it is a little of both, no one probably wants to invest in a pitcher who has injury concerns. Although, the only good thing about someone signing him is that he does have high upside. Any guesses as to what team will eventually sign him?

Joe C does a nice job of approaching two touchy subjects: the Yankees consistently killing the Twins and the new playoff format. The story is here: http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/blogs/139705083.html First, he gives these quotes from Cashman: I don't take that as disrespect. But it's not like they were quivering in their boots, either. Then Joe finishes with this thought: I couldn't agree more. I'm generally against expanding the playoffs, but I love that winning the division will mean something again.