Minnesota Twins Talk

How does everyone feel about Joe Smith? http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/minnesota-twins http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithjo05.shtml

[blinking lights] LAST CALL! I have a few free tickets (and pint glasses and beers) set aside and I need a few volunteers to help out at the Meltdown. You might help people check-in, maybe help them take their pictures, collect questions for the Q&A panel or organize raffle gifts. But mostly you'll have fun meeting people who love to talk Twins. You'll also receive a ton of gratitude, because with 300 people coming this year, we could really use the help. If you're interested, please comment below and I'll reach out to you individually. THANK YOU, John

A week or so ago Tom Froemming wrote a piece about how "The Waiting Is The Hardest Part" http://twinsdaily.com/topic/24570-article-the-waiting-is-the-hardest-part/ when it comes to the Brian Dozier trade and trade rumors. Which got me thinking (since I am bored at work with little to so this Christmas week) what other songs correspond to what has happened in the Dozier Rumors. And boy there are some good songs to tell the story of Brian Dozier Rumor Mill this off season. Here is the list: Feel free to add your songs. 1) Tom Petty - "The Waiting Is The Hardest Part" for obvious reasons. Tom explained it in his piece. https://youtu.be/uMyCa35_mOg 2) Fleetwood Mac -…

Let's discuss the impending trade of Brian Dozier here:

Dave St. Peter and Andy MacPhail stood with many people from the Dominican baseball leagues and MLB to unveil their new baseball academy in Boca Chica. We had head from Darren Wolfson that Thad Levine was also there, along with the likes of Ervin Santana, Danny Santana and Jorge Polanco. Here is the press release followed by a tweet showing how cool and well down the academy is. Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies Debut Dominican Republic Baseball Academy The Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies announced today the completion of their new shared baseball academy in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, with a grand opening celebration held at the site. The …

I read an article linked to Ken Rosenthal's Twitter feed: http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/los-angeles-dodgers-second-baseman-brian-dozier-javier-baez-mark-trumbo-notes-011917 Here is a quote: "Forsythe, perhaps, is a more realistic target for the Dodgers — he is under control for only two more seasons, and the Rays, as they showed in their recent trade of left-hander Drew Smyly to the Mariners, are forever open to acquiring younger talent. The difference with Forsythe is that the Rays cannot easily replace him; with Smyly, they dealt from a position of strength." I started thinking that maybe we could do a smaller three-way trade that would give the Rays a repl…

According to ESPN.com's Buster Olney, Brian Dozier is the ninth-best second baseman in baseball. Maybe we are biased as Twins fans, but it's hard to see him ranked that low, while I assume the Dodgers love it. I'ts a subscriber article, but here are the Top 10: 1.) Altuve 2.) Cano 3.) Kinsler 4.) D Murphy 5.) Pedroia 6.) LeMahieu 7.) Zobrist 8.) Kipnis 9.) Dozier 10.) Odor HM: Schoop, Forsythe, Panik, C Hernandez, J Harrison, N Walker. WC (Wild Card): Javier Baez

Sorry Joe, you were great once. Now we just wait for the day that your contract is up. James Loney signed a minor league deal for 1 million dollars in 2017 if he can make the major league roster. His numbers last year were .265/.307/.397 . Joe's were .261 .363 .389. The year before Loney had .294/.342/.404. Mauer had .265 .338 .380. Sure Mauer is still a better player due to the OBP difference and maybe defensive value, but by how much? Enough to take up a roster spot on a young team that just had the worst record in baseball? Of course not. Sad to see things end this way for someone who was on his way to the hall of fame at one point.

So if we are keeping Dozier, why don't we give him a homerun hitter behind him in the lineup? MLBtraderumors listed a report today that Trumbo's asking price might be coming down to as low as 3 years and 40 million. The new guys running the team this year have said they have the green light to spend some money on free agents if they so desire. I would be thrilled with Dozier, Trumbo, and Sano as the Twins 3,4,5 hitters. It sounds like Trumbo can play first base, DH and outfield in a pinch. If we can't pitch very good, let's just outscore the other teams.

I wrote a recap last week of SportCon, the sports analytics conference put on by MinneAnalytics with significant involvement from the Twins. You can read about that here: http://twinsdaily.com/_/minnesota-twins-news/minnesota-twins/twins-make-their-mark-at-sportcon-r5293 Many people expressed disappointment that they didn't hear about this event or were unable to attend. Well, today TECHdotMN posted videos of a few panels, including one on analytical applications in media and pro sports, which I think many here will find interesting. The panelists included Twins Director of Baseball Research Jack Goin, as well as Milwaukee Bucks Director Basketball Analytics Michael Clu…

Just what we need another Dozier related post... Wonder if real pending deadline for a Dozier deal is January 26th With BD winning 3 Twins Diamond Awards would you announce a trade before or after handing them out on the 26th? If you forgot who won what Seth recaps here http://twinsdaily.com/topic/24137-twins-announced-2016-diamond-awards/

Apologies if this was already posted but I didn't see it anywhere. http://www.pe.com/articles/annual-823078-spectacular-hilton.html "Scouts being honored include Eddie Bane and Mike Radcliff who will receive the George Genovese Lifetime Achievement Award in Scouting"

Got this calendar as a Christmas present. Question: Which of these players will be on the opening day roster, or either gone, in the minors, or injured? Already gone, Trevor Plouffe. http://www.calendars.com/img/p/orig/201700003206_1.jpg

Where does he fit in next season? Is he the team's DH? Is he a big bat off the bench? Is he platooning at 1B with Mauer? Where do you see him next year?

The Twins and Live Nation announced this morning that Billy Joel will have a concert at Target Field on July 28th. Not really baseball-related, but it is at Target Field and maybe some are interested. I'd love to go! And, Paul Molitor's speech was pretty funny. I'll try to post the FSN link to that later. Billy Joel in Concert at Target Field on Friday, July 28, 2017 BILLY JOELIN CONCERT TARGET FIELD ON FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2017 FIRST EVER MINNESOTA STADIUM SHOW Public On Sale Friday, January 20 @ 10 a.m. (Minneapolis, MN) – Legendary musician Bill…

Recently, I started doing some Twins chats on Twitter/Periscope on my phone. I know some of you have watched them live, but if not, I'll keep a running list of the chats here: 1/2/17 (Seth) - Periscope Link --- Twitter Link 1/4/17 (Seth) - Periscope Link --- Twitter Link 1/13/17 (Seth) - Periscope Link --- Twitter Link Share your thoughts on anything here.

What if we didn't know as much about these trade negotiations as we thought? What if it isn't centered around JDL? What if the hang up isn't about a better 2nd or 3rd prospect, but something else... I know this scenario is HIGHLY unlikely, but what if the Twin's position is "we are not willing to trade Dozier right now unless we absolutely get blown away." What if the Twins are trying to figure out what it would take to get Urias? What if we have offered Dozier + Jay + other prospects to make it work? Again, HIGHLY unlikely, but if this were the case, what do you think it would take to get Urias? Here's mine: Dozier, Jay, Stewart and Kepler for Urias and Puig (I …

So I want to say the lede was buried on the MLBTR write up for the Twins, (I'm not even linking it, don't pretend you didn't go there first!) but I guess Brian Dozier still gets top billing around here and he probably should. However the Twins have talked to Bautista's reps? Probably just doing due diligence or perhaps is some negotiating ploy. Either way, seems a bit out of left-field (probably right-field actually or DH) to say the least. http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/213152402/twins-could-keep-brian-dozier-seek-free-agent/ So in the unlikely situation where Dozier is retained and Bautista is signed, what's the lineup? The three biggest power threats are Doz…

Who is most likely to raise some eyebrows this spring? Anyone want to make any bold picks for surprise MLB roster adds?

My son and I are planning on being in Florida for a week (March 13-18) to watch baseball (visiting both the Twins and the Mets facilities as he is a Mets fan). We have never done this before. Do I need to be concerned about the availability to tickets? Do the games typically sell out or are there plenty walk up tickets available? Thank you.

Kind of slipped through the cracks but a nice reminder of how fast Buxton is. A normal ground out to Lindor is nearly a hit. http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/73955164/v1216908183/clemin-buxtons-time-to-first-base-fastest-in-2016/?player_id=621439 He also had the fastest inside the park HR http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/73955164/v1200954583/mincws-buxtons-1405second-insidethepark-homer/?player_id=621439

Nick Gordon and Stephen Gonsalves are the big named prospects who were invited to Twins spring training. Here is the full press release: TWINS ANNOUNCE 2017 SPRING TRAINING INVITES Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced today that 16 players on minor league contracts have been invited to major league spring training camp in 2017. Joining the Twins will be six pitchers: right-handers Raul Fernandez, Jake Reed, Drew Rucinski, Aaron Slegers and Alex Wimmers; left-handed pitcher Stephen Gonsalves; catchers Eddy Rodriguez and Dan Rohlfing; infielders Tommy Field, Bengie Gonzalez, Niko Goodrum, Nick Gordon, Matt Hague, Leonardo Reginatto and Ben Paulsen…

I know... we have many Brian Dozier threads... so... another couldn't hurt. Post your Three Team Trade Ideas Here Just for Giggles I'll throw one out Dozier to Pirates McCutchen to Mets Mets Pitching to Twins Plus whatever from whoever to tidy it up.

Ok if you are like me, you are fatigued by thinking about a potential Brian Dozier trade. With that said, there are still other moves to be made. Brandon Warne, with Mike Berardino, in their latest podcast mentioned Luis Valbuena as a potential free agent fit for the Twins. Potential DH (he hits righties well) and someone that could play 3rd base in a pinch if Sano is unable to really hold down the fort there, or needs a day off once in a while. He just turned 31 at the tail end of November, so next year he will be 31 all season. He also started to become a solid player when he was working with new Twins hitting coach James Rowson with the Cubs. Last year (in 90 g…

I like the idea of Ross but I think the likelihood of him coming back from his injury is pretty low. But a one year deal - even if they have to pay 14m - is fine with me to find out.

I've found the conversations within the various Dozier-to-Dodgers threads to be facinating. Not only has the conversation been smart, but everyone has been very respectful of each others opinions - and wow, those opinions vary wildly! Since it sounds like the hot stove will be only slowly simmering over the holidays, I'd like to do a little project. In order to get a broader sense of the breath of opinions out there, I'd like people to share their thoughts about the Dodgers system and Dozier's value. Feel free to message me directly if you don't feel like commenting publicly. Once 2017 rolls in, I'll compile the results and share what the broader community thinks about th…

From the Star Tribune: Twins looking for veterans in bullpen. Some snippets: “It seemed as if the Twins had tremendous arms in the bullpen, but not a lot of experience. A lot of young guys coming out of the bullpen into extremely stressful situations,” "The Twins are shopping, he suggested, for ways to add veterans to the ’pen, and the starting rotation, too." Can't argue with that. Hopefully, those veteran arms are quality arms and not another round of 'dumpster diving'. http://www.startribune.com/twins-looking-for-veterans-in-bullpen/406686426/

So, that's something, I guess.

Joe Nelson from GoMN.com wrote a fun article highlighting the Top 10 performances by Minnesota athletes in 2016. Two Twins made the list, but it's an interesting list. Add your own or discuss the ones Joe included: http://www.gomn.com/news/the-10-best-single-game-performances-by-minnesota-athletes-in-2016/