Minnesota Twins Talk

Hicks is on pace to be next in a fine Twins center field line | StarTribune.com

Club hopes Wood can follow Burton's lead | twinsbaseball.com: News Also, lots on Tim Wood could be the setup man.

He mentioned that he hadn't talked to Ron Gardenhire. Is it common for a manager to not get in touch with a newly acquired player? I just assumed the the manager would want to touch base with his newest player over the phone.

Why are they covering a team so much that kicked them in nuts and bailed for a second rate FM station?

Minnesota Twins: Humbled Brian Dozier eager for second chance - TwinCities.com

Twins may add another rotation candidate | twinsbaseball.com: News

From 2001? If so, great picture. Hey there Hughesy... | Glen Perkins and Joe Mauer!

Three years after big rift, Perkins feels right at home with Twins | StarTribune.com

Hartman: Morneau upbeat about his health | StarTribune.com

I am missing the 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1965 Twins Media guides to complete my set. I thought that I might find them at TwinsFest but had no luck there. So now I am turning to the general public for your help. If you have any of these 5 media guides and would be looking to part (sell) with them, please drop me a line at jjswol@twinstrivia.com . Thank you and I appreciate the help.

To countdown the days til pitchers and catchers report, we're going to list the Twins with those numbers (thanks to this awesome list) and let you pick your favorite. So who is the poster boy for 1/25 or Day #16.... 16 Bert Cueto, 1961 Johnny Goryl, 1962 Joe Nossek, 1964 Jerry Kindall, 1964-65 Ted Uhlaender, 1966 Frank Kostro, 1967 Ron Perranoski, 1968-71 Bob Gebhard, 1971-72 Dan Fife, 1973-74 Tom Kelly, 1975 Eddie Bane, 1975 Butch Wynegar, 1979-82 Frank Viola, 1982-89 Bob Kipper, 1992 Derek Parks, 1992-94 Dan Masteller, 1995 Dan Serafini, 1996-98 Midre Cummings, 1999-2000 Doug Mientkiewicz, 2001-04 Glenn Williams, 2005 Jason Ku…

I'm sure it's news to no one but Diaz is one of this seasons Cuban defectors. The Twins are said to have interest as they should, he's a young shortstop with offensive upside. The question now seems to be, how young? He has been claiming his age is 23. All too often Latin players have gotten busted claiming to be younger than the truely are. Reports are that Diaz is claiming to be OLDER than he truely is, this due to the fact that 23-year-old Cuban defectors are exempt from the international signing cap, meaning they have potential for a much bigger payday. I would hope the Twins are interested regardless of age, but this is a strange wrinkle. The Twins have been agres…

Sounds like Hicks is front-runner for the starting CF job. I'm not excited about this for several reasons; however, the options are probably slim. Was the last successful player called up from AA by the Twins Joe Mauer? Edit: Here's a copy of the Tweet: Brian Murphy ‏@murphPPressTwins GM says Aaron Hicks leading candidate to secure CF job in camp and leapfrog AAA

To countdown the days til pitchers and catchers report, we're going to list the Twins with those numbers (thanks to this awesome list) and let you pick your favorite. So who is the poster boy for 1/25 or Day #18.... Paul Giel, 1961 Danny McDevitt, 1961 Dick Stigman, 1962-65 Rich Reese, 1966 Jim Ollom, 1967 Tom Hall, 1968 Dick Woodson, 1969 Bill Rigney, 1970-72 (Manager) Eddie Bane, 1973, 1976 Mike Pazik, 1975 Mark Wiley, 1975 Don Carrithers, 1977 Greg Thayer, 1978 Paul Hartzell, 1979 Greg Johnston, 1980 Ray Smith, 1981 Terry Felton, 1982 Ken Schrom, 1983-85 Alejandro Sanchez, 1986 Don Baylor, 1987 Tom Herr, 1988 Kelvin Torve, 1988 Shane Rawley, 1989 Paul Sorrento, 1991 …

I might have to get a lobotomy because I'm starting to think like a Cubs fan. I was just thinking though, if we are going to be as bad this year as it looks like we are, can we at least make it funny by bringing back Lew Ford or .... you name another player.

While looking for pitch frame data for catcher I ran across some data for pitchers. I haven't seen the data presented this way and I haven't seen data before 2012. It turns out Sam Deduno netted a loss of 30 strikes per 1000 pitches. It wasn't the greatest number among starter but did rank third behind Justin Masterson and Jeanmar Gomez. Bad luck? Poor pitch framing on the part of the catcher? Umpires knowing his reputation not expecting a strike? Below is a link to a graphic from Texas Leaguers showing Sam Deduno pitches. http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/charts/gen/4656792012030420121003AAAAAstrikezone.png Among starting pitchers, Freddy Garcia benefitted the mo…

If Oswaldo Arcia reproduces his numbers from New Britain in Rochester this coming year, then when and how should the front office pave the road for his arrival in Minnesota? There are many different possibilities for re-arrangement with the club carrying four 1B/DH-types. (Mauer, Doumit, Morneau, Parmelee)

Interesting article about the Twins signing of Kevin Correia. "But I have a lot of faith and trust in people that have seen him, and they were adamant that this guy can help us. He's a little bit better than a fifth starter. ..." Mackey: Twins Taking a Philosophical Gamble

With our pitching looking well below par, we will need a fabulous defense to keep us competitive in 2013. But wait a minute, we are committed to starting a first-baseman in RF and we will keep our best DH in LF, so that our other DH can catch or play 1B. ?????????????????? How in the heck did we get into this mess????????????????????? We still have Morneau because he was about as valuable as Francisco Liriano at the trade-deadline and on the market last off-season. If he had been dealt, Arcia would have a legit shot in RF instead of the joke we are sending out there everyday this coming year. Nothing like having a big, slow guy covering a third of that spacious outf…

This is "Insider" only, so please be respectful about lifting content, but ESPN writer Jason Martinez thinks the Twins optimal year of contention is 2016. What do you think. Will we need to wait four more seasons?

This story is just to hilarious! $600,000 to not be a fat slob. :jump: Delmon Young Can Earn $600,000 In Bonus Money By Not Being A Fat Mess

Francisco Liriano broke his arm falling in the bathroom | Tireball MLB News, Rumors and Opinions

The Twins will have a decision to make about Aaron Hicks and Kyle Gibson. Do they make the opening day roster? Waiting until early May will allow them an extra year of team control. They did this with Dozier last year waiting until May 7. Though criticized in an article about opening presents on this site, they did wait long enough. They did risk arbitration a year earlier but did not risk a year of team control. Mid market teams like the Twins can afford to start the arbitration process a year earlier for a super 2. Should the Twins wait the 3-4 weeks necessary to ensure that Hicks and Gibson will not earn a year of service time? Isn't a full season in their prime…

Mark DeRosa signs with the Blue Jays. BOOOOOOOOO!!! :shoot:

Any interest in Chris Carpenter (the young one), pitcher from the Red Sox who has pretty decent minor league numbers. Just got bumped off their 40 man. Has to be better then a few of our guys on our 40 man.

Sports Illustrated gives the Twins a B- for their offseason moves. It likes the trades, dislikes the pitching signings and wonders why the middle infield is still a mess. I'd be interested in others thoughts on the grade for the Twins this year. My initial reaction was D, just because the rotation seems so botched, but I am happy with the trades and where they position the Twins for 2014. I guess I'd go with a "C" but not for the usual reason. Usually a C implies average - they did about what I'd have expected them to do. Instead, they did far less in some areas and far more in others. A "C" seems to be where they balance out to.

No doubt some deep insights will be revealed. har har.

Rationalize that at least half of the players in the game are still of major-league quality unless the Royals are in town. Bring some additional friends to the game. (If the friends are Jack Daniels or Johnnie Walker, all the better.) Text the Twins’ in-game Twitter account to ask them why they are continuing to let TC Bear roam around the ballpark without any pants. See who can find the most look-alikes for famous persons’ heads in your bag of peanuts. (Richard Nixon doesn’t count as most peanuts already look like Nixon.) Take a walking tour of the Warehouse District to spot all the lamp post banners still featuring ex-Twins. Apply a new SAB…

Jon Morosi reports the Twins are talking to Joe Saunders. This isn't the first time we've heard this. In fact, LaVelle reported over the winter meetings that the Twins made him an offer. When we wrote up the Offseason Handbook, he seemed like a very Twins-ish target, if only they could afford him: I'm pretty sure just about any contract to him is going to be multi-year, but I think I'd be OK with that. The Twins have money this year, and they have lots of money the next couple years, too. And Saunders isn't Kevin Correia. He has a decent chance of replicating the good years of Carl Pavano at Target Field. Would I flinch at 3/21? A little, but I think I'd swing.

I know a lot of posters on here have suggested going after Kelly Johnson. I wouldn't be opposed to that. I was looking through the list of potential free agents and one name caught my eye. Freddy Sanchez. I know he has had health issues. He should come cheap and he would be a nice two hole hitter. I think either one would be worth a shot. Thoughts?