Minnesota Twins Talk

Now that Cole DeVries has been sent back down, after one day (and a fine performance on the mound), we can assess just what it was worth, at least to DeVries - not quite $900/hour for the time he spent pitching yesterday. I assume he's getting the major league minimum ($480,000/year), and it is prorated over his time actually spent on the roster (1 day out of roughly 180 in the season). That comes out to his latest stint in the majors earning him roughly $2,666. Figure the average game time is about 3 hours, that comes out to roughly $888/hour (yes, I know there is preparation and practice time involved, but I'm ignoring that - they don't get paid for spring trainin…

I think we will be sellers at the trade deadline. With that said, who can we afford to part with that other teams actually want. As has been discussed, it is a pretty short list. I don't think we should give up pitching, when the reason we are sellers in the first place is to accumulate quality arms. In my mind that takes Perkins, Burton out of the discussion. If we have learned anything over the last few years, it is sell high, which we didn't do with Delmon and Hardy. Even a month ago, Trevor was not in our long range plans. He has been a surprise to just about everyone, the streak he has been on during the last month has been all too real. Has he created any tr…

No question to me that Cole goes down after the game......but 4 starts 21 IP 19h .232BAA 3.43ERA 16K 7bb 1.24WHIP. Regardless of whether you think he has major league stuff...he's been fine. Nick Blackburn is one of the 'good ol boys' with no recourse since coming off the DL (again) in June 5 starts 26IP 36h .321BAA 6.92ERA 10k 8bb 1.69WHIP How can they make the arguement to keep Nick over Cole??? other than money

During the All-Star break the Twins are going to have to make a decision on what direction to go with the rest of the season, and how to get better going into 2013. It's pretty obvious this team just isn't going anywhere. A couple things to keep in mind going into next year. 1) the payroll would allow for a big FA signing, even as big as Hammels (my preference) 2) the starting rotation could include Baker and Gibson by June 3) Span's trade value is as high as it will ever be 3) Revere looks like he can play CF and be a productive MLB hitter 4) they still need a 2b 5) the bullpen is fine.... please don't trade for more relief pitchers 6) Blackburn, Pavano, Duensin…

I haven't seen this discussed on any threads, but if it has been, my bad... The Twins will have to make a move after tonight's game because the "extra man exemption" to the 25-man roster is only allowed for today. I was under the assumption that De Vries would come up, throw his 4, 5, 6 innings and then head back to Rochester... but then I saw Dustin Morse tweet that Blackburn is available in the bullpen today and I started wondering... Is Blackburn going to be the guy that heads down (or out)? It would make sense in the fact that they'll have five able (I use that term loosely) starters on the roster. It does kind of flub up the rest of those starters, but …

According to FSN a couple minutes ago.

Nutshelled.

If you've ever cycled or walked along the Cedar Lake Trail, you have most likely noticed that it passes close to Target Field. In fact, the path follows directly under Target Field! However, the nearest exit to the field from CLT is a few blocks away on either side. I think it would be a nice way to reward fans who avoided clogging up the streets by having an entrance that leads to a gate from the path. It looks like there is a valet parking entrance just on the other side of the fence on the south side of Target Field. With some covered bike racks and a CCTV camera in place, you'd have a really nice way to slip into the ballpark!

The Twins deserve only one representative to the All-Star game. They are in last place in the weakest division in the AL and have been there basically since the beginning of the season. There has been conversation about who the Twins rep should be in the All-Star game. The consensus for the past couple of weeks is that Josh Willingham deserves the honor. He has driven in the most runs, he has been close to the team lead in HRs and has had several big hits late in games. Mauer hasn't caught much (34 starts) and hit only his fourth homer today. However, Joe is a three-time batting champ who plays a premium position. Mauer's hitting numbers have slowly moved no…

If you want a souvenir HR ball hit by Jim Thome, get your outfield tickets for the Orioles series July 16-19. http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120630&content_id=34230330&vkey=news_bal&c_id=bal

When do they stop throwing good innings after bad money? If the Twins didn't have a long-term contract with Blackburn, he would have been done long ago, right? As I watched him get the snot kicked out of him yet again yesterday, I couldn't help but wonder: how much longer until he is recognized as a sunk cost? Why are they still investing innings in this guy? When do they stop throwing good innings after bad money? And I'll admit - I've been a supporter of Blackburn's in the past. Even within the last couple of weeks, I thought he was pitching better than his numbers. But this is getting silly. Right now there isn't really another option, but when Pavano or Walter …

OK, it's been six starts now. None of them have been bad, and some have been quite good (I put today in that category). He is easily the top starter on the staff right now. You would think opposition scouts have had enough time now to put together info on him for their clubs. Time to ask the question: Is he for real? Have we found a gem in the rough? Or is this still beginner's luck? Is an implosion coming?

Gems from Rob Neyer's twitter covering Ryans' speech. Actual quotes: "I don't have the education. I don't have the intellect. I don't have the computer skills." Ryan says Twins have struggled in Dominican Republic, and that it's his fault "I haven't fixed a thing. We're exactly where we were last year." This indicates to me that it is about time for the interim to resign and the Twins to actually get a GM who has the intellect, education and skills, to clear house on the organization from the top to the bottom and have this team compete in the 21st century. About freaking time...

From http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jon-heyman/19444756/twins-are-believed-more-willing-to-deal-span-than-willingham Twins want a young starter in return. Heyman mentions Nationals, Marlins and possibly the Yankees as potential partners. He says if the Twins don't get the offer they want, they'd hang onto Span.

Since leaving Milwaukee, Plouffe is 8 for 37 with one home run and 13 Ks in ten games. Triple slash .216/.237/.324 for .561 OPS. I know, that is an SSS (small sample size), the season is long and there are many ups and downs. Still... which Plouffe do we see going forward? A streaky one?

Is it Mauer or Willingham or do both make it?

ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports that the Twins and Ryan Doumit are close to a multi-year deal. 1500ESPN.com's Darren Wolfson says that the deal will be for two additional seasons. UPDATE: Wolfson says it's a two year, $7 million deal. What do you think of this decision?

Sounds like the Twins are wrapping up a multiyear extension with Doumit! http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/06/twins-doumit-closing-in-on-extension.html

According to MLBtraderumors.com "Twins Assistant GM Rob Antony told Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN ( via Twitter) that he'll engage Ryan Doumit 's agent in extension talks soon."

And I've got box seats! Woo-hoo!!

The argument about the merits of Swarzak got me thinking about Long Relief guys. I'm not sure where to go to find the stats, but I'm curious to see what the numbers look like if you were able to compare how our pitchers have done in Long Relief situations vs. Standard Relief (inning or less) vs. Situational (specific matchup based) vs. Starting. Duensing has been used in all four roles over the last several years...it seems he's been most successful as a situational guy, but do the stats support that? Strictly based on what I remember from watching games and reading box scores, it seems like Swarzak has been terrible as a starter but decent as Long Relief, and th…

What could the Twins get in return for Nick Blackburn in a trade? He is about $8 million for the rest of this season and 2013 combined and I don't think the 2014 club option has a buyout. So would the Twins need to send $10 million along with Blackburn to get a deal done for a backup utility man or 3rd catcher?

Just saw on the MiLB website that Waldrop has been recalled from Rochester and Manship optioned.

I was going to blog about this, but this will generate more discussion. I propose that the Twins play Valencia at 1B in Rochester and soonish call him up and send that poor bastard Chris Parmelee down (what on earth are the Twins thinking with him!?). Valencia would then hopefully be Luke Hughes+ (except for 2B) and maximizes his value as a lefty-masher. Danny Valencia's career numbers against LH pitching: .325/.374/.485 with 7 homers in 297 PA, and a not terrible 22/36 BB/K ratio. Justin Morneau's 2012 numbers against LH pitching (sit down first): .087/.135/.188 with 2 homers in 74 plate appearances (albeit similar rate to V's career numbers there), and a terrible …

What a great MLB debut for Tyler Robertson. I would like to know how many RP's who made their MLB debut who have also struck out the side debut? It would be great to see him stick with the club as a starter or reliever. [h=3][/h]

The Twins got RHP Shairon Martis from Pittsburgh in a trade today, according to MLB Trade Rumors.... He looks like organizational filler...

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/White-Sox-let-veteran-lefty-Will-Ohman-go-06822062

With about a month and a half left until the trade deadline, this thread is for trade rumors and speculation. Who do you want to see shipped out? For who? mlbtraderumors.com has good articles about potential trades. I read the Blue Jays have interest in Morneau. Also, would not be surprised to see Span traded to a team with starting pitching available.

Theres always next year, no need to worry about selling now.

Last 34 games: .372/.462/.512 He now leads the league in OBP and has a 141 OPS+ (.859 OPS) its looking more and more likely that Mauer is healthy and getting back to his normal production and has a good shot at winning his 4th batting average title. The fact that they have been giving him starts at 1B/DH quite a bit seems to only help things, so with that in mind moving forward how do you want the Twins to handle Mauer the rest of the season and on into 2013+?