27-29

[TheLeviathan]

Where did I predict improvement? I said they all underperformed in April and performed more in line with what was expected in May, excluding Hughes... and any regression by Hughes is likely to be offset by improvement from Nolasco, who is well below his career norm at this point. Sure, all of those pitchers could turn into pumpkins but outside of Gibson, I see no reason to believe that to be the case.

 

April is evidence of it. We basically have two months of data at polar opposites, so I don't find either conclusive. And you implied Mauer's likely improvement.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I hate it when people seem to stack their argument and pretend like this Twins team has only positives to look forward to and everything good that has happened was expected and easily maintained. Whereas all the negatives are highly likely to turn the corner while no others take their place.

 

Except that I didn't do that. A lot of guys underperformed in April. A lot of guys overperformed in April. Many from both camps are gone. I hope to see more follow soon (hello, Jason Kubel).

 

Notice that I stayed well away from the Colabello conversation in April except to say "great story". That had train wreck written all over it.

 

I feel Suzuki is due to regress. I hope I'm wrong. I feel Escobar is due to regress, though probably not to the point of being unacceptable. I hope I'm wrong.

 

There's a difference between me not bringing up the regression candidates (especially ones who are no longer on the team) and not expecting some players to regress.

[JB_Iowa]

Nothing about Brian Dozier is smoke and mirrors. The guy turned into a different player the day he changed his swing in May of 2013 and hasn't looked back. He now looks like the guy he was in the minors, only with man muscles (which is a surprise to almost everyone). I was bullish on Dozier in July of last season and every day, he just keeps confirming that he's a different guy who isn't going to regress.

 

First, I apologize to Levi for misinterpreting his statement about "smoke and mirrors". Second, I went ahead an posted the "Sports on Earth" piece about Dozier in a separate thread because I thought it was a good look at the changes for him both defensively and at the plate.

[TheLeviathan]

There's a difference between me not bringing up the regression candidates (especially ones who are no longer on the team) and not expecting some players to regress.

 

Illustrating some balance in your responses would help indicate that you share that vision. Too often we hear "look at all this stuff that is or is about to go right!" with zero effort to balance that opinion. Then chains like this start.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Illustrating some balance in your responses would help indicate that you share that vision. Too often we hear "look at all this stuff that is or is about to go right!" with zero effort to balance that opinion. Then chains like this start.

 

I often leave the negative out of my posts, choosing not to talk about a player/manager/situation rather than pile on to the argument. It's only when I see a player with such a glaring flaw that I chime in and debate those who predict improvement or even the status quo (eg. Pedro Florimon).

 

For the record, I expect Suzuki to regress, though hopefully not back to his 2013 numbers. I expect Escobar to regress but I'm so damned happy that Florimon is gone that I won't complain about it. I expect Gibson to either start missing bats or regress badly. When he comes back, I expect Fuld to post Hicksian numbers, though I'm okay with that (hopefully he'll be a tick above Hicks in the stats department). I expect Matt Guerrier to spontaneously combust on the mound any day now. Jared Burton has a decent chance of re-combusting any time now. Danny Santana is the very definition of smoke and mirrors. I don't see how he can keep it up.

 

I think that's everybody.

[MileHighTwinsFan]

The race to watch is for the second wild card. Twins are 2.5 GB and none of the teams in front of us are without flaws. The question is going to be whether the Twins are buyers or sellers.

 

It is very easy to see how this team could trade for a center fielder and a DH/corner outfielder and be in this race to the finish.

 

Conversely, with so many teams in the hunt - the selling price for one of our relievers, Willingham or Corriea could be way above normal value.

 

Either way, I see the Twins being very active at the trade deadline.

[Mike Sixel]

Brock missing the point.....that if you keep refusing to get good, to wait for the perfect time, that time takes forever to come.......if they add one legit FA a year before this year, they are several to many games better, and there is no lame excuse not to try to win this year or next year......which we all know is coming, just like this year.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I was as against the pathetic 2012 offseason as anybody. But I can't complain much about this past offseason. The Twins did a lot to shore up their issues. Obviously not perfect but pretty good if only for the Hughes signing.

[Mike Sixel]

They were further from being in the top ten in runs scored, than in runs allowed, and aded Bartlett and Kubel and Suzuki......and counted on Willingham to be healthy and Hicks to play CF and Florimann to be the SS......

[jokin]

They were further from being in the top ten in runs scored, than in runs allowed, and aded Bartlett and Kubel and Suzuki......and counted on Willingham to be healthy and Hicks to play CF and Florimann to be the SS......

 

There was apparently little attempt, short of supposedly pursuing Rajai Davis, to shore up the offense. Suzuki was brought in for defense, his offensive production is unexpected and is highly unlikely to continue. But.....imagine if you will..... the current team with Abreu instead of Kubel and Bonifacio instead of Bartlett?

[Mike Sixel]

If only Abreu had been freely available for any terrible team to sign, then maybe he would be a Twin........