That is way, way better (although to be fair, I was focused on discussing his performance rather than making a joke, which was probably a mistake ).

Both good jokes, although "not A bad signing" could have been interpreted as there was not an Abad signing.

Somebody slap me!

I'm over (or under)-thinking this.

 

Mainly I consider the Twins overall lack of strikeouts and realize that 8/9 is pretty good, regardless of era. 

Sure, but better than the worst K/9 bullpen in baseball 4 of the last 5 years is a pretty low bar to clear.  I prefer league average.

 

Among relievers with 20 or more innings, Abad's K/9 rank was #142 in 2014, and #133 in 2015.

 

Back in 2007, Guerrier and Sean Henn (remember him?) tied for #144. Early career Crain ranked around there too.  Another Twins reference, way back in 1991, was Carl Willis at #130.

 

Guys with that rank need to offer a lot beyond K/9, or improve their K/9, to be effective relievers.  That's not scoffing at the K/9, that's just a fact.

Edited December 17, 201510 yr by spycake

 

Beat me to it. I was going to go with "not A bad signing"

I don't think that we are THAT Abad.

You need guys to practice and play with during ST, and you need guys to fill the AAA roster. You also have injuries at the milb level, just like you do at the ML level. I am impatient about another 2 or 3 moves that I feel should place. And there is still time, despite my, and our collective, impatience. These moves are good to excellent as long as they are for depth and competition with a possible surprise hidden, AND NOT DEPENDED ON.

 

We know a healthy Mastroianni could help. Benson is still young enough that if he's learned to relax and have fun again, he could still bloom as a nice contributor. Lew Ford part 2?

 

There's enough talent in these pitchers for a possible surprise to surface. Again, as long as these are being counted on, all good and very normal moves.

No disagreements there, Doc.  Except it's not so much impatience as comparing unfavorably to our past offseason plans -- the burden of proof was on TR to show that this winter should be different from the others, and so far it hasn't really happened, particularly in the pen.

"We know a healthy Mastroianni could help."

 

Help what?

 

He's a career .212/.274/.289 hitter. As an outfielder.

 

The only thing Mastro helps is the quest for 90 loss seasons.

 

No disagreements there, Doc.  Except it's not so much impatience as comparing unfavorably to our past offseason plans -- the burden of proof was on TR to show that this winter should be different from the others, and so far it hasn't really happened, particularly in the pen.

Actually, every offseason is unique, not sure how you can compare them. TR rebuilt a mid-market team in less than 4 years, there is no burden of proof. He's fine tuning the juggernaut, and we are witnessing the Glory Days.

Since trading away Hicks, it does seem like we are signing minor league outfielders at the rate of about one per week. Every spring training inning these guys play in the outfield will be at the expense of someone else, like Walker or Sano. 

Since trading away Hicks, it does seem like we are signing minor league outfielders at the rate of about one per week.

Eight months ago, Hicks was a minor league outfielder.

 

Eight months ago, Hicks was a minor league outfielder.

Once again, you are correct. I can't seem to put anything past you.

I have a french friend named Abad. Like signing just for that.

 

Still, last year was a step back, but he still struck out almost a batter an inning, and gave up less than a hit per inning.

 

These are the stone-age metrics I tabulate on my abacus, but over the years they've been reliable to me.

I have a french friend named Abad. Like signing just for that.

 

Still, last year was a step back, but he still struck out almost a batter an inning, and gave up less than a hit per inning.

Your French friend had a good season last year.

Once again, you are correct. I can't seem to put anything past you.

If you had named yourself Killer Kirby Herby, instead of naming yourself after Hosken Powell, Bombo Rivera and Dan Ford, I wouldn't be able to put anything past you.

Abad will get 1.25 million if he makes the team. I think this is the Twins big move for a lefty

Edited December 18, 201510 yr by magiklair

 

Abad will get 1.25 million if he makes the team. I think this is the Twins big move for a lefty

Let's not forget Taylor Rogers, who turns 25 ... today. Happy birthday.

 

He has the look of a prime LH pen guy sooner rather than later. 

 

What is the point of having a great farm system if you don't use it?

We need to bring back Juan Beringuer, our last mean a$$ LH reliever

 

We need to bring back Juan Beringuer, our last mean a$$ LH reliever

 

Nah.  The other left was the hand he was throwing with...

Edited December 18, 201510 yr by Thrylos

We need to bring back Juan Beringuer, our last mean a$$ LH reliever

If Berenguer looked left-handed, you weren't watching High Definition TV.

 

Abad will get 1.25 million if he makes the team. I think this is the Twins big move for a lefty

That does make it sound like he has a handshake agreement to make the team, like Kubel, etc., unfortunately.

 

That does make it sound like he has a handshake agreement to make the team, like Kubel, etc., unfortunately.

I agree, all other minor league deals didn't specify terms if they made the team. The guy probably had other opportunities.. But with that said, I don't think this is is what most fans hoped for.

Twins sign Ryan Sweeney. Best candidate to be our 4th outfielder next year.

http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/ryan-sweeney-signs-minor-league-deal-with-twins/

 

I agree, all other minor league deals didn't specify terms if they made the team.

Yeah, looking back, it seems most all of our past minor league contract signings that were announced with similar clauses (higher than minimum MLB salary if he makes the team, and/or an opt out date), the guys made the team without much trouble as long as they were healthy.

 

I guess on the bright side, I haven't seen similar reports for any of our other minor league contracts this winter (Sweeney, Kintzler, etc.).  Still not thrilled with Abad, though.

 

Three words.......MINOR.....LEAGUE.....SIGNING.

No games were lost and no bank accounts were hurt in the process.

 

Twins sign Ryan Sweeney. Best candidate to be our 4th outfielder next year.
http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/ryan-sweeney-signs-minor-league-deal-with-twins/

 

He hasn't been good for a lot of years. No.

 

Twins sign Ryan Sweeney. Best candidate to be our 4th outfielder next year.
http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/ryan-sweeney-signs-minor-league-deal-with-twins/

"The 30-year-old outfielder does not have much to offer the Twins on the field, but he is one of those veterans who has 80-grade makeup and is good to have in spring training to help show younger players what it means to be a pro."

 

"The 30-year-old outfielder does not have much to offer the Twins on the field, but he is one of those veterans who has 80-grade makeup and is good to have in spring training to help show younger players what it means to be a pro."

 

Got to love that stuff they write

 

Unless they are talking about stuff he puts on his face, we are talking about a guy who lost most of a season by punching a door.   Lohse's makeup should be off the charts then...

I don't see how another left handed OF fits into the mix.  They need a righty to spell Rosario, Arcia and Kepler. I didn't realize he was a lefty previously as signing more left handed OF doesn't make a ton of sense.

 

Three words.......MINOR.....LEAGUE.....SIGNING.

No games were lost and no bank accounts were hurt in the process.

Except in the case of Abad and his salary clause, it's probably a minor league signing in name only, and he's guaranteed to be added to the roster for opening day if healthy.  There's a good chance he will be our biggest LHP acquisition this winter.

 

Got to love that stuff they write

 

Unless they are talking about stuff he puts on his face, we are talking about a guy who lost most of a season by punching a door.   Lohse's makeup should be off the charts then...

As someone who has also punched a door, I maintain that it was in NO WAY related to my intelligence. That is my story, and I am sticking with it!

 

Except in the case of Abad and his salary clause, it's probably a minor league signing in name only, and he's guaranteed to be added to the roster for opening day if healthy.  There's a good chance he will be our biggest LHP acquisition this winter.

"It’s a little surprising, in the current inflated reliever market, that Abad wasn’t able to snag a major league deal"... "Kudos to the Twins for being able to acquire him so cheaply" from http://puckettspond.com/2015/12/17/minnesota-twins-sign-fernando-abad/