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I am hoping you won't be able to say this when all is said and done...

President Barack Obama will be giving his final State of the Union address on Tuesday evening. He is entering the last year as the Commander and Chief and most Presidents like to paint a picture of hope for the future before their term is over. The Twins gave fans hope last year as they were relevant in the final weeks of the season for the first time in half a decade. Let's imagine we are all sitting down to hear a message directly for Twins Territory. What is the State of the Union for the Minnesota Twins? --------------------------- Mr. Ryan, Mr. Molitor, Members of Twins Territory, My Fellow Americans:We are over a decade and a half into this new century. Sixteen years ago the Twins were wallowing after years of futility in the AL Central. Things looked bleak and it was hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. At that time, a young core of players was on the horizon and a new manager took over for the most famous manager in team history. There was hope and that hope was fulfilled with multiple division championships as the team moved to Target Field. From there things turned dark. Players moved on, young talent didn't produce, and the club found itself back at the bottom of the American League. It was hard to stay positive in those dark times. However, the night is always darkest before the dawn. But this season, we turned the page. This season, after a breakthrough year for the Twins, our team found themselves relevant when others assumed they would continue to dwell in the cellar. Our prospects have arrived and some were even better than expected. Our pitchers' earned run average is now lower than before the losing crisis. And we are as free from the Yankee dynasty as we've been in almost 20 years. This season, for the first time since 2010, our team was in playoff contention in the second half of the season. Six years ago, the team was composed of veteran players like Morneau, Cuddyer, Hudson, Thome, and Pavano. Today, the team includes Sano, Buxton, Rosario, Gibson, and Dozier. We salute the sacrifice made by the previous generation. We are grateful for your service because you paved the way for the current generation of players. Twins Territory, for all that we have endured, for all the losses and meaningless second half games required to improve, for all the improvements that are still on the horizon, know this: The shadow of the the losing crisis has passed, and the State of the Twins is strong. In this hour -- with a blooming farm system, disappearing losses, a new direction -- we have rising from the losing crisis a brighter future than in any time in our generation. It's up to the organization to decide on the path for the team to follow over the next decade and for decades to come. Will we accept the years of futility that have plagued our past? Or will we commit to a new order that generates a winning attitude that palpitates throughout the baseball universe? Will we approach the coming seasons with the thoughts of dread and fear that rang through Twins Territory in previous years? Or will we recapture the winning spirit of 1987 and 1991 that united the Twin Cities and Twins Territory with a common goal and purpose? In under four weeks, the pitchers and catchers of our organization will report to Florida with a new sense of purpose. And in the weeks ahead, the position players will join them. There will be decisions to be made and checklists to follow as the roster is whittled down to the final grouping. It begins with our minor leagues. Six years ago, Miguel Sano was waiting to sign a contract. His prospect status was high. There were questions about his age. For a young Dominican player, this should be the greatest time in his life. The hope of getting his family out of poverty was within his grasp. As questions about his age arose, Miguel's contract offers had all but disappeared. As Major League Baseball investigated his actual age, it looked like he'd have to take what ever offers were left over. The Twins looked past all of this and gave the young slugger an opportunity. There was promise in his bat and his future looked bright. "I'm very thankful to get this chance to sign with the Twins," Sano said at the time. "I'm going to work very hard to try and get to the majors in two years." His estimation was not quite correct but these types of lofty goals were what would help put the team back on the right track. This is the type of attitude that has now become an expectation in the organization. Hard work will result in positive changes and eventually new winning ways. Twins Territory, a culture of winning has begun. Over the last three seasons, there have been multiple championships won in the Twins system. The Elizabethton Twins won the Appalachian League in 2012. The Fort Myers Miracle won the Florida State League in 2014. The Chattanooga Lookouts won the Southern League title in 2015. Winning is happening and it is happening now. Names like Dalton Hicks, Niko Goodrum, Adam Brett Walker, Max Kepler, DJ Baxendale, and Brett Lee have been part of all three of these championship teams. Top prospects Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton and Jose Berrios were part of those rosters at different times. Winning is contagious and changing a losing culture starts with a fresh crop of players. My first son was born this winter and he has yet to know a baseball season. I want him to grow up in world where the Twins are consistently relevant. Where a fan base can cheer their club to multiple division championship on their way to long playoff runs. That we can overcome the losses of our past and that he can grow up in a united Twins Territory. My fellow baseball fans, we, are a strong and passionate force. We have made it through the hard times. The dust has settled and a new sun of winning ways is rising on the horizon. This club will get better and this organization is ready to burst from the cellar. Let's start the winning together-- and let's start the winning in 2016. Thank you. God bless you. God bless this game we love. Click here to view the article

Yes and thank you for not repeating the old cliche that he "needs to stay healthy." Meyer has actually been pretty healthy in his career except for the precautionary rest he took in 2013 for his shoulder. You cited his good ERA and BA-against when he was sent to the Bullpen. Then, in his final 10 appearances, going off memory, he had something like 22 innings, 25 base runners (half hits, half walks), 22 strikeouts, and a pretty good 30%+ strikeout rate. Maybe last September would have been a good time to have him up here, while he's pitching fairly well. My feeling is if Meyer pitches well in spring training the Twins really need to make a spot for him and use him right away in roles that are a little more important than first inning mop up duty (as was the case in his MLB debut). He was hailed as an ace when he was traded for. Too early to give up on him or pigeonhole him in the BP.

Forgot to add this. Thanks for bringing up Meyer, as he seems to have been the forgotten talent this off-season.

Mauer belongs in Hall of Very Good Players--period. Compare to Oliva/ Sure! Tony played Hurt--frequently. He had a finger so badly swollen the bat would repeatedly fly out of his hand if he swung and missed. Mauer--well, let's just say he spent a lot of time on the injured list. he mostly had knee problems. Did catchers have knee problems (and concussion-symptoms) in the 60's and 70's? Of course, but those guys played! Joe is a hometown favorite. It's great to be a huge fan--but was he great? Great players are leaders. Joe? I can't remember anybody extolling that quality in Joe (as a Twin). Post-season success? This is often cited as a huge factor in HOF consideration. Sorry, Joe doesn't have much. That sort of forces Joe to the Ted Williams/Ernie Banks model for HOF consideration. Sorry, Joe's numbers aren't at the level of those two.

Today, it is true that he has played the most games as a catcher. But it's likely it will not be true when his career is over. I don't think draft position is going to be a factor in the HOF voting, nobody classifying Craig Biggio as catcher because he started his MLB career as a catcher. I think Mauer HOF problem is that they are going to look at his whole career, not just the catching part. I'm not trying to hate on Mauer and time will tell which one of us is right, but I don't see him getting 75% of the votes. Tony Oliva was a first ballot HOF talent who career was upended by injuries. Even if you believe concussions are the reason for Mauer's downward trend, I doubt they will factor that in considering he'll play at least 5 years after the concussions.

Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer won batting championships in their mid-30s, Morneau after suffering a severe concussion. If Mauer somehow managed to snag another batting championship, it might secure a spot in Cooperstown that is slipping away.

I think it was reported as fact that Boggs requested to go in as a Devil Ray. It was also reported that he agreed to sell his hat on his plaque to Tampa, though I'm not sure that was substantiated.

So, how many catchers have made ther HOF? 15 or so, including Piazza? Joe did things unheard of as a catcher, righty batter, etc. But, and it's a big one, he never won a World Series. Puckett got in for that. He's sitting at 1697 hits, as a 32 year old on decline. His numbers are very Tony O like: As KGB said: Tony O is a perfect equivalent: did great things as a youth, won batting titles, helped his team compete at the top of the heap, but won nothing, and had a HOF career cut short by injuries.

A couple of things. Then why state as fact we are 10-15 years behind the industry? Oakland didn't have an analytics department in the '90's. Nobody did. Boston didn't form an analytics department until the last few years. Their front office members and scouts were supposed to be up to date. They had a couple of guys in the office working on projects. Terry is always going to speak like a scout. That is who is he is at his core. Their is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Now he is a decision maker so he depends on our department to provide him info. Unfortunately the ESPN article was a disappointment. Ben cherry picked a quote by Terry right after he came back as GM and then picked a quote from Gardy who was no longer our manager. He didn't talk with Paul. I would hope we come out better in the 2016 analytics issue.

How long do we consider Mauer a catcher? Is it fair to continue to compare him to catchers who caught twice as many games? Ernie Banks played more games as a shortstop and I don't think anyone is putting him in the top ten all-time shortstops. Why does Mauer get the special treatment? Also on the WAR, if you adjust it more to favor catchers, and Mauer is 50% catcher wouldn't you then have a negative adjustment for the other 50%? You would just end up back where you started. I think in trying to make the case for Mauer as a HOF, you have to ignore a lot of other questions. The HOF doesn't need to fill a team, just enshrine the greatest players. Mauer had a great start, but the finish isn't looking pretty and you can't just skip the part's that you don't like.

That's not a legitimate concern.

That would be the ideal scenario for me. I'd rather have more competition from the younger guys for fewer spots in the bullpen, instead of hoping multiple younger guys can step up and take the available openings in the pen. That way if one of the minor leaguers has a lost year like Arcia did last year, or injury strikes, The Twins aren't left without a backup plan.

3 years ago I would have said Mauer was a no brainer. But since then it's changed and I honestly think that unless he bounces back into the type of hitter (.320+ Avg., .400+ OBP) he was as a catcher, that he's not going to make it. How ever many more years he plays with a ~.720 OPS at 1B is going to drop his overall numbers case off the table. I think the argument at that point would become "he was great, but not for long enough." 1 MVP season doesn't get you in either as good as it was, because it was an anomalous performance compared to the rest of his career. All that said, we need the old Joe back to make this discussion silly 10 years down the road!

So not believing Mauer is a HOF player makes you a "Mauer-hater"? WAR should be the only measurement of players for HOF? And I get accused of coming out of the woodwork?

"In other news, the Twins are certainly monitoring the Upton and Cespedes situations, and would be interested in either free agent on a one year deal."

Yes, in the Twins HOF, but not in MLB's

Mauer's got a chance. Sano probably the next to go in as a Twin though.

Yep, he did. He's wrong.

I am pretty sure I read an article about Piazza choosing to go in as a Met and another about Griffey choosing to go in as a Mariner. in fact, Piaza talked to Lasorda about it before picking the Mets cap. I believe they do have a choice.

These are great problems to have. I'm very excited to see it play out. Having said that, I believe they will error on the side of giving those guys who are out of options a longer leash so that this depth stays in tact until the cream rises to the top with great clarity as opposed to guessing at who those players might be. I can understand where patience can be a heavy contributor to the long term.

lunch.