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Bark's Lounge

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  1. Bark's Lounge
    Okay, It may be going a bit far to compare Terry Ryan to Ed Wood. I must say, at least Ed Wood has eccentricities and a personality that makes him more interesting.
     
    Terry Ryan is not as bad as a GM as Ed Wood is a movie director, but I think M. Night Shyamalan is a very good comparable.
     
    M. Night Shyamalan’s movies from from 1999 to 2004 were great to acceptable – everything that he did afterward was a miserable train wreckage. From 2006-2013 he has served as a director/producer and his product went down the dog **** tunnel.
     
    Terry Ryan had very good success from 2001 to 2006, and that can be directly put on his plate. Post 2006 Terry has overseen a 2007 failure, after which he resigned, and as a high end consultant (producer), he has been deeply involved in the successes of the 2008-2010 seasons, including the playoff mishaps. All of the teams he has overseen, strike 2002 have been post season failures. 2012-2013 has been his Lil’ dogey to wrangle and it could not have gone any worse than it has.
     
    I will remember M. Night Shyamalan for the following:
     

    Sixth Sense
    Unbreakable
    Signs
    The Village

     
    I will remember Terry Ryan for the following:
     

    2002
    2003
    2004
    2006

     
    M. Night Shyamalan had some extraordinary movies – “Unbreakable” being his World Series victory.
     
    Terry Ryan has had some extraordinary seasons he has overseen – but he never delivered us the ultimate victory. As a fan I often think back to 2006 and what could have been. It bums me out to this day
     
    Post 2006, neither Shyamalan or Ryan have delivered anything of serious worth.
     
    As a movie director and screenwriter, maybe M. Night can reclaim some of his old glory. It will take some work, but he is in his early 40’s. Time is on his side.
     
    As a General Manager of a Major League baseball team, Terry Ryan is running out of time, he is 60ish, and seemingly clinging to an obsolete value of baseball – Old School Scouting and Low Budget Rosters. Metric analysis and accepting that money needs to be spent are his only visible saviors. Time is running out.
     
    Is there an “Unbreakable” in Terry Ryan’s Future?
     
    Is Ryan even competent to do this anymore in the ever changing business of Major League baseball?
     
    Have the Pohlad Brothers, Inc. castrated Mr. Ryan from doing his duties in a modern way?
     
    Is it the thrill of the hunt for Ryan to work in these primitive ways?
     
    Your guess is as good as mine, but I am a baseball fan Tried and True. I have a baseball team down the river that clearly seems to do it the right way. My allegiance can be swayed and I figure after a plethora of failed attempts, anybody can be swayed.
     
    The time is now to get this right. The Twins need their “Unbreakable”.
  2. Bark's Lounge
    It sure seems like the MLB media and a portion of the Twins Community thinks Justin Morneau is on his way out of Minnesota VIA trade. I will have to see it to believe it, but I have resigned myself to this scenario becoming a definite possibility.
     
    I want to cut to the chase. Morneau certainly did not live up to his potential. 7 years ago I expected that his numbers and accomplishments would be much further along than they are now. I do not say this to be negative, I do not say this to pick a fight, I only say this because it is what I see to be true.
     
    From 2006 to 2010, Morneau was pretty damn good. Obviously 2006 will be his career year if the trend of his career continues.
     
    2007-2009, we seen some very good years from Morneau… bordering on great. He seemed to run out of gas towards the end of the season in 2007 & 2008. In 2009, he seemed to run out of gas at the end, but he was hurt.
     
    2010 was the career year in the making, but unfortunately, we all know how this story ends. I wish Justin had a bit more of a luck factor working his way. It appears that the concussion changed the caliber of player he is.
     
    In 2013, I do not know what to think of him as a player… will he have a power surge? Will he be a .280, 12 HR kind of guy? It makes me sad because Mr. Morneau could have been a lot better than what we see on his stat page. Justin was a great player in the making… it just never happened.
     
    If the Twins trade Justin for a Liriano-esque return. I will be insulted and so should everyone else. Morneau was once one of the predominant faces of this ball club. Even though it might not be justified – I still think he is.
     
    I don’t want to see the Twins trade JM for a poop scoop and a box full of kitty litter. I would rather see the Twins hold onto Morneau, give him his proper respects and let the next 2.5 months be a Justin Morneau farewell tour. Let fans salute him and let him know what he has meant to us the past 10 years.
     
    I am of the opinion that we may need to move on from Morneau after this season, but if the price is right and he has a decent second half of the season… maybe you hold onto him a little while longer if he concurs.
     
    In my lifetime, our best first basemen have been Kent Hrbek and Justin Morneau.
     
    If the Twins do trade Morneau and all we receive in return is a **** sandwich – it will show me what kind of franchise we have and what to expect in the future.
     
    Thanks for reading,
     
    Bark’s Lounge
  3. Bark's Lounge
    Most of the time I do not question what moves the Twins make. Long ago I learned that it would be a waste of my time to get upset about such things as they are 90% upsetting to me. I like baseball and I like the Twins, but fortunately I do not have to throw in the towel anymore - for me the towel does not exist. I just observe from the sidelines, nod my head, grin and bare it, and forge ahead.
     
    I guess I somewhat want to be positive and wish Doug Bernier a heart felt congratulations. I am not quite sure how he made it to the big leagues in 2008 with the Colorado Rockies and I am not quite sure how he was just called up to the Bigs by the Minnesota Twins. Maybe hard work pays off. Maybe he is the best human being to have walked the face of the Earth. Maybe in a previous life he was a garden slug. Whatever it may be – Doug Bernier is living his dream and reaping the rewards of his labor. Kudos to you Mr. Bernier.
     
    My closing on Doug Bernier:
    A lifetime MiLB BA of .241
    A lifetime MiLB Slg. Pct. of .319
    A Lifetime MiLB OPS of .666 (No, I do not think he is the Anti-Christ)
    Doug’s OBP is not too horrible at a .347 clip, but he strikes out a ton. I am guessing he is something special with his glove at Shortstop.
     
    I have come to the conclusion that Doug Bernier’s Dreams have Come True.
     
    Which leads me to this:
     
    I have a good friend, in his upper 30’s, who is definitely a free spirit. He owns a house in the country, but is transient in nature 50% of the time, and in all so many words certifiably insane or something to that affect. Up until a few weeks ago, I had not seen him in over a year. I had a party over the 4th of July weekend and by chance he called the day before, thus attending our party. He has the ability to dance in and out of your life and at that time when he dances out, you feel pretty good with the outcome, but when you see him, you realize you miss him, and love him like family.
     
    5 days after the party, he stopped by my place of residence to pick up some old fence pieces that another friend of mine gave to him at the party, which were being stored in my backyard behind the garage.
     
    My friend came up to visit briefly as I had some other things going on and could not entertain any guests for more than an hour.
     
    Our Conversation:
     
    Bark: Hey “John Doe”, what’s been new?
     
    John Doe: A lot of things… I have been very busy.
     
    Bark: Busy? Busy with what?
     
    John Doe: I have a new plan of action and new purpose.
     
    Bark: What is this new plan of yours?
     
    John Doe: I have decided to become a professional baseball Third Baseman.
     
    Bark: What? (With all my strength and all my mite, I held in my laughter as I did not want to offend him.)
     
    John Doe: I am going to become a Professional Third Baseman and I will make it to the Big Leagues. First I will train and practice for the next year, go to a big league tryout, sign on with the club, and my goal is to make it to the majors 3 years after I start my new career.
     
    Bark: You do know that almost all players’ careers are finished by the time they are your age… right?
     
    John Doe: That does not pertain to me. I am physically fit. I work on a farm most of the time. I am strong. I get my hands dirty, I feel like I am in my early twenties.
     
    Bark: Okay?
     
    John Doe: The reason I am doing this, is that I want to make the Big Leagues, become a fan favorite, get into a knock out, drag out argument with the manager on the field of play and then retire right away. With the cult following I have accumulated and the lasting impression I left – this will be the perfect tool to jump start my political career and my eventual rise to governor!
     
    Bark: Nuff Said.
     
    After Thought:
     
    To be honest, I was very disappointed the Twins called up a player of Doug Bernier’s caliber. Put aside the year he is having at AAA and his age, one would think he does not even belong at that level.
     
    After the Twins made this move – it started to get my mind spinning and I came to this conclusion:
     
    My lack of vision holds me back. I must remove these shackles.
     
    If Doug Bernier can make it to the Majors 2 times in a 6 season stretch, who is to say my friend “John Doe” can’t do it once?
     
    I now believe in my heart that my friend will make it to the Majors and execute his plan.
     
    Dreams do Come True.
  4. Bark's Lounge
    Tonight I went to a MLB Draft Party. I never thought I would see that happen. I guess the times they are a changin’.
     
    I get to the party that is being hosted by a close friend, who I will call Lonny Frizzwhistle, and I enter his residence and see a mix of people that doesn’t make sense. When I am at my optimal sense of being, maybe I could have envisioned this sorted group of characters, right now, I am in a human slump, and in all reality, I was not mentally up to dealing with what I had to deal with tonight.
     
    The group who had gathered this evening was a mix between pencil pushing baseball fanatics, football adrenaline junkies, some stoners. Methamphetamine addicts, and just some people who wanted to drink out of a free keg and Whop. I fall into this last category.
     
    When the first pick was announced (Mark Appel), most were surprised and I am not too sure if anyone at this party thought that would be the outcome. No one seemed bummed out – and why should they? It’s not like the Twins would have selected him if they had the opportunity and it really did not change the draft scenario for the Twins.
     
    The second pick was Bryant. At this point I think the baseball guys were hoping that Gray would fall to us, but no matter what the MLB analysts said, I knew the Rockies would pick Gray. It was very clearly expressed by these analyst that they were looking for a position player to use the third pick on, but I think it was Gray or bust and they went with the BPA… hence Gray.
     
    The Twins took Kohl Stewart. I was damn happy with this pick and thought the Twins made out well. If the Twins would have picked Moran I would have been okay with that also. My original hopes were of Bryant or Stewart. 1st Round won!
     
    After this pick, the environment at the party changed. One of the baseball guys started sobbing, he was upset that the Twins didn’t select Moran. He moaned out to the crowd “The Twin’s always F**k this up. How can they pass on the next Cal Ripken?” One of the football guys who was drunk, got upset by this outburst and hit this individual over the head with the handle of his Umbrella. It knocked the baseball guy straight out. I thought to myself – This cannot be happening… WTF?
     
    The police were called, they arrested the football perpetrator and had EMT’s pick up the baseball guy to take him to Regions Hospital to check him out for any head injuries.
     
    I hung on a few hours more, milking my adult beverages and keeping tabs on my wife, who was chillaxin with the stoners. Once the Twin’s 2nd round pick was announced, the baseball pencil pushers had a collective movement of anger. My thought was Ryan Eades couldn’t be that bad?
     
    Because of the tense environment at this party – Mr. and Mrs. Bark’s Lounge deem it is necessary to leave this party.
     
    Once we get home I decide to check Twins Daily to see what the collective thinks about Ryan Eades. What I find is not too uplifting… my jury will be out for a while.
     
    My advice is this: settle down you maniacs – the MLB amateur baseball draft is a crapshoot… at best.
  5. Bark's Lounge
    On this site there is obviously a lot of chatter about firing Ron Gardenhire and Rick Anderson. I do not disagree with those opinions, but I have to stop short of fully supporting them.
     
    The Twins are a mess right now and it is quite clear changes need to be made. Maybe changing out some of the starting pitchers will help a little – I cannot see how it would hurt at this junction in time.
     
    My greatest disappointment with this club is the absence of an emotional leader, preferably a starting position player, one who has fire in his eyes and can impassion the spirits and desire of low key teammates.
     
    Watching Dustin Pedroia in the 2 series we have played against the BoSox has been a religious experience. This guy is fired up and wears his heart on his sleeve. He takes nothing for granted and fights till the very end. When something positive happens for his ballclub he ignites the fire in his eyes and burns holes through his teammates. Dustin Pedroia represents an element that is necessary in a winning baseball club. This is an element that has been missing for a very long time from our Minnesota Twins.
     
    Some say that Pedroia plays above his talent. I disagree and believe that Pedroia has a ton of talent and would be an All-Star no matter what his personality or passion dictates. It is his Guts, Glory and Take No Prisoners style of play that makes him great. All-Star often does not equate to greatness.
     
    I understand the Twins have a soft spoken Franchise player and a few other guys who can swing the bat a little.
     
    I understand that without excellent starting pitching the Twins will not go far.
     
    I also understand that without a Field General who will burn your soul with the imprint of Guts and Glory, that glory will never be obtained.
     
    Maybe the Twins should look deeper into this draft and take a chance on a player with Pedroia’s intangibles instead of going with the Best Player Available… if that kind of player is out there.
     
    In my heart of hearts, I do not feel the Twins will reach the promised land without this kind of player.
     
    Maybe Kirby Puckett was a once in a lifetime for this franchise… I hope that is not the case.
  6. Bark's Lounge
    Hello Twins Daily Participants,
     
    It appears fortune is on my side today as I have lined up an interview with my Anger. Some may find that a strange concept, but I very often have problems accessing certain areas of my emotional palette. My anger is a very private entity and mostly, he only shows up when I least expect it, which in turn has made my adult life an adventure, a mess and somewhat interesting - mixed together with a handful of days spent in the local detention center. Just to be clear, most of this interview will be based on Twins baseball. I wouldn’t want to abuse the privilege of using this site for non Twins related rants.
     
    Before I begin this interview, I feel the need to recognize the passing of Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman. Mr. Hanneman - thank you for being a huge contributing force behind the albums “Reign in Blood”, “South of Heaven”, and “Seasons in the Abyss.” Without Slayer, this interview would not be possible. For those 3 albums, Slayer was the perfect marriage between Metal and Hard Core Punk. Mr. Hanneman – your music will live on forever and you will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace my friend.
     
    Bark’s Lounge: Hello Anger. How have you been doing since the MLB season started?
     
    Anger: Can’t you tell by the holes in your walls? Obviously, I am doing great. I have been enjoying Minnesota’s weekly Snow Storms. It’s always nice to have a few snow storms in… what month is it? August or something?
     
    Bark’s Lounge: Actually, It’s early May, but I get your point and I have noticed the holes in the wall. Thanks for that. Second question – how about the play of your Minnesota Twin’s through month #1 of the season?
     
    Anger: Their record is a lot better than I could have anticipated at this point in the season, but for the most part they have been a drag to watch. First and foremost they probably should have cancelled the first month of the season because of the god damned snow. Besides the snow-outs, the Twins have been playing like a person with a bi-polar disorder who is not taking their happy pills. For a short stretch they appear to play with a little bit of fire in their belly, but they follow that up with a stretch of disinterested and uninspiring brand of baseball that is not worth investing your time into. The s@#&*y thing about that is you never know what team is going to show up. If I hate one thing – it is inconsistency.
     
    Bark’s Lounge: Understood. What do you foresee happening for the Twins as the season progresses into the summer months?
     
    Anger: First of all let’s get through May before we start thinking about the summer. Our season might be over before we get to the “Summer”. Right now, the Twin’s offense sucks. Whether one thinks that the pitching has been good or so-so to this point of the season is irrelevant. The fact is that the starting pitching will get worse as the season progresses. The bats need to get going and going soon. There is some talent in our line-up, but so far it has fallen flat on its face. To win 70 games the offense is going to have to kick on all cylinders for good chunks of this season. Right now, it is hard for me to envision that happening.
     
    Bark’s Lounge: Who are a few of the players you have some concerns with?
     
    Anger: Individually, I care not to focus on the pitching. Our bullpen is okay, but that will change once the starters begin to fail with regularity. At that point, when the bullpen is overtaxed - the dominos of negativity will start to fall. Perkins and Burton will probably be okay… and I do think the Pressly kid is a keeper. If Pressly hits a bad stretch, I believe the Twins should stick it out with him and not offer him Back to the BoSox. He will help in the future.
     
    Bark’s Lounge: Position Players?
     
    Anger: Florimon should not be in the bigs. Doumit has looked like crap, his play is indicative of a player who has aged 5 years in the off season. Morneau has been a bit of a bummer. Most people say he is healthy and he is going to re-emerge into the elite offensive force he once was – I hope it happens, but I have some severe concerns that Morneau is on the downslide Big Time. Dozier and Hicks started off bad, especially Hicks. They have looked better recently, but to rely on them would be suicidal to one’s hopes. To be honest the only position players that have been okay are Willingham and Escobar. Willingham is doing what is expected of him and Escobar will get his wings cut off and fall back to earth. Mauer has perplexed me a bit. A week or 2 ago he was batting .400, now he is batting in the .280’s. Slumps are one thing, but I have to believe something is going haywire with his thought process when he gets up to the plate. Some may think Mauer is mentally weak because of his past injury situations and such, but I am not of that thought. I actually think he is a focused, well oiled machine when it comes to hitting. He is either physically hurt or mentally distracted. His strike-out rate to this point is simply un-Mauer like and shocking… something is amiss. Overall, I do not like the line-up. It is not gelling. Who knows, maybe it will… maybe it won’t. Either way, we have no control over it. It is what it is.
     
    Bark’s Lounge: How about….
     
    Anger: I’m done. I’m tired of this S%@t.
     
    Bark’s Lounge: Okay?
     
    Anger: And by the way Bark. Quit taking your happy pills. I am feeling stifled and boxed in. Let me be free to roam. I am very disappointed that you have kept us in this arctic hell hole. We should have been long gone.
     
    Bark’s Lounge: If I could go back 15 years, we would have been relocated… but I cannot go back and fix it. I did stop taking my happy pills a couple days ago. Does that help?
     
    Anger: A little I guess.
  7. Bark's Lounge
    You know something is going wrong when after watching the hometown boys get walked-off on, Don Henley’s song “Boys of Summer” starts repeating in your head.
     
    I am positive that the inner workings of my mental mechanics has short circuited. I am an individual that holds a great amount of disdain for the music of the 1980’s (mainly pop). I believe I was around 10 years old when Mr. Henley’s aforementioned song hit the charts. I remember hearing it and feeling violated, uncomfortable, and ill to my stomach… the same feeling I felt when I first heard Mr. Mister’s “Broken Wing’s” or A-Ha’s “Take on Me”.
     
    I pretty much hate everything that has anything to do with the 1980’s and that is not meant to be offensive to anyone else – That’s my wave, no one else has an obligation to surf it.
     
    Watching the Twin’s play the last week and a half is having the same nauseous affect of the 1980’s experience on me. Everyone had an inclination that the starting pitching would falter at some point, sooner rather than later, and they officially have claimed that distinction, but it’s the damn offense that has fallen on its face.
     
    Except for Mauer and maybe Morneau everything has gone wrong. The offense was suppose to bring some joy to the viewer in a season where joy would be hard to come by.
     
    When 5 or more of your starting position players are hitting like pitchers, enjoyment of watching this team will be scarce. Home Runs, Doubles and Triples have become my Heroin… and man, I am fiending for a fix.
     
    Dozier!
    Willingham!
    Doumit!
    Hicks!
    Parmelee! (our best defensive outfielder)
     
    Get Your Shiznasty together and help make the 2013 Minnesota Twins an intriguing offense that loses a bunch of high scoring games instead of a team that loses 8-2 every night. In a season of low expectations mainly because of the pitching predicament – we as fans are owed this much.
     
    Help me out here. I want to rid my mind of the song “Boys of Summer” and live in peace.
     
    P.S. - R.I.P. Ray Manzarek
  8. Bark's Lounge
    Hello again.
     
    I honestly did not think I would be able to communicate with the living up until a few weeks ago. In my adult life I embraced Atheism. When my organic nature expired on Earth, I was surprised to find that there was an after-life. Fortunately or unfortunately, my current residence is hell, under the dominion of Satan. Life in Hell is somewhat strange and I will try to explain that in this written piece.
     
    First and foremost, I would like to apologize to everyone I disrespected or mislead. My Bark’s Lounge identity was used strictly as a fictional outlet for myself to vent, create, and to have fun. I did not think that my actions were wrong while participating on this site, but the clerical staff in Hell informed me that my involvement and actions on this site were a small, but not insignificant part of my after-life sentencing.
     
    Bark’s Lounge was never living in Japan. 3 or 4 of my last posts focused on Bark’s Lounge living in Kagoshima, Japan. At the time I thought this was a fun avenue to go down and to write some fictional stories to. I understand in hindsight, I went too far with certain things and I would like to put on the record that I am not a rascist. Except for purposely writing from a Japanese Detective’s point of view and screwing up his English interpretation, which I thought was harmless, I feel like I represented appropriately, and if I did not, let it be known that I am enamored with the Japanese society and a lot of stories can be thought up because of their fun loving, unique and glorious society.
     
    My last days alive were filled with needless gambling in Vegas. I got a bit in over my head and ran into the wrong crowd. I ended up borrowing money from some top Yakuza Gangsters and was unable to pay them back in the time frame they deemed acceptable. They drowned me in their hot tub and disposed of my body in a landfill on the southern outskirts of town. When I was drowned, I felt certain that was the end.
     
    When I woke up, I found myself in a very dark, but illuminated dark space which seemed to have no beginning or end. Many physical forms would pass you by and dissolve into the darkness. It certainly was a shock, but soon I would be made aware of my predictament. Beings that I would call Satan’s Clerical Staff approached me and informed me That I was now a resident of hell. My instinct was to laugh, but that emotional reaction reached a dead end wall. In hell, there is no ability to laugh, cry, be angry, be happy, be hopeful – the best that I can describe it is as a blank, zombie like reaction to everything thrown at you. Nothing more – nothing less.
     
    In hell I was able to run into Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby. They were caught up in themselves and were unable to communicate with me. Kirby Puckett is also in hell with me, we chat on occasion, but he is unsure of what has happened. He never talks about baseball, but always asks me if he has been a good person. I never knew him when he was alive, but I tell him – He was a good person and he was a difference maker. It never seems to compute with him though.
     
    In hell I have found out that after 4 months of settling in, the inhabitants of hell are permitted to visit the living humans that were once important to them for 1 week, In turn it is pretty much haunting them. I did not participate, because my wife has already shacked up with a new guy and the new guy was my best friend at the time of my death. What’s the point – she is better off.
     
    I was able to watch some baseball though. What is our record 4-4? Our starting Pitching will be the hang noose of this team, but they have held their own half of the time. I am guessing we have another poor season – this sewn together pitching staff will eventually implode. On paper it looks like everyone on the offensive side of the coin can improve. Except for Escobar or Florimon, who are reaching further than their expectations. In a season of non-expectations, sometimes the cream of the lesser rises to the top. All we can do is hope,
     
    VIVA Hicks, VIVA Plouffe, VIVA Parmelee, VIVA Dozier!!!
     
    Bark's Lounge
  9. Bark's Lounge
    Hello Twin’s Daily Participants,
     
    As the representative for the family of Bark’s Lounge, after his death, I was given the task of sorting through his personal affairs and tying them up. I guess that is why I am submitting this. I suppose it is some form of closure, but this is what I am paid to do.
     
    After reading through some of the material Mr. Lounge submitted on this website, I am under the impression he was a not so well liked member of this community.
     
    A big part of my job is to be objective, but after reading some of the stuff he chose to put out there and also having access to his personal journal, I reached the conclusion that he had no business being a member of a Sport’s team based internet chat site, his mindset and personal views, in my opinion, were not a missing puzzle piece for Twin’s Daily.
     
    Mr. Lounge has definitely made some mistakes, and I would say this is on that list. His family requests that I send you their apologies. They have been concerned for him for a long time and unfortunately the thing they feared the most became a reality.
     
    In his journal, he alluded to the fact that he was not well received on this site and seemed to be regretful. My feeling is that he enjoyed baseball quite a bit, but baseball mixed with his other interests and his mode of expression were not meant to pan out for him on this site.
     
    One last note, I found this poem in Mr. Lounge’s journal. It was dated November 21, 2012. This is the note I leave upon you:
     
    Twin’s Daily
     
    An orgy of malcontents
    In this brackish water
    Too much love and hate
     
    The mix is intoxicating
    The hangover is consuming
    Pitches, hits, errors and open wounds
     
    The salt has been this past season
    I sense the agony in the whole
    The offseason manhandles us
     
    Can we be found anew?
  10. Bark's Lounge
    Incomplete Voltron – 2013 Twins and Beyond
     
    Now that I am living in Kagoshima, Japan, I have been enjoying myself – it has been quite an adventure and a culture shock. I have procured a job at a Burger King, working as a greeter dressed up as the “Burger King”. I have had better jobs in my lifetime, but overall it has been a pretty good experience. The customers have some nicknames for me, which is touching. They call me “Okuraseru” and “Akushū o hanatsu”. It is nice to feel loved and appreciated by this honorable and glorious society.
     
    I have been running into a lot of Voltron cartoons from the 1980’s. Before the last month, It has been probably 25 years since I had last seen an episode of Voltron. Being that I am in Japan and do not know Japanese, I have no idea what anyone is saying and that makes it sort of fun. Watching these Voltron episodes makes me think about the Minnesota Twins.
     
    In most Voltron episodes (using the Golion Team as an example), after enduring some touch and go battles with their nemesis, the Humanoid piloted Lion robots combine to form Voltron and save the day.
     
    Lance manned the Red Lion and Pidge manned the Green Lion. The Red and Green Lions were the arms of Voltron.
     
    If the Twins were to be compared to the Golion Voltron, they would be armless, they are without a pilot to man the Red and Green Lion.
     
    I would imagine that Zach Greinke, Anibal Sanchez or Shaun Marcum could pilot the Red or Green Lion, but they most probably have other destinations.
     
    Trades could also bring home some able pilots – such as James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson, Kris Medlen, Mike Minor or Matt Moore, but these trades would lead to us to probably having to trade one of the the pilots of the Black, Blue and Yellow Lion… thus making the Twin’s Voltron unable to form.
     
    The next three seasons for the Twin’s Voltron do not look promising. I suspect it will be 2-3 awful seasons of episodes and hopefully in the 3rd or 4th season some new recruits will have what it takes to pilot the Red and Green Lion.
     
    Sayonara,
     
    Bark’s Lounge
  11. Bark's Lounge
    Unfortunately, last evening, while walking home from my place of employment in Kagoshima, Japan, I was ambushed by an angry gang of youthful Japanese men.
     
    I am not sure if they targeted me because I was American or if my job as a greeter at Burger King dictated that my honor was at such a low standing that it called for a good old fashion butt kicking. I must say I was intrigued by this gang… mostly their fashion and fighting style.
     
    Imagine a young Japanese man dressed as Arthur Fonzarelli with the addition of a red bandana being worn around the forehead, who possesses superb martial arts fighting skills. Although I am bruised and bloodied – I am left with an impression that leans more to the positive than the negative.
     
    Since I am fresh off a good A@% whipping, for some stupid reason it got me to thinking about Theodore Roosevelt. Teddy was a man amongst boys, the definition of a Man’s Man. He was the kind of guy who would kick the crap out of you, shoot and kill you, have your head taxidermied and hung prominently above his fireplace before he would give you a hug. I personally like hugs, but that is beside the point.
     
    What if Teddy Roosevelt was secretly cryogenically frozen in 1919 and was re-introduced to our society in 2012? What would he do? What could he do? I think I might have an answer…
     
    Teddy Roosevelt, Major League Baseball Commissioner
     
    This is what I think would happen…
     
    I think the contract structures and what the players monetarily make would change drastically. Under Teddy, I believe there would be a more than fair slotted yearly salary format based on sabremetric, guts and glory, and manliness (machismo) performance. Somehow, He would dispose of the Player’s Union.
     
    Hit batters would skyrocket and there would a bench clearing brawl every 3 days or so during the MLB season.
     
    All team personal appearance rules involving facial hair would be eliminated, closely monitored by Roosevelt himself. This essentially means that if a MLB players has anything but a mustache (long or short) would be reprimanded, fined, and forced to fix the mess that they made with their facial hair.
     
    Although the slotted salary format is strictly in place – Free Agency still exists, but with a twist. Players are discouraged to leave the teams they are currently with, but when a player’s contract expires they have the option of the status quo or entering the Free Agent Safari. The Free Agent Safari will take place on a wild life refuge in a different place of our planet yearly – with a very good chance of wildlife threat. General Managers will be the hunters, armed with rifles that fire a skin penetrating pellet with a micro chip that indicates who has been caught and at what time. The last free agent standing wins a 100M bonus and has his choice of what team he plays for. The 2nd and 3rd place finishers receive a 20M & 15M bonus, 2nd & 3rd place finishers are allowed to pick the teams they would want to play for, but that team will have to negotiate a fee under 50M or make a trade with the players current team. As for the other free agents, they will be returned to their former team respectively. Unfortunately some players will not make it out of the Free Agent Safari and no lawsuits can be filed as the players will have signed a waiver, excluding MLB and all affiliates from any wrong doing. If a general manager is killed or wounded in the Free Agent Safari – they have already signed that waiver as it is a part of their contract.
     
    Here ends my concept – I must go to bed and heal my wounds, and wake up to go to my job at Burger King tomorrow. As much as I was intrigued with the Japanese Gang the kick the crap out of me, I am hoping that there will not be a replay tomorrow – I am looking forward to an enjoyable evening at the arcade and maybe getting some hugs from the honeys!
     
    Sayonara,
     
    Bark’s Lounge[ATTACH=CONFIG]2753[/ATTACH]
  12. Bark's Lounge
    A lot of folks have high hopes and expectations for what the Twins should do this off season upgrading their roster. Spend money, trade good position players to acquire pitching wealth, and blah, blah, blah.
     
    My prediction is there will be no big splashes and they will indeed trade Denard Span, getting okay, but not very good pitching prospects in return. When this happens fans will get pissed off, but this is what most have been clamoring for and every organization knows we have Outfield depth, thus creating a leverage scenario that works against the Twins. Those who think a “Span Trade” can net young pitchers like Alex Cobb, Matt Moore, Kris Medlen and others have stuck their heads deep into the gopher hole.
     
    Obviously the Twins will not sign Greinke, Anibal Sanchez or Shaun Marcum. Marcum could be had, but I bet when all is said and done he ends up with a 3-4 year contract, earning 10M per annum and I do not think the Twins will go there. I cannot say I blame them as Twin’s fandom desperation seemingly over values the abilities of Marcum. Good pitching is not cheap, but when you are confidently looking down the barrel of a another mediocre season, why spend that kind of money on a guy who will have a +4.00 ERA and win you 10 games or so? I forgot to mention Edwin Jackson… the state of the Twins situation most definitely dictates he is not the right fit, I’d rather have Marcum. As we all know some team will over pay for these guys, and if they don’t, a contender will for one year at a pretty big salary. Our best bet is Erik Bedard… after that, it is Jason Marquis Types.
     
    My perspective is that the Twins will be lack luster next year, Kyle Gibson will be called up by June and pitch fairly well, Aaron Hicks and Oswaldo Arcia will be called up to replace Morneau and Willingham who have been traded in July. The net returns from these trades will be okay, but not overly good. Hicks will struggle a bit, but Arcia will hit adequately. 2013 aside, they both have successful MLB careers ahead of them.
     
    I am not down on the Twins, I am realistic, and it is going to take some time to develop the pitching we need to compete. These days, no one has the pieces to trade to acquire above average pitching, in turn you have to build from within – which takes a few or more years… hopefully.
  13. Bark's Lounge
    I have been a Twins Daily participant since March of this year. It has sucked me in, and at times it has been educational, captivating and controversial.
     
    My problem with Twins Daily is that I cannot find the time to fit internet porn into my schedule anymore. I am torn between two worlds and I am not sure what I should do?
     
    In 2003, after work, I would roll myself a marijuana cigarette, smoke it, have a Rolling Rock beer and watch some internet porn.
     
    In 2006, after work, I would lay out a line of crystal meth, snort it, crack open a 13 year old Zima I bought at a garage sale (13 cases) and watch some internet porn.
     
    In 2010, after work, I would pop some pharmaceutical pain killers, drink some shots of Hot 100 and watch some internet porn.
     
    In 2012, as an unemployed citizen, I take some Ibuprofen to relieve my back pain, tooth decay pain, and constant migraine headaches, while drinking a 5th of Vodka (yearning for a Zima) while participating on the Twins Daily website.
     
    Come Monday, I enter a internet obsession rehab facility.
     
    At least I will have my vodka and Ibuprofen… and maybe some porn rags.
     
     
    Signing out (If the treatment takes hold)
     
    Bark’s Lounge
  14. Bark's Lounge
    Obviously I am no scientist. The folks who have read my threads or other tid-bits on this site, probably consider me some other choice words. I’m cool with that. I consider myself the guy that is rolling some dice in a back alley in urban America, making deals, breaking deals and throwing some ideas out there that probably won’t stick. I still try and one of these days they might stick… Ha, Ha!
     
    Evolution – If you are a human being who believes in evolution, it is probably thought about in terms of a 100,000 – Millions of years.
     
    It doesn’t seem like we talk about it in a year to year, decade to decade, millennium to millennium kind of way and when it comes to Australian baseball players – maybe we should.
     
    What I am about to write is not about superiority or inferiority on a human level, but on a baseball level – please take note of that.
     
    Baseball is an American Sport which borrowed some ideas from somewhat similar sports in the United Kingdom and beyond. America made it their own, ran with it, made it better and created the best sporting contest in the history of the world.
     
    Baseball has reached out to other countries – far and wide and Australia is one of them that has sort of picked up the game.
     
    Baseball in Australia is not a tradition as it is here in the States. I have no percentage on Australians playing baseball, but it is probably comparable to Americans playing Cricket or maybe a better comparison is Rugby.
     
    I would imagine that the baseball gene is not yet imbedded in the muscle memory, coordination, and physical instinct of the baseball playing Australian. It took many generations of Americans to make this game what it is today (1860’s-2010’s). Australia is roughly 25 years into it.
     
    Repetition, physical ability and love for the game are not only passed onto the next generation by word of mouth, but also by the ability to reproduce and implant their genetic mark, a mark that contains the imprint of baseball.
     
    So far in Australia’s brief history with baseball, I am assuming that Dave Nilsson (position player) and Grant Balfour (pitcher) are the best players to come out of this country.
     
    Although many are disappointed with Liam Hendriks and his performance thus far, he is genetically new to baseball and is one of the few Australians who has made it to the MLB level. Maybe he will have success, maybe not, but he will be one of the men who has an opportunity to reproduce, strengthen and further the Australian Baseball movement and evolution.
     
    One day there will be an impact Australian Baseball Player!!!
  15. Bark's Lounge
    Tomorrow is July 31, 2012 and we all might have this date branded into our memory if things don't play out right.
     
    Liriano:
    As we all know, Liriano pitches against us tomorrow, less than 3 days after we traded him. If real life was a movie in the making - this would be the stage for Liriano to throw a no hitter or a shutout with double digit K's.
     
    Seemingly for most of us, this trade stung a bit and seemed unnecessary because of the return. Yeah, I get it... Liriano was not coming back after this season and the Twins received some players that will play in MLB for a time... great... feels sort of hollow though.
     
    Not to be a Negative Nelly, but I truly hope Frankie sucks tomorrow and gives the South Siders the same headaches for the next few months as we have been dealing with for the last 4 years.
     
    Let me make myself clear. In the first decade of the 21st century when the Twins were going good, but failed to make the playoffs - I instantly became a supporter of the National League, I have no interest in cheering on the AL East or West playoff teams and I especially have no place in my heart to root for one of our AL central opponents. When the White Sox won it all in 2005 it made me intensely sick. Fortunately I had a lot going on in my life at that time, which made that sickening feeling less intense. Whomever wins the World Series this year, I hope it is an NL club.
     
    Judgement Day (Trade Deadline):
    It's a crap shoot to guess what will happen tomorrow for the Twins. My guess is there will be no trades made. We have some handsome pieces, but a lot is being asked for in return, which should be the case. If the Twins are overwhelmed with some top grade pitching prospects for Span, Morneau, Willingham, etc., etc. - you have to go for it. It seems that no club wants or will trade these kind of players anymore, so there is seemingly no point to set yourself up for a let down.
     
    So far this season we have one Chump Trade under our belt - I see no reason to have another. It is important to keep the fan base happy to some degree... I hope that is the Twins Organization's thought process on this matter.
     
    As a Twins fan I hope there is no trade tomorrow. If there is, the disappointment will most probably trump the Liriano trade. Where we stand right now in the world of MLB is that no organization wants to trade their top prospects, especially of the pitching ilk. (I apologize for being redundant)
     
    The Twins will need to fix this mess internally. If what I say is the gospel, we better be ready to be patient... very patient.
     
    Good Luck to us all on 7.31.12
  16. Bark's Lounge
    I have to admit I am a bit concerned with the impending trade deadline quickly closing in on us Twins fans. Some of you are adamant about the necessity to make a trade and some of you are equally apprehensive about making a trade.
     
    I see both sides, and I am very worried that a few folks on this site might access the end of their sanity with a trade/non-trade and reach and breach their breaking point. I have a few suggestions for those who might feel this is a feasible outcome.
     
    1. Drink a lot of water (with lemon or lime… it makes a difference).
     
    2. For your Gods - Sacrifice a neighbor’s dog, cat or maybe a little bunny inhabiting your yard or recreation area… it might please this mighty force.
     
    3. A Full Body Shave – It is possible you might feel weighted down by the trade situation. Like a swimmer shaves their body to accrue more quickness, by shaving your body you might feel a swiftness to deal with adversity and “swim” through the people you deal with on a daily basis with a positive and upbeat attitude. No one likes a downer… except me.
     
    4. Use recreational drugs. They will most definitely let you escape for a short period of time, but if you dedicate yourself to stopping the intake of negative feelings a daily use of ganja, mushrooms and sometimes alcohol might suppress the darkness that is enclosing your life… maybe.
     
    5. Last and least. Go to your local physician and tell them your depressed. You will instantaneously get a subscription for some Prozac, Zoloft, or another Psychotropic drug that is popular these days. They probably will take away the highs and the lows (side affects included) and you can continue living your life on the basis you do so now.
     
    If you adhere to these five points, I think you will be okay. The one concern I have is the emotional quotient that is baseball. Who the hell wants to lose that?
     
    There may or not be some trades involving the Twins. Let’s hope that Terry Ryan is shrewd in his moves and gets equal+ value. This is somewhat the last chance for the Twins to show that they have a handle on things. If Ryan fails us, I fear that the Twins faithful might be lost in oblivion and the handlers rendered useless.
  17. Bark's Lounge
    Liriano pitched a decent game tonight. He was mentally fragile as he usually seems to be, but made it through without incident. It might have made the game 45 minutes longer . (I’m not Bud Selig and game length is of no concern to me.)
     
    Liriano is greatly reminding me of Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade – he needs someone to watch over him at all times. Tonight Drew Butera was Liriano’s Charlie Simms. I am fearful of Liriano’s mental shortcomings. He has great stuff, but seemingly without a trip to the mound every other at bat it seems that he might implode.
     
    I would like Liriano to pick up some of Colonel Sade’s traits – hatred, revenge, and bitterness might serve to be Frankie L’s friends. Like Colonel Slade, Liriano is blind, not in the literal sense, but blind to his ability. Maybe a change of attitude can further his career.
     
    Drew Butera can continue to be Liriano’s Charlie Simms but this is what needs to happen:
     
    Liriano expresses the following:
     
    1. “I’m in the dark here, I’m in the dark here on how to pitch”
     
    2. There is nothing worse than seeing how I amputate my pitching game plan.
     
     
    Slade: “Frankie, how about getting me a bottle of a complete game?”
    Frankie: “Do you mean 5 or 6 innings?”
    Slade: “No you dip****, 9 innings – HOOYAA!!!!”
  18. Bark's Lounge
    God Damn. You young galoots really have a lot of time on your hands. This computer world thiggamajiggy really dominates a lot of your lives.
     
    When I was in my 20’s, I was out with my friends and carousing with the lovely young ladies. You young bucks really put too much time into baseball, trying to dig up some weird scientific statistics. In the 50’s you knew who a good ballplayer was – The Splendid Splinter, Stan the Man, Ted Kluszewski, Nellie Fox, Jackie Robinson, Mickey Vernon, the Say Hey Kid, The Duke and the Mick are just a few to mention amongst many more. I was fortunate to travel around a bit and see these players I have mentioned play. You didn’t need a calculator to figure out that these were some damn good baseball players… some of the very best to put on the uniform.
     
    I know a lot of you guys have been hard on my grandson and some of it seems a bit over the top, but Joseph can handle it, he was raised to face adversity and he will do a fine job with that. My belief is most of you knuckle heads have too much time on your hands and have your priorities all mixed up.
     
    My advice to you computer baseball guys is to get off your computer, toughen up, head down to your favorite watering hole, be talkative and interesting – maybe make some friends. What the hell… you might even meet a lady friend who might turn your world upside down… it happens sometimes… even for you bookworm types.
     
    Grandpa Jake
  19. Bark's Lounge
    Hey Rickie, Thanks for your apology. It is not necessary though. You were just playing baseball to the best of your ability. Maybe the collision scenario was a bit unorthodox, but what the hey - things happen. If I sounded put off by it in my after game comments, I apologize. I was frustrated by being injured on the play and felt that this injury might keep me out for a handful of games.
     
    As you know, I am from St. Paul and I share the same passion as our Twins fans do - as I am a Huge Twins Fan. It kills me to miss games with an injury - I want to be out there competing, I want to turn this dead horse of a season around.
     
    I make a lot of money and I know because of this I will be scrutinized for this as long as I wear a Twins Uniform, but it certainly doesn't mean I do not care. Hell, I might care more than anyone - this is my town, and a lot of people have pinned their hopes on me to help bring them another World Series Championship... this weighs on me.
     
    I might not have the biggest and in your face personality, I might not seem to be the leader that fans think I should be, I am a pretty reserved person - not too many highs or lows - I am even keel.
     
    Rickie, who the hell are you to call me out for being injured? In 8 seasons you have only had 3 seasons with 500 plate appearances. You are the definition of an injured ball player - you are Mr. Glass. It might have meant more coming from a player who actually is durable.
     
    Ricky, you have an all-star game or 2 under your belt and congrats for that. I am the only catcher in MLB history to win 3 Batting Titles, I have won an MVP and I have won more than a few Gold Gloves.
     
    The analysts/scouts have always said I could not be a long term catcher because of my height/size. I am now feeling that they might be right. I like playing catcher and I take pride in being the best I can be and maybe I have held on too long because of my contract. I don't want to let down the fans.
     
    Maybe next year I will play one of the corner OF positions or 1B. It will not be 3B as Plouffe has entrenched himself as a difference maker and power hitter that this line-up needs.
     
    Hey, this year is not said and done yet. Maybe my bat will get hot and I will challenge for a 4th batting title. I can assure Twins fans this. I may never win another batting title again, but I will be in the hunt for many years to come!
  20. Bark's Lounge
    I love the Twins Daily Site. It presents to me a lot of insight, angles and intelligence.
     
    I love the metrics also, and I understand it is a sabermetric dominated site - but in a way, I find the Twins Daily site a dominated platform for "Metrics" individuals and it can become quite stifling for some.
     
    There is seemingly a small amount who play it by the vest and display their emotional quotient, but they are on this site hoping for their chance to have a voice... and want/need a platform. I think the metric intellectual pissing matches can turn some people off.
     
    I champion the TD participants who draw on the emotions of a time when it was not so numerical, stiff and void of feeling. Emotion and passion is the core of human expression and in my opinion, is still the core of baseball.
     
    Tomorrow, when we wake up. Most of us will have to go to a job, put in our time, and go home to our lives, that might be stressful, complicated or straight up tough.
     
    Enough of the Chic Automatons. Let us remember the past when great things happened on the ball field and we enjoyed the big moments and let us not forget the crushing and disappointing moments that left us dead for a moment.
     
    Baseball can be, but is not a college mathematics course.
  21. Bark's Lounge
    While traversing the threads, blogs, and articles posted on Twins Daily, I really like that this site has sabremetric analysts, purists, extremists, and the alternative of thought. That is super great, but I am starting to feel that the whole trade scenario talk, speculation, and haphazard desire to execute could hamstring this franchise even more.
     
    When I was growing up, there seemed to be an imbedded loyalty to our favorite and best Twins players and they stuck around and we were happy for that even though the team for most of the years was a losing team. It seems that the present time more or less exudes players being looked at as commodities and when a franchise is in a bit of a rut the calls go out to pulling the trigger and getting rid of our heroes, or mainstays for what I can only deem question mark types of players. Maybe the “Commodities” idealism is modern day baseball, with unrealistic expectations and cynicism.
     
    I want the Twins to keep Denard Span, Justin Morneau, and Joe Mauer. I do not think that a Span or Morneau trade will bring back anything that is a guarantee and my thought is we will be the losers yet again if that is to happen. During these tough times I want to be able to watch a Twins game and know that even though the team is lackluster, I might be able to enjoy the game because one of my favorite players had a good or great game… not to forget there will also be some wins here and there.
     
    In the next few years the Twins need to do well with their drafts and maybe think about making a more impactful FA signing instead of coating the cake with a frosting of **** bird retreads. I do not think that trading our most valuable and beloved players is the key to our future success.
     
    I really hope the next time the Twins have a contender type of team that Mauer, Morneau and Span are a big part of it… on the field of course!
  22. Bark's Lounge
    No, I am not hear to sell you jewelry.
     
    What a shock! The Twin's Salvage crew this year is a couple of guys who no one would have expected to make any kind of impact. Scott Diamond and PJ Walters. I'll give Diamond a little credit as we traded an interesting prospect for him to retain his rights (Billy Bullock) because of the rule 5 draft. Walters is a little more drifty. Circa the movie "Men at Work", Diamond and Walters are our modern day Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen - which in turn, they get job done, but in a shabby kind of way.
     
    Scott Diamond: He has put up fair numbers in the minors and his K/9 has been decent, but his WHIP is pretty high and only growing higher as he has ascended through the minors (1.403). That is not very good.
     
    P.J. Walters: also has a growing WHIP in his ascension in the upper levels of MiLB and his K/9 has fallen off a bit after a new level is obtained.
     
    These guys are essentially identical statistically and stuff wise. I hope the best for them.
     
    In the my minds view, I hope they continue their current pace, but in all reality they are probably filler.
     
    Come on Scott, come on Phillip Dewayne... prove me wrong!
  23. Bark's Lounge
    First of all, put Eddie Rosario up for sale in the "Adopt a Prospect" forum. As of this blog I am finished with this "Twins Daily" stuff. For most of the time I enjoyed my time on this sight, but seemingly felt stifled as my blogs/threads/comments did not enact much response. Yes, in a way I can see why they did not. It seems like I made a mistake and should have left this sight well alone. The hierarchy on this sight have made it seemingly clear they want it fairly straight and narrow and do not want much negative or fun play. This is an awful team and I am astonished by the number of folks who wear rose colored glasses and continue on their praise for this broken organization. I love the Twins. but only to a certain extent. It seems from my viewpoint that the powerful higher-ups on this sight, bully and demean commentators for their lack of insight and lack of fanitude in such a smug way that it is hard to stomach... except for John Bonnes - he is realistic and seemingly kind. It would be funny if this "article" or whatever you guys call it make it to the front page.
     
    Adios,
     
    Bark - VIVA Saint Louis Cardinal!!!!
  24. Bark's Lounge
    I hope no one can actually feel righteous in blaming Bill Smith for all of the Twin's current woes. Although Bill Smith held the title of General Manager from 2007-2011, my feeling is he was more of a figure head than a voice.
     
    Being that Smith was more of a financial administrator than a field administrator, I believe that Terry Ryan had his hand in the drafting and trades post 2007.
     
    Free agency and contracts: This one is a bit confusing, but after TR resigned, Smith signed Morneau and Cuddyer to contracts that were of fare value or a little above... not much stink there, The Mauer contract is a bit more complicated, but he is coming off of an MVP season and he is a hometown hero (Looking from a PR stance, this needs to get done, especially in the Twin Cities).
     
    Bill Smith relies on his scouts, the same scouts that served under Terry Ryan to make trades or draft certain players. Under Smith's tenure I have no doubts that Ryan was head of scouting, whether that was his title or not and I believe the drafts were his dominion and his ultimate decision from 2008-2011 (under Smith's Tenure).
     
    The trades can be a little more confusing. I cannot see Ryan trading Garza for Delmon Young. I cannot see Ryan Trading Wilson Ramos for Matt Capps. I loved the Gomez for Hardy trade.
     
    Maybe Terry Ryan felt free of the pressure, and in turn pressured his puppet GM Bill Smith to make the trades he did. Ryan did not have to deal with the simpleton MN media anymore and felt he was clear of their scrutiny. He could act like an over sugared child in a toy shop.
     
    Reality: Terry Ryan's good friend, Bill Smith, payed the price for Ryan's futility and was fired. No one that is fired like Bill Smith comes back to an organization so quickly, taking a smaller role in administration, unless it was a smoke screen to protect Terry Ryan. Now Ryan is the White Knight working so fervently to correct all of the mistakes that Billy Smith made... how convenient.
  25. Bark's Lounge
    I have long been a steadfast Gardenhire supporter. He has been a very good to great manager during his tenure. I realize a lot of fans are calling for his dismissal because of the last year of Twins baseball and some having been wanting his head on a platter for a much longer period of time. At this juncture, I now agree it is time for a change in coaching and managerial leadership.
     
    Ron Gardenhire:

    Gardy has lost his voice: No matter how hot around the collar or critical Gardy is about the play of his team, they do not seem to respond to his heated calls. Bad at bats, lapses of judgement in the field and non-execution of a strategic plan by the pitchers all fall on his head. (although it is impossible to blame him for the pitching as it is the worst in Twins History)

    His Staff:
     
    Rick Anderson:

    Rick has done a nice job in his tenure, but his advice and expertise are not paying off anymore. Maybe Liriano is his undoing, but whatever it is, it does not work here anymore. I commend him for his work with helping to develop Santana into the best starter in the AL and turning Nathan into one of the best closers of the late 2000's. That is now ancient history.

    Joe Vavra:

    This guy has over seen a few impressive offensive showings in his 6+ years as our hitting coach. Ranging from Mauer-Morneau-T. Hunt-Cuddyer-Span-Kubel. It should not be lost that these players have tremendous upside and it can be easy to coach very good talent. It is the stragglers that have brought concern to me (Valencia, Plouffe, Hughes, etc...). Vavra is a good hitting coach, but a change is needed.

    Weirdo Ullger:

    Scotty is a strange cat and I have to the utmost degree enjoyed his Q&A sessions as the manager after Gardy has been ejected or is on a leave of absence. What I have gathered he is most suited as a career AAA manager.

    Steve Liddle:

    Don't know to much, but he is a mediocre 3B coach and I cannot believe he is a very good bench coach

    Jerry White:

    Jerry has done a good job with the outfielders for the most part. He is in my opinion the guy that least deserves to lose his job. Maybe there is a scenario in which he stays,

    Final Analysis: I believe there needs to be a shake up. If it is to happen it will not happen until this upcoming offseason. Our only certain in-house candidate for a coaching hire is Brunansky as hitting coach. I would consider Ryne Sandberg or Tim Wallach as managerial candidates. I had good times as a MN Twins fan with the above mentioned Twins staff, but with it being how it is, being it Bill Smith's, Terry Ryan's or ownerships fault. A change of voice is needed and a change of culture is necessary to maybe reinvigorate some players or to have a completely new schematic change - hitting and pitching wise.
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