JB_Iowa

Thank you for this column. The other day when Andrew (Twins Fan From Afar) had a post on Mauer's stats with RISP, I asked about the discrepancy between the stats he cited and observation -- why I (and others) don't feel much confidence when Mauer comes up in high leverage situations (especially in later innings). You've helped to give some definition to those gut feelings/observations. I'm not a boo bird but I hope my confidence in Mauer grows as the season goes on.

Never hurts to have a resident curmudgeon. I miss Andy. We all have our favorite complaints -- for the last year and a half, mine has been the need for "new blood" in the management of the organization (f.o. and field staff) -- pretty sure I sound like a broken record on that topic. (Do people still know what a broken record sounds like? Ah, the sound of those repeats and skips in songs on the airwaves). But I'm pretty tired of the ones on your list, too.

I appreciate the stats, Andrew but there seems to be a gap between the statistics and perception. And I wonder why that is? Is there something that observation tells us that can't be defined statistically? Even before last night's game, what percentage of the people who comment on this board (or of all fans for that matter), would have wanted Mauer to come up in that situation and what percentage would have had a sinking feeling in the pit of their stomach? For reasons I can't explain, Mauer doesn't inspire much confidence in me. And it sounds like I'm not the only one. So what explains the discrepancy between our "gut feelings" and the stats you've cited?

Enjoy your Rock Cats updates, Andrew. On the Ace, I think a lot of people were clamoring for an Ace before the 2009 and 2010 seasons -- and an Ace might have made a difference then. Some even begged before the 2011 season -- when we didn't know that injuries would decimate the line-up. But I think a lot of people who watch this team closely admitted that trying to find and pay an Ace for 2012 was likely to be a waste of money. What I wanted to see -- and still want to see -- is them using the next year or so to either harbor money to buy an Ace or investing in several players with Ace potential in hopes that one of them may pan out. In late 2010 I posted that I wasn't sure how they could improve upon a team that won 94 games and yet was still dead in the water in the playoffs (and acknowledged that I was pretty depressed about the team's prospects given the repeated playoff failures). I felt then -- and continue to feel -- that they need to rexamine everything from top to bottom (including front office, medical and traing staffs and coaching in addition to players and the minor league process) Yes, I would call it rebuilding -- and it is likely to be pretty painful. But guess what? What happened last year and so far this year is painful too. To me, acknowledging that you need to rebuild and undertaking the process is like the old days when the doctor actually gave you a shot. It hurt at the time but you got better a lot faster.

To me, the $18 million dollar payroll cut would have been a little more palatable if they had just acknowledged that they needed to rebuild. While I am mindful of the fact that the 2010 team won 94 games, this really IS a different team. The losses of Cuddyer, Kubel, Young, Punto, Hardy, Hudson, Nathan, Crain, Guerrier, Rauch, Mijares and others mean that about 1/2 of the team has turned over. But more than that, the players that remain from that 2010 squad aren't the same as they were then -- and aren't necessarily better. Joe Mauer doesn't walk on water -- and may not recapture the glory of 2009 and earlier years. Justin Morneau remains a giant question mark. Span's health was iffy. Pavano is 2 years older (and that does mean something in your 30's unless you are Jaime Moyer or Tim Wakefield). And as we're seeing, adding a couple of years to the arms of Baker, Blackburn et. al. seems to have adverse effects as well. There are enough faces gone from that 2010 team -- and enough health concerns among those that remain -- that it is a matter of rebuilding, not reloading. And, although that team won 94 game in the regular season, they continued their utter futility in the playoffs -- that alone should have merited some strategical changes. I hope that the powers-that-be acknowledge among themselves that they are in a rebuilding process even if they won't acknowledge it to fans. I'd hate to see another summer of squandering player assets without much return. And, please, please, please make those 2012 draft picks count.

And see, people do read you here. I didn't have high expectations for this year but it has been disappointing to see their utter futility at the plate thus far. IMO, it would make a big difference if Mauer would get in the groove. It would make Morneau and Willingham better (at least they've shown signs of life) and give more incentive to the top of the lineup to get on base. I'm not saying that Mauer starting to hit solves all the problems -- just that I think it is a necessary part of the equation.

Wish i could tell you who it should be. I wasn't that big a Cuddyer fan but I did come to have a lot more appreciation for him last year. I feel a very big disconnect from this team right now. I'm hoping that feeling goes away as we see more of them and learn more about them but right now they leave me blah.

I have no problem with Morneau at DH if that keeps him off the DL. I don't think anyone knows exactly where this is headed. Does his being primarily the DH mean that he NEVER plays 1st? Or, for example, when Mauer needs a DH day, does Justin go out and play 1st? It seems to me that the Twins biggest goal has to be to keep them both off the DL and productive at the plate. While offensive numbers alone won't justify either of their salaries, they are a lot better then pouring money down the drain on the DL. And I do think that CDog makes a very good point about Doumit and Parmelee. It is rarely one player for another (except when we see Butera for Mauer) -- you have to see all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle at once.

Enough to make me laugh out loud. Thanks guys.

Wow. Thanks for sharing this -- it made my (snowy) day!