jay

You're such a geek.

Did that just happen?

Pinch running for our stolen base leader?! Maybe they won't see lil' Jamey out there...

Anyone warming up in the Detroit pen?

I'm going to fall for this one... WAR is a great tool to get a quick overall valuation on a player and is easy to understand as a concept (not calculate). Use of WAR helps bring "old schoolers" closer to the "new school". It is one of the better single number valuations. But, in my mind, we can't quite use it as the end-all-be-all just yet because it has a ways to go in a few areas -- - defensive metrics: it's crucial to include this in player value, but we just aren't incredibly accurate at putting values on this today (especially for C, 1B) - positional values: this is accounted for and a large factor, but we miss team specific situations, ie - when a player may not be at his best value position due to roster composition. - situational hitting/pitching: certain players are more skilled in this than others and we can't properly value the player capable of grounding to the right to score/advance a runner compared to those who swing away. So, as long as we keep a margin of error in mind and don't try to use it to proclaim that my guy with 3.6 WAR this year is better than your guy with 3.4 WAR... then let's get our WAR on.

I could see it as possible if Toronto doesn't do as well as they are hoping. If they were to go deep in the playoffs, it'd be hard to see them letting him go.

I will do NO such thing, good sir! I'd put a bin of Laffy Taffy right up there next to the pouch of Big League Chew and the sunnies. Plus, where do you think they get all their dugout humor from??

Seeing as those two are my favorites... I have no choice but to assume that you mean Josh Johnson and Nelson Cruz.

I don't mind AA too much for these two. The Twins have shown they don't value AAA a ton more than AA. Playing in AA allows Bigley to lead the OF instead of battling Boggs/Thomas for PT. Not that those two are better prospects, but the Twins probably want them playing to be options to call up as injury fillers. Similarly, playing in AA allows Lanigan to be a top option in the pen instead of being the 4th/5th reliever at AAA.

Let's not get caught up in 1 at-bat, in the first game of the year. #samplesizewarning

Excellent view, Nick. Nice work. With all the young guys, it'd be hard to not have at least one breakout story at least to the level of Scotty Diamond last year.

Yes, but another option might have been to not drink 50-60 Boggs on a road trip. The routine that I most commonly remember him for is drinking beer. When having a Miller Lite is literally named after you... that's pretty legendary. He at least partially denies it, but the legend will forever ring true.

I love the individual battles that we see on every single pitch. It is always one guy putting his skill and talent up against another, with a spectacular range of outcomes. The differences between greatness, average, and mediority are literally a couple of percentage points and mere millimeters many times over.

Hard to make a solid argument otherwise...

Let's certainly hope the latter part of your statement is true. Alternatively, let's hope the payroll jumps up as the Twins bring in a few pieces on shorter contracts to fill gaps while we wait for a few more impact players to show up (ie Buxton, Berrios, Kepler, maybe this year's #4).

I'm eyeing a half-day on June 7th to get down to CR in time for the Buxton vs Correa battle, #1 vs #2 in the draft. Should be a great team there in CR this year.

I'm looking forward to the cajun mac 'n cheese. I'll add to the calls for bowls of some delicious, gravy-filled, cheese-soaked poutine. Small, fresh cheese curds please.

Aside from the Mauer infighting, I thought it was interesting to note that the Twins had the 4th largest decline in payroll. We fall in just behind the Brewers and then further off are the two AAAA teams, Houston and Miami. With $46M obligated for next year and another $10M or so to arb players, it looks quite possible that it will head even lower...

No Kepler? Huh??

After this news came out a while back and then this performance today (2 HRs, 2 ABs), the only logical conclusion we can make is that Bryce Harper + Unlimited Burritos = Home Runs. I'm going to Chipotle RIGHT NOW. (Softball season is around the corner!)

Come on, I'd certainly take Mauer over Torii and I'd call Dirks/Plouffe a coin flip (neither is established, but have flashed skills). That'd still be... 1 - Tigers 2 - Twins 3 - Tigers 4 - Tigers 5 - Tigers 6 - Flip it 7 - Twins [sad face]

Not so sure about Glynn, but I thought it was pretty telling when Molitor wasn't brought in among the new staff. That's where my money would be should it happen. Unless Gardy 'loses the clubhouse', I wouldn't be surprised to see him stick around for a chance to lead our impending, unavoidable resurgence.

Brock, I'm assuming these series previews will be a recurring theme. Since I prefer not to ever leave TD, could you add game times and broadcast info with the pitching matchups?

Total bases.

Stay warm out there today, kids. High of 37 with a windchill pushing it lower. Eek.