Monkeypaws

I'll look forward to that.

Twins like those good guys. And rightly so.

Jeremy, great read - I enjoyed it. I do think you invested WAY too many assets in the bullpen though.

I really think the Twins are counting on Buxton as their opening day CF. I know I am.

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.

That is the key to a great bench guy. They can sit for a long spell, yet give something when called upon. You are absolutely correct about the 4-5 wait. EN knows his role, and does pretty well at it IMO.

Glad to hear Oswaldo is "getting after it."

Well, I predict a Yankees-Nationals deal in the somewhat near future that involves Aaron Hicks....

About Clemens and Bonds: •They were good before they juiced. •There were lots of other guys who juiced who stank. They were elite ballplayers, and too bad for them they mucked it all up, because they had the stuff to be HOF without all that (Clemens moreso than Bonds perhaps). Not really an issue I care about at all. I'd be much more in favor of Pete Rose being reinstated, or Tony O making the Hall.

Mr. Plouffe has come a long way from 21 on that list

Kid seems to have his feet firmly on the ground - good prospect.

If the Twins rotation would regularly go deeper into games, the bullpen we have will be just fine. When your top 3 innings eaters in the rotation post 194, 164, and 155 innings, that's gonna lead to an overworked pen. If Gibson, Santana, and Hughes can provide in the neighborhood of 200 innings or so, that will be a big help.

I think I told this story before, but the season before last, I scored front row seats in the right field overhang. I kept yelling encouragement to Oswaldo. But I caught his attention during a lull, and said "hit one up here Oswaldo!" He gave me a nod, but his next at bat he whiffed and broke his bat over his knee. I took responsibility.... I like the kid. That's why he replaced Willie Norwood as my avatar.

Nicksaviking and oldgoat, I am in agreement with you. Desmond has been trending steadilly downward the last 4 years, BA going down each year (from .292 to .233), Ks going up each year(from 113 to 187), errors going up each year (from 15 to 27). I dont give a rip for war when his basic stats are that easy to read. Dude is 3-4 years older than EE, and with his size is likely to be more challenged as a SS with each passing year. Heck, even the HR and RBI were at four year lows last year. I see no good reason to even consider this guy over Escobar.

From the Miami Herald:

I'd rather go after a drug-violation culprit than a guy like Chapman - I know, innocent until proven guilty, etc., except this kind of stuff goes unpunished/unreported more than not. Who knows how many more incidents, somewhat less violent, checker this guy's past. There are actually good ballplayers that are nice to women: no need to add his "character" to the mix, win or lose. He reminds me of Patrick Kane of the Black Hawks: one incident after another.

Agreed on both counts. I think some metrics are flat out bogus in terms of the game on the field, especially if they indicate that Dozier's play has become a dilemma of any sort.

You gotta remember the Twins went shopping for Nolasco not all that long ago: he has also had injuries. To think they will just punt on him without giving him a full shot is not likely to happen. He has some believers in the organization, or they never would have given him a then record contract.

Buxton, Buxton BUXTON!

Why? Escobar is good. He can field and hit, and is still yet to be 27. Some teams get lucky with a Nomar or a Jeter, or even a Correa. EE can give you good production on a budget: if anything, the Twins should extend him for 5 yrs 15 mil.

Sounds like a zero-sum game: "well, we weakened the rotation, but improved the bullpen." Trading your innings, strikeouts, and ERA leader from the previous season doesn't sound like a strategy for improvement, especially when was also your youngest starter.

I think Abad will be good. Boshers - holy crap, would love a Boshers Twins jersey someday. That's why I'd never be a good GM: sucker for a good name.

Sorry, as a Minnesota sports fan since my birth in the 60s, the Twins stand alone and the ONLY major men's pro sports team to win the big one, and they've done it twice. Vikings, Wolves, etc. will never hold a candle to that accomplishment until they deliver a championship. The Rockies? Let them bring home all the marbles once to compare them to the Twins: irony - they were founded the year of the last Twins championship. Don't mean to pick on ya Jimmer, even though it looks like it.

Sounds like perhaps desperation in this kid's case. It is kind of sad the huge number of broken dreams across the baseball landscape, or any lucrative pro sport: lots of kids think it will be their meal-ticket, and their family's as well, and it doesn't work out. An attempt at a career in professional athletics, or a lottery ticket: which is the better investment?

As long as he keeps moving up and raking, I don't care if the strikeouts stay the same. I am hoping when he repeats a level(hopefully (MLB), then we will see a drop in the Ks.