Monkeypaws

Not very flattering for the Twins. Well, I don't know what he's complaining about, he's free to go back there from now until spring training. That's worth a couple exclamation points at least.

Couldn't say it any better. Agree - 2011 was a face plant, 2012 and 2013 were denial. 2014 the Twins finally embraced the rebuild, and even then is was somewhat reluctantly. So we've only really been rebuilding for a year or so.

This thread is pretty unfair to Escobar. He was more than all right this season. I also didn't realize until recently that Santana has been playing some outfield all the way up through the minors, so this isn't some Gardy fetish. If the Twins put their best lineup out there, for the last few months, it's Santana in CF and Escobar at short.

How much of that lies in Bill Smith's lap?

Having guys like Santana, Gibson, Vargas, and Arcia produce as they have can only produce optimism when you consider the high-end prospects in the pipeline that will be joining the team as early as next year. Hopefully this will be the last 90 loss season for a good long while.

He really is a special player, and it is all on display tonight. His fielding is gold-glove worthy, he gets on base, scores runs, flashes power. I know there are some folks who would sell high, but he could be a team leader going forward, and is in a favorable contract situation for years.

Who would have predicted after that first Target Field start that those 3 walks would be close to 1/3 of his walks for the entire season! Or that the 2 in the first inning would be 1/8 of his future season total. Crazy numbers for Mr. Hughes.

If I was a Twins teammate, I would lobby: a. Gardy, to let Hughes mop up at the end of an upcoming game for the bonus. b. Hughes, to pay for a team dinner if it happened.

Way to get around on those Parker! Maybe you can give Oswaldo lessons

I was at a game that Eades started in CR, and Jorge ended up finishing. I thought Jorge's stuff was much more electric than that of Eades. I think they shipped him to E'town shortly thereafter....

Agreed, especially with the arms the Twins may have ready as early as 2015.

Freudian slip?

What a bungled up deal - just once i'd like to see an owner say: "I'm gonna build this stadium for the team, the community, and the fans. I'm rich enough, and want to give something back to the society that made my tremendous wealth possible."

90 losses sounds like a lot, and is a lot, but 10 more wins, and you are a .500 team. A little improvement can go a long way.

If any of them flop, Berrios is waiting in the wings ....

Cool - always liked the Lookouts hat: http://assets.craniumfitteds.com/images/main/Chattanooga-Lookouts-Red-And-Black-Hat-With-Gray-Under-Visor-Custom-New-Era-Hats-Minor-League-Baseball-Caps-1.jpg

Ask Kansas City, Toronto, or Pittsburgh - a LONG time sometimes. I expect the Twins will be relevant again before San Diego, or Houston, who've been down for a lot longer.

He's flashed plus stuff up here - give him a chance next season to show what he can do. If he can do what Gibson did this season, that gives them three guys under 5.00 ERA. Hey, you gotta start somewhere....

Very promising start for May. He had pretty good command today: he's a different pitcher when that happens, good for Twins, bad for opponents.

My one hope would be continued improvement on the part of everybody. Much has been made lately of Plouffe's arrival as a respectable MLB 3rd baseman, and Dozier's all-around game, and even Escobar's as a reasonable MLB SS - if Arcia, Hicks, Gibson see similar improvement next season, and guys like Vargas and Santana continue their current level, they could at least become a middle of the pack team and set the stage for the uber prospects' arrival.

Just turned on the bottom of the 4th - liking May with good command and 2 Ks so far, although it looks like he had some trouble earlier. Make that 3 Ks. Like to see a guy slowly getting better, as opposed to slowly worse, like Albers. Wish Meyer would have had the chance to get his feet wet this year too - this will help May a lot next season.

That seemed to be his red zone. Adjustments, adjustments.

Nice article. •Mauer is the obvious question mark, given the disparity between past performance/salary and what he has been this year. Hosken Bombo's points are well taken, but I hope he is young enough to turn it around. I'd hate to see him become the Dany Heatley of baseball and just fall off the planet. •I'd love to see an ace in a Twins uni next season. Who knows, maybe the Earth is round after all. •Speed seems like it would be useful on both sides of the game at Target Field. •Totally agree on fundamentals - need Tom Kelly to kick some butt in this organization.

At the time, contraction seemed a heavy handed attempt to make the Selig family owned Brewers the only team in the upper Midwest. Wouldn't that have been convenient?

Of course getting Lester would be a nice add to Hughes, both rumored to be available for Santana back in the day. Maybe it's meant to be.