SenatorsGuy

Giving credit would infer the Twins did "better than average" with he picks that they made over the time that Ryan/Smith called the shots. Drafting or signing a few guys who worked out should not be confused with what the full impact from the opportunities (players) available to them should have been. Grabbing names off a mock draft list would have netted some success, yet surely would not be deserving of credit. What evidence is there that they were any better than mediocre, given the draft position they were given?

I know it should be an obvious point but SYNDERGAARD IS NOT AN ACE.

Being a good manager and creating a positive atmosphere may help. But chemistry works best when the talent level is improved, players are healthy, and you play a lot of games against 3 pretty bad teams.

Its been my opinion for a long time that DSP is content marketing and appealing to casual baseball fans and non-baseball fans. I think he believes that serious baseball fans will always show up. The lack of a quality product on the field (at times even insulting), ridiculous concession prices and a pinball-like circus atmosphere between innings is more than enough to keep a lot of serious fans away. Going to games becomes a serious investment of time and money. And frankly, a lot of fans are tired about being more serious than the Twins and DSP.

Parker/Seth/others - So the Twins are investing a lot in development through on-field technology and coaching. That's good news. Is there any sense they are crossing the the historical off-field barrier - and teaching the young minors guys about nutrition - and more importantly - figuring out a way to feed their bodies the way a professional athlete should be fed? Why buy a million dollars of camera, and then leave them on their own to eat Big Macs?

Lets trade all of our crappy guys and huge contract guys for all of the the elite, major-league ready prospects in baseball.

There is nothing the matter with being negative on the Twins FA history or Ryan's methods - and it certainly is fine to be a fan of AJ. But you do yourself a deservice when you say things like AJ has been well received by his teammates. You simply haven't been paying attention.