Physics Guy

Strong defensive results is questionable. I understand the need to play Santana in CF for a good part of the season, just think we should be looking forward in September. Santana is acutally a below average option in CF defensively, he was just the best option for a good chunk of the year. Again I would argue that Hicks/Schaefer in CF (platoon?) along with Santana at SS is equal or better production and leaves us Escobar as utility IF instead of Nunez. Escobar can play 3B, SS and 2B. If you want to throw Santana out in the OF to give Escobar a start at SS on occasion I would be fine with that.

I saw this headline and felt my head about to explode: http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/277295971.html I'm really surprised nobody commented on this. I just don't understand why you would waste a kid who has a chance to at least be average defensively at SS, potentially above average. I'm still mysitfied why he hasn't played more at SS in September. Jordan Schaefer is servicable in CF and Hicks has been better since his recall. We really don't know if Santana can be a full-time SS, but we should have had a better idea after September. Escobar could be an acceptable option, but he really strikes me as more of a Punto type. He would be an excellent utility guy and passable starter for short periods. I still believe in Santan at SS more than Escobar. Santana finished at .828 OPS. Even a regression towards .750 makes him a significant improvement from Escobar. It's probably not fair to Escobar, but I like the upside of a Santana at SS and Hicks/Schaefer in CF vs Escobar SS and Santana CF. I think the upside is greater both offensively and defensively. I also think having Escobar as your utility IF vs Nunez makes the team stronger. The other reason is that Santana playing CF is merely a stopgap (Buxton) and inhibits his development as a SS. As much as Santana has helped stabilize CF this year, I will not be happy if he is out there regularly in 2015.

While I agree with you for the most part, teams also don't make bobbleheads of players they plan on trading. I've heard of plenty of "X-player Bobblehead Night" wrecked by a trade. The Twins have no business trading one of their best players until they have a clear major league ready player available. Hopefully we learned from trading both Revere and Span when Hicks wasn't ready. Make a player come up and force the issue.

To clarify, there are situations I wouldn't vote for a player and change my mind later, but it wouldn't be for a guy like Jeter. With the number of highly qualified players that are eligible to get in and the limit on the number of guys you can vote for, I understand the dilemna the voters have now. Something is going to have to change with the voting. Understand that this comes from a guy who has never been a big fan of Jeter's, I just have a hard time disputing his candidacy.

You are entitled to your opinion, but I feel he either deserves to be in or he doesn't. I just don't get this "undeserving of first ballot" election discussion. Unfortunately, there is a block of voters that hold the same reservation. He is clearly a Hall of Famer, but he will not be a unanimous selection. With the logjam of potential candidates piling up due to PED scandals, I doubt unanimous election will ever happen.

He has found a position in CF merely because Hicks couldn't hit his way out of a paper bag to start the season and the Twins didn't have much choice. He is rough out there and wouldn't be a CF for more than another year (Buxton). Defensive metrics are not terribly kind to Santana in CF. He has the hands, range and arm to be a strong SS. He reminds me a little of Florimon when he first started with the Twins. Florimon could make great plays, but needed to find consistency. I think Santana will do the same if give the opportunity. While his current .830-ish OPS probably isn't sustainable, a .750 OPS at SS would give the Twins a large positional advantage (league avg is .678).

I would not trade Plouffe until Sano is healthy and has proved he is a 3B. Plouffe will eventually get too expensive to keep around, but that is at least a couple of years down the road. Trading Plouffe because Sano is coming up is akin to trading Span and Revere because we had Hicks. How did that work out?

Apparently Terry Ryan understands the idea of "sunk cost". From the StarTrib: “I take exception to that statement. If he’s one of the best five starters when we break spring training next year, then he’ll have one” of the spots, Ryan said. “Forget the contract — that has nothing to do with guys getting innings. Guys get innings because of quality.” Whether he follows this is another question. Here's a link to the entire story: http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/276411371.html

I've also wondered the same. My guess is he doesn't want to leave with four straight 90 loss seasons. Then again most managers aren't given the option.

Dozier and Plouffe could show moderate improvement, specifically hitting closer to .270. I agree that Escobar, Suzuki and Schaefer could be due for regression though Escobar is young enough that his improvement could be simply due to experience and playing time. I don't know that Santana will improve, but I would be very happy to get the same production next year. Mauer is clearly a candidate for improvement. I think it's reasonable to expect (hope?) for a return to .800 OPS territory. Vargas and Arcia have showed glimpses of talent and just need to find some consistency (learn how to hit offspeed pitches). I still hold out hope for improvement from Hicks, though that hope is barely flickering. The offense really wasn't the problem this year and there is still room for improvement. Getting the team ERA around 4.00 is where we need to improve.

Hamels was another I thought of, but his 5 years and $110M might be too rich for the Twins.

I've been thinking of some possibilities for teams like Cincy who might be looking to unload salary. I'm not sure any of Cincy's options are great for us. I wouldn't want to give up what we would need to in order to get Cueto or Latos for most likely one season and a draft pick (by giving a qualifying offer). If the Twins decide to go the trade route for a SP, how about Gio Gonzalez? He would be our ace, but the Nats may not even have him start in the playoffs (Strasburg, Zimmerman, Roark and Fister). He is owed $35M for the next 3 years, well within the Twins' parameters. What would you be willing to give up? The Nats are not going to want Arcia with Werth and Harper already. Gibson/May and Escobar?

I agree that Span is a great option, but I don't agree that the Nats won't pick up the option. A CF who plays average or better defensively and has an OPS of .765 isn't a throwaway. I would think they would at least pick it up and then try to trade him. Also, Ryan Zimmerman is no lock to stay healthy, so moving him out doesn't make a ton of sense. I don't see Harper as a full-time CF.

I would be on board with the Twins signing Span, although I'm not sure he's interested. I guess in the end, money talks. I just would be surprised if the Nats didn't exercise their $9M option. He's had his best season since his second year in MN (.292/.352/.413). I doubt they see Harper as their full-time CF. Even if they want to move Zimmerman to the OF, why wouldn't they exercise the option and try to trade him? Zimmerman is most likely a LF or 1B in the future, but the Nats have relatively cheap options ($9M and $12M) for Span and Laroche, two productive players.

Found the info I was looking for: "There is a loophole. However, if a player in the organization is on the DL on August 31 and still on the DL at the end of the regular season, that player may be replaced on the playoff roster by any player that was in the organization as of August 31." So yes, you are correct. The player has to be with the organization by Aug 31.

I'm not sure that is entirely accurate. There are exceptions when there are players on DL, I think. Anybody know for sure?

I'm happy with 15 HR, .750 OPS and above average defense. He might be a bit more, but maybe also a bit less. Either way he's a solid 2B.

I always liked Nathan and I don't like seeing him fail. That being said, I also want the Royals to win the AL Central.

Walk off ....IF hit. What an ending....?

I feel badly for Ricky.

What is going on with Perk?

I've seen a few posts mention waiting and not signing an elite FA starter this year and wait to line up better with when our young players have matured a bit more. So I did a search for 2016 FA: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/09/2016-mlb-free-agents.html Possible targets include Price, Zimmerman, Samardzija, Latos, Kazmir, Leake, Fister and Kennedy. The issue is that I seem to remember much the same last year. I suspect half or more of those guys ends up signing an extension.

Santana has the stronger track record in the minors, is performing better and at a younger age. I think he has very quick hands, but needs to play SS the rest of the way to help build consistency. He will not be as steady as Esco at first, but I suspect he makes more "tough plays" than Esco. I saw nice hands and a strong arm by Santana on two DP's in the middle of the game tonight. Consistency is what makes Escobar a strong utility IF. The fact that he can hit a little is gravy.

How's our bullpen doing these days?

Are you kidding me?