Trautmann13

I am so ready to be disappointed! If you can get him at 5/135 (give or take ~10m) I would be 100% alright with the contract. The team is entering their window, which will likely (hopefully) be open for the next 4-6 years. Adding Darvish should take the aspirations from wildcard contender to world series contender. The 6th year scares me a lot if I'm being honest, which might make me want to turn to Cobb. This is the time to go for it and get those big pieces at the cost it takes.

I love Dozier and he quickly became one of my favorite players in the game these last few years. I would love for him to get a high paying contract and stay with this team for quite a while. With that said, I, like many have already said, would wait through 2015. If he has a similarly impressive '15, I would give him a deal similar to what Seth suggested. The problems are that he was a late bloomer and has questions around his staying power. But, he is a great clubhouse leader (better than Torii Hunter anyway), a great person, and a good ball player. I would wait 365 days from now and if we can still have this debate, I would sign him.

He has been given opportunity, except for regular playing time in a major league uniform. They may "know" what they have; but than again, I 'm sure they "knew" what they had with Gomez, Hardy, and Worley. Those are extremes, yes, but we will never know if Pinto is the next Gomez unless we play him. What we have seen of Josmil, he looks like he can be. Stringer already mentioned the "night and day" improvement that Pinto reportedly made defensively from April to September. So when this team is not competing, why not give Pinto his shot, maybe 40% of the starts at catcher? But the fault in Gardy's actions with Pinto late is that if he really did make important strides in AAA that being rewarded with 8 starts is a little ludicrous, especially when he was starting guys like Eric 40 man Fryer instead. Pinto may not be anything, but that's just the thing, MAY. Why not find out for sure before pulling the plug.

I have never been on the Molitor train as much as most, and you bringing up that Mientkiewicz has been around these young guys could be interesting. I think that Wicz should manage while Molitor stays on staff at his current position or some other.

I actually agree. It would take alot to get him, though. If they could somehow manage a Kemp for Plouffe+some prospect(s) and taking all of Kemp's contract would be perfect IMO. Move Santana to SS, Esco to 3rd and Kemp in CF. Also would shut people up about not spending money.

I really hope that, like you said, The real Dozier is some combination of pre/post all star break. I love watching him play and I hope to see a successful Dozier for many years.

Great wright up! Agree one hundred percent!

I think that may be it. It might just not be possible to keep a mid 90s fastball for 6/7 years.

Pitching wins World Series'. That is a simple fact about the game of baseball; pitching is key. Take a quick look at our Minnesota Twins over the last three years. Hmm, terrible pitching and a terrible team. Coincidence? Well...no. If a team wants to make it to the post-season, they need pitching. If a team wants to make a run at a title, they need an ace. The problem isn't finding your ace as much as it is keeping them an ace. Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher in baseball and has been for a few years now. So far, the dodgers have not been able to give their ace a ring. If history repeats itself for Clayton, they may need to hurry. Lets take a look at two of the best pitchers of the late aughts (Is that what we are calling the 2000 decade?) and early twenty-tens. Big Time Tim Lincecum out there in San Fran and The Motor City's own Justin "is currently dating Kate Upton and is the bane of every man's existence" Verlander. Tim Lincecum was baseball's best in 2008 and 2009. He won the NL Cy Young both of those seasons to a nice 33-12 record and an average ERA of around 2.50. Not to mention his astronomical strikeout numbers and great ERA+. But as 2012 rolled in, Timmy just was not the same. His ERA skyrocketed from 2.74 in '11 to 5.18. He led the way in earned runs allowed at 107 and has never been the same pitcher sense. He is currently 10-9 for a good Giants team with an ERA above 4.50. His ERA+ has also steadily dropped sense 2011 (127) to now (77, not including today's start in which he gave up 4 ER in 2 2/3.) Almost all of his important stats have gone from great to worse than league average (FIP, SO/9, WHIP) His average fastball velocity has dropped as well. Now, Justin Verlander was baseball's best in 2011 and 2012* (minus David Price, of course.) He won the AL Cy Young and MVP in 2011 and was runner up to the Cy Young in 2012. He had a nice 41-13 record and an average ERA around 2.50. Not to mention his astronomical strikeout numbers and ERA+. But as 2013 rolled in, Mr. Kate Upton just was not the same. His ERA jumped from 2.64 in '12 to 3.46. He has not been the same pitcher sense his Cy Young/ MVP season. He is currently 10-11 for a good Tiger's team with an ERA above 4.50. His ERA+ has also steadily dropped sense 2012 (161) to now (87, not including today's start in which he gave up 4 ER in 5 2/3.) Almost all of his important stats have gone from great to worse than league average (FIP, SO/9, WHIP.) His average fastball velocity has dropped as well. To avoid being too redundant, I'll pass on writing that whole thing out for Clayton Kershaw. But he is very comparable to both Verlander and Lincecum in their best two seasons. I understand that two examples are not enough to say that a rapid decline is inevitable for Clayton. You can also point to Felix Hernandez or Adam Wainwright and say that decline is more rare. Ether way, I find it very interesting how both careers have gone recently. Who knows, both guys I've mentioned could just be going through a bad spot in their careers and may turn it around again. All I am saying here is this may be the end of the 'career ace' type like Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax; but then again, maybe not. -Noah Trautmann

If Wally can hit like he has in August the rest of the way this year, It may even be worth sticking with him in right for the near future. That has always been his thing. Kills right-handers, looks like Bartolo Colon against southpaws, and is a butcher in the field. If his truly has figured something out and can be a reliable power threat for years to come; against both sides of the ball: I would feel just fine sticking with him in right. Especially with DH types everywhere (Vargas, Mauer, Pinto, Sano). Plus he has shown off his cannon of an arm for quite awhile now.

During the first inning of tonight's game against the Royals, Joe Mauer was called out on a ball he appeared to have fouled into the dirt. After he had walked back into the dugout, he continued to yell at home plate umpire Chris Segal, who was not taking very kindly to it. Gardenhire swiftly jumped out towards home and was immediately ejected, likely saving his star* first basemen from the same fate (which would have been the first of his career, BTW). Mauer is hitting long balls and running his notoriously quite mouth Gardy is referring to FanGraphs.com Kansas City is in first place Buxton and Sano have a combined 31 games in 2014 WHAT IS GOING ON!?!?!?!? Also, welcome to my Blog! -Noah Trautmann

Mauer is the scapegoat for this team's recent struggles. "We are paying Mauer like $25 mil a year, why are we bad?" Face of the franchise getting sh*t on extra for his and his team's struggles.

It's stuff like fans hating Joe and calling him a puss that I think that it may have been smarter of him to go to Boston like many speculated following 2009, when he was the greatest hitter in baseball. Joe plays so well in Fenway when the Twins head out East. Imagine him playing half his games there, banging balls off the Monster day after day. His HR numbers would have likely gone up, along with his RBI and doubles. I feel bad for him in a way because if he wasn't such a nice guy and wasn't such a team player, he could have some more MVPS and titles to his name. He wouldn't be the has-been guy he has become. (BTW, why does it seem that all of baseball respect Mauer more than Minnesotans? That seems backwards)

BREAKING: Dodgers will be sending a partially used softball signed by legend Drew Butera to Minnesota in exchange for Kevin Correia. Signs are pointing to this being the most lopsided trade in history. Terry Ryan has secured his job with this blockbuster!

Heres the thing, I hope this team is smart enough to swap Pinto/Suzuki if either A. Suzuki reverts back to his former self B. Pinto proves he can be a starting catcher in the bigs I don't know if this organization is smart, though