peterb18

We’ve had one good season out of the last seven or eight. My question is: Where are are all of the high draft choices? Why do we have to use the LaMarr’s, etc of the world. The jury is out on the new front office.

However, Garver is a real problem behind the plate. Not a Ruesse fan, but he’s right in that we have weakness at the catching position. I can see why Moiltor plays Wilson so much...because of defense.

This is on the front office not Moliter. He plays the players given to him. Everybody should read yesterday’s article in the USA Today by Bob Nightingale on the state of today’s game. It’s not good. In short summary: Too slow, attendance down, too many strikeouts, not enough base runners....which causes fans to lose interest, maybe too much analytics, too many players trying for homeruns which leads to more strikeouts and less base runners. He also thought maybe baseball should look into the shift. Maybe baseball is becoming too boring for the young generation. Remember the writer is baseball lifer.

Great article and well written. Good job!

It’s like a stock market situation......try not to sell when the market is bottoming. I would let the allegations play out. Maybe this will be a wakeup call and he’ll start making the necessary improvements both on the field and off the field.

I agree that is important but a good teacher presents things in such a manner that it doesn’t overload the brain. Sure Martinez and Turner improved by applying these metrics but, I think, the vast majority of good hitters developled these techniques at a young age without even realizing it. And a lot of the overload stuff depends on the person themselve. For every Turner you have a Yogi Berra, who said, “you can hit and think at the same time”. Also, another great way to learn hitting is like the kid we signed from the Pittsburg area a few years ago whose dad had a hitting academy. He probably was in the cage everyday hitting and learning without any pressure. But not too many have that opportunity. But your right that analytics play a role......I’m just saying that not everybody is the same in learning. Ted Williams was very technical....probably one of the first...then you have a Mickey Mantle who was the ultimate natural. Interesting Discussion!

Good thing Kepler doesn’t read this article. Or it would be like the famous golf professional Bob Tosk once said, “Paralysis because of over Analysis”.

Not signing big time free agents for the Minnesota Twins is corporate policy. A guy like a Terry Ryan is not dumb...he knew who the best players that were available but corporate, or Pohlad philosophy, is to develop or promote through the farm system. However, the most consistent result is through the combination of the farm system and signing some quality free agents.

Sure Washington had slaves. You can only be a man of your times. If he had been an abolitionist during that era he probably never would have advanced to lead the Revolutionary army......country wasn’t ready at that time. And in my study of history his bravery and sacrifice was remarkable.

I enjoyed your article....welll written. But, you are having a hard time between being a journalist or an advocate. As far as,”whose facts are you going to believe”, we are still in the stage of innuendos and accusations. Give the Twins, MLB and the authorities time to sort out these allegations. Of course, maybe you are not a journalist and just giving your opinion....then I’m off base on my analysis.

Here is info on the wealthiest owners in baseball....at that time.http://www.startribune.com/pohlad-richest-owner-in-baseball-forbes-list-shows/16332206/

http://www.twincities.com/2014/07/10/contraction-nearly-stole-twins-baseball-from-minnesota/You are correct.... here is an article from the pioneer press concerning the issue.

Yes, for many years the Pohlads were the riches owners in baseball. The Dodger group might have surpassed them now. But still they are in the top group. We must remember that they tried to sell the team to a group from North Carolina and they also agreed with contraction only to be saved by Selieg(sp). I’ve always felt the weakness of the Twins is ownership. You can see the same thing developing with the current management team.....same as with Ryan....no bold moves...always under the radar stuff. We’ll see the true colors of the Pohlads when we try to sign some of these young players to contracts, etc. Sure they they have reorganized the structure of the team but this was due to losing money with such poor teams over the past few years.

Think he will hit lefties. He has too good of a swing not to.....he’ll figure it out.

Definitely agree with Beckmt.....Grossman would be a better choice than Werth. However, neither would be beneficial....both are washed up.

Will the front office, or the Pohlads , be the biggest obstacle to the rise of this franchise? You wonder if they really have the required interest. Many would say no. We are a mid-level franchise but pay like a small market team. Yes, I feel the Pohlads are the key to the future.

I have watched Moilter play baseball since his days at the U of M. My cousin was on the same team. He is considered one of the most instinctive players in the history of the game. I also think that he should be retained as manager. The bullpen issue is not his fault. Nothing to work with outside of a few. It will be greatly improved next year with better players. And Tom Kelly really appreciates him as a manager. And I also like his philosophy on bunting and lineup construction. At times very creative. Plus the players really seam to respect him. Look at the results.

How do you know this...or just your opinion? You have sources close to Twins management."

What makes you think this was a leaked story? I listened to Maki and Judd the other day and that was their take on it. I think in either case (Souhan and Ruesse) there was no leaked information. Anonymous sources is just an easy way to write a story. Nick is right....the Twins would have no reason to antagonize Sano...who is a big part of their future.

Independent baseball seems to be pretty lucrative for Saints ownership. They call all the shots now.....and would Veek and the other owners want to give up some control?

Good explanation. It's like the golf swing somewhat....if you can't get the club head ahead of the hands(quickly) or body you'll never hit the ball hard. Doesn't mean that he's not a great hitter. He's a spray hitter, naturally.

It baffles me that you are in strong wild card position and choose to start a pitcher that does knot have a major league future. Are they playing games, or what? What about the philosophy of best players play? This is what makes fans so suspicious of Pohlad run teams. So disappointing!!

We are not a small market team.....we are a mid-market team. I think we are somewhere in the 12th rated tv market.

Great article Nick....really liked the article.

Read Rand's article in today's paper...especially the comments.