wsnydes

I see it as a matter of time before Polanco gets shifted to 2B with Gordon coming down the pipe. Why not capitalize on Dozier's season and trade him now? Move Polanco to 2B and use Escobar at SS until Gordon is ready to come up. A utility role for Polanco would be a complete waste. Polanco seems destined to be a 2B regardless of his defensive abilities at SS. With that considered, Dozier wouldn't seem to be in the long term plans for this team and frankly shouldn't be. They've got to let this core group of youngsters grow as a team together. Keeping Dozier, in my view, is a wasted opportunity to improve the club and free up space for younger players that figure to be a part of the resurgence of this club.

I'm trading Dozier and exploring a deal for Santana. I'd prefer to trade him, but if they don't get a reasonable offer I'd just keep him. Plouffe's time has come, he should be non-tendered and the team can move on. Mauer should be sitting against lefties. I like Vanimal's target of 300-350 AB's, that seems about right. That allows a good mix of position/DH time for both Sano and Vargas. That's still hoping that Sano can play adequate defense and regain his offensive stride, but it's a good place to start. I'm not sure that I'd be all that active in free agency outside of pitching help. I know it's a thin crop, so I'm going target a few guys and go after them hard. Otherwise, I'm looking at trades of older and/or peripheral players that may not be in the future plans to acquire areas of need. That's why I feel that they must trade Dozier and ideally Santana. Remaining holes should be filled with young players that are at least close to ready and let them play as much as possible. The season may start of pretty brutally again, but I'll take early season struggles for a surging finish to end the season.

Agreed. The only way I want to see short term fixes playing is because of A) injury, or you think a prospect needs half a season in the minors before you're going to call him up. Anything else is a waste and counterproductive.

I'd have to go with Dozier myself. That being said, I think it's far more important for the franchise to see Vargas and Buxton even on that list.

Welcome aboard and good luck with the rebuild. We're pretty hungry for some good baseball by the home team around here.

I blame a billy goat for his Cubs record.

This might be the most depressing post that have ever been posted on TD. It's like getting multiplier bonuses in a video game, only the multiplier is a negative.

Maybe somebody killed him? But who?

Accomplishments are important, after all.

So you're to blame! {shakes fist angrily}

I attended Saturday's game. I was actually a little disappointed that I wasn't able to witness the 100th loss in person.

i was an RA for 3 years. Free room and board. I earned my spending money over the summer building lake homes in the Fergus Falls area. I'd give myself a monthly allowance. By the third year, I couldn't afford enough beer to be able to make my ire towards the 500 freshmen I lived with go away. That may be why I'm a whiskey drinker now.

"it'll take more than $20 to keep me quiet" In my day, extortion was a 200 level class.

Let's see, game was rained out last night so they didn't lose. Pro. Double header today means they could will likely lose twice in one day. Con. Depends on the day really. My dad grew up a Cardinals fan and I latched on as well, so I have that going for me I guess.

I moved 10 times by the time I was 10. I was young enough not to really know any different, but it was tough meeting new friends and joining a different school every year. There are some positives to it that emerge as an adult, but there are negatives as well.

So you're just going to ignore the starting rotation? IMO, that's a bigger problem than the bullpen. Get starters to go deeper and that takes some of the burden off of the bullpen. The pen needs to improve as well, but they effectively have one starting pitcher that can be relied upon right now. Defense alone won't improve the pitching staff.

Well, gotta score one before you can score a second...

I told you guys already! I took a shower fairly recently!

I'd like a piece of Brian's birthday cake. Can that be arranged?

Nice pitch...how does he hit that out?

What...a...catch! Wow!

http://i.imgur.com/fbzUm1t.jpg

I'm sure we're not. Someone will come through in a pinch.

Don't bury John while he's correcting posters!

Vargas doing his best Carlos Gomez impression.