TheGiantTeapot

THIS. I'm new here as well. There are some great people here. There are also some very serious minded folk who see zero room for humor and have little patience with those of us not metric savvy. I like TD and I hope it thrives, but I find myself spending as much or more time at Twinkie Town.

http://www.startribune.com/consistenly-awful-kyle-gibson-needs-to-go-after-this-season/440970213/

Like. Like. Like. Like. Like. Like.Like. Like. Like.Like. Like. Like.Like. Like. Like.

I dunno. Feels like the FO is as surprised as anyone at the team's unexpected competence this season. We're all hoping they can sustain it, but are we really optimistic? They may have gotten everything they're going to get from Hector. Gibby is showing his typical flashes of brilliance before he reverts to his nibbling norm. Give Turley a shot, his numbers are promising enough. You roll the dice, you take your chances... it's a long season. Never know who might step up and shine!

Hughes to the DL, Gibson called back up. Is it just me, or is there an impending sense of doom drifting this way? Under TR this would've been a death knell for an encouraging season. I really hope Falvine can work some magic...

Ortiz as victim. Of course! Because... victim.

I agree. What I find interesting is their reliance on a 50 year old model. One of the conundrums of selling broadcast entertainment to advertisers is proving how many listeners or viewers their ads will reach. There's never been a reliable method to measure the audience. The new portable people meters are a great step forward, but they aren't carried by every person on the planet. (I just had a great idea for a very Orwellian science fiction script...) So, the numbers that networks try to sell to advertisers are still estimates. But, you can precisely count mouse clicks and downloads and views and streams. Networks live and die by advertising dollars (which is why boycotts by "offended" groups work so well). The only conclusion I can come to is that the number of people consuming sports entertainment via "new" technology isn't significant enough to measure and sell compared to the old model of estimating viewers watching Sunday Night Baseball down at Bobby's Sports Hut. It just strikes me as weird, and perhaps a missed opportunity.

Short piece about the four letter network's attempts to attract advertisers: https://www.marketplace.org/2017/05/16/business/counting-television-viewers-outside-their-homes

This.

You roll the dice, you take your chance... Getting anything for DanSan is a win, imo. Next up, Tonkin.

All fair points. I just don't get how it's a detriment to the flagship radio station if we hear the exact same broadcast online, ads and all. It's a messed up industry, that much I know.

Same as Wilson Ramos and AJ Pierzinsky and Tim Laudner and George Mitterwald. It's cold here, let the flames begin!

The comment or the contract?

Dear God. $23 Million for this.

Joe. 2 on, no outs. Strike one looking. strike two looking. Slaps weakly to second. Argghh! IT BURNS!!!!!!!! Make it stop!!!!

Hey everyone, I need to vent. 54 years old, spent a large part of my working life in radio and broadcasting. I'm supremely frustrated that I can't listen to a Twins radio broadcast online! MLB seems to think their arrangement with live away games but delayed home games is a good idea. Um, yeah... no. Radio broadcasts are free, with the caveat that we have to listen to commercials.. With the advent of PPM (Personal People Meters, or something like that), stations have a better shot at tracking how many listeners they actually have. Not super accurate numbers by any means, but a better idea. "Better" is a relative concept compared to years past. Online listeners can be counted much more easily. Why the **** wouldn't Manfred and MLB make radio broadcasts available online and sell those numbers to advertisers? I can't believe MLB.TV is doing well enough to offset what they could make from advertisers who would pay for a larger base of listeners. Make the radio broadcast available online, with commercials, and sell the numbers to advertisers. Anyone?

Yes, I know... we're all tired of Joe being crucified for his shortcomings. But I think Morris nicely summarizes an average fan's frustration. http://www.startribune.com/jack-morris-mauer-should-consider-changing-his-approach/419279644/

Very persuasive. It makes as much sense as anything else that's been said. I hope Rowson and staff address it. Or fly Reynolds in and have him work with the young man. Whatever it takes. He has all the tools, the fixing needs to take place in his head.

Other than Gibson and Erv, I don't see our pitching staff (all 13!) attracting much attention... hoping Mejia provides a pleasant surprise. Brian Dozier (Betting he's gone by the trade deadline in return for 2 solid prospects) Miguel Sano (Is worth a #1 or #2 SP but won't be moved) Byron Buxton (Will be worth a #1 or #2 SP but won't be moved) Max Kepler (Sophomore season, won't be moved, high ceiling) Byung Ho Park (Being showcased at AAA, will attract 2 SP prospects by the All-Star break) There ya go. Bold predictions from a casual fan with no basis in reality. (The predictions or the fan.)

I won't be watching because I'm too buried in parent student loan debt to be able to afford anything more than the antenna on my roof. But I'm an avid radio listener. Provus & Gladden & Atteberry do a really nice job. And like everyone else I'm rooting for the young core of players (get Park up here, dammit!) and I want to see how the new FO handles the season. I'm also wondering which of the young core gets traded for SP first. (Yes, I know Park is not young by comparison. You know what I mean.)

Hi everybody! New member here. I'm not a big stat person so please use small stats and words! If you were the GM or CBO of any MLB team, who would you want from this 2017 opening day roster? It seems Falvine are looking long term by parking Park and other blue chippers in AAA. I'm curious what you all think. To me it looks more like a 5 year plan to success. Starting Pitchers: Ervin Santana Hector Santiago Kyle Gibson Phil Hughes Adalberto Mejia Bullpen: Brandon Kintzler Matt Belisle Ryan Pressly Taylor Rogers Craig Breslow Michael Tonkin Justin Haley Tyler Duffey Ryan O'Rourke (DL) Catchers: Jason Castro Chris Gimenez Infielders: Joe Mauer Brian Dozier Miguel Sano Jorge Polanco Eduardo Escobar Ehire Adrianza (DL) Outfielders: Eddie Rosario Byron Buxton Max Kepler Robbie Grossman Danny Santana

I think the past and present FO is hoping for Kung Fu Panda 2.0. I'd take that. Not saying Sano will, but I'd take it.

Agreed. And I did say fewer than 10. But my point is, there are managers who are able to establish a culture of winning, an expectation of success. Obviously having good players is critical to success (Ned Yost) but leadership is a necessary part of the equation. I don't see Molitor as one of those guys. and based on recent moves by the FO, neither do Falvey or Levine.

I'm honestly not trying to be negative. I just don't think Molly is the right choice for manager. I know it would be highly unconventional, but I'd let Torii have a shot at it. At least we'd have post-win dance parties for Joe to do the butter churn at.

Good story by Berardino. Am I the only one wondering why the young data turks seem to acknowledge chemistry and leadership (in addition to data and analytics) more readily than TR did? Or is it more accurate to blame the Bill Smith regime for the mass exodus of the veteran leaders the Twins had? It's interesting to watch how the psychological makeup of a group responds to different situations. (The 5-0 Vikings go into a bye week finding slashed stuffed animals in the locker room and the season turns to mush, for example.) Am I being too hard on Molitor for not being the leader this group apparently needs? Isn't that part of the manager's job description? I've certainly heard the argument that the manager of a baseball team is really only responsible for fewer than 10 wins/losses over the course of a season. But then I think of the Maddons and the Franconas and the Bochys of the world. They apparently know how to lead a group of athletes and establish a culture of confidence and winning. What am I missing?