MafiaMan Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 What's the over/under on losing 90 games this season? I haven't followed the Central Division off-season moves that closely, other than Detroit's, and I'm happy to say that the Prince Fielder/Miguel Cabrera combination has been broken up. Fielder's been terrible in the post-season, both with Milwaukee and Detroit, and I think Dombrowski finally had enough. Ian Kinsler is a good athlete and improves Detroit's stolen base opportunities greatly. Watching Prince and Miguel out there was like watching the Bloomington Fireman's Softball Tournament at times. My early prediction: 1) Tigers - and it won't be close 2) Indians 3) Royals 4) White Sox 5) Twins Quote
fightingsioux4life Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 It will be the same tired old crap from the Twins. They'll be out of the division race by May 1st, people will start talking trades and minor league call-ups by the All-Star break, and we'll all be lamenting the sorry state of the franchise by the end of the regular season. Target Field was supposed to be a game-changer for this franchise. It looks like the Pohlad boys are just chips off the old block. I honestly care more about the Vikings and the NFL Draft than I do the Twins. Quote
MafiaMan Posted February 28, 2014 Author Posted February 28, 2014 It will be the same tired old crap from the Twins. They'll be out of the division race by May 1st, people will start talking trades and minor league call-ups by the All-Star break, and we'll all be lamenting the sorry state of the franchise by the end of the regular season. Target Field was supposed to be a game-changer for this franchise. It looks like the Pohlad boys are just chips off the old block. I honestly care more about the Vikings and the NFL Draft than I do the Twins. That's the problem of new stadiums...they sell themselves for a few years regardless of the product that's on the field. The honeymoon's just about over for Target Field and the Twins though. Problem is, around the time that they're forced to actually get some players (or risk have Targe Field look as vacant as Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on game-day), the new Vikings stadium will open and allow another Minnesota sports team to totally suck while its fans bask in the glow of new stadium-ness. Quote
Oxbow6 Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 What's the over/under on losing 90 games this season? My early prediction: 1) Tigers - and it won't be close 2) Indians 3) Royals 4) White Sox 5) Twins Over...this team has a great chance to drop a Benjamin. Think KC has an outside shot at a wild card...I think they'll finsih 2nd. Quote
darell1976 Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 Indians will win the division...#RollTribe Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 Im optimistic, the rotation is better than it was last year. I say 78 wins. Quote
Oxbow6 Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 Im optimistic, the rotation is better than it was last year. You, me, MM and the sushi chef in front of me would be an upgrade from last year!! Quote
MafiaMan Posted February 28, 2014 Author Posted February 28, 2014 You, me, MM and the sushi chef in front of me would be an upgrade from last year!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji-cT58rgNc Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 I do throw a mean forkball and pitch to contact so.... Quote
Fetch Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 I try to get interested in the twins - I'd love to be a fan & watch or listen all summer & even go to a few games - they really need to shyt or get off the pot Quote
MafiaMan Posted February 28, 2014 Author Posted February 28, 2014 I hear their new ad campaign on the radio all the time...the little Irish jig about "we're bringin' in the closer" and his name is Glen Perkins. I guess my big question is...when do you think you're going to be bringing him in? Mop-up duty in the 8th with the opposing team up by 7 runs? Quote
Snake Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 I haven't been following them as closely as I usually do the past couple years for obvious reasons; but I actually like the fact that the Twins have tanked. They're getting a chance to reload their farm system. It seems that every MN sports team just hangs around the middle of the pack and then never gets the chance to draft potential superstars. With the recent drafts, it sounds like the Twins have been building one of the best groups of prospects in baseball. Look at what the TB Rays have become after years of last place finishes and top draft positioning. Free agency is definitely not the way to go in my opinion. They neither have the money nor the nucleus on the team to have a free-agent acquisition make much of a difference. Quote
MafiaMan Posted February 28, 2014 Author Posted February 28, 2014 I haven't been following them as closely as I usually do the past couple years for obvious reasons; but I actually like the fact that the Twins have tanked. They're getting a chance to reload their farm system. It seems that every MN sports team just hangs around the middle of the pack and then never gets the chance to draft potential superstars. With the recent drafts, it sounds like the Twins have been building one of the best groups of prospects in baseball. Look at what the TB Rays have become after years of last place finishes and top draft positioning. Free agency is definitely not the way to go in my opinion. They neither have the money nor the nucleus on the team to have a free-agent acquisition make much of a difference. That is the one plus side of all this...their farm system is loaded. Now if they could just trade that Mauer guy... Quote
nodakvindy Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 The Twins will be somewhat improved and should be able to ride the bloom of the All-Star Game. One more terrible year wouldn't hurt to help out the farm system. Buxton and Sano are legit future franchise cornerstones. It's easy to forget that the Twins actually made the playoffs the first year at Target Field, but again lost out to the Yankees. The big falloff occurred because Bill Smith was a mediocre GM and Justin Morneau couldn't stay healthy. The other problem was a philosophy of drafting soft-tossing pitch-to-contact types and that has not worked. Now the Twins are drafting big arms and have made some savvy trades to re-establish the farm system. I think 2014 will likely be a 4th or 5th place finish, but by next season the Twins will be back on the upswing. I think Buxton and Sano both see some time in September (Sano probably earlier), but that both will also start 2015 in Triple A at least long enough to ensure an extra season of team control (Unless either is so impressive that they can't be kept down). Also, being a Yankee fan too, I think Phil Hughes was a great signing, he will perform well at Target Field, was signed pretty cheaply and comes in with something to prove. The Twins rotation is light years ahead of last year and the bullpen is respectable. The Tigers will miss Prince Fielder. It will be interesting to see how Cabrera fares without him in the lineup. If the Royals can get the pitching they could be the Indians of 2014, although I think AL playoff teams will be Detroit, Oakland, Texas, New York and Boston. Quote
Wilbur Posted March 1, 2014 Posted March 1, 2014 This is where I'm in the fire the coach crowd. Gardy is awful. Guy simply cannot manage against the quality teams and he has proved it over and over against the New York Yankees and other clubs. I'm not sure how he let Alexi Casilla and Nick Punto get naked pictures of him, but he did, and I'm glad the Twins found a way to get rid of them so Gardy didn't have to play them and bat them second in the lineup. Get a new guy in there with some energy and fire, and for the love of Carl Pohlad try something different. Last place, 90 plus losses on the horizon again. Quote
Csonked Out Posted March 1, 2014 Posted March 1, 2014 This is where I'm in the fire the coach crowd. Gardy is awful. Guy simply cannot manage against the quality teams and he has proved it over and over against the New York Yankees and other clubs. I'm not sure how he let Alexi Casilla and Nick Punto get naked pictures of him, but he did, and I'm glad the Twins found a way to get rid of them so Gardy didn't have to play them and bat them second in the lineup. Get a new guy in there with some energy and fire, and for the love of Carl Pohlad try something different. Last place, 90 plus losses on the horizon again. It doesn't matter who is the coach with the roster they had last year.....as Chris Carter would say, C'mon Man!!! The pitching should be much better this year and hopefully the strikeouts decrease for the offense. Gardy is one of the best managers in the game, this mess is squarely on ownership and management. I think a good season would be finishing at .500 with the real turn around coming next season when Sano, Buxton, and Meyer are all in the show. Quote
Wilbur Posted March 1, 2014 Posted March 1, 2014 Trade Joe Mauer! You might be on to something. Quote
MafiaMan Posted March 1, 2014 Author Posted March 1, 2014 I really think the Tigers added by subtracting Fielder. Cabrera...Kinsler...Verlander...Kate Upton...what's not to like about the Tigers? Quote
Wilbur Posted March 1, 2014 Posted March 1, 2014 I really think the Tigers added by subtracting Fielder. Cabrera...Kinsler...Verlander...Kate Upton...what's not to like about the Tigers? Torii Hunter.....grrrrrrrrr If I ever see a "Torii is Minnesota's angel" sign again I'll become a Yankee fan. Quote
MafiaMan Posted March 1, 2014 Author Posted March 1, 2014 Torii Hunter.....grrrrrrrrr If I ever see a "Torii is Minnesota's angel" sign again I'll become a Yankee fan. Can you imagine his status in Detroit right now had he caught that HR Ortiz hit? Quote
Wilbur Posted March 1, 2014 Posted March 1, 2014 Can you imagine the Twin's status in Minnesota right now had they not just let he and Ortiz go? Fixed your post... Quote
Snake Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 The Twins will be somewhat improved and should be able to ride the bloom of the All-Star Game. One more terrible year wouldn't hurt to help out the farm system. Buxton and Sano are legit future franchise cornerstones. It's easy to forget that the Twins actually made the playoffs the first year at Target Field, but again lost out to the Yankees. The big falloff occurred because Bill Smith was a mediocre GM and Justin Morneau couldn't stay healthy. The other problem was a philosophy of drafting soft-tossing pitch-to-contact types and that has not worked. Now the Twins are drafting big arms and have made some savvy trades to re-establish the farm system. I think 2014 will likely be a 4th or 5th place finish, but by next season the Twins will be back on the upswing. I think Buxton and Sano both see some time in September (Sano probably earlier), but that both will also start 2015 in Triple A at least long enough to ensure an extra season of team control (Unless either is so impressive that they can't be kept down). Having a string of high draft picks has allowed them to draft the "power arms" they have been lacking. Re: Sano - Unfortunately, he is having season-ending Tommy John surgery this spring. This is where I'm in the fire the coach crowd. Gardy is awful. Guy simply cannot manage against the quality teams and he has proved it over and over against the New York Yankees and other clubs. I'm not sure how he let Alexi Casilla and Nick Punto get naked pictures of him, but he did, and I'm glad the Twins found a way to get rid of them so Gardy didn't have to play them and bat them second in the lineup. Get a new guy in there with some energy and fire, and for the love of Carl Pohlad try something different. Last place, 90 plus losses on the horizon again. Well, Punto does have a WS ring on his finger... Quote
Wilbur Posted March 4, 2014 Posted March 4, 2014 As a utility guy for St. Louis, with 120 less plate appearances than his lowest year with the Twins. Never ever faulted his effort. But his at bats after his career year in 2006 when he touched .290 just got worse and worse. I'm actually glad that he got himself a world series ring, because his effort deserved one. And as long as I'm glad for him I'll be glad for Doug Mientkiewicz and David Ortiz for winning world series titles post twins too. Twins win twice today! Now 4-1 on the young doesn't count season! Quote
Snake Posted March 4, 2014 Posted March 4, 2014 I think Gardy played guys like Punto, Casilla, Rivas, etc. out of necessity rather than because he had an embarrassment of riches at the middle infield positions. Terry Ryan liked to build teams that were strong defensively up the middle, and back when they were making the playoffs consistently they did play good defense. Quote
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