And Twins! (The Twins talk and pick-up thread).

[TBTwinsFan]

lol i guess i didnt even notice that

They should be releasing 2012 fairly soon if I am correct.

 

[TwinsWin]

i may be the only one sad to see this,

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7353410/boston-red-sox-sign-nick-punto-shore-infield

A better-than-average fielder, Punto has never been known for his prowess with a bat in his hand. Among active players with at least 2,500 plate appearances, only Cesar Izturis (.322) has a lower career slugging percentage than Punto (.327).

ouch

 

[clarkzac]

i may be the only one sad to see this,

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7353410/boston-red-sox-sign-nick-punto-shore-infield

A better-than-average fielder, Punto has never been known for his prowess with a bat in his hand. Among active players with at least 2,500 plate appearances, only Cesar Izturis (.322) has a lower career slugging percentage than Punto (.327).

ouch

I'm sad because its the Red Sox. But am I sad that he's not with the Twins? No. He was great to watch while he was in the field but I closed my eyes everytime he stepped up to the plate. If only you could have a designated fielder as well as a designated hitter, than I wouldn't mind Punto being a Twin again, or better yet, a "Piranha!"

 

[Greg Cleveland]

A few additions to the Twinsfest auto schedule...

Current Players/Coaches:
Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Alex Burnett, Drew Butera, Jamey Carroll, Alexi Casilla, Scott Diamond, Ryan Doumit, Terry Doyle, Brian Dozier, Brian Duensing, Ron Gardenhire, Gene Glynn, Jeff Gray, Carlos Gutierrez, Chris Herrmann, B.J. Hermsen, Aaron Hicks, Jeff Manship, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Chris Parmelee, Carl Pavano, Glen Perkins, Trevor Plouffe, Ben Revere, Tyler Robertson, Denard Span, Rick Stelmaszek, Anthony Swarzak, Rene Tosoni, Danny Valencia, Joe Vavra, Jerry White, Kyle Waldrop, Alex Wimmers, Liam Hendriks Austin Malinowski, Roy Larson, Nate Hanson, Kyle Knudson, Matt Schuld, Caleb Theilbar, AJ Pettersen, Joe Vavra, Joe Benson, Cole Nelson

Former Players:
Juan Berenguer, Bert Blyleven, Rod Carew, John Castino, Scott Erickson, Dan Gladden, Dave Goltz, Mudcat Grant, Kent Hrbek, Jim Kaat, Corey Koskie, Tom Kelly, Gene Larkin, Tim Laudner, Paul Molitor, Jack Morris, Al Newman, Tony Oliva, Frank Quilici, Brian Raabe, Jeff Reardon, Roy Smalley, Terry Steinbach, Dick Stigman, Kevin Tapani, John Gordon

 

[matchpenalty]

Looks like Scott Erickson is really making the autograph circuit now.

 

[clarkzac]

Cuddyer signs with the Rockies, 3 years $31.5 million. Sucks to see somebody like Cuddyer leave the orginization. I'll still always be a fan of him. Might have to venture down to Denver to watch the Rockies play this year now (I live in western Nebraska)

 

[Musial Collector]

The Twins new mantra is "You built it, we promised to keep a contender on the field, but thats not the case anymore, sorry, we are going to continue to act like a small market team and "rebuild" again and again and again......."

To have their biggest off season acquisition be Willingham is just sad.

I will stick with the Twins for this season with my season tickets, but if they are a cellar dweller or bottom feeder after the 2012 season again, I will give up my tickets as I wont support them if they wont keep this team a contender.

 

[clarkzac]

I would much rather them have resigned Cuddyer and also sign Willingham, but then trade Revere. I do like Revere, but I feel like an outfield of Willingham in left, Span in center, and Cuddyer in right would have been great. The corner outfield positions need to have a little more pop than what Revere will provide

 

[yrocks2001]

I would much rather them have resigned Cuddyer and also sign Willingham, but then trade Revere. I do like Revere, but I feel like an outfield of Willingham in left, Span in center, and Cuddyer in right would have been great. The corner outfield positions need to have a little more pop than what Revere will provide

That would have been one of the worst defensive outfields in baseball even with a healthy Span. Cuddyer is also incredibly overpaid with this new contract. The Twins need a healthy Morneau and Mauer to get more pop in their order.

 

[Slette]

If Kubel goes, I can officially quit giving a crap about the Twins.

 

[Musial Collector]

The Twins need a healthy Morneau and Mauer to get more pop in their order.

:lol:
Keep dreaming that dream!!!

 

[yrocks2001]

The Twins need a healthy Morneau and Mauer to get more pop in their order.

:lol:
Keep dreaming that dream!!!

Not saying it's realistic or even possible but it's the only way the Twins will win in 2012 regardless of Cuddyer/Willingham.

 

[Musial Collector]

The Twins need a healthy Morneau and Mauer to get more pop in their order.

:lol:
Keep dreaming that dream!!!

Not saying it's realistic or even possible but it's the only way the Twins will win in 2012 regardless of Cuddyer/Willingham.

Mauer has ZERO "pop" and Morneau has openly complained that the OF fences at TF need to be moved in so more HR's can be hit (really???). Well I have seen Bautista, Thome, Hamilton, and just about every other "power hitter" bomb them out of TF. Morneau is just a ***** whos lost his "pop", as is Mauer (one year power spike)!!! Neither of these guys will add value to this team, on or off the field.

Twins are rebuilding folks, get use to this for the next 3ish years (thats my estimate) before they contend for the division again. Then it will be (X) player wants too much, we will let them go via FA or trade them cause we cant pay them because we are a small market team, wash, rinse, repeat for "rebuilding". Total BS crap from the Pohlads!!!

 

[yrocks2001]

[quote="Musial Collector":2pnehfsm]

The Twins need a healthy Morneau and Mauer to get more pop in their order.

:lol:
Keep dreaming that dream!!!

Not saying it's realistic or even possible but it's the only way the Twins will win in 2012 regardless of Cuddyer/Willingham.

Mauer has ZERO "pop" and Morneau has openly complained that the OF fences at TF need to be moved in so more HR's can be hit (really???). Well I have seen Bautista, Thome, Hamilton, and just about every other "power hitter" bomb them out of TF. Morneau is just a ***** whos lost his "pop", as is Mauer (one year power spike)!!! Neither of these guys will add value to this team, on or off the field.

Twins are rebuilding folks, get use to this for the next 3ish years (thats my estimate) before they contend for the division again. Then it will be (X) player wants too much, we will let them go via FA or trade them cause we cant pay them because we are a small market team, wash, rinse, repeat for "rebuilding". Total BS crap from the Pohlads!!![/quote:2pnehfsm]

Getting rid of an aging player who has more value in the clubhouse and community than on the field means the Twins are rebuilding? What has changed about this team other than losing Cuddyer? Hate to break it to you but the Twins have a lot more pressing needs than overpaying for Cuddyer based on his community work. I feel like you're putting Cuddyer in the same grouping as Torii Hunter and Johan Santana, but Cuddyer is nowhere near the caliber of player as these two. I also have trouble believing that Mauer or Morneau won't add value on or off the field. Mauer has won 3 batting titles as a catcher and just needs to be healthy and Morneau (who I have less faith in on the field) participates in a handful of charities, most notably his fundraiser to raise money for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

The Twins will have a payroll over 100 million dollars again in 2012 and that to me shows a willingness to spend money on fielding a team to compete. Unfortunately for the Twins it also means that they need to rely on players who have not produced since agreeing to large deals (Pavano/Morneau/Mauer combine for over 46 million in 2012).

I completely understand your frustration with the Twins not bringing back a player but again, Cuddyer being around will not be the difference for the Twins.

 

[Musial Collector]

Willingham was born February 17, 1979 (Age: 32)
Cuddyer was born March 27, 1979 (Age: 32)

You say, getting rid of an aging player, tell me the difference above, besides about 40 days diff in age. The Twins got the same player for less money, I get it.

162 game average
Cuddyer - .272 avg, 20 HR, 82 RBI
Willingham - .262 avg, 27 HR, 88 RBI

Not spending money in the FA market, like they have said they would do with a new stadium (because there will be all of this added revenue) is what is pissing me off, not that Cuddy isnt coming back.

Here are the FA signings the Twins have done this year and tell me they are NOT rebuilding.

November 16, 2011 Agreed to terms with INF Jamey Carroll on a two-year contract. Age (February 18, 1974 (Age: 37)

November 23, 2011 Agreed to terms with C Ryan Doumit on a one-year contract. Age April 3, 1981 (Age: 30)

December 15, 2011 Agreed to terms with OF Josh Willingham on a three-year contract. Age February 17, 1979 (Age: 32)

Thats IT!

3 players to 1 - 3 year contracts, all over 30, none of which made any kind of splash or noise in the FA market. If you dont think the Twins are rebuilding you are kidding yourself!!!

And I wasnt going to go the way of the Community Involvement but you decided to bring that up, so here goes:

Michael Cuddyer: Boys & Girls Clubs, Twins Community Fund Board Member (Mauer, Morneau, if you are so big in the community, why are you not on this board???), Cheerful Givers, Jr. Rolling Twins (Won a $200,000 grant from Pepsi in 2010 thru his effortless work against 31 other Team Representatives from around the league to get a "Field" built for the Jr. Rolling Twins, if you dont know who they are, look them up), TwinsCare

Here is a Boys and Girls club event hosted by Cuddyer, tell me where Mauer and Morneau were?? http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/pri ... p&c_id=min

Here is the Hanging with the Majors event during the Twins Hope Week in 2011, I see Cuddyer again, but show me Mauer or Morneau! http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/photos/g ... 6&c_id=min

Oh, heres another one for you to chew on during the Hope Week, playing Wiffleball with Kids, Cuddy is at it again, missing are Joe and Justin http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/photos/g ... 8&c_id=min

Joe Mauer: Friends of St. Paul Baseball (grew up in St Paul so this is maybe a given?), MLBPA Action Team/Volunteers of America, Catholic Athletic Association (went to a catholic school, so maybe a given?), Highland Friendship Club (where he grew up and parents still live, he lives full time in FL), TwinsCare

Justin Morneau: Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Special Olympics, TwinsCare, Fields for Kids, Veterans' charities

You NEVER see Joe outside of the stadium during the season, rarely do you ever see Morneau, however, Cuddyer, is at the Twins Unplugged, is running his charity events, showing up at player signings, etc. Stop kidding yourself into thinking Justin and Joe are a huge part of this community, they are not!

Finally, "that to me shows a willingness to spend money on fielding a team to compete", we are worlds apart here. $46 million tied up in Mauer, Morneau and Pavano, means they have $54 left to spend on 22 other players.

Below are the 2012 salaries:

Mauer 23
Morneau 14
Pavano 8.5
Span 3
Baker 6.5
Blackburn 4.75
Capps 4.5
Nishi 3
Carroll 2.75
Doumit 3
Willingham 3

Thats 76 million for 11 player, zero of which are middle reliever and only 2 full time starters, Blackburn is a question mark IMO. I realize they will come to terms with Valencia, Liriano, Perkins, Duensing, etc, but none of those are upgrades from last years roster. Effing A, our SP is going to be a HUGE problem this year.

Of those 11 players, 3 are new, so 8 are carry overs from 2011. Of those 8, Pavano was the only player not hurt for an extended period last year. So at 100 million payroll, they have 24 million to spend on 14 players, over half the squad. This to me does not look good in any such way. IMO, the Twins are screwed until 2014 when Morneau comes off of the books and we can part ways with him.

Climbing down from my soapbox now :lol:

 

[yrocks2001]

Willingham was born February 17, 1979 (Age: 32)
Cuddyer was born March 27, 1979 (Age: 32)

You say, getting rid of an aging player, tell me the difference above, besides about 40 days diff in age. The Twins got the same player for less money, I get it.

162 game average
Cuddyer - .272 avg, 20 HR, 82 RBI
Willingham - .262 avg, 27 HR, 88 RBI

Not spending money in the FA market, like they have said they would do with a new stadium (because there will be all of this added revenue) is what is pissing me off, not that Cuddy isnt coming back.

Here are the FA signings the Twins have done this year and tell me they are NOT rebuilding.

November 16, 2011 Agreed to terms with INF Jamey Carroll on a two-year contract. Age (February 18, 1974 (Age: 37)

November 23, 2011 Agreed to terms with C Ryan Doumit on a one-year contract. Age April 3, 1981 (Age: 30)

December 15, 2011 Agreed to terms with OF Josh Willingham on a three-year contract. Age February 17, 1979 (Age: 32)

Thats IT!

3 players to 1 - 3 year contracts, all over 30, none of which made any kind of splash or noise in the FA market. If you dont think the Twins are rebuilding you are kidding yourself!!!

And I wasnt going to go the way of the Community Involvement but you decided to bring that up, so here goes:

Michael Cuddyer: Boys & Girls Clubs, Twins Community Fund Board Member (Mauer, Morneau, if you are so big in the community, why are you not on this board???), Cheerful Givers, Jr. Rolling Twins (Won a $200,000 grant from Pepsi in 2010 thru his effortless work against 31 other Team Representatives from around the league to get a "Field" built for the Jr. Rolling Twins, if you dont know who they are, look them up), TwinsCare

Here is a Boys and Girls club event hosted by Cuddyer, tell me where Mauer and Morneau were?? http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/pri ... p&c_id=min" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here is the Hanging with the Majors event during the Twins Hope Week in 2011, I see Cuddyer again, but show me Mauer or Morneau! http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/photos/g ... 6&c_id=min" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Oh, heres another one for you to chew on during the Hope Week, playing Wiffleball with Kids, Cuddy is at it again, missing are Joe and Justin http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/photos/g ... 8&c_id=min" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Joe Mauer: Friends of St. Paul Baseball (grew up in St Paul so this is maybe a given?), MLBPA Action Team/Volunteers of America, Catholic Athletic Association (went to a catholic school, so maybe a given?), Highland Friendship Club (where he grew up and parents still live, he lives full time in FL), TwinsCare

Justin Morneau: Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Special Olympics, TwinsCare, Fields for Kids, Veterans' charities

You NEVER see Joe outside of the stadium during the season, rarely do you ever see Morneau, however, Cuddyer, is at the Twins Unplugged, is running his charity events, showing up at player signings, etc. Stop kidding yourself into thinking Justin and Joe are a huge part of this community, they are not!

Finally, "that to me shows a willingness to spend money on fielding a team to compete", we are worlds apart here. $46 million tied up in Mauer, Morneau and Pavano, means they have $54 left to spend on 22 other players.

Below are the 2012 salaries:

Mauer 23
Morneau 14
Pavano 8.5
Span 3
Baker 6.5
Blackburn 4.75
Capps 4.5
Nishi 3
Carroll 2.75
Doumit 3
Willingham 3

Thats 76 million for 11 player, zero of which are middle reliever and only 2 full time starters, Blackburn is a question mark IMO. I realize they will come to terms with Valencia, Liriano, Perkins, Duensing, etc, but none of those are upgrades from last years roster. Effing A, our SP is going to be a HUGE problem this year.

Of those 11 players, 3 are new, so 8 are carry overs from 2011. Of those 8, Pavano was the only player not hurt for an extended period last year. So at 100 million payroll, they have 24 million to spend on 14 players, over half the squad. This to me does not look good in any such way. IMO, the Twins are screwed until 2014 when Morneau comes off of the books and we can part ways with him.

Climbing down from my soapbox now :lol:

The difference is over nine million dollars. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Cuddyer as a person and he was a good player on a very poor 2011 Twins team. I just don't think losing him is going to make the difference for the Twins having a winning or losing season in 2012 and beyond.

I'm not sure how signing veterans is a sign of rebuilding. If they were rebuilding they'd let Plouffe have a spot in the every day lineup along with Benson and Parmelee.

A few other items...
Morneau was at both the 2010 and 2011 Hanging with the Majors events, he's in the 3rd picture on your link (I was at both also). Morneau was incredibly nice and social at both of them even signing autographs after being told not to and talking with the veterans. Joe I believe was in Florida along with Thome rehabbing at the time (I could be wrong about this) in 2011.

As far as the giving week campaign, it was mandatory for all players to participate in at least two events. Some players went above and beyond that including Span, Revere, and Cuddyer who probably did every event. The Twins organization as a whole is incredible when it comes to giving back to the community and I don't see this changing.

Here is a great read on what you can expect as far as the character of Josh Willingham...
http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/ne...nt_id=24637144&vkey=pr_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak

Like I've been saying with those players you're mentioning, the only way the Twins are going to compete is to get some production out of these big contracts. No team can succeed with that much dead weight on the books.

 

[Greg Cleveland]

All Star Game in KC this year, Target Field in 2014? Twins need to keep some excitement going between now and then.

Here are the FA signings the Twins have done this year and tell me they are NOT rebuilding.

November 16, 2011 Agreed to terms with INF Jamey Carroll on a two-year contract. Age (February 18, 1974 (Age: 37)

November 23, 2011 Agreed to terms with C Ryan Doumit on a one-year contract. Age April 3, 1981 (Age: 30)

December 15, 2011 Agreed to terms with OF Josh Willingham on a three-year contract. Age February 17, 1979 (Age: 32)

Thats IT!

Oh, and the Twins did sign Brian Dinkelman. Go Brian--beat out Nishioka for the utility man role this year!

 

[Greg Cleveland]

Speaking of Dinkelman...

Got this in the mail yesterday with a Christmas card from my friend Shawn in my hometown of Centralia, IL. She's the veterinarian that Dink's Mom works for.

Sweet! MLB Debut signed ticket!

 

[Mudpuddlehuddle]

If the Twins don't sign some starting pitching and some bullpen we aren't going to hit .500 and Terry Ryan is saying we are building for the playoffs this year. Twins also said that with the new stadium they would be more of a major player in the free agent market. That so far hasn't come true this offseason.

PS: Willingham isn't the player Cuddy is. Offensively he's similar but defensively he is not and that extra few million a year it would have cost would have been made back by sold tickets, good advertising he does in the community for the team, defenese, and leadership for our rebuilding team. Its' not a franchise killing deal with the extra picks and the decent offense from Willingham (thats if he stays healthy) but we need pitching and better defense and we haven't really hit much on that this offseason yet except for Carroll. Still hoping for more moves.

 

[TwinsWin]

And what do they do at second base? That was revolving door position last year.

I still feel that we need starting pitching help to even think about playoffs. If the twins would have resigned cuddyer I feel that thebtwins would have traded Span.

There is going to be a lot of questions to be answered at twins fest as to the reasonings for the free agency.