Jordan Independent - Twins talk - Comments

No, I'm not suggesting that

Tom Schardin — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:05:43 -0500

No, I'm not suggesting that at all.
It wouldn't be a good move for the Twins.

Maddux for a second-tier hitting prospect, not a Major League right fielder.

Should we start talking about Francisco Liriano's 21-game scorless streak and seven straight wins at Triple A?

Livian's days are numbered.

Tom? Are you ever so subtly

Mathias Baden — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:22:55 -0500

Tom? Are you ever so subtly suggesting a Cuddy-Maddux trade?

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

Should I even mention the

Tom Schardin — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:33:04 -0500

Should I even mention the Twins' 7-6 win today?

Should I even bring up the notion that perhaps Dernard Span and Go-Go should switch spots in the batting order? One is hitting .100 points better than the other, walks more and has 10 times more plate discipline at this stage in their young careers.

And should I ask: What happens when Cuddy gets back? There's no way Span should go back to Triple-A and/or be taken out of the lineup.

All this Twins' talk has

Tom Schardin — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:01:31 -0500

All this Twins' talk has jinxed the club in Boston.

I'm getting sick of Livian. In 9 of his last 12 starts, five or more runs. That's aweful. Nice start today after getting three first-inning runs.

Yes to Blaylock. He's money

Mathias Baden — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:11:57 -0500

Yes to Blaylock. He's money at the plate, and he's a slick enough fielder to play for the Twins.

Scott Leius and Mike Pagliarulo were a good combo at third, but I would say that on that 1991 team, third base was still the Twins' weakness. After the World Series, Leius by himself didn't hold down the job for long.

Despite his defensive failings, Delmon Young ought to stay in left field. Jason Kubel, not Denard Span, is your other option.

Let's be honest about the trade talk here. Remember who we're dealing with. If the Twins get a pitcher, it's not going to be Greg Maddux. Look for them to find someone they can keep around for a couple of years. It's not like we're one player away from the World Series.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

You didn't like the Scott

Tom Schardin — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:11:35 -0500

You didn't like the Scott Lieus-Pags platoon in the 1991 championship season?

I don't want the Twins to stand pat. I defintitley think an upgrade at 3B would be nice. If anyone thinks the Twins are going to be the 4th-highest scoring team in the Majors with the least homers and a below-average slugging percentage, you're crazy.

Baseball has its way of evening out and those rallies we've had in this great streak will end. That's just the way the game goes. It ebbs and flows.

So I'm all for adding a 3B with some pop (Hank Blalock?). I'm all for adding a pitcher like Maddux. Injuries can happen.

The worst thing the Twins can do now is get complacent.

And Delmon Young needs to learn how to situational hit. In the first inning, Dice-K loaded the bases with two outs and had pitch count in the 20s. So what does idiot Young do with two outs and Dice-K struggling. He swings at the first offering, which was inside and grounds weakly to second. What a terrible at bat. I hope Gardy let him have it after the game. That's an at bat worthy of Class A ball.

You make Dice-K throw a strike or two in that situation, instead of bailing him out. Delmon had another terrible at bat in the eighth with the bases loaded, first-ball swinging when the reliever that was in there was also struggling to find the strike zone.

Situtional hitting is the most underrated element to baseball. You can make an out and a have a good at bat at the same time. I hope Gardy makes Span the everyday left fielder when Cuddy comes back or at least platoons Span and Young out there. Span plays against right-handers, Young against left-handers.

In part, I have to agree,

Mathias Baden — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:40:10 -0500

In part, I have to agree, swansonmej. It seems like the Twins always do well in the offseason, particularly with trades. I like Livan -- during the offseason, he was on my want list, but usually my want list is only a dream.

Tom, I think getting Maddux would fall into that dream category. And I don't think he'd be much of an improvement over the guys we already have.

If we're going to trade, let's talk about a third baseman. Not to get down on Mike Lamb and the utility infielders that have filled in, but we could use a proven everyday thirdbaseman. It's our biggest continued weakness year in and year out since Gary Gaetti left in the early 1990s. The problem is, power hitters are expensive.

Is Ron Coomer available?

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

Trade? Why do any trades

swansonmej — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:14:07 -0500

Trade? Why do any trades when the Twins are winning? They have come together as a cohesive group. Let's not mess with what is working so well. I hate trades. I can't believe the Indians let CC Sabathia go. It takes the wind out of a club to lose someone from the clubhouse.

I say play with who we have and worry about changes in the off-season.

Mathias, if there's a trade

Tom Schardin — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:38:17 -0500

Mathias, if there's a trade deadline move you want to the Twins to make, what is it?

I keep hearing talk about bring Christian Guzman back, cuz he's a free agent at the end of the year and he's playing for money.

Forget that. I'd rather have Punto's stability and toughness there.

I'd like to see the Twins get a pitcher. Who?
How about Greg Maddux? He would not cost a top prospect cuz of his age. He would be an asset to the young staff. The guy can still pitch.

Would he come here? Who knows. But I'm sure he'd like to win again and the Padres are going no where fast. Whose spot in the rotation doe he take, well, Livian's.

Mauer, Morneau and Nathan

Tom Schardin — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:34:54 -0500

Mauer, Morneau and Nathan are all worthy. And yes, there's more to an MVP than stats.

But I'm staying with Casilla becauase of the impact on the offense has been so tremendous. He's added a different dimension.

Plus, he's been stellar defensively. I'm happy for the kid, who came up last year after the Castillo trade and bombed. I just hope he keeps it up.

Couldn't agree with you

Mathias Baden — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:28:15 -0500

Couldn't agree with you more.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

MVP is not solely based on

swansonmej — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:49:22 -0500

MVP is not solely based on offense. What a player does defensively and in the clubhouse is just as important. In the Star Tribune today, Ron Gardenhire said that Morneau deserves the MVP honors for the club. Both Mauer and Morneau are consistent and good role-models.

It's arguable who is the

Mathias Baden — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:16:46 -0500

It's arguable who is the "MVP." That means so many things to so many people. Mauer and Morneau are clearly the best players on the team, and it helps their cases that they've been doing it for a few years now. Casilla is only a question mark because he is so young. Lately, in the clutch, there's nobody I'd rather have at bat than one of these three -- and maybe Jason Kubel.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

I don't know about MVP, but

Mathias Baden — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:12:58 -0500

I don't know about MVP, but I like Casilla. He's on fire. If he keeps up this pace for his whole career, he'll be an perennial league MVP candidate. Don't count on it, but do count on him remaining a fixture for years to come. He's for real.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

Casilla has as many home

Tom Schardin — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:11:31 -0500

Casilla has as many home runs (4) and two fewer RBIs (35) than Mauer in 120 less at bats and their average is nearly the same (.325 for Mauer and .320 for Casilla).

So I'm sure hands down is right when it comes to Mauer as the MVP. You can certainly make the case for him, same with Morneau or even Nathan.

Since Casilla became the everday second baseman on May 19, the Twins are 29-14. He certainly deserves to be in that conversation as first-half Twins' MVP.

Twins talk

Tom Schardin — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:51:06 -0500

Hey Mathias, where's the Twins' banter?

-Where's the love for Alexi Casilla? The kid can hit. He can't field, but he can hit.

-Cuddy, Young and Mauer = 1 home run.

-Glen Perkins in the rotation. Boof out.

-Who is digging Kubel's meager batting average with the occasional long ball?