Twins Talk, But No Action
Posted on July 31st, 2008 – 12:25 PMBy La Velle
Twins GM Bill Smith and his posse of experts spent part of Thursday huddled in a conference room, then gathered in Smith’s office as they tried to swing a deal before the 3 p.m. no-waiver trade deadline. But they came up empty.
Here’s a little of what I’ve picked up since the deadline.
They weren’t as desperate to make a deal as they have been in recent years. but still tried to land right-handed hitting help and bullpen help.
They were willing to take on payroll, therefore they didn’t feel they needed to give up a lot of prospects as well. That explains the lack of a Adrian Beltre deal.
There was a strong desire to keep Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Kevin Slowey and Glen Perkins. They feel they have a quartet that will be a force to be reckoned with - until someone gets too expensive to keep, of course.
I wonder who will go in order to make room for Franchise?
Gotta get ready for Bill Smith’s presser at 4:30. I now return you to my earlier posts on this blog…
Received more indications late last night that the Twins want to get Liriano up here ASAP. So stay tuned for a potentially interesting roster adjustment if the Twins don’t make a trade before the 3 p.m. non-waiver deadline.
And there was a report yesterday about the Twins asking about Rich Aurilia. I was told last night that it was more the other way around, with the Giants dangling him.
The Giants had one of their top scouts at yesterday’s game. Boof Bonser is a former Giants first-round draft pick. Hmmmm. I’m not putting a Bonser-for-Aurilia swap together, but maybe there could be someone else or a minor leaguer involved.
Was told last night that there was a, `little bit,’ of a market for Bonser, who’s 26 and still has upside. He was an out away from a solid outing last night but couldn’t get Paul Konerko out.
12:43 update: Griffey in the AL Central, can’t believe it.
Now there are reports on what we heard a couple days ago - that reliever J.J. Putz is availale. Also talked to a scout who warned, `buyer beware,’ on Putz because of his elbow.
Just read about Annibal Sanchez being activated from the DL. Wow. Forgot about him. This has nothing to do about a trade, by the way. I just remember the no-hitter he threw.
1:09 update: The San Francisco Chronicle suggests that Jose Castillo is the player the Twins are interested in.
2:00 update: Just got off the phone with minor league director Jim Rantz. Luke Hughes is being promoted to Class AAA Rochester. Shooter Hunt starts tonight for Beloit. And Liriano is scheduled to start at Rochester on Friday, but we’ll see.
533 Responses to "Twins Talk, But No Action"
Two and a half hours left.
Assuming Manny goes, everyone but the Twins are dealing and improving.
Figures, Twins sitting on their hands once again.
Aurilia would be a nice addition, and him for Bonser would be a very good deal.
Most of the ESPN guys agreed that the Griffey deal doesn’t help the White Sox very much…
Patience, everyone. Remember, it’s better to make no deal than it is to make a bad deal.
romer, i wouldnt say that the red sox are improving if they trade manny.
Griffey deal is a joke. He can’t play CF and isn’t a big bat anymore. Not unless you all think Kubel is a really big bat.
Looks like the Manny deal is dead. The Marlins asked for $9 million. The big hurdle of the Pirates agreeing on the prospects was clear, but Flordia messed it up.
boof for betemit not aguilera and get rid of lamb somehow please everette to
Joe, if Manny doesn’t feel like playing, he won’t play very good. Anything halfway decent would be an improvement over that situation.
The Griffey deal just makes the Sox an even older team.
Consider the Griffey move as a Don-Baylor+ move. They don’t have to play him everyday in the OF.
Slight improvement with a chance at significant improvement. Plus a clutch pinch hitter come playoff time.
11 games over .500 and a game and a half out…why make a dea? Liriano is on the way up in a day or so. Why worry about what others are doing? Before the season started we looked comparetivley bad on paper. All the White Sox did is add another home run hitter. That’s what the Sox do, hit homers. They live and die by the home run. The Twins have the ability to create big rallies out of nothing and that will go a long way in winning games over a long season. This team is fine as it is.
I don’t think Boof-for-Aurilia would be classified as “mortgaging the future” or “its better to make no deal than to make a bad deal”. Aurilia may not be great, but he beats Everett, Howie Clark, or Macri as the extra infielder that will be on the roster. No excuse not to do it if Boof-for-Aurilia can be done.
Plus, the Griffey deal will put second thoughts in the minds of Twins players (if Smith makes no moves at all).
The annual Castillo Bewitching Day has arrived.
Only 2+ hours left.
If Manny went it would be Addition by Subtraction at this point,but The RedSox and Manny have kissed and made up before.Probably will again.
Sounds like the White Sox are going to try Griff in center,move Swisher to first,with Paulie the odd man out.Griffey can’t play center any more,but even his declining bat is better than Konerko’s at this point.
Twins best hope is for a last minute deal for Beltre and hope Seattle has to settle for less than they want.My guess is nothing major will happen on the Twins front.Maybe BS will surprise us.
Why are the twins not talking about adding Adam Dunn? Solving our DH problem should be a top concern for this team. If we want to compete against the East or the West another bat is necessary. The guy is going to hit another 20 homeruns this season, why not go for him?
romer
I completely disagree with you about putting doubts. Last year at this time players were asking for a trade to be made. This year guys like Nathan haved stated that they are okay with sticking with what they have.
Also, trading Manny just because he isn’t happy for the 311th time in Boston would be a huge mistake for the Red Sox. Jason Bay is not anywhere close to the cailber hitter Manny is. Every GM in the AL is praying that the Red Sox make that deal.
“11 games over .500 and a game and a half out…why make a deal?”
Casilla: out. Cuddyer: still out. Nick Punto: still Nick Punto. White Sox: still a better team than the Twins
That’s why you make a deal. Nothing that compromises 2010 in a big way, but they need to get some help to hang with the Sox.
Jack, yes lets add another Left handed hitter who can’t hit LHP. Exactly what this team needs.
If the Twins do nothing, they’re better off than many of their trading competitors. Most of these moves don’t look like they’ll pay off much. Farnsworth? Griffey? Washburn or Byrd? Bleh.
No manager plays the hand he’s dealt better than Ron Gardenhire. We’re not supposed to be 11 games over .500 and in second place. Bringing in “help” disrupts a good chemistry. The Twins make adjustments within and it most often works. Whatever we get from the outside isn’t that much help.
Any news about Grundzelanik (spelling)? Can he hit lefties?
A deal for Aurilia would at least let the Twins bury the moldering remains of Craig Monroe’s career out behind the tool shed.
But it has the same disappointing feeling as picking up Phil Nevin before the waiver deadline, or getting socks for Christmas.
Grudz is a good a possibly very cheap option to get at 2nd base. Yes he can hit lefties…I am hoping that is the deal that happens personally. HE can also fill that 2 hole spot nicely.
Let’s all cross our fingers and hope Seattle’s replacement GM relents and trades Beltre for a more reasonable package.
Rotoworld is reporting that the White Sox are close to acquiring John Lannan from the Nationals.
Shaitan-
Grudz.. is hitting .395 against lefties this year, .459 OBP, .523 slugging, .982 OPS
I would be so happy if we could get Beltre for a lower price…
Steve, agree. The new acquisition gets the notoriety and the present players feel like “What am I, chop liver?”
But I like the Griffey trade because of clubhouse presence, what ever that is.
No big difference making moves are coming down. After trading away Garza and Santana, Bill Smith has nothing much to offer. He has to save the rest of the pitchers, except for Livan.
Mudcat and Steve . . .
Doesn’t the addition of a new player (even though it displaces an existing player) help team morale as a move shows the owners commitment to winning?
I know that most fans view action as a positive . . .
Wise fans know that the Twins will not make any significant moves to enrich the team. They will sell the fans on that bum Cuddyer coming back to the lineup and bringing up Liriano. They will spend no more money and the team will unquetionably fall down in the standings as the big WSox scoring machine tramples them. The cellar doormat is out to welcome the Twinies.
“A deal for Aurilia would at least let the Twins bury the moldering remains of Craig Monroe’s career out behind the tool shed.
But it has the same disappointing feeling as picking up Phil Nevin before the waiver deadline, or getting socks for Christmas.”
Ha-ha. Funny post, and true. Aurilia, however, is much better than Nevin.
Boof for Manny! If the Sox are down, I am down.
Thanks for the updated LENIII.
Minor spelling note: It’s Aníbal and not Annibal. I don’t think he would want to be confused for a girl…
All the negative posts are getting funnier as they get more extreme. Wally’s post was very good and very funny.
You gotta love how Terry Ryan and company have turned the Twins into perennial contenders by focusing on the farm system, but at some point, during some year, shouldn’t they roll the dice (like the Brewers have) and go for it?
I’m not talking about adding a Nevin or Boone or Aurilla, but getting that big 3B bat. Or that big bullpen arm.
Got to love some of these posts. As if some people here think the Twins could nab Adam Dunn for Mike Lamb and Boof Bonser. Most fans don’t seem to realize this isn’t a video game where you can turn fair trades off.
“No manager plays the hand he’s dealt better than Ron Gardenhire”
Yeah, I think I read that in Forbes magazine, right after the article that named Kevin McHale the best GM in any professional sport.
The bizarre love affairs with ineffective veterans, the massive 2007 over-reliance on Neshek and Guerrier, the Gumplike in-game tactics…
He’s not a bad manager, but the idea that Gardenhire pulls off managerial miracles every season is fawning beat writer propaganda that just gets repeated by lazy national sports media.
What happened to Grudzielanek, lets get him! he will probably come cheap!
SF SD T F:
I’m with you 100%
The Twins are alway one player away from being really good. But they will never obtain the necessary key players when the have the opportunity. Pohlad’s habitual thriftiness will cost the team first place.
“Aurilia, however, is much better than Nevin.”
Yeah, that’s true. And he’s pretty good against lefties. Just lacks the name brand appeal of the other deals. Too bad they didn’t go after him 2 months ago.
Jose Castillo!?
He is Punto-like. Harris has more pop than Castillo. I doubt that the Twins are interested in him. I’d buy it, if it said that they were interested in Ivan Ochoa, but Jose Castillo… no way
38 year old Griffey and his .247 AVG….. The Twins should be happy the White Sox will have Griffey in CF and Konerko heading to the bench. Barring a stupid trade by Smith, the Twins should soon be passing the Whities.
Trade Boof for anyone, move Livan to his spot in the pen, bring up Liriano and we’re much, much improved for the stretch. No more automatic losses every fifth game.
It kinda sucks that Terry Ryan is still influencing the decisions. He is great, as far as scouting and developing talent, but he is too conservative and never made a gutsy blockbuster deal. Sure we got Stewart for Kielty, but that year Kielty was already splitting at bats with Mohr, so it was a no brainer.
I’ve maintained all season that we have the right people and they are performing - go with what we have.
That said, move Livan down and Lariano up. We need to get a replacement for Casilla - no starting player looses his position, and Twins need to fill the gap left by Casillas injury.
A move here gets support from players and fans - (increased ticket sales!)
Boy, the Twins are sure good at obtaining players who are mediocre. It makes you wonder why they bother to do anything at all. Their acquisitions can be best characterized as inconsequencial and of no value to improving the team.
boof for betemit
With the Twins and Yankees both in the WC hunt, I don’t know if this is a move either would want to make.
It’s likely the same reason that Hawkins isn’t here. (Especially when the Yanks face the Twins coming up)
As far as Pudge from Detroit…is Detroit honestly still in it? They’re about as bipolar as the Twins when it comes to pitching and offense.
“The San Francisco Chronicle suggests that Jose Castillo is the player the Twins are interested in.”
If Gardenhire is lonely for a sub-mediocre third baseman, can’t we just bring in Tony Batista to sit next to him on the bench and talk endlessly about how OBP is over-rated and how much Punto hustles?
If we would still have Garza, other teams would just demand him in a trade regardless and we would not get anywhere anyways. So now they are demanding the likes of Slowey, Perk, etc. whom I think 1 of the 3 would be expendable to get Beltre.
As much as I get a bad feeling in my stomach every time Boof comes into the game nowadays, I’ve got a different bad feeling that if we trade him, he’ll end up Garza-ing us. Giants would make that less of an issue, but I stil have a feeling he’s got some good pitching in front of him, just maybe not with us.
Doesn’t the “real” action heat up after the deadline, when teams put players on waivers, etc?? I have no idea how that works. Can someone offer any info?? And how teams factor that into the expanding roster?
I know that most fans view action as a positive . . .
Boy, you haven’t been around these parts very long have you.
The idea around here is that there’s one or two guys that would be silver bullets.
Anybody else (especially somebody that someone hasn’t heard of) is just trash by comparison.
It’s honestly why I want to see the Beltre deal go through. Because I’m curious to see the reaction if the Savior comes in but causes a gap elsewhere.
reports are boof is going to jenny craig.
Rotrhed,
the expanding roster takes place Sept. 1. To be able for a call up a player needs to be in the 40 man roster. Currently the Twins’ 40 man roster is a disaster that will hopefully get adjusted soon.
Boof should gain 30 lbs again and he will be able to give us a solid 5 innings at least. The whole losing weight thing is what it is.. He needs to put it back on and eat what he likes.
“It kinda sucks that Terry Ryan is still influencing the decisions.”
Yup, him and Smith are huddling right now. Strength in numbers.
Twig,
You are right, Aurilio has no brand name appeal, but he hits LHP. They could use that bat. The Twins right hand hitters have mostly stunk against LHP. Surprisingly, Span, Mauer and Morneau, have hit them well.
Trade Bonser for Aurillia or Castillo without a doubt. Designate Lamb for assignment. Bonser has no shot of being a starter for us in the near future and he is not reliable in the bullpen. I would toss one of those pitchers we have in AAA or AA for a solid relief pitcher. I doubt the Beltre or Roberts trades are gonna happen, howver they would be nice to have on the team. BUT PLEASE…Don’t trade Slowey!
Look, a big move isn’t going to happen, but Aurilla gives us a RH infield bat and he has some versatility in the field. Also, he would bump Adam Everett off the bench, which would be great.
Liriano is coming up, it’s only matter of when and in what role. I’m hoping it’s as a starter and that he’s up for this weekend, but if it’s in the bullpen (to prove himself in the majors again) then so be it. Starting him in the bullpen and moving him to the rotation in ‘06 didn’t seem to hurt him then, did it?
I am worried about the Griffey deal. There is a message there. Watch the Sox win tonight and we end up 2 1/2 out and right where we started. Better than 4 1/2 though. Hope I’m wrong.
hes not pitching well for us cause we wont let him eat what he usually eats before games. assortments of ding dongs and ho hos…….except he throws ding dongs to hitters and now were selling him like a hoe hoe. lol
Official Decree: Whoever happens to be brought in at the deadline will be assigned the nickname “White Knight”. If that’s sarcastic or not will be left up to the player’s preformance.
Yes, this includes Liriano.
I’ll take Castillo or Aurilia over Bonser. No matter what either has to offer.
Kubel, Cuddyer, and Slowey for Matt Holliday, put him in right field and have a line up that goes Mauer, Holliday, and Morneau 2,3,4. Ridiculous and Colorado would probably jump on it.
Mudcat, maybe we get lucky and Griffey pulls a muscle while being rushed to the airport in Cinncy.
Mudcat, it could happen but Baker on the hill always makes me feel confident in a win.
Griffey deal: Yawwwn!
I’d rather take a AA prospect or something for Bonser than Jose Castillo… ugh…
Thrylos-
What about between now and Sep 1. What happens to all the players currently being discussed and on the bubble. Would teams waiver any of them, or do they just hold out ’til Sept 1? Is there opportunity to pick anyone up post the trading deadline, or are we basiclly done at the deadline?
Jose Castillo? You have got to be joking.
He’s Brenden Harris with dark skin.
Sign Terry Steinbach and Marty Cordova
Ridiculous and Colorado would probably jump on it.
They’d probably hesitate when they were reminded that Cuddy’s on the DL.
Jose Castillo????????????????????
What could they possible want with him?
Another Harris is better than Bonser and his 8.00+ ERA. Plus, he can’t be worse hitter than Everett.
The White Sox trading for Griffey is barely a ripple in the big picture. Griffey has been living off of reputation for the last 2 or 3 years. He is way past his prime and is not a big upgrade over Konerko.
Does Sal Butera have another son we could trade for?
or are we basiclly done at the deadline?
Depending on who you ask, and when, the Twins have been done at least 4-5 times during the 2008 season.
1) When Hunter, Silva and Santana left.
2) When they were swept in four games by Chicago.
3) When they were swept in Boston.
4) When they were swept in New York.
5) After last night’s loss.
I’m sure I’m missing some.
Castillo is a worthless sub .700 OPS hitter..
Oh yea, thats why we want him.
I meant “done” with acquisitions. Thanks, tho…
reports say that bonser is hungry for some mexican food. so castillo is getting brought in so boof can eat him!
Aurillia is washed up and has proven that he can’t play in the AL. He would be a horrible pick up. HOrrible! I also think it’s funny that LENIII “Received more indications late last night that the Twins want to get Liriano up here ASAP.” If they wanted to bring him up ASAP they would have brought him up last weekend, if not sooner. I don’t understand not bringing up your best player to participate in the biggest series of the year. It’s a joke. At this point, unless we’re willing to make a big splash, just do nothing. It’s better than trading for a guy like Aurillia or Castillo.
Get Matt Holliday!!! Build for the future with two MVP’s!!
Rotrhed,
after Aug 1, teams pass most of their players through waivers. If they get claimed, they try to work a trade with the team that claimed them or they are pulling them back. Teams are free to trade any players who have cleared waivers. A lot of these trades involve players to be named later (usually after the season is over) who are usually minor leaguers.
Here is a question: Any scouts in Rochester or New Britain these days?
“I completely disagree with you about putting doubts.”
Yes, Bart Simpson, there aren’t any premier players about to get pissed if BS does nothing.
But all Twins rivals are getting enthused with new blood for the stretch. And the young Twins players (leave Nathan out of it) will only sit in envy as the HR-hitting needs-filled rivals race for the championships.
It’s bound to happen.
Jose Castillo would be a good trade for Boof Bonser. See if they can’t get rid of Everett too somehow. Maybe they can trade Everett for a box of steaks or something….
The fun part of waivers is that usually teams just throw all kinds of guys out there to mask what they’re trying to do.
For example, weren’t guys like Ortiz, Morneau, and others out there last year?
Thrylos -
That is what I was wondering. Thanks!
So have we as a fan base decide that Liriano WON’T be the difference maker anymore?
thrylos-
i was also wondering….do you like head? i would reeeealy like to give you head right now
Place Juan Castro and Tony Batista in blender. Place on high speed. Creates one serving of Jose Castillo. Mmmmm….tastes just as bad.
reports say that bonser is hungry for some mexican food. so castillo is getting brought in so boof can eat him!
I’m still laughing about that one!
Why do the Twins do this every year? Good teams make trades to make themselves better. Maybe the Pohlad family need to sell the Twins finally, since they think that prospects win Championships.
Bring up Liriano is like making a trade.
Getting rid of Bonser is like making a trade.
Cuddyer coming back is like making a trade (if he produces).
Judging from Rotrhed’s 1:40pm post, I’d wager the imitators have arrived.
Hooray. Trade hype AND trolls!
“Place Juan Castro and Tony Batista in blender. Place on high speed. Creates one serving of Jose Castillo. Mmmmm….tastes just as bad.”
You guys are on a roll today. Let me guess, you’e been up since lat night hitting the refresh button!?!? 
Piss and moan, complain and whine. That’s what we do, but seriously, am I the only one that does NOT want to make a worthless trade just for the sake of making a move.
The Sox traded for Griffey. Great, congrats. They just went from a low average, all homer team to an older version of themselves. Griff is an upgrade over Konerko (assuming Swish moves to 1st) but not a “big” splash.
Tigers get Farnsworth. Fantastic. Another worthless arm in the worst bullpen in the AL Central. Congrats.
Twins. Young and solid, yet underwhelming. Good pitching, timely hitting. I’d take a 2B or a 3B, but it’s not completely necessary. The only move I really want is Liriano up and Livan out. Probably would take a Boof trade to happen that way. However, I see Cuddy coming back as a plus. He will be a solid RH bat. He can take over for Monroe’s spot on the Bench. They can rotate outfielders.
So based on that. If they do trade, make it Boof and Monroe, but no need to trade Span or any of our pitchers. It would just be dumb.
I usually hide during these trade talk discussions, because all it does is bring out negativity and whining about the FO. Not for me. I’ll trust the powers that brought 4 AL Central titles.
Thanks for high-jacking my username, a$$hole. That’s the one thing I hate about this site — more than it’s share of children…
circus act at the dome: boof the always hungry catholic priest v.s the little innocent mexican boy castillo..who wins? stay tuned
Well said roto.
“However, I see Cuddy coming back as a plus. He will be a solid RH bat. He can take over for Monroe’s spot on the Bench”
Sure, because why would you not want one of the two or three worst-hitting center fielders in the lineup every day?
“So have we as a fan base decide that Liriano WON’T be the difference maker anymore?”
Not me. Liriano is the risk. He replaces Perkins after Perkins is traded for Beltre.
“but at some point, during some year, shouldn’t they roll the dice (like the Brewers have) and go for it?”
How is it working out for the Brewers?
You don’t want JJ Putz.
am I the only one that does NOT want to make a worthless trade just for the sake of making a move.
Nope. I’m with you on that one. The Twins went out looking for a guy like Beltre, Atkins, or Roberts.
If they aren’t able to land a guy like that, they’re stupid to “settle” for somebody else for the soul purpose of trying and appeasing fans.
3B, 2B/#2, BP…those are the three holes. Get Liriano up here to solidfy the bullpen and drop Bass to make room for Livan in the pen.
If Liriano is the White Knight everybody here believes he will be, they don’t NEED a new pitcher. Livan is better than Bass and Boof apparently has fans in Texas (that could mean Korecky)
But like I keep saying….the Twins are hunting, and EVERYBODY wants the same thing. Which means if they make the deal, they’re only going to be able to make the ONE deal.
That’s why I think they should still focus on 3B.
I don’t think Liriano will be the difference maker unless he can play third and mash lefthanders.
Gendo, I’ve heard he can mash potatoes.
And can do the twist.
I guess I could clarify what I meant by Cuddy. I didn’t want my post to get too long.
Basically we can rotate our OF. Young, Span, Go Go, and Cuddy.
Since there’s no room for Monroe in this situation, his spot on the bench is taken. By whichever one doesn’t start.
Then on days you face a lefty. Cuddy is the DH. On days you face a righty or every few days, you DH Kubel and put Span in CF.
This way the guys stay fresh and you play the matchups.
“I’ve heard he can mash potatoes.
And can do the twist.”
But nobody “likes it like this”
Aaron K, Dunn has hit lefties at an .842 OPS for his career and an .844 OPS this season. I wouldn’t say that he can’t hit lefties.
Roto,
I think most ML players would agree that only playing 3-4 games per week, despite maybe keeping you fresh, also throws off your rhythm and is more detrimental than anything in terms your approach at the plate.
Seems like a lot of guys really struggle when they aren’t getting regular playing time. Maybe that’s just some peoples’ perception of it, but I think there’s something to it.
I’d rather see the Twins have a set OF and DH. Hell, put Span at 2B and see what he can do, haha. Ok, maybe not…
“The Twins make adjustments within and it most often works. Whatever we get from the outside isn’t that much help.”
I gotta comment on this one. Young, Gomez, Buscher, Everett, Punto, Harris, Casilla, Nathan were all acquired in trades or as FAs. The only places where they are built from inside are starting pitching, M&M, Kubel and Cuddeyer. It is a MYTH that this team was built from players this team drafted.
Please do something Twins.
Gomez absolutely HAS to go to the bench once Cuddyer returns. Span moves to center and continues to lead off. Screw Gomez’s “confidence” at this point. This isn’t little league.
Luke Hughes to AAA - expect to see him this year. Soon, if Buscher struggles, otherwise Sept 1.
Better no trade than a bad trade. In order to make the kind of trades the Twins would have to make to fix all the “problems” they’d have to tear the team apart. Not worth it.
Morneau was pretty clear that he wants more help, but that it isn’t the Twins way. Of course players are mostly saying they don’t feel they need help. Why would any player bother saying that with this team? The last two to say that are Hunter and Santana…..so if you want to stay a Twin (and a Twins’ fan), you just realize no buying will be done, and live with it (even if it frustrates you to always play for next year).
I’d be plenty happy sending an A baller to the Royals for Grudz. If Casilla is going to be back soon then scrap that and look for a decent set up guy.
I think he’ll be a September callup if he does well…
what the hell is a jose castilla …you have to be kidding me…thats who they are after now…??? pass me some vicodin please
Surprised we haven’t seen any more relievers dealt today.
None of these rumors sound enticing what so ever…Except for Holliday which is not happening! Why don’t we offer one of the young arms for Brian Roberts and next year move Casilla to short.
Nothing is really going on anywhere.
I think it’s clear that some of these young players need breaks throughout the year. Gogo, Young, Span will need a break too eventually. I like the OF rotation. We need a righty at 3rd or another middle IF.
it is a MYTH that this team was built from players this team drafted.
Yes, but it’s not just the players this team has drafted, it’s the deals we’ve made to bring in, often, low level prospects who really pan out (liriano was in A ball I believe when we got him, Casilla was A or AA).
Very rarely have the twins made a deal to bring in major league ready talent (Nathan, Young/Harris) - often times we’ve traded guys for prospects, and have done a *#(@ good job making sure those prospects will make it to the majors.
Twig, with the exception of your cliche-ridden “let’s not compromise 2010″ garbage (why 2010? Because the new ballpark opens? And then what? That’s supposed to change everything?), you are a brilliant analyst. The Gardy stuff is too good. FINALLY, someone takes the puffy little troll to task.
Griffey is like 60 years old, I’m not worried about him, plus having him in center might be a liability for the White Sox. Come on Twins, get a 3B and get Liriano up here. Oh yeah, and trade/cut Livan!
Sounds like nothing is going on here….guess we’ll wait for the lineups and go from there!
I don’t think they need to make a trade just to make a trade, but if one makes sense, why not? We keep hearing build for 2010, but who’s to say our young players continue to get better? Or that we won’t have key injuries? I say if you have a chance to make a trade and it doesn’t kill your pitching depth or farm system, go for it. Of course, we don’t really have the minor league depth we’ve had in the past so it might all be moot.
Dan-O,
I’m surprised we haven’t seen more people dealt, period.
And Scott,
As for Gomez, he’s not going to the bench. In fact, he’s 5 for his last 7. That was enough for people to be calling Denard Span the “savior” the Twins needed when he was called up, if I recall…
Span Man, that makes too much sense, why would they do that?
Twinsbaseball.com headline:
“Livan Hernandez was hit hard by the White Sox on Wednesday”
That should be amended to: “Livan Hernandez was hit hard by the _______ on _____day”
“How is it working out for the Brewers?”
Pretty well actually, Sabathia has been mostly lights out and they were 11-5 until they ran into a hot Cubs team. Even still they are in the lead and favored for the wild card and once they get there with two legitimate aces in C.C. and Sheets anything can happen.
Bay to the Rays (on mlbtraderumors). Thank god we didn’t implode the team for him like some columnist thought we should do.
So the Twins deal Perkins as part of a trade for Beltre and THEN find out that Liriano is an improvement over his April self, but far from being the phenom he was in ‘06. Which I think will be the case, then what? Do NOT deal one of the young pitchers currently in the rotation.
Rays get Jason Bay
Jason Bay goes to Tampa Bay… seems fitting. There goes Howard’s dream scenario. Not that I thought it was possible anyway…
A source told MLB.com that the Rays will get Jason Bay from the Pirates for Reid Brignac and Jeff Niemann.
That’s a great move for the Rays…
I think that means Doug Mientkiewicz will bat third for them for the balance of the season.
I heard somewhere that Jason Bay is going to the Rays.
Castillo from the Giants does nothing for me…career .256 hitter or something…no better than Harris at anything.
Good to hear Hughes is up and it’ll be good to see Shooters game at the new level.
Wow, Rays steal Bay away from underneath Boston. That’s a first.
I like it.
say is Bay going to the Rays?
Jerry,
Then you still have an improved rotation and a gold glove, slugging third baseman for the remainder of this season as well as 2009.
Everyone says we can’t sacrifice much to win this year… Bringing in Beltre gives him to us for 2009 as well, when our young players are supposedly more developed.
2009 Twins:
C- Mauer
1B- Morneau
2B- Casilla
SS- Harris
3B- Beltre
LF- Young/Span
CF- Gomez/Span
RF- Cuddyer/Span
DH- Kubel
Rotation:
Liriano
Baker
Slowey
Blackburn
FA or Duensing perhaps
Doesn’t seem bad to me… plus it gives us an outside chance in 2008.
I’m all for Beltre, depending on what they ask for beyond one of the starters. If it’s not someone like Luke Hughes, I say go for it…
jason-
didnt dougie bat 3rd for us most of the time he was here?
I think I heard Bay to the Rays
I’ll wait until more people report the Rays thing. ESPN is just saying the trade is still alive.
Did Bay just go to the Rays?
question.. Freddy Garcia is a free agent isn’t he still better then Livan right now? just a thought
I predict the demise of the Rays. Bay will do to the Rays what he did to the Pirates.
yes he is Fire! yes he is….if he is ready to pitch
Well, let me be the first to issue the official statement before you hear it from Bill Smith:
“We feel we have a solid club right now. We feel we can win with what we have. We’re very excited about this stretch run.”
MLB is reporting that Jason Bay is going to the Rays…one lest RH Bat on the market.
Has there been any talk of moving Cuddyer back to 3rd (he played there when he first came up, right)? That way you leave our OF as is, and if Cuddy starts hitting again, fill our need at 3B. Also, what happened to Macri? I’d much rather have startin at 2B/SS then Everett…
Tigers season pretty much over after their loss today….another whiff by Joe C.
There has been alot of talk of moving Cuddy back to third. It just so happens all the talk has been on these blogs and makes as much sense now as when it started, which is to say 0.
Thanks JD! You’re only the 27th guy to report on the Jason Bay deal.
“…hang with the White Sox….” “…big WSox hitting machine….” Huh? Didn’t our guys make up ground over the last three days? Earn, at worst, a split?” Record the only shut out in the three games? Score 16 runs to the Sox’s 13? Isn’t our “ace” going to the mound tonight? Don’t we have some kid in the minors…starts with an L…who’s been throwing lights out?
There aren’t many major league players who are worse than Jose Castillo. If the Giants are showcasing Castillo at 2B for the Twins, that is so pathetic. The Pirates didn’t want him, the Giants don’t want him. How can the Twins want that guy? That story must be wrong.
Steve from Fridley,
Are you saying Gomez won’t be moved to the bench because you don’t think he should, or because the Twins simply won’t do that? I agree with the latter because Gardenhire is absolutely obsessed with giving Gomez as much playing time as possible. Funny then that Mauer sits every fifth day and always against lefites, who he’s hitting at like a .930 OPS this year.
MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that Jason Bay has been traded to the Tampa Rays for minor league prospects.
Scott,
I’m saying he won’t because Gardenhire and the Twins won’t do it. But I’m also a Gomez fan, and he’s showing signs of turning it back on. Young hitters like that are very streaky. We’ll see how he hits tonight.
Mauer sits every fifth day because he’s a catcher. Almost every catcher in MLB sits at least once a week. He also doesn’t always sit against LHP. He’s in there all the time against them. He’s hitting LHP better than anyone on the team.
Gardenhire doesn’t sit Mauer vs. lefties unless they coincidentally come on his day off.
Here are my comments.
http://smilincarl.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/07/the_minnesota_twins_small_mark.html
Young, Lamb and Hernandez for Adam Dunn. Get rid of “Gas Can” Hernandez and Meek as a Lamb in one fell swoop. Move Span to left field and platoon Kubel and Cuddyer in right with Dunn the right handed DH.
Why doesnt moving Cuddy to 3rd make sense? I know he’s great in RF, but Span has been doing fine.
Get the wine and cheese ready folks cuz this is just about over.
Twelve minutes to go by my clock.
Looks like nothing happens… As everyone else has said though: No trade is much better than a bad trade.
The Twins will make no trades before the deadline. Not to say they may make a trade later. 42,000 fams show up to the dome and no trades to help this team out. Sad.
Won’t work though, Bill Smith is thinking about signing Marty Cordova as a free agent. “We don’t believe in signing anyone in their prime,” Smith said, “we only go after guys like Boone, Nevin, Lamb, Monroe, Everett and Hernandez who are either never weres or way past any prime they may have had.”
Span in right field isn’t nearly as good as Cuddyer. He covers more ground, but also doesn’t have nearly as strong of an arm, and isn’t really accustomed to playing RF there. He’s made a few bonehead plays in right to go along with his webgems, but no one seems to remember those… go figure.
Jason Bay Traded To Rays?
By Tim Dierkes [July 31 at 2:43pm CST]
2:43pm: MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo says there is no done deal - the Rays might not make Brignac available.
the rays traded a top 30 and top 90 prospect for bay we have no top 100 prospects. makes it much harder to trade when your prospects are not that highly rated. so much for our vaunted minor league system.
Isn’t true that all four of our young starters have been shut down for at one game due to injuries this year? Add Liriano to the mix. Subtract Livan and Bonser via trade or firing squad, and then tell me why it’s such a good idea to trade any of the starters for a position player, Beltre included, that will never again make an All-Star team, who is overpaid, and who won’t help this team get to the playoffs this year. The Twins have several deficiencies, not just one. Count me among the few that think the FO knows what it’s doing by unblogging the blogs and making rational decisions.
Word on the street is that Bay went to the Rays!! Wow… 
Gardy is a good manager, but this DHing of Redmond while Mauer catches and thus has to take a day off is COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS. Joe Sheehan (I think it was) said at the beginning of the year that if Gardenhire did that again this year, he would throw his laptop out the window. He must have to buy a new one.
“Place Juan Castro and Tony Batista in blender. Place on high speed. Creates one serving of Jose Castillo. Mmmmm….tastes just as bad.”
Excellent. And the Castro component makes the finished product 50% less fattening than straight-up Batista, right?
Still love The Onion’s take on the Twins’ parting ways with Tony:
“Twins release Tony Batista back into wild”
adam dunn to twins, mlb.com
Hilarious, Jack…
The FO thinks finishing in second place this year will be a call for champagne. Don’t worry, over the winter Bill Smith will compile a list of over the hill players who no one else wants and we can get cheaply and sign 3 or 4 of them to take the places of Monroe, Everett, Lamb and Hernandez.
dont have confirmations. but my friend told me he heard we just traded boof to texas. does anyone know anything? he better not be screwing with me.
Grudzy would have been a good addition, but not the most needed. There is no reason to not go after Beltre as long as you don’t trade any pitcher on the Twins roster other than Boof or Livan plus three players (Buscher/Kubel, Pridie, Plouffe) and or a Manship or Mulvey or Humber.
Ridiculous.
I do not believe that there is no one available that would make the Twins a better team. We have plenty of young pitching to trade plus Monroe.
I knew this would happen.
Boof was traded to Texas for Hamilton
The Twins just got Phil Nevin! Oh, sorry, that was a 2006 blockbuster trade.
Coyote,
Who would give up something to help the Twins for Craig Monroe?
Sometimes I wonder how people think trading works…
Smith: “We’ll give you Craig Monroe, APhil Humber, Mike Lamb, and Adam Everett for Adrian Beltre.”
Pelukolododoaoaosoosososos (Can’t remember how to spell the name obviously):”DEAL!”
No.
Trade deadline has passed, and while the Tigers and Sox made an effort to get better, apparently the Twins are not interested in staying competitive with those teams…
Looking back at old posts, how can everyone be so sure that Liriano will come up here and just be lights out like everyone’s predicting?
I guess we wait until the dust settles, and see if the truth comes out about exactly who was offered for what. Untill then, people are criticizing the FO without justification. That would be a surprising thing.
Lala72-
Brilliant analyst? Looks like I overshot. I was just aiming for borderline competence.
Seriously, thanks, but I think knocking Gardenhire falls under the heading of either ‘preaching to the choir’ or ‘preaching to a bunch of drunk, angry bikers whose row of 20 cycles you’ve just knocked over with your Volvo’.
By this point there are probably very few people reading comments about Gardy and stroking their chins thoughtfully, saying something like “Hmmm…more fascinating opinions that I shall incorporate into my ever-evolving, even-handed thoughts on Ron Gardenhire”.
As for the 2010 target, it’s admittedly part concession to the popular mantra, but also a gut feeling that it will take the youngsters another full season before they get their act together.
Gomez, for example, looks to me to be about 10 more strikeouts short of needing a guide dog at the plate. And Delmon Young’s routes on fly balls would make Magellan envious.
You guys that think Gardy is a good manager kill me. His blowing off at the agent and Liriano last week when they questioned why Liriano had not been called up, and then starting Livan last night when the Twins finally had a chance to go into first place is absolutely inexcusable or he has absolutely no voice in the organization.
I almost puked last week when after one of the blowouts by the Yankees, he said you have to remember those guys are professional hitters. As long as he keeps making excuses, the Twins will keep getting swept by the Red Sox and the Yankees when they go out East.
Monroe could be part of a package. By the way, why don’t you explain to all of us how trading works.
Adam, Yes because by making no deal that means the Twins made no effort to get better.
“There will be no moves.”
The sun ain’t gonna shine anymore
The moon ain’t gonna rise in the sky
Tears are always clouding your eyes
When you’re without love
Lonely
Without you
Baby
Oh, I need you
I can’t go on
Emptiness is the place you’re in
Nothing to lose, but no more to win
The sun ain’t gonna shine anymore
The moon ain’t gonna rise in the sky
Tears are always clouding your eyes…..
“apparently the Twins are not interested in staying competitive with those teams…”
Yeah no $*&#. This is getting old year after year. I don’t blame Bill Smith as much as I do the cheap-a$$ Pohlads, who have been doing this long before Bill Smith.
I used to be among those sports fans that hated the Yankees for simply going out and “buying” their talent. Looking back, I wish our ownership would try it sometime. If they’re not in this game to win, what are they here for?
There is no reason to not go after Beltre as long as you don’t trade any pitcher on the Twins roster other than Boof or Livan plus three players (Buscher/Kubel, Pridie, Plouffe) and or a Manship or Mulvey or Humber.
I literally did not understand this sentence. If you are offering this garbage for Beltre why would they accept it?
I would have sold high on Blackburn, I don’t think he’s got the stuff to keep up his current success.
Haven’t seen anything on Boof, but if he was traded, it wasn’t for much…
Well? Anything? It’s after the deadline now.
I think the Griffey deal may have been the dumbest move the ChiSox have made since bringing in Roberto Alomar the second time. It makes their already mediocre defense even worse and gives them a declining, injury-prone aging veteran. I’d rather have the Twins stand pat than make a deal like that. Oh, and Castillo would fit in perfectly for the Twins. Low OBP, mediocre power, but cheap!
sane, I got enough deja vu happening without reading your double posts.
“Gardy is a good manager, but this DHing of Redmond while Mauer catches and thus has to take a day off is COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS.”
That’s the magic of Gardenhire.
Even his biggest detractors have to admit that he does some things well (not abusing starters, keeping bench players involved, making each ejection memorable, etc.)
And even the biggest Gardenhire fans all have at least one thing that he does that makes them completely crazy.
“Gomez, for example, looks to me to be about 10 more strikeouts short of needing a guide dog at the plate”
As the texters say, LOL
Coyote,
Simple: You want something good, you give something good.
You’re about two weeks too late to be on the “Let’s trade Livan, Boof, Lamb, Everett, and Monroe for a third baseman and a setup guy” train.
Adding Monroe and his nearly $4MM salary would do nothing more than weigh down any package’s value. I don’t even believe the reports that the Rays had mild interest in him.
I like Craig Monroe’s intensity, and I was hoping he’d rediscover his 2006 form here with the Twins, but he’s been pretty terrible. I feel bad for the guy, but a good attitude and a desire to win doesn’t translate into trade value.
mcheese, that was a possibility. Even with the deadline passed, there can still be news that trickles in.
I am thoroughly enjoying listening to Bob Ueker tell the Brewer fans not to panic, that the season isn’t over…
Umm, excuse me Bob, you just lost 4 straight at home to the first place team and find yourselves 5 games out with the Cardinals right there with you…guess what, season’s over!
Long live 1982, Brewer’s fans!
All Wisconsin needs is Favre to be traded away to put a historic cap on this day for 2008.
Like true Twins fashion, nothing happened. It would have been nice to have a new player to cheer for…
Dan says:
July 31st, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Looking back at old posts, how can everyone be so sure that Liriano will come up here and just be lights out like everyone’s predicting?
No, it’s very obvious that Liriano will be better than fatty Hernandez and his fat 5.5 ERA.
Well, unless there’s something that hasn’t been released yet, we sat on our hands. Punto in the two-hole is going to derail this offense.
What goes on in the minds of the Twins’ front office staff?
“I would have sold high on Blackburn,…”
Blackburn, Perkins, whatever.
SOMEthing!!
I guess we wait until the dust settles, and see if the truth comes out about exactly who was offered for what. Untill then, people are criticizing the FO without justification. That would be a surprising thing.
We were told by LaVelle what the M’s were asking for Beltre. In essence, we decided to hold on to anything and everything we had that was of current MLB value.
This is the exact reason Hunter wanted out (I was happy to see him go, but point taken). Every year the Twins stand pat, hope their kids can get it done. Sometimes it works and we make the playoffs, but those same kids with upside are then in their first postseason atmosphere.
The Twins front office is getting far too predictable. I was hoping Billy Smith would be a tad more aggressive. Apparently Terry Ryan is still at the helm.
I just don’t see how you can say Liriano will be so much better than any of our current starters. OK Livan has been paid a lot just to give the Indians and Sox batting practice, but you know that with his contract Livan isn’t going to the pen or anywhere else.
None of the other starters have played poor enough to warrant a pull from the rotation.
romer,
Sorry!
I was going for the max audience for my singing.
I need the exposure.
There’s no chance Griffey will be with the White Sox in time to play tonight will there be?
If so, I’m buying tickets…
“row of 20 cycles you’ve just knocked over with your Volvo’.”
Twig,
Don’t you hate when that happens?
To bad Chris Simon wasn’t available!
Carl Pohlad is getting old and his judgment is fading. Can’t he appoint someone as his power of attorney who will shell out some of his fortune to get us further into the postseason?
The guy’s like 99 years old what is he saving all of his money for?
I spent all day checking to see if the Twins were going to make a move — and of course, they didn’t. Wishfull thinking with this team never pays off.
for all you people who think the twins are just great and how wonderful it is to stand pat…that is why the twins do nothing, the public is either indifferernt or actually supports the complacency. put a cork in this season.
Nice… And my friends all think I am crazy for being both a Twins and Cubs fan? The Cubs may not win the big one ever, BUT they at the minimum TRY to win!! And don’t ginne this Big market small market BS. Pohlad has PLENTY of $$$ and all he cares about is making a profit and since we ’sotans are filling his dome and soon his new ballpark every night he only cares about the Twins being good enough so that he make a profit. No moves today seriously? makes me sick and I can’t wait to hear the GM come out and say how, “We have a solid team”, “This team will be great in the coming years..” etc; This could’ve been the year now and instead I guess not… It will be interesting to see how the team reacts to ownership not putting them in a position to win. Thanks Pohlad… Go Cubs!!!!
Manny to Dodgers and Bay to Red Sox per MLB.com
Wow, Manny just dealt to the Dodgers in a three-team deal. They’ll get Jason Bay from the Pirates.
Mullen-
Seems like all of our sports are like that. Except for the T-Wolves lately, Minnesota seems to be the land of of upper-level mediocrity. We field teams that are capable of making a run and possibly losing first round of the playoffs. Because of this history I still have to check the internet every day to make sure the Vikes still have Jared Allen, since it seems so unreal for a MN franchise to do that.
>“row of 20 cycles you’ve just knocked over with your Volvo’.”
>Twig,
>Don’t you hate when that happens?
That, and when I accidentally select the one Yanni song on the biker bar jukebox.
All you can do is ditch the sweater around your neck to lighten your load, run fast until they corner you, and then strategically wet yourself just as the first guy is about to grab you. Nobody wants to be anywhere near a grown man with potty pants.
And yes, I’ve tested this technique in the field. Works almost every time. Except in Wisconsin. Everyone there already smells like urine.
Just kidding, Wisconsin. You really smell like cheese! Delicious, friendly cheese…
“I was going for the max audience for my singing.”
Okay sane. I’m a music man. Go for it.
Bill Smith hates us.
manny to LA
“Bill Smith hates us.”
I hate to blame Mr. Smith when the cheapskate owners had his hands tied.
Pohlad family: “Alright Billy, we gave you this job and here’s what you need to do to keep it: No trades this year. We just signed Morneau, Cuddyer, and Nathan, plus we put that new addition on the garage. So we can’t afford to reward the fans this year. What you WILL do is go on TV and tell everyone how you expect to compete with the current team and you like what you have.”
The minute I read Bill Smith and Terry Ryan were in the same room together all day today, I knew nothing was going to happen. Yet I sat all day on the computer waiting for a Twins trade. They let us down again. I am a huge Twins fans and this team is not playoff calibur. Let’s hope they can at least stay competitive to give us some false hope for the rest of the year
I don’t know what’s more disturbing: the fact that it appears the Twins aren’t doing ANYTHING or the fact that we haven’t heard a peep from the Strib reporters on this blog.
The Twins fans are skunked again by the GM Smith. You see, it doesn’t matter how many games the Twins win as long as the organization is making money. Smith is Pohlad’s puppet boy and his job is to b.s. the fans into thinking he is trying to improve the team by finding quality players to trade for. Somehow, he never seems to find them.
BS and TR together = zzzzzzzzzzzzz….
What really frustrates me too is to hear guys like Ozzie Guillen say “The Twins play ball right, and they find a way to win every year.”
Win what? I love the Twins, this year has been a crazy exciting rollercoaster, and yes they do well given what they have. Why is the FO content with that. That whole “finding a way to win with what they have” only lasts so long. Draggin the fanbase along with records slightly above .500 for 5-6 years is fun to watch but no reward when we can’t advance. They need to do something to take it to the next level. Which is why I’m afraid for the new stadium. Everyone says that’s when we’ll make the big deals and contend, but with this ownership, can you be sure?
Kinda thought LaVelle or Joe would have an upated by now that said nothing did happen….which they could have written last night and rested all day today….
This is so lame, no updates for the last 2 hours. I like La Velle, but if this was the hockey trading deadline Russo would have an update every 15 minutes. Just goes to show that Russo is the most plugged in writer the strib has and both baseball writers are lacking in that regard.
I’m disappointed, as well.
So we get Liriano in the rotation asap. That should help.
And if we get the June version of Cuddyer (.291 BA and high .800s OPS) instead of the May version (.212 BA and mid .500s OPS), that’ll help some, too (more than Griffey will help the BitchSox, imo).
Watch the waiver wire and see if something can still be done post non-waiver deadline.
On Jason Bay: It’ll be interesting to see if he shines now that he’s on a team that actually matters for the first time in his career
On Manny: Dodgers should win the division as a result of this deal; will be interesting to see how Joe Torre deals with “Manny being Manny”
On Strib bloggers: An update, please? If there’s nothing…tell us there’s nothing!
On Twins (assuming no deal): White Sox acquire Griffey, we do nothing to shore up middle infield…disappointing if you’re a Twins fan…not to say the current roster can’t get it done, but don’t tell us you were okay with standing pat from the git-go…
LaValle = zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I am still holding out hope that MAYBE some sort of deal was made and that is why nothing has been updated! PLEASE tell me you did something to show us you want to win.
Whats the status on the whole Brian Roberts Nick Blackburn deal?
Maybe the paperwork is not finished at the MLB office for our ‘big deal’ of acquiring Rich Aurilia. That could be the delay of announcing anything. LOL
I know that this team probably isn’t going to do much now that Casilla is out for the year - WHAT???
This team is so close to being a legit contender in the AL and we have the same fearing front office. We are so afraid that we might make a Liriano/Boof/Nathan deal on the wrong end that we won’t make any significant deal.
This may be out of left field (punn intended) but what about a couple of prospects & delmon young for jason bay? How come we were never in the discussion for him. Delmon is clearly not the player we thought we were trading for. What a great way to get out of that ugly trade… Get a great outfielder who would slip right in the 5 hole.
Another thought on 3B… I get that the Mariners were asking too much… It’s kind a like I have my townhome listed for $198k but I know it wont sell for more than $165… but … what if someone does over pay? But is there nothing the Twins could do there? Nothing? Nothing against Bushman but he isn’t even Corey Koskie - Speaking of Koskie… Anybody called him lately… I would take that wobbly headed guy playing the last 60 or so games at 3B over Bushman - What? Too soon?
Dan, if you wanted the FO to “take the team to the next level”, then they should of got rid of Johan Santana years ago. Face it, he just isn’t the big-time, playoff stopper that the team needed to go all the way. Sure, without him the Twins would never have gotten into the playoffs, but, according to you that isn’t good enough.
If Liriano makes his start tomorrow for AAA, I may not pay attention the rest of the year. Why should I give money to a team that isn’t interested in winning?
I just love seeing ticket prices rise, and now getting charged for “premium games” AKA games against teams who are willing to do what it takes to win.
If the Pohlads can raise the ticket prices they can feel free to raise the talent a little too.
**Whoever posted about this current team being able to get it done, you’re right, I love my team, they can do it, but everybody could use a little help and so could they.
Year in and year out the Twins sit back and do absolutely nothing at the deadline to help themselves for a post season run. The Twins do have some good players in their lineup, but there are too many injuries to believe that they can go on with the guys that have. The other contenders in the division added players. It’s true that neither move was huge, but Griffey is a big name and the Tigers took care of their bullpen problem while the Twins did nothing. I understand that Liriano is coming back, but that only makes a difference once every five games. The Twins needed a bat and got nothing. Although, for any Twins fan worth their weight in salt, this comes as no surprise…just another disappointment.
Nationals just signed Guzman to an extension, right? So why did they trade for the Yankee’s Alberto Gonzalez? Purely for utility backup?
Every year it is the same lame a$$ excuse. We have a team that can compete. BS…..this team will not make the playoffs without some help! I am sick of hearing that from the GM’s
Mr. Walter Johnson (if that’s your real name
I’m confused by your post…can’t really tell if you mean you don’t think Santana is a big-game pitcher or not…not sure how getting rid of him gets the team to the next level.
Does anyone know when Gardy in going to put Punto in the rotation? I heard he has alot of potential and can pitch batting practice with either arm. Gardy is very high on Punto’s ability to be a starting pitcher down the stretch. He also reasons that Punto in the rotation will allow Liriano to get more work in at Rochester and improve enough to be brought up to the team next year. Gardy pitches batting practice sometimes, but he is getting old. He noticed Punto’s canon like arm when Punto spelled him in Cleveland during the last road trip. Gardy’s keen eye for talent may get the team alot of wins in the division race. I’ve never seen anyone who could pitch with either arm, except on t.v. in highlites of a college game. Punto is amazing. There is no more versatile player in all of baseball. Once he is given a chance to pitch regularly in the rotation, the Twins may end up in first place after all.
Well, there you have it….the big nothing.
They were preaching the same line about Garza in past years and funny, they still ended up parting ways with him.
I’m not saying give ANYTHING up, but gee…these guys aren’t all going to be All-Stars, you have to take a chance at some point, right?
“Nationals just signed Guzman to an extension, right? So why did they trade for the Yankee’s Alberto Gonzalez? Purely for utility backup?”
Guzman is hurt. The Nats need a solid backup if they want to lose 98 games instead of 100.
Every year it is the same lame a$$ excuse. We tried but came up short. BS…..I planned on going to a game this weekend to check out a new player we traded for, now I am going to stay home and porbably not even watch it on t.v.
So, this was supposed to be a rebuilding year from what we were told. Or at least a non-contention year. But guess what? It is. Live for the now! If you are in it, get the help you need to move on or you will end up like EVERY OTHER YEAR we have made the playoffs since 1991. Basically one and done. Look what happened when we played the Yanks and Bo Sox recently. Straight up ass whoopin! Do they really think that might change if they do make the postseason? C’mon. Get out of your little wonderland and play with the big boys!
Correction. ESPN is reporting Manny went to the Dodgers in a 3 team deal and Bay went to the Red Sox not the Rays.
Stan-
I have no idea what to say to your posting. May God have mercy on your soul.
Thanks, Twig… I guess I missed the Guzman injury. Appreciate it.
In response to adam, I would not trade Delmon Young at this point. The kid is 22 years old and he’s hitting for good average. I believe it’s the offensive beliefs of the Twins, not Delmon Young’s fault that he isn’t hitting homers. He could very easily be an every year All-star.
Has anyone else noticed that Cuddyer isn’t listed on the depth chart or the DL on the Twins official website???
Why are they having a press conference? To announce that once again they have done nothing to help this team stay in contention? Maybe it isn’t all Bill Smith’s fault. Perhaps Pohlad won’t spring for a cell phone for the guy.
Well, this is a bummer. Little bit like waking up Christmas morning and no presents under the tree.
So, we’ll see if Liriano can be a difference maker in the rotation. They’ll need even better pitching now with Casilla gone.
i guess they will make a trade if they call liriano up but still this is dissapointing. love the twins but hate their f.o.
I just found in a little corner of ESPN.com, they’re going to do a segment on Baseball Tonight where they grade the winners and losers of the moves the contending teams made.
To save time, money, and man-hours, instead of putting the Twins in the “trading deadline losers” column and talking about them, they’re just going to dig up and play old footage from when they didn’t make a move in 2007…and 2006…and 2005…and 2004…
i think it will be reasoned that getting everett back, cuddy back soon and maybe tolbert in a month and possibly liriano (if livan every has a bad outing or two) those are all like making a big trade to help the team. “there just wasn’t anything out there that made sense for the long term” and “our minor league system is so bad right now we didn’t have anything to trade that other teams wanted”….opps shouldn’t have said the last part.
Stan hits it right on the head…why in the world is Nick Punto so highly regarded? Sure, he’s doing alright this year, but does anyone remember the playing time he got last year while hitting barely over the Mendoza line?
I’m not as bothered by this as some are. The big names traded were all OF’s, something we have plenty of. We need a good RH 3B, a 2B and a solid setup guy. The only one that seems to have been on the market in that category was Beltre and Seattle has an interim GM seems too scared to make a trade right now unless it was lopsided in the Seattle’s favor.