A couple of insights on the Twins

[LVSoxFan]

If the Sox took care of the other business, they wouldn't wet the bed so much when it comes to a showdown with the Twins.

 

^This. People keep acting like our record against Minnesota is what kept us out of the playoffs this year, when (as I posted on another thread) we sucked against the division this year. We even had a losing record to Kansas City.

 

That just won't get it done, Twins or not.

[Balta1701]

Kubel for Quentin?

I can't imagine these 2 teams sitting down and trying to deal with each other, but that's the setup of a deal that could work for both.

[caulfield12]

I don't really think you can predicate your offseason on trying to build a line-up specifically to beat the Yankees.

 

It's just bad luck that the Twins have had to face them 4/6 times. If the Rays wouldn't have pulled ahead in the final days....if the Twins would have tanked even more, etc., they could just have easily ended up facing Tampa, who they fare much better against on paper.

 

I do think one significant difference from the 2002-2004 teams is that those teams were a lot more athletic and could steal some bases...ironic, that the Twins' have become more and more like the White Sox (traditionally) in being a station-to-station team, whereas the White Sox have improved their speed and defense but have come up short offensively...bullpen/starting pitching, etc.

 

One thing is that even though the Twins were great with their defensive numbers, watching them would tell you that Hardy/Hudson both are lacking in range up the middle, that Mauer wasn't nearly as good defensively as in the past, that Cuddyer anywhere on the diamond poses danger and the corner outfielders (Young/Kubel/Cuddyer) were basically atrocious except for when they played the White Sox.

 

Even Span, the most gifted defender, seemed to have a down season offensively as well as defensively.

 

Of course, the Twins were still a 94 win team...not exactly chopped liver. But they were able to use home field advantage and they really played well in the ALCD, that was the main key.

 

I'm just not sure that Cuddyer is going to be worth the money to the front office...but you need some RH bats, and Young is far from a sure thing to put up the same season in 2011. He could be even better, that's true, but you can't count on him for 30 and 100.

 

Quentin for Kubel? Maybe. That idea scares me a little...but only if Quentin will be their DH and that will keep Thome from beating us, lol. I really don't think Smith would do it. Quentin has been too injury prone, and they already have to deal with the aches and pains of Mauer and Morneau.

 

Liriano...for whatever reason, he just has those moments when he falls asleep mentally and lets the other team back into it. That's one thing that Johan Santana rarely did, at least against the White Sox. Against Liriano, you have the feeling that there's a 30-40% chance he will beat himself, with Santana or Sabathia, not so much.

Edited October 11, 2010 by caulfield12

[kitekrazy]

Interesting read.

 

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/104682954.html

 

 

[southsider2k5]

Interesting read.

 

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/104682954.html

 

I see Mauer gets his bump next year, any idea when Morneau gets his?

[Jordan4life_2007]

I see Mauer gets his bump next year, any idea when Morneau gets his?

 

He's making $15 million a year through 2013.

[southsider2k5]

He's making $15 million a year through 2013.

 

That's not what the article said...

 

Target Field made it possible for the Twins to sign Joe Mauer to an eight-year, $184 million contract extension in March, but now the bill comes due. He made $12.5 million this year. Beginning next year, and every year through 2018, he'll make $23 million.

[Jordan4life_2007]

That's not what the article said...

 

I know that. You asked about Morneau, right? That's whom I was referring to.

[southsider2k5]

I know that. You asked about Morneau, right? That's whom I was referring to.

 

Oh yeah, duh

[greg775]

The Twins are already beginning their normal offseason routine.

Relax after the faceplant, then start tweaking the team so that it can make life hell on us again, win the division again, then faceplant again.

WE MUST CHANGE THE SCENARIO THIS TIME and get a better team, one capable of beating them.

[chw42]

There was an article on FanGraphs about Jason Kubel and how the Twins shouldn't really retain him.

 

In the article, it talked about a whole lot of decisions the Twins need to make. They don't have much salary to play around with either. I think they have about $60 million tied up in Mauer ($23 million), Cuddyer ($11 million), Morneau ($14 million), and Nathan ($11.25 million).

 

That might give them $40 million to spend on 21 other guys. O-Dog is a free agent, as is Pavano. Those two could easily demand around $15 million together. Then you also have Thome, who's going to be worth at least $5 million. Jason Kubel is due for $5.25 million (even though he was no good last year) and Hardy and Capps are arb-eligible. With his 40 saves, Capps, should be getting around $8 million from the arbitrator. Matt Guerrier is a free agent and guys like Liriano and Crain could get decent raises due to arbitration.

 

So if the Twins want to retain most of the team they had for 2010, they're going to need to spend a decent portion of that $40 million on O-Dog, Thome, Pavano, Kubel, and Capps (I'd say around $35 million). So that leaves them $5 million before they hit the $100 million mark. Not to mention they still have to pay around 15 other guys on the roster (most of whom are cheap, but still).

 

So yeah, the Twins don't have that much flexibility. If they lose Pavano, their rotation takes a huge hit and while they don't have to pay Capps (since Nathan will be back, although we don't know how good he will be), it might be a good idea to keep him (they did give up Wilson Ramos).

Edited October 28, 2010 by chw42

[Balta1701]

I really doubt Thome's getting $5 million. Limited to just being a part time DH, can't play the field, big injury risk, doesn't want to play outside the midwest.

[LittleHurt05]

There was an article on FanGraphs about Jason Kubel and how the Twins shouldn't really retain him.

 

They announced today they exercised Kubel's $5.5 mil option and declined Punto's option for $5 mil.

[witesoxfan]

They announced today they exercised Kubel's $5.5 mil option and declined Punto's option for $5 mil.

 

Both very understandable moves. Defensive value is still hard to quantify, though easier than in the past, and Kubel's offensive upside is probably that of 2-3 WAR. The Twins picking up that option is for the same reasons the White Sox will tender Carlos Quentin a contract.

[southsider2k5]

They announced today they exercised Kubel's $5.5 mil option and declined Punto's option for $5 mil.

 

They could still trade him FWIW...