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2009 MN Twins Part 4: I Was Told There Would Be No Math

Re: 2009 MN Twins Part 4: I Was Told There Would Be No Math

I think we all know what Billy Smith is going to do this offseason.

First, they'll look at getting Neshek back next season like singing a FA, even though who knows what he will be able to contribute to the team after the TJ surgery.

They probably won't keep Pavano or Cabrera around for next season (I'm assuming they're both FAs after this season??)

He'll probably try to work out an extension for the Baby Jesus, which will be touted like a big FA signing if he gets it done and that's the reason we can't go out and spend to improve the lineup.

Pessimistic? Yeah, but until they show otherwise I will always just assume the worst.

Should be interesting...
 
Re: 2009 MN Twins Part 4: I Was Told There Would Be No Math

Greyeagle said:
Too funny coming from you. :D
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Hey I have let you get away with calling me Dan for what 6 years now Shawn? ;)

All we need now is GLM's Grammar Horse :D

Plus, I was told there would be no spelling :p
 
Re: 2009 MN Twins Part 4: I Was Told There Would Be No Math

ajoyce02 said:
I think we all know what Billy Smith is going to do this offseason.

First, they'll look at getting Neshek back next season like singing a FA, even though who knows what he will be able to contribute to the team after the TJ surgery.

They probably won't keep Pavano or Cabrera around for next season (I'm assuming they're both FAs after this season??)

He'll probably try to work out an extension for the Baby Jesus, which will be touted like a big FA signing if he gets it done and that's the reason we can't go out and spend to improve the lineup.

Pessimistic? Yeah, but until they show otherwise I will always just assume the worst.

Should be interesting...
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No they will sign Pavano and that will be how they "improve the pitching staff" even though they still lack a #1. They will sign Orlando to please the Baby Jesus in hopes that is enough to get him to re-up...btw it wont be.

If they dont want the fans to riot and Mauer to leave they are going to have to make good on their promise to open up the wallet right now. It is in their best interest to treat next year as the "Make or Break" year. This "we are just happy to be here" bs has to be put behind us.
 
Re: 2009 MN Twins Part 4: I Was Told There Would Be No Math

Handyman said:
No they will sign Pavano and that will be how they "improve the pitching staff" even though they still lack a #1. They will sign Orlando to please the Baby Jesus in hopes that is enough to get him to re-up...btw it wont be.

If they dont want the fans to riot and Mauer to leave they are going to have to make good on their promise to open up the wallet right now. It is in their best interest to treat next year as the "Make or Break" year. This "we are just happy to be here" bs has to be put behind us.
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I wouldn't mind seeing them bring back Pavano, I think he showed late in the season he still has some good pitching left in him. But you're right, no number 1 on this staff.

People thought Liriano would be that guy for a while early on, going into this season it was supposed to be Baker, now who next season? Maybe Baker gets his stuff together? Can Blackburn be more consistent? Not liking those possibilities... :o

But to think they're actually going to go out and spend on a FA big time starting pitcher is just a dream.
 
Re: 2009 MN Twins Part 4: I Was Told There Would Be No Math

ajoyce02 said:
I wouldn't mind seeing them bring back Pavano, I think he showed late in the season he still has some good pitching left in him. But you're right, no number 1 on this staff.

People thought Liriano would be that guy for a while early on, going into this season it was supposed to be Baker, now who next season? Maybe Baker gets his stuff together? Can Blackburn be more consistent? Not liking those possibilities... :o

But to think they're actually going to go out and spend on a FA big time starting pitcher is just a dream.
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Pavano earned a contract I will fully admit to that. I hated the move to get him but I was completely wrong. Give him a 2 year deal with maybe a club option for a third.

The way I would set up the rotation would be:

#1 starter (someone not on the current staff), Blackburn, Baker, Pavano and Slowey. (Pavano and Slowey would fight for #4) Move Duensing to the pen along with Liriano and Manship. (assuming they all come back because the Twins never part with pitching...well not unless they are #1 starters with fastballs above 92mph)
 
Re: 2009 MN Twins Part 4: I Was Told There Would Be No Math

Handyman said:
Pavano earned a contract I will fully admit to that. I hated the move to get him but I was completely wrong. Give him a 2 year deal with maybe a club option for a third.
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Hahahahahahahahahaha

You do realize he was pitching for a contract this whole season, right? Someone stupid is going to give him a three year deal and he's going to screw off for two years of it. If you give him multiple years, make sure its all incentive based or else.
 
Re: 2009 MN Twins Part 4: I Was Told There Would Be No Math

GreatLakerMohawk said:
Hahahahahahahahahaha

You do realize he was pitching for a contract this whole season, right? Someone stupid is going to give him a three year deal and he's going to screw off for two years of it. If you give him multiple years, make sure its all incentive based or else.
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That is implied...the Twins dont give anyone money unless they came through their system. It will be a small salary with lots of incentives.
 
Re: 2009 MN Twins Part 4: I Was Told There Would Be No Math

GreatLakerMohawk said:
In that case, enjoy Captain Surly and his Ferrari.
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I dont doubt he will suck next year, but he pitched well enough to justify him with our starting staff. Christ if he can outpitch Liriano's stats than him being in the rotation is net gain that is how low our standards can be.
 
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Re: 2009 MN Twins Part 4: I Was Told There Would Be No Math

Handyman said:
Nowhere in my "inane postings" did I say either of them were terrible although if you are going to use stats you could at least show that in the 54 innings previous to his arrival here this season Rauch had a 4.41 ERA which is much closer to his career ERA (3.79) than the 15 innings he pitched for the Twins. (we will leave out his 3 playoff appearances which were forgettable)
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So the innings he pitched for an absolutely terrible Arizona Diamondbacks team should be in the spotlight more than the innings he pitched for the team he's currently employed by? How does THAT work?

Leave the bullpen alone. If we had 3-4 guys who could go 6 innings, it wouldn't matter. Pavano should be a no-brainer as far as giving him a new contract (Pavano, Slowey, Baker, Blackburn, and anybody else (Perkins?) is decent enough). Same with Cabrera. Nathan should be traded. If the Twins office thinks getting Neshek back is like getting a free agent, why not make him the free agent closer?
 
So a career 3.79 ERA is bad? :confused:

As for Nathan's collapse at the end, did he pitch significantly more innings than usual? I wonder if he was overused given the problems the pen had throughout the season.
 
Re: 2009 MN Twins Part 4: I Was Told There Would Be No Math

People I would like to see come back next season:

Morneau (1b), Mauer (c), Cabrera (ss/2b), Span (of), Cuddyer (if/of), Gomez (of), Morales (c), Rauch (rp), Nathan (rp), Guerrier (rp), Baker (sp), Slowey (sp), Blackburn (sp), Deunsing (sp)

Everyone else is expendable and should be upgraded if at all possible. If we need to take Kubel for another year I can live with that. But it wouldn't be my first choice to keep him.
 
Re: 2009 MN Twins Part 4: I Was Told There Would Be No Math

A trade for a starter would be awesome, but I just don't see the Twins doing what it takes to get a #1 starter. I do think they'll try to upgrade at third base, one name I heard thrown around either during a broadcast or in a strib article, is Chone Figgins. A lineup of Figgins, Span, Mauer, Morneau, Kubel, Cuddyer, Young, Punto, Cabrera would be quite formitable, IMO.

edit: or trade Morneau even up for Halladay(in a sign and trade), and have Cuddy play 1st...:p
 
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Re: 2009 MN Twins Part 4: I Was Told There Would Be No Math

Slap Shot said:
So a career 3.79 ERA is bad? :confused:

As for Nathan's collapse at the end, did he pitch significantly more innings than usual? I wonder if he was overused given the problems the pen had throughout the season.
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No but keep putting words in my mouth...

And what does pitching for the Diamondbacks have to do with it? Are you saying the fact that they sucked excuses a pretty mediocre ERA for a reliever? And also I never said those stats should be highlighted more (though 54 innings is a better sample than 15) just saying you should take the whole season into account if you are going to discuss him. And you want to make Neshek the closer? Ok have fun with that...

As for Nathan, no it wasn't innings that was the problem. He pitched 68 innings, which is one more than last season. Since becoming the closer he has been over 70 innings 4 times so it wasn't the innings that were why he pitched bad.

JF,

Why keep Morales he is one of the few young guys that probably has any real value on the trade market. He is not going to be the everyday starter at catcher as long as Mauer is around. He is the prime example of a resource that should be tappped unless they really are afraid Mauer wont sign. I am not criticizing the idea just wondering.

Chone Figgins appears to be making about $5.7 million this year and is a free agent coming off a pretty good year...if the Twins wont make a move for a pitcher I doubt they pony up the cash for him. (especially if they re-sign OC) He would solve the third base problem which is nice though and his career .291 average and 181 average hits per year would be nice at the top of the lineup especially because he seems to play a lot of games per year which we need. (plus I am guessing he can lay down a sac bunt which our current leadoff guy still has issue with though he has said he is working on it)

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/12/2010-mlb-free-a.html

Not the most impressive free agent list ever...
 
Re: 2009 MN Twins Part 4: I Was Told There Would Be No Math

JF_Gophers said:
If we need to take Kubel for another year I can live with that. But it wouldn't be my first choice to keep him.
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Seriously? He hit .300 with 28 home runs, and finished #22 in the American League for batting averages. He's not going anywhere...
 
Re: 2009 MN Twins Part 4: I Was Told There Would Be No Math

thebrain said:
Seriously? He hit .300 with 28 home runs, and finished #22 in the American League for batting averages. He's not going anywhere...
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Yeah I have to agree, his postseason may have sucked but they have been patient with him because this was the exact type of year they wanted out of him.

And let me clarify one thing, when I say a number 1 starter I dont mean they need to go out and get a superstar, they just need to find someone who can anchor the rotation. Someone who is a different type of pitcher than the ones we have got and who can be counted on to not only set the rotation but also be the stopper when slumps come around. He doesn't need to win 20 games and pitch like Johan Santana but he needs to be a guy who when he hits the mound you are pretty confident he is going to give the opposing team all they can handle. Blackburn, Baker and Slowey just aren't that type of pitcher yet...way to young and inconsistent.
 
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