Re: 2009 MN Twins Part 4: I Was Told There Would Be No Math
I don't think Nathan is being labeled as damaged right now, going into the postseason he was generally considered (by ESPN types) to be one of the best closers in baseball... who knows what GMs think though.
That's the problem -- GMs listen to their scouts, not ESPN. Everybody who watched Joe saw that he struggled with command and seemed afraid to come after guys. He has to be attractive to a team at his current salary, and I doubt that he is. If he returns to pitching like he did in the first half of the season, no problem. If not, huge problem.
Did I say that you should replace Nathan with just anybody? I'm saying teams like the Twins should get a reliable closer and take the savings and improve other parts of their team.
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The guys I mentioned are as good as Nathan, if not better.
Not that familiar with some of them -- I don't watch much NL ball. A definite pass on Aardsma, though. He had enough trouble throwing strikes when he was a set-up guy for ChiSox. Your suggested approach is basically how they got Nathan in the first place. You may be right (the Angels must agree in that they didn't stay with KRod), but I don't know that the Twins can now get out from under his contract. If word gets out that they are shopping him but can't find a taker, then things could get ugly.
In fact it is fun to watch how upset the masses get about him...especially when he slides into first
He is a solid player who should never be a full-time starter but once again it isnt his fault that he is.
That's my problem with him -- he's held up as the poster child for playing baseball the Twins way, but he does dumb things all the time. This year he finally worked on hitting the ball on the ground after how many years, at bats, and cans of corn? Then there was 2007 when he couldn't hit his weight, and it got so bad that he couldn't even bunt for a sacrifice. I'm sorry, but if you are a veteran middle infielder with Nick's batting abilities or lack thereof, it is inexcusable if bunting is not in your arsenal.
Delmon Young could be very very good but he needs to learn how to bat. He reminds me of Torii Hunter early in his career where he never met a pitch he didn't like. If he gained any sort of plate discipline he would bat .300 and hit for decent power. Problem is I doubt he ever will. (of course I said the same thing about Hunter and Kubel and was wrong both times)
During his years of flailing, Torii Hunter was still a very good CFer and an above average baserunner. Delmon's problem seems worse than Torii's -- at least Hunter had a decent swing if he swung at something hittable. Young's swing looks like he got it out of a Cracker Jack box. Kubel actually has a very nice swing and decent discipline at the plate. He just was set back a couple of years by a very bad knee injury.
