2011 Twins

[Juneau4]

Casilla takes Punto's position, utillity fielder and pinch hitter/runner.

[greebs]

Casilla takes Punto's position, utillity fielder and pinch hitter/runner.

Does that mean punto becomes the everyday 2b? Sure hope not but doubt hudson will be back. Id guess next years roster will look about the same as current with no major pickups. Hopefully morneau will be back.

[SledNeck]

What will Mauer's numbers need to be next year to justify 24 mil?

how many cuddy all-star jerseys do they sell, again?

[mrklean]

What will Mauer's numbers need to be next year to justify 24 mil?

[Big Dave2]

how many cuddy all-star jerseys do they sell, again?

I'm not sure, do jersey sales help win a play-off series?

[Rippinlip]

Manager: Gardy

Catcher: Mauer

1st base: Swisher

2nd base: Punto, need to upgrade

Shortstop: Tolbert or this is where we pick up a player.

3rd base: Valencia

LF: Repko

CF: Span

RF: Cuddyer

DH: Morneau

Not sure where we are going honestly...

Time to make some moves, Trade Kubel, Young, Casilla Baker, Capps and Crain if they bring anything. I think Thome will be an problem to resign.

[harvey lee]

Whether you are down for it not.... Gardy WILL be signing a NEW LONG term deal with the Twins here shortly! In other words he'll be the skipper of the Twins for the foreseeable future with a Tug-BOAT of cash for a job well done.

As our team is we're probably good enough to win it all if the timing and stars are aligned but we could use that big ace in the starting rotation like mentioned above.

The big aces do not come for free. I do not believe the owners will spend the needed funds for a great one. They spent it all on Mr I cannot get any hits in the playoffs Mauer.

[harvey lee]

I do not believe the Twins owners will do much at all. It costs money to improve and they spend more this season than they have in a long time.

I would guess is what you see is what you get.

Gardy the wonderful can get them to the play offs but thats where it ends. I guess we need to be happy with that as its all the farther Gardy goes.

[OnAFly]

Salary Cap

What's the point when one team has a huge advantage over the other teams?

[Musky Buck]

The yanks can buy to reload and we have to draft and develop and the yanks are golden if they draft one that turns out like Jeter or Cano. Phillies are a mini yankee as they spend on Halladay and Oswalt and Cliff Lee, they know a horse is needed plus what Cole Hammels did. I'm with Big Dave on Mauer when it comes to $ for a catcher, look at the playoff catchers left, Buster Posey rookie, Ruiz, Posada, and either Jaso or who is Texas' guy Saltamachachia lol or ? Anyone remember Tim Laudner in 1987 ? Hit like .171. Look at the SF giants, can't hit or score much, but there pitching will shut you down. Anyway I love Joe, just don't think he should've got 100 million more than Moneau's contract. Should've offered him the same as Morneau, take it or leave it. He already had his personal bowling alley, hunting land, batting cage, etc, etc, etc, as I drive by that property often, won't reveal it's location but he had everything before he ever signed this huge deal. I'd clink my beer glass right with ya big dave.

[Musky Buck]

Texas has a recycled Molina brother, Treanor, etc. Joe is immensely talented and you better make good on your dozen or so post-season at bats. If Joe were an outfielder I'd make this trade, Joey Votto and Jay Bruce for Morneau and Mauer, very hypothetical but even steven as far as I'm concerned. All 4 of those guys have something in common, none of em did squat in the playoff's, hey how's Morneau's coconut ?

[Musky Buck]

My brother-in-law built Morneau's house, should've told him to go with padded walls and floors for his concussed coconut. Did any of you lie to your coaches/trainers/doctors about an injury before ? In his shoes being guaranteed nothing in the future for playoff baseball, I would've lied like crazy just to at least be an available pinch hitter in the post-season. For me that's the aggravating part about it. I hope today he isn't at 100% upstairs.

[Coach1310]

It is easy for us to say we would have lied, BUT with some of the folks he is connected to and the horror stories they told him, I would say knowing who you are and walking upright when you are 50 is more important then being on a Twins post season roster... as a fan it is frustrating, but as a person, I completely understand.

As far as Mauer and the perception that he is paid too much..... looking at the Twins as a BUSINESS, because that is what they are... Signing Mauer to a long term, lucrative deal is a GREAT business investment.

[mrklean]

It is easy for us to say we would have lied, BUT with some of the folks he is connected to and the horror stories they told him, I would say knowing you are and walking upright when you are 50 is more important then being on a Twins post season roster... as a fan it is frustrating, but as a person, I completely understand.

As far as Mauer and the perception that he is paid too much..... looking at the Twins as a BUSINESS, because that is what they are... Signing Mauer to a long term, lucrative deal is a GREAT business investment.

+1

[harvey lee]

Salary Cap

What's the point when one team has a huge advantage over the other teams?

The bad part about the cap is that you can spend more. If you go over, you have to take that amount over and divide it between the other teams and pay them.

George did not care. Thats the bad part about the Baseball salary cap.

It should be, you cannot spend more than the cap.

Thats my understanding of it anyways.

[Big Dave2]

As far as Mauer and the perception that he is paid too much..... looking at the Twins as a BUSINESS, because that is what they are... Signing Mauer to a long term, lucrative deal is a GREAT business investment.

But I thought this discussion was about what the Twins need to do to get better and actually win a playoff series, not what the Twins need to do to be more profitable?

[zamboni]

Can you explain how we are soft because of Gardy?

Can you give me the name of another coach, in any sport that has gone 0-12 in the playoffs and kept his job? There are NONE.

You and a few others might have a witty comeback-

"At least he's making the playoffs" Yeah, and other coaches that don't are standing in the unemployment line. Whats worse- being really bad, KC Royals bad and not make the playoffs, or be decent- Minnesota Twins decent, make the playoffs and not do ANYTHING? About the same to me. We do get to hang a pennant up next year. Wooptyfriggindoo. Seriously guys, I have friends from NY, and it is embarrasing.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Well do you expect Twins management to go out and spend over $200 million to keep up with the Yankees. I just don't understand what Gardenhire could have done differently, do you?

[Jim Almquist]

Well do you expect Twins management to go out and spend over $200 million to keep up with the Yankees. I just don't understand what Gardenhire could have done differently, do you?

Baseball needs to be fixed. There are things wrong with the Twins but that is not the big problem. Will it ever get fixed...Not till Bud dies and the get a commissioner that has a pair.

[B. Amish]

The bad part about the cap is that you can spend more. If you go over, you have to take that amount over and divide it between the other teams and pay them.

George did not care. Thats the bad part about the Baseball salary cap.

It should be, you cannot spend more than the cap.

Thats my understanding of it anyways.

it's not a salary cap, it's a luxury tax.

[mrklean]

yeah and that yanks are more then happy to pay that tax thats why i dont know if one is worth it or not

[zamboni]

Well do you expect Twins management to go out and spend over $200 million to keep up with the Yankees. I just don't understand what Gardenhire could have done differently, do you?

There are pitching moves, line up changes that have nothing to do with our payroll. Putting Crain in at wrong time, letting Liriano go too long, etc. Yes, our ownership needs to spend a few more bucks, and with the new stadium that taxpayers helped pay for I feel they owe it to us as Twins fans. BTW- the Rangers got it done against the best team in baseball, but name more than 5 players on the team. Off the bat I can only name 2- Hamilton and Lee. I think we outspent them this season, I am too lazy to look

[SledNeck]

There are pitching moves, line up changes that have nothing to do with our payroll. Putting Crain in at wrong time, letting Liriano go too long, etc. Yes, our ownership needs to spend a few more bucks, and with the new stadium that taxpayers helped pay for I feel they owe it to us as Twins fans. BTW- the Rangers got it done against the best team in baseball, but name more than 5 players on the team. Off the bat I can only name 2- Hamilton and Lee. I think we outspent them this season, I am too lazy to look

are you kidding dude?

The Rangers are stacked

You never heard of Vlad?

Michael Young?

Kinsler?

Cruz?

Cantu?

Molina?

[Big Dave2]

are you kidding dude?

The Rangers are stacked

You never heard of Vlad?

Michael Young?

Kinsler?

Cruz?

Cantu?

Molina?

Rangers were 26th in payroll this year, Twins were 13th and only 15 million more would put them in the top 7.

The Twins are becoming exactly what everyone hates the Yankees for being only they are not suceeding at it as well.

[Coach1310]

But I thought this discussion was about what the Twins need to do to get better and actually win a playoff series, not what the Twins need to do to be more profitable?

Point taken Dave, but Mauer is here and will get paid the entire contract he has signed so whining about it isn't making the Twins better for 2011.

The Twins are in a tough spot because the free agent market isn't ripe with their needs... speed, power arm AND we have to figure out what we are doing in the bullpen. Crain, Guerrier, Rauch all free agents... not to metion Pavano...

It will be interesting for sure...