3rd base

[bucketmouth64]

I think Koskie will be a has been after this season. He has never lived up to his potential and is not worth the millions he is being paid. Always wondered why the Twins can't draft good infielders or can't develop anyone good like our outfielders. What about the prospect of Joe Mauer going to third base if can't catch anymore? He might be athletically gifted enough to do it. Could he be another Molitor? Blanco can be a good defensive catcher in the meantime.

Going to the game today vs the A's.

[IFallsRon]

Don't be surprised if Cuddyer is playing third next year. Guzman is going to want extra money, too, and Rivas hasn't turned into anything special.

If Mauer can't catch, I doubt he'd be able to play in the field a lot. He could become a career DH. Lecroy 's career is about over, too.

[This message has been edited by IFallsRon (edited 08-09-2004).]

[Guest]

Playing in the field is a lot different than playing catcher as far as stress on the knees go. If the injury is really that serious, they will make every attempt to place him somewhere else.

Cuddyer at third?...that's a brutal thought. Second would be much better.

[SledNeck_X]

Youre right on about Koskie. He can't hit. Hes great in the field but he struggles at the plate. He is tender too. As for Rivas, sure he struggles at the plate (remember hes is only 24 years old) but you cant give up on him yet, his defense does help win games. They said the injury on Mauer isnt by anymeans serious many MLB catchers have had the same one and have had long productive careers.

[bigbucks]

Expect Cuddyer at 3rd next year. They aren't about to give up on Mauer at catcher this soon, the question is will he play again this season or not, which it looks to me is in question. Koskie could hit before all his injuries, now he can't seem to consistently. When he came up he could hit, but wasn't a very good fielder, now that's reversed. I agree on Rivas, he's young, talented defensively, & I doubt will cost much to keep if his contract's even up. Guzman & Radke are our big money problems for this coming season. They warrant some decent money certainly, but if some other team decides to be stupid & dangle a huge contract in front of them, we'll probably have to let them go.

I like LeCroy, but he's not hit as well as I would have thought. His arm is so poor it's just too much of a liability to have him catch other than as an emergency backup in injury or extra inning situations.

I hope they find somebody interested in Restovitch & or Michael Ryan as they probably deserve to be in the big leagues, but we don't have a spot for them. I'd hate to see Jones go, but am afraid it's going to happen for economic reasons. Stewart's discipline as a hitter is just too valuable to this particular team for us not to keep him. If we keep our four current outfielders I would think that makes LeCroy a casualty so we could have another left-handed bat on the roster somewhere.

[Jarrod32]

A few predictions for next year (never too early, you know). Jones, Guzman and Koskie will be gone. Right field will be up for grabs between Ford, Restovich, Ryan, and Kubel (assuming none of them are traded). Look for Kubel to be starting/playing every day in RF by this time next year.

Cuddyer will be the everyday third baseman, and SS will be up for grabs between Bartlett and Punto. Unless Rivas is gone, too, in which case, Bartlett and Punto will both be starting.

That should leave enough money free to sign Radke and maybe another starter and lock up Santana long-term. Add JD Durbin and Silva to the mix, and the starting rotation should be all right.

[This message has been edited by Jarrod32 (edited 08-10-2004).]

[eyecrosser2000]

Santana smells like Yankee bait to me.

[BLACKJACK]

My predictions for next year:

Radke is gone. He's having tough luck with run support this year but in the past hes pitched one great game then five so-so games - hes a .500 pitcher making too much money.

Cuddeyer at third next year.
Jones is gone, Hunter and Stewart are too valuable, Ford will be in right. Restovich and Ryan are also gone, Kuble with be the fourth outfielder. They have to get rid of some excess outfielders, lets trade Restovich before he proves his potential does not translate into stardom.
DH-Sad to say, it will be LeCroy again. Unless they can get soemthing for him and let Restovich play there - thats what I'd like to see. Lecroy has had his chance and hasn't done much.
Guzman and Rivas will be kept together one more year with Bartlet and Puntang fighting it out for reserves.

Starting pitchers - Santana, Lohse, Silva, Mays, Durban, and maybe someone that they pick up in a trade when they clear up there outfield glut.

When they do these trades I'd like to see them get some young guys that 'have a high upside' as Terry Ryan likes to say. You need to find some all-stars that can be mixed with the average players if you're going to go anywhere in the playoffs.

[bucketmouth64]

What about the possibility of getting another hometowner in Robb Quinlin from the Angels to play 3rd base? Don't know if he is tradeable during the offseason now that he is showing his potential. I heard that he could have been obtained for $50k I believe a year or two ago. I think Ryan may have missed on this one when he was available.
Lohse could be trade bait too. Don't really know if he and Gardy get along that well. I think the Twins could make some nice trades to free up $$$ for our tightwad owner.