StarTribune.com

Trade Deadline Nears

Posted on July 31st, 2007 – 2:22 PM
By La Velle

Joe C. and I are at the Dome, prepared to report about trades or no trades.

We’ve worked the phones this morning and midday and really haven’t heard too much breaking news.

Joe C. has checked with someone he knows well with the Diamondbacks and was told there’s nothing going on with the Twins at the moment but they might make a last call right before the deadline - which happens a lot - to see if a match has presented itself.

I checked with someone I know with the Rockies and learned that the Twins recently talked to them about Garrett Atkins, with Juan Rincon as bait (Rincon, I’m guessing, would have been part of a package). Colorado is happy with Atkins and are in no rush to move him to make way for prospects.

Meanwhile, Kevin Towers has been a dealing fool. He landed Rob Mackowiak from the White Sox and has just dealt for Morgan Ensberg. I know that may upset some Twins fans, but reports on Ensberg have not been good.

We still have some calls out, but it’s getting close to the deadline. We’ll keep you posted…. 

[UPDATE]: 18 minutes to go ’till the deadline, and Gardy is up in Terry Ryan’s office with bench coach Steve Liddle. We found out earlier in the day that the highly-respected Vern Followell (great name for a scout) is in town, so he’s probably providing some input on potential deals.

[UPDATE]:Joe C. is blogging as I speak. You’re getting bonus coverage today. And Joe will provide his take on what does or doesn’t happen before the deadline. 

100 Responses to "Trade Deadline Nears"

DCTwinsfan says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:35 pm

Much obliged. Been hard to focus on work today, seeking out updates.

MNaggie says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:37 pm

I really would like to see the Twins get a player like Atkins. Either way, I’m glad to hear they’re trying to make a move.

T says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:37 pm

Juan Rincon. Dangled for Atkins? …I imagine they’re sitll laughing up in Colorado.

That seems more like a “Well, we checked” sorta move as opposed to seriously asking. However, doesn’t Colorado have that Ian Stewart fellow that a lot of people are high on?

Aaron K says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:39 pm

Ian Stewart is a stud prospect expected to play 3b…but the Rockies are in a hot close race for the playoffs and they can’t trade Atkins now. The media and fans would go nuts.

Funkytown says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:41 pm

That is a pretty awesome race, with the top 4 teams 3 1/2 games separated, in fact top 3 are tied or a half game out.

Rocks are making a run and would be crazy crazy crazy to trade any of those guys now.

In the offseason though….

Mark says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:41 pm

Wake me up when we actually do something… 2008, 2009? cripes.

Mitch says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:42 pm

Do the Rockies have any fans left?

David says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:44 pm

I like the idea of the Arizona talks I would deal Bonser for 1 of the AAA OF and 3b Chad Tracy. Or Silva for 1 of those guys.

Aaron K says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:45 pm

actually the Rockies fans are coming back in full force this year. I live in Colorado and the fans are really embracing this club.

Austin says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:46 pm

Mitch, yeah in some states other than Minnesota fans will stick by their team through disappointing seasons.

Mitch says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:49 pm

I know Rockie fans have been very discouraged with their teams over the years and especially with the Rockies owners.

MNaggie says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:50 pm

“Gardy is up in Terry Ryan’s office with bench coach Steve Liddle.” Does this mean they’re close to a move? I suppose I shouldn’t read into it too much. But why would Ryan call them up? To tell them they aren’t making any moves?

Steve from Fridley says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:50 pm

I think Chad Tracy only has one shoulder and approx. 3 vertebrae in his back. That is of course, to go along with the 3 ligaments in his left knee, one in his right, and the fact that he in general only has 177 bones in his body.

I’d rather not take the most injury-prone player on the Western side of the country.

JimCrikket says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:51 pm

Gardy’s in TR’s office? At least he’ll know exactly what the options were so if nothing gets done, he’ll have had a front row seat and know exactly what was, and wasn’t, attempted.

David says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:53 pm

Chad Tracy may only have 1/2 of his body, but he is still putting up better numbers than our thirdbaseman.

Jake says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:53 pm

Maybe TR is breaking the news to Gardie that Punto has been traded to Japan ala the DHL commercial. Now that would improve the Twins both this year and next year.

Jonathon says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:57 pm

BREAKING NEWS: Twins trade Carlos Silva to the Reds for a ham sandwich and a soda to be named later.

Austin says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:58 pm

Barring Detroit announcing a deal just after the deadline, you know TR is going to tell us that he felt like we could stay pat because the two teams ahead of us in the division didn’t make any huge additions. The Tribe did add Kenny Lofton, which is way more than it looks like we are going to do.

Austin says:

July 31st, 2007 at 2:58 pm

Jonathon, I think we would have to give them the soda back and only accept a water.

Mitch says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:00 pm

And I bet that soda would be a generic store brand.

mh says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:03 pm

twins made a run at atkins but they woulda had to add baker..

something tells me we didnt offer baker..

Steve from Fridley says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:06 pm

LEN

Please tell us there’s a last minute update! :(

Scooter says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:07 pm

NOTHING. This is just sad and boring and ridiculous. Not only are we not going to make a run at the series this year, but it doesn’t sound like we’re gearing up much for the future either. Vomit.

Tax Guy says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:08 pm

Austin,

That’s too funny. I’m guessing no trade was made - very disappointing, but I wouldn’t trade Baker to get Atkins either. Where’s Phil Nevin/Bret Boone when you need them?

Rick N says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:08 pm

Let me think,
TR had an offer to trade Gardy and Liddle to the Yanks for Torre, but they wanted a Minor League Pitching Coach and TR wouldn’t do that.

Isn’t that why Gardy was in the office?

yapper says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:09 pm

Agree Scooter. We needed to get better for next year if nothing else.
Looks like we’ll sit back and do the usual “STAND PAT”
Puke, gag, die.

twinsfanCA says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:10 pm

TR says — many deals left on the table…still can make a waiver deal…Conine is the next Phil Nevin…keep buying tickets…

If TR were a poker player he would just lose all his money by paying the blinds…

Someone buy him some mittens so he doesnt have the excuse to sit on his hands every single trade deadline

T Wins says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:11 pm

taxguy,
you wouldnt trade baker for atkins?

ok.. so it appears that everyone in here just complains about TR not making trades. but its OBVIOUS that everyone that posts in here isn’t willing to give up ANYTHING.

Jake says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:12 pm

Just a few weeks ago the fans would have trade baker for any player that we could get for him. Now he isn’t worth a 3B that could be under the Twins control for at least 3 years. It takes the trading of actual talent to receive actual talent in return. My question is why do we put ourselves through this every year knowing full well that TR will not make a trade to acquire anyone?

Trent says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:13 pm

So, since the Twins did nothing, Torri should have a contract extension before gametime tonight?

SethSpeaks says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:13 pm

“If TR were a poker player he would just lose all his money by paying the blinds…”

But at least he will remain in contention for quite awhile.

I’m disappointed if nothing happened, but I am pretty comfortable in thinking that the Twins are no worse off today than they were two days ago. They’re just not better off for either 2007 or 2008.

JimCrikket says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:14 pm

Yeah, that’s pretty much it, T Wins. Everyone thinks that teams should hand over top prospects and starting thirdbasemen/DH’s for guys that aren’t performing well for the Twins this year. It’s kind of amusing, really.

yapper says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:14 pm

I sure trade Baker for Atkins.
3B has been a hole since Koskie. Atkins addresses that hole while we deal from a position of strength.

Rincon and Baker for Atkins. I’ll take that any day of the week.

Scooter says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:14 pm

Maybe we can hang on to Rondell White long enough to get us into the new stadium.

DrJubal says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:15 pm

I would do Baker for Atkins in a heartbeat.

How many starting pitchers do we need? Ten? How many starting third basemen do we need?

One.

[How many do we have?]

Mark says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:15 pm

T Wins: I’m willing to give up whatever it takes to contend for a title or to rebuild for next year. Whether it be Hunter, Nathan, Baker, Silva, Rincon… doesn’t matter, there are deals to be done, but TR is neither creative enough to do it or too cheap to make any waves.. not to mention waiting until July 31st at 3pm when your 7 games back is a strong signal to your teaam that you want to WIN now. The worst thing he could have done today was to do nothing. I can’t wait for the excuses and talk about how we are going to win with what we have. Oh sure we will.

USAFChief says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:16 pm

Over under on the first time we hear “adding Cuddyer will be just like a trade”: 30 minutes.

Joe says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:17 pm

I for sure would have done Rincon & Baker for Atkins…if that was on the table and TR didn’t do it…sad very sad (thanks Baker for having a great game last night, made TR scared to do anything).

twinsfanCA says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:17 pm

“But at least he will remain in contention for quite awhile.”

yeah he would have a chair at the table, but little chance on winning it all…sounds a lot like the twins under his tenure

Mark says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:17 pm

I mean to say “is a strong signal to your team that you DONT want to win now”

anyways, should be an exciting 3rd place finish…

slugger says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:18 pm

Well Twins fans, I hate to say it but the dye is cast. With an infield that includes two rookies, Buscher at third and Casilla at second, your certainly playing for ‘08 and not ‘07. There’s just no other way TR and the organization can sell this to us as fans. And don’t you go to thinking that the players don’t realize this as well. Face it, the Twins have 4 marketable everyday players who aren’t going anywhere. As for the rest of them, there’s just no interest from the rest of major league baseball which says volumes. There’s obviously interest in players like Garza, Baker, and possibly even Slowey but TR seemingly wants to horde every pitching spare part.

As a Twins fan it’s been very difficult to watch as players like Batista, Castro, Ponson, and Ortiz are trotted in front of us for millions and then to listen to the organization groan about being maxed out payroll-wise.

st says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:18 pm

Would be nice once just once to be a fan
of a team that actually makes moves that help the team take a shot at a championship. Terry Ryan will never hoist the World Series trophy he neither has the courage or the moxy to make that happen.

TheVegan says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:18 pm

So no trades? The Twins have so many holes in their line up. Ryan says we can absorb the loss of Castillo? I don’t like this guy. How about look, baseball is a business, I don’t like our chances of winning, he’s going to be a free agent so business wise, he had to go. To say we can absorb this move is total BS!! Lets see we have Punto, Rodriguez, White, Ford, and Cirillo who all can’t hit. We can put out a solid line-up but we can absorb the loss of Castillo?? Please!!!

Mark says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:19 pm

Over under on the first time we hear “adding Cuddyer will be just like a trade”: 30 minutes.

Exactly, Cuddyer coming back and RonDL White coming back, they will claim these as their “moves” inside the organization… along with bringing up Casilla to split starts with Punto at 2B…what a mess.

T says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:19 pm

I’ll take the over.

However:
Over/Under on when Hunter’s new contract’s announced: 2 days.

I think it’s going to happen, and that’ll be the smoke and mirrors they flash to distract from the fact that they didn’t make a deal. Thogh they won’t take any questions regarding what it means for Morneau or Santana.

Tax Guy says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:20 pm

T wins,

I’d have traded Slowey or Blackburn, but I don’t see how trading one of your top three starting pitchers helps you this year, which I thought was the goal with a trade at the deadline.

TheVegan says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:20 pm

OOPS the last sentence of my above post should read “We can put out a solid line-up but we can absorb the loss of Castillo??”

Jon says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:23 pm

Trading Baker and Rincon, or Slowey and Rincon for 3rd baseman would have worked for me. Wrong guy though. Stewart is a stud, Aitkins would compete with Bartlett for most team errors.

Scooter says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:23 pm

The more I let this “non action” settle in, the more it upsets me. What are they thinking?? What are they trying to accomplish?? Perpetual mediocrity? Do you think Morneau Mauer & Johan will want to stick around if the organization can’t field a team around them? Dry-heaving.

yapper says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:24 pm

T,
We don’t talk contracts during the season. :rolls eyes:

Jake says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:24 pm

LEN

Why no updates? Does TR need to formulate his response to the media? TR and the Pohlads need to be working to resign Hunter and extend Santana and lock up Morneau if they are not going to spend anything on the remainder of the roster. It is difficult to know that the Twins are only likely to score 2 to 3 runs a game and lose at least half of them.

Mark says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:26 pm

Deadline passes with no more Twins moves
Tuesday, July 31st, 2007

The Twins did not make another trade before today’s non-waiver trade deadline, according to one team insider. There were a flurry of phone calls and many things discussed but ultimately no move.

jama says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:27 pm

That the man above that the Twins aren’t going to waste their time with Ensberg. This season is over the Twins should be playing as many prospects as possible to see what is going to work and what isn’t so that they can make a plan for next year.

yapper says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:27 pm

Does this really surprise anyone though?
I mean I guess I mainly expected “the man” to stand pat.
This the same guy that doesn’t believe in free agents.

Jon says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:29 pm

seriously I don’t know why this is shocking to anyone either.

Aaron says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:30 pm

I have a lot of respect for TR. I don’t think the solution is to spend money just because we have an extra $2 million from Castillo. We are a small market team and must continue to develop our talent from within the organization. I think TR is looking at team chemistry along with a players talent. Some guys are a cancer regardless of their abiity…look at Bonds. Our pitching staff is going to be good, REALLY GOOD next year. Garza and Baker are improving with every start. Castillo was likely going to leave next year anyway so on the bright side at least we were able to get something for him. We have a lot of Division Championships by doing nothing at the trade deadline so the talent is obviously here if we can just figure out a way to be more consistent with the bats we could do some damage in the playoffs–Twins Fan For Life

Mark says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:32 pm

that was from Joe C’s blog… we did nothing and you’ll like it! Says TR.

Joey Jo Jo Jr. says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:32 pm

New Twins marketing plan: “Come to the Dome and watch Torii’s last two months in a Twins uniform!” No thanks.

Brooklyn Twins Fan says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:33 pm

Man, I am so disgusted with this team’s front office right now.

Did everyone see what Daniels down in Texas got back for Texiera and Gagne? There is no reason that TR couldnt have got some top level prospects for Hunter and Nathan too. This whole situation is just very depressing and a huge letdown.

slugger says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:37 pm

Aaron,

We are a MID-MARKET team with a new stadium in the works for 2010 and the richest owner in all of baseball. For the longest time I accepted the “small-market” concept along with many other Twins fans simply because it had been shoved down our throats so much.

I, as a diehard baseball fan, also accepted many other falsehoods but am learning many new things on a daily basis. That’s why I like to go to places like Gleeman’s website to get information.

Once again, the Twins Cities is the #16 market in the nation and Carl Pohlad is the richest owner in all of baseball. Let’s not allow the spin coming out of the Twins front office to overshadow the facts.

SethSpeaks says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:37 pm

Jon Daniels did VERY well for the Rangers, no doubt!

Steve from Fridley says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:38 pm

There goes the “small market” excuse again, even though the Twins are right in the middle of the pack payroll-wise.

jama says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:38 pm

I think it is hilarious that everyone wants the Twins to do something and when TR makes a trade all they do is complain. Thank god that you guys aren’t the Twins GM. For most of you it’s only about the now and nothing to do with the future.

Egad says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:39 pm

Aaron, please don’t use the small market excuse. Small markets don’t have teams in all four major sports.

What we have is a lack of ambition. The Twins have the richest owner in baseball who won’t spend to improve his team. Pretty simple.

It’s sad for the fans who have to foot the bill for mediocrity, but who really cares what we want anyway? Sad - but completely predictable.

gweilo says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:41 pm

Daniels in Texas gotta a whole bunch of guys who might be ready in 3 or 4 years for Texiera. I live in Atlanta, and the story here is the only player worth lamenting is Salty, a first baseman/catcher. That’s just what we need. There was no market for the Twins players out there!!

SethSpeaks says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:41 pm

I’m probably too much of the ‘for the future’ type. That’s why I have no problem with trading Castillo and bringing up Casilla.

That is also why I don’t think that the Twins lost a lot in that deal. However, because of that, another deal would have made sense. BUT, I wouldn’t want any of the names like Sosa, Piazza, Stairs, etc. Only Atkins would have made the Twins better for now and the future.

jama says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:43 pm

Why should Pohlad spend his own money when the Twins revenue is really low? I don’t think the owners total worth should have anything to do with how much money he spends on payroll.

So does that mean that if a team owner has a team in a huge market and he is only worth $600 million that they should have the lowest payroll?

Twins fans are ridiculous

Steve from Fridley says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:43 pm

“if we can just figure out a way to be more consistent with the bats we could do some damage in the playoffs”

The way to do some damage was to bring in a bat. Lew Ford, Jason Tyner, Luis Rodriguez, and Nick Punto don’t know what “damage” IS.

Twinstalker says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:44 pm

Terry Ryan has always been inept at his job, and the last couple of years have shown it brilliantly. He’s got a nice minor league scouting staff.

If there was any chance at all that he could have dealt Hunter for Pie, I’ll just cry. There is no way the Twins can afford to sign Hunter if they truly want to be a top team 3-4 years from now. Pie would have been the answer in CF going forward.

TheVegan says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:46 pm

Aaron said “I have a lot of respect for TR. I don’t think the solution is to spend money just because we have an extra $2 million from Castillo. We are a small market team and must continue to develop our talent from within the organization. I think TR is looking at team chemistry along with a players talent. Some guys are a cancer regardless of their abiity…look at Bonds.”

The Twins have more no factors hitters in their line up then any other team in the hunt. Castillo is an average hitter, clearly not a superstar but in losing him the line-up gets that much weaker. True, for the future letting him go now and getting something for him was the best move. But how about this year??? The Twins are in it. Not only didn’t they make a move but they let a capable hitter go. To me this says Ryan is about the bottom line: MONEY! And Aaron what is this you are saying when mentioning Castillo and then discussing Bonds as a cancer. Unless that was your justification for letting Castillo go then you you said nothing to justify it.
This move and then lack another one to improve the team was just a slap in the face of all of the loyal Tins fans who believe they can still make the playoffs. I think they still can but losing Castillo clearly lessens the probability. I really don’t like this disingenuous Ryan.

Steve from Fridley says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:47 pm

Jama,

I would’ve loved a trade for the future. Go ahead and sell Rincon and Silva for prospects. That’s fine. If you’re going sell Castillo, sell a few others too and hope some prospects turn out for you.

Again though, doing nothing doesn’t help us now and it doesn’t help us in the future. We can play Buscher and Casilla (if Gardy ever benches Punto finally), but it would be nice to have gotten some other good options if they don’t pan out. I know we have Tolbert and Moses, but they don’t overwhelm me with confidence that the Twins are going to ok from an infield standpoint for years to come.

Iron Range Twins Fan says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:49 pm

This is so ridiculous and it’s one of the main reasons NONE of our MN Teams can do anything. First the KG announcement now the Twins do NOTHING to help the club. It’s amazing that we have ANY pro teams left in this state. Thank goodness for the Wild and the success they had this year because there’s not much else to be happy about. They really shouldn’t brag about winning the Central Division several times because they have never done anything else past it. It sounds to me like they’re going to focus on building for the future…a future without Johan, Hunter and maybe even Morneau. Sad time to be Twins fan but I will be a MN Twins & any MN team fan forever…

Dan says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:51 pm

I’m so sick and tired of Terry Ryan telling the fans that he’s going to add a bat and all he does is trade Castillo and has Gardy eat another Crap Sandwich. “Here ya go Ron, I just traded your lead off hitter to the Met’s in exchange for this sandwhich, now you can eat it. The Met’s needed a 2B and we have some players who we feel can fill the void, Casilla, Punto and Tolbert.”

Terry Ryan wins the GM award last season for doing what?!! Gardy had a crap sandwhich handed to him last season with RonDL White and Tony Batista and then this year, the gift Ryan gives Gardy is ANOTHER CRAP SANDWICH. “Hey Gardy, I got you a hitter and you know who it is? RonDL White, isn’t that great!!”

Aaron says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:57 pm

Perhaps my understanding of market size is unclear. I thought the market size was based on the number of TV households in a given area. That would make the Twins a small market team. I would be interested in seeing the Twins profit margin. You don’t get rich by spending more than you earn!! Regardless, the Twins are competitive every year by developing talent from within. It has been proven effective year after year. Going out and buying players at the trade deadline is not always the solution. Look at the Yankees. All that talent and we are only two games behind them for the wildcard. I still think we are going to win the division though!!

Larry Ano says:

July 31st, 2007 at 3:58 pm

Slugger -

That says it all, thank you. Everyone pipe down with the small market exuses, if its so small why does the Twin Cities have 4 professional sports teams? Cincinnati is small, Kansas City is small, Milwaukee is small, Denver is smaller. There are more fortune 500 companies and the largest private company in the world located in MSP, let’s not pretend like there’s no money to go around. We might not get the media exposure nationally like Boston, NY, and Philly, but that’s a combination of geography + Minnesotan’s own general apathy towards sports. We simply don’t freak out or cause as big a scene, win or lose (for the most part). The Twins can easily sign Hunter, Santana, Morneau, Mauer, Cuddy (let Nathan go, closers often decline quickly and are great trade bait) with the new ballpark. Especially with HENNEPIN COUNTY paying for it! I think the fans deserve at least that.

Egad says:

July 31st, 2007 at 4:01 pm

Aaron, we wouldn’t know if getting players at the deadline is the solution because this team rarely tries it. As a previous poster mentioned, Minneapolis/St. Paul is the 16th largest media market, which in a league the size of MLB - or any of the four major sports leagues - doesn’t qualify it as small.

If you believe this team is going to win the division minus its leadoff hitter and still without a major league thirdbaseman, you have more faith than I do and I salute you. I’d love to be wrong on this but the Tigers and Indians were better teams than the Twins before the trade deadline and remain so after it.

CharlieMurphy says:

July 31st, 2007 at 4:10 pm

ok so lets say for arguments sake that the Twins are the 16th largest WHATEVER. Their payroll this year is 19th. So does that mean taht since New York, Chicago and LA all have 3 teams that the reality is that we are EXACTLY where we should be as far as money spend for market size?

Dan says:

July 31st, 2007 at 4:10 pm

So who’s the answer at 3B? Punto? Rodriguez? I’d rather have Morgan Ensburg, who San Diego got for cash and a player to be named. Even with a gimpy arm, he’s hitting a lot better than anyone the Twins put out there.

Someone mentioned we could have had Atkins for Baker, and we didn’t make the trade because??????

SethSpeaks says:

July 31st, 2007 at 4:15 pm

Dan, we don’t know if we could have had Atkins for Baker. We heard that Atkins was talked about in a deal that included Rincon. Some speculated that adding Baker would have got it done (it wouldn’t have). We don’t know what any of the actual discussions and offers were.

Kurt says:

July 31st, 2007 at 4:18 pm

Well time to move on. Casilla’s numbers aren’t killer but his splits look OK when paired with Tyner splits. Hopefully together they can cover the leadoff role. Somehow I think that’ll mean Punto needs to play everyday. I’m so excited.

Kurt says:

July 31st, 2007 at 4:25 pm

Upon further review, Buscher hits better against righties and Casilla against lefties. So that does indeed mean that Punto will be in the lineup most days. yessss

TheVegan says:

July 31st, 2007 at 4:26 pm

Despite how sickened I am by the disingenuous Ryan, I still have hope that the Twins can make it into the playoffs. Casilla and Buscher may end up being good. Maybe even Kubel will start hitting for better average and power. They really need to do just look to never start, in fact release White, Cirillo, Punto, Ford and Rodriguez. Bring up anybody with potential. They can’t be any worse then these 5.

BTW, I understand that the Twins only have 2 catchers and I know what can happen when both are in the line up and one gets injured during the game but why in the world aren’t Mauer and Redmond in the line-up everyday. Redmond sometimes plays when Mauer sits out and sometimes they are both in the line-up but it should be a regular thing. Even if one has to come out and the pitcher has to bat the rest of the game on very rare occasions isn’t this worth it? Redmond is a solid hitter being waisted. Can anyone explain this to me??

Erik says:

July 31st, 2007 at 4:41 pm

Talk about a swing and a miss from this organization..especially Terry Ryan.

This team is 6 games out of the postseason. Are the chances of them making it very good? Not likely…but as of early August last year, they were 10.5 games out of first…and STILL won the division. Things are still possible.

Terry Ryan had a chance to address some areas of need…mainly 3b and DH…and he failed to do so…again. His issue isn’t not wanting to make a deal…it’s not wanting to give up something of significance to GET something BACK of significance. He thinks that he has to pull a trade similar to the one he made with SF every single time…that’s the bad way to look at things.

He made it very clear yesterday that the trading of Castillo doesn’t signify giving up…well, I think him not making a single move to IMPROVE this ball club is the ultimate sign of giving up.

Enjoy watching the Twins get nothing in return for Carlos Silva after he walks this year, enjoy watching Torii Hunter’s final 2 months as a Twin, and enjoy watching guys like Lew Ford, Nick Punto, Rondell White, and Luis Rodriguez get consistent AB’s with this squad.

Mark says:

July 31st, 2007 at 4:44 pm

An improvement would not have been difficult… the Rangers were looking to trade Sosa for scrap metal, he could have filled our anemic DH spot for 2 months and I would probably bet he’d hit more (1) HRs than Tyner would the rest of the year…
TR is stubborn, cheap, and will take home the WORST GM AWARD this year in my book.

John says:

July 31st, 2007 at 5:54 pm

Well everyone, don’t think anything happened here that we all didn’t expect. The Pohlad family and their lap dog Terry Ryan once again lied to, manipulated, and stabbed the fans in the back…what else is new??? On the other hand, did you all see Shooter’s column today in the PP? Here’s an interesting excerpt:

“There’s buzz that Twins owner Carl Pohlad’s son Jim, who bought FM radio station KTTB last month, is considering bidding on WUCW, Channel 23.”

So there is where all the taxpayers stadium money is going…into private investments for the Pohlads (because it certainly isn’t going into the team!). So all of you out there who think that the money saved on Castillo’s contract will go into a Hunter extension, you better think again–the greedy, money-sniveling rats known as the Pohlad family just needed that extra cash to broker yet another radio station where they can plug their bobblehead nights to their blackened hearts delight.

RyanW says:

July 31st, 2007 at 6:10 pm

The Twin Cities are the 16th largest media market in the nation. Also due to the spread of teams geographicly, the Twins fan base spreads across North and South Dakota, Northern Iowa, Western WI and parts of South Central Canada. The owner has doubled the value of his investment in the past 14 months on the backs of taxpayers.

Due to low revenue we had to operate like a small market team in 2000 when we were pulling in 10,000 a night and trapped in a dome with no end in sight. Now MLB has revenue sharing, record amounts of media revenue (huge TV and satilite radio contracts) and the twins have a new stadium. There is no reason to keep operating like a small market team.

Please stop enabling a greedy owner. We dont expect him to spend gobs of money to lure in the ARods of the world, just keep the talent that we cultivate and be open to improvements.

Sign Hunter, Morneau and Santana now. There are no more excuses.

Mark Proell says:

July 31st, 2007 at 6:57 pm

So Terry Ryan, what’s next? even though the trade dead line has come and gone with no improvement. Of course if you had to make a trade now and you could, its just that any trade has to clear waivers, right? Well, Texas still has Sosa available! Maybe you could give Texas a few of your AA has beens pushing 29 and 30 years old. Perhaps just two or three of these players could get another chance with texas. And the Rangers could have helped us by paying part of his salary for the next two months. But Im sure you have your reasons. what’s next? the winter meetings where we the fans wait to see if you can pull something off to help this team? F/A’s are to expensive or can’t make a trade because the other teams are asking for to much in return. In any case when its you dealing I have learned long ago not to hold my breath..

Steve Hoffman says:

August 2nd, 2007 at 12:17 am

Oh interesting TR made a move, a move to get rid of another one of the good guys in the club house, another one of the big spots in the batting order.
Oh but what? what is that?… oh Gardy thinks its fine to use Tyner and Bartlett who is batting .250s in the leadoff spot RIGHT? of COurse one has to feel bad for ROn Gardenhire

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