Twins-Royals: No Trades. You’ll Play With This Bunch and You’ll Like It
Posted on July 31st, 2007 – 5:48 PMBy La Velle
The clubhouse continues to stew about the front office not making a deal before the non-waiver trading deadline. Gardy is trying to guard against a letdown, giving us his, `If you’re going to cry about it, take your ball and go home,’ speech before the game. There will be more on this in the paper tomorrow - and Joe C.’s story will be very juicy!!
Alexi Casilla is here. He’s not leading off today because Tyner is on fire (.533 over his last five games) but Alexi will get his chances to lead off.
Lineups
Royals: 1. DeJesus, CF. 2. Grudzielanek, 2B. 3. Teahen, RF. 4. Brown, DH. 5. Gload, LF. 6. Gordon, 3B. 7.Smith, 1B. 8. Pena, Jr., SS. 9. LaRue, C. Pitching: De La Rosa.
Twins: 1. Tyner, RF. 2. Bartlett, SS. 3. Mauer, DH. 4. Morneau, 1B. 5. Hunter, CF. 6. Redmond, C. 7. Cirillo, 3B. 8. Ford, LF. Casilla, 2B. Pitching: Silva.
238 Responses to "Twins-Royals: No Trades. You’ll Play With This Bunch and You’ll Like It"
1st
Alexi will get his chances to lead off.
Is that your personal opinion, or did Gardy say he was going to use Casilla as the leadoff hitter?
What is the problem with pohlad? Why won’t he open the purse strings and add some more decent guys? Explain this to me.
Gardy should tell Terry Ryan to take his job and shove it.
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 market may actually be larger than 16th.
The owner has doubled the value of his investment in the past 14 months on the backs of taxpayers. Not to mention has enjoyed increased revenue and recorded increasing profit for the past 3 or 4 seasons.
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.
Jama and others 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.
I say the players tell him to shove it, and tell Terry that they’re sick of his crap.
Personally, I think this will mean that Torii Hunter will take the ball and leave at the end of the season.
Today was a huge letdown for us fans, and I think the complaining is just getting underway.
To me, there is no excuse to at least not trade Rincon. If teams were really interested why not ditch him. He has no value to us.
Also, the players have every right to complain. First, they get rid of Castillo which might not be horrible, but then, they pretty much tell them the season is done by not even attempting to improve with another hitter.
Terry Ryan has been crap all season beginning with the Ortiz and Ponson signings, and he better start to turn it around.
Oh, and can Terry tell us fans why his prospects are untouchable? Like you mentioned La Velle, we can’t have nine starters in the rotation next season so trade some of them.
(And worst of all, this has to happen the same day as we lose our face of Minnesota, KG)
Terry Ryan failed the Twins for 2007.
Kevin McHale failed the Timberwolves (well that’s his job… worst front offic man in professional sports).
I think that the catcher the Twins received in the Castillo trade is someday going to make a great Bullpen catcher for a AAA team!
not trying to defend ryan but maybe there just wasnt anybody who wanted Rincon at this point
now, what really worries me is Santanas reaction to this (and, as TwinsTerritory said Torii) because he obviously sees that the Front Office isnt all that committed to doing whatever they can to put the best team behind him
Martin is starting tonight in case anyone is interested. No sign of Butera.
Rincon cost 2 Mil and give us a guy with talent in our pen. His numbers are down, but depth in the pen is valuable. Plus trading a guy with talent when he is stuggling isnt always a good idea.
I dont mind us not dealing him.
Nico- Exactly, who would want Rincon at this point? Torii has to realize though that if he is going to be asking for a huge salary, then the rest of the options for the team are going to be somewhat limited.
Well let’s go out and put another W on the board tonight boys!
It’s true that Hunter may walk this year and Santana the next but we’ll have lot’s of prospects!! It’s kinda like trading in your winning 80 mill lottery ticket for 80 million tickets for the next drawing. Fun, fun, fun.
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/33/07mlb_Minnesota-Twins_330400.html
The Twins have made money all but one season since 2000. In 2000 the Twins were valued at $91 mil, now after a taxpayer subsidized stadium they are worth $288 mil… investment tripled in 7 years.
We dont buy the “cost” argument anymore.
They said some teams were interested in Rincon, and I don’t see him getting any better. Every time he has shown any hope (very few times) the next five outing he gives up two runs.
That is a pretty lame statement by Gardy
Some hope could very easily mean similiar to what we got for Castillo. If that is the case, I hold onto Rincon.
RyanW - The investment went up too $288 million with the new stadium, but ownership hasn’t been able to reap the benefits of the new stadium yet, so for that reason I am not surprised that we don’t see more money spent on payroll. Whether that is right or not, is up for debate.
Fargo- It may be lame, but it is true. They are paid professionals. There is no crying or pouting in baseball. You are getting paid a nice amount of money to play, deal with trades that are made and trades that aren’t made.
A sampling of the teams that had LESS operating income than the Twins last season:
Oakland
St. Louis
New York Yankees
Angels
Tigers
Padres
Philadelphia
Texas
Arizona
Both WS teams, and a couple other playoff teams. Not bad.
I for one am not that upset that we didn’t make a trade…we never make a trade and I don’t understand why people get so fired up…TR isn’t a wheeling dealing Kenny Williams type…He’s Terry Ryan and he always stands pat!
RyanW- You can sit there and whine and complain all you want, but clearly that is not going to be changing for the most part this season.
It’s time to move on and hope this team can make a run here and continue to keep winning.
Carl Pohlad is the Rich Pharaoh, the stadium is his Golden Pyramid, and the people of Minnesota are the slaves dragging the stones…
If this team was serious, they would have pulled off a deal… to hell with just talking trades… you MAKE trades happen if you are a contender.
Also if you’re going to trade, then TRADE!
Rincon, Silva,Nathan, Reyes, & Hunter (if they don’t resign him).
but they could have had Piazza, could have went after Dunn, could have pulled a deal off that wasn’t typical, or talked about… went outside the box a little…
but trading your leadoff hitter for a catcher that doesn’t have enough talent to be a Bullpen catcher in 10 years was ridiculous.
BC, it’s all over and one with now. Either you can continue to dwell on the past or cheer for this team the rest of the year.
RyanW-when you say “we” don’t buy the cost argument-who are you talking about? it seems to me that your going against yourself by saying you don’t mind us not making the rincon trade-yet won’t buy the cost argument for not making a trade? so you want us to make a trade just for the sake of saying so? i think everyone needs to look what movement was out there-and that was not much. there wasn’t ever a move for a position player that i said to myself-”damn, we should have had blank.” everyone needs to settle down.
Karl - Exactly!
Does anybody know if that Atkins trade was even close to happening?
Was us not wanting to trade Baker the reason for us not completing that trade?
if thats the case then i think TR dropped the ball on that one
lastly about the twins new ballpark-i’m pumped and i’m happy to pay 3 cents on every $20 to enjoy a brand new outdoor park. stop yelling about everything-i know you’ll be there crying when the dome goes down, right guys?
Karl- maybe but even a shot at the following Thirdbasemen could have been had for A pitcher not 2 or three. Which for what it’s worth is why I have been arguing in Terry Ryan’s favor. I was WRONG, the price was not too high… We were to cheap.
Garrett Atkins- Pick a pitcher at AAA Slowey,Blackburn etc.
Wiggington- Rincon & a pitcher or pick a AAA pitcher
Wilson Betemit- AGAIN pick a AAA pitcher
Big difference makers NO BIG UPGRADES FROM PUNTO YES!!!
The Castillo deal means this, not only will the front office not SPEND money on trying to win, they are hedging their bets because they think this team is flat out not good enough. What a joke! I would not sign if I was Hunter… Then comes the domino effect. They better cover their tail and negotiate with Torii before this season ends. He’s “the face” of the organization- make an exception to your stupid rule!
Panic Clowns- You aren’t going to get Aitkins or Betemit for what you listed above.
Great… yet another “bitch and whine” thread. I’m really not sure why Joe and LaVelle even bother starting new topics.
P.S. If 1.92 million dollars is the difference in signing ANY major free agent I’ll eat my hat & one that fits Patrick Reusse’s big MELLON. I am done defending Ryan for this season atleast, he has failed this year. That 1.92 will go to signing Rick Reed to pitch for the 1st 2 months of the season next year before one of our 15 starting AAA pitchers are ready… UUUUGGGHHHH!!!!
As long as somebody can continue to hit at the top of the order, I’d love to see Casilla stay in the 9 slot for as long as possible.
MAYBE, the others went for less than that so take him off the list then…still upgrades
JimCrikket- It is getting old, isn’t it?
Another ball lost in the lights.
**disclaimer** I’m having a meltdown today,just frustrated because I think they should have made a decision one way or the other, stayed pat or sold the farm. I have defended Terry Ryan SOLIDLY for months but i think viewing this season alone he has failed. Overall I love the guy and think he’s great. This season alone he has swung and missed a lot. That’s all
If people want to complain about the game and how poor some guys are playing, then so be it, but there isn’t much we can do about the trading anymore since the deadline is over now.
oh lew…
I wonder that if Scott Baker had pitched maybe a little worse last night, there would have been a trade involving him. Since he did pitch so well, TR may have been more cautious of giving him up. Anyone agree?
Austin. No. It was “getting” old 4 hours ago.
Nico- that wasn’t on Lew, that was on JB! Nice Strike em out, throw em out DP to end the inning.
I don’t think anybody is naive enough to make a trade or not make a trade based on one outing by a pitcher.
Texas jumps out to a slim 1-0 lead in the top of the 5th in Cleveland on a Nelson Cruz solo shot.
typing ahead of myself, I meant not trade Castillo & stay pat, make a deal for a thirdbaseman or COMPLETELY dismantle & trade hunter. This seems like a hybrid of the worst kind. I’m gonna take a cold shower and get ready ti WILL us to a pennant ( :
Austin, it sure looked like lew called off jason or at least said something like “ER, WHERE IS THE BALL JASON, I CANNOT SEE IT?” :S
Thatta way to stay hot Tyner!
Nico- To me it looked like neither of them had a clue as to where the ball was at.
Tyner en fuego!
So if Bartlett had gotten conked on the head and knocked out what would that have done for team morale…? uffda.
man tyners bat must be burning
Tough to get an out recorded when you were up in the count at one time 3-0.
yowser, he doesnt do it very often but i like how fast bartlett can open up to pull one down the line
Gload lost that one for a second but was able to pick it up before it was too late.
Nice quick 2nd for Chief!
nice work, chief!
Nice Bomb by Hunter! Thatta Boy!
Woohoo!!!!
22! KEEP TORII!!
Rangers take a 3-0 lead on a bases loaded error by Casey Blake.
Nice, thatta boy Lew! Cirillo, you got lucky but we will take it.
maybe Cirillo should consider a career in the MLS?
Let’s get one more at least here boys!
leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew!
Well this inning hasn’t exactly been pretty, but we will take it!
Who is this aggressive team that has replaced the Twins?
oh boy oh boy oh boy
i think we just used up all the luck for the next 2 days
casilla
just like castillo used to do
It’s good to see the guys being aggressive tonight.
Nico- There is another nice swing where JB turned on the ball. We caught a break that the ball didn’t bounce over the fence.
see? thats such an awesome swing by JB
that noise you hear is the twins tightening the screws in the wild card race..
btw, anyone remember when we had our last double-steal? it mustve been a while i havent seen one since may i think
Nice inning by the boys!
Silva is in unchartered territory tonight with a 4 run lead.
Well you knew a gopher ball was going to come at some point. Thankfully it was a solo shot.
wow the twins seem to be suffering from being depressed and upset about the castillo trade. hunter is playing uninspired…looks like he does not want to be a twin anymore….santana can be seen cheering everyone on and laughing in the dugout…he too can’t wait to go….morneau is uninspired after his game last night….just maybe t.r. knows what he is doing….and everyone seems to forget that u can still make trades for the whole month of august….all you fair weathered myopic fans calling for pohlad to sell and calling for ryans head…maybe just maybe one of the best general managers in baseball knows much more than any of you self titled experts do….SEEMS TO BE THEY ARE PLAYING MUCH MORE HARDER AND PLAYING WITH AN EDGE THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN IN A LONG TIME
Glenn- I take it you mean those guys are playing inspired baseball, not uninspired?
Red Dogg gunnin’ them down t’night!
Maybe Terry Ryan is a genius. Someone sure lit a fire under these guys.
The Tribe closes their deficit tonight to 3-1 as Ryan Garko hits a solo shot in the bottom of the 7th.
AUSTIN - i was being sarcastic…..
Wow, helluva catch by DeJesus. Robbed Hunter of his 2nd homer of the night.
Glenn,
you have to admitt that with the way our pitchers have pitched of late it would have help to add another hitter, it will be a little hard now that a player has to clear waivers.
should say a little harder not hard. i know it can be done and maybe that has been TR’s plan, I just wish he would have gotten a bat the easier way.
David, it might be somewhat hard but it can still be done.
couple weeks from now, maybe a couple more teams will have dropped further out of contention and be more willing to deal. who knows.
How long is it gonna take them to learn not to run on Red Dog?
dave - remember don baylor? gammons has a great piece on how often times its much easier to complete an august trade then a deadline trade….
Well JimCrikket, it doesn’t quit work like that. From here on out any player has to clear waivers in order to get traded.
Glenn, I figured you were being sarcastic, but I feel it’s necessary to point out that we can’t hear your tone of voice, so sarcasm is very easy to miss.
Anyway, go Twins! This is the way I wish we’d been playing all year.
seems to me silva has lost his slot….watch out…get ready for a quick hook i hope and get matt up asap?
Sean- Exactly, it isn’t always the easiest to tell if somebody is being sarcastic over the internet or not.
and yet every year there are a few players who clear waivers and get traded
thank god the royals are making these royal blunders or it could be tied up
yeah, austin, Im aware of how waiver deals work. Point is simply that right now too many teams still think they’re in the playoff hunt. A couple weeks form now, more may have dropped out and they’ll be more likely to be receptive to dumping a salary. The higher salaried guys are pretty easy to get through waivers.
austin gammons has a great piece on how often times it is EASIER to complete an after dead line trade then before the dead line….
of course that can also work the other way… if the Twins drop a few games, Torii could probably be slipped past waivers and dealt yet, too.
Lew with a couple hits, although he needs to pick up Ullger, cause he coulda had a triple.
“RyanW-when you say “we” don’t buy the cost argument-who are you talking about? it seems to me that your going against yourself by saying you don’t mind us not making the rincon trade-yet won’t buy the cost argument for not making a trade? so you want us to make a trade just for the sake of saying so?”
When did I say anything about a trade?
I was speaking only about signing our talent that we have developed. We have no excuse to not hold on to our talent. But some on here want to continue the myth that we are a small market team and we cant “afford” Hunter and Santana. That is garbage.
bert said it best…the game today is a lot different - these trades are part of the game…..no matter who it is…
glenn, my original reaction to that comment was that I know it isn’t always the easiest, but it still can be done.
Nice night Casilla! Welcome back… please do everything you can to keep Punto on the bench.
Austin I will cheer the Twins on, but I sure as heck don’t have to forgive, or forget what Terry Ryan, Carl Pohlad, or Kevin McChump and Glen Taylor.
I kept my tickets even after the Joe Smith fiascal, and I kept my tickets after the terrible trade with Boston the first time.
Taylor will never see my money again, and I still think since this is about baseball (though the Garnett deal and all things Timberwolves have my blood boiling as a franchise long fan has my main attention)…
And even if the Twins win another 10 games in a row, and bring it to within 2-3 games… unless the Twins win the world series this year Terry Ryan failed this team by not adding a bat, or two, or three.
Bartlett is on fire.
boy there is no way castilla can replace castillo….(sarcaism)
oops, I had to edit that top comment, and I removed more than just the 15 consecutive swear words… suffice it to say, for the lousy job they’ve done.
Wow - I hope we don’t use all our hits in one night.
Anybody know how/if De La Rosa pitched well against the Twins earlier this year?
RyanW, I think you are going to have to hide the lineup card from Gardy to keep Punto out of the lineup, but I’m glad Casilla is playing well so far tonight. Hopefully he keeps it up.
BC, you will be the same person that in 3 years down the road when the Wolves resemble the Chicago Bulls, you’ll be hopping back on the bandwagon and getting season tickets again. You are a fairweather fan in every sense of the word!
Glenn… sample size.
I like Casilla, but lets not get ahead of ourselves.
MF, 8 innings earlier this year, beat the Twins 3-1
mf, yeah De La Rosa gave up 1 unearned run to us in April earlier this year.
bc - maybe the twins would have not won 10 in a row if they had castillo….they win tonight they will be 3-0 with him not in the line up…
Wow! I was going to register my disappointment in not getting a 3rd baseman for the future but the natives appear restless tonight. It seems that unless you agree with TR’s only move then you get ripped on. Oh well. All any of us has is an opinion anyway. We have no real voice. I am looking ahead to 2008 and am still wondering what TR’s plan for 3rd is?
It doesn’t matter if Casilla or Ford or Tyner have great games tonight, tomorrow, Gardenhire will feel he has to play RONDL, Punto and maybe even LROD. That is why no one can stay consistent.
he shut out the twins 3-0 beating chief (delarussa went 8 innings)
RyanW - I agree with your sample size comment on Casilla.
glenn- like we have said on here before yo posted, it was 3-1 in De La Rosa’s last outing and he didn’t beat Chief. He beat Ortiz.
dont know about u guys i feel much more comfortable if the cheif is giving up ground outs instead of fly balls…i cringe on every pitch when it is a fly ball
u r correct AUSTIN my bad
Well dana, to defend TR (which, by the way I usually do- today has been different) it may have been hard to trade for a AAA 3b prospect with better stats than Buscher. Maybe we need to give him a shot. Just because he isnt heralded prospect dosent mean he cant play. We would all take Casey Blake back… maybe even Mike Lamb.
s’ok dana… there’s no shortage of blog threads full of bitching today… you should have no problem finding like minds.
i am looking forward to tomorrow i will be a walking scorer t the bridgestone invitational at firestone….maybe i will get lucky and draw tigers group one day
Jim your bitching about our bitching is getting just as old.
I could barely hear you through that giant We’re #1 foam finger.
boy bartlett if he ever becomes consistent and hit 300 and make all the plays he could play for 10 years
What is wrong with bitching a little? Especially after a frustrating day like today. It’s better than getting drunk and kicking the dog; and I doubt that anyone associated with the Twins lose any sleep over what we write.
RyanW- No actually Jim has a point. Alright, the trade deadline came and went. Complain, whine, and cry for 3 hours afterwards. Once the game starts tonight, get over it and move on.
Besides, we spend a lot of money on this team (or at least I do… season tickets).
I think it is line to question the direction of the team on days like today.
pete- I don’t care if you get drunk and kick your dog. Just don’t train it to be in any dog fights or else you and Mr. Vick may want to have a talk.
i dont know who is closing but texas needs 3 outs in the bottom of the 9th against clveland rangers up 3-1
RyanW, they don’t seem to be doing too bad tonight. Also, if you have season tickets, why in the heck aren’t you attending?
Cleveland is losing 3-1 in the 9th. I’m glad we are not the White Sox the evil empire ( Yankee’s) have hit 7 HR to night and none by A-Rod.
lou may go yard
Austin…
All I heard was muff… muff …muff…
you must be hiding behind the same foam finger Jim has… or maybe your Joe Mauer side burns are muffling the sound…
Maybe the Castillo trade was enough to wake this team up, they sure have looked good for being so upset.
RyanW…the new Craig
glenn- CJ Wilson is closing tonight for Texas. He wrapped it up with a 1-2-3 9th and the Rangers beat the Tribe tonight 3-1. Hold onto this lead tonight boys and we can be within 5 of the wild card leader.
Dont worry about me, I am cheering the team on.
I have said little about the trade deadline other than we need to sign our talent. How is that being critical of our team?
Krissy- Thank you!
nice alex 2 4 3 run scored rbi nice line
I see, Jim, you are now setting the rules for what is said on here? I said I am DISAPPOINTED. Not that I am bitching, moaning, groaning, blaming TR or anyone else. I am a die hard fan and will be happy and disappointed when I feel like it. I have been one of those on here saying that the Twins are very close and not out of it. Now, because I am DISAPPOINTED that they weren’t able to swing a deal I am somehow less of a fan? How pathetic.
Don’t get me started on Vick. That whole family is messed up.
Castillo is 0-2 for the mets tonight.
I dont mind you noticing that finger Im holding up Ryan, as long as you make note of which finger is raised 
Krissy I wont take offense, but if you go back I battled with Craig my fair share of times…
RyanW- you have barely said little at all today. I don’t have a foam finger or homer hanky, but at the same point I understand what is best for this organization long-term and can respect that. You on the other hand seem to have yet to come to grips with it. Why don’t you just sell your season tickets for the rest of the season too?
Jim, I think I have an idea… lol
point well taken.
I’m starting to get more worried about the Yankees than Cleveland and the yanks just hit their 8th hr of the night against the White Sox….Ozzie should be putting on a good show for the media tonight.
i now reside in cleveland…and yes it sux…but i am a walking scorer at firestone golf club for the bridgestone invitational - maybe i will get lucky and draw tiger….regardless its always great walking inside the ropes with the pros
David, I agree the Bombers are the team that I am definitely most concerned about in the Wild Card race.
and for the record, I was disappointed that no deal was made today, too. I guess it’s just that after blowing off most of the afternoon at work and tracking several hundred messages on Joes/LaVelles blogs, my patience is worn a bit thin. No offense intended to anyone.
will be nice to follow the box score lines of castillo and castilla for the rest of the season
Jim blowing off work on the blogs was the best part of my day today!
do u run chief out for another inning or turn it over to neshak and joe?
The Chief works well with a 4-run cushion, nothing pretty but letting the defense make plays behind him. With Bonser and Johan throwing Wed/Thur, a sweep is reachable.
glenn- I would say send Silva back out there because at worst it is going to be a 4 run game.
Blowing off steam on the blogs is what I am trying to do while stuck in a Canadian hotel.
90 pitches. I probably send him out to start and try to get an out or two anyway… no off days coming up so no reason to tax the pen prematurely. Short leash tho.
ah.. well in that case, dana… you’re entitled. go for it 
I’d say send him back out for the top of the 8th and if 2 guys get on, then give him the hook.
Austin’s view on what is best long term:
1. Letting the best all around CF over the past calandar year go (or trade him) because we cant afford him
2. Trading one of the few professional hitters on our team for a couple guys who have little chance of ever making it past AAA. (The catcher has no chance)
3. Blindly following along, buying into the myth that the Twins are a small market team.
4. Throwing in the towel on a season where we are 6 out of the WC in July.
5. Signaling to pending FA both on our team and others that when we are in it we will trade veteran starting players instead of making moves to improve our team.
6. Cheering for Lew Ford and Nick Punto hoping they turn it around and return to their .299 hay days…
I have never sold a ticket… I didnt have one for tonight… I dont have an 81 game package, does anyone?
I look at next year and feel that the Twins will need to add two and maybe 3 more players to be ready to roll. I am not sure what TR’s plan is but I don’t like th idea of going with someone totally learning on the job. This team is close (IMO) and need that good MLB-ready bat.
Hopefully Boof will step up and follow the lead of the other starters!
Does anyone have a good link to some good info on the 2 new monir leaguers?
ok so maybe having Silva go out for the 8th wasnt such a good idea.
LNP is IN the building!!
Punto looks like a redheaded stepchild…
Why do people insult people who like the team, calling them “homers” or talking about foam fingers, etc? I don’t see anything wrong with it.
Oh yeah, and I know all your responses. “I’m a huge fan and I always root for the Twins, I just feel like TR owes us a lot and should make the AJ for Nathan/Liriano/Boof trade (or better) every year, and when he doesn’t I absolutely have the right to complain and hate the team until it turns out that TR’s decisions were pretty good ones and the team is winning again, at which point I will come back and either say that I knew it all along or that TR didn’t do enough and we definitely would have won the world series if this was fantasy baseball and I was the GM and I traded all our good players for even better ones and raised the payroll by 20 million dollars.
…
Or something like that. I personally think that a well played and entertaining ball game is enough. Especially when we come out on top. Silva’s looked great tonight except for a couple of mistakes, and the team has helped him out in the field and at the plate. Go Twins!
Pete, no that is Lew Ford
ryan - your post reeks of ignorance…
twins have shown no signs of trading or letting torii hunter walk or be traded..
the twins are in fact a small market team
the twins have not thrown in the towel
the twins have not signaled to any player on the roster that while in the race they will trade vets - in fact the twins in the last 3 games when they hold on tonight will be 3-0 sans castillo
i cheer for every player to hit 299 not just the bench players
and i too have not sold a ticket didnt have one for tonight and since i no longer reside in minnesota i no longer have 2 season tickets….
but ryan i do enjoy sarcasim!
RyanW- Here is what I agree with:
1. If he is going to be completely outrageous with his contract demands. In that situations I’d rather see us go after somebody of lesser value like Aaron Rowand.
2. I don’t see any problem with the trade since Castillo is in my opinion an empty .304 hitter. By this I mean, he is primarily a singles hitter, no defensive range anymore, and he can’t steal a base on a consistent basis to save his life.
3. No I don’t buy into the fact that the Twins are a small market team. However they are only the 19th largest and I don’t consider that to be quite the middle of the pack.
4. Hell no, I have never ever said to throw in the towel. While I don’t want them to give up the future for a rental player, I also don’t want them to trade away a bunch of rental players on our team for prospects.
5. We did this to Castillo, not Hunter. Let’s take some votes as to who is more important to our team.
6. No I am the biggest hater of LNP on this blog. Lew Ford is good once every so often, but no the majority of the time.
RyanW says:
July 31st, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Besides, we spend a lot of money on this team (or at least I do… season tickets).
*Since that is your post from earlier tonight and you claim to not be an 81 game package holder, all that proves is that you are nothing but a liar.
Ryan W
No doubt about Hunter’s abilities but if you have to lose one of Hunter, Mauer, Morneau and Santana because you most likely can’t afford all four, Hunter is the guy that needs to go. At 32, he is nearing his peak. If he would sign a two year deal then you keep him. If he demands four or five, you will have to take the draft picks at this point.
I also think the “trading castilo is throwing in the towel” theory is a bit of an overstatement of Luis’ contribution.
My family has shared a full season ticket package since day 1 of the dome. I have lived through some bad baseball and would rather see this team make moves to remain consistent for years to come instead of going through the garbage they went through in the late 90’s. That is why I wish we would have traded Hunter or Nathan for a 3B or LF of the near future.
I think Ford belongs on the cover of MAD magazine.
BT, RyanW is the Craig of today.
And meanwhile, Cleveland LOST to a Texas without Tex (which would make them what, exactly), with Carmona pitching no less, and Detroit still has Sean Casey and a crappy bullpen.
The Twins remain a good team, and by no means out of reach of those two.
How about Batting Champ and MVP going 0-for-7 with a walk tonight? The rest of the squad has actually picked them up. And no Cuddyer, to boot.
Dana, Baseball Cube is a pretty decent place to do research on minor leaguers.
AUSTIN - ryan’s posts shows his IGNORANCE….now you validly point out his DISHONESTY….imagine that i am in shock that ryan is DISHONEST AND IGNORANT
Can someone define small market for me? We are closer to medium market than small market.
Well Nathan has looked somewhat shaky lately. At least we gave him a 3 run lead tonight.
IS 4 DAYS IN A ROW TOO MUCH FOR JOE?
glenn- Not when he is DHing tonight.
LARGE MARKET TEAMS
New York Yankees
Market size: 262
Markets: New York (#1/75%), Hartford (29/40)
Comments: No surprise here; having lived in Danbury CT for three years, I mark Hartford as being strictly AL territory, with a slight edge toward the Red Sox. The Yankees’ AA team in Norwich (and the Sox’ AA team moving from New Britain to Trenton) may change this.
New York Mets
Market size: 244
Markets: New York (1/75)
Los Angeles Dodgers
Market size: 175
Markets: Los Angeles (2/70), Albuquerque (51/10)
Comments: The NY teams really are the 800 pound gorillas. I was convinced that the Dodgers have a structural advantage over the Angels, partly due to length of history and partly to geography. Their AAA team is in Albuquerque, which is a bit closer than Edmonton.
Boston Red Sox
Market size: 155
Markets: Boston (6/100), Hartford (29/60), Providence (52/90)
Comments: Probably the first big surprise. There’s an advantage to being in the part of the country where everything is close together. As a Red Sox fan, I look at this and wonder how they could have made such a mess of their local TV for the last 4-5 years.
Anaheim Angels
Market size: 147
Markets: Los Angeles (2/60)
Philadelphia Phillies
Market size: 130
Markets: Philadelphia (4/100), Harrisburg/Lancaster (48/10)
Comments: The Phillies have the largest market of any team that doesn’t have to share it. That alone should keep anybodyfrom calling them anything other than a large market team. Should.
MEDIUM MARKET TEAMS
Baltimore Orioles
Market size: 124
Markets: Washington (8/75), Baltimore (26/100), Raleigh/Durham (31/10), Harrisburg/Lancaster (48/10)
Comments: I could see an argument for calling them large market, particularly if you think they should have more of the DC market.
Seattle Mariners
Market size: 112
Markets: Seattle/Tacoma (14/100), Portland (25/80)
Comments: They drop in ranking if you think they don’t deserve Portland, but not enough to become small market. Also, this doesn’t count Vancouver, primarily because I couldn’t find good market size numbers for anything in Canada.
Chicago Cubs
Market size: 105
Markets: Chicago (3/70)
Comments: I was convinced that the Cubs have some structural advantage over the White Sox.
Texas Rangers
Market size: 103
Markets: Dallas/Ft. Worth (7/100), San Antonio (39/20), Oklahoma City (47/10)
Atlanta Braves
Market size: 102
Markets: Atlanta (11/100), Charlotte (30/20), Raleigh (31/20), Greenville/Asheville (37/10)
Comments: Even before TBS, the Braves were a regional team. The biggest uncertainty in this list (in my mind) is how to account for TBS.
Toronto Blue Jays
Market size: 96
Markets: Toronto (10/100), Buffalo (44/30)
Florida Marlins
Market size: 95
Markets: Miami/Ft. Lauderdale (18/100), Orlando (24/25), West Palm Beach (46/50)
Detroit Tigers
Market size: 95
Markets: Detroit (9/100), Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo (40/20)
Comments: Smaller than Florida, but within rounding error.
Chicago White Sox
Market size: 90
Markets: Chicago (3/60)
Tampa Devil Rays
Market size: 87
Markets: Tampa/St. Petersburg (16/100), Orlando (24/35)
Houston Astros
Market size: 86
Markets: Houston (12/100), San Antonio (39/20)
Cleveland Indians
Market size: 84
Markets: Cleveland (15/100), Columbus (36/40)
San Francisco Giants
Market size: 84
Markets: San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose (5/60), Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto (22/30)
Montreal Expos
Market size: 78
Markets: Montreal (13/100)
SMALL MARKET TEAMS
Minnesota Twins
Market size: 69
Markets: Minneapolis/St. Paul (17/100)
Cincinatti Reds
Market size: 69
Markets: Indianapolis (27/20), Cincinatti (34/100), Columbus (36/30), Louisville (50/40)
Arizona Diamondbacks
Market size: 64
Markets: Phoenix (19/100)
Comments: Whoda thunk it. If you told your average baseball columnist that the D-Backs are a smaller market team than the Twins, do you think there’s any chance he’d believe you?
Oakland As
Market size: 61
Markets: San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose (5/40), Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto (22/30)
Colorado Rockies
Market size: 59
Markets: Denver (20/100)
Comments: Yeah, they’re the only team in Mountain time (till the D-Backs). Of course, prairie dogs don’t buy tickets. Or have cable.
St. Louis Cardinals
Market size: 56
Markets: St. Louis (23/100), Memphis (45/10)
Pittsburgh Pirates
Market size: 54
Markets: Pittsburgh (21/100)
San Diego Padres
Market size: 45
Markets: San Diego (28/100)
Comments: No attempt to account for Tiajuana.
Milwaukee Brewers
Market size: 39
Markets: Milwaukee (33/100)
Kansas City Royals
Market size: 38
Markets: Kansas City (35/100)
That’s it. Two real outliers at either end of the scale.
ODDITIES
Biggest market without a team: Washington (8)
Biggest markets really without a team: Sacramento (22), Orlando (24)
Markets with no claims: Nashville (32), Salt Lake City (38), Birmingham (41), Norfolk/Portsmouth/Newport News (42), New
Orleans (43), Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point (49)
Is it just me, or does Morneau’s bat look really slow tonight? And no, I’m not bashing, to me, he just looks slow.
it sounded slow on the radio, pete
nite, all. Play nice.
lol austin meant nathan
Way to pick up another W boys. Keep all these naysayers looking for something to talk about!
Go Oakland. Gotta love a good pitcher’s duel.
Thanks Chief>
I was upset earlier today thinking that we didn’t trade things to solve our 2008 3b and DH problems, but guess I’m not too worried now if we sign Hunter. I fully believe that both Casilla and Kubel can do well at 2b and LF, and now Punto actually strengthens the bench, as does Buscher even if he isn’t a regular in 2008. So you’re still at 2 holes IF you have Hunter back, which I assume we will. DH and 3b.
BUT even though we didn’t get something for Silva, you do still have a lot of trade chips. You still have Rincon, possibly Nathan if you want, plus still a lot of starters in all but 3 of (I’m saying 3 because we need 1 as insurance) Bonser/Baker/Slowey/Perkins/Blackburn/Duensing, with Swarzak/Sosa/Manship probably all coming on strong as well in early 2008. That actually is a lot of chips to deal for a 3b and a DH. Plus we probably will have SOME money to spend on those positions. My 2008 salary looking forward now?:
Bartlett-SS-$360 K
Mauer-C-$6.25 M
Cuddyer-RF-$6.5 M (my guess in arbitration or longterm deal–he makes $3.75 this year)
Morneau-$8.5 M (my guess in arbitration or longterm deal–he makes $4.5 this year)
Hunter-$15 M (my guess on a longterm contract average)
Kubel-$1.5 M (my guess on 1st year arbitration salary)
DH
3b
Casilla-2b-$330 K
Bench: Redmond-$1 M, Punto-$2.4 M, Tyner/McDonald-I’ll just say $1 M, Buscher-$330K, 1 more bench guy
Santana-$17 M (my guess on longterm deal is average of $18-19 M, but we will give him a raise on his 2008 $13.25 amount)
Garza-$330K
Liriano-$360K
Baker-$330K
Boof-$330K
Nathan-$6 M
Neshek-$360K
Guerrier-$750K (my guess in 1st year arbitration)
Rincon-$2.5 M (my guess in 3rd year arbitration)
Crain-$1.05 M
That gives us a total salary of $72.18 M, with a DH/3b/bench guy to fill. Assuming payroll reaches $80 M (I think it will as it reached almost $75 this year in the end) that leaves us $8 M to spend on DH/3b/bench guy. The bench guy costs as most $1.5 M or so, so $6.5 M to DH/3b and that’s IF Buscher definitely doesn’t hack it, AND a team WITH Rincon/Nathan/healthy raise to Santana.
I’d like to see us trade something to fill one of 3b/DH cheaply, sign a bench bat, and spend the other $6 M to solve the last one. That should be doable.
I’m a little more optimistic looking at it now.
Unfortunately Haren has give up 3 runs (2 earned) through 2 innings) and the Tigers lead the A’s 3-0.
My bad. I left Reyes off of that, so that’s $1 M less to spend. Still would leave $7 M for a DH/3b/cheap bench bat. Not too terrible.
maybe we don’t miss castillo that much? We will see when we play someone better tha KC, even though they have been tough on the rest of the central.
All they can do is keep plugging away. Maybe TR is giving Gardy the chance to play the old “they do not believe in us” card.
Dustin, minimum salary in 2008 is $390k, so there is a little adjustment to be made to your totals but not a ton. I don’t think we can continueto try to solve the 3B/DH issues with bargain players. They will need to spend $4-5M per position to solidify those spots. The payroll probably needs to $83-85M to keep this team together and improve at those two spots. We will see.
We’re gonna win Twins
We’re gonna score
We’re gonna win Twins
Watch those baseballs soar!
Knock out a home run
Shout a hip hurray!
Cheer on the Minnesota Twins today
Just thought the gloomy gus’s needed that today.
Lew Ford sucks.
Good night.
Come on guys, aren’t we all Twins fans?? There was obviously no deal out there worth making. Casilla isn’t a huge drop off from Castillo. Would you guys have been happy if we would have traded away the farm for a rent-a-player 3rd baseman that still wouldn’t have guaranteed us to make the playoffs? I like our chances now and I’m not willing to trade away prospects for a rent a player. I’m a die hard Twins fan; obviously most of you aren’t.
Really I was all for the Castillo trade, I was hoping they could get a bit more for him. But whatever I would have liked to see something else, but again whatever. I am comfortable with the team they have this year, and remember waiver trades are always available. in fact likely. just because this deadline passed, doesn’t mean nothing is going to happen. Players are still going to be very available.
Gosh, you would think everyone on this board hates the Twins or something. Meanwhile, Twins starters are pitching great and we’re winning, while Detroit and Cleveland are not.
For those who think this is a downgrade: Casilla had two hits and got to a ball in the hole that Castillo never even tried for. We can win with the guys we have. Start rooting for them or go home!
Who says we ain’t rooting for them, if we said nothing, that would validate your point. The fact is, they need some sticks, not everybody they face will be KC.
To Clarify, I am comfortable with how this year is going to play out…not necessarily the team itself. There are some big holes. I don’t think this is a team that is going to make it, but at least they will most likely keep it interesting.
remember Don Baylor was picked up August 31 in ‘87. There are still possible deals if the team is still in the race.
BT I agree. We cannot solve DH and 3rd base cheap. I really am at the point where I don’t think Hunter is a good fit. He’ll command too much money and ask for too long of a contract. I think there are option is the 8-10 million range at CF. Use that money to go after Lowell? I think he’d fit well. I’d rather have two polished players in Lowell and Byrnes/Rowand then Hunter and Punto or Buscher or whoever.
*sigh* I miss Batgirl’s blog.
HOLY MOLY Johan is mad. He sounds distraught in the interview with Joe C. Terry Ryan has officially pissed off the Golden Arm.
I really think i am done with this sport. It is so dissapointing to get through this much of the season hoping for a sensable trade, then to see this happen, I am let down and will not follow the team with the same enthusiasim. Might as well sell all the stars now.
BT, thanks for that. The minimum salary I grabbed from mlb4u.com was obviously off, but still that leaves my total payroll off by a max of $1 million TOTAL or so. So ya.
I agree that we need to get a solid guy at both, but I think we could do a trade for a cheap, younger guy at one (Gomes at DH would be great in 2008) and then pay at 3b or vice-versa. You’d have $6 million to play with for 1 position if you went that route, and with an $80 million payroll, which I expect.
Aloha Twins fans from Honolulu! I suffered many a losses with the Twinks through the lean 70’s and early 80’s but never have felt so desolate about the future of the team as today after watching the do nothing GM and owner stand by and waste this season because they couldn’t add a DH and 3B from the free agent pool or trade for them….it’s time to focus on the Vikings as this season is over…see Santana and Hunter comments…
Last Word:
We could have gotten the DH we need for around $5 million. But we ain’t got the cash.
Instead we need to save $2 million by getting rid of Castillo.
Just follow the money, and stop pretending there weren’t any good deals out there.
We need to keep Rondell, Lew, L-Rod and Kubel because it would cost too much to replace them.
See….I’m thinking TR would let go of a pitching prospect or two, but the player we’d get would take too much payroll $ to fund.
For the record, the Twins did not trade Castillo for Casilla. The Twins traded Castillo for two no names who are unlikely to be able to help the Twins in the near future. That is the issue that has the so-called naysayers’ blood boiling.
Even La Velle’s initial post painted a gloomy picture. Of course, I, like everyone else, want the Twins to win, but if this is just a cheerleaders’ blog only, then what’s the point of discussion? This is the place where anyone who wishes to discuss their opinions is allowed (and should be allowed to). Of course there are going to be disagreements, but that should lead to further discussions. Complaints are part of the discussion. There are very few blogs that don’t include quite a lot of complaining…that’s blogging.
(If you doubt it, try 10 minutes of blogging on Red Sox Nation. If you think people are complaining here…)
I really enjoy the “this season is over” comments when the team that has taken the field since the last two games of the Cleveland series in no way resembles the team prior to that. Someone give me the record since Luis was taken out of the lineup?
Skippy: What do the Sox have to complain about? Aren’t they a good bit ahead of the Yanks and currently the best team in AL (if not MLB?)
Skippy, the Twins did not trade Castillo for Casilla, but they did decide that they would not be significantly different without Castillo. Only one of the prospects we received has a legit chance. He was the Mets player of the year on his A ball team last year, so he may have a shot 3-5 years from now. That is probably better than most position players we have drafted in the past 3 or 4 years. I would rather get that as opposed to letting Luis go via free agency at season’s end. Casilla will not hit .300 like castillo was, but defensively he will have more range and be better on the bases. I think the move was a non-factor in the performance of this team.
Another thought on dustin’s post for next years payroll. If Hunter is in for $15M in 2008, they will not be able to afford Santana in 2009 and beyond. I say take Hunter’s $15M and the extra $8M and find 3 good players instead of 1 all-star and 2 long shots.
Glenn and Austin should stop giving each other reach-arounds and ripping off Krissy’s posts to read Joe C’s article this morning.
Just because you dont see trading a vet as throwing in the towel doesnt mean the players do not see it that way. Bye bye Santana.
Glenn, nowhere did I say I had an 81 game package… thus nowhere did I lie.
RyanW- Keep talking, because the more you talk the more ignorant you sound.
Whoever mentioned that RyanW was the new Craig hit it right on the head!
Austin-
Say something original please. This is twice you have repeated others on the same thread.
On July 31st, 2007 at 8:48 pm
Krissy said:
“RyanW…the new Craig”
Not even an hour later…
July 31st, 2007 at 9:14 pm
You say:
“BT, RyanW is the Craig of today.”
Later glenn says:
July 31st, 2007 at 9:16 pm
“ryan’s posts shows his IGNORANCE”
So shocking that today you can only come up with:
August 1st, 2007 at 12:09 pm
RyanW- Keep talking, because the more you talk the more ignorant you sound.
And I sound like Craig? Get your own posts and say something with some substance.
I dont take offense, considering where the insult is coming from. But those who want to be honest will go back and find the numerous times I battled with Craig on here to find that nothing I argue is in line with Craig’s “keep AAA pitching and rely on the piranna’s to score runs” argument.
Instead his argument sounds a lot like Austin and Glenn’s.
Enough of the McCarthyism already — name-calling, personal attacks, and propaganda-like calls for blind loyalty.
Gees…these players are not paid to open their stupid mouths. They are paid to hit, catch, and throw. That’s it…Santana is the best pitcher in baseball but goddamn shut your mouth. Ryan knows much more about the intricacies of this team than anybody playing…no matter how long they’ve been in the “system”. Cuddyer coming back to this lineup will be like adding another freaking bat…better than anything they could have gotten in a trade (although i liked the garrett atkins rumors…too bad)
and all you people saying Terry Ryan failed this year? F-off, you have NO clue whatsoever, fair weather fans…you’re nothing but fair weather fans.
What’s the big deal about Santana saying what he said. He’s POd because he thinks management made a mistake. He’s entitled to his opinion and the very fact that he’s the best pitcher in baseball means he can get away with expressing it to the media if he chooses. Santana doesn’t have to worry about anything beyond his next start. Ryan is looking to keep this team competitive for the next 4 or 5 years. If you don’t like that approach there are plenty of empty seats at Dolphins stadium. Go cheer for the Marlins, they’ve got 2 world championships too.
RyanW- At least I know I’m not the only one on here that thinks you sound an awful lot like Craig then.
I think an important question that should be debated is:
Why would any Twin take a hometown discount in the future?
Isn’t the point that the organization take some of the money they save for other players so that the overall team is better? It doesnt appear our organization does that, instead they seem too keep money and invest it in Hip Hop radio stations. r
Austin- say something original. Something that comes from your own brain and isnt an insult. Just try it, you might like it.
Have a nice day Craig!
Mike - I am not a fair weather fand and I do think TR failed. I do not think he has improved this ball club over last year’s and that is his job. It doesn’t matter if he knows all the inticracies if he is not willing to do anything. Also, because someone disagrees with you is no reason to tell them what you said. Grow up!
Ohh, so close Austin, the first four words (while cliche) seemed to qualify, but needless to say your post failed on two critera:
1. It was an insult
2. It was not original, instead you got lazy and ripped off something from another person’s post. You cant even come up with your own insults.
Not only do you lack creativity, but it appears respect and self confidence as well.
From now on, please stick to debating baseball and twins related issues. No one wants to read your pathetic attempts at telling other people’s jokes.
La Velle needs to get some babysitters for his comments section.
Detroit lost again today to Oakland 3-2.
Can I say that I absolutely hate the “well, (insert injured player here) is set to come back, so that’ll be like adding another bat” argument? Please… We were just as inconsistent without him. I think Terry Ryan absolutely failed. According to what he’s said this year, he’s failed. He’s talked about a need to add a bat, and what does he do? Naturally, he trades the guy with the highest BA on the team. That’s a failure to meet an objective, if ever there was one.
And Johan can say whatever he wants. Just because he makes 12 mil a year robs him of his right air his opinions. This guy wants to win a World Series, which is the ultimate objective each season, if I’m not mistaken. Should we fault him for getting all up in arms because he wants to win? Would we rather he say something like “Hey, I couldn’t care less, I’ll just make my 12 mil and go back to Venezuela in the off season and do it again next year.”
I like that Gardy has been fired up lately… seems like he’d been coddling the players a little too much. I expected him to demand a lot more out of his players, and I’m glad he woke them up in Cleveland.
For the last 5 years Ryan has been talking about the future… So at what point does that future become the present? I’m glad Johan had the balls to say something about it.
Texas is out to an early 3-0 lead over the Tribe going into the bottom of the 1st.
People, the 35W bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed. On Ch 5 it looks like the Oakland earthquake. This is near the Dome
the game should be postponed. Our prayers are with you twins fans.
Combien il coûte, pour to développer drapeau South ton blog?
How add your site to digg?
How add your site to reddit?
