MLB News

by **Gopherguy05** » Thu 4/05/12 3:03 pm

Jose Valverde who was 49-49 last season in save attempts blows his first one on opening day. Verlander goes 8 shutout innings, and Valverde blows it in the 9th. Tigers and Red Sox tied 2-2 going into the bottom of the 9th. :good2:

by **Gopherguy05** » Thu 4/05/12 4:21 pm

And the Tigers walk off the Sox in the bottom of the 9th to give Valverde the win with a single down the line past a diving Nicky Punto...

by **Iceburg** » Thu 4/05/12 5:43 pm

7
Thanks for posting, that was fun.

by **dxmnkd316** » Tue 4/10/12 10:39 pm

hmm....

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Wed 4/11/12 3:27 pm

Wow the Tigers have been involved in some pretty crazy games to start the season so far. Verlander took a 1 hit shutout into the 9th today only to see the Rays string together three singles, a couples walks and 4 runs to beat the Tigers 4 - 2.

by **sunbone** » Wed 4/11/12 3:36 pm

Bushwood Gopher wrote:Wow the Tigers have been involved in some pretty crazy games to start the season so far. Verlander took a 1 hit shutout into the 9th today only to see the Rays string together three singles, a couples walks and 4 runs to beat the Tigers 4 - 2.

I was assuming that Delmon must have horriibly misplayed a ball in left for the Rays to come back like that but I see he didn't play today.

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Wed 4/11/12 4:16 pm

sunbone wrote:
Bushwood Gopher wrote:Wow the Tigers have been involved in some pretty crazy games to start the season so far. Verlander took a 1 hit shutout into the 9th today only to see the Rays string together three singles, a couples walks and 4 runs to beat the Tigers 4 - 2.

I was assuming that Delmon must have horriibly misplayed a ball in left for the Rays to come back like that but I see he didn't play today.

Ha. Don't worry about Delmon. They love him over in Detroit. Verlander was raving about him in Christensen's article from Sunday. Apparently Verlander isn't aware of dx's graphs showing that he can't hit.... :wink:

by **sunbone** » Wed 4/11/12 4:41 pm

Bushwood Gopher wrote:
sunbone wrote:
Bushwood Gopher wrote:Wow the Tigers have been involved in some pretty crazy games to start the season so far. Verlander took a 1 hit shutout into the 9th today only to see the Rays string together three singles, a couples walks and 4 runs to beat the Tigers 4 - 2.

I was assuming that Delmon must have horriibly misplayed a ball in left for the Rays to come back like that but I see he didn't play today.

Ha. Don't worry about Delmon. They love him over in Detroit. Verlander was raving about him in Christensen's article from Sunday. Apparently Verlander isn't aware of dx's graphs showing that he can't hit....

I'm not worried about Delmon. He'll wear out his welcome in Detroit soon enough. And he better get it going a little if you are going to win our bet. What was it again? I think it was he either needs to win the triple crown or a gold glove for you to win the bet. That is how I remember it.

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Wed 4/11/12 4:49 pm

sunbone wrote:
Bushwood Gopher wrote:
sunbone wrote:
Bushwood Gopher wrote:Wow the Tigers have been involved in some pretty crazy games to start the season so far. Verlander took a 1 hit shutout into the 9th today only to see the Rays string together three singles, a couples walks and 4 runs to beat the Tigers 4 - 2.

I was assuming that Delmon must have horriibly misplayed a ball in left for the Rays to come back like that but I see he didn't play today.

Ha. Don't worry about Delmon. They love him over in Detroit. Verlander was raving about him in Christensen's article from Sunday. Apparently Verlander isn't aware of dx's graphs showing that he can't hit....

I'm not worried about Delmon. He'll wear out his welcome in Detroit soon enough. And he better get it going a little if you are going to win our bet. What was it again? I think it was he either needs to win the triple crown or a gold glove for you to win the bet. That is how I remember it.

Lol. I think it was .300/20/100 and I need 2/3 to win. We never declared the stakes though. $20 Caribou gift card? That worked for Scooby and me once upon a time. :wink:

by **sunbone** » Wed 4/11/12 4:54 pm

Bushwood Gopher wrote: Lol. I think it was .300/20/100 and I need 2/3 to win. We never declared the stakes though. $20 Caribou gift card? That worked for Scooby and me once upon a time.

I'll have to check the archives. Could have sworn it was .300/30/100, 2 of 3. How about if I win I get the $20 card, if you win I send you an autographed Ron Gardenhire rookie card?

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Wed 4/11/12 5:06 pm

sunbone wrote:
Bushwood Gopher wrote: Lol. I think it was .300/20/100 and I need 2/3 to win. We never declared the stakes though. $20 Caribou gift card? That worked for Scooby and me once upon a time.

I'll have to check the archives. Could have sworn it was .300/30/100, 2 of 3. How about if I win I get the $20 card, if you win I send you an autographed Ron Gardenhire rookie card?

I think most would dispute that as an equal offer of FMV. :wink:

We gotta find that bet about Delmon. I can't find it at the moment.

Ok I found it--it was on page 6 of the 2011 Twins Offseason Gentlemen We Can Rebuild Them thread. The bet was .290/25/100 and any two of the three takes it.

by **sunbone** » Thu 4/12/12 9:29 am

Bushwood Gopher wrote:
sunbone wrote:
Bushwood Gopher wrote: Lol. I think it was .300/20/100 and I need 2/3 to win. We never declared the stakes though. $20 Caribou gift card? That worked for Scooby and me once upon a time.

I'll have to check the archives. Could have sworn it was .300/30/100, 2 of 3. How about if I win I get the $20 card, if you win I send you an autographed Ron Gardenhire rookie card?

I think most would dispute that as an equal offer of FMV.

We gotta find that bet about Delmon. I can't find it at the moment.

Ok I found it--it was on page 6 of the 2011 Twins Offseason Gentlemen We Can Rebuild Them thread. The bet was .290/25/100 and any two of the three takes it.

You may be right. $1.25 on e-bay. Although it isn't autographed. But I'm sure the autograph would decrease the value for you. Bet sounds right. Good luck!

by **rowshkex** » Fri 4/13/12 5:48 pm

Well, this really isn't news, but...

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/147381715.html

by **Tee09** » Fri 4/13/12 5:49 pm

rowshkex wrote:Well, this really isn't news, but...

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/147381715.html

Is it safe to click on strib stuff yet?

by **Beauner** » Fri 4/13/12 9:12 pm

rowshkex wrote:Well, this really isn't news, but...

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/147381715.html

What that doesn't show is that he also drove in the only 2 Tiger runs of the game with a HR. :roll:

by **h8red** » Mon 4/16/12 1:02 pm

Bushwood Gopher wrote:
sunbone wrote:
Bushwood Gopher wrote:
sunbone wrote:
Bushwood Gopher wrote:Wow the Tigers have been involved in some pretty crazy games to start the season so far. Verlander took a 1 hit shutout into the 9th today only to see the Rays string together three singles, a couples walks and 4 runs to beat the Tigers 4 - 2.

I was assuming that Delmon must have horriibly misplayed a ball in left for the Rays to come back like that but I see he didn't play today.

Ha. Don't worry about Delmon. They love him over in Detroit. Verlander was raving about him in Christensen's article from Sunday. Apparently Verlander isn't aware of dx's graphs showing that he can't hit....

I'm not worried about Delmon. He'll wear out his welcome in Detroit soon enough. And he better get it going a little if you are going to win our bet. What was it again? I think it was he either needs to win the triple crown or a gold glove for you to win the bet. That is how I remember it.

Lol. I think it was .300/20/100 and I need 2/3 to win. We never declared the stakes though. $20 Caribou gift card? That worked for Scooby and me once upon a time.

Here's the missed catch from Delmon "Rawlings" Young
http://minnesporta.com/2012/04/13/picture-of-the-day-delmon-youngs-360-spin-a-rama-missed-catch/

by **dxmnkd316** » Tue 4/17/12 12:48 am

Best left fielder in the game.

by **h8red** » Tue 4/17/12 11:14 am

dxmnkd316 wrote:Best left fielder in the game.

You mean the best at being the most adventerous left fielder in the game. :good2:

by **Chris Eckes** » Tue 4/17/12 11:45 am

dxmnkd316 wrote:Best left fielder in the game.

Well... if the Tigers were playing the Twins Delmon likely would have been the best left fielder in THAT game

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Tue 4/17/12 12:16 pm

Tom Verducci of SI knocks it out of the park re: closers.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/w ... =hp_t11_a0

by **sunbone** » Tue 4/17/12 12:53 pm

The X Factor wrote:
dxmnkd316 wrote:Best left fielder in the game.

Well... if the Tigers were playing the Twins Delmon likely would have been the best left fielder in THAT game

No way. Willingham catches everything. Within 3 feet of where he is standing.

by **davescharf** » Tue 4/17/12 12:56 pm

Did anyone else see this? I know Ankiel was once a pitcher, but talk about a cannon. :shock:

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?conte ... b_wasmlb_1

by **Snowcool08** » Tue 4/17/12 3:18 pm

Too bad Ankiel couldn't throw near the catcher when he was pitching. He does have a hell of an arm though. I like this video from a couple of years ago.

by **psych** » Tue 4/17/12 4:05 pm

Snowcool08 wrote:Too bad Ankiel couldn't throw near the catcher when he was pitching. He does have a hell of an arm though. I like this video from a couple of years ago.

Second one the runner was safe, but I would have called him out too just by the sheer ridiculousness of that throw.

by **gopherguy13** » Sat 4/21/12 5:19 pm

Phillip Humber (CWS) has a perfect game through 8 innings. Looks like FOX will be broadcasting the last inning

edit: Strikeout. 2 outs away.

1 out away!

by **dxmnkd316** » Sat 4/21/12 5:21 pm

Hooooooly sheeet

by **dxmnkd316** » Sat 4/21/12 5:23 pm

If I'm Alex Rios, I double hand that catch 100 times out of 100. That was a very risky way to preserve 8 1/3 perfect innings.

by **gopherguy13** » Sat 4/21/12 5:26 pm

Perfect game!!!

by **dxmnkd316** » Sat 4/21/12 5:26 pm

Wow! That was awesome!!!!

by **frozen4champs** » Sat 4/21/12 5:31 pm

gopherguy13 wrote:Phillip Humber (CWS) has a perfect game through 8 innings. Looks like FOX will be broadcasting the last inning

edit: Strikeout. 2 outs away.

1 out away!

I think he has developed fine since he left the Twins.

by **gopherguy13** » Sat 4/21/12 5:35 pm

by **dxmnkd316** » Sat 4/21/12 5:35 pm

frozen4champs wrote:
gopherguy13 wrote:Phillip Humber (CWS) has a perfect game through 8 innings. Looks like FOX will be broadcasting the last inning

edit: Strikeout. 2 outs away.

1 out away!

I think he has developed fine since he left the Twins.

A perfect game means (almost) nothing. I mean, Dallas Braden, that's a household name, right?

by **frozen4champs** » Sat 4/21/12 5:43 pm

dxmnkd316 wrote:
frozen4champs wrote:
gopherguy13 wrote:Phillip Humber (CWS) has a perfect game through 8 innings. Looks like FOX will be broadcasting the last inning

edit: Strikeout. 2 outs away.

1 out away!

I think he has developed fine since he left the Twins.

A perfect game means (almost) nothing. I mean, Dallas Braden, that's a household name, right?

Typical Twins carma. The Twins get him in the Santana trade. He pitches a handful of games for Mn, then a couple of years later is a decent pitcher. Can't blame John Hill ( Dick Such ) on that one either

by **Kelor** » Sat 4/21/12 7:34 pm

Perfect Game!!

by **Gopherguy05** » Sat 4/21/12 11:17 pm

Humber owes Jim Joyce for that perfect game. That was ball 4 to the last batter, but I guarantee that Ump was saying in his head, if its even remotely close I'm calling it strike 3 and not being Joyced.....

by **gopherguy13** » Sat 4/21/12 11:35 pm

Gopherguy05 wrote:Humber owes Jim Joyce for that perfect game. That was ball 4 to the last batter, but I guarantee that Ump was saying in his head, if its even remotely close I'm calling it strike 3 and not being Joyced.....

Certainly hope he wasn't thinking that.

These umps are DAMN good. Should be able to make the right call regardless of the situation.

Didn't see any replay, just saw the live play once, but it didn't look like a terrible call. And the ump didn't hesitate even for a half second to think about it. He called it right away.

by **streakygopher** » Sun 4/22/12 12:55 am

I don't blame the ump even a little for making a decisive call on what appeared to be a swing. Humber was fortunate the guy went fishing for it, because it was not even close to the strike zone....also a little luck that a$$clown found the handle on the ball to make the throw at first.

by **dxmnkd316** » Sun 4/22/12 10:04 am

streakygopher wrote:I don't blame the ump even a little for making a decisive call on what appeared to be a swing. Humber was fortunate the guy went fishing for it, because it was not even close to the strike zone....also a little luck that a$$clown found the handle on the ball to make the throw at first.

I completely agree. In that situation, 3-2, 2 outs, top of the 9th, perfect game intact, and you even so much as flinch at that ball you damn well better commit. If that ball is even close to the strike zone he's going to call it. If you so much as offer at it, he'll call a strike.

by **rowshkex** » Sun 4/22/12 12:12 pm

dxmnkd316 wrote:
streakygopher wrote:I don't blame the ump even a little for making a decisive call on what appeared to be a swing. Humber was fortunate the guy went fishing for it, because it was not even close to the strike zone....also a little luck that a$$clown found the handle on the ball to make the throw at first.

I completely agree. In that situation, 3-2, 2 outs, top of the 9th, perfect game intact, and you even so much as flinch at that ball you damn well better commit. If that ball is even close to the strike zone he's going to call it. If you so much as offer at it, he'll call a strike.

Unfortunately.

by **dryfly** » Tue 4/24/12 8:30 pm

Anyone paying attention to KC? This is what epic fail looks like ... 0-10 at home so far this season with an 11 game losing streak. Only 3 wins so far against 13 losses and they are losing again tonight.

Yikes.

by **JWG** » Tue 4/24/12 8:33 pm

dryfly wrote:Anyone paying attention to KC? This is what epic fail looks like ... 0-10 at home so far this season with an 11 game losing streak. Only 3 wins so far against 13 losses and they are losing again tonight.

Yikes.

They'll sweep the Twins this weekend.

by **sunbone** » Fri 4/27/12 9:44 am

Doesn't look like Delmon has changed a whole lot.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/eye-on-baseball/18857328/report-delmon-young-arrested-for-assault

by **dryfly** » Fri 4/27/12 10:43 am

sunbone wrote:Doesn't look like Delmon has changed a whole lot.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/eye-on-baseball/18857328/report-delmon-young-arrested-for-assault

From the linkie...

Further, a New York Post report states that Young was "highly intoxicated" and had to go to the hospital to sober up before being moved to the jail.

I really wish they'd post the blood alcohol on these kinds of things - give the kids something to shoot for when emulating their idols.

"Damn Bobby - you are already 75% of the way to a FULL DELMOND! Have another Morgan..."

[/snark]

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Fri 4/27/12 11:36 am

sunbone wrote:Doesn't look like Delmon has changed a whole lot.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/eye-on-baseball/18857328/report-delmon-young-arrested-for-assault

What an idiot. This should at least give him some street cred with Miggy Cabrera...

by **h8red** » Fri 4/27/12 11:45 am

dryfly wrote:Anyone paying attention to KC? This is what epic fail looks like ... 0-10 at home so far this season with an 11 game losing streak. Only 3 wins so far against 13 losses and they are losing again tonight.

Yikes.

Did anyone else see the video/image of the guy at KC sitting behind the plate reading a book?
Classic!

by **sunbone** » Fri 4/27/12 11:49 am

Bushwood Gopher wrote:
sunbone wrote:Doesn't look like Delmon has changed a whole lot.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/eye-on-baseball/18857328/report-delmon-young-arrested-for-assault

What an idiot. This should at least give him some street cred with Miggy Cabrera...

And Mel Gibson.

by **h8red** » Fri 4/27/12 12:20 pm

psych wrote:
Snowcool08 wrote:Too bad Ankiel couldn't throw near the catcher when he was pitching. He does have a hell of an arm though. I like this video from a couple of years ago.

Second one the runner was safe, but I would have called him out too just by the sheer ridiculousness of that throw.

NICE! Not as good as Bo Jackson's throw-out of Harold Reynolds.

This is the only video I found of it, you have to watch about a minute in to see it.
http://soxanddawgs.com/harold-reynolds-finally-admits-he-was-out.html

by **Zwak** » Wed 5/02/12 9:47 pm

Umpire makes one of the worst calls ever. Batter was called out.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/ ... y/related/

by **gopherguy13** » Sat 5/05/12 3:01 am

Albert Pujols....

by **JWG** » Sat 5/05/12 8:57 am

Zwak wrote:Umpire makes one of the worst calls ever. Batter was called out.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/ ... y/related/

He's in the neighborhood... I mean same zip code for sure.

by **trixR4kids** » Sat 5/05/12 1:42 pm

gopherguy13 wrote:Albert Pujols....

by **dxmnkd316** » Sat 5/05/12 2:17 pm

oh snap. That's brilliant on so many levels

by **Hobey Baker** » Sun 5/06/12 12:23 am

Mariano blows out his knee shagging fly balls ?? He needs to end his career a better way. Hopefully he comes back for one more year.

by **gopherguy13** » Sun 5/06/12 1:44 am

trixR4kids wrote:
gopherguy13 wrote:Albert Pujols....

That is awesome.

by **Armadillo** » Sun 5/06/12 7:25 pm

I just saw Bryce Harper steal home on a pickoff throw to first. Sweet Jesus in a hot dog bun...

by **JWG** » Fri 6/01/12 9:04 pm

Man, I'm sure glad we got rid of that Johan Santana guy... he sucks and would be detriment to our pitching staff.

by **JWG** » Fri 6/01/12 9:12 pm

JWG wrote:Man, I'm sure glad we got rid of that Johan Santana guy... he sucks and would be detriment to our pitching staff.

Edit:
I guess I should explain for those who's interwebs search engine is broken. On a night when Carl "MN's top Ace" Pavano gave up 7 runs on 2 HRs, Johan pitches the first no hitter in Mets history. No worries, we have Liriano back in the rotation.

by **sec 16 row16 seat 16 17** » Fri 6/01/12 9:13 pm

Rick anderson would have ruined Santana.

by **dxmnkd316** » Fri 6/01/12 9:13 pm

JWG wrote:Man, I'm sure glad we got rid of that Johan Santana guy... he sucks and would be detriment to our pitching staff.

lol. I sure hope that was a heaping portion of sarcasm there...

by **JWG** » Fri 6/01/12 9:19 pm

dxmnkd316 wrote:
JWG wrote:Man, I'm sure glad we got rid of that Johan Santana guy... he sucks and would be detriment to our pitching staff.

lol. I sure hope that was a heaping portion of sarcasm there...

It's ridiculous to me how good "former Twins" are.

by **dxmnkd316** » Fri 6/01/12 9:20 pm

JWG wrote:
dxmnkd316 wrote:
JWG wrote:Man, I'm sure glad we got rid of that Johan Santana guy... he sucks and would be detriment to our pitching staff.

lol. I sure hope that was a heaping portion of sarcasm there...

It's ridiculous to me how good "former Twins" are.

And he wasn't good here?

by **JWG** » Fri 6/01/12 9:45 pm

dxmnkd316 wrote:
JWG wrote:
dxmnkd316 wrote:
JWG wrote:Man, I'm sure glad we got rid of that Johan Santana guy... he sucks and would be detriment to our pitching staff.

lol. I sure hope that was a heaping portion of sarcasm there...

It's ridiculous to me how good "former Twins" are.

And he wasn't good here?

Absolutely was. Most former Twins were good or better here, too. Just shouldn't have been let go or have stepped up 3 more levels since leaving.

by **dxmnkd316** » Fri 6/01/12 9:48 pm

So you honestly think the Twins had any chance at keeping him?

by **dryfly** » Fri 6/01/12 10:20 pm

dxmnkd316 wrote:So you honestly think the Twins had any chance at keeping him?

I agree - we have one of two options 1] keep them as long as possible, until they are too expensive for a minor market team to afford and get nothing for them OR 2] trade them way earlier with years under contract and get something for them.

None are great choices but without a printing press to mint money those are the choices the Twins have. Losing a boat load of money isn't an options the Pohlads tolerate long.

by **Gopherguy05** » Fri 6/01/12 10:25 pm

Yes, he's having a good season this year. Does everyone just forget he pitched about 8 games the last 2 years combined. If he, Morneau and Mauer were all hurt at the same time this town would have burned Target Field down...

by **JWG** » Fri 6/01/12 10:27 pm

dxmnkd316 wrote:So you honestly think the Twins had any chance at keeping him?

The Twins have every chance at keeping anyone they want. They choose to keep the wrong people. Joe and Justin are my examples of that. Over $40m tied up in two part-time players. Anyway, many will disagree with me and that's ok, but yes I think they could have kept him if they really wanted to. Would I take him as our franchise player over Mauer? Yup.

by **The Rube** » Fri 6/01/12 10:29 pm

JWG wrote:
dxmnkd316 wrote:So you honestly think the Twins had any chance at keeping him?

The Twins have every chance at keeping anyone they want. They choose to keep the wrong people. Joe and Justin are my examples of that. Over $40m tied up in two part-time players. Anyway, many will disagree with me and that's ok, but yes I think they could have kept him if they really wanted to. Would I take him as our franchise player over Mauer? Yup.

The Joe contract was a given. The Twins had a virtual gun to their head on that deal. They HAD to hand Joe a blank check, or it would have been the LA riots all over again. One of us, stud player (at the time), etc etc. It was a unique situation.

by **dxmnkd316** » Fri 6/01/12 10:33 pm

JWG wrote:
dxmnkd316 wrote:So you honestly think the Twins had any chance at keeping him?

The Twins have every chance at keeping anyone they want. They choose to keep the wrong people. Joe and Justin are my examples of that. Over $40m tied up in two part-time players. Anyway, many will disagree with me and that's ok, but yes I think they could have kept him if they really wanted to. Would I take him as our franchise player over Mauer? Yup.

I thought I remember reading that the Twins essentially matched the Mets offer and Santana laughed at them.

Would you take him over Mauer? Now? Sure but hindsight is 20:20.

by **Gopherguy05** » Fri 6/01/12 10:43 pm

dxmnkd316 wrote:
JWG wrote:
dxmnkd316 wrote:So you honestly think the Twins had any chance at keeping him?

The Twins have every chance at keeping anyone they want. They choose to keep the wrong people. Joe and Justin are my examples of that. Over $40m tied up in two part-time players. Anyway, many will disagree with me and that's ok, but yes I think they could have kept him if they really wanted to. Would I take him as our franchise player over Mauer? Yup.

I thought I remember reading that the Twins essentially matched the Mets offer and Santana laughed at them.

Would you take him over Mauer? Now? Sure but hindsight is 20:20.

I bet he wouldn't have taken him when he missed the entire last season and a half with shoulder surgery. But you know, leaving out simple facts for your arguments sake it a nice convenience.

by **dryfly** » Fri 6/01/12 10:47 pm

The Rube wrote:
JWG wrote:
dxmnkd316 wrote:So you honestly think the Twins had any chance at keeping him?

The Twins have every chance at keeping anyone they want. They choose to keep the wrong people. Joe and Justin are my examples of that. Over $40m tied up in two part-time players. Anyway, many will disagree with me and that's ok, but yes I think they could have kept him if they really wanted to. Would I take him as our franchise player over Mauer? Yup.

The Joe contract was a given. The Twins had a virtual gun to their head on that deal. They HAD to hand Joe a blank check, or it would have been the LA riots all over again. One of us, stud player (at the time), etc etc. It was a unique situation.

That's why you never want to draft/sign hometown kids... its an almost no win situation.

by **dxmnkd316** » Fri 6/01/12 10:50 pm

I dunno. There's a kid down in Rochester that sounds like he could be an absolute fireballer this year... I wouldn't mind if they took him. He's just flat out good.

by **trixR4kids** » Fri 6/01/12 11:10 pm

dryfly wrote:
dxmnkd316 wrote:So you honestly think the Twins had any chance at keeping him?

I agree - we have one of two options 1] keep them as long as possible, until they are too expensive for a minor market team to afford and get nothing for them OR 2] trade them way earlier with years under contract and get something for them.

None are great choices but without a printing press to mint money those are the choices the Twins have. Losing a boat load of money isn't an options the Pohlads tolerate long.

Brewers obviously just had the same issue with Prince and will likely have it with Greinke now.

by **Slap Shot** » Sat 6/02/12 12:42 am

The Twins may have been able to keep Johan had they given him a reason to stay, or they could have better prepared for the inevitable and traded him at a time when they could have got more in return. And they didn't have to sign Mauer if they instead used the same amount to bring in 2-3 other players of value. I don't care about any supposed pitchfork parades that may have followed, a proper lineup would have still filled up the shiny new stadium.

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Sat 6/02/12 1:55 am

JWG wrote:
dxmnkd316 wrote:So you honestly think the Twins had any chance at keeping him?

The Twins have every chance at keeping anyone they want. They choose to keep the wrong people. Joe and Justin are my examples of that. Over $40m tied up in two part-time players. Anyway, many will disagree with me and that's ok, but yes I think they could have kept him if they really wanted to. Would I take him as our franchise player over Mauer? Yup.

Santana made it crystal clear he was not coming back with the Twins. The Boston/Ellsbury and Yankee/Hughes deals were manufactured smoke screens designed to get the other to give away more assets in a perceived bidding war. So I guess my question is what would you have done differently than Twins management did? Once his stated intentions were to not return what were they going to get? This one was 100% on Santana. And I'd have been against the contract that he got from the Mets anyway if that was the Twins offering it instead. If anyone remembers, he had some velocity concerns at that time coming off his injury. Not exactly a safe long-term investment for any team.

by **jallengarry** » Sat 6/02/12 8:26 am

Not to mention...had the Twins signed him to such a huge contract and he had the injury problems and lack of production he has had...people would have mocked and ridiculed the signing. You can't win.

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