Dick Allen

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Sep 30, 2014 -> 06:48 AM) They are going to hire Molitor after they just fired him? I wondered that initially, but all of their coaches had their contracts expiring anyway. The new manager will be able to pick his own staff. So technically Molitor is gone, but apparently still a candidate to take over. Personally, if they are saying they didn't win enough with the players they gave Gardy, I don't see how an internal hire makes sense. But if I were a manager, the Twins job has to be about attractive as there is. A loaded system and an organization that doesn't like change in that position. You could ride it into retirement.

QUOTE (ron883 @ Sep 29, 2014 -> 05:14 PM) The hand on the statue is way too big I think it is just the picture. I saw it yesterday and I am pretty sure I would have noticed. The 6 inch thumbs on the Harry Carey statue have always freaked me out.

Ray Donovan was pretty good this season. I thought the first season was kind of dull except for Jon Voight. But season 2, he was just as spectacular, and the rest of script definitely picked up.

I think it may be something to keep Rodon on track this winter. Young guys who think they are basically owed a spot, usually wind up showing they probably shouldn't have assumed as much. I am happy the Sox drafted him. It is who I wanted them to draft all along, but it doesn't hurt to send a message basically saying you can have it, but you have to earn it.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 29, 2014 -> 02:24 PM) This would be awesome The Professor ‏@TargetField101 9m Report: Ozzie Guillen 'Very Interested' in Twins Job (via http://ble.ac/teamstream ) not sure how I'd feel yet. http://bleacherreport.com/tb/df3zj?utm_cam...rce=twitter.com … Let Oney and Ozney become Twins fans. Their behavior sitting behind the White Sox dugout hoping the White Sox finish last ( I was sitting right behind them) about a month ago was shockingly (sarcasm) classless. If they want to hate the White Sox, fine. But don't go to USCF and sit in White Sox house seats for nothing, and do that.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 29, 2014 -> 02:28 PM) In the back of my mind, I wonder if this is supposed to be a message to the rest of MLB that we don't need to trade a starting pitcher this winter, or that we don't need to overpay for a reliever... or both. That's all fine and dandy, but the rest of baseball does have access to the White Sox roster and knows they need starters and relievers.

I bet this is Robin's idea.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Sep 29, 2014 -> 01:34 PM) I posted some good articles awhile back about the Pirates success with pitching and defense. Essentially, they are teaching all their starters to induce ground balls, which they then can take advantage of through extensive defensive positioning. Sounds like what Hahn is trying to do.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Sep 29, 2014 -> 01:24 PM) Fire Ventura; get Gardy. Gardy is known for not going by the book, and doing strange things. If the record remained the same, as much as a lot of people seem to think Ventura is a buffoon, they would think Gardy is worse.

Who is the Pirates pitching coach? Last year, he fixed Liriano. This year, Volquez.

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ Sep 28, 2014 -> 03:51 PM) Nick Markakis or Chase Headley seem like better solutions to me. Both will be cheaper, both are younger, and both have the ability to hit for power. Headley is actually perfect for this team because he could take the starts at 3B vs. LHP and start in LF vs. RHP. In fact, I'd rather the Sox use $25 million per year to sign those two than use $20 million per year to sign Martinez. It will pay a lot bigger dividends both short term and long term. Chase Headley playing the majority of time in LF is not a solid idea. He is a GG like 3B.

QUOTE (Charlie Haeger's Knuckles @ Sep 29, 2014 -> 12:41 PM) reading the tea leaves, it sounds like he really pissed off someone in the front office... Maybe, but he and Terry Ryan are both going to be at the press conference. I think if he pissed someone off, that would be a little unusual. But if he did, it could make it very entertaining.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Sep 29, 2014 -> 12:21 PM) That is mind-blowing. I didn't think that'd ever happen. Whoever is hired will only be the 3rd different Twins manager I will have seen in my life. I wonder if they're cleaning house or if Molitor is a guy they'll consider. Their entire coaching staff is getting pink slipped. edit. They all were on one year deals. The new manager will pick his staff, so all, a few, or none may be back.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Sep 29, 2014 -> 11:59 AM) You can't look merely at the surface and say "the team was bad so Hahn was bad." That's shallow, naive, and wrong. He didn't bring in any bad long-term contracts. He got a guy who has a bit of talent in Nieto. He brought in enough minor league free agents and other young relievers that we can say "hey, maybe they have the makings of an OK bullpen heading into next year." He brought in a #4/5 starter for the cost of a waiver claim. He got something for Beckham, De Aza, and Dunn. He signed Jose Quintana to one of the best contracts I've ever seen in my life. He drafted a guy represented by Scott Boras and then actually got him signed, and said player is already one of the best prospects in all of minor league baseball. He continued expanding the Sox horizons in Latin America. He didn't trade away any valuable, long-term pieces from the minor league teams. Oh, and he also signed some Jose Abreu guy. Frankly, I'd like to hear your reasoning for why he deserves anything other than an A. The bullpen is a mess, although Cleveland showed it can be rebuilt in a season, and there are a couple of pieces that could be decent. Webb was obviously not ready to be the closer, but if he could ever get some sort of command he could be pretty good. I think the book is still out on Petricka, and Putnam didn't pitch much the last month leading me to believe he probably was injured, so he could very well be a flash in the pan, certainly not someone you say "look at his ERA last season if he is awful next and say it was next to impossible to see coming." Paulino, Belisario and Downs were busts. Abreu was genius, Eaton was genius. Davidson, not so much. There was a lot to like, but there were enough total misses to take his "grade" down a peg. I am sure they were looking at winning more than 73 games.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Sep 29, 2014 -> 06:32 AM) Not only do you need to factor injury risk, but we also need to realize that Victor Martinez is having his BEST season by far. This is a career year. He's not likely to repeat even if he DOES stay healthy. You're suggesting that he's been a superstar his entire career, but he never approached this type of season at the plate even in his prime. He's a career 125 wRC+ -- which is very good, especially for a catcher -- but is at 167 this year. That's in a different ballpark altogether. Additionally, there are several outlier peripherals that are major red flags for regression. Chiefly: 6.6% K rate (compared to a career 10.4%) and a 16.0% HR/FB rate (compared to a career 10.7%). All the performance risk that applies to Russell Martin's career year applies to Victor's. More injury risk applies to Victor thanks to age. Because half of Martin's value comes from defense (and most of that from aspects of defense that age well), he's MUCH more valuable even if they both regress 25%. And Victor is probably going to make more money, at least on an AAV basis, despite the fact that they were similarly valuable this year: Victor @ 4.4 fWAR, Martin at 5.2 fWAR. They both come with risk, for sure, as any free agent does. But I definitely think Martinez comes with more, and it's primarily due to age. I disagree about more injury risk when one is pretty much strickly a DH and the other is catching.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Sep 29, 2014 -> 06:32 AM) Not only do you need to factor injury risk, but we also need to realize that Victor Martinez is having his BEST season by far. This is a career year. He's not likely to repeat even if he DOES stay healthy. You're suggesting that he's been a superstar his entire career, but he never approached this type of season at the plate even in his prime. He's a career 125 wRC+ -- which is very good, especially for a catcher -- but is at 167 this year. That's in a different ballpark altogether. Additionally, there are several outlier peripherals that are major red flags for regression. Chiefly: 6.6% K rate (compared to a career 10.4%) and a 16.0% HR/FB rate (compared to a career 10.7%). All the performance risk that applies to Russell Martin's career year applies to Victor's. More injury risk applies to Victor thanks to age. Because half of Martin's value comes from defense (and most of that from aspects of defense that age well), he's MUCH more valuable even if they both regress 25%. And Victor is probably going to make more money, at least on an AAV basis, despite the fact that they were similarly valuable this year: Victor @ 4.4 fWAR, Martin at 5.2 fWAR. They both come with risk, for sure, as any free agent does. But I definitely think Martinez comes with more, and it's primarily due to age. Victor is having his best season. Still he is a lifetime wRC+ 125 . If he has an average for him year that is a lot more help in a spot the team has nothing than if Wilson has an average year for him vs. Flowers.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Sep 28, 2014 -> 01:40 PM) He could have easily slid during or after that catch to avoid going in to the stands. Not saying he did it on purpose to be flashy, but saying he played it wrong and stupidly, yet it's constantly being shown as one of the greatest SS plays of all time. And if he slid he would have crashed into the wall maybe breaking a leg or ankle or screwing up a knee.

I guess all of us who thought Hester was done were a little off.

Brutal call on Peppers to keep the drive alive. Sweet.

Will today's attendance vs last night's resemble Opening Day vs. game 2 in 42 degree weather with a slight mist and winds from the NE at 25 MPH?

If Detroit loses 3 out of 4, including the last 3 to the last place Twins, and want to blame the White Sox, they should be the laughingstocks of baseball.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Sep 27, 2014 -> 12:24 AM) The guy made a running catch that shortstops make every year (and a better one may have been almost standing under), took million steps and stupidly dove face first into a seat, because TOUGHNESS AND LEADERSHIP. Please. He was shifted over by second base. If your version is how you saw that play, you should quit umpiring. You must be turrible.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Sep 28, 2014 -> 08:47 AM) I don't even know if you can expect 80% of his current production. His OPS is 100 points above his previous career high. Then add in the aging curve. I would not prefer to wait for the magical core; I want things to happen this offseason. I just don't think he's the right answer. Can you find an example of a team that paid a guy that age after a career year and didn't regret it? I am sure the Red Sox don't regret hanging on to Big Papi.

Navarro once b****ed about run support after a game he allowed 9 runs. That is pretty much all you need to know about him.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 27, 2014 -> 11:44 PM) Was at the game tonight, I thought it was awesome to see the place packed to honor Konerko. Did they ever say on the broadcast why Frank had no involvement at all? I am guessing he was working for Fox Sports 1 or they probably didn't want him overshadowing the event. It was Paulie"s night. Frank being there would have taken some of the spotlight away. I do know Paulie called out Frank during their playing days, but I don't think that had anything to do with it. Robin called him out once as well. I think Frank, Paulie and Robin are all fine.