There is 0% chance Nolasco is a Twin in 2019. Or 2018.

I bet he gets traded before Aug 1

 

 

The White Sox and Twins will have a competition to see who can more cheaply auction off their unwanted starters, with Danks facing off with Nolasco.

 

What is the Twins' rotation right now? Hughes, Santana, Gibson, Meyer, May? What will they do with Nolasco? Long man? If he's not a starter, it's going to be increasingly difficult to dump that contract, not unlike the Giants using Zito or Lincecum in the bullpen (or Verlander for DET).

Its

Hughes

Nolasco

Gibson

Ervin Santana

then some sort of combination of Mike Pelfrey ($5 mil contract ugh. But I think he would be an awesome bullpen arm in the Wade Davis mold. But I think he doesnt want to go that route)/Trevor May (again, probabl better suited for bullpen)/ Alex Meyer/Trevor Milone (traded from A's last year)/Jose Berrios (the Twins denied his request to pitch in winter ball to rest up his arm)/ another FA signing/spring training surprise like a Mark Hamburger.

 

While Nolasco is probably better than what his stats show (he was hurt most of the year, and got no help from a pathetic defense), he is probably suited to play in the National League and I think if any team gave the Twins a fair or even slightly below fair deal, they would unload him in a heartbeat.

Its

Hughes

Nolasco

Gibson

Ervin Santana

then some sort of combination of Mike Pelfrey ($5 mil contract ugh. But I think he would be an awesome bullpen arm in the Wade Davis mold. But I think he doesnt want to go that route)/Trevor May (again, probabl better suited for bullpen)/ Alex Meyer/Trevor Milone (traded from A's last year)/Jose Berrios (the Twins denied his request to pitch in winter ball to rest up his arm)/ another FA signing/spring training surprise like a Mark Hamburger.

 

While Nolasco is probably better than what his stats show (he was hurt most of the year, and got no help from a pathetic defense), he is probably suited to play in the National League and I think if any team gave the Twins a fair or even slightly below fair deal, they would unload him in a heartbeat.

 

 

Tommy

 

Why do you think Ryan's had more trouble adjusting his second time around as GM?

Is there an internal struggle over traditional scouting vs. the new age quants/sabre/Moneyball model?

 

Of course, the Twins do have Sano and Buxton...what's their most recent medical prognosis?

 

Is Santana going to end up at SS or CF?

 

Is Vargas the next Ortiz or the next Pete Incaviglia/Steve Balboni?

I dont think Ryan has had trouble adjusting. He is fixing a broken farm system that started under his old watch and really dried up under Bill Smith (serious, go look up the Twins 1st round draft picks Before Buxton, it has not been productive). Smith did some good things like be more aggressive in the International market, but the Johan Santana trade (he was in a bad position with Santana poised to break the bank with a contract) and the bad drafting really set the franchise back.

 

Recent comments during the Torii Hunter signing is a bit worrying. Asked about why did they sign Hunter despite all the advanced numbers saying he is a terrible fielder, Ryan said (paraphrasing) we've seen him play, we know what he can do. Molitior seems to have a bit of an open mind about advanced stats and say he plans on using advantages. But since he has never managed, its a wait and see thing for me.

 

Molitor has said that he plans on playing Danny Santana at SS. I am excited about Vargas. The sound the ball makes coming off his bat is different. Its "that sound", you know what I mean? But he kind of hit a wall after Labor Day. I honestly dont know what he is going to be. Being the next Ortiz is probably reaching too high of a ceiling.

I dont think Ryan has had trouble adjusting. He is fixing a broken farm system that started under his old watch and really dried up under Bill Smith (serious, go look up the Twins 1st round draft picks Before Buxton, it has not been productive). Smith did some good things like be more aggressive in the International market, but the Johan Santana trade (he was in a bad position with Santana poised to break the bank with a contract) and the bad drafting really set the franchise back.

 

Recent comments during the Torii Hunter signing is a bit worrying. Asked about why did they sign Hunter despite all the advanced numbers saying he is a terrible fielder, Ryan said (paraphrasing) we've seen him play, we know what he can do. Molitior seems to have a bit of an open mind about advanced stats and say he plans on using advantages. But since he has never managed, its a wait and see thing for me.

 

Molitor has said that he plans on playing Danny Santana at SS. I am excited about Vargas. The sound the ball makes coming off his bat is different. Its "that sound", you know what I mean? But he kind of hit a wall after Labor Day. I honestly dont know what he is going to be. Being the next Ortiz is probably reaching too high of a ceiling.

 

I thought Kennys Vargas looked really good too, really sweet swing, quick bat, easy power. When he's patient and works the count, he's going to be as dangerous as any hitter in the game (I am specifically thinking of the Snodgress at bat here), but I think being an aggressive young hitter, he's going to have a few holes outside the strikezone, especially on changeups.

 

I think people are kind of sleeping on the Twins and assuming they're gonig to struggle, but I think they may be just as close as the Sox are to winning the division and the Central is going to be really tight next year.

Have I listened to the Hawk too much to think some of it has to do with the ballpark? They had probably the most unique homefield advantage for years and years and were able to tailor teams to maximize that advantage, with the new park, some of that has gone away.

 

Again, I'm totally 100% leaving the possiblity open that my above thought is just shell shock from several good Sox teams pissing their years away in the Dome.

Have I listened to the Hawk too much to think some of it has to do with the ballpark? They had probably the most unique homefield advantage for years and years and were able to tailor teams to maximize that advantage, with the new park, some of that has gone away.

 

Again, I'm totally 100% leaving the possiblity open that my above thought is just shell shock from several good Sox teams pissing their years away in the Dome.

 

I think that home field advantage was a little overstated, but it was present. I don't think it was so much that they could tailor their teams to the ballpark as it was that their players picked up the ball better at the Metrodome than other teams could because they played there all the time.

 

The last few years, their teams have been really bad, especially pitching. They've had terrible starters and really, really bad bullpens. I think their bullpen is the biggest cause for concern moving forward, but they aren't and don't spend a lot because that's never really been the Twins thing.

I think that home field advantage was a little overstated, but it was present. I don't think it was so much that they could tailor their teams to the ballpark as it was that their players picked up the ball better at the Metrodome than other teams could because they played there all the time.

 

The last few years, their teams have been really bad, especially pitching. They've had terrible starters and really, really bad bullpens. I think their bullpen is the biggest cause for concern moving forward, but they aren't and don't spend a lot because that's never really been the Twins thing.

The homefield advantage was more there than other ballparks. with that ballpark anyone could hit down on the ball and make it bounce to run it out. Guys with speed could do it well. It was just contact. The Cell for example is a HR park but not everyone can do it and in order to do it players increase their strikeouts. So ballparks that lend themselves to contact hitter are more effective. Again it's not a huge advantage but it was more than others.

The homefield advantage was more there than other ballparks. with that ballpark anyone could hit down on the ball and make it bounce to run it out. Guys with speed could do it well. It was just contact. The Cell for example is a HR park but not everyone can do it and in order to do it players increase their strikeouts. So ballparks that lend themselves to contact hitter are more effective. Again it's not a huge advantage but it was more than others.

 

I shouldn't have said there was no advantage, because the ball did move way faster and there are different affects different ballparks have on players. My basic point was that the Twins were good then because they were a good team, even if the ballpark helped them. They haven't been good lately because they've had bad teams, not because of any ballpark effect.

I think that home field advantage was a little overstated, but it was present. I don't think it was so much that they could tailor their teams to the ballpark as it was that their players picked up the ball better at the Metrodome than other teams could because they played there all the time.

 

The last few years, their teams have been really bad, especially pitching. They've had terrible starters and really, really bad bullpens. I think their bullpen is the biggest cause for concern moving forward, but they aren't and don't spend a lot because that's never really been the Twins thing.

 

Not to mention the true home park stuff, like the control of the direction of the fans in the outfield.

I shouldn't have said there was no advantage, because the ball did move way faster and there are different affects different ballparks have on players. My basic point was that the Twins were good then because they were a good team, even if the ballpark helped them. They haven't been good lately because they've had bad teams, not because of any ballpark effect.

I think it has had an effect on the team. The team was basically built with a certain type of player, albeit good players. I think once it changed the players needed to make an adjustment and the FO needed to change the type of player. The Punto, Knoblach type player isn't as effective elsewhere. Granted they were good players but were made more effective by the environment.

 

I think the biggest change is the FO philosophy to players.

Bernie Pleskoff ‏@BerniePleskoff 5m5 minutes ago

 

#Orioles have signed outfielder Delmon Young.

Pierzynski to Atlanta

Pierzynski to Atlanta

 

Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale 4m4 minutes ago

 

AJ Pierznyski will earn a $2 million salary w $700,000 in incentives w #Braves in what could be final year of fabulous career

 

Washington NationalsVerified account ‏@Nationals

 

The #Nats have agreed to terms w 2B Dan Uggla on a Minor League deal w an invitation to Major League Spring Training.

Washington NationalsVerified account ‏@Nationals

 

The #Nats have agreed to terms w 2B Dan Uggla on a Minor League deal w an invitation to Major League Spring Training.

 

how the mighty have fallen.

 

i just read about Hiroki Kuroda - yank pitcher going back to japan to play

there.

 

this opens up a lot of interesting situation. is Scherzer up next in the

yank agenda ????

Jon Morosi ‏@jonmorosi 3h3 hours ago

 

Yankees, Royals, Rays, and Blue Jays all have kept in touch with Asdrubal Cabrera's camp.

Kansas City Royals ‏@Royals 6m6 minutes ago

 

#Royals officially sign RHP Edinson Volquez to a 2-year free agent contract with a mutual option for 2017.

Joel Sherman ‏@Joelsherman1 15m15 minutes ago

 

can confirm @Ken_Rosenthal @JonHeymanCBS #Rays in agreement with Asdrubal Cabrera. Told it is a 1-yr contract

Well Brandon Maurer finally got traded, but not to the Sox. He's going to SD for OF Seth Smith.

Bernie Pleskoff ‏@BerniePleskoff 3m3 minutes ago

 

Apparently OF Marlon Byrd is being traded from the #Phillies to the #Reds. No further details available yet.

Atl and the Yanks made a trade.

 

that kinda of trade may have interested me.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Well Brandon Maurer finally got traded, but not to the Sox. He's going to SD for OF Seth Smith.

 

Mark Buehrle knows how Smith feels. The previous GM had given Smith a verbal guarantee he wouldn't be traded. Then they acquired all the outfielders.

 

i am wondering, if Dan Haren does retire, i wonder is there is a provision

in the trade that the trade gets cancel??