Twins 2009: Year Long Thread

[ducky]

Originally Posted by Nastradamus

I tend to like Mauer hitting 2nd as well. It gets him more ABs, protects Span and separates him and Morneau. Ideally, Cuddyer would stay in the 5 hole to separate Kubel and Morneauthough and someone else would be added for the 3 hole if possible.

That's actually one of the bigger reasons that the Twins won't break up the M & M boys anytime soon. Teams just killed us in the late inning a lot of times by bringing in a lefty late in the game and having them face Mauer, Morneau, and then Kubel (Gardie was a fool most the year and even when Cuddyer was hot kept him behind Kubel). Mauer or Morneau might get a big hit....but it was always followed up by Kubel looking lost against a lefty.

The only way I see the Twins breaking up the 3-4 combo of Mauer and Morneau is if they find another HUGE righty bat somewhere (either Delmon or Hardy just emerge as stars next year) and that would plop Mauer in the 2 hole, Cuddyer or this new hot right star in the 3 hole, Morneau in the 4, followed by Cuddyer/new guy and then Kubel.

....and well if that happens the Twins will be scoring a TON of runs with no matter how they run the line-up out there which means Gardie will have little reasons to make a change at any point so they STILL wouldn't break them up. Gardie takes the phrase "if it ain't broken, don't fix it" to the extreme. Even if it is broken, he won't fix it and if it isn't broken, he doesn't even think about messing with it.

[ducky]

One of the reasons I always hoped Gomez would figure it out was because of how good our defense would have been with him in CF and Span in left.

...now that Span is our CF, I don't think our outfield defense can ever be all that great. Span is a quality corner outfielder defensively....but as a CF he is pretty average. He has only adequate range there (maybe his jumps will get better with some time out there) and no arm to speak of.

[twolvesguy]

Originally Posted by ducky

One of the reasons I always hoped Gomez would figure it out was because of how good our defense would have been with him in CF and Span in left.

...now that Span is our CF, I don't think our outfield defense can ever be all that great. Span is a quality corner outfielder defensively....but as a CF he is pretty average. He has only adequate range there (maybe his jumps will get better with some time out there) and no arm to speak of.

I think Span has excellent range. But he does have an average to below average arm.

How long before Hicks gets here?

[Cheeseland Vike]

Is this Gomez guy any good? Just looking at his stats, looks like a terrible hitter.

Hardy will probably be a fine player for you. He's really streaky, but when he gets hot, he gets really hot. Very solid defensive SS. I'm glad to see him go to the Twins as I like the guy.

[twolvesguy]

Originally Posted by Cheeseland Vike

Is this Gomez guy any good? Just looking at his stats, looks like a terrible hitter.

Hardy will probably be a fine player for you. He's really streaky, but when he gets hot, he gets really hot. Very solid defensive SS. I'm glad to see him go to the Twins as I like the guy.

Senior Excitement!! You're gonna love Gomez.

In the same game, he will hit for the cycle, make incredible defensive plays and make 2 to 3 base-running blunders that could lose you the game. He is almost too fast for his own good.

Right now, he simply can't hit. But if he ever puts it all together..... watch out!!

[ducky]

Gomez is IMO unquestionably the best defensive CF in the game. His hitting is piss poor and his approach makes you want to rip your hair out (way too aggressive and just doesn't have a very good eye overall and struggles to recognize pitches). But he is SUPREMELY talented...even with the bat. Guy has good raw power too if he can learn to hit the ball with the barrel of the bat. I wouldn't expect the world from him next year but I expect him to make some decent strides.

...and if he can get on base more, he is a huge threat on the base pads.

[PsychoViking]

Originally Posted by Cheeseland Vike

Is this Gomez guy any good? Just looking at his stats, looks like a terrible hitter.

Hardy will probably be a fine player for you. He's really streaky, but when he gets hot, he gets really hot. Very solid defensive SS. I'm glad to see him go to the Twins as I like the guy.

He looks like he has a nervous tick when he is at the plate. He'll talk to himself and the bat, then smell/kiss the bat. No joke.

He has great speed but its raw. He is thrown out too much for a guy with his speed. Swings at anything and anything. Not a very good bunter, either, and needs to be a lot better if he isn't going to be a great hitter. Pops it up or pushes it foul way too much.

There is potential there but he should have spent the entire year in the minors and probably next year, too.

[Nastradamus]

Originally Posted by ducky

That's actually one of the bigger reasons that the Twins won't break up the M & M boys anytime soon. Teams just killed us in the late inning a lot of times by bringing in a lefty late in the game and having them face Mauer, Morneau, and then Kubel (Gardie was a fool most the year and even when Cuddyer was hot kept him behind Kubel). Mauer or Morneau might get a big hit....but it was always followed up by Kubel looking lost against a lefty.

The only way I see the Twins breaking up the 3-4 combo of Mauer and Morneau is if they find another HUGE righty bat somewhere (either Delmon or Hardy just emerge as stars next year) and that would plop Mauer in the 2 hole, Cuddyer or this new hot right star in the 3 hole, Morneau in the 4, followed by Cuddyer/new guy and then Kubel.

....and well if that happens the Twins will be scoring a TON of runs with no matter how they run the line-up out there which means Gardie will have little reasons to make a change at any point so they STILL wouldn't break them up. Gardie takes the phrase "if it ain't broken, don't fix it" to the extreme. Even if it is broken, he won't fix it and if it isn't broken, he doesn't even think about messing with it.

I don't think they need a new big bat tbh. Just a strong bench hitter and a defensive CF off the bench.

Span
Mauer
Young/Hardy
Morneau
Cuddyer
Kubel
Young/Hardy
3B-Crede,Harris or Torbert
Punto

Thats plenty of offense for a small market team. If you have money, get a SP. Maybe Pavano even will work. A vet Middle reliver would help too, a true stud type who can run up the radar gun.

[PurplePride84]

Originally Posted by ducky

Gomez is IMO unquestionably the best defensive CF in the game. His hitting is piss poor and his approach makes you want to rip your hair out (way too aggressive and just doesn't have a very good eye overall and struggles to recognize pitches). But he is SUPREMELY talented...even with the bat. Guy has good raw power too if he can learn to hit the ball with the barrel of the bat. I wouldn't expect the world from him next year but I expect him to make some decent strides.

...and if he can get on base more, he is a huge threat on the base pads.

What is a base pad?

[Nastradamus]

Originally Posted by ducky

One of the reasons I always hoped Gomez would figure it out was because of how good our defense would have been with him in CF and Span in left.

...now that Span is our CF, I don't think our outfield defense can ever be all that great. Span is a quality corner outfielder defensively....but as a CF he is pretty average. He has only adequate range there (maybe his jumps will get better with some time out there) and no arm to speak of.

Word, now they need a Gomez type off the bench. Willy Taveras or something.

[ducky]

I just don't think that Young/Hardy is good enough to protect Mauer in that situation.

[twolvesguy]

Originally Posted by ducky

I just don't think that Young/Hardy is good enough to protect Mauer in that situation.

You also need someone solid behind Mauer as the opposition will just walk him..... as we routinely saw down the stretch this year(post Morneau injury) when 1st base was open.

[PsychoViking]

They aren't going to pay someone to come off the bench as far as the OF is concerned. Pridie just made next year's team, even though he is a nothing player, not likely even good enough to be a 4th or 5th OF in the majors.

[ducky]

Originally Posted by PsychoViking

They aren't going to pay someone to come off the bench as far as the OF is concerned. Pridie just made next year's team, even though he is a nothing player, not likely even good enough to be a 4th or 5th OF in the majors.

I don't know about that. The Twins will likely have Casilla on the roster as the back-up 2nd baseman/pinch runner which means they could keep a pinch hitter and not the defensive type of back up outfielder (although I am sure we will see multiple players up at that 5th outfield spot next season).

I bet there are 4 or 5 guys they will give the opportunity to win the job out of spring training.

[tommyboy]

There is no way Pridie can make this roster. He's awful. Having seen him first hand the last 2-3 years in spring training, I just cannot see him ever cracking the majors...

I actually like Punto at 2nd. At short and 3rd, he's a back up at best. But at 2nd, you can live with a guy who doesn't hit a ton. Most teams do not have an Utley or Cano.