It's apparent now that the Twins are settling for the let's-be-good-when-the-new-stadium-opens mode. How else do you justify the settlement the team came to in giving away Johan Santana?
The team didn't need three new, young, totally unproven arms that are three years away from challenging for a fifth starter spot.
The team did need a starting centerfielder.
They didn't get him.
Granted, Carlos Gomez has the tools to be darn good. I'll give him that. But starting in Torii Hunter's old spot come April? Um, no.
Here's where we are as Twins fans: hope the Mauer-Morneau-Cuddyer-Young crew can post enough offense to offset the totally depleated pitching staff.
One thing's for sure: they may be good in 2010, but 2008 could get ugly. Time to trade Joe Nathan and get something of importance back and not just another prayer for 2010.
Showing posts with label Santana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Santana. Show all posts
Friday, February 8, 2008
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Silva Next To Leave
Spittin' Carlos Saliva is being courted by the Seattle Mariners for a whopping $11 million per year (reportedly a four-year deal is being shopped to him) and Fox Sports online is claiming he's the top free agent pitcher on the market right now.Folks, that's a poor free agent market.
Silva, who is 28 and never passed on a buffet, averages near 200 innings per year and that's got to be what's getting the Mariners all wound up. It's quite the raise for Silva, who made $4.3 million last year.
If you're wondering: No, the Pohlad family won't be shelling out $11 million per to hang on to Johan Santana's fellow Venezuelan.
To put Silva's possible new contract in perspective, Santana made $13 million in 2007 and $8.75 million in 2006. Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia made $8.75 million last year. Arizona's Brandon Webb made $4.5 million. Detroit's Justin Verlander made just $1 million last year.
I guess you can't fault a guy for making as much money as he can, but those are some tough numbers to believe on a right-handed pitcher -- especially one who 55-46 career with a 4.39 ERA.
(Photo: City Pages blogs)
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Santana trade or no-trade will benefit Twins
By Bullpen Catcher
Reports today say the Yankees are back in on talks for lefty Johan Santana. Is this really news? Steinbrenner Jr. gave the media an ultimatum for the Twins during the Winter Meetings, but who in their right mind really thought the deadline was anything but grandstanding?
My guess all along has been that Santana would be traded for a pile of folks before 2008. Keeping him is by no means a poor choice: if the team is in the Central Division race at the trade deadline, the Twins could keep him for a World Series run; if they are out of it, a deadline trade could yield a ton of return from an AL East suitor.
A trade between now and Spring Training (February) won't be depleated of talent, either.
My prediction here is the Yankees come in with chunky centerfielder Melky Cabrera, young right-handed pitcher Phil Hughes and give in (take that Hank Steinbrenner, you big dink) and throw in TWO more players -- one a minor leaguer no one has heard of and the other a big shot like super chunky right-hander Joba Chamberlain . The Chamberlain part of the trade is the part the Yankees claim to be avoiding (it's supposed to be a Twins demand the Yankees add him or pitcher Ian Kennedy).
Two reasons tell me this will happen very, very soon:
First, the Yankees are itching to make a deal. Why else would they open these talks? Boston is still lurking in the wings with an offer the Twins seem enamored with and New York can't let the Red Sox dominate them again in 2008.
Second, the Yankees are the center of the George Mitchell Steriod Report. Much of the report's controversial content is based on testimony from a former Yankee batboy turned trainer. Plus, the biggest name in the report is former (and in May probably current) Yankee pitcher Roger Clemens. Also named are Yankee left-hander Andy Pettitte and first baseman Jason Giambi. In all, 18 current and former Yankees are named in the report.
Um, that's pretty damn damning of the team.
Trading for Santana would be the perfect spin for the Yankees. Getting the town talking about a trade rather than steriods and HGH would benefit the team's PR and interviewing Santana about wearing pinstripes plays better in the tabloid New York press than Pettitte claiming he only used HGH two days (yeah, right Andy).
Heck, I wouldn't even be surprised if the Mets tried a similar tactic. They've got a snitch in the report and 12 former and current players in the report. My only hope is Billy Smith is slick enough to gobble up a real third baseman in the mix.
(Top photo: Joba Chamberlain, from Fantasy Baseball Talk; Bottom photo: Phil Hughes, from New York Newsday)
Reports today say the Yankees are back in on talks for lefty Johan Santana. Is this really news? Steinbrenner Jr. gave the media an ultimatum for the Twins during the Winter Meetings, but who in their right mind really thought the deadline was anything but grandstanding?
My guess all along has been that Santana would be traded for a pile of folks before 2008. Keeping him is by no means a poor choice: if the team is in the Central Division race at the trade deadline, the Twins could keep him for a World Series run; if they are out of it, a deadline trade could yield a ton of return from an AL East suitor.
A trade between now and Spring Training (February) won't be depleated of talent, either.
My prediction here is the Yankees come in with chunky centerfielder Melky Cabrera, young right-handed pitcher Phil Hughes and give in (take that Hank Steinbrenner, you big dink) and throw in TWO more players -- one a minor leaguer no one has heard of and the other a big shot like super chunky right-hander Joba Chamberlain . The Chamberlain part of the trade is the part the Yankees claim to be avoiding (it's supposed to be a Twins demand the Yankees add him or pitcher Ian Kennedy).
Two reasons tell me this will happen very, very soon:
First, the Yankees are itching to make a deal. Why else would they open these talks? Boston is still lurking in the wings with an offer the Twins seem enamored with and New York can't let the Red Sox dominate them again in 2008.
Second, the Yankees are the center of the George Mitchell Steriod Report. Much of the report's controversial content is based on testimony from a former Yankee batboy turned trainer. Plus, the biggest name in the report is former (and in May probably current) Yankee pitcher Roger Clemens. Also named are Yankee left-hander Andy Pettitte and first baseman Jason Giambi. In all, 18 current and former Yankees are named in the report.
Um, that's pretty damn damning of the team.
Trading for Santana would be the perfect spin for the Yankees. Getting the town talking about a trade rather than steriods and HGH would benefit the team's PR and interviewing Santana about wearing pinstripes plays better in the tabloid New York press than Pettitte claiming he only used HGH two days (yeah, right Andy).
Heck, I wouldn't even be surprised if the Mets tried a similar tactic. They've got a snitch in the report and 12 former and current players in the report. My only hope is Billy Smith is slick enough to gobble up a real third baseman in the mix.
(Top photo: Joba Chamberlain, from Fantasy Baseball Talk; Bottom photo: Phil Hughes, from New York Newsday)
Friday, August 24, 2007
Should He Stay Or Should He Go Now?
"Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
An’ if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know!
Should I stay or should I go?"
- The Clash
By Bullpen Catcher
Joe Strummer could just as well be singing his classic lyrics to Twins management.
Should Torii stay or should he go?
Should Johan stay or should he go?
Should Joe Nathan stay or should he go?
Should Terry Ryan stay or should he go?
The answers are as simple as the tune by The Clash: If any of them go it may be trouble; if they stay it may be double.
Longtime Star Tribune fossil/grump Sid Hartman made up something the other day (as is his usual wont), telling the WCCO-AM radio crowd Torii Hunter is for sure to be a Twin next year. He claims the Twins are readying money and lining up an offer for the Gold Glove centerfielder and put him under the TC lid for the rest of his career. Facts have never been Sid's best friend. Neither have common sense. If Hunter goes, sure there'll be trouble (ticket sales, jersey sales, center field defense, good quote), but if he stays it could be double. Double in the sense that it will cost the team from bringing whatever money they would dole out for Hunter to such better investments as Johan Santana and Justin Morneau.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Wednesday there are absolutely zero talks between Hunter's agent and Twins GM Terry Ryan. A Chicago Tribune story yesterday claims the White Sox's top free agent pursuit of the offseason will be to re-tool center field with Hunter. The Dallas Morning News had a story claiming the Rangers' top need of centerfield will be addressed this winter with Aaron Rowand, Andruw Jones or Hunter being their top picks.
There are six weeks left in the 2007 season. The Twins pulled to within six games back in the Central. As Tom Powers adequately pointed out, the season is all but over for this team.
As Hunter's stock rises for offseason bidders, Johan Santana's takes exponential leaps. Santana becomes a free agent at the end of the 2008 season. I believe, as several Hall of Famer's claim, Santana is the best pitcher in the Major League right now. Every day the Twins don't lock Santana up to a long-term contract costs them money -- or Santana. The two-time Cy Young Award winner could fetch upwards of $20 million per season for a five-year contract.
Should they stay or should they go now? Heck, with decisions like this Terry Ryan might be thinking about leaving as fast as his hair.
(Torii Hunter photo courtesy of http://www.mlb.com)
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
An’ if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know!
Should I stay or should I go?"
- The Clash
By Bullpen Catcher
Joe Strummer could just as well be singing his classic lyrics to Twins management.
Should Torii stay or should he go?
Should Johan stay or should he go?
Should Joe Nathan stay or should he go?
Should Terry Ryan stay or should he go?
The answers are as simple as the tune by The Clash: If any of them go it may be trouble; if they stay it may be double.
Longtime Star Tribune fossil/grump Sid Hartman made up something the other day (as is his usual wont), telling the WCCO-AM radio crowd Torii Hunter is for sure to be a Twin next year. He claims the Twins are readying money and lining up an offer for the Gold Glove centerfielder and put him under the TC lid for the rest of his career. Facts have never been Sid's best friend. Neither have common sense. If Hunter goes, sure there'll be trouble (ticket sales, jersey sales, center field defense, good quote), but if he stays it could be double. Double in the sense that it will cost the team from bringing whatever money they would dole out for Hunter to such better investments as Johan Santana and Justin Morneau.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Wednesday there are absolutely zero talks between Hunter's agent and Twins GM Terry Ryan. A Chicago Tribune story yesterday claims the White Sox's top free agent pursuit of the offseason will be to re-tool center field with Hunter. The Dallas Morning News had a story claiming the Rangers' top need of centerfield will be addressed this winter with Aaron Rowand, Andruw Jones or Hunter being their top picks.
There are six weeks left in the 2007 season. The Twins pulled to within six games back in the Central. As Tom Powers adequately pointed out, the season is all but over for this team.
As Hunter's stock rises for offseason bidders, Johan Santana's takes exponential leaps. Santana becomes a free agent at the end of the 2008 season. I believe, as several Hall of Famer's claim, Santana is the best pitcher in the Major League right now. Every day the Twins don't lock Santana up to a long-term contract costs them money -- or Santana. The two-time Cy Young Award winner could fetch upwards of $20 million per season for a five-year contract.
Should they stay or should they go now? Heck, with decisions like this Terry Ryan might be thinking about leaving as fast as his hair.
(Torii Hunter photo courtesy of http://www.mlb.com)
Monday, August 6, 2007
Glavine's 300th win says a lot about Bert
Biggest Hall Of Fame Atrocity? Time for Bert Blyleven to enter Cooperstown
By Bullpen Catcher
Tom Glavine earned his 300th win Sunday and sent sports talk radio hosts into a tizzy with them making predictions like we won't see another 300-win pitcher in our lifetime.
There's enough talk generated by Glavine that Kelly Thesier and others got into the act in newspapers and online publications. The discussion is who is next to 300? Is it Johan Santana (89 wins at age 28) or Mark Buehrle of the White Sox (103 wins at 28)? Randy Johnson is having surgery on his arm in Arizona, but sits 16 short of 300 at age 43 (he turns 44 Sept. 10).
I'll say someone will break 300 in my lifetime again. I'd also say Santana has a horrible shot at it. He's left-handed for one thing (only six lefties in the Hall). He also could be on his way to a bad case of Blylevenitis.
Blylevenitis is named for the most famous person to have suffered through the condition that haunts him to this day. Symptoms include being a great pitcher for many, many years; playing for several mediocre teams; not playing for any New York, Chicago or Boston team; and, I believe, for having red hair, a beard and being from Holland.
So Glavine won his 300th game and that "automatically" puts him in the Hall of Fame in the future. Great. I'm happy for you. But is 300 the only measure? Ask yourself if Randy Johnson is a Hall of Fame pitcher. Is he? C'mon, think hard.
I'll help: Johnson is pitching in his 20th season. His career stats sit at 3.81 ERA, 284-150 record, 3,855 IP (566 games played), 4,616 strikeouts, 3,065 hits allowed, 98 complete games, 37 shutouts, 368 HR allowed.
Blyeven: 22 seasons, 3.90 ERA, 287-250 record, 4,970 IP (692 games played), 3,701 strikeouts, 4,632 hits allowed, 242 complete games (!), 60 shutouts, 430 home runs allowed.
Blyleven didn't do this playing with Ken Griffey Jr., Jay Buhner and Alex Rodriguez (Seattle) or Curt Schilling, Luis Gonzalez (Arizona) or Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and company (Yankees). Nope, Bert sludged alongside teammates in such hallowed 1970s and '80s powerhouses as the Twins (1970-76, 85-88), Texas Rangers (76-77), Pittsburgh Pirates (78-80), Cleveland Indians (81-85), and California Angels (89-92). He was a part of World Series champions in 1979 and 1987, but often his work went without much bat help.
Glavine's 300 wins is nothing short of fantastic. I'm not belittling the feat at all. But if you ask yourself if Randy Johnson (next on the active wins list) retired today, would he be in Cooperstown and you say yes -- then you must also say the same for Bert.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Cirillo gone, Santana unhappy, Twins losing
Recent moves puzzling
Cirillo latest to go; Twins lose ground
By Bullpen Catcher
Utility player/ponderer of retirement Jeff Cirillo was claimed by Arizona and let go with no compensation. It was another in a series of near dumbfounding moves by the Twins:
1) Trade leadoff hitter/second baseman Luis Castillo for two low-level minor leaguers (one a catcher);
2) Made no trade of any significance to upgrade the team at the trade deadline;
3) Made no trade of any significance to get rid of contracts that were expiring and pick up prospects;
4) Letting Jeff Cirillo go at a time when the team talks about veteran leadership and needs hitting.
I'm not sure what's going through the heads of those at 34 Puckett Place, but it sure isn't looking like things are getting better. The Star-Tribune's story about Johan Santana's unhappiness may be a portent of what is going on in the team's clubhouse.
Santana's right. When does the rebuilding end? When do fans decidedly stop accepting being "that plucky lil' team that almost was contracted" and demand Carl Pohlad and Terry Ryan put together a team that lasts longer than one year?
The time for revolt is upon us. Fans heard a song-and-dance from Twins management that is much like the Scarecrow's song from Wizard of Oz: "If I only had a stadium ..." Well Carl, you got the taxpayer's money and construction has begun.
Pay up.
Time for the Twins to ADD to the team and pay the big players (Santana, Nathan, Hunter, Morneau, Cuddyer) and keep Joe Mauer happy. Add one more veteran pitcher to settle the Kids Rotation of next year down and kick ass for a few years.
So tired of celebrating "being in the wildcard race". So tired.
Cirillo latest to go; Twins lose ground
By Bullpen Catcher
Utility player/ponderer of retirement Jeff Cirillo was claimed by Arizona and let go with no compensation. It was another in a series of near dumbfounding moves by the Twins:
1) Trade leadoff hitter/second baseman Luis Castillo for two low-level minor leaguers (one a catcher);
2) Made no trade of any significance to upgrade the team at the trade deadline;
3) Made no trade of any significance to get rid of contracts that were expiring and pick up prospects;
4) Letting Jeff Cirillo go at a time when the team talks about veteran leadership and needs hitting.
I'm not sure what's going through the heads of those at 34 Puckett Place, but it sure isn't looking like things are getting better. The Star-Tribune's story about Johan Santana's unhappiness may be a portent of what is going on in the team's clubhouse.
Santana's right. When does the rebuilding end? When do fans decidedly stop accepting being "that plucky lil' team that almost was contracted" and demand Carl Pohlad and Terry Ryan put together a team that lasts longer than one year?
The time for revolt is upon us. Fans heard a song-and-dance from Twins management that is much like the Scarecrow's song from Wizard of Oz: "If I only had a stadium ..." Well Carl, you got the taxpayer's money and construction has begun.
Pay up.
Time for the Twins to ADD to the team and pay the big players (Santana, Nathan, Hunter, Morneau, Cuddyer) and keep Joe Mauer happy. Add one more veteran pitcher to settle the Kids Rotation of next year down and kick ass for a few years.
So tired of celebrating "being in the wildcard race". So tired.
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