Terry Ryan gone just in time

Terry Ryan's sudden resignation may be a good indication of what the Pohlad family is cooking up for support of the 2008 season. Ryan stepping down indicates what will become obvious when the 2007 season officially ends: the Pohlads will stick to their money-pinching ways and force a change in the Twins roster.

Consider again:

1. Torii Hunter is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He will be very, very expensive;
2. Johan Santana is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2008 season. He will command insane free agent numbers and it would be wise for the Twins to give him crazy money this winter to keep him happy;
3. Michael Cuddyer is at the end of a one-year contract he signed just before heading to arbitration, so he'll be a free agent;
4. Justin Morneau is at the end of a one-year contract and is arbitration-eligible this season;
5. Joe Nathan, is wrapping up his two-year contract that the Twins have an option to extend one more year;
6. Carlos Silva, is ending his one-year contract.

There are more decisions to be made as well, but these kinds of contract conundrums would force any front office person to the "consultant" position. It appears as if the Pohlads are setting a team salary limit similar to the almost $72 million they spent this season (19th highest in the Major Leagues). Terry Ryan is no idiot. He can add. Someone has to go. I'm guessing the owners said they are to keep someone important and drop someone important. Terry Ryan just didn't want to be the one holding the pen on that one.

Rotation time

By Bullpen Catcher

With Scott Baker toying with perfect games and Johan thinking about setting a game record in strikeouts of late, perhaps it's time to start looking at the future of the Twins rotation.

• The top spot is set with Johan Santana. From there, who will be on the team, who will fill the next slots and who will step up garners some intrigue.
• There's Baker (126 innings pitched this season, 8-6 record, 85 strikeouts and a 4.09 ERA), suddenly a solid piece of the Twins rotation.
• Boof is slipping as fast as Baker is coming on. Bonser's stats look more like the big fat Sidney Ponson's of late (Boof: 160 IP, 6-12 record, 125 SO, 4.95 ERA).
• Matt Garza's stats are outstanding, sans the phenomenal shellings he occasionally takes (56 IP, 3-5, 47 SO, 3.49 ERA).
• What is going to come of Spittin' Carlos Silva? What pitcher is he, for real? Awkward stats again (174.3 IP, 11-13, 76 SO, 4.34 ERA).
• Can the Twins truly count on bionic armed Francisco Liriano next year? Really? Come on. He had his arm reconstructed because he ruined it throwing that nasty shit he threw last year. If he even comes up with Boof numbers the lefty might give the team something it needs.
• Kevin Slowey (37 IP, 3-0, 19 SO, 5.85 ERA) reminded me a lot of Garza last year (so perhaps 2008 will show another turnaround like Garza's).
• Glen Perkins can hope at best to turn up as the next Mark Guthrie and probably nothing more considering his shoulder issues.

So what will become of this staff? Starting pitching will decide next year if the Twins bounce back and become contenders again. My feeling is the rotation will go something like:

1) Santana

2) Garza

3) Baker

4) Bonser

5) Slowey

Silva will either stay with the team for one more year (clearly as a way to appease his friend Santana and for no other reason) or head for free agency. I'm banking on free agency.

Baker deserves to be called Kevin Tapani more than my initial reaction to call Slowey Tap. Garza will be outstanding next year -- contending for the Cy Young with Santana.

Liriano will pitch out of the bullpen. I say this because the Twins are the most cautious team in the history of baseball in regard to moving players off the DL. Will he pitch as he did last year? Not a chance -- maybe forever. Don't expect anything from him for real until 2009.

It's not a bad rotation. All of them are in their mid-20s and are improving. The only wild card here involves a scenario where the team trades for a veteran pitcher or signs him as a free agent.

For now, though, we'll enjoy our Scott Baker near-no-hitter moments.

Mauer to stop catching? Ugh.

More calls for Mauer to move
Each injury has same result: Position change

By Bullpen Catcher

Joey Mauer's latest leg injury (this one a hamstring issue) has everyone coming out of the woodwork to tell us Mauer needs to switch to third base. Even the honorable Jim Souhan shot this out today.

Most of these folks argue Mauer's bat is too potent to miss from the lineup due to the horrors of playing catcher. Some talk of Mauer's now 6-foot-6 frame being way to lanky to bend down. There are arguments the Twins need a solid third baseman more than they need a solid catcher.

They're wrong. For now.

What indication does anyone have that Mauer would be any good at third? Third base, from experience, is probably the toughest position next to catcher on the field. But it's different from catching. Third basemen are constantly throwing from odd angles and deep spots, the throw is a long one and an overly zealous arm can give up more bases quickly. The balls coming off bats when Boofie is pitching can be near deadly. It's not a paradise. It's not simple. Plus, guess what you need to do at third? That's right, crouch and bend down.

If Mauer were to move, third is not the place. Think about how crappy Michael Cuddyer fared at the plate when he tried to play there. He obviously was all messed up, because the bottom line is he's been consistent at the plate for the Twins. The Nina, The Punto and The Santa Maria played well at third, but he is one of the best fielders in the American League. Problem with Punto: he hits like my niece.

Is Mauer going to be another Punto? There's no sign of that in him. Would he be another Cuddyer (or, for a further statement of such difficulties, another Alex Rodriguez -- look at his stats the first year he played third)? Most likely.

Oh, I forgot. Who will play catcher for this team if Mauer moves to third? Redmond? Um, folks, he's nearing 40. He's been a backup for years because that's his role (see Punto, Nick, for further evidence of a fill-in player at full time).

I'll give you this: Mauer can't catch forever. The knee surgery and the other leg injuries and just being too darn tall will take its toll. He's not a third baseman, though. He has three options in my mind: first base, right field and left field. Of those, right field seems most agreeable. Good right fielders don't need to be too mobile, they should have cannons for arms, they typically are the better hitters in the lineup. Cuddyer has been in the outfield -- and done well for the Twins -- and should be able to adjust to left field. First base is just too much Justin Morneau's for Mauer to consider, but maybe Mauer could take a few ground balls there later.

Jason Kubel, the consummate left fielder of the future for the Twins, would fetch a nice player in return if traded. This leaves the Twins looking for a catcher and third baseman in free agency.

Typical

Twins streak again
This one kicks off a two-game losing streak

By Bullpen Catcher

The Twins' loss to Cleveland Tuesday night signals the official end to post-season talk for this team. It also shows exactly why the Twins were never a true contender this season: Lack of any consistency at all.

The Twins go five straight to pull within 5.5 games of Cleveland, then, facing the Indians and playoff destiny in their own hands, puke up two straight losses. The season has been full of streaks like this.

Heck, they may even come back to within 5 games next week when they face the Indians again, but that's as close as they'll get.

It's difficult when Boof has been so bad on the mound. He simply can't cut it. It may be time to think about him in a trade package over the winter. What is his upside for this team? I see very little. The rest of the rotation has an upside: Garza has a live arm. Liriano has the possibility of being Liriano again. Baker looks like most fifth starters in the league. Santana is the best pitcher in the American League. Slowey is young enough to still be a prospect (think a young Kevin Tapani). Heck, there's even hope for Perkins if his arm could heal (think a young Mark Guthrie).

But Boofie? You can have him.

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)

Time To Think Positive About 2008

Next Year's Team Can Be Now
By Bullpen Catcher

The Catcher has returned to the Bullpen after a well-earned vacation.

As the Twins continue to play mediocre baseball, it's time to look ahead rather than dwell on the negatives that so easily abound right now.

Good moves by the Twins of late: Luis Rodriguez is now playing in the minor leagues with Lew Ford. This rightly allows youngsters Garrett Jones, Brian Buscher, Alexi Casilla and Tommy Watkins a chance to prepare for next season.

As duly pointed out in a nice column last week, it's time to ready everyone for next year. Even if the Tigers and Indians falter at an historic rate the rest of the season and the Twins get in the playoffs, they will be promptly disposed of by the likes of the Red Sox or Mariners.

In regards to the Times article: I agree it's time to let the youngsters play. But Mauer at leadoff? At first it seems an odd proposition. He's the Twins best hitter, but tends to be dismal with runners in scoring position. I would have suggested he'd fare better as a No. 2 hitter, but maybe leadoff isn't a bad idea. Heck, Barry Bonds used to lead off for the Pirates.

Anything different would be better. Morneau isn't himself. Cuddyer is playing as could be expected (last year was obviously a career year). Torii Hunter is back to being Torii Hunter.

Soon it will be time for the Bullpen Catcher to unveil some deeper thoughts on next year, but for now I've got a few bags to unpack ...

10-1 loss to Angels ... Ugh

Twins love the
binary system
Crappy offense yields nothing. Nothing.

By Bullpen Catcher

Homer: [on phone] Yeah, Moe, that team sure did
suck last night. They just plain sucked! I've seen teams suck before, but they were the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked.

The Twins dropped yet another game last night, this time their offensive eruption wasn't enough to hold of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, California Which Is Located In The United States Of America Baseball Team. The Minnesotans exploded for one run.

There's something wrong here. Binary system wrong. All 1's and zeros.

How's this for outbusts of offense? The Twins wasted a bunch of runs on the Omaha/Kansas City Royals on August 8 (11), but otherwise have nubbed out run totals of 1, 1, 1, 0, and 1 dating back to last weekend. Previous to that the Twins went on a 3, 2, 3, 5, 3 tear. Those numbers aren't going to cut anything, let alone with Scott Baker and Boof Bonser in the rotation.

It's gotten so bad even More-yes is in a hitting slump and not even hitting dingers to keep me interested. Did you notice John Mauer is hitting under .300. I guess it's time for everyone to start talking about moving him to shortstop or something.