tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post7131409118430235630..comments2023-12-19T20:25:36.069-06:00Comments on Nick's Twins Blog: Is Delmon Finished? Not So Fast...Nick N.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00848574337121154690noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-75255644989053061082008-12-08T16:15:00.000-06:002008-12-08T16:15:00.000-06:00I'm in the DC area and you can forget getting ...I'm in the DC area and you can forget getting Zimmerman. You'd have to throw in one of the M&M boys with Young and two starting pitchers to get him and the fans would still probably burn down the stadium (which by the way has a spectacular view of the Capitol from the upper decks between Home and First Base).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-66039281400840925802008-12-07T04:17:00.000-06:002008-12-07T04:17:00.000-06:00Tru dat. There may be no 3rd basemen on the tradi...Tru dat. There may be no 3rd basemen on the trading block or free agency pool that is worth the asking price. Every team with an available 3rd basemen will ask for one of our starters.<BR/><BR/>That may even end up to be a liability in our offseason trade hopes. In reality, I don't think Smith and the Twins want to trade any of Liriano/Baker/Blackburn/Slowey/Perkins for less than A+ proven major league talent.<BR/><BR/>So while we have this depth of young pitching talent, there will be plenty of GMs looking to land that very talent off of Smith for less than they may be worth. <BR/><BR/>Smith should be very cautious sending any off those pitchers elsewhere. It may even be a better idea to stand pat with what we have than to make risky trades involving one of our starters.Benjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00601380935824401744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-25183280514906233532008-12-06T18:52:00.000-06:002008-12-06T18:52:00.000-06:00I agree with everything you said Benjamin. Althoug...I agree with everything you said Benjamin. Although I don't think the Twins would be able to pry Zimmerman from the Nats for Young +1 unless the "+1" was someone like Liriano or Baker.Nick N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00848574337121154690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-46366362583143901572008-12-06T17:42:00.000-06:002008-12-06T17:42:00.000-06:00There's no burning rush to trade Young, IMO. ...There's no burning rush to trade Young, IMO. He still makes <$1M/year. He still might be an above average player -- maybe even excellent. <BR/><BR/>Also, what's wrong with having him as an outfield reserve? or playing him 3-4 times a week? What are the odds that Span, Gomez, Cuddyer and Kubel will all be healthy and productive all year long? <BR/><BR/>That said, I'm not saying he's untouchable. If the right deal came along, for a left side infielder or an premier 8th inning guy, that might be a wise trade. (Maybe Young +1 for the Nat's Zimmerman?)<BR/><BR/>I'm just saying we don't need to dump him just because he may be the least spectacular of our rather strong outfield.<BR/><BR/>I also say this because I'm not that impressed with the available trade targets (I heard the Rockies wanted Slowey AND Span for Atkins? Pu-lease.)Benjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00601380935824401744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-84417009094418295292008-12-05T16:01:00.000-06:002008-12-05T16:01:00.000-06:00I don't think the problems experienced by Gomez, S...I don't think the problems experienced by Gomez, Span or Cuddyer have anything to do with a lack of motivation. Gomez was already humbled last season by being benched a few times and knocked from leadoff to the nine-hole mid-season. Span, as you mention, has already gotten his slight (being left off the Opening Day roster last year) and it looks like it helped him immensely -- he should be rewarded for his excellent season with the guarantee of a starting spot to open the season. I don't Cuddyer has any motivation problems, he's just injury-prone and not all that good to begin with.<BR/><BR/>Young seems like the guy out of that group he could most benefit from a swift kick in the rear.Nick N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00848574337121154690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-22526055118565250402008-12-05T15:56:00.000-06:002008-12-05T15:56:00.000-06:00First of all, can you imagine any other manager in...First of all, can you imagine any other manager in Major League Baseball revealing personel discisions at an agricultural trade show? This just shows what an odd organization we Twins fans fallow.<BR/><BR/>Seccond, I agree with you that Gardy's comments could very well be intended to light a fire under Delmon, but wouldnt you think the other three outfielders could use that as well? Gomez is a horribly undisciplined batter, and Span had a break out season last year, largely because he went into the season with a huge chip on his shoulder. Cuddyer had a horrible season after signing a huge contract, you would think he has a lot to prove himself. <BR/><BR/>I dont see why Gardy wouldnt just say that the three best players will play, and keep the pressure on all of them to work hard and show up to Spring Training ready to compete for a job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-57859795257709143242008-12-05T13:40:00.000-06:002008-12-05T13:40:00.000-06:00Thank you for a reasoned reaction! The Strib's blo...Thank you for a reasoned reaction! The Strib's blogs were going crazy, and I just didn't think Gardy's comments spelled doom for either Delmon or the 2009 season (as some said). <BR/><BR/>An unintended effect of the comments seems to be rising popularity for Delmon. Fans who previously derided him and dissed BS for trading for him are now lining up to defend Delmon's potential and production. Go figure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-68582797449059568612008-12-05T12:41:00.000-06:002008-12-05T12:41:00.000-06:00The likely explanation for Gardy's comments is tha...<I>The likely explanation for Gardy's comments is that he just forgot to keep his low opinion of Young under wraps. He has criticized much better young players than Young in the past.</I><BR/><BR/>He has, but it seems to me that he has frequently done so with an underlying motive. As an example, I seem to recall that when Francisco Liriano struggled mightily during his first call-up last season after he had repeatedly claimed that he deserved to be in the big leagues, either Gardy or some member(s) of the front office made some negative comments about Liriano's work ethic. That struck me as a challenge to Liriano, and it could be that this payed off, as the pitcher returned to Triple-A and showed vast improvement over the next couple months.Nick N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00848574337121154690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-88560362564436407922008-12-05T09:06:00.000-06:002008-12-05T09:06:00.000-06:00There really is nothing the Twins can do to make C...There really is nothing the Twins can do to make Cuddyer more desirable to other teams. He hasn't been productive in a while and most teams are tightening up payroll wise. The Twins would have to eat a big chunk of his salary and needless to say that's anathema to them.<BR/><BR/>The likely explanation for Gardy's comments is that he just forgot to keep his low opinion of Young under wraps. He has criticized much better young players than Young in the past.JWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530976124095073877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-31236524548982635082008-12-05T03:34:00.000-06:002008-12-05T03:34:00.000-06:00both of your explanations are very plausible and v...both of your explanations are very plausible and very well thought out, nick. <BR/><BR/>i just cannot fathom why the twins would trade a 23-year-old healthy player with a world of potential who is getting paid very little instead of a soon-to-be 30-year-old with health concerns and 2-years and $15.25 million remaining on a contract.<BR/><BR/>i understand that young would net a bigger return at a position we really need, however we finally have a few young, high-potential bats to go along with a young starting rotation. i think the twins need to keep the "young theme" and get rid of cuddyer if they were to trade any of them...<BR/><BR/>however bill smith said it best...<BR/>"Everybody said it wouldn't work, but the Red Sox didn't do too bad,"--regarding boston's 4-man rotating outfield<BR/><BR/>we'll have to wait and see, but i agree that this is a long off-season and anything can happen between now and opening day.Josh Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00895543504885337250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-2302461473303993102008-12-05T02:03:00.000-06:002008-12-05T02:03:00.000-06:00I'm with you, Nick. And the part about raising Cu...I'm with you, Nick. And the part about raising Cuddyer's perceived value is a great insight.<BR/><BR/>My only worry is that hearing that he's in Gardy's favor will make Gomez become complacent. He's got a long way to go before he's even an average MLB hitter. It would be better if, as LaVelle suggested, nobody knew they had a guaranteed job, so all four of them would bust their butts to improve by spring training.neckrollshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09173753481536697590noreply@blogger.com