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SandyBeach26
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The Minnesota Twins. Oh, my...the Minnesota Twins. No one could have forseen THIS debacle. Injuries coupled with under achieving, coupled with massive AAA and AA callups, coupled with crazy weather and just plain bad luck at times during the season.
The Twins should have been poised to defend their Central Division title. Many picked them to repeat as champions, with both Detroit and Chicago challenging them all the way. They certainly had the players....well, that is, until the season actually started......
Minnesota will be going into this off season with a TON of hard decisions to make. First and foremost, they have to make the decision whether they are willing to forsake the next 2-3 seasons in the interest of rebuilding, or attempt to compete again, chalking 2011 up to an injury plagued mess that helped to put them at the very bottom of the AL standings, and only Houston being worse record-wise in the entire Majors.
Once the decision to rebuild or not has been made, then they can attend to the business of who to keep, who to let go, who to trade, and who to try to get in the off season via free agency.
Personally, and this is probably the fan in me talking, I feel Minnesota does have the parts to contend in the Central, however, the health of those parts is another question altogether...one that can't be easily answered at this point in time.
It would be nice to see what a HEALTHY Minnesota Twins lineup can do over the course of a 162 game season.
Obviously, I am not privy to how the Twins owner wants to spend money, but if Minnesota is thinking about competing next year, I think resigning Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, and picking up the option on Joe Nathan would be the place to start. All three of those guys, health aside, have performed during 2011. Cuddyer was pretty consistent (one of the few Twins), Kubel was hitting well above .300 before his injury issues started, and Nathan finished strong after initially stepping down from his closer role and looking shaky returning from surgery.
Do the Twins have better options should they let Cuddyer go? Not sure. In house, you know Ben Revere has to be considered for a starting job, Span, if healthy definately will be a starter. I just don't know if they have anyone else in their own system they can put in to replace Cuddyer on the field....and that's not even taking into account his clubhouse leadership, and other intangibles. Kubel, of course, is a part time RF/ LF, but his DH role is more significant. Not many of the Twins players have thrived just DH'ing in Minnesota....Kubel has shown he can.
Some possible FA replacements in RF:
Coco Crisp, David DeJesus, Rick Ankiel, or Juan Pierre.
Not sure if any of those guys would bring the same amount of production and leadership (or stay healthy for that matter) that Cuddyer already brings.
The catcher position is another area of concern. Is Joe Mauer THE catcher, or not? Looks like the Twins are transitioning him to a 1B/RF role (hey, maybe THERE is your RF replacement..)
Drew Butera and Rene Rivera certainly have NOT proved to be the answer at C.
I've been a fan of Jose Molina's work behind the plate, so perhaps Twins may want to look to FA to see if they can get him? Maybe he splits time with Mauer at C..?? And despite Molina's .230ish, .240ish batting average, it is an UPGRADE over Butera and Rivera (both in the low 200's or below...yikes..), and can hit for some power.
First base. A healthy Morneau is, of course, the preference....but WILL he be? Ever...??? Morneau may very well have to cut his career short....yes, I know, premature now still..but something the Twins need to think about. Mauer again, first base...he has proven he can play there...and if you are keeping Cuddyer, he can play there as well. Luke Hughes may be a solution in-house from AAA, but the question of whether he can productive as an everyday player needs to be looked into.
FA Options for 1B:
Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols...(just kidding...I know DAMN well, Minny can't afford those guys...nice to dream though...hehe)
Carlos Pena, Eric Hinske (if Atlanta doesn't resign him), Ross Gload, Xavier Nady......
None of these options are particulary appetizing for various reasons.....pickings would be slim.
Middle Infield. I'd like to see Minnesota give the duo of Casilla and Nishioka another shot. Nishioka can't POSSIBLY be this bad TWO years in a row, can he?? I mean, this guy was a freakin batting champion in Japan!! No one is expecting 330 or 340 from this guy...but perhaps 260-270...a good glove? Too much to ask for? Hmm...
FA Options for middle infielders:
Mark Ellis, Orlando Cabrera (again), Jose Reyes (ok, STOP laughing already....hehe), or Jamey Carroll...
Pitching. Oh, my..... pitching. Look, Twins...I understand Gio Gonzalez will be a FA....look into this guy will ya? Pavano has one more year on his contract..stick with him....see what Liriano can do in the off season to improve his mechanics...keep him...Baker if healthy is a good option for a SP as well...keep him.....Blackburn..another run as a starter? Hmm..don't know..I'd like him out of the bullpen, but someone mentioned to me sinker ballers don't seem to do well coming in from the pen.....then you have guys like Liam Hendriks, Scott Diamond, and/or Anthony Swarzak who can compete for a starters job.
Duensing would make a good bullpen arm...keep Perkins in there...any of the guys who DONT' make the rotation can possibly be in the bullpen.
DO AWAY WITH: Matt Capps, Alex Burnett, Jim Hoey, Anthony Slama, Jose Mijares....if anyone can see ANY redeeming qualities in these guys, let me know...I certainly haven't...
And try to trade Kevin Slowey...picks, minor leaguers, something...
FA pitchers available:
Rich Harden, Aaron Harang, Gio Gonzalez (mentioned), Edwin Jackson...all starters.
Relief: Heath Bell (man, that would be nice), Michael Wurtz, George Sherrill, John Grabow.
Of course, if Minnesota chooses to go the rebuilding route, throw all that out the window: AAA and stop-gap guys it will be.....and perhaps another 2-3 seasons of mediocrity and misery.
What do the Twins fans at large think?
The Twins should have been poised to defend their Central Division title. Many picked them to repeat as champions, with both Detroit and Chicago challenging them all the way. They certainly had the players....well, that is, until the season actually started......
Minnesota will be going into this off season with a TON of hard decisions to make. First and foremost, they have to make the decision whether they are willing to forsake the next 2-3 seasons in the interest of rebuilding, or attempt to compete again, chalking 2011 up to an injury plagued mess that helped to put them at the very bottom of the AL standings, and only Houston being worse record-wise in the entire Majors.
Once the decision to rebuild or not has been made, then they can attend to the business of who to keep, who to let go, who to trade, and who to try to get in the off season via free agency.
Personally, and this is probably the fan in me talking, I feel Minnesota does have the parts to contend in the Central, however, the health of those parts is another question altogether...one that can't be easily answered at this point in time.
It would be nice to see what a HEALTHY Minnesota Twins lineup can do over the course of a 162 game season.
Obviously, I am not privy to how the Twins owner wants to spend money, but if Minnesota is thinking about competing next year, I think resigning Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, and picking up the option on Joe Nathan would be the place to start. All three of those guys, health aside, have performed during 2011. Cuddyer was pretty consistent (one of the few Twins), Kubel was hitting well above .300 before his injury issues started, and Nathan finished strong after initially stepping down from his closer role and looking shaky returning from surgery.
Do the Twins have better options should they let Cuddyer go? Not sure. In house, you know Ben Revere has to be considered for a starting job, Span, if healthy definately will be a starter. I just don't know if they have anyone else in their own system they can put in to replace Cuddyer on the field....and that's not even taking into account his clubhouse leadership, and other intangibles. Kubel, of course, is a part time RF/ LF, but his DH role is more significant. Not many of the Twins players have thrived just DH'ing in Minnesota....Kubel has shown he can.
Some possible FA replacements in RF:
Coco Crisp, David DeJesus, Rick Ankiel, or Juan Pierre.
Not sure if any of those guys would bring the same amount of production and leadership (or stay healthy for that matter) that Cuddyer already brings.
The catcher position is another area of concern. Is Joe Mauer THE catcher, or not? Looks like the Twins are transitioning him to a 1B/RF role (hey, maybe THERE is your RF replacement..)
Drew Butera and Rene Rivera certainly have NOT proved to be the answer at C.
I've been a fan of Jose Molina's work behind the plate, so perhaps Twins may want to look to FA to see if they can get him? Maybe he splits time with Mauer at C..?? And despite Molina's .230ish, .240ish batting average, it is an UPGRADE over Butera and Rivera (both in the low 200's or below...yikes..), and can hit for some power.
First base. A healthy Morneau is, of course, the preference....but WILL he be? Ever...??? Morneau may very well have to cut his career short....yes, I know, premature now still..but something the Twins need to think about. Mauer again, first base...he has proven he can play there...and if you are keeping Cuddyer, he can play there as well. Luke Hughes may be a solution in-house from AAA, but the question of whether he can productive as an everyday player needs to be looked into.
FA Options for 1B:
Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols...(just kidding...I know DAMN well, Minny can't afford those guys...nice to dream though...hehe)
Carlos Pena, Eric Hinske (if Atlanta doesn't resign him), Ross Gload, Xavier Nady......
None of these options are particulary appetizing for various reasons.....pickings would be slim.
Middle Infield. I'd like to see Minnesota give the duo of Casilla and Nishioka another shot. Nishioka can't POSSIBLY be this bad TWO years in a row, can he?? I mean, this guy was a freakin batting champion in Japan!! No one is expecting 330 or 340 from this guy...but perhaps 260-270...a good glove? Too much to ask for? Hmm...
FA Options for middle infielders:
Mark Ellis, Orlando Cabrera (again), Jose Reyes (ok, STOP laughing already....hehe), or Jamey Carroll...
Pitching. Oh, my..... pitching. Look, Twins...I understand Gio Gonzalez will be a FA....look into this guy will ya? Pavano has one more year on his contract..stick with him....see what Liriano can do in the off season to improve his mechanics...keep him...Baker if healthy is a good option for a SP as well...keep him.....Blackburn..another run as a starter? Hmm..don't know..I'd like him out of the bullpen, but someone mentioned to me sinker ballers don't seem to do well coming in from the pen.....then you have guys like Liam Hendriks, Scott Diamond, and/or Anthony Swarzak who can compete for a starters job.
Duensing would make a good bullpen arm...keep Perkins in there...any of the guys who DONT' make the rotation can possibly be in the bullpen.
DO AWAY WITH: Matt Capps, Alex Burnett, Jim Hoey, Anthony Slama, Jose Mijares....if anyone can see ANY redeeming qualities in these guys, let me know...I certainly haven't...
And try to trade Kevin Slowey...picks, minor leaguers, something...
FA pitchers available:
Rich Harden, Aaron Harang, Gio Gonzalez (mentioned), Edwin Jackson...all starters.
Relief: Heath Bell (man, that would be nice), Michael Wurtz, George Sherrill, John Grabow.
Of course, if Minnesota chooses to go the rebuilding route, throw all that out the window: AAA and stop-gap guys it will be.....and perhaps another 2-3 seasons of mediocrity and misery.
What do the Twins fans at large think?