Is There a Better Option Out There?

Every year as the trade deadline approaches I get nervous, and this year the nerves are worse then ever. See, I loved each and everyone of the Twins players and can’t think of a Twins team without them (although, there are a few players I’d have no problem if they were traded). Here is my run down of my thoughts of the Twins and how I’d feel it they were traded.

Position Players
Joe Mauer – along with Justin Morneau, he’s the face of the Twins outside of Minnesota. Already has 2 batting titles with the possibility of a third this season. Besides, he’s JOE MAUER getting rid of him is not a viable option.
Mike Redmond – really the best option to back up Joe at catcher. Even though his starts are sparse he is always ready and willing to play (remember he was really banged up at the end of last season and still wanted to play when needed.
Justin Morneau – along with Joe Mauer, he’s the face of the Twins outside of Minnesota. Is able to deliver both at the plate and at the bag.
Alexi Casilla – I’m not a fan of Alexi, he’s been around for almost 2 seasons now and still hasn’t earned my trust. He’s has fundamental errors this season and was sent to Rochester twice to work this out. I still haven’t seen an improvement. The Twins have my permission to trade him.
Nick Punto – I can’t see losing him, yes he doesn’t have the hottest bat but his acrobatic abilities in the field have saved us many times throughout the years.
Joe Crede – Crede is still growing on me. When he’s healthy he plays great both in the field and at the plate. However, I think his back and knees problems are causing him more issues than he and the Twins are willing to let on.
Brendan Harris – Even though Brendan doesn’t see much playing time platooning with Buscher, he does play well when given the chance. Plus, he’s one of my favorites.
Brian Buscher – Plays great when given the chance (you can’t prove yourself while sitting on the bench). Plus, Brian’s from Jacksonville Florida like me!!! I saw him play many times in high school and love the fact that I can now see him play in the majors. He can’t go anywhere.
Michael Cuddyer – Cuddy is the personal side of the Twins. Always willing to interact with fans (Baseball Unplugged!!!) and it doesn’t hurt that he had a great arm and plate presence either.
Carlos Gomez – I seem to have a love/hate relationship with GoGo. It amazes me how he can be two completely different people from one at bat to the next (bunting with 2 strikes?). Like he buddy Casilla the Twins have my permission to trade him.
Delmon Young – I still don’t know what the Twins saw in him. I haven’t seen anything spectacular with him either at the plate or in the field. I wonder if the Twins have seen what they hoped for when they traded away Bartlett & Garza for him? Again, Twins you can trade him.
Jason Kubel – is the best option the Twins have as a DH. He doesn’t need to go anywhere.
Denard Span - a great player both at the plate and in the field. Has had some health issues this season, but always shows up ready & willing to play.

Pitchers
With Slowey out for the forseeable future and Perkins battling tendonitis, the starting roation needs some help. For some reason the Twins tend to prefer to rely on their farm system instead of aquiring a pitcher from another team. Right now I think the Twins have Frankie as thier best use of trade bait for a pitcher. He still isn't the same pitcher he was before his Tommy John surgery, but he's still worthy of being trade bait.

The bullpen is and always be a place where you get what you pay for. The Twins' bullpen is no exception. There are too many possible moves here to make suggestions.

Overall, the Twins need to take a close look at all available options on the trade front. With the way things are going right now, a smart trade may be the only way to save the season.

Twins, Cards & All Stars

I was out of town this weekend and didn't get to see any of the Twins/Cards games. So instead of posting my commentary on the series, I've decided to post my All Star votes. It seems fitting since this year's All Star game is hosted by the Cardinals.

American League Lineup
1b: Justin Morneau - Minnesota Twins
2b: Ian Kinsler - Texas Rangers
3b: Evan Longoria - Tampa Rays
SS: Derek Jeter - New York Yankees
C: Joe Mauer - Minnesota Twins
OF: Torii Hunter - Los Angeles Angels
Jacoby Ellsbury - Boston Red Sox
J.D. Drew - Boston Red Sox

National League Lineup
1b: Casey Kotchman - Atlanta Braves
2b: Chase Utley - Philadelphia Phillies
3b: David Wright - New York Mets
SS: Ryan Theriot - Chicago Cubs
C: Ivan Rodriguez - Houston Astros
OF: Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers
Ryan Spilbroghs - Colorado Rockies
Shane Victorino - Philadelphia Phillies

I know the fans don't get to pick the pitchers in the All Star game, but if I could choose the starter for each team I'd choose: Kevin Slowey - Minnesota Twins for the American League and Chad Billingsley - Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League.

A Long Time Gone

As you can probably tell, its been a while since my last posting. But trust me, that's all about to change.

Well, there's a lot to talk about; interleague play, Ayala's trade request, and the illness/injury bug that won't leave.

First off, let me say I LOVE Interleague play. I enjoy seeing teams and players you don't normally see. Other than the Cubs and of course the Brewers the Twins' schedule didn't include any teams or players that jumped out at me as someone I'd love to see play. Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing the Twins/Cubs, my two favorite teams at Wrigley. When I saw those 3 games on the schedule, I knew I had to be there and so did half of Twins Territory. I guess these teams are lacking the marquee players of Shane Victorino, David Wright, Tim Lincecum and Chase Utley. Don't worry, I'm not forgeting about the Cards' Albert Pujols, I think its just the fact that I'd like to see these players play live. The one thing I'd change about interleague play, is in American Leauge parks you play by National League rules and vice versa. This way in addtion to new teams and players, fans get to experience how the other league lives. Besides, it might make for an interesting home field advantage scenario in some ballparks.

When I heard Ayala asked for a trade before the Twins designated him for assignment, I laughed. What team did he think would be interested in him? Yes, there are teams having more issues with their bullpens then the Twins, but seriously has he looked at his stats? Gardy has flat out said he didn't trust him in the eighth inning. Besides, when you are unhappy with your work situation and its because of your performance you don't ask for a transfer/trade to a new department or employer. That's asking to be fired. Ayala, good luck with what ever team decides to take a chance on you.

This illness/injury bug will not leave the Twins alone this season. Now we have Kubel battling the flu/cold, Punto flying home to Minnesota for an MRI on his ribs, Span hopefully over his dizziness, and hopefully Cuddyer's finger won't act up for the rest of the season. I know injuries and illness will occur over the course of a season its just natural with all the traveling the players do and the nature of the game. I just prefer they're spread out over the season and not everyone is affected at once.

Way to Go Rays

A HUGE congratulations to the Rays for advancing to the ALCS!!! The Rays are proving to everyone their remarkable season wasn't a fluke and that their here to win it all. I can already see Hollywood scrambling to make a movie of the Rays worst to first Cinderella story. Its been a great year so far, but there's still plenty of baseball left to play.

Is it just me, or has it seemed like we haven't seen the Twins play in months? I know the unfourtunate loss to Chicago happened only a week ago, but it feels like I haven't seen or heard from the boys in forever. I was bored, missing the Twins and watching the Cubs get swept by the Dodgers this weekend when I put together the video below. I hope you like it.

All Good Things Must Come To An End

Well, last night didn't end the way I had hoped. The Twins played a great game, the score could have been a lot higher with the power hitting Sox at the plate, but Blackburn and the rest of the game were able to keep them in check. Cuddy did a great job in the 5th trying to tackle AJ to score a run. Thankfully Cuddy wasn't injured, though a run would have been nice too. Michael Cuddyer was right in spring training when he gave the team the "162+ Games ... Prove Them Wrong" shirts, but maybe he should have been a little more specific. I seriously doubt he meant 163 games.

As we look back on the 2008 season we can all over analyze the coulda, shoulda, woulda moments that would have provided a different outcome to the season. But this season was a roller coaster ride and provided more highs and lows than we could have imagined in spring training. We lost Johan, Torii, Bartlett and Garza last winter and were expected to finish in the basement of the AL Central. The 2008 Twins were originally seen as a team full of inexperienced players with only a handful of veterans by every sports publication, sports journalist and other teams. But they prove them wrong. We may not have the highest payroll in baseball (look where that has gotten the Yankees) or the most experienced players, but we have players who play everyday and give everything they have which is all you can ask of a player.

The season hasn't even been over for a full 24 hours yet and I'm already looking forward to next year and the possibilities a new season brings. The off season always brings trades and free agent acquisitions regardless of how the season ended, but to be honest I can't imagine losing any of the players from this season.

There's a lot to look forward to next year, the last season at the Dome, and a new opportunity to get to the post season.

Thanks Twins for another memorable season.

It's Now or Never

After sweeping the Sox at the Dome last week, the AL Central title looked even more promising than ever during the 2008 Season. Thursday's come from behind win was beyond words. The boys were able to so they have what it takes to win in the heat of battle. Friday & Saturday's loss to the Royals looked like the season may be ending after Sunday's game, but amazingly the Sox lost to the Indians in Chicago. The boys were able to win big behind Scott Baker on Sunday, but the Sox were able to win too. Then came Monday, where everyone in Twins Terroritory became Detroit Tigers fans for the day. And we all know how that ended.

Instead of heading to Tampa to take on the Rays, the Twins have a detour on their road to the postseason. Now its time for the Twins to step up to the plate and pt the Sox in their place once and for all. Its funny that this season comes down to the two teams in baseball that seems to hate eachother more than they realize. Its true the Red Sox and Yankees have storied rivalary spaning decades and the Twins/White Sox rivalry is relatively new, but this do or die situation the Twins have found themselves in a place to show the Sox who's boss of the AL Central.

Looking for A Miracle

This is the week everyone in Twins Territory has been waiting for, or at least I have. The Twins need to hold nothing back and come out swing against the Sox for the next three nights and then continue the swinging against the Royals this weekend. At the same time we all need to pray the Indians can pull out a sweep of the Sox in Chicago, which in all respect is highly unlikely. But then again the Twins battling for a playoff berth this year was considered impossible.

I wish I could be at the Dome for the Chicago series, but instead I will be at home watching every play, holding my breath during critical at bats, and cheering the boys on to victory just like I would at the Dome. The only thing I’ll be missing is a dome dog.

I'm finding this last week of regular season baseball bittersweet. Bitter, because baseball the official game of summer is coming to an end for 2008. The end of baseball means fall is here and before we know it winter will be here as well (I'm not really a big fan of winter). But the arrival of winter means the month of January is just around the corner and January means TwinsFest, which I look forward to every year. Once TwinsFest has concluded its about a month until Spring Training starts which means its only six weeks until baseball season begins again. I also find this time of year great, because its the time baseball legends are made. Whether, its the feel good down and out 2004 Red Sox or the where did they come from 2007 Colorado Rockies.

***TONIGHT’S PITCHING MATCHUP***
Scott Baker and Javier Vazquez will be pitching tonight after both having not so memorable outings during their last start. Vazquez’ last start was Thursday against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium where he allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on six hits over 3 2/3 innings. He struck out four, walked four and threw 88 pitches during his trip to the mound. Baker last pitched last Wednesday against the Indians and lasted just 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on six hits.