Comments on: Injuries Cast Cloud Over Twins’ Great Start

By: scott

scott — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:01:14 +0000

the point i was making steven, was that the twins will have to be blown away with a trade offer to trade ramos, hence the reason i threw heywards name out there (obviously, a team would have to be smoking something to offer that in a trade).

Also, I disagree with you that its a waste having a stud backup catcher. Do you think its a waste right now? I dont have too much faith in Morales, hes adequate AT BEST. Having a stud backup allows the team to DH/pinch hit both catchers through out the year and not miss a beat when they do so

By: Steven Ellingson

Steven Ellingson — Tue, 04 May 2010 03:27:43 +0000

“Ramos is not getting moved anytime soon, unless of course some team offers up a jason heyward type player.”

Jason Heyward? You have got to be joking. Heyward is one of the best prospects of the decade. Ramos was a good, but not great, hitter in AA last year, and is 2 years older than him. They are not anywhere near comparable prospects.

“I can’t believe I’m seeing people talk about getting rid of Wilson Ramos. Trade bait? How about a fantastic backup for Joe Mauer for the next three years, then a king’s ransom of draft picks or prospects in trade?”

I understand that it’s nice to have a good backup. But it’s also a waste, when we have an adequate backup in Morales, and we will have holes elsewhere in the lineup. I’m not saying we should just get rid of him, but they should entertain offers, and if someone offers a top 50 prospect that fits our roster better, they should do it.

Ramos is a very good prospect, but so are guys like Reid Brignac (going to need an infielder next year) and Jennry Mejia (going to need guys to fill in the rotation in the next few years).

Obviously it would be great to have a stud backup catcher, but I’d rather have the second basemen, or ace pitcher of the future.

By: Steven Ellingson

Steven Ellingson — Tue, 04 May 2010 03:20:46 +0000

“Can someone with the ability to break down some stats give me verification of what I see with my own eyes, that Michael Cuddyer has been absolutely brutal in clutch situations this year?”

Your eyes are correct. Micheal Cuddyer has a -.46 WPA this year. WPA takes the win probability of the game before your at bat, and subtracts it from the win probability after your at bat.

So overall, we’ve been a total of a half a win worse off after his at bats, despite the fact that he’s been above average when situation isn’t taken into account.

It is interesting to note, that if you take out the game we lost 4-3 to the Royals, and yesterday’s game against the Indians, he’s been exactly average.

By: jimbo92107

jimbo92107 — Mon, 03 May 2010 23:37:09 +0000

I can’t believe I’m seeing people talk about getting rid of Wilson Ramos. Trade bait? How about a fantastic backup for Joe Mauer for the next three years, then a king’s ransom of draft picks or prospects in trade?

It’s become apparent that for Mauer to last the whole year, he needs a backup catcher with a credible bat. Enter Wilson Ramos, an excellent defensive catcher with serious power at the plate. Now Mauer can take every third or fourth game off to keep his body fresh, while the Twins enjoy the bat and defense of a young star catcher.

I just hope I never see Wilson Ramos in a Yankees or Red Sox uniform. If and when he graduates to a starting role, for goodness sake trade him into the National League!

By: scott

scott — Mon, 03 May 2010 20:38:30 +0000

Ramos is not getting moved anytime soon, unless of course some team offers up a jason heyward type player. This is the very reason they held on to him, when mauer goes down the offense is still 9 deep (and not 8 deep with butera).

By: Jake

Jake — Mon, 03 May 2010 20:20:55 +0000

Screw it. Put Cuddy at 3rd and play Kubel, Delmon, and Thome. With Mauer back we would be having JJ Hardy hit 9th and I like Kubel hitting 8th. That would be sick.

By: Tom W.

Tom W. — Mon, 03 May 2010 19:49:39 +0000

I read somewhere that Ramos was getting a steady diet of curve-balls at AAA, and that until he learns how to hit the curve, his average will not be great. I noticed that two of the pitches he hit yesterday were fast balls. Hopefully he can hit the curve, otherwise Aaron’s hope for .225 might be too much.

By: Adam S.

Adam S. — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:59:20 +0000

Easy solutions:

-Mauer to DL, call up Slama (put on 40man, find some slob to get gett off 40man)

-Start Kubs vs RHP, Young vs LHP & make Thome full-time DH

-Keep Manship in the rotation in place of either Baker or Blackburn

-Baker/Blackburn goes to bullpen, replacing Burnett

-Start Punto vs RHP, start Harris vs LHP

Wow, easy as that!!!!

By: zebano

zebano — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:13:13 +0000

Gah, terrible timing. I would love to see Ramos go on a tear so that we can move him (unless Mauer agrees to learn to play 3B) for a decent return. I was really hoping that Neshek’s injury would prompt a Slama callup.

By: SBG

SBG — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:41:30 +0000

JIM THOME IS A HUGE BARGAIN AT HIS PALTRY SALARY.