January 10, 2012
Got a question, comment, or topic idea for this week’s podcast?
Our first two mailbag episodes of "Gleeman and The Geek" worked so well for the podcast that we're doing it again, so John Bonnes and I are soliciting questions, comments, and topic ideas from the audience. If there's something you'd like to hear us read, answer, discuss, or argue about on tonight's show you can send it to me/us via the comments section, e-mail, or Twitter. And they don't all have to be Twins-related. In fact, non-Twins stuff is definitely encouraged.
The Twins claim to have some righthanded relievers on their list ahead of Dan Wheeler. Who do you think these pitchers are?
Comment by Bryz — January 9, 2012 @ 9:49 pm
who will be Gardy’s favorite “scrappy” player on the Twinkies next year?
Comment by Bill — January 9, 2012 @ 9:53 pm
Assume the miraculous: Mauer, Mourneau and Span are back and producing >90%, and the Twins are in first place in the Central at the all-star break. Do the Twins use their payroll headroom to pick up an arm before the deadline to put them over the top?
Comment by Daniel — January 9, 2012 @ 11:04 pm
which AL central team has made the best off-season moves so far?
Comment by al — January 9, 2012 @ 11:20 pm
Why do you think the Twins avoid players with fiery personalities? And why does the local Twins media only tell us a player is a jerk after said player leaves or falls out of team favor? (Ex Chuck K, Kevin S,AJ P)
Comment by Wade Peterson — January 9, 2012 @ 11:41 pm
Was 2011 the worst year for Minnesota professional sports in your lifetime.
Comment by SoCal Al — January 10, 2012 @ 12:00 am
Not official, but the rumored Matt Garza trade to the Tigers essentially wraps up the AL central, thoughts?
Comment by kyle — January 10, 2012 @ 12:01 am
If Morneau can’t stay on the field for concussion reasons again this year. Is there anyway he retires and bails on last year of his deal? Is there a precedence for something like that?
Comment by kyle — January 10, 2012 @ 12:10 am
The Twins will have 6 picks in the top 100 of the 2012 draft. What type of player/positions should they target?
Comment by Ben H. — January 10, 2012 @ 4:48 am
So the Twins are plugging and playing… I think if they’re close around the trade deadline, they pick up what ever they may need.
The more probable outcome is that they struggle, do they enter full rebuild or do they continue to plug and play?
What will they do and what they should do, are they the same?
Comment by MC — January 10, 2012 @ 7:11 am
I had a dream last night that Joe Mauer was ruled out for 2012 due to lingering health issues, which resulted in the Twins shutting down Morneau to write off 2012 and prep for 2013. Good decision by the dream-state Twins?
Comment by Shane — January 10, 2012 @ 8:26 am
Given the current state of the Oakland A’s, has your opinion of Billy Beane and his implementation of “Moneyball” evolved over the past 6 years, and how?
Comment by koop — January 10, 2012 @ 9:40 am
What do you think is a realistic year for Aaron Hicks?
With a good year, could he see time in Minnesota the second half of this year? Or is more realistic that he probably won’t make the opening day starting lineup until 2014?
Comment by Eric — January 10, 2012 @ 9:42 am
Why is Bonnes so loud laughing off-mic in the background on KFAN, but it took him about 13 podcasts to learn to keep mouth close enough to the mic on your show?
Comment by Al Pal — January 10, 2012 @ 9:48 am
How low would the Twins have to sink, and for how long, to seriously put Gardenhire’s job in jeopardy with Terry Ryan and the front office?
Comment by morts — January 10, 2012 @ 9:52 am
Did anyone except me appreciate just how good Ted Robinson did at announcing the few games he did in 2011?
Comment by David — January 10, 2012 @ 10:16 am
National Baseball Coverage:
You read a lot of papers and writers for other teams, i dont. So Nationally who is the best beat writer for the MLB?
How do the local writers stack up? (I notice you no longer call LEN III the official sportswriter of your bog. Any reason?
Comment by miks — January 10, 2012 @ 10:22 am
I’m curious about the worst-case Morneau situation. Is there some kind of insurance if he’s worthless? Do teams have any recourse to avoid paying tens of millions of dollars to injured players who will never return?
Comment by Jeff — January 10, 2012 @ 10:31 am
Aaron Hicks was also a good pitching prospect when the Twins drafted him, I know its still early but at what point do the Twins try him as a pitcher
Comment by Dan — January 10, 2012 @ 10:34 am
Aaron and John, what would be increased defensive value to the team as a result of having an OF of Revere/Span/Willingham next year instead of Young/Span/Cuddyer? What statistical impact do you see this having on our pitching staff?
Thanks!
Comment by Marshall — January 10, 2012 @ 10:52 am
Like you two, I am very frustrated with the payroll cut. But I am also reminded of Tom Verducci’s well-thought article after the Mauer signing: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/web/COM1167614/index.htm
There is a lot to be said for the ‘window of opportunity’ from new ballpark revenue. Do you think the Twins are saving resources to take advantage of the second half of their ‘window’ – seeing as the first half appears to be full of what-ifs regarding Morneau, Span, Blackburn, and Nishioka?? Perhaps they are preserving revenue to use when they have a true shot at contending with the rest of the AL…
Comment by Alex — January 10, 2012 @ 11:22 am
Why doesn’t Jon Heyman stick to reporting (fake rumors that can get his buddy Boras more $) and quit trying to use flawed, inconsistent logic as his “analysis” for his Hall of Fame votes?
Comment by Paulie — January 10, 2012 @ 12:16 pm
What are the chances we’ll see the new expanded playoffs format this upcoming season? Which side of the argument do each of you fall on, Yay! the Wild Card teams are finally being punished or Boo! dilutes the regular season?
Comment by Jon — January 10, 2012 @ 12:29 pm
Who do you see making the playoffs next year?
Comment by Shane — January 10, 2012 @ 12:32 pm
I’d be curious to hear a discussion of an evaluation of moves made by division rivals.
Also, I think you should get Souhan on as a guest and ask him why he voted for Morris. 😉
Comment by Alex — January 10, 2012 @ 12:44 pm
Why isn’t anyone (bloggers and reporters in the TC) talking about Michael Levi as a shortstop prospect. It seems like a first round shortstop would be something we could look forward to with hope.
Comment by Paul — January 10, 2012 @ 12:49 pm
What was the best show on TV in 2011?
Comment by Scot — January 10, 2012 @ 1:11 pm
I’d love to see the twins take a flyer on Rich Harden. He can be so dominating when healthy. Any chance we make this move and at least try him out of the ‘pen?
Comment by Nate — January 10, 2012 @ 3:08 pm
What is the over/under number for years until the Twins win the Central again? I say 5.
Comment by Tommy — January 10, 2012 @ 3:48 pm
After a 94-win season, the Twins headed into the season with reasonable expectations and a basically unchanged rotation of Liriano, Baker, Pavano, Duensing, and Blackburn.
Now, after a 99-loss season, the team heads into the new year with absolutely dismal expectations and a rotation of Liriano, Baker, Pavano, Marquis, and Blackburn.
I’m not saying I love the rotation, but isn’t it possible that the teeth-gnashing over the state of the rotation is overblown?
Comment by AM. — January 10, 2012 @ 3:58 pm
Who do you think will be the Twins starting rotation come spring 2012? They (probably) lose Baker, Liriano and Pavano for sure after this year (hopefully getting something for them.) Who fills the rotation spots next year?
Comment by Cory — January 10, 2012 @ 4:01 pm
Who will be the righthanded reliever, of the many they have signed to minor league deals, that will make the pen?(assuming they stay the course and won’t spend any more money)..
Comment by J Lee Rankin — January 10, 2012 @ 7:20 pm
When HoF voters (like I care who is in….) say “I saw them play”, how often do you think Heyman actually saw Morris pitch? Like, 5 times? Writers see guys pitch when the opponent comes to their town (remember, this is pre-internet), and that’s about it.
Comment by mike wants wins — January 10, 2012 @ 7:43 pm
I second Nates question, i see the Twins signing Harden as a no-brainer.They could start him off in the pen and if and when a starter falters, plug him into the rotation. Worse case scenario is him and Morneau riding pine together and positing such thought provoking narrative as, Dem Canucks is good, eh? Thoughts?
Comment by bcntwinsfan — January 10, 2012 @ 10:46 pm
Do you have any idea how much money the Twins profited last year? If they have $100 million in the budget does that mean they probably brought in at least $200-225 million?
Comment by darin — January 11, 2012 @ 9:51 pm