Tuesday, February 8, 2005

MORE THOUGHTS

Good morning everyone! Well, our volleyball team played two games last night and it went eight total sets. So, I am not going to be writing much today. Again, I am just going to jot a few quick thoughts on articles that I've enjoyed of late and hope you will as well. I will also include some of Dewey's Quick Hits for this week, and I will respond to his thoughts. If you are looking for some fun reading, look back at what I predicted for Twins players before the 2004 season (Hitters and Pitchers). It's fun to see how accurate, or as is usually the case inaccurate, I tend to be.

Of course, if you have any questions or comments on anything, please feel free to e-mail me.

QUICK HITS BY DEWEY

Dewey Moede is back and has been thinking baseball again. Here are some of his thoughts followed with Seth's Thoughts on said topics in parentheses:

If the Florida Marlins can get a new "Crib" why can't the Twins? (Seth - Point well made. Taxpayers in Minnesota have simply stood by their plan to not help fund a new stadium. It may mean that the team 1.) leaves with a new owner, or 2.) is eligible for contraction again in 2007. Something needs to be done, and I don't know what that is. I would like some rich man to build a big stadium with a huge parking lot and run the whole thing. I bet the state would then expect to get a substantial portion of that (beyond the taxes).

The Twins are keeping there stadium "push" real quiet so far as they found out the hard way that when you knock your present "crib" so much it hurts attendance. (Seth - I would agree with that. The fact is that the Metrodome is a terrible place to play baseball, the turf was terrible before and the new stuff was a factor in more injuries than will be admitted. From a fan's point of view, it is not a good place to watch the game, and the Twins get very little from it. That is all true and really not under question. But, the more that people talk about how awful it is, the less likely that people will want to go, and that's not good either. There was definitely less of that kind of negative talk in 2004.)

The Twins are investing over 1 million bucks to promote the club (Seth - It sounds like this is their standard amount that they have used in previous years. It includes schedules, flyers, print, TV and radio ads.)

Twins Fest was a huge success in selling tickets (Seth - I know Twins Fest was attended by a lot of people and the promotional and sales department did a good job of coming up with some great packages.)

Is Charlie Walters right or wrong in his take on Santana??? Charlie sure has been more wrong than right of late in his takes on the Twins he had Radke and Jones gone........ Charlie says talks with Santana have soured.......Where does he get this stuff? (Seth - Charley is like Sid Hartman. They have their sources and they believe and then report everything they hear. My guess is that Walters more than Sid even just makes guesses about what he thinks.)

I am 50/50 on the Twins being able to sign Santana to a 3 year deal....My gut says the Twins sign him to a 2 year deal before his hearing. (Seth -I think that there are just two alternatives. The first, which is the one I feel is most likely, is that Santana will go to arbitration and win, making him a 3rd year arbitration eligible player next year at this time. I am sure that he won't accept a two year deal, because that really does him no good. I also think that he won't go over three years just because he will want to hit the open market while still in his prime years.)

Kyle has the best chance of going to a hearing Silva will sign a 2 year deal....... (Seth - I agree. Because Lohse is represented by Boras, they may be willing to go to arbitration. I mean, either at $2.1 or $2.45, Lohse will be comfortable. I don't think that the Twins would want more than a one year deal with Lohse at this point, as it is just his first year of arbitration and with the year he is coming off of. I also agree with Silva. I think that they will work out a two year deal with him to keep him from arbitration for that time. They may even give him a third year, but I don't think that is likely as 2005 will be a big year in determining if he will stay as a starter.)

Seth spoke about Jose Canseco....My take on Jose is just like Pete Rose....not much credibility..... (Seth - I completely agree. Canseco has no credibility. However, we are going to hear denial after denial. But we should not be at all surprise is much of what Canseco says is true.)

I will be going to Spring Training March 18th to see the Twins. Looking forward to seeing Baseball in the sun!!!!!! (Seth - I wish I could get to Fort Myers. I believe I will be able to see a couple of days of Mets training camp in Port St. Lucie near the end of March.)

The Sporting News had an article on how small market teams have benefited from revenue sharing and how the playing field has leveled. Bud was talking how he was so happy how things are going........What about KC???......Pitt???? Tampa??? Washington??? and Minnesota?????? The article talked about how the Twins were able to sign Radke....but it did not mention that the only reason for that is that he took a "hometown" discount! Terry Ryan and staff are keeping the Twins competitive because of scouting and great baseball smarts, not so much because of revenue sharing. Baseball still needs to work on a salary cap. (Seth - I agree. I don't think that any of the small market teams are using their additional funds, or maybe they just aren't well. Washington is certainly spending this offseason. Pittsburgh has taken on a couple of contracts (while getting rid of Jason Kendall's). But other than that, I would agree. The one thing that is for certain is that it has not deterred the Yankees and Red Sox and Angels from spending, has it?)

And on that note, I wish you a great Tuesday. If you have any questions or comments on anything you have read above, please e-mail me. Have yourself a great week!

 

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