Comments on: Is There a Magic Wand(y) Out There?

By: Tweets that mention Is There a Magic Wand(y) Out There? | Knuckleballs -- Topsy.com

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 06:38:03 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Emily Smith, Knuckleballs Blog. Knuckleballs Blog said: New post: Is There a Magic Wand(y) Out There? http://bit.ly/hAzzCt #Twins #stribtwins [...]

By: Jim Crikket

Jim Crikket — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 04:35:46 +0000

I’m frustrated that improvements haven’t been made, but I’m not giving up hope. As currently constituted, I question whether the Twins would compete with Detroit and Chicago in the Division… but they won’t take the field as currently constituted. I’ll stay tuned to see what happens next. After all, what else do we have to do during the off-season?

Oh… and jamar…

By: Jack Steal

Jack Steal — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 03:31:07 +0000

This would be fantastic but it won’t happen. GM Bill Smith has no intention of doing what it takes in the off-season to take the team to the next level. It’s unfortunate, and sounds like I’m being negative, but very, very true. Target Field will be sold out every night in 2011 just to watch the Mediocre Twins. I don’t believe they will even win the weak A.L. Central next year because of so many unfilled holes they have. Keep up the nice work!

By: James

James — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 03:10:51 +0000

I can jump aboard a Kubel for Wandy trade. Hell, throw in Glen Perkins and maybe get another player from the Astros back

By: jamar1700

jamar1700 — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:46:17 +0000

whaaaaaat? No Greinke? Did not see that coming.

By: Jim Crikket

Jim Crikket — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:49:16 +0000

AK, I think the frustrating thing is that, when the Twins decision makers got together to decide on their game plan for improving the team, they listened to Gardy and his “we need to get faster” line without really looking at the facts. They scored more runs WITHOUT this supposed speed they lacked than they had been scoring in the ‘piranya’ days. So instead of focusing on where real improvement was needed… in the top half of the rotation and outfield defense, for example… they went looking for more middle infielders. It’s almost like they totally forgot why they went and got Hardy in the first place.

jjswol, you’re absolutely correct about Wandy not being an ace. And I’d love to find a true ace that the Twins could realistically obtain. I just don’t see one falling in to the Twins’ laps. Even Greinke, who I would absolutely love to get, isn’t a sure-thing. I know Rodriguez’s home/road splits reflect evidence that his numbers (which are pretty impressive the past couple of years) benefited by playing home games in Houston. But I’m not so sure he wouldn’t get the same benefit from Target Field. He may not be an ace today, but he looks to me like the kind of pitcher who is, or could become, a top-half of the rotation lefty pitcher for the Twins. And he’d be worth a lot more than some bullpen arms, which is all the Twins are reported to be looking for out of a Hardy trade.

(By the way, if they keep badmouthing Hardy, they’ll be lucky to get that… do they really think the way they’re talking about Hardy is going to HELP his trade value with other teams?)

By: jjswol

jjswol — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:13:48 +0000

Trading for Wandy would be nice and he would make a very nice addition to the Twins pitching staff but if you are looking to add an “Ace” pitcher, Wandy is not that guy.

By: AK

AK — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:53:23 +0000

I’ve been saying this for months about Wandy Rodriquez, he fits the Twins pitching mold, he’s effective, and he’s not that expensive. I’m completely on-board with your outline. There are a number of tasty starting pitchers out there who would be relatively inexpensive and who could be had in a trade…and Kubel is good bait (provided they re-sign Thome).

The Twins have been awfully confusing so far this off-season. I don’t like the Nishioka business because a) he doesn’t really want to play here, b) he’s not that great, and c) they have a known quantity in JJ Hardy so why take a risk on a guy who’s never played in the Majors? Additionally, you’re right, they have made many strides in shoring up other weak areas of the team and, to be honest, some of those areas (the bullpen, starting rotation) are more important than the middle infield.