Note: If you wouldn't say it to someone's face, don't say it here. Comments deleted on a whim.
Condoms - I almost always buy them online. That way you don't have to have that awkward exchange with the 16-year old pizza faced clerk at the Walgreens counter.
I think the better question should be who buys only a 3-pack of condoms when purchasing online? They're going to take a few days to get to you, how do you know that you wouldn't have needed one before they arrived? You've got to have a nice stockpile always at the ready. 3-pack of condoms to me says "single guy who thinks he might get some but secretly knows he's got no shot."
Super Bowl -- I'm 26, and I thought McCartney put on a great show last year. Sure, I'm not excited at the prospect of watching one of the stones break a hip while trying to do the splits, but it's better than the alternative which was bound to be Ryan Cabrera or some other MTV sanatized piece of crap.
I've been promoting a prospects for Castillo trade on the ESPN boards since Monday. It would be nice to land Ron Villone as well to make JC Romero an expendable commodity. Shipping JC to the Mets (who need middle relief badly) for Victor Diaz or Xavier Nady (I'd prefer Diaz) would give the Twins a good, young, relatively powerful righthanded batter to stick in right field, back up LF/1B, and eventually platoon with Kubel. This allows Cuddyer to stay at 3B, where he probably belongs.
Cool, so the next time I buy books from Amazon.com I should do so after clicking through your hardball times link?
Suzy Kolber is a lesbian? Really? Is that why she wouldn't kiss Joe Namath?
Linked by Aaron Gleeman?
An honor, for sure.
In the future I'm buying all my condoms through AG.com, Internet Condom Superstore.
What's a condom?
I agree with Cheat about McCartney, I enjoyed last year's halftime show. I also agree with him about watching for a nice broken hip, but I think if we really wanted to watch aged rock stars jump around like kids a quarter their age, go watch a recent clip of ACDC. I wonder if Gleeman would take odds on one of them having a heart attack onstage.
The Original Matt is off to Vegas today. Wish him luck, because he owes me money.
I'll avoid the condom discussion just because it can't lead to anything but trouble.
I'm 26, and I thought McCartney put on a great show last year. Sure, I'm not excited at the prospect of watching one of the stones break a hip while trying to do the splits, but it's better than the alternative which was bound to be Ryan Cabrera or some other MTV sanatized piece of crap.
I agree that McCartney was good and is much, much better than some crap like Jessica Simpson or Hilary Duff. But like I said, how about something in between? How about, I dunno, maybe Green Day?
Shipping JC to the Mets (who need middle relief badly) for Victor Diaz or Xavier Nady (I'd prefer Diaz) would give the Twins a good, young, relatively powerful righthanded batter to stick in right field, back up LF/1B, and eventually platoon with Kubel. This allows Cuddyer to stay at 3B, where he probably belongs.
I hope to be proven otherwise, but I think most of these J.C. Romero and Kyle Lohse scenarios are pipe dreams. I just see no way that the Mets would give up someone like Diaz for Romero.
I agree with Cheat about McCartney, I enjoyed last year's halftime show. I also agree with him about watching for a nice broken hip, but I think if we really wanted to watch aged rock stars jump around like kids a quarter their age, go watch a recent clip of ACDC. I wonder if Gleeman would take odds on one of them having a heart attack onstage.
I would love an AC/DC halftime show, as long as they seem to only be considering the elderly.
"31. The rape of Buster Olney, a fine sportswriter."
Riiiight.
Well, we can't all be perfect.
I'm thrilled that the Twins are pursuing Nomar and the Big (Often) Hurt. Nomar in particular would be a perfect signing. Put him in every day at 3b, and if he gets hurt, we still have Cuddyer, who was actually league average there last year.
The biggest trouble spots were 1b and 2b, and lf last year. In LF, we really have to just hope that Stewart just had an off year, and at 1b, we have to have the same hopes about Morneau. Personally, I'm still willing to bet that Jason Bartlett can be a league average SS or better, since that isn't really that hard to do, and since there aren't a lot of options out there.
So getting Nomar, who could handle either 3b or 2b, would be a great move. If we got Castillo, obviously we'd see Nomar at 3b. If he gets hurt again, we still have Cuddyer, who was actually league average at 3b last year. Cuddyer hasn't looked that bad at 2b either, though I'd guess he's below average there.
If we got Castillo, Nomar, and the Big Hurt (or maybe Piazza or Rondell White), the lineup would look like this:
LF - Stewart
2b - Castillo
C - Mauer
CF - Hunter
RF - Kubel (hopefully)
3b - Nomar
DH - Big Hurt/Piazza/R. White
1b - Morneau
ss - Bartlett
Utility men - Cuddyer (offensive), Castro (defensive), Ford (4th OF)
Then, with Redmond and a couple of more depth signings for the OF and IF, we'd have what looks to me like a league average offensive team.
I just see no way that the Mets would give up someone like Diaz for Romero.
Then again, they did give up someone like Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano.
"How about, I dunno, maybe Green Day?"
After the wardrobe malfunction a couple years ago, the last thing they want is controversy, and I think a band like Green Day, even as a relatively clean and sanitized punk band, is wayyy to scary for a show with a worldwide audience and lots of nervous advertisers. I can't help but think Green Day or a similar band would use that stage on live TV for a nice anti-Bush rant that would get everybody's undies in a bundle.
The problem is they have to go for wide appeal while being as inoffensive as possible. It's pretty much impossible to combine those two things and come up with relevant, interesting music.
we'd have what looks to me like a league average offensive team.
I would bet a fairly large sum of money on the Twins not producing an average number of runs in 2006.
I would bet a fairly large sum of money on the Twins not producing an average number of runs in 2006.
The Twins were 0.51 R/G behind the league average last year. They've increased their R/G by more than that amount 9 times since relocating to MN, or 20% of the time. I wouldn't bet TOO large a sum on it not happening here.
Regression to the mean alone suggests marked improvement. Looking at the last 20 years of Twins baseball, the team has scored fewer than 4.5 R/G just three times, and in each case improved significantly in the following year:
1990-4.11 R/G; '91-4.79 = +0.68
1993-4.28 R/G; '94*-5.26 = +0.98
1999-4.26 R/G; '00-4.62 = +0.36
(*strike-shortened)
In other words, last year's scoring was so bad we can hardly help but get better.
"It's nice to know that in addition to being one of the worst acquisitions in Twins history, Bret Boone is also a dick."
Somehow, after watching a night of Simpsons and South Park, that was still one of the funniest things I read/heard all night.
Aaron,
My assumptions for a league average offense were that Kubel returns healthy enough to play the OF, they trade for Castillo or a comparable 2b, they sign Nomar, and they sign one of Big Hurt/Piazza/R. White.
That's a lot of assumptions and they probably won't all come off. However, it wouldn't be much of a stretch to think that they could improve themselves to 20th or 22nd in the majors in offense. The White Sox were 23rd in the majors in offense last year and they seem to have done OK...and the Twins pitching is BETTER than that of the White Sox.
Has everyone forgotten that the White Sox were widely projected to be a sub .500 team in 2005? They are largely a mirage, or if you prefer, an average roster for whom everything went right, much like the Angels were in 2002.
The Angels won 75 games in 2001, 99 in 2002, and 77 in 2003, with virtually the same roster.
Well, mission #1 is accomplished...Luis Castillo is now a Twin!! Yippee!!! We gave up Bowyer and Tyler which is quite acceptable.
Now, we just need to sign Nomar and one of Big Hurt/R. White/Piazza.
It's looking pretty do-able now!
Wow, to me that is a great trade for MN. We got a solid O and D 2B, who is only 30 and if I am correct, is signed through next year (option, which we would hopefully pick up). And while we give up 2 pretty good minor leaguers, I wouldn't say they are a big loss given our system. Sure, they could turn out to be Cy Youngs/stud closers, but I don't know why they would be any more likely than many of our other prospects.
Is that deal official yet? Where is it being reported?
reported on espn.com
Nevermind, I just found it. Gammons reported it on ESPN.
I think it's a great deal. I liked Bowyer as a future closer, but we had to give up something. I think we gave up 2 future relivers for one o the top 2nd baseman in the league. Considering the hole we had at 2nd and our pitching depth, I say we made out like bandits.
What's the consenus on the deal?
Should Castillo hit 1st or 2nd?
I would hit him 1st, but would be fine with 2nd, given Gardy's not going to move Stewart. What does this mean for Cuddyer. If he is in the OF, that would be Stew, Hunter, Cuddy, Kubel, and Ford. Would we leave Cuddy and Ford on the bench (if Kubel is healthy)? Or would cuddy be at 3B?
I would imagine Cuddy stays at 3rd. It seems to me that the $4-5 million that could have possibly be spent on Mueller is now being spent on Castillo.
Which Luis Castillo is going to show up next year? Last year's Castillo or the Castillo with a career OPS+ of 94?
Which Luis Castillo is going to show up next year? Last year's Castillo or the Castillo with a career OPS+ of 94?
Showing career OPS numbers for Castillo are misleading. First off, he is being compared to all other major league hitters, not just his position. Second of all, nobody is expecting a .900 OPS from him. We would love to see a .300 average with a .375 OBP. He isn't our clean-up hitter, and won't have a high OPS+. But he will get on base, see lots of pitches, and play great D, at a position we are used to seeing nothing from.
Not much not to like about this deal. The real question is how badly the Twins will continue to jerk Cuddyer around.
Stew - LF
Castillo - 2B
Mauer - C
Morneau - 1B
Torii - CF
Kubel - RF
Cuddyer - 3B
Ford - DH
Bartlett - SS
Looking better each day. One more pickup we probably can't afford would leave us with:
Castillo
Mauer
Piazza/Nomar
Morneau
Hunter
Kubel
Stew
Cuddyer
Bartlett
Not as much power as CLE/CHI, but no big weakness and should be league average at least.
Drop Nomar in this lineup and it starts to look pretty decent. I would bet against Cuddy playing 3B if for no reason other than Gardy.
Regardless, I like this move... and reserve the right to rip it in a few months if necessary.
I would think we'd still have enough $$$ left over to sign AT LEAST one of Nomar/Big Hurt/Piazza/R. White, and maybe two, given that the contracts of Joe Mays and Jacque Jones are no longer our problem, not to mention LeCroy and Rivas.
I'd like to see Thomas. He had an OPS over 900 last year and probably wouldn't be that expensive. If he could stay healthy he could be a great offensive addition and really add some power.
Looking over the roster, I'm not even sold Bowyer would have been on this year. Assuming we carry 11 pitchers, and no trades are made we have:
SP: Santana, Radke, Silva, Lohse, Baker
RP: Nathan, Rincon, Romero, Crain, Guerrier, Liriano.
I guess Liriano may have been in the minors, and if Romero or Lohse are traded there is an opening, but as it stands we probably lost 0 major league time from next year at least.
Dave W.,
Agreed! I'd like to see Nomar and the Big Hurt. Piazza doesn't interest me as much, and would probably cost more than the Big Hurt.
Great move by the Twins to acquire Castillo.
Thanks for posting the Bush link, Aaron. It makes you wonder though that he can't possibly make guys miss like that in the NFL? Can he? NFL players don't miss tackles that often and that badly. We'll see, I've been on his bandwagon for sometime now. :)
Ryan is said to be "seriously considering" bringing in Frank Thomas. I don't know at what cost, but if it's cheap and he can stay healthy (big if) our lineup could be ABOVE league average. That also includes an assumption that Morneau improves signiicantly upon last year.
Love the Castillo trade. Don't like where it leaves the payroll. HATE the idea of Frank Thomas OR Nomar Garciaparra. Guys, don't you think the White Sox would have stayed with Frank if they thought he could hobble to home plate in one piece? Word out of Chicago in several news sources is they don't think he can walk right again, much less play baseball. I admire the sentiment. In his prime and even in his twilight, he was a weapon. His time is past. Think of it this way...the Sox were more willing to gamble on Thome, who was also hurt and is 35, enough so they gave away Rowand to acquire JT (yeah, he's left handed, blah, blah, doesn't change the point).
Garciaparra is a bigger question mark...he may not be injured beyond repair, but there have to be ten to twelve clubs in that derby, as I've said before. 7 MM for that risk is not worth it, and I sincerely doubt in this market that No-Mah gets less than that, at least not a lot less.
I'd rather have Piazza, which ain't likely, but not out of the realm of the possible, I suppose, but I'd settle for Rondell White...same injury caveats, etc., but he won't cost more than 3 - 4 MM.
We'll see. TR gets kudos for the Castillo deal. I think one of you stat guys could prove that 2B was the biggest black hole on the ballclub last year (except maybe for ahem...SS in LF).
I could see Nomar getting around 4-5 with incentives. Didn't he get only $8 MM last year, and was hurt all year? If the Twins signed him for 2 years/10 mill, with a few mill in incentives, I would take it. It is a risk, but high-reward as well.
Signing Nomar and Rondell White is probably something more in the realm of likelihood. You don't really want both of your "major" FA signings to be major injury risks.
Huh? Rondell White may be the least durable player of the past 10 years! In 13 seasons he's played in 100 games just 6 times, and only once more than 138 (which means missing 24 games--or the equivalent of more than one DL stint even in his good years!).
Garciaparra, White and Thomas ALL carry considerable risk of injury, with Nomar probably the healthiest and Thomas the frailest. Each investment involves risk and reward--which is why the Twins can even think about affording any of them.
Aaron, if you like to amazon.ca I'll buy the book through you via them.
Eek, that Pink is the News blog or whatever it's called certainly spun my head. It's now #5 on my 101 Reasons I Have Dropped My Youthful Desire to Be Truly Famous.
The best part about getting Castillo is that we know that Gardenhire will bat him second, since only middle infielders can bat second.
I wonder how Rube Durazo is feeling? He'd be cheaper than the Big Hurt.
Great trade to pick up Castillo!!!
You have a point on White's durability, however, Rondell has been hurt a lot in part, one would guess, because he's been playing in the field a la Piazza. White as a LF makes Shannon Stewart look pretty good. As a DH, one might hope for better health...same for Piazza. Thomas has been hurt for two years as a primary DH. I think it makes White/Piazza the better risk.
How did Durazo get hurt BTW? Tell you the truth if reasonably healthy, I'm not sure I wouldn't rather have the 04 version of Erubiel than any of these guys.
"But how about something in between, like some decent music for the non-AARP crowd?"
There is no decent music being made by the under 50 crowd.
There is no decent music being made by the under 50 crowd
This can only be the comment of a person who does not know where to look. Hint: It's not on MTV, at the Grammys or, least of all, on commercial radio. But it's out there.
Or maybe you just have different taste than I do. In which case, please continue to enjoy Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones and the rest of their over-50 buddies.
This can only be the comment of a person who does not know where to look
No, I think it's a comment from someone who is over (or at least near) 50. Anyone who doesn't think the "AARP crowd" has said the exact same thing about new music during every era is crazy. You think 60-year-olds were excited about The Beatles and The Rolling Stones back when they were new? Of course not, that's just how it goes.
BTW, I'm already working on my thoughts about the Castillo deal, so expect an entry of epic proportions first thing Monday morning.
I'm closer to the 30 crowd than the 50 crowd. But a lot of my favorites are right up there around 50 (U2, Fleetwood Mac, Rodney Crowell, etc). I consider it sort of sad that the most important artist to break through in the last 6 or 7 years is a white rapper. Seriously. The industry has been taken over by profiteering leeches interested primarily in selling candy to 13 year old girls, who have more buying power than actual people nowadays, which is just twisted and wrong. But such is life.
I like Luis Castillo. The Twins have improved the team today. I don't know that it's the best way to spend 5 million dollars, but for now, I'm going to convince myself that so long as TRyan doesn't declare his job done, I'm ok with it.
I was just saying that if all I looked at was what is "popular," enough to be mainstream, I'd think the under-50 crowd was producing a ton of crap, too. And I'm not even 30.
Sure, it could also be a generational thing. That's true of any form of entertainment. My grandma thinks the last good movie was "Gone With the Wind." And at the time it came out, her parents probably thought the world was going to hell in a handbasket because Clark Gable says "I don't give a damn." You're right, that is how it goes.
Maybe I'm crazy, but Milton Bradley is available and cheap. The Dodgers seem intent on unloading him. They're looking for a SP. Loshe for Bradley? Haven't read anything to indicate that the Twins might be pursuing him but then, the only team I've heard mentioned in connection with Bradley is the Cubs.
I think it is the best way to spend $5 million. Luis Castillo:
1. Fills a need postion
2. Has no injury history
3. Improves team OBP
4. Plays good defense
5. Can hit one or two
6. Is a good baserunner
7. Fits the team's style of play
What else is $5 million going to get you?
Kyle Farnsworth
Reggie Sanders
Jacque Jones
Scott Eyre
You could argue the money would have been better spent on Bill Mueller but that's it, IMO.
2. Has no injury history
I agree with everything except this. He missed significsnt time this year with leg issues.
The Milton Bradley idea is intersting. I'm not sure what he'll make in 2006, but he only made $2.5 million in '05.
The concern with him is injuries again. Not to mention he's percieved as a clubhouse cancer.
IMO, unless Kubel won't be ready, I don't think it's worth the risk. I'm ok with Hunter, Stewart, Ford, and Kubel.
Good point about the injury history, Aaron.
Let me rephrase by saying he's not chronically injured, therefore, not as much of an injury risk as Nomar, Thomas, or White.
La Velle Neal sucks, he left Pedro off his ballot and cost him the MVP in 1999.
Baseball Think Factory is listing Castillo's 2006 ZiPS projections at:
.321/.401/.391
That seems a little generous to me, but I thought I'd throw it out there.
Is that ZiPS projection a Minnesota projection or a Miami projection?
If it's Minnesota, it wouldn't be totally surprising, as the Dome is a little more neutral, and I believe the Fish's stadium is more pitcher friendly.
A.*
Will Carroll said a few weeks ago that Kubel's recovery is not looking good at all and well behind schedule. Some within the Twins organization are looking at making 2006 another rehab year.
How about Reggie Sanders as a temporary solution?
Will Sanders sign a one year contract if someone else offers him a two year. It would be nice, but I think he will get priced out of our range.
Has everyone forgotten that the White Sox were widely projected to be a sub .500 team in 2005? They are largely a mirage, or if you prefer, an average roster for whom everything went right, much like the Angels were in 2002.
Of course, that says more about the prognosticators than about the baseball team. The point stands, though, that the Twins could make some noise in 2006, and the Castillo move is a step in the right direction.
Also, I'd love to see the Big Hurt stay in the central. I don't think people generally realize that, along with Barry Bonds, he's been the best offensive player of our generation--and Barry has *other* issues that might taint that.
Frank Thomas on potentially two legs is a good deal for the Twins. Think of what he could teach the lineup. Heck, for that matter, Frank Thomas on one leg is a fine risk. My point is, the Twins better bring him in, even if he shows up for his workout in a wheelchair. The man can hit like no one else.
Actually, Arod probably belongs in that discussion on the best offensive players of this generation of players, and he might take the cake.
Whatever. The point stands. If the Twins can't get Arod--think the Yankees would accept a package of Cuddyer and Lohse for him?--then they should go for the Hurt.
Thomas, Piazza, Durazo, Sweeney, Garciaparra.
Five injury risks who offer a high degree of reward.
Pick one of the first four to DH, and sign Garciaparra for 3B. It's a risky way to spend $7-10MM, but it would get some fans in the stands and some runs across the plate.
you should think about danny granger only playing 12 minutes a game. talk about not playing rookies
If it's Minnesota, it wouldn't be totally surprising, as the Dome is a little more neutral, and I believe the Fish's stadium is more pitcher friendly.
Castillo's a slap hitter. I don't think the ballpark is going to affect him much. Then again, the ball will travel faster on the turn and he might not beat out as many infield singles.
Then again, the ball will travel faster on the turn and he might not beat out as many infield singles.
On the other hand, the ground balls he does hit will now travel faster and now have a better chance of shooting through a hole in the infield.
I'm thinking of letting Rivas DH now. He sould do fine now that he's not worried about his 'D'
Milton Bradley would be a cancer to the team.
RE: the Super Bowl halftime show. Am I the only one who wonders why everyone thinks it's such a great idea to have a rock concert in the middle of a football game? Shrink the halftime show to 15-20 minutes, during which we see highlights of the first half and predictions for the second, and leave the rock music to MTV.
JeffA,
completely agreed. Of course it will never happen but I am sick of seeing complete abortions of half time shows just because a bunch of ADD morons can't amuse themselves for 20 minutes.
Hmmm...Castillo? Do the twins have a thing for lead off guys who were ONCE elite basestealers and no longer run? Guys with a decent on base percentage but little pop? Guys who seem to get to the ball ok, but have poor arms? Just asking because Castillo at this point in his career seems to offer you the same things you already have with Stewart. Just cant help but think there may have been some better options out there for a team that is starved for offense. Given the teams poor scoring I would have advocated Cuddyer trying 2B again and searching for a 3B.
Guys who seem to get to the ball ok, but have poor arms?
I appreciate your attempt at killing everyone's buzz, but describing Castillo's arm as "poor" shows you probably haven't seen a whole lot of him. I've read about a thousand things about him over the past 48 hours, and nearly all of them mentioning his strong arm and great ability to turn two.
Nice try, though.
Thanks Aaron...how soon people forget that Stewart came in and single handedly led us to our first of three Central Division Championships.
I don't know if he will be beat up again this season and not perform to previous levels, however, he is a solid professional who will be an asset if healthy and close to what he was his first year and a half with the Twins.
Thanks Aaron...how soon people forget that Stewart came in and single handedly led us to our first of three Central Division Championships.
Heh.
It was the 2nd title in 3 years, minor technicality ;-)
I think this is a great acquisition for the Twins, they just need to pick on the Marlins/another team that's selling like crazy to pick up someone like Nomar, but the real question is whether Mia Hamm will appreciate the great white north..
Does anyone think Stewart's poor season might have been due in some large part to batting in front of Punto, Castro, Rodriguez, et al? I'll be interested to see if he rebounds now that he has a legitimate threat behind him.
" A comparison for the ages: Jessica Alba versus Maria Sharapova. And we're not talking acting ability versus athletic ability here, folks. (Hey, at least I didn't use "Waffle Crapper" this week.)"
You should use Waffle Crapper every week.
Has anyone discussed putting Castillo in the leadoff spot ahead of Stewart?
It seems that Stewart's approach to hitting would be well-suited for the #2 spot (situational hitting, taking pitches). Castillo, with his OBP and bunting ability, seems a more natural fit in the #1 spot.
Thoughts?
-jeff
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