Note: If you wouldn't say it to someone's face, don't say it here. Comments deleted on a whim.
I want to send Lew Ford fan mail in Japan. Do you know how to do that? You should answer this question because it's the first one! Thank you!
While Delmon Young continues to commit costly errors and ground into what seem like countless inning ending double plays, Matt Garza is looking impressive as the Rays third starter. Any thoughts??
The Twins seem to have a lot of mid level starters at the major league level and AAA. Other than Liriano returning to his old form, who do you think has the best chance to step up and solidify themselves as the Twins #1 guy for the future?
Hindsight being 20/20 and all, what is your current opinion of the Santana deal? Gomez has been all kinds of good news for Minnesota, both on the field as well as in the press room. Meanwhile, Philip Hughes looked awful before his second big trip in as many years to the DL. Would you still have taken the rumored Yankee offer over the Mets deal that went down?
What's Glen Perkins' upside at this point? His minor league numbers were always very good, but I never heard him talked about in the same breath as the Slowey's, Garza's and the rest of the Twins' very deep arsenal of arms in the last couple of years.
In response to the first post - Aaron, are you surprised that Lew Ford still has a fan?
two things:
first, i found a refrence to a stat you created called GPA, but have not seen you refrence it at all in recent evaluations of players, have you abandoned this stat because you have decided it is bunk, or simply because few "outsiders" whould know what it means? have you considered bringing it back in evaluating players impact on the team.
secondly:
is there a stitisticaly viable corolation to walks drawn and runs scored, it seems to me from veiwing box scores that players that draw walks score a significant number of runs. is there an actual corolation between walks earned and runs scored, or is it mearly coincidental?
in other words, are walks more valueable then hits as far as on base percentage is concerend. do players score statisticaly more runs after drawing a walk then after getting a hit (excluding homeruns)?
Stock question for you - With the AL Central suddenly as weak as it is, do you think the Twins actually have a shot at winning the division?
Are you going to add any other Twins blogs to the side of your site? I think that there are a couple deserving that you're missing.
Also in reference to the first post, Lew Ford plays for the Hanshin Tigers. Michael, I've never tried it, but perhaps you might try sending him fan mail at the Hanshin ballpark...Twins players receive mail sent to the Metrodome; maybe this would work for Lew as well.
Lew Ford
c/o Hanshin Tigers
Koshien Stadium
Koshien-machi 1-82
Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture
Japan 663-8152
Going to SABR this year?
Still stuck on 10 pounds on the latest fat-o-meter charge?
What surprise team in baseball this year do you think has the best chance to make the post-season?
How the hell did the Twins pull this one out tonight? Who saw that coming?
And does Blackburn strike you as someone that can continue his success at the major league level? He kind of reminds me of Joe Mays. Whatever happened to Joe Mays?
Joe Mays retired.
If you were the power starved Twins, would it be time to maybe float an offer to Bonds?
Any chance you could crack open the Gardenhire File to respond to JoePos?? There's a lot of good ammo in there.
Who was the 4M hit to your page??
Who do you pick to win the National League East and why?
Aaron,
Let's go to a dream world for a moment. Let's say you can replace Bert and Dick Bremer with any two people. Who would they be? Bonus question: you can replace Coom-dog too if you want to.
TK
Watching a Mets broadcast they were going on and on about Gomez and how good he's been defensively, even saying he could be a step up from Hunter. Any numbers to back this up or is it the usual color commentator blabber?
will you ever finish the 40 greatest twins ever series?
who do you think the twins should draft with their 4 high draft picks, and why?
Gomez better than Hunter, defensively? Blasphemy. Except, the numbers do back it up: http://www.hardballtimes.com/tht...8&
Submit=Submit
Aaron, Do you have an opinion about "The Book" by Tom Tango? I am reading it, and it seems like that the Twins do one strategically stupid thing after another. For example, Joe Mauer should be the lead-off hitter, as you have been saying for quite a while, since he excels at OBP, and rarely shows power. But not batting Mauer first only costs the Twins a few runs per year. You point out that Nathan should be used more innings, slap hitters should be kept out of RF, Punto was the ML-worst hitter in 2007, etc. What is the most important simple thing the Twins should change in how they operate to win more games?
I am suprised that no one has commented on Cuddyer's play in the outfield the last few games. He seems to get turned around almost as often as our left fielder.
How come most of our second basemen are natural shortstops?
Who's line-up of women wins, Derek Jeter's or John Mayer's?
Can you please just go ahead and name Keely Hazell as the OFGoAG.com? She's as hot or hotter than all of the other candidates and she's frequently nude. Where's the conflict?
what ever happened to Glenn Williams?
Is Johan Santana starting to drop off?
I don't mean that he's going to become a bad pitcher but is he starting to look like the 10th best pitcher in baseball instead of the best?
He's continued to give up HR at a pretty high clip. I thought that rate would go down now that he calls Shea home. His strikeout rate is the lowest it's been for a half and his WHIP and BAA are both higher than normal.
Besides the draft, what acquisitions would you make?
What are your thoughts on Buscher, Hughes, Tolleson, Valencia, and Dinkelman?
If you could get a signed jersey from any pro athlete in any sport, what jersey would that be? Past or present.
Besides yourself, who do you consider to be the best Twins blogger?
What did your mom say about your attraction to Jenna Fischer?
Without any statistics it to back myslf up, I have to say it seems like Gomez is really important for the twins at the top of the lineup. His success, which is increasing, seems to correlate strongly with the twins ability to score. I'm really excited for what that means down the road, but even if torii hunter had his contract situation, would take him over go-go this year?
I wondered about this after Gomez hit for the cycle. Is there any single game achievement that would indicate a player would have a great career? Foe example, players that have hit 4 HR's in a game, hits for the cycle,etc or a pitcher who throws a perfect game, or gets 18 or more strikeouts, etc; which of those would most likely have best career?
What is the source of the Twins' general lack of team power and patience? And moreover why do they not seem to recognize this as a stumbling block to putting together a legitimately contending team, and do something to fix it?
While I will concede that complaining about Mauer's lack of power is a bit ridiculous given his high avg., OBP, and great defensive skills I can't help but believe that if he'd been tutored by another organization's coaches (eg. Boston) he's be hitting for both average and power right now. And Mauer's not really the problem at all, it's absurd that the Twins as a team don't recognize that a perennial lack of patience and power is a problem that absolutely must be addressed.
1. You consistently complain about Gardenhire's game time coaching decision. Which current MLB manager most closely follows the AG philosophy of how to play the game?
2. Is there an actual correlation between hitting coaches and power/walks/average or is good hitting simply more indicative of better drafting/trading/FA acquisitions? I seem to recall that the orioles threw a bunch of money at the Braves pitching coach and it doesn't seem like that paid off.
3. Is it me or do the Twins seem to overvalue pitchers who pitch to contact (i.e. Slowey/Boof/Radke) as opposed to power pitchers (i.e. Garza/Santana/Liriano) or are power pitchers just that much harder to acquire?
4. What are the two biggest factors in Detroit's and Clevland's respective seasons to date (they were supposed to run away with the division yet both sit below .500.
5. How do the Twins match up against other organizations in getting value out of their draft picks. I imagine you would have to take a difference of
a. Draft pick VORP based on draft time predictions.
b. Actual VORP.
6. If AG could dump one player from the Twin's roster, who would it be?
Are there any good T Wolves Blogs you would recommend?
Convince me that Chris Young (ARI) is not the next Mike Cameron. All indications seem to point to the contrary.
When Baker replaces Boof in the rotation next week, our rotation will be Livan, Blackburn, Slowey, Perkins, and Baker. When Liriano is ready (hopefully right around the All-Star break), who is he going to displace?
(barring any injuries)
How long before KFAN gives you a show on the weekends to talk Twins baseball?
What kind of income do blogs like yours bring in?
Aaron-
Highland Park alum here.
Wondering your thoughts on Delmon at the plate. Obviously, not looking great, but can we take his increased walk rate (on pace for about 50 this year, compared to 26 last year) as a sign that something soon could turn around for him? Thanks.
What do you think about Posnanski's defense of his position that Gardy is the best manager in baseball?
http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/...gardy/
#comments
I've just come in from the cold. Nobody told me about that Berlin Wall. 18 years, 18 years man. So, I'm pretending I'm 18 years younger since I've just discovered Kellie Pickler. And I would like to absolutely destroy that piece of ass. Do you have her number?
Now as for the OFGoAG, no woman likes a waffler, so pick somebody and live with your decision. Remember woman fight over a coupled guy more than a single guy.
Assuming the Twins stay around .500 all year, what type of player would expect the Twins to receive for Livan Hernandez?
IIRC, Dennys Reyes' contract is up the end of the season. Do you trade him before the deadline? What type of return are we seeing?
Is there any type of market for Lamb, Harris, or Everett? I guess I can easily see Everett DFA'd and outright released, but there should be a market for the other two, right?
Ideal and realistic rotation for August and September would be....Baker, Blackburn, Liriano, Perkins, and Slowey?
Did you really tell Joe Posnanski that he is BS insane?
There seems to be an uproar in the Rochester media and fan abse about the Twins not promoting prospects fast enough to the AAA farm club, which is suffering so far in 2008 with injuries, over-the-hill AAA guys, and Twins roster castoffs (and too many callups).
Any reflections?
I can't help but think that the Twins did play it right...holding many of their prospects at last year's play levels while filling Rochester with folks who could come to the majors if need be (Howie Clark, for example) or field a decent team for the first half of the season (too many injuries curbed that fact).
At what point is it good to move young guys up that final ladder rung? With an infield of Brock Peterson, Hughes, Plouffe, Moses and a couple of pitchers named Mullins and Swarzak, wouldn't they be overchallenged and roster still sucking bottom-of-the-standings wind?
You are now becoming a local personality.
Any thought of hosting player appearance events like Cuddyer does with the Twins...you alone or with another blogger doing a question and answer session at some local tap (they'd probably give you free food and a brew).
To the fellow that wants to contact Lew Ford in Japan...all info can be found at www.japanesebaseball.com.
Here's a direct address link:
http://japanesebaseball.com/faq/...aq/
contacts.jsp
What is your writing process like? How do you find enough time to write for multiple sporting outlets and still keep your blog up-to-date? Finally, with the number of bloggers (like Batgirl) dwindling, how long do you think you will keep aarongleeman.com active?
How many times have you been laid strictly because you are a well-known blogger?
Which current pitchers do you see the Twins holding on to, letting go or trading? Which pitching prospects earn one of the lucky five spots over the next 3 years?
What does Tiffany Simons smell like?
what is your opinion on the bore from 2 to 4 on KFAN? Worst show on the radio?
Where would AG like Livan Hernandez to go, and what would he like in return?
Do you think the Twins will be a World Series contender in 2010, when they open the new stadium?
If twins are at the same position ( 2 behind CWS and 3+ of CLE and DET), do you think twins should be sellers, buyers or stay put. If buyer/seller then what trades should we make?
If twins are at the same position ( 2 behind CWS and 3+ of CLE and DET) at trade deadline, do you think twins should be sellers, buyers or stay put. If buyer/seller then what trades should we make?
how would you rate twins complete offseason. Where would it approx rank in MLB?
what is your diet plan and what else are you doing to reduce your weight
your new webpage does not look as nice as previous one. It think you should change it
how do you think the twins will draft this year? Will it be HS power hitters or college level pitcher who would be able to contribute in the new ballpark
How many q's can a single person ask?
What's your favorite perk as a member of the national media now that you've had a chance to settle in at NBC and Rotoworld?
You're from Minneapolis and you listen to regular, boring, white people music. I've never seen you mention the Minneapolis Sound, although I realize you were born around the time of its peak. What's your take on Prince O(+?, The Time, and the other funk bands from your hometown and why haven't you embraced them?
Should have read "Prince O(+>." It's hard to touch type his symbolic name.
Regarding your Wednesday column, you should be fair, AG. After using Soria for 31 pitches on Monday, the Royals apparently felt they couldn't go to him Tuesday when they really, really needed him. Now, I probably would have got him in there to get the last out in the ninth. But then again, the Royals suck, so why push their stud young closer until they can at least field a competitive team.
Yes, the Twins should use Nathan more in non-save situations where they have a chance to win. But giving your closer 1+ innings can come back to bite you...
Forty singles in 100 plate appearances would produce a .400 OBP, as would 40 walks in 100 plate appearances. Obviously the 40 singles are more valuable (a walk doesn't score a runner from third, for example). Is there a way OBP can be weighted to account for this?
How were you able to drop out of school and live at home until your career took off? Most parents would have kicked you out and made you take a job you didn't like. You're lucky to have a mom patient and supportive enought to let you pursue what you really wanted.
How can you still have LENIII as your official beat writer of AG.com?
Joe C beats him down soundly.
He never updates his blog and his insight is dropping. He is clearly fishing for a fulltime spot on KFAN
If you could ask Dave St. Peter any question, or a series of them, what would it be?
Why do you like St Paul better than Minneapolis (assuming you do?)
Also, what's your second favorite mlb baseball team?
To anonymous:
From http://www.thediamondangle.com/m...an/
protect.html
"One more stop before heading for the meat. It has been long known that raw batting average is a poor way of measuring performance. All it reveals is hits per at bat, and hides both walks and power. A hitter has two tasks when at the plate. The first is to reach base and the second is to advance baserunners. These two ideas are captured in On Base Average (OBA) and slugging percentage (SLG). A person's OBA is roughly walks plus hits divided by walks plus at-bats. In other words, when measuring how well a person gets on base, a walk is as good as a hit. The best way to advance baserunners is through power. "
projected twins lineup in 2010 when the stadium opens?
projected pitching staff?
are you getting (or do you already have) seats in the new Twins ballpark?
If the Twins are 2 games back coming up to the trade deadline, do you make a move? Assume the team is playing as they are now, what positions do you upgrade? What are their strengths that they'd/you'd be willing to deal?
Ben Revere (the Twins first rounder last year) is tearing up A ball this year, .400+ BA, with 15+ SB. He was just as good in rookie ball last year. How long until he makes it to the bigs? And if he is ready in the next 3 years what do the Twins do with him? We don't exactly need another speedy little outfielder. Do we trade him, or trade someone else to make room?
Did you see the Highland Park baseball team won the St. Paul City conference for the first time in over 40 years this season? Have you ever gone to a HP baseball game, during your time there, or after? I am an HP alum, and have only been back to see one game since leaving.
Why did the Devil Rays change their name to the Rays? Were there religious groups protesting? Are they just setting it up to change their logo in a few more years to a big sun shining down on the earth?
What do you make of Alexi Casilla's hot start? Small sample size? Improved skills? Where do you see him longterm?
What are the chances that we could make Matt Holliday a Twins?
(Young, and two minor league pitchers for him?)
Have the Twins accidently stumbled upon a long term solution to their middle infield problems by moving Harris to short and with the emergence of Casilla
at 2nd? It is starting to look like it to me.
How about going through how many 60 tool guys the Twins have, as Joe P discussed in his blog the other day?
Is Alexi Casilla for real? Obviously his HRs/AB will drop off, but can he maintain his high .300s OBP and high .700s OPS?
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