Spring training

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I love this time of year, because I'm gullible enough to believe every bit of good news that emanates from Fort Myers. It's "kool aid " time, and I'm a thirsty boy! Here are the early reports from LaVelle:

1) Worley lost 25 pounds and looks great
2) Bartlett is in great shape and is having no issues with his knee
3) Plouffe added some muscle and looks great. Can he get back to the mid-20's in HRs like 2012?
4) Johan Santana is throwing well, and LaVelle thinks the Twins will sign him. Remember, he had a 2.98 ERA his last full season.
5) Mike Pelfrey is poised to win 20 games with a sub-3 ERA.











OK, I may have made that last one up :D

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

I love this time of year, because I'm gullible enough to believe every bit of good news that emanates from Fort Myers. It's "kool aid " time, and I'm a thirsty boy! Here are the early reports from LaVelle:

1) Worley lost 25 pounds and looks great
2) Bartlett is in great shape and is having no issues with his knee
3) Plouffe added some muscle and looks great. Can he get back to the mid-20's in HRs like 2012?
4) Johan Santana is throwing well, and LaVelle thinks the Twins will sign him. Remember, he had a 2.98 ERA his last full season.
5) Mike Pelfrey is poised to win 20 games with a sub-3 ERA.


getting the old gang back together. Whats Boof Bonser up to these days?









OK, I may have made that last one up :D

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I love this time of year, because I'm gullible enough to believe every bit of good news that emanates from Fort Myers. It's "kool aid " time, and I'm a thirsty boy! Here are the early reports from LaVelle:

1) Worley lost 25 pounds and looks great
2) Bartlett is in great shape and is having no issues with his knee
3) Plouffe added some muscle and looks great. Can he get back to the mid-20's in HRs like 2012?
4) Johan Santana is throwing well, and LaVelle thinks the Twins will sign him. Remember, he had a 2.98 ERA his last full season.
5) Mike Pelfrey is poised to win 20 games with a sub-3 ERA.


getting the old gang back together. Whats Boof Bonser up to these days?









OK, I may have made that last one up :D

About 385 pounds, I'm guessing

[Jester1534]

1) does his fastball actually move now? Or do you have to lose 35 pounds for that to work lol

2) good to hear

3) Sano will replace him on June 1st

4) Long when was Santana last full season lol

5) sub 3 lol you must've meant sub 2 lol

Interesting things to look at for me
1) The 5th pitching spot I still have a feeling that Gibson will win it

2) How much exposer they give Buxton

3) The catching battle between pinto and Suzuki

4) Kubel I think was such a big signing for us veteran guy to teach guys like Arcia and Hicks.

5) Aaron Hicks bat. I also think hicks should bat right handed and I'll give some stats to prove why.

Hicks bats .253/.362/.380 (.742 OPS) as a left-handed hitter and .285/.371/.494 (.865 OPS) as a right-handed hitter. For context, that's the difference between Buster Posey (.864) and Lew Ford (.744).

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

You're not doing it right, jester...you need to take a big gulp of kool aid every time LaVelle throws out some good news in spring training. Analyzing his comments is not allowed :)

The tidbit that I got most excited about today was the Johan one. You're right that it's been a long time since he's been completely healthy (2010). But he did throw a no hitter in 2012, and if he's even 75% healthy he could be the ace of our staff. I was really surprised to hear that he is throwing easily from the mound already, and that LaVelle is almost certain the Twins will sign him.

I liked the issues you framed. Here are my thoughts:

1) The Twins have a lot of interesting options for that 5th spot...many more than I can remember in recent years. But my choice would be the same as yours, and I think he's ready to step up.

2) If he's healthy (he wasn't last fall in Arizona), I think he'll get a lot of at bats in spring training. I am so fired up about his potential.

3) I would love to see Pinto show management he is at least adequate defensively, and take most of the innings at C. I expect Suzuki to start the season though. Not the worst option.

4) I love the Kubel signing. Ton Kelly once told me that the ball just sounded different coming off of Kubel's bat in BP because he hit it so hard. If he is healthy, there's no reason he can't get most of the DH at bats this year.

5) Thanks for the Hicks splits. While a .120 OPS difference is meaningful, I don't think it is compelling enough yet to cause him to give up the LHB. Remember, he isn't likely to hit as well as a RHB if he's up against righties.

The guy that really needs to quit switch hitting is Floriman. I know he's not in the lineup for his bat, but he does have some pop hitting left and he is completely inept from the right side. Look at his splits:

LHB: 236/300/365 (665 OPS)
RHB: 176/225/225 (450 OPS)

A .215 OPS difference is unbelievable. Even if his lefty OPS dropped .100 against lefties, he would still be much better off giving up the RH hitting. The Twins need to tell him to hit left, or he's not playing.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

BTW, LaVelle tweets today that he is no longer as confident that the Twins plan to sign Santana.

[Squishypoo [enjin:6648839]]

BTW, LaVelle tweets today that he is no longer as confident that the Twins plan to sign Santana.

I heard they were looking at Both santanas>> Ervin and Johan..Allso looking at>>Nelson Cruz/Mark Reynalds/Garza/

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Yesterday's optimistic LaVelle tweet was about Pedro Florimon adding some muscle in the offseason. I love his defense, and he clearly had some capacity to pack some more muscle on his 6'-2" frame. I was encouraged by his 9 home runs in 300 at bats from the left side last year, and if he gives up the RH hitting and takes advantage of the new muscle, he could provide some unexpected pop form the 9 hole.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Maybe LaVelle should quit tweeting...he appears to be a jinx. Florimon out at least 2 weeks with appendicitis.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

First intrasquad game! The great thing about intrasquad games is you can always put an optimistic spin on it. Buxton struck out in his first two at bats. but we don't have to say he's not ready. Instead, we can conclude that Hughes and Gibson are awesome!

From reading LaVelle's tweets, it looks like pitchers are way ahead of the hitters. Nice to hear Gibson is hitting 94 on the gun.