tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394137.post1266230243151943531..comments2023-11-05T06:49:09.637-06:00Comments on Twins Geek: On Lead Off Candidates and Road TripsJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13907268840665045299noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394137.post-12889318430327036152008-02-22T09:08:00.000-06:002008-02-22T09:08:00.000-06:00tt and spycake, I appreciate the clarification of ...tt and spycake, I appreciate the clarification of the Super Two provision and stand corrected on the year-earlier free agency comment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394137.post-26452622296748083032008-02-21T16:51:00.000-06:002008-02-21T16:51:00.000-06:00Gomez' DL stint in 2007 puts him on the cusp of su...Gomez' DL stint in 2007 puts him on the cusp of super-2 eligibility after 2009, assuming he plays the next two full seasons. If he spends at least a month in the minors this year, he probably won't be eligible for arbitration until after 2010 at the earliest (perhaps longer if he spends all or part of 2009 in the minors too).<BR/><BR/>In order to delay his free agency, though, we would have to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394137.post-12336019266211743242008-02-21T13:39:00.000-06:002008-02-21T13:39:00.000-06:00If he is on the Opening Day roster and stays with ...<I>If he is on the Opening Day roster and stays with the club all season, he effectively loses one year of arbitration status (or, put another way, he becomes a free agent one year sooner).</I><BR/><BR/>That confuses two different issues. Super-twos get four years of arbitration instead of three. They still only become free agents after six full years.<BR/><BR/>The Twins will have control of TThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05093249764311819252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394137.post-28852713002385512832008-02-21T12:39:00.000-06:002008-02-21T12:39:00.000-06:00I don't think that Gardy will want to protect Gome...I don't think that Gardy will want to protect Gomez. Gardy loves speed and basestealing potential, and especially since Gomez came over in a trade.<BR/><BR/>If Gomez were a homegrown product, I would agree with you, but Gardy will overvaulue his tools and the fact that he puts on a good show in BP. Oh, and Punto bats second, write it in.J. Lichtyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02244118118256406595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394137.post-88697577186641995852008-02-21T12:37:00.000-06:002008-02-21T12:37:00.000-06:00I think the leadoff guy should be Mauer because I ...I think the leadoff guy should be Mauer because I think it plays into his strengths as a hitter more than the 3rd or even the 2nd spot does. Mauer doesn't have blazing speed, which is one of the ideals for a leadoff hitter, but he is a patient, contact, live drive hitter that works the count, type that fits in well at the top. He usually walks more than he stikes out, and he has a good OBP. I Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394137.post-26674452353906526422008-02-21T12:05:00.000-06:002008-02-21T12:05:00.000-06:00My mother-in-law just emailed me pictures of Maxwe...My mother-in-law just emailed me pictures of Maxwell's. From reading your blog, I know you were a fan. My condolences.<BR/><BR/>http://www.startribune.com/local/west/15802677.htmlCDWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07005805809896638900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394137.post-12565417102068496062008-02-21T10:57:00.000-06:002008-02-21T10:57:00.000-06:00Patthew makes a good point -- there's nothing terr...Patthew makes a good point -- there's nothing terribly wrong with Brendan Harris as a leadoff hitter. He doesn't have great speed, and he doesn't draw a ton of walks, but he would almost certainly get on base more than Pridie, Span, or Gomez. And he's right-handed, so Mauer could bat 2nd (or Kubel, if they want to revisit that experiment). Heck, although he may draw fewer walks, even Delmon Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394137.post-83491768338420311902008-02-21T10:26:00.001-06:002008-02-21T10:26:00.001-06:00Guys like Stewart and Castillo were good professio...Guys like Stewart and Castillo were good professional hitters to be sure, which is why Gardy batted them leadoff. I think their impact on the Twins probably had more to do with them being good at hitting than where they batted in the order (although the leadoff hitter does get the most plate appearances, so it is a natural place to put the best hitter, which is why it should absolutely be Mauer)Aaron Fixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08408963281278763392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394137.post-69329039724096872192008-02-21T10:26:00.000-06:002008-02-21T10:26:00.000-06:00I just thought the lead off spot was going to defa...I just thought the lead off spot was going to default to Brendan Harris.Patthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14224048658185158155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394137.post-41572484867899983692008-02-21T09:53:00.000-06:002008-02-21T09:53:00.000-06:00Any discussion of Carlos Gomez making the Opening ...Any discussion of Carlos Gomez making the Opening Day roster should begin--and end--with his potential Super Two status. If he is on the Opening Day roster and stays with the club all season, he effectively loses one year of arbitration status (or, put another way, he becomes a free agent one year sooner). With Scott Boras as his agent, do we really want that?<BR/><BR/>Gomez MUST start the seasonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394137.post-23356723855982400362008-02-21T09:07:00.000-06:002008-02-21T09:07:00.000-06:00John:As usual, a great post.However, your opening ...John:<BR/><BR/>As usual, a great post.<BR/><BR/>However, your opening statement ignores the fact that too often newspaper articles, written by union professionals, are often poorly edited.<BR/><BR/>If they're edited at all.<BR/><BR/>Not to mention the fact that for whatever reason, most sportswriters there can't include more than one sentence per paragraph.<BR/><BR/>Kind of like I'm doing right Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394137.post-38296328338906417802008-02-21T08:21:00.000-06:002008-02-21T08:21:00.000-06:00Good analysis, with one quibble.Lawton lead off in...Good analysis, with one quibble.<BR/><BR/>Lawton lead off in only 25 games for the Twins in 1991. Guzman was the leadoff guy to start the year and Rivas, who lead off most of the games after Lawton left, hit .340 .392 .469 in 177 plate appearances in the leadoff spot. Its pretty tough to see that as the problem.<BR/><BR/>Lawton leaving had nothing to do with the Twins going in the tank in 1991TThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05093249764311819252noreply@blogger.com