No trade = No problem

Some people are bummed that the Twins are staying relatively quiet for the MLB Trade Deadline, but here's why I'm not. For one, this team has too many glaring needs which involve 2 middle infielders, starting pitching help, and another arm in the bullpen. But the main reason why I don't care about coughing up valuable prospects to rent a player is because we do not have an Ace in our rotation. We have 5 large question marks. The age old saying is that pitching wins championships. Then I got to wondering when the last time, if ever, a team has won a world series that did not have a true number one starting pitcher. Here's what I gathered thanks to baseball-alamanac.com

Below is a list of world series championship teams and their respective ace/s:

2008 - Phillies - Cole Hamels
2007 - Red Sox - Josh Beckett
2006 - Cardinals - Chris Carpenter
2005 - White Sox - Mark Buehrle
2004 - Red Sox - Curt Schilling/Beckett
2003 - Marlins - Josh Beckett
2002 - Angels - Jarrod Washburn
2001 - Diamondbacks - Schilling/Randy Johnson
1998-2000 - Yankees - Roger Clemens/Andy Pettite/etc.
1997 - Marlins - Kevin Brown
1996 - Yankees - David Cone/Andy Pettite
1995 - Braves - Greg Maddox/Tom Glavine
1994 - Would've been Expos - Pedro Martinez
1992-93 - Blue Jays - Juan Guzman/David Cone
1991 - Twins - Jack Morris
1990 - Reds - Jose Rijo
1989 - A's - Bob Welch/Dave Stewart
1988 - Dodgers - Orel Hershiser
1987 - Twins - Frank Viola
1986 - Mets - Doc Gooden
1985 - Royals - Bret Saberhagen
1984 - Tigers - Dan Petry/Jack Morris
1983 - Orioles - Mike Boddicker
1982 - Cardinals - Joaquin Andujar
1981 - Dodgers - Fernando Valenzuela
(edit)1980 - Phillies - Steve Carlton.

(edit)So it has been at least 30 years since a team has won a world series without an Ace in it's rotation. Simply put, this looks really bad for the Twins' 2009 world championship hopes. Yes we are right in the middle of a playoff chase, we have two of the best hitters in baseball and arguably the best closer, and I know anything is possible, but history doesn't lie.

I still believe Liriano, Baker, Slowey, and possibly even Blackburn have the potential to be Ace-level pitchers some day, but it just isn't happening this season. Why give up a good prospect or two for a possible rental player that won't help you win a world series? If the Twins would have acquired a Sanchez or a Cabrera, then the talent we would have given up would be lighting it up for the Pirates/A's/whoever in a couple years, and everyone would be calling for Bill Smith's head for making the trade in the first place.

Now, before we get all gloomy, I have (for a couple years now) predicted that 2010 will be the year of the Twins. We have stud pitching in the minors who should be on next season's roster in:

Rob Delaney (bullpen help)
Jeffrey Manship (rotation help, could easily become ace material)
Anthony Slama (bullpen help)

Not to mention the possibility of Duensing or Swarzak solidifying the back end of the rotation.

Danny Valencia (3B in AAA Rochester) was rumored to be what the A's were asking for in the Orlando Cabrera trade scenario. As much as I like Crede, he simply isn't coming back next season, and a Brian Buscher/Brendan Harris platoon at third base is not the answer.

Everything should be falling into place for 2010, except that middle infield dilemma. (I cry a little inside when I watch Jason Bartlett get base hits, but meh)

This team's gonna pull in an extra 20 million dollars in payroll from the Target Field revenue. In 2007 this team's payroll was at $71.4 million. To begin the season, and haas correct me if I'm wrong, was 58.2 million. I know Joe's extension is going to put a nice dent in the wallet, but acquiring somebody of any value in the offseason is very doable.

here is a list of possible free agent middle infielders next year


I know people want to win now, especially considering the Twins are in a playoff race, but they just don't have the pieces necessary to win, and giving up 5 times what you got in the Santana trade to get Roy Halladay would be illogical. 2010 ladies and gents.

Oh and if there are available, affordable middle infielders on the market and this organization doesn't pull the trigger, then well, the Pohlad's are gonna have some explaining to do.

You Play Twins GM

By TwinsWin83


It would seem that my angry rant stating the Twins organization should reward their fan base by making a move to compete this year is a bit more legit today then it was five days ago.

Since the last post the Twins have rattled off four more wins in a row and now sit four games above .500 for the first time this year and a mere 1.5 games behind the slumping White Sox for first place in the AL Central. Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan has taken notice as well and worked up an article for today’s paper that suggests the same point I was trying to (and probably failed to) get across last week. Check it out.

The fact that this team made up of too-young-to compete newbies and over-the-hill free agent busts are only 1.5 games out of first place on June 23 is nothing short of miraculous. So why not embrace this thing and run with it, instead of waiting for the assumed contenders to make their move? I’m tired of hearing this team has no chance in the long run; they’re here right now aren’t they?

All that being said, there are (as always) limited options and assets the Twins have to work with to ultimately improve their lineup, starting rotation or bullpen, not the least of which is their tiny payroll and their blah blah blah blah….
We all know that already, so why don’t you guys out there play Twins GM and share a few moves the team could make that you think would best impact this surprising squad.

The Twins are sitting in this position despite all of the shortcomings of the current ensemble, and that's the beauty of it, imagine if some of those holes were filled and other players started to live up to their potential. Think of where they might be come September.

So lets have it. What moves do you think the Twins could realistically make over the next month to make a serious run at their fifth AL Central title this decade?

Santana Decision to Come Today

Buster Olney say that the Twins decision on what to do with Santana could come as early as today. The Yankees might be even more desperate with Roger Clemens and Andy Pettite being executed, so some are speculating Steinbrenner might cave on his hard stance of not including Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy.


But if history has taught us anything it is to believe the hype that things will get done in a timely fashion when it comes to Santana. I feel so confident, on behalf of Alright Hamilton I want to welcome Phil and Ian to the Minne...

Oh, wait. I didn't read the last sentence of the ESPN article. "The Yankees appear to be not presently engaged whatsoever in the Santana talks." Oh, so that first 2 paragraphs were just pure speculation?

I guess there is nothing new to report. This is getting annoying.

To read more about the talks check out the latest Santana info at MLB Trade Rumors.

UPDATE: SANTANA TO METS ACCORDING TO ESPN.
If anyone knows anything about these prospects please inform me.

All Things Considered, This Is Not Fun

By M. Haas

It seems that everything in back to square one in the Santana sweepstakes. We've been waiting and waiting. And then waiting some more. It's an interesting time for Twins fans. Most can't even agree on whether or not the Twins are playing to win in 2008. I wish it would just be over with so we could talk about the Twins chances. There's not much to say. All I know, is that I have been too wrapped up in this stuff.

Here's what I have learned from this off season so far:

- Hank Steinbrenner somehow sucks even more than his dad. But no one is sure how badly he sucks; and it all depends on the point of view. Non deals are just as important as deals. And by the way, how did the changing of the guard in the Yankees organization fly so far under the radar?

- The word "nearly" does not mean what you think it means.

- One can never pay too close attention to rumors. If they were true, they wouldn't be called rumors. Seriously. When they come true, it's cool - but that hardly ever happens. There has been about one thousand rumors about Santana, but next to no one saw the Marlins - Tigers trade...

- The Tigers will be good next season. They were second in the A.L. in runs scored last season, and look to be even better in '08. So how does this impact the Twins? I don't know, but it will be hard to win the division.

- How far away is April 2010? Someone do the math. It's farther than it seems. Delmon Young will be playing in the Metrodome next year. And the next. That's two seasons. That's depressing.

If anyone is near Nashville and wants to start some rumors. Print out the Official Alright Hamilton! Johan Santana Trade Rumor Mask. And walk into the Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center and start giving interviews.

If you want to start a rumor that he went to Boston, download this mask.

If you want to say Johan is playing for the Yankees download this mask.

Or if you want to say Santana is staying with the Twins, retiring from baseball or going to any of the other 26 teams that can't afford him, download this mask.

Just Trade Him Already

I don't even know what to do anymore. If my employer knew how often I have been checking a diverse mix of mlbtraderumors.com, ESPN Blog, SI.com and Google News Search for "Santana Trade", I'd probably have been asked to leave by lunch.

I want as much as the next Minnesota fan, for the Twins to come away with, Lester, Ellsbury, Hughes, Melky, Wright, and Reyes for Santana in some kind of 3 team, 7 player deal. But it's probably not going to happen.

Let's just trade him straight up for a low level pitching prospect and some cash. We can turn anyone into a 2 (shoulda been 3) time Cy Young winner no problem. Liriano can help, he's pretty good.

I am just sick of waiting and I want to imagine some new players in the Blue, Red and White.

I'm joking... Keep holding out, let's get everything we can out of these rich bastards.

The Santana Clause

I think most of us were hoping there was going to be some bigger news at this point and we couls start speculating next years lineup, but it looks like the Santana Trade options with the Yankees have slowed down, possibly to a complete stop.

Hank is saying as far as any deal with the Yankee's "It's probably off".

Here is a quick question, if the Yankees are the Evil Empire, doe that make George Steinbrenner, Darth Vader? And then would that make Hank Steinbrenner, Darth Vader's son?Thus making him Luke Skywalker? Sorry, the picture of the day had me thinking about Star Wars. But I digress.

However, from what I can find on the interwebs it looks like a Red Sox deal is more likely. Curt Shilling badly wants Johan for the Red Sox, can you blame him?

The Boston Globe reported Twins and Boston ended their talks last night around 2am ET, but that a deal appears "close". According to the source it looks like the deal would be, pitcher Jon Lester, center fielder Coco Crisp, pitcher Justin Masterson and infielder Jed Lowrie.

Jayson Stark and La Velle E. Neal III have the same list of players so this is looking like it might be true.



Not a horrible trade but still not what I was looking for. Essentially I want nothing to do with Coco. But that's just my opinion what's yours?

Ortiz Dealt to Colorado

By Tom Daymont

In what can only be described as a blockbuster move, the Colorado Rockies have acquired right-handed pitcher Ramon Ortiz from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for infielder Matt Macri (and the Rockies are picking up the salary of the over-paid Ortiz).

Marci, who coincidently enough was selected by the Minnesota Twins in 17th round (497th overall) of 2001 amateur entry draft, but decided to stay at Notre Dame has played most of his career at shortstop but has also been seen in the third base position. He has split the 2007 season between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Colorado Springs and has combined to hit .310 with 12 home runs and 37 RBI in 82 games between the two clubs.

The most interesting part of this trade is Terry Ryan’s comment on the deal.

"They had a couple of injuries over there and they needed some pitching," Ryan said. "He might get an opportunity to start, which I'm sure is his preference. We weren't using him much and he's going over there in a pennant race. So it just made sense."

I repeat, “he's going over there in a pennant race.” Is this Terry saying that the Twins are not in a pennant race? Maybe (I probably am) reading more into this than I should. Maybe Ryan means both teams are contending. The Rockies are 5 games out in the NL west and third behind the Padres and Dbacks. Not much different than where the Twins are in the AL Central standings.

Either way, I am much less sad to see Ortiz go than I was when Castillo left town. Who has since been hit a solid .314/.375/.353 in his 14 games with the Mets.