We are far enough from it now to know, our hometown 9 got nothing of great value for the best pitcher in the league. Last January, as you all know Johan Santana was traded to the Metropolitans for a handful of prospects. Carlos Gomez, Phillip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra.
Everyone was fairly high on Gomez at this point last season. He was streaky and stuck out too much, but everyone was convinced he would outgrow that. Instead he steady gone backwards. His defense is outstanding, and can steal a base whenever he gets on base. But, he doesn't get on base, ever! Hopefully now that his wife has popped out a new baby he can relax. But, I have a feeling that "relax" isn't in this kids vocabulary. The thought was he was going to be the answer in center field with Torii Hunter, but I am convinced if the club breaks camp with Denard Span in the leadoff/CF spot, the team has another Central Division banner hanging from the Teflon roof.
The twins came north from Florida with Humber this year, but he couldn't get anyone out up in the show so he was send down to Rochester after only 4 appearances. To make room for Juan Morillo, they are teammates now in New York. Since he was demoted he has been pitching much better with opponents only batting .120 off him in 2 appearances.
Kevin Mulvey started the year in AAA and had a couple not so great starts, but has turned in 3 fair performances in a row. He wont be great, but scouts seem to think he'll be an ok big league pitcher someday. Nothing spectacular, but a solid back of the rotation starter. the one problem I see is that he has only gone past the 5th inning once, and hasn't gotten into the 6th yet. The other Red Wing starters have all gone 7 at least once. He does lead the team in strike outs and has an ERA under 3. But if he can't get you the innings maybe he could be solid bull pen guy.
The real question mark is Deolis Guerra, the phenom from Venezuela. He is still only 19 and in his 3rd year of professional baseball. But his ERA has gone up, and his K's have gone down every year. And he hasn't been promoted above A ball, so that means he's getting worse. There is something about this kid though, his stats aren't very good, but he wins ball games. Last year he had an ERA just under 5.5 and still won 11 games in 24 starts.
I'm not second guessing Billy Smith's decision here. Were better packages offered? If you believe the hype then yes. But I wasn't privy to the negotiations so I really have no idea. I am not saying that these cats wont be able to become very productive major leaguers someday either. I am just disappointed that the Twins are close to being the team to beat, and if we are able to get any production from one of these guy it would push us over the top. But I don't plan on holding my breath for that. As of right now the team to beat in the central is KC, and that is just disgusting.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Its been long enough
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9 comments:
I also realize that this was a long term move and it was made with 2010 and onward in mind. Its just frustrating to be a fan sometimes.
It's pretty obvious that we should have kept Johan and received the first round pick and compensation. Much better upside than what we got.
it is frustrating, but when you are in the position that the twins are in you don't have much choice. over the course of several decades there have been and will be more of these type of trades. maybe not of this magnitude (santana), but there will be more. sometime they work out (pierzynski) and sometimes they don't (herschel, bartlett/garza?, santana?), but the twins don't really have another option. it is kind of hit or miss. maybe the next one will be the one that we talk about for years...
When you are dealing with prospects versus known, established players you can never be sure what you are really getting. Gomez has all the raw tools to be a really good player. But he is not maturing at the plate like everyone had hoped. I am just greedy and want every trade to help as much as dumping Knoblauch did.
I have no sources to back me up, but the Twins usually fiddle around with young pitchers to try and make them improve their stuff, making it seem like they aren't pitching very well on paper (i.e. Garza) I'm sure the Twins are just trying to make Guerra be more than a flamethrower, but again, I have no sources to back this statement up.
And I agree that we got the short end of the stick, but at the same time, wouldn't it be more frustrating to watch Santana shut us down in the post season wearing a Red Sox Jersey? All those drunken fans in fenway going nuts as Santana strikes out Morneau...yuck.
I hate the Red Sox and knowing that they would have the best rotation in baseball for the next 6 years made me cringe. And the thought of Santana wearing pinstripes, to this day, makes me nauseous.
Has it been long enough? The same organization that gave up on Bartlett, Garza, Lohse, Casey Blake, and I hate to mention that big guy in Boston, or even Guzman. How many of these former Dome-dwellers have outdone what our organization had predicted for them? I know that all these players had different stories and reason to be sent elsewhere, but they all had better season then we had thought they would.
My point is, that Gomez could become at least 3/4th of what we thought (someday), and Delmon is also still learning. As impatient as us fans can be...its still not next year.
I still think the key in this whole deal is patience. Aside from Humber (hes a flop all the way) the others are still too young to make a real judgement on, and that includes Gomez.
Maybe we could have got a better crop of prospects for Santana, maybe not, but either way the dude was out the door after 08' so an organization like the Twins had to take the young players they could get for him while they could. Thats how the Twins stay afloat in this David vs. Goliath league.
In my mind the much bigger bust of a deal was the Delmon for Bartlett and Garza. I know Delmon is still young and learning too but Bartlett and Garza already seem to be hitting their stride. Bartlett was a big leader on a team that went to the World Series last year and is hitting the snot out of the ball this year. And 3 out of every 5 starts Garza looks like hes already a staff-ace-type guy.
I would have no problem if I never saw Delmon Young in a Twins uniform again.
If casilla gets sent down today, someone want to post something about his minor league career numbers vs his major league career numbers and some junk and that old pic of casilla in that astronaut suit. space cadet!
check out lavelle's blog.
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