Blog Archives
Justin Morneau: Twins Trade Bait or Damaged Goods?
Thursday July 12th, 2012
Bernie Olshansky: Over the past few years, Twins fans have been disappointed with Justin Morneau’s performance. He’s been plagued by a concussion he sustained in Toronto two years ago after sliding into the leg of Aaron Hill. Before the injury, Morneau was hitting .345 through 81 games, hit .274 in the year before that (2009), finished second in MVP voting in 2008 after hitting .300 with 23 home runs and 129 RBIs, and won the AL MVP award in 2006 after hitting .321 with 34 homers and 130 RBIs. The big question is: Can he return to his original form? Read the rest of this entry
David Ortiz to the Jays or Yankees? Try the Rays or Angels
Monday October 17, 2011
MLB reports – Jonathan Hacohen: With the World Series all set to commence on Wednesday (Cardinals and Rangers)- our attention is slowly shifting to the upcoming free agency period. A big name (literally) of discussion has been David Ortiz, or better known in baseball circles as “Big Papi”. The rumor mill is running wild as to where Ortiz will play in 2012. Let’s shed some light on the subject and clear up the confusion.
The soon to be 36-year old Ortiz is coming off one of his finest seasons in recent memory. Papi finished with a steady all-around season: 29 home runs, 96 RBIs, 84 runs, 78/83 BB/K, .309 AVG and .953 OPS. Ortiz was named to his 7th all-star team and finishing up a 5-year, $64.5 million contract. For a player that appeared to be in decline back in 2009, Ortiz has shown the last two seasons that he has some juice left in the tank. But with the Red Sox in shambles, given the departure of long-time manager Terry Francona and soon to be ex-GM Theo Epstein, Ortiz himself has said that Boston has become too much of a soap opera. The question on every baseball fan’s mind: will he stay or will he go?
The Ortiz decision to stay in Boston will largely depend on several factors. Firstly, it is unclear whether the team wishes to retain him or go in a different direction. As an aging team with hitters that could use the rest from playing in the field every day, the Red Sox may not longer wish to commit the DH spot to one exclusive batter. Taking that into account with Papi’s streaks and slumps that past few years and recent comments, may be enough for the Red Sox upper management to wish to move on. But if the team does wish to retain him, or give in to fan pressure to keep Ortiz (which is likely to come given his immense popularity), will Papi himself want to remain in Boston? Only the man could answer that question. To know the answer, one would have to get into the player’s head. Does Otiz get along with his teammates or are there divided fractions? How much did the 2011 collapse take a toll on his morale? When will a new GM come into place and will he be able to have a good relationship with Ortiz? Same issue for a new manager…and you get the idea. There are many variables that put into question whether Ortiz could or would stay in Boston.
In my estimation, Ortiz is on his final contract. He will likely obtain a 2-year contract, with an option for a third. Based on his rich history and legacy in Boston, I think that when push comes to shove- the player will stay. Boston needs Papi; and Papi needs Boston. It would not feel right to see Ortiz in another uniform (check out highlights from his days in Minnesota and you will see what I mean). Major League Baseball also would love to see Ortiz remain in Boston for marketing purposes. With so many vested interests in getting this deal done, I believe it will happen. But what if it does not? What if Papi jumps ship? I see his options as far and few between.
The first option that jumped out was the Yankees. It will not happen. While the Yankees would love to stick it to Boston, they will not likely want another aging DH on their hands after the Jorge Posada fiasco this past season. The Yankees also have Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and company that need days off the field, A-Rod especially given his failing health. With A-Rod becoming a part-time DH as soon as next year, the Yankees cannot afford to take on Papi at this stage. Plus the team has up-and-coming superstar Jesus Montero that needs playing time and has nothing more to prove in AAA. So the Yankees rate as a no.
The next options for Ortiz? It will only be American League teams as he is only a DH at this stage of his career. The only realistic teams that have the open position and fit are Toronto, Tampa Bay and Anaheim. The Jays are being thrown around many circles as a possible destination. It makes sense for several reasons. Ortiz knows the ballpark well from his AL East days. He gets along well with Jose Bautista and would serve as a great mentor for the Jays young hitters. Toronto was missing production last season from the DH spot and would welcome Papi’s bat. But despite these factors, I don’t see this signing happening. Ortiz will want to play on a contender and fight for another ring. His career is winding down and so are his chances. While Toronto has a strong young nucleus, they are at least 2-3 years aways. As much as this would be a feel-good signing, I would rate is as another no.
Thus the battle for the services of David Ortiz will boil down to the Tampa Bay Rays and Anaheim Angels. Two strong playoff contending teams that desperately need his bat. Tampa Bay should be the favorite, given the familiarity of the AL East and the strong need of the team. The Rays have the lineup spot for Ortiz and should make a big push for him. The Angels have the same need, but not the best fit for position. The team has a logjam in the outfield with Mike Trout likely to be with the big club next year and Kendrys Morales returning to the team from injury. But when there is a will, there is a way. Like many other squads, the Angels would need to do some creative shuffling to make room for Ortiz. Vernon Wells may need to be moved for a bad pitcher’s contract in return (Carlos Zambrano anyone?) Kendrys Morales may not be recovered or Trout may not be ready. The Angels went through a desperate need all year in 2011 for runs and will not want to face the same issue come 2012. Papi could be the perfect short-term solution for the Halos.
The four-horse race to sign David Ortiz will come down to the Red Sox, Jays, Rays and Angels. The Rays are my dark horse favorite and best overall fit. The Jays would love to take him on, it will just depend on the confidence Papi has in the team’s ability to compete. Boston will hang in right till the end and the Angels will need to be aggressive to get him. If we are playing the odds, I would rate Boston as a 70% favorite, followed by Tampa Bay at 20% and the Jays/Angels at 5% each. Once the World Series ends, let the David Ortiz sweepstakes begin!
Jonathan Hacohen is the Lead Baseball Columnist & Editor for MLB reports
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Jobless in 2012 – MLB Managers on the Hot Seat from 2011
Saturday September 10, 2011
Rob Bland (Baseball Writer – MLB reports): When a team has a disappointing season, the most likely candidate to lose his job is the manager. So far in the 2011 season, there has already been three managers who have either resigned or been fired. The Oakland Athletics fired Bob Geren on June 9th and replaced him with Bob Melvin. A week and a half later, Edwin Rodriguez resigned from his post as manager of the Florida Marlins. Jack McKeon became the oldest manager since Connie Mack at 80 years old. Yet another week later on June 26th, Jim Riggleman of the Washington Nationals resigned and was replaced by Davey Johnson two days later. With only a few weeks left in the regular season, who are the frontrunners to be replaced after the World Series?
With eight managers being new to their respective teams to start the 2011 season, one would think there can’t be too many jobs to lose. The first criteria I look at in order to predict who will not be returning his club is if the team was expected to contend for the playoffs, and fell short. Another thing I look at is the perception of the clubhouse, ie. if players get along, or if the manager is able to manage egos. Of course, the manager’s ability to create a lineup and manage a bullpen is taken into consideration. Other factors such as injuries and expectations of players are measured as well. The list that follows are my top 3 managers who could be canned after this season.
Mike Quade, Chicago Cubs
It is not oft
en that I would think a first year manager would be fired like this, but there are so many circumstances that make me believe he will be gone. First, there has been grumbling since day one in Chicago that Quade was hired over franchise icon Ryne Sandberg. The Cubs have been packed with talented players such as Carlos Zambrano, Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, Geovany Soto, Ryan Dempster and Carlos Marmol. Add in Matt Garza and Starlin Castro, and you would think they could at least come close in the terrible NL Central. They are 22 games behind the streaking Milwaukee Brewers, and 21.5 behind Atlanta for the Wild Card. Their record is 62-81 with a 35-40 record at Wrigley Field.
Bud Black, San Diego Padres
With 2011 being Black’s 5th season with the Padres, a 62-82 record and already 21 games behind Arizona for the NL West title, he could be on the way out. The Padres have yet to reach the postseason under Black, however they were involved in a 1-game playoff with Colorado for the Wild Card title in 2007 that many of us will never forget as one of the most exciting games we have ever witnessed. In 2010, the Padres held a 6.5 game lead over eventual World Series Champs San Francisco Giants on August 25th. After a 10 game losing streak, the Padres were still in contention, and were not officially eliminated from the playoffs until the final day of the regular season with a 90-72 record. Those were the only winnings seasons in Black’s tenure and his time in San Diego may be up.
Ron Gardenhire, Minnesota Twins
Is it really fair to say Gardenhire’s job is in jeopardy? Probably not, but it definitely is possible. Over his 10 year career with the Twins, he has amassed an 861-740 record and they have been in the playoffs 6 times. However, they have only won 6 games, 4 of which were in one series, in Gardenhire’s first season; 2002. The Twins have not won a playoff game since 2004, being swept in 2006, 2009 and 2010 in the American League Division Series. This year, Gardenhire has had to deal with crippling injuries of former AL MVP’s Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer. Statistically, the best hitter has been Michael Cuddyer, hitting .282 with 18 home runs and 64 RBI. The best pitcher has been Scott Baker who is 8-6 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 131 2/3 innings. Francisco Liriano has not been the same as he was before undergoing Tommy John surgery after the 2006 season, and aside from his no-hitter against the White Sox on May 3, he has been downright awful and is now on the 15-day disabled list. When the best players don’t perform, or are hurt, the manager is forced to do the best he can with what he is given. However a 59-84 record may just be the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back for Gardenhire.
This year, with 3 mid-season changes already, and eight new managers at the beginning of the season, shouldn’t see too much activity. I do believe that with the Cubs’ search for a new general manager under way, Quade’s days are numbered in Chicago. I also believe that Black’s inability to get the always promising Padres to the next level will leave him without a job by November. Gardenhire has not proven to me that he can bring the Twins to the World Series, and that is what the job description entails. Has it ever happened where both Managers of the Year from their respective leagues gets fired the following year? It could happen if Black and Gardenhire are let go.
***Today’s feature was prepared by our Baseball Writer, Rob Bland. We highly encourage you to leave your comments and feedback at the bottom of the page and share in the discussion with our readers. You can also follow Rob on Twitter.***
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The Minnesota Twins 2011: What Went Wrong
MLB reports: With the daily moans and groans filling my message box on the state of the Minnesota Twins in 2011, I decided to dig deeper today to analyze what is ailing this team thus far in the season. A steady team that is a perennial contender every year, 2011 has been an unmitigated disaster thus far for the Twins. The Twins record currently stands at 12-21, last in the AL Central. The team is 10.0 games out of first, battling for the basement with the White Sox, who are 14-22. I will be looking at the team’s overall statistics and then view individual players that have flopped and those that still offer hope. To a very special Twins fan out there, I am sorry about the state of the team in 2011, but this article is for you.
Record:
With their 12-21 record, the Twins have the least amount of wins in baseball. At home, they have been a respectable on 4-6, but 8-15 on the road. Ouch. The Twins are 3-7 in their last 10 games and currently are on a 3-game losing streak. A 10-game hole in early May is still fixable, but the Twins have to be careful not to slide too much further or a 15-20 game deficit could result. For a team that was expected to be a playoff contender, 2011 has turned into a nightmare for the team and it’s fans.
Team Offense:
The Twins have the 3rd worst offense in baseball, just ahead of only the Nationals and Padres. In the American League, numbers like this just don’t cut it:
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.230 AVG: 3rd last in majors
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.292 OBP: last in majors
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.320 SLG: last in majors
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15 total Home Runs: last in majors
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46 Doubles: 2nd last in majors
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104 Runs scored: last in majors
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93 RBIs: last in majors
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93 Walks: 3rd worst in majors
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354 Total Bases: last in majors
Sitting at the bottom on near bottom of almost every major offensive category, the Twins clearly have had little offense this year. They are not hitting, walking, scoring or driving in runs and hitting home runs. At these kinds of numbers, a team cannot expect to win many games. At 12 wins thus far, the Twins will need to get the bats going if they hope to climb back into contention this year.
Individual Hitters:
Looking at the Twins hitters, it is quicker to summarize which players are playing well than those that are not. Literally only 2 Twins hitters have had good numbers this year, while all of the rest of the batters have either been injured or underperformed this year. Jason Kubel has been the rock all season. With a .347 AVG, .397 OBP, .508 SLG and 3 home runs, Kubel has shown good production this year. Span has also been decent, with a .298 AVG, .361 OBP and 17 runs scored. Essentially every other hitter has been missing in action, from Morneau, to Cuddyer, Young and Thome, the bats have been ice all season. Valencia has been decent with 3 home runs and 18 RBIs, but a .229 AVG will just not cut it. The health of Mauer will help, with a rebound from Morneau, Young and return by Nishioka to help ignite the offense. Unfortunately the team may need to look on the open market for some offensive help if they want to improve their numbers. Otherwise, runs may be difficult to come by all year.
Team Pitching:
For all the hitting woes the Twins have endured this year, the pitching has not been much better. With the 3rd worst pitching staff in baseball, only the Orioles and Astros are below the Twins.
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4.62 ERA: 3rd last in baseball
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168 Runs allowed: 2nd last in baseball
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178 strike outs: last in baseball
The above numbers are fairly indicative of the Twins pitching. They are giving up a lot of runs and not striking out many batters. Another recipe for disaster. However, looking at the individual pitchers on the team, not all is doom and gloom. The bullpen has been fairly steady and the Twins have received decent to good outings from some of its starters. For a team built around pitching, hope still exists on the mound. If the pitching can continue to return back to form, all the Twins will need is some offensive support to jump-start its team.
Starting Pitching:
The Twins starters have been as good as they have been bad all year. 
Pavano and Liriano have been abysmal all year (except for Liriano’s no-hitter, which still came with a tag of 6 walks allowed). Blackburn has been steady and Baker/Duensing have been very solid. It is ironic that the team’s top 2 starters have caused the most problems for the team this season. Both with ERAs over 6.60, both Pavano and Liriano have to pick up their games if the team is to contend. Kyle Gibson, the team’s top pitching prospect has been decent in AAA, with a 1-1 record, 3.66 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. If he keeps it up, Gibson may get the call this year if the team needs an additional arm. While the prospect does need some more seasoning, the state of the other arms will tell. Kevin Slowey has also pitched well in relief and having come off the disabled list, could take a turn in the rotation if called upon.
Bullpen
The Twins bullpen has actually been very good this year. Matt Capps has taken on the closer role and run with it, sitting at a 3.14 ERA and 5/6 in save opportunities. Glen Perkins has been a rock setting-up, with a 0.55 ERA in 15 appearances. Mijares also has been successful most nights, with a 3.18 ERA in 16 appearances. The problem child has been their former closer to start the season, Joe Nathan. With an 8.18 ERA, 8/9 BB/K ratio, Nathan has clearly not yet regained the form that made him an all-star closer. Thrust too soon into the closing role, Nathan and the Twins dug a hole for themselves that has been hard to climb from. Expect Capps to keep the role for the majority of the year and the bullpen to continue to improve, together with the starting pitching for a team known for its pitching.
The Verdict: The season is still young and it would be foolish to write off the Twins at this early stage of the year. There is nowhere to go but up for this team. With so much talent on its roster, the Twins are due for a hot streak soon. Hitting and pitching are contagious and as the Twins have shown this year, slumps tend to affect most players at the same time. But assuming that the majority of the players can get hot at the same time, 7-8 game winning streaks could be in order. The AL Central has been tough to figure out this year, with the Indians and Royals playing much above expectations and the rest of the teams playing much below. Everything comes in cycles and once the Twins start hitting the hot weather, expect the team to heat up as well. The numbers show that the team has done little from a hitting and perspective in 2011. A continuation of these efforts would bring about one of the worst seasons in team history. But the end is not here yet and the next month or so will be more telling of where the team is headed. That is one of the things we all love about baseball: we never know what is going to happen. Good luck to the Twins and we hope to see you battling for the playoffs come September.
Thank you for reading my feature on the Minnesota Twins. Please contact me if you have any questions and suggestions for future topics. The E-mailbag will be posted Wednesday so please be sure to get all your MLB and fantasy baseball questions in by e-mailing me at: mlbreports@gmail.com
Please e-mail us at: MLBreports@gmail.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook . To subscribe to our website and have the daily Reports sent directly to your inbox , click here and follow the link at the top of our homepage.
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