2009 Baseball Spring Training

	Alex - I was too weak to give in Too strong to lose 02/15/2009 @ 07:05:09 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2009/news/story?id=3906479 Hall out 4-6 weeks, opening door for Gamel? When do the rest of the players report?		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - 3619 Posts 02/17/2009 @ 07:28:24 PM
Gagne to Brewers on minor league deal with possible performance incentives. I'm loving it. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2009/news/story?id=3914137 Hart and Brewers split the difference and avoid arbitration. After going through the stats on that other thread I changed my mind about a multi-year deal at this point, he needs to prove he can make adjustments at the plate first instead of turning into the next Bill Hall. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3914276		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - 4671 Posts 02/20/2009 @ 08:38:09 PM
I'll start using Scott's blog arena here: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090220&content_id=3858430&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min Poor Punto?		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jon - 1 bajillion posts 02/21/2009 @ 04:53:50 AM
I'm a buscher fan, but I like the idea of Crede. Sure, he may end up injured more often than on the field, but I like the move anyway for the potential. His avg/obp aren't that great but he makes up some of that with power. Plus, anecdotally, I feel like he's hurt the twins a lot playing against them. So I checked it out, because I didn't want to get proven wrong later, and I was right. He went 400/.429/1.050 (as the kids like to say) against us last year. Then again, he kind of sucked the year before, but still. The terms aren't out yet, but I doubt it'll break the Twins if he doesn't pan out. Plus, it's nearly spring and time to be optimistic. P.S. Sarah, I think Punto is the starting shortstop. Which is a good thing. I think.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Micah - 584 Posts 02/21/2009 @ 08:55:40 AM
I like the Crede signing as well. I was a fan of the Buscher/Harris platoon, but more so because it was cheap than because it was going to be overly successful. I just didn't like the idea of signing one of the good offense/bad defense third basemen that were out there this year for $4-7 million. (Wiggington, etc.). But Crede plays outstanding defense which is a huge upgrade over the other corner guys available, and he provides great protection for Mauer and Morneau, which they didn't have last year. If he plays most of the season, then we got a bargain. If he gets hurt, then we were under budget this year anyway, and there's no way he's going to be as bad as Tony Batista or Mike Lamb. I think it would actually be poor Matt Tolbert. Seems like he had a good chance of being the reserve infielder if everything stayed pat. Which is too bad, because I really liked him when I was at spring training last year. He was always in the batting cages working and signed a ton of autographs for kids. I hope he becomes Gardenhire's new "hard-working even though he's not really that good" man-crush after Punto eventually leaves. Also read that they might make a play for Juan Cruz from Arizona in a sign and trade. That would really jam the bullpen, unless Bonser starts the year on the DL. But its hard to turn down a 95-mph fastball if they can get him for a minor leaguer, although he walks a ton of guys as well.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Micah - 584 Posts 02/21/2009 @ 09:01:58 AM
Did anyone know the Twins drafted a kid names Shooter Hunt, who was nicknamed after the Hoosiers character. This kid better be a star, because I want a Shooter Hunt jersey, not to mention a Jimmy Chitwood jersey. Shooter Hunt		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Micah - 584 Posts 02/21/2009 @ 11:00:55 AM
Looks like Crede's deal is $2.5M base with $7M in incentives based on plate appearances. Starts at 250PA and the $7M comes at 525. I think this is an even better deal now. He originally wanted $7M base plus incentives to $11-12M. I think $9.5M for 525 PA's is fine, and its a small loss if he craps out. Plus there's the added satisfaction of knowing the the Twins put the screws to Scott Boras and he gave in. EDIT: The deal maxes out at $7M if he hits all his incentives, so even better than originally reported.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Micah messed with this at 02/22/2009 3:29:31 am

	Sarah - How do you use these things? 02/21/2009 @ 12:10:16 PM
Ok, so not to nag people, but can we kind of get a head count for this Milwaukee/St. Louis trip? Tickets go on sale Feb 28th I believe (I nominate Matt to buy the tickets since he's our unofficial ticket person). Or do we not care about good tickets and want to wait and see until it gets closer to game day(s)? This is like the only thing I have to look forward to so I want to have something concrete soon.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - Refactor Mercilessly 02/21/2009 @ 12:26:33 PM
Alex Wrote - 02/15/2009 @ 07:05:09 PM http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2009/news/story?id=3906479 Hall out 4-6 weeks, opening door for Gamel? When do the rest of the players report? Or not http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090218&content_id=3844760&vkey=news_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	jthompto - 209 Posts 02/21/2009 @ 02:16:07 PM
Can't argue with the deal. A potential everyday thirdbaseman and right handed power hitter is something the Twins really needed. A signifigant upgrade over the Buscher/Harris platoon if Crede stays healthy. If he doesn't the Twins have a plan b and don't waste a lot of money.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Matt - 3941 Posts 02/22/2009 @ 02:52:16 AM
Micah Wrote - Yesterday @ 09:01:58 AM Did anyone know the Twins drafted a kid names Shooter Hunt, who was nicknamed after the Hoosiers character. This kid better be a star, because I want a Shooter Hunt jersey, not to mention a Jimmy Chitwood jersey. Shooter Hunt I remember following the draft last year and being happy with the pick. He was a rated as one of the better pitchers in the draft and, instead of reaching for a player like the Twins sometimes do, they actually went with the, perhaps, best player on the board at the time. Anyway, Aaron Gleeman has him as the #5 prospect for the Twins this year, so hopefully we should be able to see him in the majors in a year or two.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - So's your face 02/22/2009 @ 09:10:49 AM
Twins preview on MLB network right now! Yay!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Micah - Bring down the Beast!!! 02/25/2009 @ 12:06:23 PM
Bonser is undergoing exploratory surgery. I've read anywhere from the 60-day DL to out for most of the season depending on what they find. This definitely makes the bullpen situation easier, although it sucks if it ends up meaning Bonser is done with the Twins without us getting to see if he could be a capable reliever. Hopefully it ends up being minor. Edit: Bonser has torn labrum and torn rotator cuff...out for season Is there a fantasy league yet?		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Micah edited this at 02/25/2009 2:06:16 pm

	Matt - Nutcan.com's MBL 02/25/2009 @ 05:13:02 PM
Micah Wrote - Today @ 12:06:23 PM Is there a fantasy league yet? Now there is. Info/link/discussion here.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - A Vote for me is a Vote against Terrorism! ...or atleast just wasted. 02/26/2009 @ 02:28:41 PM
I'm at home watching the Houston/Atlanta game- they keep talking about how awesome the Twins young pitching staff is- even without Boof (laff) and especially with a healthy Liriano. They've made a lot of nice remarks about the Twins; happy day!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 02/26/2009 @ 08:12:53 PM
Corey Hart homered in the first spring training game.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - 4671 Posts 03/01/2009 @ 12:47:26 PM
That's cool. I missed the Twins, it's nice to watch them on TV for spring training.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - 4671 Posts 03/01/2009 @ 01:09:18 PM
Ok, so tickets have been on sale for a whole day... What's everyone status on going to games? 1, 2 to Milwaukee, 1,2,3 to St Louis, 1 to KC? Just throwing this out there...		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	PackOne - Make my own decisions. That's my perogative. 03/01/2009 @ 08:44:01 PM
I am going to one game at Miller Park, or were you looking for more than that?		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 03/02/2009 @ 08:02:46 AM
Anyone want to go to the Trop down in St. Pete?		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - 2079 Posts 03/02/2009 @ 08:12:58 AM
I wish. Drove by it last January though		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - Resident Tech Support 03/02/2009 @ 02:37:06 PM
I enjoy watching baseball anyway, but the Trop has the unique distinction of being an even worse place to watch a game than the Metrodome.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 03/03/2009 @ 02:48:34 PM
Hart is batting .700 so far.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Micah - 584 Posts 03/03/2009 @ 03:47:56 PM
Delmon Young is batting .857, although I think he still does a complete 360 every time a ball is hit to left field. I won't know about STL until April, so I will get tickets then if I can go and just sneak down to wherever you guys are.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	jthompto - 209 Posts 03/03/2009 @ 08:01:41 PM
I will probably go to at least 2 possibly 3 of the Twins games vs STL. I usually wait till a little closer to the event to buy tickets. If anyone needs a place to stay I have one spare bedroom in my house.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - How do you use these things? 03/06/2009 @ 07:12:36 PM
Twins tickets go on sale tomorrow!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - ...and Bob's your Uncle! 03/06/2009 @ 08:27:24 PM
what kind of tickets are you all getting? we'll probably opt for resrved spots. Anyone else notice griffey was left and not center? I don't know that I've paid attention to him during his Reds years, but I imagne since he's 40 he can't cover like he used to.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 03/07/2009 @ 07:50:37 PM
All we could get was gen ad tickets for Opening Day. We got seats in 226 for the last game at the dome.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - Tag This 03/08/2009 @ 04:50:59 PM
I think we have freebees for 136 or 137 or something for game one. I'm not positive, they're through a friend of Meagen's.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 03/09/2009 @ 10:50:00 AM
I went to a Reds-Blue Jays spring training game on saturday. It wasn't much of a game, but it was still a good time. Dusty Baker took time after BP to sign a bunch of autographs; so that was pretty cool. I got pretty close to him, close enough to shake his hand if I wanted to.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - Ignorance is bliss to those uneducated 03/09/2009 @ 12:46:42 PM
Quit fraternizing with the enemy!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jon - 3443 Posts 03/14/2009 @ 12:09:46 AM
Scott Wrote - 03/09/2009 @ 10:50:00 AM I went to a Reds-Blue Jays spring training game on saturday. Alex Wrote - 03/09/2009 @ 12:46:42 PM Quit fraternizing with the enemy! Yeah! I agree with Alex. Those Blue Jays are Canadians you know.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - How do you use these things? 03/16/2009 @ 08:29:52 PM
We're getting the Twins game on the TV this year!! DirectTV had better not be the sux.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 03/16/2009 @ 10:38:17 PM
Yeah, we'll have to start charging admission.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jeremy screwed with this at 03/16/2009 10:38:28 pm

	Carlos44ec - 2079 Posts 03/17/2009 @ 08:52:27 AM
Sarah Wrote - Yesterday @ 08:29:52 PM We're getting the Twins game on the TV this year!! DirectTV had better not be the sux. I know a dude who installs DTV in EC. You do too, none other than William Tubbs.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 03/17/2009 @ 09:31:03 AM
No kidding. Well, hopefully I see him Saturday between noon and 4.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	jthompto - 209 Posts 03/17/2009 @ 12:23:43 PM
Sarah Wrote - 12/31/1969 @ 06:00:00 PM We're getting the Twins game on the TV this year!! DirectTV had better not be the sux. I have direct TV and I think it is awesome. Just make sure your house isn't located in a forest. And be ready to deal with minor signal problems during bad weather and knock the snow off the dish during the winter.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 03/17/2009 @ 12:41:30 PM
Well the on demand stuff comes in over the internet, and we download a lot of shows anyway, so I think we'll be ok. The call to cancel Charter took like 2 seconds, I couldn't believe it. No hard sell, no games, no "well, why don't try [something we don't want]." I think it was because I had a reason there's no getting around. Charter doesn't offer the Twins games, there's no switch she can flip for that. Anyway, then she looked at internet only plans and found that we could get a year long trial of the 20mbps service for the cost of the 5mbps we had, so now we have that. Also, we're getting an HD-DVR, so we'll finally be able to pause our shows to let Hooch out every 45 seconds. I've called Charter for other issues and the call was a nightmare, I guess they save the best service for when you're leaving.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - 2079 Posts 03/17/2009 @ 02:24:48 PM
or when your bill is 4x what it's supposed to be- that was the easiest customer service call ever.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - 4671 Posts 03/30/2009 @ 08:38:58 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2009/news/story?id=4028070 is this a big deal? seems like the brewers never have a closer.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - Refactor Mercilessly 03/30/2009 @ 11:49:59 PM
I'm not too worried, sounds like as long as he doesn't try to rush it right now it shouldn't be a lingering problem.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - You're going to have to call your hardware guy. It's not a software issue. 03/31/2009 @ 07:35:18 AM
Just for the record, except for last year, the Brewers have had a number of good closers. Dan Kolb--All Star, Francisco Cordero--All Star, Derrick Turnbow--All Star. They haven't all lasted that long, but to say the Brewers never have a closer is not accurate. I hope Hoffman pans out this year, because in all reality, it was indeed the lack of a solid closer that I think was the difference in their season last year. Your entire pitching staff is just more at ease when you know you can rely on the 9th inning guy.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - 2079 Posts 03/31/2009 @ 11:03:44 AM
Micah- we need an update. What do you have to report?		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - 4671 Posts 03/31/2009 @ 06:46:58 PM
Yea, I haven't seen you at the two games I watched, are you sitting in the clubhouse or something?		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - You had me at "Hello" 03/31/2009 @ 08:37:44 PM
I watched yesterday's hoping for a sighting. Nothing!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - How do you use these things? 04/02/2009 @ 08:19:58 PM
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090402&content_id=4108752&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min I'm not sure if our chances for winning just increased or decreased, based off of Liriano's last start.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Matt - Washington Bureau Chief 04/02/2009 @ 09:50:14 PM
One upside to this is that knuckleballer R. A. Dickey will open as the 5th starter and pitch on the 10th.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - 3619 Posts 04/03/2009 @ 01:37:08 PM
Gwynn is odd man out for bench outfielders, put on waivers http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/42367217.html		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Matt - Washington Bureau Chief 04/03/2009 @ 03:07:32 PM
He cleared waivers and is going to Triple-A Nashville.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - 4671 Posts 04/04/2009 @ 10:01:10 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?page=powerrankings_preseason09 Suck it Brewers. Just rewatched the last few innings of the Sept 25th game against the White Sox, I can't wait for Monday!!!		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 2 times.

	Alex - 3619 Posts 04/05/2009 @ 04:26:17 PM
Baseball starts today!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - Knuckle Sammich 04/05/2009 @ 08:38:20 PM
Huzzah! Where you fools sitting at the Homerdome- are you going? I think our tix say section 136.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - 4671 Posts 04/05/2009 @ 08:40:06 PM
General Admission- only the best for us!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - Since 1980! 04/07/2009 @ 08:01:20 AM
That guy got knocked a good one. He should have been paying attention, he was sitting in the hot zone down there!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - Get Up! Get outta here! Gone! 04/07/2009 @ 08:29:49 AM
Carlos44ec Wrote - Today @ 09:01:20 AM That guy got knocked a good one. He should have been paying attention, he was sitting in the hot zone down there! Are you talking about a spring training game? Because this is the spring training thread.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.