Comments on: The Johan Santana Trade: Mets Win, Twins Lose

By: Mozatta

Mozatta — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:19:28 +0000

Yeah I am comparing Knoblauch to Santana..Are you on drugs?

When the Twins traded Chuck to NY, people got on MN for doing that. When we traded Viola, people thought it was a dumb move. Both those trades turned out fine.

By: die_eagles_die

die_eagles_die — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:33:25 +0000

HAHAHA! Knoblauch haha, are you comparing him to Santana? Paying for Santana is an economical choice because he is the best pitcher around, and he is young.

By: Mozatta

Mozatta — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:03:34 +0000

In the Central, who knows who will win. But the Twins did know that Santana was NOT going to re-sign, at least for what they were offering. Yes, Polhad could afford the guy, but it didn’t make economical sense. So we had to get something. If the Twins wait till the deadline, they get squat. This was at least something. Look at how the Viola trade and Knoblauch trade turned out. Pretty decent. Yes Santana is the best pitcher in the league, but there was 0% chance he was coming back. Get rid and move on.

By: bobb

bobb — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:25:24 +0000

Jeez Eagles, Do you want to kick my dog too?

By: die_eagles_die

die_eagles_die — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:35:06 +0000

Bobb, they def had a chance to win. Now they have 0, and the Tigers are pretty young in the right places. So life isn’t going to get easier in 2010.

By: bobb

bobb — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:14:23 +0000

Eagles – You have a point, really I hear you…but(of course there is a but)Santana won 15 games last year, the Twins won 79. Unless he goes back to 20 wins, and Liriano hits at least 15 you need to get 55+ wins from the other 3 starters to win the Central. When Liriano was healthy, they had Radke and Silva, both had a couple solid years. That was 40+ wins right there.

Trust me, I wish Santana and the Twins could have come up with an extension. I LOVED Watching him every 5 days. I think if things played out right with Liriano and some luck with the 3-5 starters, your thoughts are right on. I guess I just don’t think that is how it was going to play out.

Plus Santana wanted out, and the Twins weren’t going to go over 5 years on an extension. I think they were screwed.

By the way, I am not sure anyone is beating Detroit in the Central this year anyway.

By: O Qua Tangin Wann

O Qua Tangin Wann — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:06:14 +0000

From Baseball Prospectus’ Joe Sheehan (January 15, 2005/ Breakout Canidates for 2008):

Melky Cabrera. Cabrera went backwards in ‘07, but not by enough for concern. Remember that he is just 23 years old and has more than 1100 plate appearances in the majors, with average to average-plus defense (good physical tools, but very raw, takes bad routes) and a very good 129/96 K/BB. He is a mature player offensively, patient at the plate and fair on the bases (25-for-35 stealing in his career). One interesting quirk is his G/F ratio, which is 1.63 for his career and was a whopping 1.81 last season. Cabrera is listed at 5′11â€ and 200 pounds. He’s not Willy Taveras, but rather a player who should be developing power and learning how to drive the ball, rather than hitting the ball on the ground 60 percent of the time.

By: die_eagles_die

die_eagles_die — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:03:19 +0000

@ Bobb…Baker, Boof, and Slowey are at least as good as Byrd, Westbrook, and whoever else has an Indians uni and can pitch. Liriano is a gamble, yes, but he could pay off. Johan is the best pitcher in baseball by a mile. That is a win just about every 5 days, and if Liriano is anywhere near his previous form, that is at least 2 wins every 5 days. The bullpen is arguably the best in the league. Everyone knows pitching wins, and they would have had a clear edge in that catagory. They were playoff contenders with just Johan on the team. They were actually building a team. You won’t see another pitcher like Johan in that deal they made, and the Twins won’t have a team like they could have had this year for the next 20 years.

Any time you can get a cy young, a legit #2, one of the best closers and set up man, batting champ, and MVP in the same lineup, you have a good chance. Not too many teams in the league can put up an everyday team like that.

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:44:36 +0000

Smith should be fired today for this.

When Hughes and Ellsbury are in multiple All Star games it will be even worse.

By: bobb

bobb — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:37:00 +0000

Eagles – Seriously You are going to say Liriano is 100% healthy? anyone coming off TJ surgery is never 100% after a year. THough Lets Say he is…THen what? Baker, Boof and Slowey as your 3-5? That is a combined 619 innings. A combined 112 games.

Bullpen is nice, Set up and Closer are nicer yet. But Unless 3-5 get 6+ innings a game it doesn’t matter how good your BP Is.

THey have 3 proven bats in that lineup. Delmon Young should be #4 but then the unknowns come up. Can Lamb hit? Who is 2b, CF, and theverett at SS was a 232 hitter last year.

You think that team can compete with CLE, or DET? I guess after watching this team I have to disagree.