Good for the O-dog. The Twins offer him a place where people care about their baseball team, good crowds with a new park (though he'll be wearing a toque in April), and a chance to win. And it's a good move for the Twin with a more reliable bat at second.

Hudson might be the most unknown player for how good he is.

I predict much happiness from the Primates with an affinity for the Twins.

though he'll be wearing a toque in April

I wonder how the snuggie will affect his range at second?

Now sign Mauer, damn it!

O-dog?

I predict much happiness from the Primates with an affinity for the Twins.

I dunno. They sign how many guys and Punto still gets mentioned?

Okay, okay, this is a good sign.

I'd say that I like the moves the Twins have been making lately, but I'm a Tigers' fan; frankly, I hate these moves. For once, Minnesota seems to be taking seriously the idea of filling the holes on their roster. Thome's not a great player any more, but he's much better than the Twins' alternatives. The same is true of Hudson. It's actually annoyed me, in an abstract way, watching the Twins not take advantage of the kind of marginal improvements you can make to supplement a few real superstars, and instead act as if there is a mandated limit on the amount of talent any one team is allowed to have, and Mauer and Morneau use up their quota.

Easily the favorites in a weak division.

I eagerly anticipate new third baseman Nicky Punto.

This is actually really good news for the Twins. I did not realize that Punto got so much playing time last year.

And (after checking B-R) I didn't realize Harris was so bad either. How did they manage to contend while having those two eating up so many PAs?

Career years from 4 really good players makes up for disappointing performance from 4 lineup spots. And then Detroit & Chicago absolutely collapsed.



I'm also very impressed that the Twins are being proactive in fixing their holes, and doing so very smartly. It almost seems like I'm following a different team. Whither Tony Batista, Jose Offerman and Livan Hernandez?

Anyone want to trade for Alexi Casilla? He's done in Minnesota.

Nick Punto will slide over to third base

Unfortunately for Twins fans, Punto isn't sliding into some abyss....

O-dog?

Right, it should be O-Dawg. These people have no clue.

Span
O-Dawgg
Mauer
Morneau
Cuddyer
Kubel/Thome
Hardy
Young
Punto/Harris

is not a bad lineup. The Twins look like they're going to score a lot of runs this year, which is good because they're going to give up a lot of runs.

Also, their bench most days will be Matt Tolbert, Brendan Harris, Jason Pridie, Jose Morales, and Jim Thome.

It's too bad the Mets couldn't afford to sign the Dogger. When big market clubs like the Twins can so easily outbid the Metropolitans it makes me fear for the future of the game.

Whither Tony Batista, Jose Offerman and Livan Hernandez?

...Jesse Orosco, Mike Lamb, Rondell White, Ramon Ortiz, Craig Monroe, Luis Ayala, Eddie Guardado 2.0...

Stupid !#&*ing nickname, nice signing.

Ah, we who don't care about our baseball team our in DC are happy too. May as well try to get something out of Guzman since no one would take that contract without giving back a worse one. Desmond gets a chance to pepper the hoi polloi behind the dugout with his throws. Fun.

Also, their bench most days will be Matt Tolbert, Brendan Harris, Jason Pridie, Jose Morales, and Jim Thome.

I'd guess that Tolbert won't be around most of the year. They'll go with a 7 man bullpen instead....Nathan Guerrier Rauch Morales Neshek Crain Condrey/Perkins/Duensing/Liriano. That's a really nice bullpen and starting lineup. The bench is ok, except for Pridie.

I wonder if Felipe Lopez can play 3B? UZR is a SSS, but encouraging.

If he could be had, and push Punto to the bench, this would be a really nice lineup. Especially if Kubel can give you 80-90 G's in the OF, avoiding the vortex of Delmon Young suckitude.

@Harry Balsagne...: I don't think it's true that the Twins are going to give up a lot of runs. They gave up fewer than average last year, and while they downgraded their outfield defense (to one of the worst in baseball, maybe the worst), Gomez wasn't going to see regular playing time anyway, and they've seriously upgraded their infield defense with Hardy and Hudson (even if Hudson is below average now, he's much better than Casilla), and they'll have a downright good infield defense every time Punto is at third. Their pitching should be as good or better with full years from Pavano and Slowey, and a potential rebound from Liriano. I'm in such a good mood today that I'll really drink the Kool-Aid and say that Delmon Young dropping 25 pounds might make him an almost-capable outfielder, too (he certainly seems to have the tools in there somewhere).
They've become a team that I think is going to score a lot of runs and give up fewer runs than most. Which is terribly exciting for me. :)

I'd much rather see Kubel in LF and Thome at DH than Young in LF and Kubel at DH.

Easily the class of the AL Central.

If the Twins up the middle defense would just become average - no runs gained or lost - and centerfield just falls to average, they would gain about 30 runs defensively according to Dewan's Fielding Bible. That would move them to about 3rd in the league in runs allowed. That alone would move them up to 89-90 wins, not counting the offensive upgrades they might gain up the middle too.