**Official 2015 Minnesota Twins Thread**

[HOFAutoRookies]

Originally Posted by Hollywood42

But why would we want to trade the player with the 2nd most RBIs on our team (trailing leader Dozier by 1), 2nd leading run scorer? We're 7th in the AL in runs scored, it's not like we're putting up a ton of runs. I'm not denying that we need bullpen help, but trading Plouffe, IMO, would do more harm than help

Why would the A's trade Donaldson and they make the playoffs? Plouffe is playing his contract year.

[HOFAutoRookies]

Originally Posted by Hollywood42

I think you are severely underestimating how good Plouffe has been for us

I don't, he's done what we need him to do (and more, for that contract) but I believe this is his outlier career season and to say it isn't is laughable.

[Hollywood42]

They didn't trade him for bullpen pitchers I really think you're not giving Plouffe enough credit for what he's done this year. And the contract year argument doesn't make much sense as he's having a similar year to his year last year, although he's hitting more HRs this year

Originally Posted by HOFAutoRookies

Why would the A's trade Donaldson and they make the playoffs? Plouffe is playing his contract year.

[Hollywood42]

How can you confidently say that someone with just 3 full seasons under their belt who just turned 29 will never have a season as good as this one? I'm not any more justified in saying that he will continue to improve, but that's exactly what he's done each of the last few years- Gotten better

Originally Posted by HOFAutoRookies

I don't, he's done what we need him to do (and more, for that contract) but I believe this is his outlier career season and to say it isn't is laughable.

[CC_123]

Originally Posted by HOFAutoRookies

Why would the A's trade Donaldson and they make the playoffs? Plouffe is playing his contract year.

Billy Beane and Donaldson got into it before the trade. Also, the A's ship everyone before they have to pay them. They are a cheap organization

[HOFAutoRookies]

Originally Posted by Hollywood42

They didn't trade him for bullpen pitchers I really think you're not giving Plouffe enough credit for what he's done this year. And the contract year argument doesn't make much sense as he's having a similar year to his year last year, although he's hitting more HRs this year

Not the point lol. You said why trade a guy who produces like that, he was my example .

He wants top dollar arbitration I'm sure. Close to last season, but hardly any better other than HR's. If anything, this season may be even less productive than last speaking on every stat line.

Walking less, striking out more, quality AB's not as good (leading league in grounding into double plays I believe). Don't get me wrong, he's produced better than I expected and I'm ecstatic! I just think we need to take advantage of this from a business perspective now. After all, that's what it's unfortunately about.

[HOFAutoRookies]

Originally Posted by Hollywood42

How can you confidently say that someone with just 3 full seasons under their belt who just turned 29 will never have a season as good as this one? I'm not any more justified in saying that he will continue to improve, but that's exactly what he's done each of the last few years- Gotten better

Because his very small, but granted, improvements are so miniscule that he's shown us the type of player he is. His coming out party was 3 years ago! Since that, not much. One takeaway from that season progressing to now, is he's FINALLY starting to produce with runners in scoring position.

[HOFAutoRookies]

Originally Posted by CC_123

Billy Beane and Donaldson got into it before the trade. Also, the A's ship everyone before they have to pay them. They are a cheap organization

So are the Twins, minus one guy . Donaldson had a few years to go until being a FA, so you're right with the feud being a large part. Beane is brilliant, and I don't think he would make a trade that's detrimental to his team, even if it were Kershaw etc.

[mikecamp99]

The reason they brought up Sano to DH is because he had nobody else to fill that DH role. Vargas was terrible and then we had guys like Nunez, Schaeffer, Escobar and Robinson in the lineup. Sano fits the mold of the DH we were missing, and the intent was him to only DH and not play in the field often.

[TimLaugh]

Twins starting nine should be
Kurt
Joe
Dozier
Danny Santana
Sano
Rosario
Buxton
Plouffe in right
Vargas DH or Arcia

[Eckstein197]

Originally Posted by TimLaugh

Twins starting nine should be
Kurt
Joe
Dozier
Danny Santana
Sano
Rosario
Buxton
Plouffe in right
Vargas DH or Arcia

Vargas over Hunter? Are you joking?

[Hollywood42]

You do realize Plouffe hasn't played OF since 2012, where he played like 30 games there?

Originally Posted by TimLaugh

Twins starting nine should be
Kurt
Joe
Dozier
Danny Santana
Sano
Rosario
Buxton
Plouffe in right
Vargas DH or Arcia

[HOFAutoRookies]

Originally Posted by Hollywood42

You do realize Plouffe hasn't played OF since 2012, where he played like 30 games there?

Lol, was thinking the same! He's definitely better at third without question. Crazy that his 2010 rookie logo cards have him listed as a SS I believe!

[CC_123]

Originally Posted by HOFAutoRookies

So are the Twins, minus one guy . Donaldson had a few years to go until being a FA, so you're right with the feud being a large part. Beane is brilliant, and I don't think he would make a trade that's detrimental to his team, even if it were Kershaw etc.

Just for the sake of proving that the A's are probably the cheapest team in the MLB, lets look at the salaries each team pays their starters at each position for 2015

TWINS
C-Kurt Suzuki--$6mil
1B-Joe Mauer--$23mil
2B-Brian Dozier--$2mil
3B-Trevor Plouffe--$4.8mil
SS-Danny Santana--$530k
LF-Eddie Rosario--$424k
CF-Aaron Hicks--$408k
RF-Torii Hunter--$10.5mil
DH-Miguel Sano--$500k

SP-Phil Hughes--$9.2mil
SP-Ervin Santana--$7.6mil
SP-Mike Pelfrey--$5.5mil
SP-Tommy Milone--$2.7mil
SP-Kyle Gibson--$537k

TOTAL: $74 million (roughly)

ATHLETICS
C-Stephen Vogt--$512k
1B-Ike Davis--$3.8mil
2B-Ben Zobrist--$7.7mil
3B-Brett Lawrie--$1.9mil
SS-Mark Semien--$510k
LF-Mark Canha--$507k
CF-Billy Burns--$507k
RF-Josh Reddick--$4.1mil
DH-Billy Butler--$6.6mil

SP-Scott Kazmir--$13mil
SP-Jesse Chavez-$2.1mil
SP-Sonny Gray--$512k
SP-Jesse Hahn--$507k
SP-Kendall Graveman--$507k

TOTAL: $43 million (roughly)

I think right there shows the amount of difference in how much each team spends. Joe Mauer alone makes just as much as Davis/Zobrist/Lawrie/Reddick/Butler combined and he makes almost $7 million more than their entire pitching staff. The Twins also only have one pitcher that isn't being paid over a million. In the 15 starters (9 fielders, DH, 5 starters), there is a difference of $31 million. I'd say it is undeniable that the Twins spend A LOT more money than the Athletics. Even take away Joe Mauers contract and the Twins STILL spend more money than the A's do.

[Hollywood42]

^^^^

I disagreed with the Twins being cheap too, but didn't want to go into it. A few years ago, I will say that they rarely spent money on anything. But, over the past 3-4 years, we've seen them dig into their pockets- See Mauer, Hughes, Nolasco, Santana, etc

[Athey49]

Come on Santana, that error hurt

[CC_123]

Errors and a hit batter backfires on us. Early 5-0 hole isn't going to be fun. They better chip away and get 2 runs back in the top of the 4th

[Athey49]

Originally Posted by CC_123

Errors and a hit batter backfires on us. Early 5-0 hole isn't going to be fun. They better chip away and get 2 runs back in the top of the 4th

Not a good day from Santana. Would have easily got the out at home if his throw was on target

[CC_123]

Let's make that 4 runs that we need in the top of the 4th

[CC_123]

Mauer hitting it in the same spot as last night

[Athey49]

Originally Posted by CC_123

Mauer hitting it in the same spot as last night

Damn near identical!

[Athey49]

Robinson needs to drive a run in here

[CC_123]

And a wasted opportunity. Damn.

[Athey49]

Well this seems like a game we should try forgetting about quickly

[CC_123]

Ugly performance today.