shhhhhhhh! Don't give TR any ideas! Especially because the senate race that's open is 2006.

"Look around town, and you see what overspending costs. The Wolves are imploding because they put their faith in unreliable free agents. The Vikings made their most unreliable player their highest-paid player, and now they might trade him. "
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No, Jim. The Wolves are what may happen when a basketball team supports its superstar with aged players nearing their career twilight, and lack a decent Center. The Vikings are what happens when a football team surrounds its two stars on offense with cheap parts, and the defense can't stop anybody, and the head coach is a tool. These are not cautionary tales about "overspending" or dipping into the free agent market.

Terry Ryan does a nice job with his resources, but please don't try to make out the club's cheapness and limited ambitions to be some kind of virtuous quality.

Ya know... on one hand, we love to bash Pohlad for not spending on our team. On the other hand, we love to hate teams like the Spankees, Bitch Sox and Red Spots because they spend seemingly without abandon, (not to mention intelligence).

One of the *many* things I love about the Twins is that we're smarter, more efficient, and we maintain our focus and direction as an organization in large part because of the payroll limitation (even if it is seemingly arbitrary). It's fun to entertain what we could do with even 70-80 Mil but I don't know if *I* would feel as good about a World Series win if we got it that way. I realize I might be the only one who feels that way, but I kinda doubt it. ;)

I hate Monty Burns for different reasons, I'm just sayin' that there's a duality there that I think we're all aware of, but we tend to let it slide because ol' Carl is an easy target...

Last year at the opener we wacthed TR raise the flag for last years division title and it was cool to see him doing the honors. I will be there again this year.If I remember right it was about 15 min before they opened the doors. BG should have a batling party by the flagpole and root TR on..Count me in Iwazzabadboy

IRWT = In Ryan We Trust!!

Freez sez:

Ya know... on one hand, we love to bash Pohlad for not spending on our team. On the other hand, we love to hate teams like the Spankees, Bitch Sox and Red Spots because they spend seemingly without abandon, (not to mention intelligence).

Wow. First time I've ever heard the Bitch Sox not referred to as cheap.

We're the most cynical and negative bunch o'fans you'll ever meet.

BitchSoxPride,
Ilk

"One of the *many* things I love about the Twins is that we're smarter, more efficient, and we maintain our focus and direction as an organization in large part because of the payroll limitation (even if it is seemingly arbitrary)."
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The club could be smart, efficient, and focused, and still venture into the free agent pool occasionally to get that player who might put the team over the top. Do any Twins fans have pangs of lingering guilt over the Chili Davis and Jack Morris signings of '91? I thought not.

TR is pretty awesome. I particularly like his motto, "Speak softly but carry a big Mauer."

My source in the Twins front office says that TR is almost panicky about El Presidente. The team can't afford the fan alienation of letting Johan go anytime soon, but it can't afford the money it will cost to keep him. Just ask Cincy how much fun it is to build a midmarket team around a single expensive superstar.

Still, fretting about whether and how you'll keep the best young pitcher in the game on your three-time division champion is a much better dilema than most GMs face, so kudos to TR.

Wow. First time I've ever heard the Bitch Sox not referred to as cheap.

Aye, that's the truth. Didn't we let Bartolo and Magglio walk? Not to mention Tom Gordon, David Wells, Ray Durham, Charles Johnson, and Carl Everett in the last four years. And when was the last time that any team other than Detroit in the central brought in a good free agent? The twins? It's been awhile, at least that I can think of. The sox? Maybe Jermaine Dye, but before him I can't think of anyone we brought in of the market, and he's just a downgrade from Magglio. The indians missed out on Clement, and KC can't even keep their own guys.

Twins, Santana agree to a deal
Last Update: 2/14/2005 10:48:47 AM

The FAN has learned the Twins and Johan Santana have agreed to a four-year deal. Terms of the contract are unknown at this time. The deal was confirmed by Santana's agent's office. Santana's representative is Peter Greenberg out of New York. Santana and the Twins were set for an arbitration hearing tomorrow.

http://twins.kfan.com/sports/twins/story.aspx?content_id=BAA4A347-A22E-4B1D-A5A1-6009DE42DB66

TR for Senate. Very interesting.

If the Twins seal the deal on the stadium and can get to the Series in the next 3 years, I think he's got a shot.

frightwig

Back in 91', the Twins were able to sign some mid-range free-agents, spend $30 million and win a World Championship. Their payroll was a little above average.

Now, $60 million gets you a division title if you're very smart and a World Series win if you're very smart and very lucky.

If you remember in 91' Kansas City was still a quality organization, Pittsburgh was in the middle of winning 3 straight division titles, Cincinnati was one year removed from winning the World Series and even the miserable Milwaukee cheeseheads were a competant franchise. Notice a pattern?

To me it's not a Pohlad problem, it's a baseball problem

Gary Bettman is locking out the NHL players because he knows his sport can't afford to become like baseball

Terry Ryan is the best asset any pro sports organization in the Twin Cities has right now.

Then again, you all did lose Mark Prior, Hawkins, and Guardado due to economics. Anybody I'm missing? Guzman, yes, and Koskie too.