Sweet for Double-J. I love the guy. Don't know about Rivas though - Cuddy should have his job in my eyes.

"Whenever I see Jacque's smilin' face, I just have to smile myself, 'cause I love him . . . yes I do."

Let's hope he's hangin' with Tony Gwynn in San Diego the next few weeks to get that average up . . . and lay off the low-and-away stuff.

So if the club keeps all those players, it means TR really did decide that Jacque Jones has more value to his lineup than Koskie. Really, how do you justify giving $5m to Jones next year and not budge a nickel past $8.5m/2yrs. for Corey Koskie?

Yes! JJ comes back. Torii seems rather bothered by the loss of most of his teammates--it's nice to bring back one of them (and one with a great smile, too!). Although it rather cuts Lewwww out for another year (except as DH and that cuts out LeCroy).

Sam-
Everything I've heard sounds like Cuddy will be at third, now that Koskie is gone. I, too, wanted to see him at second, but perhaps the early-off-season threat of completely losing his job will force Rivas to improve/practice.

(Read the rumor mill that Terry Ryan was willing to offer Koskie a no-trade clause, but Koskie didn't know that. I don't know that TR thought that JJ was more valuable than Cordel. I think it's more that TR didn't want to lose too many players in one year--he's got a few of his veteran players upset already. And he's only willing to offer JJ one year while he was willing to give the oft-injured Cordel two years.)

Sorry. I'm not thinking too sanely right now--battling an unfriendly virus.
Just Beth

Argghhh! Why Rivas? Why? We should have let Rivas go to the Paducah Pantomimes or ... jeez, who cares? I would have much rather kept Koskie and let Rivas go.

I'm happy that JJ's going to be around this summer (and hopefully fall)... or my friends and I would have to stop using his name instead of "Let's Go" (clap, clap, clapclapclap, clapclapclapclap, JACQUE JONES). Although we did plan for that eventuality by anointing Lew Ford the heir to the two-syllable crown.

In all seriousness, I am glad he signed, though I don't find Jones more valuable than Koskie by any means. Obviously the infield is the area of concern for most fans. I'd like to see "Eat my Shorts" Bartlett (worst nickname ever sorry) be given a chance to step up in '05, even though he struggled in the field last season. Same with Spiffee McTiffee... Let the kids play, man! I actually vomit a little bit in the back of my mouth every time I think of Juan Castro's career batting average, not to mention Rivas's toenails/attitude (the attitude should follow the toenails' lead and be surgically removed).

As far as LeCroy, um, can someone just hook the poor man up with a John Basedow video or something, please?!? Every time he singles, I look at the basepath and all I see is Eric Cartman in the Special Olympics.

If I seem snarky, it's only cause I am procrastinating away my finals cram-time. :) I'll shut up now.

ps i also heart Cuddles. but everyone knows he will be starting.

Yeah! Now Torrii gets to work with his best friend for another year. I don't think Jane could give up her two favorite nick names Corey Cock-ski and Jock-itch Jones in the same year. so all is well here. mike. P.S. Rivas is her home run hero- go figure.

Dear J.J.,

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thank you, Jacque and TR. The deal is done and we can keep at least a couple of veterans.

I'm so glad that we get to see Jacque's big smile throughout the season.

*sniffle* Dustan Mohr is homeless! The Giants non-tendered him.

He can come be a batboy on my All Cute & Tall Team.

ALRIGHT DOUBLE J!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Also good to know that I am not the only one that constantly types LeCory)

My family and I always say "Jacque Jones" instead of "Let's Go" on that cheer, too. And whenever Jacque is up, we'll do that cheer ourselves.

I'm happy for Torii and Jacque. The Strib story is nice ( http://www.startribune.com/stories/509/5147702.html ). I'm glad Gardie called Jacque to say "thanks" and I also think Jacque really wanted things to work out with the Twins in part because of how good the club was to him last year during the playoffs after his Dad passed away.

Thank you, Mr. Pohlad, for letting the team have a bit more money after all.

I've never been as hard on Rivas as some, but I'm a bit cranky that he is the remaining infielder on the club. Would've much rather kept Koskie and/or Guzman. Sigh.

Must remind myself how sad I was a year ago about the departures of LaTroy and A.J. but then things worked out pretty well anyway.

Jacque "I'll swing at anything" Jones, I love Jacque I do, but he needs to work on his patience at the plate this offseason. I am glad he's coming back though.

Rivas, dammit, TR should have said "Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out". However, he'll probably be moved to Short, so Cuddy can have his day at second.

As for Lewwwwwwwww! He'll probably do platoons in the outfield for Shannon and Jacque and take the DH spot, sorry LeCory, I mean LeCroy. He'll be riding the bench a lot more, but could prove a good pick up if Lew, Shannon or Jacque get hurt, he's a good fill in at DH.

Another year of Haplo getting my pissed-off phone calls after Rivas weakly grounds out to short.

Thanks, Terry. Thanks a crapload. I'd rather spend the $1.625 million on a raise for Johan. Or a raise for Nick Punto. Or on lawn ornaments. Ugly lawn ornaments.

I don't know whether to scream, laugh, or cry. I'm all jumbled up.

"I don't know whether to scream, laugh, or cry. I'm all jumbled up."

Chris,

Perhaps the answer is more fiber.

Tongue-in-cheekishly yours,
YankeeFan

Can fiber play second?

Why, why, why all the Rivas-hating?? Nevermind, don't answer that. I just have to love this guy because I named my cat after him, okay?

I see Eckstein was cut loose by the Angels. Not that we could afford him, but putting him at SS could in some way help alleviate the Rivas "situation" that seems to be such a problem... Just a thought.

I like to play a little game I call "Fantasy Finances".

Hows this for a 25 man:
1B) JMorneau
2B) Rivas
SS) Bartlett
3B) Cuddyer
LF) Stewie
CF) Spidey
RF) J-itch
C) Chairman
DH) Lewwww
SP) Yo-han
SP) Bradke
SP) Sliva
SP) Lohse
SP) Real Deal
RP) Gramps (TMul)
RP) Boo
RP) Crain
RP) JC
RP) Mays
CL) Joe Nathan
C/DH/1B) LeCroy
C) Redmond
3B) Tiffee
SS/2B/OF) Punto
OF) Resto

I would cut Castro, even though we just signed him. We also would have to return our Rule 5 pickup. We appear to be solid on the bench, albeit a bit young. Matty has proven his pinch-hitting ability, and Tiff and Nicky were solid before their injuries. If Resto can hit in a pinch and Redmond can fill in, we should be good there. Defensively, Bartlett is unproven but otherwise solid around the field. Our 5th starting spot could go to Mays if he is the Mays of 2001 and not 2003. Otherwise our pen has a good mix of L/R and young/old guys.
And a lineup of:
Stew... .300, 15hr
Jones.. .280, 20hr
Hunter.. .280, 25hr
Morneau.. .270, 35hr
Ford... .300, 15hr
Mauer... .300, 15hr
Cuddyer.. .270, 15hr
Bartlett.. .270, 10hr
Rivas... .250, 10hr
is respectable.
We should still compete for the division, and our SP should carry us if/when we arrive in the post-season.

Johan's offer was a stop gap. They are going to work on the multi-year contract starting Jan 2.

Also, why do the Twins always fuck up the offseason every year so all we can hope for is to get to the playoffs instead of any kind of actual reward?

Mimiru,

Very interesting point. I rarely see eye-to-eye with you, but winning the division, while great, is getting sort of old. We shouldn't be plateauing.

Frightwig,

Corey is a lot more expensive than just the contract would have been, with the bionic body parts and all.

I think signing Jacque for just 1 year was a good idea- see if he can put up 2003 numbers rather than 2004 numbers, and if he can't, dump him.

Maybe we signed Rivas back so we have someone to trade towards the summer trading deadline. I don't know, just a thought

Plus he is a bit of a veteran, and we could use him off the bench or something

No offense to DiggityDino, but I'm guessing Terry Ryan is not going to let us lose a kid we just picked up in the Rule 5. I'm guessing Juan Castro will be on the team--at least in the beginning of the year.

I did figure out a schedule that leaves out some of your guys (Tiffee and Resto, I believe) and leaves in Castro/Rowland-Smith. However, it does leave us a little light on field positions (12) and a little heavy in pitchers (13), so I'm not sure. I'm guessing if anything, Castro and Bartlett will change positions (minors/majors) throughout the year (starting with Bartlett in the minors), but that Rowland-Smith (doesn't he sound like an upper-class twit?) will stay on the roster all year--failing a big failure on his part.

That's my speculation, anyway. Castro, I can believe getting cut at some point (although he would add some age and experience to our little league infield), but I don't foresee Terry Ryan cutting his losses early in the season without a great reason. And I can't see Terry Ryan picking a guy he's researched well enough to give an educated guess on performance.

Beth

JustBeth -- I agree on the Rowland-Smith comment, I picture him with a monocle and top hat.

On signing Rivas, Seth had an interesting thought over on his blog a few days back. About halfway down the article..
http://www.sethspeaks.net/121504.htm

While I don't know if Sheets would be the guy coming back, I smell a trade in the works and Rivas, Lohse, LeCory and maybe Jones (despite TR's assurances) would seem to be the most likely candidates.

Diggitydino's roster is bam right on with one small change -- Rowland-Smith, top hat, monocle and all, for Romero. (See my post of 12/13/04 under "Adieu, Corey, Adieu").

The young lefty from way Down Under will be a shoo-in for American League Rule 5 Minimum Salary Loogy of the Year, and I want to get on this bandwagon early. Also, I want RR-S to comp me at the Dome next year. And I got an e-mail yesterday from a friend of his in Oz gently suggesting in so many words that if I don't say nice things about RR-S, he the friend will swim 7000 miles through a thick suspension of broken glass, fishhooks, and biohazardous medical waste just to see my surprised expression when he kicks my ass.

So come on Batlings, let's everybody root for New South Wales, RR-S's team, in the big Claxton Shield Australian baseball championships next month, and see our man Ryan Rowland-Smith sit them Queensland bitches down just like another better-known lefty would.

You too, Frightwig.

Ryan's friend gave me some corrections to pass along as well -- RR-S won a Silver Medal, not a Bronze, in the 2004 Olympics, and he doesn't actually wear his medal literally everywhere. I'm very sorry for any inconvenience or misunderstanding caused by my slovenly disregard for absolute factual Truth, and I just want to set the record straight. So that I don't get my ass kicked.

So -- for just a few weeks in January, can we all be rabid, crazy, utterly profligate New South Wales fans? Because we don't have any baseball otherwise? And most importantly, for Ryan's sake? And (actually even more importantly I must disclose) so I don't get my ass kicked?

And maybe, just maybe, Ryan Rowland-Smith will be so inspired that he'll sit those Queensland Bitch Sox right down on their uncomprehending butts, and RR-S will pitch the 6th inning on a regular basis right here in Mpls, monocle and all, and his valet can carry the Barbie backpack to the bullpen for him, and will probably become a fan favorite in his own right; and the Mariners will say geez we got Ichiro and Adrian Beltre, but we sure wish we still had Ryan Rowland-Smith; and the money that would otherwise go to J.C. Romero would coincidentally happen to be just enough to make Supernatural Santana delighted to be here for a long long time; and the Twins would win the World's Series in 2005 and indeed as well in 2006, because Ryan Rowland-Smith will be Hideki Matsui's worst nightmare.

Whew. Happy Christmas everybody, and best wishes to everyone who reads this far for the best New Year imaginable. Even YankeeFan, whose posts are always among the very best here, notwithstanding his or her unwholesome allegiance.

Actually I won't be satisfied unless Jacque puts up 2002 numbers. Check out the numbers courtesy of Baseball reference....

YEAR BA OBP SLG BB SO
2002 - .300 .341 .511 37 129
2003 - .304 .333 .464 21 105
2004 - .254 .315 .427 40 117

The big drop was from 2002 - 2003, although the increased number of walks back to 2002 levels is nice.

Also, amazingly Aaron Gleeman describes what I mean about the off-season rather well. Ugh, I feel a little ill about recommending his writing.

AHHH! OFF-TOPIC, but I need to announce that the Twins winter caravan will be in my town with JOE MAUER! YAY!

mimiru,
I gave up on reading Gleeman sometime mid-season. Some of his stuff is actually pretty good. But just as often, he seems to write long, long, long rants about "I do this and don't get paid, so if you don't like it don't complain", then invites people to email if they disagree.

Frights' total hatred of Rivas follows him from board to board, an I'm sorry to say, us readers also from board to board. But I have it on the "inside" that the more fright complains, the more solid Rivas' position with the team is. Fright, if you really want him gone that bad, sacrifice, bite your tongue.

Well, Randa has been signed. Is it a given that the Twins are done signing/dealing for the offseason and Cuddyer will be the everyday 3bman? If not, what are the 3b options now? Also, what do the Twins need from a 3b to win the World Series?

YankeeFan

Oops, sorry fright, that was for mmmarkie! It's too cold to think.

insider - are you implying that mmmarkiep affects the outcome of the twins roster? and that management decisions are affected in some way by mmmarkiep's thoughts and comments? if so, why might i suggest concentrating more on batgirl's thoughts and comments?

YankeeFan

Really? So, if I professed my love for Rivas and his lack of heart, and hustle and apparent disdain for getting on the ground for balls hit up the middle we might be rewarded with someone who actually, really, truly appears to want to play 2B on a major league baseball team? Hey, I LURVES him then.

I should be clear, I don't have anything against him personally. When he first came up, during the Dark Times, I liked his hustle. He played what I consider Twins style baseball. Which is to say he played like a kid who hadn't bought into the this-is-just-a-job-I'm-doing-this-for-the-money type attitude that can suck the life right out of baseball, or any pro sport. The joy of Twins baseball, for me, is watching these guys play like it's still a game, like it's fun. I like teams that play like they're having fun. Locker room pranks, diving for balls, smiles all around, suicide squeeze plays, hidden and passed ball and lost in the ceiling tricks, genuine camraderie. If I wanted to see uninspired grind it out, do your job, get paid and go home baseball, I'd watch some other team. All I'm asking for is to play like you mean it.

>>Every time he singles, I look at the basepath and all I see is Eric Cartman in the Special Olympics.

Heheheheheheheheh.

Sorry, I have one more comment. I'm not sure what you mean by following you from board to board. Batgirl is the only place I post. If you mean from thread to thread here, I understand. Otherwise, there's an imposter out there.

By just about any objective messaure you can think of, Rivas isn't very good.

And if mmmarkiep's thoughts influenced the team I would urge mmmarkiep to think repeatedly of Stewart as DH, or maybe Lew if he wants to reverse the outcome.

I think Jones is a class act, and his description of his father last year before the funeral, that he was "a great dude," almost brought me to tears. But I don't understand what the Twins' plan is with the outfielders. They've got Restovich languishing down in the minors, never choosing either to trade him for someone else useful or to bring him up to the majors long enough to see what he can do. And they've got Ford, a terrific young fielder, who seems doomed to be a DH because of this latest move. Is there a plan?

You guys should take a page out of my Sox' book and learn to trade good players for older less good and frequently hurt players. That's the key to winning.

Go Sox!

I'm going to tempt the Fates by saying only what I mean. Those two guys are probably my most favorite Twins. When the Twins and Stewart reached an agreement for him to stay on, I was overjoyed. I didn't think it would happen but I'm so very glad it did. I wonder what the numbers say about it, but, next to Ichiro, I would have to think Stewart is up there amongst the best lead off hitters in the game. And, well, Lew, to me, plays the game like no one told him this isn't Little League anymore. It's like he hears his Little League coach in his head encouraging him to run out every hit, to hustle to every ball hit his way. *sniff* Choo Choo Lew knows how to play the game.

Dear insider,

Batgirl did not read your comments until later in the day, but she adores both Frightwig and mmmarkiep and is delighted they are here, as she is with all her Batlings.

Love,
Batgirl

Umm....I may be drinking, but it sure would have been nice to make a 5 million dollar run at Wade Miller and have Ford as the RF (especially since he signed for only 1.5 plus 3 mil incentives)...Can NEVER have enough pitching, but you can have too many outfielders. Our prospects will start to become suspects soon.

Delight Batgirl? Even for me?

I'd like to direct everyone's attention to the most important news item in this entry:

"... meaning Batgirl has another year of typing 'LeCory' and then having to change it ..."

Which means that BatGirl has agreed to terms and will be back next season. Yay! It's great to have Radke and Jacques back on board, but the best news of all is that BatGirl will be with us next year. And again, hooray! It's like Christmas in, um, December.

I'd like to start a campaign for Batgirl for Twins announcer either for TV or radio. Batgirl belongs in the booth!