All Things 2024-25 Minnesota Twins Off-Season Thread

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GophersInIowa said:
Dave Parker getting into the Hall but Andruw Jones not is insane
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Completely different set of Voters. Parker got in via Veterans Committee.

The Cobra also has an NL MVP, 2 Batting Crowns, 7 time All Star and was a key component on 2 World Series Champions.

He won multiple Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards. He should have gotten in earlier in my opinion, well ahead of Baines.
 

Ope3 said:
Completely different set of Voters. Parker got in via Veterans Committee.

The Cobra also has an NL MVP, 2 Batting Crowns, 7 time All Star and was a key component on 2 World Series Champions.

He won multiple Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards. He should have gotten in earlier in my opinion, well ahead of Baines.
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He also designed and wore this t-shirt:
 

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Andruw Jones and Beltran both likely get in next year. 2026's first time eligible players are not great: Cole Hamels, Ryan Braun, Alex Gordon. Certainly no first ballot guys.
 


Ope3 said:
Completely different set of Voters. Parker got in via Veterans Committee.

The Cobra also has an NL MVP, 2 Batting Crowns, 7 time All Star and was a key component on 2 World Series Champions.

He won multiple Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards. He should have gotten in earlier in my opinion, well ahead of Baines.
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Chili Davis had more career HR and a higher career OBP & OPS than Parker. His numbers aren’t much different than Baines.
 

GophersInIowa said:
Chili Davis had more career HR and a higher career OBP & OPS than Parker. His numbers aren’t much different than Baines.
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Parker was much better defensively than both Baines & Davis. I agree pretty similar in offense and Parker is only slightly better in overall WAR, but the individual awards (MVP, Gold Gloves, Silver Slugger & Batting Crowns) are enough to elevate him from the Hall of Very Good, IMO.

As a 10 yr old I would have put him in for this:


There was a stretch where Parker was considered the best player in the game (Tony Kubek said so in the video). I don't think that was ever thought of for Baines & Davis.
 


Ope3 said:
Parker was much better defensively than both Baines & Davis. I agree pretty similar in offense and Parker is only slightly better in overall WAR, but the individual awards (MVP, Gold Gloves, Silver Slugger & Batting Crowns) are enough to elevate him from the Hall of Very Good, IMO.

As a 10 yr old I would have put him in for this:


There was a stretch where Parker was considered the best player in the game (Tony Kubek said so in the video). I don't think that was ever thought of for Baines & Davis.
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I brought up Chili Davis because he is nowhere near a Hall of Famer, yet has just as good if not better hitting numbers. Parker had an incredible arm but his range was below average. I'm not sure the strong arm makes up for his batting numbers.

He never got more than 24% of the regular vote. Baines was a worse pick, but Parker isn't that far behind IMO.
 




Ope3 said:
Parker was much better defensively than both Baines & Davis. I agree pretty similar in offense and Parker is only slightly better in overall WAR, but the individual awards (MVP, Gold Gloves, Silver Slugger & Batting Crowns) are enough to elevate him from the Hall of Very Good, IMO.

As a 10 yr old I would have put him in for this:


There was a stretch where Parker was considered the best player in the game (Tony Kubek said so in the video). I don't think that was ever thought of for Baines & Davis.
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Let’s go back to when we had those types of plays at the dish and legit cannons in the outfield; sooo many OFS now can throw a lick and my hey the keck off my lawn take, is they don’t play catch like players did back in the day.

Long toss is a lost art, methinks.
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
Let’s go back to when we had those types of plays at the dish and legit cannons in the outfield; sooo many OFS now can throw a lick and my hey the keck off my lawn take, is they don’t play catch like players did back in the day.

Long toss is a lost art, methinks.
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I think the better athletes are playing other sports is the main reason.
 




GophersInIowa said:
I brought up Chili Davis because he is nowhere near a Hall of Famer, yet has just as good if not better hitting numbers. Parker had an incredible arm but his range was below average. I'm not sure the strong arm makes up for his batting numbers.

He never got more than 24% of the regular vote. Baines was a worse pick, but Parker isn't that far behind IMO.
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Admit to being biased because I loved the late 70's Pirates, but happy to see him get in. Always sad to me when an honor like this is delayed so long that the recipient has either died (like Dick Allen) or is in poor health (Parker has Parkinson's). He still has that 70's swag from what I have seen, but he's struggling physically.

Parker.jpg
 

2nd Degree Gopher said:
Admit to being biased because I loved the late 70's Pirates, but happy to see him get in. Always sad to me when an honor like this is delayed so long that the recipient has either died (like Dick Allen) or is in poor health (Parker has Parkinson's). He still has that 70's swag from what I have seen, but he's struggling physically.

View attachment 35454
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A heater?!

Where’s Herbie and Gaetti?
 

it comes down to philosophy of voting, and the way voters look at the HOF.

should the Hall be reserved for the very Best of the Best - or should it include players who were very good, but maybe not The Best? which ties into another debate - what about players who were great, but had shorter careers, versus players who played a long time and accumulated more career stats.

after looking at some of the other pitchers in the Hall, Sabathia belongs. over 3,000 K and 250 Wins puts him above a lot of other HOF pitchers - albeit some with much shorter careers.

with relievers, it's different because of changes in the game. I think Wagner is only the 9th relief pitcher to be elected. But if you look at Billy Wagner's stats, they're comparable to other relief pitchers who are in the HOF. 8th in career saves with 422.

FWIW - Joe Nathan is currently 10th on the all-time Saves list with 377. he had more career saves than Rollie Fingers and Goose Gossage - who are in the HOF.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
it comes down to philosophy of voting, and the way voters look at the HOF.

should the Hall be reserved for the very Best of the Best - or should it include players who were very good, but maybe not The Best? which ties into another debate - what about players who were great, but had shorter careers, versus players who played a long time and accumulated more career stats.

after looking at some of the other pitchers in the Hall, Sabathia belongs. over 3,000 K and 250 Wins puts him above a lot of other HOF pitchers - albeit some with much shorter careers.

with relievers, it's different because of changes in the game. I think Wagner is only the 9th relief pitcher to be elected. But if you look at Billy Wagner's stats, they're comparable to other relief pitchers who are in the HOF. 8th in career saves with 422.

FWIW - Joe Nathan is currently 10th on the all-time Saves list with 377. he had more career saves than Rollie Fingers and Goose Gossage - who are in the HOF.
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Joe Nathan - 923.1 Innings Pitched
Rich Gossage - 1809.1 (included 1 year as a starter)
Rollie Fingers - 1701.1 (includes 37 starts)

Just showing that it was a different time, as you suggested.

Nathan would probably would get a more serious look at Cooperstown if he hadn't missed a lot of time due to injury and had post-season success.
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
Let’s go back to when we had those types of plays at the dish and legit cannons in the outfield; sooo many OFS now can throw a lick and my hey the keck off my lawn take, is they don’t play catch like players did back in the day.

Long toss is a lost art, methinks.
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Not to rain on the old guy parade here but I would almost guarantee the average OF today throws better than they did back in the day. A single highlight doesn't exactly disprove that. If you don't think there were noodle armed guys back in the 80s you are sorely mistaken.
 

Gophers1992 said:
Not to rain on the old guy parade here but I would almost guarantee the average OF today throws better than they did back in the day. A single highlight doesn't exactly disprove that. If you don't think there were noodle armed guys back in the 80s you are sorely mistaken.
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I’m certainly not basing it on one throw, as my post wasn’t specific to Parker’s throw. Furthermore, I didn’t say or imply that there weren’t bad arms in Parker’s era, the implication was that there was better overall arm talent then, than now; I thought was a clear concept from my comments kiddo. I’m 58 and have watched baseball my whole life, in addition to: umping, coaching and playing D II, FWIW

Unless you have quantifiable data which supports your supposition and dismisses mine, you simply have an opinion like me and thus will be one of those agree to disagree deals.

I can tell you as I stumble towards my sixth decade, there are very few “guarantees in life”, in my experience.
Per my friend Voltaire -

“Doubt is uncomfortable, but certainty is insane.”
 
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Gopher_In_NYC said:
I’m certainly not basing it on one throw, as my post wasn’t specific to Parker’s throw.
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I'm not quarrelling with you, but your use of the phrase "one throw" reminded me that Parker made another memorable throw in that same All Star game after losing the ball in the Kingdome roof.

Parker throws out Jim Rice
 

2nd Degree Gopher said:
I'm not quarrelling with you, but your use of the phrase "one throw" reminded me that Parker made another memorable throw in that same All Star game after losing the ball in the Kingdome roof.

Parker throws out Jim Rice
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No worries and thank you, I forgot about that play; my favorite play in baseball is the outfield assist, as it requires two players to field the ball and a long, accurate throw- seeing the ball fly through the air is a thing of beauty and such an exciting play.😃

Ironic that play involved Jimmy Rice, as his COF partner Dewy Evans had another legit cannon and won 8 GG to boot.

 
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I was a little surprised to see that Cease is on a 1-year deal for $13.7-million -- very affordable by today's starting pitcher standards.

last year with Padres: 14-11, 3.47 ERA, 189 IP, 224 K, 65 BB, ERA+ of 118. (4th place in Cy Young voting). Last four full seasons has thrown 165 IP or more - showing some durability.

If there was any way to get him, I'd do it.
 


Ope3 said:
I would like to know what was going through that person's skull to look at the ballot and go, "Ichiro...hmmm, nah...not quite Cooperstown material".
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This made me smile. I’d vote “No” for that cocktail🥳..

Ichiro Suzuki invites lone writer who left him off HOF ballot to have 'drink together' and 'a good chat'​


sports.yahoo.com

Ichiro Suzuki invites lone writer who left him off HOF ballot to have 'drink together' and 'a good chat'

Ichiro joined Derek Jeter as the only Hall of Famers who fell one vote shy of being unanimous selections.
sports.yahoo.com sports.yahoo.com
 


2nd Degree Gopher said:
That raises an interesting question--when the Twins trade for a pitcher do they schedule him for arm surgery right away or do they wait until three weeks into spring training?
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The schedule is:

-February 25th: Makes a Spring Training start.

-Next Day: "He will miss one or two starts with mild arm fatigue. There is no cause for concern. All is well.

-2 Weeks later: "We're just being cautious. It's Spring. He will be begin a rehab stint soon.

-April 1st: "He will miss the start of the season but begin baseball activities soon."

-April 20th: "He has begun baseball activities. A rehab stint will start shortly."

-May 1st: "There has been a mild setback. There is no cause for concern. All is well."

-May 15th "He will begin baseball activities again"

-June 1st: He's beginning a rehab stint!

-June 10th: He needs Tommy John surgery after all.
 

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