From: thornley@milli.cs.umn.edu (David H. Thornley)
Subject: Re: Twins queries: Any news on Winfield? etc.
Organization: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, CSci dept.
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 06:34:08 GMT

In article <1992Dec13.170637.17657@news2.cis.umn.edu> kimmel@staff.tc.umn.edu (Eric Kimmel) writes:
>In article <1992Dec11.234616.3167@data-io.com> dietz@parody.Data-IO.COM (Kent Dietz) writes:
>>Does anyone have a good rumor about pending signing of Dave 
>>Winfield?  I have heard that both Kansas City and the Twins have
>>been talking to him.  
> 
>I doubt it.  If the Twins couldn't come up with enough money to sign Smiley
>or Gagne I doubt they will turn around and give the 3.5mil to Winfield.
>I will admit that a Shane Mack/Kirby Puckett/Dave Winfield outfield looks
>might good..
>
Reports are that MacPhail has about $2M to spend on further salaries, so
don't look for any big signings.  Smiley was a loss, but Gagne really
isn't worth $10.7M for three years.  (Does anybody in the Royals organization
have a brain or an OBP or something?)  The outfield mentioned is pretty
short on defense, but Winfield still has to be better than Munoz or Larkin
in the field, and would certainly be better with the bat.

>>Are the Twins going to be satisfied with keeping Puckett and losing 
>>Gagne and Smiley?  Who is projected to replace Gagne?  Reboulet or 
>>Leuis?  I saw Reboulet play in Seattle this year and was impressed
>>with his defensive play, but his bat was hurtin'.
>
>They've been talking about Leius at SS and Reboulet at 3B (w/Terry Jorgenson),
>but I suppose anything could happen.  All 3 will make the team and only
>Jorgenson can't play both positions.  I haven't been impressed with
>Jorgenson.  I had heardthe rumor the Twins wanted Gaetti back...
>
Gaetti back?  Aieeee!  He hasn't been an acceptable hitter since '88, and
I wouldn't expect him to get better after four bad years.  I think it's
going to be Jorgenson and Leius as starters, with Reboulet as backup.
The left side of the infield could really use some help, and I don't think
it's going to get it.

>>Any hot prospects in the minors?  McCarty I have heard about.  Anyone
>>else?
>>
>McCarty will make the team if the Twins don't resign Larkin.

Prediction:  McCarty will make the team.  I don't expect the Twins to keep
Bush and Larkin and go get another DH just so they can keep McCarty in the
minors.  Look for him in the regular lineup, dunno whether he'll be outfield
or 1B or DH.

>There's a few
>pitchers that could make the team -- Trombley, for instance.  The pitching
>staff looks a bit shaky right now:
>
>SP:  Tapani, Erickson, Deshais and 2 of Banks/Mahomes/Trombley
>RP:  Guthrie, Abbott, Willis, Aguilera, and that new guy from Philly
>
>I can't remember if Trombley is a LHP.  If he is, he's pretty much the 
>default for a starting position.  Banks and Mahomes are both on the
>sh*t list.  Remember "Fast" Freddie Toliver?  Same thing, different
>players.
>
Trombley is a RH pitcher.  Alan Newman just might make the team, he's a
lefty.  Banks and Mahomes have the advantage of being considerably younger
than Fast Freddie was, and they have more time to learn.  Hartley has the
potential to be halfway decent, which is more than I expected from anybody
we got in exchange for West.

Thing about the pitching staff is that the Twins had superb pitching last
year.  Only Milwaukee gave up fewer runs, and the Brewers don't play in the
Metromuffin.  Even with the loss of Smiley, Edens, and Gagne, I suspect
the defense will be very good.  I'd worry more about the offense.  If Hrbek
doesn't come back, the best left-handed or switch hitter on the team
becomes Larkin.  Of all the free agents out there, the one I'd like to
see come to town is Sierra.  McGwire would be a close second.

David Thornley
"Ah, eleven thirty on the evening of Christmas Eve.  Throw another couple
of logs in the fireplace." - Jack Nicholson, _Hot_Buttered_Elves_



From: lynch@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Howard Lynch)
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 16:19:35 GMT
Subject: Re: All-Time Padre team
Organization: OCD IC MFG