Minnesota Twins

I was recently able to ask Nick Nelson from Nick’s Twins Blog some questions about the Twins.

ZA: Joe Mauer is obviously one of the best players in the game, certainly the best catcher. He just got a monster contract this year that will keep him in Minnesota for 8 more years. What does Mauer mean to the team and the city, and what do you think of the contract?

NN: The Twins have had to part ways with a couple premier players over the past few years: Johan Santana and Torii Hunter. The fan base absorbed those losses, but Mauer is a different case. For one thing, he’s younger and better than Santana and Hunter were. He’s also more irreplaceable; the Twins have found a fine center field solution in Denard Span and have assembled a solid rotation in spite of Santana’s absence, but no player in the Twins organization (or in baseball) can step in and fill Mauer’s shoes. For those reasons, keeping Mauer makes plenty of sense from a competitive standpoint. Of course, his status as a hometown star and fan favorite magnify his legacy, which is why it was never very realistic to imagine that the Twins might let him leave just as they’re opening a taxpayer-funded stadium.

ZA: The Twins are moving into a new ballpark for this coming season. It’s going to be an outdoor stadium unlike the Metrodome and I assume there won’t be Astroturf. How do you think this will affect the team this season and tell me a little bit about the new stadium.

NN: Well, the Twins haven’t been playing on Astroturf for some time now. They had Field Turf installed several years ago, which plays more like natural grass and should keep the transition from being earth-shattering (although I’m sure we’ll see an effect; very balls zipping through the infield and of course no pop-ups lost in the milky white ceiling). As for Target Field, we’re all very excited about it. It was an interesting project, built upon only about eight square acres (the smallest amount of space any major-league stadium has been built on) and tucked into the west end of downtown Minneapolis. It’s a beautiful stadium with plenty of cool quirks, but mostly we’re just glad to be able to watch games outdoors during these amazing Minnesota summer evenings.

ZA: Before the 2008 season the Minnesota Twins traded Johan Santana to the Mets for a group of minor leaguers. Johan has been one of if not the best players for us the past few seasons, even though hasn’t translated to a playoff berth. What do you think about this trade looking back on it?

NN: I didn’t like the trade much at the time and certainly I don’t like it now, given that none of the prospects acquired by the Twins has really amounted to much. It was a difficult situation for Bill Smith, who had been thrown into the general manager position in a big hurry after Terry Ryan’s unexpected resignation. Santana’s contract demands severely limited potential trade partners, and by the time of the deal I don’t think anyone was seriously bidding other than the Mets. None of the four players that Smith added in the deal have done a whole lot for the Twins, but the club has managed to turn Carlos Gomez and Kevin Mulvey into JJ Hardy and Jon Rauch — who both figure to be significant contributors this year — so it’s not all bad.

ZA: Tell me a little bit about your farm system. There always seems to be a steady stream of major league talent coming out of there. What makes them so good on such a small budget.

NN: The Twins are reputed for having an excellent scouting department, and that shows on the field; as you mention, there’s a lot of homegrown talent contributing for them right now. This organization has some basic philosophies and traditions that they stick to — namely using high draft picks on toolsy high school position players or polished college pitchers — and that strategy has worked well for them. Recently they’ve started infusing more monetary resources into scouting, especially on the international side, and it’s been a huge boon for their farm system, which was actually somewhat beleaguered about a year ago.

ZA: I alluded to Mauer’s monster contract before. The Twins are not usually a team to dole out contracts like that. Do you think this contract will hinder the team’s ability in the future to sign free agents and compete?

NN: Any time you’re putting close to a quarter of your total payroll toward one single player, there’s obviously a good chance it will limit the things you’re able to do as far as upgrading other areas of your club. But I’ll say this: if you take away $23 million (the amount Mauer will make each year once his contract kicks in) from this year’s total team payroll, it would leave the Twins with around $73 million, which is still more than they have spent in past years. That’s how much of an impact the new stadium has had on this team from a financial standpoint, and it’s why they can afford to take this big risk with Mauer.

ZA: Joe Nathan is done for the season. He might be the most underrated player in baseball. He’s one of the 2 or 3 best closers in the game. How much do you think this will hurt the team for the upcoming season?

NN: It will hurt, without question. Nathan was as close to automatic as you’ll find in this league. The Twins have quality bullpen depth this year and there are a few guys capable of handling the closer role, with Pat Neshek (who missed all of last year due to Tommy John surgery) looking like a dark horse candidate. But losing 70 innings of elite, high-leverage relief is a big hit.

ZA: I wanted to ask you about Francisco Liriano. A few years back, he was a phenom. No one could touch the guy. But then he suffered some serious injuries and we haven’t really seen him pitch at the level since. Do you think we’ll ever see him pitch at that level again? And what are your expectations for him this season.

NN: I don’t think we’ll ever see him pitching at the same level he was at in 2006, no. But all that means is that he won’t be the best pitcher in the league. It’s been a tough road back from Tommy John surgery, but Liriano has followed up a spectacular showing in the Dominican Winter League with some dominant performances down in spring training. There’s a lot of optimism that he can step up and pitch like an ace for the Twins this year.

ZA: Tell me about some of the young pitchers you have in your starting rotation. They’re not very high-profile yet, but there is definitely some talent there.

NN: Scott Baker is probably the most established of the young guys. He’s been consistently above average over the past three years, although most wouldn’t group him as one of the league’s elite starters. His excellent command and solid strikeout rates help cover up for a vulnerability to the long ball. Those same things can be said about Kevin Slowey, another control pitcher capable of missing bats. Slowey had his season cut short by an injury last year, but he’s been phenomenal this spring and his minor-league track records suggest that he could do some special things. Nick Blackburn is a steady pitch-to-contact guy who can eat up innings and generally give you quality starts. Liriano, as I mentioned, is trying to rekindle the fire that he torched the league with back in ’06.

ZA: What are your expectations for this season? Can this team win the division again without Nathan?

NN: The impact of losing Nathan is overstated by many. He’s a great closer, but studies have shown that the difference between having an elite reliever and a merely good reliever in that role — in terms of actual wins and losses — isn’t that large. I don’t doubt that the Twins will see a few more ninth-inning leads slip away than they otherwise would have, but it shouldn’t prevent them from being able to come out on top of an eminently winnable AL Central. They have the division’s best offense, with a good young rotation and a deep bullpen.

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Once again I’d like to thank Nick Nelson for answering a few questions for us!

According to Kevin Burkhardt of SNY, Manuel has announced the lineup for Monday’s game against the Florida Marlins.

“Jerry announces opening day line-up: Cora ss, Castillo 2b, Wright 3b, Jacobs 1b, Bay lf, Matthews cf, Francoeur rf, Barajas c”

I don’t understand why Pagan isn’t starting. He’s the best leadoff hitter the Mets have on the roster until Reyes gets back. This makes no sense to me.

Mets Paradise Podcast 1

This is the first EVER Mets Paradise Podcast! Hopefully we’ll be doing this on a regular basis, recapping the games in any given week for the Mets. In this podcast Brandon and I discuss the offseason, Spring Training, who will make the 25-Man Roster, Division Winners, and our interview with Matt Cerrone. If all goes according to plan Scott will join us for the next podcast.

Colorado Rockies

I was recently able to ask Russ Oates from Purple Row some questions about the Rockies.

ZA: Coors Field is known as one of the best hitters parks in the game. Would you say management takes advantage of that and tries to build the team more for offense rather than defense and pitching?

RO: Not particularly. Yes, Coors Field is still a good hitters’ park, but since the introduction of the humidor in 2002 pitchers have had more success there. It also helps that current team ace Ubaldo Jimenez is what you call a good pitcher, humidor or no. In the end, what Rockies management is trying to do is build a good team. Not a good offensive team or a good defensive/pitching team. A good overall team.

ZA: Tell me a little about Ubaldo Jimenez. I feel like he’s a guy a lot of people don’t know about, but he really is an impressive pitcher. Recently there was an article about him growing up in the DR. The Mets actually offered him a contract but he declined because his parents wanted him to finish high school. Clearly that decision has worked out for him. Not so much for the Mets though.

RO: In 2008 Ubaldo Jimenez was a fitful starter. He’d demonstrate a great ability to strikeout opposing batters but then also walk four to six batters a game. While he still had several of those game in 2009, U-Ball showed he belonged as the Rockies’ ace, posting a 5.7 WAR. He will be the team’s Opening Day starter this year, his first such appearance.

ZA: Before last season, Chris Iannetta played for Team USA in the WBC. A lot of people were saying he was going to have an All-Star type year, but that didn’t really happen. Why do you think he didn’t live up to expectations? Was it playing in the WBC throwing him off like other players, or was the bar just set too high? He only played 93 games.

RO: Former Rockie Yorvit Torrealba received a lot of grief from a segment of Rockies fans because he took playing time away from Iannetta. It’d been that way for seasons. “Hey, Chris, you’re the starter.” “Cool, I am? But I’m not playing like it.” “You’re right. OK, you’re the starter, but I can’t have you playing the majority of games every week.” “How am I supposed to get in a groove then?” Shrug. Iannetta received a contract extension during the offseason that pays him like a starting catcher, but Jim Tracy has already stated that Miguel Olivo is going to receive extended time behind the plate. But he doesn’t want to call it a platoon.

ZA: Perhaps the best young player on the Rockies is Troy Tulowitzki, another very underrated player. How has he grown as a player since we all saw him for the first time make that great run to the World Series in 2007? That team that won I believe it was 21 of their last 22.

RO: I find it hard to believe that Troy Tulowitzki is underrated, but that perception comes from his being out in the no-man’s land that is the Mountain Time Zone. If Todd Helton is the soul of the Rockies, Troy Tulowitzki is the heart. As he goes, so do the Rockies. He’s gotten off to slow starts in his career, but picked things up later in the season. In 2009, he hit like there was no tomorrow after Clint Hurdle was fired and with the arrival of June. If Tulo can break out of his early season struggles, beware the Rockies.

ZA: What would you say is the state of your minor league system? The Mets right now are right in the middle, kind of at the point now where the top prospects are close enough you can smell them. Is there anyone you say getting called up this year to contribute?

RO: With the graduation of several top prospects over the last few years, the Rockies have few players that could immediately help the team. Eric Young Jr. is the only player who could provide an impact for the team, but that would be from the bench. There certainly is depth down there with pitchers Greg Smith, Samuel Deduno, and Edgmer Escalona. Reliever Matthew Reynolds is a possibility to see time in the majors after a decent spring that left him as a wild card to make the team. 2009 first rounder Rex Brothers could move fast through the system as a reliever. He has the potential to be a strong closer. The Rockies’ first pick in the 2009 draft, Tyler Matzek, has yet to pitch professionally, but given his ability he could move fast and see Colorado in a couple of years.

ZA: Who would you consider the best player in your team’s history? The Rockies have lots of good players sprinkled around through their relatively short lifespan.

RO: Depends on how we’re defining best. Larry Walker had the best talent of anyone on the Rockies, but his injury history didn’t allow him to be the player he should have been. Todd Helton is Rockies baseball. His leadership and on-field performance are unparalleled. However, in a few years Troy Tulowitzki will be in this conversation.

ZA: In the winter of 2008 the Rockies traded away Matt Holliday, and they got Carlos Gonzalez, Huston Street, and Greg Smith back. How have these players contributed to the team? Holliday went on to get that huge contract after being traded again to St. Louis obviously. The Rockies were never going to give him that money.

RO: Huston Street and Carlos Gonzalez were both key contributors to the Rockies’ 2009 run to the playoffs. Street took the closer’s job during Spring Training and saved 35 games for the Rockies. He was rewarded with a three-year deal in January, but has yet to pitch this spring due to a sore shoulder. Carlos Gonzalez dominated Triple A for the first two months of 2009 and received a promotion to Colorado. He heated up as the season wore on and became a key component in the Rockies’ second Wild Card berth. Greg Smith missed most of 2009 due to shoulder inflammation, pitched in a few games across three levels of the minors, and doesn’t have a spot in the majors going into 2010.

ZA: The Rockies are somewhat of a hot team going into the season as far division winner picks go. Casual fans assume Los Angeles dominates that division again, but the Rockies have a young nucleus of players ready to compete.

RO: That’s a good assessment of where the Rockies stand right now. It’ll be interesting to see how the Rockies compete in April and May under the management of Jim Tracy. With the pall of Clint Hurdle gone, now is the time for the Rockies to start hot, stay hot, and end hot during a season.

Scott, Brandon, and I were able to ask Matthew Cerrone from Mets Blog some questions about the blogging and the Mets.

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Brandon Lee: You post a large majority of stories on Mets Blog, but do you have help with people reporting stories to you or do you track down the stories by yourself?

Matthew Cerrone: I mostly use Google Reader, subscribing to blog and news source RSS feeds, though Twitter is starting to replace that for me. Because, Twitter is essentially RSS+IM, so you also get context. But, hot news will find us as consumers, right? I mean, if there is a story breaking, I’ll get hammered with e-mails from readers and texts, etc., which is just as important.

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Zack Arenstein: How did you get to where you are now, writing for Metsblog and working for SNY? It’s like you’re living the dream of lots of Mets fans.

MC: I started MetsBlog as a hobby in 2003, when I was in college. I was working full-time, as well, doing media relations work for Gary Stromberg. I learned a LOT about dealing with media from him. I was living in DC, away from the team, WFAN, etc., and writing the blog was a great way to stay in touch with the Mets. I considered stopping the blog, but people kept reading, so I kept writing.

In 2004, John Keegan (a huge Mets fan) was starting PressHarbor.com, a blog hosting company, and he approached me about joining him. He helped me with the technology of blogging. In 2005, MetsGeek.com and other Mets blogs started popping up. So, instead of doing two or three opinion posts per day, I switched to an aggregator model, like InstaPundit.com had been doing in politics.

I’m an information junkie, so I enjoyed this concept. It worked. I quit the PR stuff, made MetsBlog a full time job thanks to Blogads.com. It paid crap, but my wife was supportive. I approached SNY in 2006, and partnered with them in 2007… And here we are.

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BL: Are there any sports writers you look up to and follow very closely?

MC: I have always enjoyed Bob Klapisch’s writing style. I don’t always agree with him. But, I am a fan of how he personalizes the stories, or finds an emotional appeal in it and pulls on that. Klap also helped me a lot early on, with advice about dealing with criticism. I was also a big fan of Lee Jenkins, who covered the Mets for the New York Times back when I started the blog. He is now writing for SI, and I still keep in touch with him from time to time. I think David Waldstein is doing a great job for the Times now, finding nuances in the game and team that are fascinating. I had a chance to hang out with him a bit in PSL, he’s very smart and I look forward to more of his writing during the season.

BUT, I try not to learn from sports writers. I think it’s better to read OTHER genres, other writers, because sports tends to be very, very repetitive, LOTS of cliches and group think.

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ZA: That leads pretty well into my next question. Blogging has become extremely prevalent in many respects these days. It hasn’t killed mainstream media by any means, but provided a strong compliment to it. Do you think this is good for the mainstream media? I mean, blogs are so hard to regulate and fact check.

MC: I don’t think those terms apply anymore actually. Just as I think the idea of Social Media is not important. It’s all just media.

ZA: So you put it all under one category at this point?

MC: I do. For instance, when he was still at the Journal News, I bet Peter Abraham was more valuable to them as a blogger than a print reporter…it’s all blurred. (Adam) Rubin is about to go write a blog for espnnewyork.com and do on air work on radio. I write a blog, I’m a fan, I don’t apologize for it, I also do TV stuff. We’re all in the business of customer service and producing content… so are you.

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BL: You’ve had a lot of success as a writer and being a young writer myself, I try to model myself after people like you. I’m probably one of many young sport writers out there that started a website about their favorite team. Any advice you could offer to me and the other young writers?

MC: How old are you?

BL: 20

MC: Best advice: Be 20. Write from the view of you, a 20-year-old Mets fan. Write about what interests you, tell me your thoughts, your passions, etc.. There are already a dozen beat guys. There are too many people on talk radio. There are hundreds of blogs, lots trying to do what I do. But, there is only one you. I know, it sounds cheesy, but it’s true. I write about this a lot on www.matthewcerrone.com, but it’s SO important. The key to building an audience is authenticity, and having a strong connection with the reader.

There are sites like Mashable.com that have a stable of writers, but when I go to it I still think of Pete Cashmore, because he’s the guy who started it and the guy I bonded with in those early days. HE is why I read the site. Information is everywhere. It’s not worth what it was. The key is WHO is delivering the info, and do you give a shit about what person has to say about it.

BL: Yeah thats what I try to think about when ever I article an article; how can I make this story unique.

MC: You shouldn’t over think it. The fact that you are writing already makes it unique. Everyone is so caught up in being perfect, or being an expert. It’s OK to be wrong, or be curious. Just write what you feel, what is natural…that is what people will connect with. Why do you think Joe Benigno is so damn popular and frustrating.

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ZA: I also wanted to ask you about matthewcerrone.com. When did you start doing this, and what made you want to do it?

MC: I don’t know, I guess I just woke up last summer and thought, I have something else to say. It’s that simple. I get LOTS of questions from other bloggers, sports agents, teams, reporters, etc., all asking me about what I do, how I do it, why, etc., what works, what doesn’t…and so, it seemed like a natural fit to just start a blog about blogging. I’m taking it slow, though, and not putting a lot of pressure on myself to make it anything more than just a place to log my thoughts and talk about what I’m reading, thinking about, etc….which, oddly enough, is still how I view MetsBlog.

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BL: Do you have any future goals and dreams regarding the Mets? Or has this point you reached with the Mets as far as you want to go?

MC: I have no interest in working directly for the Mets. Zero. I’d consult on some media projects, but I LOVE being a fan of the team. I don’t want to be that far behind the curtain.

ZA: Is that what you were doing today? I saw on Twitter that you were talking to them about Twitter.

MC: To an extent, yes. Like I said, I take calls all of the time from people with questions about this space. I want the team to be awesome at everything they do, particularly playing baseball, but if I can help them be better in terms of how the deal with fans, and communicate, I’m happy to help.

ZA: You see lots of teams doing that nowadays. The Nets do lots of Twitter promotions I know.

MC: They do. The Nets and Jets actually work with my friend Gary Vaynerchuk, and VaynerMedia, who I would LOVE to see the Mets connect with.

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ZA: Who would you say is your favorite Met of all time?

MC: Darryl & Doc, Keith, Piazza and Bobby V. I can’t have a favorite. I mean, it’s impossible. They all embody different parts of what I love about the game. Today, it’s Jose Reyes, though, no question. And Johan.

ZA: Yeah I think it’s more true in baseball and football. Everyone does something different, it’s hard to compare a 1st baseman to a pitcher. In basketball, I can compare Michael Jordan and Larry Bird.

MC: It is. Doc and Darryl and Jose have the electricity. Bobby V was the passion, he is a Mets fan, you know. Keith and Piazza are quintessential pros, etc…and Johan are just freaking awesome.

BL: Yeah I love the way Jose plays and the way other teams hate him. Johan is amazing too, just loves how he turns on the switch on his day to pitch.

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BL: If you had to assemble a coaching staff of ex-Mets who would be the manager, pitching coach, hitting coach, and bench coach?

MC: Well, not knowing ANYTHING about how they’d handle game situations, or how they’d relate to today’s modern player…I’d love to see Backman running things, because I think he’s what most Mets fans identify with in terms of what we love about the team and about baseball. This is why I like Bobby V so much. These guys transcend the Xs and Os, and actually embody what I feel, and what I think most fans feel, is the team’s brand.

I mean, I’d like to think Keith would be great as a hitting coach…but, knowing what I know of him, and having spent time with him the last few years, for all the reasons we love him as fans, I think he’d be a colossal disaster.

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ZA: Do you think these guys would do a better job than Jerry is doing now? Lots of fans don’t really appreciate the job he is doing. It might just be the on field product, but it’s hard to determine how much of that has to do with injuries or not though.

MC: I have no idea. I don’t. I actually think manager is the most overrated position in baseball.

ZA: Why is that?

MC: His biggest job is to NOT get in the way. These guys are professionals. They know what they need to do. In certain situations, yes, some managers are better at Xs and Os than others, no question, but the best thing they can do is shut up and let the players play. The most successful managers know when to interfere, and when to step aside, and in NY, they know when to intervene and when to step aside. Jerry does a good job at this. Torre was the model. LaRussa is terrific at it. Ozzie Guillen, Willie, not so much. Willie was smart, but he was PARANOID, and he let the city and the pressure and the fans and everything else get to him, and he started reacting and getting in the way of the team.

I know, as fans, it’s hard for us to understand this, because we feel we see specific situations that are turning points, and had he not done this or that the game would be different. The reality is, the game is made up of thousands of moments, thousands of reactions, and they’re all important, and 99.9 percent of them are on the players, not the manager. But, one dumb move from him can blow it all up.

I don’t envy that job at all.

BL: Yeah a good example is Joe Girardi. He over managed so much for the Yankees when all he had to do is let his players play, and his team still won the World Series…

ZA: Sometimes it’s just out of their control. I feel like the perfect example is the unassisted triple play that ended that Phillies game. The ball ended up in the wrong place, right in Utley’s glove, and Jerry sent the runners.

MC: Sure, but how many other things happened on that play that Jerry had no control over. The pitch, the swing, the infielder positioning himself, the squeezing of the glove, etc…It’s crazy just how much happens in a given moment.

ZA: Well that’s what I’m saying. He can’t control all of that, and while statistically that might’ve been the best move at the time, or maybe he thought it was the right thing to do, it ended blowing up in his face.

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ZA: I know I love watching the Mets much more when Jose Reyes is on the field. How much of an impact do you think he’ll have this season. Last season just wasn’t the same without him…

MC: That’s up to him, right? I mean, if he’s healthy, and playing like he did in 2006, and he doesn’t fall apart like he did at the end of the last 2, he’s a difference maker. But, what he brings to the team’s attitude is immeasurable. And you’re right, he makes the game more fun to watch…end of story. It’s just not the same without him.

ZA: At this point i’m just hoping they don’t mess up his return to the team. I couldn’t care less if he plays on Opening Day, I just want him to play the maximum amount of games this season.

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ZA: During your lifetime what’s your favorite memory of the Mets and what’s the best game you’ve ever been to?

MC: The Grand-Slam Single, because I was at the game. It was an amazing baseball game, period. And, to have it end the way it did, plus the emotional, personal rivalry with the Braves, in the playoffs, and the rain, and the back and forth, etc., it was amazin.

ZA: Though I didn’t realize the significance of it at the time (I was 9 i think), I randomly ended up at that game and it was spectacular.

MC: That said, on TV, obviously, Game 6 1986, because my mom kept insisting I go to bed, saying, “This game is over.” I stayed up, I learned you never give up, and I never let her forget that.

ZA: And the Mets taught you life lessons, doesn’t get any better than that!

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Once again we’d like to thank Matthew Cerrone for answering some questions for us!