As long as you have the shovels out...
It's pretty funny that the same day I get the groundbreaking announcement for the Twins' new stadium - slated for this Thursday at 7 p.m, get your plane tickets now - is the day they trade away their starting second baseman to the Mets for prospects.
I guess that if you're going to have the shovels around, you might as well start burying the 2007 team while you're at it.
Keep in mind that the trade that got rid of AJ Pierzynski brought in Joe Nathan, Boof Bonser and Francisco Liriano, but this seems to hint that while it'd be nice for the Twins to rally again this year, the front office isn't feeling the warm fuzzies right now.
This weekend had talk about buyers versus sellers and heartfelt assurances from the Dome that the Twins were still very serious about contending through October - and they kept selling that line right through today's announcement.
So with the Twins just seven games back of the Tigers in the American League Central race and 6 1/2 out of the Wild Card, the decision to move the veteran player seemed to be taken by the team as a sign that the club had chosen to put their focus on the 2008 season rather than this year.
But Ryan vehemently denied that notion.
"We're not giving up at all," Ryan said. "We're 6 1/2 games back, and we're better than we were a week ago. If we didn't think we could absorb this, I certainly wouldn't have done that. Now I know the perception sometimes when you give up a veteran player in late July is that it may not look good. But I still think we can absorb this."
With series against the Indians, Mariners, and Angels - a lot against the Indians - in August, this could get ugly quick.
But don't worry, there's a rookie who is on a plane for the Twin Cities right now.
To replace Castillo as the club's everyday second baseman, the Twins promoted infielder Alexi Casilla from Triple-A Rochester. Casilla, who was hitting .269 with the Red Wings, will be making his second appearance with the Twins this season.
No, I agree. The Twins are still totally in this thing.
(Image from the Minnesota Twins)
I guess that if you're going to have the shovels around, you might as well start burying the 2007 team while you're at it.Keep in mind that the trade that got rid of AJ Pierzynski brought in Joe Nathan, Boof Bonser and Francisco Liriano, but this seems to hint that while it'd be nice for the Twins to rally again this year, the front office isn't feeling the warm fuzzies right now.
This weekend had talk about buyers versus sellers and heartfelt assurances from the Dome that the Twins were still very serious about contending through October - and they kept selling that line right through today's announcement.
So with the Twins just seven games back of the Tigers in the American League Central race and 6 1/2 out of the Wild Card, the decision to move the veteran player seemed to be taken by the team as a sign that the club had chosen to put their focus on the 2008 season rather than this year.
But Ryan vehemently denied that notion.
"We're not giving up at all," Ryan said. "We're 6 1/2 games back, and we're better than we were a week ago. If we didn't think we could absorb this, I certainly wouldn't have done that. Now I know the perception sometimes when you give up a veteran player in late July is that it may not look good. But I still think we can absorb this."
With series against the Indians, Mariners, and Angels - a lot against the Indians - in August, this could get ugly quick.
But don't worry, there's a rookie who is on a plane for the Twin Cities right now.
To replace Castillo as the club's everyday second baseman, the Twins promoted infielder Alexi Casilla from Triple-A Rochester. Casilla, who was hitting .269 with the Red Wings, will be making his second appearance with the Twins this season.
No, I agree. The Twins are still totally in this thing.
(Image from the Minnesota Twins)
posted by Matt G at
9:45 PM
1 Comments:
"I guess that if you're going to have the shovels around, you might as well start burying the 2007 team while you're at it." - I love that comment! I do think the Twins are still in it, but you can't pass up writing a line like that.
By
Sportsattitude, At
Wednesday, August 01, 2007 1:31:00 PM
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