Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

[CMH]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

Hughes has shown throughout his career that he has a better fastball, a better curveball, and better control. They are both known for having great command. Only advantage Kennedy really has is his changeup is better right now, but Hughes is getting there. He's also probably a smarter pitcher right now, but he is also older and pitched in college so he should be more advanced. Hughes is known for being very intelligent, and he didn't just dominate the minors with his fastball. He throws hard, at his best he sits 93-94 and touches 96, but not like Joba hard. He's been so dominant because of his command, and a great curveball.

I just don't consider Kennedy in the same class as Hughes. Hughes I can see being an ace, or a #1 on most teams. And I think he has a great chance of living up to his potential. Joba probably has the highest ceiling of the 3, but I see more questions with him. Weight issues, and his changeup isn't very good yet, he needs a 3rd pitch. I think if Kennedy goes to the NL at some point he could be a solid #2. But in the AL I think he'll spend his career as a #3 or #4. And that's fine, if he's durable a pitcher like that is really valuable to have, but I don't think he's in the class of Joba or Hughes.

I know the history is there for Hughes. The history isn't there for Kennedy because his history is one season.

I'm calling it how I see it. I know Hughes is going to be a very good pitcher. Right now, my opinion is that Kennedy will benefit the most from his skill set.

[Picci]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

I can't see the Twins interested in Kennedy. Kennedy is represented by a man hated in baseball and the Twins will have no interest in dealing with this man. This man is of course Boras.

[snepp]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

It never ceases to amaze me how highly paid "professional" writers can be so unbelievably stupid, yet go out of their way at times to rip on bloggers who are clearly more knowledgeable. With that rant out of the way, I present the following two pieces of work....

Bob Sansevere, writer for the Pioneer Press in St. Paul (MN), has covered the Twins (and other MN sports) for something like 20 years or so. Bob isn't the brightest bulb.
FJM's take: http://www.firejoemorgan.com/

Here's something that required considerably more thought to put together.

http://www.aarongleeman.com/

[wang_chi7]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

Oh I know... But that is large enough to show a pattern to me of not wanting him to pitch half his games in Fenway. Fenway just isn't conducive to his skillset. Yankee Stadium is very good for his skillset, the lefties have the short porch there. That would be why he has been so dominant there.

I just think all things equal, I would rather have Buchholz and Ellsbury, than have Santana. Unlike the Yankees, we already have a pitcher who you can legitimately call an Ace. The Yanks need that shut down pitcher more than we do.

I also honestly think Hughes would end up giving us more problems than Santana. Is that saying Hughes will be better? No, not at all.

I'll just be glad if it costs the Yankees Hughes and Cano. That would be very good, IMO, for the Sox.

I agree, I just wanted to see what the stats looked like and was making a note for people to not get carried away with them as they have minimal meaning thus far.

If Santana went to Boston, he would most likely be fine, probably give up a decent amount of homers but he'd adapt. I agree Boston does not need him though, and shouldn't offer much. He would improve the team most likely, but they already have a good staff and shouldn't give up guys like Ellsbury to add an unneeded pitcher.

Yankees on the other hand could desperately use this guy. They've been without an ace for a number of years and giving up a few of their young guys isn't too steep for their situation. I wonder what the dimensions of the new park will be? Has there been news on it?

[CMH]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

I wonder what the dimensions of the new park will be? Has there been news on it?

From what I remember the field will mirror the current Yankee Stadium.

[ehh]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

Bob Sansevere, writer for the Pioneer Press in St. Paul (MN), has covered the Twins (and other MN sports) for something like 20 years or so. Bob isn't the brightest bulb.
FJM's take: http://www.firejoemorgan.com/

[CMH]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

Well, Bob Sansevere is written proof that he thinks the baseball world revolves around the team he covers.

No GM, not even Dan Evans, would make that deal if they worked for Boston.

[bergie56]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

It never ceases to amaze me how highly paid "professional" writers can be so unbelievably stupid, yet go out of their way at times to rip on bloggers who are clearly more knowledgeable. With that rant out of the way, I present the following two pieces of work....

Bob Sansevere, writer for the Pioneer Press in St. Paul (MN), has covered the Twins (and other MN sports) for something like 20 years or so. Bob isn't the brightest bulb.
FJM's take: http://www.firejoemorgan.com/

Here's something that required considerably more thought to put together.
http://www.aarongleeman.com/

The Pioneer Press is full of a bunch of hacks, although the Star Tribune isn't any better. One writer wrote that the Twins would replace Torii Hunter with either a free agent, in-house replacement or via a trade. Well no ****, how else can he be replaced?

[CMH]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

The Pioneer Press is full of a bunch of hacks, although the Star Tribune isn't any better. One writer wrote that the Twins would replace Torii Hunter with either a free agent, in-house replacement or via a trade. Well no ****, how else can he be replaced?

HAHA, that's Joe Morgan-esque right there.

"Great idea putting the ball on the bat with that hit."

[rsox]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

I'm pretty sure Theo would be fired if he made a deal like that.

I love how Carlos Silva was included in the deal. How can a writer, who covers the team not know who their free agents are?. Unreal.

Since we are throwing free agents in to the deal lets have the Sox include Eric Hinske, it's only fair.

[GBrushTWood]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

The reason the Red Sox are involved is because the Yankees need Santana. It is a zero sum game if he goes to one of those two teams.

Obviously, whoever gets Santana has a huge advantage over the other because he is a major difference maker. It is more important for the Yankees to get Santana though, and the Red Sox do not want to let this happen.

Overall, I'd say this situation is absolutely terrible and I wish the Twins would re-sign him. That it's come down to this is just ugly for baseball, and as a Red Sox fan, does not satisfy me whatsoever. A guy like this should not be going to Boston or New York.

Of course, the blame should solely be placed at the wrinkled, pruned feet of the gigantic douchenozzle himself, Carl Pohlad. This old goat (who's net worth is estimated at $2.8 billion) cries poor and will undoubtedly piss and moan at the Twins unfortunate situation, when he has all the capability to re-sign Santana.

This guy can't die soon enough..

All anger and blame aside, I think the Red Sox are better off with a rotation led by Santana and Beckett rather than the current rotation (which is still arguably best in MLB) with Lester and Ellsbury.

[bergie56]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

The reason the Red Sox are involved is because the Yankees need Santana. It is a zero sum game if he goes to one of those two teams.

Obviously, whoever gets Santana has a huge advantage over the other because he is a major difference maker. It is more important for the Yankees to get Santana though, and the Red Sox do not want to let this happen.

Overall, I'd say this situation is absolutely terrible and I wish the Twins would re-sign him. That it's come down to this is just ugly for baseball, and as a Red Sox fan, does not satisfy me whatsoever. A guy like this should not be going to Boston or New York.

Of course, the blame should solely be placed at the wrinkled, pruned feet of the gigantic douchenozzle himself, Carl Pohlad. This old goat (who's net worth is estimated at $2.8 billion) cries poor and will undoubtedly piss and moan at the Twins unfortunate situation, when he has all the capability to re-sign Santana.

This guy can't die soon enough..

All anger and blame aside, I think the Red Sox are better off with a rotation led by Santana and Beckett rather than the current rotation (which is still arguably best in MLB) with Lester and Ellsbury.

I agree with everything written in this post. However, unfortunately Pohlad's sons are no different than he is. They are the one's pretty much calling the shots now. Hopefully the new stadium will open up the pocket books a little bit, but I doubt that it will make that much of a difference.

[GBrushTWood]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

I agree with everything written in this post. However, unfortunately Pohlad's sons are no different than he is. They are the one's pretty much calling the shots now. Hopefully the new stadium will open up the pocket books a little bit, but I doubt that it will make that much of a difference.

Terrible. I can't understand why Twins fans care at all. Why support them if the guys in charge will turn around and piss in your face? I wouldn't give those guys a dime of my money if I lived there.

It looks like this is going to happen in the next few weeks, and it's really not good for baseball at all. I wish the Dodgers or Angels grew some nads and actually moved one of their crappy, overhyped prospects destined for failure. How many years do we all have to hear about how great these teams prospects are, yet they never do anything with these kids? Moreno and McCourt need to grow some sack for once and make a splash. Boston and New York shouldn't always grab the salary dumps.

I could swallow Johan on the West Coast, but not in the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry.

[snepp]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

I could swallow Johan on the West Coast, but not in the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry.

Join the club.

And bergie is right on about the sons basically calling the shots, when Carl kicks the bucket it isn't going to make much difference.

[Stu]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

Don't know anything about the paper or writer, but figured it was worth posting.

A little birdie says the Boston Red Sox have become the favorite in the Johan Santana trade sweepstakes.
The Twins would receive four players for the Twins' two-time Cy Young Award winner, including center fielder Coco Crisp, 28.
Others would be shortstop prospect Jed Lowry, 23; left-handed pitcher Jon Lester, 23; and right-handed pitcher Justin Masterson, 22.
Before a deal could be made, the Red Sox would have to have time to negotiate a contract extension with Santana, 28, who can become a free agent after next season and could have a market value as high as $150 million over six years.

http://www.twincities.com/dailydose/ci_7584709?nclick_check=1