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Startribune.com sports coordinator Howard Sinker used to cover the Twins and now shares season tickets with friends in Section 219 of Target Field. He blogs about baseball from the perspective of a long-time fan who loves the game, doesn’t always believe the hype and likes hearing what others think.
Section 219: It's Prince Fielder! Are the Twins doomed?
Posted by: Howard Sinker under Twins fans, Twins management, Twins offense, Twins pitching Updated: January 25, 2012 - 10:38 AM
Merry Christmas, Detroit. Your 82-year-old owner wants to quickly end a World Series title blackout that dates back to 1984, when a different cheap pizza magnate owned the Tigers, so he went out and spent Mauer money -- and a bit more -- on Prince Fielder (nine years and $214 million)
Bleep it, we have Jamey Carroll.
Today, throughout Twins territory, there is yammering and stammering about what the Tigers decided to do -- with much of it framed in the context of the difference between what the Tigers and Twins are willing to do to win championships.
That conveniently ignores the Joe Mauer and Justin Morning signings, where the Twins shelled out huge money for players whom -- at the time of their signings -- were seen as cornerstones for the championships to come.
Sometimes, stuff doesn't work out. Mauer's 2011 (the first of eight under his current contract) was a waste and Morneau's career has gone downhill and sideways because Michael Cuddyer hit a double-play grounder on a July evening in Toronto. (For the record, I blame Cuddyer in the same way that the South Park crew blames Canada for, well, everything.)
The Fielder signing -- sparked by the injury to Victor Martinez that will keep him out of action this season -- means the Tigers are as much a collection as they are a team. Fielder's signing will cause Miguel Cabrera, their other fearsome slugger, to move to third base, where he played for the Marlins being being traded and in the minors.
But, as ESPN's Buster Olney said this morning: "That was 50, 60 pounds ago."
Or maybe the Tigers will pay Cabrera $21 million this season to DH.
We could do a deeper analysis of Detroit, but Nick Nelson's TwinsCentric blog post goes there so I don't have to.
From a Twins perspective, though, it hammers home the point that there's more work to be done before the team is ready to compete in 2011.
Josh Willingham, Ryan Doumit and Jamey Carroll are good signings.
If anyone wants to bet even money on whether Joe Nathan makes it through the season as the Texas closer, you're on.
Joel Zumaya is an interesting gamble, just as it was an interesting gamble to wonder whether a middle reliever named Joe Nathan could adjust to becoming a closer a decade ago. Jason Marquis makes me nervous, just as I was nervous about whether Carl Pavano could do anything to help the Twins when he was picked up toward the end of the 2009 season.
Actually, there are a lot of things that make me nervous about the 2012 Twins as they now stand: The rotation, the bullpen, outfield depth, the middle infield, the health of the highest-paid players. Is that list long enough?
I am still trusting that things will happen between now and Opening Day to make me feel better about the roster and the Twins chances this season.
I am trusting that the Twins recent history of selling players at rock bottom lows will come to an end.
I've written before about how we want the teams we root for to make a move, and then chastise them for not making the right move. The Fielder has move has that kind of potential written all over it. Lose Martinez, sign Fielder. Put Fielder at first, move Cabrera to third. Get help from Delmon in 2011, get hurt by Delmon in 2012. The Tigers have just as much of a chance to disappoint their fans as they do to thrill them.
Baseball people had illusions about the Twins' prowess heading into last season, despite the uncertainties. If you can say "you knew," you know you're in the minority -- or you're lyin'.
If the Tigers win 95 games and the Twins win 93, we can say it was a fine chase and regroup for 2013.
If the Tigers win 75 or 85, we can chuckle and say, "Been there."
If the Twins have another terrible season, or are anything but competitive, it won't be because Prince Fielder signed with Detroit. It will be because the right moves haven't been made on the field, in the front office and by Twins ownership.
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