Comments on: Danny Valencia, starting third baseman since 2010, demoted to Triple-A by Twins

By: Tim OShenko

Tim OShenko — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:24:47 +0000

Duly noted. At any rate, I said my piece, and now am moving on.

By: The Baseball Idiot

The Baseball Idiot — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:44:11 +0000

Tim, don’t feed the wild animals. It just makes them come back for more.

By: The Baseball Idiot

The Baseball Idiot — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:43:19 +0000

He needs to learn more postions so he can be platooned more often. He’s not going to find a lot of work as a right-handed platoon third baseman only.

By: racksie

racksie — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:33:47 +0000

A little contrition goes a long way. I know a “non-credentialed” “blogger” may not want to recognize the people who “comment” on his “blogs”, but it was a silly statement, and he has refused to acknowledge how silly that statement was. And we all know it was very silly. So Gleeman contrition=no more “Liriano Ace” mockery. Fair enough, Gleeman?

By: Bryz

Bryz — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:29:13 +0000

This is a joke, right? From watching games, it’s clear that Valencia’s problem is he’s trying to pull those down-and-away sliders and curves. If he could lay off them (or punch them to right field) he’d be hitting much better. Instead, since he’s struggling with that, pitchers are attacking the outside corner, and refusing to throw anything inside.

In fact, he has indeed hit the ball well to right and right-center on occasion, it’s just that those hits have fallen into the outfielders’ gloves.

By: Tim OShenko

Tim OShenko — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:17:07 +0000

racksie, I think you’ve sufficiently reminded Gleeman in the past that calling Liriano an ace was, to put it mildly, a poor assessment. Even if he doesn’t respond personally to your incessant heckling, I am quite sure that he’s aware, as is everyone else, that Liriano no longer qualifies as an ace or even a potential ace. It’s okay. You can let it go.

By: schrutebeetfarms

schrutebeetfarms — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:48:50 +0000

It would be helpful if the Twins would not keep trying to have Velencia hti the ball to right field. He’s a natural pull-hitter. This has JJ Hardy written all over it.

By: randygnyc

randygnyc — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:38:04 +0000

There is no future at 1B on the twins unless your last name is Mauer.

Anyway, Valencia played well and is a fan friendly guy. He went out of his way to autograph a ball for my 10 year old girl last year.

By: trevorb06

trevorb06 — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:22:42 +0000

I’ve got to say, as excited as I was to see Ryan back making the calls, I’m not to terribly thrilled with what he’s doing so far.

For all of Valencia’s short-comings he is sadly the best option we have at 3rd. The Twins really should trade for a cheap 3rd base option that we can platoon with Valencia.

Really though, the Twins aren’t inspiring a lot of hope right now. That once promising farm system is looking pretty barren as well.

By: racksie

racksie — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:01:13 +0000

Was, is the key word here. And that “was” before “Tommy John” surgery. And it may be weird, but it was also “weird” when Gleeman posted, with a headline that said the Twins were trying to trade their “Ace” Liriano, when he was clearly not an “Ace”. And has shown nothing to prove he was/is an “Ace”.I like Gleeman, and his writing, and his posts, but something so silly should be something he get’s reminded of. I’m here for that. He can ban me if he wants. But he knows I’m right.

By: dluxxx

dluxxx — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:54:21 +0000

Nah, he needs to learn how to hit. His best option is as a platoon hitter. Guy hits lefties and that’s about it…

By: kopy

kopy — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:51:47 +0000

Plouffe is intriguing enough to want to see more at-bats for him. He has very nice BB/K ratio and has good discipline so far concerning not swinging at pitches out of the zone.

That said, only in the cheap seats and standing-room areas of Target Field do I feel safe from his wild throws.

By: raindog

raindog — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:48:36 +0000

You do realize that Liriano was the only Twins pitcher capable of becoming an “ace” right? And that “ace” is just a silly, meaningless term to begin with. And that it’s a little weird that you comment on this every time there is a story about Liriano?

By: spudatx

spudatx — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:43:28 +0000

What’s Al Newman up to? He might be a better option yet than Plouffe.

By: ryanincowtown

ryanincowtown — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:32:45 +0000

what a great roster for some of the richest owners in baseball …

By: racksie

racksie — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:14:44 +0000

Gleeman: I can’t believe the Twins demoted their “Ace” to the bullpen. That is a shocking development. Unless you are aware he has never been an “Ace”, and does not have the mental fortitude to ever be an “Ace”. And half a season, of bad mechanics but great results, before “Tommy John” surgery is not an “Ace”. Guess they should have traded their “Ace” when they had the chance, huh?

By: The Baseball Idiot

The Baseball Idiot — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:05:00 +0000

He needs to learn to play 1B and LF. He’ll have a job.