Football is Over, Thank the Heavens!

OK, football is over (and not a day too soon) so it’s time to turn our attention to hardball, the national game, America’s pastime. Baseball.

First up for 2014 is I’m sick of hearing people criticize the Twins recent signings of older, ex-Twins Jason Kubel, Jason Bartlett and Matt Guerrier. These guys were signed to minor league deals with invitations to Spring Training. The odds of the first two making the team (and helping them win my projected 87 games), or playing a role other than a bench player or injury call-up is, in my opinion, very slim. I could be wrong because both players provide experience and leadership which has been harder to find than victories in the Twins clubhouse the last few years. And considering how bad Pedro Florimon is, it might be easier than I think for Bartlett to land a spot. And in Guerrier’s case, while I think he’ll make the team if his hand is healed up, he has the option of opting out of the contract on June 1 if he didn’t make the major league roster.

I personally don’t see any downside to these three signings. The prices were right and the potential is there. The Twins AAA team is in shambles, and should Bartlett and Kubel not make the major league club, they’ll provide a lot of help down there while the level builds back up. And to prove that the Twins front office isn’t simply interested in bringing back low-cost, familiar faces to please the fans, they passed on pursuing free agent starter, and another aging, post-surgery, ex-Twin, Scott Baker, which was a decision I will be eternally grateful for.

You never know where you’re going to run into another Twins fan. Go Twins!