twins/mlb

i think valencia is a pretty good player but he has to dive for the ball he acts like he has to pay for his own dry cleaning and is afraiad to get his uniform dirty.

Lose the double-pump before the throws, Denny. If you can't, Gardenhire at least has a guy with a plus WAR from last year, Jamey Carroll, to keep your negative WAR on the bench for more than 8 games.

I still feel Valencia has a lot of potential. He needs to get back to using the whole park, not just try o pull everything. But I think he's figured it out. Write last year off as the dreaded sophmore slump. Hopefully, DannyV has a great year this season.

So much of what ails the Twins can be rectified simply by guys having good years instead of career worst years. Kind of reckless to say that Valencia had a career worst when we really don't know what to expect out of him given his history but I am guessing he is capable of hitting .280 with a .330 OBP and playing much better defense. The only two guys I am not expecting a lot more out of that last year are Baker and Perkins. It is a team game and if everyone steps up their game it can make all the difference in the world. Nice to see Valencia actually acknowledge that his defense can get better and that he took steps right after the season to address it.

"I still feel Valencia has a lot of potential." BALLFOUR: He's 27. Joe Mauer is 28. Yeah, it will be nice if Valencia can pick it up, but we're not talking about some kid here. Joe Crede had a better WAR with a deteriorating back at 31 than Valencia had last year. Gary Gaetti's WAR at age 31 was better, and the Twins didn't offer him a contract the next season. Valencia's fans don't seem to get it: He was not a good baseball player last year, his RBI total doesn't say much about his season, yet his protectors toss it out all the time and think Gardenhire threw him under the bus. If giving 150 starts to a struggling player is their definition of being tossed under the bus, there are hundreds of pro players who would get in line for that. Danny knows he better pick it up or, best-case, after the seventh next season it's Carroll at third and Nishi at SS.

This kid needs to step it up....if he actually knew that there was someone behind him ready to take his job, maybe that would be the push that he needs.....they need him to solidify the left side of the infield, and to pound out a few home runs now and then....

The best players, in any sport, usually have an ego to match their skill level, he just needs to mature a little bit mentally and get over who he THINKS he is and become the player that he has the ability to be. At some point he will learn to appreciate what Gardenhire has handed to him.....hopefully sooner rather than later. With Duensing, they owe it to him to decide early on where he will pitch. If the 5th starter situation is SO up in the air, then have him start - they know he can be effective. If the bullpen doesn't pan out then he can go there (very probable...).

@BALLFOUR@10:08....After all the time you take up on this board ripping on Valencia, you would think you would know his name is DANNY, not Denny!

BALLFOUR, dead on in my opinion. Casilla had great range at 2nd base and fewere errors plus a better OPBS and he is the guy posters want gone. Personally, I always thought Mauer was the guy that would eventually move to 3rd base. Not fast, but quick, good hands and strong arm seemeed a natural fit. I think Valencia can do better but it is small wonder the pitchers didn't want to attack the zone with Valencia, Plouffe/Nishioka and D. Young manning the left side.

He better get life insurance - with Prince Fielder now in the division and the Twins still playing 1990s pitch-to-contact, any Twins third baseman will need it or hockey goalie gear.