Jordan Independent - Goodbye Johan - Comments

No way would that deal fall

bhall09 — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:14:52 -0600

No way would that deal fall through. The Mets couldn't let it happen.

And Gomez should likely win the CF job, and if he does he will liekly hit leadoff is my guess. Harris is not a leadoff hitter.

Also, I would expect Delmon to hit third and Cuddyer fifth.

And, I bet Baker is the opening day starter. There is also word of the Twins signing a pitcher, maybe Josh Fogg. That must mean either, they want insurance in case Liriano isn't ready, or they don't want Perkins in the rotation.

(Brian Hall is the Sports Editor for the Jordan Independent and Shakopee Valley News, and can be reached at bhall@swpub.com.)

About Johan, we find out in

Mathias Baden — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:25:59 -0600

About Johan, we find out in -- what? -- three hours if he's done with the deal with the Mets. There's a small chance the deal could fall through.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

This is the last time that

Mathias Baden — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:23:14 -0600

This is the last time that "good riddance" and "Johan Santana" will ever be in a sentence I write. The past two years, my goal has been to attend every game he started. I didn't make it, but I wish I had. There will be days -- probably many -- when we regret this trade.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

My guess is that Carlos

Mathias Baden — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:18:47 -0600

My guess is that Carlos Gomez will play center field but also bat lower in the order. Immediately, he'll be the best Gomez ever to play in a Twins uniform (beating out Chris Gomez by a nose). Brendan Harris will win the job at second base and maybe bat leadoff, I don't know.

Francisco Liriano has to be the Opening Day starter. If he's not, Twins fans will all but riot, which to a polite Minnesotan is more like an angry stare, and end up cursing the Big Blue Baggy, as usual.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

Yeah, as someone who has

bhall09 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:17:08 -0600

Yeah, as someone who has talked to Johan numerous times over the past several years, I really thought he was different.

Yet, the way things transpired here lately, I have learned some things about him. I am really surprised at some of the things he has done, and/or "reportedly" said.

Now its to the point he is even having trouble getting the deal done with the Mets. I don't know if his agent is doing all of this or not, but right now it really sounds bush...

I am one that is willing to wait and see how things transpire to see if the Twins made a good deal, but I really can't get past the fact that at the winter meetings they could have had Hughes, Cabrera and 1 or 2 other guys.

(Brian Hall is the Sports Editor for the Jordan Independent and Shakopee Valley News, and can be reached at bhall@swpub.com.)

I never said Santana was a

Tom Schardin — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:44:27 -0600

I never said Santana was a malcontent. He was a good guy pn and off the field. He jsut held the Twins' feat to the fire in this deal.

And Sanatana wants to win, well sure. But haven't the Twins won four division titles in six years with Santana. Sure, no World Series rings.

The Twins don't have to prove to Santana they are committed to winning. Four playoff appearances in six years speaks for itself. Ask other small market teams - the Brewers, the Pirates, the Royals, the Devil Rays and the Nationals - about their recent playoff appearances.

Johan Santana never was in

swansonmej — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:59:42 -0600

Johan Santana never was in the press for wild antics off the field. He always conducted himself in a professional manner. He wants to win. I can not blame him for that.

With so few role models in sports today, Johan Santana was a player that I was proud to have on my favorite team.

I hope I get to watch a Mets game on TV when he is pitching.

Just another disgruntled

mittens — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:51:30 -0600

Just another disgruntled quasi-star athlete who can't get the miserly ownership of the Twin Cities sports teams to spend the dime to build a championship caliber team. I don't expect the Mets to do any better at winning a World Series but if he was becoming that sort of malcontent as Tom stated then good riddance is the kindest words I can come up with as well.

I was listening to KFAN this

Tom Schardin — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:09:21 -0600

I was listening to KFAN this morning and apparently Johan (supposed Mr. Classy) told the Twins either trade me in the next 48 hours or I envoke my no-trade clause and become a free agent at the end of this season.

So it sounds like he forced the Twins hand. He wanted out and the Twins had to take the best offer.

Personally, I think Santana's best years in the American League were behind him. That's what my gut tells me. He may do very well in the pitching friendly National League, however.

Good luck and good riddance, Johan.

Most news outlets are

Brandon — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 09:31:12 -0600

Most news outlets are reporting that it seems like a lopsided trade, but that the Twins and the team’s fans will have to wait and see. They’re saying that history is on the Twins side when it comes to identifying prospects that will pan out in trades like this. (Again, I have very little baseball knowledge, so I don’t know if that’s the case or not.)

I do feel for all those die-hard Twins fans out there, though. I’d hate to see the best player on my favorite team get traded away. But goldengopher is right – only time will tell if the Twins made the right decision salary-wise.

I'm ambivalent with the

goldengopher — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 09:20:47 -0600

I'm ambivalent with the trade. The bright spot is that Johan's salary will be off the books, and the twins received four prospects. I don't necessarily think it was the best trade the twins could have done. I don't know what the Red Sox or Yankees offered in the Dec. winter meetings, rumor has it that it was better than what they got from the Mets.

But in order for the Twins to really benefit from this trade a couple of unknowns need to happen. 1) We don't know if any of the prospects will pan out. 2) We don't know if Francisco Liriano will be healthy enough to be a stopper to replace Johan. Johan was great when the twins were in a slide and needed a strong pitching performance to get a win.

So what type of salary is Johan going to get from the Mets?

I cried when I heard that

swansonmej — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:45:02 -0600

I cried when I heard that Johan was gone. I love the Twins but hate the business of trading players. The Twins organization helps bring up great players only to lose them to other teams. I am pleased that Morneau and Cuddyer will be with them for a long time.

It was great to watch Johan pitch. He is a classy player.

I know that the Twins did not get enough for Santana. There is no number of players that would equal his talent or ability to set the table for a Twins win.

If Gomez turns into a solid

Tom Schardin — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:31:26 -0600

If Gomez turns into a solid everyday player in 2 to 3 years and one of those pitchers becomes a 200-inning, No. 2 starter, then the trade will be a good one.

So we won't know how this trade ends up for a few years.

I'm excited for the Twins now. A lot of new faces for opening day. Mathias, what's the lineup look like on opening day.

CF - Carlos Gomez
C - Joe Mauer
RF - Michael Cuddyer
1B - Justin Morneau
LF - Delmon Young
3B - Mile Lamb
DH - Jason Kubel
SS - Adam Everett
2B - Nick Punto

On the mound: Francisco Lirano......

Wow. I knew he was going to

bhall09 — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:48:54 -0600

Wow. I knew he was going to get traded, and I am not surprised, but I must say I am feeling a little numb right now.

History sides with the Twins' decision makers in deals, hopefully this goes the same way, but you can't help but wonder right now. When they unlaoded AJ for a bunch of prospects that was because they had Mauer waiting in the wings, now, what do they have?

I am glad they got this Gomez guy, but how could they not get Fernando Martinez included for one of the best pitchers in baseball. Humber and Mulvey might be OK, but Pelfrey is supposed to be better. Guerra is a project.

I just don't know how you can accept second-rate for one of the best pitchers in baseball. How are you NOT able to get more (and I mean quality, not quantity).

Leading off, in centerfield, Carlos Gomezzzzzz

(Brian Hall is the Sports Editor for the Jordan Independent and Shakopee Valley News, and can be reached at bhall@swpub.com.)

Goodbye Johan

Mathias Baden — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:08:20 -0600

The New York Mets just got Johan Santana, according to USA Today and ESPN.

See? http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-01-29-twins-mets-santana_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip