AGRI Biz

  Compared to most fans in Twins Territory, I can be considered an optimist. When things on the field start looking bad, I can usually find a silver lining. Who am I kidding? I'm the kind of guy who would be whistling Bobby McFerrin's “Don't Worry, Be Happy ” during a nuclear holocaust. We haven't quite reached that point yet, but things are looking dismal for the Minnesota Twins. Joe ...

In a pitchers duel, it doesn't take much to shift the balance of the game. For the Minnesota Twins Friday night against the Tampa Bay Rays, two key base hits provided a lead that they would refuse to relinquish. Minnesota's Scott Baker managed to scatter several hits from the potent Ray's offense with minimal damage on the scoreboard. Working an effective slider and a fastball with plenty of bite, Baker managed ...

Originally published at TwinsMVB.com . The Twins certainly didn’t stray from their organizational philosophy in this most recent MLB Draft. Holding the twenty-first overall selection in the Rule 4 Draft, Minnesota made several selections of players that fill a mold that Twins’ fans have grown familiar with. Here is a brief run-down of Minnesota’s first three picks.   21st pick: Alex Wimmers, RHP, Ohio State (6′2”, 195 lbs) Wimmers is ...

Originally published at TwinsMVB.com. The season may still be young, but several players in the Twins’ minor league organization are certainly off to a great start. Here is a quick look at three of these players: Bobby Lanigan, RH-SP, Ft. Myers Miracle Lanigan, a third-round selection of the Twins in the 2008 draft, is off to a great start in his first full year of High-A ball. Through 22.1 ...

  1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: (92-70) The Los Angeles Angels lost several major contributors this past offseason and their streak of three consecutive division titles is clearly at stake. Plenty of talent remains in Los Angeles, though, and some acquisitions of their own will certainly keep the Angeles in the running in the AL West. Losing John Lackey was inevitable—the Angels ...

  Originally published at TwinsMVB.com . I participated in a Twitter debate last night that spanned several hours. The topic? “Who should start the season as back-up catcher: Wilson Ramos or Drew Butera?” While very intense, it also cast an illuminating light onto how badly the regular season is needed so we can all move on to more meaningful discussion topics. While I try to ...

Originally published at the Green Valley News. The state of Minnesota let out a long, collective sigh of relief late Sunday afternoon when it was announced that the Twins had agreed to an eight-year, $184 million deal with superstar catcher Joe Mauer.As one of the biggest Twins fans you’ll ever find, I was ecstatic when I first heard the news. Mauer’s contract wasn’t due to ...

Originally published at TwinsTarget.com . Historically, the NL West has been an extremely competitive division. Although there was a 25-game difference between the first- and late-place teams in the NL West this past season, each team in the division has had some degree of success in the past. While theáLos Angeles Dodgers have enjoyed the greatest amount of success in the NL West this past decade, the Arizona Diamondbacks áandáSan Francisco Giantsá ...

Originally published at TwinsTarget.com. The TwinsÆ scouting department had a down year in 2003, drafting just three players who eventually reached the Big Leagues. Of those three, just Scott Baker is putting together a solid career. Here are the more notable picks in the 2003 draft. First Round (21st overall) û Matthew Moses, 3Bá Never known as an elite defensive player, the Twins knew that MosesÆ bat would ...

Originally published at TwinsTarget.com. Historically, the National League Central has been filled with some of the best and worst teams in baseball. The St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros have been the two most consistent teams in the division this past decade, with the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers always in the mix. The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates have had very little success, though the Reds have managed ...