Kuzul

According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Brewers GM Doug Melvin confirmed that the Brewers were one of the teams that met with Carl Pavano and his agent, Tom O’Connel, on Tuesday.

Melvin was rather tight lipped about the meeting saying, “I don’t want to get into anything other than we met with him.”

According to most, Pavano is considered the next best remaining free-agent starter after Cliff Lee and that’s not saying much. This year’s free-agent class is practically devoid of impact arms and probably the next best one, Jorge de la Rosa, has already re-signed with the Colorado Rockies.

If the Brewers are serious in their pursuit of Pavano, they will have competition. There have been multiple reports that the Minnesota Twins are making a strong push to re-sign the 34 year-old right-hander. There have also been reports that the Washington Nationals have serious interest as well. I would assume that their interest may diminish if they are able to pry Cliff Lee away from his other suitors.

Many believe that Pavano and his agent are seeking a three-year deal in the $30-$40 million range. For a pitcher with a lengthy injury history like Pavano’s, the risk with that type of deal is enormous to a team like the Brewers.

The Brewers have been through this before. This stinks a bit like that massive failure that was Jeff Suppan. If Melvin is serious and spends that kind of money on Pavano, he needs to be prepared for the backlash he will receive from Brewer Nation.

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The 2011 Major League Baseball season seems a long ways away, but it is never too early to take a glance at potential impact rookies for next season.

Jeremy Hellickson, 23, a pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, leads a group of 10 players who are ready to make an impact on their respective teams in 2011.

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The Minnesota Twins offseason got quite the jump-start on Black Friday.

News came across the wire that the Twins were the highest bidder, and now have 30 days of exclusive contract negotiations with Tsuyoshi Nishioka. Nishioka, 26, is the reigning batting champ in Japan, and a sleek fielding middle infielder.

The winning bid from the Twins came in at over $5 million. If a contract can’t be negotiated within 30 days, the Twins will get their bid back.

The Nishioka bid certainly puts the nail in the coffin for any chance of Orlando Hudson returning to the Twins next season. Hudson was already on the outs despite being offered arbitration last week by the Twins. Hudson is a Type B free agent and the Twins will receive a compensatory pick for him leaving.

Assuming the Twins sign Nishioka, which some believe will be in the three-year, $15 million range, the middle infield will be completely turned over from last season. J.J. Hardy would almost certainly be on the outs as well, with possibly Alexi Casilla taking over at shortstop or second base.

Nishioka has been labeled “Ichiro of the infield” after a season where he led Japan with a .346 batting average, 121 runs, 206 hits and 287 bases. All this in only 144 games. He is the first player to reach the 200-hit plateau since Ichiro over a decade ago.

It may be prudent not to expect someone as talented as Ichiro to be playing the infield at Target Field next season. Nishioka may bring impressive numbers to the USA, but Ichiro’s shoes are big ones to fill. Talent is only one part of a recipe for success in America. Adapting to America’s culture, and living up to an entire nation’s expectations have proved too great for many former Japanese stars. Case in point: Kaz Matsui.

Other News

In addition to the Twins offering arbitration to Hudson, they also offered arbitration to pitchers Carl Pavano and Jesse Crain.

Carl Pavano was a workhorse for the Twins last season, going 17-11 and pitching the Twins to an AL Central title. He accepted arbitration last season and made $7 million last season for the Twins. Pavano is unlikely to accept arbitration this season as he is almost assured to receive a multi-year deal from a ball club. 

Jesse Crain also was offered arbitration, and is also unlikely to accept. He is a Type B free agent and will certainly entertain multi-year deals from many teams looking to bolster their bullpen.

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The Minnesota Twins start their 50th season in Minnesota next season.

I thought it might be fun to choose the best starting lineup possible from the last 50 years. I also included the top five pitchers for a starting rotation and a closer.

There were a few rules to make the list. They must have either been a Twins player for at least five years, or done something extraordinary on the field (such as a World Series victory, MVP award, batting title, etc.).

They also must have spent most of their time at the position they played at, so I wasn’t allowed to DH someone who wasn’t a designated hitter during their time in Minnesota.

So who made the cut? Read on to find out.

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There have been many important days in Twins history. Oct. 25th, 1987 (first World Series victory), Oct. 27th, 1991 (second World Series), and June 5th, 2001 (drafting of Joe Mauer) spring to mind for many fans. But the absolute most important date had nothing to do with winning a world series or drafting a future hall of fame catcher. The day in question is July 3rd, 2000.

The franchise was at a crossroads. The Twins hadn’t had a winning season since 1992. In 1995 the hero of the franchise (Kirby Puckett) was forced into retirement after being struck in the jaw by an errant fastball, and subsequent glaucoma the following spring.

They had lost their only remaining true star, Chuck Knoblauch, after a trade to the Yankees following the 1997 season. The 1999 season saw the Twins finish in last place once again.

The Twins were sporting a $17 million dollar payroll, and the attendance barely topped one million for the season. Roughly 12,000 fans a game.

And on top of all this, Carl Pohlad was open to the idea of contraction. This would wipe the Twins franchise off the face of the earth, while putting about 150 million into Pohlad’s pocket.

This was all changed on July 3rd, 2000, when the previously stingy Twins extended Brad Radke’s contract. Radke signed for a then franchise record of four years and $36 million dollars. It was a vote of confidence for fans all over Twins territory, and signaled the change of culture which led to a decade of excellence.

If you look at where the Twins were to where they are today it is quite remarkable.

2000 Twins 69-93 – 1,000,760 fans – $17.5 Million dollar payroll – Played in Metrodome – Highest payed player at time was Radke making $3.5 Million dollars.

2010 Twins 94-68 – 3,223,640 fans – $97.5 Million dollar payroll – Played in newly opened Target Field – Highest payed player was Justin Morneau who made $15 Million.

This dramatic turn around has many reasons: The great drafts, home grown talent, good management, piranha’s, etc. But without the re-signing of Brad Radke a decade ago. Who knows what history may have been written for the Twins. Would there be that shiny new ballpark in downtown Minneapolis? Would there be six division title banners? Would there even be a Twins team? I can’t honestly answer that.

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Here lie your 2010 Minnesota Twins. April 5, 2010-October 9, 2010.

In a game that seemed inevitable, the Twins once again were swept out of the playoffs by the New York Yankees. This is the 12th straight home playoff loss for a franchise which used to flourish come October. The second longest such streak in history. Behind only the Boston Red Sox from 1980-1995 which lost 14 straight. I myself was at Target Field for both home games in the playoffs (and every playoff game since 2004). The atmosphere was great, and the crowd was optimistic for our chances against Derek Jeter and the hated Yanks. This was supposed to be our year. We were no longer the “little Twinks” who beat you with small ball and luck. We were a team sporting a new stadium, two MVP’s in the lineup and a former All-Star batting ninth. We had three, count them three closers in our bullpen with over 20 saves on the year. We had Jim Thome who hits baseballs farther then Happy Gilmore could hit a drive. We were primed for the postseason…

That’s until we got a look at those sexy pinstripes. As Christopher Walken so neatly put it in Catch Me if you Can: “Do you know why the Yankees always win the World Series? It’s because the other team can’t stop looking at the pinstripes.” And I think that’s what is happening here. The Twins were the best team in baseball since June turned over to July. Mauer had hit .379, Thome was putting dents in the flag pole in right field and the “Pavstache” was making girls drool all over the country. The Twins ran away from the White Sox and clinched the division earlier then any other team in baseball. And none of it made a difference once the Yankees showed up to Target Field last Wednesday.

Game 1 was the pivotal game here. Liriano was pitching great through five innings and had a 3-0 lead (thank you Michael Cuddyer). Then the wheels fell off. After giving up two runs already in the sixth, there were two men on for Curtis Granderson. Gardy decided to let Liriano pitch to Granderson. A triple later and the score was 4-3. I don’t blame Gardy to leave Liriano in at that point. Granderson was atrocious against lefties all season (to the tune of .234 on the season). Mijares could have come in and gotten him out, but I’m siding with Gardy on this one. Liriano is your best pitcher and best bet to get Granderson.

The game was lost in the next half inning however. The Twins loaded the bases and actually scored a run with a bases loaded walk. The next batter was retired, and the Twins left three men on base (a recurring theme in the three games). Of course, Crain comes in and leaves a hanging slider to Tex and the game is 6-4. Once No. 42 came trotting out the pen for the Yanks, game over.

Game 2 was a must win for the Twins. I wont spend much time on this because it is a week ago already. Pettitte was great. Berkman was great. Twins once again had no clutch hitting. And shockingly they lose 5-2. Ho hum. Better luck next year. Twins were not going to waltz into Yankee Stadium and win two games, then come home and win Game 5. And they didn’t. After a 6-1 loss to Phil Hughes, the season, which had such high hopes, was over.

Over the next week or so, I will go over what I think the Twins should do with their impending free agents, and who they might be able to acquire in free agency or through trades. This will be an interesting offseason, and the 2011 team will look quite different then the inaugural Target Field team.

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In a perfect world, according to my most favorable teams they divisions would annually end something like this:

American League East: Baltimore Tampa Toronto Boston and New York

American League Central Minnesota Kansas City Detroit Chicago White Sox, Cleveland

American League West: Texas Oakland Los Angeles, Seattle

National League East: Florida, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, and Atlanta

National League Central: Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Chicago, Houston, St. Louis

National League West: San Diego, Colorado, Arizona, San Francisco, LA Dodgers

As you can easily tell, I am a fan of small market clubs.

I as happy as I am to see Cincinnati make the playoffs after a 15 year drought (1995) and Texas after an 11 year span (1999) it was just as equally disappointing to see San Diego miss, especially at the expense of the boring, overrated Atlanta Braves who have wasted a playoff spot in every one of their last 15 appearances save for the 1995 miracle vs. almost as equally pathetic Cleveland in what I like to call the World Series from Hell.

Besides, its not like they are going to do anything anyway, so why not give San Diego a chance, we all know they could have used the extra cash from the playoff revenue.

Growing up Cincinnatti was good (1990) along with the Oakland A’s (I’d like to see a replay of that World Series with the Reds playing their role and my Minnesota Twins playing that of the A’s even if their 2010 payroll-top ten is significantly higher. Can you imagine Commissioner Selig’s face having to go to those small, cold markets? Can you imagine the complaining corporate America would be doing if their precious Yankee$ do not make it, in addition to the Phillie$ getting bounced early? This is what I am hoping for.

ALDS ESPN Yankee$ at lowly Minnesota Twins

My heart wants to say Minnesota in who cares-3, 4, 5, but the fact remains the Yankee$ are the Yankee$ and something about October just brings out the best in some people: Luis Polonia, Scott Brosius, Shane Spencer, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez, not to mention Mo Rivera, Jeter, Pettite etc.

Reasons the Yankee$ will win: They have the history, they have the experience, they are the defending champions and as much as I hate them, they are who we thought they were. October is their time to shine. Last year they won the World Series their first year in their new building, somethng I am hoping the Twins can copy-if they took good notes.

Swept the Twins last year (7-0) and 3-0 in playoffs. Karma is on their side. Until they get beat, even if Twins somehow take first game or two that’s gone good enough until these spoiled elitists are gone.

Reasons they’ll lose: Wonder how long it will be before we find out A-ROID juiced in 2009? Someone’s gonna talk a decade or two from now, is my guess. He was too good to be true last year. Look how they treated (as I predicted) 2009 hero’s Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui who were both given their walking papers despite Matsui (MVP) and Damon .381 BA. Granderson is all or nothing. Pettite’s coming back from long injury, Burnett’s already out. Jeter’s having his worst year. They gotta slow down some time right? Buster Olney (Yankee homer) calls this the “most wide open American League I’ve ever seen” (yesterday’s SportsCenter). Keep telling yourself that, Yankee lover.

Reasons the Twins will win: Went 2-4 against New York this year. While that’s not much its light years ahead of last year. Also, the last time they played, the Twins won (in NY) so they have some momentum and that in the back of their minds. Also, Jason Kubel emerged as a legit Yankee$ killer having hit a Grand Slam off Rivera in the game. Also, the last time the Twins played them at home, they too won so this first game is huge.

The bad luck, jinxes, (14-46) in their past 60 head to head have to end sometime right? Why not take a page from the NBA’s Suns who had similar woes against the cow-town Spurs before finally beating them. A good friend of mine, Yankee fan, admits “this isn’t our year” and “the Yankees aren’t going to do anything, they’re hurt”. I’d like to believe him but until the Twins prove me wrong, they get what they deserve.

Yankee-cowards Morneau, Perkins, and Nathan who I bashed last year relentlessly won’t play this year giving me hope. The same hope that newcomers Hudson, Thome, Capps, and Fuentes don’t carry that putrid Yankee$ stink with them like the latter three did. Good riddance. Thank god they moved on from crybaby Morneau. Get over it already and come back next year.

Reasons they’ll lose (see reasons Yankees will win) also, I dont like the Twins hosting. Granted the last time they hosted a series they won (2002) but nothing since. These aint the A’s. Also, when you are a road team you are hoping for a 1:1 split. Yankee$ should at least do that, we all know Twins won’t win 1st two or ESPN will hype-rventilate. I really wish the Twins were going to the Bronx 1st. Less pressure since you aren’t defending home field trying to take at least one.

In the end I expect a SOBathia gem 2-0 shutout of the Twins at home in game 1, followed by the usual 3-1 heart-breaker that we saw last year setting the stage for a Yankee$ $weep in New York as always. Petitte is automatic in game 2. Yankee fans want us to think they are the underdogs (0-3 all time as a Wild Card) but there is a reason SOBathia is their ace and Phil Hughes went 18-8. I ain’t buying it until I see it. Too many years of expections so why have any?

Yankee$ in three.

Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Reasons Texas will win: At first I gave them no chance due to their lack of playoff experience. Still Lee’s good for at least a win right? Bobby Valentine already picked them in 4 and Chris Singleton thinks they can come out of the AL although he’s the only one that crazy so far although I could live with it if and when my Twins lose. They’ve got the hitting we know that.

Reasons they’ll lose: Read a stat that Texas is 0-12 against the rest of the AL competition. Also, only one of the American League teams (Atlanta in the NL) to have a losing road record. You get the feeling like the Reds of the NL, they are simply happy to finally be here after years being out, never mind the fact they’ve never won a playoff series in their history. The only active team to say that. Lots  of reasons to not like them, still its good to see them back, can’t say that enough. Rusty Greer, Roger Pavlik, Mickey Tettleton, Johnny Oates, Dean Palmer, guys I grew up watching the last time they made the playoffs would all be proud.

Reasons Tampa will win: Forget their bandwagon home crowd full of converted Red Sox fans who just plain hate New York, or the transplants, or the fake fans who only started following the team in 2008. The team makes Tropi-crapa field their home and use it to their advantage. Honestly the atmosphere is great there. I’ve been there as a pseudo Rays “fan” (until Baltimore gets back). They have the experience. Many see this as a final run with Rafael Soriano, Carl Crawford, and Carlos Pena although I think only Crawford will depart. The Rays if they lose are still going to be a threat in 2011.

Reasons they’ll lose: Overconfidence. Underestimating their competition. James Shields and his crap 5.18 ERA, Jeff Neimann fading down the stretch (largely due to injury)Matt Garza can’t possibly duplicate 2008 can he? They won’t be able to sneak up on anyone this time. 27th in hitting (BA) has to come into play at some point, right? Pressure to keep Crawford around a bit longer.

Rays in 4 (although nothing would surprise me and if the Twins actually win (hell freezes over) I want to play Texas, so Go Rangers, conditional o the Twins winning, otherwise, go Rays! Easily the x-factor series of the 1st round (best one). Could see several games going into extra innings.

NLDS Atlanta Braves vs. San Francisco Giants

You know the saying “If you don’t have anything nice to say….” That’s how I feel about the Braves who I still don’t forgive them for wasting all those oppotunities in the ’90s and denying other teams Pittsburgh chances to do something which may have created parity.

Forget the fact Atlanta is either one big ghetto (depending on where you are) or a cosmopolitan city full of snobbish transplants and “old money” and there are a lot of reasons to hate Atlanta as I do. Overrated Bobby Cox, the damn annoying “chop” that still rings in my ears having to suffer many an October with that droning. Won’t matter though, they won’t be staying long.

Reasons Atlanta will win: Annoying rallying around Bobby Cox and his impending retirement, same for Chipper Jones.  They can’t choke every time they are in. New faces immune to 1990s failures.

Reasons Atlanta will lose: Typical loser franchise come October. Seriously, 14 division titles should have got the Yankee$ of the NL at least 3-4 rings. They went 1/5 in the Fall Classic with my Twins starting them out in the right foot. In 2006 28,000 fans showed up for game 1 of the NLDS. It was explained that “In Atlanta you expect to make it past the first round”.

Tickets were going for $6 on StubHub for this team of fickle followers. I know-I checked. If there is an excuse in the book for failure, this team, this city, and their blind-loyal announce teams will find it. 0/4 in NLDS since 2001. I can’t wait until they go away. Remember the Padres should be the Giants rally cry!

Reasons the Giants will win: (see reasons Atlanta will lose, above!) Seriously, just by playing this annual disappointment, they got the luck of the draw. Can throw Tiny Tim (Lincecum) twice if they actually have to). Have momentum now.

Reasons they’ll lose: Tim can’t do it all. New generation of Braves fans, yet to be disillusioned could bring a new 1991-like excitement. Braves have to snap jinx sometime right? Honestly, this is the least intriguing series by far of the first round and I really don’t care for either team so I’m done.

Giants in 5 (Braves always make ’em interesting)

Cincinnati Reds vs. Philidelphia Phillies

In 2008 when the Phillies made the playoffs it was cool. When they won the World Series that year, while I wanted the Rays, I felt good for the city. Now its just getting old. Like Boston fans of 2004 and 2007 they act like its their birthright. Phily fans are lame in general but it was fun when they were just happy to be in the playoffs (2007) or 1993 which I have fond memories of.

Reasons the Phillies will win: ESPN wants them to. Seriously, get ready to hear the Halladay-Oswalt-Hamels love fest ESPN Bias. Playoff experience. Embarrassing whiffle ball park that benefits the home team. Just remember Phillies fans, I know when you sucked. Do you?

Reasons they’ll lose: Maybe the Reds have a 2008 small-market mentality like the Rays did. Maybe the Reds will sneak up on them and steal an early game or two swinging the series. Too many stars and too much expectations? Seriously, that’s all I got until the Reds show me something.

Reasons the Reds will win: At the risk of repeating, maybe they can sneak up on someone seeing how they should have no pressure having no experience. Chapman could be this year’s David Price x-factor, rookie phenom. Still seems like a team just happy to be there, despite the fact I picked them as a pre-season Wild Card.

Reasons they’ll lose: Just repeating the same things, so I’ll refain, Prove me wrong, Reds, I want to play you in the Series!

Phillies in THREE (see 2008 Brewers) Just happy to be there.

Stay tuned for next round picks when it gets closer.

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A wise-ruling emperor will step down from his throne if it is better for his royal subjects to be governed by a more respected successor.  On the contrary, a stubborn emperor will be forced out.

The Yankees, to me, fall into the stubborn emperor category: they are the long-time personification of the Evil Empire in the Empire State.

In their American League Division Series match, the Minnesota Twins are the more respected rulers this season, and it is time for the Evils to stand down.

The Twins will challenge the Yankees’ attempt at back-to-back World Series titles with the tried and trusty weapons of home-field advantage and a lineup braced with boppers. 

I’ve heard that Minnesota’s former governor, Jesse “the Body” Ventura, will make a special plate appearance dressed as Conan the Conqueror, just to scare the living fastball out of opposing behemoth CC Sabathia.

Minnesota’s team batting average of .273 was third in Major League Baseball, behind only the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals. 

The Yankees team batting average (.267) was good enough for eighth-place in MLB. In just about the same number of plate appearances, the Twins had thirty-six more hits than the Yankees, although the Yankees hit more home runs (201-142) and drove in more runs (823-749).    

By stealing a lot more bases (103-68) and slugging at a higher percentage (.436-422), New York has a better overall offense, but Minnesota’s pitching staff is better than New York’s, by the numbers. 

The numbered days for the Yankees begins with this Twins invasion at home. Their offense will strike the first blow, but Minnesota’s pitching staff will be the end of the conquest.

The Yankees struck out over 1,100 times, while the Twins fanned less than 1,000 times.

The Yankees collapsed from their stranglehold on home-field advantage by choking in September.  When they were supposed to be crisp in their play on the baseball diamond, instead they went soggy. This year ain’t last year, people.

It’s a newly open restaurant, and the younger Minnesota Twins want to eat, too.  And they would love nothing more than to eat the Yankees’ breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night snack.

Snack on this, my friends:

Minnesota has far better team pitching.  While they pitched nine complete games, the Yankees only pitched three for the season.

The Twins have the advantage in shutouts, saves, innings pitched, batters hit, home runs allowed, earned runs allowed, and walks allowed.

The Twins finished fifth in the AL in team ERA (3.95), while the Yankees finished seventh (4.06).

New York swept Minnesota last year in the American League Division Series (ALDS) at the old Metrodome, but the Twins have a new home this season, where they racked a 53-28 record—the best home record in the AL. 

While Yankee home fans hope their squad will “win it for the Gipper,” former team owner George Steinbrenner, who died this past July, I can’t see it happening.

All the intangibles considered, the Twins’ determination to dethrone the Evil Empire will make this series a conquest for Minnesota.

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The Minnesota Twins’ offense has comprised a lot of moving parts in the month of September.

Minor injuries to catcher Joe Mauer, shortstop J.J. Hardy, designated hitter Jim Thome, and outfielder Jason Kubel have left the team’s lineup in limbo since the team clinched the AL Central division crown last week.

Mauer is expected back at full strength by the end of the weekend, and Thome and Kubel have each proved ready to play when the lights come on for the American League playoffs next week.

Hardy’s status is slightly more in doubt, but he should be healthy in time for the postseason as well.

With the team nearly back to full strength (or as close thereto as they are likely to get, with first baseman Justin Morneau expected to miss whatever playoff action the Twins may see), it is time for manager Ron Gardenhire to sit down and formulate a lineup that will work for the team throughout October.

The batting order upon which Gardenhire ultimately settles will need to be potent in order to keep up with the scoring of potential first-round opponents the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays.

It has been so long since the team had a settled lineup that Gardenhire could reasonably fill in just about anything, but here is one (admittedly unorthodox) lineup that could put the Twins over the top.

1. Denard Span, CF—Bats: L

2010 Stats: .271/.337/.358, 3.1 WAR

Span has had a rough year in just his second full big-league season, as his OBP has fallen from .392 to .337 in one year. This is the Twins’ area of greatest vulnerability on offense, as they lack an obvious leadoff man. Span has done the job admirably overall since taking over the role in late 2008, however, and his patience may pay off despite the regression in the rest of his game.

2. Joe Mauer, C—Bats: L

2010 Stats: .331/.407/.473, 9 HR

It’s almost too bad for this year’s Twins that last year’s Twins got such an incredible season from Mauer. The athletic backstop hit 28 home runs a year ago, which drove the team to miscast him as a power-hitting, middle-of-the-order guy.

Mauer’s power has regressed into a range he more reasonably sustained this year, but he remains very patient and a great average hitter. Anyone who gets on base 40 percent of the time or more belongs in the top four in a team’s lineup, but Mauer belongs here, not in the third slot.

3. Delmon Young, LF—Bats: R

2010 Stats: .299/.334/.487, 19 HR, 108 RBI

Young, in contrast to Mauer, has unleashed his power potential this season simply by making contact more often: His 14.2 percent strikeout rate is by far a career-low mark. Because Young does everything well except draw walks, he belongs in the third spot, where free passes are statistically least valuable.

Believe it or not, Young has actually been a bit unlucky this year, hitting into a .315 BABIP that is 20 points shy of his career figure. He could be this year’s version of B.J. Upton circa 2008, breaking out in style under the national spotlight.

4. Jim Thome, DH—Bats: L

2010 Stats: .280/.412/.631, 25 HR

Thome last had a slugging average over .600 in 2002, when he cranked 52 homers for the Indians. Regular rest has given him a new lease on life, and his second-half surge helped shore up the heart of the order after Morneau went down with a concussion in July.

Thome still has the plate discipline to force his way on base and the raw power to make teams pitch to those in front of him—great news for the hyper-aggressive Young.

5. Danny Valencia, 3B—Bats: R

2010 Stats: .318/.358/.462, 2.7 WAR

Valencia’s rookie season has been better than the Twins could have hoped. Always a great pure hitter, Valencia has quickly developed more big-league power than most expected (seven home runs in 299 plate appearances) and a steady glove at third base.

His September numbers (.288/.316/.507 with five homers) set him apart from more obvious candidates like Jason Kubel and Michael Cuddyer.

6. Jason Kubel, RF—Bats: L

2010 Stats: .250/.323/.434, 21 HR

Kubel has been about the same kind of player for three or four years now: decent patience, decent power, and an uncanny knack for the big hit. His power numbers have dipped this year, but he is a home run threat deep in the order, behind several very good on-base-oriented batters.

7. Michael Cuddyer, 1B—Bats: R

2010 Stats: .271/.337/.416, 79 RBI

Cuddyer seemed like a fluke last season when he hit 32 home runs, and his power has been cut roughly in half by the move into pitcher-friendly Target Field. Still, the 10-year veteran has been of some value, playing both corner spots in the infield and the outfield. He has also cut down on his strikeouts by about 20 percent from last year, an eminently good sign for his plate discipline.

8. Orlando Hudson, 2B—Bats: S

2010 Stats: .268/.336/.370, 9.9 UZR

Hudson’s primary value has always been his glove at the keystone sack, and it has been golden this year. The Twins have him in a role he ostensibly fits well, batting second, but might want to move him down in the order when they begin facing tougher pitching next week.

9. J.J. Hardy, SS—Bats: R

2010 Stats: .276/.327/.406, 8.4 UZR

Hardy is a similar story to Hudson, though Hardy’s offensive upside is higher. He hit 50 combined homers in 2007-08 as the starting shortstop for the Brewers and could hit a big one (or two) in the playoffs. Mostly, though, Hardy is in the lineup for his sparkling work on defense. He and Hudson allow Twins pitchers to aggressively throw hittable pitches low in the zone, knowing very little will go for hits up the middle of the infield.

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There is a saying that bad news doesn’t get better with time. However, announcing plans to cut payroll while your team is in the middle of a division race can’t be a good idea.

That’s exactly what Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternberg did when he announced that even if the Rays win the World Series payroll will be cut in 2011. The current estimate is that the Rays will cut this year’s $72 million payroll by $15-20 million.

Prior to Tuesday’s game Sternberg said,  “Unfortunately there’s nothing that can happen between now and April that can change that unless Joe Maddon hits the lottery and wants to donate it, or I hit the lottery.”

This is the reality of having one of the best teams on the field coupled with one of the worst attendances. The Rays have done everything to try to boost attendance and revenue including hosting postgame concerts on Saturday’s in the summer. There were even empty seats when the Yankees and Red Sox recently played in Tropicana Field.

With the upcoming reduction in payroll the Rays will be fielding an even younger team. The starting lineup this season has an average age of 26 years old.

Here are four Rays rookies that will be critical in the franchise’s future.

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