Off-Day Transactions? (Predictions)

The Twins have been shutout two days in a row. They have had two (or less) bats available on the bench in each of those games. The starters have been horrible. The bullpen has been better than expected but not great. And the offense has not been good.

On Twitter during the game, at one point I said that I think that there will be two DFAs and two options for the Twins. That would mean that four new players would be on the Twins roster by Friday's game in Seattle.

Two DFAs - I think both Clete Thomas and Matt Maloney will be DFAd.
Two Options - I think that it's possible that Alex Burnett and Liam Hendriks get optioned to Rochester.

Who should be called up? In my opinion, I would NOT want to bring any big prospects up to witness what's going on with the Twins right now. These moves are not about trying to win in 2012. All moves at this point should be about what's best for the Twins to be winning and competing again in 2014.

In other words, I would like to see Brian Dozier, Rene Tosoni, Ben Revere, Liam Hendriks, Deolis Guerra, Scott Diamond, Joe Benson, etc., stay in Rochester at this time. I think that the Twins need to find out what they have in a few players that have options and are on the 40 man roster, and a couple of guys that are not on the 40 man roster. There is plenty of 40 man roster room.

I would call up PJ Walters, Darin Mastroianni, Anthony Slama and Jeff Manship. Walters has big league time and has been alright with the Red Wings. He was a prospect a couple of years ago, so it doesn't hurt to see what he can do. Mastroianni is the OF I picked because I'd rather Revere and Benson not come up until July and Rene Tosoni just came off the DL. Anthony Slama just needs a chance, and there's no way he's worse than Jeff Gray. And Jeff Manship had a solid spring and they need to see what he can do. These pitchers all need to get an extended look. In fact, I'd like to find a way to bring up Cole DeVries as well, and maybe DFAing Jeff Gray is a way to do that.

What do you think? Will the horrific series against the Angels prompt the TWins front office to make massive roster moves? Any roster moves? Or will they stand pat and tell us that they don't want to over-react?

Should they make some moves? Yes, absolutely. Will they? I hope so, but lately a lot of their decisions haven't made a lot of sense to me. We'll see what happens. It should be interesting. But given the front office's stubborness with admitting mistakes, I could see them standing pat for a while.

Rearrange the Deck Chairs????


https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/im...yM_r5KrItYi36E

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Originally Posted by Seth Stohs

The Twins have been shutout two days in a row. They have had two (or less) bats available on the bench in each of those games. The starters have been horrible. The bullpen has been better than expected but not great. And the offense has not been good.

On Twitter during the game, at one point I said that I think that there will be two DFAs and two options for the Twins. That would mean that four new players would be on the Twins roster by Friday's game in Seattle.

Two DFAs - I think both Clete Thomas and Matt Maloney will be DFAd.
Two Options - I think that it's possible that Alex Burnett and Liam Hendriks get optioned to Rochester.

Who should be called up? In my opinion, I would NOT want to bring any big prospects up to witness what's going on with the Twins right now. These moves are not about trying to win in 2012. All moves at this point should be about what's best for the Twins to be winning and competing again in 2014.

In other words, I would like to see Brian Dozier, Rene Tosoni, Ben Revere, Liam Hendriks, Deolis Guerra, Scott Diamond, Joe Benson, etc., stay in Rochester at this time. I think that the Twins need to find out what they have in a few players that have options and are on the 40 man roster, and a couple of guys that are not on the 40 man roster. There is plenty of 40 man roster room.

I would call up PJ Walters, Darin Mastroianni, Anthony Slama and Jeff Manship. Walters has big league time and has been alright with the Red Wings. He was a prospect a couple of years ago, so it doesn't hurt to see what he can do. Mastroianni is the OF I picked because I'd rather Revere and Benson not come up until July and Rene Tosoni just came off the DL. Anthony Slama just needs a chance, and there's no way he's worse than Jeff Gray. And Jeff Manship had a solid spring and they need to see what he can do. These pitchers all need to get an extended look. In fact, I'd like to find a way to bring up Cole DeVries as well, and maybe DFAing Jeff Gray is a way to do that.

What do you think? Will the horrific series against the Angels prompt the TWins front office to make massive roster moves? Any roster moves? Or will they stand pat and tell us that they don't want to over-react?

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Seth, I think that you would be a better GM than Ryan. What you are saying makes a lot of sense. Let the top prospects develop some more and don't drop them into a losing environment. And see what you have with the older prospects.

If only half of what you suggest come true, I will be happy. It would be great if at least one of Walters, Mastroianni, Slama and Manship could catch on and be good in 2013 or 2014.

On the other hand, I suspect that Ryan will not be as aggressive as you are suggesting. That does not seem to be the "Twins Way."

I'll add another move to the discussion--they could option Parmelee and let him develop more at Rochester as well, either by being the everyday first baseman or by rotating between first and right. I don't know the Rochester roster all that well, but maybe they could give Aaron Bates and his .359 OBP a shot as well.

It won't happen, but I think it's time Gardy and his coaches go. The players are just not playing for him!

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Originally Posted by glunn

Seth, I think that you would be a better GM than Ryan.

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Ha!! Thanks, but that's not at all true. IF there is on guy I'd want at the healm right now, it would be Terry Ryan. He's done it before, with a lot of the same people around him. It just won't happen over night and fans need to realize that.

I don't think it really matters if the Twins "top prospects" experience the current culture going on in the Twins clubhouse or avoid it by being in Rochester. The reality is, the crop of "top prospects" your talking about have experienced this exact culture the past three years in the form of putrid play both in Rochester and New Britain. That makes this crop of "top prospects" suspects until they prove themselves at the major league level. I don't have any faith that will happen with more than one or two of them. I fear Joe Mauer and his 23 mil per year contract is in for several long-cold winters over the next several baseball seasons in Minnesota.

I drank too much kool aid in spring training, I'm officially sugar depressed:(

Clete Thomas. Please do something with him. Nice enough seeming kid but belongs in the Northern League.

If changes like this are on the horizon, they'll wait until Gardy is back with the team. He is attending his daughter's college graduation and missing the Seattle series.

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Originally Posted by Highabove

Rearrange the Deck Chairs????


https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/im...yM_r5KrItYi36E

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LOL!!! Well put!!

It's always darkest before the dawn.

Sorry, that's all I got right now. :(

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Originally Posted by ossieO

If changes like this are on the horizon, they'll wait until Gardy is back with the team. He is attending his daughter's college graduation and missing the Seattle series.

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Exactly. Maybe one roster move before the Seattle series, but if they're thinking 3-4 moves then it will be after the team returns home and Gardy is back at the helm to "properly" manage the group.

It makes sense to people on this site not to bring up any higher ceiling prospects, but the organization may need to try to reel back in the average fan. I don't need to see any of the bigger names, but wins and attendance are going to be a big factor in who returns next year. Ryan, Gardenhire and the rest of the coaching staff can't feel too comfortable about thier future employment. They are going to care less about furture development if they aren't going to be a part of it.

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Originally Posted by Seth Stohs

...I would like to see Brian Dozier, Rene Tosoni, Ben Revere, Liam Hendriks, Deolis Guerra, Scott Diamond, Joe Benson, etc., stay in Rochester at this time. I think that the Twins need to find out what they have in a few players that have options and are on the 40 man roster, and a couple of guys that are not on the 40 man roster. There is plenty of 40 man roster room.

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I get most of your point here, Seth, but I don't see any harm in calling up Diamond.

I think that there might be a single change Hendricks option to Rochester and a position player recalled (Ray Chang?). They do have 13 pitchers still and do not need them all. And the reason I am saying that just one will be recalled is because Gardy is already in Minneapolis and they are not going to do much without him there... I think that Swarzak earned a good look for that last spot on the rotation and I do not see anyone better in Rochester (Diamond and Walters are not better)

As far as DFA's go, if you want to swap Gray and Maloney with Rochester pitchers, I am fine with that. Slama should given a change. The other pitcher who should have a change is Cole DeVries over Manship, because he has been pitching better. Arguably, DeVries has been the best P in Rochester this season (.2.89 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, 8.7 K/9, 4.5 K/BB) and he deserves a chance. Totally surprise that there was not a ST invite for him and Slama...

Now if you want to replace Clete with Mastroianni, whatever :) Nothing much gained or lost there.

What do you think? Will the horrific series against the Angels prompt the TWins front office to make massive roster moves? Any roster moves? Or will they stand pat and tell us that they don't want to over-react?

Hard to know what to hope for anymore. It's not just a manager problem, but it doesn't seem like there's any plan here. Plouffe's been all over the place, and that can't help his hitting. How do you keep sending Thomas up to the plate when he strikes out 75% of the time. As much as I can't stand to pay $60/seat to watch veteran minor leaguers fill the roster, it might be a good idea to let these young guys you list develop in Rochester, and leave the scraps at Target Field. Either way it's a 100 loss season.

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Originally Posted by prairiejack

What do you think? Will the horrific series against the Angels prompt the TWins front office to make massive roster moves? Any roster moves? Or will they stand pat and tell us that they don't want to over-react?

Hard to know what to hope for anymore. It's not just a manager problem, but it doesn't seem like there's any plan here. Plouffe's been all over the place, and that can't help his hitting. How do you keep sending Thomas up to the plate when he strikes out 75% of the time. As much as I can't stand to pay $60/seat to watch veteran minor leaguers fill the roster, it might be a good idea to let these young guys you list develop in Rochester, and leave the scraps at Target Field. Either way it's a 100 loss season.

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You could be right, but if they're going to lose anyway, the Twins will sell more tickets if they play the guys who have a future.

Not that I'm biased, because he's my adopt-a-prospect, but Cole DeVries absolutely deserves a chance to be called up. He has been solid all season. I'm not 100% sure about putting him in the rotation, as I think his make-up is better suited for the bullpen. Darin Mastroianni, Anthony Slama and Jeff Manship make a lot of sense as well. Mastroianni is already on the 40-man and has played some first base as well. In his place I would actually consider sending Parmalee down so he can play every day. Since you pretty much have to DFA Clete Thomas at this point, I would look at adding someone like Ray Chang to the 40-man and give him a chance at the major league level (Blyleven!). So essentially, my moves would look like this....

DFA Jeff Gray - Call up Anthony Slama
DFA Matt Maloney - Call up Cole DeVries
DFA Clete Thomas - Call up Ray Chang
Demote Chris Parmalee - Call up Darin Mastroianni
Demote Liam Hendriks - Call up Jeff Manship

After the trade deadline, I would bring up as many of the top prospects as possible.

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Originally Posted by Seth Stohs

Ha!! Thanks, but that's not at all true. IF there is on guy I'd want at the healm right now, it would be Terry Ryan. He's done it before, with a lot of the same people around him. It just won't happen over night and fans need to realize that.

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I don't know if I agree. I wonder how much Rantz has to do with this kind of decision-making. Your humility maybe shouldn't extend to his job . . .