Article: Surprises Mark Twins Opening Day Roster

[FormerMinnasotan]

Happy to see Mejia make it as the #5 as he earned it over ST. Hopefully his aggressiveness translates to regular season play as well.

Edited March 30, 2017 by FormerMinnasotan

[Eris]

 

It's almost like the White Sox actually are committing to a rebuild, and the Twins like always are just treading water hoping for a miracle.

 

I think the Twins and the White Sox are in a very different part of the spectrum (except in on field performance).  The Twins path to a World Series is that the current group of young players gels and they becomes contenders by substantially upgrading the pitching staff.  (As was mentioned earlier in this thread, the Twins opening day roster has 7 players under 27 who were top 100 MLB prospects)  In the next 2-3 years the Twins need to sign probably at least 2 front line starting pitchers and develop a good SS.   They have almost no one (except maybe Dozier) whom they are willing to part with and will bring value in return.  The White Sox, on the other hand have/had three player with a lot a value (Sale, Eaton, and Jose Quintana).  They were able to trade these players for some very good/top prospects.  Who do the Twins have that would bring the return received for Sale or Eaton.  

 

 

[spinowner]

 

Back to back posts, 1 where your assertion is its cold so lots of pitchers are needed (even though there are two off days in the 1st 8 days), and then the 2nd post says you can't hit home runs if its cold. 

More pitchers are needed when it's cold because it's more difficult to stay loose when it's cold, making it easier for pitchers to get injured, especially if there are a lot of warm/cool cycles (like between innings).

There are fewer home runs when it's cold because cold air is more dense and provides more resistance to an object moving through it, hence fly balls don't travel as far.

So both posts are correct.

[drjim]

Take a look at the rotation and bullpen as well then.

It's garbage. Has been for 7 years.

 

Bringing in a handful of vets on low cost deals to fill a roster isn't the opposite of a rebuild. In fact, the White Sox are doing the same thing. While they acquired some good young talent, all of it is starting in the minors in favor of vets.

[alarp33]

 

More pitchers are needed when it's cold because it's more difficult to stay loose when it's cold, making it easier for pitchers to get injured, especially if there are a lot of warm/cool cycles (like between innings).

There are fewer home runs when it's cold because cold air is more dense and provides more resistance to an object moving through it, hence fly balls don't travel as far.

So both posts are correct.

 

The Twins have 2 off days in the 1st 8 days of the season.  8 relievers are not necessary
 

What evidence are you basing this off of? To give you an example, last year the Twins played 24 games in April.

 

1 game lasted 16 innings

1 game lasted 12 innings

1 game lasted 10 innings

1 game lasted 6 innings.  

 

They had 7 relief pitchers who were used for more than 2 innings in April.  

 

They are carrying 8 right now, including 1 (Duffey) who they want to keep stretched out (multiple innings)

Edited March 30, 2017 by alarp33

[LeatherAntenna]

A lot of consternation about this roster. I know exactly what is going on. The Twins want to start the season 0-9 again.

[gheggs42]

 

I don't understand the outrage. Is anyone surprised by this roster? Were they supposed to trade for Trout and Kershaw? I don't get it.

 

The only real surprise to me is Park's reassignment, but as has been pointed out a few times, his 40-man status (or non-status, I guess) would mean exposing someone else to the waiver wire. I personally dislike that Santana is still around, so there's a spot that could have gone to Park. But I'm not that upset about it, because they could make that change tomorrow if they wanted to. Park is a 30 year old DH whose ST stats could be a mirage, kind of like Hicks a few years back. Nor am I upset about a backup catcher. Yes, you want value from all 25 roster spots, but there is no one who represents a viable upgrade from Gimenez. JRM maaayyybe has some upside, but I don't see how that could be met sitting on the bench. Not to mention that whatever upside he has is severely diminished from his 2016 season. People seem to have forgotten that he was really, really bad last year at both the MLB and AAA levels. Garver simply needs more time in the upper minors.

 

I also don't understand the anger about the bullpen. It makes sense to carry the extra arm when there are so many question marks in the rotation. This is also a part of the team that is more or less reassembled every year. So, if a guy like Chargois isn't there now, he could be next week, or next month, or next year. It depends on when he's ready. He was pretty bad last year and this spring. For all we know, he's Jim Hoey.

 

Personally, I'm just excited that it's baseball season again. When the Twins have a chance at the pennant, I'll start getting upset about their roster decisions.

Well said and completely agree

[Guest]

The Twins have 2 off days in the 1st 8 days of the season.  8 relievers are not necessary

 

What evidence are you basing this off of? To give you an example, last year the Twins played 24 games in April.

 

1 game lasted 16 innings

1 game lasted 12 innings

1 game lasted 10 innings

1 game lasted 6 innings.  

 

They had 7 relief pitchers who were used for more than 2 innings in April.  

 

They are carrying 8 right now, including 1 (Duffey) who they want to keep stretched out (multiple innings)

At least two reasons for eight relievers.

 

1. Haley doesn't count. He's going to get innings only late in lopsided games.

2. At least three of the starters are high risks for being pulled in the fifth inning.

[Winston Smith]

Oh well, can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

I keep reading this.  In addition to questioning what that opinion is based on...I ask what about that opinion makes the opening day roster ok?  

 

Why is "it'll change fast" somehow an excuse for the roster?  If that's true, why wouldn't you start the season with the changes already made?  Except for DL'd players, what's the advantage of starting the season with a less than optimal roster?

Nor are the recently-DL'd players key pieces: Vargas, Adrianza, O'Rourke.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

 I get delaying decisions. But these guys are paid to make tough decisions.

This is what gets me, particularly with the middle infielder situation. 

[Brandon]

Not having Park up is a huge disappointment. I felt he earned his way back up. More than others. Well i guess the Twins have to wait for promotions so they have tje best team on the field before they earn my dollars. If Hughes needs more time. Like a few starts in extended spring training to work on results...should be on the DL and Park should be up. That too us a short term solution and a better one.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

As if it was even a competition when to pit Hicks against a 6-foot-7 275-lb slugger with the name "Judge".

Right out of a Cormac McCarthy novel.

 

(note to Hicksie: run for your life)

[caninatl04]

 

I assume there is some hyper, next-level thought process here that none of us are privvy to yet. The notion that Mauer will begin to play a bit less this season takes a nose dive when you realize both of his back-ups are now in Rochester. 

 

Let's see what the roster looks like by May 1st.  Or even April 15th.

[RichReese]

 

So, it is like FTE at work? 12 employees working 75% of the time is only 8 FTE? cool!

or maybe 9FTE

[Mike Sixel]

 

or maybe 9FTE

 

sigh, bam!

 

you are correct sir. ugh.

[Champuckett]

Only one word can be used to describe this:

 

 

Terrible.

[TwinsFan23]

You think Park would have hit .310 the rest of the season? That would have been a hell of a turnaround.

I meant this season. If he would have been on the roster and in the lineup as the DH most days.

 

Obviously not last season...

[tobi0040]

The problem with the just wait until May 15, or the opening day roster doesn't matter that much is that we heard the same thing for seven years.

 

We haven't done the things that a rebuilding, bad team should do.

[Mike Sixel]

We also heard the 25th roster spot doesn't matter recently...all the spots matter. All the games matter.

[S.]

 

We will know more at the trade deadline, but a fair assumption is they are looking to contend in 2018. 

You've been giving this same, "they're looking to contend next year" spiel for like 4 years now. Unless you think they're going to sign/trade for like 6 quality pitchers in the offseason, I'm not sure how you expect that to pan out. The only pitcher on our current roster who is above average is Ervin Santana. 

[Brandon]

Not having Park up is a huge disappointment. I felt he earned his way back up. More than others. Well i guess the Twins have to wait for promotions so they have tje best team on the field before they earn my dollars. If Hughes needs more time. Like a few starts in extended spring training to work on results...should be on the DL and Park should be up. That too us a short term solution and a better one.

[FormerMinnasotan]

I also wonder if we will see Berrios even when he is just "stretched out" by Molly's standards. I guess it will depend on how Mejia and Hughes look. IMO, I agree Duffey is in the bullpen because the Twins might need an arm available to replace Hughes in the rotation. And Mejia is only penciled in at the #5 spot as if Mejia doesn't perform Berrios should be stretched out enough by then to join the rotation.

[drjim]

Berrios is starting tomorrow for Rochester against the Twins. I think it's awesome.

[bighat]

 

This team got older, with no ceiling to be good in a year or two. No chances at all are being taken on high upside players that weren't already on the 25 man roster. Indeed, they somehow managed to decrease the number of guys from the end of last year that were young with upside. On a 103 loss team...

 

Did you read the part about Mejia making the team? 

[Kwak]

I contend that we would be disappointed with any 25 man roster--there just aren't 25 who should be on a ML team yet.  Politics matters--When the new executives were hired they were told that Molitor (and quite a few others!) had to stay.  It is to be expected that Molitor howled loudly that if his tenure depends on wins/losses that he must have substantial input into the roster, rotation, and daily line up.  Inevitably that wish would be (mostly) granted. 

 

I shake my head when I read that (so and so) shouldn't be on a bad team because... .  My take should he be on a good team?  If not, then cast him out.  The goal should not be building the best bad team but rather building the best team practicable.

[pierre75275]

Umm...guys...Santana isn't on the roster at the expense of Park. The 13 pitchers are what got Park sent to AAA. The bench cannot be Park Grossman and Gimenez. Who would back up the in field? I guess you could say that Grossman made the team at Parks expense but that wouldn't necessarily be true either as Park pry plays outfield worse then Grossman. It really is the xtra pitcher-Haley that cost Park.

[DaveW]

Umm...guys...Santana isn't on the roster at the expense of Park. The 13 pitchers are what got Park sent to AAA. The bench cannot be Park Grossman and Gimenez. Who would back up the in field? I guess you could say that Grossman made the team at Parks expense but that wouldn't necessarily be true either as Park pry plays outfield worse then Grossman. It really is the xtra pitcher-Haley that cost Park.

Escobar is on the roster and can play any INF position (better than Santana actually)

 

Dozier, Sano, and Polanco need to be playing every day anyways. You don't need TWO back up INF, especially when one is quite terrible at hitting and defense.

[LeatherAntenna]

Berrios is starting tomorrow for Rochester against the Twins. I think it's awesome.

I sure hope that Berrios doesn't make the Twins look bad.

[DocBauer]

Definitely some disappointment here, an initial funny/sparky post on my part, full empathy with everyone here after reading every post, (sorry if I happened to miss anyone but was trying to work as well, lol)....and a ton of reflection over the day.

 

A few thoughts:

 

1} I stated in another thread, before this final roster one, that I simply HAD to believe the FO, and Molitor I'm sure, made some of these decisions based on a "let's not cut these guys loose just yet, see what sticks over the first few weeks or so, and then go from there. We can move forward but can't rewind" mentality. (Worded it differently the first time). EX: Tonkin, used appropriately, could surprise. But you can't bring him back once gone. Not saying he will, but he gets a little more rope. I almost feel the Twins will be using April, at least the first few weeks, as a sort of ML EST, this time in real games, to continue some evaluation. I'm starting to think this isn't such a bad idea for a rebuilding team.

 

2} I don't disagree with brining in a few solid veterans to augment the team in experience, leadership and hopefully ability. After all the gnashing of teeth, our catching situation is much better than a year ago. Belisle could/should be solid. Breslow was a cheap flier/filler who could help, and easily be cut. We DID NOT keep Vogelsong, spare part OF or INF. So the number of older, veteran players brought in and kept is only 3.

 

3} I KNOW it sounds trite, but this team is still rebuilding/retooling, and this roster will be fluid throughout the season and could absolutely change within the next 14-30 days.

 

THE GOOD:

 

1} We still have the talented young OF plus the still young Grossman who has a role and no "last gasp" veteran OF. I understand the angst over DanSan, but he probably is on his last chance right now, and could be pretty easily replaced still, and possibly soon.

 

2} Sano, Polanco and Dozier is still 3/4 of a potentially fun/talented/exciting infield, and the one we expected all along. Escobar is still a solid player. Adrianza getting hurt was a disappointment because he was starting to hit and contribute. When healthy, I could still see him making the club, probably over DanSan.

 

3} The rotation. I know, I know...but...it is pretty much what we knew and expected. Santana has looked good. Gibson has looked good. Santiago hasn't been bad. Hughes at least offers a bit of hope and is much further along than I expected, despite some inconsistency. Instead of someone like Vogelsong, we actually get Mejia! Surprised and elated on this end!

 

4} The bullpen. NO, I'm NOT happy about some things here at all! But I think Duffey does help here. We are all terribly disappointed in Chargois's spring, but we are also crying out for young arms to get a chance. Can't say I'm disappointed Haley is getting a shot. I like Pressly and Rogers. I'm not happy about the pen, and I think it's going to change, hopefully soon, but I do like a couple guys here and am happy to see Duffey and Haley getting a shot.

 

5} Catcher. I still believe in Garver and want him here ASAP. But he gets to play everyday, for now, at Rochester and there is no way you can convince me our catching situation, overall, isn't better than a year ago at this time.

 

THE BAD:

 

1} I sort of get the whole "hold on for now and see what sticks EST for the begining of the season, but an 8 man bullpen with a short and not very good bench to begin April? April?

 

2} Park AND the bench. And this is probably everyone's biggest gripe, even if they don't realize it. I get removing Park from the 40 man move and taking a chance. It worked. But the guy is healthy, worked hard, and lead the team in HR, RBI and slugging for ST. And you can't find a way to bring him north? Are you kidding me?! So we start the season without a potential everyday power bat, and nobody to platoon/back up Mauer at 1B? We turn Grossman in to a full time player and shorten our bench and options? I can understand a last shot for DanSan with the Adrianza injury, but come on! No Park to shorten the lineup AND the bench and our lineup options is just inexcusable!