Early Camp Tidbits

 I don't like that Burdi is tinkering already. He's a fireballing reliever, those guys usually only need two pitches. He was pitching well the second half of last year. After his initial demotion he was giving up 5.4 H/9 the rest of the year, his main problem was free passes, I can't see how adding a new pitch would help with that. Why tinker unless what you're doing isn't working?

I see no harm in it.   If he can develop an off speed pitch with sink it will just make his heat more effective.    If it messes with his control then I am with you but no need to make that assumption.

There is a log jam happening in the outfield. Of course, Kepler could be groomed as a first baseman. Walker will need someplace to play. Who knows the longterm needs of Rosario. If Arcia shines, then we have a lot of trouble. Of course, anyone can be flipped (as the Twins have shown with their centerfield candidates of late.)

I'm thinking the Twins will still play wait and see on Sano at third. If there WAS no desire to have Sano play third, then this might've been the time to sign up Plouffe for 3 years with an option. Right now, if I was Plouffe, I would be more than happy with whatever arbitration will bring next season if the Twins are forced to keep him. If Sano is NOT the third baseman of the future, then barring a trade for a third bagger, the Twins will be forced to keep Plouffe, unless....

There is someone on the 2016 off-season scrap heap. But doubtful. Man, the twins 1B/DH/corner outfield situation is getting worse worse worse.

It's my understanding Kepler is a plus defender, even in CF.  Is that right?  If it is, why would we want to move him to 1B eventually?  If/when Mauer gets moved off 1B, wouldn't it make more sense to move Sano to 1B and leave the plus defender, Kepler, in the OF?

I want to know more about Kurt and his motorcycle shop.

Is it just me or is this the most critical Spring Training in memory for our Twins?  I don't ever remember as many questions about starting positions and roster spots ever.  In fact I don't remember any ST when we had 20% as many questions.

The potential new players include:

Byung Ho Park, A B Walker, Max Kepler, Ken Vargas, Byron Buxton, Oswaldo Arcia, Jorge Polanco, Jose Berrios, Nick Burdi, JT Chargois, Trevor Maye, Alex Meyer and Taylor Rogers.  There are others.

Some of these are currently on the roster in a kind of limbo status and some are long shots to be on the team.  All of them have someone(s) in front of them on the roster.  Any of them could have a spring training or early minor league season that might make them a compelling call up to the parent.  This means that the possibility exists that the Twins may have to decide if they need to eat some large contracts to improve the team.

In addition there are current front line players that may not perform in their current positions at levels considered adequate.  This could include Mauer, Escobar, Rosario, Dozier and several pitchers.

A crazy number of questions and a GM that hasn't been real quick to pull the trigger.  The most interesting watch, maybe ever.  Can hardly wait until I get down to Ft. Myers in March.

I don't think the issue with Sano, for me at least,is playing RF as much as it is with the way it came about. Up until November the path was constant, even the DH, some third, hurt, and no third, stint last year made sense. Then remarkably they decided he could not replace Plouffe, and magically becomes a RF? It's either a case of an extreme lack of foresight and planning, or the Twins suddenly found out that third baseman have become worthless on the trade market. And as for the idea that 1B is his eventual home, that could be. But it's not as if we don't have enough of a log jam there also. On one other point, why is Burdi drinking around with a splitter. A notoriously hard pitch on elbows?

Is it just me or is this the most critical Spring Training in memory for our Twins?  I don't ever remember as many questions about starting positions and roster spots ever.  In fact I don't remember any ST when we had 20% as many questions.

 

The potential new players include:

 

Byung Ho Park, A B Walker, Max Kepler, Ken Vargas, Byron Buxton, Oswaldo Arcia, Jorge Polanco, Jose Berrios, Nick Burdi, JT Chargois, Trevor Maye, Alex Meyer and Taylor Rogers.  There are others.

 

Some of these are currently on the roster in a kind of limbo status and some are long shots to be on the team.  All of them have someone(s) in front of them on the roster.  Any of them could have a spring training or early minor league season that might make them a compelling call up to the parent.  This means that the possibility exists that the Twins may have to decide if they need to eat some large contracts to improve the team.

 

In addition there are current front line players that may not perform in their current positions at levels considered adequate.  This could include Mauer, Escobar, Rosario, Dozier and several pitchers.

 

A crazy number of questions and a GM that hasn't been real quick to pull the trigger.  The most interesting watch, maybe ever.  Can hardly wait until I get down to Ft. Myers in March.

What are the starting position questions?  The only one I can think of is whether or not they keep Buxton at CF.  

It's my understanding Kepler is a plus defender, even in CF.  Is that right?  If it is, why would we want to move him to 1B eventually?  If/when Mauer gets moved off 1B, wouldn't it make more sense to move Sano to 1B and leave the plus defender, Kepler, in the OF?

I would guess Sano can be adequate in the outfield because I think he is faster and more athletic than people give him credit for but it is just a guess.   Even if he is adequate, average or maybe even a little above average I still foresee him being at 1st base or DHing for most of his career.   I dream of a Rosario, Buxton, Kepler outfield though I would have liked Hicks in there as a 4th outfielder to play against left handers  and give Buxton the occasional break.   I think Hicks would have been a big asset as a platoon player and defensive replacement.   Hopefully Murphy will make that trade look good.

I would guess Sano can be adequate in the outfield because I think he is faster and more athletic than people give him credit for but it is just a guess.   Even if he is adequate, average or maybe even a little above average I still foresee him being at 1st base or DHing for most of his career.   I dream of a Rosario, Buxton, Kepler outfield though I would have liked Hicks in there as a 4th outfielder to play against left handers  and give Buxton the occasional break.   I think Hicks would have been a big asset as a platoon player and defensive replacement.   Hopefully Murphy will make that trade look good.

If you believe Hunter, he's given us a good indication that Sano in the OF is gonna be quite the ride, and not in a good way.  Molitor doesn't seem convinced in the comments he's given.  And I think there's more to the OF than just speed and athleticism.  I highly, highly doubt he's even close to average out there with his size and complete inexperience in the OF.

We will see though, clearly, since that's the plan

Rosario and his ability to hit enough is the key. They need his defense in LF. If he is in LF and Buxton in CF, the OF defense overall should be better than average even with Sano or Arcia in RF.

I would be very concerned about an OF with Rosario in CF and Arcia and Sano on the corners. There would be too many long innings, short starts and calls to the bullpen.

Rosario and his ability to hit enough is the key. They need his defense in LF. If he is in LF and Buxton in CF, the OF defense overall should be better than average even with Sano or Arcia in RF.

I would be very concerned about an OF with Rosario in CF and Arcia and Sano on the corners. There would be too many long innings, short starts and calls to the bullpen.

If he could improve his OBP to consistently be in the .330s or higher, he'd be a very valuable player with the defense he's shown so far.

Split your fingers apart and hold a ball. You can feel the tension all the way up your arm to the elbow. Roger Craig created and ruined a whole crop of prospects with the splitter in the 1980s.

I still can't believe we are doing all this too keep Plouffe.

I still can't believe we are doing all this too keep Plouffe.

What exactly is all this we are doing? Our favorite team appears to have little confidence Sano can play 3rd in The Show. There is a myth floating around that the team is being built around Plouffe, but it's just another TD myth.

If you believe Hunter, he's given us a good indication that Sano in the OF is gonna be quite the ride, and not in a good way.  Molitor doesn't seem convinced in the comments he's given.  And I think there's more to the OF than just speed and athleticism.  I highly, highly doubt he's even close to average out there with his size and complete inexperience in the OF.

 

We will see though, clearly, since that's the plan

I thought Danny Santana played quite competently in the outfield but Nunez and Escobar did not.   We won't find out if Sano can unless it is tried. and he gives us some evidence one way or another.   Arcia is a likely candidate to be the outfielder if Sano fails but Arcia, imo takes bad routes, is not that sure handed and plays every ball hit to the corner into a triple.    Should the bar be average or should the bar be Arcia?    Personally, I am hoping Kepler makes his move sooner than later.   Offensively though Park, Sano and Arcia have a lot of potential and some pieces have to move if Kepler, Buxton, and Rosario shine.  Season is right around the corner and I while I don't love the log jams and possible mismatched pieces I do like the apparent depth.