Twinsoholic

I have to agree with the recommendation. I voiced the same call during the first week of the season--premature that early, I know, but nothing about the poor play this entire season is that different from asphyxiated, lifeless play at the beginning. While I'm pleased as punch about Willingham and Plouffe and Revere and that Morneau is hitting better, I still find this team uninspired. Gardy cannot be blamed for a lot of things, but sometimes a team simply has to replace the manager to refresh the team. If the Twins did replace Gardenhire, who would be a great candidate: someone from outside the organization? The new AAA manager? Jerry White or Scott Ulger? I believe that if the Twins do not make any major trades, they have the offensive potential to do very well next season if only they get a decent rotation--you can define decent how you like.

I am not sure what happened to Span tonight, but he has been playing un-Span like of late, so I wonder if the trade deadline is not getting to him. His average has slipped, he has misplayed fly balls in the outfield, and his baserunning last night (picked off going to third) all could signal a player distracted by the possibility of being traded. What do folks think?

I don't understand all the crabbing going on about the Twins' draft. I've been watching drafts for years and years, and if you take the time to look at the success rates, i.e., the number of top 10 picks drafted who actually make it to the majors and have a significant career, then you will see that that number is quite small despite the "world of talent" that the drafted players supposedly bring to their new organization. Think about the Twins drafting the closer from Florida that they traded for Diamond. Where is that closer many people were complaining about at the time of the trade? Think about the lefty from Indiana that the Twins drafted a few years ago who had already had Tommy John surgery only to need it again and derail his Twins career (he now pitches in the Yankee's organization). Or, think about 3rd rounder Ben Tootle who was drafted the same year as the lefty starter whose name I cannot remember (starts with a B I think). Tootle threw 100 mph. Tootle got hurt again and did not make it. My point is simply this: you have to draft lots and lots of pitchers to have a few who will make it through the minors and onto your major league roster. That is what the Twins have been doing with the draft the last two drafts. My guess is that the Twins will use the same draft strategy in the June 2013 draft as well. By the way, I would point out that Hudson Boyd, drafted with a sandwich pick in 2011 has been doing great at Elizabethton. I would expect Berrios will also be a starter there next April. While these players may be years away from making the Twins, they also may be players who help the Twins more immediately by being dealt in trades in the next couple of years as well, trades for major leaguers who could help the club compete in the trade deadline in 2013 or for major leaguers in the offseason to prepare for the 2013 season. In other words, the Twins are re-stocking their system with quality players--pitchers that throw hard for example. Which team does not covet pitchers that throw hard? Also, one last thought: it seems a little naive to think that because a pitcher has not been a starter in college ball that he cannot become a starter in a major league baseball team's minor leagues. And, if he ends up as an effective major reliever, that is not a problem. Last season taught us all how important it is to have effective relievers.

Earlier in this thread it says that #6 pick Andre Martinez, a high school lefty from Florida, was signed for over slot to lure him away from his commitment to Florida State University. However, I do not see any evidence on Baseball America's transactions that Martinez signed with the Twins. Moreover, if he did sign with Minnesota, is he at Extended Spring Training, because he is not on the Gulf Coast Twins roster, and one would expect him to be pitching for that team unless he is hurt or unless he has not singed or unless there is some other reason why he might be practicing with the extended spring training squad. Can anyone confirm that Martinez has signed, and can anyone explain why he is not on the Gulf Coast Twins' roster?

I agree with Cris E that Ryan is likely to "leave teh team intact for the most part." I doubt that Ryan will trade either Perkins or Burton, and why should he? Burton is relatively inexpensive, and Perkins just signed a deal that will keep him here--likely as next season's closer. I also agree with Cris that Baker might be offered a restructured deal: something like $5 million for next year (he's coming off major surgery) + a team and player option for the following year at $8 or $9 million. So, a 2013 rotation could have Diamond, Baker, + a free agent + any of the following: Gibson, Wimmers, Hendricks, Walters, Hermson, and players like Walters (plus there is always the Rule 5 draft). The offense is very good (usually), and then after 2013 Morneau comes off the books (is that true for Blackburn as well?). Off the books after (or during) this season: Capps (likely to be traded), Pavano, and Liriano (likely). As far as trades go, it is possible that Span and Capps and Doumit get traded, and I guess it is possible that Liriano gets traded. I doubt all four get traded, and I doubt any bigger names on the team (i.e., Morneau and Willingham) get traded. A winning 2013 team is possible. The Twins got the offense going and the bull pen going, so far, this season, and you would expect them to be strong in these area next year. It is certainly conceivable that the Twins can have a stronger rotation next season. I don't think that they will start out 5 and 15 like this season.

Gardy had to move Plouffe ahead of Doumit to make pitchers pitch to Plouffe. Otherwise, they could pitch around him as they did yesterday. Plouffe now lead the team in homers--has 8 more than Doumit, and Plouffe is close to Doumit's rbi total. Who knows--maybe Morneau will also now get some better pitches to hit with Plouffe hitting behind him. Plus, Morneau has been way too anxious at the plate, swinging at first pitch balls sort of like Delman Young used to do. Pitchers right now know that can throw low balls on the first pitch, and Morneau is likely to swing and miss at such pitches.

I agree that Capps should be viable (and valuable) trade bait if he continues to pitch well. A team looking for another set up guy to get them to their closer could do a lot worse than trading for Capps to fill that set up role and to be insurance should something happen to the closer. I think Capps could net the Twins at least one strong prospect (likely someone currently at AA) and a slightly lesser A ball prospect under the conditions I've spelled out. The Twins should not trade Doumit. The Twins have an amazingly high octane offense, and Doumit is a part of that. Plus, he's a switch hitter. The Twins could trade Span and move Revere to center, but then the Twins will need someone to play right field--how's Wilken Ramirez doing at AAA? Span could net the Twins two very good AA prospects (at least one being a starting pitcher). If Span is hitting .300 by the trading deadline with some more rbis, then he could net stronger prospects. The Twins might be able to trade Liriano if he learns how to pitch effectively and can sustain the effectiveness. If the Twins' offense continues to assault other teams, then the Twins are really looking for a couple of more starters for the 2013 season, and one of the two might be Hendricks and another might be Gibson if he comes back healthy from his surgery. Just a thought.

The Twins turned Billy Bullock into Scott Diamond, so that was not a bad move. Granted, the Twins could have kept Diamond on the 25 man roster and not given up Bullock, but Diamond was not pitching well enough to stay. I think the Twins did all right with the trade for Diamond. The Twins drafted a bunch of starters last year, and they are doing fairly well. Boer had a good start his last time out after bad starts in his first season at high A ball. If he can string together several more good starts, then that will be encouraging, and Wheeler and Summers are looking good at Beloit.

The Twins turned Billy Bullock into Scott Diamond, so that was not a bad move. Granted, the Twins could have kept Diamond on the 25 man roster and not given up Bullock, but Diamond was not pitching well enough to stay. I think the Twins did all right with the trade for Diamond. The Twins drafted a bunch of starters last year, and they are doing fairly well. Boer had a good start his last time out after bad starts in his first season at high A ball. If he can string together several more good starts, then that will be encouraging, and Wheeler and Summers are looking good at Beloit.

Manship, as someone above notes, is doing well as a starter. He won tonight with a great line, and I think he was similarly impressive in his last start. I would not be surprised if the Twins called him up rather than DeVries (or even Hendriks). I'm guessing it will be Manship if he is still on the 40-man roster.

I agree about Manship. He won tonight, and I think he won his last start in impressive fashion. Believe it or not, but Manship is actually pitching very well in Rochester as a starter. He's striking guys out and going lots of innings. So, don't be surprised if it is Manship rather than DeVries who gets the call up. It could be Hendricks, but I think the Twins want to see him pitch a number of games in Rochester to see how he's performing.

Ratcliff has stated that the Twins are looking to draft a college pitcher with their first round pick. I would be very surprised if they did not draft a pitcher--you don't get many chances to draft a top of the rotation starter. I would also be surprised if they did not use their sandwich selections like that did in 2011: select a hard-throwing high school pitcher (like Boyd) and a power-hitting high school hitter (like Harrison). They have two second round picks: perhaps a college catcher and another college starting pitcher. In June I get to see how far off of the mark my predictions are.

Count me in the Ben Revere fan club. He has hit at every minor league level, and I expect him to hit for a high average in the major leagues as well. I was surprised in game two against the Orioles that Gardy did not have Revere trying to steal second base after he singled. You have to let him play havoc with the other team in order to help spark this team offensively. I hope Gardy keeps Ben in the lineup.

What I saw tonight was an uninspired team playing an inspired team that had lost its last tune-up game to a college team. Seriously, the Orioles lost to a college club, and then the Os kick the Twins' butts in two games. Liriano was awesome in the first and then atrocious. It's not Gardenhire's fault, but this team needs new leadership. There is an exhaustion or asphyxiation with the Twins. They need some fresh air. They have taken this approach with the AAA manager, bringing Glenn in from outside of the organization. I hope that Gardenhire can inspire the guys to turn it around, but .... Two games, of course, are no indication of how the Twins will so. This may be wringing of hands hysterically after only two games into the season, but I think the asphyxiation is real on this team. I hope I'm wrong.

I agree with Harrison. Having a speed merchant and a fly ball defensive wiz is a greater than great plus on a team. Revere can get plenty of coaching about bunting on the Twins, he can spell Span some days as well as replace Willingham in left or Parmalee or Doumit in right field in tight ball games. He can be a stolen base threat in the late innings of tight games as a pinch runner. He can also be used as a bunter in tight games to get a ball down and put pressure on the defense to get him out as he moves a runner along. He can create havoc. Plus, he has hit at all minor league levels. If he hits the cutoff man with his throws on singles and doubles, he should be fine.