stringer bell

My guess is a migraine for Buxton, but who knows.

Some pretty poor managing of challenges.

Buxton? Goodness, what next?

I guess I don’t consider someone who has never been on a Twins’ active roster to be an ex-Twin. I know I’m probably in the minority on this, but unless they played a game for the team, they can’t claim to have played for the Twins.

Not a lot of guys swinging well. Buxton, Arraez, Simmons and maybe Kepler are carrying a lot of the load. Not sure if and when the other guys will start hitting.

Nice job Twins! Ash, you're 1-0, so I'm putting you on my draft list.

Strange times in Milwaukee.

Duffey pitched a scoreless inning with 2 Ks and yet I was disappointed--a hit and walk and velo on what seems to be a hot gun of 91-92.

And the hitters are 0-30 with two HBP thru 10 innings of hitting. 19 Ks.

I count 26 ex-Twins on active rosters right now. I don't see Poppen's name in Pittsburgh and Adrianza went on the injured list (I guess) due to possible COVID exposure. In addition to those listed in the OP: Liam Hendriks Lance Lynn Wilson Ramos Niko Goodrum Jonathan Schoop Robbie Grossman Martín Pérez Aaron Hicks Ryan Pressly Jason Castro Aaron Slegers Kurt Suzuki Eduardo Escobar Alex Avila Brandon Kintzler

Absolutely no surprise that JD will go on IL. The duration of the stay is the big question. If it is 10-15 days, OK, if longer, then it becomes pretty significant.

Sanó did play a couple of games at third in ST this year. I would think he’d be an option there. Arraez at third is OK, I suppose (he needs to play somewhere),but whoever plays there is a notable step back from Donaldson.

Watching Cleveland-Detroit aka as the ex-Twins reunion. Eddie rolls out to Schoop to close the top of the first. Jack Morris is in the announcing booth for Detroit. Also in the game: Robbie Grossman, Wilson Ramos.

I'm really excited for the start of the year. Nice to see Arraez at the top of the lineup. Go get 'rm guys! We're in the regular season now and more people are paying attention so---we could use more people to do introductions for the game threads. The more the merrier and the more perspectives offered, the more people join in. We're open to people who haven't ever done an introduction or for those that have the experience of doing it previously. If interested, send me a message and we'll try to fit you in. Thanks for those that already have volunteered!

While I suspect Garlick won't be long remembered in Minnesota, I also think we should wait and see before considering the moves made this winter as a disaster. Opinions are just opinions and the page is blank. It could be a momentous mistake to let Rosario go with a year of control remaining or it could be a savvy decision. I have offered my opinion on Rooker for quite a while. He profiles as below-average in almost every facet except for power and it seems to me that he is going to be a major liability wherever he plays in the field. Finally, 29 plate appearances isn't enough to make a solid evaluation. Rooker did very well in those trips to the plate, but that doesn't give him a ticket to stardom. Fittingly, the front office never said that the job in left field was either Kirilloff's or Rooker's to lose and they have the option of playing Arraez and Cave out there more days than a rookie. Both Rooker and Kirilloff will be available and most likely both will get their chance to prove themselves before the season is even half over.

I guess I'd be more worried if these guys were all ready to fall off a cliff, but given their ages, I don't think it is that likely. Simmons is 31, Garver 30, Kepler 28, Sanó and Buxton 27. I'm worried that Buxton and Sanó will never be perennial All-Stars for the Twins and that Kepler hasn't stayed consistent to date, but they are good players and if they don't hit the team probably won't be very good. They are invested in those players.

I think as the 26th player, Astudillo provides nice depth and he might have an occasional role as a pinch hitter when making contact is a high priority. I would hope the Turtle gets less than a start per week and on that topic one doesn’t want to have a younger player with upside in that role.

Rocco had a comment and it was complementary to Rooker and indicated that he was in the Twins' plans. That might all be posturing, but I suspect Rooker is currently looked at as the next position player up unless there is an injury to an infielder.

I understood what you meant and I do hope that is the starting eight plus Maeda for the game Thursday at Milwaukee.

Platoons can and do work, but it was easier in the old days when a club had 14-15 position players instead of 12-13. I can remember the Yankees doing a platoon in left field with one of their catchers (Yogi or Blanchard) and Hector Lopez. Mauch platooned several positions with the Twins--3rd base, second base, right field and DH. Much harder to do with one backup infielder and one backup outfielder.

Cave is a pretty good defender, but I'd consider him "above average", not outstanding or elite. I certainly can see him being used as a defensive replacement for Arraez or Garlick in late innings when the Twins have the lead. My question is who is the starter in left field on April 1? My guess is that Cave gets the start, but it could be Arraez or Garlick.

1) Astudillo is versatile and has spent most of a season as a bench player for the Twins. He has elite ability to make contact and his presence will allow more ready substitution between Garver and Jeffers. IMHO, I would rate the Turtle's defensive skills as below average everywhere including the defense-oriented position of catcher. For Astudillo to fill in occasionally at first, third, left and right probably wouldn't do much harm. Certainly, he wouldn't be a choice to step in as a regular. 2) Garlick has been passed around on the verge of the majors for years. His upside is likely at best a platoon player, but he's had a good spring from beginning to end. 3) I've never thought that Rooker was on the same page as a prospect as either Larnach or Kirilloff. The strikeouts seemed to be a red flag and while he has good power, he doesn't have many other tools that project as even above average. I've been of the opinion that since we, the fans, saw Rooker play and do well that his upside is pretty high. I just don't think so. It might make sense to give him a month or so of at-bats to see what he can do, but my personal expectations aren't high. The last two years the Twins had two players capable of filling in for a week or so where they wouldn't hurt the club defensively or who could fill in on occasion without being a real defensive step down. That isn't the case this year. There will be a noticeable fall off is Donaldson, Simmons, Kepler or Buxton are not on the field. Bench players Arraez and Astudillo are bat-first guys. The other bench players are the alternate catcher and either Cave or Garlick.

The two non-roster guys pitched very well, but as long as they aren't lost to the team it is fine to go with the rostered players. I expect Waddell to get more innings than Thielbar over the course of the season and wouldn't be surprised if Law gets nearly a full season of work, as well.

Garlick has an option remaining.

Garlick over Rooker? Well, if you’re competing for a spot with a guy with similar experience, Garlick has the better of it. Rooker’s numbers this spring are pretty pedestrian—.237 BA, .645 OPS, and 18 Ks in 39 PAs—while Garlick posted better numbers across the board while facing tougher competition. Garlick is supposed to be the better defender as well.