stringer bell

For the difference right now between and Milone and Berrios, I would at least go the three weeks in the minors with Berrios. Sometime this year, he will get his shot and I doubt he'll ever be optioned again. Having Berrios for a seventh year is good (general) managing.

That is correct. Vargas has an option remaining.

Early spring training stats are close to meaningless. See: Hughes, Luke and Hicks, Aaron for two Twins examples. If the competition is between Carlos Quentin who can't play in the field or Eduardo Nuñez, who can play several positions, I take Nuñez. Nuñez performed well recently (last year) whereas Quentin hasn't performed well since 2013 and he's now 33 years old. Quentin also hasn't played a full season since 2011. Nuñez is well-suited to his role and performed well at it last year. If he doesn't make the team, he'll be claimed by someone else. It doesn't make sense to bring young players like Polanco and Kepler north to be bench options. Both of those guys need more minor league at-bats and Polanco needs reps to help his defense.

If Polanco is a second baseman primarily and only an emergency shortstop, I think he is a trade chip. It would be between him and Dozier and although Polanco is much younger, I like the proven performance that Dozier has provided.

I haven't commented on this thread, but I find it very ironic that the very day that Berrero and Trent Tucker dissed Ricky Rubio because of his poor shooting that he would hit a game-winning three. Here's my take: Rubio has two offensive deficiencies. He's still a poor outside shooter and he is a poor finisher. If he is given as much room as he had on yesterday's game-winner, he'll make a lot of shots. That still isn't going to make him a better finisher. The rest of Rubio's game is more than good enough. He needs to be adequate only outside shooting and finishing to be an asset and he's pretty close to that.

I am thinking "the man who couldn't stop Donald Trump" would never be seriously considered again. As someone who has despised what the modern Republican party has become, I feared Rubio the most. He is young, has a nice background story, is pretty good on the stump, but in the end "there's no there there" as far as a base and the fire in his belly. He's climbed the steps in his party but has left no visible footprint.

It's Rubio's last chance and probably establishment last opportunity to stop Trump. If Rubio can't win his home state, he is finished, perhaps for good.

I know it is early and I also know that not many spots are up for grabs. Just looking at the raw numbers, so far the starting pitchers have performed pretty well with the exception of Duffey's kerfuffle today against the Blue Jays. There haven't been a lot of clean innings from the bullpen and most notably the competitors for a second lefty in the 'pen have been playing a pretty fair game of giveaway. A lot of guys haven't hit much--notably Santana, Arcia, and Buxton, all of whom probably need to show more to win spots. Are there any trends that I'm missing? Is there someone making a big move to claim a roster spot?

Bernie with a surprising showing in Michigan. It looks like he'll win, confounding just about all of the prognosticators.

I don't believe that Obama will be able to find a nominee that can get 60 votes in the hyper-contentious time leading up to a presidential election. Cruz and those of his ilk have promised a filibuster of any Obama nominee and I believe they are committed enough to go through with that. I haven't seen anyone other than Sandoval say "no thanks", but I believe some who have been approached have declined because they (like me) see no way that they will be confirmed by the Republican Senate at this time. Regarding the current court, I read a pretty good piece online from a business paper (can't find the link now!) which said that including Scalia four of the five most business-friendly justices on the court since 1948 were on the court now. On so-called social issues, Kennedy is a moderate, but he is one of the most pro-business justices in recent history. Roberts seems more moderate when the issue is executive power and seems reluctant to undo legislation, such as the ACA. Republicans have wed themselves to "strict interpretation" of the Constitution, which is how Scalia described himself, but I never could square that with the Citizens United case, among others. It seems to me that everyone is opposed to activist judges when the side they favor loses.

I think this story will be the biggest one of the election season. There are so many factors in play and so much at stake, it will be fascinating how it all plays out. Here are my bullet points: 1) Rare. Presidents are rarely presented with opportunity to make a Supreme Court nomination in an election year. Further, this vacancy has occurred in the eighth year of Obama's presidency, meaning he is not going to be on the ballot and that has been known since November of 2012. 2) Legacy. Obama will be making his third Supreme Court appointment. Not many get that opportunity and this appointee (if confirmed) would switch the ideological composition of the court from quite conservative to moderate or even a bit left-leaning. If this nominee is approved, Obama may well have a couple justices on the Supreme Court until the middle of this century. 3) Unprecedented. No Supreme Court nominee has ever been denied a hearing and every nominee has either been confirmed or denied within 135 days. Republicans are proposing that Obama's nominee not be considered at all. If the Republicans hold firm, we will have a precedent virtually outlawing Supreme Court nominations in the last year of a president's term if the opposition party has the majority. 4) Effect on the election. If Obama's choice is viewed as a competent and qualified jurist, the Republican presidential candidate will have another issue working against him. Further, many vulnerable Senators would have this issue raised against them. This could certainly be the issue that flips the US Senate back to the Democrats in 2016. 5) GOP Implosion. Again a competent and qualified nominee will leave Republicans in a no-win scenario. Hard-core conservatives and Obama-haters will fight any nominee, while moderates and those trying to win an election in purple or blue states will be inclined to consider or perhaps approve the yet-unnamed nominee. Republicans are already close to civil war, this issue could put their fracture in front of everyone.

Centeno interests me simply because he hits left handed. The other four catchers (Suzuki, Murphy, Hicks and ) all hit right handed. He hasn't had a heavy work load in the minors and hasn't really hit that well, so I presume he is an OK receiver, but I don't know that. So far, he has hit well this spring and if he hits well in the minors, he could be a candidate if an injury occurs.

Wish I was there. Enjoy!

I think one more veteran, especially a lefty, would be optimum. People who are counted on get injured or become ineffective. I understand the Twins giving Nolasco an extended opportunity this spring, but he hasn't done nearly enough to be guaranteed anything.

I think the deal is closed if Trump wins both Ohio and Florida. Both are winner-take-all states and a loss in Florida would effectively end Rubio's campaign.

Hey, that hurts!

Several thoughts: How can Republicans be on the brink when there are so many elected from that party? I'm just about eligible to draw SS benefits and there hasn't been a time in my life where so many elected officials nationally are members of the GOP. As long as Roe v Wade exists, "social issues" will be a major part of the Republican platform and its appeal. While public opinion has moved on gay rights and marijuana, the needle hasn't moved on abortion, so any libertarian platform would include overturning Roe v Wade and failing that, nickel and diming "abortion rights" to death. I probably am on the liberal side of the spectrum, but it would be great to have an alternative to flawed or criminal candidates and elected officials. Currently, I can't bring myself to consider voting for one Republican and don't know of one race where I would vote for the Republican if I lived in that state/district. I have voted for Republicans in the past-notably David Durenberger and Speaker Steve Sviggum-but anyone embracing one-tenth of their platform is too crazy for me. The Democratic party has work to do to be an effective representative of the middle class. A rejuvenated GOP might make Democrats better, but only after Democrats fix money in politics, gerrymandering, and labor laws.

Yes, I am cheering for the destruction of today's GOP. My fear is that Hillary gets the nomination and then is indicted, tossing the election to Trump.

Cruz won Texas for the Repubs. Strangely, this is good news for Trump. It pretty much assures that Cruz will stay in to keep the non-Trump vote divided. Rubio's moment of truth will come in Florida. Results between now and then will determine how desperate Rubio will be.

Thinking on one's feet might be a good quality for a candidate, but says precious little about ability to do the job. I thought the same about Jesse Ventura.

IMHO, the Republicans are all sharp enough. Their problem is that they are being forced to spew malarkey to feed the base, which is in conflict with real discussion of real issues.

Loved it! Please world, on 3/16/16 please realize what a complete fraud Mr. Trump is as a presidential candidate!

Trump will do "well" on Super Tuesday. Cruz will probably win his home state (that is Texas, not Calgary), keeping the battle between three major candidates. Two weeks later comes Florida, which will be Rubio's moment of truth. Wins in Ohio and Florida for Trump would just about wrap it up for him.

More accurately, Sanders has to weather Super Tuesday, and if still considered viable could/should be able to compete in areas more in tune with his message. I thought SC was supposed to be a 60-40 kind of result. Hillary certainly overperformed.

I assume Esco will stay put, but his calling card was versatility. I don't think Santana has been ruled out as an option in the infield.