stringer bell

I think he went well into double digits on that plate appearance, he ended up taking a questionable called third. Plouffe looks okay, but I suppose there is a reason to be a bit concerned since he finished the last season injured.

Air travel isn't fun and while I am not a frequent flier, I have flown enough no longer to be fascinated by small aisles, nuts and soda, and the people watching. I sat alone in coach and was joined by an delightful Floridian/Minnesotan returning to Minnesota for a funeral. It passed the time and temporarily made me forget about the nasty URI I managed to get in the sunshine state. We looked out the window and saw snow, probably starting somewhere around the Iowa/Minnesota border, maybe north of that. We were back in cold climate, where the jacket I brought with me could be put to use for the first time in seven days. I have been wondering how to summarize the (likely final) trip I made to Fort Myers. There is a bit of melancholy because I think I have figured out the driving--I know the major arteries and where they are in relation to most of the places I want to get to. Now, I probably won't use that information soon, if at all. I feel comfortable at Twins' Spring Training. I mostly know where to go to see what I want to see. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the young players in the back fields. This year, I met more Twins Daily regulars than ever before. It is great to put a face to a screen name and to know more about a fan than whether he liked Gardy or Rick Anderson. Specifically, I met Halsey Hall, Ashbury John and thrylos, along with three other people who read but don't post. Good guys all, with disparate views on most issues in baseball (and probably world view). I know I owe Ashbury a beer, so I guess I'll have to pay up at Target Field this summer if he and I are at the same game. Some singular thoughts: Aaron Hicks is a bigger man than Torii Hunter. I saw them take BP together and Hicks is definitely taller and probably just as wide as Torii. Speaking of size, Ervin Santana is not a big guy. He is listed at 6'2" 185, and I think especially the weight might be an exaggeration. Ricky Nolasco looks a bit trimmer than last year, perhaps yielding better results because of that. The Twins have a lot of big 'uns--Meyer, May, Tonkin, Pelfrey, Wheeler, Hughes, Gibson to name a few. Hard throwers are not far off: Burdi and Reed both seem to be ticketed for AA, and both throw hard. Meyer will start in Rochester and Oliveros, Tonkin, and more will be laboring in the 'pen. The Twins long-term and short-term future will probably be answered en español. Along with the already arrived Vargas, Santana, Pinto, and Arcia, both the upper and lower minors are filled with Hispanic ballplayers with Berrios, Sano, Polanco, Rosario, and more poised to contribute as soon as this year. In spring training, minor leaguers not participating watch the minor league games. The language amongst the viewers and in the dugouts is principally Spanish. I understand that the Twins are working hard to accommodate this influx. There are more coaches with Hispanic names and the team demands the players take English lessons. The cultural change isn't easy and I hope the club continues to go out of their way to help these young men in a new country with different standards and a different language. I am going with an optimistic view for 2015, based on rolling a bunch of sevens and filling inside straights. The talent is abundant at Century Link Complex. Some way, somehow, that is going to equate to many more wins in 2015 for the Minnesota Twins.

Here's that breakdown (all positions, locks excluded) Out of options: Nunez, Schafer Veterans (can't be optioned): Pelfrey, Stauffer Minor league contract (opt-out date): Boyer, Robinson Rule 5 (must be offered back to original team): Graham Minor league contract: Fryer, Hamburger, Bernier If the Twins add anyone with a minor league contract, they have to take someone off the 40-man.

Here's my thing. If no one has forced themselves into the starter's spot, why Hicks? Due to his failure/disappointment the last two years, I think he has forfeited being the incumbent or the default. As a matter of fact, because of his performance in the last two spring trainings and non-correlation to his performance in the regular season, I think he has to show that he has quantifiably and verifiably improved. I don't believe the team can afford to enter the season saying "we can't compete" or "wait 'til next year". I want the best 25 players going north, but sometimes the best player is the one who fits the vacancy. Aaron Hicks doesn't fit a vacancy as backup OF/platoon CF. I agree that Rosario remains a long shot to claim CF, but IMHO he has shown something that indicates that he might be able to skip AAA after being pedestrian at AA. I'd send Hicks down with the message that he has to prove himself to get a third shot. I'd probably send Rosario to Rochester as well with a similar message.

Even with Mauer's poor season in 2014, he and Dozier rate as two of the best offensive weapons the Twins have in 2015. What interests me is how different they are in becoming an offensive force: Dozier is a middle round draft choice, middle infielder, who changed his approach considerably and now has led the club in home runs two years running despite his average build and 5'10" frame. Mauer has long been lauded as having a beautiful swing. He is all of 6'5" and weighs well over 200 pounds. Mauer's approach has not really wavered since making the big leagues before he could buy beer. A first overall pick in the MLB draft, Joe almost always takes the first pitch, works the count, lets pitches get deep and hits a large number of balls to the opposite field. After minimal success his first go-round with the Twins, Dozier has adjusted by making the inside part of the plate his power zone. He started slow in 2013, but started hitting for power almost immediately after being counseled to "let it go" on pitches to pull. Dozier's spray chart shows him to be a dead-pull hitter. Dozier strikes out frequently (led the team with 129 last year) and makes a high number of fly ball and pop-up outs. Mauer's rep is that he fans infrequently, and never pops up. Mauer's K numbers have risen consistently in the last few years. Mauer has had one big home run season (28 in 2009) and has consistently disappointed those looking for more homers from him. In the big picture of things, both approaches have worked for the individuals. It goes to show that there is more than one way to succeed. Which guy should adjust next? My vote is for Mauer, so that he can pull the ball and with more authority.

Just got back from Fort Myers myself. I would respond to the topics Nick listed with answers between "agree" and "strongly agree". The best fix for the current bullpen is longer starts from the starting rotation.

I'm nearly certain that Rosario will start the season in AAA. Otherwise, it really looks like that lineup will be dominating for AA.

I'd agree with Dante above except for one thing--70-75% of starters throw right handed. The right handed half of a platoon is a bench player. Delaying/ending Hicks' development for ten starts the first quarter of the year isn't the right thing to do for a guy with Hicks' tools. Shane Robinson is a bench player. If the Twins choose to start Schafer, using their best outfield defender as both Schafer's platoon partner and the fourth outfielder makes good sense. I believe Eddie Rosario is the best prospect among the four center field candidates, but I suspect his future will be in left field. I hope he gets the first chance to replace Schafer, if it goes that way. The experience he would gain will be valuable no matter what position he plays this summer.

Heading out this morning. Yesterday, there was minor league action plus BP for position players who didn't make the trip to Clearwater. Ervin Santana pitched the first four innings of the Triple A game and was unspectacular, one run in four innings-probably a half dozen strikeouts. It was home run derby on the AA side with Twins' farmhands connecting for five long balls. I finally met TD's own Halsey Hall and a couple of lurkers, whose names will be withheld to protect them. Nice people all around. I truly enjoyed my time in Florida. Needless to say, it has gone fast. I will write a longer summary tomorrow unless I spend too much time shoveling snow!

Many comments to discuss. Hicks hasn't shown he is capable. Yes, I would rather go with a Schafer/Robinson platoon than expose the not-ready Hicks for the third straight year. Molitor has made it clear that Santana will be a shortstop to start the year. I think the bullpen that goes north will be old and ripe for regression. The young arms aren't far away, so this is an area where there will be transition this year. If Mauer gets injured, Plouffe could get lots of time at first, ditto if Vargas gets hurt or demoted. If Pelfrey remains effective, I could see him in the bullpen. No to Milone or May.

What is unfortunate is that Escobar is slated to back up the three best position players on the team. Further, his splits were much better as a right handed hitter and he would spell two right handed hitters and a switch hitter. I think it will be relatively hard to get him at-bats where he has the best chance of succeeding.

Another well-written piece, John. I share your mixed feelings about SS/CF.

The minor league intra-squad games for Sunday were cancelled, giving the young players their first day off on quite awhile. The fans at the complex were able to watch the left-behind major leaguers do PFP and for the hitters to take BP. Among the players left behind were Hicks, Hunter, Robinson, Suzuki, Mauer, Dozier, Nunez and Escobar. A couple notes about BP. Dozier hit the most balls over the fence, but Kelly (who ran the PFP) really encouraged Dozier every time he hit the ball up the middle or to right field. Escobar has surprising power especially from the right side. Finally, 74-year-old Phil Roof threw BP. If I'm on half as good of shape as him when I'm 74, I'll be a happy man. John Bonnes went to Jupiter (FL) so I didn't see him. Ashbury came to the park and we both met Thrylos, another solid TDer. Still looking for Halsey on my last full day on Florida. With vary-cay time winding down, I am starting to look both ahead to the season and back at the Spring Training experience. That will probably be a blog entry when I return to snowy Minnesota.

On Pinto, is there not a competition for the backup catcher position? If Pinto is out 4-5 days, it has to hurt his chance to go north with the team, probably unfairly. We all have seen concussion symptoms linger, so I don't think it's out of the realm that Pinto gets disabled retroactively, rehabs with Rochester to catch up for missed time a d returns to the Twins awhile after the season starts.

Thanks John. From my point of view, Hicks pursued the ball laterally, and the ball landed beside him. My high school coach once said if you are running directly behind a ball to the fence, you've taken the wrong route. At the time, I thought it cost a base. Maybe my viewing angle was wrong.

I was at the game and thought Hicks took a poor route for the ball in question. I didn't see his jump, but he has disappointed in the past. As for Plouffe playing first, it could make it easier to promote Sano in the event any corner infielder injury (plus Vargas). My best guess is that Pinto ends up on the concussion DL. Herrmann could win the backup job and delay the competition between Rosario and Herrmann.

At least through the 60s, teams carried nine pitchers. Now, all teams carry 12. Platooning is much more difficult than in Stengel's day or even during the time Gene Mauch managed the Twins. I still believe using Hicks as a RH platoon partner is folly and ends his development as a platoon/4th outfielder.

If Schafer gets the nod, they almost have to platoon. Even in his good performance last year, he had dramatic platoon splits. I realize he could regress, but last year's version was superior to anything we've seen from Aaron Hicks.

Nice to see the Game Thread posters in midseason form! Some good news from Jupiter (FL)--Santana, Schafer, Plouffe and the bullpen with nice games. I witnessed Plouffe taking infield at first, so not a surprise that he played there. If Mauer or Vargas go down with injury, Plouffe could move across the diamond frequently.

Regarding Boyer, what's to say that if he's first in line for a recall, that he might renegotiate his buyout date or disregard it altogether. The Twins probably don't want to use the last options on guys unless they have to, but perhaps they will have to on Thielbar.

No minor league action today. Minor leaguers get the day off. "We'll see you tomorrow (night)"

With all the TD regulars around, there isn't much to add about baseball. I haven't seen Halsey, Thrylos, or John, but all are indicating they will be watching the minor league intra-squad game today. Look forward to meeting and meeting up with you guys! I believe Ash could be there as well. A couple of positives: Graham looked very good yesterday and Mauer got three hits, including a gapper to right-center. Pinto got beat up by Adam Jones's follow through (not good). That's all for now. Hope to see a bunch of you in person today.

If May continues to throw as well as he did yesterday, he will win the fifth starter position. Milone was rocky for two innings, but retired the last seven he faced. Pelfrey is in the mix, too. Ten days to decide.

Short note today. Watched infield practice run by Tom Kelly. TK looked great running drills and hitting grounders. The headline is that Trevor Plouffe took grounders at first base. Went to the Twins game and exchanged tickets from the outfield handicapped seats to third deck first base side. Great exchange! Gibson looked good, hit 95 on the gun, except two pitches to Cervelli and some control issues which seemed to appear and disappear without warning.

Great article John. Agree, agree, agree!