stringer bell

Isn't what you're proposing just rearranging deck chairs? IMHO, the bench wasn't the cause of the 90 loss season, nor was the infield or offense in general. Pitching and defense. I'll grant that the Twins' bench wasn't any great shakes defensively, with the possible exception of Schafer, but they offer some pop and defensive flexibility.

Orioles Bench ('14 OPS) C Joseph (.618), J Paredes (.752), D Lough (.694), K Johnson (.658), D Young (.779). "Starters" De Aza (.700), Schoop (.598), Pearce (929 OPS, raising his career OPS to .758), R Flaherty (.644). A year ago, several of these guys weren't candidates for a big-league roster. I think if you'd look at the other three semifinalists, you would see plenty of other players with checkered resumès.

I think 80% is a strong number for both Rosario and Buxton. However, I expect at least one and probably more of the relievers to make their debut this year. Add in Mason Melotakis (a lefty) if his arm is sound. As far as Kepler goes, I've been to spring training three straight years and I liked him more three years ago than I do now. However, he is only 21 and has lost plenty of time with injuries. Last year, I pinpointed JO Berrios as a guy with a chance to make a big jump and he did. This year, the guy is Kepler.

Playoff teams can get away with a smaller bullpen and add a specialist like Gore. It really helps KC to have that specialist in postseason. I am almost certain that they wouldn't have won that game vs. Oakland without the extra basestealer.

I haven't tempered my criticisms of Hicks, but there is zero reason to let him go at this point. It appears that many are resigned to Hicks being no more than a stopgap and perhaps a platoon or fourth OF. That may be true. I think his struggles as a left handed hitter are more mental than physical. Any switch hitter with the tools he has is going to be given multiple chances to seize a regular role. I have consistently doubted Hicks' ability to hit at the major league level, but many have added this tool later in their development. Needless to say, this year is huge for Hicks. If he doesn't develop into a big league hitter this year, he may well bounce around from team to team as he will be out of options.

Parm passed thru every team when he was outrighted to Rochester. At that point he had zero trade value. He added a third position (LF), hit very well against left handed pitching and pretty well as a pinch hitter. I think some National League team could look at that skill set and see something at this point. However, the yield in a trade would be pretty small or low percentage, I would guess.

This will close out my postseason reviews of position players. Parmelee and Nuñez spent a majority of the season with the Twins. Even absent significant injuries, they didn't start many games. Schafer was claimed from the Braves and played regularly. All three players had their moments, but most likely won't seriously compete for a starting spot in 2015. There is a significant possibility that one or more of these players will be cut loose in the offseason. Parmelee: Chris Parmelee had chances to claim a regular position with the Twins in 2012 and 2013. In 2012 Parmelee started at first base to start the season after a very successful September audition. Justin Morneau was coming off a severe concussion and was slated to be the DH. Parmelee was given first base. He played acceptable defense, but failed to hit. Parmelee was sent to Rochester where he crushed AAA pitching, but failed to sustain his swing when recalled by the Twins. In 2013, Parm got the starting nod as the right fielder. He surprised many by being an acceptable right fielder, although he lacked speed. Again, his bat failed him and he was eventually sent to Rochester. In 2014, Parmelee competed again for a roster spot and lost out. Out of options, he was outrighted to Rochester when no one claimed him. In 32 games, Parmelee hit well, coming up with a .920 OPS and maintaining a batting average over .300. When the Twins suffered a rash of injuries, Chris was recalled and did not return to the minors. Parmelee split his playing time three ways, starting 14 games in left, 28 in right, 16 at first, and one in center field. Parmelee was inconsistent at the plate, at some points hitting in the middle of the order and other times slumping dramatically. His final numbers were so-so--a .691 OPS (94 OPS+). Probably the most striking stat was Parmelee's platoon split. Despite batting left-handed, his OPS vs. left handed pitching was .859, with a .325 batting average. Chris was also the Twins top pinch hitter. He was 5-13 with 7 RBI. Parmelee didn't get much of an audition late in the season, indicating that the coaching staff pretty much knew what they had. It appears Parmelee's chances of competing for a starting spot are over with the Twins. I think that if other roster moves work out that Parmelee could be a pretty good bench player. As a hitter, he has shown he can hit against lefties and has been pretty effective as a pinch hitter. He's shown he is an acceptable corner OF, as well as a good defensive first baseman. Nuñez: Eduardo Nuñez was once regarded as the probable successor to Derek Jeter. Bad defense and unspectacular offense lowered the expectation to that of competing for a utility spot on the Yankees. In spring training, he lost out for that job and was designated for assignment. The Twins claimed Eduardo and early in May, he was recalled. Nuñez was primarily a backup, and he got at-bats at several positions. He started 17 games at short, 12 at third, and 11 in the outfield (10 in left, one in right). Metrics indicate that Nuñez was pretty good in the outfield, decent at short, but subpar at third. He seemed uncomfortable in the outfield, surprisingly good at short and third. With the bat, Nuñez had some moments, but overall was not a great hitter. He showed very good speed on the bases and a bit of pop. Like Parmelee, Nunez also had "reverse" platoon splits. The right-handed hitter put up solid numbers against right-handers (716 OPS), but struggled against lefties (586 OPS). The future for Nuñez is fairly cloudy, partly because he is eligible for arbitration. With no more additions, he has a good chance of claiming a utility spot on the 2015 Twins. As noted, he offers good speed, some versatility and some pop for a utility player. His defense isn't outstanding and he is 27, so it is unlikely he will get substantially better either at the plate or in the field. In short stints, he has provided a shot in the arm for the Twins. Schafer: Jordan Schafer was once a top prospect for the Braves. However. poor performance, off-field problems and injuries combined to short circuit his trials with the Braves and the Astros. Schafer was designated for assignment at the trade deadline and the Twins claimed him and immediately used him regularly, mostly as the left fielder. More regular play netted improved performance. Schafer eclipsed almost all of his Brave stats in a month, reaching base at a good clip, stealing bases and playing good defense in both left and center. Schafer hit .333 with an OPS of .831 in August. He tailed off in September, compounded by a non-throwing shoulder injury. He finished his two-month trial with the Twins with a .285 average, .707 OPS (100 OPS+) and 15 stolen bases in 147 plate appearances (roughly a quarter of the season). The left-handed hitting Schafer posted severe platoon splits for both the Braves and the Twins in 2014. He had an OPS of .822 (.326 BA) against right handed pitchers, but had a near-helpless .388 OPS (.171 BA) against same-handed hurlers. Schafer displayed one outstanding skill -- he is an very good base stealer. He swiped 15 bases in his limited time with the Twins. His defense rated as good, especially in left field which is a new position for him. Going forward, the Twins must decide what to do with the arb-eligible Schafer. Given his good performance late in 2014 and the lack of great internal options, I expect the Twins will find a way to retain him. Schafer will likely compete for a starting spot, but his probable landing spot is fourth or platoon OF. Having the skill of an accomplished base thief gives him a leg up to be a helpful bench player. His poor performance against southpaws would limit him to being a platoon player at best. At 28 years of age, the most the Twins can hope for from Schafer would be to see what they saw in August and September. Schafer could be a helpful player for an improving Twins team. I think all three players profiled here are big-leaguers, but none of them will ever be more than part-time players. None of them are really young (Parm 26, Nuñez 27, and Schafer 28), but all seem to have skills that could help them be helpful bench guys. Nuñez plays both infield and outfield, Parmelee plays first and the outfield corners and Schafer looks like a three-position outfielder. Nuñez and Schafer have good speed and Schafer appears to be an elite base stealer. Parmelee had a good season (SSS) pinch-hitting and facing LH pitching. Ideally, bench players would provide high-quality defense, but that's not the case here. Acquisitions and DFAs will probably determine whether all three guys remain with the Twins. Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports View full article

Barring injury, Phil Hughes will be the opening day starting pitcher for the Twins in 2015. Hughes pitched in 2014 as a 28-year old, so he was one of the younger free-agent signees inked in the offseason. He was the Twins best and most reliable starting pitcher last year by far. Hughes was signed to a three-year $24M contract coming off a 4-14 season with the New York Yankees, a team that won 85 games. Hughes had allowed 24 homers in 145+ innings for the Yanks and the thought was that a new location and less pressure would allow for improvement. It was not just improvement, but a sea change. Hughes started rather slowly in April, not getting his first win until his fourth start and recording a 5.14 ERA for the month. Hughes walked six batters in his first four starts, then proceeded to walk 10 (10!) in his final 28 starts. He was regarded as a pitcher with good control, but nothing like what he put up this season. He kept his team in the game almost every outing. He struck out eight hitters per nine innings while walking .7 per nine, setting a record for the highest K/BB ratio in a single season and leading the league with fewest walks per innings pitched. Hughes' 3.52 ERA was good, but his FIP of 2.65 was much better. Hughes this week earned Twins Diamond Award hardware as both Pitcher of the Year and MVP. His fine season was arguably the best by a free agent signee this year. Now, as we turn the page to 2015, we all wonder if Hughes can sustain his excellent 2014 campaign. He did set a career high for innings pitched and batters faced, and he's coming off a season when he allowed only .7 homers per nine, about half his mark in New York. Also, Hughes has had strong seasons in even-numbered years. Can he break the jinx and put up good numbers in consecutive seasons? There are reasons to expect some regression, but also reasons to believe Hughes has "found it". there isn't really another season where he practically walked no one. However, there is hope he will be backed by an improved defensive outfield. I also can't see Hughes continuing to suppress home runs as well as he did in 2014. It does make sense that Hughes would perform closer to his FIP and perhaps allow a lower number of hits per inning pitched. Hughes' ability to "pound the strike zone" seems ingrained in his approach and has, no doubt, been effective for him. Hughes was regarded as an extreme fly ball pitcher and indeed he has allowed many balls to be put in the air. His air out percentage is one of the higher ones in the league, but it has worked for him. With all the failures of pitchers brought in to the Twins, Hughes was both a pleasant surprise and an advertisement that finding the right free agent is possible. Any thought of contending revolves around him backing up last year's success with another strong season. View full article

70 wins can turn into 85 with improved pitching from Starters #3-5, improved offense and defense from left field and no drop-offs elsewhere. Improvement and full season from Arcia, a return to form for Mauer and some help from the farm system should offset regression from guys who surprised last year. Pitchers get hurt and are ineffective. I think adding one more starter (Masterson) would solidify the rotation a bit. I also think adding a RH defense-first guy (Bourgos or Gentry) would help the OF. I say that Schafer showed more in two months than Hicks showed in two seasons, plus at 28 he isn't a prospect to be protected.

They sure looked like it today.

Kinda made winning so sweet! Wow! What a game. The Gophers are my second favorite team and this was the most exciting game I've seen in a long time. So many heroes. I guess that shows there is some talent on this edition of the Golden Gophers.

Yep, factors run both ways. The team did go with Aaron Hicks to start two years ago. The way I would look at this is that continued success in the AFL will put Rosario in competition. He would need to be better than his competition in the spring as well. Of course, he can't show any obvious flaws, on offense, defense or the bases. Beyond that, with his off-field problems, he can't display any attitude or criminal problems.

Doing well so far. 4-11 with a homer and three walks. However, I don't see any major leaguers playing in Winter League. Do they usually play later in their season?

Yep, agree with drjim. "Pick up a two-way free-agent left fielder" is really going to require threading the needle. As I've been saying, it would be really nice for said outfielder to hit left handed pitching, given the struggles of Arcia and Schafer, which is the only reason why I think Hicks has a chance to make the club. For a decade the Twins have had a substantial power deficit. With potential mashers like Vargas and Arcia, it seems to me that they need to find a way to keep those two in the lineup and grow into sluggers.

I think Arcia has the tools to be OK in right field. He also wants to be good. I don't think he has worked hard enough to this point, and he will need to work. He isn't glacier slow and he has a strong arm. There definitely was improvement last year.

Borrowing that title from Letterman. Yes, there are people older than me that are on television. Anyway, Eddie Rosario is leading the AFL in batting average after the first week and a half. Eddie has 15 hits in the seven games he has played in (14 singles, one double) and also leads the league with six stolen bases. He has exclusively played in the outfield (mostly left). I know this is an incredibly small sample size, but the AFL is only 30 games, so the season is 1/3 over. I also know that there is a gigantic hole in the Twins roster that could be filled by a fleet, sweet swinging outfielder. In that small sample size, Rosario has shown the wheels and sweet swing. As the AFL started, I half-jokingly predicted that Rosario would make the Twins out of spring training in 2015. I am starting to believe that this unlikely event could really happen. Edit: something named Roman Quinn has recently stolen a bunch of bases and has one more than Rosario. Eddie is two clear of the third place guys.

I think the Twins can contend in 2015 and be an established contender going forward. They should not sacrifice too much in the present to improve in 2015, but a few savvy moves can make this club more than competitive. 1) Add a free agent pitcher. With few exceptions, the top tier free agents don't provide the value for the dollars, but there are always bargains that pan out (Phil Hughes being exhibit A). I have liked Justin Masterson to be that pick--one year with a big option number. 2) Improve the outfield defense. There aren't many (any) free agent outfielders who are plus defenders. Finding someone undervalued and trading for him makes sense. Bonus points if the hitter is right handed. Last year the best hitting outfielder against left handed pitching was Chris Parmelee, and that includes Santana as an outfielder. The Twins regulars with the most severe platoon splits were all left handed hitters against lefties, so the club needs someone who can bash left handed pitching and is a good or better defender. 3) Rework the bullpen with power arms and flexibility. The last two years, the bullpens have been remarkably stable and probably lucky (outperforming metrics). In the last quarter of 2014 the regression that had to come started happening big-time. Jettison older guys with so-so stuff and use the power arms the club has in the minors. These guys will be able to be shuttled to the minors if another pitcher is needed or someone is ineffective or injured.

This will close out my postseason reviews of position players. Parmelee and Nuñez spent a majority of the season with the Twins. Absent significant injuries, they didn't start many games. Schafer was claimed from the Braves and played regularly. All three players had their moments, but most likely won't seriously compete for a starting spot in 2015. There is a significant possibility that one or more of these players will be cut loose in the offseason. Parmelee: Chris Parmelee had chances to claim a regular position with the Twins in 2012 and 2013. In 2012 Parmelee started at first base to start the season after a very successful September audition. Justin Morneau was coming off a severe concussion and was slated to be the DH. Parmelee was given first base. He played acceptable defense, but failed to hit. Parmelee was sent to Rochester where he crushed AAA pitching, but failed to sustain his swing when recalled by the Twins. In 2013, Parm got the starting nod as the right fielder. He surprised many by being an acceptable right fielder, although he lacked speed. Again, the bat failed him and he was eventually sent to Rochester. In 2014, Parmelee competed again for a roster spot and lost out. Out of options, he was outrighted to Rochester when no one claimed him. In 32 games, Parmelee hit well, coming up with a .920 OPS and maintaining a batting average over .300. When the Twins suffered a rash of injuries, Chris was recalled and did not return to the minors. Parmelee split his playing time three ways, starting 14 games in left, 28 in right, 16 at first, and one in center field. Parmelee was inconsistent at the plate, at some points hitting in the middle of the order and other times slumping dramatically. His final numbers were so-so--a .691 OPS (94 OPS+). Probably the most striking stat was Parmelee's platoon split. His OPS vs. left handed pitching was .859, with a .325 batting average. Chris was also the Twins top pinch hitter. He was 5-13 with 7 RBI. Parmelee didn't get much of an audition late in the season, indicating that the coaching staff pretty much knew what they had. It appears Parmelee's chances of competing for a starting spot are over with the Twins. I think that if other roster moves work out that Parmelee could be a pretty good bench player. As a hitter, he has shown he can hit against lefties and has been pretty effective as a pinch hitter. He's shown he is an acceptable corner OF, as well as a good defensive first baseman. Nuñez: Eduardo Nuñez was once regarded as the probable successor for Derek Jeter. Bad defense and unspectacular offense lowered the expectation to competing for a utility spot on the Yankees. In spring training, he lost out for that job and was DFAed. The Twins claimed Eduardo and early in May, he was recalled. Nuñez was primarily a backup, and he got at-bats at several positions. He started 17 games at short, 12 at third, and 11 in the outfield (10 in left, one in right). Metrics indicate that Nuñez was pretty good in the outfield, decent at short, but subpar at third. I thought he was uncomfortable in the outfield, surprisingly good at short and third. With the bat, Nuñez had some moments, but overall was not a great hitter. He showed very good speed on the bases and a bit of pop. Probably most surprising was the platoon splits. Eduardo hit well against right handers, but struggled against lefties, putting up an OPS of .716 vs. righties, but of .586 against southpaws. The future for Nuñez is pretty cloudy. With no more additions, he has a good chance of claiming a utility spot on the 2015 Twins. As noted, he offers good speed, some versatility, and some pop for a utility player. His defense isn't outstanding and he is 27, so it is unlikely he will get substantially better either at the plate or in the field. In short stints, he has provided a shot in the arm for the Twins. Schafer: Jordan Schafer was once a top prospect for the Braves. He had had opportunities, but poor performance, off-field problems and injuries combined to short circuit his trials with the Braves and the Astros. The Braves DFAed Schafer at the trade deadline after poor performance as the last man on the bench for a contending team. The Twins claimed Jordan and immediately used him regularly, mostly as the left fielder. Regular play netted improved performance. Schafer eclipsed almost all of his Brave stats in a month, reaching base at a good clip, stealing bases and playing good defense in both left and center. Schafer hit .333 with an OPS of .831 in August. He tailed off in September, compounded by a non-throwing shoulder injury. He finished his two-month trial with the Twins with a .285 average, .707 OPS (100 OPS+) and 15 stolen bases in 147 plate appearances (roughly a quarter of the season). Schafer posted severe platoon splits for both the Braves and the Twins in 2014. He had an OPS of .822 (.326 BA) against right handed pitchers, but had a near-helpless .388 OPS (.171 BA) against same-handed hurlers. Schafer displayed one outstanding skill--he is an outstanding base stealer. He swiped 15 bases in his limited time with the Twins. His defense rated as pretty good, especially in left field, a new position for him. Going forward, the Twins must decide what to do with the arb-eligible Schafer. Given his good performance late in 2014 and the lack of great internal options, I expect that the Twins will find a way to retain him. I expect that Schafer will compete for a starting spot, but his likely landing spot is fourth or platoon OF. Having the skill of being an accomplished base thief gives him a leg up to be a helpful bench player. His poor performance against LH pitching would limit him to being a platoon player at best. At 28 years of age, the most the Twins can hope for from Schafer would be to see what they saw from him in August and September. I think that Schafer can be a helpful player for an improving Twins team. I think all three players profiled here are big-leaguers. I don't think any of them will ever be more than a part-time player. None of the guys is really young (Parm 26, Nuñez 27, and Schafer 28), but all seem to have skills that could help them be helpful bench guys. Nuñez plays both infield and outfield, Parmelee plays first and the outfield corners and Schafer looks like a three-positon outfielder. Nuñez and Schafer have good speed and Schafer appears to be an elite base stealer. Parmelee had a good season (SSS) pinch-hitting and facing LH pitching. Ideally, bench players should provide high-quality defense, and that's not the case here. Acquisitions and DFAs will probably determine whether all three guys remain with the Twins.

I like the job that Brunansky has done. Steinbach seems like a solid guy, as well. I want to see new ideas from the pitching coach. On the "three catchers" debate, it seems that Chris Herrmann has been called up at various times just because he has major league catching experience.

Isn't it likely that the two things are interrelated? In order to get on base more, he seems to have sacrificed power. I didn't see him hit the ball hard at all this year and he increased his OBP mostly by taking more walks. Hicks used his good strike zone judgment to go deep in counts, but the passive approach also robbed him of power perhaps. I'll say again that his offense isn't good enough to be a regular in the major leagues. Until he proves he is a good enough hitter, he should be working on it in the minors.

I think I banged the drum second hardest for Bonifacio last year. While I do like what he brings to the table, I don't think he's really a fit for the Twins. The current Twins candidates for the vacant outfield position(s) have a lot of LH bats and a lot of speed. Bonifacio has that, too. However, one of his best assets is versatility and with five guys to fill three positions already, there really isn't much need to bring in a speedy switch-hitting infielder. Unless, Bonifacio's RH splits are very good, color me disinterested. OK, I checked. Bonifacio clearly was a better RH hitter last year (good!), but in his previous two years, he was pretty terrible from the right side. In his career, his numbers are better right handed, but the split isn't that wide.

I'm trying to be evenhanded here. Aaron Hicks' OBP increased substantially from 2013 to 2014. but it was at the expense of power. In '13, Hicks had 22 XBH in 313 PAs and had a slugging avg of .338, this year Hicks' slugging decreased to a miserable .274, with nine XBH in 181 PAs. That's Jamey Carroll and Nick Punto territory for slugging. This version of Hicks isn't good enough to play in the majors. I think there is a better player there, but he needs to prove it and develop in Triple A. In light of the last two disappointing seasons, I think it is unconscionable to give him a starting position, no matter what he does in the spring. It would be great for a guy with the tools of Aaron Hicks to become a good enough hitter to man a corner outfield position. I just don't know if that will ever come to pass.

I am as big a Cuddy guy as there is. I think he was underappreciated in Minnesota and probably would put up good offensive numbers wherever he plays next year. That said, he is not a fit for what I see this team needs. The club needs good defensive outfielders and not even I can say that Cuddyer is a good defensive outfielder. Beyond that, the vacancy is in left field. Cuddyer has played less than 10 games in left and those games were more than a decade ago. So, to play Cuddyer in the outfield, the corresponding move would be to move Arcia to left--not worth it for a one or two year bridge player. Further, there is the injury history. Cuddyer missed more than half the season with injuries, he was on the DL in 2013 and missed more than 50 games in 2012. The role I can see for Cuddy is if Vargas, Arcia, or Mauer is injured and would miss most or all of the season. He does have the versatility to play first, right or DH. I have always loved Cuddyer's attitude and if he were brought in as a part-time player, he could be a mentor for some younger players, but I am confident that he wants to continue to be a regular.