jokin

The "heavy-lifting" phase of this junk-clearing can't begin soon enough, so that, on a more positive note, it will then be worth culling the roster in September in an attempt to unearth the next Diamond/Plouffe/Deduno/Parmelee in-the-rough.

While I agree, Nishi has nowhere to go but up as he can't be any worse than he showed last year. Having said that, I have yet to hear from anyone other than a random poster or two, and the month of July when his BA wasn't hovering at the Mendoza line, that he has made enough progress to make claims to progressing on a path to inviting more consideration that he is a legitimate major leaguer. Oh well, at least we're likely soon due for some entertaining moments in August that will be eminently nominatable for ESPN's "Not The Top Ten".

Likely. I was responding to the previous poster who suggested that Ryan might find a trade partner for Nishi. It's difficult to fathom that any club would have any interest, unless there's a squad out there that is indifferent to horrendous middle infield defense and is trying to build up their fan base in Japan.

If TR finds a way out of the remainder of Nishi's contract he'll be a shoo-in for GM of the Year.

Nothing wrong with reminding the club that it needs to be held accountable for its "message". In comparison to other towns, many Twins fans have short memories and are a little too quick to forgive and forget.

Has anyone run the numbers on the stolen base attempts organizationally? Has there been a recent franchise shift to a much more agressive stance on the base paths? Perhaps to prepare for a more team-speed approach and piranha-ball in 2013? (Goodbye Morneau and Span?)

Killjoy:D

I knew there was a silver lining in here somewhere.

So, their best move was helping the minor league team out and adding a $3M benchwarmer to the MLB roster. In this lost season, what would have been wrong with rotating 3-4 guys in the IF that you actually might want to evaluate at the big league level for consideration on next year's team. They have to figure out a way to rescind the Nishi scholarship this year.

I had the opposite feeling. My son asked me to guess who just got called up and Nishi was the last possible name I could come up with, and even then I was aghast when told it had happened. Nishi's sunk cost is entirely unsalvageable unless they can get a buyout deal/coupled with a return to Japan.

This must be a business decision. Why not just call up Escobar now?

Yesterday, Rob Antony said Plouffe would still be out at least a week- but would most likely the first player back off the DL.

3rd place. In the Central? Miss Hospitality would be a much higher honor to shoot for.

Exactly, something doesn't smell right given his numbers this year.

Domincan Republic native? Add 2+ years to his Nov. bday

No, that ship has sailed. It was in response to another poster who was glad to enter the Dozier era and finally leave the Hardy era behind. Given the time horizon for the vets in their peak years, having Hardy still in place, a more established, but not necessarily too expensive 3B signed, and priority given over the last two years in upgrading the SP staff would have been expensive, but with proper stewardship and trades, not another $50M expensive. Perhaps Dozier could have rounded out that lineup nicely at 2B as the Twins made runs this year, 2013 and 2014. At that point, beginning, perhaps in 2014, after a couple of title runs, the developed minor leaguers could have begun to fulfill the bigger picture and begun to take their rightful spots at the right time in their development for a quick rebuild.

grammer?? not acceptable in Australia or the US

Took a lot of guts to lay off the 2-2 pitch just before.

That's along the lines of what I am hoping for. I know the Twins don't usually push guys too quickly, even extremely talented ones. If he could get his little look at E-Town this year and go through both A-level teams next year, he could be at New Britain in 2014 and possibly ready for roster addition and September call-up in 2014. Is a Trout/Bryce Harper-like call-up from AAA and ascendancy to greatness in early-to-mid-2015 too much for a long-suffering Twins fan to ask?

The situation was of course, quite different then. Though the jury is clearly out, I think Dozier can possibly be an average SS, but the timing is horrible having to rely on the hope that he reaches his full potential sooner rather than later. The Twins are caught, rock/hard-place-style, between rebuilding and reloading. I'm a firm believer that you can't do both and if you read between the lines ("there is no quick fix") Terry Ryan admitted as much last Thursday, followed by Dave St Peter today. They have 4 higher- to very high-priced players and some other dependable veterans who have a short window left at their peak production years, meanwhile the Twins are about to unload virtually the entire opening day starting pitching staff, leaving another off-season of vast uncertainty about the SP makeup for next year and possibly even holding tryouts for the last 3 SP spots in 2013 Spring Training- somewhat akin to what they did this year for the relievers. Is the timing right at making a 2013/14 run at a pennant, on behalf of those veterans to- 1) have an unheralded and (understandably) under-performing rookie at the most important defensive position, 2) have a complete question mark at 3B to open the 2012 season that only was "solved" with a Hail Mary desperation move with Plouffe (who in turn, has his own set of question marks), and 3) a current (and near future?) SP staff replete with soft-throwing AAAers, maybe an as-yet unknown FA, maybe mid-season help from a wounded-wing TJ surgery recoverer and maybe another 8-year career minor leaguer who doesn't have any idea where his next pitch is headed- all in lieu of having proven major leaguers at SS, 3B and SP to give the vets one last shot for the brass ring as a group? The Twins, though not admitting it for obvious reasons, have been offloading salary in the midst of rebuilding in stages and still hoping to appear to be reloading and competitive in the interim, it doesn't usually work out that well.

I hilariously noted you continue to fail to acknowledge a single fact that was presented. I'll waste my time and give you some more facts to chew over. 1) Dozier isn't a minimum wage player at a key position? Plouffe? Valencia? Revere (playing RF- designed for a power hitter- the departed Young, Kubel and Cuddyer make $24.725M- Willingham and Revere make $7.4925M)? 2) Trading Hardy for Hoey was bare bones budget cutting. Hardy's initial replacements at SS? Minimum wagers Tolbert, Casilla and Plouffe. 3) 3B? With the exception of Joe Crede's short coffee break in '09, nothing but minimum wagers and a barely above minimum wager, LNP, since the Corey Koskie era ended in '04. 3) If you don't see that Pohlad does what he should do as a man in his position, ie, carefully crafts every utterance to protect his investment and interests, that's your problem, not mine.

Yes, hilariously funny- because the Twins are a much better team with minimum wage players dotting the field at key positions when they had control of one of the best at his position in baseball and got rid of him for a career AAA player. It strikes me odd what you find hilarious in the face of the facts presented. What is that actually goes on at all of those Pohlad soirees?

Buxton continues to produce, his impressive line for Aug.3: 1 HR, 1 3B, 1 W, 3 R in 4 ABs. Questions for the MiLB experts. The GCL regular season ends 8-25, E-Town on 8-28, Beloit on 9-3, Fort Myers on 9-2. What is/are the next move or moves for Buxton for this year, given the scheduling windows for the various teams next up the ladder rungs? His recent numbers indicate he is beginning to get it and is ready for more challenges before this year is finished. The September call-up door is soon opening that will create a domino effect for open roster spots, especially for the extended season for those teams that are in playoff contention (NB, Beloit). Do the Twins push him and take advantage of these playing opportunities for Buxton or bring him along more cautiously?

Assessment of Eddie Rosario's defense and chances to be a MI at the MLB level? And, does he have a reasonable shot to get on the fast-track to an expected arrival sometime in 2014?

To you, maybe. To me, Dozier actually looks like playing MLB baseball isn't like learning a second language, as in Nishi's case. Though he may miss Ryo Shinkawa around the clubhouse for some comic relief, I bet Gardy sleeps a whole lot better each night knowing Nishi is 1000 miles away from Target Field.