Buck Nasty

I agree with this. With Buxton losing a year of development and Hicks taking a step back, we probably have a full year and maybe two to cover before Buxton takes over for good. If Buxton/Hicks force their way into the line up earlier - great! Span becomes a very good 4th OF or could even hold a corner spot if he's playing well.

I have a deja vu feeling....there was another pitcher who got lit up/pitched poorly only to come out after the fact and say they were pitching hurt. Was it Slowey? Or was it Perkins when he was starting? I can't remember other than it didn't end well for that pitcher.

Find a reason to give him a short stint on the DL and give Meyer his start(s). It's 2015 audition time. I'm not sure I want to see Nolasco come rolling out of the pen right now with the way he's throwing. Give him a week or two to "get healthy" and maybe he comes back to salvage his season without being officially demoted.

I'd be fine if they dealt Perkins, but I doubt that would happen since they just locked him up. I wouldn't want them to deal Dozier though. I don't think he's peaked yet and I'm not convinced Santana/Polonco/Rosario etc. can be better than Dozier is right now. This team has so many one dimensional players that can either hit or play defense, they need to hold onto a guy that can actually do both. Dozier shouldn't be leading off. Get some good hitters around him and I think he'll be even better.

Just like the Twins have been doing along with every other team - forever. It seems pretty obvious that Meyer/May will be getting innings starting this year and/or next. Unfortunately, not every young pitcher works out. Here are the historical # of pitchers age 25 and under that pitched each season for the Twins the last 10 years: 2013 - 7 2012 - 5 2011 - 6 2010 - 4 2009 - 8 2008 - 5 2007 - 9 2006 - 7 2005 - 4 2004 - 7

Huh? You lost me there. Personally, I think you are on the wrong track with focusing so much on ages. I'm not sure what you are even proposing anymore since the top prospects at AAA are already 24 going on 25. Of those, several have already been up: Tonkin, Pressley (last year), Darnell. Seems like a lot of bellyaching over nothing if you ask me. Personally, I think you should focus more about the lack of offense and less about how old the back of the bullpen is.

It's just a difference of opinion. You and Jokin have some valid points. But the question is: Does the extra time in the minors help or hurt the top prospects? I think each player/situation is different. Bringing Hicks up early didn't seem to do him any good. Meyer is exciting, but he seems inconsistent at AAA and coming off arm trouble - maybe it's better to keep a lid on him vs. having him amped up for a few meaningless starts in the bigs. May seems ready and I'm pretty confident he'll get a shot this year. Tonklin was up earlier this year and got sent down based on performance. With the addition of Morales, it seems to me that they are going to run with it this year in a weak division. If that's the case - would you rather have vets or rookies playing?

Exactly. 31 year old Glen Perkins seems to be doing OK. I don't think we win the World Series in '91 without 36 year old Jack Morris or the '87 World Series without 36 year old Bert Blyleven. Regarding Jarod Burton, he's been ok player during his time here, but he is trending in the wrong direction based on year over year (FIP, WHIP). I think he's on the bubble right now based on performance - not age. These things always work themselves out based on what they do on the field.

Yohan Pino is your ace, followed by Pelfrey and Diamond. Correia comes back on a one year deal and they re-sign Nick Blackburn for Karma similar to what they did with Kubel/Bartlett. Hughes/Gibson/Meyer/May anchor AAA for depth until the GM decides they are ready. Nolasco is traded for Drew Butera or possibly Nick Punto. #World Champions

I think people get themselves in trouble when they try to over analyze. The guy has been getting people out for two years now. This isn't a week or a month hot streak. Teams don't get rid of guys because their BABIP is too low. They get rid of guys that are not performing i.e. giving up runs.

Why do people think Thielbar would be the guy? He's left handed. He's only 27 and has been very good for them. His career totals: 5-2, 2.31 ERA, 0.89 WHIP. If that gets a guy demoted then there's something wrong with the guys running this organization.

I just don't see how a team can carry four DH types on an active roster (Willingham, Arcia, Kubel, Collabello), especially since Mauer clogs up 1st Base. Collabello has been doing fine as DH - he should stay. Kubel has been swinging a good bat- he stays. That leaves Willingham/Arcia. I think Mastro stays up and Arcia goes down to find his swing. They just don't have enough spots to hide that many bad fielders. Mastro becomes the pinch runner/late inning defensive replacement for Kubel/Willingham.

I think this is just real life. If the people in charge like you, you will get a shot over someone else who may have out performed you. That was the case this year for both Bartlett and Kubel. They were flat out given spots on the team vs. earning them. Lucky for them, Kubel started off hot otherwise there would really be some griping going on right about now. As it is, everything I read into Gardy's quotes indicates Nunez will be up to take Bartlett's place. Maybe not instantly, but I'm convinced very soon. It's usually pretty easy to spot the "chosen ones" from listening to Gardy.

Aside fromMeyer – I don’t think they are any better than a year ago. Here are their career minor #’s: (Age)ERA/WHIP/K9 May (24): 4.07/1.36/10.73 Johnson(29): 4.38/1.46/6.36 Darnell(25): 4.04/1.35/6.22 Versus Hendricks(25): 2.94/1.09/7.54 Hernandez(25): 4.00/1.34/6.86 Albers (28): 2.86/1.18/7.45 I'd say Johnson/Darnell are a push to Hernandez/Albers. Let's be honest - none of those guys are anything to get too excited about. May vs. Hendricks....May certainly has a better arm, but Hendricks had better overall results in the minors and a quicker track to the majors. Remember, Hendricks was a top ten (team) prospect in 2011 and 2012 and then "poof" he was considered a bust at age 24 (same age as May is now).