Seth Stohs

How many regular season games has Span missed with injury in 2012?

Feels a little low, but I can't pretend to know the other team's systems real well or anything, so I can't do a comparison. Most have had them between 14 and 18.

"If I was a betting man, he'll basically put up Cuddyer offensive numbers with a much better defense.... that's a pretty good player, but not a superstar." If he does that, Twins fans should be absolutely thrilled!! I'd take that any day!

Twins head to Port Charlotte to play the Rays yet again... Here's the lineup with a rare Joe Mauer sighting on the road in spring training! Ben Revere CF Brian Dozier SS Joe Mauer DH Chris Parmelee 1B Ryan Doumit C Trevor Plouffe LF Sean Burroughs 3B Luke Hughes 2B Rene Tosoni RF Pitching: Carl Pavano, Jason Bulger, Scott Diamond, Phil Dumatrait, Liam Hendriks, Glen Perkins, Tyler Robertson, Daryl Thompson Bench: Danny Lehmann, Danny Rams, Chris Herrmann, Aaron Bates, Ray Chang, Mike Hollimon, Oswaldo Arcia, Darin Mastroianni

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php?306-AL-Central-Position-Rankings-Second-Base

The voting for preseason AL Central catcher and first basemen will continue for another day, but let's get the discussion going on "Which AL Central Second Baseman will be the best in 2012?" Vote now and comment your rankings. The Second Basemen (2011 stats) Minnesota Twins - Alexi Casilla - .260/.322/.368 (.691) with 21-2B, 3-3B, 2-HR, 21 RBI Chicago White Sox - Gordon Beckham - .230/.296/.337 (.633) with 23-2B, 0-3B, 10-HR, 44 RBI Cleveland Indians - Jason Kipnis MLB - .272/.333/.507 (.841) with 9-2B, 1-3B, 7-HR, 19 RBI Jason Kipnis MILB - .280/.362/.484 (.846) with 16-2B, 9-3B, 12-HR, 55 RBI Detroit Tigers - Brandon Inge - .197/.265/.283 (.548) with 10-2B, 2-3B, 3-HR, 23 RBI Kansas City Royals - Johnny Giavotella - .247/.273/.376 (.649) with 9-2B, 4-3B, 2-HR, 21 RBI Johnny Giavotella - .338/.390/.481 (.871) with 34-2B, 2-3B, 9-HR, 72 RBI SUMMARY Alexi Casilla was so bad in April of 2011 that his numbers don't show that he was pretty solid after May. Of course, he also missed the last two months of the 2011 season because of a hamstring injury. He is still just 27 years old. Gordon Beckham was so bad in 2011 that his sophomore slump didn't look bad at all. He did play in a career-high 150 games as Ozzie Guillen continued to stand by him. He will be 25 years old throughout the season. 35-year-old Brandon Inge was so bad in 2011 that he was designated for assignment and no one claimed him or his contract. He accepted going to AAA and when he came back, he accepted a bench role. In 2012, he will be given an opportunity to play 2B since Miguel Cabrera moving to 3B. The .846 OPS that Kipnis put up in AAA-Columbus was the lowest he had at any minor league stop since Cleveland made him their 2nd round pick in 2009. He debuted with the Indians and showed a lot of power. He will turn 25 right before the season begins. Giavotella was the Royals 2nd round pick in 2008. He struggled in the lower levels, but has lit up AA in 2010 and AAA in 2011. He debuted with the Royals late last year and played 46 games. Following the season, he had hip surgery. He is already playing in Royals spring training. There is the information, now it is time to vote. Who will be the best second baseman in the AL Central in 2012? My choice?

Two names I was unaware of the Twins signing are in minor league camp: Catcher Billy Killian - 25 year old who has spent the past two seasons playing for Evansville of the Frontier League. Padres 3rd round pick in 2004. Although he got a couple of games in AAA, he never played in AA before being let go. Catcher Norberto Susini - The 23 year old from New York went 6-23 with ten walks and nine strikeouts for the Mariners' Arizona Rookie League team. With Jhonatan Arias and Tobias Streich moving to the mound, and currently working with the EST group, the Twins needed to add a few catchers before guys start getting cut from big league camp. Andy Leer is catching now, currently working with the NB group, and Jacob Younis is now catching.

Go up to the message from 9:24 a.m. today... there is a new article on him that was put in the same thread.

2011 was a record year for Twins revenue... 2011 was a record payroll for the Twins as well. Most likely, the Twins revenues will drop significantly in 2012... their payroll drops too.

Thrylos, I can certainly agree with you on why Revere is playing in LF, for reps. That makes sense. But Benson's range is CF is not much less than Revere's, and his route-running is much better than Revere's. Arms aren't even comparable. Benson has primarily played CF in all but one of his minor league seasons. Last year, he played in CF 85 of 102 games. He's definitely a CF first. But he's such a great athlete, he can also play RF. Last year with the Twins was the first time he got much time in LF.

I do find it interesting that Joe Benson is playing exclusively in CF this spring. To me, Revere isn't the kind of player that would make me move Span, but Benson would be.

That's right, JC... the players are generally working as part of the roster of a team a level or two higher than where they'll be. As players get cut from big league camp, guys move down a roster as appropriate. So, a guy who is on the Rochester roster in workouts today likely will go to New Britain or even Ft. Myers for Opening Day.

Games will generally be Rochester vs New Britain and Ft. Myers vs Beloit this week, but I know that they'll have the upper level teams playing against the Red Sox or other close teams just to be a little different.

When talking to people all offseason and especially since spring training, I've put the over/under at 79. So I would take the over, thought the Twins may be one of the more difficult teams to predict wins for in 2012 because they have so many variables.

Looks like the local media is at least spending a little time there each morning. So, we're hearing a few things from down there. But basically, they're spending about 4-6 hours a day in stations, taking a ton of infield, working through a lot of situations, taking a bunch of BP, lifting weights, running. Nothing fancy... but there are a lot of players there and they're all getting their time.

That is the big question, for sure. These are good innings for these guys to work on things and just get used to being in a game situation and on the mound, but will be good to get innings against regulars.

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php?303-Home-Runs-Lead-to-Twins-Win-Over-Yankees

After struggling during the first week of spring training with the bat, the Twins go three home runs on Sunday afternoon to top the New York Yankees 5-1. Joe Benson got the Twins on the board with a long, solo home run in the 5th inning. In the bottom of the 7th, Danny Valencia gave the Twins a 2-1 lead with his second home run in as many days. In the bottom of the 8th, Michael Hollimon hit a long, 3-run homer into the wind that gave the Twins the 5-1 lead. (Hollimon is now 4-6 on the spring with the Twins.) The Twins continued to pitch well also. Nick Blackburn started and threw three scoreless innings. He gave up three hits and was helped by his defense. With speedy Brett Gardner on first base, Curtis Granderson hit a long drive to center field. When Joe Benson (who was in the lineup because Denard Span had a stiff neck) realized he couldn't make the catch, he played the ball perfectly off the wall. He uncoiled a strong throw toward the infield. Alexi Casilla grabbed the throw and relayed a perfect strike to Joe Mauer to get Gardner easily at the plate. The bullpen was terrific again. Brian Duensing pitched a scoreless inning. Matt Capps walked one but did not allow a run. Aaron Thompson came in and gave up a run on two hits in the 6th. Jeff Manship came in and looked very sharp in a scoreless seventh inning. Carlos Gutierrez pitched the 8th frame. He consistently hit 96 mph with his fastball. He threw two offspeed pitches, neither of which was close to the strike zone. Brendan Wise gave up a single to lead off the 9th, but he got a double play and another ground out to end the game. [ATTACH=CONFIG]293[/ATTACH]

Except he is like 5 inches taller than Casilla. I think Florimon is a throw-back to the shortstops of the 80s... Can't really hit, but smooth with the glove.

I think they just know before the game what inning they will pitch, regardless of who is coming up. There's not much situational stuff going on this early in camp.

Thompson is interesting only in that he is so young. He's just 24 years old as a minor leaguer. Hasn't done much. He'll probably be a starter in Rochester (maybe New Britain).

Tremendous relay from Benson to Casilla to Mauer to get Gardner. Very impressive!!