Seth Stohs

I've said both of these things several times this offseason. 1.) I believe JO Berrios will be better than any of the five starting pitchers, and 2.) I believe he will start the season in AAA. I've also said that the Twins have a long history of (right or wrong) not worrying about the service time on Opening Day decisions, so I think he'll get a legitimate chance to make it. But, I think he's going to have to be remarkably good (which he could be) to make it Opening Day.

I tweeted, maybe too many times, that I thought the Twins or Molitor or Vavra or someone picked up a tell from Chris Sale early in the season. The first time they faced him, they lit him up. I said, well, anything can happen. They lit him up all year. To me, that tells me they saw something. I hope that they can help Abad with his tell, because he can be a solid reliever.

Plus, the Portland Mavericks, an independent team in the Northwest League had a left-handed catcher... They were forced out of Portland when the Pacific Coast League brought the Portland Beavers back to Portland... and the Portland Beavers were once an affiliate of the Twins... so, it all makes sense...

If you starts in Ft. Myers, it wouldn't be because of Bencomo. Bencomo is "filler." Stewart is (obviously) still a very good prospect so they just need to do what they think is best for his long-term development. In my opinion, that might be spending a month or two in Ft. Myers before moving up. You could replace Bencomo with someone like David Martinez or Buddy Boshers.

Fair question... You will not receive a physical ticket. However, your name will be on our list/report at The Pourhouse when you get there. WIll basically just need to check in and get your "stuff."

There is no evidence. There are scouting reports, and there is his minor league track record including AAA. But yeah, there is no real proof of it. That's why I used the word "May." Duffey and May weren't nearly the prospects that Berrios is, but again TINSTAAPP, so you never know until they get there. I'm with you on Duffey. I had him ranked in the mid-teens coming into last year. Jeremy was even a little higher, but most didn't have him in their top 30 Twins prospects. But then seeing that curveball on TV and in person and you realize that it is something that is not seen every day. Very rare!

I'm not opposed to that, but he's been told to work out this offseason in preparation for the bullpen.

I WISH that I could adamantly disagree with you on this one... I HOPE this isn't the case. Then again, I still think Nolasco can be a solid, mid-rotation starter when healthy, so I don't know. I do know that Nolasco won't be handed anything... I don't think.

I don't necessarily disagree with this, and that's very well what they might do. The warming-up quickly part is the piece that's an unknown, as well as working every day or two. He'll pitch in more situations as a starter, but that other stuff may have importance as well.

He most likely will. The question is whether he'll come to the States for spring training and Extended Spring Training or just stay in the Dominican until mid-June when the GCL starts.

After looking at the roster projections through the Minnesota Twins hitters from the big leagues to the extended spring training rosters. Today, and later this week, we’ll conclude the roster projections by looking at the pitchers in the Twins organization. Of course, signings or trades can change these projections, so they are as of right now. There may be injuries around spring training, so these are certainly subject to change.There will be competition for some of these starting jobs, so we’ll see what happens. Are there any prospects with the potential to be impact players down the line? Read on and see what you think, and then let’s discuss below in the comments. MAJOR LEAGUES Ervin Santana, Kyle Gibson, Phil Hughes, Tyler Duffey, Tommy Milone 2015 saw the Twins starting staff improve its cumulative ERA by over a run. They went from easily the worst starting staff in baseball to merely being in the bottom quadrant. Kyle Gibson was chosen by the writers and by Twins Daily as the Twins best pitcher. He posted an ERA+ of 108. Ervin Santana missed the first half of the season with suspension. He came back to mixed results, though he ended strong. His ERA was also slightly above league average. Phil Hughes really struggled with health and wasn’t able to back up his amazing 2014 season. In all likelihood, the right-hander is somewhere in between. Tommy Milone had to go to Rochester for a month. He gave up one run in the month and came back up. Though he’ll never look dominant, he has an uncanny way of getting the job done most times out. Tyler Duffey wasn’t talked about much coming into the 2015 season (except at Twins Daily, of course). After a rough debut, he was the Twins best starting pitcher over the final six weeks of the season. Other Contenders: Trevor May, Ricky Nolasco, JO Berrios. MINOR LEAGUES Rochester Red Wings JO Berrios, Taylor Rogers, Pat Dean, DJ Baxendale, Jason Wheeler Though he may be the Twins best pitcher, JO Berrios is likely to begin the season in Rochester while the other four rotation spots work themselves out. I just don’t think he’ll be in Rochester for too long. Taylor Rogers, if there aren’t any more lefty relievers signed, could legitimately be in the big league bullpen. However, I think the Twins will have him continue to start in AAA until needed in the bullpen with the Twins. Pat Dean had a terrific, shocking 2015 season for the Red Wings. Like Rogers, he was added to the Twins 40-man roster following the season. Jason Wheeler was on the Twins 40-man roster a year ago but really struggled in AAA. He pitched well in AA. After being removed from the 40-man in early September, he led the Lookouts to the Southern League championship. DJ Baxendale has been a decent starter, when healthy, and likely remains in that role a little longer. Chattanooga Lookouts David Hurlbut, Brett Lee, Aaron Slegers, Ryan Eades, Omar Bencomo David Hurlbut and Brett Lee are two very similar pitchers. They’re left-handed, are not overpowering, have strong secondary pitches, and just keep finding success all the way up. Hurlbut went to Venezuela this winter and pitched very well. Aaron Slegers moved up to the Lookouts late in the season after pitching well for Ft. Myers. At 6-10, he isn’t overpowering, but he walks no one. Ryan Eades had an improved season in Ft. Myers in 2015 after a frustrating first full season in 2014 in Cedar Rapids. He’ll look to make the jump to AA. Omar Bencomo was signed late in the season and worked some innings for the Miracle. He’s been around for a long time. He strikes out almost no one, but gets grounders. Ft. Myers Miracle Kohl Stewart, Stephen Gonsalves, Felix Jorge, Tyler Jay, Randy Rosario, John Curtiss Stewart was able to stay healthy for most of the 2015 season which is as important as anything. He continues to not miss bats, though some observers say that most times out, he continued to not give up hard contact. I think staying with the Miracle for a month or two would be beneficial. Gonsalves dominated in Cedar Rapids for two months before moving up to the Miracle. There was some adjustment to the new level. He’s likely to remain with the Miracle for a couple of months before moving up to the Lookouts. Felix Jorge was arguably the most consistent starting pitcher in the entire Twins organization in 2015. He could be counted on for completing at least six innings and giving up two runs or fewer. He’s ready for this jump. Tyler Jay will make his transition to starter in 2016. The Twins are likely to be somewhat cautious with him. My guess is he’ll start for half of the season and then move up to Chattanooga and pitch in the bullpen the rest of the season. Randy Rosario was a surprising add to the Twins 40-man roster after the season. However, after returning to the Kernels after missing 14 months with Tommy John surgery, he was clocked as high as 97. He’s got a good slider too. John Curtiss started some for Cedar Rapids a year ago but struggled with arm issues. He will likely end up in the bullpen, but he’ll get another shot to start. Cedar Rapids Kernels Sam Gibbons, Sam Clay, Keaton Steele, Andro Cutura, Dereck Rodriguez, Cody Stashak, (Lewis Thorpe, Fernando Romero) Sam Gibbons began last season in EST, but when he came up, the Australian right-hander was very good. He ate innings. I can see him starting with the Kernels. The most difficult pitcher on this list is Keaton Steele. He too began in EST, but when he came up, he was also one of the better starters. With a lot of talent at Ft. Myers, however, I feel like he’ll be the first one to move up when one of the Miracle starters moves up. Sam Clay had a difficult 2015 season, particularly struggling with control. He’ll get another chance to start, likely with the Kernels. Andro Cutura was drafted in 2014, but due to injury, he didn’t pitch until 2015 in E-Town. He was very steady. Dereck Rodriguez was named the Appalachian League pitcher of the Year. He saw some time with the Kernels and Miracle before the short season leagues started. Cody Stashak was drafted in 2015 and pitched well with the E-Twins. Not overpowering, he just knows how to pitch. Lewis Thorpe and Fernando Romero are both throwing now and should be ready by June or so. Extended Spring Training Williams Ramirez, Lachlan Wells, Eduardo Del Rosario, Brandon Easton, Jovani Moran, Moises Gomez, Matz Schutte Williams Ramirez was our choice for Twins Daily short-season minor league pitcher of the year. He dominated the GCL. He was older for the level, but he has only been pitching for a couple of years. He’ll move up and could move quickly. Lachlan Wells is a left-hander from Australia who is reminiscent of Lewis Thorpe. he pitched well in the GCL in his debut season and then represented his country in international competition. Eduardo Del Rosario has some upside. He’s pitched in various roles during his time with the Twins, but as he’s grown, he’s been able to eat more innings. Brandon Easton can throw hard (mid-to-upper 90s) and has a chance to start. He struggled with control a year ago in Elizabethton before being shut down to rehab. Jovani Moran was drafted a year ago out of Puerto Rico. He is young and could remain in the GCL, or he could be pushed to E-Town. Moises Gomez will return to the GCL after struggling there in 2015. Schutte signed with the Twins out of The Netherlands. He got limited GCL innings in his pro debut. SUMMARY The Twins have some depth in the big leagues. This rotation is much better than the rotations that we saw over the four 90-loss seasons, but there are a lot of #3s and #4s. Nothing wrong with that. We’ve seen what those types of pitchers make in free agency, but there isn’t a #1 or really even a #2 type. Berrios has a chance to be an upper-rotation starter, though will that happen in 2016? We shall see, and barring something catastrophic, we will see. We can hope also that Gibson can take another step forward, and Duffey can show that those eight final starts are what he and his curveball can be. There is some depth in AAA, and a couple of guys to watch in AA. However, if you’re looking for prospects to follow (beyond Berrios), you’ll want to watch that Ft. Myers roster. There is some serious talent that will be starting for the Miracle. At least in the first half of the season. And there are some more hard-throwers in the lower ranks. Starting Pitcher Rankings: JO Berrios,Stephen Gonsalves,Tyler Jay,Kohl Stewart,Lewis ThorpeLater this week, we’ll finish up our roster projections by considering the options for the bullpens. Feel free to discuss and ask questions. Click here to view the article

Probably, but that doesn't make him wrong... #3 starters have value... when you have depth, there's no reason to look long-term, but they're not bad to have.

Personally, I prefer Rogers and O'Rourke at the start of the season. IF they want a true LOOGY, O'Rourke would fit the role just fine. So would Rogers, though I think he can be more too. Both are great against lefties, and would have to be used appropriately by the manager. As Nick said, we don't know that would happen. Frankly, none of the names mentioned above can or should hope for more than one year and $2 million. At that amount, any is fine. Thought again, outside of Morales, I don't think any are necessarily better than internal options.

Any of them for one year is fine. Is Breslow still looking for an opportunity to start? I've always liked Franklyn Morales. He's got really good stuff. That would be my vote.

Yup, you can find exceptions to everything, if you look for it. As for the Miracle Manager, I don't think that would be the exception, from what we've all heard.

I can't imagine anyone doing that, but I can try. Ha! I don't think you're going to find many players who don't respect Terry Ryan, Ron Gardenhire, Paul Molitor, etc. Not just that they won't say it but they really mean it. These are really good, honest, straight-forward people who care about the players as people, not just commodities.

It's kind of like the Mr. Mankato thing... Luke Hughes led the Twins in HR a couple of straight years and then made the club and didn't play much. That's why he got so much playing time in spring training, to see if he could be one of those final roster guys. So, for me, it's usually someone like that, someone who isn't expected to compete for a spot and then shines. I think JT Chargois is a good candidate. I think Taylor Rogers is as well. Kepler's one to watch if he can do what Aaron Hicks did in 2012 and win a job. If Buxton struggles at all, it could be one from the Joe Benson, Darin Mastroianni, Ryan Sweeney group.

Here at Twins Daily, we have done a number of Q&As this offseason with current and future Twins players. Today, we present something different. We have a Q&A with a Twins player of recent past. Jeff Manship was the Twins 14th round draft pick in 2006 out of Notre Dame. Three years later, at the age of 24, he made his big league debut with a scoreless innings against Cleveland in August of 2009. Today, we catch up with former Twins pitcher Jeff Manship who found success in Cleveland’s bullpen in 2015. Going into the final weekend of the 2009 season, the Twins needed to sweep Kansas City at home. One of those games was started by Manship. He pitched into the 6th inning for the first time in his short career and recorded his first MLB Win.Manship spent parts of the next three seasons with the Twins but, despite putting up strong numbers in AAA, was never able to turn the corner in a Twins uniform. Following the 2013 season, the Twins let him go. Since then, he has pitched in AAA and the big leagues for the Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies. Before 2015, he signed with Cleveland and after a solid spring training was sent down to AAA. However, later in the season, he was called up and pitched very well. In 39.1 innings over 32 appearances, he posted a 0.92 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP. He became arbitration-eligible and Cleveland offered him arbitration. Last week, he agreed to terms with the team and will soon head to Arizona for spring training. Recently, I was able to catch up with Jeff Manship, and he was kind enough to take time and really thoroughly respond to our questions. I have told Jeff that I hope he has a tremendous 2016 season… except when he pitches against the Twins. I’m pretty sure he understands. Let’s get to the questions: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Seth Stohs (SS): Have you taken the time to look back at the numbers you put up in Cleveland in 2015? 0.92 ERA. 0.76 WHIP. How important was it for you to come back up and put up those kinds of numbers? Jeff Manship (JM): Last year was a very special season for me. I had an amazing time playing with Cleveland, and it was a fun run at the end of the season playing for a chance at the wild card. It was very important for me to come up and throw well. I had thrown well in spring training, but the organization decided to start me in AAA. I just used it as a motivator to continue to throw well and earn my way back up. I had altered my mechanics during the offseason, and it proved to be a major transition for me and my career. I feel much more confident out on the mound than I have ever felt before. SS: Let’s go back… What were a couple of the highlights of your six or seven years in the Twins organization? JM: The Twins organization has always held a special place in my heart. They always treated me with respect, and I'm definitely where I'm at today due to the coaching and experiences I had. I have so many great memories, but the biggest highlights were my first major league call-up and outing. They are memories that I still have a very clear picture of in my mind. I can remember receiving a phone call very late in the night after I had already been asleep for hours. It was our AAA manager, Stan Cliburn, who told me to be ready for the first flight out of Buffalo, NY to Minneapolis. My roommate at the time, Rob Delaney, and I frantically packed my bags to catch a cab to the airport. I was running on pure adrenaline that whole day. I remember playing the Royals, but I never threw in the first couple games. My major league debut actually came against the Indians, I believe on the third day after my call-up. I remember facing Shin Soo Choo, Jhonny Peralta, and Travis Hafner. I always tell people how calm I felt during my debut and how I can attribute a large part of that due to the giant blue backstop at the Metrodome. Just seeing the hitter, catcher, and umpire against a blue backdrop made it feel like nobody was even there. I will also never forget game 163 at the Metrodome against the Tigers. To this day, that is still the loudest atmosphere for a baseball game that I have ever witnessed or been a part of. The city of Minneapolis really came out to support us, and to win such a meaningful game in extra innings was unbelievable. Having the opportunity to run around the field and high-five the fans was a special moment in my career. SS: Baseball players are busy all season, but are there any or many of your former Twins teammates that you still keep in touch with fairly regularly? JM: I still keep in touch with some guys. I recently caught up with Jay Rainville, who is a policeman in Rhode Island. I continue to keep up with Rob Delaney, Brian Dinkelman, Nick Blackburn, Cole Devries, Carlos Gutierrez, Danny Valencia, Anthony Slama, Tyler Robertson, and a couple others occasionally. It's always nice to see some of my former teammates like Perkins, Plouffe, Fien, and Dozier when we play the Twins. SS: The Twins let you go after the 2012 season. What kind of emotions did you go through leaving an organization that gave you an opportunity and then several chances? JM: I was upset, but understood the move they had to make. I hadn't thrown too well, and they needed to move on so there were definitely no hard feelings. I felt honored to be able to wear a Twins uniform for parts of 4 seasons and made many lasting friendships and memories. It was also exciting to look forward to a new chapter of my career with a new organization and teammates. SS: You spent time in AAA and the big leagues with the Rockies in 2013 and the Phillies in 2014. What was your experience in the National League, hitting, and visiting all of those ballparks? JM: Playing in the National League was a great experience. It's amazing how much different the game plays with no DH and all of the strategy involved. I was always paying close attention to the game because the phone could ring at any moment if the pitcher's spot was approaching. Hitting proved to be a challenge for me, but I never expected much success anyways. With the Rockies, I managed to collect two hits and an RBI while in AAA. My first hit was a slow chopper with bases loaded and the second actually came off Boof Bonser. That hit was something to be proud of, a solid line drive over second. The second hit continues to stand as my last professional hit. I'll never forget having to face Jose Fernandez while with the big league club, and it's something I pray I never have to do again. To my surprise, I made solid contact on my first AB and lined out to right field. He didn't mess around in the second at-bat and struck me out with one of his disgusting sliders. I bailed out like the ball was going to hit me in the face, and upon further review of video, the pitch was right down the middle. While with the Phillies, I received a couple at-bats in an extra inning marathon against the Mets. I had already thrown 4 innings in relief, and was coming up for my second at-bat with a man on 3rd and 2 outs. I hit a high chopper up the middle, which would have been my first major league base hit, RBI, and a game winner, but my body had different plans. I ended up straining my quad running to first base. I'll always defend pitchers when people say we aren't athletes, but in that particular instance I was not an athlete. It landed me on the DL, and was my last AB to date, and that's probably a good thing. The National League has some beautiful stadiums, and I was fortunate to play in almost all of them. Some of my favorites include Dodger Stadium, Petco Park, PNC Park, and AT&T Park. There was never a bad trip while traveling within the NL West. SS: I know you pitched as a starter and a reliever with the Twins, but you were always given that opportunity to start, even with the Rockies and Phillies, so, at what point did you just kind of accept that your were more of a reliever? Was that difficult to accept, or happy to do it? JM: During my initial spring training meeting with Terry Francona, he said that the Indians were going to focus solely on me as a reliever. I was actually very happy to hear that I would stick to one role for the whole season. It was difficult going back and forth between starting and relieving with the different routines that each role commands. I felt that it helped me to become more consistent and kept my arm fresh throughout the year. SS: As you look back, what were a couple of the things that you found out about yourself, and what helps to make you successful on the mound? JM: I had mentioned earlier about altering my mechanics before the 2015 season. It seems extremely simple, but I feel it made me a completely different pitcher. I work with Skip Johnson, University of Texas pitching coach, during my bullpens in the offseason. Last year, we decided to try throwing off of the third base side of the rubber as opposed to the first base side, where I had been for many years. It provided more extension, deception, and an increase in velocity. I think it helped my slider most of all and created a much more effective angle on all of my pitches. In addition, Francona utilized me in a way that helped my success. I threw more consistently, and rarely went more than 3 days without pitching in a game. He also loves to use his bullpen and never sets us up to experience failure. Confidence was key for me this season, and whenever a situation was starting to get out of hand, I remained calm. I had a much easier time channeling my focus without getting flustered. SS: What has this offseason been like for you, kind of knowing where you’re going to be in 2016? Does it change your preparation at all? JM: I continue to prepare in the same way that I have for my whole career. I always try to go into spring training fully prepared and with the mindset to compete and earn a spot on the team. Knowing that I will be with the Indians again next season is refreshing, but hasn't altered my focus or routine in any way. I'm really looking forward to this season. SS: Away from baseball, what do you enjoy doing? I know you’re into hunting. JM: Hunting is always something that I look forward to in the off season. My wife and I recently went camping, which we plan to do more of next off season. We reside in Austin, Texas, where there is plenty to do outside. We try to be outdoors as much as possible and enjoy hiking and exploring the various parks in the area. SS: If you were to look back at your time with the Twins, who are some of the people, coaches, front office types that you have respect for, and why? JM: There are plenty of people that I have a great amount of respect for in the Twins organization, but some of the most memorable are Terry Ryan, Bobby Cuellar, Gene Glynn, Steve Mintz, Rick Anderson, and Ron Gardenhire. I know I'm probably unintentionally leaving a few names off my list. Terry Ryan is someone who has done so much for the Twins and the game of baseball. He is respected throughout baseball and rightfully so. I always enjoyed my conversations with Terry and the advice and tips he would give. Bobby Cuellar was one of my favorite pitching coaches that I have worked with in my career. He has been around baseball for a long time, and has collected vast amounts of information and wisdom. He was always able to help me with my mechanical struggles, and was passionate about helping his pitchers be the best they could be. I only played under Gene Glynn for one season in AAA Rochester, but he left a lasting impression. He was one of the most positive coaches I have played for. The team had a rough couple years before Gene arrived, but he was able to reverse that and create a winning atmosphere in Rochester. He always went about things respectfully, which should command the respect of any player. Steve Mintz was my pitching coach for my first full season in Low-A Beloit. He too, was a very positive influence on my career. Not only was he a talented pitching coach, but he was a great person. I can remember all the assistance outside of baseball that he would provide to the players. Many of the players were new to professional baseball, and Steve provided a very helpful presence. For me personally, he made the transition from college baseball to professional baseball much easier. Rick Anderson and Gardy were the first major league manager and pitching coach that I had so they are special to me. They, too, are great people and I really enjoyed playing for both of them. The Twins have always been a model organization of how to play the game the right way, and they are a huge part of that philosophy. I also enjoyed all of the major league veterans that were involved with the organization. As a young player, it was great to meet so many legends and get to learn from some of the best. One of my fondest memories was having dinner with Harmon Killebrew at JD Hoyt's. He was a true professional and great man. SS: What was the experience of going through the arbitration process like for you? JM: The arbitration process was an exciting time. My agent really did all of the work, but it was fun to get updates on the progress made with the team. It was a good feeling to be tendered a contract by the Indians and have a sense of belonging in the organization. SS: What are your personal goals for the 2016 season? Are there certain numbers that you look at to judge yourself? JM: I wouldn't necessarily say that I'm looking for certain numbers, but I want to contribute as best as I can. Hopefully I can earn a lot of holds and keep the ERA and WHIP low again. Last year was a lot of fun because I felt that I contributed to meaningful games, especially towards the end of the season when we were making a push for the wild card. Overall, my goals are to stay healthy, be a positive contributor in the bullpen, and, of course, to win a World Series. SS: A lot of people think that with Cleveland’s starting staff, they will contend in the AL Central in 2016? What is the excitement level for pitching for a contender again? JM: I think that our team is fully capable of being a contender next season. The starting staff is very impressive and is always seen as our strong suit. They are all young with an immense amount of talent that can easily carry us. This off season, the team added some solid players to help both defensively and offensively. The biggest thing for us is to have a strong start to the season. With all the acquisitions made by every team in the AL Central, though, it should provide for an intense season until the end. Pitching for a contending team creates more excitement. It’s a lot of fun showing up to the field everyday with something to play for and trying to achieve team goals. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Again, Thank You very much to Jeff Manship. Please feel free to ask questions and leave comments. Jeff has always been terrific, on podcasts, at Twins Fests, on the Winter Caravan, etc. It’s always fun to catch up. Click here to view the article

He played mostly LF in 2014 and mostly RF last year. He's a solid OF defensively. He doesn't have a ton of range, but he knows how to play there. He played mostly OF in high school too.

Arias can be on this list next year, but definitely one to watch. Palka should have been #4 on this list, after Walker, before Harrison. Minier was an OF in 2014 but not good, so they moved him to 1B in 2015... maybe they'll move him back to the OF though. I tend to doubt it.

Probably bigger for Granite. He'll have to get on base a little more in Ft. Myers and make that move up to Chattanooga. English needs to play like he did in the 2nd half last year before the injury. He's really good defensively which will really help him. He's got the range, takes good reads and has a very strong arm. Could both be 4th OF in the big leagues? I think so, but as you say, we'll likely know a lot more in 9 months.

Most think that Wade would have been a 3rd/4th round pick if he wouldn't have missed more than half of the season with the broken hamate bone.