Seth Stohs

I think we want to be real careful here... We all have skeletons. The cocaine stuff was 30+ years ago. I've never heard a steroid rumor. Let's try not to start anything here.

That would be great if he could!

Any questions for Kyle?

According to the Pioneer Press's Mike Berardino, LH RP prospect Mason Melotakis underwent Tommy John surgery last week. The hard-throwing lefty had a solid year in 2014. He had started the majority of the 2013 season. He made 2 starts in 2014 before moving to the bullpen in Ft. Myers. He moved up to New Britain where he pitched well. However, elbow pain put him on the disabled list once. He returned for a few games. He was supposed to pitch in the Arizona Fall League, but when he reported to Ft. Myers, the elbow pain was still there. Zack Jones took his spot in Arizona. Melotakis rehabbed in Ft. Myers but they quickly decided to have the surgery. He will likely miss all of 2015, though he could return in a rehab stint late.

1500espn's Derek Wetmore noted the pros and cons of the three candidates believed to be in the running for Twins manager. It's a very good, interesting look at each candidate. The only thing that stands out to me, that I wouldn't agree with, is that he lists Paul Molitor being a Hall of Fame hitter with lots of career hits as a Pro. It's not a con, but it has nothing to do with why he should or shouldn't be named manager. What do you think?

Per this article from Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press, Doug Mientkiewicz had his second interview last week. Berardino called Mientkiewicz tonight and asked a bunch of great questions and got great response:

I listened to this earlier today... I really enjoyed his thoughts on Terry Ryan, and really enjoyed his comments about the Twins coaching "pitch to contact."

Really want the Royals to win, but I'll say Giants in 5.

Walker is certainly another name that fits into the "He could also play there" discussion. Mauer will be fine. I mean, I'm not sure if people think that a guy who caught in the big leagues for the majority of 10 years is going to keep hitting as Mauer did when he was 30 and under... but a nice .300/.380/.450 would be alright. Let's not forget the concussion either.

Twins Closer Glen Perkins joined this week's Sports Over Beers podcast with Derek Wetmore and Phil Mackey. Check out out here.

After what seems like such a long delay, the World Series begins with Game 1 tonight. When the Series is complete, players that are eligible will become free agents and the offseason will begin. I thought it would be good to take a look at the Twins by position to find their areas of organizational strength or weakness. Today, we start with the first basemen.Major Leagues Joe Mauer is signed through the 2018 season. The six-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger, three-time Gold Glove winner and former MVP had a disappointing season in his initial year at first base. His defense improved through the season. It was his offense that was down. The career .319/.401/.459 (.860) hitter hit just .277/.361/.371 (.732) with 27 doubles and four home runs. Regardless of anyone’s thoughts, he will be the team’s first baseman for most games over the next four seasons Kennys Vargas came up straight from AA after the July trade deadline and was impressive. In 97 games in New Britain, he hit .281/.360/.472 (.832) with 17 doubles and 17 home runs. In two months with the Twins, he hit .274/.316/.456 (.772) with 10 doubles and nine homers. He really is a DH, but he can play some first base to spell Mauer. Chris Parmelee played some in the outfield and quite a bit at first base in 2014. After 32 games in Rochester, he was added back to the Twins 40-man roster and called up. In 87 games with the Twins, he hit .256/.307/.384 (.691) with 11 doubles and seven homers. He could stay on the 40-man roster this offseason and compete for a utility job next spring. Minor Leagues Chris Colabello was the co-Player of the Month in the American League in April, but things went south from there and he spent time in AAA. He remains on the team’s 40-man roster because he is a big, powerful man. If he stays on the 40-man roster, he could be an option for a bench role or he could head back to Rochester where he was the International League’s MVP and Rookie of the Year in 2013. Max Kepler is also on the 40-man roster and currently playing in the Florida State League. He got most of his playing time in 2014 in the three outfield positions, but also played a dozen games at first base. His youth and versatility, along with immense power potential, will likely keep him on the 40-man roster to start 2015. Mike Gonzales split his 2014 season between Ft. Myers and New Britain. Combined, he hit .271/.348/.439 (.787) with 29 doubles and 12 home runs. Like Vargas, Gonzales is a big man. He is listed at 6-6 and 265 pounds. The Twins ninth round pick in 2008 out of junior college, he can become a free agent following the World Series. Dalton Hicks was the Twins 17th round pick in 2012 out of Central Florida. At 6-5 and 250 pounds, he fits the mold with several other first basemen in the system. He spent his age-24 season in Ft. Myers where he hit .262/.344/.407 (.751) with 24 doubles, 11 home runs and 76 RBI. Chad Christensen was the primary first baseman in his home town of Cedar Rapids in 2014. After four years at the University of Nebraska, Christensen was the Twins 25th round pick in 2013. Christensen does not fit the mold of hulking first basemen you’ve seen above. He is 6-3, 210 pounds and a tremendous athlete who can play all over the field, including centerfield if necessary. He hit .272/.339/.404 (.744) with 24 doubles, seven triples, nine home runs, and 73 RBI. He also was 30 for 35 on stolen base attempts. Bryan Haar split the season between Cedar Rapids and FT. Myers. He was the 34th round pick in 2012 out of the University of San Diego. In 108 games with the Kernels, he hit .267/.319/.446 (.765) with 20 doubles, five triples and 14 homers. He moved up to the Miracle and played in just 10 games. He played the majority of his games at third base but also got into 19 games at first base. At Elizabethton this summer, Tyler Kuresa played 39 games at first base. The Twins actually drafted him out of his high school in the 11th round of the 2010 draft, but he went to college. He was drafted in the 14th round by the Braves in 2013 but again went back to college. Following his senior season, he was selected by the Twins in the 16th round in 2014. He debuted by hitting .298/.381/.478 (.859) with 14 doubles and five home runs in 46 games for the E-Twins. Trey Vavra, the Twins 33rd round pick in 2014 out of Florida Southern, played 27 of his 50 games in Elizabethton at first base. Overall, he hit .319/.392/.454 (.846) with 20 doubles, a triple and a home run. Although he is a catcher, Joel Polanco played a majority of his games at first base. As a 21-year-old in 2014, he hit .248/.296/.350 (.646) with six doubles and two homers in the GCL. Jack Barrie is an 18-year old from Australia who made his debut in the organization in 2014. He hit .205/.284/.233 (.517) in the GCL with two doubles. Like others above, he is a big lad. He is listed at 6-4 and 250 pounds already. He will require patience, but his power potential is exciting. Lewin Diaz was a million-dollar signing in 2013 from the Dominican Republic. The 17-year-old is another big guy with power potential. There was talk that he might be able to play some outfield, but in his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League, he played just first base. In 43 games, he hit .257/.385/.451 (.836) with 13 doubles and five home runs. He should debut in the States in 2015, likely in the GCL. SUMMARY Joe Mauer will be the primary first baseman, most likely, over the next four years. Kennys Vargas will have to fight a sophomore slump, but he certainly has all the power from both sides of the plate that you would want, especially since he will primarily be a DH. After that, Lewin Diaz is probably the player with the most upside in the organization. That said, players like Miguel Sano and Travis Harrison could also be looked at as guys who could move to first base if, or when, needed. Click here to view the article

KSTP''s (and 1500espn's) Darren Wolfson first reported that Paul Molitor will have a second interview with Terry Ryan Tuesday. That Pohlad won't be there likely indicates that an offer would not be made, though we can't know that for certain. He also tweeted that Joe McEwing (learned last week), Sandy Alomar, Jr., and Demarlo Hale are also out of contention at this point.

Personal opinion and obviously a lot of variables, but here is my uqick thoughts on percent likelihood they play in the big leagues in 2015: Byron Buxton - 80% (doesn't have to be on 40 man roster for another year) Eddie Rosario - 80% (will be added to 40 man in November) Max Kepler - 20% (2nd of 4 option years) Taylor Rogers - 45% (doesn't have to be added to the 40 man roster for another year) Jason Adam - 25% (could be added to 40 man roster in November) Zack Jones - 50% (doesn't have to be on 40 man roster for another year) Jake Reed - 35% (doesn't have to be on the 40 man roster for 3 more years or so)

Jeff Johnson wrote that the Cedar Rapids Kernels will induct four people into their Hall of Fame including former Twins DH Chili Davis. The '91 World Series hero was the A's hitting coach this year but just recently was named the hitting coach of the Boston Red Sox. Also, former Angels prospect Nick Adenhart, who was killed by a drunk driver in a car crash during his rookie year of 2009. Lanny Peterson, who is a long-time housing coordinator will also be added. He is the one who sets up host families for players and coaches. Bert Puckett is the fourth addition. He called Cedar Rapids Raiders games in the '40s before calling Chicago Cubs games until 1955.

"likely to fit" with the Twins shouldn't be a criteria in Twins prospect lists. "likely to fit" on the field - OF or 1B - or in the lineup - middle of lineup or back third - is a very legitimate question. I dropped him from something like 9th to 16th from last year to this year. I'm definitely not willing to give up on him at all. Too much talent and athleticism, but obviously it does have to come together at some point.

Yeah, the "could have taken player X" think serves no purpose.. and I think 2-4 draft picks a year that make it to the big leagues is probably pretty good, isn't it? Having two of them being guys that have significant roles is really good. Of course, in 2009, they also signed Sano, Polanco and Kepler too. Hard to blame them on Bashore. Te guy was throwing left-handed and 97 mph before the draft. Can't really predict the kind of injuries he went through.

... and took him in the THIRD round!! Good value potentially!

Baseball America recently reviewed the 2009 drafts of each Major League team and gives them a letter grade. The Twins get a B with recognition of Kyle Gibson and Brian Dozier. There were three or four As and a total of 9 teams with B or better. Review and Discuss.

I think it's very unlikely that Rosario open the season with the Twins, but he is an obvious add to the 40 man roster and he'll go there. That said, if he performs like this in spring and starts the season well in AA/AAA, he could be the first guy called up. His outfield defense is terrific. He has the speed, the glove and the instincts, as well as a strong arm. For him, the AFL was kind of about re-establishing himself as a prospect. So far, so good!

Wait! Wait! Wait!! The Holy Grail of Managers, the guy who can do no wrong... Joe Maddon... bunted more often than Gardy?? And more than all but one other team?? You mean, even the new-age, statty managers realize that there is a time and a place for such things?

I personally wouldn't do anything with Major League Free Agent bullpen guys. Andrew Miller is the one that is great. There are 3-5 others that are pretty solid but on the wrong side of 30. There are plenty of good options currently and in the upper levels, and there are some guys drafted the last 2-3 years that could (should?) surface quickly. I like the minor league free agent route with bullpen arms.

Perlozzo was a roving minor league instructor for the Twins last year. At spring training, I really enjoyed watching him work. He's been a big league manager. He's been around the game for a long time.

Just some guy's opinion (or possibly literally a dream of his).

I actually completely agree with you. Kaat's number should be retired, and he is the best pitcher in Twins history. Santana probably for a shorter term, but overall, it's hard to say it isn't Kaat.