Monkeypaws

Anyone else like Benintendi? I could just see him as Dozier 2.0, maybe even better. Pitching probably makes more sense, but I like what I've seen from this guy. I also like Tucker more than Cameron because of thehit tool. Sounds like he has all-around ability as well.

Cameron would be a good candidate to drop - the Boras effect.

I was hanging around the stadium on opening night - very fun atmosphere that extended all the way to Mears Park. Very nice add for downton St. Paul.

I saw that too: "bad teams" like Boston, Toronto, and Tampa Bay.

Very glad to see Kepler hitting like that. Not many Europeans out there on the ball field.

I'd prefer a healthy player at #6. If the Twins were drafting in the 20s, it might make sense, much as when they got Gibson.

I was surprised that Dozier wasn't even top 5 for AL 2nd basemen. Then looking more closely at the seasons the others were having, only Infante seemed out of place on that list, but seeing as the Royals are dominating the ballot box as well as the diamond, it makes sense I guess. Still, Dozier would be my position player front runner. Plouffe is good, but there are lots of good 3rd basemen out there. Perk looks a shoo-in if he maintains his current form. It would take some superlative performances over the next month for any of the starters to be considered.

That's what we said about Hunter, and Cuddyer, and Morneau, and ....

I am very excited to see this young man continuing the tradition of Puckett and Hunter. Elite CFs are about my favorite kind of player.

Wow, glad to see Buck putting some fuel into the hype machine ... we need it!

Good to see a new 'stache in Cedar Rapids. Kanzler rocked it last season.

Just goes to show that Walter out dudes the Dude. BTW, if you love the movie and have never seen the abridged version, it does a pretty good job of telling the story in just one word: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXT0gOk1Ogw&spfreload=10

I'll tell ya, this has been the ultimate cold shower on my "enthusiasm" about the Twins this year, to the point I've been avoiding Twins Daily, and all things Twins related. Erv was the linchpin in my belief we would be better this season. Pretty dumbfounding situation from 10,000 feet.

I am hoping you thoughts on Gibson will prove true.

I've seen him with his boys at Target Field - great guy. Love the story of him hiding in Hunter's car. Didn't he fill Ortiz's underwear with peanut butter as well, amongst other pranks?

People assume Santana will regress, but I'd keep him there until he actually does regress.

Good write-up Nick. I think the Twins have done well in erring to the side of caution with Meyer. It would be awesome if Allen could help him smooth out the mechanics and find consistency and durability down the road.

For a guy drafted out of college, who has shown major power at every level, I don't see any value in repeating A ball. If he was to repeat a level, make it AA. As for the comparison to Arcia, point taken, but then again, Arcia exhibits many of the same characteristics that people cite as a reason for Walker to start in Fort Myers.

Walker is 6 months younger than Arcia - push push push!

In the article it says Rogers arsenal sits in the upper 80s. Who's right?

I see the Twins and White Sox moving back to the top in the next few seasons - it'll be like old times. Didin't realize the Royals made it to the WS with 89 regular season wins.

Looking at a possible starting lineup for this coming season, and hoping for improvement from youth, and no regression from vets, and the overall offensive potential with a manager that seems willing to play to strengths, I can feel somewhat optimistic, espcially and Santan and Nolasco deliver: Batting order: 1. Danny Santana - CF: I think he should stay in CF until someone better can play there, or move him to SS at least. Are hicks and Schaffer better than Escobar? At this point, no way. 2. Brian Dozier - 2B: No surprise here. 3. Joe Mauer - 1B: Here’s hoping for a big bounce back year. His average season would keep the juice flowing at the top of the lineup. 4. Trevor Plouffe - 3B: Not the hot pick here, but looking at his run production last season, and the desire to set up a righty lefty swine in the middle of the lineup, this is where he goes. If he can continue to improve his plate discipline, and average, he could fill this role quite well. 5. Kennys Vargas - DH: Love having a switch hitting DH with big time power, especially in the 5 hole. Of course I hope he builds on last season’s performance. 6. Torii Hunter - LF: I’m not sure if Torii was signed to play right or left field, but I like Oswaldo too much in RF to change that. Here’s another tough out in the middle of the lineup with some pop. I debated flip flopping him for Plouffe in the clean-up slot, and that could change, but I like this configuration better at the moment. 7. Oswaldo Arcia - RF: Possible in the 5 hole as well - I like him in the 7 spot, hella power deep into the batting order. If his average climbs, the 5 spot is his. 8.Kurt Suzuki - C: Having this guy hit 8 is a luxury: over .700 ops, rarely whiffs, keeps the rally going. 9. Eduardo Escobar - SS: Pretty underrated on these boards from all the Santana to SS talk on these boards. Good defense AND offense from your #9 hitting shortstop, sign me up! I could see some of those big numbers like 20, 16, 13, 12 runs of last season on good nights.

What is about Quade that you folks like?

Having Hughes and Santana at the front of the rotation going forward looks good to me, better than what we've had in a good while. If they and Nolasco or Gibson can put in 200+ innings each, our bullpen would probably be better off as well. A slightly better Gibson would be huge: he did have a winning record at 13-12 and did throw almost 180 innings.

I always enjoyed seeing the lists of youngest players by league - you get a real feel for who is truly elite on those. Kind of like this one, except not confined to opening day: http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/whos-the-youngest-in-each-league-opening-day-2014/