Physics Guy

I agree, I don't want crappy veterans either. I'm OK with them starting the veterans in April, but kick them to the curb if they aren't doing the job.

From previous posts on other threads, I know you are not happy with the Berrios situation. In a vacuum, I would want Berrios up with the Twins in April. From what I see, I believe they think they have 5 other starters who are better right now. Having Berrios and Meija in AAA to replace one of those five when they falter is more preferable than having Santana, Gibson, May, Berrios and Meija in the rotation to start the year and then no fallback. I'm not sure I see any other options that are ready. As for the other positions, I think many of those changes were made during the season. At catcher you add Castro for Suzuki (getting younger in the process). I can handle Gimenez and #2 because both Murphy and Garver will get more playing time, even if they equally split, than they would with the Twins. 1B and 2B stay the same as last year, but SS and 3B get younger. This year Polanco gets the AB from Nunez. Sano takes over for Plouffe. The OF stays the same, except Kepler is full-time in RF instead of Sano/Kepler. The OF and left side of the IF can't get much younger. In the bullpen, I see Chargois making it. He was on the team last year, but only threw 23 innings. I am also hoping Haley will be added. I guess my point is that the Twins have already added a bunch of young players. I think I am OK with having some veterans on this squad to start the season. Six of what I anticipate to be the starting lineup are what I consider to be young. My issue will be in May if those vets are sucking it up and the FO doesn't start bringing in younger options. This needs to happen in both the rotation and the bullpen.

Has anybody thought that maybe the Twins are OK with this because it is an easy way out for them to start Berrios at AAA. It makes their decisions easier, unless of course Berrios tears it up at the WBC.

I agree with the sentiment of having Berrios, Duffey, Meija in AAA gives us less likelihood of seeing starters like Albers and Dean this year. Let the vets start the season in the rotation and move them out when they've outlasted their usefulness. I don't understand the problem with Gibson. Discounting his abbreviated rookie season, he has 2.0, 3.2 and 0.6 WAR seasons. Let's remember that Gibson was not healthy last season. If he is a 2-3 WAR pitcher, he is a useful #3-4 starter.

Let's remember he is still only 25. He is a playmaker, so it stands to reason they might start him at C. I wouldn't fault Yeo too much as far as Granlund is concerned. Granlund showed stretches during Yeo's tenure of being a good player. I think he has improved his skating significantly the past two years and that is partly responsible for his improvement, besides switching to W.

This is correct. Hanzal is meant to give the Wild three tough centers to match up with the big centers in the West (Toews, Kopitar, Getzlaf...). Hopefully it takes some defensive pressure off of Staal so his line can start performing again. This gives them another top faceoff guy to go with Mikko (Staal is just OK). Also, both Hanzal and White have more hits than anybody on the Wild, which is clearly a need for this team. Against rougher teams, play White. Against finesse teams, play Schroeder.

If there is ever a time to go for it, now is the time. They are in first place but Chicago reminded them who they have to beat to get to the Finals. The Wild was relying on too many young players. Here's how I'd like to see it the rest of the way: Mikko, Granny, Zucker Staal, Nino, Coyle Hanzal, Parise, Pomminville Haula, Stewart, White/Schroeder (depending on matchup) Suter-Spurgeon Brodin-Dumba Folin-Scandella We have to split up Dumba and Scandella. Play Prosser or Olofsson if they continue to suck.

I'd rather see Park play for Mauer and Grossman for Rosario vs LHP.

Correct

Forgot to mention, Haley makes it as insurance against Hughes. We need somebody who can eat innings.

Rotation: Santana, Gibson, Santiago, Hughes and May. Berrios first call up, maybe Vogelsong in AAA if he accepts assignment. Bullpen: Kintzler, Pressly, Belsile, Chargois, Haley, Rogers and Breslow. Duffey either goes to AAA to work on a third pitch or is converted to a reliever (which is what I would prefer). Tonkin becomes AAA filler if he goes unclaimed. Boshers and O'Rourke are filler if Breslow or Rogers struggle. O'Rourke is a LOOGY and a team fighting to get back to .500 can't afford that, especially with the rotation we've dealt with lately.

So was Jerry Ryan a way around the filter? Now I understand why I saw Jerry Ryan referenced in threads early on. I was confused and took it as some type of inside joke/slam. Anyways, I am very happy that Brock joined the founders. While I came here for the articles, I found the forums very enjoyable as well. There was a stretch where the forum was a little rough and I am so thankful for Glunn and the rest of the mods for bringing a level of civility. I came close to losing interest in the site. Now, I probably spend more time on the site seeing how my comments have been received and looking to engage in more discussion.

I agree that it should be May. He has had success at the major league level, including a pretty good stretch of starts right before he was sent to the bull pen. He's also older, so if he's a starter he needs to show it this year. It seems the new FO wants to make sure Albers, Dean, etc don't make starts this year. I'd like to see Berrios in the rotation, but doubt it happens to start the season. He is part of the depth, but just hasn't proven it yet at MLB. I suspect he will be up by mid-May.

I'm with Willihammer. I think Kintzler is decent enough to finish off most games. Pitch the better relievers in higher leverage situations.

I guess that depends on your definition of "really struggling". It would be a very nice problem to have (as opposed everyone struggling, besides Santana). I honestly think everyone (Santana, Gibson, Santiago and Hughes) have the capability of being 4.00 ERA starters. The odds of all four of them achieving it, not likely. One of the four will falter. Berrios not being in camp during the WBC likely has him starting in AAA.

I get what you are saying on Berrios, but I would be OK with it if May is ready to start the season in the rotation. I will be shocked if Santana, Gibson, Santiago and Hughes aren't the top four in the rotation. Since May is older, I would rather see him in the rotation than JB. Berrios comes up by May if one of the first four falters or is injured. Conversely, it sounds like May has an option left, so maybe we start May in AAA so he can work his way back into starting again. I think Vogelsong is AAA filler. I see Duffey's future as a setup man and Haley as the long reliever.

Couldn't agree more, especially since Gleeman essentially quit blogging on the Twins (can't blame him). Thanks so much to the creators and all who contribute to great debate that goes on in the forums.

Trevor May starts 30 games and ends up with an ERA around 4. Miguel Sano hits 40 HR and plays passable defense. Polanco starts less than half the games at SS. Buxton has an OPS over .800 during the second half. Berrios struggles the first half of the season but has a sub-4.00 ERA in the second half. Rosario proves he is a 4th OF, Grossman turns back into a pumpkin and Granite becomes LF after the AS break.

Isn't Palka's floor never making it to MLB? He's probably better than ABW, but not by much. ABW will probably never see time in the majors. I get the sense that Palka will get a chance with the Twins, but he better take advantage of it when he gets it. I doubt he gets to hang around as much as Vargas has. From what I've read about Kirilloff, his defense is not an issue and may be above average, not true of Palka. Kirilloff had a 13.7% K rate vs. 32.7% for Palka. That's a huge difference.

I agree it isn't likely to happen, but I think his point is valid. If somebody claims him, I believe they pay his salary and the Twins are off the hook. I don't think it's wise at this point since Mauer is by far the best option as the #2 batter in the lineup.

I attribute the biggest difference on this team as being the addition of Staal. While he has not been as good lately, having two larger centers in Koivu and Staal allowed Granlund and Coyle to stay on the wing where they are clearly better. It has trickled down throughout the lineup. The addition of Stewart on the 4th line hasn't hurt either.

Better for 2017: Sano, Buxton, Kepler, Escobar, Park, Murphy, Gibson, Santiago, Hughes (low bar), Duffey, May, Berrios Worse: Dozier (hard to be better), Santana, Kintzler, Grossman

I'm starting to feel this may be correct, although I want to let him play most of this year (assuming he doesn't regress) to see if he can be a legit starter. Maybe he is the LH half of a platoon.

I totally get the disappointment expressed on this thread. It's hard not to be after the past 6 years. I remember a thread two or three years ago discussing the Twins being in contention by 2018. That doesn't seem likely at this point, but not out of the realm of possibility. For me, it all comes down to the development of our young players. That is what this year should be entirely about. We need to figure out who can be part of the solution. At catcher, the FO made a good decision in signing Castro that should help the pitching staff. Either Murphy or Gimenez should be the backup, allowing Garver to play most of the games at AAA. This is a positive change. I've stated my opinion on several threads that 1B & DH should be covered by Mauer, Vargas and Park. Park and Vargas should face the tough lefties. IMO we need to see what they can do rather than sign a DH. No reason to make a move here. 2B and SS is where I am disappointed, but I understand what the FO has done. I wanted an IF of Escobar/Aybar SS and Polanco at 2B. Polanco scares me a bit at SS. Hopefully they can flip Dozier for at least two good prospects during the season. I am happy the Twins are giving 3B to Sano. Keep him at 3B as long as he can be serviceable there. Yes, he will eventually be a 1B or DH. He's too young to concede that yet. I love the defense that an OF of Rosario, Buxton and Kepler can provide. I am starting to be skeptical that Rosario can be a full-time starter, but I want him to be given every opportunity to see if he can. I would have liked a better 4th OF defensively than Grossman, but don't see and RH FA that interest me. I don't disagree that the bullpen could use another veteran, but am OK going with the kids. As KLaw has stated, there probably isn't a team with more MLB ready RP in the minors. Kintzler and Pressly are probably my only locks. Then just run out whoever is producing among Duffey, Tonkin, Rogers, O'Rourke, Chargois, Melotakis, Hildenberger, Burdi and Reed. They have many options. Wouldn't mind seeing them sign Blanton. Obviously the rotation needs to improve. Unfortunately, there wasn't anything available in FA that really moves the needle for me. Jason Hammel is still available and I wouldn't argue with signing him. As bad as they were last year, I think the pitchers they currently have are capable of getting a 4.00-4.50 ERA fairly easily. Santana is likely to have a sub 4 ERA. I think a healthy Gibson throwing to Castro gives him a chance to be closer to 4 than 5. He was arguably their best pitcher in 2015. Hughes will get a chance and if he has regained his velocity can be a 4.00 ERA pitcher. Trevor May's last 9 starts before being moved to the BP he threw 50.1 IP, 47K/10BB and a 3.75 ERA. Santiago had 4 straight seasons below 4 ERA prior to last year. If any of them fail we have Berrios and Meija in AAA. Gonsalves could be ready by mid-season. It isn't sexy, but I think their rotation should give them a chance. Their primary focus should be to acquire high upside SP prospects in any trade. Edit: I expect Haley to be in the pen.

I hate to say it, but it reminds a little of the year that they traded Span and Revere and essentially handed Hicks the position. The difference is that Hicks was likely ready defensively but not offensively. The reverse is probably true with Polanco. I'm not sure how wise that is considering how important SS is defensively. The saving grace in this situation is that we have Escobar as a safety net, which I'm not sure we had with Hicks.