halfchest

Eddie Rosario has now played 16 games with today being his 17th at AA his line not counting todays game is [TABLE=class: sortable stats_table] [TR=class: partial_table] [TD=align: right].299[/TD] [TD=align: right].356[/TD] [TD=align: right].403[/TD] [TD=align: right].759[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] That's solid but not spectacular. It's a slight improvement over his 2013 numbers there and still a pretty small sample to judge anything from. The more intriguing storyline continues to be where he's playing at in AA. In these sixteen games he's played 2B in 6 CF in 10 and LF in 2 (some he played more than one position in the game). He's starting at 2B today. So for now it seems he's playing 30-40% at 2B after playing all of his games there in 2013. It would really be interesting to see in a parallel universe with a decent Aaron Hicks and/or a healthy Byron Buxton where they would be starting him. It's pretty obvious that Dozier has 2B locked up unless they decide to give him another shot at SS which I don't think they will. I like that they have him at both positions right now as it increases flexibility in a number of ways. He could come up and play 2B in the majors as well as outfield but also that it increases his trade value if other teams think he can handle 2B. I could go look this up but what position is better offensively throughout the majors? 2B or CF? I would have to think CF but not by a lot. Either way if other teams feel that he can handle either position in the majors we just increased value and likely the number of trade partners should he be traded. Considering that long term he is hopefully blocked at both of these positions by Buxton and Dozier I can see that being a likely future for him. However, if his bat picks up as he matures and he can show to be a .800 OPS guys in the majors well then he could probably play in a corner. This guy has a very cloudy future as to where he'll end up on the field and IMO what team he ends up on but I love that he's a Twin right now. Hopefuly he can hit for a bit more power and keep developing at both positions for now.

When does Oliveros get called up! .89 ERA over 30 IP!!! I know he's walking a few too many but he's also striking out a guy per inning and his total WHIP is just over 1. Get that guy up to AAA at the very least.

While true, Albers and Gibson are two different animals. There's a reason Gibson is in the rotation right now and Albers is in Korea. So yes, while the stats don't always translate to the big leagues, I think there's still a good chance that Gibson will improve his K rate but only time will tell. I hope your Pelfrey comp is off, wouldn't be the end of the world as a mid rotation guy but I'm hoping he can be a bit better than that. I hope you're wrong.

I think it's coming eventually. Will he ever be a strikeout artist? No, but looking at his minor league numbers he did around 8 k/9 I expect him to get up around the 7 k/9 eventually and if he can do that along with his ground ball rates he'll be a solid 3rd pitcher in the rotation. I've seen some make a Blackburn reference but I just don't see it, Blackburn was never a big strikeout guy like Gibson was. Thus far Gibson isn't striking guys out in the majors but I believe it will come eventually.

Are they available yet? I don't know much about them but the money should still be there. The problem with that is they are likely longer term signings and I assume the Twins are still counting on Buxton soon enough. How much would John Jay cost in prospects I wonder? I'd be all for it but again, his bat doesn't play in the corners but he's young enough and good enough I can see them wanting something decent for him. I don't think the Morales signing would prohibit either of these moves if they need to be made.

I get your point, kind of, but in retrospect what can they do now about CF? Other than trade, if there's something worth trading for. At this time, there's not much out there for FA CF. I think the Morales signing just shows they are willing to go for it this year, at least give it a shot. Now I won't be convinced until they make some corresponding moves within the next week or two which include like many have said, calling up May for Correia. Then either DFA or move him to the pen to replace Burton who's obviously lost what he's had the last couple of years. Then also give Deduno a short leash with Darnell/Meyer/Johnson down in AAA. So I think the mentality has slowly been shifting towards trying to contend this past year as the prospects get closer and this signing is just further evidence of that shift. If the Twins can keep around or maybe just above .500 I'll be interested to see if they pursue any talent at the deadline.

I was going to say the same thing. He definitely fell off at the end of last year. I think leaving him at High A the rest of this year would be fine. Let him start clean in AA next year after resting for the offseason. There's no reason to rush him. If he lights up AA the way he's lit up High - A I look for a promotion to AAA mid 2015 and see him in the mix for a rotation spot in 2016.

Eddie looks like he got that rust off rather quickly. He moved up to New Britain and over three games is hitting .462/.500/.769/1.269 with a homer and a double. His overall line over 11 games is .349/.417/.442/.859 between High A and AA. The only bad part is he's striking out every 4th at bat roughly but again with all these numbers SSS is huge. Nice to see him off to a good start. Defensively I haven't heard any reports but he has been splitting time between CF and 2B. Really hope he's good enough to handle both positions as it would give the Twins some ultimate flexibility both in getting on the major league team eventually as well as in a trade scenario should Buxton and Dozier take command of those two positions. [TABLE=class: dataTableClass] [TR=class: dataRow highlightRow even] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center].417[/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center].442[/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center].859[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

Mauer is overpaid but still valuable with a .350 obp. Can't believe he won't get it going at some point. Sit him against tough lefties maybe but quit talking like we should bench him. Upcoming moves I predict are Kubel and burton dfa. Correa to the pen and pinto to AAA with hermann may and morales on the 25 man roster within the week.

While I'm not excited or more so a bit confused by this draft it's pretty hard to call a team with the best farm system in baseball poorly run. Yes it's been a few rough years overall but we're seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Now if over the next 2-3 years our great farm system hasn't brought us above being a .500 team like the royals great farm system then I will agree.

Confused by the binge on relief pitchers but in no way will I pretend I follow college/prep ball close enough to know what were better options there. Just seems a little odd that they didn't diversify a bit. This is the 2nd or 3rd year we've been going after the hard throwing relievers and have yet to see much success from it unless I'm missing something. I guess the Twins maybe wanted to buy more lottery tickets. I saw the Cingrani comp but are there any others that should make me feel better about this draft? Either way, love the Gordon and Burdi pick. A bit confused by the others. Would have liked to see some prep starters in there. Hoping that some are right that the Twins plan is to save some coin on these college relievers and go after some tough signs with the extra money today.

Also, I wonder if the Twins should move Diamond to the bullpen. Maybe he bumps up his fastball a click or two and becomes our next Duensing? Cheap loogy. He has a full season of showing he can get major leaguers out, not sure what changed or maybe he was just very lucky.

Gilmartin is looking like a nice prospect now. Former first round pick that just took a little longer to develop possibly? I'd really like to see him come up and pitch in Rochester as soon as possible. He got owned there last year but I remember something about him saying he was pitching hurt. His K rate is about 1.5 per nine higher than his career average. Hopefully something clicked and it's not just an aberration. Sounds like his ceiling isn't all that high but as a former high draft pick I'd love to see him get more of a shot.

Sounds like a perfect top of the draft pick. Seems to have the downside of an average hitter with plus defense and the upside of a complete hitter with some power and still a good defender. Obviously a lot can change but like the high ceiling this guy appears to have along with what looks like a fairly high floor. Should at the very least contribute at some point to the major league team and has the chance to be a cornerstone type guy.

I'm not going to claim to know anything about anything. It just seems like the Twins have a recent history of drafting relievers to switch them to starters. So why is this guy not possible for that? I do find it strange, if a guy is that good why didn't he start in college? But they've been trying it now for a couple of years. Either way, seems like a nice value pick when looking at the pre draft rankings.

I just didn't think he projected to be a CF from reports I've read in the past. What Brock is saying makes sense as well that even if they think he's going to be a corner guy it doesn't hurt to play center. I wouldn't complain if he ended up being a guy that can play all three outfield positions and 2B to boot. Can't over react from 6 games either so it will be interesting at the end of the year to see where he spent his time defensively.

Eddie's been back for about a week now and has played in 6 games hitting .227/.346/.227 and 4BB with 5 K's in 22 at bats. Pretty much meaningless stats at this time. What's interesting is that he's been playing in CF. I expected he would get some time in the outfield but I was assuming it would be in a corner due to the presence of Buxton in the system. So far he's started in CF four games and moved mid game from 2B to CF once as well and started at 2B the other two games. I'm glad he's working on both positions, maybe the Twins are trying to revolutionize the league by churning out middle infield-CF prospects or something.

I was just checking into that. Sounds like he could maybe play in a pinch but looking at how little he's played there the last couple of years I'm assuming they don't view him as a realistic option for CF. Then again, we're currently starting a SS out there who hasn't played SS for two years and has like 20 games total in CF in the minors. I would just like some option so we can send Hicks down to play every day and work on hitting right handed.

It's definitely getting more interesting as the year goes on and we see more of these young guys come up and contribute. Hoping they either start playing Hicks more or just send him down to AAA so he can work on that right handed swing against right handed pitchers. Maybe when Fuld comes back that is the plan?

Really would like to know the plan for him this year. Between the minor league season and the AFL he pitched only 104.0 innings. I'm sure he threw a decent amount of simulated innings etc. that we are unaware of while coming back from injury as well but not sure if that counts or not. I'm thinking what he's got maybe 150-160 innings this year so he can shoot for 200 next season? Just a guess. Hoping he comes up fairly soon.

Scratch that, I forgot Levi Micheal is injured right now. I guess get him going anywhere, I'm just excited one of our top 5 is back. Now we wait on Mr. Buxton.

I thought I heard that too to be honest but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. He should have been knocking the rust off in extended spring training. I can understand with major league guys starting them off in the minors so they don't hurt the major league team but I don't agree with that same stance for minor league players going to a lower level. Especially when the team they are supposed to be going to isn't all that competitive anyhow. Unless they plan to move one of the guys like Micheal, Goodrum, Polanco up then I would rather he go straight to New Britain. I guess we'll find out one way or another tomorrow.

So is Tomshaw even a prospect? I know he's got a shiny ERA but as a 25 year old repeating High A is there anything to get excited about or is he just a nice organizational filler piece? Low K rates as well. Not trying to be negative but it just doesn't seem too encouraging overall. In regards to the other comment I just don't see Diamond being a big part of the future as a starter. I would like to see him switched to bullpen and see if he can revive his career there ala Perkins and Duensing. The guy has shown he can do well, wonder if going out for less innings and cranking it up a bit would help him out. I'd also like to see Gilmartin get pushed to AAA and see how he does there. To me, he has more potential to eventually contribute as a starter at some point than Diamond does.

Yes sir.

Wins, losses, bad pitching, bad hitting, etc. It's still there but for some reason I'm much more interested in watching this team. Maybe it's some of the young guys like Pinto, Arcia, Escobar, Dozier that have either established themselves or seem to be on the cusp of establishing themselves. Maybe it's Phil Hughes, I don't know, but I like watching this team so much more than past teams. It also probably has something to do with decent guys at the lower levels ready to come up. If only Buxton and Sano would have stayed healthy we really could be on the cusp of seeing them come up midway to make an impact. Either way, this is a much more fun team to watch and I'm hoping management is ready to pull the trigger as needed on demotions/promotions.