Cody Christie

After fast starts for most of the minor league affiliates, things have come back down to earth over the last week. Cedar Rapids, Fort Myers and Chattanooga have all lost multiple games in a row, with the Lookouts in the midst of losing six of their last seven games. Top prospect Jose Berrios was on the mound to try to end that streak tonight. Rochester has been picking up some of the slack with a nice little stretch of four wins in their last five games. This includes a two-game win streak to start this week. Would this trend continue or would the Red Wings join the rest of the losing happening on the farm?RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 6, Columbus 1 Box Score A strong pitching performance from Taylor Rogers and a trio of home runs from Doug Bernier, Reynaldo Rodriguez and Brock Peterson helped Rochester push their latest winning streak to three games. Rogers allowed one earned run on two hits over eight strong frames, the first time has he reached the eighth all season. He walked four and struck out four en route to his second win. A.J. Achter finished the game with a perfect ninth, including two punch outs. The Bernier and Rodriguez homers were part of a four-run fifth inning that put Rochester up for good. Peterson's knock, his team-leading fourth of the year, was part of a two-run eighth. Eddie Rosario went 2-for-4 and scored a run. Jose Martinez led the team with three hits including his third double. Outfielder Wilkin Ramirez, who is currently on the disabled list, was with the team on Monday. He has been rehabbing from a pulled muscle injury and he will likely rejoin the team in the near future. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 5, Tennessee 3 Box Score Jose Berrios made his fourth start of the season on Monday night, and he tried to help the Lookouts get back to their winning ways. He did his best to put his team in position to win by throwing six innings of two-hit ball. The only run he allowed was on a solo home run. Berrios danced around a season-high four walks but his five strikeouts helped get out of some jams. Berrios left with 4-1 lead and things got a little dicey with Nick Burdi on the mound. The first batter he faced coaxed a walk and the next batter hit a home run. He got out of the inning with two pop outs, a single and a strikeout. Jake Reed and Zack Jones combined to pitch scoreless eighth and ninth innings to preserve the win. Stephen Wickens drove in two runs and reached base three times to help power the offense. Byron Buxton had multiple hits for the second time in the last three games. Max Kepler collected his first triple of the year and Levi Michael scored a pair of runs. Adam Brett Walker crushed his league-leading 5th home run of the season, a blast to right centerfield. MIRACLE MATTERS Fort Myers 5, Palm Beach 4 (11 innings) Box Score This was the fifth meeting between these two clubs this season and the Miracle had yet to find a way to beat the Cardinals. It took another extra-inning affair and a come-from-behind route, but the Miracle finally found a way to come out victorious. Luke Westphal made his third start and lasted four innings while giving up four runs on six hits. He struck out one and walked one. The Miracle bullpen was masterful. Alex Muren, Brian Gilbert, J.T. Chargois, and Tim Shibuya combined to toss eight shutout innings with all but Chargois throwing multiple frames. Shibuya picked up his first win of the season. Alex Swim started the rally in the 11th inning with a one-out single. The Miracle then used three consecutive walks, to Mitch Garver, Niko Goodrum and Marcus Knecht, to score the winning run. Knecht and Bryan Haar had matching 2-5 lines with a double each. Swim and Chad Christensen both collected three hits. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids- Scheduled Off Day The Kernels are in the midst of a three game losing streak in which they were swept by Kane County. Cedar Rapids entered the day with an 11-7 record. That mark was good enough for second place, two games back, in the Midwest League Western Division. Zack Granite currently leads the team in batting average (.364), OBP (.485), and OPS (.958). Trey Vavra leads the team in home runs (3) and slugging percentage (.589). Granite and Vavra are tied for the team lead with four doubles. Nick Gordon leads the team in triples (2) and RBI (15). Tanner English has stolen seven bases while Granite is not far behind with six steals. Stephen Gonsalves, Mat Batts, and Jared Wilson lead the team's starters with two wins each. Gonsalves leads starters with a 0.90 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 20 IP. Cameron Booser leads the team with two saves and an-eye popping 15 strikeouts in eight innings pitched. Felix Jorge has also been impressive with 24 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched with a 1.50 ERA. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Taylor Rogers, Rochester Red Wings Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Stephen Wickens, Chattanooga Lookouts TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester vs Columbus (5:35 CST) – RHP Alex Meyer Chattanooga @ Mississippi (6:05 CST)- RHP Greg Peavey Ft. Myers vs Palm Beach (6:05 CST) – RHP Aaron Slegers Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (11:00 am CST) - RHP Jared Wilson Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Monday games. Click here to view the article

This is the first time in Ron Gardenhire's life that he hasn't been actively involved in baseball since his youth. However, it doesn't mean he wouldn't like to be back in the action. Fox Sports is reporting Gardenhire hired an agent for the first time in decades to "monitor possible managerial openings."Since there are currently no openings, he isn't actively pursuing a position, but he's open to considering all possibilities. There's also no reason to hurry since he had a year remaining on his contract when the Twins let him go at the end of last season. Some managers are already on the hot seat even though the season is relatively young. Here are a few of the possible landing spots as Gardy looks for new employment. Miami Marlins Reports out of Miami have manager Mike Redmond, a former Twin, on the hot seat even though he is only in his third year at the helm. Many writers picked the Marlins as a playoff team this year but they have floundered out of the gate. Team owner Jeffrey Loria has been quick to pull the trigger on managers in the past so it wouldn't be surprising if Miami decided to go in a different direction. From Gardenhire's prospective, Miami might not be the ideal spot since his job security would immediately be called into question. This would be quite the change from the consistency he knew in the Twins organization. Milwaukee Brewers Much like Miami, the Brewers are off to a poor start as they entered the weekend with the fewest wins in baseball. Center fielder Carlos Gomez, catcher Jonathan Lucroy, and second baseman Scooter Gennett are all on the disabled list so that hasn't helped the situation. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio came out earlier this week and said that neither Ron Roenicke nor general manager Doug Melvin are on the hot seat. That tune could change if the Brewers continue to lose games in the coming months. Since Gardenhire still makes his home in Minnesota, it seems like staying with a Midwest team like Milwaukee could fit his needs. Los Angeles Angels There have been some high expectations in Los Angeles over the last handful of years. Signing big name stars like Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton to add to the likes of reigning AL MVP Mike Trout was supposed to put the Angles on a path to greatness. The club has only made the playoffs once in the last five seasons and they were swept out of last year's divisional series by the Royals. Mike Scioscia has been at the helm since 2000 and the Angels front office might want a new voice to try to lead their team to the playoffs. From Gardenhire's perspective, any manager would be crazy not to want to pencil Trout's name in the line-up card everyday. Philadelphia Phillies Charlie Manuel has only been out the door for a couple seasons but Ryne Sandberg hasn't finished better than fourth in the NL East. The Phillies roster is aging and it's hard to pick out what direction the team is going. There isn't a lot of light at the end of the tunnel at this point and the Philadelphia sports scene can be tough on failing clubs. A new manager like Gardenhire might not completely be the answer. But if the fans get out the torches and pitchforks for Sandberg, Gardenhire would be available and the rich Phillies history could be enough to lure him to the City of Brotherly Love. For more from Cody Christie make sure to follow him on Twitter @NoDakTwinsFan and to read his other work at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com Click here to view the article

This is the first time in Ron Gardenhire's life that he hasn't been actively involved in baseball since his youth. However, it doesn't mean he wouldn't like to be back in the action. Fox Sports is reporting Gardenhire hired an agent for the first time in decades to "monitor possible managerial openings." Since there are currently no openings, he isn't actively pursuing a position but he's open to considering all possibilities. There's also no reason to hurry since he had a year remaining on his contract when the Twins let him go at the end of last season. Some managers are already on the hot seat even though the season is relatively young. Here are a few of the possible landing spots as Gardy looks for new employment. Miami Marlins Reports out of Miami have manager Mike Redmond, a former Twin, on the hot seat even though he is only in his third year at the helm. Many writer's picked the Marlins as a playoff team this year but the team has floundered out of the gate. Team owner Jeffrey Loria has been quick to pull the trigger on managers in the past so it wouldn't be surprising if Miami decided to go in a different direction. From Gardenhire's prospective, Miami might not be the ideal spot since his job security would immediately be called into question. This would be quite the change from the consistency he knew in the Twins organization. Milwaukee Brewers Much like Miami, the Brewers are off to a poor start as they entered the weekend with the fewest wins in baseball. Center fielder Carlos Gomez, catcher Jonathan Lucroy, and second baseman Scooter Gennett are all on the disabled list so that hasn't helped the situation. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio came out earlier this week and said that neither Ron Roenicke nor general manager Doug Melvin are on the hot seat. That tune could change if the Brewers continue to lose games in the coming months. Since Gardenhire still makes his home in Minnesota, it seems like staying with a Midwest team like Milwaukee could fit his needs. Los Angeles Angels There have been some high expectations in Los Angeles over the last handful of years. Signing big name stars like Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton to add to the likes of reigning AL MVP Mike Trout was supposed to put the Angles on a path to greatness. The club has only made the playoffs once in the last five seasons and they were swept out of last year's Divisional Series by the Royals. Mike Scioscia has been at the helm since 2000 and the Angels front office might want a new voice to try and lead their team to the playoffs. From Gardenhire's perspective, any manager would be crazy not to want to pencil Trout's name in the line-up card everyday. Philadelphia Phillies Charlie Manuel has only been out the door for a couple seasons by Ryne Sandberg hasn't finished better than fourth in the NL East. The Phillies roster is aging and it's hard to pick out what direction the team is going. There isn't a lot of light at the end of the tunnel at this point and the Philadelphia sports scene can be tough on failing clubs. A new manager like Gardenhire might not completely be the answer. If the fans get out the torches and pitchforks for Sandberg, Gardenhire would be available and the rich Phillies history could be enough to lure him to the City of Brotherly Love. For more from Cody Christie make sure to follow him on Twitter @NoDakTwinsFan and to read his other work at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com

He's on the 40-man roster. They need to see if he can sink or swim

Right-handed pitcher Tyler Duffey, left-handed pitcher Pat Dean and right-handed pitcher Felix Jorge each walked away with "Pitcher of the Week" honors in their respective leagues. Duffey earned the honor in the Southern League after tossing 13.2 scoreless frames with 18 strikeouts. Dean, a former third-round pick, went 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA and 15 strikeouts in two starts to pick up the International League award. Jorge struggled in Cedar Rapids last season but he's off to a hot start (12 IP, 19 K, 4 BB) so he was honored by the Midwest League.Besides the pitching honors, the Twins were busy making minor league roster moves on Monday. Max Kepler was promoted to Chattanooga after hitting .250/.308/.333 in six games to start the year. He's currently in the midst of a five game hitting streak. In a corresponding move, third baseman Bryan Harr was activated off the 7-day DL for the Miracle. Cedar Rapids announced that catcher Brett Doe was joining the Kernels from extended spring training. Last season he hit .207 with a HR and five RBI in 23 games for Elizabethton. He is taking the roster spot left open because JJ Fernandez was forced to go on the 7-day DL with a concussion. Fernandez was off to a strong start hitting .293 with three doubles and four RBI. RED WINGS REPORT Rochester --, Syracuse -- POSTPONED Monday's scheduled game between the Red Wings and the Chiefs was postponed due to rain. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Tuesday. The first game is scheduled to begin at 1:05 pm and each game will be seven innings. The first game pits top pitching prospects Alex Meyer (1-0, 8.31 ERA) versus A.J. Cole (0-0, 4.00 ERA). Taylor Rogers (0-0, 3.46 ERA) will start game two for the Red Wings CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 5, Mississippi 6 Box Score Alex Wimmers made the most of his 2015 debut by tossing five one-hit innings with three strikeouts. He was effective by throwing 62 pitches with 38 being for strikes. One of the best signs might have been the zero walks he allowed. Cole Johnson kept the shutout going with two scoreless frames. D.J. Johnson struggled by giving up four runs in one inning before Jake Reed blew the save in the ninth. The Lookouts were up 5-0 entering the bottom of the eighth inning so it was a tough loss. Jorge Polanco cracked his second home run of the season and scored a pair of runs. Dalton Hicks collected his first triple as part of a two-hit night. Stuart Turner scored a run and had his second multi-hit game of 2015. Travis Harrison had a pair of RBIs. It was the third loss in four games for the Lookouts after winning five of their first six contests. Southern League Pitcher of the Week Tyler Duffey takes the mound on Tuesday with a chance to get Chattanooga back to their winning ways. MIRACLE MATTERS Fort Myers 3. Palm Beach 4 (10 Innings) Box Score For the second straight night, nine innings weren't enough to decide a contest between the Miracle and the Cardinals. Fort Myers got off to an early lead by scoring three runs in the top of the second inning. Bryan Harr hit a double to start the frame and this was followed by three straight singles. The Cardinals wouldn't allow another run the rest of the night. Luke Westphal made his first start of the season and allowed three earned runs in four innings. He struck out two and walked two. Tim Shibuya was effective in three perfect relief innings while striking out three. Madison Boer was charged with the loss after he couldn't get out of his third inning of work. The loss drops Fort Myers to two games under .500 with a 5-7 record. This was the first of a three game series so the Miracle will need to bounce back if they want to win their second straight series. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 5, Burlington 2 Box Score Nick Gordon's hot start to the season continued as his three hit, three RBI day was enough to push Cedar Rapids past Burlington. Tanner English also joined the hit parade with three hits and two runs. Zack Granite helped pace the offense with two hits including his first triple. Jared Wilson picked up his second win of the season, tossing five innings and scattering four hits. He gave up one run while striking out three and walking four. Michael Theofanopoulos continued his scoreless streak to start the year. He pitched another two frames and he hasn't allowed a run across 8.1 innings. C.K. Irby finished the game by allowing one run in two innings of work. With the win, the Kernels avoided their first three game losing streak of the year. They avoided the the sweep in the series but the club has still lost four of their last six games. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Alex Wimmers, Chattanooga Lookouts Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Nick Gordon, Cedar Rapids Kernels TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester @ Syracuse (12:05 CST) – RHP Alex Meyer Rochester @ Syracuse (Game 2)- LHP Taylor Rogers Chattanooga @ Mississippi (7:00 CST)- RHP Tyler Duffey Ft. Myers @ Tampa (5:35 CST) – RHP Kohl Stewart Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (6:35 CST) - LHP Mat Batts Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Monday games. Click here to view the article

Gave it to Hicks because his game was close so I felt his hits meant more to his team. Buxton's hits were part of a blowout.

I kept him on my prospect list this year so I hope it continues.

Minnesota's home opener was sure depressing but luckily all the Twins minor league affiliates picked up the slack on Monday. There were some big games from some big names so fans can turn their frown upside down with a look down on the farm.To celebrate the start of the minor league season, we are offering the 2015 Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook in paperback right now at a 15% discount. This is a limited time offer so make sure to order you copy now before this deal is gone. RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 6, Scranton/WB 4 Box Score Aaron Hicks collected three hits and four RBI while finishing a home run short of the cycle. Danny Ortiz picked up the home run Hicks was lacking from his final line on his way to scoring three runs. James Beresford also scored a couple of runs. Mark Hamburger started the game but failed to get out of the fifth inning after surrendering four earned runs on nine hits. The Rochester bullpen shut down the RailRiders the rest of the way. AJ Achter, Celeb Thielbar, and Ryan Pressly pitched scoreless frames while Michael Tonkin had a perfect ninth for his second save. The Wings' bullpen has 12.2 scoreless innings to start the season. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 11, Montgomery 5 Box Score Much like Hicks, Buxton finished a home run short of the cycle as part of a four hit effort. Travis Harrison drove in three runs with a home run and a double. Levi Michael drove in three runs out of the number nine spot in the batting order. Stuart Turner collected two two-out RBIs. There was some question as to who would start this contest for Chattanooga but Adrian Salcedo got the nod. He allowed two earned runs on three hits over three innings. Cole Johnson picked up the win with three perfect innings of relief. Zack Jones struck out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth. Chattanooga improved to 4-1 on the young season. MIRACLE MATTERS Fort Myers 11. Tampa 4 Box Score Ryan Eades pitched six scoreless innings and the Miracle bats came alive in Tampa. It was Eades' first start in the Florida State League and he scattered five hits and two walks. Todd Van Steensel pitched two shutout frames before J.T. Chargois gave up four runs in the bottom of the ninth. Madison Boer came on to get the last two outs. A hot start saw the Miracle score five runs in the first two innings. Niko Goodrum knocked two doubles and scored three runs out of the lead-off spot. Mitch Garver joined the doubles parade with two doubles of his own while reaching base five times. Michale Quesada collected his first triple and scored two runs. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 9, Beloit 0 Box Score Felix Jorge struck out ten batters to help the Kernels improve to 5-0 this season. In seven innings of work, he surrendered just two hits and two walks. He is the fourth Kernels' starting pitcher to earn a win this season. Michael Theofanopoulos kept the shutout in order by pitching two scoreless frames to close out the game. There were a ton of offensive accolades in this one. Nick Gordon and Max Murphy both collected three hits with each player knocking a triple. Pat Kelly drove in three runs as part of a two hit effort including his first home run. Six of the nine hitters in the order collected two hits or more. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Felix Jorge, Cedar Rapids Kernels Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Aaron Hicks, Rochester Red Wings TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester @ Scranton/WB (5:35 CST) – LHP Pat Dean Chattanooga- Scheduled Off Day Ft. Myers vs Tampa (9:30 AM CST) – LHP Luke Westphal Cedar Rapids vs Beloit (6:35 CST) - RHP Jared Wilson Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Monday games. Click here to view the article

Minnesota's home opener was sure depressing but luckily all the Twins minor league affiliates picked up the slack on Monday. There were some big games from some big names so fans can turn their frown upside down with a look down on the farm. To celebrate the start of the minor league season, we are offering the 2015 Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook in paperback right now at a 15% discount. This is a limited time offer so make sure to order you copy now before this deal is gone. RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 6, Scranton/WB 4 Box Score Aaron Hicks collected three hits and four RBI while finishing a home run short of the cycle. Danny Ortiz picked up the home run Hicks was lacking from his final line on his way to scoring three runs. James Beresford also scored a couple runs. Mark Hamburger started the game but failed to get out of the fifth inning after surrendering four earned runs on nine hits. The Rochester bullpen shutdown the RailRiders the rest of the way. AJ Achter, Celeb Thielbar, and Ryan Pressly pitched scoreless frames while Michael Tonkin had a perfect ninth for his second save. The Wings' bullpen has 12 2/3 scoreless innings to start the season. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 11, Montgomery 5 Box Score Much like Hicks, Buxton finished a home run short of the cycle as part of a four hit effort. Travis Harrison drove in three runs with a home run and a double. Levi Michael drove in three runs out of the number nine spot in the batting order. Stuart Turner collected two two-out RBI. There was some question as to who would start this contest for Chattanooga but Adrian Salcedo got the nod. He allowed two earned runs on three hits over three innings. Cole Johnson picked up the win in three perfect innings of relief. Zack Jones struck out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth. Chattanooga improved to 4-1 on the young season. MIRACLE MATTERS Fort Myers 11. Tampa 4 Box Score Ryan Eades pitched six scoreless innings and the Miracle bats came alive in Tampa. It was Eades first start in the Florida State League and he scattered five hits and two walks. Todd Van Steensel pitched two shutout frames before J.T. Chargois gave up four runs in the bottom of the ninth. Madison Boer came on to get the last two outs. A hot start saw the Miracle score five runs in the first two innings. Niko Goodrum knocked two doubles and scored three runs out of the lead-off spot. Mitch Garver joined the doubles parade with two doubles of his own while reaching base five times. Michale Quesada collected his first triple and scored two runs. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 9, Beloit 0 Box Score Felix Jorge struck out ten batters to help the Kernels improve to 5-0 this season. In seven innings of work, he surrendered just two hits and two walks. He is the fourth Kernels' starting pitcher to earn a win this season. Michael Theofanopoulos kept the shutout in order by pitching two scoreless frames to close out the game. There were a ton of offensive accolades in this one. Nick Gordon and Max Murphy collected three hits with each player knocking a triple. Pat Kelly drove in three runs as part of a two hit effort including his first home run. Six of the nine hitters in the order collected two hits or more. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Felix Jorge, Cedar Rapids Kernels Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Aaron Hicks, Rochester Red Wings TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester @ Scranton/WB (5:35 CST) – LHP Pat Dean Chattanooga- Scheduled Off Day Ft. Myers vs Tampa (9:30 AM CST) – LHP Luke Westphal Cedar Rapids vs Beloit (6:35 CST) - RHP Jared Wilson Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Monday games.

In the annals of Twins history, the legacy of Bill Smith is never going to be thought of in a positive manner. There are many dubious moments from his tenure at the helm of the Twins organization. During his first year, he had to deal with Torii Hunter, the face of the franchise, leaving via free agency and multiple-Cy Young award winner Johan Santana wanting to be traded.Hunter would head to southern California on a big contract. Santana was dealt for what amounted to be a bag of balls. Deolis Guerra, Carlos Gomez, Philip Humber, and Kevin Mulvey were sent from New York to Minnesota. None of these players made a significant impact on the Twins big league roster even though Gomez has developed into one of the best players in the National League. The other big deal at the beginning of Smith's tenure was between Minnesota and Tampa Bay. Hunter's departure left a hole in the lineup and the Twins hunted down former top draft pick Delmon Young. It cost the Twins a hefty price in the form of Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett, who helped Tampa win the 2008 American League pennant. Even though these two trades have come to epitomize some of Smith's poor skills as general manager, the Twins are starting to see some positives from the Smith era. Smith's second MLB draft as general manager took place in June 2009. The Twins had the 22nd pick in the first round and used it to select college pitcher Kyle Gibson--Mike Trout was taken three picks later but a ton of other team's passed over him as well. Gibson has developed into a nice asset at the major league level and there's hope that new pitching coach Neil Allen will be able to help Gibson refine his change-up. Minnesota's biggest steal in the draft might have been their eighth-round pick a college shortstop by the name of Brian Dozier. Dozier has turned himself into one of the best second baseman in the American League and the Twins are committed to him being a cornerstone as the team tries to rebuild. According to Baseball Reference, Dozier has been worth more WAR than all but two first round picks (Trout and Stephen Strasburg). Drafting Dozier and Gibson weren't the only major additions during that calendar year. Minnesota was active on the international market, signing Miguel Sano ($3.15 million), Jorge Polanco ($750,000), and Max Kepler ($775,000). Each one of these players has found his way onto top prospect lists and all three could end up being significant contributors at the big league level. Sano has been highly thought of since signing with the Twins and he should make his major league debut this season. He's one of the best power-hitting prospects in the minor leagues and the Twins are counting on him to make a significant impact in the coming years. Polanco continues to shine on the defensive side of the ball while showing he could have the skills to stick at shortstop for the long run. His offensive numbers continue to improve and last season he became the youngest player since Joe Mauer to debut with the Twins. Kepler still has a lot of potential and Minnesota has been patiently waiting for him to have a breakout season. He's getting closer to the higher minors and he's already on the 40-man roster. If everything breaks right, he could turn into a very good everyday player with a wide-ranging skill set. Reflecting back on the Bill Smith years can be kind of depressing. Besides the moves mentioned above, there was the JJ Hardy trade(s), the Matt Capps deal, and the signing of Tsuyoshi Nishioka. It's starting to look more and more like his additions to the minor leagues during the 2009 season might provide a little light at the end of a very dark tunnel. For more from Cody Christie make sure to follow him on Twitter @NoDakTwinsFan and to read his other work at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com Click here to view the article

In the annals of Twins history, the legacy of Bill Smith is never going to be thought of in a positive manner. There are many dubious moments from his tenure at the helm of the Twins organization. During his first year, he had to deal with Torii Hunter, the face of the franchise, leaving via free agency and multiple Cy Young award winner Johan Santana wanting to be traded. Hunter would head to southern California on a big contract. Santana was dealt for what amounted to be a bag of balls. Deolis Guerra, Carlos Gomez, Philip Humber, and Kevin Mulvey were sent from New York to Minnesota. None of these players made a significant impact on the Twins big league roster even though Gomez has developed into one of the best players in the National League. The other big deal at the beginning of Smith's tenure was between Minnesota and Tampa Bay. Hunter's departure left a hole in the line-up and the Twins hunted down former top draft pick Delmon Young. It cost the Twins a hefty price in the form of Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett, who would help Tampa win the 2008 American League pennant. Even though these two trades have come to epitomize some of Smith's poor skills as general manager, the Twins are starting to see some positives out from the Smith era. Smith's second MLB draft as general manager took place in June 2009. The Twins had the 22nd pick in the first round and used it to select college pitcher Kyle Gibson (Mike Trout was taken three picks later but a ton of other team's passed over him as well). Gibson has developed into a nice asset at the major league level and there's hope that new pitching coach Neil Allen will be able to help Gibson refine his change-up. Minnesota's biggest steal in the draft might have been their eighth round pick a college shortstop by the name of Brian Dozier. Dozier has turned himself into one of the best second baseman in the American League and the Twins are committed to him being a cornerstone as the team tries to rebuild. According to Baseball Reference, Dozier has been worth more WAR than all but two first round picks (Trout and Stephen Strasburg). Drafting Dozier and Gibson weren't the only major additions during this calendar year. Minnesota was active on the international market by signing Miguel Sano ($3.15 million), Jorge Polanco ($750,000), and Max Kepler ($775,000). Each one of these players has found their way onto top prospect lists and all three could end up being significant contributors at the big league level. Sano has been highly thought of since signing with the Twins and he should make his major league debut this season. He's one of the best power hitting prospects in the minor leagues and the Twins are counting on him to make a significant impact over in the coming years. Polanco continues to shine on the defensive side of the ball while showing he could have the skills to stick at the shortstop position for the long run. His offensive numbers continue to improve and last season he became the youngest player since Joe Mauer to debut with the Twins. Kepler still has a lot of potential and Minnesota has been patiently waiting for him to have a breakout season. He's getting closer to the higher minors and he's already on the 40-man roster. If everything breaks right, he could turn into a very good everyday player with a wide-ranging skill set. Reflecting back on the Bill Smith years can be kind of depressing. Besides the moves mentioned above, there was the JJ Hardy trade(s), the Matt Capps deal, and the signing of Tsuyoshi Nishioka. It's starting to look more and more like his additions to the minor leagues during the 2009 season might provide a little light at the end of a very dark tunnel. For more from Cody Christie make sure to follow him on Twitter @NoDakTwinsFan and to read his other work at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com

As the beginning of the 2015 season quickly approaches, the Twins marketing team has been hard at work. How do you try to sell a team that has lost 90 games for four consecutive seasons? Twins single game tickets went on sale last weekend and one thing that seems to get fans in the door is offering some unique giveaways. This year the club will offer such items as a Vintage Twins Bobblehead, a Brian Dozier Bobblehead, a Torii Hunter Adult Jersey, and a Fur Bomber Cap.One name not featured in a promotion so far is the team's highest paid player, Joe Mauer. This got me wondering... Who is currently the Twins most marketable player? Joe Mauer With multiple batting titles and an MVP under his belt, the Twins $23 million man gets most of the attention at the national level. Topps Trading Cards has a very Mauer feel when it came to their 2015 Series 1 product inserts. When MLB Network does their annual "Face of MLB" contest, Mauer is always penciled in as the nominee for the Twins. Even when the All-Star Game was in Minneapolis last year, Mauer served as the local ambassador for the game even though he wasn't elected to play in the contest. However, Mauer can be a very polarizing figure among Twins fans. He's failed to live up to some fans' high expectations of him, and his huge contract makes it even harder for some fans to accept him. There have been injuries and poor play for a few seasons so it seems like his local marketing value has declined even if he's the most nationally known member of the Twins. Brian Dozier Dozier's emergence over the last couple of seasons has quickly made him a fan favorite. When the club sent out their season ticket renewals last fall, a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Dozier accompanied each information packet. He took some of the national spotlight during last year's Home Run Derby at Target Field. Now the club is ready to immortalize him with his first bobblehead doll. Everything seems to be working in Dozier's favor. Even with the HR Derby experience last year, Brian Dozier isn't a national name. Dozier is getting a lot of love from the Twins marketing team and it's easy to see why with his infectious smile and outgoing personality. With a Dozier long-term contract extension expected to be in place before Opening Day, it seems likely for him to become a central figure in the local marketing campaigns. Torii Hunter It was hard to ignore the cheers and the lines for Mr. Torii Hunter at TwinsFest. He's signed for a one-year deal but he sounds like a man who would like to finish out his career in a Twins uniform. There has to be a desire in both parties for Hunter to continue playing but that's a full season away at this point. Fans are excited to welcome back the player who was the most marketable name during this generation's best winnings years. Many younger Twins fans might not remember the last time Hunter played in Minnesota. The names of Mauer and Dozier are out there and a little more familiar. It's also hard to know how long Hunter will be around in Minnesota. The front office will try to ride him out through the waning years of his career and hope his smile brings enough fans through the gates to pay his $10.5 million contract. Glen Perkins Besides being a local kid and a two-time All-Star, Perkins can be electric on the mound. Last year the team featured Perkins in his first bobblehead and they gave away kids' jerseys with his number on them. In Target Field's biggest moment of the year, Perkins was on the mound closing out the game for the American League. He's been a vocal leader in the clubhouse and he and his wife do plenty of good things in and around the community. Relief pitchers don't tend to get a lot of hype but it helps that Perkins is in a closing role. He is under contract through 2017 and he's spent his entire career in the organization. There will be younger relief pitchers making their way to Target Field over the next couple of seasons so it will be interesting to see how long he serves in the closer's role. Byron Buxton Buxton hasn't even played a game at the big league level but he might be the second best-known name on this list. For most of the last two seasons, he's been considered the best prospect in all of baseball or at least close to the top of the list. Casual fans know his name because it has been out there for multiple years and it's easy to get excited when he gets compared to some of the best players in the game. Last year was disastrous for Buxton as he suffered through multiple injures and couldn't stay on the field. He is still young and hopes are still high that he'll be able to overcome the nightmare season of 2014. He's been on the cover of magazines, books, trading card packages, and his face might become even more recognizable if he could put together all that the talent scouts have seen in him. Now's your chance to VOTE. Click here to take a quick poll about the Twins most marketable player. Follow me on Twitter for results For more from Cody Christie make sure to follow him on Twitter @NoDakTwinsFan and to read his other work at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com Click here to view the article

As the beginning of the 2015 season quickly approaches, the Twins marketing team has been hard at work. How do you try and sell a team that has lost 90 games for four consecutive seasons? Twins single game tickets went on sale last weekend and one thing that seems to get fans in the door is offering some unique giveaways. This year the club will offer such items as a Vintage Twins Bobblehead, a Brian Dozier Bobblehead, a Torii Hunter Adult Jersey, and a Fur Bomber cap. One noticeable name not featured in a promotion so far is the team's highest paid player, Joe Mauer. This got me wondering... Who is currently the Twins most marketable player? Joe Mauer With multiple batting titles and an MVP under his belt, the Twins $23 million man gets most of the attention from the national level. Topps Trading Cards has a very Mauer feel when it came to their 2015 Series 1 product inserts. When MLB Network does their annual "Face of MLB" contest, Mauer is always penciled in as the nominee for the Twins. Even when the All-Star Game was in Minneapolis last year, Mauer served as the local ambassador for the game even though he wasn't elected to play in the contest. However, Mauer can be a very polarizing figure among Twins fans. He's failed to live up to some fans high expectations of him and his huge contract makes it even harder for fans to accept him. There have been injuries and poor play for a few seasons so it seems like his local marketing has declined even if he's the most nationally known member of the Twins. Brian Dozier Dozier's emergence over the last couple of seasons has quickly made him a fan favorite. When the club sent out their season ticket renewals last fall, a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Dozier accompanied each information packet. He took some of the national spotlight during last year's Home Run Derby at Target Field. Now the club is ready to immortalize him with his first bobblehead doll. Everything seems to be working in Dozier's favor. Even with the HR Derby experience last year, the name Brian Dozier isn't a national name. Dozier is getting a lot of love from the Twins marketing team and it's easy to see why with his infectious smile and outgoing personality. With a Dozier long-term contract extension expected to be in place before Opening Day, it seems likely for him to become a central figure in the local marketing campaigns. Torii Hunter It was hard to ignore the cheers and the lines for Mr. Torii Hunter at TwinsFest. He's signed for a one-year deal but he sounds like a man that would like to finish out his career in a Twins uniform. There has to be a desire by both parties for Hunter to continue playing but that's a full season away at this point. Fans are excited to welcome back the player that was the most marketable during this generation's best winnings years. Many younger Twins fans might not remember the last time Hunter played in Minnesota. The names of Mauer and Dozier are out there and a little more familiar. It's also hard to know how long Hunter will be around in Minnesota. The front office will try and ride him out through the waning years of his career and hope his smile brings enough fans through the gates to pay his $10.5 million contract. Glen Perkins Besides being a local kid and a two-time All-Star, Perkins can be electric on the mound. Last year the team featured Perkins in his first bobblehead and they gave away kids jerseys with his number on them. In Target Field's biggest moment of the year, Perkins was on the mound closing out the game for the American League. He's been a vocal leader in the clubhouse and he and his wife do plenty of good things in and around the community. Relief pitchers don't tend to get a lot of hype but it helps that Perkins is in a closing role. His under contract through 2017 and he's spent his entire career in the organization. There will be younger relief pitchers making their way to Target Field over the next couple seasons so it will be interesting to see how long he serves in the closer's role. Byron Buxton Buxton hasn't even played a game at the big league level but he might be the second best known name on this list. For most of the last two seasons, he's been considered the best prospect in all of baseball or at least close to the top of the list. Casual fans know his name because it has been out there for multiple years and it's easy to get excited when he get compared to some of the best players in the game. Last year was disastrous for Buxton as he suffered through multiple injures and couldn't stay on the field. He is still young and hopes are still high that he'll be able to overcome the nightmare he endured throughout 2014. He's been on the cover of magazines, books, trading card packages, and his face might become even more recognizable if he could put together all of the talent scouts have seen in him. Now's your chance to VOTE. Click here to take a quick poll about the Twins most marketable player. Follow me on Twitter for results For more from Cody Christie make sure to follow him on Twitter @NoDakTwinsFan and to read his other work at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com

Twins fans made an immediate connection with Berrios after his emotional video response to being drafted by the club in the 2012 MLB Supplemental First Round. As a teenager, Berrios made fans take notice of him by dominating the rookie leagues while striking out nearly 14.5 batters per nine. There were some questions about Berrios after an up and down season with Cedar Rapids in 2013. He put many of those questions to rest in 2014 with a dominating performance across three levels of the Twins system on his way to winning the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year award. His stock rose more than any other prospect in the system last year and he now sits on the cusp of the major leagues.Age: 20 (DOB: 5/27/94) 2014 Stats (A+, AA, AAA): 12-8, 2.77 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 139.2 IP, 118 H, 38 BB, 140 K ETA: 2015 2014 Ranking: 6 What’s To Like Berrios is only 20-years old and he’s already pitched at Triple-A (even if it was only one start). His work ethic might be one of the best in the Twins organization as he has let fans glimpse into his off-season routine through his social media accounts. His personality is infectious and he should be able to make the big leagues based solely on his work ethic and talent. His fastball explodes out of his small frame and he can hit as high as 97 mph on the radar gun but usually settles in at 93-96 mph. To complement his fastball, he has a very good change-up that follows the same motion as his fastball. Last season he was able to make improvements with all of his pitches including, in part, increasing the movement. He’s also had plenty of exposure on the national stage by pitching for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic and starting last year’s Futures Game at Target Field. What’s Left To Work On One of the biggest knocks against Berrios has been his lack of height. At this point in his life, that’s something Twins fans are just going to have to deal with. Because of his lack of height, his fastball can stay on the same plane and he could run into some issues with this in the higher levels of the system. Of things Berrios can control, his secondary pitches could continue to be refined. He needs more consistency with his curve ball and that should come with more use as he moves up the ladder. With his change-up, he needs to continue to keep it down in the zone so better hitters aren’t able to make solid contact. If he can make improvements to his secondary pitches, he should be able to continue to miss bats. In the past, he’s used his fastball up in the zone to strike out batters. Over the next couple years he might have to start using it down in the zone to avoid giving up fly balls that can turn into home runs. What’s Next In 2014, it seemed likely for Berrios to pitch the entire season at Fort Myers but he dominated the Florida State League. He pitched only 40.2 innings at Double-A so that seems like the most likely starting spot for him in 2015. If he continues to pitch as well as last year, he’ll be on his way to Rochester with the expectation of him making his big league debut in the second half of 2015. Some experts question whether Berrios will end up in the bullpen or continue to be a starter. After last year’s performance and this off-season’s workout regimen, the Twins are going to give him every opportunity to stay in a starting role. Minnesota had plenty of success with another 6’0” starting pitcher named Johan Santana and fans can only hope Berrios will be close to that good. Click here to view the article

The Twins used their first three draft picks in 2010 on pitchers Alex Wimmers and Pat Dean along with shortstop Niko Goodrum. However, Eddie Rosario, the team's fourth round pick that year, has become the most highly touted prospect. The Puerto Rican outfielder signed for $200,000 and in his second season with Elizabethton, he led the Appalachian League with 21 home runs. From 2012-13 he continued to move up the ladder while showing a tremendous hit tool. While many of the Twins top prospects missed time in 2014 due to injury, Rosario's situation was more self-inflicted. Leading into the 2014 season, Rosario was suspended for 50 games after a second positive test for a drug of abuse.Age: 23 (DOB: 9/28/1991) 2014 Stats (A+/AA): .243/.286/.387, 20-2B, 3-3B, 8-HR, 40 RBI ETA: 2015 2014 Ranking: 5 What’s To Like Rosario’s hit tool has always been his ticket to the big leagues. Entering the 2014 season, he was a career .307 hitter in the minors. Last season saw a dip in his average (.243 over 346 AB) as he struggled to adjust to Double-A pitching after missing the season’s first 50 games. Even with the rough numbers, he’s still gotten on base over 34% of the time during his career. His quick hands allow him to hit the ball to all fields and he’s shown the ability at times to drive the ball. After heading back to the Arizona Fall League for the second straight year, he shined by hitting .330/.345/.410 with four doubles, two triples, 18 RBI and 10 steals. A few years after being asked to switch to second base, Rosario is back playing as an outfielder. He’s shown the ability to play all three outfield positions and his arm is strong. His flexibility to play multiple positions could help him in the long run. What’s Left To Work On One of Rosario’s calling cards has been his aggressiveness at the plate. This served him well in the lower levels of the minors but he’ll need to be able to improve his walk rate to keep his OBP higher as he moves through the system. With other stronger defensive center fielders in the system, it seems likely that he’ll have to play a corner outfield spot in Minnesota. That means he’ll have to show he can hit for power. This past season at Double-A his home run total doubled (from four to eight) in only 27 more at-bats. However, his slugging percentage dipped by 70 points. Another thing to keep an eye on is the fact that he came back from his drug suspension and for the first time in his career, didn't hit. His AFL numbers offer some promise that he might have come out of his slump but there is definitely some cause for concern. What’s Next Rosario will likely be headed back to Double-A to start next season with the assumption that he’ll move up to Triple-A at some point during the year. Minnesota’s outfield situation is a little murky so there’s a good chance he’ll make his big league debut in 2015 after being added to the 40-man roster. In the majors, he could be used at all three outfield positions but it seems likely that he’ll be slotted into a corner outfield role with Byron Buxton the likely center field option. If Rosario’s personal issues are behind him, he should get his professional career back on track in 2015. He has a great ability to hit the ball and he can use his speed to be an above average outfielder and a threat on the bases. His hit tool might be the best in the Twins system and that should be enough to get him to the major leagues. He might never win an MVP but he could make an All-Star team or two if he continues to progress. Click here to view the article

Bud Selig is out as commissioner and Rob Manfred has a variety of issues to tackle as he takes over the reins of America's pastime. One issue at the forefront is trying to find a way to speed up the pace of play for major league games. Last year the average MLB game lasted over three hours. This comes at a time of a steady decrease in run-scoring as baseball adjusts after the steroid spike around the turn of the century.Baseball wasn't meant to be this way. Recent years have seen an increase in the number of pitches batters are taking, pitching changes, mound visits and time between pitches. In just 10 years baseball players have added 29 minutes, 11 seconds of dead time per game while scoring 13.3 percent fewer runs. If that doesn't grab your attention, I don't know what will. How do the Twins rate? FanGraphs tracks "Pace," a pitcher's average time between pitches in seconds. Just four seasons ago, pitchers averaged 21.5 second between pitches. In 2014, only five Twins pitchers (Lester Oliveros, Michael Tonkin, Aaron Thompson, Caleb Thielbar, and Glen Perkins) were below this mark. Phil Hughes just missed the mark with an average of 21.7 seconds between pitches. Top 3 Pace (minimum 20 IP) 1. Caleb Thielbar 21.0 2. Glen Perkins 21.0 3. Phil Hughes 21.7 Bottom 3 Pace (minimum 20 IP) 1. Kevin Correia 25.0 2. Brian Duensing 24.1 3. Casey Fien 23.9 Minnesota's four longest games this season were all extra-inning affairs with these contests averaging four hours and 42 minutes. The club's five fastest games were all under two hours and 30 minutes. The team even had one 10-inning game in Boston that was completed in just over two and a half hours. Twins 3 Longest Games of 2014 1. May 1 vs LA Dodgers (12 innings) 5 hours 11 minutes 2. April 23 @ TB Rays (12 innings) 4 hours 48 minutes 3. September 5 vs LA Angels (10 innings) 4 hours 30 minutes Twins 3 Shortest Games of 2014 1. May 17 vs Seattle Mariners 2 hours 26 minutes 2. August 27 @ KC Royals 2 hours 27 minutes 3. June 28 @ Texas Rangers 2 hours 27 minutes Between 2000 and 2013, the Twins average time have nine inning games has increased from two hours and 56 minutes to three hours and one minute. During that stretch, the shortest average time was two hours and 37 minutes (2005). There were only two seasons during that stretch where Minnesota's average time was above the average time for MLB. Finding Solutions MLB is experimenting with a variety of solutions and the first few of these were rolled out in this year's Arizona Fall League. These included a pitch clock, batter's keeping one foot in the batter's box, no-pitch intentional walks, a 2:30 pitching change/inning change clock, and a three "time out" limit. There were mixed reviews but game times did decrease. MLB's next experimental solution will take place at Double-A and Triple-A this season. The higher levels of the minor leagues will institute pitch clocks this year in an attempt to speed up games. Specifics haven't been ironed out yet but change is in the air. If everything goes smoothly in the upper minors this season, it seems like the first major league move might be the institution of a pitch clock. This sweeping change might take a couple of seasons to make it to the big league level but it seems likely that one of the first changes under the Manfred regime will revolve around pace of play. Click here to view the article