Cody Christie

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

Bud Selig is out as commissioner and Rob Manfred has a variety of issues to tackle as he takes over the reigns of America's past-time. 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 with 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 all of the 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 of these were rolled out in this year's Arizona Fall League. Some of these solutions 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 for this yet but change is in the air. If everything goes smoothly in the upper minors this season, it seems like the first solution 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. For more from Cody Christie make sure to follow him on Twitter @NoDakTwinsFan and to read his other work at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com

Brian Dozier isn't arbitration eligible until next offseason but rumors are already starting to build about a possible extension between the second baseman and the Twins. He is under team control until 2019 when he will be coming off his age-29 season. There isn't necessarily a rush to get a deal done but a source close to the Twins said to expect an extension in place before the season's start.What would a Dozier extension look like? Last year the Cleveland Indians locked up their All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis with a $52.5 million, six-year contract. The deal also included a club option for a seventh year. If the Twins followed a similar format, they would be buying out all of Dozier's arbitration years and paying for his first couple of years of free agency. Another second baseman to recently sign an extension was Jedd Gyorko of the San Diego Padres. Gyorko signed a six-year, $35 million extension. However, he was coming off his rookie season so the deal came at an earlier point in his career than an extension for Dozier would be in his career. It seems more likely for the total dollar amount to be closer to Kipnis than to Gyorko. The Roller Coaster Ride Dozier provides an interesting case for the Twins. He's shown signs of great things but there have been some ups and downs to his offensive performance. Let's start with the good. Dozier ended the 2013 season strong and started the 2014 season on fire. 2013, second half: .253/.313/.443, 10 HR, 18 2B, 34 R, 23 BB 2014, first half: .242/.340/.436, 18 HR, 16 2B, 69 R, 52 BB In these two half seasons that's over 100 runs scored and closing in on 30 home runs. Any team in baseball would gladly take those numbers from a second baseman. The other halves surrounding these two strong performances weren't quite as good. 2013 first half: .235/.310/.386, 8 HR, 15 2B, 38 R, 28 BB 2014 second half: .244/.352/.387, 5 HR, 17 2B, 43 R, 37 BB If these two halves were combined, his OBP would still be high but his power numbers take a dip compared to the halves mentioned above. So which Dozier is the really Dozier? It's most likely that he will end up somewhere between these two extremes. ZiPS projects Dozier to hit 17 home runs with 30 doubles. His projected 86 runs scored aren't the eye-popping 112 he posted in 2014 but it's still a decent total. If he reaches his projected slash-line of .244/.321/.399, all three of those totals would be higher than his career mark. Dozier has become a fan favorite over the last couple of years and that could help him at the negotiating table. It seems likely that both sides would want to get a long-term deal in place, so don't be surprised if Dozier is "dotting his i's" before opening day. 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

Brian Dozier isn't arbitration eligible until next off-season but rumors are already starting to build about a possible extension between the second baseman and the Twins. He is under team control until 2019 when he will be coming off of his age-29 season. There isn't necessarily a rush to get a deal done but a source close to the Twins said to expect an extension in place before the season's start. What would a Dozier extension look like? Last year the Cleveland Indians locked up their All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis to $52.5 million, six-year contract. The deal also included a club option for a seventh year. If the Twins followed a similar format, they would be buying out all of Dozier's arbitration years and paying for his first couple years of free agency. Another second baseman to recently sign an extension was Jedd Gyorko of the San Diego Padres. Gyorko signed a six-year, $35 million extension. However, he was coming off of his rookie season so the deal came at an earlier point in his career than Dozier. It would seem more likely for the total dollar amount to be closer to Kipnis than to Gyorko. The Roller Coaster Ride Dozier provides an interesting case for the Twins. He's shown signs of great things but there has been some ups-and-downs to his offensive performance. Let's start with the good. Dozier ended the 2013 season strong and started the 2014 season on fire. 2013 2nd Half: .253/.313/.443, 10 HR, 18 2B, 34 R, 23 BB 2014 1st Half: .242/.340/.436, 18 HR, 16 2B, 69 R, 52 BB That's over 100 runs scored and closing in on 30 home runs. Any team in baseball would gladly take those numbers from a second baseman. The other halves surrounding these two strong performances weren't quite as good. 2013 1st Half: .235/.310/.386, 8 HR, 15 2B, 38 R, 28 BB 2014 2nd Half: .244/.352/.387, 5 HR, 17 2B, 43 R, 37 BB If these two halves were combined, his OBP would still be high but his power numbers took a dip compared to the halves mentioned above. So which Dozier is the really Dozier? It's most likely that he will end up somewhere between these two extremes. ZiPS projects Dozier to his 17 home runs with 30 doubles. His projected 86 runs scored aren't the eye-popping 112 he posted in 2014 but it's still a decent total. If he reaches his projected slash-line of .244/.321/.399, all three of those totals would be higher than his career mark. Dozier has become a fan favorite over the last couple years and that could help him at the negotiating table. It seems like both sides would like to get a long-term deal in place so don't be surprised if Dozier is "dotting his i's" before Opening Day. For more from Cody Christie make sure to follow him on Twitter @NoDakTwinsFan and to read his other work at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com

Welcome back to one of the most popular off-season series here at NoDak Twins Fan, the Worst Twins of All-Time. There have already been eight profiles of some players that played their worst while wearing a Twins uniform. Luckily most of the players went on to have careers beyond their time in Minnesota. Today's edition to the series pitch less than 52 innings for the team but he was bad enough in that time to make the list. Welcome to the dubious club, John Pacella. Pacella was drafted in the fourth round of the 1974 amateur draft by the New York Mets. He'd played his high school ball at two different schools in New York and he grew up on Long Island. His hometown team had taken a chance on him. He'd become known for his unusual pitching delivery that sometimes caused him to lose his cap after a pitch.From 1974-1979, he pitched at every level in the Mets farm system. He was younger than the average age of the other pitchers in each stop along the way. By age 20, he was pitching at Triple-A with a 7-5 record and an ERA under 4.00. His first taste of the big leagues came in 1977 as a September call-up. He pitched in three games and didn't allow an earned run while striking out one and walking two. The Mets would lose all three games he pitched in and he didn't make it back to the majors until 1979. Pacella's only full season in the big leagues came in 1980. He started the season in the bullpen before being moved into the starting rotation in June. Over 84 innings he had a 5.14 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP while striking out 68 and walking 59. His 7.3 SO/9 rate was the highest mark of his career. In the following off-season, Pacella would change teams twice as part of two different deals. The Mets sent him along with Jose Moreno to the Padres for Randy Jones, the 1976 Cy Young Award winner. He'd never play for San Diego as they would send him to the other New York organization as part of a six-player deal the next spring. His 10 innings in the Bronx were uneventful as he allowed eight earned runs and nine walks. On May 12, 1982 Pacella was sent from the Yankees with Pete Filson, Larry Milbourne, and cash to the Minnesota Twins for Roger Erickson and Butch Wynegar. His 21 games with the Twins were the second most he'd pitched in any season. Unfortunately, he allowed 48 runs (42 ER) across 51.2 innings for a robust 7.32 ERA. His SO/9 rate dipped to 3.5 and he walked 17 more batters than he struck out. Even with the small sample size of 51.2 innings, FanGraphs WAR ranking have Pacella (-1.6 WAR) as the second worst pitcher in team history. Baseball Reference thinks even less of his time in Minnesota as they say he was worth a -1.9 WAR. According to runs better than average (RAA), he was 25 runs worse than an average player. Runs better than replacement level (RAR) says that he was worth -20 runs compared to a replacement level player. Pacella's time in Minnesota would be over at year's end. He was dealt to the Texas Rangers for Len Whitehouse and they would release him in April of the next year. That July he signed with the Baltimore Orioles and he pitched in six game with them before being released. He'd make it back to the big leagues one more time in 1986 as a member of the Tigers. In five games, he allowed five earned runs. Over the next couple seasons, he tried to make it back to the majors with a variety of teams. However, he ended up stuck at Triple-A and he moved on after the 1988 season. Later he managed independent teams in the Frontier League before joining the staff at a baseball training facility called "Big League Baseball School." For more from Cody Christie make sure to follow him on Twitter @NoDakTwinsFan and to read his other work at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com

Baseball is in the in-between time before players head to spring training and after most of the off-season moves have been made. This gives me some time to jump back into one of the more popular off-season series here at NoDak Twins Fan. Lots of people can debate who was the best player in an organization's history. For Minnesota, the argument can be made in favor of Harmon Killebrew, Kirby Puckett, Rod Carew, and a few others. It's fun to look at the other side of the coin and examine who some of the worst players were to lace up their cleats in Minnesota. There have been over a half dozen players covered so far in the series and there will be more to come in the future. For now, enjoy the latest installment in the "Worst Twins of All-Time Series." ---------- Houston Jimenez began his professional career as a 16-year old in the Mexican League. The Chicago Cubs would give him an opportunity to play in the Florida State League as a 17-year old but he struggled to hit .215 with a .289 slugging percentage. He drew over 100 walks in 446 at-bats to give him an impressive .366 OBS. Over the next five seasons he would spend most of his playing time in Mexico. The White Sox organization gave him a brief taste of Triple-A in 1978 but his 13 game try-out resulted in a .220 batting average and very little power. Jimenez signed with the Twins as an international free agent at the end of October in 1980. Half a year later he would be sold back to his Mexican League team. He would end up back in the Twins organization during July 1982. Before the end of June in 1983, he would debut in Minnesota and he began to split playing time with Ron Washington at shortstop. . His rookie campaign didn't go perfectly. Over 86 at-bats across 36 games, he hit .174/.207/.256 with six extra-base hits. The next year he would make it into over 100 games and his batting numbers didn't improve all that much. His batting average jumped 27 points but his slugging percentage dipped nine points. Over 409 plate appearances in Minnesota, he hit .195/.231/.247 with 18 extra-base hits. On the defensive side of the ball, Jimenez also had some flaws. All of his appearances as a Twin came at shortstop. His fielding percentage was under .970 in each season. He committed 22 errors across 566 chances while playing a defensive position where he was probably a little over-matched. For his Twins career, Baseball Reference has him with a combined -1.2 WAR. His hitting was so bad runs batting (Rbat) was -37 worse than the average player was as a hitter. As far as wins above average (WAA) he cost the Twins 2.7 wins over a replacement level player. FanGraphs ranks his WAR even lower with a -1.5 mark over two Twins seasons. Jimenez wouldn't make it back to the big leagues until the 1987 season and this was after the Twins released him. He combined to play in 16 games for the Pirates and Indians organizations from 1987-88, In that time he collected one hit over 27 at-bats. Even though his big league career was over, he would continue to play baseball for the next decade. From 1993-2001, Jimenez played seasons with multiple teams in the Mexican League. He was 43-years old in his last professional game and he was over 14 years older than the average age of the other hitters in the league. While still being an active player, he took over managerial duties and his second career had begun. From 1999-2006, he managed multiple teams throughout the Mexican League. He joined the Rockies minor league system and served at two different levels. he got elected to the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013. He was one of Mexico's coaches in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and he currently serves as manager of Puebla, where he began his career. For more from Cody Christie make sure to follow him on Twitter @NoDakTwinsFan and to read his other work at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com

In the doldrums of the off-season there can be some points where there isn't a lot happening in Twins Territory. It seems as if the front office it done making any major moves. Some of the players headed out on the Twins Caravan at the beginning of the week and Twins Fest is slowly approaching. Two off-seasons ago I ventured out into a series on the "Worst Twins of All-Time." This can be an entertaining look into some of the worst players to ever suit up in a Twins uniform. Here is a rundown of all of the players that have been covered so far in the "Worst Twins of All-Time Series" with links back to the original articles: Butch Huskey Terry Felton Scott Klingenbeck Matt Walbeck Dave McCarty Ron Davis Alex Ochoa was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the third round of the 1991 amateur draft. He was taken out of Miami Lakes High School in Florida but he would never play in a game for the Orioles. Near the trade deadline in 1995, he was sent from the Orioles to the Mets organization in a multi-player trade that involved Bobby Bonilla. Baseball America thought highly of Ochoa as they ranked him in their top 45 prospects before the 1994-1996 seasons. He hadn't done too bad in the minors hitting .301/.355/.437 with Baltimore's Double-A affiliate. His numbers dipped a little at Triple-A but it was still enough to let him debut in 1995 as a 23-year old. Over the next three seasons, he'd play 206 games in a Mets uniform as he combined to hit .273/.320/.386 with 44 extra-base hits. During the 1997 off-season, he was sent from New York to Minnesota for Rich Becker. Both players were roughly the same age and neither had shown a ton of promise at the big league level. The teams might have been hoping that a change of scenery would help both players. Ochoa would play one season in a Twins uniform and it was his worst at the big league level. He played 94 games and hit .257/.288/.353. It was the only time in his entire career where he had an on-base percentage under .300. His defense was also terrible as he was charged with four errors in only 74 games in the outfield (.969 fielding percentage). According to FanGraphs, he has the fourth worst WAR for any position player in Twins history. Other numbers show he was bad during his Twins tenure. By looking at runs from fielding (Rfield), he was -14 runs worse than average. Runs above replacement level (RAR) put him at -19 runs worse than a replacement level player. Baseball Reference puts his offensive WAR at -0.5 and his defensive WAR at -1.6. Almost a year to the day, Ochoa was on the move again and his time with the Twins was over. He was off to the Brewers where he'd spend the 1999 season. During the rest of his career, he'd spend time with the Brewers, Reds, Rockies, and Angels. He ended his career as a .279/.344/.422 hitter. Ochoa came back to the Metrodome during the 2002 ALCS as a member of the Angels. He wouldn't collect a hit in the series across four plate appearances but he did score two runs. Anaheim went on to win the title and his last big league at-bat came in the World Series. Ochoa's baseball career wasn't done after he collected his World Series ring. He would spent the next six seasons playing professionally in the Japanese Leagues and he made some offensive improvements. He'd hit .289/.350/.444 while averaging over 16 home runs per season. His defensive numbers were also improved. In 2007, he came back to the States briefly and he joined the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate. The twilight of his career didn't go perfectly. Over 24 games, he batted .138/.174/.149 with one extra-base hit. He was released because of poor performance and headed back to Japan. Even after his poor performance with the Red Sox organization, the team liked something they saw with him. He was named an assistant coach for the Red Sox at the beginning of 2009. In 2010, he served as a special assistant in the Red Sox baseball operations department. Since then he has served in multiple capacities for the organization including being the first-base coach on the 2012 Major League staff of Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine. This past off-season he worked with Stephen Drew and Kendrys Morales as they both waited until after June's Draft to sign a contract. They were working out six days a week at their agents sports training institute in South Florida. He led them through an "intense spring training" routine to prepare them for the season. Morales would eventually sign with Minnesota. Ochoa has made a career out of playing and coaching baseball. However, he time in Minnesota was some of the worst baseball of his career. For more from Cody Christie make sure to follow him on Twitter @NoDakTwinsFan and to read his other work at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com

Near the end of last season, the Twins featured a trio of players on the team's magazine cover and dubbed them "The First Wave." Danny Santana, Kennys Vargas, and Oswaldo Arcia all made big impacts at the big league level. Even though Arcia played in almost 100 games in 2013, he's actually the youngest of the three who were all in their age 23 season last year.Each of these three players will have a role in the Twins getting back to playing winning baseball. This makes it interesting to consider which player could end up providing the most value in 2015. According to Baseball Reference, these three combined for a 5.1 WAR last season. Santana ranked third on the position player side with 3.9 WAR, behind Brian Dozier (5.2 WAR) and Trevor Plouffe (4.0). Vargas (0.7 WAR) finished slightly ahead of Arcia (0.5 WAR). According to FanGraphs, this trio combined for a 4.5 WAR last season. Santana's 3.2 WAR again ranked third on the team behind Dozier and Plouffe. Arcia ranked slightly higher with a 0.9 WAR and Vargas was a little lower with a 0.4 WAR. There will be some changes for the 2015 campaign. Santana is expected to start the season as the team's everyday shortstop. Many also expect his offensive numbers to decline to align closer to his minor league track record. In the minors he was a career .273/.317/.391 hitter. Those numbers exploded at the big league level and he ended the year batting .319/.353/.472. Arcia dealt with some back issues over the final two months of the regular season and now he is suffering from back problems in the Venezuelan Winter League. He is always going to be a liability on the defensive side of the ball so his value comes from his offensive skills. However fans have to be concerned with his ability to stay healthy. Like Arcia, Vargas isn't expected to provide a lot of value with his defense. He will occasionally fill in at first base but the majority of his at-bats are projected to be as designated hitter. Other players like Joe Mauer, Torii Hunter, and Josmil Pinto will also need some time at DH so this could mean fewer chances for Vargas. On FanGraphs site, they have already posted the 2015 Steamer projections for each player: Arcia (130 Games): .258/.320/.469, 24 HR, 16 2B, 3 3B, 65 R (1.9 WAR) Santana (113 Games): .261/.299/.371, 7 HR, 23 2B, 5 3B, 59 R, 18 SB (1.6 WAR) Vargas (122 Games): .250/.311/.427, 20 HR, 22 2B, 1 3B, 60 R (0.9 WAR) There are a few things I question about the above totals. I don't think Arcia will play in 130 games because he has never done that in his professional career. It also seems as though his back is going to be a continual problem. Santana's games played seems a little low. He's played over 120 games in each of the last three seasons. For Vargas, the numbers seem close to right but I wouldn't be surprised if he played in fewer than 122 games. By season's end, I believe Santana will end up with the higher WAR. His offensive numbers might dip but he will be playing a premium defensive position and this will add to his overall value. There are questions about Arcia's ability to stay healthy and Vargas doesn't provide any defensive value. Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Which player do you think will provide more value to the Twins in 2015? 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

Near the end of last season, the Twins featured a trio of players on the Twins magazine cover and dubbed them "The First Wave." Danny Santana, Kennys Vargas, and Oswaldo Arcia all made big impacts on the big league level. Even though Arcia played in almost 100 games in 2013, he's actually the youngest of the three who were all in their age 23 season last year. Each of these three players will have a role in the Twins getting back to playing winning baseball. This makes it interesting to consider which player could end up providing the most value in 2015. According to Baseball Reference, these three players combined for a 5.1 WAR last season. Santana ranked third on the entire team with a 3.9 WAR behind Brian Dozier (5.2 WAR) and Trevor Plouffe (4.0). Vargas (0.7 WAR) finished slightly ahead of Arcia (0.5 WAR). According to FanGraphs, this trio combined for a 4.5 WAR last season. Santana's 3.2 WAR again ranked third on the team behind Dozier and Plouffe. Arcia ranked slightly higher with a 0.9 WAR and Vargas was a little lower with a 0.4 WAR. There will be some changes for the 2015 campaign. Santana is expected to start the season as the team's everyday shortstop. Many also expect his offensive numbers to decline to get closer to his minor league track record. In the minors he was a career .273/.317/.391 hitter. Those numbers exploded at the big league level and he ended the year batting .319/.353/.472. Arcia dealt with some back issues over the final two months of the regular season and now he is suffering from back problems in the Venezuelan Winter League. He is always going to be a liability on the defensive side of the ball so his value comes from his offensive skills. However fans have to be concerned with his ability to stay healthy. Like Arcia, Vargas isn't expected to provide a lot of value with his defense. He will occasionally fill-in at first base but the majority of his at-bats are projected to be as a designated hitter. Other players like Joe Mauer, Torii Hunter, and Josmil Pinto will also need some time at DH so this could mean fewer chances for Vargas. On FanGraphs site, they have already posted the 2015 Steamer projections for each player: Arcia (130 Games): .258/.320/.469, 24 HR, 16 2B, 3 3B, 65 R (1.9 WAR) Santana (113 Games): .261/.299/.371, 7 HR, 23 2B, 5 3B, 59 R, 18 SB (1.6 WAR) Vargas (122 Games): .250/.311/.427, 20 HR, 22 2B, 1 3B, 60 R (0.9 WAR) There are a few things I question about the above totals. I don't think Arcia will play in 130 games because he has never done that in his professional career. It also seems like his back is going to be a continuous problem. Santana's games played seems a little low. He's played over 120 games in each of the last three seasons. For Vargas, the numbers seem close to right but I wouldn't be surprised if he played in fewer than 122 games. By season's end, I believe Santana will end up with the higher WAR. His offensive numbers might dip but he will be playing a premium defensive position and this will add to his overall value. There are questions about Arcia's ability to stay healthy and Vargas doesn't provide any defensive value. Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Which player do you think will provide more value to the Twins in 2015? For more from Cody Christie make sure to follow him on Twitter @NoDakTwinsFan and to read his other work at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com

This year was going to be tough. The writers of the BBWAA have to narrow a stacked ballot down to the ten most worthy names. There are going to be some worthy candidates who aren't elected and some might even fall off the ballot. That's what happens when writers are limited in how many names they can have on the ballot.I am a member of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance and a different approach was taken this year to avoid the roster crunch. Members were asked to make a simple "Yes" or "No" vote in relation to every man on the ballot. The results for my ballot were 13 names but I will pick out the top 10 names I would have put on my ballot had I been limited to that number. My official ballot (in alphabetical order) Jeff BagwellCraig BiggioBarry BondsRoger ClemensRandy JohnsonEdgar MartinezPedro MartinezMike PiazzaTim RainesJohn SmoltzIt seems likely that a minimum of three players will be elected when the official results are announced on Tuesday afternoon. (Update: they've been announced.) Johnson and (Pedro) Martinez are first -time nominees and should both be locks as inductees. Biggio came painfully close last year and he should be able to pick up the necessary votes to be enshrined this year. Bagwell could get closer and Raines should get a bump but I don't know if either will have enough support. As I've said in previous years, it is clear that Bonds and Clemens were on their way to Hall-of- Fame careers before their steroid use. Piazza is the best hitting catcher of all time and he deserves to be in. Smoltz was a great starting pitcher and a great closer. (Edgar) Martinez was one of the best hitters of his era and a trailblazer at the designated hitter position. My other "Yes" Votes Mike MussinaCurt SchillingAlan TrammellMussina won more games during his playing career than any pitcher besides Greg Maddux, an inductee last year. Mussina hasn't had a ton of support but his candidacy will start to gather steam in the years to come. Schilling is one of the best postseason starting pitchers of all-time and he is the all-time leader in strike/walk ratio. I didn't have enough spots on my ballot this year but I suspect Schilling will be elected in the next handful of years. Trammell is in his final year on the ballot and I became more convinced of his place in history over the last year. He won't get elected this year but somewhere down the line he could be added through the Veteran's Committee. Now it's your turn. Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Who would be on your ballot? Should the writers be able to vote for more than ten players? 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