Steve Lein

Ricky Nolasco was on the mound for the Twins on Sunday afternoon and gave them arguably his best start in a Minnesota uniform, going seven innings and allowing just one run against the defending World Champions. Unfortunately for the visiting team, those pesky Royals wouldn’t go down without a fight. Glen Perkins blew his first save opportunity of the 2016 season and in extra innings an errant pickoff throw and wild pitch from Trevor May brought home the winning run. The Twins head north for their home opener tomorrow against the Chicago White Sox and will send Kyle Gibson to the mound, still looking for their first win of 2016. In the minors on Sunday afternoon all four Twins affiliates were in action. Rochester got standout pitching performances from one current top pitching prospect and one (relatively) former one in a victory, Chattanooga and Fort Myers held late leads but fared much like the Twins in the final scores, and Cedar Rapids looked to remain undefeated on the young season. To find out how it all went down, keep reading! Ricky Nolasco was on the mound for the Twins on Sunday afternoon and gave them arguably his best start in a Minnesota uniform, going seven innings and allowing just one run against the defending World Champions. Unfortunately for the visiting team, those pesky Royals wouldn’t go down without a fight. Glen Perkins blew his first save opportunity of the 2016 season and in extra innings an errant pickoff throw and wild pitch from Trevor May brought home the winning run. The Twins head north for their home opener tomorrow against the Chicago White Sox and will send Kyle Gibson to the mound, still looking for their first win of 2016. In the minors on Sunday afternoon all four Twins affiliates were in action. Rochester got standout pitching performances from one current top pitching prospect and one (relatively) former one in a victory, Chattanooga and Fort Myers held late leads but fared much like the Twins in the final scores, and Cedar Rapids looked to remain undefeated on the young season. To find out how it all went down, keep reading! RED WINGS REPORT Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 1, Rochester 4 Box Score Jose Berrios took the mound for the Red Wings in their home opener at Frontier Field for his first start of the 2016 season. He was opposed as a starter by old friend Anthony Swarzak for the RailRiders. Berrios was effectively wild as he finished five innings and picked up the win, allowing one run on three hits, four walks and two hit batters while striking out nine. He threw 90 pitches with 53 going for strikes. The one run allowed came in the second inning after a leadoff single was followed by a double for an early 1-0 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lead. Berrios then issued his first walk of the game to another old friend, Chris Parmelee, before getting a strikeout and two fly outs around another walk to escape with limited damage. Berrios would strike out two in the third, three more in the fourth, and two in the fifth around a few more walks before his day was done. Rochester took the lead for good in the third inning after loading the bases with nobody out. Buck Britton delivered a two-run single and Jorge Polanco followed with a run-scoring single of his own to make it 3-1. They added an insurance run in the sixth inning as Wilfredo Tovar singled in Adam Brett Walker, who led off the inning with a single of his own. The Red Wings wound up not needing that run though as Alex Meyer came on in relief of Berrios and finished the game’s final four innings picking up the rare three-plus inning save in the process. He allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out four including the final hitter of the game for the home opener exclamation point. Walker led the offense on the day going 3-4 with a run scored and a double out of the sixth spot in the lineup. Tovar was 2-3 with a run scored and the RBI. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 5, Biloxi 8 Box Score Down 2-1 going into the seventh inning, Chattanooga took the lead after a bases- clearing double off the bat of Danial Palka to make the score 5-2. An errant throw from the shortstop on the play ended up in the Lookouts dugout, sending Palka across the plate for the fourth run on the play. Left-handed reliever Mike Strong, who was in the running for the final bullpen spot on the Twins in spring training, came on to protect a two-run lead in the bottom of the eighth, but was greeted by back-to-back-to-back doubles that tied the game at five. He was able to get two outs after that before a walk and a single to make the score 6-5 ended his day. Brandon Peterson came on for the final out, but a double brought in the two inherited runners before he got out of the inning. Aaron Slegers made the start for Chattanooga and put in a quality effort. In six innings, he allowed two-earned runs on six hits and three walks, with three strikeouts. The two runs allowed came in the second inning after two doubles and two singles from four straight batters. Slegers’ line was helped by inducing double plays in each of his innings except the first, for a total of five on the day. The Lookouts offense got multiple-hit efforts form Zach Granite (3-5, R), Palka (2-5, R, 2B, 3 RBI), Travis Harrison (2-2, R, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 BB’s), and Engelb Vielma (2-4, R). MIRACLE MATTERS Fort Myers 3, Bradenton 4 (10 innings) Box Score The Miracle took the early lead in the first inning after Tanner English led off the game with a single and later scored on a single from Alex Real. English was moved into scoring position on a double by Nick Gordon. They went up 2-0 in the fifth inning behind the bats of the same players. Gordon smacked his second double of the game to start the frame, and scored on a Real sac fly. Unfortunately they also ended the inning with the bases loaded, unable to do any more damage. Right-hander Keaton Steele was on the mound for Fort Myers in his first start of the 2016 season and was fantastic through the first five innings. He retired the first eight hitters of the game before issuing a walk, and went 1-2-3 in each of the first, second and fifth innings. It was the sixth inning before the Marauders were able to muster any threats, and it came after Steele had retired the first two hitters of that inning. A single and double made the score 2-1 and Steele was lifted for Raul Fernandez who struck out the final hitter of the inning to keep the lead intact. Fort Myers went up 3-1 in the top of the seventh after a one-out bases-loaded walk to Chad Christensen, but a double-play ball ended their efforts. Fernandez remained in the game and allowed one run in the bottom half to make the score 3-2 heading into the eighth. The score remained 3-2 despite opportunities for the Miracle in each of their eighth and ninth inning at-bats, and the failure to capitalize again would come back to haunt them. Trevor Hildenberger was brought on for the save opportunity in the ninth, but a relay throw from Gordon into third on a triple sailed past the third baseman allowing the tying run to score and sent the game to extra innings. Hildenberger stayed in the game for the 10th, but another error from his defense put the game-winning run in scoring position and Bradenton did not fail with the opportunity they were handed. A single off the bat of Connor Joe brought home the come-from-behind,walk-off winner for the Marauders and evened each team’s record in the Florida State League at 2-2. Steele finished 5.2 innings in the game, allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks, while striking out two. Yorman Landa pitched a scoreless inning of relief, allowing one hit and striking out two. The blown save and loss were Hildenberger’s first of each on the year. The Miracle offense got a standout game from top prospect Nick Gordon, who finished 4-6 with a run scored and three doubles. Real was 3-3 with 2 RBI and a walk. Ryan Walker also added two hits to the effort. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 3, Quad City 2 Box Score Like their high-A brothers, Cedar Rapids went into the tenth inning on Sunday afternoon after blowing a late lead, and needed some heroics to remain undefeated on the season. The Kernels got a strong start from Sam Clay who finished six innings. He allowed one unearned run on five hits and two walks. He struck out seven including the side in the first inning. Cedar Rapids took the lead 1-0 in the top of the sixth when Rafael Valera led off the frame with a double. He scored on a single from Max Murphy. An error on a pick-off throw from Clay allowed the unearned run to score in the bottom half of the sixth and the game remained tied until the ninth as C.K. Irby pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts of his own. Two errors by the River Bandits defense brought in the go-ahead run for the Kernels in the top-half and Nick Anderson was summoned from the bullpen for the save opportunity. He was greeted by a triple that all but guaranteed free baseball. A batter later that guarantee was cashed in with a game-tying single. Anderson escaped with the game tied after a ground ball and two fly outs. In the top of the tenth, a Lamonte Wade walk and a Murphy hit-by-pitch put the go-ahead run in scoring position, and Chris Paul knocked it in with a two-out single to center field. Anderson stayed in the game looking to pick up the win, and after allowing two singles to start the inning got a double play ball for the first two outs and struck out the final batter with the tying run on third to preserve the zero in the loss column. Paul went 4-5 on the day with a run scored and an RBI, and Wade added two hits and two walks, including a triple to pace the Kernels offense. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Jose Berrios, Rochester Red Wings (W, 5.0IP, 3 H’s, 1 ER, 4 BB’s, 9 K’s) Hitter of the Day – Nick Gordon, Fort Myers Miracle (4-6, R, 3 2B’s) MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Lehigh Valley @ Rochester (5:35PM CST) – LHP Logan Darnell (0-0, -.-- ERA) Chattanooga @ Biloxi (6:40PM CST) – RHP Ryan Eades (0-0, -.-- ERA) Brevard County @ Fort Myers (6:05PM CST) – LHP Randy Rosario (0-0, -.-- ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Kane County (6:30 PM CST) – RHP Dereck Rodriguez (0-0, -.-- ERA) Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games. View full article

Ricky Nolasco was on the mound for the Twins on Sunday afternoon and gave them arguably his best start in a Minnesota uniform, going seven innings and allowing just one run against the defending World Champions. Unfortunately for the visiting team, those pesky Royals wouldn’t go down without a fight. Glen Perkins blew his first save opportunity of the 2016 season and in extra innings an errant pickoff throw and wild pitch from Trevor May brought home the winning run. The Twins head north for their home opener tomorrow against the Chicago White Sox and will send Kyle Gibson to the mound still looking for their first win of 2016. In the minors on Sunday afternoon all four Twins affiliates were in action. Rochester got standout pitching performances from one current top pitching prospect and one (relatively) former one in a victory, Chattanooga and Fort Myers held late leads but fared much like the Twins in the final scores, and Cedar Rapids looked to remain undefeated on the young season. To find out how it all went down, keep reading! RED WINGS REPORT Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 1, Rochester 4 Box Score Jose Berrios took the mound for the Red Wings in their home opener at Frontier Field for his first start of the 2016 season. He was opposed as a starter by old friend Anthony Swarzak for the RailRiders. Berrios was effectively wild as he finished five innings and picked up the win, allowing one run on three hits, four walks and two hit-batters while striking out nine. He threw ninety pitches with fifty-three going for strikes. The one run allowed came in the second inning after a leadoff single was followed by a double for an early 1-0 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lead. Berrios would then issue his first walk of the game to another old friend, Chris Parmelee, before getting a strikeout and two flyouts around another walk to escape with limited damage. Berrios would strike out two in third, three more in the fourth, and two in the fifth around a few more walks before his day was done. Rochester took the lead for good in the third inning after loading the bases with nobody out. Buck Britton delivered a two run single and Jorge Polanco followed with a run-scoring single of his own to make it 3-1. They would add an insurance run in the sixth inning as Wilfredo Tovar singled in Adam Brett Walker, who led off the inning with a single of his own. The Red Wings wouldn’t end up needing that run though as Alex Meyer came on in relief of Berrios and finished the game’s final four innings picking up the rare three-plus inning save in the process. He allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out four including the final hitter of the game for the home opener exclamation point. Walker led the offense on the day going 3-4 with a run scored and a double out of the sixth spot in the lineup. Tovar was 2-3 with a run scored and the RBI. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 5, Biloxi 8 Box Score Down 2-1 going into the seventh inning, Chattanooga took the lead after a bases clearing double off the bat of Danial Palka to make the score 5-2. An errant throw from the shortstop on the play ended up in the Lookouts dugout, sending Palka across the plate for the fourth run on the play. Left-handed reliever Mike Strong, who was in the running for the final bullpen spot on the Twins in Spring Training, came on to protect a two-run lead in the bottom of the eighth, but was greeted by back-to-back-back doubles that tied the game at five. He was able to get two outs after that before a walk and a single to make the score 6-5 ended his day. Brandon Peterson came on for the final out, but a double brought in the two inherited runners before he got out of the inning. Aaron Slegers made the start for Chattanooga and put in a quality effort. In six innings, he allowed two-earned runs on six hits and three walks, with three strikeouts. The two runs allowed came in the second inning after two-doubles and two-singles in four straight batters. Slegers’ line was helped by inducing double plays in each of his innings except the first, for a total of five on the day. The Lookouts offense got multiple hit efforts form Zach Granite (3-5, R), Palka (2-5, R, 2B, 3 RBI), Travis Harrison (2-2, R, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 BB’s), and Engelb Vielma (2-4, R). MIRACLE MATTERS Fort Myers 3, Bradenton 4 (10 innings) Box Score The Miracle took the early lead in the first inning after Tanner English led off the game with a single and later scored on a single from Alex Real. English was moved into scoring position on a double by Nick Gordon. They would go up 2-0 in the fifth inning behind the bats of the same players. Gordon smacked his second double of the game to start the frame, and scored on a Real sac fly. Unfortunately they also ended the inning with the bases loaded, unable to do any more damage. Right-hander Keaton Steele was on the mound for Fort Myers in his first start of the 2016 season and was fantastic through the first five innings. He retired the first eight hitters of the game before issuing a walk, and went 1-2-3 in each of the first, second, and fifth innings. It was the sixth inning before the Marauders were able to muster any threats, and it came after Steele had retired the first two-hitters of that inning. A single and double made the score 2-1 and Steele was lifted for Raul Fernandez who struck out the final hitter of the inning to keep the lead intact. Fort Myers went up 3-1 in the top of the seventh after a one-out bases loaded walk to Chad Christensen, but a double-play ball ended their efforts. Fernandez remained in the game and allowed one run in the bottom half to make the score 3-2 heading into the eighth. The score would remain 3-2 despite opportunities for the Miracle in each of their eighth and ninth inning at-bats, and the failure to capitalize again would come back to haunt them. Trevor Hildenberger was brought on for the save opportunity in the ninth, but a relay throw from Gordon into third on a triple sailed past the third baseman allowing the tying run to score and sent the game to extra innings. Hildenberger stayed in the game for the 10th, but another error from his defense put the game-winning run in scoring position and Bradenton wouldn’t fail with the opportunity they were handed. A single off the bat of Connor Joe brought home the come-from-behind-walk-off winner for the Marauders and evened each team’s record in the Florida State League at 2-2. Steele finished 5.2 innings in the game, allowing one earned-run on two hits and two walks, while striking out two. Yorman Landa pitched a scoreless inning of relief, allowing one hit and striking out two. The blown save and loss were Hildenberger’s first of each on the year. The Miracle offense got a standout game from top prospect Nick Gordon, who finished 4-6 with a run scored and three doubles. Real was 3-3 with 2 RBI and a walk. Ryan Walker also added two hits to the effort. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 3, Quad City 2 Box Score Like their high-A brothers, Cedar Rapids went into the tenth inning on Sunday afternoon after blowing a late lead, and would need some heroics to remain undefeated on the season. The Kernels got a strong start from Sam Clay who finished six innings. He allowed one unearned run on five hits and two walks. He struck out seven including the side in the first inning. Cedar Rapids took the lead 1-0 in the top of the sixth when Rafael Valera led off the frame with a double. He would score on a single from Max Murphy. An error on a pickoff throw from Clay would allow the unearned run to score in the bottom half of the sixth and the game would remain tied until the ninth as C.K. Irby pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts of his own. Two errors by the River Bandits defense would bring in the go-ahead run for the Kernels in top-half and Nick Anderson was summoned from the bullpen for the save opportunity. He was greeted by a triple that all but guaranteed free baseball. A batter later that guarantee was cashed in with a game-tying single. Anderson would escape with the game tied after a ground ball and two flyouts. In the top of the tenth, a Lamonte Wade walk and Murphy hit-by-pitch put the go-ahead run in scoring position, and Chris Paul knocked it in with a two-out single to center field. Anderson stayed in the game looking to pick up the win, and after allowing two singles to start the inning got a double play ball for the first two outs and struck out the final batter with the tying run on third to preserve the zero in the loss column. Paul went 4-5 on the day with a run scored and an RBI, and Wade added two hits and two walks, including a triple to pace the Kernels offense. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Jose Berrios, Rochester Red Wings (W, 5.0IP, 3 H’s, 1 ER, 4 BB’s, 9 K’s) Hitter of the Day – Nick Gordon, Fort Myers Miracle (4-6, R, 3 2B’s) MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Lehigh Valley @ Rochester (5:35PM CST) – LHP Logan Darnell (0-0, -.-- ERA) Chattanooga @ Biloxi (6:40PM CST) – RHP Ryan Eades (0-0, -.-- ERA) Brevard County @ Fort Myers (6:05PM CST) – LHP Randy Rosario (0-0, -.-- ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Kane County (6:30 PM CST) – RHP Dereck Rodriguez (0-0, -.-- ERA) Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games.

Besides Buxton, each comment in this Top 50 post about the Twins prospects is alluding to these facts... I would say you're not paying enough attention to what you're reading from him. "The Twins chose to give Ricky Nolasco, who hasn't been effective since the Bush Administration -- no, the one before that -- their fifth-starter spot over Berrios. I really have nothing else to add to this." "Maybe the Twins didn't demote Kepler to Triple-A sooner because they were afraid it would look bad; you might say they didn't like … the optics." I could find so many more if you really want me too... He's probably answered at least 5 of my questions in his chats about Twins prospects over the years. One of them was about ABW and what he thought about his numbers in Low-A. His response was basically "Twins don't know what they're doing as there is no reason this guy should be in that league. Those numbers should be expected. "

Berrios was fantastic the other day on the back fields. Bob Sacamento (I think) posted his line: 5 IP, 2 H's, 8 K's. Law has come around a little on the Twins system, but that's more because they've been so bad and got some real talent into it due to high draft picks. He still absolutely hates how they handle promotions, prospect timelines, and what not. And I don't disagree with him at all about those things.

Kepler has been my favorite prospect for years and had given him the "breakout" prospect moniker for multiple years. Finally all came together last year. The eye-test with him improved my overall opinion more than it ever has for anyone else, and that eye-test came from Spring Training in 2012 when he was playing with the Snappers roster that included Sano, Rosario, and Vargas. Kepler was the best player on the team in the multiple games I watched, and it wasn't particularly close. Don't remember if he had injuries that season, but I was astonished he didn't play any in the MWL that year. The results didn't match up for a few more seasons, but I'm hoping he's a fixture in the lineup by the end of this season, and if so see him as the #3 hitter at some point next year. Can't wait for Max to be up for good!

Yup. Like Danny Santana of last year, Duffey would be far and away #1 on my list of regression candidates for the Twins this year. He's without a doubt been the best RP to SP conversion from the draft the Twins have accomplished, but I think if it were a true competition, Nolasco and Milone would be winning it. If Duffey did lose a rotation spot, I wouldn't hesitate to pull a Trevor May on him, though.

Honestly I think I've seen the college teams beat the Twins low-minors rosters more often than not while I've been down there. As Seth points out, they've been practicing and playing for almost two months already, while the Twins players have been for just a few days. Also, while the college guys are out there competing 100% for some bragging rights against the 'pros,' those minor leaguer's might be working on certain things this early. I'd venture the pitchers were throwing a much higher percentage of fastballs than normal, as an example.

I'm just going to respond to this part of your response, because I don't understand it at all. When teams are making trades for proven and impact MLB players, what is it that they send back for them? The answer is Prospects. It is always prospects...

^ Now, I know it takes two to tango, but I do think you could get something useful back for a package of that type. We're talking 3 nearly consensus Top 10 Twins prospects (Walker, Polanco, Stewart) along with an established major leaguer contributor (Plouffe). Plenty of big trades happen in this fashion... That's the difference I'm talking about. Get something back that is useful, and clear the logjams that makes a bunch of those guys currently not useful, before their value completely dissolves. Thing with most prospects and their value is, they're worth more while they're still prospects (see Wil Myers as a recent example). Once you start using options and team control years, and/or they don't perform, you're left with something of no value, such as Arcia. I started banging the trade him drum three years ago when he debuted, because I'm a big picture thinker and was looking forward to this exact scenario the Twins are in with him now. A situation where they're coming back around to contender status and it's driven by the other guys like Buxton, Rosario, now Sano, and Kepler and Walker in the OF picture.

1B: Mauer, Park, Vargas, Sano DH: Park, Mauer, Sano, Arcia, Vargas, Walker Corner-OF: Rosario, Sano, Arcia, Kepler, Walker Too many players, not enough positions. TR's saying "things have a way of working themselves out" has been demonstrated to me to mean that they're going to wait to long to figure out if whatever player fits their roster or not, and lose them for nothing or have to sell them off for a bag of balls. Could happen with Arcia this year, could happen to Vargas and Polanco next year. If I was TR this past offseason, I would have been offering a package of Plouffe, Walker/Arcia, Polanco, and Stewart to see what it could have brought back and clear a bit of the logjam while those prospects still have some luster and value. Nobody is going to trade for Arcia right now after the issues he's had, and the fact he is out options. This is an example of waiting too long to figure it out. Vargas and Polanco are going to be in similar situations soon.

I've been saying they were going to run into this problem for years now (most particularly with OF/1B/DH's, middle infielders are good to have some depth). Unfortunately, to my observations, they're limiting the value these players could have in trades or to the Twins themselves by sitting on their hands and doing nothing with all of them.

I am diabetic. This is a bit misleading. We're certainly more prone to "have injury issues," particularly in joints, and recovery. The shoulder is actually a very common issue for diabetics, whether you're an athlete or not (mine is basically shot from playing Town Ball until I was 30). However, it's pretty much an exponential curve on how this affects us relative to you normal "healthy" humans. If you have good control of your diabetes, such as consistent A1C test results below 6% (which is what you likely have with a functioning pancreas), it literally is not affecting you any differently. If you're a consistent 8 or 9% or above, the risks associated are much greater (exponentially so). The being prone to injury, and not being able to recover as well, is related to circulation problems if you have a higher average blood sugar. Blood with a high sugar level is thicker, harder to pump, and can damage small blood vessels - things such as the tissue in your knees and shoulder joints. I quit playing baseball because I tore my ACL. That leg still isn't as strong as it was before then, and I'm certain my diabetes plays a part in that. But I'm also not a professional athlete with all the necessary resources to make this a non-issue if I'm dedicated to it.

Similar issues to Kohl. Though also with a career ERA 2 runs higher.

I would venture Stewart is in a great position, and has all the necessary people around him, to make this as little of an issue as possible. If he doesn't, the Twins need to step in on that. But you do bring up a correct concern. It is more likely than not, that the shoulder issues he's had are related to, and exacerbated by, his diabetes. I've always said he was going to have to work harder and be stronger than everyone else to keep his arm and shoulder healthy because of this.

I don't necessarily agree with all of this. The Span/Revere/etc... argument had Aaron Hicks as the guy coming up to fill the void. The Plouffe argument has Miguel Sano for that void. One is considerably better than the other. Answer me this, is the team better with: Sano at 3B Arcia in RF Park/Vargas/Mauer for 1B/DH + whatever return could have been had for a package with prospects and Plouffe as the pieces (say: Polanco, Plouffe, Stewart, Walker as a starting point. I think that could get you something very useful) or... Plouffe at 3B Sano in RF Park/Vargas/Mauer for 1B/DH Scenario A improves 3B, RF, and whatever the return might have been based on what they're going to go with now. Scenario B does what exactly, to move the needle, based on the results of last year? This is what I'm getting at with their propensity to think to small, and settle for what they have. I will say, next year may be the better year to pursue this, but that currently leaves this years team with the issues I already laid out.

I'm not sleeping on Arcia or Vargas blazing past Park on the DH depth chart this spring. Everything I've been reading on Arcia says his hair is on fire to be in the OF on opening day, but pretty sure he's not going to win that battle, so he gets in on the DH fun. Then you have Vargas, who had one of the best Winter's of any Twins player in recent history, both on the field (Puerto Rico MVP) and off (Lost a bunch of weight).

This is the line that explains the Twins the best to me: "The Twins have a profound lack of ambition in virtually everything they do." Bingo. In the situation of Plouffe/Sano, it is similar in process to what the Twins went through with Pierzynski/Mauer to me. Plouffe is a very solid regular, A.J. was a bit more than that, but there is/was the stud prospect behind them at their position ready to become a superstar. They traded A.J. (who granted had a lot more value than Plouffe would) to open things up for Mauer, but they are against opening up 3B for Sano. Since they didn't do this, so many other pieces don't fit and Sano is going to play a position he never has (and frankly, I don't think he's going to be remotely good at). Then there's the Hicks for Murphy trade. Yes, the Twins needed a catcher, but this move was thinking too small to me. I'd bet he's an upgrade from Suzuki, and I understand there is value from a League average catcher, but why is that the ceiling they over and over again, settle for? They have plenty of ammo in their farm system to go after higher upside or a proven commodity. We forget, that having all those high ranked prospects in the minors is great, but not all of them are going to turn into anything in the majors. Some of their values are never going to be higher than now. So I think now is about the time in their turnaround where you need to start cashing some of them in to complete your product/turnaround and contend.

Lineup construction has always been fun to talk about to me. In the majors, it seems there is a general pattern that everyone sticks to, but elsewhere I've seen it done in all kinds of ways. My high-school coach had me bat ninth as a Junior and as a Senior. If he sent some of us down to play in the JV game as a Junior I always was put at leadoff. This was after parts of my freshman and JV years, when I had the same coach, that I was always leadoff or second in the lineup. Senior year he got the impression that I was disappointed batting ninth (probably was), he pulled me aside one day after practice and told me it wasn't because I was the worst hitter, it was because he could count on me to turn the lineup over and be on base for the studs we had at 1, 2, and 3. I agree with this approach, and in general is why you see more national league managers batting their pitcher 8th these days. I also saw other coaches make our lineup in two halves, essentially. Built them in what they described as an order of 1-2-3-4-5-1-2-3-4 type hitters. They even said "we're doing a 1-2-3 lineup today boys" a few times (essentially going 1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3 with the lineup). In general, if I had all the players to make it work right, I'd take this approach: Best OPB guys at 1, 2, and 9, best power bats at 3 and 5, best hitter at 4, and fill in the blanks at 6, 7, and 8 based based on the best overall talent of the rest. For the Twins, I guess that means I'd start out the season like this (the Twins don't really have the guys to make it "work right"): Dozier 4 Mauer 3 Plouffe 5 Sano 9 Arcia/Park DH Escobar 6 Rosario 7 Murphy/Suzuki 2 Buxton 8 By August (maybe 2017, and not 16), I want this: Buxton 8 Dozier 4 Kepler 9 Sano 5 Park/Arcia DH Mauer 3 Escobar 6 Rosario 7 Murphy 2 As mentioned, with Plouffe and Mauer still around, the pieces don't quite fit together. That's Terry Ryan's fault in my opinion, for creating (and exacerbating) the problem by the moves or non-moves made this offseason. And because of that, eventually they are are going to end up selling low on the guys that need to be moved to make the necessary room. These are the types of decisions that fit into Einstein's definition of insanity, and why I don't feel all that great about this offseason. The needle has not moved to me. Fun Fact from back in those days: with that 1-2-3-4-5-1-2-3-4 lineup we outscored our first 3 opponents in summer playoffs like 60-something-7. Then ran into Charlie Rudd in single elimination round (winning-est pitcher in St. Paul Saints history). He one-hit us, and our pitcher one-hit them. We lost 1-0 on a sac fly. Helluva game, that was.

No, I wouldn't expect it. Because like I said, I think they know he could do it already if ever needed. And I'm not trying to imply that Beresford should be the Twins utility infielder. Just that he get a chance to fill that role if it's ever needed.

I think it's more of a the managers know what they have with him type thing, not that he couldn't do it. They've needed him to be playing 2B. Look at who else has been on those Rochester rosters: Danny Santana, Jorge Polanco, Pedro Florimon, Eduardo Escobar... All guys the Twins were trying to evaluate as potential SS's of the future. I know that's not Beresford, and this makes it obvious to me that's what the Twins think too. Also, as an example of a Utility player, if the "why hasn't he been playing multiple positions in the minors, then?" argument is being used. Nick Punto: Played essentially 421 minor league games before his MLB debut. His ratio of different positions played in those games was 420 to 1. When he became a full-timer for the Twins, he played all over.

I also keep waiting for James to get a chance as a Utility Guy with the Twins. I've mentioned him a few times in my articles where I list players who you might see make their MLB debut in the upcoming season (he'll be in that post again this year!). Keeps hitting around .300, is a strong defender at multiple spots. I see a lot to like. There is the issue about having literally no power, but I'm also happy to say I've seen it from him before in person. Think it was Spring Training a couple of years ago before they had the walkway all the way around the outfield at Hammond. He came in late in the game and hit one out to right center! Was very cool to see!

Those numbers would be awesome as a whole. Extremely optimistic. That's an average of a .762 OPS throughout the 'starting' lineup (which would have ranked 2nd in the majors last year). Not sure how far it would fall as a team with everyone else taken into account, but think that would put them in the top 10 for all of MLB pretty easily. The Twins ranked 23rd in OPS as a team last year at .704. Red Sox were 6th at .740.

What I was implying, is you literally have no data about a lefty-receiver taking pitches to review so it's impossible to make any such conclusion. It is an interesting thing. Studies I've seen do conclude right-handed catchers save more runs... Then you get into things like bunts down the third base line, having to backhand every throw up the line at home, and not being able to make a fundamental "sweeping" tag on close plays at the plate...

If Park puts that line up, there's no way Mauer should be playing anywhere...