Dman

Thanks for the article SD Buhr! I have been craving to hear how he feels about his incredible first season. Hope he can keep it going and find success in the Bigs.

I really liked the article but was surprised by the result. Although I have never been a huge believer in managers making a ton of difference I guess I did buy in to the Maddon Mystique. I was surprised the numbers didn't match the hype. I still think Maddon would be a good manager for the Twins but I don't know why he would want to come to Minnesota over the Cubs or several other clubs.

I don't think that getting A LF and hughes type pitcher is a horrible thing by any means but I have to disagree with you that they wouldn't block anybody for this year. If they get a good LFer then they are basically saying we won't see Rosario or Sano this year until maybe September. It also means we likely won't see much of Hicks as Santana appears entrenched in center unless Esco gets hurt. So if Sano and Rosario are knocking the ball around in double and triple A they won't get called up to replace veteran players who are getting paid a lot of money to play. Does it matter that they get blocked this year? probably not, it just delays their MLB development and then we do this whole dance again next year. I would like them to leave left alone and start Hicks or Schafer in left. If Rosario or Sano hit well in AA then they can play in Left and we can see how well they do. Whoever is ready early though could come up and likely play Left or move someone else to left. Use it to figure out who belongs and who doesn't or at least to give valuable at bats to younger guys. Pitching I would love the Twins to add an Ace anything less and I would prefer to find out more about Meyer, Berrios, Darnell, Gilmartin, Duffy, Wheeler, Rogers etc. I think one or two of those guys can be as good as Nolasco, Correia or Pelfrey. If I thought the Twins could find another Hughes I'd be all for it but it is a 50\50 shot and I would rather find out what we have on the farm this year. Prospects are going to keep bubbling up at higher rates and we won't be able to protect them all on the 40 man. I really think it makes sense to figure out who can play MLB as soon as possible now more than ever before for the Twins. We can buy guys to fill holes but to say they won't block or clog things seems unrealistic IMO.

i really like Cola and thought he would prove people wrong. Really thought he was going to be special. The thing is his window to make it was very, very, small. He needed to have a great year last year it was make or break for him. He is just too old to wait on any longer. I'm not saying he still can't do it but I don't see a fit for him and the Twins anymore. Maybe I will be wrong about him yet again but right now I think we are better off with a younger player on the 40 man.

I had Johnson on my list to move off the 40 man via trade or drop. Although he could be used in a pinch he is getting old for AAA and what really is his future in MLB? Rather keep Salcedo or some other younger pitcher and see what they can bring to the team. I wish him well but am happy to see the Twins clear 40 man space.

Seems like so many guys have to go through this now. I guess I'm glad he made the quick decision. Hopefully he is ready to compete in 2016. I wish him well during this tough time in his career.

As I think I said earlier yours is the safer sounder strategy and likely the Twins way of operating. My ideas are a bit pie in the sky but they are more in line with how I feel about this topic.

From the other side no one is saying the team won't win more games with some good FA signings. but FA signings are not the guaranteed success you make them out to be. Many people wanted Drew at SS last year and Escobar performed better and we kept Burdi who could become a fast track bullpen guy. We got a prized pitching FA in Nolasco and what did that get us. I think Meyer could, have done as well as Nolasco. Both Santana and Vargas came up and played well this year. If shortstop was blocked by a veteran we wouldn't know what we have and be out a draft pick. Sure Melky would help this team in the short term likely little question there but where is he three years from now? You look at AA and it is lineup of Buxton, Sano, Polanco, AB Walker, Rosario, Berrios, Duffy, the list goes on. Agreed that most of these guys don't sniff MLB until at least. July if not later but once you have. Melky we won't see Rosario until the contract is up. That is just the way is works. We have the pipeline we should use it not block it.

I guess it depends on what your vision of the future is. Are you interested in player development or a few more wins? Do you see Sano, Buxton, Meyer, Rosario starting 2016 together? If you do then why not get them as much MLB experience as possible. It really comes down to how you view 2016 to me. Maybe they aren't ready or won't be ready there is a decent possibility that will be the case but I also don't see a FA left fielder or pitcher taking us to the playoffs next year. That being said I want to see the team invest MLB time in the future players that might make the playoffs. Odds are the Twins agree with you as they are very patient but I just want to see the young guys move as fast as possible now and if they do I think 2016 will be a lot of fun.

I'm with the let's just roll plan. Let's find out what we have and leave room for Meyer, Sano, Buxton, Rosario, maybe Berrios or Polanco to play this year. While I agree that getting one of the prized pitchers would be an awesome surprise I don't see the Twins doing it. A reclamation project is just as likely to produce Nolasco as much as Hughes and we still have Pelfrey. Why not find out what you have in Meyer, Tonkin, Berrios, Pryor, Pressly, Oliveros, Rosario, Sano. etc. everyone was going crazy about that earlier this year. Are we going to stick with aging vets or find out who has the talent to make it and who doesn't? There is a ton of talent in the pipeline and lots of 40 man decisions to be made. Let's find out what we have so we don't lose the wrong players from the 40 man. Let's go young and keep the young talent moving forward. Not everyone is gonna make it but throw enough talented bodies out there and a core will stick. Or keep them in AAA and block everything up. the talent is in the pipeline lets see what we have.

Mr. St. Peter, If the core guys coming up turn into All-Stars and we finally build a top 5 team will you be willing to spend over the budget to keep that team together for as long as possible? Even if it meant losing money for three or four years if the team was really good would ownership do that for the fans and the city?

To me Rosario has always been a streaky hitter. When he is on he can go 4 for 5 and when he falls into the abyss 2 for 20. Granted everyone has slumps but IIRC he seems more prone to them than most. I would say he is on one of his hot streaks and once he comes crashing down he won't be able to buy a hit. Having said that I do like him as a player. I think he can hit and hit for more power than most project and I like his defensive versatility. If he gets just a little more consistent I think we have our left fielder.

I agree with you with you for the most part. I don't think the Twins will roll with Meyer out ST. I think Pelfrey will get that last spot and will have to underperform to lose it. If Meyer looks like he has things under control at AAA then someone will need to move to the pen. The big issue facing the Twins is the 40 man. You are spot on that they need to move on from Swarzak and Duensing and Burton. I like your idea of finding out what they have in Presley and others because they there is a crop of high velocity guys coming up soon. If any of those are guys are good then we can create trade value as the 40 man decisions get even tougher the next year. I really think the Twins need to roll with what they have. It could mean another tough year but I think they should be loaded with young talent come 2016. The core should be there in 2016 and it will be interesting to see how well they compete with the rest of division and league,

As fans you don't HAVE to be patient you can vote with your feet and not come to games or invest your time. The reality is that there are 30 teams competing and some team is going to be the best and another the worst. The Twins made mistakes for several years and now they are paying for them. You don't have to be patient and wait for the core to emerge but as a fan I am going to follow them into the abyss and out of it. They are my team and I am always going to hope for the best. The Twins have gone worst to first before. They can do it again. It might just take some time.

I think your post sums up my feelings best. I want to see the young guys get their shot. I wish we didn't even have Nolasco as I have buyers remorse now. For the most part I don't care what the payroll number is this year and I prefer the flexibility of being below it right now. The brutal thing is that 2015 is likely another rocky year and they could lose 90 games yet again. It does get hard to watch and stay interested when the team is definitely out of it half way through the season. So I get where people are coming from when they want the team to spend more money to field better players. There is definitely a part of me that gets angry knowing that the money not spent simply goes into the owners pocket. If they would over spend in years where the team has a chance to be special I guess it wouldn't bother me but since they never do it does feel like they cheat the fans here. Just my two cents.

IMO the Cubs seem to operate a lot like the Twins. They draft BPA even when fans scream to draft a pitcher. They make solid trades and have been fortunate enough recently to have players that teams really wanted and were willing to over pay for. Their best pitching crop is in A ball right now pretty much like the Twins. The main difference is the Cubs were more aggressive in the international market a year ago and when push comes to shove I think they will extend or re-sign more of their players than the Twins will as they will pay for talent when they need it. I too think the Cubs have the pieces to trade to get what they need so they don't necessarily need to spend big to get good pitching. They have a lot of guys who in the future should hit for power and possibly average on that team. They could be a very scary offensive team in a few years. The pitching they need won't be far behind.

I really like steady Eddie and always have. I don't see All-Star in his future but I think he can be a middle of the pack SS. For the short term I don't mind Santana in center. I would like see Eddie stick at short for next year if for nothing else than to build his trade value. Santana, Polanco and Dozier are going to have to battle it out for who starts in the future.

I would add Cruz to that list. He was a wild card last year as no one knew how he would perform after being off of PEDs. I don't think he will accept the qualifying offer and I think a team would snatch him up perhaps his old team in Texas or the Yankees. If the O's want him they need to do the right thing.

I believe service time does matter and I wouldn't start either of those guys out of Spring training. Until Sano's defense and Buxton's Offense are MLB caliber there is plenty for them to learn in the minors. No teams like to burn service time for players unless they are in a playoff hunt. When rebuilding you want your core guys to be able to play together for as long as possible. The young potential ace pitching we have coming up is a couple of years behind the position players. The closer that gap becomes the more years they have to play together. Thinking that the Twins can extend two super star players seems a bit pie in the sky to me. We have only seen them do it once for Joe Mauer and with prices going up I doubt the extensions some feel likely to happen will happen. Trades are the more likely scenario. I am sure they have room for one extension but again maximize your service time and don't waste it on player development that can happen in the minors. The minor leagues are designed to get you as close to major league ready as possible. You dominate a level and then move to the next one. When you have nothing left to learn in the minors and do well then you get your shot. Although both players appear to be great they still have things they can learn and holding them back a year would be ideal to me. If they both light up the minors and have nothing left to prove there then bring them up. I have no problem with an earned promotion. IMO they haven't earned it yet.

I guess I don't understand the no love for Duffy. At 23 his control and ERA are better than Trevor Mays were at that age and league. He throws nearly as hard as May and his control is better at 23 than May as well. He strikes out a lot of batters and doesn't walk many guys either. Seems just as exciting if not more than May to me. Minier is younger than Polanco last year but his potential is pretty exciting as well. Hu, Gonsalves and Thorpe are very exciting prospects. Maybe I am drinking too much Twins prospects kool aid but I am excited about that 11-20.

Not knowing a ton about Myers I felt like the royals got the short end of the stick on that trade especially since they were likely only going to get two years of shields. I liked the trade because they needed to do something as they had been bad for so long. I did not expect the trade to be enough to get them to the playoffs so I was wrong about that. I knew it would help but figured that in the end it would fail and they would lose a good player as well. Obviously things look different now. It looks like they got exactly what they needed to get over the hump and make the playoffs. Big gamble but it payed off. They are losers no more.

I tend to agree. The Twins will stand pat And plan on bringing up the kids from the farm next year. They also have players to protect on the 40 man so they won't make Any big moves this offseason. I don't think we have any guys to trade as we lack depth as it is. We need to build with the guys we have so that we can make room on the 40 man for next year as there will be tough decisions to make on several players. The players are coming and they need a spot at the mlb level to grow with the team. They can make an acquisition but what price are they willing to pay to make it? It needs to be someone really good to make it worth it IMO.

I guess I could see it going both ways. I prefer to think when you are that close you have essentially met the spirit of the agreement. If his pitching stunk and he just missed I could see some reservation but he pitched well and I think he deserves the money. I think in the end it pays to reward him even though he is one out short. Sticking to the letter of the law works but if you alienate the player what have you gained. Better for both sides to feel good about it in my opinion. The Twins got what they wanted out of Hughes this year so just pay the man. It is the right thing to do.

Wow that is a nice list and the ten guys behind them aren't that far behind them either. Nice to see a lot of good pitching coming up. I think Kohl deserved to be in the top 6 but that is my only quibble. IMO leaving Meyer out makes sense as he had trouble going deep in games, walked a lot of betters and didn't have a great ERA for a supposedly dominant pitcher. Maybe my expectations are just higher for him than they should be but I was somewhat disappointed in his performance this year. Yes he K's a lot of guys but when you can't throw a strike when you need one that is a problem and his ERA shows that.

I am starting to believe this team is cursed. Anyone with great potential always seems to go down. Hope it heals well and quickly.