CGNikolic

This makes too much sense. Move him to 1B now and enjoy having a healthy, sweet-swinging Mauer for the rest of his contract. We won't be competing next year anyway so whoever plays catcher next year will be irrelevant to our success, so a stopgap (not Doumit please) to play there until Pinto is ready with Herrmann as the backup makes perfect sense. A future lineup with Pinto at catcher, Mauer at first, Rosario at second base, Dozier/Santana/Goodrum/Polanco/Florimon at shortstop and Sano at third makes for a great infield in my book. The key to all of this though, is Mauer willing to make this move? Permanently?

Terry Ryan is not Bill Smith. He keeps things cheap for the Pohlads and has helped make a bright future for this team. The people to point fingers at? The cheap, aforementioned owners of this team. Gardenhire and Ryan are not the problem here, 6 division championships in 9 years proves that.

We are taking about baseball here Shane... taking care of your body to a large extent is by no means a part of this sport. Any baseball player would agree to that.

Doumit should be off the team sometime this winter, so that will solve that dilemma. In regard to Mauer, I really would prefer if he was done catching, for good. Save his head and lower body and put him at first base. He doesn't have the power you would like out of the position and lowers his true value but doing this will allow him to hit and keep on hitting, and add (solid) years on to his playing career. It just makes to much sense. I say start Herrmann there next year (bring in a backup catcher, start Pinto at AAA to prove himself) and let him play until Pinto is ready, who is likely our future at the position.

The Twins called him an ace well... Because who did we have who was better? Who could we have gotten (keeping in mind we are talking about the Twins) that was? Diamond had a year with good luck that allowed his ERA to look much better than it could/should have been, but he's still better than he was this year. He's best lined up as the #4/5 guy or a solid long reliever. Dozier, while having a much better year than last year, is still AN AVERAGE second baseman. His improvements have been nice, but I think we are drawing too much good out of it. He's a solid hitter at the bottom of a lineup, as noted above, but won't be more than that. He's a little more consistent form of Plouffe, with less power potential and better defense. Likely Replaceable when our prospects come up.

A fair point, but I think you are pointing out the fact that Vargas is the better PROSPECT, while Hicks had the better year. Either one did deserve it however.

1. Alabama IS the SEC All-Conference team essentially. 2. The Jaguars would destroy the SEC All Conference team. You are talking older, physically matured players who are playing against college kids. Wouldn't be close, I don't care how bad the pro team is. This is how it works in contact sports.. However, in baseball? The Twins playing this team would be interesting. And entertaining!

Dozier at his best is a slightly above average second baseman. His OPS (.729) qualifies for (tied for) 11th among 25 qualified individuals, but not much above the average (.705). Is he a good player? Of course. Should we give him another year to see if he's closer to 2012 or 2013 Dozier? Absolutely. But if Rosario shows he's ready next year by playing very well in AAA, it's Dozier who needs to step aside, not Rosario. As pointed out earlier, it is likely too early to have this debate, but it would seem that trading Dozier would be the best bet. I would prefer moving him over to shortstop (if possible Nick Nelson) provide veteran leadership along with Mauer in the infield, but if that is not possible, trade him and a decent prospect for some solid pitching.

In terms of team production, there is no reason to compare Trout and Buxton. Baseball is a team sport, so one great player will not lead to the promised land. The Angels screwed up by taking flyers on expensive, old free agents. The Twins don't even sign free agents! But comparing them on an individual level is accurate, and if Buxton can do what Trout has done, or close, along with the Twins providing the help around him that any player requires (which includes more prospects from our deep system finding success), we should be just fine.

Why does Gardenhire have to go? Could any manager really do better with this "crop" of players the past two years (won't count 2011 - very much bad luck then turned to crap subsequently)? I would say, at the most, the Twins talk to him about reshuffling his staff (Rick Anderson being the only one who has a possibility of getting fired). The problem is not Gardenhire. The problem is that the FO (Smith and Ryan and scouting) have not given him the players any manager needs to succeed. I don't see Ryan getting fired, but that would likely bring about more success than bringing in a new manager. Who would they hire to replace him anyway (everyone knows that Ryan would hire someone who is similar to Gardy)? Glynn or Ullger? People who are quite similar to Gardenhire? Mauer or Dougie? Guys who have no coaching experience above class A? Molitor? Who has never managed before? They have no shot at someone like Maddon, even a cheap organization such as the Rays won't let the best manager in baseball out of their hands (and Ryan and Maddon would NOT get along). So, there really is no reason to fire him. Partly because the failure of the Twins has not been his fault and the fact that there is no replacement for him that would do better. HOWEVER, I would not be surprised if Gardenhire resigns one of these days. He gets no respect from the fans or front office. If I were him, I would definitely consider this option, and as a fan I would prefer to see him leave on his own terms than being fired.

I hope they don't even consider trading Rosario. I personally think Dozier is not as good as he has been the past couple months and is likely somewhere in between what he was last year and this year, which is average at best. I do like Dozier, but lets not forget how good and valuable Rosario is and can be. Even right now, Dozier's OPS+ is just over 100, which Rosario should easily be able to top 2-3 years from now. I say keep Rosario, move Dozier to shortstop, (his bat, if it produces more like 2013 than 2012, would be more valuable there anyway and I think his defense would be good enough), and enjoy the possibilities that an infield of Sano, Dozier, Rosario, Mauer and Pinto could produce starting in 2015. Along with an outfield of Buxton, Hicks and Arcia of course. And if moving Dozier does not work? Trade HIM and start either a stopgap at shortstop, or someone like Beresford/Florimon who could bat 9th in a lineup that could be very dangerous very soon. We have other valuable trade chips to shop, such as Harrison, Santana, Goodrum, Polanco, Walker etc. who can be used as trade bait for better pitching. Rosario does not belong on this list.

2015 lineup: C: Pinto (Not great defensively, but he's better than Doumit or Herrmann) 1B: Mauer (permanent by this point) 2B: Rosario (Trade Dozier within next calendar year) SS: Santana or possibly Polanco. (Insert Dozier here if prospects falter) 3B: Sano (Stays at third barring a sudden capability to not be able to throw to first) LF: Hicks (Rough first year, but he will be fine and defensively should be a great LF) CF: Buxton (slightly hopeful, but you can't doubt this kid anymore) RF: Arcia (Jason Kubel comparisons are perfect; keep him here and his bat will take care of the rest) DH: Parmalee/Vargas/FA (Plouffe will be gone by this point, and unless he steps up Parmalee could be gone too. Obviously Mauer is a better athlete/defender than Vargas, so putting him at DH at 24 really is not a big deal. FA would also fit here too if we found an older, immobile player who can still hit.) Bench: C/OF: Herrmann (His versatility is key here) IF: Beresford IF: Escobar OF: Pressley Starting Pitching: Crap. Shoot. (As of right now)

Good list, definitely an original one. No Kepler though?

Ryan does not need to go, calm yourself Thrylos. Ryan is trying to be optimistic and tell fans/media not to worry. I wouldn't be surprised whatsoever if neither of Ryan's statements come to fruition.

I think he stays at 2B and our starting OF consists of Hicks, Buxton, and Arcia by opening day 2015.