DocBauer

Holy crap! Dozier!

Seriously, with this lead, would you consider bringing out Perkins?

I'm just surprised he didn't reach first before it was caught. Lol

What I just said before.

I know it's not perfect and all the way there yet...but God I love this team!

So Long Sano is back!

Kind of crazy how Jay, Burdi, Jones, Melotakis and even Reed and Chargois all have the injury bug slow them and Hildenberger...a former what, 30 something pick...stays healthy and climbs the ladder to be such a good looking young BP arm. Ahh...baseball.

Anyone worried about Castro going on the DL there for a moment? Lol

Hildenberger....absolutely a keeper!

We all talk about Burton's amazing speed, but even though it's not always used properly, maybe, look at the speed this team is developing? Buxton may be the Roadrunner, but Polanco, Rosario and Kepler all run well. Escobar and Adrianza are no slouches. Granite can motor and should be a fixture soon. Gordon runs well. These guys keep learning to hit better, doubles, triples, 1st to 3rd, etc...WOW!

This! 100%

Slegers deserves another shot, or two, but with the double header on Monday, it could cause some creative shuffling. If he's down, temporarily at least, who comes up? Gonsalves or Melville? Could make a strong argument for both. Granite obviously comes up to replace Grossman. Really stinks he go hurt in a freak injury. Not sure there is any point in blaming anyone. Garver or Vargas needs to come up also. (Preferably Garver). But then a RP has to go down. Perkins was just added so I doubt it's him, but is anyone else really deserving of a demotion? Can we juggle enough for a few days to keep Slegers and send Gibson down again? I'm just not seeing the math in my head right now.

So far, I'm impressed with the last couple of drafts. Way, way too early, but impressed by potential and early returns. 2015 looks a bit like a crapshoot right now. I hate to say it depends on Jay, but it sort of does. If he gets healthy again, but if a long shot IMO based on the injury in question, even as a quality RP, I'd feel a lot better about it. Liked the Cabbage and Blenkenhorn picks, and still do, but it's a long road before we know if we have something there. The jury is still out on 2014, despite Gordon. Hildenberger looks like a keeper! But Burdi, Reed, Curtiss and Clay have all shown real potential. I know drafting and finding RP doesn't sound sexy, but with development and some better luck health wise, a couple of these guys make it with Goron and Hildenberger, well done. Even without Stewart, though I still hold some hope, Gonsalves, Granite and Garver actually make the 2013 draft look pretty good. Gonsalves was actually my favorite pick at the time, and I liked Garver over Turner initially. Those three guys could all easily be part of 2018 and beyond. Even without hitting on Stewart, it could go down as a solid draft. With Buxton and Berrios, 2012 looks good the way it is. Melotakis and Bard, and their injury setbacks is a huge disappointment. Heres hoping for better luck. But Rogers looks like a keeper. Maybe Duffey, there sure is potential there. A healthy Chargois with Buxton, Berrios and Rogers makes this draft look really good. 2011? What's to be said other than OUCH! A great write up! Thank you! Personal perspective? There are some really big disappointments, a couple guys who could still pay huge dividends if health is on their side, and several guys who are already paying dividends at the ML level and a couple more right on the cusp. Despite some of the lambasting of recent Twins drafts...mostly about high impact arms for a pitching starved franchise...we have a lot of guys already here or close. And there are some young guys with real potential and upside. I think this puts in perspective, despite not yet finding that young ACE or shutdown BP arm yet, that there is a lot to like about the past few drafts. A little better health luck, and there could be a lot to LOVE about a couple of these drafts.

Benninghoff: Great! "Go get 'em kid!"

Is it just me, or does the 20yo Whitefield look like a tremendous story and possible top 20 prospect? Is he a RH Kepler? Everything I read says he plays good defense, he hits, he runs, his OB is quality, he has power, and he seems to keep getting better and better.

Jury is still out, as you state. But it looks good so far. Rather surprised Lewis was the first pick, but not shocked. Everyone wanted pitching, and immediate pitching, including me. But drafting the top HS position player in the draft with high makeup wasn't a bad choice. Thus far, he's looked outstanding. Only bad thing about your thread is the timing. Honestly Nick, I appreciate the read and your intentions with early returns and the new FO, but how much stronger and meaningful could this post be a year from now with a re-visit? For that matter, how about a re-vist/re-cap on last year's draft?

Not sure I can concur. Molitor did play with the Twins, and did serve as an instructor with the Twins, but he also played for Toronto, worked with Seattle and was a lifetime Brewer. I'm just not sure he qualifies as "old gang." I think he's a really good Basball man, and the debate is still whether he is the RIGHT MAN for the future.

Nope. Like most of what Boshers has done, really intrigued by the potential of Turley, but control still may be an issue. Was hopeful for Melotakis and Jay, but injury has slowed both. And there are some guys like Rosario and others that could come up. But right now, 2018-19, if Perkins actually shows something, I'd have to consider him on a 1 year.

I am secure enough in my manhood to say that I have a bromance with Big Sexy. What he did in the 2nd was awesome! Pay attention young Twins pitchers!

"Slim Sexy"?

Side note: Good for Perkins to work this hard in his attempt. I think he's toast. And no matter what, his option will not be picked up. But what if he actually shows a little Something? We talk about a FA or two, a flier here and there, if he actually shows something, how about a 1 year prove it deal with some incentives to see if he can team with Rogers to form an effective LH duo?

I agree with so much here, both sides of the aisle even, and could post quite a few quotes. Of course, that would prove monotonous as hell. The Twins have drafted quite a few power arms the past few years. Some for the pen, some with the idea of starting before moving back to the pen. Ryan very clearly made a mistake in expecting too much too soon from these guys. The lack of major activity by the new FO this past off season was limited time and familiarity with the club, prospects, and possible expectations in what is/was an evaluation year. But even with some very disappointing injuries holding some guys back, others have stepped to the forefront: Reed, Curtiss, Busentiz, etc. Duffey shows promise; great start, slippage, and now pitching well again. Early returns on Hildenberger and Busentiz are encouraging. Pressly has shown positively before this season and has great stuff. It looks like he's been turning it around after discovery he was trying "too hard" and overthrowing. (Something I've been saying for over a month now). Relief pitchers, their stats, their season's, streaks within their season's, can often prove volatile. We know this. Still, there is NOTHING wrong with this team signing a quality, proven RP. Further, there is NOTHING wrong with signing a second, maybe even a third arm coming off injury, or a poor season bounce back, or even a failed SP that is open to converting. But you also can't ignore the arms currently on roster, and close, as well as the interns injury options that should be back at some point in 2018. In other words, do both! Sign the big arm. Take a flier or maybe two, one from the port side. But for a club over the initial rebuilding hump, DO NOT ignore what you have on hand to audition, develop and build with.

Remembering for a moment that I began the "Time to DFA Molitor" thread a few weeks ago...it was a question and not a statement...I confess to mixed feelings about Monitor's possible return. The lack of bullpen quality, and subsequent moves, or lack thereof, in 2015 would seem to fall on the previous administration. (Along with a few other things). Now, was the Pelfrey vs May decision his alone? If so, black mark against him. 2016 was a nightmare! But sandwiched between 2015 and 2017, considering holes in the team as well as the influx of new talent getting their feet wet, the whole of 2016 might be considered a horrible aberration. I don't pretend to be a knowitall by any means. But I've watched and learned a lot of baseball over my 45 years as a fan. I've seen the bunt used very effectively as a tool and as a weapon, though it's become a bit of a lost art. I can understand, at times, Molitor wanting to use it, but he uses it too much IMO, especially for a team not adept at it. I have applauded his experimentation with the lineup throughout the year, and seen method in his madness on many occasions, but also felt he got carried away at times. And yet, I think his lineup construction has made more sense the second half than it did the first. (Generally speaking). I have also been driven half crazy by some of his SP and BP usage, pulls, decisions, usage, etc. But once again, I find his decisions and usage to be better as of late. At the end of the day, I see a lot of positives with Molitor, as well as some very frustrating and confusing decisions. I've seen real growth in some of the kids, some solid handling of veterans, trusting in young RP more and more, and a pair of surprising season's. But I feel we just don't know after almost 3 season's who he truly is, as a manager, and what he's trying to do at times. Obviously, the FO is far more attuned to what is taking place daily based on conversation, observation and directives we know nothing about. I could easily see Falvey and Levine telling Molitor, "thanks for the solid job and all your contributions, you've done well, we just see a different future" and move on. But with a couple key additions, further development from the young talent on hand, a couple promotions, I could easily see Molitor back and continuing what is taking shape. Again, we just aren't privy to all the reports, changes, directives, etc. I'm thinking... and this is a stretch...60-40 he's gone because they just see someone better to embrace the development of young players.

Scrap. So busy doing chores and making supper I missed it! Lol

Really fun exercise. Can you imagine how good Buxton can still be? I honestly believe, in say 2 years time, we'll be laughing at those who called him a possible bust. And as good as Rosario has been, overall, there is STILL room for improvement. I love watching Kepler, not mentioned here of course, and everything looks so natural and easy for him at times. Wait until he figures out things more! It appears you obviously kept this as a top 10 list,otherwise Polanco and Pressly may have been on it as well. Or are their recent surges to SSS to include?