DocBauer

What a tremendous human interest story. Very much looking forward to the second article and watching these brothers in their milb career with the Twins.

Sooner or later, Berrios will be up. Hopefully for good. I haven't dismissed Duffey to the rotation, but I'd rather he stay in the pen and excel there. I believe we will see 3 or 4 young RP make their mark at some point this season. Seems to see the FO really knew what they were doing brining in Castro and Gimenez. But Garver is ready, or soon will be. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Gimenez traded at some point to a team needing catching help and Turner brought up. Really hoping Goodrum turns out to be what we all hoped DanSan would become. NOT damning Mauer or wishing him ill will in any regard, but he is starting very slow. He does seem to be injured at least once, if not more, ever year. Could this really be the end of the line for him? If so, could make room for both Park AND Vargas at some point, once the bullpen drops to 7.

I can't say I'd be upset to trade him around July if we could get a solid return for him. But if this team is somehow in contention, .500 record, spot at a wi,d card, etc, I think I'd be inclined to keep him. There's a whole lot we don't know yet, like how Hughes will hold up, despite surprising thus far, or how Mejia will develop, (nice last game), same with Berrios when he comes up, (hopefully for good), or just what we really have in the enigmatic Santiago, (he's been to an all star game for goodness sake, pitched well for the Angels before we got him, then finished '16 strong and is off to a nice start so far this season). What we do know is that Santana has been a nice signing, and thus farm has not fallen off the proverbial cliff, as of yet, and it could be easily argued he's not within peeking distance of seeing the edge of that cliff at the moment. Something to consider; Perkins and his $6.5M comes off the books next season. With young relievers on the way, it's very conceivable that another $6M also comes off in the form of Kintzler, Breslow and Belisle. That's $12M+ in extra payroll for a team that cut payroll from last season, and is quite a ways under the ML average. (I'm not even going to reference Mauer off the books after 2018). Gibson and Santiago are making $8M and almost $3M this season. This means if the Twins are even close to being a .500 team and contender, they could keep Santana and Hughes, factor in Berrios and Mejia as young starters to get established this season, and have possibles such as a healthy May, Gonsalves, Romero, Jorge and even Stewart, plus a maybe in Slegers available to fight for a 5th rotation spot. (Maybe toss in Haley and Duffey as "possibles"). But the team could legitimately have $20+M available for a major FA to be signed for 2018! I'm not necessarily advocating trading or not trading Santana. I'm simply talking about a talented, young and improving team that via trade and non-tender, could legitimately have room and money to make a major acquisition for their rotation in 2018 while still keeping him. I find that....interesting.

During today's broadcast, a stat was shown that Santana leads the league in ERA since, I believe, July 6th of last season. That and his overall performance last season and his start this season is very interesting to me. It tells me, #1, the Twins were smart to hold on to him. #2, it tells me the rest of the league, particularly those teams who could make a serious run but might need another SP, are either not paying attention, OR, were lowballing the Twins with offers. (Sound familiar?) It also, IMO, despite being a bit of a stretch, indicates something I've argued about for some time now in regard to prospects and roster construction in general. You just never know who will become a top, front line SO, despite "expert" evaluation. Again, I'm stretching the Santana argument a bit, but not that much really. I've seen countless, sure-fire future ACE pitchers flame out, as well as "solid" guys turn out to become front line #1 guys. And I suppose we could spend hours of posts and threads discussing such, but my point is, I always find it blindly interesting how the Twins seemingly have NO top of the rotation arms in their system, when we just simply don't know what the next 1-3 years will produce. And I realize we are talking about a solid, established, veteran pitcher vs prospects, but the comparison remains valid. Just look at the Cubs and Indians for examples. You draft, you sign, and you try to put the best coaches and instructors in place, but you still can't always predict where or when the next great pitcher will emerge in your system.

Note to Gibson and Mejia; settle down...trust your stuff...attack the zone. If you don't, Mr. Berrios is about ready to take one of your spots.

Not to sound like an audition for Captain Obvious, but a good start to the season is way better than a poor start. It relieves pressure and helps build a winning mentality. And it just might help some of the youngsters in the lineup, and a couple veterans, get their proverbial legs under them.

I really thought he had bulked up a bit too much to play SS daily, and was turning himself in to a potential, quality super utility player. Very interesting that he is being looked at again as a possible SS, starter OR a better sub at the spot than speculated the last year or so. I am just so intrigued by him as a super utility player with nice offensive potential. Could he be a dark horse candidate for more somewhere?

Interesting to see Goodrum playing AS for Rochester. Lost count, is that 2 or 3 games he's started there? I understand it's early, but it would appear the Twins are focusing on him there at this point.

I actually really like the creativity Monitor has shown with the lineup, see what he is doing, but would like the options better with Park on the roster. That being said, part of hitting is psychological, especially for a young player. Buxton may be applying his own self-induced pressure hitting in the 3 spot. It's only a few games, but moving him down, for now, doesn't remove him from the lineup, just, maybe, reduces the pressure he feels. I like moving him down for now. I'd have Polanco take the 3 spot for now. He has extensive milb experience there and it may ease Buxtons mind for now.

Man...i realize how long the winter has been when I get to read these reports. Love them! An early season thank you to all the moon reporters!

Maybe it's the angle, but that pitch almost looks like a power curve. Nasty whatever it Was! He can throw that consistently with his FB I'm all in. I know he's only 18 and in high school still, but I want to know he can repeat that over and over before I draft him #1. But he is interesting and tantalizing no doubt. What I struggle with is need vs potential vs safety. Whether you have a 1st round pick or THE 1st pick, you'd like to feel you made a "safe" choice in regard to potential to make the majors as a quality player. But at the end of the day, the ML draft remains the biggest crapshoot in all professional sports. Risk or not, don't you almost HAVE to draft Greene just based on so much upside?

I admire the he'll out of Molitor as a ballplayer. I admired him as a milb instructor, from all reports, which juxtaposes somewhat to what I have seen from him as a manager. But I have to say, while I am still confused and disappointed in the initial roster construction of 13 pitchers and no Park, I am enticed by his lineup creativity and experimentation. Again, as I posted elsewhere, this reminds me of a milb manager from a different organization some years ago, who constructed a roster of 1-3, 1-3, 1-3 hitters as he looked at his roster. I still think this idea works better with a successful Park and Grossman/Mauer as a quasi platoon, but the approach is interesting and sound, if a bit experimental.

Nick, well written, and a fair look at both sides of the current state of the Twins, positive and negative roster assessment. Well Done! I do have to say, as you alludes to near the end of the article, this is close to the team that finished last season, and has question marks to be sure, but not the same team that began the season. Kepler, Sami and Polanco did not begin 2016, or were in the wrong spot. The bullpen has at least been tweaked a bit. Mejia and Santiago were not even with the Twins to begin '16. Hughes and Gibson were injured, or were shortly. There is at least some hope here.

Yep. Not that it's a great benchmark but it sure is a better bench if Grossman is on it and DH and part time OF.

I think you about nailed it Seth, though I could see both Grossman, if used properly as a RH hitter, and Park with slightly higher BA and OB. Park hit a little better than listed above when healthy at the begining of 2016 and has apparently shown improvement. I think games played, and all numbers, are going to be predicated a bit by Mauer and his health. Not picking on Mauer, and more days off will probably help, but he does seem to miss time every year with at least one injury. Really need to get down to that 12 man staff ASAP.

Agree on the rotation candidates, Roster man. While it wouldn't shock me to see Stewart still take a major step forward, he's just too far away, at the moment, and there a couple guys at AAA that would probably be up first. Also feel Wade, Gordon and Rosario are just too far away, but a September cup of coffee is possible for any and all. Even though I'm always the optomist, I really like the guys on this list. Very excited about the future of the bullpen and don't believe it's that far away despite the hand wringing taking place about the current one. Love the way Granite plays and approaches the game. Intrigued by Palka a lot and very interested in Vielma as at least a utility infielder. Goodrum, believe it or not, is one of my favorite names on this list. Healthy and being productive now, he, reportedly, can play decent defense at 7 spots and has a decent bat with power and speed. He may never be good enough, or special enough in any area to be a starter, but he could end being what we all hoped DanSan would become.

I think this is pretty accurate. They are still evaluating the players in hand, the 40 man, and even the minors. (Not to mention the organization as a whole). Understand, I am not a really happy camper with this roster as it stands today. And I absolutely would have tried to make a trade to keep Haley and send him down, thus keeping Park and providing a more flexible bench. But I truly believe this is another 2-4 weeks of EST to conduct evaluations and make decisions.

One word...JEALOUS! Thank you for sharing!

The lack of inclusion of Park on the roster, depriving the team of a potential power bat, a backup 1B, and a shortening of the bench is just inexcusable.

Absolutely love and agree with this! I believe his biggest problems are still lack of experience and trying too hard to be great. (Something I think he shares with a couple talented young Twins). I want to laugh when I read he should be traded or is dismissed as a 4th OF when so young an inexperienced. When you watch him, much like Buxton, you can see the talent, the instincts and the enthusiasm in his game. Just give him some time to learn, grow and mature. I have said for some time that I believe he could be a consistent 20HR hitter when given time to settle in. I still believe that. Will it be this year? I'm not sure. I would argue the triples/doubles debate though. He has the speed and pop to hit double digit triples again, and maybe again, but triples are very hard to predict or expect based on placement within ballparks, OF ability and alignment and the such. But I think he is absolutely a .270-low .280 hitter with a .310-.315 OB hitter who should easily hit 30+ doubles...Unless he turns them in to triples.

Definitely some disappointment here, an initial funny/sparky post on my part, full empathy with everyone here after reading every post, (sorry if I happened to miss anyone but was trying to work as well, lol)....and a ton of reflection over the day. A few thoughts: 1} I stated in another thread, before this final roster one, that I simply HAD to believe the FO, and Molitor I'm sure, made some of these decisions based on a "let's not cut these guys loose just yet, see what sticks over the first few weeks or so, and then go from there. We can move forward but can't rewind" mentality. (Worded it differently the first time). EX: Tonkin, used appropriately, could surprise. But you can't bring him back once gone. Not saying he will, but he gets a little more rope. I almost feel the Twins will be using April, at least the first few weeks, as a sort of ML EST, this time in real games, to continue some evaluation. I'm starting to think this isn't such a bad idea for a rebuilding team. 2} I don't disagree with brining in a few solid veterans to augment the team in experience, leadership and hopefully ability. After all the gnashing of teeth, our catching situation is much better than a year ago. Belisle could/should be solid. Breslow was a cheap flier/filler who could help, and easily be cut. We DID NOT keep Vogelsong, spare part OF or INF. So the number of older, veteran players brought in and kept is only 3. 3} I KNOW it sounds trite, but this team is still rebuilding/retooling, and this roster will be fluid throughout the season and could absolutely change within the next 14-30 days. THE GOOD: 1} We still have the talented young OF plus the still young Grossman who has a role and no "last gasp" veteran OF. I understand the angst over DanSan, but he probably is on his last chance right now, and could be pretty easily replaced still, and possibly soon. 2} Sano, Polanco and Dozier is still 3/4 of a potentially fun/talented/exciting infield, and the one we expected all along. Escobar is still a solid player. Adrianza getting hurt was a disappointment because he was starting to hit and contribute. When healthy, I could still see him making the club, probably over DanSan. 3} The rotation. I know, I know...but...it is pretty much what we knew and expected. Santana has looked good. Gibson has looked good. Santiago hasn't been bad. Hughes at least offers a bit of hope and is much further along than I expected, despite some inconsistency. Instead of someone like Vogelsong, we actually get Mejia! Surprised and elated on this end! 4} The bullpen. NO, I'm NOT happy about some things here at all! But I think Duffey does help here. We are all terribly disappointed in Chargois's spring, but we are also crying out for young arms to get a chance. Can't say I'm disappointed Haley is getting a shot. I like Pressly and Rogers. I'm not happy about the pen, and I think it's going to change, hopefully soon, but I do like a couple guys here and am happy to see Duffey and Haley getting a shot. 5} Catcher. I still believe in Garver and want him here ASAP. But he gets to play everyday, for now, at Rochester and there is no way you can convince me our catching situation, overall, isn't better than a year ago at this time. THE BAD: 1} I sort of get the whole "hold on for now and see what sticks EST for the begining of the season, but an 8 man bullpen with a short and not very good bench to begin April? April? 2} Park AND the bench. And this is probably everyone's biggest gripe, even if they don't realize it. I get removing Park from the 40 man move and taking a chance. It worked. But the guy is healthy, worked hard, and lead the team in HR, RBI and slugging for ST. And you can't find a way to bring him north? Are you kidding me?! So we start the season without a potential everyday power bat, and nobody to platoon/back up Mauer at 1B? We turn Grossman in to a full time player and shorten our bench and options? I can understand a last shot for DanSan with the Adrianza injury, but come on! No Park to shorten the lineup AND the bench and our lineup options is just inexcusable!

Agree with the numbers overall, but I think there is enough pop there, alongbwith speed, to see his doubles in the high 20's.

I just threw up a little bit in my mouth.

The Belisle signing was "solid". Breslow was a cheap flier that may work out. I simply HAVE to believe this bullpen is a deliberate "see what we have and how it shakes out and who stays and who goes when some kids start coming up" move by the new FO.

First, a couple quick hits: 1} I love what Molitor has done this spring. He's been experimenting with different lineups and options. He's shown an openness I don't think we saw last season. Is this more evidence of the FO changes allowing Molitor more freedom? 2} I've said for a while I thought Buxton would eventually develop more power and slide down in the lineup. I never expected it to happen this soon. I think we're all unconvinced he's ready for this role at this point, but wouldn't it be interesting as hell if he was? 3} Despite any comfort level and past production in the leadoff spot, I still don't like Dozier hitting there vs 3 or 4. But...see point #2. Now...I absolutely both love and hate this lineup. There was a milb manager about 10 years or so ago...forget who and what organization...who evaluated his roster and established a lineup of 1-2-3 hitters throughout his lineup. In other words, he had 3 leadoff hitters, 3 number two hitters, 3 number three hitters. And he was successful with this. This lineup reminds me of that somewhat. I love the "idea" of Mauer/Grossman in the 4 spot, (to me these two form a sort of platoon in the lineup), providing contact and OB behind the first three batters and a sort of "leadoff" hitter before Sano and others. It helps stagger the lineup, which I find very interesting. The bad part is Mauer has seemed devoid of even doubles power the past few years. But I àbsolutely love the creativity here.