DocBauer

Well....Santana can't really hit a lick either.

I am not saying Hughes will come back in 2017, or at some point in '17, to be the same pitcher he was in 2014, but what a boon to the team if he could? Big time prospect who flashed on the big stage but also showed inconsistency. He comes to the Twins and has the best overall season of his career. And a combination of age/maturity"experience and a change of scenery does this for some guys. (Age as in maturity, not old). A return to that previous form, and the Twins acquiring a top of the rotation starter via trade or FA, with Hughes at #2 could be huge! A bit of wishful thinking on Hughes, but also not unreasonable, IMO.

As prospects with upside, I think you'd have to go with Jay and Gonsalves ahead of him. Still a solid #3-5 LHSP is nothing to be sneeze at. In an ideal world, you'd have 2 lefties in your rotation, 1 at or near the top, and a second quality one lower in your pecking order. The Twins currently have 3 to fill 2 spots. That's not too shabby. When encourages me is the seeming improvement of the last season in which he seems to have improved despite climbing higher levels. Is it conditioning? Refinement? A combination of both? Who cares as long as he's actually showing improvement.

I was off the Stewart bandwagon before 2016, to be honest. But the weak contact, the solid ERA, the number of solid starts and bump in K's the first half of last season at Ft Myers, plus his young age, got me re-thinking about him. Call it a hunch I guess, but those positives, with his build and frame and athleticism, tweaks and consistency to his delivery...which will hopefully happen with experience and some fresh approaches implemented by the new regime...have me encouraged and thinking he'said just one of those guys who is going to bloom later than originally expected/hoped for. Keep in mind, "later", in this case, means knocking on the ML door as a 23 or 24yother. Not exactly old by any means.

I agree on Burdi. He's so talented and at any moment you just feel he could simply take off. And miswing last season is frustrating for all involved. But I feel AA IS appropriate to not only begin the season, but because of the number of solid to very good options at AAA. I love the potential of Melotakis and think he's going to be good. He also could jump very soon, but his progress has been very similar to Chargois and I'd hate to rush him. I looked again at the prospect list as listed above. Give me that top 5 and 2 more of Rogers, Pressly, Duffey and probably Haley and I'm happy enough to do the Snoopy dance!

Interesting that 13 players are listed as possible bullpen options, at least initially, for 7 spots. And this doesn't even include one of the AAA arms really stepping up. IMO, I would remove May for the rotation, and I see Vogelsong as a AAA SP to begin the season with an outside shot at the 5th starting spot. I also think Perkins a very long shot to begin the season with the Twins. Take away those 3, and there are still 10 pretty viable options to work with, again, not counting anyone from the AAA really stepping forward. Outstanding? No. But there are some arms to work with there. I still would have gone for a closer bounce back vs Believe. There is something to work with here, at least, some potential, and further hope from a possibly loaded Rochester bullpen: Reed, Hildenberger, Melotakis and possibly Baxendale and Busenitz.

Personally, while still a bit disappointed yet again that a ttye 4th OF wasn't found, I feel that the new FO did pretty much what I expected and believed they should do. Or, in some casss, not do. The youngsters need to play, daily, and develop. IMO, signing a big HR hitting DH would be fun and entertaining, and could possibly something to look at next season. (Though Palka could provide a nice internal option). But with Mauer, Vargas, Park and Grossman all available for 1B/DH, once again, you need to se what you have. (Vargas and Grossman are still pretty young). Plus you have off dayseason or half days off, for others to take a turn at DH here and there. I thought one good RP, and maybe a flyer not a veteran LH arm was right for the pen. They sort of accomplished this, but I would have rather they sign a bounce back closer type. There are, potentially, some solid arms in Chargois, Pressly, Duffey and Haley in the pen, plus Rogers. And there are several interesting arms getting very close. The rotation is still a huge question mark. But I didn't want to eek it further muddled by signing older FA when Berrios and May need opportunity, there are a couple guys who could debut later in the year, Gibson has value for the Twins, or possible trade, but only if he pitches and pitches well. This doesn't even take in to account Hughes, Santana or Santiago. The team is being addressed from the inside out for 2017, players and personnel are being looked at from top to bottom, new programs are being put in place. The roster will turn over some during the season, and after the season. And not only will the FO have a better idea of who to keep, and who not to, but they will have $ to work with after this season, and even more coming off the books after 2018. I can quibble about the 4th OF and closer situation, but I see what is taking place and can't really disagree with it.

Well, I am supposedly working today, and there always has to be an exception to every rule. Let's now, how many words is that? Twenty-six!

Hmmm....not sure most of my posts are LESS than 2000 words. Lol Great to hear the backstories of our favorite site! Very sorry the Vikings sister site didn't work out. I visited it frequently.

What offers me encouragement still is his age, and the uptick in SO the first half of last season in Ft Myers. If his start at AA this season is similar, I will remain encouraged. Despite a need at the ML level for top pitching, I wonder if Stewart would be better off at AA for the entire season, or at least the majority of it.

While they are years awat, there are some young arms in the low minors that should bear watching with excitement over the next few years, and I include Thorpe on that list due to injury and illness. But I think he is clearly a guy who could be a fast riser. Obviously, Mejia at AAA and Romero at Ft Myers, for now, along with the collection at AA is where immediate attention and hope reside. We can complain all we want to that no "expert" opinion has any of these guys as a top of the rotation option, though Romero could be. But with any young pitcher with talent, it's just so hard to truly predict what they will yet become. Even on reaching the majors and throwing well, a lot of future ACE and top starters still take a year or two or more to become that guy. I have a lot of excitement to see what these guys, and Berrios, accomplish this season. Unfortunately, I also see fodder at AAA and think a few of these guys will not be in the organization for lkng. I get that you need to fill out the Rochester staff and you might get lucky with someone who gives you depth and a lift when injuries hit. But it is my sincere hope May and Berrios will be in the rotation for the majority, if not the entire, season. They need the time and development opportunity going forward.

I spent the first 10 years of my life in South Dakota, where I learned the game and became a Twins fan via my father, which I have mentioned before. I am fortunate enough that my 40+ years while living in Nebraska I can still receive most Twins games via the radio. A little over 5 years ago I discovered Sethspeaks and other websites to follow the Twins and their milb affiliates more easily than scouring over snippets in various printed materials, (though some like Baseball America and others did provide quality information). I am hopelessly addicted to my beloved Twins and this website. I visit often daily and my tablet and phone are probably weary from all the refreshing I do on daily basis, lol. THANK YOU to everyone, not just the owners, but all who share here, for a fantastic site and community!

Catcher: I am absolutely excited to see what he does with the staff, but as the article alludes to, it make time to see his affect. He not only has to learn the pitchers, but they have to learn him. His experience, habit's, communicstion, game planning and management, framing, etc, could all be outstanding. But there are not necessarily stats for these areas. Really excited to see what Garver can do when he gets his shot. I really hoped it's right out of the gate, giving Castro the necessary days off, as well as platooning against LHP. If the team decides he should play daily initially at Rochester,mi won't be too upset, but I may even a bit disappointed. Rotation: There could, indeed, be a roster crunch initially, depending on Hughes, and to a lesser degree, Duffey, and even Haley. I've seen enough of Duffey to not give up on him as a SP, but he may still fit better now, as well as long term, in the pen. Haley could surprise, and I'm betting the TWINS work out something to keep him in the organization regardless. For now, I'm actually thinking he and Duffey both in the pen. Hughes is big wildcard for this team. Whether it's immediately, a month or so in to the season, or for the second half, a fully healthy Hughes even close to his 2014 self is HUGE. Could it happen? I don't know. Nobody does. He could be anything from a high quality starter, to a closer, a setup man, or nothing. My best guess is he doesn't begin the season on the active roster, taking some time to ramp up, and the rotation is Santana, Gibson, Santiago, May and Berrios. If, by some chance, Hughes IS ready from day one in the rotation, I'd sure hate to see May or Berrios lose out. Bullpen: Kintzler, Belize, Pressly, Chargois and Rogers are almost all written in pen. Very possibly Duffey and Haley as well. That leaves Bristow, Boshers and O'Rourke fighting for the second LH spot, or, room for Hughes, (doubtful) or a surprise riser. No room for Hildenberger, Reed, etc? That's OK. I'm fine with that. Rochester's bullpen should be loaded, and this roster will be in flux all season.

100% honest, I was impressed with what Walker produced, power and RBI and a sense of consistency through his 5 milb seasons. I was tantalize by what he might produce if he could continue to produce at the same level, overall, and maintain his level of production the majors. And I kept hearing his arm was good and he was a great athlete, and in time his defense would catch up and he'd be at least OK in that department. But I am kind of tired of the Walker vs Palka comparisons. I am not going to do the research for every single statistical comparison to the two. But I have looked at the most basic numbers between them. Overall, 5 milb seasons for Walker vs Palka's 4: Walker: .251BA/ .310OB/ .487SLG/ .796OPS Palka: .273BA/ .350OB/ .508SLG/ .859OPS SB and SB% almost identical, though Palka has a couple more in one less season. Not saying Palka will be good, much less great,but thus far, he ranks ahead of Walker in BA, OB%, SLG% and OPS. Same age within days of one another, one less season of time for Palka. Can we stop with the comparisons? Palka seems to clearly be a better prospect.

A few thoughts: 1] Is Wade one of those guys just so all around good that he sort of sneaks up on you as to how all around good he really is? 2] Palka hits decently, and has hit at every level, thus far, with some normal adjustment period. He will probably always SO more than you'd like, but he also takes walks. He power is definitely there. And he seems to move very well. I'm excited for him and wonder if he's not the heir for 1B while still being able to play the OF. 3] Big believer in Garver's all around ability and think he will be very solid. 4] Have we all fallen asleep on Jorge and his potential?

I remain absolutely convinced that Sano will be at least an adequate 3B given opportunity and work. Coming up, we heard he worked hard on his defense and took pride in such. His first couple seasons, he has seen time, perhaps too much, at DH to allow Plouffe time in the infield, and, of course, the I'll planned experiment in RF last season before being moved to 3B after not being allowed to play there, per Molitor. (Or something to that affect). He's working hard this offseason, lost a bit of bulk, and probably got humbled a bit and frustrated last season. He charges the ball well. He's got a cannon. And for the umpteenth time, look no further than the Twins own past excellent 3B to see it takes a little time to settle down and learn. Mauer is quality at 1B and can still contribute offensively if used properly. SSS or not, look at the OPS Vargas put up, look at his milb track history, read about the adjustments he's made begining last season, and then tell me he doesn't deserve a real shot! I may have included Palka on this list, despite being an OF, because of the DH and 1B option. I've been thinking for a while now he could be the heir to Mauer there while still being able to play some corner OF as needed. Bit of a man crush on Goodrum. Seems he's been around forever. But he's only 24, has had a couple injury setbacks, and is a talented athlete. I am hoping his 2016 was not a mirage. If not, we could see him sooner rather than later, and he could be what we all hoped and thought DanSan might be: a guy who can play 4-6 positions adequately and provide a mixed bag of overall production. Other than Cabbage, maybe White and Molina, I find the rest to be "meh". There is some potential there, but I think 2017 is a prove it or lose it for a lot of these guys.

I am a big believer in Vargas and have championed him for some time. At various times, he has hitter better LH and RH, indicating he has the ability to perform from both sides of the plate, at least to some degree. His mild numbers indicate strong OPS and pretty consistent power numbers. He may always SO more than you'd like, but that is not uncommon for a slugger. He has also shown a willingness to work the count and take some free passes. That is NOT a bad thing. He also has put in a lot of work at 1B, his batting approach, and his ability to put more lift in to his batted balls. (The article referenced above is absolutely worth the read!) For some who might argue he's been around for some time, he didn't even turn 26 until the season was over. And his usage has been sporadic. Again, as noted above, when in a groove, or even just coming off one, he's been benched or sent out for no good reason. Everything about his milb and ML production and potential screams out to be given a fair opportunity to see what he can do over time! Just give it to him and don't bench him or send him out after a few bad games. If that philosophy were sound, half your team would be benched at different times. Early Dozier 2016 ring a bell?

For the next couple 2-3 seasons, barring a trade, somewhat surprise signing or steal somewhere, the Twins middle infield will revolve around Dozier, Polanco, Escobar, Gordon and Vielma. And I'm OK with that. Not a single player 30 yet, and Escobar is the second oldest at 27-28. It's all good. There is some real quality and "solid" play here to work with. It's OK the next group is high A and lower, for now. These things come in waves. It's much like the OF, which is even younger with Rosario, Buxton, Kepler, even Grossman, Granite and Palka. Work with the talented guys you have, make a move if you have to or it seems right, and the next wave begins 2017 at high A.

Other than Gordon, who I have come around on after debating his selection without any really high grade marks, I believe the organizational strength is absolutely in Ft Myers and below. And I think there is some real talent there, though not close. I find Vielma to be intriguing because of his glove and his speed. He has hit .260, .270 and .271 at his last three primary stops. His OB% those same three seasons have been .313, .321 and .345. None of those numbers is great, but they show some consistency as well as some improvement for a glove first prospect. I am not ready to anoint him anything as of yet, he remains a punch & Judy hitter at this point, but with his reputed defense and some speed, if he can keep making contact and get OB even a little bit, he could be a factor. Gordon and Goodrum are what have me excited, along with Polanco. Polanco simply may not have what it takes to be a consistent ML SS. Period. But I also don't feel he's been handled properly in the past by the Twins. He's been up and down with hardly any playing time at the ML level while burning his options, then didn't play a single inning at SS in 2016 before being asked to once he came up to the Twins. And SS was and is clearly a need for the big league club. Huge problem with this! Maybe he turns out to be only average with his defense at SS at the ML level. But with real need and his offensive potential this is how you develop him? Escobar has real potential as aneeded internal bounce back option at SS, but you absolutely have to give Polanco a real opportunity. On a rebuilding club, even if 2B is his best and ultimate position, you have to see what you have in him for 2017 at the SS spot.

Did we forget about Goodrum? I'm still very high on him as being what we all thought and hoped DanSan might become.

A couple of points: The game is STILL played on the field. Which is more to the point of last season, where the Twins SHOULD have won 70+ games. But so many young pkayers, players playing out of position, roster mis-management and a whole slew of injuries curtailed the season before it really began. How much of some of that is on Molitor vs Ryan is something we will probably never know. This year's team is also supposed to be 70+ wins. Two entirely different seasons with expectedly similar results despite roster turnover and hopeful everyday improvement from young prospects. Hard to define isn't it? I could actually see this team very easily hitting 80 wins with health and development. I hate the 20+ win improvement as it'stands an entirely new season with a different roster and everyone starts out 0-0. Didn't I read or hear somewhere last season, that at some point at least, the Twins actually had a better record against winning teams than losing record teams? The jury, and my personal opinion, on Molitor is still out. But I love the young talent on the roster, and the promise they bring. I think this team absolutely could hit 80 wins with good health.

Personally, I've written off Harrison at this point. There have been moments and streaks, but nothing close to consistency or anything approximating fulfilling is initial potential. But I like the idea of advancing him at this point, challenging him, and seeing what happens. Sometimes a guy gets challenged...maybe just isn't comfortable at a level or the ballpark and league he's in...and suddenly starts to find himself. This is his make or break year.

I would include Buxton in learning lessons. All three guys are very, very talented with great projections ahead, but I believe all three will run hot and cold at times. But isn't that the nature of baseball and prayers in general? All three of these guys will grow and develop over the season and build for 2018 and beyond. Buxton: I'm still unsure if his best fit will be batting leadoff, supplying power and speed, or second, where he can provide the same, but may see RBI opportunities. I've thought for a time that ultimately, probably a few years down the road, the power may develop more as the speed slows a bit...which would still make him very fast...and he might slide down to a more generous RBI slot. Kepler: I've said for a while now that I really believe he is the Twins future #3 hitter. That future could come as early as this season, and he did hit in the entire spot at times last season. I see him as a slightly poorer version of Mauer as a hitter, but with more power and better speed. It's his potential as an overall performer that really intrigues me. Could he slide to somewhere like the Twins hole to allow Buxton to hit 3rd eventually? Maybe. Rosario: With his tool set, it would be wonderful to see him hit somewhere at the top of the lineup. (Something Molitor also wishes and played with briefly) But his aggressive nature will probably never allow this. But let me point out yet again his rush to the majors and only approximately 780 AB, and the fact that in his milb career, his OB% was usually about 40 points higher than his BA. Stupendous? No. But solid and gives hope that in time, and with additional experience, he will not be quite the wild swinger he has shown at times. I've seen him compared to Puckett-lite as a hitter and I think that's pretty accurate. I've maintained for some time now that once he gets his feet firmly plated at the ML level, he will be a doubles machine and a consistent high teen and very probably low 20's HR producer with SB and taking extra base ability. There is no question he is the most enigmatic of the Twins young OF, but I think he will be a quality producer...given some time...hitting anywhere between the 5-7 spots. Granite or English will probably be the eventual 4th OF with Palka being the 5th, while DH or possibly even becoming the primary 1B post Mauer, with the ability to still cover the OF corners.

LH or not, I absolutely see a future role for Palka as a backup corner OF, DH or even 1B. I'm really hoping he has the glove for 1B.

I am super excited by the Twins starting OF and am expecting highs and lows over the course of the season as they are all three very young and still learning. But the talent and potential is outstanding! I still don't like Grossman as the 4th OF and prefer him as the 5th OF/DH/PH, but if he can improve his defense even a little I could see him helping in a corner a day here and there against LHP. Not going to pile on DanSan a there has been enough of that. But talk about a disappointment. I expected regression after 2014 but also thought he'd improve in other areas and be a nice utility player. I get keeping him around for a while longer...still young and athletic...but I think his days are numbered. On the milb side of things, I remain excited for Palka. He may always strike out more than you'd like, but the power is legitimate, he's not immune to walks, and he can hit some too. Also excited for Granite but suspect English will end up being the better ballplayer eventually. There is definitely some filler at the top two levels, but what strikes me is the number of quality athletes at the lower levels. There is still a long way to go for some of these guys, and being "toolsy" doesn't guarantee success at all. But if you have a number of those "toolsy" outfielders, you have to figure a couple will develop. And honestly, with the youth of the Twins OF as it stands today, it's OK to only have a couple guys knocking at the door at the moment.