DocBauer

Yeah...too bad Vargas can't hit, right?

One of life's great questions who's answer still eludes me: if more than one octopus means you have "octopi"...then what happens in Vegas if you are in a room of multiple Elvis impersonators? Do you have "Elvi"?

If Greene's "attitude", assuming he does have one, is born from a desire to be the best, I'm OK with that. If it's ego and a long nose viewpoint of those around him, then I would have a problem. Not saying he has any issues, just responding. What scares me about Greene is mixed results in his secondary stuff. I hear average slider that needs work, and I hear devastating slider. Which is it? And, more than likely, he is further away from helping any time soon, but I also don't believe in drafting simply for immediacy. I'm starting to lean towards McKay, not as a negative towards Greene, but because a strapping, quality LHSP who is closer to helping with a floor of a #3 with the potential for better excites me. Those just don't grow on trees, and sorry for saying this, but he does have the feeling of being the "safer" choice.

Replacing Santana and gaining the 40 man spot is probably the overall win here. Adriana can at least play defense, though he might be a bit superfluous with Escobar on the roster. The big win involves Pressly getting straightened out, and the likes of Berrios, Chargois, Burdi and Melotakis coming up. (Though that leaves us short a SP). Mejia!

May I have an AMEN!

You know, there are compelling arguments for both of these guys, and not due to any 2-way preference. Greene is the top guy, no doubt, if you are of the opinion you go for the biggest upside. McKay has quality upside, just maybe not quite as much, but is also closer to ML ready. I think I'd be happy either way.

Your points are all valid. But as I commented recently in a similar blog, I just wouldn't move him unless blown away. He is not a true ACE starter, despite his excellent start to this season, and quality Twins career. The Twins are using him intelligently, and there is no indication of sudden regression. He's quality and affordable to this young, developing and growing team.

I simply can't describe how disappointed I am about Gibson. I truly thought he was a nice bounce back candidate this season. Announcers from other teams have even commented he has solid stuff, but it doesn't seem to translate. Whether he doesn't trust his stuff, his defense, or is just afraid of making a mistake, he seems to nibble to me. I now believe/hope Mejia and Berrios will pitch a good half season, if not more, for the Twins this season along with Santana, Santiago and Hughes. There are multiple options coming up fairly soon for the pen, plus the return of Haley, and I'd send Gibson to the minors for depth, and hope he can find himself again. The Twins will have the financial resources to sign a legitimate FA next off-season, should they choose to, especially if they would choose to let Santiago and Gibson go. There are a couple nice young arms behind Mejia and Berrios that could be ready at some point in 2018, plus a hopeful return for May. I think Gibson's days are numbered.

Nope. Wouldn't do it unless someone made me a he'll of an offer. Why? We need pitching. We have prospects. Other teams have prospects. Prospects remain prospects until they are no longer, for good or bad. But the 2017 Twins are a solid team, playing well, brimming with some top young talent, a couple "youngish" veterans, and a couple older vets. There is no way to know how good, or bad, this team can/will ultimately be. But the core is there and getting better and growing better. And there are legitimate prospects, on the mound and in the field, that will make appearances soon, to continue growth and the rebuild. And with the payroll where it is, some contracts expiring at season end, others that could be declined, there is real room to bring on a legitimate arm next off season to supplement the biggest deficiency, starting pitching. For the sake of the turnstiles, (which remains important), and the overall development of this growing and rebuilding team, I think it's important to maintain a winning culture as opposed to; "nah...screw this season. We want to cut payroll and bring on another couple prospects. You guys, and the fans, can worry about winning later." Just my opinion. But again, unless given an offer we can't refuse, this team is better off with Santana than without.

If you keep him in the 3 spot, I think a strong argument could be made for Kepler hitting behind him. If you bump him down to cleanup, how about Dozier-Polanco-Kepler with some combination of Vargas/Grossman/Park batting 5th behind him?

"So long Sano"

Have to believe both Burro and Melotakis will be up to Rochester very soon. Time to take the kid gloves off Melotakis? I would guess that is not due to last surgery, as was the case last year, and more due to the oblique strain in spring training.

Berries up, and that's pretty obvious. But keep Romero at AS for half the season, I say. First taste of AA, young, plenty of time to promote him. Let him really get cranked up and going at AA for now.

Interesting that Goodrum is listed as a 3B on his milb page but has been mostly playing SS and CF. Hes slumped a bit lately, but is still holding his own mostly and contributing. Granite and Garber both doing well! Glad to see Granite ready to play! I know we're a mostly young and still rebuilding team, but it's nice to see the AAAA guys at Rochester doing well. Makes you feel comfortable that there's a couple guys who could come up for a week or so if necessary and not embarrass themselves. Just have to believe Burdi and Melotakis are close to a Rochester promotion.

I've had him in my mind as well. Really, he's been promoted pretty quickly and seems to be doing well, all things considered. Still showing inconsistencies, which you'd expect for a young pitcher, especially hitting AAA for the first time. Seems to me he generally has good control, and while he doesn't have the velocity you might expect for such a big guy, I believe reports I've read indicate his length and delivery help hide the ball and play his FB up. I'm honestly thinking we may have to add him to the Berrios, Mejia, Gonsalves, Romero and Jorge list of young SP we have hopes for.

Couple points that I believe are important and in some cases worth repeating. 1) Both these guys are young, learning and developing. Just as they were in the minors. Nobody ever said they were promoted and plugged in gold glove ready and deserving. They are playing solid, occasionally outstanding, with some mistakes mixed in. We shouldn't expect a few growing pains while they still develop? 2) When Polanco was first signed, he was considered a defensive first player with a questionable bat. Until last season when he was inexplicably taken off AS, he did continue to play the spot on a regular basis through the minors, splitting time at other positions, like most young players. (Just like Gordon seeing time at 2B now). As to still needing work and not being 100% polished, refer again to point #1. 3) This the first time Sano has been allowed to focus on 3B at the ML level. Yes he's put in a lot of work, and that's a good thing! But he's also being allowed to play his natural position. All reports I ever read when in the minors was he was solid, with potential to be better, and that he worked hard on his defense. Talk of him moving off 3B, possibly outgrowing the position, we're generally listed as "eventually" and not immediate. And once again, a reminder, remember how good Gaetti and Koskie were at 3B? If so, then also remember how they struggled initially. Gaetti had stone hands and Koskie was stiff. A couple years later they were amongst the best overall players at their position, offensively and defensively.

Right now, Gibson is the bugger disappointment for me. Like him or not, we have seen what he can be capable of. Seemingly healthy, working hard on his arm and mechanics, putting up solid performances in the spring, I really thought he was ready to get back on track. I don't know exactly what his problem is, or how to fix it, but he seems, IMO, to pitch tentatively. Does he not trust his stuff? His much improved defense? Is he just too afraid to make a mistake? I am very concerned about Buxton, of course, but less so. He is very young still. He oozes with talent and ability. We have seen this before, years ago, from Hunter. (Similar at least). And we saw it with Gomez, also young and talented and probably given up on way too soon by the Twins. SOMEONE needs to work one on one with him to find a stance, stroke, approach and relaxed mental state to let him get going. Maybe Hunter? I'm unconcerned, at this point, about his first 50AB or so, and more concerned about his next 450+. Players and pitchers have streaks, and very seldom, if ever, does everyone get hot at once. But just imagine another 2-3 wins for this improved team if Gibson and Buxton were just performing at a "solid" level at this point.

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.