DocBauer

I would also like to see Gonsalves begin the year with Rochester. It would seem he's proven himself at AA and ready for the challenge of Rochester. Plus, there is a bit of a crunch, potentially, for the Chattanooga rotation. Still, these guys are all young enough that I would be OK with Gonsalves at AA and Romero or Rosario at Ft Myers for the first month to get off to good starts, pun intended, and let a few things play out at each level above before some immediate promotions. I really like Mauer being at Chattanooga this season to follow the players he was managing last season. I like the familiarity and continuity aspect.

And it's good food for thought, as well as an interesting point. I agree, with a new regime in place, there may be other coaches and instructors Falvey and Levine are familiar with that they might feel more "comfortable" with going forward. Of course, I think it will greatly depend on the current coaches and how they embrace new formats.

I have to admit, I'm almost as excited for the milb season to start as I am the Twins season. And not just because I love to follow the minors and miss the daily reports. To me, there is a different vibe in the system this season, despite the "graduation" of so many top prospects to the ML level and a "lowering" of the Twins milb rankings. The pitching starved Twins will have Gonsalves, Mejia, Jay, Stewart, Jorge and Romero all at AAA and AA. Relief wise there will be Hildenberger, Melotakis, Reed and Burdi. Any or all of these guys have the potential for really good seasons and at least a couple of them could debut this season. Could Thorpe be this season's version of Romero? Remember, he missed last season due to mono but is anot her full season removed from his surgery. Just how good could young Brusdar Grater OL be? Could he also be another Romero, but at a lower level? Granite has not looked out of place in ST. I have a good feeling about Palka overall. (Too many SO's but he has hit everywhere and is not immune to BB). I have a lot of faith in Garver. With his overall talent and ability, and such a strong AFL, could Gordon make a big leap this season? And there are guys like Blankenhorn and Cabbage in the lower levels I'm anxious to see break out. Despite the lower prospect rankings to begin the season, I still feel there is a lot to be excited about here.

I am very intrigued by Goodrum and his overall talent base and seeming positional flexability, especially after his production last season once healthy. Unless I'm mistaken, however, he has yet to play a single game above AA. For this reason, I just don't see him breaking camp with the Twins. Hut he is a guy I'd be watch for in the future.

Right now, today, I think I would agree with your roster. Two interesting points, however: 1] Still not entirely sold on Gimenez. I get he's an experienced vet and offers some positional flexability. The new FO is obviously familiar with him and Garver not only has options, but also limited AAA time. But I don't think he's locked in just yet. 2] Is it really possible that the disappointing DanSan could actually be turning in to the versatile and sometimes exciting bench player we all hoped he might be?

On the one hand, we caution not to get enamored with Park's production...or anyone else's...because it's so early in ST. On the other hand, despite not improved second performance, we are upset Hughes isn't throwing 92. We can't have it both ways. Many, many pitchers not only ramp up their innings during the spring, and get feel for their pitches, but vamp up their velocity. The fact that he is actually hitting 90 at this point coming off such an unknown injury repair has me far more optomistic than I was coming into ST. Now, if he's only hitting 90 in a couple of weeks I have to question rehab or a bullpen move.

I would say Berrios over Mejia at this point with Vogelsong and Haley as possibles. There are always injuries, trade possibilities and guys who flat out stink. (Though you always want to avoid 2 of those). The rotation that starts the season is not the rotation we'll see at the end of the year, and could be different by the break, or even a month in.

Agreed. First pitch strikes, ahead in the count, Hughes himself feeling better about his feel and control is encouraging and beyond what I have been expecting. Many pitchers ramp up their velocity throughout the spring. If I recall correctly, this has been pretty standard for Hughes himself going all the way back to 2014 even. He's honestly further along than I ever expected based on this last outing. Doesn't mean he will make it all the way back and be the same pitcher he was in 2014, but I'm surprised and encouraged at this point.

I agree on Haley and that his competition is someone like Vogelsong and not Tonkin or a similar shorter IP RP. Could he end up as a starter still? Yes, but this would be his best role for the time being, and the best fit for the team. I appreciated the comments on Berrios. I want him in the rotation and believe he will be there sooner rather than later. There are always injuries, trade possibilities, etc. He is young and still working on tweaking a few things. And sometimes, whether we like it or not, there can be a numbers crunch coming out of the gate to begin the season. "Youngest pitcher to start a game in the AL last season" speaks volumes to me.

Right now, today, only a few games played, I'm not all that worried about a roster filled with a plethora of mid to late 30yo FA invites. These guys are not on the Twins 40 man, or anyone else's, for that matter, for a reason. And the TWINS are not the only team to bring in such players to camp every year, we're simply focused on the Twins. Every team brings in a bunch of guys like this for game depth in the spring, to help fill the AAA roster, and because you sometimes find a useful piece or two to be the 24th-25th man on your roster until someone better is available/ready. Despite the rebuild and general youth movement taking place, to say there aren't holes in the roster, or that every prospect on the 40 man is ready for the majors is a bit naive. Is there room borderline a Breslow until Melotakis is ready? Yes. Is there room for a 4th OF so that Granite can play everyday at Rochester for now? Again, yes. Even if a couple of guys do make the club, it doesn't mean they are permanent fixtures by any means.

To me, pausing for a moment to simply state the obvious that everyone is healthy and producing at some sort of expected or anticipated level, what to do with Mauer is not about the platoon, but simply where to hit him at. Either Vargas or Park will be the other half of this scenario, and spend time in the DH spot. (Barring a surprise player joining the fold). Mauer sits against LHP with Vargas/Park playing 1B and Grossman is the RH DH that day. (*Grossman also play a little OF here and there-TBD) You can make a strong arguement for the Mauer/Grossman spot to be second in the lineup after Polanco or Buxton. It makes a ton of sense. Ideally, at some point, you'd really like to see Buxton and Polanco both at the top of the order with Mauer/Grossman further down the lineup in either the 6th or 7th hole, providing solid bats and OB behind the power hitters, and getting OB ahead of the bottom of the order.

Even though Santiago's overall numbers look better than Nolasco the past couple of seasons, the trade was done, from the Twins perspective, to unload a poor performing player that didn't fit for a younger player, with better recent performance, who could help. The Angels made the move, primarily, to see if lightening would strike, in a good way, for Meyer. A return to previous form for Nolasco wouldn't stink either. In a lot of ways, it was about change of scenery for the guys involved to see what happens. Santiago has, more or less, outperformed his peripherals. But even still, he does have a career 3.84 ERA and a 2-1 SO/BB ratio and has topped 180IP twice. He did finish last season looking much better than when he first arrived with the Twins. Frankly, while not good, he's not terrible either. All in all though, I hope his Twins tenure is short lived as it means we've found someone better to take his place. And if you had told me someone like Vogelsong...even at 40...supposedly healthy and tread on the tires despite his age...would be brought jn, I may have stayed away from Santiago. But other than Santana and Gibson, the Twins entered ST with no-one else who's name you could write in the rotation with ink. Yes, absolutely yes, I want Berrios and May in the rotation and think it's time and they deserve the opportunity and I believe in both. But there are question marks with each, at least initially. And there remains huge questions regarding Hughes coming back, and when, and to what degree. So for now, Santiago is an OK option and a necessary one. Here's hoping he performs well and has trade value at some point.

Under last season'starts payroll and we'll below the ML average payroll, and with questions surrounding the roster, I don't see a single guy here being cut or traded. Despite major concerns with the rotation, Santiago would be the most likely to go with Santana and Gibson locked in with Berrios and May hopefully ready and a few remaining options for the 5th spot. But questions remain regarding Hughes while May and Berrios are still in a bit of a "prove it" mode, though each needs and deserves the opportunity. Just don't see a single move taking place unless someone has an injury, the rest of the rotation candidates step up, and it makes sense to trade Santiago.

What troubles me is the fact that had the surgery been done sooner, for his own career sake, he might be able to play part of this season. But what I don't know is, how long should an expected treatment/rehab take place normally before a decision should be made? I totally understand choosing rehab and treatment first. And I don't know enough medically to know when the time is right to opt for surgery. But it sure does seem to take a long time before the surgery decision is made.

I would say Stubbs as the 4th OF, assuming he can find a bit of his old magic, and Adrianza would be my loop choices, along with Breslow. Stubbs used to be good defensively, could hit and run a bit and flashed some power from the RH side. He could definitely be a fit. Adrianza obviously brings the leather, and actually didn't hit badly in the minors. Defensive replacement/utility? Breslow has experience, his new arm angle and spin rate to help the pen. I find these three at least...interesting. I still have this gut feeling the Twins will be adding a cut OF late in the spring .

Someone recently mentioned Wade as resembling Lawton for his all around skill set and ability. Solid all areas. Boy do I hope that turns out to be true. He'd be a quality starter or outstanding 4th OF. Can a healthy Thorpe be this year's version of Romero? An all around catcher so close to bogs I think I'd have Garver higher too. Nice write up!

Someone recently mentioned Wade as resembling Lawton for his all around skill set and ability. Solid all areas. Boy do I hope that turns out to be true. He'd be a quality starter or outstanding 4th OF. Can a healthy Thorpe be this year's version of Romero? An all around catcher so close to bogs I think I'd have Garver higher too. Nice write up!

I'd be curious to know just how well Giminez actually plays the corner infield and outfield positions. He sure doesn't hit much, but if he was solid defensively at those 4 additional spots, it could increase his value.

No question Greene I is tantalizing as a prospect, and overall ceiling he may indeed be the top player in the draft. And if you don't take him, you may live with deep regret. Right now though, I'd lean to Faedo or Wright. There is a ton of baseball to be played before the draft and the hope is, obviously, that someone truly separates from the pack. I just can't find myself feeling comfortable with a HS pitcher as the #1 overall pick. There is a reason it's never/seldom happened before, (LH yes, RH no). Injury potential and just so far from the majors makes it such a risky proposition.

I could see him begining the season at Ft Myers initially jdue to only 11 starts there, possibly a full rotation at AA, and let the first month play out at both AAA and AA to settle a few spots, and then promote him. But on the surface, it would sure seem natural to move him to Chattanooga right from the get go. (Same could be argued for Gonsalves to Rochester). A new FO, new training and development techniques being brought in, (it appears Allen may be committed to change as well), with Mejia, Gonsalves, Stewart, Jay, Jorge and Romero has me almost as excited in just watching pitching development in 2017 as watching the Twins themselves! A few tweaks in delivery here, better control of a 3rd pitch there, and building up some innings for a few guys, man, call me an optomist with Twins-red colored glasses but I'm feeling so much better about the future rotation than I have felt in a long time.

Maybe I just want to believe, but something about him has always intrigued me as a guy with real potential who just sort of understands how to pitch and "gets it". Like any young pitcher, he's still learning and refining his control. But I've had this feeling that he's not done developing physically yet, and a little more muscle and on continued work on mechanics will add a tick or two to his fastball. Refine that 3rd pitch, and he could potentially be a #2 starter. At worst, I see a very solid/good 3 or 4. I'd still be very happy with that.

I don't buy in to the re-draft theory as there is a hell of a lot yet to see and develop. Not to mention a re-draft could be fun, but is nothing but fantasy anyway. The AFL US a SS, agree totally. But when you take a young A ballplayer and place him there and he performs well, I don't think you just dismiss what he did either. It just shows me how ready, through talent and hard work, Gordon is for the AAA level. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if this is his "breakout" season.

Personally, I wouldn't bet against Garver. Castro was brought in for a reason. And I think he will handle the staff well, show his value, and his career has shown he can be effective against RHP. I don't buy in to Garver's age as a restriction. Catcher is a unique position as far as development goes. He has improved defensively by all accounts, has al ways had a great arm, and has hit decently to we'll at all levels, and even shown improvement at levels if he started slow. It's not only ability but opportunity. Is he better playing every 3rd day at the ML level now, or everyday at AAA to begin the season? Does an injury get him playing time or more playing time? I actually find him to be at the top of my prospect watch list. He could be a solid backup to a really good starter. His opportunity window may be one of the hardest to speculate.

Kistler did a surprisingly solid job last year. I don't mean to diminish his 2016 season at all, but I just don't think he's really a closers. Throwing 92-93 is fine. Not every closer is a true fireball er. But there is usually special movement and a special secondary pitch. He just doesn't have that. Maybe we'really better in the long run, but I really wanted that bounce back candidate that could be flipped or traded. Pressly could be solid and maybe better than any of us realize. But when all is said and done, the job will belong to Chargois. There will be various guys with saves on their 2017 resume, but Chargois will be the main man.

I think you wrap it up pretty succinctly here. Ultimate blame is on TR. We aren't privy to various conversations that took place, maybe Molitor pointed the desk demanding certain things and was rebuffed time and again. But you would think he was have at least a minimum amount of input to say: "Hey, how's Polanco doing? I like that kid and we need a SS." He may not have much control, and daily his work centers around the functions of the ML club as is, but you'd think he'd at least have some influence.