DocBauer

The more I see, hear and read about Garver, the more I like and believe in him. I've been saying for a while now that I'm not sure the Twins best move wouldn't be to sign the very best AAAA level catcher they could find, preferably who hits LH, maybe someone either squeezed out elsewhere or has disappointed somewhat, and just roll with what we have. I'm not saying don't sign Castro, or that I wouldn't be happy to have him, or that he couldn't help the staff as well as impart knowledge and experience to Garver/Murphy. But would the team simply be better going the direction of youth? Or maybe a 1 year deal on someone like Avila? I understand his limitations, but he could provide knowledge and experience, some contact and OB, while working with Garver and or Murphy.

I've been watching Garver since he was drafted, along with Turner, but the more I see and read, how can you not be excited by him? He may not be the next Mauer, but how few are or ever will be? We may have a legitimate, quality 2 way catcher right on the precipice of making it to The Show. And I dont want to hear he's almost 26. Catcher is a premium position which sometimes takes longer to develop. There aren't that many early 20yo's like Mauer or Rodriguez that show up. He came from the college ranks and has made steady progress.

The Twins are, in reality, a very young and rebuilding team. Young at the core, of course, with a few older veterans, a few of which may not even be on the team next season. And I am all about keeping the most young talent around we can to continue the rebuild. Some will never make it, of course, and some will be role players, but that's OK, you need those too. And some will become anything from solid starters to potential stars. But I do wonder, once in a while, if we fret too much over the 40 man and the rule 5 draft as, usually, only a couple guys are selected from any one team, and most simply aren't kept due to the 25 man roster constraints. We also don't know how much we don't know, as in, how the new regime sees these young prospects, or their intentions for 2017. They might not even fully know at this point! That being said, without getting too immediately wrapped up in how many spots are open due to those let go and the such, I do have strong feelings about a few guys. Romero, Garver, Palka, Jorge and Granite are all definite, IMO. A potential stud pitcher, a potential solid pitcher, for a pitching starved team are no Brainerd. As is a potential 2-way catcher, a LH power source who could possibly play three spots as well as DH, and a defensive OF with BA and OB skills who can run like the wind and play good defense. After those 5, it gets a little harder to figure out. I wouldn't want to lose Vielma, or Goodrum. Vielma has the great glove and speed, but was also shackled a bit this season due to injury. More or less the same with Goodrum. But are either really a risk to be drafted and kept on a roster for the entire season by someone? I'd keep Wheeler if at all possible. He may posses nothing special that is overly projectable, but he's LH, can start, fast tracked his first year or so before a bad 2015, and then pretty much kicked it at AAA last year. Do you really want to risk losing a decent arm like him? I think we can all agree he's already surpassed the likes of Dean and Albers, and I'd hate for the Twins to NOT give him a shot somewhere along the line. Baxendale is the same way. His solid work at AA as a SP wouldn't get him drafted. But to take his game to a different level in AAA as a RP? Despite other quality candidates available, I'd rather not take the risk. As previously pointed out, it's easier to hide a decent arm as the last guy in a bullpen than a position player. Turner is the guy I'm the most mixed about. From all reports, he is a fine defensive catcher. By all reports and numbers, he will work an AB and has some pop. He may yet surprise and develop a better hit tool, at least a good enough one to be a solid reserve catcher. But his bat is still lagging/lacking, and he has yet to play above AA. Even if selected, are we really in danger of losing him permanently? So I have 5 definite. 4 that I'd like to keep, especially the 2 pitchers. And 1 that I think I'm willing to risk exposing, despite catching being a premium position of general need, including by the Twins.

I echo Hughes and Park as good bounceback candidates. So is Plouffe, but for another team LIMO. I also can't call for a "bounce back" for Rosario, Sanyo or Berries. Not in the classic sense. These guys are so young and still developing that I have a hard time classifying them as bounce back. Rosario and Sano still have less than 800ML AB. Rosario was much better after his recall from Rochester and Sano was still one if the team's top sluggers. I put these guys in a "step forward" colum.

Yes, I agree with this. Garver could learn a few things from himy as well. You can still be getting younger and younger, hopefully better in the long run, but still augment the roster for better all around performance with a quality veteran or two, even if they are role players. As I've suggested here and there such as 4th OF, SS or utility for now, etc.

I agree with this. A new direction from a new FO, even after such a horrible season, has to make a player look at a team like the Twins differently. (Winning in 2015 probably doesn't hurt either) And I would think a player, such as Castro, would have to be intrigued not only by these changes, but would have to be somewhat excited to seexpect guys like Sano, Polanco, Rosario, Buxton, Kepler, etc, and see a positive future he could be part of. Considering he plays a premium position, the team has the financial room for him, will probably shave payroll with a trade or two and a non-tender or two, I would feel OK if they went the $10M route. I just don't think I would go any higher than that.

Been really hoping for a couple seasons now that something would click with Goodrum. Not all that long ago there was talk of him being the Twins SS of the future. Somewhere along the line, the Twins didn't seem to think so as they began to play him just about everywhere but SS it seemed. While his 2016 was short, he seemed to hit well overall while showing some pop and speed. And he seems to be continuing that this winter. I really hope he can keep this up and make himself a valuable role player with the Twins in the near future.

anyone else just deplore auto correct after you re-read some of your own posts? lol

You know, as disappointing as last season was, as poor as the pitching appeared to be, the truth is I'm not sure we know enough about Allen to make an accurate judgement. We didn't have a problem with him in 2015 when we won/were competitive. Injuries and some weird personnel decisions along with poor performance all lead to a horrible 2016. But how much falls on Allen's shoulders is probably hard to say at this time. I don't know how long a leash Allen has, but his doctrine says some good things. And I'd like to believe Garvey and Levine know more ML personnel than just those on their past teams. Perhaps they simply know more about Allen and some of the decisions made last year than we do. You have to hope so at least.

Not saying I don't find Walker very intriguing. I do. I've remarked how consistent his production has been at every level thus far, and how valuable his production could be at the ML level if he could somehow continue his consistent level of production. I'll have to go back and look again, to be fair, but I recall Palka having a better BA over the past few seasons. And really, I don't have any facts to support Palka over Walker defensively other than various reports and comments read. I just never seem to hear anything positive about Walker defensively. So on my end, just call it a feeling.

Well thought out and very logical. I will not argue the logic of your plan, or the fact that big FA moves are not what this team really wants or needs right now, not that there are a ton of difference makers out there, particularly rotation wise. I also agree that this team should be better than last season, just because a lot of bad things happened last season, and they'd almost have to be better than last year "just because". And with the new FO taking time to implement their new organizational direction, and needing time to really get to know what they have in the system player wise, I could see this scenario play out. But I do have a few issues and comments: * Tejada is a guy I considered when I listed my framework, and almost went with him over Drew. Not a bad choice at all. * I also considered Soto as my veteran, short term catcher. And he could be an interesting bounce back candidate. He's just been so hurt and hardly played the last couple of years that I just wasn't sure there would be a point to signing him. * It would be a huge boost to this team of Hughes could make it back, especially all the way back, but I just can't bank on it, especially to start the season, so I put May back in the rotation. I don't get the Mejia idea at this time. Not dismissing him as a prospect and eventual rotation member, but again, why not May when Mejia probably needs more time at AAA? * I still absolutely don't like Sano at DH. Maybe he ends up there one day. Maybe he becomes the full time 1B in another year or so. But I still don't give up on him at 3B yet. Could better conditioning and a little harder work be necessary for him at 3B? But he also needs time and opportunity to play there, especially being able to concentrate on the position. I've watched guys like Gaetti and Koskie with the Twins have to develop at the position, Plouffe more recently. I watched future HOF Boggs struggle with Boston, and others similarly. Cabrera with the Tigers has never been accused of being a strong defender, but he's adequate with his big bat. I still don't move Sano off 3B yet.

Can't disagree with either you or Thrylos, though I don't know being ranked in the top 100 is that big of a deal in the long term. It's a little like college football recruiting and giving high school players star rankings. Not showing big time power, sharing time with Turner, and the one so-so season sandwiched between two good seasons may hold back his rankings. And maybe I'm just optomistic. Lol But I really do have a good feeling about the guy.

I love Castro being brought on board, with some trepidation he could end up blocking Garver at this point who appears close to being ready. Still don't have a total handle on Garver's full defensive acumen, but never heard anything negative, he can sure throw, and he looks to be a better than average hitter for the position with some power. If Castro's price tag gets too high, or too long term, or simply doesn't want to sign with the Twins, (I'm betting he has more than a couple suitors), I still like Avila to play solid defense, provide experience, and hopefully hit a little while sharing time with Garver.

While it's true the BIG NAMES we've all been following and waiting for the past few seasons...Sano, Buxton, Rosario, Kepler, Berrios and Chargois...have "graduated" to the big league level, there's still a lot of talent scheduled to arrive soon. Honestly, I'm almost as high on Gonsalves as Berrios. I'm high on Jay's potential and just feel really good about Garver. It's unusual for a buzz to be created about relievers, Chargois became an exception, but there are a couple really, really nice arms on this list that should debut sometime in 2017. I would add Palka to this list as well. He hits better than Walker, seems to walk more, and may be able to play or cover 3 positions as well as being able to DH

Agreed on Turner. He still has potential, but even with catching being a premium spot, I find it difficult to believe he would be selected and stashed by someone. If the Twins keep him, I'd be inclined to start him at AA again to begin the season. His bat still has a little potential and a little pop, but AAA could easily have one of Murphy or Garver, perhaps Centeno or another AAAA type like Hicks last year.

shot*

First off, I like the Castro idea quite a bit. I do think he'd help the team as a whole, pitching and defense. Overall, his bat would probably equal Suzuki. Perhaps he'd find a resurgence with the Twins? Assuming his demand and thus options wasn't overly high, and the Twins could actually sign him, my concern isn't even his age or the cost. My only real concern is Murphy rebounding and Garver getting a fair shot at some point. No question he could help the club, and his experience could be welcome, but on a team rebuilding and getting younger all the time, when do we give someone like Garver a ****?

Echoing other thoughts here. Seems these were probably necessary changes. Just not sure about Allen. But I didn't expect pink slips passed all the way around right off the bat. If you're the new marshal and sheriff in town, you probably don't come in and get rid of all of the deputies in one shot.

Nothing against Winters, but I'm not in favor of a big contract to an aging catcher. I'm in favor of Avila as a veteran influence and part time player who swings from the left side. I'm in favor of going all in on Garver at this point. He is still relatively young and seems to have real hitting potential with decent pop and a good arm. We're young in the OF, 3B, 2B, possibly DH, with a mix of youth in the rotation and bullpen. Why not a young catcher with talent and potential and a veteran to work with him?

I hate to sound like a downer here, and I hope they actually do jump in to a signing or two, RP, spare OF and maybe an INF, but what these guys really need to do first, absolute priority, is to simply go over the 40 man roster, additions and subtraction. Yes, as baseball executives with other teams, they are somewhat familiar with the Twins roster, but not in an intimate way. They have to discuss their vision/platform ideas and between stats and scouts, get a better feel for who to keep and who goes. Next, they need to implement changes in the minors, their concepts for working with and building up and developing prospects. This will also include reviews of roving instructors and field staff personnel. And as was mentioned in various articles, they want/need to expand certain FO areas and create others. They have a ton of foundation work to do before jumping in to any sort of FA or trade moves. But we'll be better in the long run for it.

Again, nothing wrong with a full time DH, especially if it's an older player who can't get it done in the field so much any longer, but still caries a nice stick. Or a good hitter who just isn't as good defensively as the player in front of him. But I much prefer a balanced roster where I can plug in that 4th OF, quality utility infielder, or backup 1B or catcher and let the "regular" have that half day off. I agree with Thrylos in general, in regard to Sano in particular, that to pigeon hole a young player in to a DH slot is just wrong, unless he proves himself unworthy to play defense, or another player, with a good bat, is just better in the field and he's stuck behind him. For the umpteenth time, would everyone quit trying to make a DH out of Sano at this point? Perhaps he could be better conditioned and work a bit harder. Perhaps. But he's still very young and has 700 ML AB's. Again, for the umpteenth time, look at Gatti and Koski for the Twins, who took time to develop defensively. Or Boggs, Thoma, and the list goes on and on for guys with big bats who took a little time to develop defensively. Sano is a good athlete for his size. He has a big gun for an arm. He charges the ball surprisingly well. Give him some time to find himself and develop at 3B. And if he can't, I'd think he'd be a logical choice to play 1B down the road. But it is very short sighted and impatient to declare him as a DH only at this point.

Don't stand pat. Baseball is a tremors game that really hasn't changed that much over the years. Oh, there are tweaks in philosophy over the years, and strategy and the such sure, but the game remains the same. Unlike other sports, such as the NFL, there aren't constant rule changes that affect the game itself. It's still 3 strikes, 4 balls, 3 outs and 9 innings, (normally). There are a lot of nuances how to play the game and how to build a roster to be successful. You have a talented, young team and more talent on the way, a beautiful ballpark that is one of the best in baseball. You're not running a poor franchise, but you're not. NY, Boston, Chicago or LA either. Be smart, be aggressive at times, but don't just stand pat. Look for ways to always improve, at the ML and milb levels. Try new things. Be innovative, even if it doesn't always work. Be innovative, not passive or reactionary. Have a vision. Add when you can, flip when it seems prudent, but always keep moving forward. The Twins used to do some of these things. And then they got bogged down. You don't have to necessarily create the new equivalent of "moneyball", but even in a mid market, in the conservative Midwest, don't fall in to a complacency trap. Be innovative.

Oh, he crossed my mind to be sure! Wasn't sure he should be the player version of Brian Duensing. Lol

I have never felt a team HAD to have a full time DH to use the spot successfully. Not saying you can't plug a tremendous hitter in that spot, especially an older player who's bat is strong but who's defense has begun to wane, I've just never held the belief it was necessary if you have a talented and we'll balanced ballclub. Tom Kelly used his lineup very well, back in the day, IMO, and the chart above would seem to suggest I am right. Randy Bush, for example, was very often the Twins DH for a few years, but also played 1B and OF, but there were other quality players there that were primary starters, so it was a way to get his LH bat in the lineup and get other guys a half day of rest. This also applies somewhat to Larkin and Smaller. With the potential of the Twins current OF, I could easily see someone like Palka, in the near future, being able to play 1B and both corner OF spots but being the regular DH. Bit of a hornets nest here, but if Mauer were to retire or be injured again, a healthy Park and Vargas could potentially share 1B/DH duties daily with Sano filling in once in a while and Escobar playing 3B possibly. I think the "regular DH" discrepancy the Twins have had the past several years is more due to overall lack of talent than having that ONE GUY for the job. Willingham, for instance, could have perfect for the spot with an occassional start in the OF. But they didn't have anyone else as good or better to start in the OF at the time. I have no problem with a Thome, Winfield, Davis or Molitor slated in to the DH spot daily. But personally, I'd like to have a nice, complete and talented roster where we have an OF or 1B with a good bat who deserves to be in the lineup daily and we use him there while rolling him in to the field as well.

I didn't get to watch as much of the series as I would have liked, but I did try to follow it as well as I could before catching almost all of game 7. I do think there was some over management, but I think that happens a lot in the post season. I was torn as I really like both teams, and have for years. But I had to root for the loveable losers in the end, and not just for family sake, lol. I mean, come on, 108 years since the last time? You'd have to almost have a heart of stone not to be happy for the Cubs and their fans. I don't think pitching Chapman in game 6 was a mistake at all. As previously stated, there is no game 7 if you don't win game 6. But I do think it was a mistake to pitch him as long as Maddon did. And unless I'm missing something, I didn't understand not letting Lester pitch to the next batter with 2 outs and throwing well. Chapman may have still imploded and allowed that 2 run Homer, but then again, with all the work he had in game 6, maybe he has a little extra if he doesn't come in for that 3rd out an inning before. But the biggest goof of the entire series was not to have Charlie "Wild Thing" Sheen not throw out a first pitch. Would have been EPIC!