DocBauer

First of all, not a blatant attempt to suck up to anyone, but not only do I love TD as my favorite website, but I've shared it with non-Twins fans to simply show what is made available to us Twins fans, the pure quality of encapsulated information and community blogging, and I find extreme jealousy. I don't take the time to scout other opportunities for fans of other teams, but from what little I have seen, from said jealousy of acquaintances, and my own impressions of TD, I seriously doubt there's a site quite like this one out there. It's very hard for me to critique anything additionally for the site...but...were I to daydream a bit, I'd offer the following suggestions. (Sorry if some of them are repetitive) And sorry if I've missed anything new that I might have missed with the updates, but haven't had time to explore all the changes yet. 1) Direct links to Twins milb sites would be nice. I like to visit milb.com often, but it does prove painful at times to have to multi click and then multi backspace to check stats and the such. 2) I have to agree that bringing Gleeman over would be a natural move. 3) In regard to links, there is another Twins site that used to include links to other bloggers, including many of those here, which also included some local newspaper and columnists to the minor league affiliates. 4) Again, dreaming here now, but I really enjoy SD's perspectives on the Kernals, as well as those who visit them on opportunities. I wish there a way, in person experience, or via net interviews even, that we could have that personal connection to other teams, or, occassional articles or Q&A from coaches of milb teams. Again, kinda dreaming there. 5) I know this is far reaching hope, but it would be awesome if someone in the organization who could offer up perspectives and news about the players and teams. Moves, who's working on what, that kind of thing. Again, I'm daydreaming here and shooting for the moon. 6) On the site itself, if I offered one small critique, it would involve the front page offerings themselves. Over a slow day or two, rather than have a posted article that repeats itself in the right column, sometimes twice, I'd rather just have another post listed to make overall access a little more convenient. 7) I know we all have access to post in the forum and blog areas, but maybe a guest columnist would be fun. People outside to TD, possibly tied to the ML club or milb clubs, or even members here, to address the Twins, the past present or future of the Twins, covering baseball as a perspective, or even fan stories of their experiences or amateur "careers" as fans. Just daydreaming here.

I'd forget Berrios for 2015 at this point. Not that he isn't a stud. But with other options, he youth and somewhat limited time at AA this year, with more to come soon I hope, he's probably late 2015 at best. But we are looking at Hughes, Gibson, Nolasco, May, Meyer and Milone as 6, with a possible spot for Pelfrey, even temporary, if fully sound next year. Pino has shown just enough that I'd keep him around for Rochester, a possible pen role, and depth should anyone go down. Deduno and Johnson...hmmm...thinking Deduno might be brought back for the same reasons listed for Pino. Not sure about Johnson though. Especially with the listed depth, plus Gilmartin and Berrios on the way.

Great news! Exciting! And deserved. I just don't think you can doubt that he would have pitched the Futures Game and just stayed in Minnesota if it hadn't been for his calf injury. He needed to pitch a couple games after his DL stink to get back in the groove and get his legs under him. Shorter leash the first time out made sense. I had commented somewhere before that if his next start was an effective 90+ pitches or so, he'd probably make his next start for the Twins. When he wasn't as sharp as hoped for, I figured he'd get a third start before promotion. Guess the powers that be just wanted to see pitch count, and weren't as concerned with it being a so-so performance. I sure am glad to be wrong.

I have to agree with Jokin here. As a dreaded 3rd C option, Herrmann might also make the roster. Especially if the Twins rotation is strong enough to drop back to a 6 man bullpen. It's not that they need a 3rd catcher, but he could be a LH bat off the bench who could fill in here and there, with Pinto as a C and sometime DH. If Turner's defense is as good as advertised, and he posses decent power, even hitting from .225-.250 could make him a valuable backup. If he can hit .250+ he could be the starter. Thus far, seems Garver may have the better bat however, and if his defense is even close, probably the better option as a future starter. But yes, they're both just too far away for now to be counted on. Any opinion on Koch? I know he's down a bit this season offensively, but does anyone see him as a solid backup option?

Call me naive, or overly optimistic if you will, but I don't think the door is shut on Pinto. He has a strong arm, and despite questionable or inconsistent footwork, did a good job of throwing out runners in his milb career thus far. And there is little question that he posses a potentially quality bat overall, especially for the position. But even if he only develops in to an OK backup who brings a potent stick off the bench or at DH, that's not necessarily a bad ending. Plus, Suzuki's contract is not problematic to trade potential or even backup potential if Pinto makes a move. I do think having a quality, veteran game caller backstop, for veteran and young pitchers alike, is not a bad thing. I'm still in the Herrmann camp as a guy who could be a very useful player. I still point to his earlier success in the minors, and BA ranking him as a quality defensive player, before the Twins began to yo-yo him so much the past couple of seasons. Remembering that the most important part of being a catcher is defense, game calling, receiving, and to some degree, on field leadership, I like Turner's potential. If he can be any sort of average hitter, can tap some of his power potential, he could be anything from a top backup to a really good starter+. Garver might have an even better bat, and according to reports from SD, not to mentioning just behind Turner in college rankings defensively, he might be an even better player and potential steal. If Swim can play good defense, call a game and hit .290-.300, not sure I care if he has the power potential of Turner and Garver. And I'm still holding out some hope that Koch could be a quality backstop. From Pinto on down, there is nothing proven or guaranteed with any of these guys. But this is some of the best catching depth I can remember the Twins having since...since I suppose AJ and Mauer come to mind. Miller about the same time AJ took hold of the job. And that turned out quite well.

This! Great post Jokin. I think you might have hit it in the head. Let's be real folks, the Twins know how good Meyer can be, and that he is our top pitching prospect. Does anyone really think there is some conspiracy to keep Meyer down at AAA because...because...because...because they don't like him??? Because he really isn't as talented as first thought and they're afraid to promote him??? Sounds crazy right? You can argue until blue in the face, but for the most part, the Twins...right or wrong...have traditionally been consistent with their pitching promotions. A pitcher, position player for that matter, no matter how talented or productive, traditionally plays a half season at a level at least before being promoted to the next level. (This is a little less accurate in the low levels, especially for college players) Witness Berrios this season for example; already younger than most all players at his level, after a strong first half performance, he was promoted mid-season to a higher level where he became EVEN YOUNGER in regard to the league he had been playing in previously. There wasn't a hesitation because he had proven himself, appeared ready, and was building up his innings total after a full and healthy 2013. The Twins have always, again, right or wrong, followed a script whereby they increase a pitchers innings to a certain degree one year to the next. And like it to not, Meyer did miss time last season. If you want to accuse the Twins of being too conservative in their approach, then I guess you have an arguement I can agree with. However, as Jokin alludes to in his comments, is it really so terrible that the Twins want him to work on his change up, or whatever, a bit more, gain that little bit more consistency before coming up, to insure maximum possible success? FWIW, I advocated a 6 man rotation recently, as did Seth in his recent article. It provides a chance for the balance of the season to look at May, Meyer, and even Millone, to help prepare for next season, without taxing anyone's innings. As for Meyer getting some innings in the bullpen, it's not like anyone is talking about him becoming a reliever. It's about getting experience while maintaining his innings under control. There is a difference between a pitcher coming in from the pen to hold a lead in a pennant race, firing his best stuff, and having Meyer come in to pitch 2-3 innings and throw ALL his pitches in September.

I knew from reading the morning reports that Hicks was doing well at New Britain, but am pleasantly surprised at just how good a month he really had. Have to temper the enthusiasm though, doesn't mean he's fully turned a corner yet. I think we all get that. But it's very positive just the same! I'm also pleased to see that he will get an opportunity to play in Rochester for the next month. As someone pointed out recently, apologies for not remembering who, it's not as if Hicks was hitting against dregs at AA, but at Rochester he will face pitchers with at least a little more experience, a little more consistency, and some with ML experience. It's part of his building block, or re-building block, back to fulfillment of his potential. Now, in retrospect, I guess it's a shame they didn't make the move sooner. Demotion I mean. In theory, his June May have been his July and he might be starting his second month of AAA experience. I still believe that as part of his development/re-development, he should be recalled for September with theTwins this season to finish the season. The option is already spent, he will get to work with Twins coaches again, and it might do wonders to keep his confidence up that is being rebuilt. No promises, and he doesn't necessarily have to play every day, but he needs to come up and see some action.

My apologies if I misunderstood or mis-interpreted your use of the word "pedestrian" when I read initially. Thought you were saying his stuff was pedestrian in comparison to Meyer, not simply more pedestrian than Meyer's pure stuff. My bad.

Oh my. He's a fill in player to keep a bench spot warm for now after the Fuld trade. He costs nothing but money for the rest of the season...what's left of it. He was a top prospect at one time. I've mentioned the Twins actually signing a quality CF/4th OF candidate for next season, along with a possible milb contract Rochester option for depth. Possibly not necessary with Hicks and Rosario any longer. What if this kid actually hits, or is signed to a milb deal and does well at Rochester as a fill in player? Again, this is just a flyer and fill-in player, not a big option.

I don't feel May's stuff is pedestrian by any means. I see a big, strong bodied kid who can make 33 starts every year, throw a 100 pitches per game, rack up innings and SO's in bunches. I think it is WAY too early to pigeon hole someone in to a 1-2-3 starter hole. The word "consistency" is not ugly in any way. It refers to overall effectiveness and consistency. Walks can kill. This is a proven absolute. Further, walks, and long AB's, limit the overall effectiveness of a pitcher to log the appropriate innings to win games, help his team win games, and can result in a greater burden for the bullpen. Are the Twins too conservative with pitchers? Possibly. Not here to argue that point. But a guy who tosses his load in 4 or 5 innings, even with SO's, is not as valuable as a pitcher who can throw fewer overall pitches to accomplish 6-7 innings with the same number of SO's. It's simple, performance logic. I believe May and Meyer are close. I believe the Twins believe they are close. You may be frustrated with the Twins, but they ARE in the baseball business. They are well aware of the fact that May and Meyer...and Berrios...are their top 3 SP prospects at this point. Very few pitchers ever hit the majors and are instant #1 or #2 starters. But with the talent they possess, yes...actual ML experience, and more "consistency", talent like these two can be top of the rotation starters. I'm reminded of Gibson last year, when the Twins stated they wanted to promote him when he seemed ready, so that he would be up to stay for good. Scream conservative regarding the Twins if you will, but is that really a bad idea/philosophy? And Seth's list isn't a top 10 or 20 prospect list, or even a precursor of ML success, but best efforts/performance for a single month.

Not a direct comparison, even though a twist if fate has them playing CF, but Santana reminds me of Ben Revere but with more pop in his bat. Now, Revere was a hitting machine in the minors, but as I recall, he was brought up earlier than expected and was solid. His speed brought a very similar sort of excitement, though Santana is out performing him thus far. Who knows how long it will last, or to what level number may eventually plateau. But even if he were at that .270 or .280 level, with any kind of decent OB, he'd still be effective and exciting. I also believe, while not a power hitter, his "pop" May expand. And there is no doubting his speed and SB potential if he just learns and smooths out a few things.

I am in the Hicks camp still. He is still quite young, and still posses very good talent. Hey, when Rod Carew believes in you, you have something going for you. No question he wasn't ready for the jump or the pressure. From a few things uttered from coaches and Carew, I think things have come pretty natural for him in the past, and he's finally learning that you have to really work at a certain point to advance and reach your potential. It's only a month, but I'd have him in Rochester tomorrow, just to face arms/guys that are a little better, a little more experienced, to at least get that small stepping stone. And with no promises for next season, I'd have him back up in September. An option has already been used this season, so it doesn't affect him in that regard to close out the year with the parent club. I like Santana to continue in CF for now. For one thing, he doesn't deserve to sit, and he's our best option there. Of course, he should also still see some time at SS. We can't bank on Hicks, Rosario or Buxton for 2015. Whether to supplant Santana at CF or compliment him, I believe someone should and will be brought in. Span has been mentioned, and might be a choice option. As to Santana in particular, his future is still somewhat in doubt, SS, utility or possibly LF. Obviously, Polanco, even Escobar could have a say in this as well. I am not discounting him as a full time SS to be sure. The skill set is there. I wouldn't discount LF as a possibility. A team is made up of many different players and many options. With like the likes of Sano, Buxton, Arcia, say Vargas, Dozier and hopefully a healthy Mauer being Mauer, power and offense/power/RBI potential comes from many places. You also need, and have room for, guys who can hit and run and make things happen in different ways. LF does not have to be solely a power position. Think years ago of Mickey Hatcher playing LF for the Twins. No real speed, no great power, but some gapper and occasional HR power. He played good defense, hit well, made contact, and was a very nice #2 hitter. Santana could be a more exciting version of this.

Here we go again. I fully appreciate the various opinions expressed here at TD with the utmost respect. Even when I don't agree, I fully appreciate any counterpoints to my own. But this is one of the biggest arbitrary comments that rankles me. I have NEVER been on record as saying Anderson is the best pitching coach in baseball. In fact, I'm not even sure how any of us could quantify who is the best, or what quantifies what makes who the very best. But to just blast Anderson without question is a huge sticking point with me. The Twins, with Anderson as pitching coach, had winning records in 8 out of the first 9 seasons he teamed with Gardenhire. They made the playoffs 7 of those 8 years, losing out on a 163rd game one time. The ONE losing season the Twins had in that time frame, 2009, the Twins ranked 11th in team ERA. Every other season, they ranked no worse than 7. And in those 9 seasons, they ranked 1st or 2nd in fewest BB every season but one, 6th in 2002, his first season as pitching coach. He oversaw Santana in to a multiple CyYoung winner and candidate. He nurtured Nathan and Perkins in to All Star closers. He helped build and re-build bullpens over the years with power arms like those two and others, but also rans like Trombley, Fiore, Guerrier, Reyes, Neshak, Rauch and others. Some decent arms, some from the Twins system, some cast offs from other teams. Do yourself a favor, take a moment to look at all those winning teams rosters, look at the starting staffs, and then come back. Yeah, he had Santana and Radke some of those years, and Liriano before injury, and after before he lost his mind. But he also won with Blackburn, Slowey, Silva and Pavano, to name a few. A virtual who's who of CyYoung candidates to be sure! (Tongue firmly planted in cheek) This is not to say the Twins were devoid of talent these years. They weren't. But to blast Anderson arbitrarily for the work he's done the last few years, when the ERA and SP have been disappointing to lousy is ridiculous. Just look at what he's had to work with lately. Then look at this season where the first 3 months actually show constant improvement right up until the All Star break.

BINGO! Every point. I think Gardy is a very good manager. As does his current team, the teams before him, and sports writers who have voted him AL MOTY once, and in the top 3 several other teams. He also managed his teams to 8 winning seasons in his first 9 years, and 7 playoff appearances. I also think it's time for a change of leadership, just because. It doesn't speak ill of Gardy to simply say the time may be right to have and hear a different voice during this rebuild. Sometimes change happens just to turn a page and move forward. I have little doubt Gardenhire would be offered a manager job or two or three or more quickly. And I wouldn't be surprised if hired, given a solid team to work with, if he wouldn't be right back in the playoffs. Just remember, the next trade or FA signing Gardenhire makes will be his very first. Otherwise, just read what Seth wrote again, because it's about as right and true as anything ever written here at TD, and I can't add anything else. (Tips his TC cap to Seth)

Right there with Seth, not sure why I'm even responding. Was your intent with this blog to simply be provocative in nature? The money is spent, the move to 1B has happened. End of story. We can all ramble at length about different pressures learning a new position full time, placing pressure on himself to produce at what is traditionally a power position, missing playing catcher, the twins keep him up at night, or a switch from 2% to skim milk in his daily diet. At the end of the day, admitted or not, the truth is pretty self evident; Mauer has still been recovering from post concussion syndrome. It's still a relatively new phenomena to deal with in a contact sport such as football, much less a light contact sport such as baseball. Koskie, a great guy, a great ballplayer, and a great Twin had his career ruined, and his life impacted, before anyone even knew much of anything about this issue. Morneau has suffered the same, and only this year has recovered. And he has spoken of his final recovery, and his thoughts about Joe. If the Twins could rewind, and have just a little more information available, I believe they would have kept Morneau. The two of them would make an excellent pair of DH/1B if only. Joe was actually starting to feel good at the plate, and starting to look like his real self before his oblique injury. Not every ballplayer, even big strong athletic ball players, are made to be HR hitters. Wade Boggs was asked to hit third for the Red Sox on year, and his power numbers rose, though his vaunted BA and OB% lowered. If he were to alter his approach, perhaps Mauer could do the same. But at the end of the day, Mauer has one of the smoothest strokes in all of baseball, and is one of its best pure hitters. He's a true and pure .300 hitter with at/near/above .400 OB% who can consistently stroke 40ish doubles with double digit power that could approach high teens with 150 games played. All numbers I'd expect in 2015 if healthy and truly over the concussion. And for anyone who doubts a quality 1B that can flat out hit and produce without being a true power threat, see; Grace, Mark...Joyner, Wally...Hernandez, Keith.

First off, I wasn't opposed to selling high on Suzuki if there were a quality return available. But I really like the re-signing. There really isn't anything in the upcoming FA period that probably surpasses his ability/value. Arguements can be made his signing blocks Pinto. And I don't know, perhaps that is true. But then again, if Pinto is not yet truly ready to be an everyday catcher, debateable I know, it's too valuable position to just be throw open to "whatever's" and "will sees". At the end of the day, even forgetting offense, and throwing out runners and pitch framing, a catcher's number one job is calling a good game, having the trust of the staff, and just flat out catching and blocking the ball. Suzuki is good at those things. He still might prove tradeable if/when Pinto proves ready. And if it doesn't happen, he's a solid option until Garver and others should be ready/closer. And as someone pointed out elsewhere, his contract isn't so great that the Twins would feel bad about sliding him in to a reserve role. Parker, your observations are awesome and very much appreciated. And I hope your thoughts here on Suzuki are acurate and he can continue to hit at a rate at least close to what he's been doing. I haven't broken down his hitting in detail, but casual observation and reports have him as a hitter earlier in his career before his slid, and now re-birth. But he has always made decent contact overall, and not been a burden OB% wise. There aren't many catchers that are true offensive forces. Goodness knows how spoiled we've been with Mauer behind the plate the past few years! But the reality is he's not behind the dish any longer, and while the Twins have 3-5 interesting C prospects in the lower minors, they are not close. Pinto still has a real chance. And I would argue and debate about Herrmann as well, even as a decent and versatile backup. The same for Pinto as a DH backup type at worst. Not to be trite about things, but honestly, to paraphrase an old parable: having one solid starting catcher in hand is better than two in the minor (bush) leagues. Even should Suzuki regress beyond this year's performance, expected to some degree, but could maintain the changes you've pointed out here, a .270-.280 hitter with contact and decent OB%, at a defensive position near the bottom of the order would still be a solid! contributing player in the lineup.

Add Milone to the top of that list now, making it even deeper with more options. And the various Rochester options has to make you excited! There are at least a couple questions regarding the ML rotation, as well as vast potential that is, unfortunately still potential. But that is always the case, of course. But if you can't look at those SP options and not be at least a little bit excited, you'd better get your pulse checked!

I also don't understand the dislike. He's got a decent build, decent velocity, and at least potentially OK stuff. His milb track record is generally solid. Plus, he's not a guy who's best seasons are in the past and lower down the ladder. In fact, his first full season in AAA, this year, is probably his best season. Isn't that a positive sign? In his uneven but very brief appearances so far this season, he has shown velocity and gotten some SO's. Even in his short and poor first start, he still managed 7 K's. If the rotation doesn't work out, he might be a nice bullpen option. A younger, possibly harder throwing version of Duensing?

I like this idea a lot Seth. Don't remember which thread, but I mentioned this idea a few days ago. Easy to do in September, harder to do in August. But I don't think you HAVE to go to a 13 man staff to pull it off in August either. I think the Twins bullpen, 6 in this case, solid overall, should be able to handle any load placed on them. If something goes terribly awry, you can always put one of the starters in for an inning and skip a bullpen, or if it goes really awry, just switch back to a 5 man rotation. Sooner or later, Meyer needs to come up, get a taste of the ML's, even if it's September and out of the pen. The reason I like the 6 man is it allows guys like May and Meyer to get in their work and experience without pushing their IP limitations, while still keeping Hughes, Gibson and Nolasco getting their work, and at least one other option, obviously. (2 until Meyer is up)

I like the move, even if never pays off in any big way. Any time you trade away an OK 4th OF, albeit having the best year of his career, BACK to the team that cut him for a functional 27 yo LHSP who has actually had ML success and solid numbers, it's a win any way you slice it. I like Thrylos' numbers. I think they offer a more balanced perspective. While there are pitchers that simply don't fit their home parks for various reasons, think Hughes as an example, I think most pitchers, like position players, tend to perform better at home. Further, Target Field is not a bad pitchers park either. Is Milone a more proven version of Gilmartin I wonder? I don't want to get in to a big debate here about who should be promoted, should have already been promoted, etc. The simple facts are that right now, this season, May has pitched with overall consistency than Meyer. And that's not a knock on him or his potential. It's just a fact for NOW. But if we accept that May might be up sooner, and again, might be more ready NOW, we could see Hughes, Gibson, Nolasco and May as our top 4 for next season, and even to finish out this one. Milone could be a nice LH #5 option until Meyer or Berrios would be ready. A playoff rotation? I don't know, jury is still out on Hughes' consistency and Gibson's ceiling to be sure. May's potential is very good. A healthy Nolasco offers a huge boost and a very solid option. So playoff rotation? Maybe. Any way you'd slice it, those 5 would constitute the best SP rotation we've had in a few years to be sure.

This. Shane, really, you hit just about every thought I had, especially if Suzuki is indeed traded. A couple points though, Nate Roberts is already gone. I wouldn't dare trade Fien. He's good, controlled financially, and only 30. Probably keep Duensing for the same reason. No promises to Hicks, which I wrote elsewhere, but at this point, with an option already burned, why wouldn't you bring him back up for September?

First, no to Buxton. No matter how much I want to see him get his cup of coffee, there is no reason to bring him up for September, no matter his talent and potential, or even if he gets a hopeful promotion to AA soon to finish out the season. No how much any of us believe in him, does anyone really expect him to start in CF opening day 2015? If something like that happens, you make the appropriate roster move then, or whenever. In the meantime, you play the roster game and keep the open spot for someone else. As to the list... Arcia has as much bat talent as anyone in the system. His defense is inconsistent, but not terrible. His arm is very good, and his potential not bad, overall. He shows enough offensively that I still think he's best right where he is. I still think Bruno is a solid hitting coach. The players around him aren't yet performing to the level we'd all like, but last year, and this year, the Twins are amongst the league leaders for number of pitches seen per AB. I think he's teaching a solid approach. And while I hate harping on an issue, I still wonder if a quality Latin coach with ML experience might not help reach guys like Arcia. Gibson needs to just keep doing what he's doing. Honestly, except for a few bad starts that skew his numbers, the kid has looked good to awesome, and will continue to get better. Now, I do wonder about total IP come September, but he did miss one start, rosters will be expanded, so not too worried. Mauer...wow...just tired of the bashing. It's OK to be frustrated and worried and disappointed, but does anyone really think Mauer isn't a talented ball player and hitter having a really rough year? Say all you want to about his position change and pressure, etc, but the truth is he has been fighting post concussion syndrome. It's very obvious. Even his best friend Morneau has talked about his own battle. Joe's grandfather even made comments. Mauer was actually starting to look like his old self before his oblique injury. All I want to see is a healthy Mauer finishing the season well, getting ready to be his old self in 2015. If you don't think a healthy Mauer is a key, and one of the best pure hitters in all of baseball, then I wonder what you've been watching. Nolasco is simple. Just be healthy. Get a few more starts in, prove you're healthy, and don't be another TJ candidate. If he can do that, he will earn his contract next season as a top 3 starter and 2014 will just be a bad memory. I think there are 4 other rather obvious names that have to be added to this list. Santana is absolutely the biggest story to the Twins season. How can he not be? We can discuss, debate, argue and fuss at length about Gardy, the coaching staff, the FO, mistakes, wishes and wants, promotions and minor leaguers galore, Hughes, Gibson, Dozier, Mauer or the price of a hot dog and beer or the hot blonde sitting in seat A7 the day we were at Target Field....not me, just saying....but at the end of the day, there is NOTHING more polarizing or worth print than what Santana has brought this year. I believe Shane's very appropriate comment was: "what the hell?" He was a very athletically gifted young SS with loads of unbridled possibilities who just wasn't ready. Gardy commented how much he liked him, which is huge considering neither he or TK before him usually offered up much praise for young prospects. But as Gladden pointed out in one ST game, he had yet to provide any big moment to showcase said potential yet. So as expected, he was sent down to Rochester. So after the Bartlett experiment was quickly closed, and Florimon continued to play just awful, it was the young, not yet ready Santana who was promoted. (All the more surprising considering the Twins refuse to promote young players) Where is the icon that shows tongue planted firmly in cheek? All he has done is learn to play CF on the fly, and actually show some ability and growth at the position, while also bouncing back to SS as well. The kid has hit...continued to hit...shown the ability to walk a bit, battle and fight off pitches, stroke some XB hits, take an XB, steal a base, bunt, and generally perform like a real ML player. He even shook of the rust from a DL stint quickly. I'm not sure what to expect from him long term, but I wouldn't bet against the kid at this point. He is one of the few reasons I don't want the season to end, and keep watching. Hicks...what do you do? He's actually hitting at AA, but he's done that before, and should be. Way, way too much talent and potential to ignore going forward. If it's me, you've already used an option this year, so I bring him back up. I stress to him that nothing is promised. He could easily be in AAA next year. Just come up, play, have fun, relax, and do your best getting ready for next season even if that means Rochester. May and Meyer both: Throw. Don't think, just throw. Don't try to be Roger Clemmons. Just throw, have fun, experience what it is to be a ML'er, learn, use this as a building block for next season, and just throw

Download attachment: Escobar_Hicks_Kubel_Celebrate_US_720.jpg The season is still very young. I don't want to get too wrapped up in early optimism, but something has to be said about the lineup and production thus far, especially considering the generally pessimistic nature I think most of us felt at the close of spring training. There was a lot of gnashing of teeth, despite the "they can't be any worse, therefore they must be at least somewhat better" mantra. There are flaws and concerns still to be sure. (I'm not here to necessarily rehash the shortstop argument at length.) But let's take a moment to offer up props where due. What impresses me most is that a year after setting records for strikeouts, our Twins are suddenly among the leaders in on-base percentage, something I never dared dream. Jason Kubel has gone from a small investment/good flyer to washed up to performing well not only at the plate, but also reminding us that despite somewhat limited range, he is and always has been an OK defensive outfielder. The jury is still very much out on Josh Willingham. But even he looked pretty good the first few games after looking like overdone toast in ST. What more can be said about Chris Colabello? He's not just a good story any longer, he's become a great story. I've been converted from a hopeful fan of his to an actual believer. At his age, he's just not going to be a long-tenured major leaguer. But he's gone from a small independent league signing news blurb to someone who raked at AA. And still he was doubted. He raked upon his promotion to AAA and was again doubted when he finished in the majors last season. (Again, not the first or last ball player to be ill-fit initially). The Twins tried to do him a favor and ship him overseas; he refused, intent on fulfilling his dream. He's made adjustments, had a great ST, and has become, at least, an early season stalwart in the lineup. I'm just not going to bet against him any longer. Despite a couple errors, Plouffe looks much more comfortable at 3B. And while I very much doubt he will continue to hit .300 with a .400 OB, he really looks like a completely different hitter. Has the light finally come on? Dozier is proving he is for real. An on-base percentage over a 100 points higher than his early season batting average? Wait until a few more balls find holes. Same with Hicks. Nothing spectacular yet, but he just looks so much more relaxed and competent than last season. Like Dozier, an OBP over a 100 points higher than his BA. So far, Suzuki looks like the hitter he used to be. Pinto is showing really good signs. Mauer is Mauer and is just beginning to hit like Mauer. I can't wait to get Arcia back, and probably Hammer as well, though he should be primarily a DH. A couple questions and concerns. I still believe Mauer is best in the #3 hole. When do we consider Hicks for the #2 hole between Dozier and Mauer, with his patience and Mauer behind him? And long term, who is our #4 hitter? Even if Hammer comes back strong, he's not a long term answer by any means. Despite the angst involved with hoping for a long term solution at shorstop, I think that a batter to hit 4th​ is a primary concern to be addressed soon. But a tip of my cap to hitting coach Tom "Bruno" Brunansky, the staff, and especially the players thus far. Click here to view the article

AAA is a place for prospects. But it's also a place where do the best you can to stash quad-A players who you can call up as decent fill-in options when guys get injured at the ML level. Just because a player is a very good prospect at AAA doesn't mean he's ready to automatically contribute for the parent club when there is an opening, even temporarily. And quite frankly, expecting a AAA roster to just be brimming full of future MLers is kind of naive. (This somewhat true at all levels, of course) No matter the hopes and dreams that each prospect has, they are simply not all going to be MLers. So at all levels, you surround top prospects with decent prospects, maybe prospects, and just solid ball players for each respective level to put a full team on the field. And sometimes, just like a fringe ML signing, lightening strikes. This season, at least, I'm disappointed with some of the AAA options the Twins have placed at Rochester, particularly in the OF. Though the pitching options haven't been as poor as some recent years. I'm still disappointed Romero wasn't brought up when Plouffe went down. I think it's easy to say "drop these guys", but as has been pointed out, then you have to have said number of players READY to move up and take those spots. First at one level, and then the other. The Twins have made many promotions as of late, and if it weren't for injuries to Sano, Buxton and the suspension of Rosario, the promotions might have been more exciting and newsworthy.

Fully agree on Arcia with all the above. The talent level is very high. And I've seen enough good plays, and a very good arm most of the time, that I haven't given up on his defense. He is still very young. And he's one of those young players the Twins refuse to promote. (Snicker) I don't believe he'd really gain anything from more AAA time. He's shown too much at this level, despite the streaks and inconsistencies, to not work with him at this level. Despite slumping some recently, I'm still a big believer in Dozier. I do think an extra day off once in a while would help. And while I don't have stats in front of me, didn't his recent dip in production, more or less, coincide with the injuries to Mauer and Santana? If I'm even close to correct, I'd see a lot more pressure on his as well as teams pitching around him. Also a huge lover of Thorpe, as well as the somewhat similar Gonsalves. Maybe the hardest thing to find in all of baseball is a hard throwing LHSP who has the ability to be a quality ML SP. Not even a #1 Cy Young player like Santana, or Viola years before him, but just a good 2-3 quality SP who can do the job day in and day out and be a fixture. Baseball is a game of numbers, numbers we obsess over at times. Numbers that tell a story, sometimes tell a bigger story, and sometimes tell a misleading story. Many of us are obsessed with May and Meyer, and to a lesser extent, Barrios and Stewart. And while all players have their own personal time table for various reasons, we sometimes get impatient for them to arrive and become fixtures. Every year, every other year, some kid is lightning in a bottle and arrives as a quality, if not top, SP at 20 or 21 and we ALL want our team to have a kid just like that! But those are truly rare occurrences. And we sometimes lose track of how young these kids really are at times. In Thorpe, and Gonsalves, we have a couple 19 yo kids pitching in A ball who have some real stuff! Real potential! But most kids this age are in rookie ball, even as top picks, or getting ready for their first season in college, and in a few cases, their redshirt freshman or sophomore seasons. The fact these kids are showing what they are is very exciting! Just be patient and give them time. Both could be in AA in 2016. Wow!