DocBauer

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.

What is this "tweeting" you speak of? <sarcasm alert>

I'll be totally honest guys, the pen has me stumped. I love to speculate and put pen to paper for all kinds of roster's and lineups and I just don't know how this is going to turn out. I get all the high potential RP arms that are rising through the system, but really, right now, only Chargois has pitched above AA with any significance. I'm a big fan and believer in Melotakis, but he was pretty much limited to not pitching consecutive days in 2016. Will the new regime be more aggressive with him over a year post surgery? Perhaps. And I would absolutely love to see him force his way on to the club. But I'm betting he begins the season in AAA initially. Hildenberger intrigues me immensely and I think he could be for real. But again, no time above AA. I can't believe the FO moved to acquire Haley and won't keep him in some capacity, via RP spot or trade. Duffey has to have a spot somewhere doesn't he? O'Rourke has proven to be effective when/if used properly. Bang on Boshers all you want because he wasn't a top prospect and came from independent ball, but he was actually good except for a couple of games and had very solid K numbers. The whole point is I'm rambling because I just don't know at this point. And as stated by others, these things DO have a way of working themselves out. I DON'T think our bullpen is anything to brag about at this point, but I DO think there are enough interesting options here to think we should be better...may be building something...and could/should have the best bullpen we've had in a few years. And I believe it will be in a state of Flux throughout the season. Quantity does not necessarily mean or equal quality. But in this case, I think there is enough quantity of potential to be a little bit excited for what is to come.

Some follow up thoughts: There is talent, REAL TALENT on the Twins 40 man roster. There are also some guys that can/should be replaced pretty easily. It's kind of a mixed bag, unfortunately. And via trade, waiver wire, and milb promotion, you will see several changes over the next few weeks, months, and season. And sooner or later, you have to start making these moves. Park intrigues me still. But a disappointing season, coming off surgery, and 30, and I can easily see why the Twins did what they did. (Though I can't and won't debate there were other options). I hope he sticks around as we could still be surprised. I would have been far more upset if Vargas, younger and with potential, had been let go. I actually get why DanSan is still around...for now. I believe he is on a short leash. I fully get why he is a lightening rod for discussion after the past two seasons. I never expected him to repeat his 2014 season, but I felt his overall skill set would allow for "progress" in some areas even as regression set in for other areas. As someone previously stated, we're he DFA'D by another team, he would be the kind of low investment, low risk type of athlete I'd take a flier on. ND I've stated before that if released, I'd love to see him passed over so the Twins could send him to AAA. (I hope this still happens). But with a new season and maturity and a new hitting coach, isn't he the type of intriguing athlete you'd like to take a chance on to see if something began to click? Again, I think he's on a short leash and probably not on the roster much longer. But I can see wanting to at least take a look at an athletic young player for a few weeks before making that final determination.

I like the way you are thinking here. Pagan is definately someone I'd be interested in, and it doesn't matter if he can play CF or not. Rosario is solid in CF and thus your 4th OF really only has to be a quality corner OF. Kepler also has some CF ability and experience.

Absolutely agree with this. There is a whole college season to be played and some very interesting arms that could be available to the Twins. And no doubt a college arm with top of the rotation potential would be a "safer" pick than a HS arm, as well as being closer to the majors. But I confess to being a bit leary if that guy isn't already at the very top of the draft boards even before the season starts. Just like milb prospects, the switch can go on at any time. But should the first pick in the draft be the ONE GUY of 3 or 4 that has the best 2017 season? I hope that makes sense. There is still a lot of HS ball to played yet. With Greene's build and obvious overall athleticism, if he really is begining to develop and command his secondary stuff, risk of a HS being the #1 pick be damned, don't you just have to give him really serious consideration?

I get this move. One of the things I mentioned months ago is that after the Twins signed a RP or two, and quality 4th OF...still waiting on that one...I'd like to seexpand them pick up a couple quality milb infielders to fill out the Rochester team. The infield there seems pretty bare. And it's not about the Twins handing Rochester a competitive team, it's about having a couple guys there that you can bring up to play adequately if injuries hit without embarrassing themselves at the ML for a week or two. Light throws hard, and I'm not going to claim he doesn't have some potential, and maybe he gets it together for the Twins or someone else, but does he really seem like a guy who is going to challenge at this point? As looked at in another thread, the bullpen is starting to look a little crowded for competition, and that's a GOOD thing! Plus, coming to a ML Park near you soon...and we all know the names...Reed, Hildenberger, Burdi, still possibly Jones, and even Baxendale and Wimmers as possibilities. My biggest problem with this, and yes, he will probably be taken back off the roster with hopes of passing through waivers to play at AAA, is that I wish they'd do more. I was really, really hoping for a solid milb 3B for Rochester. I love Sano and believe in him, and I'm super intrigued by Goodrum maybe finally reaching his potential as a solid, versatile utility guy, but I'd sure like a quality milb veteran 3B who could be called up if an injury happens. Now...about that true 4th OF we still need......

Being selected after his senior season, and pretty high, and with his impressive debut, I wonder if he's being targeted for Ft Myers to begin 2017?

I still maintain that ownership's willingness to allow the new FO tandem to make a move like removing Park in the first place. There has been a lot of opinions stated over the past few years about ownership being cheap, not wanting to invest, etc. But other than insisting Molitor keep his job for 2017, which may have happened anyway and is not out of the norm form a first year "new FO" scenario, they seem to have let our new GM and Operations men do as they see fit. I still doubt Park gets claimed, which allows the Twins to keep him and see what develops. Really, it shouldn't be hard to find a spot on the 40 man for him if he does so. I get why DanSan is still on the roster...for now. But I still have to believe there are/were better options to go out and get. That would be one issue that I DO have with this offseason. I'd still like to see a real 4th OF brought in. With all due respect and no personal attack meant, removing guys like Albers and Dean are addition through subtraction. Good, mediocre or poor, there is some depth to the rotation going in to 2017. And if someone needs to slot in to the rotation, I'd much rather see Duffey, Haley, Mejia, Gonsalves or even Wheeler be that someone. At least you have someone new with some potential instead of a retread.

This goes back to the part of the interview I really liked where he talks about a pitcher's best pitch and maybe not using it as much as he should, or that a pitcher's perspective on a pitch working or not working may be skewed and the information gathered may show otherwise. Coaching and player development should always be geared to each player on a personal level.

I really like Rosario and am probably higher on him than a lot of us here at TD. He still has some (some would say a lot) to prove at the ML level, but he's got real skills and shouldn't be dismissed so easily. He still has something like only 780 ML AB. We have seen at all levels that he CAN hit, provide power and speed and he also plays quality defense. Like most any young player, he is still growing and learning. He performed much better once he came back from Rochester last season, and it's a real shame his season ended early. I think two things hold him back, other than inexperience. 1] I think things have come naturally for him in the past that he's only learning now about the extra work he needs. 2] I think he wants to be so good that he tries too hard. (I think this could be a Berrios issue as well) He will never have the discipline to hit regularly at the top of the order, which is too bad. But he has the power and speed to be an exciting and dangerous lower in the order bat. Here is to hoping he stays injury free in 2017 and gets a full season in to develop and show what he is capable of.

O...M...G. Really? I've had to skim several posts because this has caught fire. Reality check...please! The odds of someone actually claiming Park are pretty remote. There has been an endless series of bitching ànd complaining that the team has a logjam of too many 1B/DH types. So the Twins remove a poor hitting MLB/international rookie coming off a poor and injury/surgery season from their roster and we are all going nuts. Really? Doubtful to the extreme he gets claimed. Which means the Twins keep him, rehab him, work with him, etc. (He has options) Some complain about tight restrictions binding the new FO like the old FO, but this clearly indicates a change of option from ownershisp. I mean..they had to make a move. Better or worse, they chose the poor and injured Park to remove from the roster, with optionns rather than the younger and athletic DSan. What exactly got screwed up?

I also disagree the Twins have no pitching talent coming up. Forgetting a couple interesting options way down in the minors, Berrios, May, Mejia, Gonsalves, Jay, Stewart, Jorge and Romero all have some real potential. Unlocking it and maximizing it is the key. Is there a sure fire #1 or #2 in there? Maybe. Maybe not. But it's difficult to look at any young pitcher and say THIS GUY is going to be that guy. You just don't know. Some guys turn out that way. Other top end guys were mid rotation types on their way up and developed better than anyone expected. Should the Twins continue to add talent? Absolutely. But just because someone's ranking system doesn't name a particular guy or two as a front line, top of the order pitcher right now doesn't mean one or two can't turn out that way. Right now, today, the key is to develop and maximize what IS in the system.

Great article Parker! Thank you. I find this new approach very refreshing! I find the aversion to weight training and the such to be perplexing. Players, particularly pitchers, don't need to bulk up, but strength development...as well as flexability...help build performance and endurance and help prevent injury. If a pitcher's legs and drive are so important, for example, then why wouldn't you want to build up a pitcher's lower body? I enjoyed the section regarding no two pitchers being exactly the same, and recognizing a pitcher's best pitch, how much he is using it, and pointing out how a pitch may be working differently in actuality vs said pitcher's perspective on it. I've said for some time the big changes the new FO will bring in 2017 are less on player change, and more on behind the scenes organizational changes and review and development of the players on hand.

No question Murphy has the experience factor over Garver with solid ML time before joining the Twins. But Garver is the better prospect with more potential. As long as he gets to play in some sort of rotation/platoon and not languish on the bench, he would be my choice. Though I could see the merit of him begining the season in Rochester if Murphy shows anything with the bat in ST. My pick remains Garver. Rortvedt has my attention for all the obvious reasons, but I will be watching Murray closely this season. A player can work on his defensive craft behind the plate, provided he has at least some natural aptitude and ability there. But being a quality hitter seems to be a more natural talent. And we all know catchers who can actually hit and provide solid offense are rather rare.

For various reasons, including it really can't get any worse, this team will be better in 2017. The question remains how much better, and that is a complete unknown at this time. I get the frustration over no Dozier deal, and Santana to a lesser degree. But 2017 still remains a season of back office and organizational changes from the top on down. Doesn't matter if we are talking the stats department, or scouting, coaching staffs, roving instructors, Ft Myers meetings for everyone to get on the same page, or even how the various milb players stretch and work out. Plus, the new regime has an entire milb system, talent wise, to thoroughly watch and inspect. On the field, no question better health is a huge point. But above all else, the Twins fortunes in 2017 and beyond are tied immediately to Rosario, Buxton, Kepler, Sano, Polanco, Berrios, May, Chargois and others as to their continued development. (Plus a few guys at AAA and AA who should see promotions) Dozier and Santana could yet be traded firing the season or before next for additional talent. (Not debating the issue of immediate returns vs future value-just pointing out a fact) And financially, this team is in a position over the next two seasons to actually go out and make some sort of splash on the FA market. (Or a bundled trade package deal) There could still be a useful signing or two over the next couple of weeks to shore up the roster a bit for 2017. But at the end of the day, this season is still about implementation of organizational changes and the development of the young players on the roster.

I agree 100%. He's been very durable, if streaky at times. He has flat out produced, is not old, and it really felt like he made àdjustments last season. Whether in a Twins uniform or not, I expect him to be a quality producer for at least a few more seasons.

Just speaking about Jay in particular, because he's mentioned so prominently in this thread, and not multiple picks. Not only is it way too early to state whether or not he will be good, or how good, or starters or reliever, but being a quality MLB pitcher in any capacity is a good thing...#5 pick or not. The MLB draft is the biggest crap shoot in all of sport. Over the years I have sent countless top, can't miss prospects who wash out or never become what they are supposed to be. (This is not a Twins phenomenon) Jay has the pitches to start and be quite good. Are there questions about this conversion such as endurance and the sheer "pitchability" factor that would allow him to pitch to hitters multiple times in a game? Absolutely. But isn't this also true of any starting Pitching prospect? Considering how few prospects from every team'should yearly draft become real quality major leaguers for any kind of valuable and sustained career, if he turns out to be a very good set up or closing lefty, I will be pleased. Is that a bit disappointing for the #5 pick in a draft? I think you could make that arguement. But a bit disappointing is as far as I would go. Having a top quality LHRP in your bullpen...1 guy out of only 7 per team is still a finite number...is very valuable and shouldn't be dismissed as any kind of mistake or blown pick.

Personally, I've never felt you had to have a full time DH if you had a complete and balanced roster. Tom Kelly was always very good at that, though at times he had a fixture at DH. Guys like Bush, Smalley and Larkin took turns in the field and at the plate. Right now, the Twins actually do have a complete and balanced roster. Now, they are very young at spots and the jury is out as to how consistent and good they can ultimately be, but consider Grossman as a OF/DH/PH who switch hits, though he is obviously better from the right side. Mauer, Park and Vargas can all play 1B/DH/PH and one is LH, one RH and one a switch hitter. Escobar or Polanco could give Sano a day off here and there and he could DH as well. As I said, there are a ton of questions here, but also balance and some potential. It's time to see what that potential could ultimately yield. I won't be upset if the Twins bring in a power bat and one of Park or Vargas begins the year in Rochester. I get trying to improve your roster and your offense. I just don't think there is a need to make this move when you have the options/trials the Twins already possess.

I have a strong hunch both he and Duffey will be in the pen. Both could be swing men and starting options due to injuries, etc. I see Haley as a long and middle guy with Duffey capable of multiple roles in the pen TBD.

I know there are a lot of people down on him due to two simple facts: 1] Health didn't turn out to be the future top of the rotation starter we hoped he'd be when "stolen" with a mid 1st round pick. 2] Because he had an injury plagued and poor season for a 100+ loss team. I'm not saying for a minute he will suddenly develop in to a stud pitcher in 2017. But if I could pick one guy to surprise in the 2017 rotation it would be Gibson. Listen, coming off major surgery, he was the "Berrios" back in 2013. "Why isn't he up?" Well, he did come up, probably with a still healing and possibly tired arm. And he didn't exactly set the world on fire. But he gained experience and had a very solid "rookie" campaign in 2014. Forgetting wins and losses as a measurement, all his other numbers improved in 2015. But he has a poor 2016 along with the rest of the team in the worst season in modern franchise history and suddenly he is a bump. I am not saying he will suddenly become a stud in 2017, but, were there one guy on the team for 2017 that I could say health and a fresh new season could rise up, it would be Gibson.

I think this is pretty awesome. But part if me is going "Duh! Nobody thought to do this before?"