DocBauer

going to miss Nunez. I think this is a solid return though. Possibly a steal. The more young, live arms you have, the better your chances of a couple of them really sticking. Nice move!

He may ultimately turn our to be a reliever. Maybe even a good one. But at this point, I'd still keep working him as a SP. We've seen some of what he is capable of, even in this disappointing season. Not saying he doesn't have stuff to work on, or that he lacks consistency. But has he even pitched the equivalent of a full ML season yet? I just have a hard time already deciding he's a reliever. He shouldn't be up at Berrios expense either. But then again, we have a guy or two in the current rotation that should be gone and gone soon. And, as always, May back to starting in my book.

Seth, do you have a breakdown of Garver's past two months by any chance? This team has a big hole at catcher going forward. They have nothing at AAA to offer for reinforcement except Murphy. And considering what he's done, performance wise, before, he might still be OK despite his horrific season. Sometimes young guys flounder and then recover. But the Twins also need to find out what they have in him. He wouldn't be the first young player to struggle, injury re-hab or whatnot, then come back to the show and perform better. And while their are some young catchers in the system that offer encouragement, Garver offers the most, and is closest. I don't know if the answer is to bring him straight up or not. But the fact that he's still in AA despite impressive numbers, and a hot spell, and not already in AAA to build toward September and/or 2017 is ridiculous and a huge mistake. Granite, Melotakis and Hildenberger are the same, but I'm focusing on Garver at the moment.

First off, I want Berrios up as well. And I would have been more than happy if that happened two weeks ago. But there is nothing negative regarding the Twins feelings on him there. Only a rather bland statement of working on consistency and a tweak to his curve. And even when he does comes up, he will continue to work on things. I'm not getting out my pitchfork with a week to go until the trade deadline. For all we know, there is a chance someone is about to be traded, even for a bag of balls. We can all wait until then to break out the whetstone and sharpen up garden and farm equipment. I don't get the Duffey suggestion to be sent doen, especially this close to the deadline of something potentially happenening. We don't know what he can or will be yet. He is not Mr Consistency this season. But we have seen some of his potential. With all the angst we share on here to play the youngsters and get them experience, he's the last guy to be moved right now. Let him work, grow and learn at the ML level.

Ryan missed the mark big time in various areas the past few years, which is why he is gone now. But to be fair, he has done a very nice job picking up very useful bits and pieces here and there over the years that have turned out to be real contributors. These are some fine examples. (Might have had a 6th had the kept catcher Hicks) But to be equally fair, I don't know if Ryan can be complimented entirely for these moves, and past moves. Surely various Twins scouts also had a hand in at least discovering and recommending these guys. Not that he is old, but he is old enough, and had some health issues, that I wonder if the life time baseball man will hang it up for good? If not, I could easily see another team bringing him on as a scout or advisor.

I also want to see the prospects. Right now that would include Wimmer and He'll gender as well as Chargois. Maybe Melotakis, though he could be a bit of a reach still at the moment. But I've been thinking about the team picking up one vet to help stabilize the pen and remove some pressure. Sort of thought a Hawkins type, someone looking for and probably good for one more season in the sun. But Storen could be that guy. But it's also got 2 BIG it's attached. IF he checks out medically. And if my scouts or pitching coach can pick up something that may be out of whack. Not unlike Abad and his tipping of pitches. It's an intriguing idea.

These reports are just about the hilight of my day. I keep wondering, with some of the strong hitting performances at E-Town, if a couple of these guys could see some action at Cedar Rapids before the year is done?

I'd bring up Murphy. He was acquired for a reason, despite the horrible year thus far. He's on the 40 man. It would probably be temporary. And while I am not wearing my rose colored Twins glasses, it may jump start his season. For whatever the reason, guys sometimes struggle, rehab or otherwise, come up and suddenly play better. At least we give him a shot to see where he's at and what we might have, even if it's defensively.

Nothing wrong with removing players who don't fit and/or blocking youngsters who are ready to audition. Play them and try to win. Winning helps breed winning and a winning culture. Still thinking of keeping both Santana and the younger Dozier for 2017.

After another horrible start from Nolasco yesterday, I'm just not sure there is a market for him. I'd love to eat some contract and move him to a NL team willing to give up SOMETHING for a flyer because they need help, his career has been spent in the NL, and a change of scenery may turn him around. But at this point, whatever it takes, the Twins just need to move on, and so does Nolasco.

I've always liked Plouffe. He's a solid ballplayer. His poor 2016 is a result of injuries. But Sano should never have been thrust to the OF. As stated by others, it messed with the entire makeup of the team. I don't think keeping him was necessarily the problem, however. Assuming there was or wasn't a real market for him, the Twins should have been able to move he and Mauer and Sano in and out between 1B, 3B and DH as they did the last half of 2015. The problem was a jumbled mess after acquiring Park. If you didn't have a plan, then don't go after Park. Especially when you still had Arcia, possibly Vargas, as other DH/role player options. But they went for Park, got him, and then created a jumbled mess. Sano at 3B should be fine. You can examine the careers of former Twins 3B, including Plouffd, and see that it takes time to fully develop defensively. He only has to be solid, and he has the potential for better than that. Very few 3B, or SS for that matter, arrive at the ML level a polished defensive product. Years of observation and a tiny bit of research shows this.

Going back a page or two, I'm going to disagree with Stringer on being OK with May's move to the pen last year. It should have been Pelfrey. May was far younger, was exhibiting improvement, has better stuff, and should be part of the future. Pelfrey had a couple decent starts and management fell in live with him. He would have been a much better choice. I also don't understand misgivings about May physically. Unless I've forgotten something, he was a horse in his milb days. Sometimes guys just get hurt. For a team that has had such a hard time finding and developing quality young starters, him being stuck in the pen is almost unforgivable. Get him back to starting. If the improvement he showed last season doesn't follow through, he can always be turned to the pen again.

Hitting on a couple points: While we can cry roster mismanagement, and we'd be right, bringing back Plouffe was a ni-brainer if there was no market. The downfall was an injury plagued season. But his time is now passed. Don't get down on Sano! How many times do we have to be remembered that it takes time to smooth things out? Think about early Gatti or Koskie or Plouffe. I'd like to keep Nunez. He won't be expensive, and even if this season is a complete mirage, he's a solid role player for 2017. Escobar possibly/probably reclaims the SS job, and Nunez and Polanco can play all over if you keep the under 30 Dozier. Those are nice options to have. I also had no problem bringing back Milone as a #5 option. Cheap, experienced and fairly dependable. The only problem was, I viewed him as the 6th SP because I would have had May in the rotation. His time is also probably up. I don't get the dislike by some for Gibson. He's relatively young, shows potential, and is only in his 3rd season. He was better last year than his "rookie" season (missed true rookie status by something like 1/3 of an inning). Healthy again, he's pitching well. Santana, Gibson, Berrios, Duffey and May for 2017 with Wheeler, Meyer and Dean as possibles. You simply can't count on Hughes at this point for anything.

Seth, there's some strong hitting performances at E-Town from a few youngsters, including Kirilloff. What are the chances a couple of these guys moving up to Cedar Rapids to close out the year?

Berrios's next start simply has to be with the Twins. A little disappointed Jay came out of the pen. I hope this doesn't mean he's done starting for the year. I understand limiting his innings, but they aren't very high at this point either. I'd think he could make a few more starts before switching to the pen for the remainder of the season.

Neither. Still debatable in my mind to keep Santana vs keeping him to help stabilize next year. (Or trade in the offseason after teams begin their re-set) Same with the younger Dozier. Nolasco, Milton, Plouffe, Suzuki and probably Kinzler and Abad should all go. Otherwise, keep doing what you are doing on the field, promote the youngsters up to take the places of those traded. Bring up more in September. We're building for 2017 now. Win or tank as the end result is not the point IMO. It's all about experience and building up the kids.

Also, I do see the Twins job as being a bit of a plumb, as long as there are no harsh restrictions involved. You wouldn't be in a high pressure media market. You have a fabulous facility here and in Ft Myers. And with the restocking of the farm system, a lot of good young talent close, and some of it already "arrived" some of the heavy lifting for the continent rebuild has been done.

I don't see any way Antony can really do anything in 2 1/2 months to impress anyone he should be the new GM. For starters, any trades made would doubtfully be splashy, and would take time before you'd even see a payoff. Further, said trades may have been well in to conversation before Ryan was removed. The fan base is frustrated, and ownership knows this. And the comments about system wide failure speak to me of an outside hire. And while Pohlad has been blasted for is "research" of examining other teams media guides at least suggests he's further considering/opening up addition spots for new personnel. I'm really kind of excited here. Though until I actually see the list of candidates and the final choice, I remain a tad leary.

Walker is intriguing, no question about it. If it were feasible for him to perform at the ML level as he has done at the milb level, lower BA and high SO totals, his power and production would still be excellent in the lower third of the lineup as a DH. But money is on Palka as the better prospect. He's more legit defensively, may be able to play 1B as well, and simply makes better contact. Wow, can you imagine if Palka gets it and Vargas keeps getting chances and proves he belongs? 1B/DH looks really interesting.

I'm not going to pretend things are rosey when it comes to the Twins staff, but it has been much better of late. While there is a huge payoff of high quality SP and RP prospects just over the horizon...ETA 2018 with some arrivals in 2017...all is not lost in the here and now. Santana is still solid. Occasionally really good. And there is nothing to indicate some imminent failure as some suggest. (Part of the reason I'm in favor of keeping him) Gibson, now healthy, has been solid to quite good. He's shown the past two seasons what he's capable of. And there is still potential to be better. Berrios may or not be a stud from his next start on, but he has enormous potential. I like Duffey and except for a rough start early this year, he also is solid. The 5th spot is certainly up for grabs. Wheeler maybe, at least in the short term? Though I still maintain May should be there. The pen has a trio of guys to stick. There are a number of guys, not just Chargois, who should be auditioning soon and have a chance. I believe FA will see a pickup or two in the offseason. NOT a championship staff to be sure. But with a couple youngsters ready, or almost ready, and a couple moves, I feel the Twins are close to putting together a solid, competent staff.

Agreed on the pen. The numbers will be even better with Chargois and others on their way. Despite a "bad" pen this year, I actually think it's improved. As stated, it was really the back end of the pen, especially early on, that caused bad numbers, losses and the such. Kepler's HR don't surprise me a bit. It's part of the maturation process. Physically, stroke wise, he's always had 20 HR potential. His overall power is just maturing. Also agree on trying to move Kinzler if we can. To free the roster spot if nothing else. Banking on him for the future of a number of interesting bullpen prospects seems a fools errand. Still a little torn on Abad however. The team HR production is nice, and helps bode well for the future. But more guys OB and better clutch hitting would also be nice.

Don't disagree Brock. Not a bit. And if more doesn't change soon, I will also become equally frustrated and be loud about it. But this is correcting one bad move. I'm just saying no-one should be bent that this is the first move. Heck, I'm tickled they jumped in and move this quickly, even if it's a small one to start.

I think the colum itself reeks of a deadline with nothing more to say and is rather self serving to get attention. (As well as meet deadline) Look, if you owned the Twins, and they were losing, losing, losing some more...and the fans weren't happy...and ND receipts were down...wouldn't you finally axe the man who helped make all that losing happen? As a business, wins and loses, including perception, all works along with the money factor. Hand in hand. Move along now...nothing more to see here.

Losing Ramirez was smart. Bang on Boshers if you want, but the guy has pitched very well at Rochester and was solid for us. He was only sent down due to a crunch. No problem with his coming back up. And it's only oneive, the first move, and only a couple days after TR was dismissed. Chargois will be up, and probably really soon. Patience.

First of all, I have always been a Mauer fan and supporter. And I dont care about the value of his contract. He earned his money fairly. It's not his fault his career has taken a dive due to his concussions (plus wear and tear) Get over the hate. And I've previously argued that fine defense at 1B, contact, and quality OB have a place in the lineup. There are many ways to build a roster/lineup, and not every position on every team is stocked by a player who is pigeon-holed in to a certain type. And while I wholeheartedly agree Sano IS a 3B, and is OK there, and will get better, (little weight loss would probably help), and any move to QB is probably years away, I do see a potential problem at 1B/DH. There are a lot of unknowns here to be uncovered still. But Vargas is not some fly by night washed out prospect. He's young, has some real potential, has a nice milb track history of production, showed his potential in 2014, but had a rough 2015. Park has real potential. Fully healthy, we may not be even debating his worth at this point. And he has a nice glove at 1B. Palka appears to have nice potential, and may have been a steal. Walker is an enigma, but an enigma who has produced at every level, seems to be making some adjustments, and shouldn't be counted out even if he needs more AAA time, or a full season, in 2017. Additionally, a team doesn't HAVE to have a full time DH. But if you've got real depth in the OF and 1B, you can roll everyone for half days off through the DH spot. Unfortunately, Mauer's skills as a batter have diminished greatly. I won't bag on him for his OB or good defense. Those are fine things. But are those things enough to continue taking up a roster spot these next two seasons when we may actually have good young hitters knocking on the door? I don't know if trying to move him to a team with a chance to compete for the next couple of years is the answer, (with his blessing and eating dollars of course), or attempting a buyout to move on, or suggested retirement are the answers. But I'm just not sure he fits with the future direction of this team any longer.