DocBauer

Man...how can you not like this! There's even a reasonable chance, IMO, that the next Twins SS, 2B AND 3B are in this group. (Assuming Sano as an OF or 1B)

There is no question that Buxton is a huge key for this team. And not just because of tremendous defense and tremendous potential. Even if he would take a year or two to really reach his potential, he would still be a huge asset and provide a legitimate leadoff option even with a .280/.340-ish Avg/OB with 30+ doubles and a mix of triples and homers. (Not to mention 30 SB) A star he may be, but just a nice ballplayer is also an immediate boon. But I find the Escobar debate to be very interesting. I absolutely think Dozier can, and has, shown himself to be very effective at the top of the order. But I think he'd be even more effective lower in the lineup...echoing the belief of many here. But I amay very intrigued with the idea of Mauer providing a different look in the middle of the lineup in the 5 hole. He breaks up the RH run, usually makes decent contact and usually has a decent OB. (Even the "deficient" Mauer of last season) He's also always had at least decent gapper power. That would leave Escobar as the best choice to hit 2 on a daily basis. Not a speed demon, he runs well. He has shown the ability to hit and provide some pop. While questions remain about his "standard" and potential, when given the outright SS job, he has flat out performed. And as has been stated, it's not important what he did in the minors, or as a seldom used, early promoted utility player for the ChiSox. Whats important is what he's done the past couple of years, and what he is capable of doing this season. If the EE from the past two seasons shows up, I'd really like to see something like: 1 Buxton 2 Escobar # 3 Sano 4 Park 5 Mauer * 6 Plouffe 7 Dozier 8 Rosario * 9 Murphy

There was a ML manager some years ago, can't recall now who, that used a very unique lineup while managing in the minors. The way his team was set up, he didn't have a ton of power, but he had some nice interchangeable and somewhat similar pieces. So he set up a 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3 lineup. Just a fun FYI if anyone can recall who this was.

Some great points up and down the board. Special shout out to Steve, River and Stringer. To me, ideally, I subscribe to the top 2 guys being quality OB guys with some pop and good to really good speed. I want them to be OB, but also be a threat to score on a single. That's what speed and XB pop provides. I still believe in OB and best overall hitter in the 3 spot, stacking the lineup at 4,5 and maybe 6 with best power/RBI threats, as long as they aren't power only. (Bad hit tool) I've learned to appreciate the better 9 hole hitter to turn over the lineup, but it really does depend on your lineup depth. Back in the day, Brian Downing had zero speed, but he had power, OB and hit ability as a leadoff man for the Angels. Vince Coleman had zero power and wasn't the world's greatest hitter or OB guys...if I recall correctly...but he put tremendous pressure on the opposition with his speed and SB ability. So it's not just "how do you construct" but very much what do you have, and how will you use it.

Outstanding article! Really, one of the best I think I've read on TD. Even if someone should not agree, and I happen to, the logic to your stance is pretty foolproof. It's easy sometimes to say "SPEND!" But it is far more difficult to say on who and what and why. The truth is the Twins spent when they thought they had a team that could win. (Not arguing spending MORE at that time to help win-just stating the fact that they DID SPEND) Now, I'm not sure I can refute the option of the Twins spending to KEEP that team intact, though it could be debatable as to whether spending the money to keep 30-somethings like Cuddy error and Kubel and others at that point was the right idea. But the truth is seemingly everyone got hurt, Mauer got hurt again, Morneau nevèr recovered until gone, Kubel and Cuddy left, and Valencia seemed to be a 1 year wonder. At that point, honestly, I'm not sure what you could spend, or on who, to recover. In a change of organizational philosophy, the Twins have begun spending on FA, and not just the journeyman type. Now, I could go on about CF and the bullpen the past couple of years, and I have before, and I could probably name some names. But i agree with a strong point made in the article which is to avoid getting caught in a financial trap. To a degree, this has happened with Nolasco. If you could look in a crystall ball or hop in a time machine, you'd save the $12M and possibly use it on a $20M man. The Twins have never mentioned a rebuild, but come on, we all know that's what's been going on. And it's continuing this season as well. The Twins made some smart moves, got nice contributions, and won/challenged in 2015, probably a year sooner than expected.

What a surprise! A young 20 something athlete being asked to move to an entirely different position...one considered "easier" to play overall...but having difficulty because it is new and not as much fun. This NOT a blast at Sano. In fact, we have heard nothing in the past to suggest anything but a dedicated worker. In fact, perhaps this was just a bad day. It could be. And I can't see any way to blast the Park signing...but...it still begs the question, doesn't it, as to why the Twins are even messing with one of the top young talents in all of baseball?

"Personally, I'd like to give them all a great big s**t burger to eat." GO TWINS!

I agree on W-L. But I'm trying to play along with the numbers game. Lol

Solid and timely post. But it really breaks down to a pair of joined but separate subject matter: A} the trade itself, and B} Murphy vs Suzuki. A} Ranking trades is fun, though in truth, it takes time to sort out a proper grading curve. Secondly, in theory, both teams improve. But do you really care if the other team does? Unless the trade turns out to be vastly disproportionate in one team's direction, my only concern is, did MY TEAM improve in an area. And BTW, the production of a CF, unless crazy good, vs the offense-defense-game calling-leadership of a catcher is like comparing a 7' big man in basketball vs a top point guard. How do you possibly correlate similarities and differences? Finally, if either or both players improve, it's fun to conjecture, but there is no concrete proof that said improvement would have taken place, or in the same way, had either player stayed put. B} Forgetting Suzuki's negatives, he IS a veteran and a known qualtity/quantity. He is a respected and experienced player by his teammates and reportedly a leader of the team and staff. He's also quite a gamer. IMHO, he deserves our respect as well. So of course he will be opening ST as the primary catcher. But the Twins made this trade for a reason. Thereven are actually some interesting catching prospects in the minors, but, they are not yet fully proven, much less ready. No AJ or Mauer ready to graduate tomorrow. And if the team was so happy and content with Suzuki, now and the future, they would have contenTed themselves with the acquisition of a solid backup backstop, not a young, potential starter. There is over a month of ST to determine an order here. And it may still favor Zuke initially. But it will evolve in to Murphy's job sooner or later. Suzuki has respect and experience, but from all reported stats and reports, Murphy CAN and SHOULD throw and hit better than Zuke. It's his job to eventually win or lose. Despite the presence of Turner, Garver, Centeno and Hicks????, don't be surprised if Zuke gets offered a 1 year to return as the veteran backup. Which he will probably decline due to a larger offer from another team more "desperate".

Twins, I agree on Sano and Buxton. You could convince me on Santana. How about this one? Gibson continues to improve, wins 15-17 with 200 IP. Ditto,for Hughes who rebounds to look like his 2014 self. With Santana, the Twins front 3 starters all win 15 games plus with 200 IP. We may not have a true #1, gut we have 3 #2's

Tip of the cap to former Husker and I believe still Omaha native Duensing. I followed his career with interest since was a freshman at UNL. Classy guy on the field and off. I wish him the very best and am sorry to see him go...even if it was probably time.

Always a fan. Always hopeful of a resurgence. And always a defender of his value at 1B, and in the lineup, as a non traditional producer. It is my hope, and a possibility, that so far removed from his concussions, with sunglasses and eye therapy, he will find himself again. Even diminishing returns giving him a .290-ish/ ,360-370-ish OB with 35 doubles and 12 HR could make him valuable at a couple spots in the order. However, years behind the plate, past 30, the concussions, two poor seasons of diminishing returns, Mauer's recent confessions and questions about his current state and therapy leave me pessimistic.

Loved his defense, his hustle, his gamesmanship and his effort. Hated his propensity for sliding in to 1B. I also never understood any of the negativism directed his way. To me he was only guilty of two things; 1} Gardy and the Twins relying on him too much (he was a utility player!) 2} he was too good at times and teased people in to wondering why he couldn't be that guy all the time.

Almost as important is this team being more than capable of 300 doubles, and possibly 350. When you break everything down, the projections of 200 HR, or close to it, seems to make logical sense. However, practicality would seem to state that too much has to go according to plan for that to happen. I absolutely believe Sano can jack 30+ and probably even 35. I absolutely believe on his frame, production in Korea, previous scouting reports, and recent reports from Ft Meyers that Park has legitimate ML 30 HR power. I just don't expect it his first year. Just too much everything everywhere to adjust to to expect that. Dozier and Plouffe SHOULD each have 20+. I believe Rosario capable of 20, at some point anyway, but believe he's more of a consistent 15-18 HR guy. Mauer and Arcia are each capable but also big question marks as well. I soooo badly want to argue Escobar just can't be expected to jack 15. And then I look at what he's done the last two seasons...not even getting to be the starter from day one...and I soooo badly want to believe he could do it. But really, at the end of the day, I think this is a legitimate 175-180 HR ball club. And with the amount of doubles they are capable of producing, and any kind of OB% improvement so that runners are on board, I'm really, really happy with that number.

One thing that strikes me is the overall depth of middle infield talent in the system. Now, if there was a comprehensive list only of keystone men in milb systems across baseball, I don't know if the Twins would rank first or last. But I do know that in a few shorts years we've gone from virtually nothing to some nice talent. Dozier is an all star. Escobar has had a pair of really nice years, might actually be improving still, and gives a sense of peace about the SS position we haven't felt in some time. OK, so Santana can't play SS on a daily basis it appears; he can still play it, along with 2B, maybe 3B and the OF, and he still has offensive upside. (Don't let one down year totally replace the good year and the offering of potential) Is Polanco going to settle down enough defensively to play ML SS? Strange question considering he was signed as a glove man with a questionable bat? Should he replace Dozier, (trade), if he can't play SS? Could he be valuable as trade material himself? Could be be anice outstanding utility player? Can Michael play SS? At least well enough to be a quality utility type. Or, as some believe, (Thrylos), should he be the Dozier challenger? We keep expecting Gordon to be the next Twins SS, and very possibly a very good one...but...with any kind of decent bat and some muscle on his bones, is Vielma a stud in the making? Palacios and Javier? We've barely met the one and haven't been formally introduced to the other, and yet, both could be better than anyone mentioned to this point. And just a couple seasons ago we were hoping Florimon could hit enough to keep his job we were so desperate for a solution.

No matter how Twins crazy I am, I swear the best part of the baseball season is waking up in the morning and checking the milb results from the day before on TD. There is just something fun, and eventually rewarding, about following these young men, their achievements and promotions, while speculating on potential and arrival times. It's not just about shiny and new, it's the not knowing, but prognosticating, hoping, and in special cases, the fruition of a career. The lists may not all agree, and may or always be right, but they are part of the information process, as well as their own debatable entity.

And I also don't necessarily disagree with you eithef. Lol And I certainly understand the contract of Nolasco, and I have defended him in the past due to his injury situation. My arguement, attempted in a vacuum for the best possible outcome, is to complete the best and balanced bullpen possible. (With what is on hand and until more talent arrives) Under that provision, IMHO, the balance of a second lefty through audition is more valuable to the well being of said bullpen. I have never been obsessed with hardiness entirely...such as I don't think Milone is important in the rotation because he is left handed per se...but with so many RH options in the pen, that is my arguement against Nolasco. But stepping out of the vacuum, yes, healthy, Nolasco is probably in.

I really can't disagree. But my caveat would simply be, I'm still less concerned with the opening day staff than where we would/could/should be 30 days later. I get May in the pen for now, though I don't like it and think it's a mistake. Depth wise, you figure for 2016 either he or Duffey needs to be there though. And I can also get Berrios at Rochester to begin the year, not for service time, but for time for a few scenarios to play out, and maybe a trade or two.

FWIW, I still like the Sweeney and Benson signings. Sweeney as a low cost, no risk, sold reward investment at some point this year. And Benson for next year. He still has talent and youth on his side. Healthy and maybe learning to relax and just play the game,and accept failure, he could still develop in to a very useful addition. Maybe even the perfect 4th OF.

Pretty much right on. The one change I would make is the second lefty in the bullpen instead of Nolasco. I'm not sure who that is, because to be frank, I'm not sure we really have a clue who the first one is yet. But if your intention is to put together the very best team, and very best bullpen you can...(isn't that why May is there instead of the rotation where he should be?)...then completing your mass LH audition, maybe STILL signing one more arm, a d sorting it out for 2 guys to begin the year makes a whole lot more sense that running a 30yo veteran former SP out to the pen to see if he knows what to do there. Could he do it? Yeah. But it's supposed to be about putting the best pen together, and not "could he do it".

Berrios will be a front of the rotation starter. And that's not just hope. From reports and results, I think he's got the stuff. And his work ethic is outstanding. He has a real bulldog mentality. And he has shown the instincts and ability to recognize when changes need to be made and he's made them. I just think he really knows how to pitch. I think the entire Jay experiment could work, I just think it's way too early to predict how well. I feel frustrated that Stewart just doesn't show enough yet to warrant everything written and spoken. And I just get this feeling that something isn't right there. But then I remember his age and see at least OK numbers to this point and I relax. I really think he should start the season back at high A again. We need and want high quality players, not just fast risers. I'd start Meyer. One off season shouldn't define him or restrict him. Seems to me a lot of power/SO pitchers have a bit of a BB problem, but they compensate with those SO's as well other areas of dominance such as ground ball and weak contact rates, etc.

Great post. And no, the post, and my thoughts, aren't about whether Mauer hit .300 or better last season. Again, if he had, if would mean he hadn't been affected, or it had never happened in the first place. At the very least, we would be hearing what we are hearing now, yes? To use football as an example, I am a big Peyton Manning fan. Thankfully he played for a couple of teams I could cheer for. Lol Had he played for the Cowboys, my opinion might be different. Lol I have absolutely loved watching Manning play. In the same manner as I've greatly enjoyed watching Mauer. But Peyton is almost 40, his arm strength is defiantly fading. His neck has been giving him trouble for a couple years now. (That is not a thing to be taken lightly) And now we hear he will need hip replacement surgery when he retires. I really want Manning to retire at this point, on top, before he suffers additional injury. Could he play again? At least at an acceptable level? Yeah, he might be able to. It's his choice. But I would say the same thing to him at this physical point in his life.

I get it. I really do. But then again...I did say they were a minority. ☺

LOL I didn't ask for nuttin! I simply wrote what I feel. Honestly, the more I have read, the more I have reflected, the more I have thought about things...in all seriousness...I find myself cringing at the thought of Mauer standing at the plate and staring down 90MPH+ fastballs the past couple of years, and perhaps next year as well. I truly hope 2016 is different, and all his hard work, and therapy pay off. But factual or not, doesn't it sound just a little bit like the proverbial fighter who could have "X" happen to him the next time he gets hit hard? I mean, agree to disagree with me, thats fine, i get it, but we really are talking about a guy admitting the ball coming at him at home plate the past couple of years at 90 plus has been blurry.

Well, first of all, I offered opinion and advice, not a directive. Joe Mauer is a grown man and can make his own decisions. Secondly, I find your inference that I wouldn't advise Mauer to walk away if he were hitting .330 to be deeply insulting. If he was hitting .330, he probably A) never received a concussion to begin with, or hadn't received any harmful or lingering effects from said concussions. The entirety of the article was concern for Joe, and his future. Third, my anecdote was simply offered up in reference to a growing concern and references to changes over the years in perspective to the concern for concussions. That's generally what anecdotes are; offerings for perspective and reflection. I guess I would be interested to know why my anenecdote has no relevance, in your opinion, but the relevance of your experience does have reference in regard to Mauer and his recently revealed issues. I have been, and am, a fan and defender of Joe the past few years. And all of this is a board for opinion. And we all agree to disagree and we often do, But, if I may be equally frank, I don't think concern about Joe Mauer and his long term health and future is "ridiculous" in any way. Of course, that's just my opinion.