DocBauer

OK, I'm only half serious here. I love this season and am having a hell of a good time. I never give up on my Twins...not completely anyway...even when they lost 90+ the past four seasons. Unbelievably, unexpectedly, they are winning, competitive, a Wild Card team as of now, and probably will remain so. I believe the team should follow the waiver wire, and to be honest, I've been hugely disappointed in a few vet RP that have recently been available in which the Twins have seemingly shown ZERO interest, which I can't fully understand. I mean, really? A contract for a couple of months and a wing and a prayer with a possible big payoff? And if someone comes knocking on TR's office door just begging to make the Twins a better team now, and down the road, with a fair deal, I'm not saying he should call security. And if someone wants to drop a few bucks off payroll this season, and would offer the Twins a nice rental for some batting practice balls, stale bubblegum and a couple used but recently bleached and sanitized cups, I don't think we should tell the clubhouse attendants to find the chains and padlocks. But with about a dozen threads (and counting) concerning trades the Twins should make, how important they are, how the world will cease to exist as we know if not consummated...(I kid, I kid)....I'm going to change directions and put on the black hat...errr....cap...(probably from a Chicago team...SHUDDER)...and toss a bunch of cold water on the subject, playing the bad guy, Turk, bringer of gloom and doom. Not really, but I think it's interesting to take the approach from the opposite side of the street. Why the Twins should put on the brakes: 1) Distractions. You'd think it would be us fans who get all wrapped up in having a winning season for the first time in 5 years after 4 lousy and disappointing ones in a row. Wait a minute, it's only been 4 years since the Twins were a top team, a winning team, a playoff team? How many years did Royals fans wait again? So before the All Star break even hits, the Twins are so wrapped up in the idea of actually reaching the post season that they pull, arguably, the best young SP they have had since Garza out of the rotation...filled with potential, and possibly the best SP on the entire staff for this year at least...in order to keep surprising but limited soft tosser Milone and future X-Twin Pelfrey in the rotation? Never really bought in to any sort of "scholarship" idea before...but...come on! LOVE what Pelfrey has done, but can we get real and compare stuff, 2015 numbers, results, as well as the future and just get real for a moment? Robinson. The Twins have been streaky offensively this season, and are suffering from lack of power, especially from the LH side. Arcia has been one of the few downers on this season. But he needed to go down. He needed to stay down. He's still a long way from being anything close to the finished-ish product we'd like him to be, but he is actually performing at AAA and making some things happen. Despite being way short of perfection, he couldn't help more than Robinson? Honestly, why is Robinson with the club, unless the team is thinking they have this experienced vet OF who can be a late inning defensive replacement and PR? I despise using this analogy for a myriad of reasons, (though there is some nice joke potential) but as Congress once stated they could recognize porno when they saw it, I think I/we can see a winning/WS contending team when we see it. And I'm not sure the Twins are it. Not this year. They're good! This is fun! By all expectations they are a year early. But do we get distracted by chasing a tail we are not ready to yet catch...(make your own joke here)...or do we re-focus on what's ahead of us? 2) The market. No question that if a team just sits back and waits, there might be a last minute bargain or two to be had at the end of the trade deadline. Especially for a RP or two a non-contending team might be willing to let go to save a few bucks and hope they get lucky with a grade B or C prospect who they might get lucky with and find a backend roster helper. Right or wrong, we shall see, there is a generally universal idea that this year will be a seller's market with so many teams in contention for a playoff spot. So anything the Twins do make a move for, theoretically, will cost more than it normally would. (EX, see 30 yo ML SS with injury history and huge financial obligation that would cost approximately 4 top 20 prospects, or combination of said prospects and quality young ML roster'ed player(s).) A young, rebuilding, retooling team with a lot of talented young players at or near the ML level having an unexpected season and then shedding 4 of them in an attempt to add a "playa" who may or may not make a difference? I don't see that as smart. 3) Perspective. Reflect for a moment on all of the trade speculation, and all the players and prospects the Twins could potentially move in all the various deals being rumored and proposed. Now, sit back, relax, wait until the offseason, reflect on the kinds of seasons all these players and prospects have had...how they finished...where they finished...how they improved, or, what they even showed in September, 3B) Perspective and now Preperation. Instead of trading young talent for a "go for it" season when you weren't quite ready yet, you have focused on the likes of Buxton (who will be back), Sano, Escobar, yes Santana, Rosario, Hicks, Polanco, Walker, Kepler May, Gibson Duffey, Burdi, and a slew of talented prospects you didn't yet trade. You even have winter leagues and the AFL to further eveluate all your young talent when examing your needs...as do all the other teams...and you can contemplate FA moves as well as being better contemplated and prepared trades to build your 2016 club and future. As an organization, aren't you better prepared to make that move or two, even three, to flesh out your club? White hat says make moves, go for it. Black hat throws water and dust on the campfire and says "not yet. Don't get caught up too soon. Play Ryanstein in the offseason, part with some valuable pieces, make a smart FA move or two, and build this impending beast for 2016. Not saying "fork" '15...but am saying work on building the perfect beast instead of trying to herd lightening just to get the beast off the table. Your thoughts?

He's not there yet. He may or may not ever get there. But at least he's on the right road now...heading in the right direction...and only needs to pack a lunch for the journey...not a Yogi-sized picnic basket.

Remember....nobody cares about the Twins outside of the 5 state area. Just ask ESPN if you don't believe me. They'll tell you the truth. Cough. Gasp. Choke.

Escobar needs to be the guy for now. He may not be great, but he's solid and consistent in the field and at the plate. I get Santana has more upside. I get he got first shot this season based on the greater overall athletic ability and potential and what he did last season. Maybe we'll see that player again. I really hope so because the tools are there. By all accounts the attitude is there. We've seen how exciting he can be. But right now, Santana just looks lost. I don't have an exact answer what to do with everyone as Polanco needs to play every day at Rochester, and then get some work up at the ML level. He's had a couple, all too brief, teasing cups of coffee at the ML level. He needs some real September time with the club to help prepare him for ST next year. There are people on this board who know an awful lot more about Polanco and his defense than I do. People who have actually watched him play. But no cannon arm and a few errors, or bunches/batches of errors at times doesn't concern me at this time. He's young. Hes a milb prospect. He's playing at different milb levels with other milb players on milb fields. Even the best ML infielders, if you reflect on their early ML career and their milb start, you will see a lot of errors. It takes time to learn. If being a great SS was just range and strong arm, Santana would already look like a star.

Yes to making trades to improve the club. Yes to bag of balls and a pack of grape flavored bubblegum for an older vet set up man or catcher in a salary dump type move that is short term. Doesnt cost much. Helps the '15 season. Always the option of a re-sign. RP easier to find than catchers...but still. No to the mid season BIG MOVE. Not unless it was someone under 30 with team control for a few more years. Otherwise, you are overbuying mid season when you should wait until the offseason to shop big. As to why the Twins might be better next season, closer to a REAL contender, it is simply a matter of tweaks you may/can make, and Rosario, Hicks, Buxton, Sano, Gibson, May andothers more experienced, further along. Arcia and/or Vargas could be right, or closer. Polanco or Escobar may seize SS. Etc, etc, etc.

There comes a time when the player with lesser talent simply becomes the better player due to consistency. Despite a disappointing year, Escobar has still shown greater flashes of production and consistency than Santana. He deserves to be given the job at this point.

Could be worse. Imagine strolling in to the family room on a beautiful day off, smile on your face, a bounce in your step, glove on your one hand, stitched horse-hide ball in the other, (did they ever really use horse-hide?), and you excitedly propose to to your boy(s): "let's go play some catch!" And the very fruit of your boys of summer loins responds with: " maybe later. In the middle of a big FIFA match on the PS10. Wanna play? You can be Madrid." You walk away tense, but restrained, and can almost be heard muttering under your breath: "I'd rather wear a bleeping White Sox jersey."

Man, how about some more love for Berrios? In his interview at the Futures Games, he explains exactly why he didn't pitch as well his fir couple times out...what he has to do, and is going to do to be better...then just goes out and does it!

Did Crazy Eddie put you up to this?

I actually have noticed some of the mentioned contributions from Samtana, Escobar and Suzuki despite disappointing seasons. Imagine Santana or Escobar playing something like last season and claiming the full time job. And imagine Suzuki doing what he does overall as a co-catcher or #2 guy. Nice. While there are no guarantees as to the '16 roster, who is ready, who is performing, etc, I find myself already looking ahead. Is there room for Mauer at 1B/DH, Plouffe at 3B/1B/DH, Sano at 3B/DH, Rosario, Buxton, Hicks in the OF with possibly Arcia and a somewhat surprise return of Hunter as DH/backup OF'ers and Kepler in the wings and possibly close?

For the most part, yes. I don't believe the Twins should be chasing the Royals and competing against them. Doing that would be short-sighted and might allow for mistakes in reaching for something...as in a trade possibly...that could hurt in the long run. No, I believe the Twins should be competing against themselves. Similar to a pro prospect competing against themselves to just do better at a combine...similar to an athlete in an Olympic or non-revenue sport looking to conquer an obstacle or course...the Twins need to worry about just being the best they can , or better, at this point. * Is this team better now, the rest of the season, and next season and going forward with May in the rotation? Yes. Then get him back there. * Does Robinson have a future with the club? No. Does Arcia? Perhaps. Is Arcia the better talent with a better potential as a Twin or possible trade bait? Yes. Then get him back on the team as soon as seems prudent and cut ties with Robinson. * Optimize Graham by giving him more shots. He's already been way better than I expected. * Figure out SS. Play Santana every day if you can. Preferably at SS. But if not, then somewhere else. Ditto for Escobar. Both guys need to play, get a shot, audition, whatever. Can we concentrate on our building while still trying to win and perform better now? Possibly yes. If there isn't a deal to be made for a nice young catcher now, and I doubt there is, thinking the offseason is when we might make something happen, then go ahead and trade for AJ. Do you really think he's going to cost something we can't afford to give up? Heck, at this point, he and Suzuki might make a nice 1-2 for '16 while we re-asses the position. Don't get stupid in the bullpen by trading off something valuable for a rental. If you can trade an OK prospect for someone in the pen the team can actually control and have for a few seasons, then OK. Otherwise, watch the waiver wire or trade a bag of balls and a Butera/Tyner/Walters clone for a vet rental someone is trying to get rid of to shave payroll.

So glad I stuck with this topic. A lot of great debate and discussion. And I don't think anyone us wrong, which is part of the whole " Dilema" aspect. IMHO, I do believe uber talent/prospect Buxton will be the lead off hitter sooner rather than later. And I also believe Dozier would be productive wherever you hit him. I've always held to the belief that you attemp to "deepen" your lineup. For example, I never felt your #2 hitter should be a sacrifice machine. (Though it's nice to know that he actually can perform such an act if called upon). I have always believed in the double lead off hitter theory, meaning your #2 can also hit, get OB, have some speed and XB power to MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, just like the leadoff hitter. Simply; he can knock guys around and in,mans beging or perpetuate an inning, helping set things up for the next few hitters. We're he to continue the offensive trend he has shown the past three seasons, Polanco, or his type, to me, would be a perfect example of a do it all hitter in the 2 hole. (Santana of last season, probably with a smaller AVG but higher OB would be another great example). Exactly what makes one guy vs another a better fit in the 1 hole vs the 2 hole is also debatable, and surely would come down to the players themselves. (And the whole, just make contact and sacrifice hitter in the 2 hole is very old fashioned, and really reflects no better option IMO) I have believed, and maintain still, that a team's best overall hitter should be in the 3 hole. He can lock the guys in ahead of him, but also get OB and keep things going by helping set up the boppers in the 4 and 5 hole. When Mauer is Maur, or when Mauer is close to being Mauef, this works really, really well. Unfortunately for a lot of Mauer's career, he hasn't always had the OB guys in front of him. Interesting that now, despite Mauer struggling at times to be Mauer, he is having some of his best RBI production with quality hitters in front of him. I think it's an easy arguement to put Dozier in the 3 spot. Except, what if Mauer really isn't toast yet? Your 4-5 hitters can hit, mash, and drive in runs. The difference being the 4 hitter is just a little better overall AVG and OB and contact guy. Think Puckett, Hrbek and Gaetti for an almost textbook example of 3-4-5 in a lineup. (Mauer-Dozier-Sano maybe?) 6-7are good but slightly lesser versions if 3-4. 6 might be a better AVG-contact-OB hitter than your 7hitter. Once again, not hard to think of a Bush-Harper-Smalley hitter before a Brunansky at 7. 8-9 you look for the best overall production of run drivers and run creators you can find. Lesser versions of 6-7 or 1-2, but guys who can bring something helpful and help flip the lineup.

With all due and exalted respect to Thyrlos and his extensive experience and education, I think this speaks volumes. While I really don't wish to re-tread old ground at this point, been a Twins fan since listening to and learning the game at age 5 from my dad, Herb Carneal and an old transistor radio. In a few months I will hit 50. But in all that time, I only knew there were 2 or 3 different Senators Twins, and the Twins were a result of one of them. Period. Unless I am missing something, in all of "modern day" sports, the only team who has moved and been a new individual has been the Baltimore Ravens. Perhaps a horrific error of oversight or pretense by the NFL, this bastardized team became their own individual. Until just recently, despite all my years as a devoted and deeply involved Twins fan, I was unaware of any or direct ties to the Senators franchise. Was this accidental or deliberate by MLB and/or the CG family? Should we care? Or should we just embrace the "Twins" as we know them for the past 50 years? Considering the platform and tradition of sports, and baseball in particular, I'm thinking we should perhaps learn to care about something we didn't even know we should care about. Should this be something we should explore more, push on the Pohlad's as true fans, and celebrate.?

I will agree with a small exception. Team controll is one thing. Dealing with arbitration is another. Wrapping him up with a nice solid contract that is friendly to both parties, making everyone happy through age 32-33-34 might be prudent. Or am I missing something on the arbitration end?

Really like the roster as stated. Hands down. Couple caveats. Forget the whole rule V ramifications, I think I'd take Graham over Achter anyway. He has been a huge surprise for me, and not sure the second half he doesn't increase his value. Too bad Santana can't pitch in the post season. I'm big on punishing away steroids or cover drugs or whatever. But I still don't get the whole idea of being punished by missing half a season and then being allowed to play before being punished again. I just don't see the logic. But then again, in the case of the Twins and this season, there is definitely a sense of dancing with the one you brung to the dance. I'm not so sure one and out or win one and then 3 and BBQ, that Santana makes a real difference over "found my mojo" Hughes, "remember how good I was supposed to be? Look at me now" Gibson, "how good could I be with a few less walks" May's, and "I don't sparkle, but I have fewer rough edges and more consistent gleam" than my clone predacessor Scott Diamond Milone. Not sure we'd have to surrender Nunez for Benoit. Which I personally would like. Think a bag of balls, a few batting practice bats, some Bubble Yum might be enough for him, or similar, in a cost move.

One hell of a post Tom! Thank you! Always felt, no matter how much I admired, liked or approved of TR as a GM or person, track record or not, that he simply counted on/promoted Hicks too soon based on hope, potential, and Hunter similarities. He absolutely blew CF the past few seasons. But it seems to me we are watching Hicks grow up right before our eyes as a young man and a baseball player. I could see it in ST with the new leg kick. Even when he didn't necessarily hit right away after his promotion this season, you could see a different spine when he left the batter's box...one way or another. And you could see it in the way he played defense. And the defense, previously slandered the past couple of seasons, sometimes deservedly so, has been very good to outstanding. Seems to keep getting better. Three potentials here; none of them poor. He's either a solid, quality all around corner OF who provides great defense and backup CF ability. (Or potential starting CF to let Buxton be less fatigued or injury risk in RF??) Or a top overall 4th OF with multiple ways to jelly the team. Or a potentially top trade prospect. Really, really like what we're seeing out of Hicks these days.

Been super, super busy the past week to address my own thread. Bad, bad Doc! And I seem to have a bad habit of burying my own lead by posting, sometimes multiple times as in this case, around holidays. But at the All Star Game "mid point" of the season...Mauer on a recent resurgence that reminds us of a strong finish to '14 and a nice start to this season, before the slump....weird how he and and Plouffe seemed to slump at the same time...the Twins on a recent romp, second best record in the AL, and the amazing B-Dozier making the ASG in a ridiculous, almost sports-criminal fashion before being allowed to shine, I felt it was time to attempt to resuscitate what I feel is a worthwhile debate. We'll see where and how it goes. No matter how great BD has been in the lead off spot, I simply have to believe this spot will be Buxton's very soon. (Until he slides down-all previously stated) I completely agree Dozier could be outstanding as a #2 hitter. I completely disagree that your "best hitter" hits #2. From everything I have ever seen or heard your best overall hitter is your #3 hitter. From a "hit/AVG" factor, that is not BD. It has been Mauer in the recent past. Could it be still and yet again? To be determined. If B-Dozier is really your best overall BAT, (forget the standard "hitter" phrasing), then he might bump Mauer somewhere else. Assuming Mauer is never Mauer again, maybe Dozier in the 3 hole makes sense. But considering his bat, especially if Mauer does surge again, as he has been lately, should BD's big bat and XB/RBI ability hit cleanup? Are we better with super stud prospect Sano hitting behind Dozier? Or should Dozier, with OB, power and speed sit in the #5 hole, right in the middle of the lineup, behind Buxton, ?, Mauer and Sano? He'd be, theoretically, behind a group of 4 talented hitters while having multiple opportunities to not only drive in runs, but begin and perpetuate innings with his OB, speed and power ahead of some other decent hitters such as, possibly, Plouffe, Vargas, Rosario, Kepler, Polanco, etc. I think B-Dozier is the kind of all around great ballplayer that could succeed almost anywhere. So maybe it's not so much where he fits best, but where you THINK he fits best dependent on where you see the rest of the lineup.

Really missed his work. Didn't realize he wasn't posting on the Trib any longer as I got frustrated in their site for more than one reason. I will have to look for his blog. Have to say this was a really great read. Feel he's pretty much dead on with all points. Guy is a genius and reminds me of someone. Hmmm......oh yeah.....me! LOL JK of course. (Sorta)

Look, I really don't want to do this...but...if you are a team with a talented young catcher, perhaps you have a vet or another young or ish catcher you can play, and the Twins offer you Plouffe, Duffey, Rogers and maybe one of their top young AA-ish RP...wouldn't you listens really hard? Tell me I'm crazy, either way.

I'd be shy on Kepler. Not hide and go away...but shy. I know you have to give up something to get something. Near-sighted, but not short sighted. Berrios and Kepler would both be on my "no touchy" zone I think. Call me crazy...been called a lot worse...but if the Twins really do have one of the top 1-2-3 minor leagues in all of baseball on a talent level, and have the likes of the very talented but enigmatic Arcia, and the unspectacular but very steady and top 1/3 in all of ML baseball 3B in Plouffe, and can't find someway to pull of a quality, 2-sided-2-way street trade for a quality young catcher, without giving up Berrios and possibly Kepler.....then we have either been grossly mislead about the Twins milb talent level, or the cost of doing business on the trade level has just gone insane.

To avoid posting multiple quotes, would just like to address a couple points quickly. 1) D Santana. I still really like this kid and his potential a lot. I really felt he'd make mistakes, but play a solid enough SS to stick there. Felt his AVG would drop, but contact and BB would increase to compensate. He has absolutely been my biggest disappointment this season. (Vargas just behind him) I have absolutely not given up on him, his talent, his coachability or his work ethic. But I am wondering a bit about patience bs ideal role/position going forward. He's been showing more lately, and could be a huge difference maker the second half. If not, shouldn't Escobar get extended time? No matter how big a fan of Santana, I'm still not sure Polanco isn't the next starting SS for the Twins. Some errors in the minors? Please. It wouldn't take more than a few minutes of reflection, memory and research to show how many "great" ML SS's had big error years in the minors as well as their first few years in the majors. I believe he may be the future, but Santana has the ability to say a lot about it the rest of the way. 2) No offense to Robinson, who had a surprisingly good first month, has done the best he can since then, appears to be a good guy, and has had a really rough year with his daghter's health situation, but what role does he play on this team? Rosario has proven how well he can play all 3 OF spots, Hicks is in CF, Hunter in RF, Buxton will be back sometime in the next few weeks, Santana can play CF if you need, right or wrong Escobar and Nunez have played some LF, and September is a month and a half away. So again, what role does Robinson fill? Emergency, emergency OF? The enigmatic Arcia isn't perfect to be sure, but he remains long on talent and potential, has shown glimpses and flashes before, and is starting to show something at Rochster. I don't know if his Twins futures the remainder of this year, potential trade bait, or long term starting corner OF or long term backup corner OF/LHDH. But I know he offers something while Robinson doesn't. 3) Happy if May can contribute in the short term to the bullpen as we enjoy a very solid and overbooked rotation. But, sorry, this team is better short term and long term with him in the rotation. I don't have the ONE answer as no-one is going to take short timer Pelfrey for a top young SU man with multiple years of team control. But maybe, for now, there is a short term veteran a team could and would part with for him. Or a bag of balls. Or perhaps TR will trade a couple solid "20's-ish" prospects that another team would covet and yet not hurt the Twins for that quality young SU reliever. Or maybe we'll just sign Chamberlain, or someone similar, and fill the role with a contract. Regardless, 2 things need to take place. 1a) Get May back in the rotation. 2b) Regardless of short term or long term, find another RP. (A healthy Pressly further helps) 4) After all the screaming, crying, angry, distraught, hopeful, speculative debate, arguement, hand-wringing of the past four 90 loss seasons, our Twins are winning...have the second best record in the AL as of NOW...could EASILY be a couple games better if not for a massive offensive and bullpen slump that seemed to oddly happen simultaneously...and some are bent out of shape the Twins might not have an ACE caliber SP to compete in the post season with the likes of some of the competition a full year before most if not everyone thought they might be reasonably competitive. Really guys? Your underwear fits that tightly? (Snicker) Relax a bit and enjoy.

I soooo want to agree with you on this.....I really, really want to. Kepler should be up, and soon, soon as he's feeling himself again. Thought he should have been a week or so ago. But try as I might, I just can't give a nod of the head for ABW II. He is one of my favorite Twins prospects, and I have very high, cross your fingers, type of hope for him. He is at his highest level of competition, and yet, despite a somewhat poor start, is actually having his very best season. That says something! And even with high SO numbers that will probably continue at the ML level, there is presedence to indicate he can hit OK, have big power numbers and RBI totals, and be a big contributor with a somewhat all or nothing approach. (Though a few walks sprinkled in could pay off in a HUGE way!) But despite his impressive season, potential, and even ability (potentially-athletically) to play a decent OF, there is this gut feeling I have that he should stick it out at Chatanooga for the remainder of the year. My gut says he should continue his success and improvement, round off some rough edges, keep working, keep working on his defense as well, and take all this great production and improvement, even little improvements, and use it for a fresh start at Rochester next season. I'm sure the Twins know a great deal more than I do, but again, it's a gut feeling.

90 wins. Winning % at the break had them on pace for 89. Take away the just horrendously embarrassing and g-awful first week of the season...(how the hell did that Twins team win that one game anyway?)...and the percentages bump up slightly. We play full seasons for reasons. But at this point, I think the Twins are as they appear: a quality baseball team, well managed, coached and lead overall who are greater than the sum of their parts. (Not that some of those parts don't have some pretty vast potential!) Ironic that for years the Twins have had...arguably...a good to top bullpen year after year, often to have it fall apart in the latter stages of the season the past few seasons due to overwork. (Again...arguable, but we've stood our varying grounds on this topic before) And now that the Twins have the rotation and depth that they haven't had in years, the bullpen might be the team's weakest component. Why this team will win 90 games and make the playoffs: 1) The starting staff is pitching well. Better than in years. Could the wheels come off? Sure they could. But the whole SSS and "anyone can get hot for a few starts" theory is out the window now. I'd argue the rotation is actually better when/if May slides back in. 2) FA pickup or trade, Ryan WILL make some kind of move to help the bullpen. And let's be honest, no matter how average or high you want to rank Twins bullpen maneuvers over the years, they've hit a lot more than they missed. TR will not make some dramatic gesture. But he doesn't have to. The milb depth is more than strong enough to allow the movement of a couple nice bodies...without trading a top prospect...to acquire a quality RP with controllable team options, OR, a contract for a vet FA like Chamberlain OR a bag-of-balls trade for a vet that a team would like to move to shed salary are all realistic options to improve the bullpen without real sacrifice. I admit to being torn on nothing for a short term rental/1-year vet vs a solid prospect or two for a 3-4 year option. *is there someone out there that could really use a quality Pelfrey in their rotation to help their playoff push that has bullpen depth to give back to the Twins? 3) This team has already had hot streaks and cold streaks, ups and downs, thrills and disappointments, unexpected downturns and upticks in individual performance enough to prove they are an even keel team. Again, I think they've shown who and what they are, and I don't look for major regression or surging from anyone to really knock them off course at this point...one way or another.

Much as I wrote in a colum a week or so ago, I say here in brief to echo this excellent article: what do the Twins need to do the rest of the way? Keep winning...without doing anything silly to mortgage the future, (a future that is just begining)....but keep playing and promoting the talented prospects. And for the most part, they've been doing that. Kepler is the only youngsters I can really say now is being held down. And even that's a little iffy as this is his first real breakout season. But I believe he's showing so much polish and potential it's time to move him to Rochester. For that matter, while I hate to continue the devastation of the Lookouts roster, I believe Vargs should be back at Rochester ASAP as well. What's he got to prove in AA ball? Keep winning, keep enjoying, keep making moves as necessary, but between the parent club and AAA, we need everyone playing as much as possible and being pushed upward as much as "smartly" possible. The results will be more depth, more competition, and in a case or two, possibly stronger trade value as well from which to deal from, both veteran and youngster.

Anyone have any kind of scouting report that is current on the young D Rodriguez at E Town? Seems to be pretty impressive, but he's also been in rookie ball a few years as a failed OF. I'm wondering if his success as a RP last season and success this far as a SP might not indicate a bump to CR in the not too distant future.