DocBauer

Yes. Didn't see or hear the game tonight. Don't care what happened when a rookie pitcher with amazing stuff comes up and, apparently from the previous comments, as an egg of indeterminable size. Tonkin can't find consistency. Oliveros needs a ne deserved a shot, but is suddenly not available. (Probably from being used inexcusably incorrectly lately) Out AA bullpen is big on potential, way short on readiness. (And some were calling for various members a to skip AA, AAA, ST or logic and go straight to the Twins bullpen.) The truth is, as long as he's not overworked, (and he has been each of the last two seasons but probably won't be this year), Fien is a real find and very solid. I don't know who this Boyer guy is, but he's surprised the heck out of me! Just don't overwork him! Graham has been almost as big of a surprise, and honestly, I'd like to see him more. Meyer has mad stuff. Meyer will hopefully return to the rotation one of these days, finish finding himself, and be a top starter. If not, he can certainly thrive as a potentially excellent reliever. Right now, he's pitching well, building confidence, finding himself, and offers up a presence and pure power stuff our bullpen just doesn't have. But he probably needs an inning or two to get his feet wet, shake off nerves, and get in a groove of some sort. Or should we just starting taking odds on the first "stick a fork in him" article?

Bubble wrap. No.......seriously. Bubble wrap.

Love it. Improving the team, but from within. Not normally a big fan of the idea of moving someone out of position to help the club only to move said player back again. But after a nice last season, a rough personal offseason, arough begining to this season, I think this still continues his development and provide even abigger boost to his confidence.

Not against the move in basic context. Not against the Twins improving and winning and competing. But my initial response is no. I dont want to acquire a temp fix that will not be back, and in theory, actually cost something. I'd rather trade any assets for a young-ish catcher, either now or more likely in the off season. Nunez is not the answer at SS. I like Escobar a lot and think he's solid, if not great. I dont know that he's as good as last year, but I think he's better than this year. Santana is still immensely talented. P olanco may be the best option. Keep working with these guys. Worry about a young catcher

And the thud you just heard was mass fainting by the eager members of Twins Daily

Danny. I mean, if it's going to be a position player, temporarily, and not Hicks, and Arcia isn't doing anything, and we don't want to promote from AA, pretty much leaves Bernier or someone young and talented who we could get our first look at and his first taste of ML coffee.

Room anywhere for Ortiz?

The pen is hurting, in borderline agony from the left side these days. But there are options at AAA and AA to run through and take a look at, relievers and starters. I'd much rather take looks at those guys than a recently drafted pitcher who has yet to throw a single inning of pro ball. Maybe he could handle it, but I just don't see the point of another 40 IP, then bring him up only to send him back down again next season in a different role. Just sounds awkward to me. What I WOULD like to see is a game or two out of the pen, Ft Meyers it looks like, and then start. Starting working on his stuff and his preparation, and start now. Treat his starts like a bullpen game. Go in knowing he will only pitch 3-4 innings. When the IP begin to rise a bit near the end of the season, you will have the choice to shut him down OR move him back to the pen for a few more appearances.

With his stuff and potential and not even 21 yet, he should throw his first ML pitch 23-25. 23 would be awesome, but if he doesn't stick full time until 25, who could complain? Big, strapping, hard throwing LHSP who can dominate and get SO's are just so rare the a little patience/impatience may be well rewarded.

Maybe it's just the new uniforms with the Klondike gold trim. Which I like a lot! (And I will continue to say Klondike gold because it's cool, it's fun, and I can't remember what in the hell the Twins tried to name it) I don't just like the results, I like what Molly and his staff have done overall. Ryan, Molly, everyone in the organization present and past, have always been very good and very coy in regard to the truth/reality of certain situations. I don't mean they lie! Being coy and overly optimistic while dusting over bad stuff isn't exactly lieing. For instance, the inexcuseable way CF was handled this past offseason..."fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on you. TRY to fool you a third time, I should be looking for an island somewhere." But Arcia in left, Someguyinatwinsmluniform in CF, and Hunter in RF with his walker...(seeing eye dogs still not allowed on the field due to MLB policy and the fact that they could potentially catch and throw better than the player assigned to)..has given way to... Now, and for a while, we have Molly favorite Rosario playing LF & RF daily. (Isn't it cool as hell to have a HOF player as manager who knows your milb talent as well as anyone recognizing someone as a favorite?) Robinson has performed WAY above what was expected, Hicks came up to play and provide a lift, and now Buxton is up. Now, this isn't all Molitor moves at all! But really, really awful offensive production and defensive play has been ushered aside one way or another to suddenly provide actual good offensive and defensive play....without fanfare. Offense stinks. Nobody is thrown under the bus, (NOT saying the previous staff would), but tweaks are made and they work. SP needs juggling....and it works. If you think about the past 4 seasons, all the changes, attempts both pro and con to change things, talent on the way up, talent not yet arrived, expectations had the Twins fighting and clinging to a life preserver for a chance to NOT finish last in the ALC, and not last in all of baseball. Hey, top 5 draft picks are kinda neat...but sooner or later we wanna talk about winning and not prospects. Molitor and his half staff...half new, half old, more or less...has this team competing and in contention. They juggle the lineup. They juggle the rotation. Their hitting and pitching coach actually make both better. OK reality check. It's also health, and the players themselves. But in regard to the rotation, what I have seen and heard, Allen has done nothing wrong and everything right. Love to blame the bullpen on him, but can't. I'm not sure I can agree with Vargas being sent down when he was showing life. But he performed in Rochester, came up, got a pep talk from his manager, went out and had the best day of his young career, and is hopefully poised to stay. Not as sure about Santana, but we shall see. The team hits a really tough spot in the schedule against top teams and mostly top pitchers. The team plays well, even though they have a losing record. Fans panic. Twins are still above .500. The sky has not fallen. The Twins are actually still a quality team in the thick of things with a chance. Reports have the team happy and energized. The rotation is the best it's been in years. We are winning, competitive, and in competition for an actual playoff spot. Kids are, mostly, getting shots. Nobody is being tossed aside. This team is fun and exciting. I could argue the bullpen, and probably win. I could argue what seems to be an inordinate number of base runners being picked off, and possibly win. Molitor would argue young players, lack of experience, some bad calls, buy the next round, and maybe win. We'll call it even. Which means....keep doing what you are doing because it is working. Fix the bullpen where, if, and when you can. Keep the spirits up for everyone, especially the kids, and keep nurturing them. It seems to be working. Tell Ryan not to overthink everything. I think we're a year ahead of schedule for competitiveness record and playoff wise. Keep this up, make and nurture a few more moves in the second half, and you may have a real challenger next year. Or maybe it's just tequila and the new Klondike gold trimmed uniforms.

Ahhh...Rick Allen.....the greatest 1-armed drummer in the history of Rock-N-Roll.

OK...SOMEONE had to say it, right? Figured might as well be me. Leave it to our man Mauer to get the kiss of death from all if us folks here at TD and...well...from hitting like Drew Butera and half his daddy....and then suddenly splurge with a couple homers and some nice singles, a fee RBI, and suddenly he might what, actually have a pulse? "It's alive! Alive!" If doubt is what it takes, then let's all get dour and dark. A quality second half last season. A solid start to this season. Then darkness and despair not even seen on Game of Thrones. And suddenly signs of life from the Mauer-Bruno-Molly Monster. Is it time to eat crow? How do you prepare your crow? Red, white or rose'? Or do you go a nice malted liquor with your crow?

Agreed. I began to forget what I said where we have been discussing so many variations of the same lately, in a variety of different ways. This one isn't about Mauer pitching from the OF while hitting second is it? Whew! OK Graham has surprised from day one and just might be a keeper. Boyer is scary. Scary because I keep waiting for the bottom to fall out. I don't mean a bad day or two or a slump, but "the world is flat, a hole just opened, and he just fell through Stauffer-style" bottom fall out. Can we start to use that as a term? I kind of like it; "Stauffer-style" Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled thread. Fien is in. Pressly is solid. Tonkin less so. I don't want to blow him out or yo-yo him, but Oliveros also deserves a shot at some point. Me, you, everyone wants hopes and experts Meyer to be in the rotation again. But in an unusual train of thought, the Twins have talked about Meyer getting his first taste of the majors in the bullpen. I don't always agree with this line of thought, but I do here. It keeps him developing, it doesn't shut the door in any way, but it might actually further build his confidence. The port side needs work. Love Duensing, believe he's done. I'd give Thompson a little longer, say, a couple weeks maybe, to see if his first couple months is the illusion, or the last couple of weeks. But I'd be auditioning every LH pitcher, starter or otherwise, at AAA and AA until I find TWO guys who can fill a role of A: a short lefty/LOOGY and B: a solid long-mid-7ish LH. There ARE talented arms to go through, it's not a a Walters, Pino journeyman desperation move. It's honest prospect auditions for a job on a still rebuilding team.

Very frustrated and disappointed in Mauer as well. And while I am not playing the "then who else" mantra for the 3 hole, I do have to take issue with the reference to the detriment of the team comment. Its easy to say he has shortened innings by failing/flailing when there is nobody on base...but...you also have to weigh that against the way he has hit and producedbruns when there is someone on base. In other words, 2 rights make up for 1 wrong. More or less.

We are winning but still in transition mode. I won't pout or curse if they give him a shot. But I'd rather roll through Rochester and Chattanooga and see who wants to grab hold of a job.

Part of the problem with the whole ole LOOGY idea is the apparent definition. It's as if this ONE GUY can come off th bench to pitch to just ONE GUY. Period. And sometimes, I guess that is true. I prefer the idea of short or setup LH, who might be used as a true LOOGY once in a while, but also might pitch to 2-3 batters depending on the half inning. Face a LH, then a RH and hope for the best, (even a .300 BA is still an out 2/3 of the time), then face another LH before the inning is over, of the RP is pulled, or perhaps he gets 2 outs and then manager might let him finish the inning. But that's your short LH'er. Thielbar: why wouldn't you look at him at this point. Love and respect Duensing, but at this point, UGH. However, might look at Thompson more in this role, but I'm growing skeptical. Was sooooo hoping for a big year as a full time reliever from Darnll. Hasn't happened yet. But these are a couple guys I'd be looking at as my short LH. Rogers is just one of a few guys at Rochester and Chatanooga who are SP that could be really nice audition options for the "long-middle" LH spot. Milone could b another even though he fits best as a starter, but figures to be pushed aside with Santana back. As I stated elsewhere winning or not, this is still a rebuilding year. Nothing wrong with running auditions. There is NO good reason why Oliveros has not been up and given a shot yet this season. He was practically dismissed during ST. No clue why. I really want Tonkin, big and throws hard, to take a big step forward. He still hasn't. NOBODY wants Meyer to be a reliever instead of a starter. But right now he's relieving and doing well at it. And if there is truly value in the whole idea of establishing yourself as a ML reliever first before transitioning yourself to ML starter, this kid should be a poster child.

AND he hits LH. If he is JJ the encore, I'd be very, very happy with that. Just a hunch, but I feel Rosario may have a little bit more power ultimately

Mark DeRosa

Absolutely no question the bullpen is a mess right now. Which is very un-Twins. Some of us feel the Twins bullpen has been a strength for YEARS, with lesser seasons only marked down to bullpen fatigue due to rotation failure. Others would look at final numbers and say the Twins always having a decent to strong bullpen wa a myth. My arguement would not be who is right/has been right....whatever. It's that we can ALL agree this bullpen is way, way down what anyone would expect from the Twins. Ironic that we build one of the better and deeper rotations in the AL just in time to have a weak and unreliable bullpen. (Hey, rotation comments are surprising, pleasant, and not personal. Other opinions and numbers say so) Anyway....what do we do? Never, ever liked the Stauffer signing. Not personal, just didn't feel right. Thought Boyer was a AAA fill in who got hot...nice story...looks like the glass slipper either is size 13, or the heel broke off. Too bad. Long time fan of Duensing who really thought he'd make at least a one year comeback with a better rotation. Also thought the Twins had several young arms to choose from, in which they'd find at least ONE, if not two, who were actually ready to stick. Reality Bites: we have a premium closer, a hopefully healthy and back setup man in Fien...........and that's it sports fans. Seriously....that's it. I am not reactionary. I am optimistic and patient, and allow for the ebbs and flows of a season. (For instance, tickled we are over .500 and in contention at this point, and not doing a complete freak out over recent hitting slumps) This team, as constructed, for now, seems set on a 7 man bullpen, with 2 and only 2 spots seemingly spoken for. 3 if you want to include Graham...and not only do you need to...you kind of want to as he actually hasn't pitched badly. 4 spots open. I've read a couple places where people want to blast Oliveros for being a 27 yo journeyman. Not only is that not old for a reliever to find himself, but remember Oliveros was acquired from Detroit, pitched OK-ish in limited time, then missed an entire season in 2013 due to TJ. In 2014 he rehabbed, put up solid numbers, and threw the hardest FB for the entire Twins '14 season during his September stint. Except for a completely unexplainable run of recent starts at AAA, he has pitched very well out of the Rochester bullpen this season. I don't recall if he was ill or "tweaked" by something physical during ST this season...I simply remember he pitched little before being sent down. Felt to me that Twins management already had a plan in place. So what's the story now? 27, 100% healthy, throws harder than anyone else you have in either the ML or Milb pen not named Meyer and you won't promote him because other prospective RHRP throw with less stuff but happen to be on the 40 man? Please!! I want Meyer to start. The Twins want Meyer to start. We ALL want Meyer to start. But right now...he's pitching well out of the pen, and if you really want this team to win games, he just might have the arm to let your do that very thing. I'll be honest, I dont know if I buy this whole St Louis Cardinals way of bridging starters through the pen. But if there was a guy that at the Twins tried this with, Meyer would seem the perfect candidate. Achter? I don't know. He's a good "organizational guy" FWIW. Right now, that, and hopefully being better than the guy you replaced might demand he gets a shot as well. From the left side? I am lost here. Thompson appears an illusion, but might have value as a LOOGY. (But allowed a big HR to a LH hitter against the Cubs today) Long time fan of Duensing as a person and player...but...were he bread...I'd be turning downing my toaster I'm sorry to say. Thielbar and Darnell have been OK-ish for Rochester, which is NOT what I hoped for or expected. Despite difficulties and disappointments, this team is WINNING. Yeah, that's righ. We're over .500 and right in the playoff hunt, winning games despite flaws and slumps, and are competitive each and every day out. And I find myself saying: "why would we audition for roles on the team, such as the bullpen, when we are winning and about to the halfway mark of the season?" And then I pause. And I remember. I am having an absolute BALL with this team...(and what is taking place in milb for the Twins)...but this year, though winning is precious, is NOT supposed to contend this season. Hell, they aren't even suppose to be .500 if you buy in to what "experts" and negative fan soothsayers predicted. And I realize open-mid-season auditions is EXACTLY what this team and this season are about! I am NOT saying "screw this season" by any means. But between what is and what is not working, what might work, who might be ready, where we need to go, cleared kicks in the posterior, etc, it is EXACTLY the right time to audition players and pitchers. This post is about the bullpen. And I will leave it at that. I'd roll through Oliveros, probably Meyer, and every single LH'er at Rochester and Chattanooga at this point, until I find a couple who show enough to stick. It's about the future, not just this week. And if the guys there actually showed enough, we wouldn't be having this discussion now, would we?

I'm not opposed to a 6 man rotation, and I can see Arguements for it. But I just don't think it's necessary. This isn't about player development. Hughes's season is down, no doubt, but it doesn't suck. Let's be honest. And like last year, he seems to be turning it around and cutting loose. He's just doing so later than last year, unfortunately. Gibson has the potential to be a stud, and is starting to look like it. He lost to the Cubs today, and absolutely stunk up the place. He stunk up the place allowing 6 hits in 5 IP with 2 ER and 3 BB and 6 SO. Wait....what? That's what we call a bad performance these days? Answer: YES. May has as good of stuff and control as Gibson, but is probably a little more SO and fly ball and a little less grounder prone. Pelfrey has a guardian Angel on his shoulder who is either...not to sound morbid...a: granting Pelfrey a final wish, or b: granting him a new lease on life where he he begins to fulfill his potential after gaining experience, perspective, the right atmosphere and coaching after leaving NY and gaining health. Take your choice, which is more believable? A top pick SP is mediocre in his ML career before going under the knife. Once he comes back, he comes back way too early admitted by himself and everyone else involved, in a different city and league and atmosphere...pretty much sucks except for a few flashes, and then finds a half season of actual success in the new place before the sky comes falling down...OR...all of the above....except the sky doesn't fall in, and what he really needed was health and a change of help and scenery. You tell me, 'cause I don't know. But you ride his ride for now and hold on for dear life. You DO NOT offer him an extension. You DO offer him a QO, unless someone comes calling with a nice trade offer. You do so in case this isn't smoke and mirrors, because you can afford the shot, and because you get a draft pick if he walks. It's not fair to Milone, but he's the odd man out. I don't know, maybe the soft tossing Milone is a LH version/weaker version of...I don't know...fill in the blank. And maybe he is just vastly under appreciated. And maybe all the scouts from the Twins, A's, Nationals and other organizations just don't get it, and if allowed to pitch every 5th day for a year, he would absolutely surprise everyone. But right now, all of us seem to see the same thing, guts and guile. That's commendable and solid and can be productive. But not viable consistently or enduringly. I don't think his stuff plays in the pen, and he might be better off staying stretched out in AAA until needed or traded, but right now, I don't know that we have ANYONE from the port side for the bullpen that is remotely reliable. So for now, I'd say to the pen with him. Nolasco....if he was making $5-7M I'd say throw him in the pen when healthy. But he's not, and I don't know that it's reasonable at his price, and experience, to make such a move. Push has to come to shove, and the rock simply has to impact the hard place. In other words, Ryan has to do something he doesn't want to. He has to move a SP regardless of cost or market. It's just a bitter reality that seems almost impossible since we are talking about the Twins here. Nolasco has to go, probably to a NL team, needing some rotation help, probably with a throw in, a reliever like Pressly or Tonkin say, and anywhere from 1/2 to 2/3 of the next 2 years salary picked up. How good of a return prospect/talent the Twins get back depends on how much salary they pick up, and how good of a toss-in they include. It doesn't mean Nolasco sucks, or was a mistake, it just means it didn't work out, timing and fate didn't match up, and now we need to find the best way to move on.

Thank you Pitz. Really, really appreciated. And whether you do so on your own, or with Seth and Parker and others, I'd love to read and learn more. If and when you have something to report of course. I know news from the DSL can be a bit intermittent. I and we also know news of these kids is like reading about the local high school team at times, and trying to speculate who might make it. Hell, scouts have a hard enough time trying to tell the Twins which 18 yo American HS player to draft, much less sign a 16-17 yo South American kid with hole in glove and hole in both shoes kid to sign.

"We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We will make him better....stronger....faster than before."--Terry Ryan in regard to Alex Wimmers. Err....OK....so I'm paraphrasing liberally here. But man, complete, unfortunate washout to what he's been doing? Wow! And it's not just the past 3 starts. He's been hot and cold this season, shut has had other good games. So this doesn't appear to just be a hot streak. It appears he's actually growing and getting better. And I may joke about being bionic, but he really has overcome a lot. And for whatever reason, better velocity or not, it appears his SO's are up. Great story!

I have to say, I don't know if it's smarts or luck, but Robinson has surpassed anything I ever expected. Still, if he actually makes it to the end of the season, I don't see a spot for him going forward.

Yes, he also appears natural and instinctive to me. Not picking on anyone, everyone has bad days and plays, but you se guys with tremendous ability and potential like Hicks or Santana...just to keep it close to home...then get picked off first, miss a sign, throw to the wron base, etc. But Rosario just has the look of a guy who loves the game, knows the game, and always has his head in the game. Hard to say for sure where his full game is 3 years from now, but I think his potential is to hit just about anywhere in the lineup, potentially, except the 4 hole, and questionable at lead off. He has enough hitting, power and speed where he can start things, perpetuate things, and finish things as a hitter. I see him, or Polanco, in the 2 hole behind Buxton. If it turns out to be Polanco, then he probably hits anywhere from 5-8. And that's no knock, but rather, credit to how good and deep this lineup may be very soon, and credit to the versatile nature of his game to fit in at a variety of spots.

Not a clue. (Mostly) Funny, but these things kind of work themselves out. Already happened twice this year for the Twins with Pelfrey back in and May back up when Santana was suspended and Milone back up when Nolasco was hurt for the second time. Hughes is a no-brainier, as is Gibson, as previously stated. And, as stated, May is pitching quite well to very well, and probably even better than surface numbers indicate. But also, winning or not, this team is still in transition, and May is part of the future. It would be grossly irresponsible to remove him from the rotation barring injury or just sudden and prolonged slump. It has to be Pelfrey or Milone. And let's be honest, while NOBODY, not even his momma, saw Pelf having this kind of success this season, you HAVE to ride his year until I ends or stumbles. Milone has to be the odd man out, deserving or not. And while I completely agree Milone doesn't seem to play in the bullpen, at the same time I have to ask, who else from the port side does right now? What is better for him and the Twins, Rochester to start until needed again or the ML bullpen for now?