DocBauer

Sweet! No matter how it goes, this is just plain old neat and fun. Very much akin to a rookie coming up to make that very first start for the Twins. Definitely becoming a big Hu fan. The band? No. The guy taking the hill in Rochester. Someone took a hill in Rochester? No not yet, but he will. Who? That's right, Hu. I don't know. I'm asking you. Hu. The guy taking the hill! I'm telling you, Hu. Then tell me already. Hu. The guy taking the hill! I'm telling you it's Hu. You're not telling me anything. I don't know what you're talking about. No, I'm talking about Hu. Watt doesn't play baseball. He's not even in Minnesota, or Rochester. I'm outta here! (sorry)

Big fan of Duensing, always have been. After all, he's from the Big Red state and a Cornhusker. I thought bringing him back made sense. He had a nice season going in '14 until a bad fade. Seemed like a strong bounce back candidate, and he still might be. But I think he should have rehabbed more. Wonder if he has an option left to get in some work at Rochester? I don't want him to be done. But right now, he just doesn't seem like the same pitcher I've seen in the past. I'm not calling for him to go, but Thielbar is younger and throws harder.

I will say this.....he didn't pitch great...but he also didn't pitch poorly. Any and all sarcasm aside, isn't that what a SP is supposed to do?

Clearly, all of these names and more would appear deserving of promotion. (Polanco) But there also has to be a corresponding move to be made ahead of them, from the Twins and Red Wings and trickling on down. I believe you will see a few of these guys move over the next month with the biggest jump around June 1st to co-incide with the draft, and give all these kids that full two months at their current level.

"Let Lester loose........let Lester loose......let Lester loose......."

Awesome, awesome and awesome. Thank you, thank you and thank you. We all get so wrapped up in Hicks and Buxton and Sano and the pitching prospects that I think Planck gets left out at times. I'm a big, big fan of Santana, but I also believe P olanco is just better, at least with the stick, though Santana has the better speed and ABOUT ability it appears. I really think P olanco will be at SS in the fairly near future, and hitting #2 behind Buxton.

Someone said early on "worst post ever", and they may have been right. Without picking on anyone, there was a lot of muck to wade through the first few pages. I'm certain a lot of that had to do with the first week of the season and all of our collective moods about then. Look, I thought signing Hunter or Cuddyer to a 1-yr was a very smart idea originally. I felt each had one more solid season in them, could play some LF for us for that one year, (which is where we had the biggest and easiest opening to add someone) and could provide a leadership presence. Something this team has been sorely lacking the past few years. After seeing what Cuddyer signed for, and hearing so much negativity about Hunter's defense, I began to re-think my original idea. When the Twins DID sign Hunter, I was floored at the cost. Then I was floored, confused and very put out when I heard the plan to move Arcia to left and put Hunter in right. (I still don't like it) But then I reminded myself all of the reasons I originally liked the Hunter signing, decided his veteran experience potentially could lead to an OK defensive year...or at least one that didn't embarrass anyone...and let's see what happens. After the first week, I also was done on Hunter. But then again, I was done on most of the team after that train wreck of an opening week. But what has happened since? Guys have found spots in the lineup, and nice grooves. Guys re rebounding and, for th most part, doing what we thought they would/might. Hunter has swung a big and important stick. You can't deny that. From what I've watch, his defense hasn't killed us either. Though I know others will disagree. And that's OK. But I know what my eyes have seen, and I've seen a whole lot worse before. I don't know that Hunter's leadership and veteran influence is why this team is turning it around, playing so much better, and actually playing like a solid, quality ML team for the first time in a few years. But it sure can't be hurting. If you simply dislike Torri, be my guest. If you think his signing was some old guard, old way of doing things, be my guest. But reality is the signing is actually paying dividends.

Happened to me in a bar one night................

Agreed. BUUUUT, to disagree, we are still uncertain about Hicks and his future. There is no certainty Plouffe will be kept when Sano is ready. While I am a huge Arcia believer, we are, unfortunately, unsure about him as well. Mauer could be gone in a couple seasons, (maybe), and Kepler could be at 1B, or as a multi position backup and versatile offensive piece on the bench. Walker, hitting .250, with consistent 30+ HR and Dbls power with decent range and a big arm, could be very useful.

Definitely a bit of good news/bad news to be had with Walker. About figuring it out, maybe he will, maybe he never will. But one thing he has done since the day he was drafted and signed is PRODUCE. People talk about RBI being bogus as it depends on the hitters in front of you, where you hit in the lineup, and to a degree, the protective hitters behind you. But while that is true to a degree, I say BS on RBI being BS. It doesn't matter who else is in the lineup ahead or behind you, or their OB or speed or anything else if you are unable to produce. Guys hit in a certain spot in the lineup, and guys collect RBI because they produce. Sometimes it's as relatively simple as being able to lift a sac fly instead of striking, grounding or popping out. Walker is producing. Not including the majors, the jump to AA this year concerned me more than a potential, eventual jump to AAA. He still has more than half a season to begin to "figure" some things out. If he could develop in TK .250 ML hitter with even a .300 OB he could be valuable.

On the other hand............ A) The Twins need 5 starters and the Twins seem to believe he is a better option than the surprising and rejuvenated Pelfrey...(did I really just type that?)...or the soft tossing lefty Milone. Not sure I'd disagree with them. And isn't it interesting that May, a possible fixture going forward, was kept over any veteran or "scholarship" excuse. Nolasco has been injured, seemingly since he arrived, and has yet to really show what he's capable of. (Sounds like another veteran RH who gets a lot of type here) So being in the rotation may be more about living up to expectation than merely earning a keep. C) Sooner or later, Santana will be ready to pitch for the Twins off his suspension. Where do you put him? Barring injury, a move will have to be made. Would you rather see the Twins dump someone and eat the contract, stash them in the bullpen, or would you rather see someone like Nolasco show some actual worth and be traded for an actual prospect of some value and not have to eat the entirety of his contract? Believe it or not...and it's hard too...the Twins are actually kind of long on starting pitching right now. Nolasco gives us 6. You could make a strong arguement that Milone, based on track record, should be pitching for someone...(kind of like when we acquired him last season)...and is a better alternative than several SP'ers the Twins trolled out to the mount the past few years. On top of that, it is very conceivable we may have Berrios, Meyer and a couple others ready for a shot come the second half of the season. We should all be rooting for Nolasco right now. Not only for the Twins to win, but for someone else to want him.

To put an even more positive spin on the article in general, and to the comments more directly, this better play and hitting and pitching has taken place with Hughes not yet in form, with Gibson really close but not fully in form, no Santana, a Nolasco who has yet to shown the Twins what he's capable, with a bullpen just finding itself and missing a key option right now. So yeah, possibly playing above themselves. But then again, with a little more give and take, this might be who they really are.

In the past, I think the Twins burned themselves at times by going for the safe guy, the projectables guy, instead of the high upside guy. With the best milb system around, or at worst #3 depending on who's list you read, no second rounder to "fall back" on, and some intriguing players available with questions, I think this is the perfect time for the Twins to grab that potentially big payoff prospect. There is still time to answer some of these questions before draft day. I'd take the absolute best LHSP available to me, high school or college.

On a similar but side note, I see Stauffer pitched in a rehab session the side today without pain. However, it was reported he allowed 3 earned runs during the session.

I dont give a damn

Sorry to be echoing some very intelligent responses, but it's not numbers...or even a date...its approach. I don't care if Buxton is only hitting .250, as long as his approach is sound, he's taking walks and not striking out, and playing great defense and not making blunders on the base paths. I mean, what if he's doing everything perfect, with a .400 OB% but just hitting in to tough luck and being pitched around. Would you hold him back because of a low BA? Likewise, what if he's hitting over .300 but has a .350 OB, is only stealing bases at a 60% clip and making some tracking or throwing errors in the OF. Do you promote him because of his BA and you feel desperate? Don't mess with Byron. With a name like that, you know he's going to be great. (Wink) I don't know if TR's trip is going to be a decision maker or not, but my guess he gets all or most of May yet, then hits Rochester around June 1st. That would give him...potentially now...2 months of AA, 2 months of AAA, with the idea of coming up to the Twins around August 1st. I don't want to lose extra service time with Buxton either. And hopefully when he is up, he's up for good. And he probably will be. But if Buxton is close to the player he's expected to be, service time won't be an issue. Do you really think the Twins will just re-up him year to year? Or is it more likely he will be signed to something longer term anyway? BTW...except for the name thing...this applies almost identically to Sano as well.

I think this is about right. I was greatly disappointed in the Bernier move, especially as it feels of late Molitor and company are leaning more and more to youngsters. But if I saw correctly, Nunez's stay was back dated a few days already, so this is probably a short stay. Meanwhile, Beresford keeps playing daily. A little disappointing to be sure, but in this case, I think I get it.

Great discussion. (Again on this topic) First: I like Escobar. I like him a lot and actually think he's underrated. I also think the guy can hit, as can Santana, and last year and ST shows the potential of both. Forget bad starts, they can and will hit. And both are starting to. Second: any way you wish to slice it, the younger Santana has more range, more athleticism, and more overall offensive and defensive potential than Escobar. Talent alone doesn't make a successful player. But athletic potential is a fact in this case. Third: despite all of his talent and his potential and his surprising and tremendous success last season, Santana was promoted early, was forced to mostly play out of position and excelled. Santana absolutely, positively needs to learn to focus better and keep his head in the game more at times. It's making the "every play" and not just the great play that defines a great, or even good, defensive player. And while I am not making direct comparisons, I think a little perspective may be in order for a young, talented, early-promoted-and-forced-to-play-out-of-position-before-returning-to-his-natural-position-shortstop is tossed to early under the bus for some early errors. HOFer Cal Ripken had 6 seasons of 20+ errors, including 6 of his first 7. The one season less than 20 was 19 errors split between SS and 3B. Tony Fernandez had one season of 20 errors, and 3 more of 13 or more, which is VERY impressive. Ozzie Guillen: 4 seasons of 20+ errors, 4 of 16 or more. Omar Vizquel: 1 season of 20+, 2 of 15 or more errors. Again, VERY impressive. Ozzie Smith...the Wizard of Oz ( or Ahhs if you prefer)...had 5 seasons of 20+ errors, another 4 of 15+. Future HOFer, recently retired Derek Jeter, had 2 seasons of 20+ errors, and 5 at 15+. I am NOT saying Santana is going to be any of these great shortstops. But then again, they weren't them until they became them. I'm just saying...perspective...patience...do you really toss out a talented player with his potential for some errors and lapses at this point?

At the risk of sounding a bit corny, it's a little bit like pornography; "I know it when I see it," to quote the now infamous line. Or in baseball terms, I know good defense or bad defense when I see it. I think there is a distinct difference between dominance and effectiveness. I could throw 100 and striker a bunch he of guys out, but still walk and hit batters and allow crunch time hits that lose the game despite posting "dominate" numbers. On the other hand, I might K 8-9 per IP vs 12-13, and have aSO-BB that is 2 or 2.5-1 vs 3 or 3.5-1....but I don't allow homers or many extra base hits. I don't hit batters or throw wild pitches. I induce a lot of ground balls to kill a rally. Etc. Personally, I think you could rank the whole top 6 by drawing the names out of a hat and still be correct. We're splitting awful fine hairs here. Buuuuuut, there is a part of me that feels Oliveros is getting a raw deal. And just from the Twins but baseball fate. He came back so strong from his TJ surgery, then had a lousy couple of appearances in Sept before settling in. I honestly felt he was going to make the roster, and possibly challenge Fien for the setup role by mid season. Call it a hunch, but I really felt he was ready. Then he's slowed early in ST, gets sent down early, (which I don't get) and is passed over a couple times already despite his dominance. There must be something that I and others are just missing here.

No. For the good of Hicks's future, and thus for the good of a part of the Twins future, he absolutely should NOT be brought up yet, unless injury would force the issue. A single, solid month at the begining of the season does not a "fix" make. Hicks was jumped to the majors too early. Forgiveable...understandable. Not sure there really can be any excuse for the second failed go around. He got some time at AAAA last season, his very first taste, and looked OK. Again, no proof of a "fix" but at least we were reminded he wasn't inept. Now, a solitary month with his new leg kick and he's the new/old solution for CF? I believe a mice can and should be made, and it doesn't have to be huge or earth shattering. But not Hicks. Not now. Not yet. He keeps this up all the way to mid season, then I could say yes.

Nicely done. At the risk of repeating myself from a previous post, pleasantly surprised to see the Twins suddenly favoring the youngsters over vets and journeymen. To be fair, injuries are involved, but in some of the recent moves, they could have gone the opposite direction. So I bring up the point again, is this a shift in philosophy since the spring? Or was the plan all along to use the vets as fill in form time, get the youngsters innings and playing times, then begin to make moves later? (Releasing, trading, etc)

Man...if only this approach had been taken in regard to CF.

Very happy to see Hicks hot and reportedly making plays in the OF. I think he's right where he should be and needs to be for now, especially considering the past couple of seasons and his new leg kick. I just hope the Twins can resist brining him up too soon by either making a trade or getting Sam Fuld-like fortunate on the waiver wire again.

"Huuuuuuu are you? You. You. Huuuuuu are you?" May, Meyer and Berrios. A little further down the line; Stewart, Thorpe, (ouch! Still hurts) and Gonsalves. Seems like we need to make room for Hu in these top pitcher conversations.

I absolutely would have given Nolasco another rehab start. It would allow him to stretch out further, get back in some sort of groove, and give everything and everyone on the ML staff another start, or a few more days, to see if anything changes. (Injury, etc) This almost feels like a panic move, and yet, no word on Hughes missing any time at this point. But color me shocked and pleased they didn't send May back down. THAT is a smart move for the future of this club. Stauffer......(shakes head.....shrugs....and has nothing else to say).....