DocBauer

Wish I felt better about Robinson. All I see is a AAA player, or 7 day call up. Or am I missing something? Is he that good defensively? Definitely not the option I wanted. Maybe I'm just an optimist, but I've been feeling better and better about Hunter.

I don't think Pelfrey is a given on anything just because he is owed money and has had a mediocre career thus far. IF he pitches well, doesn't guarantee anything as he could be traded to a team desperate for help. Doubtful right now, but Nolasco could be traded. If moved to the pen, I'm willing to bet his "warm up" would adapt, just as the mental part and approach part would adapt. And lastly, depending on his exact role, say an 8th inning guy, couldn't he begin his warm up a little early? Just because he'd be a reliever doesn't necessarily mean he has to be a 12 pitch and ready to go type.

Around 250, or whatever his "normal" weight is, he stays at 3B. And with time and work...along with a little more maturity, and that's reality, not a knock...he might be very good at third with his arm and overall athleticism. But he'll be average at best when he first comes up. And that's ok. Gaetti and Koskie were both average at best when they first arrived. Same with current 3B Plouffe. Same with just about any good ML 3B. Bat comes first, defense arrives a little later. But even if/when he moves, 1B is the obvious move. It's a mirror to 3B defensively, more or less, and thus easier to transition to vs the OF. Additionally, with Arcia and Buxton scheduled for 2 of 3 OF spots, and Rosario and others on the way, keeping Sano in the infield seems to make more sense.

Hey....seemed to work!

FWIW....I've had problems for months now when using my IPad. Not with punctuation, but with deleting breaks between paragraphs, creating a large run-on paragraph. And you know what that can mean! Lol I just did a download tonight of iOS 8.1.3 and this is my first post with it. So let's see what happens. This is a new paragraph break. Hopefully it works and shows that way. And again here to attempt to make a point.

Of course, it's with Mauer that things ALWAYS get interesting. Let us reflect for a moment. For his career, his quad slash is: .319/.401/.459/.860. Now....look at those numbers again...and again...say them out loud, or loudly in your brain if at work or a quiet place...and then we'll move on. While it's true there are plenty ballplayers who have/can/will produce a higher SLG%, .459 doesn't stink, especially considering his entire career thus far has been behind the plate except for ONE season. We won't bother to get in to his MVP season directly, of his 6 All Star appearances, or his 3 batting titles or his 5 Silver Slugger awards. Nawww....we won't do that to remind everyone what an amazing overall hitter this guy has been, regardless of position really, because we're really focused on the here and now and future. I said last year that IMO moving to 1B was absolutely not going to make Mauer a sudden slugger. No matter how big and strong and overall athletic he is, he just isn't a big uppercut, willing to risk the SO for the sake of a big swing kind of hitter. But I did say, and maintain, there would be a bump in production from not being so fatigued behind the plate, and also actually playing 150 games between 1B and some occassional DH. Joe had one big year that inflated some of his numbers, but also a couple of bi-lateral/concussion/voodoo/bad mojo years that deflated his stats as well. Career numbers based on a 150 games played: 36 Dbls/ 12 1/2 HR's/ 86 Runs/ 79.5 RBI. Honestly, the only knock I can find there is the RBI number. Not horrible, not great. Interesting note here, in Mauer's first 7 seasons, based on a full 150 games played, he would average 85 RBI. The past 4 seasons, he would average 70 RBI per 150 games played. Some of that is obviously due to personal injury. But some of that is almost certainly attributable to the talent hitting ahead of him, and perhaps behind as well. Now it's true Mauer has never played in 150 games in a ML season thus far. But it's also true he's been a catcher almost exclusively up until last season, one of his bad 4 years, on a poor team, still dealing with and recovering from his concussion issues. I believe Mauer really and truly has felt great this off season, that he really is working as hard or harder than ever, and that he will actually play in 150 games between 1B and a few games at DH as well. I believe his slash numbers will be pretty much just about where they have always been. He's only 32, his legs and whole body will feel better as the season goes along now that he has a different mitt and his egg is scrambled any longer, and I don't believe he's forgot how to hit. In fact, more time to adjust to Target Field might actually allow for some adaptation on his part. There are reasons to hit him 1st, comparing him, as I have before, to Boggs and Downing. And while I suppose he could hit 2nd, I just don't see putting a hitter of his quality but limited speed in that spot, I truly prefer him in the 3 hole, Mauer being Mauer, but am willing to discuss leadoff. Regardless, I am buying on Mauer and a comeback...in which Mauer will probably state that he never really went anywhere after all. How about you? Buying or selling on Mauer?

LOVE this stuff! Can't even begin to tell you how many pieces of paper I've filled up over the years with lineups and projectables. Of course, it never really matters as someone always exceeds, and someone always disappoints. But it sure is fun isn't it? I also agree and project a big rise in power over the next couple of seasons for our Twins. When you look at the potential to muscle up with guys like Sano, Buxton, Varga, Arcia, Dozier, Rosario, possibly Walker and Kepler both,and some additional infielders who are better than simply punch and judy hitters, you have to get pumped. But there is also some speed in there, which excites me. And while it hasn't entirely manifested itself, for rather obvious reasons, there is some solid OB potential as well. HR power is awesome, and can be a game, series and season changer. But given the choice of a station to station team with little speed, a lot of K's but legit 200 HR power, OR, a team with a solid OB, some speed, 300 doubles and only 150 HR's, I'm definatly taking the second option. I think Santa's BA drops, but his OB goes up, his SB's go up, and there is a slight uptick in power. 8 HR's, but 10 wouldn't surprise me. Dozier at 22, but more evened out between first and second half of the season. I think, overall, a few days off here and there to catch his breath, and hopefully a more stable spot in the every day lineup, I think this will be Dozier's best and most consistent season. Mauer, who I am addressing in a different thread, will return to form, and hit 12 HR's. Remember you read it here first when I say I could very defineately see 16. The next 3 get tough! No reason Vargas couldn't and shouldn't hit 30 plus. Except, oh yeah, he's a rookie. As few as 15 with some struggles, possible a trip on the Rochester shuttle for a couple weeks somewhere, but 30 potential....this and that...yin and yang...I'm saying he sticks despite some ups and downs. I'm saying he has positive hitters in front of him, and behind him, and oh yeah, a TON of talent and natural ability. At least 18, but I believe in thekid and we'll cut him some rookie slack and call it 23 HR's. Hunter hits next unless the warranty suddenly runs out. He could slide from last season, and smart money says at least a little regression. But I'm also a believer in baseball karma. I think excitement, energy, a great story, coming home, a nice ball park, what might be the last season in the sun culminating in a solid final season. I think Hunter dings 14 or 15. We'll go with the over here. Arcia is going to drop some jaws this season. He will strike out more than we want, but walk more than we expect, and put together a solid and somewhat surprising slash line. Do we really keep forgetting how young he is and how talented and potential filled? He absolutely will not hit his ceiling this year. And he will still provide some inconsistency that will tease and frustrate. That is why he's hitting mostly in the 5 and 6 spots. But he'll have 30 doubles, better overall slash marks, and 25-30 HR's. Let's split the difference and call it 27. Plouffe absolutely has the ability to crank out 21-23 HR's at 3B,and easily could, though his doubles would see a decline. While that would be very nice, I'm going to go with "not" here. The changes I've seen in his overall game leads me to believe he won't sacrifice upticks in overall contact and hitting approach simply for power. I'm seeing 15 dingers. Suzuki...yeah...probably 3. And you can call me an overly rosy optimist if you wish, but I have a gut feeling about Pinto. I don't believe we are talking the next Gary Carter here, but, I have a feeling his attitude and work ethic are real, as is the improvement we've heard whispers about. I believe he will be the backup catcher. I do believe he will perform well enough to stick, and to garner more playing time as he proves his mettle, with the occasional DH game as well. 7-10 HR's...let's just say 8 to be conservative, and combine it with Suzuki to call it a total of 11. So now we come to the bottom of the order, the CF position, and general "ick". I pray we get a combined .250-.260 ish AVG and OK OB% in the .320-.330 range between Hicks and Schafer, barring some big surprise. Don't want to be a downer, just don't have a lot of faith or enthusiasm at this point. Schafer seems to have little power, and Hicks, thus far, has shown little as well. And from the broken down swings I've seen here at TD, he's never going to with hips that fly open before the ball gets there. We're talking 5-6 HR's here...we'll be optimistic with 6. That's 139 dingers. Always going to have a few more from the other bench guys like Escobar and Nunez, a promotion or two and September. Figure 10 to 15 more for a 150-155 total for the team.

Glad to see him up and around and doing what he loves.

Fun history lesson! But now we know why some Twins pitching prospects are slow to be promoted: lollygagging!

Love option 3 but not betting on it. I think #2 is closer to what we get, maybe even 3 or 4 games per week depending on matchups and days off for Hunter or Arcia.

Now, at the risk of sounding like a complete hypocrite...and I'm not, just looking at worse case scenarios... let's just say Nolasco, for whatever reason, is a mess or stinks up the joint in '15. Is it just me, or do you get the sense that the Twins would trade him for a bag of balls, or even just outright release him, to make room for a talented youngster, where in the past, they may have stubbornly held fast and hoped?

Well, other than injury or just complete and utter suckage...yeah...he has a spot reserved. And he should. And not just because of he contract. Nolasco has been a solid, reliable ML SP in his career. His peripherals are solid, his W-L record not bad, despite pitching for some pretty poor teams, and has had a few really solid seasons in the past as well. (with solid teams, but go figure, good results when pitching for a solid team) People really need to get off Nolasco's proverbial back. If he had pitched to his normal standards last season, and then been hurt for his second season, all we'd be hearing now is how good and deep the Twins rotation should be with Hughes and Santana and Gibson and a return to health and form by Nolasco. My goodness, where do we put all our young starting pitchers? But because he signed a contract, and dared to get hurt in his first year and ruin optimism, he's suddenly a bum who should be discarded and a waste of money. If anything, we should be encouraged by his healthy return, not only for the sake of our beloved Twins, but because with May and Meyer and Berrios here and on the way, a productive Nolasco will pad the win column and then prove tradable for an asset or two while making room for one of the kids. (and shaving money off the payroll to perhaps be used elsewhere) So put away your voodoo dolls, and break out your rabbits feet and 4-leaf clovers and root for a healthy Nolasco in 2015.

Could he steal the CF spot? (pun obvious and gleefully accepted) Yes. Will he? Doubtful. There are guys here and there, usually former top prospects, usually in that later 20 age bracket, similar to Schafer, who find faith, quit substance, discover fitness or hard work, or a new eye doctor or even a psychic/faith healer and they suddenly find themselves. I just don't see this in Schafer. Did he really come to Minnesota, breathe the air, meet Brunansky, and suddenly find himself? I wish that were true. And I wish Hicks would drink the same water, eat the same food, wear the same underwear...whatever. Willing to wait for Buxton and to a lesser degree Rosario, or a guided or misguided belief in what is on hand, a CF move doesnt seem to be taking place. Therefore, some form of platoon or quasi-platoon of Hicks and Schafer appears to be our best bet at this point. (don't rule out a few games here and there from Santana) If Hicks could hit in the .240-.250 range while maintaining his penchant for OB skill with a few XB hits and SB's, and Schafer could at least approximate what he did last season in this role....I think we'd be looking at something along the lines of a composite .260-ish AVG with an OB around the .340 mark with a little pop and some SB's. We might even get 30 doubles, 10-ish HR's and 20-30 SB's between the two. Were that to happen, they would form a pretty decent 9 spot in the batting order, and help flip the lineup around, as well as maybe occasionally hitting near the top when someone got a day off. I'm thinking this is wishful thinking, but I'd be pretty happy if this were the results pending the arrival of Buxton.

First of all, leadoff is a title, and in truth, not a description. Anyone can "leadoff" an inning. The #1 BO guy we're talking about could easily bat "leadoff" a second time in a game, and often seems to do so. But regardless, his job is to make things happen, create opportunities, for the hitters behind him. Regardless of how many outs, if any. This can be done by getting on base, via speed and stolen bases, or XB power. In my younger days, I saw Boggs in Boston and Downing in California hit solid/great with good/great OB% and XB power, but couldnt steal a base if given a head start. Conversely, I saw guys like Vince Coleman, for example, hit some, but not necessarily have the great OB and little to no power, but excellent speed to stretch plays and put pressure on the opposition, as well as provide opportunities for the hitters behind him. Secondly, I've always held the belief that your #3 hitter should be one of your best all around hitters. Big power would be great, but its also to have a guy who can hit and get on base as well as provide some power. This allows him to drive in runs, but also help perpetuate an inning. From the past, again, guys like Hernandez, Grace and Joyner come to mind. (just examples, and co-incidence they happen to be first basemen) Mauer has caught a lot of grief in the past for not being a big power hitter or putting up big RBI totals. Santana has real ability to make things happen in the #1 or 2 spots. There are reasons for Dozier to hit in all 3 top spots. I don't like Mauer in the second spot due to lack of foot speed, and not hitting to the right side enough. But big OB% with 40 double power could make him enticing in the #1 hole. A return of Mauer being Mauer and I like him in the #3 spot. FWIW...with a possible flip-flop at the top... Santana Dozier Mauer Vargas Hunter Arcia Plouffe Suzuki Whoever does the best job in CF Best mix of hitting, power and speed and even handedness balance.

Yep

LOL! Sorry. Of course, I meant Pryor. Typing way too late and too tired and didn't pay attention to auto correction. I believe Stauffer is an initial given. I'm just skeptical at this point as to what he will actually bring. He just might be a strong and experienced middle and long arm, but I just have this nagging voice in the back of my head that says away from the NL and his home park he's not going to make it.

No question there is real talent with Graham, and real potential. And who knows, he may come in lights out, throw bullets, and there's no looking back. But I still see him as a long shot. Figuring Perkins, Fien, Duensing, Thielbar and Stauffer as locks or virtual locks...though I'm still very skeptical about Stauffer...that leaves only two spots left to fill, assuming a 7 man bullpen. May, Meyer, Pelfrey, Pressley, Tonkin, Achter, Oliveros are all legitimate candidates, as might be Powell, in addition to Graham. I know the team is in retool mode, if not rebuild, but can they afford, and would they, to keep someone as a stash at this point?

I was a bit surprised when he wasn't part of the staff. But more so because I just think we were all certain he was going to Arizona. I do find it strange he's not a roving instructor at least. Not only do I think he could offer a lot, but after years of a ML schedule, he might appreciate a different set of demands and scenery doing such.

A potential, top of the rotation arm is the most obvious and logical way to go. Should that arm be LH all the better. And you can never have enough pitching. Buuuuuuut......considering the overall depth of talent in the Twins system, pitching and position players, could this be the year where the #6 spot produces a top college talent at catcher, first or third base that might simply be the best player available?

Killer first name the kid has!

Forgive me. I'm kind of a big picture and perspective guy. I've been accused in my life, from time to time, of being a drama queen. (King?) LOL But I do like big pictures and perspective at times. And I love to BS and ramble...as all of you know who read almost anything I've written here at TD. But I just realized today, almost accidentally, that I hit my 1,000 post mark! I peruse the net heavily for information on my Twins, Vikings, Huskers and Lakers, as well as sports in general. And when I first discovered Twins Daily, I enjoyed it, but spent a good deal of time lurking for a while, enjoying opinion, and garnering information. A devoted Twins fan since I can remember, which I put at about 5 years old, I really enjoyed the TD experience. As I've mentioned, my father taught me a game I never played, but grew to adore. And most of my learning came from radio play by play from the great Herb Carneal. I grew up in South Dakota for the first 10-11 years of my life, and spent the last 38-39 here in Nebraska. I used to grasp at issues of the Star Tribune to learn about my Twins. I used to watch "cable TV" in the 70's and early 80's at my grandmother's house when I could to catch Twins games. And I still do when I make it back "home" to SD to visit family. I used to pour over the Sporting News, when it was a baseball heavy publication, Baseball Digest and Baseball America when I could find it. USA Today actually printing ST information and box scores was like mana on earth! Thank the heaven's above that the internet provided a whole new world of information sharing for us sports fans scattered across the country. (world) My whole point is, Twins Daily and the community of such, is a very special place. I'm not a manic blogger, and I'm not as manic about every team and every lineup of such the way I used to be. (life and responsibility and all that annoying stuff. LOL) But I have seen enough monkey flung BS...(OK, weird juxtaposition I realize)...and vitriol out there on other websites to realize how special TD really is. I even have a devout baseball/White Sox fan/friend....(I know, God help him please)...who has searched for similar websites to no avail. Even when bloggers are occassionally "bad" on here, it is absolutely nothing compared to what I have witnessed elsewhere. The members here are intelligent, accepting, friendly, warm, humorous, tolerant and knowledgeable...even those who disagree with me, or who's opinions I disagree with. LOL I finally joined up on October 26, 2013, 5 days after my 48th birthday. God help me, I should, but can't remember my first post. I should really try to research that. Anyway...it's been a great ride thus far. And I'm very grateful to everyone here at TD who made this such a tremendous combined website, after reading all their various independent blogs for years. Thank you for this. My father, who is still a lurker, also offers his thanks. I hesitate to list names here as I'm just sure I'll miss or forget someone and then feel really bad. But a huge shout out and tremendous thank you to Seth, John, Parker, Cody, Ashbury, Stringer, Jokin, SD,Leviathan, Thrylos....(what exactly is a "Thrylos" anyway?)...and all the rest of you who contribute, who I can't name right now because there are just too many...even though you're all angry at me for "liking" my comments previously and contemplating revenge now for me dissing you...LOL...I thank you all for being part of this wonderful, awefull, gut-wrenching, thrilling, wild-ride Twins family. Thank You Byron "Doc" Bauer

I find your facts staggering! Not debatable...I trust you...but our Twins have out-homered the opposition THREE TIMES since 1983? I find that incredulous. Especially when I think about some of the teams in the past that featured guys like Hrbek and Gaetti and Puckett, not to mention Bruno. Wow! I do love power. I do want more power. Doesn't everyone? But power isn't everything, and please forgive me for stating the obvious. But I'd rather have 300 doubles plus from my team with a little speed and some good OB than 200 HR's and little or no speed and lower OB with high K rates....for example. There is some tremendous offensive potential forthcoming for the Twins...potentially. (the UGLY "P" word) Power, speed, and mixtures with the likes of Arcia, Vargas, Santana, Dozier, Buxton, Sano, Polanco, Rosario and others. Do you realize we may actually not have enough room for everyone in the next 2-3 years? Always thought the perfect lineup was 2 guys at the top of the lineup who gave you a nice combo of everything; Avg, OB, pop and speed. You followed that with a mix of LH/RH/SH hitters with variable skills but who could all give you 30 doubles and anywhere from 15-30 HR's, and a #9 hitter who could either surprise with power, or be a nice mixed bag who could help flip the lineup back over again. The Twins are sooooo close to this being a reality. Can the season start yet? LOL

Sano is young. He's athletically gifted, not just powerful. He is a former SS. He has a cannon for an arm. He wears his size and weight well. He's improved defensively not only season to season, but half season to half season. Granted, there might still be some growing pains at the milb AND ML level, but why are so many so quick and almost eager to move him off 3B before he even plays a single inning at the ML level? Is there some perception that he simply can't play the position that I've never heard of or read? Is there some perception that he will suddenly rise to ML stardom faster by being moved to and playing an unfamiliar positon such as 1B or OF? Even if that were true, would you really sacrifice an amazing talent at the 3B spot for 6 more months of ML time playing a so-so OF?

Love Radke, a great Twin. Love Hunter and Morneau and Mauer and others. You absolutely do not have to be a HOF player to be special enough to your team to have your number retired by that team. Though it's a great criteria! I think the criteria is somewhat intangible. Numbers, years with a team, awards, big games and moments, dependability, even being a face of the franchise. Hrbek qualifies. I don't know that Radke does, with all due love and respect. I wish he hadn't left, I wish his legacy had been longer, but Santana might qualify. 20 win seasons, All Star games and multiple Cy Young awards are pretty neat. Mauer should end up as a retired number player. He's a hometown kid who has done things NO-ONE HAS EVER DONE in the history of ML Baseball. If his career ended tomorrow he should have his number retired by the Twins for his career and contributions. Strange how Tony O should be a HOF even though injury cut his career short, and yet in some people's eyes, injury cutting Mauer's amazing catching career somewhat short is him being a disappointment.

We've debated the framing issue repeatedly and I believe that the only consensus we've ever reached is that we don't have a consensus. As for me, I still believe in game calling, blocking the plate, and the catcher/pitcher relationship.