DocBauer

A little late to the party, not sure if someone has made a similar point here or not, but in the overall scheme of things, I think you could say that Thorpe and Gonsalves are as valuable or important a prospect as anyone in the system. That's a lot to throw on the shoulders of kids so young, and still low on the milb totem pole, but perhaps the hardest thing to ever find in baseball is a true, top of the rotation LHSP. And while it is admittedly early to project stardom for either of these talented kids, neither of them is a LH, soft tossing, crafty college senior picked in round 23 performing well in the rookie league.

On topic, but a little to the left, I'm less concerned at this point who is the 5th SP out of ST vs who is in the rotation for the second half of the season. No disrespect to Nolasco, who I actually like as a nice mid-rotation starter, but the best thing that could happen would be for Nolasco to pitch well enough to have real trade value around mid-season. Forget the return on such a trade, (possible any return would be tied to how much, if any, of the contact the Twins picked up), the money savings assists in future investments as well as opening a rotation spot for May or Meyer, or possibly Berrios or Duffey or Lee, etc, as the overall rebuild of the rotation/team continues.

Meyer shows outstanding overall ability, top of the rotation potential, and an improving chaneup last season, his FIRST in AAA, along with a boatload of SO's. But there are inconsistencies still, as you might expect from a young pitcher. Inconsistencies aren't just about tons of walks or getting shelled. Correcting them is also about being consistent enough to economize enough to last more than 4-5 IP per start. Meyer has THREE milb seasons. Three. And 2013 was partially interrupted. Have there been injury concerns? Yes. But unless there is something hiding, they have been nagging, not serious. And he DID show growth and development last season, despite an IP limit and a couple inconsistent stretches. I believe he's a real candidate for the #5 spot. But I also believe the also very talented May, who finished pretty strong last season, leads over Meyer right NOW. Milone is LH, has a pretty solid but somewhat short history, but is not as talented as Meyer, nor figures to be a long term fixture in the way Meyer does. So right NOW, I'm thinking Meyer and Millone are kind of 50-50 as the second place favorite. I don't buy in to Pelfrey not just due to the past, but because I don't see him as part of the future. I am torn as to Meyer, if not in the initial rotation, gaining experience on the ML level out of the pen and sliding in to a rotation spot at some point, or staying stretched out and working a consistent 5th day and consistent IP at Rochester. I can see advantages both ways.

I really don't understand the obsession over Meyer's age. He JUST turned 25, and because he wasn't throwing off a ML mound by age 19-22 he is old, he's wasted half his potential career, he's already fired too many bullets and is begging to run out of ammunition already, he only has four years before he's a soft tosser, etc, etc, etc. Yes, most hall of fame SP were up early. But you don't draft and develop hall of fame players. You draft and develop players period. Once in a while you get a special guy who is HOF caliber. There are a slew of guys who tantalize and arrive at an early age only to prove average or blow out an arm, or just lose "whatever".

While the walk rates were/are a concern, as they should be to a degree, I feel there are two reasons for Meyer's "delay" in coming up sooner. The first is that he simply has more limited IP and GS in his milb career than say May. Meyer has a TOTAL of three milb seasons thus far under his belt, and as we all know, 2013 was cut short. Simply no need to rush him. Secondly, but tied to the first point as well as the BB issue, is greater consistency. Look, pitchers are not perfect, even the best ones have ups and downs, but you are looking for consistency game to game, inning to inning and even pitch to pitch. There is a difference from missing with pitches, and missing a lot so you get shelled. And in regard to walk totals, it's not just the BB themselves, it's the lack of pitch economy, which leads to short outings. Everything can be improved upon. The Twins would live with some walks. But they want to avoid the walks AND high pitch totals to non BB batters.

Very optimistic on both kids Stringer. I know there is potential regression, there always is. But when I see a young player perform the way these two did, for the most part, over and over, week to week and month to month for a season...even when I kept waiting for and expecting the other shoe to drop...and they just simply continue to perform, I start to think more about progression and not regression. But for them, and the team, I really want more overall competition. And by that, I mean the CF/OF situation. But isn't it kind of funny that most of this "do we have a team that can actual win something/be above .500" seems to be centering on this particular topic?

Going off the reservation here. What SHOULD they do? They should go out NOW, while there is still time, and make a move for a defensive CF who won't spike himself offensive...(does that analogy EVER grow old?)...and improve the OF defense...which will improve the pitching staff...which will improve THE TEAM. Santana can still continue to work at CF and make an appearance here and there. That allows for rest and matchup play. Escobar can get 500AB's as the part time SS as well as primary fill in 2B and 3B. Hicks gets to play at AAA for something more than a month to regain confidence, work on his hitting and approach, and learn to drive the ball again. (the video Parker showed recently showed wide open hips that would have a hard time getting the ball out of the damned infield!) Schafer gets his shot to prove that at long last, ability met maturity and opportunity and his finish for the Twins last season wasn't an illusion. Or at least...only a puff of smoke and one slightly cracked mirror. He can be a 4th OF and possibly quasi-platoon CF in certain situations. I am not a Hicks hater or basher. Far from it if you've followed my posts in the past. But "3rd time just must be the charm" doesn't cut it! Rosario and Buxton aren't ready yet. Yet. What is so wrong about penciling Hicks in to AAA to work on his game, and, oh, I don't know, earn and prove his way in to a ML job this time? What I'm AFRAID they WILL DO: Give Hicks the job and hope. Robinson will be a fall back option if anyone gets hurt or performs like white-can Butera when he should be a 6th OF option. Or march Santana back out there on a 60/40 or 70/30 CF/SS split like last season. And based on last season, that would probably be the better option.

Though I like and respect Escobar, and think what he did last season was no fluke, Santana simply has more explosive athletic talent. With more consistency defensively, he absolutely figures to be the more explosive offensive player with more range and "big play" ability. But if CF continues to be a quagmire, and I don't see any reason or optimism why it should change any time soon, then I'm OK with Santana out there again as the best overall option with Escobar back as the primary SS. I don't think Santa is great in CF, but I don't think he's terrible either. And he actually seemed to work hard and show improvement throughout the season.

Why do I feel I should write another "letter" to Terry Ryan? Can it be so damned obvious what the single, #1 problem and weakness of this team is? And it STILL hasn't been addressed in a logical, acceptable manner?

Man, if I knew how to use the multi-quote thingy I'd be going nuts about now! LOL Personally, I am very much in favor of the NL DH rule. I have, at many times, enjoyed the "NL brand of baseball" in regard to strategy. But in of my years watching and enjoying ML baseball, NL "strategy" has very, very, very seldom had ANYTHING to do with the pitcher hitting. First off, other than late in a close game, is there REALLY any strategy involving a pitcher hitting? Honestly, most all pitchers make Drew Butera look like Ruth/Mays etc. So all game long you have the SP bunt unless there are 2 outs, then you hope and pray for an error or a fluke looper/dying quail over someone's head. Later, in a close game, you have to decide if you pull one of the absolute worst hitters on your team for another hitter to replace him and bring in a reliever. And the depth and edge of your seat nervous excitement is what now???? I don't know about anyone else, but to me, all of my years growing up and watching baseball, the NL parks were larger than the AL parks, there always seemed to be more turf fields than grass fields between the leagues, and the NL relied more on speed, defense, pitching and situational hitting while the AL, with smaller parks and more grass fields, relied more on station to station OB% and power. THAT was the strategy difference between the leagues. College has the DH. Milb has the DH. Being a pitcher is a specialty. It's like asking a QB to block and tackle. Like asking a hockey goalie to skate and score. Like asking a soccer player to be tough and not flop. (snicker) I could easily argue there is more strategy in having the DH in both leagues. Knowing you don't have to have a weak hitting SP in the lineup, I now, as a manger, have to concentrate even more on late game pitching battles and matchups. I have the luxury of playing a defensive specialist and hitting him lower in my lineup. I have to ponder if pinch hitting for my DH late in the game is a wise choice given that I would THEN have to expose my pitcher to attempt to hit. As a team manager, I might be even more inclined to bunt and play hit and run baseball knowing I have someone up at the plate who can actual handle a bat as something more than a urinal basher. Whatever. My opinion.

Great post! Agree 100%. Although technically, with Hernandez on the ML staff, he would be the highest ranking coach in the system. (not including Carew or Oliva in their various capacities.) I was actually a little surprised Ingram wasn't the choice for the ML club. In partial defense of the Twins, I believe Ingram has been as high as AA, even fairly recently. They do seem to rotate their manager and coaches every few seasons for different voices and perspectives at different levels.

"I'm just glad to be here and help out the team. The good lord willing, it will all work out. A good friend of mine once said: this is an easy game. You throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes....it rains. Think about that." Espanol version por favor? LOL

Appreciate the sentiment and understand your point of view. HOWEVER, I'm not sure the Twins OF defense could be any worse than last season, even if they TRIED to make it worse! Arcia should continue to improve, even incrementally. Hunter brings vast experience. Even if the team doesn't go out and bring someone in to play CF, as they should, Santana should be better in his second go-around, if our there. So honestly, other than just losing his approach and feel for his stuff, I'm not that worried about Hughes and regression, even though it's easy to slide down that path. I think we generally saw the real deal with him last season.

Just a general comment. As stated, interpretation for what is a "potential winner here" is open for debate. Not sure true contention is viable in 2015. Certainly, I could see pathways leading to meaningful games in August or September. My personal optimism when looking at this upcoming season, and the writing of this thread, is more about breaking that .500 barrier and continuing the march forward.

Jokin, I'm actually more excited about him than Stauffer. He's a bigger long shot, and there are other legit candidates he has to pass, but he's one of those guys that get to the right team, at the right time, with the right instruction, and with even a modicum of control or approach change, suddenly turn in to quality setup men.

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner Dante. Busy weekend. Probably not a big surprise, but forgoing any better candidate brought to the forefront, my choice for CF in 2015 would be Peter Bourjos from the Cardinals. 1)Trade wide, he'd come cheap. (theoretically and practically) I've ready various speculation on here and other sites that have discussed his addition, and there seems to be a consensus we'd be talking about a pair of prospects in the 20's on ranking scales, possibly a 20 and a 30 throw in. Or perhaps a single prospect in the teens. Not saying bad ball players, but players the Twins could afford to lose. I'd bet low level power or a couple solid arms to replace some traded this off season. 2)Financially the commitment for Bourjos would be small. 3)I'm no scout. I know enough to be almost dangerous when pretending to play one. But literally EVERY report and opinion I have read marks him as ELITE defensively. How does that play for a fly-ball SP staff between a young and still improving and a veteran getting by on guile and experience pair of corner OF's? I have even read projections of a positive WAR based almost solely on his defensive metrics. (not that I'm a big WAR guy...but....) 4)He's RH vs Schafer being LH. I don't know how good Schafer really is at this point. My hope, as stated, is that he's at least close to the player we got last season, solid defense, excellent on the bases, can hit and get on base some against RHers. It would make him a solid 4th OF type with some "hamburger helper" skills and make him an OK quasi-platoon CF option against tougher RH's. 5)Bourjos blocks NO-ONE. He comes in, plays great defense for a year, and conceivably, loses his starting job next season to Buxton. (unless lighting strikes good or bad, earlier or later) Hunter will be gone, Buxton up, (again, in theory), Rosario will probably be ready, Hicks might be ready for some contribution after real solid AAA experience and learning, (and I was previously a "play him at this point" supporter), and we might even have Plouffe as an OF option. The point is, this smart and talented and inexpensive option goes to the bench without any roster issues. 6)His offense might not be as bad as suggested/reported/at first glance. I know he had some injury problems last season, his first in the NL and with the Cards, and I don't know for sure how much that might have affected him. But previously....... 2010: (rookie season) Unimpressive 181 AB's. BUT, he did flash some pop and speed 2011: Whoa! 147 games, 500AB's, .270 AVG w/.327OB%/.438SLG/.765OPS with speed and obvious pop 2012: Really not a great season again. 2013: Only 55 games and 175 AB's, but back to .274/.333/.377/.710OPS with power flashes and some speed. I love Ryan overall. But I feel he's in a "OK, we promoted Hicks too early, and we've handled this all wrong, but we just have to get it right the 3rd time....right?" I think this is the right way.

Hammer, no way any of those guys break camp with the Twins. And I think Cederoth is clearly further away. Aren't the Twins looking at him as a potential SP? I do think Burdi and Jones have a real shot at making it to the Show this year, and possibly before September. I think what could hold them back is not necessarily inexperience overall, Burdi in college this time last year and Jones ending up nursing himself back to health most of last year, but just the potential depth of arms above them at the ML, AAA and AA level. I like the pen options. I really do. But I'm even more excited about the rotation. I honestly expect Gibson to take a step forward, and Santana to really deepen and stabilize the rotation. I hope, hope, hope, (and mostly expect) Nolasco to rebound strongly. I have nothing against him, and he can help us. But a strong rebound means a quality trade candidate at some point, to free up a spot for a May/Meyer move.

I can't disagree with your optimism for the pen Jokin. I find Pryor intriguing, and he could end up jumping in to the mix in a hurry. I'm also big on Oliveros. Much like May and Meyer in the rotation, healthy again, he's proven just about all he needs to at the AAA level and needs/deserves a real shot. Same could be said for Tonkin. My gut says the Twins won't keep Graham just because of potential, that he'll have to actually show he can contribute some. (rumors have been Atlanta would rather have him back than work out a trade with the Twins to keep him) I will love Pelfrey and Stauffer if either, or both, show up big time. But injury and inconsistency and never having been a reliever before has me doubting Pelfrey, though I think the attempt is a worthwhile one. Stauffer, right now, doesn't impress me. The numbers look OK, but they were admittedly in lower leverage situations, in the NL, and in perhaps the most pitcher friendly park in the ML. I'd just rather stick with Oliveros, Tonkin, Achter, Graham and others and let them fly. O'Rourke has a real shot, immediately or in the near future. Though I admit to liking him a bit more if the Twins kept 3 LH's: say O'Rourke as a LOOGY, Darnell and maybe Thielbar. And yes, I left out Duensing and Milone there. I have a strong feeling about Darnell in the bullpen. Thielbar wasn't as dominate in '14 as he had been in '13. But he wasn't bad. I think this year will determine if he's got a real future or not.

OK...less than 30 days until the start of Spring Training. In the great scheme of things, we know nothing of what will ultimately transpire down in Florida, much less the 2015 ML season. For that matter, for all their expertise way above our pay grade...(OK...free)...the Twins staff and front office really don't know either. That's why they play the games boys! But it is fun to put pen to paper and napkin and whatever else you can find to draw on, and make up rosters, lineups, and your own personally speculated stat lines. You can be an optimist, or a pessimist, but the season is almost upon us, and again, that's why they play the games boys! For the first time in a long time, there's actually a lot of change going on with the old Twinks. First, we have a new manager and mostly new coaching staff as well. Second, the Twins have employed a group of rather exciting youngsters on the roster the past couple of seasons in the form of Arcia, Santana, Vargas, Escobar, Dozier (yes, still not that old), and Gibson to name a few prominent names. There is also an outstanding group of talented youngsters that...come on, be realistic...probably will have little effect on the 2015 season, such as Buxton, Sano, Berrios and Polanco to name a few, but could and should make an appearance at least. Third, the team has been unusually aggressive and pro-active in regard to FA and team contracts in order to solidify and improve the team/product. And FOURTH, and it shouldn't be dismissed, the Twins will have new uniforms this season. (I'm still waiting for the really cool red jersey option to be implemented) Hey, don't dismiss the Karma of change and a new beginning with the new uni's that feature the...Klondike???....gold trim. (I thought that was something in Alaska or a kind of ice cream bar) I kid...I kid! (No, really, what is the new Minnesota gold called again?) I know the horse is dead and pushing up daisies, but I am mortified and borderline angry Ryan hasn't made the one, last, important, and probably cheap (salary and player trade cost) move that could really help this team. A move for a legitimate defensive CF. Who cares of the guy would be a 1 year starter? The cost would be prohibitive, wouldn't block anyone, and could be a really nice bench player a year from now! But honestly, call me an eternal optimist if you will, I find this ONE spot to be the only real hole on the team. (Still no response from Terry and my personalized letter to him) What constitutes a winning season is debatable, of course. Does it simply mean not sucking as badly in '15 while sacrificing the ML virginity of a couple top prospects upon the alter of possibility in preparation for 2016? Does it mean a .500 record, or a game or two above, hopefully with the same stabby baseball knives-dropped in a volcano to appease the baseball gods for 2016 scenario? Or are we talking "no win" until you can actually be playing meaningful games in August and September? To me it's kind of simply, an actual, real .500 or better ballclub while improving and providing a dress rehearsal for 2016 regardless of actual contention. And I'm not going to predict contention this coming season, but I am thinking really hard about a Harry and Lloyd optimistic "So you're saying there's a chance" kind of above .500 season. Here's why: Rotation: Hughes and regression. Maybe. But why? He had a great season last year. He is no flash in the pan. We are talking a top talent, with great stuff and potential who just couldn't find the consistency switch. He moves to MN, out of the NY sweatbox, to a better ballpark for his style, makes some adjustments, and suddenly lives up to his enormous potential. Some want to call for regression. Maybe. But how about "progression" and improving? Not saying he'll set more records, slide some here, improve there, who says he can't be as good? I know it's easy to say someone, in this case a pitcher, is good when he's "ON" and not so good when he's got an "OFF" day going. But I'm not talking about a Swarzak/Pino/Deduno/Diamond kind of day/moment, (OMG, did you see what so&so did last night?). I'm talking about a guy/guys who have actual stuff to bring to the ballpark on a daily basis. Gibson is/was a stud RHSP who has, unfortunately, paid not only milb dues by physical dues as well. But he has emerged on the other side of a rookie season with a lot of optimism. And make no mistake, the technicality of ONE too many innings aside, he was a rookie in '14. He made 31 starts, pitched 179.7 innings, and produced solid overall peripherals. He suffered bouts of Jekyll/Hyde disease to be sure, but Dr. Jekyll was damn good! A little more growth, a little more consistency, and Gibson could end up the Twins second best SP. There were times last season when he not only looked good, but almost dominate at times. Santana has averaged 30+ GS and over 200IP with a sub 4 ERA for his career. While wins aren't always indicative of a starting pitchers true performance on a game by game or full season basis, he has averaged between 12-13 wins per. Sounds a little so-so I suppose. But he has also had seasons of 17-16-16 and 14 wins in his 10 seasons. And in his 2013 season, it could be argued, we was generally screwed on a bad KC team as he posted some of the best individual numbers of his career. If you look at his career, when healthy enough to start 30+ games, on at least a decent team, his numbers are pretty impressive. Nolaso's numbers don't quite match Santana, but he's had a very solid career until last year. He is also in the 12-13 wins per category, and has 15-14-13-13-12 win totals in his 8 years plus. He's also averaged just shy of 190IP per. He actually owns a better SO-BB ratio than Santana, but a higher ERA and BAagainst. Meaning? Meaning he's solid, and consistent, just not quite as dominate or potentially dominate. And then there is the May/Meyer/Milone/Pelfrey debate. It would take a miracle for Pelfrey to win this. (and maybe a roster spot period. So long...and thanks for the fish) Milone is OK, and I have nothing against him. He could sneak in as an early season starter, but I don't see it unless May/Meyer stink, or Molitor becomes obsessed with a LH in the rotation. May/Meyer is infinitely more talented, a part of the future, and ready to take this spot with the other joining in at some point. Lineup and Defense: Do I really have to disturb the poor, rotting horse-sicle again? I don't know, maybe Hicks and Schafer will surprise. God I hope so. But I'm not so certain that Santana isn't our best overall option at this point. Arcia is a hitting stud in the making, still developing, and so is his defense. Hunter, I truly believe, will be a nice influence in the clubhouse, the dugout, and on the field for ONE MORE SEASON. There is just enough rubber on the tires for that one last hurrah. Defensively he's slowed down from thoroughbred to dependable mule. But, forgive me, for one season, I'd take that hard working, experienced mule over the mish-mash we shuttered out to the other corner OF spot most of last season. Offensively, the corners should be solid and OK to exciting. I guess we still have to wait and see if CF equates to exciting top of the order player, or, heaven help us, somewhere between horrible to solid hamburger helper #9 hitter. If you really don't believe Mauer makes a big comeback this season, an offseason of serious work and no lingering injury effects, then shame on you! I hope the tooth-fairy leaves you a measly quarter and the Easter Bunny leaves un-edible micro milk duds on your pathway. Dozier is a stud who has done absolutely everything except the one thing he was most known for coming up through the minors, which is hit for a solid average. The guy is a stud who is entering only his THIRD full season. Plouffe has done nothing but get better and better and better offensively and defensively. The only thing he has left to do is blend his double and HR power together. Escobar vs Santana at SS is interesting. Solid and productive vs even more talented and dynamic, but less known and proven. Have we really had a DH/Bat like Vargas recently? Young? Yes. Possibly some growing pains? Yes. But he is compared to Ortiz for a reason. He can flat out hit, provide power, and has that special knack for producing when he needs to. We might be a couple seasons away from really settling the catcher spot. But Suzuki is very solid, can hit some, make some contact, hit doubles, provide some clutch hits, and brings confidence behind the plate. Don't underestimate that when determined to list his weaknesses. Pino is a better hitting, more powerful, better arm enigma that would seem to need do only one thing. That is, translate OK calling and good throwing from his milb career to his ML one. If he could do that, Suzuki would be a really nice backup. Bullpen: Perkins. Forget the end of the season. His injury was minor. He'll be back 100%. Fien, not over-used, is very solid to very good. But he's best as a 7th inning guy. Can someone...Oliveros maybe...unseat him? I guess Graham has a shot here to make a move and do something. But can he really unseat the arms and potential of Oliveros and Tonkin and Achter? I guess we're better off if he can. I simply don't believe in Stauffer, and I hope Molitor isn't blinded unless the guy blows us away. Lots of options for both sides of the mound...the Twins have a reputation of building bullpens...I LOVE Guardado as the BP coach...and there is some really awesome BP talent on it's way up, perhaps quickly. There is every reason to believe our bullpen will be solid to good. There is every reason to believe our offense from 2014, much improved, will be as good, or better...hopefully more consistent series to series...with the improvement of Arcia and others along with the addition of Hunter and a full season of Vargas. Our INF defense should be solid, and our OF defense should be no worse, (how could it be), and a little better with Hunter, and improved Arcia and possibly Santana. The rotation will be the best we've had in many a season. While it is a range, our SP should prove anywhere from 60-70 wins. That's only a little short of some total win numbers the past few seasons. Go ahead and call me a blind optimist. Say I'm overly enthused on the brink of another season. But tell and explain to me why and how I'm so wrong. OR, tell me why and how you agree the Twins are ready for .500 plus this season.

On a secondary note....other than Rudy Hernandez....have we ever come up with a consensus of how many Twins coaches actually speak Spanish? I know speaking the language is not the same as actually BEING Latin, but still, it provides a better communication bridge. And Guardado is from Calli, has a Latin ancestory, but does anyone know if he speaks Spanish? I'm honestly asking as it could be a big help to the team and I just don't know.

I absolutely love this idea! Although, I would be interested to know which personnel are designated as I can't imagine we're talking about secretaries and janitors necessarily. (make your own joke there if you will) But for anyone having significant contact with actual team members, it's a wonderful idea! But for all of the Oliver Stone disciples out there....a good old boy, pale network? Please! This is the Twins we're talking about. First off, they're too conservative to have a hidden agenda so unscrupulous. Second, while they may be conservative, and slow to respond at times, they also have a pretty rich history of latin players in their system over the years, they have employed and empowered Tony Oliva as a player, coach and ambassador for most of his life, have been aggressive over the past 10-12 years in Latin America with signing, scouting, and the building of academies, and have taken great pains in their new Ft Meyers complex to provide tutors and educators for their young latin players. They have FINALLY moved to make a latin presence on the ML coaching staff, and now are graduating up the chain of command to the front office. Painstakingly slow at times when moves seem obvious, but also forwarding thinking at other times, the Twins, as an organization, may seem a bit bi-polar, but there is nothing nefarious here. Thank the baseball gods ST is around the corner!

May. May based on stuff, potential, ML experience last season, how he finished, and everything else already stated. Despite less total starts, innings, no ML time yet, etc, Meyer is definitely in the mix just behind May entering camp. Milone should be a distant 3rd option, at least initially. I'm not bagging on him at all. He deserves a shot. But a soft tossing lefty who will almost certainly never rise beyond #4-5 SP status vs a couple top prospects with real stuff and the ability to rise a good deal higher on a team still in at least one level of rebuild is kind of a no-brainier isn't it? Now who goes down to AAA to stay stretched out and who might go to the pen is a different matter. With all due respect to his character and attitude, I'd just as soon pay Pelfrey to leave and try his craft elsewhere. Better for him at this point, and better for all the other pitchers on our roster.

I like Escobar. Strong off season last year, strong season, reportedly strong off season this year. He doesn't deserve to lose his spot....except Santana has even more athleticism and potential. This is a quandary we've been talking about for some time. Not sure we really have the answer yet. But if Ryan flat out won't make a move for a CF, then Santana in CF, primarily at least, and Escobar, again primarily, at SS makes the most baseball sense. We can hope Schafer is close to what we got last year and Hicks gets to begin the year in AAA. If things unfold this way, the one thing nobody has brought up yet is, there is now another open spot on the bench. An open sport for.................................?

Dozier

I'd say yes on a milb deal with multiple incentives, to echo other previous comments. And while it would be a neat story, the odds are so far against the big happy climax ending, that I don't care to even take that book off the shelf. So it's not about old band mates. And it's not about Santana being, arguably, the best pitcher in Twins history. (With all due respect to other contestants) It's about a mound bulldog with tremendous previous success who won't give up, who takes care of himself, and who flat out knows how to pitch. While never again being his old self, if his rabbit foot would finally pay off for a season, we could see 50-75% of the old Santana. And that could be a useful ML pitcher.