DocBauer

(THROWS ARMS UP DISGUST) WTH?! We come in to camp almost 100% healthy and pretty much everyone is MOSTLY good until the last 2 weeks and suddenly Duran, Thielbar, (I know he was hurt early), and Topa all begin on the IL. And now Royce hurts a quad running the bases in the first game?! Why, oh why, do the baseball gods pick on the Twins of all the 30 available teams? I feel as bad for Royce as I do the team. And we can't bring up Lee, because he tweaked his back the last game. (Heavy sigh) I think Martin is the logical choice to come up. He play some 2B, as well as LF/CF and I'd play Castro at 3B most days. Keep Farmer in his role.

Not currently a Caretaker, but that doesn't mean I don't have opinions on the current roster. ROTATION: Unless I'm mistaken, all of Ryan, Ober, Paddack, and Varland have spent the offseason and ST working on new or adjusted pitches. (My memory doesn't recall anything specific from Lopez at the moment). And because of experimentation, it's why I'm not concerned about ST results from individual games or final results. I like this rotation very much and am pretty confident it's going to be very good. There is mild concern regarding Paddack's IP total and how it's regulated, but depth is really my only concern. SWR looked much better this ST, and reports are good. I haven't given up on Headrick as a viable option after jumping to a split season in 2023 of AAA and MLB after about a half season of AA in 2022. Festa appears to have the stuff to be a legitimate prospect. But that depth plays up a lot better come June if the primary 5 can avoid injury of any sort until then. BULLPEN: Losing 3 of the projected top 5 arms here to begin the season flat out stinks! There's no way to sugar coat it. HOWEVER, I think the depth assembled to form the opening day group still offers optimism they can be serviceable and "hang in there" until the missing 3 are back. THANKFULLY, we're talking minor injuries and nothing of significance. While you obviously need more than 8 arms for a season, you need to feel relatively comfortable being about 12 deep. If you take the 8 arms on the opening day roster, then add in the missing 3, then add Staumont taking some time to harness his control, (the velocity seems to be back), and then add in a hopeful return of Winder in the not too distant future, potential contributions of Weiss in the same regard, and the other arms sitting at AAA that can be turned to if and when needed, I see 12 options to have at least some faith in, plus additional options at the Twins disposal. As long as the injury fates are done having fun with the Twins, the pen CAN be a strength. OFFENSE/LINEUP: The way this team is constructed, they SHOULD be amongst the best run producing units in the AL, even with some regression from Lewis, Wallner, and Julien. And there's good depth on the roster, as well as at AAA, including a few guys not even on the 40 man at this time. Catcher: I'm a fan and believer in Jeffers. I think the hard work Vazquez has put in this offseason will see his production rise, at least somewhat. Jeffers can improve in some areas, still regress from an amazing 2023 OPS, and can STILL BE one of the most productive catchers in the league. Last year the duo provided 28 Dbls, a couple Trips, 20 HR and 75 RBI. One up a little, one down a little, I'd like to expect something similar in 2024. Behind them, there's the solid and intriguing Camargo. After that, if necessary...sure hope not...is the journeyman O'Keefe...not much to report there other than some OK career milb numbers...maybe Williams, and the prospect Winkel who the team seams high on. Infield: We all the primary starting 3. Correa is a stud who's healthy again and amongst in all MLB at SS. Lewis is a team MVP in the making, is special, and might win a league MVP one day. Julien is going to be very good, if not a star. I honestly believe Kirilloff is ready to make a statement this year. His wrist issues appear behind him. We've seen how good he can be in stretches. Again, I don't place a great deal of emphasis on ST results, but he had a good one. That seems to indicate his wrist is STILL sound, and his shoulder injury is behind him. With all due respect to Carlos Santana...who's had a good spring, FWIW...I don't place a lot of faith in a 38yo coming off his 1st solid season in about 3yrs, even though he was still pretty mediocre from the LH side of the plate. I like his glove, his experience, his leadership, and his ability to produce against LHP as a member of the lineup and as a PH. I'm FINE with him in that role, probably starting a few games against RHP. But if AK is what I think he's going to be, he's going to grabbing a bunch of starts at 1B against RHP instead of DH-ing not only for this year, but the future. Farmer is a tremdous teammate, a solid glove man across the INF, at least a quasi-platoon at 2B with Julien, and an OK bat against RHP who does really well against LHP. It seems Castro is ALWAYS included as an OF, but I watched him in the INF a ton last season, watched him play some INF in ST games this year, and he's a fine INF. And Lee is waiting in the wings. So is Miranda as a 1B, maybe 3B, DH, and PH. Severino might be an option as the same at some point. I wouldn't fall asleep on Prato, or Helman, as potential help if injuries hit. Outfield: Wallner will probably always be a bit streaky. But he's got a good eye, hits solidly, has tremendous power, has a cannon for an arm, runs/moves well for a big guy, and has shown some improvement defensively. I was actually surprised when I heard recently how few games he's actually played in LF until last year. A healthy Buxton is a STUD and team and league MVP challenger. But no matter how AMAZINGLY good he feels right now...best in years...history simply states he's going to be injured at some point. Now that he plays wall collisions with overt intelligence...we hope...and realizes that diving for every possible big defensive play with overt intelligence it may not be worth it...we hope...his previous hip injuries were a result of compensating for his knee. SUPPOSEDLY, his post 2022 clean up procedure fixed that knee. And then came 2023 and the cluster that it was. I'm not a medical expert, far from it, but I remain baffled how NOBODY saw the plica as being a detriment to his health and career. I understand you don't cut in to someone or remove something unless it's really deemed necessary, BUT, it appears, at least early, that that additional procedure has really made a difference. Considering how good Byron feels, how optimistic he and the staff are, I'm going to assume he's going to be good for 80-100 games in CF with regular rest either sitting down here and there, or DH-ing another 20 games or so. Mitigating his play is important. When he's hurt, don't play games, put him on the IL to get right. He might SURPRISE himself, the Twins, and everyone else and be healthy enough for 100 games in CF! But let's just plan on 80 there and another 20 or so at DH for a half day rest. He's a difference maker. I don't mean to sound condescending, but I think Kepler FINALLY reached a certain maturity level of baseball intelligence where he FINALLLY realized he didn't have to be "perfect". I honestly believe Max was so concerned about making contact and simply "trying" to get a hit that he didn't realize poor contact was a BAD THING. When the switch turned on in 2023, he sacrificed contact and had more K's than he was "used to" and just stroked the ball harder. And suddenly he was the potential All Star caliber hitter a lot of us fans always believed he could be. Now, there was probably some unsustainable BABIP involved, but that doesn't diminish what he he did last season. IF he doesn't get in his own head, and just does what he did from about mid June to July, he's a major producer for the Twins in 2024. He was sad to see teammate and hotel buddy and friend Polanco go. He was happily surprised to remain a Twin for now. POTENTIALLY, he could have some serious value on the FA market next offseason. My concern for NOW is what he does as a member of the 2024 Twins. But I have to wonder if talent/production and mutual heartstrings MIGHT bring about an extension even though the 2025 payroll is an UTTER MYSTERY at this point. Castro is as good of an OF depth piece as he is an INF piece. He's a very good LF, a decent CF option, and with a solid arm, probably a solid RF option, but I'd expect Wallner there instead most days. Margot had a poor ST. Do we honestly care? He's a 29yo veteran who's been a semi-regular in his career. He's a solid, at times great, defensive player across the OF, and a viable CF option a notch below Buxton and Taylor. But a notch below them isn't bad. And career wise, he's actually a better HITTER and OB producer than Taylor. Depth wise beyond Castro and Margot, we have Larnach and Martin. While I still have belief the best thing that could happen for Larnach is being part of a trade to someone who would help the Twins for this season and beyond, I maintain he's a solid glove with 20 HR and 30 Dbl power if given enough opportunity. But he's sitting at St Paul for now. You could do worse for depth. And if NOT traded, I continue to say he could use 2024 to adjust and learn and improve and be part of 2025 as a part time OF and DH. It's really great that Martin could play some 2B and 3B if needed due to injuries or an extra inning game. But can we just stop the nonsense? Martin is an OF now period! The fact that he can potentially play SOME 2B/3B is great if we get to some extra inning game. We have enough INF depth and talent that its ridiculous to see Martin as anything more than a LF/CF. Beyond Martin, as previously mentioned, Helman and Keirsey are possible non roster options if things turn south. I don't expect that to happen, but it sometimes does. Honestly, with the bullpen holding their own for a month or so, my ONLY question about this season is the rotation depth.

I think the Smalley com is very interesting, and probably pretty close. While Lee doesn't have as much foot speed as Polanco, he's got the stronger arm. But hitting wise, I can see an easy comp between the two. And I'd be happy if Lee put up the same numbers as Polanco, just more OF THEM by simply being healthier. But then again, to be fair, a healthier Polanco probably puts up higher career numbers than he has to this point. So yeah, sign me up for production similar to either exaple.

With no further injuries, I see a solid pen that can stay afloat for the first month or so. Longer than that, yeah, I'm going to worry. But this pen healthy again in about a month? Yep, could be really, really strong. If there's a silver lining at all, it's that of the Twins top 4 pen arms, what are probably arms #2 and #3 are healthy and ready to go. Hard to believe considering some of the Twins poor luck with injuries, but it could have been worse. Plus, none of the injuries appear to be serious or long term. The Twins' coaching staff is a lot smarter and more informed than I am, but for the short term, I think I'd keep Jax in the set up role he's used to, knowing he can occasionally go more than a single inning. With Stewart as the temporary closer, I think you monitor his innings better in that ONE INNING role. And really, I rate them about even in stuff and ability. So Jax staying in his usual role just makes more sense to me.

GREAT SURVEY! And a really nice idea, though it's pretty hard to pick something like the top RP in milb. I'm going to declare UNFAIR even before the season begins about TOP ROOKIE. I think Lee is a STUD who is going to PROBABLY play 2B on a daily basis and cover SS/3B and move Julien to an almost daily presence at 2B/1B/DH in the lineup. NOTHING wrong with that. But barring injury to the INF, I had to pick Martin as the ROOKIE candidate because I see more initial opportunity for him. Buxton will inevitably have some injury, though I knock on wood. I like. Margot a lot, but who knows what happens. My "hunch" is Martin gets more opportunity than Lee in 2024. But that could change in a heartbeat if anyone gets injured or if Santana's solid spring is an illusion and the Twins need to revamp on the fly.

Even though I'm always an optimist, I'm not going to "paint lipstick on a pig" and say everything is great. (First of all, pigs are pretty great animals, and baby pigs are about as cute as cute gets). Losing Duran for a month, maybe two, is pretty awful! Losing Thielbar and Topa...probably an additional 2 of your top 5...is nothing close to acceptable! Frankly, it stinks! (I'd like to use harsher language, but can't and won't). But, HOPEFULLY, Thielbar and Topa are short term loses. But after listening to the recent podcast of Gleeman and the Geek, I have to reinforce my optimism that the pen might be OK for a few weeks. Jax and Stewart are going to have to be the fireman and closers for a little while. When we look at the past 10-15-20 years of Twins pens, we can look at a mixed collection of late inning arms and closers. Some were really good. Some were OK. Some were mediocre at best. Not to pick on anyone, but when we reflect on Capps and Colombe, and a few others, are we really any worse...temporarily...with Jax and Stewart for a month or so? I'd pick those 2 over a few of the other options we've had the past 10-15-20 years. And we've even reached the playoffs a few years with those "other" guys. The ONUS, even temporarily, is on Alcala, Okert, Jackson, Thunderburk, Staumont, and maybe Sands to DO THEIR JOB. Even for a few weeks. Career numbers say Okert can do it. Career numbers say Staumont can do it since his velocity is BACK, but where's the control? Can he flip the switch soon? Alcala, with any form of his previously decent/good change up could be MONSTER. The velocity and health are back. A couple bad outings doesn't deter me from having high hopes. Funderburk flashed in 2023, and might have been promoted later than he should have been. I'm a believer in his potential. Is he ready for duty? Jackson is a complete wild card. How on earth do you stick around for YEARS, go to the orient TWICE, I believe, and FINALLY get healthy and productive at age 36? I DON'T usually put a lot of faith in ST numbers, but he's looked good coming off a good, limited, season with the Jay's. Sands has a decent, average FB. It probably plays up in the pen. His curveball can be SICK at times. He didn't receive any favors from the Twins bouncing between ML and AAA the past 2yrs and BARELY being used in 2023. He had more days of service time than he had IP! But now he's supposed to be part of the initial pen? This kid probably has more pressure on him than anyone to prove he can be jerked around from level to level and STILL learn and adapt. BUT, if Okert can just be what he's been previously, if Staumont can be close to what he's been previously...maybe gaining control and momentum over the next few weeks...if Jackson can be the surprise he was for the Jay's in 2023 and what he's been in ST for the Twins so far in 2024, if Funderburk can just continue what he started in 2023...we can be OK for the 1st month. Better and deeper when Topa and Thielbar are healthy come May-ish. And really, really good when Duran comes back late May or June. If you want to argue "IF's", I'll let you do so. But tell me the last time the Twins had enough bullpen depth to begin the season when they weren't dependent, with injury and question marks, on waiver wire additions or someone like the "lost" Balazovic being thrust in to the opening day lineup because there was nobody else? Yes, I'm optimistic. Yes, things could just BLOW UP. But the FO did RIGHT by bringing in a number of arms with potential. I'm banking on the depth to withstand some early concerns to be OK...not great...but OK, until Topa and Thielbar, and eventually Duran, are ready to be a TOP pen. The ONUS is on the rotation to perform as expected, the offense to perform as expected, and the pen to just hold serve as best they can for a month or so.

Yes. I ALMOST listed him with DeScalfini as a possible 60 day IL option. I didn't only because I've read he might be throwing late March, or about now, and I'm not certain about his health or the option of a 15 day or 60 day. But you are correct to include him as a potential 60 day option.

Prospect list always compel me to have to comment: KIRILLOFF: With the wrist issue now apparently fixed, I'm expecting his very best season in 2024 and establishing himself as a lineup mainstay for the next few years, regardless of debates we want to have about 1B this coming season. LARNACH: I'm of the belief he and Martin will fill LF in 2025 in a quasi platoon as Martin will also play CF. And Larnach will probably play some DH as well. There's still something to work with even if he never reaches the level we had hoped for. It's up to him. SABATO: I don't blame the Twins for drafting him 1st in 2020. They were picking in the 20's with a lot of missing pieces of information for ALL eligible players. 1B/DH ONLY, he was a potentially special RH power bat based on his first 2yrs of college ball. At this point, I don't expect him to play ML ball, at least not with the Twins. CANTERINO: ASSUMING he can ever stay mostly healthy one of these days, I was in favor of him staying in the rotation coming in to this season. I think that dream is over. He should be a RP going forward. Now, is he a Stewart type who bounces around for a while and fights injuries and FINALLY gets right at 29-30yrs old? Or is there a chance he gets right sooner than that? Crossing my fingers, but ohhhh...WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN! CAVACO: An example where you just DON'T draft a toolsy HS kid with helium that early. One of the few times where the scouting department just guessed WRONG. Hopefully a learning experience. COLINA: I honestly thought he'd be one of the top RP in the bullpen this season, if not last. Another example of how injuries can just ruin the potential of an arm. VALLIMONT and RIJO: I had doubts about Vallimont, but thought he had pen potential. I actually thought Rijo had a shot as a rotation piece as he really flashed for a little while. Again, it shows how injuries cruelly affect potential. URBINA: I don't want to just single him out by himself, even though he's 22. I say this excluding Emma and the recently Gabriel Gonzalez who are both in the 20-21 year old range, but because in the lower levels there's a collection of 19-21yo Latin players who are coming off their 1st or 2nd season stateside after flashing in the DSL previously. And they're all young enough to raise their games in 2024, Urbina amongst them. And while I'm excited about the TOP prospects in the system, I'm going to be looking really hard at Urbina, J Rodriguez, Mercedes, and a few other Latin players in A ball who were signed as really nice international signings who have the opportunity to move up and establish themselves as good if not top prospects following 2024.

It's also about the 40 man. Only DeScalfini has a major injury at this time to warrant a 60 man IL stint. But until or unless someone else gets seriously injured, who do you trade or DFA to clear a 40 man spot even if they wanted to sign someone? Not saying it might not happen. But it's also a 40 man decision and the potential loss or other assets.

Thank you for the correction on Alcala. Sometimes I type faster than I think. LOL Oblique injuries are sometimes really nasty for a pitcher. Since Duran's is listed as "moderate" I'm going to assume they will do a great job rehabbing him and he will be back ASAP and free of any other issues the rest of the year. However, when they say "up to 6 weeks" for Duran, I'm just assuming it will be 8 weeks. So yes, I could see end of May or first of June as viable. And while I wouldn't DARE demean Duran's ability or importance in any way, if Topa and Thielbar can come back fairly soon, and we have no additional injuries, there's enough talent and depth to still have a decent pen for those first couple of month, IMO. Duran healthy and ready to go from June on is more important than rushing back, that's for sure.

I think, more than likely, that Stewart takes Duran's role as a 1 inning closer and Jax continues in his role as a fireman in whatever inning he's needed...occasionally the 9th I'm sure...and he can sometimes go more than a single inning, though I don't know that you want to use him that way too often right now. It SOUNDS like Topa's injury is mild tendonitis. If that's true, and he's back in a couple of weeks, that really helps. Without him, I feel less confident in the 6th-8th innings that I did previously. I think Okert can do a solid job while temporarily filling in for Thielbar, based on his career to this point. Jackson has had a great ST, for what it's worth. Alcala is healthy and again and throwing hard. (Yes, he's had a couple bad games). And Funderfurk has looked pretty real going back to last year. If those 3 can be the primary 6th-7th inning guys I feel pretty good in the short term. I can't wait to get both Duran and Thielbar back, but there's still a potentially decent pen for the short term, especially if Topa is back and ready to go quickly. But I think Jax maintains the same role he's had before, not the closer, but a fireman/setup arm.

I think the only real question is keeping Sands vs Staumont. I don't know that the Twins have to have that long man, but Rocco likes it when they do. It was pretty much a wasted roster spot last season, but last year was last year and who knows if that role will be needed or used more this season. Staumont, from what I've heard, seems to have full velocity back post surgery. But the results haven't been there according to the box scores. Unfortunately, I haven't had an opportunity to watch him so far this spring, so that's all I have to judge him on. Maybe he's thrown the ball well, been working on some things as pitchers do, and maybe he had some bad luck here and there. But that's the one spot that I think is in flux still.

As to the whole different discussion of LH hitters facing LHP, I don't have a difffinitive answer. Baseball history shows something like a 100 OPS or more loss for a LH batter vs a LHP. Right? If a RH batter can't hit RH pitching AT ALL they become a specialist/platoon player who doesn't have much of a career unless they're special in some regard. BUT, there is an ABSOLUTE difference from a LH bat who produces at, let's just say, an .800 OPS ALL STAR level vs RHP against that same LH hitter producing at a .675 to .700 clip. That's a pretty amazing amount of production and someone you probably leave in your lineup daily, especially waiting for a RH to come out of the other teams pen. We're talking Mauer and Morneau types of hitters as Twins fans. @Riverbrianis right when you talk about opportunity. You dont know what you have until you let them try. Julien spent the offseason with a pitching machine and a local LHP throwing from the left side to help him adjust to being better, and a more complete batter. Unless you build your entire lineup to bat RH, which is crazy silly because you're ALWAYS going to face 70-75% RHP, you're ALWAYS going to have to place a couple LH batters in your lineup. That's just reality. And you can't platoon everyone. Not only is there not enough roster space, but RP come in to the game from the opposite arm side. There is NO answer about trying to MAKE a LH bat be good, or even acceptable, against a LHP. But you can at least give them a try, some leeway, considering you can't always hide them, and see what they might do. Giving opportunity to find the least BAD LH bat vs LHP pitching is something I'm 100% behind.

I'm a bit confused about how a month of ST, and limited AB fluxoms so many peoples opinions. Wallner is/was a top draft choice and a top prospect. He not only produced at every milb level he's ever played at, he's also shown the ability to adapt and improve...I.E. start a little slow at times and then ramp up. While is MLB time is beyond SSS, let's call it MSS. All he's done so far, EVERYWHERE, is hit and hit with power and produce, and adapt. Period. So we're concerned with a poor ST? Fine. The type of hitter he is will probably always produce some streaks. (Secret...that happens for most hitters). And if he stinks for a month...as pointed out previous post...he could be sent down to AAA the same way Hunter was years ago. There are no scholarships until you're a proven ML player. But hasn't Wallner earned enough points and confidence at this point that we give him the benefit of the doubt after 32 ST AB? What's that, 8 games??

It's a pat on the back, hand shake, shoulder bump, to say we still love you and you're part of the organization and we believe in you, and have hope for you confidence move. He's relatively young, long and strong and has some good stuff to work with. You don't let arms like that leave until you try everything. If he explodes in St Paul, you cut him loose. If he blows up, you pat yourself on the back for believing in him and promote him at some point.

For once, I admonish the FO for the faith/hope they showed in DeScalfini MAYBE being a 5th option for the rotation to at least begin 2024. They're just smarter than that! But I am going to focus on Varland, and Varland alone. The TWO TIME Twins milb pitcher of the year...let's not forget that...had a pretty nice debut in 2022 with a sub 4 ERA in his 21 IP, including pitching in NY for his first appearance, I believe. I remain surprised how many people forget his 1st cup of coffee as well as his first 5 games started...still as a rookie...in 2023. After 5 games he had a sub 4 ERA and was averaging about a K per inning. Then, like many rookies, he ran in to some trouble. His next 3 games inflated his ERA before his impressive late season bullpen stint. As a SP, he's going to sit 94-96, not 98-99, and that's FINE. His cutter will sit 88-90, not 91-93, and that's also FINE. His issue is powerful RH bats beating him up from time to time as he's a reverse split pitcher so far. He's OK as a 5th starter as is. Totally competent. But he takes a step forward if his new 2 seamer takes hold! And while he hasn't thrown it a ton this spring, if he can make it even an average pitch, he's better than a 5th starter. If he can make it a notch above average offering, he's a legitimate mid rotation starter. The HOPE was DeScalfini could be a solid 5th starter to at least begin the season. Personally, that's all I expected or hoped for. That would allow Varland to work more on his new 2 seamer at St Paul and be the next man up. That's out the window now. He now has to be that "competent" 5th starter while still working on his new pitch. I have a lot of faith in him. But I'm expecting better 2nd half numbers than 1st half numbers as he gets more comfortable. Short term, he can be solid. Long term, he can and will get better. It's the depth issue that concerns me, not Varland. I've always thought he would be as good or better than DeScalfini.

58yo and a fan for about 53yrs, but not a devoted one...I was just a little kid, lol...until about the mid 70's. I watched games on Grandma's cable and read the Tribune and every single I could I could get my hands on from about age 10-11. I've read publications that no longer even exist...Baseball Digest as an example...to follow the team and prospects. I've seen some very good offensive teams in my day. I'll always have a soft spot for the late 80's and early 90's and a few years where Cuddy and the M&M boys helped produce some really good offenses. But while there are a few question marks about the 2024 offense including the kids repeating, how much do we get out of Buxton, does Santana have anything left other than as a solid platoon partner, I'm honestly about as excited about the Twins lineup as I've ever been. Despite a bad pattern of scoring runs only in bunches and no clutch hitting, the team virtually flipped the entire script the second half of 2023 after some changes, and WITHOUT Buxton, and a still limited Correa. And they finished #2 in runs the 2nd half behind Houston, IIRC. Julien and Lewis are for real. I think Wallner is as well, but he's a small notch down. I still expect a few bumps in the road due to inexperience. Correa is healthy again. It looks like we can expect more than a single month of a hurt Buxton. AK appears 100% and ready to FINALLY show what he's capable of. Jeffers and Vazquez form a really nice combo at catcher both offensively and defensively. And not only are there some solid depth pieces at the ML level, but there's a handful of really nice prospects and potential contributors at AAA. I don't think offense is going to be an issue in 2024.

And the rest of the 75M?

No question Duran and Thielbar out for a month, maybe longer, is a huge blow. (I'd expect Thielbar back first) But all the arms we've added this past offseason HAS offered/allowed depth we haven't had in YEARS. In the past we'd be asking "great, now who can we add, who can we call up, whoa is us." Instead of being FORCED to keep someone or bring someone up to fill a spot, we're still figuring out who stays. I'm not oblivious to what we've, temporarily, lost. I'm focused on what we HAVE for the next month or so to work with. I'd keep Jax in the role he knows, one IP, occasionally a little more. And I'd use Stewart for ONE IP at a time to regulate his arm. Okert has had a solid career thus far, and becomes my LH set up guy for now. Until he takes that job away, I'm keeping Funderburk in the role of 6-7 inning guy. Topa would SEEM to be a 6-8 inning guy based on what he did for Seattle. Alcala is a wild card. In the second half of 2021 Alacala found a change that started to work. And he was DOMINATE that second half. And then 2yrs of injuries followed. The health and velocity appear to be back. If he can have that change working again, even close, he's a legitimate presence in the Pen. There is depth and arms available to POTENTIALLY allow for a still solid pen for the next month plus. Especially if the offense produces as capable of and the rotation stays solid. The Twins pen, right now, is still deeper than it's been a lot of previous seasons. I hesitate to use "if things break right" because of that depth and potential. I say "hesitate" because the arms are there if they just don't suddenly implode. But the talent and depth are there to be OK, and hold even serve, for a month or two, before Thielbar and Duran return.

Are the Twins adopting an unusual approach of power at positions not known for it? They've had the likes of Puckett and Hunter in CF as powerful performers, then Buxton, going back 30 plus years. They've had the powerful and dangerous Knoblauch and Dozier at 2B at different times. They've also played lower power platoons at 3B previously, and guys like Punto there. Doug Mientkiewicz was no slugger at 1B for a few years. In fact, over the past few decades, many of the best athletes and producers on teams have been CF, SS, and even 2B. The game has changed. In general, and for the Twins in particular, it's about building the best, most productive team you can, regardless of which position(s) gives you power and RBI and which might provide more speed or top of the order OB ability. At 1B for 2024, how do we count power and production if Kirilloff gets half his AB, theoretically, as a DH? Personally, I believe he stokes 20+ HR and over 30 Dbls as long as he's healthy. I'm betting he hits around the .270-.280 range with a respectable OB%. I'll take that all day long. Regardless of where he plays, and how much, I expect him to probably outproduce Santana. And there's even a chance Julien gets some time at 1B this season. So again, how do we measure production at 1B? By individual numbers, or the numbers only produced from the spot itself? There's a lot of potential offensively for this team, at every spot, and multiple players who can provide it. But 1B doesn't appear to be similar to SS, for instance, where 1 guy should be there most days. So I guess I'm more focused on playing the best, most productive guys I can, and plugging them in to the lineup every day I can. I have doubts about Santana, but believe he's at least capable of being a nice part of the 1B equation. What I'm focused on is the most production possible out of the guys on the roster and how the offense performs as a whole.

I really liked his signing last year. Young, athletic, fast, versatile, and just needing opportunity and development. Of course, I thought he would be seeing limited action with the Twins and 2024 would be his breakout year. Very happy to be wrong about that! He played 6 spots...some more than others obviously...and played them all well. He provided a little power, much needed speed, and produced an above league average OPS as a super utility player. If there was an annual award given for such a role, he'd have to be a top 3 finisher wouldn't he? I'd be happy if all he did was repeat what he did in 2023. That's all I ask. But I agree with Rocco that his relative youth, combined with confidence and talent, he might still improve. If he could add 10 points to his AVG and 10-15 points to his OB %, that would be enough for me. But what if the SLG went up another 10-15 points as well? I think we've got one of the best super utility guys in the game. And I really love his defense pretty much every time I watch him. All he needs to be is himself and produce like he did last year. He'll be a regular in the lineup. But even a little bit of improvement almost makes him a "star" player.

What they MIGHT do is sign someone like Syndergard or Cueto on a milb deal with a $2M type of MLB contract IF they prove they have something left and are promoted. Again, I think it's a MIGHT situation. What worries me is the initial depth if someone goes down early. Right now, I'd guess SWR is the next man up if that happens. His velocity is back up and he didn't look too bad in his limited time with the Twins this spring. Headrick is probably next. But I don't feel comfortable with Festa until he gets some additional AAA experience. If Raya gets any time with the Twins, it wouldn't be until late in the year as he's got to stretch out more and hasn't even seen AAA yet. We might even get a surprise later on from someone like Canterino or Ohl, but again, that would be later in the year. I don't want anyone to get injured, of course, but I have to wonder about old friend Dobnak if he's finally 100% and can recapture his previous form. He's mature, has ML experience, and when healthy he was a decent #5 option a few years ago. I want to see the prospects all do great and develop and establish themselves. I'm just a little worried if some of them have to come up the first half of the season.

I can see a place in 2025 for both Miranda and Larnach as long as they are healthy, and as long as each continues to work and develop in 2024 while in St Paul. I'm certainly not saying they aren't important depth and won't contribute this season, but I see full time roster spots for both next year. MIRANDA: He's a big, strong dude. As long as he resorts back to the "good contact" approach he developed in 2021 and as a ML rookie in 2022, he should be part of the 1B/DH mix next season and might still sneak in at 3B here and there as/if needed. When someone figures something out, and does it for 2 years, but then gets hurt and loses it, I give them the benefit of the doubt and kinda expect them to do it again. That's Miranda. And while he hasn't been dominate this spring, he's looked more like his old self. LARNACH: I'm not certain at this point if Larnach will ever be a full time starter, at least for the Twins. I've said previously I think he'd hit .225-.230 and stroke 20+ HR and 30+ DBls if he got 500 AB's. (even if that meant some obvious struggles against LHP). We've seen glimpses of what he can do. And I agree, maybe he's been too worried about power and pulling and hitting breaking balls to the point where he's gotten in to his own head. He does have natural power and a smooth stroke. Sort of like Kepler, I think he just needs to trust in his natural swing and power and just get the bat to meet the ball firmly and some good results will follow. If Kepler is indeed gone next year, Wallner moves to RF. I have a hunch we'll see Martin on a daily basis, starting in LF, and filling in for Buxton in CF for days off or when injuries hit. Larnach will be part of the DH mix and will cover both corner OF spots. So he might still be a fixture, but maybe more as an "almost daily" lineup presence but not a full time starter. BALAZOVIC: No clue how he's fallen this far this fast. He's big, strong, lanky, got good velocity, and a handful of at least solid secondary offerings. I know his knee injury, and trying to compensate for it, really messed him up a couple years ago. But he was supposedly fully healthy in 2023 and was a complete mess. Which I find all the more baffling as he arrived at camp early and anxious to prove himself. He's still only 25yo, so it's nice to have him still around and see if he can turn the corner, now as a bullpen option. Certainly, the stuff is there to be a factor out of the pen, if he can just get re-focused and get nasty for 1-2 innings at a time. I'm not expecting that to happen at this point. I don't feel confident he's going to suddenly turn his career around. But it would be awesome if he did.

I don't know if we can accurately state Funderburk has had a bad spring. The 9 BB in 12.1 IP is just awful! But 12K's in those 12 IP and an opponent BA AVG...10 hits in 12 IP...of .217 is awfully good. I think there's a good chance they'll keep a long man since Rocco is always fearful of a "just in case" game. If there are no other injuries over the next month, I think the pen can hold on and be OK in the short term, but obviously not as good without Duran. That's a huge blow.

Guess I'm going to repeat myself here. I keep wondering about the Polanco deal if it had happened AFTER the smaller but not insignificant 2024 TV deal with Bally. Might the Twins have signed SOMEONE like Wacha on a 1yr deal and still moved Polanco for value? Maybe still to Seattle but a different deal? I never liked bringing in DeScalfini, even though I held out hope. I still believe that Varland might have been the better option all along, but the DEPTH idea is now gone. We're now trusting that SWR and a more experienced Headrick, and the "maybe not QUITE ready Festa is our depth. It's why I've advocated for weeks now the Twins should grab an available arm on a milb deal. Someone to have a split contract who can ramp up at St Paul and hopefully be ready in a few weeks to be at least DECENT if called on. Odorizzi is gone. Guys like Cueto and Keller are still out there. Maybe Lorenzen or Clevinger are still cheap options to take a flier on at this point. I might be wrong, but I've had a feeling in the back of my head that despite payroll concerns, that MAYBE ownership was holding a little bit back in case the Twins needed to add someone on a 1yr deal? NOT adding Montgomery, but just having enough for a mid season addition or an early addition if injury hit for a smallish deal. If so, it might be time to do so for additional depth options vs just trusting the prospects. If the pen is as deep as expected and hoped for, the pen can probably absorb the loss of Duran and Thielbar for a few weeks. Thielbar seems to be the most likely to come back early from what I've heard, can throw OK, but can't cover his position. Duran needs to have his oblique 100% because you don't want a repeat. Can the pen cover 4-6 weeks? Let's hope so. Because Duran's loss is greater than Thielbar or Desclafani. Still looking for an update on Canterino. I thought Winder was the only pitcher with a scaplia injury.