laloesch

I don't agree. While Meyer needs a bit more polish, May just needs to be stretched out in a couple of starts and he's ready. I think TR is trying to save his job by winning games early and drawing more fans this season. Remember season attendance has been plummeting the last few seasons. I'm convinced that he and the rest of his staff are on the hot seat with ownership. The Pohlads do care about one thing and that is making a profit on their team. Ryan can't afford to lose 90-100 games this season. I think he is gambling that the Mike Pelfrey's, Tommy Milone's, Ricky Nolasco's and uhh Ervin Santana's were going to save his skin this season.

Exactly. The idea should be that they are offloaded if they have respectable starts to the season. I will be Ticked off though if either strings together 5 or 6 horrendous starts and the twins do nothing like call up may or meyer.

I think we need to be careful with the assumptions. There were MANY many Twins fans that never wanted these signings to begin with. I get the Hughes extension after last season and to a lesser extent the Santana signing in principle (4 years was too many given his age, IMO). But I think most of us can agree that we never wanted or warmed up to the Nolasco or Pelfrey deal(s). So in reality its not "having it both ways" at all. If those two hadn't been signed we'd have had a true open competition for #5 (Meyer, Berrios & May) with Hughes, Santana, Gibson locks at 1-3 and Milone more or less penciled in at #4. Unfortunately, Terry Ryan appears to be growing impatient (probably under pressure from ownership to start winning) thus he is clogging things up with these mediocre signings. This could jeopardize the development of May and Meyer who need significant major league experience soon. Remember too that during the winter meetings Ryan was hunting for 2 starters and attempted to get Kyle Kendricks. So what does that say about his confidence in these youngsters? That said, there is NOTHING to be gained by keeping May in AAA. The guy was ready last August and should have made the rotation out of spring training, despite the flu limiting his innings and the one good, one bad starts. Meyer on the other hand needs a little more time given his chaotic mechanics, inconsistency and mental game issues. So I see the reasoning that he was sent down at least temporarily. Berrios, obviously needs to pitch in AAA first before jumping to the major league level but he could be knocking on the door very soon. The Twins have A LOT of decisions to make this season. Either embrace the youth movement and trade some of the starters or stick with what they have and trade the prospects (which they probably won't do either). On a side note, I think the bullpen is going to be atrocious and we'll quickly see call ups.

They're not trying to prove anything IMO. This is SYA, kinda like CYA except it's save your own bleep. I think TR and his crew have been given the ultimatum by the Pohlads. Start winning games put more fans in the seats so that i can make more money OR ELSE. Just my opinion though. That said, i think they are miscalculating the guys being sent down (Sano, Rosario, May and to a lesser extent Hicks, Meyer and Buxton) would probably help this team win more games than Pelfrey, Milone, Stauffer, Robinson, Nunez and Tori Hunter. Again, just my opinion though.

All this means is that May and Meyer likely won't be starting for the rest of the season.

And neither is Meyer. Both are 25/26. Guess the Twins have decided that they can wait a couple more years with both. Rosario, Polanco, Buxton, May, Meyer all sent down in favor of the Mike Pelfrey's, Tommy Milone's, Shane Robinson's, and other washed up mediocre veterans......yep that's the Twins. Gotta love it.

Guess that's how they feel then. Might see Trevor in August early September if were lucky. Meyer..... maybe next season. Gotta let Milone, Nolasco and Pelfrey earn EVERY ONE OF THOSE DOLLARS. Disgusting.

Agreed. Why the Twins would roll with Shane Robinson over Rosario in center is mind boggling.

Not a good outing today for May at all. Probably sealed his fate with this one.

I completely agree. No more stepping out of the box for very pitch. No more calling time to slow down the pitcher. If you need to adjust your gloves do so between pitches. On the flip side a pitch clock for the pitcher.

"So this was not a knockout. Instead, it looks like we're going to have at least one more round as Molitor said after the game that both pitchers competing against Pelfrey, Tommy Milone and Trevor Mays, will get another start this week." hmmmmm........so what does this mean exactly? The way this statement is phrased it almost sounds like Pelfrey is the front runner. Boy i hope not.

Agreed. However, the Twins seem to have a fascination with Mike Pelfrey and Milone.

True. I too would like to see a trade of Nolasco and outright DFA of Pelfrey to free up rotation spots for Meyer and May. But judging how Ryan and Molitor have been talking up Mike and Ricky i don't think it will happen. The Twins are making a mistake by allowing May & Meyer to grow old in the minors (both are 25 now).

I agree, I don't know how Burdi doesn't enter this discussion. He will debut at some point this season given his "stuff." It's just a matter of when. I'd also like to see Jake Reed and JT. Chargois enter this discussion. Heck even Alex Wimmers might be a possibility at some point. Point is the the Twins have a gluttony of gifted relievers knocking on the door and don't have to settle for Pelfrey or Stauffer as bullpen options.

He hits into a ton of double plays because he hits almost everything to short. It's not because he's a "great batter." A high OBP isn't the be-all end-all for batting 1st or 2nd in the order.

How so? . FACT: Mauer K'd more times last season then at any point in his career. His OBP, SLG, RBI & HR totals all very close to career lows with the exception of 2011 when he WAS hurt. Set aside the fact that he's 6'-5" tall, 230 lbs and lanky, he's simply too slow and inflexible to stretch those doubles into triples or singles into doubles. It makes ZERO sense having him bat lead-off given he lacks any power, is ultra conservative at the plate and hits everything to left field and nothing to right. Then you add in the fact that he hits into A TON of DB's (he's led the AL 3 or 4 times now in that category) and shows no signs of slowing down with teams employing the shift against him. Do you still really want him batting lead-off or 2nd? Sounds like a bit more than fictitious claims and more likely that SOME Twin fans can't handle the fact that Joe Mauer may not be almighty and all powerful after signing that 20 million dollar a year contract a few years back.

I would like to see the Twins move him back to catcher at least part time. If they have given up on Pinto and Suzuki is our primary option at least have Mauer catch Kurt's days off. Perhaps this will help him "see pitches" better, which apparently is part of the reason why his batting average has dropped along with the increased strikeouts. Just a thought. Mauer will never be a power hitter unfortunately and without increased homerun and RBI totals he's a VERY EXPENSIVE light hitting first baseman.

"He does hit into a ton of double plays due to his inability to lift the ball to the right side." Which is precisely why he shouldn't leadoff or hit two-hole. He's too slow, has very little power, hits into way to many double plays, hits almost everything to the left side of the diamond and does not produce enough RBI's. Don't get me wrong, Mauer is a good hitter no doubt, but his approach has flaws and other teams are now exploiting them (infield and outfield shifts). I wouldn't bat him higher than #5 or #6 in the order, but given what the Twins have to work with right now I get that he should hit #3 until Sano and Buxton arrive and are established.

In all seriousness I wouldn't be surprised. It just surprising how foolish he is in letting his agent convince him to go to Minnesota for the extra years and money. Sure money talks, but would you move somewhere you absolutely hate for 1 more guaranteed year and a few extra million bucks? I mean the Dodgers are now a perennial playoff team and in an area he loves and because they didn't offer him what he wants he decides to leave the franchise for a perennial loser in an area he dislikes? Stupid is stupid does if you ask me. Hopefully Ryan realizes this sooner or later. Ship him out as soon as possible.

Huh? After last seasons horrific numbers? Are you seriously arguing that Nolasco is on equal footing for opening day starter this season? Seriously, whatever you are smoking I want some. There is NO QUESTION that Hughes is the opening day starter. Santana is #2 based on pure stuff and last seasons record. And...... If I were a betting man i'd be willing to wager that Gibson is the #3 starter based on the fact that he won twice as many games as Nolasco and had an era almost 2 runs lower. Just my opinion

I agree 100%. He thinks he's being clever, but Ricky needs to get a clue. Bashing the weather in the state you play in and saying you wish you were still in LA?....come-on man. Stinks like a spoiled brat if you ask me. Hopefully the prospects pitch well in ST and Ricky starts the season on a role. I want this guy out of Minnesota as soon as Ryan can swing a deal. Last seasons horrendous performance and his career numbers are just not good enough to put up with this BS. The Twins have too many good prospects (May, Meyer & soon Berrios) as well as Milone who are itching at making the MLB team. Gibson should be fine behind Santana and Hughes as the #3 starter. Fill the rest of the rotation with guys WHO WANT TO BE HERE.

Barring a horrible spring training, Trevor May no question. It irritates me that Ryan has repeatedly said that their hoping Pelfrey makes the club as the fifth starter.

That would be my preference. Twins should make it a point to unload both these guys (Nolasco and Milone) even if the return is low. Pelfrey should have been gone last season, but we all know Terry Ryan LOVES dumpster diving & reclamation projects. Opening up rotation spots for May and Meyer should be a top priority for the Twins FO. I'm willing to wait until mid season, but they had better stop procrastinating with these two as both are mid 20's now.

I see that "order of preference" with Pelfrey at the top and it makes me CRINGE! In all fairness it should be May Meyer Milone Pelfrey Stauffer