Shane Wahl

Very good post. I really liked this move from the beginning. He also provides depth at two other positions besides SS, which is nice. I am hoping that his slugging goes up a little bit with the Target Field gaps.

There is a legitimate concern that the following happens: Capps repeats 2011, Perkins turns into a pumpkin, Burnett founders again, Swarzak shows his true colors, Doyle demonstrates that he needs more polishing in the minors, and Zumaya's arm falls off. I trust Duensing to be an excellent LOOGY, but beyond that there are no guarantees. That is why it is very good that the Twins basically doubled the number of potential arms in the bullpen from 2011. If the horrible scenario above happens, Diamond, Oliveros, Maloney/Gray (only one will remain in the organization in April, methinks), Waldrop, Guerra, DeVries, Slama (yes, him!), Gutierrez, Burton, Bulger and others are there ready for a try.

Nick's roster is definitely the most likely scenario, probably by far. There is a difference between what it will be and what it should be, though. Assuming total health, only Nishioka, Burnett, and Swarzak are up for debate. Luke Hughes does provide a RH bat and adequate infield defense at three positions. I would prefer Burroughs or Carson instead of Nishioka at the beginning of the season because I think Nishioka needs to play every day and he provides so little beyond speed right now. 2011 was a year of bad promotions for the most part, in my view. Burnett and Tosoni, being legitimate prospects, should have been at Rochester. Chuck James and Aaron Bates could have been with the Twins instead for the same or better production in 2011 and without the weirdness that goes with promoting prospects to quickly. I would hope Burnett turns into a very good 7th inning guy. I wish the Twins would trade Swarzak now that is value has peaked for the last time. I highly doubt that he is going to be good in 2012 and he may not even prove to be adequate at all.

I have seen comments from Pirates fans laughing or crying in memory with regard to Doumit's defensive ability at first base. It might be his worst position. I agree that pushing Parmelee is not a great idea immediately. I am not comfortable with Luke Hughes' bat or Ryan Doumit's glove every day at first base. If Aaron Bates and Steve Pearce don't work out . . . what's wrong with throwing $1 million at Derrek Lee? It isn't panicking to add a former star (just a few years removed from a great season) for very cheap!

One of my fondest memories as a child is the time my dad taught me how to score a baseball game. I was 10 years old and I became obsessed with "keeping the book" while watching the Twins on television (I believe those were the Midwest Sports Channel days). My scorebook had about a dozen or so games in it before the postseason came along. I kept score for every ALCS game without a problem. Then it was the World Series. I started keeping score for every game of that series . . . and I stopped scoring around the 5th or 6th inning of every single game (I think I stopped watching game 5 altogether). I absolutely could not handle the nerves of writing simple letters and numbers in a book any longer. I remember actually throwing that book away a few years later (that was obviously a dumb thing to do) and looking back at those games and my failed attempts to complete a single game from that series with a laugh. There are a lot of memories that a lot of Twins fans have of that series: the Puckett game (6) and the Morris game (7), Ron Gant clearly throwing himself off of first base and Kent Hrbek trying to simply help stop him, etc. For me, it is when this baseball nerd became a nervous 10-year-old fan again.

One of my fondest memories as a child is the time my dad taught me how to score a baseball game. I was 10 years old and I became obsessed with "keeping the book" while watching the Twins on television (I believe those were the Midwest Sports Channel days). My scorebook had about a dozen or so games in it before the postseason came along. I kept score for every ALCS game without a problem. Then it was the World Series. I started keeping score for every game of that series . . . and I stopped scoring around the 5th or 6th inning of every single game (I think I stopped watching game 5 altogether). I absolutely could not handle the nerves of writing simple letters and numbers in a book any longer. I remember actually throwing that book away a few years later (that was obviously a dumb thing to do) and looking back at those games and my failed attempts to complete a single game from that series with a laugh. There are a lot of memories that a lot of Twins fans have of that series: the Puckett game (6) and the Morris game (7), Ron Gant clearly throwing himself off of first base and Kent Hrbek trying to simply help stop him, etc. For me, it is when this baseball nerd became a nervous 10-year-old fan again.

Derrek Lee. For the love of God, Derrek Lee.

Great job. I remember (and REALLY wish I could find it again) some article early in the season last year that Gardy as saying something like "they tell me he has a good on base percentage . . ." I don't know who that was in reference to at all, but it is alarming that such a simple and dominant stat is treated by the manager as something that others have to tell him about. And one can see it throughout Gardy's lineups over the years. For instance, Joe Mauer is clearly the prototypical 2-hitter in many ways and should have been placed there for most of his career so far. This year is a thankful exception. Hudson was adequate through most of 2010, but Carroll might be the best since . . . . Knoblauch (?) when he batted second? When was the last time this team had 1 and 2 hitters with .350+ OBP??? Span, Carroll, and Mauer are all great OBP players. Willingham should have a ton of RBI this year.

5 were truly pulled in 2009, so I will stick with my guess of 14.

I am not concerned about his health in the total-breakdown sense, but I am concerned about how he has been in September in years prior to last year. This gets remedied by moving him to 1B more and by DHing him more. His value goes down because he isn't putting up those great numbers (and they have been, aside from last year) as a catcher anymore, but if this means he also has his legs under him in September, maybe his overall value doesn't change that much given increased PAs. Also, 3B would probably be the ideal position since 1B is more of a power position.

Those five are all legitimate breakout pitchers this year. I think Soliman should be higher. Guerra maintaining his 'pen numbers for last year could give me more hope for 2013.

14. I wonder how many he hit down the right field line at the Metrodome in 2009? Depending on that number, I could go up or down.

Burroughs as a lefty and Carson has a power bat should potentially have the edge.

Dozier and Florimon were at AA last year other than Florimon's September callup, and Chang, while possible, still is not proven at AAA either. Casilla is the other shortstop on the team who can move over if Carroll is ever hurt or pinch something for (probably doubtful), and if Casilla is out mid-game (more doubtful), then Plouffe can be the emergency SS. Calling up one of these three or Nishioka can then happen for the next game.

The Twins roster right now seems fairly set outside of 1-2 bullpen spots and one bench spot. But with Luke Hughes perhaps not being fully ready at the beginning of the season, it is possible that two spots will be available. Many think that Nishioka has the inside track for one of those spots, but he also cannot right now be trusted to play second base, so having a backup shortstop who isn't a good defender and has shown nothing at the plate so far would seem to be problematic. So, removing Hughes and Nishioka from the roster and barring other injuries (to mess this up), there are two spots available for a number of players who either played with the Twins or Rochester last year or were in another organization. These players (in no particular order) are: 1. Rene Tosoni-RF/LF, LH (.618 OPS in 189 plate appearances for the Twins in 2011) 2. Sean Burroughs-3B (but is apparently going to try his hand at 2B and 1B as well), LH (.626 OPS in 115 for the Diamondbacks in 2011) 3. Aaron Bates-1B/LF (perhaps RF as well), RH (.847 OPS in 420 plate appearances at Rochester in 2011) 4. Steve Pearce-1B/RF (and some 3B as well), RH (.515 OPS in 105 plate appearances for the Pirates in 2011) 5. Darin Mastroianni-CF/LF/RF, RH (.747 OPS in 364 plate appearances in AAA in 2011) 6. Wilkin Ramirez RF/LF/CF, RH (.766 in 313 plate appearances in AAA in 2011) 7. Matt Carson RF/CF/LF, RH (.871 OPS in 475 plate appearances in AAA in 2011) I would argue that as Rene Tosoni is the only real prospect and was rushed into service for the Twins last year, he should start in Rochester, playing every day. Matt Carson has a lot of power and can apparently play all OF positions. Mastroianni has good speed and can also play all OF positions. Wilkin Ramirez is somewhere in the middle and can play all OF positions. Steve Pearce at least used to have a lot of power, Aaron Bates has some power, and Sean Burroughs doesn't have much power. One can see a pattern. It seems silly to predict or choose which two of these guys I would replace Hughes and Nishioka with right now, but it will interesting to see if they will get serious attention to be in contention for the roster.

The Twins roster right now seems fairly set outside of 1-2 bullpen spots and one bench spot. But with Luke Hughes perhaps not being fully ready at the beginning of the season, it is possible that two spots will be available. Many think that Nishioka has the inside track for one of those spots, but he also cannot right now be trusted to play second base, so having a backup shortstop who isn't a good defender and has shown nothing at the plate so far would seem to be problematic. So, removing Hughes and Nishioka from the roster and barring other injuries (to mess this up), there are two spots available for a number of players who either played with the Twins or Rochester last year or were in another organization. These players (in no particular order) are: 1. Rene Tosoni-RF/LF, LH (.618 OPS in 189 plate appearances for the Twins in 2011) 2. Sean Burroughs-3B (but is apparently going to try his hand at 2B and 1B as well), LH (.626 OPS in 115 for the Diamondbacks in 2011) 3. Aaron Bates-1B/LF (perhaps RF as well), RH (.847 OPS in 420 plate appearances at Rochester in 2011) 4. Steve Pearce-1B/RF (and some 3B as well), RH (.515 OPS in 105 plate appearances for the Pirates in 2011) 5. Darin Mastroianni-CF/LF/RF, RH (.747 OPS in 364 plate appearances in AAA in 2011) 6. Wilkin Ramirez RF/LF/CF, RH (.766 in 313 plate appearances in AAA in 2011) 7. Matt Carson RF/CF/LF, RH (.871 OPS in 475 plate appearances in AAA in 2011) I would argue that as Rene Tosoni is the only real prospect and was rushed into service for the Twins last year, he should start in Rochester, playing every day. Matt Carson has a lot of power and can apparently play all OF positions. Mastroianni has good speed and can also play all OF positions. Wilkin Ramirez is somewhere in the middle and can play all OF positions. Steve Pearce at least used to have a lot of power, Aaron Bates has some power, and Sean Burroughs doesn't have much power. One can see a pattern. It seems silly to predict or choose which two of these guys I would replace Hughes and Nishioka with right now, but it will interesting to see if they will get serious attention to be in contention for the roster.

I would hope he is the 25th man (if he is decent or better in ST) instead of either an injured Hughes or AAA Nishioka. Good lord, if the Twins are willing to keep Matt Capps around in part because he is a "good guy," then you would think they would like making this a true feel-good story as well, right?

Well I will be very optimistic and put the Twins here. I wouldn't vomit if the Royals ended up second. The other two teams, I cannot stand. I do think the Twins will have a significant bounce back year. I would take the over at 80 games if Mauer and Willingham stay healthy the vast majority of the year. So with that and a significant pitching improvement, it isn't out of the realm of possibility that the Twins take second.

I like this idea. Now I have more work to do. Thanks . . .

Sweet Jesus, my brain hurts after reading a single sentence of this. F et M PC thing. How does this happen?

Fair enough. You are right about that.

Not all power is homerun power. With Target Field being so spacious in the gaps, there is a lot of potential for doubles and triples on speed alone from Casilla, Revere, and Span. Even Carroll had 5 or 6 triples last year. I get the sense that Willingham is going to be hitting a lot of homers at Target Field down the left field line as well. Parker had a good blog post about this awhile back.

Yes, but Rosario has had one decent year and one great year as an OF. He has zero years of any kind at 2B. If he sticks and has a year, say, where he splits the difference at between his 2010 and 2011 performance in 2012 at Beloit, then you are definitely correct.

My "this is preposterous" line was meant towards Fanatic Jack, not Seth.

Good lord that is ridiculous!! How are there such mistakes? I mean just a modicum of research would point to what 6 or so of those guys being nowhere near the Twins prospect list.