Shane Wahl

Yes, this means something new for the Twins. IF Morneau is ok, and now the Twins have a RH pull hitter with power, this means more than mid-70s wins. The OBP is going to be there. If the slugging is as well, nay-saying "fans" are going to be in for a shock.

Haha, "serving up way too much interesting" is exactly spot on. He has to strike people out. If not, it is going to be a disaster. What's interesting from my optimistic point of view is that since health may NOT be a concern outside of Baker, the closer situation might be the most pressing problem.

As I have been saying about Hicks . . . he is A: ready for MLB defensively, B: ready for MLB with plate discipline, and C: ready to bust out this year. Yes the AFL is a hitter's league, but he was a A+ player playing in a AA/AAA prospects league.

This kind of thing only makes me want to say "be patient" more, you know. Four freaking games. And please, who else should be batting second?

Seconded. Instant gratification culture. The season is a letter or a phone conversation, not a flurry of text messages sent every 15 seconds . . .

Including Nebraska, 22 Big 10 players were chosen in the 2011 MLB draft.

Each week leading up to the MLB draft, I will be providing a roundup of how Big 10 teams fared and how notable players are doing. This player list is by no means exhaustive of all the potential draft candidates and there are likely some listed who will fizzle out, but this is a start. Purdue (4-0 week, 24-5 overall, 7-2 Big Ten, first place) Updated players-to-watch season stats: Kevin Plawecki, R, © Jr. : 29 games, .373/.470/.618, EBH: 14/2/3, BB/K: 15/5, SB/SBA: 2/3 Eric Charles, R, (2B) Sr.: 28 games, .381/.455/.460, EBH: 7/1/0, BB/K: 14/10, SB/SBA: 12/13 Cameron Perkins, R, (3B) Jr.: 28 games, .388/.429/.545, EBH: 7/0/4, BB/K: 4/10, SB/SBA: 8/9 Stephen Talbott, R, (LF) Jr.: 28 games, .352/.364/.505, EBH: 3/5/1, BB/K: 2/18, SB/SBA: 10/12 Nick Wittgren, RHP, Jr.: 17 IP, 1.59 ERA, K/BB: 22/7 Blake Mascarello, LHP, Sr.: 35.2 IP, 2.52 ERA, K/BB: 30/6 Lance Breedlove, RHP, Sr.: 53 IP, 2.55 ERA, K/BB: 46/6 Nebraska (3-1, 22-12, 5-4, tied for 2nd place): Michael Pritchard, L (OF) So.: 33 games, .405/.469/.474, EBH: 8/0/0, BB/K: 13/7, SB/SBA: 4/7 Chad Christensen, R (OF) Jr.: 34 games, .353/.427/.568, EBH: 8/2/6, BB/K: 16/22, SB/SBA: 6/7 Ohio State (4-1, 18-12, 5-4, tied for 2nd place): Josh Desze, R, (1B and RHP) So.: 30 games, .315/.443/.468, EBH: 2/0/5, BB/K: 18/30, SB/SBA: ½ 13 IP, 3.46 ERA, K/BB: 8/10 Jaron Long, RHP, So.: 53.1 IP, 2.36 ERA, K/BB: 38/6 Indiana (2-2, 14-18, 5-4, tied for 2nd place): Sam Travis, R, (1B) Fr.: 32 games, .378/.476/.571, EBH: 11/0/4, BB/K: 21/16, SB/SBA: 2/3 Kyle Schwarber, L, (C/OF) Fr.: 32 games, .295/.389/.566, EBH: 10/4/5, BB/K: 18/14, SB/SBA: 7/9 Matt Dearden, RHP, So.: 26.2 IP, 2.36 ERA, K/BB: 20/6 Minnesota (1-3, 17-16, 3-3, tied for 5th place): Dan Olinger, L (1B) So.: 33 games, .358/.419/.433, EBH: 9/0/0, BB/K: 6/10, SB/SBA: 4/6 Troy Larson, R, (IF/OF) Jr.: 31 games, .327/.414/.376, EBH: 3/1/0, BB/K: 12/15, SB/SBA: 6/8 TJ Oakes, RHP, Jr.: 55.1 IP, 1.46 ERA, K/BB: 45/9 DJ Snelten, LHP, So.: 45.2 IP, 2.36 ERA, K/BB: 31/20 Michigan State (3-2, 19-10, 3-3, tied for 5th place): Jordan Keur, R (OF) Jr.: 29 games, .375/.469/.442, EBH: 8/0/0, BB/K: 15/17, SB/SBA: 6/11 Ryan Jones, R, (2B) Jr.: 29 games, .364/.414/.488, EBH: 6/2/2, BB/K: 12/9, SB/SBA: 5/6 Torsten Boss, L (3B/RF) Jr.: 29 games, .327/.440/.513, EBH: 7/1/4, BB/K: 21/19, SB/SBA: 8/8 Tony Bucciferro, RHP, Sr. 54.1 IP, 3.15 ERA, K/BB: 48/8 Illinois (2-2, 17-12, 3-3, tied for 5th place): Jordan Parr, R (IF/OF), So.: 29 games, .358/.410/.528, EBH: 5/2/3, BB/K: 8/14, SB/SBA 5/9 Willie Argo, R (OF) Sr.: 29 games, .356/.469/.413, EBH: 2/2/0, BB/K: 19/22, SB/SBA: 12/14 Iowa (3-2, 13-16, 4-5, 8th place): Mike McQuillan L (2B) Sr.: 29 games, .356/.489/.413, EBH: 4/1/0, BB/K: 23/18, SB/SBA: 8/10 Michigan (3-1, 15-17, 2-4, tied 9th place): Patrick Biondi, L (OF) Jr.: 32 games, .322/.457/.455, EBH: 9/2/1, BB/K: 21/20, SB/SBA: 19/25 Michael O’Neill, R (OF), So.: 29 games, .322/.362/.574, EBH: 9/1/6, BB/K: 3/14, SB/SBA: 15/18 Penn State (5-0, 13-18, 2-4, tied 9th place): Jordan Steranka, L (1B) Sr.: 31 games, .351/.380/.527, EBH: 11/0/4, BB/K: 6/27, SB/SBA: 0/1 Northwestern (0-3, 10-18, 3-6, tied 9th place): Brandon Magallones, RHP, Fr.: 42 IP, 3.86 ERA, K/BB: 44/16

Each week leading up to the MLB draft, I will be providing a roundup of how Big 10 teams fared and how notable players are doing. This player list is by no means exhaustive of all the potential draft candidates and there are likely some listed who will fizzle out, but this is a start. Purdue (4-0 week, 24-5 overall, 7-2 Big Ten, first place) Updated players-to-watch season stats: Kevin Plawecki, R, © Jr. : 29 games, .373/.470/.618, EBH: 14/2/3, BB/K: 15/5, SB/SBA: 2/3 Eric Charles, R, (2B) Sr.: 28 games, .381/.455/.460, EBH: 7/1/0, BB/K: 14/10, SB/SBA: 12/13 Cameron Perkins, R, (3B) Jr.: 28 games, .388/.429/.545, EBH: 7/0/4, BB/K: 4/10, SB/SBA: 8/9 Stephen Talbott, R, (LF) Jr.: 28 games, .352/.364/.505, EBH: 3/5/1, BB/K: 2/18, SB/SBA: 10/12 Nick Wittgren, RHP, Jr.: 17 IP, 1.59 ERA, K/BB: 22/7 Blake Mascarello, LHP, Sr.: 35.2 IP, 2.52 ERA, K/BB: 30/6 Lance Breedlove, RHP, Sr.: 53 IP, 2.55 ERA, K/BB: 46/6 Nebraska (3-1, 22-12, 5-4, tied for 2nd place): Michael Pritchard, L (OF) So.: 33 games, .405/.469/.474, EBH: 8/0/0, BB/K: 13/7, SB/SBA: 4/7 Chad Christensen, R (OF) Jr.: 34 games, .353/.427/.568, EBH: 8/2/6, BB/K: 16/22, SB/SBA: 6/7 Ohio State (4-1, 18-12, 5-4, tied for 2nd place): Josh Desze, R, (1B and RHP) So.: 30 games, .315/.443/.468, EBH: 2/0/5, BB/K: 18/30, SB/SBA: ½ 13 IP, 3.46 ERA, K/BB: 8/10 Jaron Long, RHP, So.: 53.1 IP, 2.36 ERA, K/BB: 38/6 Indiana (2-2, 14-18, 5-4, tied for 2nd place): Sam Travis, R, (1B) Fr.: 32 games, .378/.476/.571, EBH: 11/0/4, BB/K: 21/16, SB/SBA: 2/3 Kyle Schwarber, L, (C/OF) Fr.: 32 games, .295/.389/.566, EBH: 10/4/5, BB/K: 18/14, SB/SBA: 7/9 Matt Dearden, RHP, So.: 26.2 IP, 2.36 ERA, K/BB: 20/6 Minnesota (1-3, 17-16, 3-3, tied for 5th place): Dan Olinger, L (1B) So.: 33 games, .358/.419/.433, EBH: 9/0/0, BB/K: 6/10, SB/SBA: 4/6 Troy Larson, R, (IF/OF) Jr.: 31 games, .327/.414/.376, EBH: 3/1/0, BB/K: 12/15, SB/SBA: 6/8 TJ Oakes, RHP, Jr.: 55.1 IP, 1.46 ERA, K/BB: 45/9 DJ Snelten, LHP, So.: 45.2 IP, 2.36 ERA, K/BB: 31/20 Michigan State (3-2, 19-10, 3-3, tied for 5th place): Jordan Keur, R (OF) Jr.: 29 games, .375/.469/.442, EBH: 8/0/0, BB/K: 15/17, SB/SBA: 6/11 Ryan Jones, R, (2B) Jr.: 29 games, .364/.414/.488, EBH: 6/2/2, BB/K: 12/9, SB/SBA: 5/6 Torsten Boss, L (3B/RF) Jr.: 29 games, .327/.440/.513, EBH: 7/1/4, BB/K: 21/19, SB/SBA: 8/8 Tony Bucciferro, RHP, Sr. 54.1 IP, 3.15 ERA, K/BB: 48/8 Illinois (2-2, 17-12, 3-3, tied for 5th place): Jordan Parr, R (IF/OF), So.: 29 games, .358/.410/.528, EBH: 5/2/3, BB/K: 8/14, SB/SBA 5/9 Willie Argo, R (OF) Sr.: 29 games, .356/.469/.413, EBH: 2/2/0, BB/K: 19/22, SB/SBA: 12/14 Iowa (3-2, 13-16, 4-5, 8th place): Mike McQuillan L (2B) Sr.: 29 games, .356/.489/.413, EBH: 4/1/0, BB/K: 23/18, SB/SBA: 8/10 Michigan (3-1, 15-17, 2-4, tied 9th place): Patrick Biondi, L (OF) Jr.: 32 games, .322/.457/.455, EBH: 9/2/1, BB/K: 21/20, SB/SBA: 19/25 Michael O’Neill, R (OF), So.: 29 games, .322/.362/.574, EBH: 9/1/6, BB/K: 3/14, SB/SBA: 15/18 Penn State (5-0, 13-18, 2-4, tied 9th place): Jordan Steranka, L (1B) Sr.: 31 games, .351/.380/.527, EBH: 11/0/4, BB/K: 6/27, SB/SBA: 0/1 Northwestern (0-3, 10-18, 3-6, tied 9th place): Brandon Magallones, RHP, Fr.: 42 IP, 3.86 ERA, K/BB: 44/16

Two words: Vin Scully.

Those are pretty good predictions. I like those wild cards.

I will comment on my own blog first. I should add that if I am right about Grimes and Santana, what has been a lack for the Twins (middle infield) suddenly becomes a strength, with good prospect depth (Rosario, Dozier, Michael, Goodrum at the top).

I was a little behind in my G and the G listening. I generally often agree with Aaron, but his obsession with "five innings" (for Doyle) and "nine innings" (last year for Hughes), etc. etc. ignores the fact that spring training is not merely about the actual games played (you made this point to him, but it was ignored immediately) but about practice, practice, practice. Maybe Doyle also didn't do well in bullpen sessions and whatnot. Who knows.

Everyone knows to follow the progress of Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, Oswaldo Arcia, Levi Michael, Hudson Boyd, Madison Boer and other top 20-25 prospects in the Twins system. There are many others, however, who with strong seasons could jump up into that top 20 range. Here are 10 of them (and thanks to Seth Stohs for roster information): JD Williams, OF (Age: 21.4, SH): Williams will start with Beloit this year after a fantastic showing at Elizabethon. Three words: Dude is fast. Last year's line of .324/.406/.465 was quite impressive. Primarily played RF last year. Will probably stay there. Williams has a high ceiling and could move quickly up the system after 2012. Nate Roberts, OF (23.1, LH): Roberts returns to the DL and to Beloit this season. While his on base numbers are gaudy, they are bolstered by being hit 29 times last year. Regardless, the .302/.443/.446 line is very impressive. The Twin likely want to get him healthy and get him a few hundred more plate appearances at low-A before promoting him to Fort Myers. He has played in left field, primarily. Lance Ray, OF (22.7, LH): Ray will be in Fort Myers this year. He started 2011 rather terribly, but came on strong the last 2/3 of the season to hit 16 homers and post a line of .253/.335/.432 for the season. He played about two-thirds of the season in right field, with most of the other third at first base. Like Joe Benson, the strikeout rate will be a thing to watch. Danny Santana, SS/2B/CF (21.5, SH): Santana will man the middle infield and may see some time again in CF for Fort Myers. He is a very good defensive player and is very fast. The big thing last year despite a mediocre .247/.298/.373 triple slash is that isolated power with 27 extra base hits (including 7 homers). He is defensively sound, so his bat will be the thing to watch. Tyler Grimes, SS/2B/3B (21.9, RH): Grimes will see the bulk of his time in the middle infield for Beloit, but may fill in at third for Sano as well. Like Roberts, his OBP was aided by 6 HBP in 159 plate appearances. While compiling a somewhat unimpressive .225/.316/.406, his college numbers at Wichita State are very good. He projects as a Luke Hughes 2B/3B guy down the road, but he also is fast and can steal bases. Matt Hauser, RHR (24): Hauser throws hard and could make his way from Fort Myers this year to New Britain as a closer at both levels. The key is health for him, because he can be a dominant pitcher when healthy. Pat Dean, LHS (22.10): Dean got people excited in 2010 with his 37/1 K/BB ratio in 29.1 innings. In 2011, he did well in Beloit with a 37/9 ratio in 44 innings, but struggled in Fort Myers after being promoted. He returns to Fort Myers and projects as either a Brian Duensing LOOGY type or a more rounded Glen Perkins type of reliever. Tim Shibuya, RHS (22.7): Shibuya was fantastic at Elizabethon last year and will start the season in Beloit in 2012. In 73.2 innings, he had 70 strikeouts and only 11 walks. The full season with better competition will be telling for Shibuya, but if he can work on his secondary pitches, he could be very successful. Logan Darnell, LHS (23.2): Darnell is a deceptive lefty who will be in the starting rotation at AA New Britain. He pitched at three levels in 2011 and his success is in his ability to induce groundballs and strike some people out with his deceptive delivery. Angel Mata, RHS (19.4): Mata will be in extended spring training this year and should then be in Elizabethon. He limits baserunners and if he improves his walk rate should be very effective. He is one of very few bottom level pitchers to get excited about in the Twins system.

Everyone knows to follow the progress of Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, Oswaldo Arcia, Levi Michael, Hudson Boyd, Madison Boer and other top 20-25 prospects in the Twins system. There are many others, however, who with strong seasons could jump up into that top 20 range. Here are 10 of them (and thanks to Seth Stohs for roster information): JD Williams, OF (Age: 21.4, SH): Williams will start with Beloit this year after a fantastic showing at Elizabethon. Three words: Dude is fast. Last year's line of .324/.406/.465 was quite impressive. Primarily played RF last year. Will probably stay there. Williams has a high ceiling and could move quickly up the system after 2012. Nate Roberts, OF (23.1, LH): Roberts returns to the DL and to Beloit this season. While his on base numbers are gaudy, they are bolstered by being hit 29 times last year. Regardless, the .302/.443/.446 line is very impressive. The Twin likely want to get him healthy and get him a few hundred more plate appearances at low-A before promoting him to Fort Myers. He has played in left field, primarily. Lance Ray, OF (22.7, LH): Ray will be in Fort Myers this year. He started 2011 rather terribly, but came on strong the last 2/3 of the season to hit 16 homers and post a line of .253/.335/.432 for the season. He played about two-thirds of the season in right field, with most of the other third at first base. Like Joe Benson, the strikeout rate will be a thing to watch. Danny Santana, SS/2B/CF (21.5, SH): Santana will man the middle infield and may see some time again in CF for Fort Myers. He is a very good defensive player and is very fast. The big thing last year despite a mediocre .247/.298/.373 triple slash is that isolated power with 27 extra base hits (including 7 homers). He is defensively sound, so his bat will be the thing to watch. Tyler Grimes, SS/2B/3B (21.9, RH): Grimes will see the bulk of his time in the middle infield for Beloit, but may fill in at third for Sano as well. Like Roberts, his OBP was aided by 6 HBP in 159 plate appearances. While compiling a somewhat unimpressive .225/.316/.406, his college numbers at Wichita State are very good. He projects as a Luke Hughes 2B/3B guy down the road, but he also is fast and can steal bases. Matt Hauser, RHR (24): Hauser throws hard and could make his way from Fort Myers this year to New Britain as a closer at both levels. The key is health for him, because he can be a dominant pitcher when healthy. Pat Dean, LHS (22.10): Dean got people excited in 2010 with his 37/1 K/BB ratio in 29.1 innings. In 2011, he did well in Beloit with a 37/9 ratio in 44 innings, but struggled in Fort Myers after being promoted. He returns to Fort Myers and projects as either a Brian Duensing LOOGY type or a more rounded Glen Perkins type of reliever. Tim Shibuya, RHS (22.7): Shibuya was fantastic at Elizabethon last year and will start the season in Beloit in 2012. In 73.2 innings, he had 70 strikeouts and only 11 walks. The full season with better competition will be telling for Shibuya, but if he can work on his secondary pitches, he could be very successful. Logan Darnell, LHS (23.2): Darnell is a deceptive lefty who will be in the starting rotation at AA New Britain. He pitched at three levels in 2011 and his success is in his ability to induce groundballs and strike some people out with his deceptive delivery. Angel Mata, RHS (19.4): Mata will be in extended spring training this year and should then be in Elizabethon. He limits baserunners and if he improves his walk rate should be very effective. He is one of very few bottom level pitchers to get excited about in the Twins system.

The 25 man roster is coming into focus. Assuming that all of the relevant position players are healthy, one might wonder what the lineup is going to be and what it should be vs. RH and LH. I am not going to figure out what Gardy is planning on doing, but given the likely 25-man roster (Burroughs, not Butera) perhaps this is what they should be: vs. RH: 1. Span (CF) 2. Carroll (SS) 3. Mauer © 4. Morneau (DH) 5. Willingham (LF) 6. Doumit (RF) 7. Parmelee (1B) 8. Valencia (3B) 9. Casilla (2B) With Plouffe, Hughes, Burroughs, and Revere. vs. LH: 1. Span (CF) 2. Carroll (SS) 3. Mauer © or Willingham (LF) 4. Willingham (LF) or Valencia (3B) 5. Valencia (3B) or Plouffe (RF) 6. Plouffe (RF) or Doumit (C, DH) 7. Doumit (C or DH) 8. Hughes (1B or DH) 9. Casilla (2B) With Mauer, Morneau, Burrroughs, and Revere.

The 25 man roster is coming into focus. Assuming that all of the relevant position players are healthy, one might wonder what the lineup is going to be and what it should be vs. RH and LH. I am not going to figure out what Gardy is planning on doing, but given the likely 25-man roster (Burroughs, not Butera) perhaps this is what they should be: vs. RH: 1. Span (CF) 2. Carroll (SS) 3. Mauer © 4. Morneau (DH) 5. Willingham (LF) 6. Doumit (RF) 7. Parmelee (1B) 8. Valencia (3B) 9. Casilla (2B) With Plouffe, Hughes, Burroughs, and Revere. vs. LH: 1. Span (CF) 2. Carroll (SS) 3. Mauer © or Willingham (LF) 4. Willingham (LF) or Valencia (3B) 5. Valencia (3B) or Plouffe (RF) 6. Plouffe (RF) or Doumit (C, DH) 7. Doumit (C or DH) 8. Hughes (1B or DH) 9. Casilla (2B) With Mauer, Morneau, Burrroughs, and Revere.

I think Hicks during the second half of 2011 may have put up identical numbers in AA as he did in A+. The issue is that he doesn't swing the damn bat enough. His defense and his Isolated Discipline can push him up and up. I would be shocked if he doesn't improve significantly from 2011 Fort Myers. One reason is 2011 AFL--I understand that it is a hitters' league, but it is a hitters' league for AA/AAA prospects. The second reason is that the tools are slowly becoming skills and his development is there now.

I will say it now. Liriano will be a Twin in 2013 and Baker will not. I guess I would be wrong if Liriano is traded for another strong LH pitcher, but I see this as being the case.

How on earth can these names be misspelled? That is totally embarrassing. What a joke.

Florimon and Mastroianni in New Britain instead of Rochester? Bigley would be starting, then. Looks good otherwise, though I would be surprised if Oliveros wasn't at Rochester as well. Maybe since the Twins have SO MANY AA/AAA players that it does make sense to keep some of the better prospects down at AA for more playing time.

Thanks for the good work.

Darin617, honestly, I would hope that Danny Lehmann gets the most time catching there, at least until Herrmann moves up. Butera and Rivera clearly don't belong and Towles likely doesn't either. Daan4786, I do agree that Parmelee could be the exception. Baseball is not "more mental than physical" though.

Yeah, I would have liked Derrek Lee. And easily on the cheap too.

Is it really too much to ask for? That is, it seems odd to sign a bunch of older AAAA type players who have some significant MLB experience to keep at Rochester while hoping on prospects and young players who aren't even AAA players yet to play with the Twins at the start of 2012. And with the news that Willingham can't make a simple transition to RF as a veteran professional baseball player, I am lumping in Ben Revere here even though he is no longer a prospect. Let's look at the candidates. First the young: Chris Parmelee: He did have a solid year at AA New Britain last year, and he seemed to finally begin to mesh in his old tendencies for power with his 2010 batting average capability into a solid overall hitter. Then September came and he demonstrated that in a very non-pressure role (skipping a level to join a 63-win team) he could hit very well. And this spring he has hit fairly well again, albeit often times against minor league pitching. This sample size does not have the kind of predictive value that his entire season at AA does, though. More caution is needed than it appears the Twins are going to show here as Parmelee is contending for a starting RF/1B spot and seems guaranteed to be on the roster. Brian Dozier: Dozier began the year in A+ and hit very well. He put up similar numbers for the second half of the season in AA. He's turning 25 soon, so he isn't too young, but he was 24 at A/AA last year. Dozier has never been regarded as an elite or great prospect. He only recently became a good one. And there is speculation about Dozier competing for either starting job or a utility role for the Twins in April. Granted I hope this is Alexi Casilla's last year with the Twins, but I still think that Casilla is going to outperform Dozier this year when he is healthy. And Jamey Carroll certainly will. Ben Revere: I has assumed that, after clearly being rushed too soon to the Majors due to Span's injury last year, that Ben Revere would be the starting LF and we could hope that this would be limited to a platoon role. Now, it has changed dramatically with the declaration by Gardenhire that Willingham is the LF. Revere seems relegated to 4th OF status, backing up LF and CF (never RF, please, Gardy) and to pinch-running late in games. But he still hasn't hit his ceiling as he can learn to take better routes in the OF, take more pitches, and bunt. He isn't going to do that spending 2/3-3/4 of the time on the Twins bench. Now let's look at potential replacements (including those already sent to Rochester or minor league camp): Sean Burroughs: Burroughs is a decent LH bat and corner infielder. He has significant experience in the big leagues and was an elite prospect before underperformance and drug abuse derailed his career. He isn't going to develop any more. He is likely not going to be very good, but he will likely be replacement level and maybe a bit better if used to spell Valencia against tough RH pitching. Michael Hollimon: A lot has been made of Hollimon's spring performance. And analyzing spring stats is rather silly if doing so for any predictive value. Seriously, there are studies about this. But Hollimon was not terrible all-around last year in the minors. He hit 18 homers and played four different positions. He is not going to develop either. But he might be able to hit a few homeruns in a limited role as a super utility player for a few months while those who can develop do so in AAA. Aaron Bates: Already gone from Twins camp, but was a candidate for the 25th spot on the roster because of his major league experience, his success at Rochester last year, and is 1B/LF ability. Like Darin Mastroianni below, I wouldn't say that any improvement is out of the question for Bates, but the ceiling is likely reached. If the RH bats of Trevor Plouffe and Luke Hughes turn out to be plastic (or foam), Bates would be needed, one would think, more than Parmelee. Darin Mastroianni: Mastroianni is very much like a Jason Repko, but younger and without true defensive prowess at all three OF positions, but he can play above average defensively at all three positions and is very fast. He still is 26 so that leaves some room for improvement, but he is a marginal replacement player who isn't going to develop more at AAA then he would in a limited role with the Twins. Other guys to mention as possible players here would be Pedro Florimon, Wilkin Ramirez, Matt Carson, Ray Chang, and even Brian Dinkelman (and would have been Dustin Martin if he were not recently released). Using, say, Bates or Burroughs, Mastroianni, and Hollimon for April and May while watching the other three play every day while not in over their heads at AAA is very unlikely, but it is what I would do. I don't think much is lost performance-wise for the Twins (perhaps this would be a more productive start, in fact) and I actually want to see how all the prospects at the upper levels of the minors look together on the field. Imagine: 1. Ben Revere, LF 2. Brian Dozier, SS/2B 3. Chris Parmelee, 1B 4. Joe Benson, CF 5. Rene Tosoni, RF 6. Burroughs or Bates, DH 7. Ray Chang, 3B 8. Catcher 9. Nishioka, 2B/SS playing together and playing every day, showing what they can actually do and will do in the future. Too much to ask for?

Is it really too much to ask for? That is, it seems odd to sign a bunch of older AAAA type players who have some significant MLB experience to keep at Rochester while hoping on prospects and young players who aren't even AAA players yet to play with the Twins at the start of 2012. And with the news that Willingham can't make a simple transition to RF as a veteran professional baseball player, I am lumping in Ben Revere here even though he is no longer a prospect. Let's look at the candidates. First the young: Chris Parmelee: He did have a solid year at AA New Britain last year, and he seemed to finally begin to mesh in his old tendencies for power with his 2010 batting average capability into a solid overall hitter. Then September came and he demonstrated that in a very non-pressure role (skipping a level to join a 63-win team) he could hit very well. And this spring he has hit fairly well again, albeit often times against minor league pitching. This sample size does not have the kind of predictive value that his entire season at AA does, though. More caution is needed than it appears the Twins are going to show here as Parmelee is contending for a starting RF/1B spot and seems guaranteed to be on the roster. Brian Dozier: Dozier began the year in A+ and hit very well. He put up similar numbers for the second half of the season in AA. He's turning 25 soon, so he isn't too young, but he was 24 at A/AA last year. Dozier has never been regarded as an elite or great prospect. He only recently became a good one. And there is speculation about Dozier competing for either starting job or a utility role for the Twins in April. Granted I hope this is Alexi Casilla's last year with the Twins, but I still think that Casilla is going to outperform Dozier this year when he is healthy. And Jamey Carroll certainly will. Ben Revere: I has assumed that, after clearly being rushed too soon to the Majors due to Span's injury last year, that Ben Revere would be the starting LF and we could hope that this would be limited to a platoon role. Now, it has changed dramatically with the declaration by Gardenhire that Willingham is the LF. Revere seems relegated to 4th OF status, backing up LF and CF (never RF, please, Gardy) and to pinch-running late in games. But he still hasn't hit his ceiling as he can learn to take better routes in the OF, take more pitches, and bunt. He isn't going to do that spending 2/3-3/4 of the time on the Twins bench. Now let's look at potential replacements (including those already sent to Rochester or minor league camp): Sean Burroughs: Burroughs is a decent LH bat and corner infielder. He has significant experience in the big leagues and was an elite prospect before underperformance and drug abuse derailed his career. He isn't going to develop any more. He is likely not going to be very good, but he will likely be replacement level and maybe a bit better if used to spell Valencia against tough RH pitching. Michael Hollimon: A lot has been made of Hollimon's spring performance. And analyzing spring stats is rather silly if doing so for any predictive value. Seriously, there are studies about this. But Hollimon was not terrible all-around last year in the minors. He hit 18 homers and played four different positions. He is not going to develop either. But he might be able to hit a few homeruns in a limited role as a super utility player for a few months while those who can develop do so in AAA. Aaron Bates: Already gone from Twins camp, but was a candidate for the 25th spot on the roster because of his major league experience, his success at Rochester last year, and is 1B/LF ability. Like Darin Mastroianni below, I wouldn't say that any improvement is out of the question for Bates, but the ceiling is likely reached. If the RH bats of Trevor Plouffe and Luke Hughes turn out to be plastic (or foam), Bates would be needed, one would think, more than Parmelee. Darin Mastroianni: Mastroianni is very much like a Jason Repko, but younger and without true defensive prowess at all three OF positions, but he can play above average defensively at all three positions and is very fast. He still is 26 so that leaves some room for improvement, but he is a marginal replacement player who isn't going to develop more at AAA then he would in a limited role with the Twins. Other guys to mention as possible players here would be Pedro Florimon, Wilkin Ramirez, Matt Carson, Ray Chang, and even Brian Dinkelman (and would have been Dustin Martin if he were not recently released). Using, say, Bates or Burroughs, Mastroianni, and Hollimon for April and May while watching the other three play every day while not in over their heads at AAA is very unlikely, but it is what I would do. I don't think much is lost performance-wise for the Twins (perhaps this would be a more productive start, in fact) and I actually want to see how all the prospects at the upper levels of the minors look together on the field. Imagine: 1. Ben Revere, LF 2. Brian Dozier, SS/2B 3. Chris Parmelee, 1B 4. Joe Benson, CF 5. Rene Tosoni, RF 6. Burroughs or Bates, DH 7. Ray Chang, 3B 8. Catcher 9. Nishioka, 2B/SS playing together and playing every day, showing what they can actually do and will do in the future. Too much to ask for?