Lakeside

If Arcia starts hitting. . . . does your outield suggestion make him expendable at the trade deadline???

Got me there. . . forgot this thread was on DH. As to roster, though, Vargas would not be on mine. Stauffer down and Arcia up makes some sense, but I don't think he would be an everyday DH. Hunter will have time, Nunez will have time. Arcia with some time against RHs makes sense as a DH only.

To each their own. Vargas does nothing for me unless he can hit 25-30 dingers a year and about 30 doubles. His K pct., double-plays hit into, and clogging the bases when on. . . plus his lack of really playing a position is more a detriment to me than I would prefer. Fans can dream that he is David Ortiz. . . but he is not. Maybe someday. Arcia can hit. . . but can he play the outfield? Did you see Colabello cause 3 runs today by his play in LF. . one on the Mauer error and two by not getting to Hunter's double? There is a real place for speed, defense, and utility options in baseball and I think Paul Molitor knows that.

I don't understand the negativity with Molitor's lineups. The Twins are, I believe 3rd in the AL in runs scored at 4.6 per game. What's wrong with that? It appears to me that Molitor prefers speed and utility over Vargas and Arcia at this time. If we stop scoring with speed and clutch hitting maybe he will look to Vargas and Arcia for the long ball at that time. After Stauffer's perfomance today it will be hard to keep him. My guess is that we will bring a position player over a pitcher, but I'm certainly not so sure it will be Vargas or Arcia.

Not so sure that Arcia and Vargas are the answer right now. Problem with them in the line-up is that, at least Vargas, takes speed off the bases. I think part of our winning package right now is that we have speed on the bases. . . we take the extra base and put pressure on opponent outfielders. We've been fortunate to get adequate power from guys who can also run. . . Plouffe, Dozier, and Hunter. Rosario may come to surprise a little bit here too. Arcia is a different situation. Pitchers are confident in the defense right now (read the Perkins article in today's Tribune) and Arcia cannot give us the defense that Rosario, Hicks, Robinson, and Hunter can. Polanco vs. Santana? I say give Santana a little slack. . . I think he will hit fine for a #9 hitter. Finally, I really like Escobar in his position. . . batting almost every day and filling in at LF, 3B, and Short.

I liked both the Boyer and Stauffer pick-ups when they happened. Knew both ad a chance for success here. However, with the team in contention after 1/4 of the season I beleive that Stauffer should have showed oin AAA to be recalled. We can't afford to loss a game on an experment. After Graham's performance Wednesday, can he be our 7th inning guy? Fien in the 8th. That would allow Boyer to be used when we need that ground ball out and situational as they are using Thompson.

Intriguing proposition. . . don't know if I agree though. However, I've been around baseball for over 50 years and I am of the opinion that the most probable future HR hitter the Twins have in the system is Travis Harrison. He's only 22, balls jump off his bat, he is on pace to hit over 45 doubles in AA. As he gets older many of the 2Bs will become HRs. Again, IMO while everybody talks Buxton, Sano, Walker, I continue to be most impressed with Harrison and Polanco.

It should not surprise anyone as to what Plouffe is now doing. He's a former #1 draft pick with loads of talent. Check out guys like Hunter, Cuddyer, Smalley. . . all former #1 draft picks that took about 1000 at bats in the bigs to hit full stride. Plouffe has been a few more at bats but he is hitting stride now. I expect him to continue to get better and while Sano may be the 3B of the future. . . he is also going to need AB's to get his game on line at the MLB level. I have no idea what the Twins will do with Plouffe but do agree that Escobar is a serviceable 3B at the present time if we wanted to try to get something for Plouffe at the trade deadline. Or, maybe we want to try to get something for Escobar??? I also agree Dozier is the best all-around player on the Twins. I didn't always think so (thought his HR totals would be a fluke) but he has a knack for scoring runs (and you need runs to win) and I'm expecting him to hit about .275-.280 this year. . . .which is a big improvement. IMO . . .a smart move to tie him up for a few more years.

Another Question --- The results were just announced, but do we know when the test was administered? Was it during last season or during Spring Training?

Question---if it can be proven on the length of time that Santana has taken the illicit steroid and lied on his physical exam question about it. . . then . . . . is it in the Twins best interests (from both a competitive motive and also from an ethical motive) to attempt to have the contract ruled null and void?? What are your thoughts??

is i close to the truth. . .I'm guessing we will use about 10 starters by the end of the year. The real number right now is about 45. . . as in $45 million or the amount of guaranteed money owed to Nolasco, Stauffer, and Pelfrey!! I' guessing that number is the real reason we are not going to see Meyer, May, and a different reliever at this time. My guess is that Stauffer and Pelfrey are being shopped right now. We will see what happens, but with some patience Meyer, May, and Berrios will be members of the staff by August.

My take on this subject-- Perkins Fien Duensing Thielbar - I also like Thompson, but experience the difference Pelfrey -- for the time being (Millone or May is 5th starter) Graham - impressive enough to keep as Rule 5 Boyer Stauffer -- will stay instead of Boyer if he has a couple more good outings. Otherwis he is waived. Hamburger - I think Molitor likes him. Bad outing cost him. . could be up if Boyer falters. Tonkin - can't seem to get the numbers he has in minors in MLB. . time is running out. Burdi---will be up sometime this year Reed--will be September call up

During the time in question I had a couple of good friends at the top of the Twins organization. While I know that Prior was considered, what this article fails to tell you is that Prior was really not an option. He had let the Twins organization know that he would not sign with Minnesota if selected. . . While I've been told that they would have taken Mauer anyway Prior's stance certainly had some bearing on the issue. . . . Hindsight can be 20/20, but I think the choice of Joe Mauer at the time was excellent. . . He is, even with his issues, probably the greatest hitting catcher, for average, of all time.