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.

Very much agree that this scenario is possible in a platoon looking at historic numbers. Not a bad situation for a 9th hitting "defensive" player. That said, those numbers are probably reachable soon by either Rosario or Buxton.

I've always like Eddie Rosario. IMO he has a better than 50/50 chance to be a Twins regular this season. Time will tell. A future outfiled of Arcia, Buxton, and Rosario is a very probable case in the Twins future. The comparison with Bostock is interesting. Both were/are considered to not have much plate discipline and too young and not ready for MLB. Bostock came up and got the job done, I think he hit over .300 in 2 of his 3 seasons with the Twins before going as a FA to the Angels. A big difference that I do see is that, I believe, Bostock made much better contact. I beleive he was one of the toughest to strikeout during his career in MLB.

I like this too, but it is meaningless unless they can produce at the MLB level. Spring always brings eternal optimism!!!

Baseball roles continue to evolve. It appears from some of the transactions we have seen this winter that the Royals trio of 7-8-9 inning stoppers is influencing MLB this winter. In the Twins case I'm guessing that they are looking into something like that with Stauffer, Fien, and Perkins. Obviously, on paper, not as strong as the KC trio was last year, but the important thing is that it appears they are moving to that system. Meyer could be your 7th or 8th inning guy this year instead of Stauffer or Fien. It also appears to me with the stockpile of quality relievers in the minor leagues that the Twins have the "potential" to have a dominant 7-8-9 releiver role for some years to come. Although, I am like Jim Pohlad in that "potential" is only that until proven on the MLB level. No doubt, however, you will see more teams going to a defined role for the 7-8-9 innings when they have a lead. It's a long way from when Bert Blyleven was throwing 300 innings as a starter. . .as I say, baseball roles continue to evolve which makes it such a fascinating game.

Interesting fact on Winfield. . he actually played about half the season the year before at age 21. Participated for the Gophers in the College World Series, was drafted 4th overall by the Padres, debuted two weeks later for them, and I don't beleive that he ever played a day in the minor leagues, not even on a rehab assignment. He was one of only three players ever drafted by three sports, NFL, NBA and ABA, and MLB. Of course he was destined to play baseball because he was born in St. Paul on the day Bobby Thompson hit the "Shot heard round the World".

Interesting article. . .I didn't know of Doug M's family committment (9 yr old son) to West Florida nor did I know of Smith's desire to be near Naples because it was his home. Sounds like we have some difficult decisions to make. I know first hand that money isn't everything. . family's matter and these are big decisions. However, in a fluid employment world like baseball managing. . .if you have a quest for the Big Leagues you have to be able to go where you are needed to build your resume. Interesting to note that the article somewhat insinuates that Mientkiewicz was really disappointed in not getting the Twins job. Time will tell if Molitor was the correct choice. I do believe that he was the "safe" choice by management as far as 2nd guessing will go. I'm guessing that Mientkiewicz figured that if he was named Twins manager his family would move and it is probably not the same case with a job in Chattanooga and/or Rochester. The decision somewhat reminds me though of how the University of Minnesota has hired basketball coaches in the past. We've generally went for a "name" who had succeeded elsewhere (Monson, Tubby Smith) instead of the home-grown talent who showed promise at the lower levels (McDermott, Jacobsen, Miles, Joerger) who have went on and had success at other places when given the chance. I've worked in the professional and collegiate basketball world and always thought this was a bit odd when coaches right under our noses were there..For the record. . . I think the PItino hiring (as well as Jerry Kill in football) somewhat reverses this trend and gives the U of M an up and coming coach wanting to "make" his name. Back to baseball. . .there are many who thought Mientkiewicz was this "up and comer". However, since Molitor has never coached he somewhat fits in that same category. i.e the desire to succeed burning to prove his managerial mettle. Again, for the record, I'm okay with Molitor but would have been equally ok with Mientkiewicz. It will be interesting to see how this all works out.

My bad. . .guess I cannot read. . though it said "did not have" a good minor. . . . .

Levi Michael - Not a Good Year?? He played at three different levels. . . hit over.300 in all of them and hit a combined .313. with a .389 OBP for the season while getting time at both 2B/SS. He can bunt, he can run, he can hit behind the runner. . . he had a good season last year. . .he just happened to be injured for part of it. Since following Michael from his UNC days, my guess is that he is who the Twins are projecting as their next "Nick PUnto" type utility player. . ,probably in 2016 FYI--I agree with the Parmelee assignment. I do look for him to get another opportunity in MLB and the question will be if experience can make him better than a .250 hitter. Twins youngsters are pressing him however, so a good move.

Agree with this. I liked Colabello but agree that the Twins have other players with more youth and potential in front of him. . Vargas as DH, Arcia/Rosario in the OF with Buxton and Sano to come. Torii Hunter probably put the nail in the coffin for Colabello as he will take time in the OF and also get some righthanded DH duty. Colabello was/is a great story but his limitations don't put him into the Twins long-range plans. I wish him well, and who knows, maybe he will discover that minor league swing again in the Majors.

I think we would have a better chance of getting Allan Craig. I think he is a "bounce-back" candidate in LF and would be the RH bat that evidently the Twins are looking for ala Torii Hunter. Craig is under contract and could be moved if/when Rosario and Buxton are ready. He is a lot better player than he showed last season and I'm assuming it was an injury that kept him from higher performance.