SheboyganBrats

I also see Hicks in the 4th outfielder role, but, playing almost full-time. He plays 3-4 days a week in RF with Hunter DHing. Then Hicks spells Buxton and Rosario one day a week. Vargas can DH when Hunter is in the outfield, and he can spell Mauer at first one or two days a week. This maximizes premium outfield defense, gives the young guys development time, and gives the old guys some needed rest. Of course, if the offensive production is dreadful, Hicks becomes an unaffordable luxury in that role.

The Hicks situation does seem different to me. I just think how his stint on the DL is handled may give us a reading of the tea leaves when it comes to how Twins management is viewing Hicks.

To be sure, I don't want to go all "Bush did 9/11" here. Dave, I think you make excellent points. What I was trying to get at are some important differences in how I see the DL being used this year. Players seem to be getting put on the DL quicker. This may be due to the availability of better quality minor leaguers, as Spinowner notes, but I also think Molitor has had an influence here. And, I think the decisions about when players return to the active roster have been different, as well. I don't think the Twins are leaving anyone on the DL that is in perfect health and ready to play. But I do think that these decisions can be "slow-walked" sometimes, particularly with someone like Schafer who no longer seems to be part of the picture. I acknowledge this is pure speculation on my part.

The Twins' use of the DL this year has been fascinating. It seems to have become an integral part of their strategy for managing their roster. While I don't doubt that players have had legitimate injuries, it has been very convenient to put certain guys on the DL when a roster change was needed, rather than removing someone from the 40-man. Schafer has been on the 15-day DL seemingly forever, and I can't even recall what the injury was, much less how serious it was and how long he was expected to be out. Nolasco turned his ankle, and at the time it didn't seem serious, but I'm wondering if he's fallen into the same black hole Schafer disappeared into. In both cases, the players in question were either redundant or ineffective or both. Arcia made it back from the DL, but not to the major league roster. And, now we have Hicks. I still have some hope for Hicks in the long term and I would enjoy seeing the defense of an outfield manned by Rosario-Buxton-Hicks. But, if he's fallen out of favor with Twins management, the elbow injury could take a long time to heal.

I guess this opens a spot on the 40 man roster. I wonder who gets that and what it will mean when it happens.

If I were GM, I think I would stick to the long-term plan. I wouldn't panic after the team had a disastrous first week. I wouldn't fall in love with myself after the team had a cinderella month of May. And, I wouldn't panic again after a bad week in June. I think the position that I'd be most concerned about is shortstop. There doesn't appear to be anyone in the system ready to be a legitimate full-time major league shortstop. There are some intriguing prospects in the minors, and someday one of them may pan out, but right now it is a glaring weakness at a premium position. I'd be looking to make a trade. The next position I'd be concerned about is catcher. Suzuki might be okay as a placeholder, but there's no one in the system ready to take his place, and the position really needs an upgrade. This would be trade priority number two. As GM, I think I already know who's in the outfield of the future. Hicks appears to finally have made the jump to the majors. I'd have Rosario-Buxton-Hicks out there every day and Hunter would be full-time DH. He could play in right field on days someone needs a day off, and the others would have to move accordingly. As great as he's been this year, I'd trade Pelfrey at his peak value, since this is the last year of his contract. I'd do something about Nolasco, involving a trade for a bag of balls, and I'd start thinking about signing a true #1 pitcher in the offseason. I'd keep Plouffe for now, but someday the third base problem will have to be addressed with Sano on the way. But, no move just yet. Bullpen? There, I think the future is already in the minors. Just need to clear the space to bring them up as soon as they're ready. Bench? I wouldn't worry too much. There's nobody there right now that isn't expendable, and bench players can be had in the minors or easily found. Anyway, just a few thoughts for you guys. I'm gonna leave the lineup to the manager.

I'm guessing this is a brief call-up, much like last year. I don't know that moving Goodrum to AA means anything. But, I don't have any inside info, so it's just a guess, based on what I think the FO would do to cover a paternity leave.

Thanks for clarifying how the pool works. I'm sure no team wants to risk losing a first round draft pick, and I would guess the Twins manage the signings carefully so they don't have to pay the tax either. They'd have to find significant savings elsewhere, if they wanted to make a run at one of the hard-to-sign guys. I heard somewhere they might be able to save $200K on Jay. Don't know if that's true, and they'd still have to find a bunch more, I think, to get a couple of these players. It's an interesting to watch how teams play this game, though, especially with drafting college seniors who have little leverage.

I think they didn't draft these guys earlier because of the way you have to manage your draft pool money under the current system. If you draft a guy Rounds 1-10 and can't get them signed, you lose the money assigned to that draft slot. Better to draft someone you think you can sign. After Round 10 you can overpay with the savings from earlier rounds. If you don't sign the guy you don't lose any draft pool money.

I like the Twins draft alot this year. As always, I might have done things differently, but I'm fine with Jay and Cody, and I think Day 2 was good, I might have taken Austin Rei over Blankenhorn. I think he was the best catcher available and we need a catcher in the pipeline who is a legitimate prospect, but probably shouldn't draft for need in Round 3.

If Bregman, Tucker and Tate are all gone, I'm beginning to think........Trenton Clark. Apparently the Twins recently worked him out, and he supposedly has 70 speed and a good hit tool. Could be worse.

I like the BA mock draft because that leaves Bregman, Tate and Tucker available for the Twins at #6. I'd be happy with any of those three and don't have a clear preference. If the Law/Kiley mock drafts hold up and all three shortstops plus Tate and Tucker are gone at #6, I'm not sure what will happen. It sounds like the Twins might pass on Cameron due to signability issues, and probably take Allard. I'd be okay with that, assuming the medicals are okay. I haven't heard anyone suggest that the Twins would try for an underslot deal, if their preferred players are gone, and it probably wouldn't make any sense since they don't draft again until #73.

"His generic trade suggesting was trading non-top prospects (as you mention) for 'a capable #5 starter and a major league left fielder, maybe a decent utility infielder or something.' " Am I reading this right? Does he think the Twins need more #5 starters and more utility infielders? The left fielder I could see, though I'd rather stick with Rosario for now.

At the beginning of the season, I expected the Twins to be an improved team, I just wasn't sure how many additional wins they would get. I just expected a lot more games where they would be "watchable". I'm still not sure how many more wins they'll get this year. If I had to put a number on it, I'd say 77. What I really hope they can avoid is last year's pattern: being relevant until the All-Star break and then going into the tank. If they can remain competitive in August and September, and not look like the walking dead, I'll be satisfied.

When Bernier got called up, I was sure he was going to be sent down as soon as Nunez came off the DL. So, add me to the list of folks who are mystified by this particular move. I understand that Vargas may be going down to work on some things, but IMHO the stuff he has to work on is best done facing MLB pitchers, not AAA pitchers. Having said that, my biggest fear at the start of the season was that the Twins would stay with the opening roster until at least June, maybe later. I've been pleasantly surprised at the roster moves so far, and I've come to believe that there's more moves coming. So, I hope that in 2-3 weeks the plan becomes more clear and this move makes sense in the bigger picture. So I guess I won't get my undies in a bunch...yet. I must admit, I'm looking forward to the possibility of watching some games with Rosario, Hicks and Robinson in the outfield with Hunter DHing, but I shudder somewhat at the batting lineup those days.

I also think nater is just about right. I think Bernier is optioned when Nunez is ready and Tonkin or Pressly go back to AAA when Stauffer is ready (not that I'd keep Stauffer). Rosario may go down when Robinson returns, but here I think there's a good chance that Schafer gets put on the DL. The interesting question is what to do when Arcia comes off the DL. I'm not a big Arcia fan, so I'd leave him in Rochester to work on his defense and get his strikeouts down, as long as Hicks is performing. Of course, something could happen in the meantime to make that move unnecessary.

It's nice that Hunter has had this nice run on offensive production, but I still think he's done as an outfielder. I would have rather signed Colby Rasmus.

I am also encouraged by the responses so far. For the record, I'd get rid of both God Bless America and the Star Spangled Banner. I don't need to have superficial shows of patriotism at sporting events, and I don't need to look to see if my neighbor is standing with his cap over his heart. There's something vaguely McCarthyite about doing that, and it's his/her business anyway. Besides, even an ISIS terrorist could figure out that all he has to do to look patriotic is stand and sing our national anthem. I don't know why the reporter is doing this story, other than for ratings.

Small sample size. Hopefully, as the season goes on and the stats normalize, the peripherals begin to look more like the ERA, not the other way around.

I'm assuming that Rosario will be replacing Arcia in LF. Perhaps a minor quibble here, but I noted that Rosario has been playing CF and RF in AAA. I recall Rosario playing some LF in Spring Training, so maybe playing LF for the Twins is not a problem, but I haven't been a fan of the Twins putting players in unfamiliar positions when they get called up. And, I know it's just for 15 days. Of course, Escobar is playing in LF tonight, so I suppose they could move Rosario to the infield.....LOL.

I questioned the signing of Hunter when it occurred, and the concerns I had at the time have been borne out thus far this season. I do think he's "done" and the Twins should have focused on signing a center fielder. But, Ryan did the deed and we've got him for better or, most likely, the worse. My hope is that one of the prospects in the minors-- Buxton, Hicks, Rosario, etc.-- forces himself onto the major league roster during the course of this season. At that point, I hope Hunter is the leader the Twins say he is, and he graciously accepts a lesser role as part time player and bat off the bench. And it would bolster my faith in Ryan, if I could believe this is what he had in mind.

I guess I am grateful that we have outfielders in the outfield this year. (Yeah, I know, Escobar and Nunez have been out there.) What I don't understand is why we signed Hunter, unless it was entirely a PR move. Hunter's arrival has meant that two of our outfielders are playing out of position-- Arcia in left and Schafer in center. If we had signed a bona fide center fielder, Arcia could have remained in right and Schafer could have played in left, IMO his best position. I realize I'm beating a dead horse here, but I think we're seeing chickens come home to roost (to extend the barnyard metaphor). That said, I am with those who found last night's non-catch to be inexcusable, but think the problem should be addressed by Molitor behind closed doors. I am somewhat perplexed by continuing descriptions of Arcia as this highly talented player. IMHO, his one talent is his ability to hit the ball a county mile. Otherwise, he seems to me to be pretty much a one tool guy-- hits for power, but can't his for average, can't field, doesn't have plus speed, and maybe gets some credit for his arm. Kind of Adam Dunn in the making, if he can stay in the majors. Just my opinion, and maybe other folks can see a lot more there than I do.

I agree that Pinto should be the back up catcher at some point. But, I think the issue here has to do with Pinto's injuries this spring. Between the quad injury and the concussion, he has missed some time and may need to play every day in AAA for awhile to catch up. I'm just speculating here, but that's the only rationale I can think of to justify sending him down. If he is sent down, I don't think it should be for long and maybe I'm wrong about this and he's ready to go.

IMO, the erosion of the fan base is all about winning and losing. I'm pretty much a diehard fan, and watching bad baseball has really been difficult. Though I don't have season tickets, I usually go to about a dozen games a year and watch the rest on TV. It's gotten to point that I change the channel when the starting pitcher starts to falter because I just can't stand to watch what seems like the inevitable failure to come. I don't think generating interest next year is simply a matter of changing field staff or FO personnel. If the Twins did that, but essentially kept the same pitching staff and lineup, I don't think it would matter much after the initial excitement. I think signing one of the top FA pitchers (Scherzer, Lester or Price) and Yasmani Tomas for LF would do a lot more to improve outcomes on the field, and, in turn, generate sustained fan interest. I don't think any of this is going to happen, but it's just my view of what would make the most impact.

I'm a little confused about the topic. I thought the topic had to do with why Pinto was not brought into Friday's game to catch the 10th inning. In that game, in the bottom of the ninth, Suzuki had doubled with one out, and Nunez was brought in to pinch run. Nunez scored on Arcia's single to tie the game. Fryer was brought in as a defensive replacement to catch in the top of the 10th and made a nice block on a pitch in the dirt with a man on first base. I'm not saying that Pinto wouldn't have made that play, but I'm not sure I can say that Gardy mishandled his players in that game, particularly since he still had Pinto available as a pinch hitter if they needed him. As it turned out, the Twins won the game in the bottom of the 10th and Pinto did not pinch hit. If the topic is "Why isn't Pinto starting more games at catcher?", I'd agree that he should be catching more.