diehardtwinsfan

I would think based on upside alone that he already has. We all know what it is we have in Butera. It's nothing that cannot be had in Rene Revera or Towles. If it was a wash, I'd go with Towles knowing that there's a small chance that his bat actually plays at the ML level if called into service..

cause I need to pay closer attention when I'm reading... wow... FAIL

If a guy with potential upside like Chris Nelson comes available, I think you take it...

Like Chief said, this is kind of arbitrary... but my guess (posted on the coments). Jim Rantz is the only guy who never actually played a MLB game for the Twins.

If the Twins are out of contention, I could see Span fectching them something very nice at the trade deadline. 2 years from now, I think we will be looking at an OF of Benson/Hicks/Arcia with Revere hopefully being traded or acting as a 4th OF. I don't see a lot of room for Span on that one, but we should have a very good idea by the trade deadline as to whether or not they should be dealing Span. I think it makes sense if this team finds itself rebuilding again. A healthy and performing Span should be able to fetch a starting pitcher with a pretty decent ceiling that isn't thaaaaaaaaaat far out. If that's the case, the real question is when you start calling these guys up. I could see using Revere as a placeholder until Hicks is ready, but I really don't like him as a long term answer.

I should clarify that I'm not sure if this is what I'd do (though I don't think it's a bad idea)... simply that I suspect that the Twins might be thinking about this. Parmalee is on the 40 man, if memory serves me right, which means that he should have been sent down already, but he hasn't, so they are giving him a strong look. I doubt Doumit will be a full time anything given his injury history, but with LF essentially being an offensive void, I could see him replacing the Plouffe/Revere combo with some frequency in order to minimize that damage. I'd forgotten that Parmalee has played some OF... Like you said, they could put him out in right as well.

I'm thinking more and more that this is opening a spot for Parmalee. Move Doumit to RF, Willingham to LF, Parmalee to DH, and Revere to the bench. I could see Towles replacing Butera as well.

I'm with John, I don't see Dozier making it this year baring injury. He needs to be playing every day, and he won't be doing that in Minnesota this season unless someone gets hurt. I'm confused though why everyone seems to think that we need another utiltiy infielder. I thought that is what Luke Hughes was going to be. He's also a decent bat. Plouffe can switch back to the middle if needed, and I wouldn't be surprised in the least if this allows them to either carry an extra pitcher or to make a spot for Parmalee... I really think this is what they are doing. Chris continues to hit. He could carry 1B/DH roles with Justin. Doumit moves into a C/1B/DH/RF role, and Revere spends more time on the bench/spot starting/pinch running/defensive sub.

Carol and Casilla are starters until someone gets hurt or falters. You also have Luke Hughes playing up the middle. I don't see a way to have all 3 up and give everyone the plate appearances they need. This could also mean that the Trever Plouffe in the OF experiment will be ending quicker than we thought. I'm not quite sure they should give up on Plouffe as an infielder. I'm not convinced his bat will play in left (unless the 2 month breakout in Rochester is real and not a small sample), but it will most certainly play at short. As well, with Parmalee playing well, I could see him being up and spliting 1B/DH duties with Justin. Doumit moves into the OF more and Revere takes on more of a 4th OF/defensive sub role.

Pretty sure it was Glen Perkins... I seem to remember some griping that he did it intentionally after that whole grievance thing.

thrylos, are you sure this is new, or has the date just changed? I seem to remember this being an issue in previous springs as well. If you get hurt in ST, you go on the ML DL...

He needs to find out how to get a strike out if that's the case.

I think you need to consider options here.. correct me if I'm wrong, but arent' swarzak and manship out of options?

If he can keep those K/9 close to his minor league avg (8.22), he should be a pretty decent pitcher. His walk rate is low as well. Might not be a number 1, but should be a solid 2/3 for 6-10 years... I'll take that.

pretty much this.

I hope you are right about Plouffe, as I'm not sold on him from his small AAA sample size. I do think Trevor should be playing every day to see what they have. That said, Doumit is a huge upgrade over several positions that we have. He's a massive upgrade offensively over Butera and Revere, both of whom he can replace. I agree that I'm not sold on him being in the lineup every day, but a few days in left and behind the late when Mauer is hurt or playing another position does give us a nice advantage.

as would I... that's no superstar though, unless he's a CF... that's just a really nice cost-controlled piece in our lineup. I think the future Twins OF looks pretty good. The IF with Michael, Dozier, Sano, and Parmalee should be decent as well... pitching on the other hand....

I'm guessing Todd Walker... Ryan's last few drafts were pretty bad, and I'll give Bill Smith credit there as this was one area that (from the looks of it) was done well under his tenure, though I suspect that is because he let his scouts do their thing and mostly stayed out of it. Hopefully this track continues, as it would be a shame to waste this many top 100 picks...

I like Benson... not quite sure I'd use the term "superstar" to describe him. He's got potential to be an above average player at any OF position, so I wouldn't be surprised if he gets an allstar game or two over his career if things pan out, but I dont' think he's a Mauer, Griffey JR, Longoria, etc. If I was a betting man, he'll basically put up Cuddyer offensive numbers with a much better defense.... that's a pretty good player, but not a superstar.

last I checked, it gets a bit chilly in the central division sites in the spring and the fall... It's a good experience and something they should learn.

A much higher ceiling.

What???? The weakest defensive OF goes to right where the ball is hit much less. The Young to left stuff had more to do with the fact that Gardy didn't feel it was worth upsetting the clubhouse. Plouffe looked lost everywhere (though in his defense, he hasn't played much OF in the past), and I'm not even ready to call him a DH. He showed signs at the plate, but I'd like to see what he does before I'd annoint him any position. Outside of last year in AAA, his career minor league numbers don't look too promising. Also, I'll be quite happy to eat my words concerning Revere if he breaks out... To me, he's a very good 4th OF, and he's shown no indication that this won't change. Hopefully you are right about him. I like the kid, but I don't see ML starter with him.

I'm not sure I get this debate. The park may be hard on hitters, but it's supposedly a benefit to the pitchers. I don't think it's wise to start altering dimensions simply b/c a few guys don't like them... makes little sense, and I'd add that oppsing hitters teed off at TF far more than our guys... Perhaps there's something to be said that it's mental?

I don't think anyone quite suspect Morneau would be as good as he was either... Most didn't doubt the power, but the high BA came as a bit of a surprise. I'm still holding out hope that he can return to form this year. If the Twins contend, that will be why.

I think Gardy is a pretty bad manager, but this isn't the reason why. Like others said, given range factors at TF, you want your best defenders in left and center. Add to it, that Revere's arm is bad on so many levels. You don't put that in right, as people will be going from first to third all day long on pitches hit to right. Like John, I'm not getting the consternation of switching Willingham from left to right. It really isn't that much different of a position, and using Delmon as a comp is kind of foolish. Delmon is a bad defender anywhere in the OF. That has to do with his size and the fact that he doesn't get good reads on the ball. That doesn't change in RF, the only difference is that he would have had less plays to screw up out there. As for what's best for the team... Span is a plus defender in center. I agree that Revere may have better range, I don't agree that this means he should be in center (just a caveat to this, but I don't think he should be playing every day, but that's a separate issue). Again, with his arm, it makes more sense to put him in left where the weak arm is protected. As with right, you'll see plenty of people going first to third with anything hit reasonably well to center. Last year, we got to see a non-burner runner tag from second to home on a sac to center. How often do you see that when there's no error on the play? This isn't a situation where putting Revere in center is clearly best for the team. Doin't so consistently will probably lead to an extra out every week or two. That move makes sense in late innings when protecting a small lead with no runners on, but not so much otherwise.