Rick Niedermann

I like all these moves. If nothing else to help limit the Yips when they can help us in 2017.

Everytime I think of the Jepson for Hu trade I cringe. It could be as bad a trade as Ramos for Capps. I think the game has passed Terry Ryan by.

If I remember right, Mark Guthrie had this surgery and came back for about 8 or 9 years to an up and down relief career.

AB Walker reminds me of Bobby Darwin who hit 65 HR for the Twins from 72-74. He also led the league in K's all 3 years. I'm anxious for Wade's promotion to see if he can continue to hit like he has in CR. Having seen him a couple of times, I think he has a chance to be really good.

Seth should be the GM.

Mauer's 2015 production certainly makes this list. But I think he will have a bounce back year in 2016. It can happen. Morneau won a batting title after his long battle with concussions. And I certainly see the possibility of Danny Santana rebounding in 2016. He is just to talented. He seems to have had the classic "sophomore jinx". I wouldn't be surprised to see him open the season as the starting CF. Perkins really concerns me. He sure ran out of gas again. But I expect a bounce back from him too. The concussion issue sure has bitten the Twins. Josmil Pinto had so much promise until his concussions. He appears to be depth at DH now. Not in the top 5, but still a disappointment was Kennys Vargas.

I have always liked Eddie Rosario and couldn't understand why some of the pundits wanted to trade him for GoGo Gomez in early July. I see a guy with the potential to hit .300 with 20 HR power for years to come. His splits are good and his defense great. Just so many assets in this young man.

What an amazing list. It shows how far the Twins Minor League system has come. And this list doesn't even include names like: Kohl Stewart, Alex Meyer, Brett Lee, Alex Wimmers, DJ Baxendale, or David Hurlbut. All who are better then guys who were in the top 20 mix just 5 years ago like Deolis Guerra, David Brombert, Jeff Manship. Never have the Twins enjoyed such minor league riches.

In years past payroll was suppose to be 53% of revenue. Many years revenue outdistanced the payroll by quite a bit. What happened to that money? Why isn't a percentage of those funds placed in a "Payroll Savings Account" that would allow the team to add a premium free agent when needed. Like this year! The timing couldn't be better with the Top Rated position players nearing the Big Leagues. Twins fans feel like the Twins have not kept there promises that if a new stadium was built we would have a middle of the pack payroll. 85 million does not cut it in Twins Territory!

Extreme Darkhouse Rebound Candidate: Mike Pelfrey

Of the 3 Cedar Rapids pitchers on the list. I would rank Chih-Wei-Hu ahead of both Gonsalves and Thorpe. When I saw him pitch he was really polished. But what a great situation to be in to have 3 very high ceiling young starters. Keep an eye on this young man Twins fans. Hu is really good.

I only saw Cedar Rapids live. So that might skew my choice. But Max Murphy was very impressive. He stings the ball. He'd be my choice.

I hope I am wrong. But he is looking more and more like a platoon guy. To bad, because the power he has is just what the Doctor ordered for Target Field.

Anyone hear why a guy with good stats and a local guy, Austin Malinowski was released in early spring?

Do you have an injury update on J.T. Chargois and Luke Bard?

Chih-Wei Hu is making me take notice. I live close to Cedar Rapids and have to get down to see him and Gonsalves soon. With the Big League club struggling so much, it's nice to be able to go see the young guys who could help turn this around in Minnesota.

I assume Scott Diamond will sign with Pittsburgh and win 8 or 9 games the 2nd half of the season.

I remember this incident and this team. Mauch was a big platoon guy and when you look at the roster you can see the many platoons he used. Our rotation wasn't to bad. But the bullpen was god awful. There were 4 Minnesota natives on the roster. Pitchers Gary Serum, Greg Thayer, Tom Johnson and David Goltz. Despite what the record shows, this was a fun team to watch. Mauch was the best strategic manager the Twins have ever had in my opinion. Griffiths just didn't keep many of the key players. There was so much talent that came and went in that era. Had we a different owner I am sure there was a good chance of winning a World Series back then.

I'm most surprised by Plouffe's plate discipline and his hitting to right. Reminds me of how Brian Harper turned around his career and became a lifetime .300 hitter for the Twins. If he can sustain this approach, he is definitely part of the rebuild. I'd lost all hope for him last year. He looks like a different player up to the plate now.

What has happened to B.J Hermsen? I'd think he is soon to be a release candidate.

Most of us are all pretty disappointed that at least one solid bat wasn't brought on board. I actually feel sorry for the young man that will be drafted in the 2nd round this year. Because how he does will create a lot of debate about the Twins not being willing to give up that pick. Honestly, I didn't feel like this was the year the Twins would make a big jump anyway. But with the addition of Hughes and Nolasco there was a longer term fit to go with the young upcoming pitchers guys like Meyer and May. So I do give the Twins FO credit for that. We needed that longer term fit for an offensive player too. Now after watching this offense in Spring Training, that is when the despair for a long long season set in. No other word for it, except bad. When you have that many player go 3 or 4 for 40 something it doesn't inspire optimisn. Most likely 90+ losses again. But we can always hope that Willingham isn't washed up and the Spring was an aberration. That Hicks will make the Torii Hunter type leap in abililty this year, that Plouffe hits 25 HR without striking out every third at bat, that Gardy has enough sense not to play Kubel against lefties, that Colabello hits 20 HR's and bats .275 and Escobar gets more at bats then Floriman at Short, and Pinto is not riding the pine and wasting his bat in favor of Suzuki. Just to many wings on a prayer here to be competitive. I just have to add that I am hoping Eddie Rosario is in some kind of treatment and will someday use his immense talent. What a shame if he throws it all away.

This roster will be in flux for the first 2 months of the season anyway. So I am ok with giving Kubel a shot. Especially if Gardy would change his philosophy on platooning. A DH of Kubel/Colabello-Pinto looks like it could work. Lots of mixing and matching ahead for Gardy. But by June is will sort it's self out and we will know if Kubel is a CBPOY candidate or done.

If they go with Suzuki at Catcher instead of Pinto you have one more glaring hole in an already terrible offensive club. So, no matter who has to go, be it Diamond, Worley or whoever. The Twins must bring North the best pitching staff they can put together. I agree with the 5 starters. Perkins, Duensing, Thielbar, Fien, Burton, Swarzak and Tonkin. Pitching will be the only chance for this team to have a slight chance at being competitive. Because you just have to many "ifs" offensively. If Willingham comes back, if Hicks can be productive, if Arcia doesn't K every 3 AB's, if Plouffe, Colabello, and Parmelee can hit for some power and not strike out every 3 AB's. And most importantly, if these guys can start hitting with RISP.

Does Florimon have options? Why isn't Escobar being considered for the everyday shortstop job? He seems to have a better bat. And we need every bit of offense we can get.

This article speaks to the obvious. Gardy needs to rethink his position on Platooning. Give a guy the greatest chance at success. Gene Mauch used this approach to get ultimate offensive performance from his teams. Remember DH, Jose Morales-RH Glen Adams LH, 2B, Bobby Randall-RH Rob Wilfong LH, OF, Hosken Powell-LH Bombo Rivera-RH Steve Braun-LH Steve Brye RH and on and on. If the Twins went with 3 catchers you could platoon Suzuki, Pinto and Hermann. In the Outfield and DH you could rotate Kubel, Arcia, Parmalee with Colabello Pinto. On some days Plouffe could sit and Escobar could play 3B. For this offense to get better, Gardy has to employ a little creative thinking, like Mauch did, and platoon guys to give them their greatest chance at success.