Rick Niedermann

Autographs at Twinsfest: I have a collection of about 60 Autographed Twins Baseballs. Ranging from Bernardo Brito to Rod Carew. I'm amazed at the poor quality of the younger players autographs. Roy Smalley gives a great autograph. As do Tony Oliva, Rod Carew, Tim Laudner and Dick Stigman. Mike Pelfrey's was acceptable. But if you pulled a guy off the street and asked him to tell you the name on the ball he'd have no clue. Joe Mauer might get recognized just because it's Mauer. I think Anthony Swarzak, Alex Myer and Chris Parmelee try a little. But Alex Presley and Phil Hughes you'd be hard pressed to know whose autograph it was even it you were a huge Twins fan. Jason Bartlett's autograph is a joke (and he impressed me as somewhat of a smug ass Twinsfest). And Vance Worley is nothing but a scribble. At least he leaves his number by his scribble so you can look up who it is.

I sure hope Bartlett can win the SS job. Sentimentally, I think he can. He was a great clutch hitter when he was with the Twins and one of my favorite players. Logically, I don't think he makes the grade. Pretty hard to comeback after being gone for so long from the game. If he could approach his 2007 numbers of 2HR 43RBI .265BA .339OBP .699OPS it would be a real boost to the lineup. Keeping my fingers crossed that this gamble works out for the Twins.

I guess Kepler's numbers don't show it. But when I saw him in Cedar Rapids the ball just jumped off his bat. And even though he has grown into his body I think he has enough talent to be a corner outfielder. I am more excited about his overall potential to be a regular in the bigs then Aaron Hicks. I'm anxious to see him healthy and hopefully at Fort Myers for a full year. I agree with Chucadoro and think he will be the breakout minor player of the year with big numbers at Fort Myers.

Joe's career as a first baseman might be short lived. But he can handle LF or RF. Very bad news on the prospect front with Sano's elbow and Rosario's suspension.

What do you guys know about Burch Smith, rumored to be available for LH Relief, from San Diego. Minor lg whips look great. Big kid, under control.

Is Dougie hearing anything on reclamation projects like Baker, Johan, etc?

What about Justin Turner for Plouffe competition, reserve infielder who can hit?

What reclamation project would you go after? Halladay, Johan, Daniel Hudson? What is the latest on the Korean pitcher Yoon?

I don't know a thing about FIP. Could care less. All I know is what I saw when Pelfrey pitched. And he was just not a very good pitcher. I don't know how his efforts last year merit a significant raise and extra year or two on his contract. He can't throw a breaking pitch worth diddily squat. He kills the pace of the game. He walks to many. He can't strike anybody out. If the Twins can't do better then that in free agency, they simply aren't trying. Let some other smuck GM believe Boras's garbage. This guy is a number 5 at best and we have 7 or 8 of them already. The Twins need to sign two of the following. Nolasco, Arroyo, Hughes. Then if they want to take flyer of Pelfrey fine. He's a nice guy, liked Minnesota. But we have lot's of nice guys on this team and the team stinks.

I'd like to have Arroyo in the rotation. But a 3rd year is an awful lot of risk. I'd assume that if they sign Arroyo then a second pitcher of Pelfrey's ilk would also be added. I would rather the Twins combine the cost of those two pitchers and sign 1 above average pitcher like Matt Garza. He is young enough, dominant enough, throws hard enough to be a factor when the wave of studs starts coming up in June. And could be a 2 behind Meyer in 2015 and beyond. If we were going to go bargain basement soft tossers we should of been in on Vargas. 8mil/total commitment of 32 mil would of been better then say Arroyo 3 yr -36-38 mil. Guess I am beginning to think the Twins will do very little and Pelfrey will be back on a 2 year deal. Hope I am wrong.

They're both Twins Killers. But no way I trade Mauer for either of them. Not even close.

I used to have drive to the Library and read the Tribune. And occasionally I could get Sid for 5 minutes, on the way to work with Dave Lee, if the weather was just right to get any off season Twins news. These guys talking Twins during the off season is great. I really appreciate the Gleeman and the Geek Show and now Jeremy and Seth are putting together a great video podcast. Thank God for the internet and these Super bloggers who give me my Twins fix in the winter months.

The Priorities that Terry Ryan needs to look for in a FA Starting Pitcher: 1.) Age - He needs to be young enough to be around and contributing when the new wave of talent comes aboard in the next 2-3 years. 2.) Upside - Someone who could possibly breakout and have a 15-17 Win season. 3.) Innings Eater - This team needs someone who can last longer then 5 to 6 innings with a shot at winning the game. 4.) History of Health - Sure, no one knows when a guys arm is going to go. But big money can't be spent on guys who have a past history of arm problems. So with that criteria, if I were Terry Ryan, I would be focusing my attention to this group of pitchers. Ricky Nalasco, Phil Hughes, Ubaldo Jimenez, and this one most won't like, but I would certainly put a flyer out for Jason Vargas. Ervin Santana won't be a Twin. To expensive and the loss of that 2nd round draft pick to the Royals eliminates him if your Terry Ryan. If Ryan can land one of these guys on a 3 or 4 year deal and sign one of the Johan, Josh Johnson types needing a one year make good deal I'd be pretty happy with those upgrades.

My concern is that Terry Ryan will wait till the market establishes itself and he will cringe and pull back on aggressively pursuing anyone in free agency other then the scrap bin variety. I hope he jumps out of the gate after a Johnson, either Santana, Vargas or Hughes. Hughes I would be willing to go multiple years. He seems like a good fit for Target Field.

My Prospect Outlook: Glad they opened this forum to those of us that aren't really writers or bloggers. Just Twins fans with opinions. I throw this out for discussion. Can't Miss Prospects: Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, Alex Meyer, Kohl Stewert, Lewis Thorpe. This is the group I believe are destined for elite status. If they stay healthy, especially the pitchers, they will lead the Twins back to relevance somewhere around 2016. Top Prospects with Major League Experience: Josmil Pinto, Oswaldo Arcia, Aaron Hicks, Kyle Gibson, Michael Tonkin, Caleb Theilbar. This group will be very serviceable ML players. They have already shown value to the future of the Twins. None will be elite though. Top Prospects: Danny Santana, J.O. Berrios, Trevor May, Max Kepler, Steve Gonsalves, Adam Brett Walker, Nate Roberts, Mason Melotakis, Anderlin Mejia, Jorge Polanco. This group brings one or more intangible. Defense, Power, Position of Need, End of Rotation starter, Solid bullpen arm. Pretty nice looking group. Even nicer when you have so many guys listed above them in ranking. Lot's of contributors here when surrounded by a Sano, Buxton and Rosario. Marginal Prospects: Vance Worley, A.J. Achter, D.J. Baxendale, Logan Darnell, Edgar Ibarra, Taylor Rogers, Zach Jones, J.D.Williams, Travis Harrison, Dalton Hicks, Kennys Vargas, Luke Bard, Nico Gooodrum, Tyler Grimes, Miguel Sulbaran. A few in this group will develop into top prospect status. If 3 make it the Twins will be very lucky. Quite a few will get a cup of coffee. None are presently someone I could view as an everyday player in the long run but could develop. Maybe some bullpen arms in this group. Longshot Prospects: Tim Shibuya, Tim Atherton, Tyler Jones, Brian Gilbert, Zach Larson, Jose Abreu, Steve Wickens, Matt Summers, Brett Lee, Steve Gruver. This group might get one or two to the Majors. Don't see anyone here that will become a difference maker. Maybe a bullpen guy or two and a bench filler. Sinking Fast: Liam Hendriks, Deolis Guerra, Hudson Boyd, Madison Boer, Levi Michael. These guys all came into the system with a lot of hype and haven't lived up to it. Likely all will be draft busts. Conclusion:When making this I couldn't help but get excited about the Twins future. There are superstars on their way. And many players that will be good ballplayers. If the young pitchers can stay healthy along the way Target Field will be rocking. Looking back at some of the Prospects list from a few years ago you can see how much better shape the Farm System is in. Remember when guys like Angel Morales, Tyler Robertson, Shooter Hunt and Jeff Manship were in a lot of Top 10's? The Marginal Prospects grouping is better then most Top 10's from just a few years ago.

Moxie, that team had talent and lot's of moxie. That's what has been missing from the Twins for quite awhile. Those guys were not intimidated by anyone. Give them a little pitching and they were gonna win. Betting they would of never went down like the Twins did in the playoffs against the Yankees. Might not of won the playoff agains the Yanks everytime, but woulda went down fighting. And I have to think advanced at least once.

"Several players that are likely to be added to the 40-man roster include: Logan Darnell, A.J. Achter, Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco, Kennys Vargas and possibly Pat Dean." Wouldn't waste a 40 man on Pat Dean. In 455 career IP, 518 Hits and only 277 K's. If someone wants him. They can have him.

I think the drop in payroll the last two years would cover the posting fee. And 10-11 million a year for a young #1 type pitcher is worth the gamble. But it will never happen. This is the risk averse Twins we are talking about. In Terry Ryan's eyes Mike Pelfrey is the answer. Accept and expect mediocrity next year. Because that is all Terry Ryan will give you.

I'm all for being patient and waiting for the next wave of young Talent. And in 2015 the starting lineup should be pretty decent. But this group could also take it's lumps like Hicks and Arcia did. Even if they all performed to their high expectations right away there will not be enough starting pitching to make them competitive. When is the last time the Twins made a move and you said to yourself, I didn't see that coming. (maybe Neagle for Smiley in 92) This season the Twins need to be all in on 25 year old Masahiro Tanaka. The cash is there, the owner says spend it, we need a Frontline pitcher. If Terry Ryan wants to be accountable he makes a legitimate run at a top tier pitcher. Otherwise it is the same old, same old.

Pitch to contact starting pitchers whose WHIP were unsightly and who couldn't strike anyone out. Failure to contact Hitters. . . . So many called 3rd strikes looking. Are they that bad? Hasn't Bruno preached protecting the plate with two strikes? So many disappointments in Hicks (god awful at the plate), Plouffe-who at one point I would of DFA, Parmelee and Colabello have proven to be AAAA guys even when platooned. Arcia's all or nothing approach. Really just so many disappointments, injuries and untalented players to list only 7.

"As Mackey himself points out, the only two starting pitchers that the Twins have drafted and guided to the major-league ranks in the past eight years are Kyle Gibson and Jeff Manship" Everytime I hear Manship's name I cringe. Then you look and see he is actually in the major leagues with Colorado. So as bad as the Twins pitching has been at least we aren't having to deal with Manship's lack of ability. How bad is Colorado's pitching situation if he has started 4 games for them. Or Houston having to pitch Phil Humber nearly a half a year. Maybe Houston and Colorado would be interested in Liam Hendriks? Looking at Seth Stoh's 2009 Prospect Book Manship was actually ranked our 14th best prospect. Other pitching propsects ahead of him were Anthony Swarzak (6th), Tyler Robertson (7th), Kevin Mulvey (8th), Carlos Gutierrez (10th), and Deolis Guerra (12th). Obviously Swarzak is the only one that worked out. Two things come to mind. Why are our scouts so poor at finding pitching prospects? And how can guys like Anthony Slama, when he was healthy, not get an extended look a few years back. Between the scouting and front office decisions on pitching it pretty much leaves us with the mess of starting pitching we have now.

Ryan Pressley would get my vote. Pretty good numbers All year long.

I hope they go all in on Tanaka. He's the only FA pitcher that would excite me. But it will never happen. So we may as well get used to the re-treads like Pelfrey and Corriea. And hope that Meyer, May and Gibson actually develop into the pitchers they have been hyped to be.

Also in Cedar Rapids, Terry Ryan was in the crowd scouting the game. Mike Gonzales looked to have a 400 ft homer that was knocked down by a wind coming in from center. He had a couple of gafs in the field that hurt Shibuya. Adam Brett Walkers ball looked foul to me. But more frustrating was the inconsistent strike calls of the home plate umpire. Mason Melatokis sure looks like the real deal. I think he will see Minnesota in a couple of years. Houston's-Quad Cities Corriea looks like a future star. Big for a shortstop though. It was a great year in Cedar Rapids. So good to have a Twins affiliate in Iowa.

Mauer is a Lock First Ballot HOFer. A catcher with Batting Championships, Division Titles, Gold Gloves. He is a HOFer if he retired tomorrow. No Doubt About It.