ttreadway

Even as recent as 4 days ago I was advocating for optimism. After watching the game last night, my optimism is starting to dwindle. Our 6-9 batters pose very little threat, and with the exception of the occasional mistake or lucky swing, they’re not going to be difference makers any time soon. (They actually were the difference makers in last nights game, which makes me even less excited about our first five hitters right now). I don’t know how rusty Sano would be right now, but could it be a whole lot worse than the DH options we have available right now?

They are at 8-4 since the beginning of the White Sox series. In those games, they are 5-3 against .500 or better teams that either are or could be playoff contenders. It may not be the most fun way to watch our team win baseball games...it would be much more fun to watch them score 8 runs a game. But if they’ve won 5 of 8 against playoff contenders without their offense clicking I think that’s room for optimism if anything, because I too agree that things will get better offensively. Their starters have started pitching competitively and their bullpen has somehow managed to hang onto a lot of narrow leads. Let’s go twins!

I wonder what role Escobar could play...because every time he's had an opportunity to fill a need he's stepped up in a huge way. He's been the best hitter on this team since taking over for Sano last august, and I think we've seen enough of him to conclude its not just a fluke. It's hard to envision a scenario where we offer him a free agency deal, but given his production and his popularity in the clubhouse, I'd be more than happy if we offered him a 2-3 year deal worth 10-12 million a year to play third base and bump Sano to full time DH. He could also take over 2nd base for Dozier, but I see that spot more likely going to either Polanco or Gordon. I'd be pretty pumped to see this lineup next year. 1b- Mauer 2b/SS- Polanco RF- Kepler DH- Sano LF- Rosario CF- Buxton 3B- Escobar SS/2B- Gordon C- Garver/Castro This would have us offering Mauer a couple of years...2 maybe three to finish out his career here, and not picking up Morrisons option. At this point I think Mauer would be the more valuable first base option. This would give us some serious XBH/HR potential in the 2-7 spots and maybe even down to the 8 spot depending on Gordon. The only reason I have Buxton 6th is to break up the right handers at the bottom of the lineup...and to have his speed in front of Escobars power.

I was pretty impressed with matt magill tonight. First time ive watched him pitch. But if he is our “blow-out and mop-up guy” and pitches like that, thats a pretty good weapon. Many other plusses from the game tonight...we beat a good team, not just the white sox, rosario continues to be on fire, and Romero looks awesome! Figured id just call out the guy most likely to be the unsung hero of the game.

In general I've noticed that commenters on this sight seems to be much more vocal during the "lean times" and much less willing to dole out praise when things are going well. It's really frustrating at times. Yes the last 2-3 weeks have been tough to watch and there has been a lot of poor baseball played by the twins. But ask a dodgers fan if they loved watching the dodgers play during the second half of august and first part of September last summer. That was some miserable baseball in LA. And yet they ended up playing in game seven of an epic World Series not even two months removed from that awful stretch of baseball. No, I don't think we are as good as that dodgers team, but if anything that further cements my point that even the best of teams go through funks. It's baseball...its why they play 162 games. By the end of 162 games if a team is has the talent to win 75 games, or 85 games, or 95 games, more often than not they're going to end up within a couple wins of those marks regardless of hot streaks or cold streaks weathered throughout the grind of 162 games. All that to say, I love watching Rosario play when he's on these types of streaks, lets be optimistic for once and hope that he continues to rake at the plate the rest of the way. Lets hope that Lynns performance last night was indicative of a turn-around for him as well. Lets hope Morrison has turned a corner and that the Keplers and Escobars continue to play as they have been or close to it. Then you add in a healthy Buxton and Sano at some point hopefully soon, add in May and Santana hopefully in the next 45 days and Polanco in two months. Thats good reason for optimism. I realize not all of these things will turn out in the twins best interest. Someone will get hurt, someone will slump...but I believe that theres enough reason for optimism to hope that the good will outlay the bad by seasons end. Lets just try and celebrate the good times with the same gusto that we mourn the bad ones!

I would love to see Mauer in Right, Sano at 1st, keep Plouffe through the end of this year, and give third base to Polanco next year. Don't really have much hope that this will happen, but I think that would allow us to field the best team and lineup that we currently have available to us.

I like Arcia personally. I think his attitude is a breath of fresh air on this team. At least he shows that he's upset when he lets his team down and strikes out with runner on and two outs. I'm tired of this attitude where it doesn't seem like half the team even cares when they strike out.

I would be happy with that deal for Sano. I'd like to lock him up through his age 31 season, so that would mean buying out another two years on top of what you threw out. I think the twins should do 20-25 million a year for those free agent years. This would likely put the Twins north of 100 million, but for what will likely end up being the prime of Sano's career, it could end up being a bargain.

Just saw the lineups. Its Buxton, Escobar, Dozier, Plouffe, Rosario, Hunter, Nunez, Suzuki, Robinson. Come on. This is suppose to be a defining series against a good team and no Sano or Mauer in the lineup? I understand they need rest, and Mauer is not that great right now, but at least lets alternate their days off!

This is more out of curiosity than thinking you have an answer. But if we cut him, would another team pick him up? Also, if we moved Sano to 1st, would we extend Plouffe to be our long-term third baseman? Cause I don't really see any promising options coming through the minors.

Yet another opportunity to play Sano at third, and Molitor for some reason can't seem to play him there. I guess we need to justify paying Nunez? Or is it more that we have no one else worthy of being a major league DH? Our other options would have been Robinson or Fryer...and nobody wants to see that. Still, I'd rather see Sano at third and Nunez at DH.

I'm not absolutely sure about that. I'd like to see Sano play at third some more before destining him to be a lifelong DH, but he'll have value wherever he plays. Do they keep Plouffe around long term then? If not who else do they have for third?

Great play by Escobar! Some say he has zero range...if that were true, there would be a runner on first right now.

IMO Graham has been surprisingly solid in his role. At 7.2 K/9, he is sadly one of the better strikeout pitchers in our pen. I think he can continue as a productive long reliever and occasional 7th inning guy. If someone else steps up and proves he can be more effective, I'm all for that. Until then, I'm happy with Graham in that role. To address the outfield situation I think they view Torii next year as more of a DH than an outfielder. I would hope they give Sano time to improve at third much like they did Plouffe, mainly for the reason of they have way too much depth in the outfield to convert a third baseman to play there. I think Arcia will be their primary 4th outfielder and occasional DH, and hope he gets some chances to pinch hit. I would then predict he is traded by the deadline, and Kepler is with the team by mid year. I think ABW makes an appearance at some point as well when Torii can no longer catch up to a fastball and takes over as DH. I could see him having an impact similar to Kennys Vargas' impact in 2014 toward the end of the year. Speaking of Vargas...much to my dismay I think the twins give up on him and ship him somewhere in a trade and then watch him develop into a slightly less powerful Adam Dunn/Ryan Howard type of a player.

The one big off-season move that I think will happen is that Trevor Plouffe gets traded. As much as I love him, and many twins fans do, I do not think he fits long-term, or is in their long-term plans. I'd love to see him stick around, but our corner infield spots are just too crowded. I think eventually they move Sano over to first, but I doubt they do that before 2019 due to one Joe Mauer locked in financially through the 2018 season. So here is what I would like to see done with Plouffe who is a productive MLB third baseman and controllable through two more years. The twins must address the situation at catcher, and I would think they should be able to get a valuable catcher via trade for Plouffe and maybe one minor league player. If I had my way about it, I would go shopping for a catcher out on the west coast. The Giants have Andrew Susac pinned down behind Buster Posey, but I would imagine they move Posey in the next year or two out from behind the plate, and would like to keep Susac in line for the starting job when that happens. Also it does not appear that they have a pressing need at third base. The team that might have a use for a veteran third baseman/first baseman for a couple of years is the San Diego Padres. While their situation is not a dire one, Plouffe could serve them well. I think a straight up trade Plouffer for Derek Norris trade would be great. He is young and has team control for several years. He is good on defense and holds his own with the bat. If they won't trade straight up, then maybe adding in a mid level reliever prospect would do the trick. The one other move that could shore up the catching job would be to bring in Matt Wieters who will be a free agent this off season. This could allow us to use Plouffe as trade material for a top-flight relief pitcher to shore up our bullpen...a Darren O'day or Jake Mcgee type of guy, not another Kevin Jepsen. This is less likely, as the Twins are pretty reluctant to go get big name players on the free agent market, but I'd be happy if they could land him. If they were able to land Wieters, they'd probably need to free up some salary space for him, and I would hope they could find some team in desperate need of a 4th or 5th starter who they could dump Nolasco and his 12 or 13 million on for basically just a salary dump and maybe a couple young low-level prospects with maybe a bit of an upside. Would mostly be looking just to free up his salary for someone who will help us compete. I might prefer the first move for Norris, as Wieters has struggled with injuries the last couple years. Either way, I think catcher is the position of biggest need heading into next season and the Twins must find a way to upgrade. Next up will be the bullpen. I think one top flight reliever would do the trick. A dominant Wade Davis, Darren O'day, Mark Melancon type to lock down the eighth inning. I don't know how we get that, as most teams don't have guys like that to spare...unless your the royals. But Trevor Plouffe trade to a team in need of a solid defensive third baseman might get it done. Maybe Arcia or Vargas or Santana can rebuild enough value through the rest of this season and maybe the AFL that they could be packaged for a good reliever. O'day and Bud Norris are also free agents this winter along with several other good relief pitchers, so maybe we make a splash in free agency here if we don't have the trade chips in place because we used Plouffe for a catcher. Anyway, I view those as the two most important positions to upgrade in the off season. I think there are a number of other positions that could be upgraded as well. A lot of people will plead for a shortstop, but I personally think we need to give Polanco more of a shot. Two games twice a year are not enough to prove whether you belong or not. You'll also see Hunters name in the roster below. Regardless of your opinion on whether or not the twins should extend him another year, I think they will. I think they really value his leadership, and they will still be a really young team. My guess is he'll be an occasional DH, fourth outfielder, and bench bat with some pop. Here is what I would like the 25 man roster will look like to start the year in 2016. C- Derek Norris 1B- Joe Mauer 2B- Brian Dozier SS- Jorge Polanco 3B- Miguel Sano RF- Aaron Hicks CF- Byron Buxton LF-Eddie Rosario DH- Hunter vs lefties, Arcia vs. righties. Bench Arcia Escobar Suzuki Nunez Starters- In no particular order Hughes Santana Gibson May Berrios Relievers Graham Pressley Jepsen Perkins Best LH option in system Best RH option in system- Not sure at this point who these two would be. Oliveros, Achter, Burdi, Jay, Duffy, Rogers...kind of a toss-up at this point. top flight reliever via trade or free agency So what are your thoughts on the moves the twins should make this off season, and what their roster will look like to start 2016