MileHighTwinsFan

I was most interested in Molitor's response to the question about the Twins' ability to score early runs. While he said these things are streaky - he does emphasize fast starts and being ready to play from the first pitch - which sounds a bit like coachspeak. I don't know if there is more to it - but the team seems to have an uncanny ability to jump on starting pitching early. It is getting to be such a trend that you wonder if there is something in their data analytics framework that is giving them an edge.

The depth of starting pitching suggests this club will contend all year. Santana and Milone are there when the shoe drops on Pelfrey and/or Nolasco. I would definitely bet the over on .500.

It is scary to think what a September 1 call up might look like for this club. Think about having Buxton, Sano, Vargas, Polanco, etc. available off the bench or in the line-up. The depth in the relief corp could lead to some amazing matchups in key situations. The possibilities are very exciting - but I doubt we seen many of these guys before then.

Whether the start is an illusion or an indicator of a team turning the corner is irrelevant. The team finds itself in contention - now it is up to the front office to find a way to parlay it into a real playoff run. The team clearly has holes, the question is which ones to fill and at what price. We know the Twins well enough that they will not sell the farm for a single season run. However, we have seen the team make moves that paid off big in the short term. Those who think that the help for the stretch fun will come exclusively from the minors is mistaken. The team will need to make a trade or two to solidify their chances. The question is who they will pursue, when they will pursue them and who they will be willing to part ways with to get there.

I think if the team is going to compete over the long haul, they will need a veteran presence at shortstop. Santana is not the answer right now and I don't think Polanco is the guy we want out there during a stretch run. Escobar might be able to fill the role - but his versatility is such a huge asset, it would be a shame to lock him in at short. Is there someone at the end of their contract that could be an option to fill the role for the rest of the year?

With Casey Fien out - Boyer has come up big. The great news is that he doesn't have to carry the bullpen on his back. Fien's return to the roster and the continued success of Aaron Thompson provides a solid - if not remarkable back end of the bullpen. In another month, I would suspect the Twins will go out and find themselves a high quality bull pen arm that will bolster things. Boyer, Fien, Thompson, Tonkin and Perkins provide a sound foundation - now the Twins need that big arm to get to the next level.

I am beginning to believe that Plouffe is a key part of this rebuild and should not be moved from the team or off of 3rd base. He may be the most well rounded player on the current roster providing both a power bat and great glove. As much as I love Miguel Sano, he is nowhere near ready to displace Trevor from the lineup. I am as excited as anyone to see Sano with the Twins, but I really think he would be an overall downgrade from Plouffe now and for the foreseeable future. Let's also get real about Joe Mauer. He is the first baseman and will be for quite some time. Ideas about moving him from this role are completely ridiculous. Frankly, having this infield locked in is a huge reason to be optimistic about the future of this club. I know this may be sacriliege - but Sano may be the guy playing in a different uniform - not Trevor.

I am not convinced that Rosario goes down when Arcia comes off the DL. With Vargas down, Arcia would slot very nicely into the DH spot, allowing Rosario to continue to get innings and at bats. Having his speed and athleticism on the roster during the NL games will be useful. He may not be a permanent fixture on the roster just yet - but an extended look for a few more weeks to see if he settles in may be in order.

Twins bullpen was the key to the game. Tonkin and Boyer were particularly impressive. Pretty exciting to see a bullpen, missing its key setup man, fight off one of the most potent lineups in baseball. The injury to one Martinez and futility of another didn't hurt.

Assuming all pans out with Hicks, Buxton, Rosario and Arcia - something has to give. It is way too early to write off any of these four as "fourth outfielders". They all should be considered everyday players. One great advantage of having a stacked minor league system is their value as trade chips. I expect that full rebuild will include a balanced team of experienced veterans and talented younger players. The Myers trade for Davis and Shields in Kansas City is a perfect example of what we should expect from the Twins. It seems to me that one of these outfielders will be playing elsewhere somewhere down the road. What will be interesting is who the player will be and what it says about the type of team we construct.

I agree with those that think Sano is farther away from being major league ready. The kid missed a whole year and looks it. I would be shocked if we saw him before September and would not be surprised if he was fighting for a roster spot in the spring. The Sano/Plouffe decision is a classic we will cross that bridge when we come to it situation. Right now the bridge isn't even on the horizon.

Doubt Schaefer has options, otherwise the Braves wouldn't have waived him last year. However, I am happy to be corrected on this point. While Robinson's numbers are suspect. He has played a strong defense. There is probabably a bit of, "it ain't broke . . ." in the Twins clubhouse, combined with the roller coaster ride that is Hicks, I just don't see them pulling the trigger soon. I would like to be wrong, but I think they have been fooled too many times with glimpses from Hicks that they are going to be very deliberate on the next decision. He is only 25 after all. Lorenzo Cain did not play regularly for KC until after that age.

I agree that it will be soon - but probably not before the end of May. Robinson has been better than expected and Schaefer has struggled, but provides a counter to Hicks" weaknesses against right handed pitching. While Hicks may be ready - the prospect of DFAing either Robinson or Schaefer could bring back the sour memories of the Alex Presley/Darin Mastroianni debacle of last year. The front office is probably thinking that the next promotion of Hicks will be his last. As a result, they are going to want to be super comfortable making the move, which translates to a more conservative approach. It may take an injury to an outfielder to make this happen.

I don't think Sano is ready or will be for most of the year - but the good news is that Plouffe is playing All-Star and Gold Glove level third base. Buxton may appear sooner, but I am not sure it will be a mid-season playoff push promotion. I still think he is a late season call up. He has had a good week, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Think it is more likely that Hicks makes it up before both of them. His numbers are solid, if unremarkable. If they hold up for another month, I think we will see him up with the club.

You can't keep a healthy player on the DL to make endless "rehab starts" can you? Nolasco can't be optioned, so either you option May or option a reliever and put one of the starters in the pen. I see no reason why you can't put Nolasco in the pen for now and delay a decision for a couple more rounds through the rotation.

He is a good 3rd baseman, but I have a hard time believing the Twins will or can convert Sano to any other position. It is because of Sano's limited versatility as a fielder that Plouffe is eventually a trade candidate. Unless, of course, Sano becomes the trade chip for that #1 starter that we all desperately want.

While it is pretty clear that Sano will be the Twins third baseman at some point, it is not likely this year. Ultimately Plouffe is either a trade chip or a super utility player for the club. In many respects it is the development of other players like Arcia, Rosario and Vargas that have more of an impact on Plouffe's future. I agree that he is a strong extension candidate - but don't agree that this means he is the Twins' third baseman beyond the foreseeable future.

Definition-- jour·ney·man \-mən\: a worker, performer, or athlete who is experienced and good but not excellent In the nomenclature of the game we have many names for the journeyman. On competitive teams we typically use the more endearing terms: role player, utility man, pinch hitter, defensive replacement. But on a losing team we tend to describe them in less complementary ways: placeholder, seat warmer, has been.A journeyman’s value is not typically described with season stats or career slash lines, but in single moments; when he gets a key hit, makes an outstanding defensive play or simply moves a runner over to allow the franchise player a chance to hit with a player in scoring position. With a team like the Twins that is filled with players that meet the definition of journeyman, fans are quick to dismiss their value and instead pine for the brilliant prospect filled with promise and potential who is waiting in the wings. Trevor Plouffe must have a clock ticking in his head. Intellectually he knows that his days as the Twins starting third baseman are numbered. Conversely, his competitive instincts keep pushing him to keep his job and show the world that he is not simply a placeholder for superprospect Miguel Sano. Spring training and the first two weeks of the season were a struggle for Trevor. Despite coming off his best major league season, he had to overcome a late season freak injury, his average was firmly planted below .200 and the team had not started strong out of the gate. Anyone in his shoes would start to look in the rear view mirror to see if Mr. Sano was gaining on him. Because of all he was up against, Plouffe’s walk-off homer in extra innings on Friday must have been particularly sweet. The cathartic reaction from Plouffe as he screamed at his teammates in the dugout during his home run trot was a message to us fans. He is saying, I too was once a hot prospect, a player with potential. While it hasn’t worked out for me just yet – I am still here. I have worked my ass off and I don’t intend to go quietly into the night. So today I take my hat off to Trevor Plouffe, Shane Robinson, and Jordon Schaefer and the other journeymen who may never make an All-Star game or get the long term, multi-million dollar deal. Get after it fellas, I respect your commitment. Hang in there, celebrate every success and know that when you do yield to that young superprospect, there is one fan out there who respects what you bring to the game. Click here to view the article

Gardy would be the proverbial fish out of water in Miami.

I am pleased to see some payoff for Pelfrey, but I think the article gets it right. He is highly susceptible to the big inning. He seems to struggle in runners on base situations, particularly in the critical 5th and 6th inning when you need a starter to get through the top half of the lineup a third time. Given this tendency and the new found splitter, which can put undo stress on his arm, I still like him as a late inning reliever. This team desperately needs help there. I know Pelfrey does not want that role and would rather be traded somewhere where he can start, but I think it is important for the Twins to give him a real chance to help the club from the Pen, which solves two problems for the team - finding a spot for Nolasco and helping the beleaguered bull pen.

Big day today - 3 for 5, 2 doubles, single and a walk. Now hitting .286.

I think Hicks is up in the next month if he can get and keep is average north of .250 and his OBP in the .350 range.

Def. jour·ney·man \-mən\ : a worker, performer, or athlete who is experienced and good but not excellent In the nomenclature of the game we have many names for the journeyman. On competitive teams we typically use the more endearing terms: role player, utility man, pinch hitter, defensive replacement. But on a losing team we tend to describe them in less complementary ways: placeholder, seat warmer, has been. A journeyman’s value is not typically described with season stats or career slash lines, but in single moments; when they get a key hit, make an outstanding defensive play or simply move a runner over to allow the franchise player a chance to hit with a player in scoring position. With a team like the Twins that is filled with players that meet the definition of journeyman, fans are quick to dismiss their value and instead pine for the brilliant prospect filled with promise and potential who is waiting in the wings. Trevor Plouffe must have a clock ticking in his head. Intellectually he knows that his days as the Twins starting third baseman are numbered. Conversely, his competitive instincts keep pushing him to keep his job and show the world that he is not simply a placeholder for super prospect Miguel Sano. Spring training and the first two weeks of the season were a struggle for Trevor. Despite coming off his best major league season, he had to overcome a late season freak injury, his average was firmly planted below .200 and the team had not started strong out of the gate. Anyone in his shoes would start to look in the rear view mirror to see if Mr. Sano was gaining on him. Because of all he was up against, Plouffe’s walk-off homer in extra innings on Friday must have been particularly sweet. The cathartic reaction from Plouffe as he screamed at his teammates in the dugout during his homerun trot was a message to us fans. He is saying, I too was once a hot prospect, a player with potential. While it hasn’t worked out for me just yet – I am still here. I have worked my ass off and I don’t intend to go quietly into the night. So today I take my hat off to Trevor Plouffe, Shane Robinson, and Jordon Schaefer and the other journeyman who may never make an All-Star game or get the long term multi-million dollar deal. Get after it fellas, I respect your commitment. Hang in there, celebrate every success and know that when you do yield to that young super prospect, there is one fan out there who respects what you bring to the game.

Guys in the lineup have pretty good splits against Kluber - looks like Molitor is working matchups tonight against the reigning Cy Young winner.