Paul Pleiss

Get rid of drunken fans. Keep walk-up music. Are you kidding me on that one? More minor league type between innings events.

Byron who? Never heard of this kid. Must be a bum.

I'd like this guy a lot more if his name was Bruce. Brooooooooooooooooose is a lot more fun to say than Brooooooooooooooks. #Analysis

A different kind of question. You called Sano a cornerstone player. I agree, when he comes up he should be successful, and even if he just becomes a power hitting below average third basemen he looks to be a positive player for the Twins for the foreseeable future. My question is this: How long until Miguel Sano has a corner locker in the clubhouse?

http://assets.podomatic.net/ts/19/ad/da/paulpleiss/1400x1400-391x391+92+1_9259614.jpg Last week we talked about Ethan Mildren when we went Down on the Pond, this week we talk to Ethan Mildren. He tells us all about his offseason workouts, his goals for 2014, and what it has been like transitioning from college baseball to Minor League baseball. We also discuss MiLBer Zach Larson, recent Twins news including Terry Ryan's health and the waiver claim of Brooks Raley. And of course, we talk about all the beer we can drink, and all the news from around the league. 89 minutes of fun. Source

I look forward to seeing Alex pitch down in ST and breaking into the Twins rotation around the middle of the season if things go well. It would be nice for Twins fans to see both Gibson and Meyer up with the big league club around the all-star break, especially if the team is already dominating the cellar of the AL Central. If the team finds a way to contend early I'd be more content to let Meyer get more seasoning and work on his command within the zone down in AAA, but if the team is losing, as a fan I'd at least like to get a look at the "ace in the hole."

Is Byron Buxton the player you are most looking forward to watching at Spring Training? How many HR does he hit this spring? I know it doesn't matter, he'll likely start in AA regardless, but I'm just amped about seeing him with the big league guys. / edited by ashburyjohn to remove questionable material

The signing this off-season that I am most confused by is Paul Maholm to the Dodgers for 1.5 mil plus incentives. He likely starts the season out of the bull pen despite putting up numbers similiar to Arroyo over the past several seasons and being considerably younger. Is there something in his medicals or did he just REALLY want to play in LA?

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTRIKE-OUT! K rates are rising across baseball, it's no surprise that bad teams are striking out. Hopefully 2014 sees a change in the Minnesota dugout. I like the Twins to produce more offense this year, but how much better than can be remains to be seen. There are a lot of young guys in the dugout and more on the way. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Twins continue to lead the league in K's or be very close to the top. It's going to get better, but it's going to be a long time coming.

Hey guys, unfortunately I'm stuck at work again for another Twins hangout. What are the chances Aaron Hicks starts the season in MLB? I think he starts back in AAA and has to hit there before getting another chance at the big league level. What are some other position battles to look forward to in ST? I think Jeremy said he likes Sano to start at 3B (but maybe I'm making that up). I think Plouffe has that slot essentially locked up, but an injury could put Sano into that spot. Debinson Romero could also be a stop gap between Plouffe and Sano early in the season while Sano gets a little more seasoning in the minors. Jason Bartlett, who's baby blue uniform pants I bought at Twins Fest for $10 is hoping to get a spot with the Twins out of ST, are his chances more or less than 30% of going north with the team?

I am a noted Berrios hater. Or maybe that's too strong a word, but I'm not very excited about Berrios. Maybe its prospect fatigue. Maybe I see too many other arms in the system that I think are better, that have more MLB potential. J.O. Berrios just doesn't do it for me. I hope I'm wrong, I hope he can become a successful part of future Twins teams, I just don't buy it.

Oh Joe, how I miss you. Probably my favorite prospect ever, at least until Sano/Buxton came along. But I don't love either of them the way I loved Joe Benson. I still want Joe Benson to figure it out. Come on Joe. If Pinto can keep hitting and play passable defense he will be a big plus to the MLB squad. I like his chances more than I ever liked Chis Parmesian Cheese.

On the latest talk to contact podcast we were joined by Jim Callis who offered his thoughts on Lewis Thorpe and most of the other top prospects in the Twins organization. www.talktocontact.com

It was a lot of fun interviewing Trevor May earlier this off-season, to hear the full interview check out www.taktocontact.com

We were privledged to have Jim Callis of MLBPipeline.com on the Talk to Contact podcast last night to talk about Twins prospects. Worth the download. http://twinsdaily.com/entry.php/4864...-Contact-EP-69 Between Alex Meyer, Kohl Stewart and Lewis Thorpe, who has the best potential to be the Twins #1?

We were privledged to have Jim Callis of MLBPipeline.com on the Talk to Contact podcast last night to talk about Twins prospects. Worth the download. http://twinsdaily.com/entry.php/4864-Jim-Callis-Talks-Twins-Prospects-Talk-to-Contact-EP-69 Between Alex Meyer, Kohl Stewart and Lewis Thorpe, who has the best potential to be the Twins #1?

http://assets.podomatic.net/ts/19/ad/da/paulpleiss/1400x1400_9234858.jpg This highlight of this week's podcast is an interview with Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) of MLB Pipeline to talk about Twins prospects. Jim answers questions about all of the top prospects in the organization Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano, Alex Meyer, Kohl Stewart and then some. In addition to the interview this week's show also includes a discussion on what a successful 2014 Twins season means to each of the podcast hosts, the creation of the Ethan Mildren (@Emildren4040) fan club. Ethan was the Minnesota Twins' 2013 12th round draft pick out of the University of Pittsburgh. Source

http://assets.podomatic.net/ts/19/ad/da/paulpleiss/1400x1400-169x169+0+4_9209563.jpg After taking a week off to meet up in person at Twins Fest and the Winter Meltdown, the Talk to Contact boys are back at it again. After discussing some minor happenings in Twins Territory, including Chuck Knoblauch's eventual enshrinement in the Twins Hall of Fame, this episode is dominated by prospect talk, specifically a little game called the Franchise Futures Game. We cover most of the top prospects in the Twins system and debate how important each prospect is to the Twins organization as a whole. All that and more on this week's episode. Source

I had a chance, as part of the Talk to Contact podcast, to intreview Trevor May earlier this week. We covered everything from off-field activities (DJ MAZR), to winter throwing programs to goals and approach on the mound. Pretty awesome dude. And he lives in Seattle, so maybe him and I will become BFFs. It's possible, right? www.talktocontact.com

I am not a fan of extreme shifts. Much like Jim Johnson was quoted in the article, some guys you just don't need to shift for, because you're not worried about a guy like, for example Florimon, to be an offensive threat, even if he hits 80% of ground balls to 2B. For some guys, Ortiz, for example, the shift might be the right idea, but not every at bat, not every situation. I also think it's important how the shift is employed. Do you leave the third basemen alone, or shift him over to play short LF allowing the SS to cover the big expanse on the right side of the diamond? I'll be interested to see what happens, but I don't think the Twins will suddenly be up at the top of the league with the Rays in use of the shift.

TC Bear is my friend and follower on Twitter (I know, I'm kind of a big deal, obviously), but it's the only place he'll talk to me. He pretends to not hear me when I seem him in person, it's like he just refuses to answer any of my questions. Why doesn't he wear pants? Does he know Clarky, the Cubs mascot. Does he resent getting woken up from his winter hibernation to go on the caravan? Was being drafted in the Talk to Contact twitter draft the highlight of his offseason? Inquiring minds need answers!

I did an interview with Trevor May earlier this week (http://www.talktocontact.com/) and he talked a lot about his process and the importance of approaching every at pitch the same, using his process to keep himself balanced and focused without trying to do too much. It was a lot of fun talking with him, and he stayed with us for the better part of 40 minutes. If you are at all a fan of Trevor May, or pitching in general, give it a listen. He's also a DJ in his spare time, DJ MAZR, so if that's your thing two he's clearly a double-threat.

Who are the panel guests?!?

This week on the Talk to Contact podcast I can promise you no Alex Rodriguez talk, honest. You can download the new Talk to Contact (@TalkToContact) episode via iTunes or by clicking here. http://puckettspond.com/files/2014/01/may480_tfxh1pn0_hfsejsy0-300x168.jpg This week's episode is highlighted by a candid interview with Minnesota Twins pitching prospect Trevor May (@trevmay54, or on soundcloud: DJ MAZR). Aside from talking with Trevor, we have a lively discussion concerning who we think will be on the 25-man roster when the Twins break camp and leave Florida this spring (the first, of what will likely be many such discussions as the first game of the season approaches). Also discussed are the non-roster invites to big league camp, listeners from around the globe, and the usual banter and beer talk.Come for the Trevor May interview, stay for the beer. Or vice versa. http://puckettspond.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/themes/advanced/img/trans.gif Thanks for the download. You can follow Cody on Twitter (@NoDakTwinsFan) or read his writing at NoDakTwinsFan, and you can find Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) and read his writing at Knuckleballs, and you can find Jay Corn on twitter @Jay__Corn! If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes. Ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers, that will help Liam Hendriks make the major league club in Baltimore and hopefully pitch against Danny Valencia and the Royals, beaning him in the middle of the back. __________________ Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter. Check out the Talk to Contact Podcast (@TalkToContact) or email the show: talktocontact@gmail.com