Lee-The-Twins-Fan

Twins Lineup: Mauer, 1b Nunez ss Sano rf Park dh Plouffe 3b Dozier 2b Rosario lf Suzuki ca Santana, cf

I'd like to see Polanco play SS about 6 days a week, to see what he can do.

We're not there yet. Also - you don't list a DH. Are the Twins moving to the National League? As for catcher, I agree with earlier posters: Mitch Garver will be up.

Murphy for Centeno I understand. Bringing back Santana was a given. It's the Mastroianni move that I question. Why bring up any outfielder who's hitting .208 in AAA? Byron Buxton has turned things around at AAA and is hitting .313. He was already on the 40-man roster. OF Adam Walker is hitting .240 with 4 hrs and is also on the 40-man. OF Daniel Palka is at AA, and is hitting .308 with 4 hrs and a .408 OBP (he's not on the roster). The Twins clearly had other options, yet they chose to add a poor-hitting OF. I just don't get it. They could have kept Graham or O'Rourke and sent one of them to AAA. They're sacrificing one potentially good pitcher for a mediocre OF, someone who's never been a good OF. Replacing mediocrity with mediocrity. I just don't get it.

FYI: Byron Buxton is hitting .294 in his first three games at Rochester - five hits including two doubles and a triple in 17 ABs. On the verge of finding his hitting? We shall see...

On Tuesday, I checked the 25-man rosters of all 30 MLB teams, checking not for quality, but quantity - of players by positions. While this may not be the opening day roster, it was probably close. Of the 30 teams: • Most had 12 pitchers. Two teams - the Athletics and the Mets had 11 pitchers. the Mets actually only had 24 players on the 25-man roster. The Cubs, Giants and Indians had 13 pitchers. All others had 12. • Four of the AL teams – Athletics, Red Sox, Royals and Tigers had a player named as a designated hitter. The other 11 teams did not. • The three-man catcher appears to be a thing of the past. Only the Cubs carried three catchers. All other teams had two designated as catcher. • Teams had between four and seven infielders and between four and seven outfielders designated. One should keep in mind that some players can play both infield and outfield positions (such as Danny Santana, Miguel Sano, Eduardo Escobar and Eduardo Nunez). Eight teams designated seven infielders, but only Oakland designated seven outfielders. The Athletics were also the only one to have only four infielders. A lot of teams had four, five or six infielders and outfielders. But only the Royals had equal numbers of each (five). • Half of the teams (15) had exactly six infielders. Fourteen teams had 4 outfielders; 11 teams had five outfielders. Five teams had either six or seven outfielders. • The most common roster was 12 pitchers, two catchers, 6 infielders and 5 outfielders (9 teams had that). • The Cubs, Mets, Athletics and Royals had unusual combinations of pitchers, catchers, infielders, outfielders and/or designated hitters that no other team had. Oakland's was most unusual - with 11 pitchers, 7 outfielders, only 4 infielders, 2 catchers and a DH. It's one of only 2 teams with 11 pitchers (all others had 12 or 13); only team with 4 infielders; only team with 7 outfielders, and one of four teams with 4 DHs. P IF OF CA DH Mets – 11 6 5 2 A's – 11 4 7 2 1 Cubs – 13 5 4 3 Royals – 12 5 5 2 1 Twins – 12 6 5 2 (most common) I'm not sure of the significance of all of this. But if the Athletics, Mets, Cubs and Royals succeed with their unusual combinations of players, will other teams copy them? Probably not.

And based on that one game, win the MVP award.

Escobar is not the flashy-type player, who gets the TV interviews and gets in the papers all the time. He's not competing with Dozier and Plouffe to be the leader of the Twins in the clubhouse. He just quietly goes about doing his business. Well, after two doubles in an otherwise completely forgettable season opener, Escobar won't be ignored by the media much longer.

I was able to watch four Lookouts games last April 30-May 3. It was great! Got to see Buxton, Sano, Duffey and Rosario before they joined the Twins. Very nice park – very close to the action – not much foul ground near home plate. Hope to go again sometime this year.

Sweet tea, hot or iced.

I'm more bullish than most. I'm looking at a .280/.390/.590 (.980) line with 25 doubles, 30 home runs and 95 RBI. remember he'll be batting fifth or sixth often – behind Sano and Plouffe, driving them in.

Under... again. The Sox have poor defense, and not enough offense. I also don't know what Vegas sees in them. I'll split the difference in the last two years – 75 wins.

Looking at his splits for 2015 I find: • He likes Target Field, hitting .318 with an OPS of 1.065, compared to .224 and .775 • He was best in July, with his stats cooling in August and September. • Batting third, he only hit .194 in 34 PA. Small sample size. • Sano batted .308 with a 1.097 OPS with two outs, much better than with no outs or one out (125 PA). • With 2 outs and RISP, he hit .300 with a 1.042 OPS. • His best OPS (over 1.000) was in the first, third, seventh and ninth innings. • Strangely, his worst batting average was when facing a starting pitcher for the third time in a game (.163 with an OPS of .745) Much better BA and OPS on his first and second at bats against a starting pitcher. This goes contrary to most hitters, I believe. Fascinating.

I confess, I have been down on Danny Santana. I have written several times on TD that I expected him to be sent down, passed through waivers. But the last few days he has really picked up his offense. Maybe he's just not an every day player. What can I say. I hope he has a great season, and my doubts were totally unfounded.

I agree. On to more optimistic appraisals...

I'd reverse those – Berrios by May 10, Duffey by June 10.

If it's a question of over/under Seth's prediction, I'll take the under – and I'm a strong supporter of Rosario. I too expect a SLIGHT drop-off of many of last year's numbers because the league has seen more of him now. They'll know him better. It's a matter of if he can make the adjustment. it'll be even more important for him to lay off bad pitches this year – because of the lengthening of the lineup (adding Park, and last year, Sano and Buxton). As pitchers have to face a more daunting Twins' lineup (Dozier, Mauer, Sano, Plouffe, Park, Rosario, Escobar, Suzuki and Buxton), there will be fewer holes for pitchers; thus Rosario might get better pitches – unless he continues to swing at bad stuff. It's mainly up to Rosario. I see a .260/.290/.460 (.760), with 24 doubles, 16 triples, 16 home runs and 15 stolen bases. Still not bad for a full season, with a little more plate discipline and more walks.

And the catchers at AAA.

Happy Good Friday and Easter everyone.

If Quentin makes the team, then Santana is put through waivers and sent down. The Twins can survive without Santana. But I predict Santana will make the team and Quentin will be out.

I agree. Buxton has little to prove in AAA. He'll be on the opening day roster.

I'm beginning to think that Duffey will be the one sent down, and Buxton will be with the team. (Nolasco would move from relief to start, with Milone). It just makes sense. You want Duffey to get his confidence back. You want Buxton patrolling Center Field. I just don't see the Twins going with 13 pitchers. If Duffey is with the Twins, Tonkin will be traded or sent through waivers.

Seth: You're giving EE 99 more plate appearances than 2015, but only 2 more doubles? One fewer triple? I'm giving him a .262/.309/.445/.754, same as last year, but with 42 doubles, 8 triples and 15 home runs. With Sano, Park, and Rosario in the lineup, teams are going to be pitching to him to get him out. He'll take advantage of that.

It would not surprise me to see Duffey starting at AAA. He's been struggling. I just hope if Nolasco gets a starting rotation spot he's on a VERY short leash.

I don't think it's that cut-and-dried. There are still position battles taking place – rotation, bullpen, extra outfielder(s). I think there are some surprises coming. I would not be surprised if they put Danny Santana through waivers and keep Quentin.