Rosterman

Buxton to AAA with Santana and Rosario and Grossman showing us who goes and who stays in 2017. Switching out Vargas for Park, just to see if there is some juice in Vargas being a bench player, if nothing more. See if he can produce anything at the major league level. It would increase his value. And, in the meantime, rotate Plouffe, Mauer and Sano between DH, 1B and 3B...thru the All-Star break at least. Figure out if you are going to let guys like, say, Wimmers play in the majors of not. If you don't give them a chance, you will never know. He's deserving because he was a high draft pick. If he can't adapt and cut-it, then quit rostering him. Praise to Suzuki for increasing his value 100%. But he is, at most, a rental. The Twins need to go with Murphy and anyone else they can find on the scrapheap that MIGHT contribute cheaply in 2017...unless they want to make a play for Lucroy or Ramos.

Wow! Some old guys at the GCL. Then, again, they can switch over to the High A+ team if need be. Imagine the joy of playing ball all day, living in a dorm not far from the field. You may not get paid a lot, yet. But you can play catch and hit balls 24/7!

The elephant in the infield is still Joe Mauer. What do you do with him?

C'mon people, get over it! It is a choice that has to be made. You pay your dues. Actually, you work a normal workday, but your shift is all over the place (sadly) and you go on the road - so you can't have a second job if you want. You can have roommates or live in people's home. You get to go to the ballpark pretty much whenever to workout, play, rest, just hang out instead of at home. If you do good, you get paid more, period. You have one to two years to see if you can hack it or not. No different than starting on the lower rungs at a company, being an intern (really paying your way), working as an apprentice, whatever. Yes, you may have to find a winter job. (Remember the days when many a major league baseball player actually had to work during the offseason, and many had to have a job after they retired). Pump money into food, or housing (similar to the dorm the Twins have at Ft. Myers) if you must. But you are there to play ball 24/7 as you strive towards a dream. If you get a bonus, make it last, make it work. I would've killed for any small amount of thousands when I graduated from high school or college to hold me over to reporting day for a new job in something I like!

When a team chases pitches, there is no reason to challenge the hitter, through consistent heat where it can be hit, etc. etc. And if the team isn't operating on working the count, getting men on base, moving runners around, a pitcher can afford to make a mistake when you have one or two outs and no one on base (how many solo homers have the Twins hit in 2016?). We know Park and Sano can do the job. But they need people to egt on base and pressure a pitcher to throw the ball over-the-plate. Both are capable of hitting 30+ You'd like to put Plouffe and Dozier in the 20+ range. Both of those guys, gone, means you have Polanco and Escobar struggling to hit 20 between themselves, and with the current outfield of Kepler, Grossman and Buxton, you might get another 20. That is where it is ncie to have an Arcia out there, or possibly someday a Walker. And if you don't want multiple centerfielders...you trade out Grossman for Rosario, who might give you a bit more punch, but not much else. Add in a weak catching situation now, and who knows what Mauer hits these days...the reduction of Plouffe and Dozier from the lineup CAN hurt if you are homer happy. But if the speedsters get on base, maybe the 30+ guys can hit 40+ and compensate, you can add a better bench bat, and still think Kepler might produce an all-around solid player in rightfield, or moved to first where he will surpass Mauer's current production in the future. But this was the home run year for Target Field...if people would hit, as a whole, better than .240.

You don't trade for aging relief pitchers period. Or guys that have run out of options. And be very careful about those 41st players that a team has that YOU have to add to your roster. Chances are, they can be claimed on the waiver wire, if you really really wait. Hardy was a combination of "how much would he cost" as the Twins didn't seem ready to offer him a multi-year contract and they lived in fear of paying a high arbitration salary (shades of what will happen with Plouffe, you'd think?). There is a system failure when a team is too cautious with bringing players up, or really have no idea how they wish to construct their playing field and/or lineup in the coming season/seasons. Which is where we stand with Dozier. Is he still a bargain? Can he be a longterm answer at second, giving us more power than Polanco, for example? Who will be the second baseman of the future if Dozier stays here another 3-4 years? Is Polanco then exposed? Or do we go with someone who might bunt, hit-run, show speed and plate discipline, and play a better second than short? But who do we put at short...the nimble Nunez or the powerhouse Escobar? How long do we wait for Gordon? Are there other bodies between today and Gordon and what do they bring to the plate? Would our middle infield (and centerfield) be fast but power light? Is that reason enough to keep Dozier? Is that reason enough to retain Plouffe (although he will have a say in it come 2018)? A major league club is a big puzzle. You have coaching staff evaluating players, management evaluating players, lots of guys working with players. You push and develop them in certain ways (Gomez didn't want to be a speedy bunter, for example). Cost is always the factor. Players eat up their costs. Aaron Hicks...you get something for him today, or you pay a salary arbitration penalty to keep trying to improve him next season and thereafter and see his value go down...or up. It's sad that you have to start putting so much emphasis on new talent. You have no idea how most old talent will work, and it can be an expense you can't control and have no control over once you sign a player to a lucrative contract. At that point, a player becomes a product of major league abseball and not a particular team.

It is a struggle as a prospect. It is wonderful if you can have some of that back-and-forth between the majors and minors, especially during the first couple of years that a player is on the 40-man roster. But in developing that player, if you do it too soon, you will be faced with the issues the Twins had with Arcia, and will soon have with Polanco and Kepler. Have you givvn them enough of an opportunity to learn at the major league level before their options expire, and/or are you willing to carry them on the 25-man roster for 1-2 years fulltime as a back-up player on a learning curve as they slowly trend towards arbitration. But if you wait too long, you have have missed a glimmer of early glory, or you see the player pushed out of the organization by an upcoming talent that is showing greater strides at a younger age. When you draft a player, you hope you can have a good idea of the direction they are going in their first 3-4 years, if they last that long in the system. But you are dealing with high school signees, and signees with 3+ years of higher education, often starting at the same level for a moment. Mix in the fading veterans still looking for a comebacker, all over the place at AAA and many still at AA, and it can be a problem. No matter how bad Arcia failed at AAA last season, the Twins still needed to see more of him at the major league level, or make the commitment to find and keep a solid bench spot for him at the major league level this year. But that changed with the signing of Park, the emergence of the younger Sano last season, other roster possibilities. So the Twins will move on from Arcia. But, in the topic of this discussion, that needed more thought last summer to see if he could become a viable tradechip, or a hard-lined decision in the offseason to cut him loose if you really had no room in the inn for his bat. In truth, there was no reason to bring up Berrios already this season. But good for him that he got a taste of major league life. If he struggles at AAA, maybe it IS because he is working on things to make himself a better major league pitcher down-the-road, in a league where you SHOULD be able to work on pitching placement (thus walking more batters who are in the minors being told to be more patient). Somehow, Buxton needs another trip down to continue to adapt to whatever he is missing in major league ball. And then you get people like Milone who totally dominate AAA...and hopefully keeps his act together, for a few starts at least. I'm not sure how many charts and film and other things players worry about daily in the minors, compared to the majors where everything is analyzed, because you pay the people to do it and expect the players to sit and listen, work hard on it, and become better against people getting better each and every game themselves. And some of it is just maturing. Remember what you were like at 18, at age 21. How you viewed life at 23 or even 25. When did you start worrying about career. When did you feel comfortable in maintaining your state of mind and body. At what point does play become work, and you do the work each and every day as demanded and strive to become the best you can with what you have. There's 150 prospects in every team's system. As many drop out each year as are drafted, all at different levels. Names change from organization to organization...you can only have so many guys who play shortstop, or so many lefthanders, or so many starting pitchings, or so many outfielders. And few are superstars, celebrities, that will have long-lasting careers, television commercials, instant name recognition not only in the hometown but also across the country.

Right now, you can argue about the need of Kepler to go back to Rochester. If Sano returns to the outfield, then Kepler goes down. But first, the Twins need to send Sano on rehab to Rochester and have him play 7-10 games IN THE LEAST at third base. Is Kepler the real deal this year, before celebrating a sophomore slump in 2017? But that is alright. Have him work and fail this year. Isn't he out of options next year? Grossman has come back down to earth. Will be interesting to see what the season brings. Buxton DOES need to go back down. We have Santana in centerfield, and possibly a resurgence of Rosario. Park is an interesting case. Send him to Rochester, and see if there is anything left to consider in Vargas? If we don't move Plouffe, put him at first abse and Mauer at DH? Polanco is also needed to be up here and rotating thru positions at some point, perhaps replacing a traded Nunez. And no matter how dazzling Dozier becomes, if an offer is made in your direction for him, give it strong consideration. I don't know what to say about the rotation or relief corps, except fast track any of those AA arms and get them some facetime in the majors THIS SEASON so they can see if they can handle it, or go back and work constructively on their stuff to make it happen. But wait, two in a row with our waiver wire greatness and a refurbished Suzuki (will anyone call for him?). We won with a 14 run game. Too bad it was 11-10 at one point and we could've lost if Jepsen had come in to save the game!

It is such the Twins Way of doing things. Of course, we react differently in the blogosphere than most people do who come to Twins games and see the Twins spending money on free agent pitchers, playing the international market, making choices in trades for pitching at the expense of a luxury of outfielders, working to put a competitive team on the field that will stay in the game and all. Plus, Target Field is a great game day experience, we have new bars, different foods and, did I say, a great place to watch a ballgame. Yes, the put in bids to be a part of the action, so to speak. They make a trade addressing weaknesses, but what do we really know about the whys and true needs of the team. They spend money on guys that look halfway decent, but only if you are a halfway decent team. But dollar dogs are great, we have all these scoreboard games, kids sing he national anthem, the flag is raised with fireworks, and we have a radio station that shuts down soon after the game and the airwaves, as a while, are void o discussion of the Twins above and beyond their marketing strategy which is to run THEIR OWN AADS during games?!? They may look like a major league team, smell like a major league team, but are they truly a major league team? Let's try a year of Mike Veeck at the helm which an indy league general manager wannabe given the golden opportunity. AT least it would be fun! And cheap!

Arcia, in this sense, fell into the same category as Ortiz. Except Ortiz was also about money. The Twins somehow saw the same production for the DH spot happening with LeCroy, who could also catch. They saw Mientkiewicz as being the guy at first. They didn't see a lot of at bats happening for Ortiz, or just sticking him on the bench, and paying him a million bucks or so. Little did we know. But we are questioning if the Twins do have a plan, a long-range roster construction. And, yes, it is amazing that next season Kepler will be out of options and has to stick (because the Twins added him too soon thinking someone would claim our bonus baby). It is a strange game baseball plays. Glad Kepler is getting a chance to work thru things and he does look like a keeper and the more at bats he gets this year, the better he will be next year (one hopes) or at least he looks like he will listen and learn. Of course, NO ONE may claim Arcia, which means we get to kep him and make another decision on him next year, which would be a ncie luxury. Or he tears up AAA ball and is a positive trading chip as an add-on to rid of us, say, a large pitching contract/

Well, in defense of Arcia, he and Vargas should've been the DH candidates this year (and maybe a tad of Sano). But, nooooooo. The Twins, actually, seemed to be surprised that they won the bidding for Park, coming in at the minimum and everyone else passed, so they were stuck, especially when Park did sign a favorable contract to play major league ball. not that this is bad, but WHAT WAS THE PLAN. And so looking forward to the next guys coming of the DL. Soon to be, an outfield of Grossman, Santana and Sano with Mastro as the backup and BOTH Kepler and Buxton down at AAA. Maybe the time spent there will make them even better. And admidst all this, we do lose Arcia. We will lose Vargas. We get nothing back in exchange? Okay, maybe a waiver wire claim wash, eh?

And the call went to Rochester and looks like Milone is on his way back with Pat Dean moving somewhere (is he being waived off the 40-man?).

Next up...watch the Twins put Pat Dean on waivers and add Tommy Milone....because Arcia's spot isn't up yet. We will see if the demand for Pat Dean is also high...high enough that he needed to be protected this past fall (who did we lose to the Rule 5 again?).

Well, this only works if you commit to play Kepler and Buxton every single day, which means Santana is the fourth outfielder and bench fodder with Centeno and Escobar (what a bench, eh). They should've sent down a pitcher with options (lots to choose from who are proving themselves marginal). Maybe they are hoping to get a trade bite. But if you intend to play Santana, then Kepler or Buxton should be down at AAA playing everyday, and it would probably be Kepler, who seems to make the most of his work, although if you put Santana in center, then Buxton. The Twins lose another player (probably) and not get anything in return. One that is young and still has some potential, not like 4-5 members of the pitching staff (not counting starters) plus a couple of promising outfielders who need to play and if they don't play up here, then you really lost someone. Better to have Santana playing at Rochester and re-developing his shortstop skills on a regular basis (in case you do part ways with Nunez).

Okay.....Twins have Park and possibly Kepler in the long-run at first. Or maybe it will be the future home of Sano in 3-4 years. Polanco is more of a second baseman. Decision time on Dozier is soon. The Twins have half-a-dozen guys for shortstop, but none will start in 2017. 2018 MIGHT see Vielma, or maybe Regilatto or Walker, with Gordon in 2018. 3B future could be Cabbage or Blankenhorn, but both are 3+ years away. Right now, an outfield of Grossman, Santana and Rosario with Arcia as the fourth. That is assuming that Sano can play somewhere other than the outfield when he returns. Build up the value of Rosario and Santana and maybe Arcia. Kepler and Buxton are the future and should be there fulltime by August end. Walker in the wings, as well as Palka at this point. Santana can always nudge out as a ultility guy. It is such a tough call with the team. Do you play guys NOT in plans to get their worth a tad higher, or just write them off. Like, flip Park to the minors for a month and give Vargas some at bat? Bring back Milone and let Dean start at AAA. How much do you invest in chips that you really aren't investing in except to spend for something, which may be less than...nothing.

Sadly, all of the above are tradable, but you won't be seeing much of a return except for ono-protective Class A rookies, or possibly someone another team has some depth. The Twins don't need anyone that will demand a 40-man spot, or someone verging on out-of-options. In order to move Santana (and Nolasco), not to mention Dozier and Plouffe, the Twins may have to sweeten the pot with one of their higher level prospects (High A or Double-A) who demands 40-man roster protection this fall, but there won't be room in the inn for them at the moment, That is not something beyond the norm. Make it the other teams need to 40-man the guy. If they don't, you can always do a claim...or not. Santana might be the msot valuable as he is a proven starter and has two solid years at decent money, if he can produce and you don't expect more than what his true stats will show you. Dozier and Plouffe are too overpriced at the moment (and in the near future) but if a team is heading into August and suddenly loses a key player at either position, they might be grabbed. At this point, a team would be focused on saving money and getting an equally productive guy like, say, Nunez for a fraction of the current worth to be paid out, as well as another year to make a decision on keeping them beyond -- at a decent price. The question is WHAT DO THE TWINS NEED. They don't need anyone that doesn't fit into plans for 2018 and beyond. They don't need cast-offs. You can get those on the waiver wires. They don't need to absorb a bad salary from another team. They don't need anyone out-of-options. They really don't need anyone ready for a spot on a 40-man unless they are truly major league ready, and at this point, unless the guy IS a hard 26th player or 41st player, there is nothing the Twins have to trade for such a guy.

Considering the number of pitchers the Twins have drafted in the past 4 or so years, maybe the well will have lots of gold coins laying at the bottom. Of course, some of those were relief pitchers. And when you draft pitchers, it is because they have a couple of good pitches and maybe, maybe you see a third in development and with the right coaching, get a fourth, while maintaining their poise and velocity. I also see a lot of position changing and not just sticking with it from the Twins. Rosario was a second baseman but became an outfielder. Danny Santana was groomed as an infielder and thrown into the outfield. Sano was a third baseman and told to change positions. You want guys to be more versatile? Goes waaaaay back when they couldn't make a decision on where to play Cuddyer...second, third? Yes, make guys play a multiple of positions. Groom Plouffe to be your shortstop of the future and then suddenly discover he can't play shortstop? Go figure. Isn't that what the minors are for...to develop and reinforce playing ways and needs? If guys are striking out too much, then it is a system problem. You work with hitters from their first day to recognize the strike zone, learn to take pitches. You also work with guys like Buxton early on to develop those skills necessary for his other skills (bunting for speed, for example). You don't allow players to fallback on old ways, i.e. Dozier. That is the job of coaches, and you have more coaches than ever starting in the minors. Roving instructors give guidance. You have people sit your program. You have multiple coaches now in the majors. Looking at the Twins Report Card, you have to figure out their grades in a multitude of areas. I'll let you make up your minds what the grade is. Drafting: Player Development: Pitching Development: Free Agency (Keeping Your Own Intact): Free Agency (Playing the Marketplace): Recognizing ALL needs and finding Adequate Players: Establishing a Comptitive Skill Set: Front Office Management: On-Field Management: Organization Management: When you fill in the Grades, and think backwards, not much improvement. Oh, wait, they do get an "A" in Selling of Target Field, as well as Taking Minnesota For A Ride!

He can still be that inexpensive veteran presence for another season, if you desire. But what is he actually worth? What the Twins don't need are players that need to be added to a 40-man option, or players that are out-of-options, or players that are on the cusp of being a minor league free agent. They can still find some quality people because every team has that 3rd or 4th prospect at every position that more than likely will not make the big leagues and will probably be advanced over by some new draftee. Or you go after solid mid-level guys a team drafted a year or two before. When evaluating EACH AND EVERY player on the Twins roster, you have to ask what they will contribute (or block) in 2017. Where do they fit into the team in 2018. Are they worth keeping into 2019. How would that player's value change between now and then. Is Nunez a placeholder? Will he continue to be a bench bat in 2018 or 2019...if so, tie him up with a contract now. But is he worth it in that long haul. Come 2018, 0r 2019, and even beyond...the Twins will be arbitration heavy, but still have massive amounts of money to spend on free agents (hopefully a top flight one) or even similar players like Nunez...same age as Nunez is now, blocked at the major league level or didn't quite make-the-grade a team hoped would happen. The Twins will also have a system full of unusable prospects, since you can only field 25 and protect 40 guys...if you draft correctly, then your numbers start backing up and YOU have to make hard decisions about how badly you want to keep Vielma, Walekr, Gordon, Javier and whomever else you have that can be a shortstop. And it is that fine line. Move for the sake of moving...not just holding out for something better. Sadly, the Twins aren't exactly in a prime seat to demand the best return...because even the best the Twins have to offer can be found once, twice, maybe three times around the leagues = look at the Mets and their picks for first base and third base. It is all an elaborate game with people pieces. You paid x-amount for a draft pick. How long is the leash? You trade a quality centerfield guy for a pitching prospect...how long is the leash. You overpay for a mid-level free agent. Can you write-it off and move on. You have a first baseman or catcher being pushed by a prospect that is unproven, when do you make the change. At some point, a player usually declines after a great moment. Or they walk, Or they truly become more expensive and you receive nothing in exchange (Nathan, Cuddyer, Kubel). Too often the Twins have made mistakes (WIllingham, Young recent examples) or holding onto what they considered a bargain a bit too long and received...nothing of value (always felt Oliveros would be a hard-throwing setup guy, but....) Right now, it would be tragic to trade away your gems (Abad, Grossman, Nunez). But the reality is, how much worse can the team be than they are right now. And if you give the youth the opportunity to play (and still fail), would it be much worse than filling the field with names that will never amount to much in Twins history?

Greenwood moved up to Rochester for some reason, considering someone may be coming down from the Twins.

Anyone know where May has been Five days and no pitching. Maybe he will get a chance tonight being last man standing...unless the Twins choose Phil Hughes to close out this game. Jepsen. One out one hit. Need we keep him? Does he have any any value?

Right now, there is not alot of panic as the team is drawing an average of 24,400 fans (still not great). They are pretty much guaranteed sales of 18,000+ -- not that all the people will show up at any game. But unlike last year, where the Twins called the price on most available tickets as the team surged and they were able to market them as contenders up to the last weekend, it might a long, hot summer when even the stubhub tickets won't sell at any price. That is where push comes to shove. If extra people don't walk-up for the games. If the stands are 5,000 people light and all the concessions and food folks are left standing around with excess foodstuffs for the no-show crowds. I'm not sure what the marketing minds are doing behind-the-scenes, and this is the area the Twins president should excel in, since he isn't involved in on-the-field operations per say. If they can't figure out some way to get people excited about coming to Target Field to see somekind of baseball (forget the food, drinks, TC Bear and sunsets), then we do need a total shake-up of this across-the-board system failure that is called the front office.

Berrios coming off a bad outing with a stellar outing. He will have those. He learns. He hopefully remembers. And he also remembers what major lead travel and meal money is like. Come back once we get rid of the fodder we call a rotation (4-19 - sheesh!).

He was supposed to inherit the shortstop position after Jeter. But he wasn't doing something right (like hitting as he is today) combined with his fielding faults, which can be overlooked if you are in a non-competitive situation, or if he is, indeed, a super-sub. Sometimes, he seems to be more than just a bench guy. He thrives when he plays. Yet, unless you are a last place team, you probably would avoid playing him on a regular basis...if you have a prospect to replace an injured guy. Not that he can't fill a role shortterm. Or maybe he is coming into his own. But not sure if would want him at any position on a regular basis, and his bat only fits depending on what positions around can contribute. You can find more powerful guys to play third (Sano). It used to be that someone hitting .250 with a dozen homers would be a great shortstop. Not anymore, or not anymore depending on the stats of the guy, also, at second. At somepoint, he becomes a luxury for a non-competitive team who might wish to utilize a Danny Santana instead, or make Escobar the fulltime utility guy if you do have a replacement shortstop, or play a Beresford off the bench or even a Doug Bernier. Nunez is making the most of his opportunity and he should find a nice two-year contract if the Twins cut him loose. And, maybe after he appears as a Twin in the All-Star game, someone will offer us a worthwhile prospect or two (low level to be sure) and he will be in the pennant push. Applaud the guy the Yankees gave up on, that we all wanted non-tendered in the fall. Good work, and that inside-the-parker smile is the highlight of this season!

Maybe Gibson needs one more rehab start. Have to see what Pat Dean does in the next couple of days and what kind of decision the team makes on Phil Hughes.

An out-of-touch owner, who is standing in a box somewhere and smiling as the Twins continue to draw halfway decent crowds as summer begins. That's it, the bottom line, the belief that the Target Field experience outweighs what is on the field as long as attendance is north of 20,000. Yet the Twins have a roster filled with Grossman and Nunez, who have lit up the diamond and created a need to play everyday, because they actually do come to play everday and produce. But the Twins are sitting on a herd of batters who need prodding or off-loading: Plouffe and Dozier are no longer top-of-the-order requirements. Mauer is hogging first base and doesn't produce enough (in the last month) to be roster fixture or a DH. Suzuki has no one pushing him, yet Centeno is doing his darndest to be a major league guy. Better than nothing Murphy at the moment, I guess. The next couple of weeks will tell us if Buxton is ready and Kepler, too. If they play. Sano re-enters the picture soon, but SHOULD be at third at the moment. The outfield is already too crowded with Grossman/Buxton/Kepler and Arcia in the wings. We also have Danny Santana who should be an infielder but will be a guy without a home who also was producing far better than, say, a Dozier or a Plouffe. The Twins need to make changes in the bullpen. They have one arm too many. Jepsen is a disaster as the clower. May is overused than not used and is a short relief guy or a middle relief guy. Make up a mind, here. Tonkin, Kintzler, Boshers are all fodder but prodicng better than most expected and will stay as long as they pitch. Pressley has options and will be the first to go, unless the wish to bounce Rogers back-and-forth again. Abad has his situational spot locked up. There is not spot for Chargolis yet? The starting staff is a disaster. Duffey is down-to-earth and reminds us of the back-of-the-rotation guys that show up every year. Dean gets another start to prove he stays. The expensive guys have produced a 4-16 record one-third of the way thru the season. Add in Kyle Gibson and you have a 4-19 record and the ugliest whip and era that you have ever seen from the starting rotation. All of these guys could basically go and be replaced by minor league guys making mistakes in the majors and get equal results...but may be the future of the Twins rather than the salary clog the rotation seems to have become and the free agency downer that the front office will refer to in years-to-come when NOT throwing out big contracts. What the front office doesn't realize is that only SOME players deserve a big contract. You don't overpay because that is the only way someone will come to the team, and you don't need to overpay for year-to-year replaceable guys just to tell the fan base that you are spending money. You spend money wisely on players that WILL produce, offer your team value, or just throw the money at your own players THAT YOU WISH TO KEEP because they have produced for you in the past and deserve a better payday and it won't kill you to part ways before the contract expires (shades of Joe Mauer at this point). We have to totally forget the illusion that there is a "Twins Way" of doing things. Now, it is just the name of a street. We have to forget that it is okay to just be competitive. In this game, you either try and go for the gold, or you lose. You get x-amount of years to say "rebuild" but if a winning team falters, it better be totally because of the talent on the field fighting injury or...just not being good enough against ALL the other teams. As we look at the Central Division, ALL the teams have made efforts in the off-season to improve themselves. It looked to be the tightest division in baseball, and appears to be so (except for the Twins) with just a series win here or there deciding the division outcome. The teams that do care will start making some decisions (like the White Sox on Shields) to hopefully pull in front. That is the way of baseball...not JUST looking at the waiver wire and grabbing guys fighting back from Indy ball. There is a reason longterm minor league guys aren't major league stars. They have the ability to shine, but the system does catch up to them. Getting more than two years out of many is a dream (just go back and look at ALL those names the Twins have had for a season or two). Shane Robinson, Jordan Schafer, Doug Bernier, Chris Colabello, Sam Fuld, Darin Mastroianni, Pedro Florimon, Clete Thomas, Alex Presley, Wilkin Ramirez, Sean Burroughs, Erik Komatsu, Jason Repko, Rene Rivera, Eric Fryer, Steve Holm, Orlando Hudson, Matt Fox, James Hoey, Chuck James, Matt Capps, Ron Mahay, Brian Fuentes, Jon Rauch, Phil Dumatrait, Lester Oliveros, Eric Hacker, Luis Perdomo, Jeff Gray, Matt Maloney, Jason Marquis, Shairon Martis, Josh Roenicke, Andrew Albers, PJ Walters, Dam Decuno, Jared Burton, Kris Johnson, Logan Darnell, Yohan Pino, Kevin Correia, Aaron Thompson, Neal Cotts, AJ Achter, Blaine Boyer, Caleb Thielbar, Anthony Slama and Dusty Hughes. Many of these guys even put up decent short-term numbers with the Twins. But where did they go after that and where are they now. An awful lot of fodder, and the teams of this decade have shown the results of being a "good team to sign with as a minor league free agent because you may get another shot at the majors." The Twins seem to avoid saying the word "rebuild." They like "advancing forward" or "still contending" or "solid play" of "just some bad luck" or "unpredictable injuries" or the all-time forever favorite "total system failure." I don't think the system, as in farm system, is a failure. There is so much talent brewing and about to come to the top. But I am totally afraid on how it is being handled or will be handled once it reaches. The cream blown off, the cream mixed in with the sledge at the bottom, everything jettisoned down some drain because the system is not working with the true potential of the future? 4 wins against Seattle almost gave up hope. But is was nothing. The players are still wavering their stats a little bit up then a lot down. They come to the park and play, but for what...themselves and a future contract (you'd think they would do that for sure)? Just going thru the motions? Not knowing what is happening on the field (how many different lineups in the first almost 50 games). And if we have such a loser attitude going...let those overpaid average starters stay in the game and take a pounding...at least let the players work on their fielding since they aren't doing anything at the plate. The Twins big questions are: selling off players for something, anything, to restock the lower levels of the system. Jettisoning contracts and eating the remainder and calling it a 2016 budget line...not that they will need to spend any money on free agents in 2017 and probably 2018. Getting a staff who will welcome and work hard with the rookies, the sophomores, the future of the team...doing a bit up-and-down, but running with these guys and nurturing their continued development at the major league level. And having a front office that is keeping pace with modern baseball, realizing that the most important part of the Twins Brand IS the players on the field, not the Field itself, or the fan experience when the game isn't happening (i see more fun and excitement in indy ball than most of the in-between innings stuff we get on the scoreboard and field now -- plus the players modeling shirts...give me a break). It's sheer torture with the pregame jousting and umpteen throwings of first pitches and ballkid and dugout buddy (although it is fun to see the smiles on the faces of the kids...but everything is sponsored by something...yucch). I don't know how an out-of-touch ownership will change a front office built on marketing and branding and an in-house family of people who like baseball, but do they actually know and do baseball. Or a field staff that doesn't seem to mesh with the players, possibly even themselves, or the system as a whole. Or a team that is madeup now of a sorry sight of 13 system players (4 current prospects if you can call them that), two guys from trades, 7 minor league free agents and 6 many horrible free agents. You figure out the names. Half of them DON'T deserve to be with the Twins next season...so why are they here in this dismal season of 2016?!? I tire, I keep watching. I cheer. I spend my $40-50 a head to go to the game. Sigh..