Rosterman

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..

Well, when Sano is ready to come off the disabled list, send him to AAA Rochester for 7-10 games, partly for the heck of it, and mainly to play THIRD BASE every single game. Buy yourself 10 more days of a looksee at Kepler and Buxton (and Grossman) and maybe Arcia. Sano is NOT the future outfielder for the Twins. He is the future third baseman, possibly a first base guy down the line, and settling into a David Ortiz role eventually. The Twins have more than enough guys to play and back-up the outfield. Sadly, Plouffe is jsut a rental for a team and will only bring back a low-level prospect. He's too expensive to be packaged with another expensive contract. In that case, a team will stay in-house or grab someone similar to Nunez. In trading Nunez, the Twins don't solve the Sano issue, and possibly weaken themselves right now at shortstop. Like trading away Mientkieweicz and Pierzynski, you do it to bring in the new guy who will give you x-amount of years at x-value, and the potential is there to outshine your current roster holder. But I do say send Sano down for a rehab at Rochester to play third base, rather than just throw him into the spot. And if you still must keep Trevor, sadly, make him the super reserve (ala Cuddyer in the past) and have him play the outfield and first to increase his value to others as a tradechip.

At some point you JUST advance Burdi and Reed and see how they handle AAA.

And the Twins not playing Sano at third when Plouffe was down. Nunez is hot and we need to keep his bat in the lineup. Which is fine and all. But then you bring up a Beresford to sit on the bench. At this point in time, you bring up Rosario if you need a bench rider. Let's hope Kepler plays everyday. Until they both wane, Nunez and Escobar should bump Dozier to the bench, sadly. What to do with Park? When Sano comes back, let Park go to Rochester for a moment and tweak a bit!

I also see the front office having too many general managers, minor league directors and such. Too many people with power over certain segments, not enough oversight, perhaps, of the big picture, unless it is The Twins Way of thinking. Does Terry really make hardline decisions, or it it a groupthink vote to do things one way or another. In some ways, saw that the new baseball would be more body oriented, with the GM and assistants handling various duties. But not sure if that REALLY does work in the world of baseball.

Sounds like the Twins did a hattrick last season when they managed to off Wheeler from the 40-man and have him rebound like he has. Looks like a definite keeper and add-on next season.

The Twins are so bad, that Billy Beane probably couldn't trade anyone away if he was general manager of the team. Trader Billy may be trading on his own team, but at least there is some demand for some of his assets. Whew!

If we have an outfield of Kepler Buxton and Arcia, we have Rosario (and Santana) as extras. We have to move Walker into the mix sometime...with Kepler going to first or Park to first and Walker to DH. The nice thing is Walker can age for at least another season at Rochester. If the Twins can keep a Buxton/Kepler/Arcia mix going for a few years, then the Twins are more than set with adequate backup outfielders, some that may shine (Granite) and push Kepler, let's say, to first. Michael will be a solid 4th outfielder. Palka, too. So the Twins will have some trade possibilities depending on how Rosario, Santana and Arcia play out over this and next season. You also hope that you might restock the system with some Top 40 or 50 prospects by trading off some of the vets (and salary) this summer. Guys who won't show up until 2020 at the earliest, and might just develop enough to give a push towards whomever you do have in the upcoming outfield. The Big Thing for the Twins is to stop creating outfielders from guys at other positions. Rosario moved from 2nd to the outfield. They moved Sano from 3rd. Santana was a shortstop. Stop!

And the Twins also find a couple of minor league free agents to supplement the mix. Catchers either have concussions, or they play in the minors forever (Eli Whiteside, Corky Miller for example) or we can ask about bring back Drew Butera. I would love to see in September Murphy and Cedeno as well as Garver and Turner up here. I would love to see Garver and Turner given the opportunity to run with the job next season rather than being the duo at AAA, which they probably will be. Sadly. The Twins hopes rest on investing in a catcher beyond Murphy (not really many to choose from) or signing a one-year vet to help hold down the fort with Murphy next season and go from there and hope the next five seasons are filled with some of the names mentioned above or throw out runners, frame pitches and hit for an okay average, batting eighth or ninth and being responsible for 3-4 of the 24-27 outs you need to make every game (someone has to do that).

July 1st is the day the Twins start looking at prospects moving up EVERYWHERE. You start making room for them at All-Star break at the latest and by the end of July you have anyone on the roster who will start the 2017 season on the roster. You also prepare for having September callups coming from all those guys you advanced in the system in July, adding as many as you can to the expanded roster, especially those that you expect to add anyways. Yes, you MIGHT keep few names around like Grossman, add Beresford, one or two of the bullpen arms (Rogers, Abad) to lop off come time. You know your chances are slim to none that you will add ANY free agents, unless you bring in a veteran backstop (A.J.'s farewell) or a grizzled vet to light some sparks in the bullpen or off the bench. But, wait, we have Mauer who can be that bench guy!

When looking at ALL of the names above, and many of them should be moved sooner rather than later, the Twins also have to look at their depth in the farm system, especially at names of guys who will become minor league free agents, who need to be added to the 40-man roster not only this year but also the following year, and deal some of those names as well...since there are only 40 names you can protect in 2017 as well as 2018. That is the secret. Create the list of guys YOU EXPECT will come to camp and break camp next year. And also a possible list of players coming to camp in 2018. They start packaging players. You might have to package a fringe prospect or two to rid yourself of some salary. Some teams may be willing to take on a Jepsen thinking a change of scenery may help, or jsut for depth. Yes, I'm sure that little angel on Ryan's shoulder is telling him to NOT EAT SALARY while the devil is on the other shoulder telling him to just go ahead and release the guys...you won't be around in 2017 except as a roving scout of talent, if you don't get outright fired and jump to another team...many of which will seek your scouting services, I'm sure. the Twins have to look for returns of prospects that are on the bubble because of the need for work, or guys jsut behind in anyother teams depth chart. I mean, look at the Twins. Right now we have Escobar and Nunez, bother should be available. We have Polanco, who could play short, move to second eventually, or become a utility guy. We have Beresford who could be a temp 40-man backup this year AND next. We have at least four guys in the shortstop depth, with Nick Gordon possibly fast-tracked and Wander Javier at least four years out from getting a taste of major league life. So we have lots of depth (shades of too many centerfielders notice of the past). But, yes, you have to look at the very big picture. The Twins have drafted a lot of bodies the past four years who are on the cusp of needing protection. Other teams are watching and salviating at who the Twins will leave open for Rule 5. The Twins trick is to move some of these possibilities for something, with soemthing of lesser value, to clear books AS WELL AS roster space. You take Nolasco. You get a couple of higher prospects (guys we can't protect), we get a couple of guys we need to protect in 2019 or 2020. We free up salary. We move our own prospects up for a slice of major league life. We suck, but we such with rookies and the future, not just guys filling roster spots that other teams have already found no place in the home for now or ever again.