Rosterman

Short bench, so the Twins did the Polanco call. It might be more than one day, you never can tell. It was amazing the way the Twins scored runs and knocked in batters. If you remember, the last couple of seasons they would ete men on base, but couldn't get them home (similar to stranding Escobar on third the other day with no outs). The team lacks speed. They lack a lineup built around guys who can either ground ball the ball or do a long fly at the crucial time. I would love to see Dozier NOT leda off. I'm not sure Mauer needs to keep the third spot for life (make him 5th or 6th, Hunter in the third). Can they eventually find a cleanup hitter in Arcia or Vargas? Suzuki...I want to see Pinto in there so bad. Can Hicks do anything exceptional at the plate...take a walk? Can he steal a base. Can he bunt the ball, beat out a grounder. He ahs 4th outfielder written all about him. If they can get the shortstop position settled, something may materialize at the top or bottom of the order. Plouffe is okay. He has streaks, He hits some home runs. He's a .250 hitter with adequate power and decent glove, but unless he has a truly breakout season, he won't be in line for big bucks anywhere...or switch to the outfield nd become the next michael Cuddyer.

Not all pitchers walk onto a major league mound and are great from the start. It is the problem you have with prospects in general, they might need a bit of seasoning, they may have a sophomore slump, they need to go back-and-forth a bit. At some point you know what you have. Did we see Gibson being Gibson last year. No. He may be the next Carlos Silva, but right now, he is wonderful. Hughes will come back to earth. May is learning the difference between minor league hotdog and major league hamburger. It is first and foremost having the tools. The it is using the tools in the right way (which is harder on the major league level with the talent you face and video). And, overall, you have to keep your head straight. We see guys work their butts off everyday to stay in the majors. We see folks like Delmon Young, who has all the talent in the world and can play major league ball with his eyes closed...and sadly, he does. You have 4-skill prospects that just can't make the jump (Joe Benson, Adam Johnson, J.D. The Real Deal" Durbin). Guys you hear are dynamite and never hear from them ever (Matt Moses). Some may settle into that 3rd-4th starter role, that setup man, that all-around utility guy. But the skills you need to be on a major league team mean you are heads-and-shoulders above most everyone else at the AAA level, and just think how much better those guys are than your average collegiate player, or high schooler. Right now the Twins are doing it as a team. No one is running away with any of the statistical categories in batting or pitching, the fielding is average, overall there is nothing really special about the team except that they play the game and stay in the game and there is a unity that you get (call it the Hunter Power) when you watch them not only play ball The Twins Way but still have fun coming to the ballpark.

Arcia could be a booming bat like the long departed David Ortiz. He could also become too expensive and a liability with no place to play and the Twins let him go and he shines elsewhere. He has youth on his side, but others are in the pipeline - Adam Walker for one. Where does Kepler and the Twins investment in him fit into the picture. What happens if Hunter is around for another season. Can Vargas have enough value to be a trade chip if he can actually play first base? The other big question is what to do with Sano. With a rotation that is stacked with contracts and too many for sure young arms in the wings, the Twins will have some wheeling-and-dealing efforts that would put any general manager to shame - veterans to move for more prospects, prospects to move for a temporary fix. The farm system is loaded in many ways and you only have a few years to play with the pieces and a couple of years to develop them in the majors to establish worth. Arcia is one that could be very valuable sooner rather than later.

It's not like Danny was tearing up AAA in 2014. It was a fluke that he came up, was installed in centerfield when the Twins had NO outfield prospects on the 40-man, and he ran with it and excelled. The other plus was that Escobar ran with playing short and excelled. Danny may never be as good as he was in 2014. He was exceptional. He was out of position. But did he really have a position with the Twins. Where was he truly ranked in their longterm prospect structure. We keep going with Escobar. Yes, a vet over a prospect. Hope Polanco can get some facetime still this year in the majors. Bring back Danny as a reserve...the next...Escobar.

Experienced starters thrive on the five-man rotation. You may use a sixth at certain times, when games start to bunch up (or like the upcoming double-header), but if you have short starts, you have an overtaxed bullpen. Better to make a guy long relief (like Duensing was, Schaffer should be and Graham better be).

Now have to figure out the Rally Call to get people to come to the games en masses and fill those 15,000 empty seats. I contend that the division is a lot tighter than most people think. The difference in a lot of games will basically be a run or two, which means an error or a bad start can kill the game for any team, as in baseball as a whole. Offensively, the Twins have been consistent with no standouts. They might have trouble against a team's ace, and on paper have no shutdown pitcher themselves. The bullpen is inconsistent but full of bodies. Their lack of wins against Detroit is a tell, but we have to hope that they can take series from the other division. It will be an interesting year. Coming off a nice week of long starts from the rotation ash to be a plus. What makes the season even mroe exciting is that the players have to produce, or there is someone waiting to replace them. Danny Santana can be cycled out for awhile by Escobar right now. Vargas is down in the minors and Nunez (and maybe Herrmann) will get his at bats. Aaron Hicks has the job if he can keep it. Rosario knows what he has to work on and Arcia needs to listen and play well, or else there's another flip-flop. The only drawback is 40-man roster construction. You release guys (Duensing, Stauffer) and they don't come back (is that good or bad). At least when youc an option a guy out, they can develop more and come back. But for every name not on the roster, someone has to be moved...sometimes out of the organization. Again, win or lose, the Twins should be giving every player that has a chance to be a part of 2016 the opportunity to learn and shine in 2015, in the very least (minor league work warranting). Those players not expected to be around in 2016 should be moved at the first chance that something of value if offered, or at some point pull the plug and eat the salary. 42 games down. Let's play another 40 and see where we are!

It's a patchwork and could easily see the Twins run 20 pitchers thru the bullpen before the season is over, and that is good...or really bad...depending who the final 7 are.

May to the bullpen, if nothing else. And keep marketing Pelfrey every good start he gives you - he's not coming back for sure in 2016 and if we can get soemthing for him, to make up for what we have gotten out of him the past two years, the Twins should do so...thus freeing that spot. May coud be a solid long guy in the pen. Do we say goodbye to Duensing? How much leash does Stauffer have? Is Boyer the real thing (he is for now, so he is untouchable). But the Twins still need to make a couple of bullpen moves anyways. If we consider Duensing, Tonkin and Pressly as dead weight better sent elsewhere, what does that say about the state of the guys replacing them?

Ultimately Plouffe will be too expensive for the Twins, or too expensive to gamble on longterm. So at some point, the Twins have to be prepared to sell high, rather than wait for him to cool, or walk. Sano is the future? But maybe he isn't. Maybe he is better suited for the outfield. Maybe the Twins will have to switch Dozier to third to make room for other bodies in the battles for second/short. Mauer isn't going anywhere, and although Plouffe could transition into an outfielder who can also play other positions, the Twins may be outfield heavy come 2016. It has been a long road and ride for Trevor. He was often overmatched in his climb thru the system, always younger than contemporaries. He was a shortstop, but proved to big for the role. He had to learn third,a s well as withstand major league hitting. He bounces around the lineup and is known for being either hot or cold at the plate. You think he might have that super breakout year, this year, next. A year that if it happens at the right time could pay him big dividends, but doubt that the Twins will or would bite.

We still need a few guys to consistently go deeper in their starts. Otherwise, musical chairs with the bullpen and hoping we have solid talent in the backend. Starters have to get to the 6th inning. Sometimes pitch into the 7th. Not everytime, but more often than not. But we have lights on. Santana is like a trade addition mid-season. Meyer is still a prospect (or someone). Milone does have major league stuff better than the usual also rans the Twins turned to in the past. And there are prospects, although a couple aren't on the major league roster. Dean and Rogers are off the radar but above Logan Darnell at this point. Berrios would have to be added to the 40-man. I still have hopes for Wimmers. But we still got Steward and others, too. How it all pulls together will be interesting to watch, but not very marketable for the general fan base to get overly excited about.

Let's just say that the Twins may, again, have riches beyond compare (like when we had 84 centerfielders and traded two of them for three pitchers). But they are all prospects. Have no idea if Buxton will be...ahem...another Hicks. Of Walker can not strikeout every other at bat. If Kepler doesn't run out of options before he runs out of minor league levels to play. If Arcia IS the next David Ortiz, and how much do the Twins spend to find out. Throw in the Sano issue (third base or outfield). But we won't know until everyone has some time in the big leagues.

Polanco is the second baseman of the future, if the Twins aprt ways with Dozier, which could happen if they use him for tradebait. Interesting problem the Twins may have in the near future. They are showing some depth. If someone is injured, do you bring up Polanco and play him and see what more he can do, or do you play Escobar (or those other guys like Nunez, Bernier). I kinda liked what they did with Rosario, bring him up with the intent that he will probably go down. But we got that elephant in the room, Escobar, who supposedly needs to play somewhere everyday. Be interesting to see what would happen if Plouffe (or Mauer) goes down. I would be tempted to bring up Sano for a couple of weeks and let him slosh around at third, just to get his feet wet. Gonna be tough decisions for the Twins what to do with Polanco (two more option years in the future), not to mention Kepler and Hicks, for starters. You need to play them up here so they might add to their prospect worth. Of play in such a way that the veteran is expendable. What will the lineup be, say, of the 2017 Twins!

We have a couple of problems with Hicks. At some point, he enters arbitration. EIther as a super two, which wouldn't be horrible as we still get that extra year, or full throttle seeking millions. Of course, he has to produce beyond what he has the past couple of years. Am I wrong and will next year be his last year with options? He'll have to stay on the roster or something like that? Again, it is his time to stay or go with the Twins. Arcia, Buxton, Hicks, Rosario, Kepler are the guys we should see holding down the fort next year. There would still be significant talk of putting Sano in the outfield, and he may be delayed one full season if he doesn't pick up his batting with the Lookouts. And then there are dark horse candidates. So we may have a portfolio of riches. Something good,mind you.

I wish I knew how the front office talks about the $$$$'s factors when discussing players. Schafer is owed a million, Duensing was signed for millions rather than non-tendered. For some reason, the Twins signed Stauffer for a couple of million. Nunez is an expensive bench player. We can argue Tommy Milone, and still retch at the contract given Pelfrey, although he is HOT right now (and the first team that calls and asks for him and gives us something should be listened to...I mean, Pelfrey won't be with us in 2016...or at least I hope.) All of the above players can produce and some have but they are blocking the next crop - some of who will succeed and some who will fail. If Hicks hits, if Rosario hits, if Arcia does what he does, if Vargas hangs in there, we suddenly have a mess at OF/DH with an aging Hunter and two journeymen who, at the moment, shouldn't be going anywheres. I guess we can't argue as long as we win and have riches.

The question is WHEN to make the moves. It is nice to know that backups abound in the minors. We all wanted the plug to be pulled on a bunch of guys right out of the chute. SOme have earned lonegr stays, a couple haven't, and we've goten some looks at replacement parts. The big question is the stacked outfield. Where can Rosario fit in. Should Arcia go down when he comes back. Is Vargas a liability, for now. What can we expect from Hicks and is he better groomed as a corner spot outfielder. Shortstop is a mess. Santana is making errors, but now getting on base. Unbelievable the amount of walks taken by Danny and Escobar this season. Arrgh. We win if the rotation can hold those bats down and give us some innings.

If the starters can keep the team in games. They have the offense potential. Can we afford to put fielders in play when Gibson pitches. You will have some games that the Twins CAN'T beat the other team and will be shut out. We will have Ervin Santana back in 50 more games. Right now, we have backups for pretty much every position, and then can play everyday. There is some waste, some fluff, that shouldn't be here (and won't be here in 2016). But we have strength in bullpen numbers, it seems. Not counting the guys that MIGHT break the 40-man (be it Oliveros or Burdi or even Reed and Jones). The also rans, the Schafers, the Duensings, the Robinsons, the Nunez, even Escobar are playing for jobs. It is their job right now to lose. Hughes is better than he ahs shown so far. Is Gibson the second-coming of Carlos Silva and the one-year-wonder of the ground-ball out? May has shown that he has conquered control issues. If Pelfrey is going to toy with us, let's hope he puts together three solid starts back-to-back when someone is wanting. Nolasco, I'm afraid. The West is showing signs of weakness. Will be interesting to see what Houston is like against the Twins. The East may be more dominant against us. One school lets out, we will see if the Twins are still being written off, or if crowds will rise, at least on weekends.

Unless something drastic happens, Rosario and Hicks are the outfielders that will see time before September. If the Twins falter, Hunter could be traded to a contender. We do know Robinson and Schafer are placesetters. Buxton is not on the 40-man. Do they need to have him put in time at Rochester. Will he do a substantial number of games there this year. Is it worth it to bring him to Target Field for the month of September. Will the Twins be cautious and let him start next season (service time)at Rochester. So much depends on Vargas as DH. If Arcia is kept or traded. If Hicks can find a place on the Twins roster. If Rosario is worth the time and trouble.

I hoped the Twins would basically be a .500 club coming out of April, against their own division. It will be interesting to see if they pick up ground against the West, while losing ground to the east. The Twins have a fine rotation, but won't always match up favorably against another team #1 or #2. The defense has holes. The offense is starting to produce. If the starters can keep the team in the game and go at least six innings, it will be a blessing. Seven innings a joy. The bullpen is still a mish-mash of shambles. Lots of okay pitchers leading to Perkins. Fien will hopefully not be the Burton of 2015. I'm comfortable that we have Hicks showing something in Rochester, as well as Pinto. I am worried about Santana OBP, and see he is probably shifting downward in the order. I'm not sure if thee Vargas wake-up call will keep him in the majors or if he is better served at Rochester. Like Arcia, he may just be an up-and-down player, but better to keep him in the majors and remind him and work with him here. Of course, the question is: If we send them out, who comes up. I had considered the central division to be somewhat of a crapshoot. All the teams COULD be somewhat evenly matched with 1-2 runs deciding the game and not alot of blowouts. Again, if the starters can keep the other team down to 3-4 runs, and if the Twins bats can match, then it should be exciting baseball with the games being decided on play in the field, bullpen, or that one special batting moment. I didn't expect Detroit to be this strong, or even Kansas City. I'm happy that the White Sox and Indians are struggling. If the Twins can finish in the middle of the division, most folks will be happy. Now, if the Twins gave out winter hats everyday this summer, they would draw a tremendous crowd, but still see attendance hanging around a 20,000 a game average, sadly.

I just wonder what the Twins will do with Kepler. He's burning thru his 40-man roster options. Do you try and buy another year of his time by not including him on the 40-man next year and hoping no one Rule 5s him? If he does produce, do you package him in a deal as a can't miss prospect. When does he not become a part of the Twins future? The evils of signing a guy young.

It is a learning process and the guys have to be weaned in. Which means that just because all your prospects start to hit the major league roster doesn't mean all of them will hit. Will the Twins be competitive with youngsters in 2016, 2017, maybe not until 2018. And when you combine offense with pitching needs. Whew. That's why your coaching staff throughout the minors and the majors are important. Which is why you try to have some of the right AAAA guys at minor league levels to speak realistically to the young guys. Life as a major league player can be short, or can be long. It is truly amazing to watch batters hit the ball to where a player is standing waiting for the ball. How pitchers, if they have the ability, can work on weaknesses. And the relief corps who only have to face select batters once in a game, or maybe even a series. Work in wind and sun and sound and what you feel like when you got to the park. Sometimes we are too critical of guys, I guess, or expect waaaay too much.

Nolasco has to work pretty hard to build up his trade value, like 10-12 starts. And if he does, I would move him faster than a speeding bullet, although I'm not sure what to make of Alex Meyer in Rochester, and if Berrios can make the jump this season.

Where have the Twins been hiding Graham and Thielbar in all of these messes. Really. If a guy is in a major league bullpen, you shouldn't be afraid to use them. You CAN get by with one place-setting, like a Graham, who should be having plenty of opportunity to pitch. Instead you keep dragging out Thompson and Fien and Stauffer and Boyer for repeated abusing and wearing these guys out. Which is okay if it means we will see a mound off fresh arms (not worn out) from Rochester or beyond as the season progresses. Something isn't wonderful with Hughes. Would it be okay to shut him down for 3-5 starts and workout in Florida and throw a few minor league innings? The Twins have no shortage of starting pitchers right now (if May is really okay). Schafer talked himself into staying in the dugout as a defensive replacement or pinch runner or something. He hasn't filled the bill. His best bet it to go on the disabled list and collect and check, and maybe spend a week or so at Rochester and see if the Twins and him still need to be buddies. Let us have the opportunity to not have him stinking up the place. Not that we don't have enough guys doing that. Nunez is a guy with no real purpose on the roster. Escobar is a shortstop, plain and simple, without a job. He works as a backup, but we are getting inconsistent production. We don't need to find a place or an inning for him to play if we can be solid, and we are pretty solid everywhere but...designated hitter. Vargas needs more seasoning. We can bring up Pinto. Let him catch and see if he can stop a base stealer (since our other guys can't). It means we have Herrmann and Suzuki designated hitting. It means we have no real backup at first. But, hey, we really don't know. Don't cater to guys with injuries. You either play today or go on the disabled list. There are others to take your place. We don't want you to play injured. We want you to get better and then grab back your roster spot. Another batter gets injured today, we have no bench. It happened last year. Too often. Let's get that shuttle rolling. Hey, maybe we can see the return of Wilkin Ramirez, or get a taste of Reynaldo Rodriguez, in the near future! And, yes, I know Wilkin hasn't played yet this year...holding down the invisible designated hitter spot in Rochester!

I would actively be shopping Pelfrey right now, since he will be a free agent and not likely to sign. Today his value is quite high. Higher than it MAY be tomorrow. Gibson could be optioned down to the minors, as can May, and even Milone, I believe. We might see one start from each before the decision on Nolasco. Thielbar will disappear when Duensing returns. Of course, one the starters can move to the pen and Stauffer can go, too. But see if any teams currently down a starter can give us some offensive help. I would answer the phone, Terry! I mean, what would Billy Beane be thinking of doing right now!?

I wonder if the Twins have to think that Pelfrey is a very viable trade chip. They have to make a decision in this direction before he starts throwing badly. And even if he doesn't, the chances of a reunion for more seasons won't happen. If he pitches well for the Twins, he will get a contract elsewhere. If he pitches badly, no one will want him. So, with Nolasco and Santana staying put, Gibson still in the mix, May a prospect, and Hughes the hands-down ace, none of those guys with a modicum of trade value at the moment that doesn't come with questions or a heavy salary, is Pelfrey tradable and would you pull the' plug and trade him for an outfielder or a bat that can play 1st/3rd/DH?

Jamey Carroll is a journeyman. Orlando Cabrera is a journeyman. Have been with multiple organizations, come off the bench, have had moments of starting. Solid, dependable players. Plouffe could've become a journeyman early, another Ron Washington or Denny Hocking. Instead, he played where the Twins put him and learned. He didn't have to be great as long as he showed signs of striving (Hey, Killebrew started at second, was a first and thrid baseman and outfielder...did he shine defensively anywhere). Plouffe is being pushed like Mientkiewicz was with Morneau, A.J. with Joe. He will become expensive. He may be worth more. He may be worthless. His first free agent contract will bear that out. Happily he doesn't have to worry about overpricing himself out of a job, except with his hometown Twins (where you can't cut a player's wages more than 20%, for example, arbitration foolishness that often happens, etc.). When he finishes his time with the Twins, will we put him in the same category as, say, Gaetti or Koskie. He is not a Buscher or Valencia. And a step above being a journeyman is probably the category Roy SMalley fell into. He still played a lot of positions, moved around a bit, but he always managed to find a better than half-time job for his services. Now Nick Punto...there's a journeyman!