Rosterman

You mean GREAT advertising campaigns like North Dakota University night? I guess UofM Gophers come every other night!

I would like to see the one expanded roster spot (or let's say 28 players with 25 set for each game, maximum number of pitchers on the roster). You should be able to use a pitcher for one pitch or one batter. Three minimum, no. If they are bad, you need to get them out rather than walk the bases loaded. Universal DH? Or never ever have a pitcher bat or play in the field. How about that, too. No adjustments of batting gloves once you step to the plate. Let's eliminate stolen bases. All the time wasted staring the runner back to the base!

Well, strength and conditioning has improved, even at the minor league levels (ever see what the first year Twins players have at Ft. Myers). Pitchers throw harder, but the amount if info available on where a pitcher throws has been magnified in recent years. Of course, batter swings have also been recorded. But more muscle meeting moe speed...which is why you see players develop power that never had it in their early years. Batters do their work from the dugout and the on deck circle. The thought is to put wood to ball and when that happens you get drives on the fly to and past the outfield. And even though there are more teams than ever, even the worst of the bench and bullpen guys should be lights out players in the upper levels of the minors. You can still thrive in the majors with a few skill sets, but probably only short term. Conditioning and strength training. These guys are strong!

Schedules are pretty much the same for both teams, with the Twins having some tougher games in July and Cleveland in August. All depends how you bust out your division competition, especially the weaker three in Chicago, Detroit and Kansas City. Of course, the remaining games against the Indians are the ones to watch. When the Twins had an 11 game lead, you paid less attention as they could lose ALL the games with the Indians and still be in control. Suddenly it looks...iffy. But I do hope the Twins will be a tad more relaxed than pushing to win. They seem toplay best when they are enjoying the game and doing the fundamentals, rather than trying to win. Coming out of the gate (first inning) with runs and having shut down pitching helps. They do need pitching help, and I still question the bullpen usage at times, or the ability of the manager to pull piutchers sooner rather than later. But that is baseball.

Going into the off-season, the Twins will have up to 10 roster spots open for new blood. They have at least 15 names to consider putting on the 40-man. Both those numbers, yes, are high...but the Twins do have prospect depth. The question is who do they aprt with at the top of their list. Last year you wouldn't think of Romero, Gonsales, Thorpe or even Stewart. All are touchable, but far from in demand (which shows the risks of trading for prospects). The "other" team hopes to land some future bodies, salary relief (not this year but down the tube), as well as maybe future prospects totrade if situations reverse in the coming season.

They need an ce starter and can afford to trade prospects. They need to stay healthy offensively, and figure out how to score men on base. Increse the dangers of the running game perhaps? Another dynamite arm in the pen. Or, better yet, pull the leash after a guy walks two batters in a close game and shows he doesn't have it. Anyone can give up a home run. And then a double. Cleveland hit a hot treak, which shows that playing .500 ball for the rest of the season ain't going to cut it.

How do you NOT schedule a full schudule of games with some teams having FRIDAY on a 4th of July weekend ark. Go figure. The one three-day weekend you are almsot assured of full houses (if playing well) and the chance to blast fireworks every nite in the sky (if not on he field).

Schoop is bring something to the team, and he needs to shine if he wants that next big contract. Would the Twins amrket him if someone is looking for a second baseman, for a low level prospect or two. Not that they need more guys to worry about protecting in the minors. Arraez has made Gordon the odd man out, what with Polanco signing a contract extension. The Twins have Lewis in the wings (2 seasons out). Javier has to be 40-manned, and if was producing he would be a nice prospect tradechip. The Twns have the newly drafted guy making things complicated. Do they give Gordon a shot in the majors next time they need an infielder? That they haven't speaks the worth the front office sees in the guy, sadly. Arraez in the outfield? Naw. Good to have him there right now because it does get his abt in the lineup. Would rather see Adrianza in the outfield (but then he was at first base, right). Gonzalez gets the extra playing time when healthy as Rocco sees a need to get him out there like a regular, so abck to AAA for Arraez when Rsoario comes back. Arraez or Gordon, you lose power. Neither is giving us super steals of base. Arraez shows nice plate discipline, which means he should be ledaing off sooner rather than later (Byron Buxton take note). And then the Sano machine. Was even surprised with Adrianza t first base the other game. I would be putting Sano there when applicable, as that may be his future (or jsut plain DH). Of course, as someone else mentioned, do you see Sano still playing baseball in five years? Is he the next Oswaldo Arcia, Delmon Young or the new Big Papa? Sure, he hits the homerun ball, but I cringe when he comes to bat and we need a fly ball to get a guy in from third, or we have runnes on base and two outs...and I fully expect him to make out three...swinging sooner rather than looking at anything. Boy, it's too abd the Twins can't be sellers this year. What would they get for Odorizzi, Gibson, Castro, Schoop, maybe move a couple of bullpen arms.......

What starter in the system is NOT on the 40-man and will get the call against Texas?

I would be happy if 12-15 of these names actually played a game with the Twins in the majors. Maybe another 10 or so will play elsewhere in the majors (overlapping with those the Twins bring up). That leaves a good portion of guys to identify as being depth and tradable as assets to the team in the next couple of years. That is what is so difficult about running a major league organization. Who to advance. Who gets delayed. What are the weaknesses. How to exploit those weaknesses for curent needs. But overall, this is one wonderful batch of 40 names, with at least two depth at every position and twice as many pitching prospects as the Twins will ever need to call from the minors in the next three seasons.

I was hoping for some good numbers from Javier. The Twins have an abundance of stars in the middle infield. And the recent Top Pick should pass Javier fast. Nick Gordon is also a man without a job in the future, or so it kight seem. We are loooking at two future outfielders, so the Twins don't have a need to throw BIG money at Rosario and Buxton, if push comes to shove. But if they can sign either to modest contracts, you have tradebait. Remember, Rooker is still in the outfield mix, too. You love hard throwing arms. Not jsut for the rotation, but possibly for the bullpen. But they need to develop. The future looks bright for the Twins filling the roster with prospects. Are there $100 million dollar players, that is the question.

Hendriks was one of those guys the Twins gave up on too soon. Of course, you never know. And shows that starters in the minors can become bullpen arms and maybe even develop into clsoer material. So...NEVER draft a bullpen guy! Getting worried about the Twins division led come the All-Star break. .500 ball ain't gonna do it for the Twins. We are seeing that pitching IS a factor for the Twins. They need one top flight arm in the rotation and 1-2 arms in the bullpen, preferably a closer. Of course the lineup always has ups-and-downs. Sure, Sano hits a homer...or not. Buxton is slumpign. Garver, too. Castro was, but had a great game. At what point does Polanco need a rest. Thankfully the Twins have Gonzalez to give eryone a rest. Now they just have to keep Arraez in the linup until they have to make a decision on "who goes" when Rosario returns. Cleveland 7 games back. Next five games will be telling. Cleveland has easy teams. Twins have competitive teams! That stand against the Indians immediately afetr the All-Star break will be BIG!

I was hoping they would NOT do this and just use his start as a bullpen game, perhaps with an opener, give Mejia the ball for 3-4 innings.

All depends on money, but if expensive the Twins will be better served looking elsewhere, sadly, on all three. Happily they will have an opportunity to get more looks at Stewart and Smeltzer and Thorpe and hopefully Gonsalves. If the Twins are going to spend money on, they can do better in the off-season. Too abd they are in contention and none of these guys tradable. They could get 20 prospects for them from pennant contenders!

Can Sano please step up. Okay, Jake Cave is totally lost at the plate, too. Do we see LaMonte Wade starting his first game tonight? You gotta put Arraez in the lineup, too!

Well, considering who was on the Twins bench? Now injuries are showing how they can hurt a team. No Buxton AND Rosario. No Gonsalez. Sigh. Who goes abck to Rochester overnite?

3 games up the ladder for Cleveland who not be out of the hunt yet with 11 games against sub-par teams before the All-Star break. The Twins faceoff against four teams that aren't in the cellar. Be interesting to see what the standings are come the All-Star game. Hopefully some decisions on the Twins need for a top flight starter and a couple of bullpen arms NOT playing under minor league contracts.

Cleveland picks up three games in the standing. Before the break Indians have 6 games with Royals, 3 with Orioles and 2 with Reds. Twins have 3 each with White Sox (playing better), Rangers, A's and Tampa Bay. Suddenly an 8-game leda doesn't look like roses! Who will sell quality needs to the Twins?

Perez stays in the rotation until someone bumps him from the minors. Right now the candidates are Smeltzer, Stewart and Poppen. At one point we all thought Littell, Gonsalves and Thorpe were the next guys in line with Stewart. How things change. And one wonders if the Twins are still comfortable with taking Romero out of the rotation prospect status. Perez, happily, could also perform in the bullpen if the Twins decide to work rookies into the rotation, as well as keep Pineda in the mix. The sad thing is that Gibson, Odorizzi and Pineda are all free agents and I don't see the need to throw a ton of money at any of them, and if the Twins want to make a qualifying offer to one (Odorizzi), he might sacrifice one BIG payday for a multi-year contract elsewhere for roughly twice the amount. Again, it will be interesting to see how the Twins work the rotation the second half of the season. How the Red Wings starters perform to push themselves into major league consideration. Can the Twins give 8-10 starts to prospects. What do they do in September when they only need to really have three solid rotation arms for the playoffs. A good time to rest pitchers (perhaps too much) to look at the future, if they continue with a double-digit lead in the division. Man, you look at the rotation with a 37-18 record in 74 games. Pretty good looking.

Man, the Twins looked out of it. They tried, too hard, but looked exhausted. Maybe they should come in early and frolic in the fountains before batting practice. A good nite of rest and then come back and have fun playing the game (and watching the video and reading the charts of these guys you played last week). The running game can be exciting. What would it take to get the Twins to steal some bases! Okay, NOT hit home runs!

Could Poppen pan out as a bullpen arm? Future closer material?

Hopefully Twins fans are descending on Kansas City this weekend, and it will be a hot time on the blacktop. The Twins have a decent pitching lineup for the four games. But you never know. Still worried about the bullpen. Looking ahead, the Twins really have 12 games against teams for the rest of the season that might give them trouble. BUT they have to beat up their own division as much as possible, taking each series in the least, and NOT allowing Cleveland to pickup two games in a week.

Well, Gibson was bad. 10 walks by pitchers in all. What happened? And 10 walks by the staff. Jeez. I can understand letting Poppen get the licks to save the pitching staff. But don't give up. Please. Cleveland is now 9 games out. And you decide to start WIllians at SECOND BASE? Okay, he got three hits. Would rather have seen him at third. And Arraez at shortstop. And DON'T let your two BEST BATS rest on the bench. You needed to win this game (although Gibson thought otherwise) and no reason Polanco can't be at short. And put Garver at DH and let Cruz be a bat off the bench, if need be. Okay, gotta see what happens in Kansas City. Jake Cave, you are good. Shine, shine, shine. You are getting another opportunity to play everyday!

As long as he can lay third base and show better-than-average power, you play him. If he really shines, you think about trading him. First off, you need people who want him more than a free-agent they can sign for money, or a prospect in their own system. And one has to think longterm. Do you want him at firstbase or designated hitter. And at what cost as he ends arbitration and nears free agency. I would tie-up Berrios, Buxton and Rosario sooner rather than later. Castro, Pineda, Odorizzi, Gibson, Schoop will be gone in the off-season unless you feel the need to throw lots of money at any of them. I'm sure what it would take to keep Odorizzi, but the season might be a fluke. Sadly the Twins are in contention so NONE of them are true tradebait. Wait, maybe Castro, who I would market to anyone needing a catcher, and bring up Willians as the backup for good.

Tortuga STARTING at 2nd Base! Arraez at shortstop. Why not bring up Gordon then! Give him a week with some games at short (and second). We need to look at him. Thought for sure they would rest Sano. All those extra swings the Big Guy did. Poppen is deserving, but, yes, what about Jake Reed. Now we HAVE TO KEEP POPPEN on the roster. So we have two over - Torreyes (who will not be added back on when his "whatever" ends) and Mejia will have to bump someone at some point, maybe. Who do you think the Twins could lose off the current 40-man?