Rosterman

Line-up construction. Can others besides Mauer get on base consistently at the top of the order. Is Morneau around for the long haul. Will Parmelee and Plouffe follow him and strike fear in the hearts of pitchers everywhere?

Josh Roenicke is also in the mix. And the Twins will be taking a hard look at Caleb Thielbar as a lefty. So, I picture Swarzak on the bubble. Wood would have to stay or be lost, I believe. DeVries could also be long man. Two interesting cases in the minors. Guerra made it thru waivers. The Twins can look at him all year and add him back on the 40-man for 2014, although he would be out of options. If the Twins choose to add Slama back on the 40-man in 2014, I believe that would be his last option year, so they could keep him in the organization and send him up and down in 2014 before making a hard decision on him come 2015...sadly for Slama...who shouldn't been Rule 5 pickup by anyone the last two seasons.

The three fellows who voted form The Sporting News...one voted for ten, the other two only found five folks to vote for.

Just from the past decade: Adam Johnson and Brad Thomas. Seth Gresinger might apply. Of course, Humber and Mulvey never panned out. Matt Maloney. Nishi joins such stalwarts as Bret Boone, Rondell White and Phil Nevin Anyone remember Kevin Maas as the DH surprise. Buteras are like Jerry Zimmerman. Served a purpose.

It was that 10-game hitless streak that doomed him, along with a lethargic Twins line-up that season.

Also passing on where former major league guys Ed Stevens (11 years) and Hal Keller (3 years), who were early scouts for the Minnesota Twins and Griffith associates. Plus, Tom Umphlett, who was a minor league prospect 1964-67 and minor league manager and coach 1968-72.

The only reason cards went towards adults was because of the money-to-spend factor, but it is still a wonderful hobby. And the biggest thing is to remember that most adults that collect were once kids. I remember back when you got a single card and a stick of gum for a penny. We would religiously keep track of our purchases on checklists. Cards were released monthly, a new checklist, over the summer. We would actively trade. (A side note, my dad, during the thirties, told stories of the local store that would open all packs and for your pennies you could choose a card that you wanted out of those available and a stick of gum). We learned math. Those stats on the back. We would play dice games. Eventually, you could but a whole set at a time and "real" board games were introduced for cards. I still remember my first autograph, and then attending the 60s welcome home banquets for my hometown Twins. The players got a kick out of seeing their cards. Another side note: Twin players used to park in the lot surrounding Metropolitan Stadium and small group of kids wee always on hand looking for that autographed card or ball. Sadly, what something is worth, condition, and all these other factors have made cards a big business. But as long as here is baseball and kids, there will be cards. Check out: Minnesota Twins Baseball Cards, Autographs, Publications, Memorabilia, Players, Stats, History, Collectibles to see the labors of lover of a few now adults!

Winning makes the whole stadium issue look good. And the Vikings have to hold that game plan while it is built. Do I see a similar scenario as what is happening in Twinsville. I can get down on the Twins, but the last two seasons aren't entirely their fault. They spent a lot in 2011 and had injuries to main guys throughout the year. The whole rotation, which I thought would've been easily good for 50-60 victories alone, imploded. Both of the problems that happened (during the season) were insurmontable by a team like the Twins to go out and purchase the one or two necessary pieces needed to win, let alone just compete in the short-term. As I looked at 2013, I did see hope. Money to spend. Pitchers available. A few holes that could be patched in the offense. But the offense became weaker when you basically traded away your number 1-2 hitters with no repalcements in sight. And no one really to step in if you wave some dollars at them. There is a weakness in the infield besides in a year in which the candidates you could buy are on the same level as the ones you have. The money that could be spent on pitching was to do a patchwork job for at least a year to give new guys time to develop or implode, as well as basically refurbishing a weakness in the organization of hard throwers compared to the multitude of pitch-to-contact guys that will be spending time at High-A and AA with dreams now shattered of pitching in the major leagues. It is a smoke-and-mirrors offseason. Usually the Twins appear to do enough to look like they can win bigtime and end up doing enough to remain competitive. But they clearly need to totally retrench and go into rebuild mode, which is sad because it can easily be a 1-3 year process, depending on what teams around you do. Twinsfest: Who will pay to go to this event!?

The spending/ non-spending is a tough call. The Twins conceivably could've kept one of Span or Revere and then just been a middle-infielder and a bench out of offense competition. They could've spent $20-25 million on a couple more higher end free agents, and appear to be much more competitive than they are now. As the team currently stands, they want Correia for 2014 but not Pelfrey. Might as well trade Morneau, entertain offers on Willingham, and go ahead and start Buxton in 2013 (it worked for Harper and Trout). If we need to suffer, be it watching the so-called potential, rather than the rehads and minor league free agents. No, the savings from last year (spent in the draft, supposedly) and the epic savings this year, combined with the TC money coming in next year...I still see the Twins paying off their aprt of the Target Field loan sooner rather than later. Of course, season ticket holders get a 10% discount on concessions in 2013. Final question: who will be the Twins lone All-Star in 2014. Well, I guess Mauer is a fer sure if he wants to play. But if not Mauer, than who?

The Twins were thinking about Thielbar. Duensing will shine if they keep him in the bullpen.

I would think Swarzak would have some value for a team looking for that middle reliever who can eat innings. The Twins can't cut him without losing him. I would be exploring ANY trade options for the guy right now. The other issue: Who on the current 40-man roister is expendable. If the Twins needed to add someone, anyone, who would go. Roeinke, Wood? Butera or Herrmann? Do the Twins really need to keep Pressly (we will find out). There isn't a lot of chaf to cut and you either have to find a place for a Benson, Hicks, Arcia in the majors, perhaps, because you aren't waivering them off the roster. Even with names like Boggs, Ramierz, Caba in the background and worthy callups if someone goes down, they would still need a roster spot. That is where things get difficult. Hendriks, DeVries, Gibson are the abckup starters. You don't add Perdumo, Walters, Vasquez because there is no way to add them right now. Even Harden, if you choose to carry him, will need to find a 40-man spot. So that does put folks Like Swarzak, Butera, Florimon on the bubble (out of options) and will have the Twins taking hard looks at people like Burnet, Robertson and Escobar.

Neither is on the 40-man, so doubt that either will get a callup next year. See how they deal with pitch selection and fielding. Buxton got a little of the hard minor league life and Eliz and will do more of the same at Cedar Rapids. Unless he tears up A ball and moves to High-A and tears that up, he'll be putting in his time...hopefully returning to Ft. Myers and it's everyday play and state of the art conditioning facilities for the latter part of the year. Sano still has issues...maturity, weight, language, fielding skills. He should get all that at Ft. Myers and if an injury happens in AA ball, he'll move up if he can play everyday and face harder pitching. Picture both starting 2014 in the minors if they don't need to be added to the 40-man, but getting a preview look. I picture Buxton actually getting to the majors first, depending on the play of Benson and where the Twins end up putting Arcia. The Twins HAVE to address the who's on first and who will DH issue sooner rather than later.

Yeah, he did clear waivers. How did that happen? Could've been grabbed in the Rule 5. Was free to find a job with any other team (Florida, Houston).

I still like the Twins looking at Myers or Padilla....both could bullpen if/when Gibson becomes available. Saunders would be nothing but short term. Jiurgens would be a nice acquisition. And I would still grab Webb and start him at AA and see if he can work his way back. Yes, would like one more starter, a better infielder (even thrid base....move Plouffe to right field) and bring back Thome!

Oh, the question: what Punto bring to the Twins? That row of fans that paint his name on their bare chests and yell "Punto" when he comes to bat!

Naw, better production from Plouffe, equal range and better average from Carroll, and the upside of everyone else is equal to Little Nickie. His time has come and gone.

$4.5 and $5.5. Let's get another guy + one of the non-tenders just to be safe! And Stephen Drew!

Tovar is the forgotten gem. He played where he was needed. Wish he had stayed with the organization in some capacity. Passed on way too young. People would argue about how great a catcher Brian Harper was (shades of A.J.), but he was dependable, put the ball in play, would work a pitcher, and was a solid block behind the plate. Tom Prince, for any of his aging shortcomings, could still lay down a sacrifice bunt when necessary, an art in itself. Eric Soderholm was abandoned by the Twins waaaay too young. I always liked Jason Tyner, but he became too expensive and was easily replaceable. Right now, wish he was the centerfield plan circa his 30th year of age. Maybe Mastro will be his reincarnation.

It boils down to make me an offer, and if the numbers sound right, you grab it (either way). An agent may say....Dempster turned down 2 for $26 and wants three. You can believe him or not, but you have to offer a number with three then. Like last year, The Twins were thinking low for Nathan. The Range rs said $9...Joe liked that number and said an immediate yes. Could he get more, we'll never know. It's called gambling.

It's not a matter of bringing in free agents or not. The matter is, there is money there to heartily explore this route. The other route is to stand pat. The Twins are somewhere in-between. You can say suck it up and lets get rid of Morneau and Willingham and bring up prospects a year or two early and give them earlier cause to arbitrate, and not have potentially great stats while theya re force-fed the majors. We can stock the hometeam with hasbeens and wantabees for a couple of seasons and feed the rookies into the core. But, ask yourself...why do you want to attend Twinsfest 2013 and who are you excited about seeing at a table where you have to pay $10-20 for an autograph. The down-on-the-farm guys, and watch...the Twins will probably charge $5 to get in that line. They have a new stadium, Prices have held or slightly risen. You get 10% concession discounts with a season ticket package and All-Star game priority with a full season package (means you have to pay retail to mlb for ASGame tickets). I didn't renew this year. I'll take a chance buying a cheap ticket from a season ticket holder, bearing in mind that there will be less on stub hub as we will have significantly less season ticket holders...and I can always pick some up for most game days. The Twins, if nothing else, has to combat negativism. Not getting players, not spending OUR money, not doing anything with prospects, not putting the trees back up, not competing. I see a lot of negatives building up. Signing some guys will give hope. Spending money gives the thought of staying competitive. The only prospect that excites us is Kyle Gibson, and we keep being told he can't pitch a full season. All these negative vibes. And the ultimate negative vibe, if the Twins do nothing, it can only get worse. How getting worse than last place is beyond me, but it will be worse. Makes me want to be a Houston fan...at least they have nowhere to go but up.

You have to make a splash and throw some money around and do it early and go for the multi-year contract that may be reasonable unloaded if you fail (i.e. Marlins). It has to hurt that the Royals seem more competitive and bigger spenders than the...Twins. You don't get free agents by wandering the winter meetings and saying "we would like you to come and play for us in Minnesota...here is our one year offer with a nice option for a second year. Please come back and ask us what we really would pay you if you get another offer so we can shake our heads and go 'aw, shucks, what are they thinking.....'"

Who are them other 13? Knoblauch has burned to many bridges. No one can find him or he won't come to events. Tovar is memorable to few. Great guy. But has passed on. Smalley would be nice choice...two good runs with the team and now broadcasting (wish he would coach).

The Twins, remarkably, managed to clear four roster spots, which means that if you look at the roster before the 40-man adds, they retain only 28 players from the mess at the end of the season, whew. Anyone know the number of free agents in the marketplace, now, with arbitration guys. Add in the minor league free agents....are any other team rosters this side of the Astros or the Marlins as empty as the Twins? Out of the 32 teams, are there 50 open spots, or 70 open spots? This is what makes the winter meetings a fun time. 10-12 get taken by Rule 5 guys. Each team may have one (maybe two) other guys they cut loose for free agent signings (Butera may be the Twins loophole for that if they fill holes). Otherwise, a lot of guys will be getting split or minor league only contracts to spring training.

He's a guy the Twins may have drafted if they drafted earlier in 2011. The Nats drafted him, paid him a $2 million bonus, and the Twins got to see him pitch at two levels in 2012. They dealt from a position of strength in the organization. And if you look at the overall picture, Span is a great contract, but to advertise him as the best centerfielder out there is hardly a given. They are a lot of similar, if not better (and higher priced) centerfielders as free agents, a decent choice of corner outfielders, and other teams willing to part with players. Just as long as he doesn't pull up totally lame (you can live thru Tommy John), this is a great top of the rotation pitcher. For an organization that has questionable prospects, it made us look better with Gibson, Wimmers, Hermson, Salecedo, Hendriks, maybe Hernandez, plus Barrios and possibly Bard filling spots in 2014 and 2015. We all have this "win now" mentality brewing....but the Twins may have too many holes and not enough committed funds to pull it off in 2013.

Benson and Kepler in the line-up somewhere. Levi Michael? The return of Trevor Plouffe?