Rosterman

I was hoping he'd get a chance to open at AAA in 2018, but the Twins filled the roster with other (Cave, LaMarre, Buss, Ramsay) and they have Granite, who could be bypassed by Wade, but should've been in the major league outfield instead of Grossman at this point in time. Can you NOT have the 4th outfieledr be a system guy? DO you need to go (and stay) outside to fill this role?

can't hold onto players too long anymore. After six years they can walk...to another team if they choose. Many, if on the cusp, choose to stay...but by that time, they either have had a cup of coffee or are doomed to fighting for jobs to possibly make it. Injuries and such slow down the development of a pitcher (look at Burdi and Thorpe as examples). We forget that the Twins drafted A LOT of relief pitchers in a short period of time. Sadly, these high picks didn't translate into major league success. So something has to be said about spending money in high rounds on relief arms. In baseball, so few get careers of any length. Pitchers battle for that one glorious moment. Look at the number of names that came thru Minnesota alone in the past few seasons, most never to get more than a cup of coffee, if even that, with another team. You can come up, be brilliant in an appearance or two, suffer some bad pitches, and then someone else passes you by in the minor league pecking order. Yes, you hope you have enough when the time comes, but you can also find relief pitchers (without drafttng) to fill needs. Even when you get a big gun on the roster (see Joe Nathan) you forget that he was a starter (and a position player) turned relief, and we got him because he didn't have a job in the Giants system, but the Twins had the chance to give him an opportunity to shine...which he did...rather than become Boof Bonser. Oliveros, Darnell, Tonkin, Light, Albers, Achter, Thielbar, O'Rourke, Achter, Waldrop, Manship, Enns, Heston, Melville, Turley, Graham, Wimmers, Wheeler, Tepsch, Rosario, Busenitz, Boshers, Slegers...the lit goes on and on. Still remember when everyone was in an uproar when we traded Eddie Morlan to Tampa Bay (instead of the declining Rincon). But what happened there? Yes, the verdict on Chargois is still out. Do we wish we had him right now? Are we satisfied that we do have Curtiss and Moya still in the wings> Are there other one-year winners that will come forth (Jake Reed). The evils of drafting high is that you MIGHT suddenly have too many guys advance to certain levels at the same time, coupled with the fact that you do pick up players from other organizations, and there is precious roster space out there and you evaluate every player on what they can contribute today and what they might contribute tomorrow. Melotakis was low on the lefty pecking order, they needed a roster spot, and voila! Plus the fact that he would need to come back to the roster at some point, and if then dropped, they would lose him anyways. It must be fascinating to actually work in the front office of a baseball team, rather than sit in my armchair recliner and speculate on what should've been done compared to what needs to be done.

The Twins are going to be looking at finding homes for pitchers, especially if they can advance Gonsalves and/or Littell. Gibson will be a free agent. Santana will be a free agent. Lynn will be a free agent. Can any of them pitch well enough to move on? Remember, we also have May coming back, Pineada maybe coming back in September, and maybe Phil Hughes finds his fastball. The Twins do have pitching depth. They have to make some hard decisions in the off-season. Can they keep 25 pitchers on the 40-man? Do they keep Dozier and/or Escobar and trade Gordon? What to do with Mauer? Do they let Mauer do whatever and go with Morrison at first, Sano at DH. But first, yes, we have to get to the mid-point and evaluate. I don't see the Twins getting any rentals. Right now, the hitting has to improve. The rotation nees to be consistent. The bullpen needs to stop walking guys.

But the question still remains: Why allow TOP prospects to depart, yet minor league free agents keep minor league roster spots. Most minor league free agents will be gone come year's end, and are also on the upside of age (26+ or older). Sure, someone like Melotakis will also be a free agent come season's end. But, would one rather take a major league look at a Melotakis than, say, a Magill (or Boshers) or Jaye. Yes, at some point the player numbers become an issue. You can only send them so far back for so long. But reading the lines: Nick Buss back from DL, Melotakis designated. Ramsey to disabled list. Granite back. You are putting more worth in, say, Nick Buss than Mason Melotakis today?

The only plus with this injury is that it puts him in the pipeline behind Royce Lewis. The downside, it adds a year to his baseball life and the Twins will have to protect him when he is still in A+ ball.

Rochester currently has too many bodies, as does Chattanooga, and short of sending people back, the Twins are doing some early purging (earlier they sold Andrew McIver off from the Lookouts). If not added to the 40-man roster, Melotakis would be a minor league free agent come season's end. Of course, you can argue, would they be better served moving on from such folks as Enns, or perhaps Jaye (both starters in waiting). But it basically came down to having too many people for roster spots, no one truly on the disabled list, and having to make some decisions. But always do question when you keep minor league free agents over players you are developing. Of course, Melotakis was removed from the 40-man last year, went unclaimed, and got another chance with the Twins. Of course, he is also left-handed.

Yes. Work the foot. Get the swing back. Face competitve picthing. 3-5 games.

The Twins could have a rotation of riches. The Twins have people who will be free agents and NOT coming abck to Minnesota. Hopefully they play well enopugh to generate off-season interest. Hopefully some generate in-season interest. The Twins do have replacement parts. Be nice if they get some exposure, but if you are competitive, can you afford to play? Right now, yes...they are showing that a 5th starter can shine. Too bad they haven';t elevated a temporary shortstop of the future to play 80% of the games for a short spell. Same with the outfield. Give the playing time to a LaMonte Wade, if nothing else. Quit having lovefests with people who MAY NOT be ehre next year, especially for short spurts. The bullpen is a mess and could be musical chairs all season. The Twins need to get some control of the K's and moving runners and getting clutch hits et al. I thought the offense would be much more consistent, better than it has been. But we still have a lot of games to play. But please, front office, take advantage of giving rookies time to shine. Garver should be catching anyone who will be in the rotation of the future, not Bobby. Please.

Yep. Why Bobby WIlson catching insted of Garver, Romero's catcher of the future? Grossman in right field? Okay. LaMarre needed to pinch-hit, I guess. Magill got two innings. Saving bullpen for tomorrow, before an off day. But...hey,. the Twins Won!

Not to bash Sano, as he could have continued value as the designated hitter of the future, but with the way Escobar is batting and handling third, CAN HE BE the guy until someone materializes in the minors. Who would've thunk that he had the power to be a force for the Twins. And speaking of power, we look at Eddie Rosario and shake out heads. Out of the three outfielders, Eddie is probably #3 in terms of offering a longterm lucrative contract, behind Buxton (who needs to break out) and Kepler (one of the ahrdest workers in baseballa). For any number of players, it is always "how much" is the contract, and "how many" years the team is willing to gamble. Be interesting to see if we think Escobar can be a third bsaeman for another season or two...or allow him to walk. Dozier is entering HIS free agent season and needs to shine. But if he's not handling leadoff, and just knocking himself in with home runs...do we need to give him five at bats to hit .240. The lovefest on Grossman continues. I wonder what we would be doing if Granite wasn't disabled down in Rochester....missed opportunity for Zack. LaMarre on the bench? Of course, the second coming of Jason Tyner is wondering what will happen when Buxton returns. I am curious to see the battle between Adrianza and Petit heat up. Mitch Garver....c'mon down and make the most of your opportunity! Just don't get hurt!

It is easier to pull guys from Ft. Myers (and replace those guys with extended spring training guys). Especially if you are just looking at bodies. It's because Stassi is on some sort of temporary list. They needed a body and didn't want to move someone from Chattanooga, which would mean someone to Chattanooga, etc. etc.

I ask the same question. The Sox bring in a pitcher that averages umpteen walks PER INNING facing Grossman, the so-called walk king...and he doesn't draw a walk. Is LaMarre the answer? He has a hot bat (be it single city) and deserves to play until he cools off. Like Petit, who wants the major league meal money over the minor league salary. This is a musical chairs position. With Buxton down, you don't have to play the reserves. You can play an outfielder of the future (the chances of the Twins keeping Buxton / Rosario / Kepler beyond are nill) and you bring up LaMonte Wade. He can't be any worse than Grossman at this point. And might make you reconsider breaking camp with Robbie. Which brings up Sano on the dl. You now have basically three utility guys manning two infield positions. Now was the time to look at Gordon and see if he could push Polanco out of a job, make Dozier more expendable, whatever. He may not rock in a two week callup, but he'd get a taste of the majors, and he is, afterall, the future.

I'm not sure if Molly knows how to construct a lineup. The whole fact that Dozier keeps batting leadoff because....... It would help if Buxton was playing, and could also run, and hit above the Mendoza line. We lack his speed (when he gets on base). But, please, STOP batting Dozier leadoff. Mauer is fine in the number 2 spot, and Kepler has adjusted to the #3 spot. Now the question is...Morrison or Escobar at cleanup. It would seem idea to have Morison, but Escobar, given the chance., is proving to be a powerful weapon. And then we keep pushing Eddie further down the lineup. The bench. Garver is out playing Castro right now and should be catching Berrios and Romero ALL THE TIME, since both are the future of the Twins, as well as Castro. LaMarre and Petit may be flash in the pans, but you run with them. Im sorry, dragging out Robbie Grossman, having him bat leadoff (five at bats a game) isn't working. LaMarre is hungry. He may be the second-coming of a Jason Tyner for hitting singles, but he is hitting. But the lineup is a shambles, partly obvious because runners aren't being advanced (except by passed balls) or coming home. Not sure the philosophy here. Almost the same with the bullpen. You can't keep trotting out the same relief pitchers. You have to be able to use all your guns in close games. If they can't give you the pitching you need, then jettison them for someone else. Of face the reality...you are one of the non-competing teams this year. And then ask the questions why and how did we get here. The answer? Bad front office moves, poor field management, wrong mix of players.

I agree that he is working hard to fulfill his contract. But the stuff is just not there. If the Twins keep playing the way they are playing, maybe they can afford to keep him in the backend of the bullpen, use him for that occasional double-header start, and see if there really is potential use in key situations. But when you can't afford to carry a guy that you can't trust in a pressure situation on the mound (and the game matters), it hurts the team. Sure, it would be nice to stash him at AAA and let him pitch to his hearts content, he still gets paid. But (remember Mike Lamb) the Twins surely don't want to pay for him to be backend in someone else's organization and have him suddenly develop into a fine pitcher again. It seems to be a front office ego thing, although the current front office was not responsible for this signing.

Sad for Belisle, considering such names as Jepsen and Boyer are still finding major league roster space. He might still have some stuff, but so do a few hundred other guys floating around the minors. The Twins can have that revolving door in place all season. Bigger question is who goes when Buxton returns? And who goes when Sano returns? Adrianza and Grossman, are they on the bubble, or is LaMarre the odd man out yet again because he can be. Petit shows he wants to be in the majors. The bullpen is still a mess. You can't keep oeverworking Reed and Duke. And maybe Rodney gets pumped up when men are on base, but it gives me stomach pains.

I was surprised to hear that he ahs only had one 100-pitch outing in his career. He reached 150 innings last year, so hopefully can stretch that total a bit this season, if push comes to shove. Would we like to see him work out of the bullpen if the rotation gets too crowded and an opening happens, or does he go back to AAA and continue to be a work-in-progress. Only time will tell. Considering Santana and Lynn will be free agents, as well Gibson. If Romero produces, I would rather go forth with him as much as possible.

Well, when Eduardo is the spare guy on the bench, he is just okay. But when called upon to fill in, he's dynamite. Not sure how that computes into a longterm contract. But when called upon to play fulltime, he has not disappointed. So.......

There must be something in the power water in the bullpen. Target Field run-off water is not the key ingredient.

At some point, not calling it rebuild, but DO you play for the future and cut the guys who won't be a aprt of the team in anyway come 2019. Of course, there is no market for the likes of Rodney or Lynn or Hughes right now. And even Morrison. You aren't going to walk away from them and their salaries, sadly. Which means they play...until you give up. And too early to give up. The good news is that they are all money, and you MAY be able to filter in some new faces in the meantime. The Twins do have decisions. What to do with Mauer and Dozier. Should Sano be in the long range plans (and may we forever be a year too late in making a decision on the big guy). We have Santana coming back, in a free agent walk year...will he be lights out? What role can Trevor May play...long relief and spot starting with hopes of a return to the rotation? Michael Pineada is also in the wings. But suddenly you are hampered by free agents NOT producing. They can't sit. The big salaries can't be jettisoned easily (but, yes, they can be jettisoned if push comes to shove). The hope is everyone will get to work again, and figure things out. No way can ALL these guys be this ...putrid.

I think the team is better. But, also, the play of baseball is better. In any contest, one team wins, one team loses. There is no sure pathway to a victory. Otherwise, you would be able to predict winners over losers easily. But you can't. Were the Twins cheap? Supposedly, no. But they did BUY to be competitive as a Wild Card team, NOT to take the division today or tomorrow. Still too many factors there. The resurgence of rookies and sophs. A new bullpen. A better middle-of-the-road rotation. But still, unless you truly think Detroit and Kansas City and Chicago are worse teams, which they very well may be, the Twins still have to say "Are we better than every other team in baseball? You would think coaching and managing would've figured some things out, from arm usage to line-up construction. SO much of the game is going over stats and film and players just can't throw the ball hard and be tricky anymore, just like batters can't wait for the perfect pitch. It is work, on and off the field. The talent is there, but the talent is there on so many other teams, too. The weather was bad, but the Twins weren't the only team suffering from cancelled games and bad weather. Target Field is a gem, but how many of the guys on the current team really played the game at Target Field (of course, are biglosses were in Tampa Bay, land of great weather, and Yankee Stadium, which everyone dreams to play). I want to have patience. But I also know the front office is sweating the sell of the team, coming out badly in the gate. Cheap tickets this month, still, folks!

I am stunned. The Problem is pitching. You need your starters to go at least five innings, wsix preferred, and to keep you in the game. Yes, the strikeouts are nice, but the walks are killing us. By keeping us in the game means that you need to keep it at four runs (max) or less. Of course, your offense also has to knock in at least four runs in a game. At least, not just. Some players seem to be coming around. Maybe that week off did effect timing and all. But Someone ahs to work with Sano, we need some basepath pressure, and I'm not sure what the perfect lineup construction should be. But I'm thinking MAYBE Dozier shouldn't be batting first. The bullpen is a surprising shambles. Shows that the Twins were running on lucky fumes in seasons past with the likes of Duffey and Rogers, They maybe shouldn't have broken camp with Moya. Hildenberger got caught up in league film. Kinley...well, who knows. Chargois would look pretty good right now, doing what his "prospect" status said he would do. We might be longing for the day when Buddy Boshers would've got the call. But good news for ALL those minor league free agent pitchers the Twins signed. Rotating game of musical chairs. Maybe you get the call, a few days of major league play, and instead of going back to Rochester another team will claim you. One way to start nibbling down those names on the Twins 40-man roster. It IS all about pitching. Alston and Guardado have their arms full. If you are going to win, you have to win series ball. They lost to the Rays. They lost to the Yankees. They LOST TO THE REDS. Oh, my!

One is the DL. Another is still at AA. The otherone isn't ready. Maybe we can use one in relief. That's just four of 13 million reasons to keep Hughes around for one more starting opportunity. Then one mrer after that. Then we don't need a fifth starter and we MIGHT try him out of the pen. Then let's see if we/he has figured it out for one more start. Hey, is that a Twins fan who purchased a seat out there in the outfield? Wow. Haven't seen that all month!

The week that, hopefully, WAS!

Is it the coaching staff. Has the manager lost control? Is there any leadership in the clubhouse? Does anyone read reports or look at tape? Hey, let's give Glen Perkins a call! better yet, BRING BACK BARTOLO COLON! Don't Panic. Don't Panic. A $120 million+ payroll can't be this bad!

There's still 13 millions reason to keep Hughes on the roster, though. So, we need a fifth starter. Be nice to have a closer. A long-man in the bullpen. Someone who is a strikeout king when you have no outs and two men on base. Stop walking batters. So let's look at route 1. Jorge and Mejia are on the DL. Nope. Slegers was up for a fraction of an hour, doubt they can flip him back tomorrow again. We have Gonsalves, Littell and Thorpe too far away in the minors to help, for now. That leaves us with Enns, Busenitz, Curtis, and Moya. Man, that could be Trump's next law firm hire! Fernando Romero deserves an opportunity to start IF the Twins are keeping Hughes up here and in the bullpen. Is Hale opening a roster spot? For who? And who should go: Duffey, Hughes, maybe Rodney...Hildenberger. Whew. How did this happen!!!!!!!!!!