Rosterman

The Twins do have a number of candidates depending on roster makeup. Sano can, with Escobar handling third. Mauer can, if you have Vargas or Park as backup at first. Dozier can down the line. Better to ask who is the Twins DH come 2019 or 2020. If it is going to be Sano, then you have to address who will play third. If Dozier is signed and can move into that spot (or first base), fine too. Mauer is still the white elephant. What to do with Joe when his contract runs out. Keep him at first for ever (who are viable replacements in the system...Rooker?). But the Twins could use a solid bench bat not named Grossman (again, if Granite can be the 4th outfielder). And Garver can be in the mix, depending on the need for a third catcher, and Molitor never seemed locked into benching your reserve catcher in a game.

I doubt it will be a one-year contract. Even a two-year puts Molitor on the bubble as absorbing a year isn't beyond the budget or front office needs. A three-year would keep him in place for at least another season, sink or swim. I'm more interested in the workings on the coaching side of things, and the shakeup (if any) of the minor league staffs.

Tyler Jay is, indeed, on the Arizona Fall League roster of Surprise. If Trevor May comes back in spring training, I doubt that he will be ramped up to enter the rotation immediately. Whatever the Twins can get out of him in 2018, be it long or short relief, would be a blessing. And thoughts of a return to the rotation after that. With Kiriloff, what level will he start at when he comes back is the big question. I'm sure he's training hard to keep himself in position in the Twins prosect race. Chargois' status is totally unknown by me. Anyone have any news? Also, Zack Jones...is he a viable guy to bring back into the organization for yet another season? Ryan O'Rourke seems to be on the road to recovery. The question is, will his left-handed uniqueness keep him on the 40-man? I would keep him, at this point, almost over say, Boshers. Good old Mr. Hughes. I imagine a hard decision has to be made to keep him on the 40-man, since last rumored that his injury MAY be career ending. Two more years under contract for him. 40-man roster decisions will be interesting. You can't have too many injury recoveries and too many not-ready-for-bigtime-yet prospects on the 40-man, yet you still have to protect them. That's where the possibility of swinging trades this past summer could've been a viable factor (imagine the Twins with Verlander, perhaps).

The Twins saw a nice bump in attendance this season...and remember, most of those were team controlled day-of-the-game priced tickets. They might sell more season tickets because of the Wild Card spot. But let's see how many more games they can raise the price by a buck or so. We have a new administration. One year in. Time to clean house and eat losses tied into monies that should be off the books by releasing guys outright and such. Make the hard decision on Phil Hughes now. Don't nickel and dime the career AAAA guys or fringe people on the roster. Either replace them with lowcost rookies, or sign that big right-handed bat that can play a position and also DH. You need to spend the money on a top-flight starter and a couple of bullpen arms. Ticket revenue held for 2016. It was better than expected in 2017 (although I still complain that I can't get the radio in ALL parts of the greater metro area). The Twins need to develop a marketing plan that can play well during super bowl craziness. What IS the future of Joe Mauer?

It also appeared that the strike zone was a bit tight (for both sides). Santana should've adjusted and thrived. I wouldn't have thrown Berrios out there right away (bring in a lefty first) or just go with one-inning wonders for the rest of the game. Don't have Hildenberger start a second inning. Overall, pitching won out. The Yankees have the hard throwers we have only dramed about having in the system

You have to judge the worth of some guys, again, like Escobar and Grossman. Don't fall in love with msot of the bullpen. Ask yourself what you can get if you spend $10 or $15 or even $20 million on the pen (considering you have no closer). Are you wishing you did trade for Verlander right now? Serious look at who is on the verge in the minors and others a bit down on the horizon, and start planning moves in mid-season 20-18 accordingly. And, if they won't be contributing ANYTHING to 2018, maybe time to let guys walk. Like, sadly, Phil Hughes. Pony-up and eat the contract in a season in which your revenues are higher than planned (yes, all those full-price tickets you sold in 2017 because the Twins were hot).. Again, don;t fall in love with 2017 stats. Not that most were that barn-burning wonderful. Start constructing a team to play to the strength of Target Field and a line-up that respects players around the players. Don't be cheap. The Twins can be competitive and rake in the dollars (and quit trying to raise the prices of certain games and tickets even more in 2018...you were lucky this season). And do something about the radio station. Was driving home on playoff game night and the first inning would go in-and-out and I was in the general area of the original Met Stadium home of the Twins.

The ump had a tight zone for both sides. So, its a game to use A LOT of pitchers in a correct way. One team id. The other team didn't.

Time will tell. The Twins have so many bullpen arms, but the ones we thought would be here in 2017...weren't. And the league catches up to players, or players don't adjust, so you never ever have too many guys. Hard-pressed to say who the rotation will be in 2019. And you need people like Wade (as well as Granite) when you start deciding the longterm worth of Rosario or even Kepler. I assume Buxton will be a keeper.

Moya or Curtis over Mejia? Understandably, Colon is on the sidelines.

It all comes down to one game at a time at this moment in the season. You win here or go home. Worry about the next round once you get there, and happily the Twins have a number of players to shuffle. I was hoping for C.C. so the Twins could play the early bunting game again. This is where I want a camera in the clubhouse, watching the players arrive, who is jittery, who is not. Yankee Stadium. Big crowd. What is Molitor's speech to the team? Coaches pulling people aside. The feel of batting practice. All these under 25 players on the team in what might be the biggest game they ever play (hopefully not, more in the future). And what IS the feeling back home in the Twin Cities? Rain dampened the home closer. But still, not sellouts for ALL three games this weekend.

He was a no-brainer [pick-up for the pro-rated salary the Twins had to pay. Yes, we can argue that 15 starts could've gone to others. But name some names? At this point the Twins were still juggling the likes of Turley, Melville, et al. Yes, I would've liked to see a tandem teamup more, giving Slegers some more innings (or Gee in long-relief). But.... This is about the man. He energized the team in some ways with his veteran presence, especially in the area of pitching. It is always hit or miss on clubhouse presence, but Bartolo had it, from hearing management talk at the State Fair. He also gave his own 99% of the time, knowing that his pitch portfolio was down to 1 1/2 pitches and speed below the going rate across the wilds of the Dakotas. Someone couldv'e managed his bad stretch here in the end a tad better but we have to say he gave his all in the last game of the season, proving he CAN be an arm to go to if the playoffs are extended for the Twins. Big Sexy! Wonder where he will land (and for how much) in 2018. I'm sure he will show up in someone's spring training camp.

Minnesota born and bred, a University of Minnesota star. Like many pitchers, wanted to be a top-flight starter and struggled. Then reality hit when passed thru waivers and off the 40-man, only to reinvent himself not just as a left-handed bullpen arm but a closer to boot. Shows the true ups and downs a player can have in this game, as well as strained relations with a front office or field staff and glory days on the mound and then an injury which keeps you from playing even longer the game you love. Hope he moves into the organization in some capacity for years to come.

So where does this leave Slegers in the Twins scheme of things. If he'd pitched a dynamite game, going 5-6 innings, would he be the 4th starter? Has he become roster fodder sadly at this point, a possible prospect, but still behind others in the wings who might deserve a 40-man spot, as well as the many many "others" who are no longer prospects but won't part ways with the Twins (perhaps Pressly, Boshers, Tonkin). Yes, the Twins did make the Wild Card. Yes, the call-ups from September got less exposure than necessary, although they have experience of riding the bench and being in a playoff situation. I hope some make it to spring training to show what they can do against somewhat major league pitching. Can't wait to see the lineup for tomorrow's game.

Hopefully he IS the DH for the final two games. As a bench bat he can be valuable. If his swing is back, he can DH. You still need to see him run the bases. Putting him in the field? Not a chance at this point. But considering you need one starter and a bunch of arms for the wild card, and 4 starters at best and 7 bullpen arms, yes...add him to the playoff roster!

Was just mulling this over myself. Escobar should be back and shows he can hold his own at third, which frees up Sano to be DH who can also play 1st or 3rd. That's it, the Twins biggest weakness is DH (unless you count catcher and word would have Castro is more valuable as a field man than a batter. Now you talk the Twins really needing a bench. Four guys. A catcher (Garver), a spare outfielder (Granite) and a backup infielder, and A BAT who can give you some punch, but probably also play a position, notably one of the corners or the outfield. Of course, Garver can play OTHER positions, so the Twins could keep the lovefest of Gimenez. Grossman has proven to be an able body bench bat. Ehrin is a capable backup infielder. So, for those three, it becomes an issue of salary, period. The Twins need at least one starter. Should they go all in? Bigger question, do they write off Hughes and basically send him packing (or to the minors) without a 40-man spot, shades of Nick Blackburn. You hope they have some depth in Gonsalves, Romero and Jorge, who will all be 40-manned, as well as Littell. I'm not sure the off-season status of Slegers at this point. The bullpen? Do you keep Belisle? What happens with Perkins? You keep Moya and Curtiss, although both could start at AAA. That leaves you with Rogers and Hildenberger. The others...again, depends on salary and the need for 40-man roster spots. That's going to be a mess. Who do the Twins have to protect that might battle for a spot in spring training, or be a possibility durther into the year. You can't have too many guys who aren't capable of making the big league club on the 40-man. If they can't make your team, what are the possibilities of them making another team (Rule 5) and if you have to cut them from a 40-man spot at some point, you basically give them away to someone who has 40-man spots to waste (i.e. Vielma). Not sure about the status of Palka at this point in time. This off-season is when we see how the new front office intends to operate, from minor league field staff, to signing of minor league free agents, to jettisoning minor league guys. (Michael and Harrison) All I can say is that all those predictions of a bullpen of Chargois, Jones, Reed, Cederoth, Jay, Stewart (perhaps), Bard, Melotakis, Burdi, Rosario, Baxendale. My how things can change. Sure, a couple of those names will be viable in spring training (one hopes) like Bard and Reed. But still... I just don't want the Twins to feel too comfortable with the current team. There's a lot of average average on the team. There was surprising power across the boards. There is some fresh arms in the pen, and lots of old standbys who are replacement level at best. Overall, a good portion of the team will improve and get better. But there are some spots that won't.

I'm baffled by the lineup. Mauer batting second. Polanco third. Escobar cleanup more often than not. Rposario and Buxton on the backside. Even you DH batting ninth. But, considering how the bullpen seems setup, I shouldn't be surprised. But, it worked!

So many. Ervin Santana. He should've had more wins and fewer loses. So many heartbreakers for this guy in 2017, considering how many he had for half of 2016. Wonder why he likes being a Twin.

There is some way to grow with the current crop, but I hope the front office doesn't fall too much in love with certain pieces that are...to say the least, expendable. And not really sure how to read Molitor. Did the Twins win despite him (as in 2015) or is he really a good manager?

I would've set up Mejia to pitch yesterday with Colon pulling illness and have Gibson pitch a crucial game today against Cleveland. Ah, well...what do I know...except that the Twins only have three starters going into the playoffs. No showcasing of Slegers?

They are still not done re-evaluating the team. The off-season will be crucial. How they deal with, say, Grossman and Escobar as well as Belise. What they end up doing with Hughes. Park is still in reserve and sacrificed from being on the major league roster because of 40-man issues. They added some fine pitching prospects (shades of May and Meyer) but others languished and we desperately need a killer 4th or 5th starter...before this season ends. Lots of names will have to be protected at the expense of whom. Curious on the obvious overhall of the minor leagues happening, as well as any major league front office changes. Will they spend money? All the profit the Twins will be making closing weekend when they control full-price ticket sales (nothing much on stubhub right now). It's nice the Twins will go out of the season with a bang. They need to develop a top-flight advertising campaign to combat the SuperBowl hype that will be front and center when they are about to do Twinsfest and start the minor league season, not to mention the next season ticket push (will prices rise?)

I would've brought Mejias in from the pen and pitch Gibson tomorrow.

At this point, Vargas should explore playing abroad. Otherwise, he is that guy on the fringe of the roster that may doom him to more minor league seasoning.

A part of me wants to see the Twins stay the course and pitch Colon in place of Mejia and have Berrios and Santana ready out of the gate against whomever with Gibson pitching game 163. No need to over rest any of the starters,. or pitch any early before the end of the season. I would figure out a way to tryout Mejia and Gee and Slegers in long relief roles, just in case. Torn between the needs of the bullpen: Belisle, Rogers, Hildenberger, Busenitz and two of the three above. Not sure who I want as the extra guy in the pen. Probably Pressly although I don't know what went wrong with him this season.

I would personally go with Colon/Gibson/Santana for the series, setting up Santana and Berrios to pitch if we actually can beat the Yankees in the Wild Card and having Gibson pitch the 163rd game...because he has been so good of late and would be an unexpected pitcher for the Yankees to face.

Trade Chip!