Rosterman

Again, quit with the Mickey Mouse roster moves. You rebuild. You look at guys that will be Twins now and in the future. YOU ARE NOT a place people come to keep their career going. If you fail in Minnesota, where you have every opportunity to shine and make it, you go. If we grab minor league free agents and such, make sure they have the potential to help the Twins more than just as POSSIBLE tradebait in mid-season. At the most, send the Santanas and Tonkins and such back to the minors ONE MORE TIME and MAYBE give them another shot to stick. AT MOST! We have 8 guys in the bullpen and 4 starters and we have to drag out a catcher to get three outs. Go figure!

I would love to hear the coaches discussion on Buxton. What they were teaching him in the minors and how they approach him in the majors. You'd think that with all that talent he would be far better than he is showing at the plate. Even in the field where he basically is a gem because he ahs such natural abilities. Would've thought he could've beena leadoff or #2 in the order guy by now. More seasoning in the minors? Not necessary if you are a rebuilding team. But get him his own personal coach, not only batting but for life decisions.

You worked your bullpen around pitchers who could get certain hitters out, made less complicated with the designated hitter rule, meaning you didn't have to worry about making a pitching change because the pitcher was going to hit. You have the bases loaded in the 7th with one out, you bring in a ground ball pitcher or the strikeout king. Period. Of course, how many teams have true closers? Do the Twins in 2017? Even part of alst year?

The Twins will most definitely work in the future this season. Yes, we had a hot start, but the next two weeks will put everything into perspective...how well we do in our division. If we play .500 ball in the division, then we have to hope we don't get clobbered in the other divisions. Pitching is holding its own, and although we should be looking towards the future, no starter is going anywheres yet. Santana might be a valuable trade chip. It would be nice if Hughes is, too. Gibson is derailing, or just an okay guy who will be hard to keep come arbitration deadlines, if push comes to shove. At some point, the Twins will have to think TOTALLY about who will be on this team in 2018 & 2019.

Where is Zack Jones hiding?

Walker is gone. Buxton could be the next Gomez, Revere, Hicks center fielder sent packing (with Granite taking his spot). Berrios needs to come to the majors. Where is Jones right now? Bard is getting older from injuries. Duffey and Rogers are here and holding their own. Chargois could be a stud. The Twins didn't see fit to add Baxendale to the 40-man this off season. Only time will tell.

We have only faced team three in the division, someone who is playing on par, if not better, than us. Have to see what happens with the Indians and the rest of the month...then play against other teams. By then, Molitor MAY have a pretty set lineup that doesn't have Dozier leading of, Grossman batting second, and a real place for Mauer, assuming anyone in the outfield DOES start to hit.

And then who would O'Rourke replace, if need be? If you need that fifth starter, better to stretch out Duffey or just call up Berrios and make a cut in the bullpen. Tonkin WOULD free ups pace and I doubt anyone will leap out of the brush to claim him. Breslow goes if you feel you have a lefty or two inreserve to replace him.

The 40-man roster debate! You have Danny Santana, Michael Tonkin and Justin Haley who could all disappear if they don't put up decent numbers...because there are adequate replacements in the wings. And you have Boshers in the minors holing up a spot. And you have to decide on Kennys Vargas. Of course, having people like Park on the disabled list never helps matters. Dilemma #1. What to do when O'Rourke and Adrianza come off the DL. O'Rourke could go to the minors. Adrianza needs to stay (even though he could probably pass thru waivers at this point). Dilemma #2: The rotation. Can you trust Gibson and Hughes in the long haul? Is Mejia ready? Is it better to keep Duffey in the bullpen (yes). Can the Twins get six innings out of each of their pitchers the next go around? What about the outfield? Do we panic? Who lays out there. Looks like Santana is basically a fourth wheel getting stuck in the mud and your true 4th outfielder is still in the DH land. You gotta play Buxton, Kepler and Rosario to see what you have. But someone will be on the bubble and hopefully Palka and Granite are in the wings. Also, remember, Palka is a designated hitter possibility...someday. I don't see the Twins jumping anyone from AA ball to the majors. I also don't see them adding anyone of note to the 40-man. At best, we see them shuffle thru any of the variety of minor league free agents they signed, jettisoning them when the time comes and they move prospects into play at each level.

Detroit will be a tell. They have to see how strong their own division is, first. Then, you have to win (consistently) series. A couple more times thru the rotation should give us a cue on how they will be responding and how soon we need a change in a spot. The bullpen? Well, at least there are arms down on the farm. I am worried about the outfield hitting...as they are all still young and works in progress. Keeping that in mind, I want to see Park come up and offer his bat to the lineup. Would rather see Grossman do the occasional rotation in the outfield. Of course, we need to figure out Escobar and Polanco and what to do with the disabled guy when he returns.

What is the status of Zach Jones and Lewis Thorpe. Will either get enough work to shine in the minors this year?

Got the "rosters" section at www.twinscards.com updated to include all A-Ball and above players listed in the system.

I would still like to see Dozier in the 3-hole with Polanco and Buxton ahead of him. Mauer at clean-up? Perhaps at 5th behind Sano (Sano between Dozier and Mauer might actually get good pitches to hit). Kepler at sixth. The rest up for grabs. Grossman is the 4th outfielder.

Yes, not being on the 40-man is often a player's undoing. Like being out of options sometimes give you a bit more slack. But as proven by all the"talent" the Twins signed and brought to camp, you can find replacement players for fringe players/prospects. I harp on this, but you have to - at this point - look at who will be on the roster next season, and preferably beyond. This is the future of your organization. Then you decide if they need LOTS of seasoning, still, in the minors - or need to work-it-out at the major league level. Few players go right from the minors to stardom in their first big league season. Many spend a season (or two) adjusting and then become mainstays in an organization or in pro ball. As to 30-days of spring training. It is a way for guys to egt into shape. Maybe they don't need as much time as they did in the past, where they toiled in other jobs and reporting to camp early was a financial hardship compared to today. Besides the "meaninglessness of spring training games" that is harped - if you win OR lose - it is also a wonderful promotional angle for the season...if people still read newspapers or if TV can be brought into the fold. You used to have a story a day - a happy story - about the team, mixed in with the new food at the park stories and all. But that ahs gone bye-bye with the failings of the press to increase readership. I'm waiting to see how the team markets itself after Game One is over!

A bunch of minor league free agents and low-level guys. Surprised about Peterson. What is the reason, do you think? Also, waiting to see how catching breaks out. Imagine the Twins would like both Garver and Murphy to be starters, and I hope Garver is at Rochester. But backups are...? Kinda liked the idea of Rohfling and Rodriguez behind multi-position backups who can catch and probably DH at Rochester, which now has too many DH bats anyways. It's a tough life to be a minor league free agent. But lots of Indy Ball leagues looking to fill their rosters!

I'm curious to see how long a look the Twins need for Park at AAA. Considering they removed him from the 40-man and that he also cleared waivers means he wasn't necessarily fitting into the plans of the new administration. For Vargas, it was his job to lose and he lsot it. I look at a rewarding career for him overseas. Do the Twins send him there or does he go there himself. Better yet, does he stay in the Twins organization this season. I don't see Grossman as a DH at-all. I see Mauer and Sano getting at bats in the position. But the flip side, right now, is "Who's on First" and "Who's on Third." Suddenly the though of having Trevor Plouffe as a bench player looks mighty tempting, especially at the salary he signed with the A's, which the Twins could've done if they had parted company i August. They have no one to play first (Kepler?) and I don't want to see Escobar at third, ever, never. Yes, at this point it would be nice to have the bat of Park, if he does hit for the power, and the ability of Park to play better than even Mauer at first. But we suddenly see the folly in dreaming of a great year for the Twins. They have weak catching at the plate, no bench whatsoever, the question of Sano at third of fulltime DH (but then who plays third) and the elephant in the room -- Joe Mauer. Will he be the Mauer of Real Old or just an aging Mauer of the now. And I can't wait to see the new batting order and how many times it changes in the first week/first month. Who are the mid-season managerial candidates for the Twins to look at? Is there any longterm hope for Dougie or Jake to become a Twins manager, or where the powers-that-be go outside the organization? Is here a Fire Sale happening soon!?

Good solid list. The outfield might be a problem, unless someone goes down. But expect a total revamp of the bullpen. Sadly, many of the rotation names won't be here until 2018/19 because of current contracts and the possibility that a Gibson or Santiago may shine brightly.

Just what the Twins need!

Well, they have wo choices and we now know which choice they made. Raise prices, because we have to still make money on concessions, but colume-wise they will probably sell fewer. The question will be WILL all these items always be available during a game and will SOME SELL-OUT before a game ends. Lower Prices and make Target Field an eating destination with entertainment. Figure out a way to put fans into the stadium (the standing-room-only ticket sale - especially for a stadium with lots of empty seats was a good idea...if people go to enough games.) For all the push on fan and family friendly, the Twins seem to be pushing towards an elitist crowd. Okay, sure, a family of four can come to the game and get seats in a non-beer drinking section and get a bad dog and a small pop for less that $50. But would actually like to see even more of an emphasis on the Twins, especially when families can now spread out, being friendly. The kids you excite today with baseball become the fans and patrons of tomorrow. Of course, putting a baseball product on the field has something to do with that, too. In some ways, the Twins need to pay even more attention than ever to their compatriots across the river in Saints-bille, who fill the stadium and offer a good variety of reasonably priced food fare. I know. Sure, I didn't always buy a ticket because I lived across the street, but many a time I walked backwards into the stadium around the 7th inning because I was hungry and wanted to partake from a rail the baseball experience. I didn't break-my-bank buying a decent three course dinner there. Going to be closely watching the attendance! That the Twins are trying to sell all sorts of multi-ticket plans means they are trying to figure out a way to get money-in-the-bank ahead of time, still. The abcklash on that is that the more advanced tickets you sell -- for a bad team -- the more tickets there are competing in the market for your own single ticket sales. We know the Twins can't giveaway tickets because of major league rules (unless it is standing-room-only wandering passes). But it all becomes moot if the Twins pull off a 2015 and people actually have to buy single game tickets from them.

Who plays first when Mauer is the DH. I mean, now WE NEED Plouffe as a bench bat!

I am a fan, so I will listen (don't get the cable channel) and also attend. I want to see the future develop. I'm not going to spend a lot for a ticket, and try and keep my food consumption under $20 overall, which isn't all that hard depending on how hungry I am. I feel bad about the concession people. This is the time that Dave St. Peter needs to shine as the President of the organization. How to sell Target Field when all you have in the wings is a couple of popular concerts on tap. Makes you want to be a fly in the room when they discuss such things. Bring Back Byung-Ho! Mainly becasue I want to see the commercials they shot late last season that they never ran.

What a mess. Kepler would have to be the backup at first base, so you can DH Mauer, at times. But when was the last time Kepler had a first baseman's glove. Danny Santana and Eduardo Escobar are then the 4th outfielder of Grossman is the DH. And pencilling in Grossman as DH is NOT what you need to do for a strong lineup. He's that 4th outfieler...and he'll play out there when Mauer DH's...but, again, who plays first. What happens with Vargas (who will probably go on the DL) comes off. The Twins DON'T need that extra arm in the bullpen. All their starters should easily go five innings now and be pushing six, at the least, after the first week. If you wear out a bullpen arm, there is always the Rochester shuffle as there are many guys waiting there. Of course, it all boils down to 40-man roster decisions. We haven't heard yet if the Twins are 60-dayin Perkins. You need to find someone for Gimenez to replace. Of course, you want to keep the door open to easily bring up Boshers. At this pont, I would've rather seen any of the cut guys (including Drew Stubbs) on the bench. But, again, that would involve 40-man roster decisions. Considering you still have a team in which you can easily jettison 4-5 players off the 40-man roster and stash them (if you really need to) in the minors...well, I hope the front office knows what they are doing. I know a rebuilding team full of prospects is hard to market, but so is a roster of no names who won't sell a jersey and doesn't excite people when their stats -- today and yesterday -- are flashed on the jumbotron.

But who will still be pitching for the Twins, or in the organization, come 2018 and especially 2019. Wimmers was showing signs of success after battling injuries over the past few seasons. He was actually the closer at Rochester and got a cup-of-coffee with the Twins, finally, last season -- which is what you hope happens to 1st round draft choices. But because of age and roster number crunches, they felt Boshers was worth more than Wimmers and no one claimed him and Wimmers looking in the mirror still felt the Twins were good for a go and signed a minor league contract. Tonkin the Twins don't want to lose yet. But eventually, they will. I don't see him being back next season at all. And Haley. Okay, an okay pick-up, but we have significant depth of 41st-roster men already from ALL the minor league free agent signings. The bigger question is HOW WILL THE TWINS win with the team they are putting on the field. How many real changes have they made - Castro and Gimenez, Breslow and Belisle. Throw in Haley. That is it. I'm sure the cheering sections are being established right now in different parts of Target Field. Would the Twins have been better served to just push the prospects. You expect that will happen, especially in the bullpen, and if the veteran rotation implodes you should be able to throw the same poitches with Berrios, Wheeler, Mejias, Gonsalves and Stewart, who will ALL be here in the next couple of seasons more than likely, unless they pitch so brilliantly in the minors that the Twins feel a need to trade them. Again, one doesn't see a lot of worth in the Twins 25 above and beyond the prospects who really are already seasoned from a year or two and have to show that they belong. Otherwise, the chances of someone claiming a Tonkin, Duffey...heck, teams passed on Park who looks like he might've been a steal if someone was smart outside of the Twins. Lets hope Polanco, Sano, Kepler, Buxton, Rosario show us great play. Quite frankly there is no one in the current rotation or even the bullpen that I would care to see on Opening Day 2019.

You also have to look at the logistics of a short-season team. Besides your Arizona or Gulf Coast League playing areas, it is the first time many players actually are away from home, working, and having to survive on little or nothing, in a small-town friendly atmosphere. It is a learning experience, and a level of play pretty consistent across THAT league. And the trips are by bus and to teams that kinda draw a fan base...a step above high school sport followers. And it also gives a sense of community and facilities for the community to use for their own town ball and prep sports, if done right. It ahs to be promoted, but that's up to the town to get butts in the seats and concessions in the hands of folks. The Twins take care of the personnel on the field. And both Ray Smith and Jeff Reed have been a part of the community, as well as the area, for decades. Short season ball is as close as the majors get to indy ball, in many ways...players on the cusp who have one-year to prove they can get another year of baseball.

Can't wait to see the breakout at Rochester and Chattanooga with more than 30 pitchers vying for roster spots, many that will be returning for another season at the same level.