Rosterman

I'm trying to make sense of this. Move May to the rotation. Bring back up a hitter. Interesting that Duffey jumps Berrios and Rogers, who is a lefty. Give him some major league looksee. You might jsut want to keep him here in the bullpen.

That's tough because of the way some have moved around (Watkins, for example) and the system does have guidelines set by the minor staff coordinators and such. Riccardo Ingram helped a lot of these guys. Many were blessed with close work from Tony Oliva and Paul Molitor. The managers themselves can help hitters, from Jake Mauer to Dougie Mientkiewicz. You have had Smith and Reed at Elizabethton forever.

The thing with Arcia, he ahs power. As does Sano. As does Walker. SOmeone ahs to DH and we don't want Kepler or Mauer DHing, although if Kepler pars as a first abseman, we probably will have those two splitting those two jobs in a couple of years. We have to see how Sano does in the field. If he can't play third, can he play the outfield, which compounds the mess even more.

It was a bad day for former Twins with Deolis Guerra and Vance Worley being sent down by the Pirates, Danny Valencia getting sent out by Toronto, and Garrett Jones getting cut from the Yankees. Oh, Chris Parmelee got sent out by Baltimore, too. But, hey, Pedro Florimon is abck in the majors!

Maybe Pelfrey will be traded?

If you are going to knock off someone, you could take off Wheeler who fell down the charts a bit and wouldn't be claimed. I wouldn't be surprised if some team grabbed Thielbar. A cheap lefthander with contract control. The bigger question is who the Twins send off the 25-man roster. Or do they go to an enlarged bullpen. Sad that with all the talk of teams wanting relief pitchers that there was no interest in any Twin not named Perkins. And, seriously, if you aren't going to bring them to the majors, why are you protecting Achter, Tonkin, Darnell, Thompson. If these guys are going to bypassed anyways, let's see the guys who will be doing the bypassing.

An upgrade for now. Hu had possibilities but really, would rather lose him that any numebr of other guys above him? His value may be the highest it will ever be. Yes, we want a guy who strikes people out and WON'T walk someone mroe often than not. For the moment, a decent trade, except who is sent to the minors of released? We need to make 40-man roster space!

The Hunter Factor!

You gotta say, he was one of the bright spots of this season. He energized the fanbase. He put up decent numebrs. He looks to be a leader on the field. And no matter what you say or think, he has been equal to most in play so far this year. Next year? Depends on who you want in the outfield and the DH. Is Vargas still a possibility. Is Santana a man with no spot to land. Is Arcia a DH and Hicks a regular? Would you sign Hunetr solely as a part-time player, becnh bat? And for how much? $5 million? $6 million.? If youa re going to spend $10, I could think of any number of otehr areas that we could do that (bring back Pelfrey, re-sign Fien and Duensing, foe xexample, and still have some change left over to offer an invite to camp to Jared Burton). Of course, the rest of the season will show. Is he cycled out of the outfield with Buxton playing as a regular and the call-up of Arcia, at least in September. Is he the DH, but then does Sano go to third and Plouffe asks "waaaait-a-minute!?" I do have to say it will be a fun off-season in Twinsville. It really will, as the 40 piece jigsaw puzzle is found to have 46 pieces, instead of missing a few pieces.

The once and future Cristian Guzman. One of those Reusse moments: "He signed for only $30?!? Wait, he signed for $30 million!?!"

No, Aaron Hicks does not make Buxtonirrelevant. Instead, he could be a nice compliment as one f the corner outfielders. Rosario is holding his own as an outfielder, right now. Arcia and Walker could be DHs that also could play the coutfield. Kepler is in the mix, especially sicne there is no room at first base in the immediate future. But in the current mix, soon with three seasons under his belt, Hicks will have to breakout bigtime or not make it thru his arbitration years. Like Plouffe, you ask at some point is he worth $9 million. But if he plays well, reaching perhaps the levels of Denard Span, he could be tradebait for a high-level prospect pitcher. Its the way of the game. It takes awhile for a player to amp up at times. They can have ups and downs. You don't produce a superstar every year, and very few #1 draft picks pan out huge for every team.

Aren't there like 20 pitchers that could have an impact on the Twins roster in just the next three years? Think about that when a team has traded 2-3 low-level pitching prospects. There's no room at the inn for everyone. Outfield could be pretty cluttered, too. Considering we don't need any infielders except at shortstop for at least three mroe seasons, there are some names, there, that have potential and still leave us with some suitable backup. Catching we have no breakout candidate, but we have a couple of solid defensemen who might jsut bat well enough (or Suzuki enough). And tehre's another dozen guys on the current 40-man roster that msut have some worth...because they are there!

Fryer was catching Perkins. Duensing hit a guy. Then walked a guy. Was playing bouncey ball with Suzuki. The Twins Bullpen is FIEN! That's what Ithought you were saying. Again, if you bring up the young guys, they are hungry, this is their chance, they will give it their all if they want to stay in the majors (unlike Meyer, who is a prospect, and still can play bouncey ball between the majors and the minors). O'Rourke? May not be the best ever, but he knows he has to produce to stay in the majors. this is his one and only chance. If he falters, he may never get anotehr chance. So howmuch lease do we give guys who have lsot it. Casey Burton? Knew he was too good to be true. Boyer pitched his heart out, like Thompson did, but the league caught up to him. Duensing...you need to get that guy out. We needed a strikeout pitcher. Do we have one> Maybe May...who came in a few batters too late.

I would like to see polanco at short for the 2-3 games he might play. Probably see Escobar at third (although it would be ncie if Sano got rhythms there). I would send Santana out and bring up Arcia. Hey, the Twins are putting together a good line-up of major league players at Rochester!

The question is: who do the Twins have that someone wants in a trade. Prospects! Like the Astros, the Twins have to look not only short-term (this Fall's additions to the 40-man) but at next year's crop of protectable prospects. The Astros are suddenly seeing that they can't find space for everyone they have in the system to protect and maybe, yes maybe, they should go and get some finer pieces for their team. The Twins may still be a full-year from this decision making process, as up to 13 spots on their current 40-man are filled by people who shouldn't be here next year. And that is the killer. Any value in those 13? Not seeing it. Are the guys producing at Rochester as valuable, as any of these 13? Sadly, many of those names are on par...except that they want to get and keep a big league job. The Twins have been playing obverall solid ball this year. But many of the players have done nothing to increase their own value in the marketplace (Pelfrey, Fien, Nunez, Robinson and any numebr of relief pitchers). Yet the names in the minors (Tonkin, Achter, Oliveros, Darnell, Thompson, Wheeler) have done little or nothing to make you want to keep them around on the roster next year, yet alone advance them up this year...except that they can't be any worse than what we already throw out there in relief. There's a half-dozen names of untouchables who SHOULD contribute to the Twins in the next couple of seasons: Meyer, Berrios, Stewart, Peterson, Polanco, Walker. But beyond that, everyone IS a prospect and if we can improve the team with long-range (not just rental) parts, we should. Except for A.J. Bring him back. Put Suzuki on the waiver wire in August. If someone grabs him, elt him go. Try to find a long-term catcher or bring back A.J.

I'm basically a tire kicker. I'm sitting here at my phone, waiting to see if anyone calls about my players. Besides Perkins and Dozier, no one is asking for anything else. So, I sign a couple of minor league free agents, monitor my guys at AAA and AA. I'm going to throw some names on the waiver wire. I will post a couple of names right away (Pelfrey, Nunez) and see if someone bites. Still gives me the option of floating them out there again and just letting them go. I'm hoping the Braves throw out A.J. But, again, I may have wasted my wait as others could claim him, too. The evils of having a winning record. I can't just claim guys at random. I don't need to upgrade the rotation. My infield is really set. Just have to say "Escobar" instead of whomever, although I keep thinking I should see what Polanco can do for a dozen games. But why change now. If someone is hurt, maybe. Outfield is a mess. Would love to have Arcia in themix, but maybe good for him to be down on the farm. Cuts his service time, and as long as Sano is doing something...I have a full outfield, although do want to see what Buxton can do out there in center. He'll get a shot again come September. What would the Braves take tomorrow for A.J. Would he actually bring more to the mix than Fryer. Dang concussions. First Mauer, than Pinto. Didn't we used to have Wilson Ramos around...what did we get for him? Of course everyone is looking for a catcher. Hey, maybe I will trade forA.J. and then put Suzuki on the waiver wire and let him walk to any team that claims him. I mean, do I really need to have him on the roster in 2016. Go after some free agent, any free agent. Or maybe A.J. will really like it here, and he looks like someone happy to be a backup, so.... JULY GOALS Trade for A.J. AUGUST Claim any live arms that show up on waivers. Put Pelfrey, Nunez, Suzuki, Fien, Boyer, Duensing thru waivers and see who claims them. I mean, the guys in the minors can't be any worse, and probably better. I mean, why do we even have them in our system and giving them innings if we don't think they have potential to be on the major league roster not only this year, but next!? Hope we can keep the team about .500 and walk the stadium with a big grin on my face as all these fans pay full-price for their tickets, keep the concessions busy, and start buying shirts again. Maybe I'll have one made with my name on them! Probably be pretty popular as everyone thinks they are the general manager anyways!

Who do you trade? Maybe a guy on the current 40-man roster than runs out of options in a season or two. Look ahrd at your minors. Trade 1-2 guys who you should add to the 40-man, but can't because of the number of guys you have to add (sometimes sneaking thru that AA guyinto the deal). You can also either look at low-level prospects that appeear to be blocked by someone higher up in the organization,(Gordon) or that is basically a palcesetter before a low-level prospect gets better (Polanco - with Gordon/Javier in the wings). You unfortunately can't trade guys on the bubble, like Vargas and Santana. They have experience, but not showing signs of improvement. Now Aaron Hicks, may be at his most valuable of his career. Unfortunately, he's not an elite player by any means...yet.

Right now, the Twins are doing whatever possible to "win" games. Their main concern is to stay above .500 and have fans flock for the next 30-60 days to the game, especially when THEY control the prices on 18,000 or so tickets that are on sale (try to find soemthing cheap on Stub-Hub lately). You don't trade one of the two best current players, especially when NO ONE is pushing him for the job. In the future, Perkins (barring injury) will always have worth as a lefty. Even waaaaay down the road, he is almost guaranteed a long and lucrative career as even a set-up man, or one batter wonder. I think the Twins are more than happy to be winning. They dread the thought of slipping below .500 and having a major losing streak, which is why they seem to be staying put, rather than experimenting any more than necessary. Keep throwing the guys we seem to be succeeding with out there until they totally tank. But, man, the team is literally printing money right now. The stands are packed, concessions are selling, people are buying merchandise. There is hope, but there aren't expectations.

Coming out of the All-Star breaks, some pitchers need a bit more time, like spring training. Which is why, as manager, I wouldn't push guys (unless absolutely brilliant like Ervin was...yet Molly didn't let him complete the game, why?). You want to get ALL your guys work. Like Milone the night before. Six GREAT innings are wonderful. No need to puish towards 7 because...... Especially with the days off also happening. You push, something bad happens, and then even the whole bullpen blows up and gets uneven. Gotta say that starters are a relief this year. Last year we were happy they went 5 and mad when they pitched into the sixth.

Well, the Twins did add Ervin Santana after the All-Star break. WHich is BIG. Gibson and Hughes are pitching well. Milone had a solid six innings yesterday against the Yankees who then came alive. We have May. Pelfrey should go elsewhere...sorry. So the Twins rotation sits pretty good. The problem is the lineup which is consistently average with players stepping up at certain times and doing the right things. Yet we do have three big holes. Designated Hitter (which Sano is filling well right now...but it is a small numbers base). Incinsistent shortstop. Why not just go with Escobar, please. And a weak catcher. A line-up usually can have one weak spot. Two means you do have two sure outs each time thru the lineup, and don't stack the guys next to each other necessarily (of course, the AL doesn't have a pitcher batting). Right now the key to the Twins is having the right pieces and playing it close and tight. Don't let that pitcher go the extra inning. Look at matchups. Clean up that bullpen so you know pretty much that results will happen. Get a solid bench in place. If you can imporve a position, externally or internally, do so. Yes, think about the cost and make those considerations. But the REAL FACTOR that I harp on again and again...this is a team that is exceeding expectations. But you don't have to jsut sit back and say "it's working, we won't change." You have to change and you got access to pieces that will be here next year and beyond in place of guys that are just level players and won't be here in 70 days. How much are those players really contributing to the team winning, and the future. They seem to not even be contributing to making their own value worth more for their own future. If the Twins want the Wild Card, then you do everything you can to win. Pull a pitcher...don't worry about stretching him. Use ALL you bullpen. Have a bench you can rely on in a bases-loaded situation, or when you need that sacrifice, or a way to get a runner from 1st to 3rd.

It sounds like Buxton will go to Fort Myers for his rehab. But then the question is where might he be best suited for more play. The talk was that he was still a month away.

Yeah, wasn't it Bucholtz/Lester or Ellsbury/Crisp, Lowrie, Bowden that the Twins wanted for Santana from the Red Sox...what year was that? I have liked the guy in the past. Today, I would rather stick, sadly, with Pressly and/or Graham.

Fein, like Guerrier and Burton, is overstaying his welcome. Thre was the slim chance that he was going to be dynamite this year and a non-contending Twins team would flip him to a contender for a prospect. Not happening. Boyer was one of those interesting projects. He is working hard because he wants to stay in the majors, give him credit for that. Is he replaceable. Sure. Are we doing anything about it? No. Duensing, like Burton last September where he was closing games to drive up his own worth it seemed and not really necessary as he wasn't coming back...give those innings to someone who will be pitching for you the next year. Right now, I would accept offers on Duensing and move him along. There is no way he will resign next season, unless he totally tanks elsewhere and needs a job. We have Thielbar. We can look at Rogers. We still have Thompson. Darnell is not a reliever. These guys are hungry and want to make major league money and will pitch their hearts out 12-15 times for the remainder of the season. That's it for a reliever now...like 15 appearances, maybe. Not many when you think about it. Take offers on Duensing, Boyer and Fein. Put them on the waiver wire and, along with Pelfrey, hope someone claims them. TR, don't even think about "they got us here, they stay here" bs. Think now, but also think the future. The now guys AREN'T EXCEPTIONAL in anyway. The future guys just may be, and we have a couple of choices for each tired old hand we send packing.

I pretty much agree that May should be taking a regular rotation as a starter at Rochester. We should've brought up someone else to do what he is doing, or give a looksee at Rogers in the bullpen at the least. We have Darnell, Achter, the return of Tonkin. We could look at Duffy. Hell, for all that May ash done, Hamburger could've been given anotehr round in the majors for for the heck-of-it. Makes no sense not to use him more than they are. What is the ignorance of roles to be played by Graham and May.

If the Twins can pull off a Wild Card, I aplaud. It was totally unexpected. Theya re a good team, but nothing overtly special. They play well because some otehr teams are playing bad. That they are the 4th or 5th (at one time the 2nd) best record says something about how everyone has averaged out amidst some eal downer teams. It is a real opportunity for the Twins to play with their own parts, so to speak. To advance and looksee at some folks knowing you can still send them out for seasoning. Maybe you egt a hot streak in a weak position, maybe not. What is disappointing is when you stop and look at the worth of the plyaers on the team. Who on the team would anotehr team trade for. Who would another team overpay in a trade for. Who could find work (starting job at least) on another team. Who would struggle to sign a minor league contract with hopes of someday making it back to the majors. Yes as a whole, the team has been playing well. Nothing truly outstanding except for a couple that makes other teams look and salivate at what the Twins have. That can and will change. Better to groom and play and SEE what we have than overspend on another contract that may or may not pan out (although a couple years ago we were complaining that the Twins weren't spending money). They have spent money. We can applaud that. But like prospects that may or may not pan out, you can't be sure on money spent, too...as we have seen.