Rosterman

Short bench, so the Twins did the Polanco call. It might be more than one day, you never can tell. It was amazing the way the Twins scored runs and knocked in batters. If you remember, the last couple of seasons they would ete men on base, but couldn't get them home (similar to stranding Escobar on third the other day with no outs). The team lacks speed. They lack a lineup built around guys who can either ground ball the ball or do a long fly at the crucial time. I would love to see Dozier NOT leda off. I'm not sure Mauer needs to keep the third spot for life (make him 5th or 6th, Hunter in the third). Can they eventually find a cleanup hitter in Arcia or Vargas? Suzuki...I want to see Pinto in there so bad. Can Hicks do anything exceptional at the plate...take a walk? Can he steal a base. Can he bunt the ball, beat out a grounder. He ahs 4th outfielder written all about him. If they can get the shortstop position settled, something may materialize at the top or bottom of the order. Plouffe is okay. He has streaks, He hits some home runs. He's a .250 hitter with adequate power and decent glove, but unless he has a truly breakout season, he won't be in line for big bucks anywhere...or switch to the outfield nd become the next michael Cuddyer.

If you are complaining about Boyer, than complain about Thompson. Their newness may be wearing down, but they still got a few more weeks or the season left in them. Duensing can be replaced by Thielbar or even Darnell. Why is Stauffer around. If you aren't going to use a pitcher, don't give them a roster spot. Okay, you can have one backend spot if your bullpen is halfway decent and set up to work, and that is Graham. I would run Achter out there again before Tonkin. And you have to give Oliveros another EXTENDED chance.

A bench of Pinto, Nunez, Arcia/Vargas and I can live with Robinson/Schafer for now. Trade out Escobar for Nunez when you find a shortstop.

I was discussing with my wife today after the Twins victory that a couple more fine starts by Pelfrey and he should have pretty good stock coming back in a trade to another team. She chastised me about why would you trade your best starter. Of course, he's a free agent at season's end and Mike will be able to turn that into a nice 2-3-4 year extension at a rate more than the Twins might pay. If we keep him, we just add to his worth with little or no return. We have too many starters and I doubt that santana, Hughes and Nolasco are going anywheres. So, guys not around in 2016. Tommy Milton will go to arbitration again. Depending on the Twins need for a lefty, and what he shows the remainder of the year, it is 50-50 that he will stay. Kyle Gibson COULD be on the bubble. He is a nice trade chip if the Twins get something that will fill a whole in return. The bullpen is full of a bunch of also rans. Fien would be highly tradable. He has been consistent. Aaron Thompson and Caleb Thielbar will be around because they still have control and throw lefthanded. Duensing will be gone. Logan Darnell won't be protected. No to Tim Stauffer. The other names will stay in the organization if they pass thru waivers. A couple would be six-year free agents (Oliveros for example) and could leave. If Chris Herrmann is removed from the 40-man, he will see work elsewhere. Suzuki still has anotehr contract year. Considering we aren't giving Pinto any rhythms behind the plate 1/3 of the way into the season, someone would have to blow the Twins away with an offer if he was to leave this summer. Considering no one did it last year. Be interesting to see who the Eric Fryer of 2016 will be. Nunez is gone. Bernier should become an organization coach. The Twins have to consider the cost of Plouffe and Escobar and if they shall remain longterm with the organization, continue to be space fillers, or what. Daniel Santana is interesting. I never considered him the shortstop of the future and he now runs the risk of being jumped by Polanco, or will be jumped at some point by Nick Gordon. Schafer and Robinson will both be gone. At worst, Hicks will be the forth outfielder. The Twins could always entertain offers on Arcia, Vargas or even Rosario. Rosario they have to look at like they did Santana. Give him another year and have him tank, trade him as a prime prospect for a hole in the organization, or hope is becomes a permanent part of the outfield which could be crowded with the likes of Walker, Kepler, and the return of Torii Hunter in 2016. The Twins have to make a decision on Kepler and his worth to the organization. Pretty much anyone of the above mentioned as not being around in 2016 could be jettisoned this season and replaced by a prospect.

All will be well when Jordan Schafer returns. And, bring back Thielbar!

Not all pitchers walk onto a major league mound and are great from the start. It is the problem you have with prospects in general, they might need a bit of seasoning, they may have a sophomore slump, they need to go back-and-forth a bit. At some point you know what you have. Did we see Gibson being Gibson last year. No. He may be the next Carlos Silva, but right now, he is wonderful. Hughes will come back to earth. May is learning the difference between minor league hotdog and major league hamburger. It is first and foremost having the tools. The it is using the tools in the right way (which is harder on the major league level with the talent you face and video). And, overall, you have to keep your head straight. We see guys work their butts off everyday to stay in the majors. We see folks like Delmon Young, who has all the talent in the world and can play major league ball with his eyes closed...and sadly, he does. You have 4-skill prospects that just can't make the jump (Joe Benson, Adam Johnson, J.D. The Real Deal" Durbin). Guys you hear are dynamite and never hear from them ever (Matt Moses). Some may settle into that 3rd-4th starter role, that setup man, that all-around utility guy. But the skills you need to be on a major league team mean you are heads-and-shoulders above most everyone else at the AAA level, and just think how much better those guys are than your average collegiate player, or high schooler. Right now the Twins are doing it as a team. No one is running away with any of the statistical categories in batting or pitching, the fielding is average, overall there is nothing really special about the team except that they play the game and stay in the game and there is a unity that you get (call it the Hunter Power) when you watch them not only play ball The Twins Way but still have fun coming to the ballpark.

Arcia could be a booming bat like the long departed David Ortiz. He could also become too expensive and a liability with no place to play and the Twins let him go and he shines elsewhere. He has youth on his side, but others are in the pipeline - Adam Walker for one. Where does Kepler and the Twins investment in him fit into the picture. What happens if Hunter is around for another season. Can Vargas have enough value to be a trade chip if he can actually play first base? The other big question is what to do with Sano. With a rotation that is stacked with contracts and too many for sure young arms in the wings, the Twins will have some wheeling-and-dealing efforts that would put any general manager to shame - veterans to move for more prospects, prospects to move for a temporary fix. The farm system is loaded in many ways and you only have a few years to play with the pieces and a couple of years to develop them in the majors to establish worth. Arcia is one that could be very valuable sooner rather than later.

Arcia will be the first back and as long as Rosario and Hicks perform, he can DH. Then Vargas will get the call at some point when the Twins decide to also promote Pinto and do something with Herrmann and Nunez. Oh, when did TC Bear get added to the 25-man roster?

It's not like Danny was tearing up AAA in 2014. It was a fluke that he came up, was installed in centerfield when the Twins had NO outfield prospects on the 40-man, and he ran with it and excelled. The other plus was that Escobar ran with playing short and excelled. Danny may never be as good as he was in 2014. He was exceptional. He was out of position. But did he really have a position with the Twins. Where was he truly ranked in their longterm prospect structure. We keep going with Escobar. Yes, a vet over a prospect. Hope Polanco can get some facetime still this year in the majors. Bring back Danny as a reserve...the next...Escobar.

Santana played well last season and was a lead-off guy we could like, and was in centerfield.I don't think he is the shortstop of the future. He is a place-setter. At most, the Twins need him to show value so he can become a tradechip. The shortstop of the future is Nick Gordon. Before him, we might find time for Polanco, but Polanco may be better served being the next...Escobar. Yes, Escobar has no business being the leftfielder or batting DH. At the worst, we have Nunez or Herrmann being the DH. We have Rosario right now. Hicks is tumbling thru centerfield not making the most of his opportunity. We have two guys, Robinson and Schafer, who will force a roster decision. When Arcia comes back, make him DH who COULD also play the outfield. At some point, we add back in Vargas as backup at 1B and a bench bat, or a DH perhaps when Arcia plays the outfield. RIght now, we have no DH, we have an inconsistent outfield (still) and we suffer at catcher. We have too many shortstops, but no one taking charge. Amazing that we are where we are in the standings. Again, the twins can be put down by solid pitching. They could've lost a simiiar game to Boston last week, but didn't. Tomorrow's double-header will be a tell about the real state of our offense and who plays where (and who plays where they shouldn't). Yes, Pinto needs to finally come north, too!

Experienced starters thrive on the five-man rotation. You may use a sixth at certain times, when games start to bunch up (or like the upcoming double-header), but if you have short starts, you have an overtaxed bullpen. Better to make a guy long relief (like Duensing was, Schaffer should be and Graham better be).

So, is it better to have a deoo bullpen or another bench player for Wednesday!

I'm just confused about why Stauffer didn't pitch in any of the big lead games, too. And sending Tonkin down (as well as someone else) means someone on the Rochester roster has to move on or out. We know Pressly is on the bubble, but at some point I would rather see the future remain with options still to call up from the minors, and clear some 40-man roster spots, which can easily happen from any number of names like Stauffer, Schafer, Duensing, Bernier and even Herrmann. I can easily name a minor league guy to replace each of those names. I'll give Duensing a little more lease...but, jeez....why hasn't Stauffer pitched and why are we keeping 13 guys. Can't even find innings for Graham!

It's like when you suspend a player 3, 5, 7 games. A batter misses 7 games. A starting pitcher misses two games at the most. A reliever might miss 3-4 games.

Who is not on the 40-man come 2016: Darnell, Duensing, Milone, pelfrey, Stauffer, Thielbar, Herrmann, Bernier, Nunez, Hunter, Schafer, Robinson. Questionable could be such names as: Achter, Boyer, Fien, Pressly, Thompson, Tonkin, Wheeler, Suzucki, Polanco, Santana, Escobar, Kepler, Hicks, Arcia, Rosario. By questionable, guys that might not be offered arbitration, could be traded or non-tendered. There's a good chance that ALL the questionable names will still be Twins in 2014. Depends on what non-40-man guys get a call this season: Berrios, Buxton, Stewart, Burdi, Jones et al. You can bet that the Twins WON'T call up anyone not on the 40-man if they really don't have to add them before November, or even sometime next year. That's the way they tend to do business. + players that could be tradebait. Assuming you are getting something more back than prospects. They could trade Nolasco, or even Gibson, for prospects as the season wears on, too.So, in my estimation, the Twins have a solid 25. How many names do the Twins HAVE TO ADD to the 40-man come November. 8, 10, 12? Who will be minor league free agents. Who would be grabbed (shades of Sean Gilmartin) and kept on a roster all year -- Harrison, Michael, Turner, Wheeler, Rogers, Darnell? It ain't easy being a general manager. Yes, would the Twins benefit doing a monster trade with Philadelphia for Hamels, and Howard and maybe Revere. Could they give up Gibson and Hicks and Vargas with people like Stewart and Berrios and Walker and Kepler in the wings. Do they also have to include 1-2-3 prospects like a Kepler or a Polanco or a Michael or a Stewart or a Chargoiis. Are we benefitting that much with veterans who are oevr-the-hill expensive sluggers (Howard) and a rental (Revere) and an expensive arm that is a prime starter as long as healthy (Hamels). Yes. But do we need to do this, I say NO!

D.J. Baxendale - with another team Jose Berrios - Twins Starter Madison Boer - callup Nick Burdi - Bullpen regular Dallas Gallant - callup David Hurlbut - callup Cole Johnson - never D.J. Johnson - never Zack Jones - - bullpen regular Greg Peavey - never Jake Reed - bullpen regular Adrian Salcedo (suspended) - with another team Tim Shibuya - with another team Alex Wimmers - never Carlos Paulino - never Jairo Rodriguez - backup catcher Stuart Turner - starting catcher/dh Mike Gonzales - callup for another team Dalton Hicks - callup Heiker Meneses - never Levi Michael - backup Jorge Polanco - regular on another team Miguel Sano - regular at 3B or OF Stephen Wickens - with another team Byron Buxton - regular in center Travis Harrison - backup Max Kepler - backup Adam Brett Walker II - bench

Plus you have prospects on the roster like Hicks, Kepler, Santana, Pinto, Arcia, Rosario that could be trade chips with some showcase experience.

Would the Dodgers have interest in Nolasco? Return him to the National League. Look at the bigger picture. What starters will be dangled out there for teams to add/upgrade. Who might be too expensive (prospect wise) like Hamels. The Twins might find a taker for Noalsco, or Pelfrey or someone. Remember, we have Santana coming back. We have Milone and a couple of 5th guys in the minors. We may have Berrios as earlya s next season. Where do we put these guys? Is Gibson the one you dangle. Is May the one you work to dangle next year?

Now have to figure out the Rally Call to get people to come to the games en masses and fill those 15,000 empty seats. I contend that the division is a lot tighter than most people think. The difference in a lot of games will basically be a run or two, which means an error or a bad start can kill the game for any team, as in baseball as a whole. Offensively, the Twins have been consistent with no standouts. They might have trouble against a team's ace, and on paper have no shutdown pitcher themselves. The bullpen is inconsistent but full of bodies. Their lack of wins against Detroit is a tell, but we have to hope that they can take series from the other division. It will be an interesting year. Coming off a nice week of long starts from the rotation ash to be a plus. What makes the season even mroe exciting is that the players have to produce, or there is someone waiting to replace them. Danny Santana can be cycled out for awhile by Escobar right now. Vargas is down in the minors and Nunez (and maybe Herrmann) will get his at bats. Aaron Hicks has the job if he can keep it. Rosario knows what he has to work on and Arcia needs to listen and play well, or else there's another flip-flop. The only drawback is 40-man roster construction. You release guys (Duensing, Stauffer) and they don't come back (is that good or bad). At least when youc an option a guy out, they can develop more and come back. But for every name not on the roster, someone has to be moved...sometimes out of the organization. Again, win or lose, the Twins should be giving every player that has a chance to be a part of 2016 the opportunity to learn and shine in 2015, in the very least (minor league work warranting). Those players not expected to be around in 2016 should be moved at the first chance that something of value if offered, or at some point pull the plug and eat the salary. 42 games down. Let's play another 40 and see where we are!

The outfield is so weak....not counting the resurgeance of Hunter. There's promise, but Hicks could still end up being a solid fielding fourth outfielder when all is said and done. Rosario, Arcia, Kepler and Buxton, not to mention Walker, and maybe Sano. Where will that leave Hicks, coming up on arbitration and no more minor league options.

It's a patchwork and could easily see the Twins run 20 pitchers thru the bullpen before the season is over, and that is good...or really bad...depending who the final 7 are.

Time will tell on tradable chips. It also works against you if you have too many riches. Remember, Santana is coming back and we need a rotation spot for him. If Pelfrey and Nolasco can keep up their pace, there could be trade interest. But the twins aren't necessarily sellers when they are winning. Milone needs to show his worth at the major league level. If you cut guys like Duensing, Stauffer, Schafer, Nunez...no one would pick them up. They would pass thru waivers and have the option of reporting to the minors or trying to find work with another team, which could possibly not happen, even with a minor league contract (Doug Bernier also has to go thru waivers to get off the 40-man). Oliveros is interesting. I was under the impression that he was somewhat injured, or behind, at the close of spring training, and nobody really wanted to give a 40-man space for him at that time. He throws hard. He just has to find a place in the bullpen where he will thrive. That the Twins have Achter, Tonkin, Thielbar, Pressly, Darnell alone on the roster is depth...although non of then are longterm, but none are necessarily in demand. Kinda good guys to have to pave the way for others. And Boyer, might be another Guerrier or Burton or even Fien. Fien might be the only bullpen guy that could garner worth as the summer continues, if he can be marketed as a closer in waiting. But, yes, who goes to make room for Santana.

You wonder about moving him back to AA for a spell, perhaps. The Twins still have three years for him to make a crack at the major league rotation, assuming everyone and their mother doesn't pass him by. Of course, you keep him at Rochester to keep him working with the system there, perhaps, and also the bullpen (until the Twins jettison a couple of guys back there) is showing some weakness. Can he be injured? Is that a worry?

May to the bullpen, if nothing else. And keep marketing Pelfrey every good start he gives you - he's not coming back for sure in 2016 and if we can get soemthing for him, to make up for what we have gotten out of him the past two years, the Twins should do so...thus freeing that spot. May coud be a solid long guy in the pen. Do we say goodbye to Duensing? How much leash does Stauffer have? Is Boyer the real thing (he is for now, so he is untouchable). But the Twins still need to make a couple of bullpen moves anyways. If we consider Duensing, Tonkin and Pressly as dead weight better sent elsewhere, what does that say about the state of the guys replacing them?

Ultimately Plouffe will be too expensive for the Twins, or too expensive to gamble on longterm. So at some point, the Twins have to be prepared to sell high, rather than wait for him to cool, or walk. Sano is the future? But maybe he isn't. Maybe he is better suited for the outfield. Maybe the Twins will have to switch Dozier to third to make room for other bodies in the battles for second/short. Mauer isn't going anywhere, and although Plouffe could transition into an outfielder who can also play other positions, the Twins may be outfield heavy come 2016. It has been a long road and ride for Trevor. He was often overmatched in his climb thru the system, always younger than contemporaries. He was a shortstop, but proved to big for the role. He had to learn third,a s well as withstand major league hitting. He bounces around the lineup and is known for being either hot or cold at the plate. You think he might have that super breakout year, this year, next. A year that if it happens at the right time could pay him big dividends, but doubt that the Twins will or would bite.