Rosterman

Sadly, we don't need to evaluate borderline starters. With Meyer, Gibson and May in the wings, you can pretty much say that such pieces as Deduno, Walters, DeVries are just minor league placesetters. Hernandez could be a cog in the rotation. Worley and Correia are around another year. You still have Hermsen treading water. If your starters are going 5 innings average, then you should do a 4-man rotation and add that other long relief guy. The Twins are sitting pretty good with multi-inning relievres right now - Swarzak, Duensing head the corps, with Roeincke and Pressly not far behind. Fien can throw more than an inning. If DeVries shows some spark, I would almost swap him out for Fien in the longrun (depending on the absolute need to add Wood or Perez to the roster). Just for protection. I would onl;y do six-man if you ahd lots of young hard-throwing rookies on the mound, say you started the year with Meyer, May, Gibson, Hendriks and a vet. But you would also need that extra body in the bullpen and weaken the bench by one.

Again, you have to put a value on players and where they fare in the franchise. Right now, the Twins have to make a major decision on Justin Morneau. Is he worth overpaying for because of his years as a Twin, will he take less to play here, or does he grab the first decent offer when he becomes free (a la Nathan, Baker). You never know. Is/was Cuddyer worth SIGNIFICANTLY more than Josh Willingham? I was more surprised that Cuddyer did sign for more after Willingham took less to be a Twin. Go figure. I still don't understand teams overpaying, in my eyes, for players like Lohse, Bourne and such. Shows that players are either (1) more well position to wait for what they want or, using Nathan as an example (and Correia, I guess) grabbing an offer that comes by that they like, rather than going back and saying ("Hey, I got this offer, will you consider doing more.") It has become less of a negotiation and bluff game, more of laying your cards out on the table right away and someone grabs it, or the player waiting until someone comes to their terms, at least on the above-average player scale. And we have to factor in all these lovely issues that us armchair guys don't do...needed time in the organization, current vs. future health, etc. etc. I would like to assume that the Twins,a s most major league teams, have a big mind chart looking at the organization today (now), 3 years out, five years out and all the "ifs and buts" that happen around that schedule.

At some point you take a risk on a proven stopper. ,Yet Grienke can get injured. Dickey shows he needs to pitch in the NL. Lohse needed spring training. Before we get overly excited...right now the Twins have two pitchers -- Diamond, still a "diamond in the rough" but shows a helluva a lot of promise, and Correria, who has come out of no where, but is not the long-term (2-3 years) need for the Twins. Pelfry and Worley are doing worse than expected. Hernandez and Hendriks have yet to grab hold. The Twins still have more of the same in the wings (DeVries, Walters, Deduno) and maybe a good-looking future (Gibson, Meyer, May, Hermsen). We can argue about not signing someone this year to longterm. Why waste a year and hope someone better or mores Twins worthy is out there in 2014, or 2015. We are all surprised by Correia. Hell, I'm surprised by Diamond...still.

Hernandez should hang around for a day or two, depending on who is called up...but the next start should by by DeVries with Gibson in the wings. Hernandez should stay in the Rochester rotation and get another shot, because he is elft-handed. At worse, he can be a potential longman. Now Casey Fien, who has options. Time to bring Tim Wood up for a looksee, and then if Wood doesn't pan out, take him of the 40-man and give a look to Perez. Does anyone cry out for the return of Liam?

I believe Mauer is best suited at #3. Of course, the Twins have NO #1 and #2. But let's still experiment with Dozier, maybe give Escobar more time. If I have a complaint of Gardenhire, it is usually line-up construction. Bat Hicks 9th. Have Morneau followed by Willingham (or vice versa). Okay, Gardy also leaves pitchers in a batter or two too long. And I get mad when he fields a totally unwinnable line-up some days giving everyone rest (why have Plouffe, Willingham and Morneau on the bench for a game).

Arcia and Hicks both need to see seasoning time. When Mastro returns, he may be a regular for a month or so. I see the bigger question being what to do with Morneau and do we stay with Parmelee as a stopgap, future guy.

Doesn't seem to be much in the way of Twins talk on K-Twin. They get Coomer on, but talk about so many non-Twins subjects, he might as well become a DJ there.

Plouffe is a place-setter, and if affordable, a bench warmer for his arbitration years. Sadly. Unless he clobbers the ball like he did last year for a month -- then trade him if he ever gets higher-than-replacement value.

Put him on the 60-day and add a centerfielder, now. Make it a rotating spot until someone produces.

If the Twins had a true DH, I would be comfortable with Doumit being the 30-40 game backup catcher. As it stands now he is an adequate DH and can shift into other positions, allowing those players to DH. But going into 2014, I would keep him purely as a bench player wqho can play C-1B-OF if Morneau is gone and we need Mauer and Parmelee to fill the 1B hole more often than not. I could almost live with, say, Herrmann as the second catcher and a bench guy.

Again, who knew that Mastro would turn up lame, Hicks would start the season limping, Benson would literally die, and the other candidates can't find a space on the 40-man, unless you bump bench bat Ramirez. Sign a free-agent? Maybe Juan Pierre, but the Twins didn't need to lock in a body for more than a year, otherwise, just keep one of the two you maybe traded,

I think the Twins will send Casey down, as he has that option, just so they can get a look at Wood, who thru thought highly of enough to put on the 40-man. Then it is just a matter of everyone playing to stay on the roster. Granted, someone would have to find a 40-man spot to grab Wood for the moment. There seems to be a lot of those out there, watching the Cubs and Toronto, and maybe someone like Houston. Just have to wait and see, I guess. Other question will be, does DeVries bump Hernandez.

If we didn't have Carroll, I would say Escobar is valuable as the backup, getting into partial games or subbing out at 2B and SS. So, let's get rid of Carroll, of play Escobar fulltime at shortstop. I would rather see Olmeda or anyone as another bench bat backup than Carroll, at the moment, unless we deep-six Florimon. I don't see Florimon as longterm Twin. i see Escoabr being a temp (like Florimon is, too) but hanging aorund for years ala Hocking and Reboulet as a backup who can also start multiple positions (as wella s be THAT third catcher!).

I am surprised, too. If anything, I would be playing him to add some value to him as a player as you never know when a team may need a temporary middle infielder with experience. His trade value would increase maybe just a tad. Otherwise, there is little need for him. Better to replace him with lower priced commodities like Olmeda or Sober in the minors, who pack a little more punch and could be a bench bat. Escobar has shown that he can play and is a comfortable replacement, at least at shortstop. I will praise the argument that it is always nice to have a veteran presence on the bench, but the Twins basically increased their coaching staff by a couple of names. And if I was going to have a vet presence, I would've signed Thome to be a DH/bench guy/presence...and maybe someone, again, like Rauch out in the bullpen.

You just aren't swapping replacement players in and out of the roster with waiver claims. Often the players on waivers are those that have no room in the current organization and thus become expendable. They are out of options, they are that 26th or 41st player. They might just need that opportunity somewhere else that their current team can't supply (see Sorrento and Garrett Jones, both former Twins,as example). If you have the roster flexibility, it is possible to take a flyer. Who knows. The Twins should be in a position where they can have 1-2 spots on the 40-man to rotate guys in an out. The downside of waiver claims is that you need to keep the guy, or he goes thru waivers again. But if he isn't producing, does it matter. And you may get lucky and be able to claim the guy, then designate him later for assignment and still keep him.

Charlie Leesman, who the Twins once drafted, is also available. Better than Caleb, perhaps.

DeVries

I'm an oldtimer. Loved Frank Quilici. Also had a softspot for Tom Hall. My alltime favorite was Cesar Tovar!

Okay, a guy is labeled as part of the team's future. His first job is to get regular time playing a position, not riding a bench. Hicks is getting his at-bats and lessons in the majors. He could be doing the same at Rochester. But right now, you can ask, would it be better if we had Benson or Boggs of Mastro playing everyday up here? Maybe sending Hicks down will allow him to more slowly work out the quirks he has seen as a leadoff hitter in the majors. Maybe he will just tee off on the influx of AAAA pitchers he faces there. The talent margin between the majors and the minors is big. In the minors you are either an up-and-coming prospect who will play regularly in the majors so you can get a nice pension, of the top guys on the minor league roster who end up being the 11th/12th pitcher in the bullpen or the bench reserves. If anything, I cry foul at the Twins line-up construction. Maybe Hicks needs to bat further down in the order and have the bench coach sit with him while he watches early at-bats by others (like be Revere did, perhaps). Maybe Mauer isn't a #2 hitter. But the Twins have no one to bat leadoff unless you want to put Escobar, Florimon, Carroll or Dozier in there at the moment. Mauer needs to advance runners and get on base. If he can advance a runner AND get on base, it makes the Willingham and Morneau atbats more valuable. Willingham as #3 isn't seeing much in the way of rbis at the moment. But back to Hicks. He is overmatched and should't be getting 4/5 at bats every inning right now. Let him pull back to the end of the order. Then move him to the 2 spot at some point. If he starts taking pitches not for strikes, then reconsider leadoff. But I vote let him take his bumps in this season and learn from the so-called major league coaching staff. If he's the future, let him jump in feet first!

Carroll is there. Is he better having around in case of injury or slump than, say, playing musical chairs with minor league guys. Right now, the Twins have no one to bring up if something happens, without making a 40-man roster decision. And whoever they bring up has to be around for the long haul or swapped out for another 40-man decision. I could see Jamey being swapped away and ridding yourself of some salary and the option if Dozier, Florimon and Escobar (and Plouffe) hold their own. Then the Twins can look at that Sober Rule 5 guy, or maybe Olmeda who offer a but more punch than, say, Carroll or the other middle infield options.

I like the concept of stealing bases as much as anyone. The bigger issue is getting a jump on a grounder or being able to go from first to third. A true basestealer is a singles hitter who then puts pressure on the pitcher on the mound which effects what he throws the next batter or two. Otherwise, base stealing is very selective. You have the chance to get hurt, or not accomplish much. Yes, I am sad Revere is gone...expect him to steal 100 bases some year, but who knows. Maybe it will be Hicks, who will pan out more like San with power. Maybe we have to wait for Buxton. Maybe Florimon or Escobar will take to the paths. Base stealing is more about the threat of stealing bases than actually doing it...most of the time.

The question also is access...so you can sit in primetime seats or have to sit where you have your ticket.

Place-holder.

The secret is to win series. Win series. Anyway you can.

The Twins have depth for the rotation, but still need a stopper. Maybe it will be Correia. Robertson is a one-batter pitcher. Maybe two. He succeeds or fails. But is a luxury, if you can afford it. The Twins can't, right now. DeVries either injured himself out of an opportunity, or can be a long-relief guy if the need arises. Right now, the Twins have Swarzak, Duensing, Roeincke and Pressly who can all go more than an inning. Fien is still questionable but has options. I think Mauer should stay in the three spot. He'll see more pitches before his at bat. He doesn't seem to be helping Hicks at the moment see better pitches. The question is, do you trust Dozier or Florimon or Escobar in that spot. I think it is time to say goodbye to Carroll. If he is just going to sit around, you can find someone else to do that. Why Mastro didn't open the season on the DL and you at least have a bat and runner there for a couple of weeks is beyond me. What is with the Twins playing nursemaid. Benson can shag flies, run bases, maybe even put a bat in his hand for a few weeks before going east again. At least we don't have to worry about Butera for awhile. Hendriks, so long, farewell.......Hernandez (like DeVries) shows that he can keep pitching after facing a jam.