Rosterman

Twins Turkeys: I, too, can't figure out why Molitor isn't a coach. He's good enough to be a roving instructor, but not to replace Ullger? Go figure. I am glad to see Vavra still around, but would rather see him as the bench coach. I can't blame Terry for the ill fortunes of the starting staff. The Twins started spring training with a rotation of Baker, Pavano, Blackburn, Liriano and Marquis. Easily would've pencilled 55-64 wins for the five. Except, they all went on the funk or got injured. We complain about he headcase of Liriano, but Blackburn had more downs than ups. Pavano broke down totally. Baker broke down period. Marquis had a rough spring training. Why he did a tad better in San Diego than Minnesota, well, at this point, sadly we paid his salary for most of the Padres victories. Diamond shined. Hendriks got his lumps but became victorious. Y'know, though...I wish we had put Terry Doyle in the far back of the bullpen rather than Gray or Maloney. A couple of those last minute 40-man roster additions eating up innings, and basically giving Zumaya an expensive looksee are the Ryan Turkey moves. The Twins sucky bench. Looking for a pinch-hitter and the choices are Mastro, Butera, the odd infielder out, or coming up short because someone was always nursing an injury. Sometimes I wish a roster spot was "wasted" for Thome, except he was injured a bit this year, too. The fan base. Support a winner, but Target Field IS NOT the draw. We all want great baseball, but the Twins did play half-way decently, getting men on base (but not home), showing some promise, and the atmosphere of the Target Field ballpark is still a joy. And considering you could get UNUSED SEASON TICKETS for as low as $10/5/1 for many a game......... All those season ticket sales, and unused tickets by holders, raised havok on the seats the Twins held back, which sat empty. At least the season ticket package for 2013 gives you 10% off concessions, and if you get a FULL PACKAGE, the possibility of paying outrageous prices for All-Star Game tickets. The biggest Twins Turkey? That dreaded 50% we hear about, based on projected income, or past income, never really know.

Be interesting to see what players Miami and Houston might grab. Sometimes you can find a gem, like Slama, as a team's 41st player. Could someone explain the rules to the minor league portion of the draft? And, yes, fewer and fewer teams can "stash"a player. I think the Twins may have wished that they had stashed Terry Doyle last season, though.

Far fro necessary. Go after Figgins or Inge instead, and that is pushing reality needs.

Yes, we all know that the Twins needed to jump the gun and blow away he competition. Maybe. Or players like Baker and Guthrie were just smart and grabbed at an offer early (ala Nathan in 2012). You don't have to overpay if everyone else blows their wad and there are still leftovers on the table. And there probably will be.

You make some excellent points, really, you do. Assuming the Twins do have a glut of talent that is just some AA and AAA ball away from making their starts in the major (remember, rookies always don't make an immediate impact -- point being I could very well see Gibson do something like 6-11 5.01 in 2013). But looking at our brothers in the Central, the Royals, they are in a position to at least offer an extension to Santana or flip him during the season, depending on their own play. Guthrie, if he has a halfway decent year, is still tradebait, even into the offseason, with an okay 2014 and a lesser 2015 contract. Extended contracts do not always work out as tradebait, but sometimes they do. It was a gamble I wish the Twins had taken, with, say Nathan last season. (My biggest grip about 2012 was that Pavano and Capps both brokedown and the Twins weren't able to flip them for even a B-level prospect, someone who MIGHT be a becnh player, backup catcher, or bullpen guy). What I do find msot interesting with you eval above is that the Twins do actually NOT have top-flight starters coming up. Besides Gibson and Hermsen, they might have Wimmers and Barrios. No one else really blows me away. (And did you all see that Bromberg signed with Pittsburgh, and will probably be given a chance to shine either as a starter or a bullpen guy).

They can still remove bodies, but from the original 32. I don't think Swarzak is a given (arbitration) and Drew Butera. Oliveros could be designated easily. Guerra could be run thru waivers. Once the Rule 5 happens, teams are less likely to claim a player. Surprised that the Twins have basically given up on Slama.

Five other guys: Butera, Swarzak both in arbitration. Tom Field is a so-so. Lester Oliveros is injured and out for most of 2013. Deolis Guerra could be gone. You could argue the need to keep Benson around. Is Mastro a real keeper? Hermann cold be outrighted. Sometimes it is easier to get guys thru once the Rule 5 happens and rosters fill up.

The Twins also have some dead weight that could still be removed as the winter progresses. You can't remove any of the 40-man adds except by trade, right, before spring training. Still on the bubble are such names as Guerra, Oliveros (injured), Swarzak (arbitration), Butera (necessary evil), Field (really, Benson (does he still have stock), Mastro (replaceable).Makes the Twins 32-man roster as of now look pretty pitiful, doesn't it. I'm also sure the Twins were contemplating Bigley, but not necessary. They could add Slama, which I would consider a given, just to keep him in the organization...still has at least one option year. I kept hearing Thielbar being talked up, but he disappointed in the AFL. Refreash the memory of how the Twins could lose guys in the min or league portion, and is that why protecting Salceo or Pugh might be important.

It's a poker game. Too often, don't see the Twins being aggressive, yet they did manage to sign Doumit and extend him for a reasonable contract, and got Willingham for much less than Cuddyer. But sometimes they play "best offer" hardball too much and too late with their own players. It is a carpshoot. Let the Twins spend $100 million more on three top-of-the-line starters and a couple of bats for next year....would they still runaway with the division? Who knows. It's more a fan thin g "where is the money I spend going towards putting a winning team, not just an entertaining team, or a competitive team, on the field." I still don't understand this 50% of revenue thing (which more people take note of now with the additional money coming in for TV....half goes to payroll and half goes where -- get TV a motorized trike?). It is such a fickle business. You have to evaluate new talent, you have to know when to trade old talent for equal or best value, you can't hang onto vets too long and get absolutely nothing. Those are the areas I would question more with the Twins than actual $$$$'s spent, most of the time. Last season, I have nothing against what they got for Liriano. He did nothing for the Sox and if the Twins want him, are actually in a better position to resign him. They threw away money on Zumaya and Marquis. The Toshi thing was an embarrasment, the Japan team basically got the Twins to pay his salary now for the next few years with the fee the Twins played. We don't know offers the Twins may have actually fielded for Morneau and Span. Maybe better stuff will come this winter, or mid-season...but those decisions have to be made before......the stinkers of Pavano and Capps, two chips that wasted payroll space, a draft choice, and not even bringing back a bucket of balls, but who knew. Spending money doesn't always solve the problems, getting the right players do.

Bonderman would be an interesting choice. I'm sure the Twins will offer plenty of opportunity to low-end free agents, looking for a chance to be a #3 or #4 starter on a team that is......is hungry. It's pretty much the Twins, Astros or Marlins that can guarantee innings and a chance to reprove themselves.

Yeah....they can dangle Hendriks who finally got a win. Someone might find Hermsen tantalizing. They have a grouping of outfielders, with Benson possibly being the wrong prospect out, but no one stepping into the fold next year.Dozier is a chip that wasn't overtly exciting for getting a 3/4ths shot at the Big Leagues, and Escobar is....well, replacement value. No catching. No corner infielders about A ball. Slama is a prize chip, but the Twins don't think so.

Scouting is important. But the amount of information that can be quickly obtained and kept on file and reviewed and the number of "guys" that physically watch a player mare obscene these days because of the amount of money that can be spent. You want lots of players, ut there is a pecking order for signing. Finding that "Kirby Puckett" is not so easy anymore. And, if you look at the Twins drafting in the past, maybe 3 guys a season from the draft class get a major league look. A couple more may find a home elsewhere. Maybe an additional 2-4 each season were scouted and traded or signed out of other organizations. Minor league coaches and such follow a program set by the major league team and carried from spring training thru winter ball. Development of players also depends on the home of minor league teams and the competition you face. Happily, the lower leagues do have age and time-served limitations. The ultimate factor is, though, it takes work.

Dinkelman, Deduno, Walters, etc. are also all available as Rule 5 daftees. Remember when we signed Dickey early and he was grabbed by the Mariners, only to come back to the Twins.

FROM THE TERRY RYAN YEARS, a bit before and after. What I find interesting in the names that played elsewhere. Plus, the players that the Twins have signed back later, either at the major or minor league level. And the names that never made it from the top of the draft lists...or may have been traded away (circa of late). Enjoy!!!! 1995: Mientiewicz, Mark Redman. Played elsewhere: Jeff Harris, Robert Ramsay, A.J. Hinch, Mike Moriarty. Duds: Jay Hood, Jason Bell. 1996: Jacque Jones, Chad Allen, Mike Ryan, Chad Moeller, Mike Lincoln. Played elsewhere: Travis Lee, Mike Lamb (signed him as free agent), Matt Kata, Jason Bard. Dud: Dan Cey. 1997: Michael Cuddyer, Mike Restovich, Matt LeCroy, JC Romero. Played elsewhere: Nick Punto, then traded for him. Dud: Greg Withelder (who?). 1998: Kevin Frederick, Tommy Watkins. Played elsewhere: Juan Padilla, Saul Rivera, J.J Putz, Kevin Thompson, Mike Gosling. Duds: Ryan Mills, Marcus Sents, Brent Hoard. 1999: Justin Morneau (a catcher), Rob Bowen, Willie Eyre, Travis Bowyer, Terry Tiffee. Played elsewhere: Brian Wolfe, Brian Slocum. Duds: B.J. Garbe, Jeff Randanzo, Brent Schoening. 2000: Adam Johnson, J.D. Durbin, Jason Miller, Josh Rabe, Jason Kubel. Played elsewhere: Paul Maholm, Daniel Davidson. Duds: Tagg Bozied, Colby Miller. 2001: Joe Mauer, Jose Morales, Nick Blackburn. Played elsewhere: Jason Vargas, Kevin Cameron, Matt Macri (though got him back). Duds: Scott Tyler, Angel Garcia. 2002: Denard Span, Jesse Crain, Pat Neshek. Played elsewhere: Clete Thomas (signed as free agent), Kyle Phillips, Adam Lind, Evan Meek, Jeff Clement, Garrett Mock. Duds: Mark Sauls, Alex Merricks, Ricky Barrett, Doug Deeds...remember T.J. Prunty? 2003: Scott Baker. Played elsewhere: Levale Speigner, Travis Metcalf, John Gaub, Steve Pearce, Mike Hollimon. Duds: Matt Moses, Johnny Woodward, David Shinskie, Erroll Simontisch, David Winfree, Eli Tintor. 2004: Trevor Plouffe, Kyle Waldrop, Glen Perkins, Anthony Swarzak, Matt Fox, Matt Tolbert. Duds: Jay Rainville, Eddie Morlan, Mark Robinson. 2005: Matt Garza, Kevin Slowey, Brian Duensing, Rene Tosoni, Alex Burnett. Played elsewhere: Yonder Alonso, Steve Tolleson, Dave Herndon. Duds: Pat Kelly, Drew Thompson, Hank Sanchez, Ryan Mullins, Erik Lis. 2006: Chris Parmelee, Joe Benson, Tyler Robertson, Brian Dinkelman, Danny Valencia, Jeff Manship, Anthony Slama. Played elsewhere: Andrew Olivier, J.D. Martinez, Duds: Whitney Robbins, Garrett Olson. 2007: Ben Revere. Played elsewhere: Mickey Storey. Questions: Danny Rams, Angel Morales, Reggie Williams. 2008: Possibles: Aaron Hicks, Bobby Lanighan. Gone elsewhere: Tyler Ladendorf, Shooter Hunt, Carlos Gutierrez. 2009: Brian Dozier, Chris Hermann. Possibles: Kyle Gibson. Gone elsewhere: Ben Tootle, Matt Bashore, Billy Bullock. 2010: Possibles: Alex Wimmers, Niko Goodrum. Gone: Pat Dean. 2011: Possibles: Levi Michael, Travis Harrison, Hudson Boyd, Madison Boar, Corey Williams.

It's a wonderful opportunity for Redmond. Many of us, even in Twinsville, looked at Redmond as maybe managing for another year or two and then advancing to a coaching job somewhere, and then being a manager. But he got a career boost. For players in Miami, it is not always as bad as it looks. Right now, Houston and Miami are two places that you could land and maybe revive your career (perfect stops for, say, a Liriano or a Young). You look at Pittsburgh (and maybe Kansas City). Garrett Jones has a career because of Pittsburgh, for example. And, in the scheme of things. someone has to lose in a 162-game season. What is almost as bad is fielding a $100 million team and coming in last place.

Not renewing season tickets. Will this keep me from getting into TwinsFest? I'm not sure if there will always be a lot of cheap tickets on StubHub in 2013, as that is a result of unused season tickets. The Twins, if they play better, will sell more tickets at face value, perhaps. Last year, they couldn't sell their own unsold tickets for most games as the stub-hubbers filled that need.

I agree. Over on SB Nation, one is taken aback, at times at pieces that do show they are humorous takes or fiction. But to have a blatant piece get billing as being legit, and even running on top of real news as it recently did, is just not right. I don't pay attention to all those other facts regarding the poster that you mention, but at some point...well, it is someone hurting the site as a whole in the long run.

Either pitcher would be great. If it was Buehrle, the Jays immediately sign Johnson to an extension. If the Twins could trade for Johnson, then resign him for an extension. You immediately save money. I actually think Morneau would find a new great home in Toronto.

I see Baker talking to the Twins and the Twins saying something like "$3.5 million with guarantees according to performance for maybe $1.5 million and a $250 buyout option on a $5 million contract for 2014." Like Nathan, take this as the Twins best offer and if someone offers more, grab it. Not a bad offer for Baker. If he does come out of the gate strong, the Cubbies can trade him, too...unless he breaks down like Garza. If he does bad.....well, you could've signed Jason Marquis.

Plus, we get two top of the rotation starters, largely keep everyone else intact, have room for Hendriks and Gibson in the back of the rotation. Next year, have to find another starter, can trade/lose Morneau and Span, contemplate replacing Willingham. Right now, the Twins roster (like the Marlins) sits at 32 players....20 whom are largely major league regular worthy. The Blue Jays sit at 40 before the trade, so they have to jettison some players (watch the waiver wire...Adam Lind available again?) It was a good way to fill the roster...and who says you can't turn around and trade ANY of those guys if it doesn't work this mid-season or the off-season.

Hummmm...who would the Twins have traded. Dozier, Blackburn, and what 5-6 prospects. Would a righty and lefty starter, a backup catcher, a shortstop, and a spare infielder have made the Twins more competitive?

I thought we had him locked up for 3 years. Which post is right?!

Just think what Francisco Liriano would be looking for if he had actually put together 8-10 really great starts for the White Sox instead of what he did.

The Twins could POSSIBLY be one or two years away from competing. Unless Torii got zlich in offers elsewhere, and this would basically be his good-bye tour, he'll sign elsewhere. His numbers have been consistent enough that he should find a nice 2-year contract with an option for a third year. The Twins current status of being competitive is what will hurt them. They HAVE TO sign some pitchers, make a decision on Willingham/Span/Revere (quickly) and then continue to fill in the blanks. Until they have someone more worthy than just Diamond pencilled into the rotation, they aren't a prime candidate to attract talent....really. I ask that question again: Why would you want to play for the Twins, today, right now, compared to anywhere else?

It's the time of the season to also sign up AAAA guys. There are lots out there and only so many 40-man roster spots.