Rosterman

The reincarnation of Carlos Silva. If you truly have the best fielding team, mainly. But he does give up the long-ball, too. Everyone ahs to be on when he pitches. And if he's just giving you five innings, you can find junkballers to do that any old day. Cut the bugger. Take the salary hit this year. Let him Mike Lamb himself thru baseball with other teams. You ate Marquis. You can eat Blackburn. Get him off the roster if nothing else.

The Twins have to be blown away with an offer for Morneau, Span, even Capps or Willingham. The question is Liriano. They HAVE to trade him as they won't arbitrate, which means no draft choice. Getting rid of Pavano will bring a minor league player with some known upside...if he gets healthy. I'm sure EVERY contending team is looking at the Twins roster. How it all plays out depends on who and what other teams are dumping.

If you look at Blackburn, it's nice that you can get only 5 innings with 4 runs given up out of him. Liriano is going a bit longer and giving up less runs. Diamond is basically a 3-4 run starter and also has the ability to go 7-8 innings. So, if the Twins score 5+ runs, they have a chance to win when these three guy pitch. But the remaining two spots are a total mess. I disagree making Duensing a starter. He turns into...Anthony Swarzak. Both these guys are best served in the bullpen, with Swarzak on the cusp of staying a Twin, period. But no one else has stepped up as the long righty. Manship isn't there.Maybe DeVries will be the guy eventually. But the Twins need starters. Run the shuttle bus between Rochester and here. They have two roster spots still open. Give a shot to French. Give a shot to Deduno (or is he also disabled). Maybe look at Hermsen or Hirschfield. Start their service time. And why haven't they claimed Bowden, Hamburger or any of a number of other guys getting cut loose and given them a chance at pitching like they gave Thomas and Kamatsu and even Mastro in the outfield, or Burroughs at third. If you get them to work, you keep them. If they don't work...you send them off to be cl aimed by someone else or actually get to keep them for a tad more seasoning in the minors.

I would bring in Coomer, before Hatcher. I actually would like to see Stele (love the guy) retire and someone else replace Ullger. I keep hoping someone will offer Ullger a short-term managing job just to get him elsewhere. Watch Rochester...the Twins may be grooming a full slate to move up from there, with also names like Jeff Smith, Jake Mauer and Tommy Watkins considered for coaching jobs if the Twins make a big change.....

It's been a tough 25 days since my last post for good old Deolis. He went from being in prime consideration for a call-up, a position magnified greatly with Slama, Gutierrez and Oliveros all going on the DL, to just a work-in-progress that still needs watching. The Twins continue to stretch him out as a reliever. In his past 9 bullpen appearances he pitched two innings almost 5 times and three innings once. But in those 9 appearance he only had two perfect outings, getting lit up in 7 of them including one where all three batters were walked and scored. 9 games, 16.1 innings, 19 hits and 15 runs (all earned). He walked 7, struck out 16, gave up three homers and took one loss. Considering the battering the Rochester rotation took the past week+, pitching is a watch-wait-hope life in Rochester NY. He is still on the Twins radar, but probably won't see any action until September, unless other arms (Waldrop for one) go down.

Issue #1, additional cost. Issue #2, actual playing time. More guys would be sitting around having less that 100 at bats and 40 innings pitched, only they'd be on a roster for a full year. Difference between old days and now -- players did play a lot more. Relief pitchers did multiple innings. You had the spot starter/relief pitcher. Maybe a starter would come back and do an inning or so a few times on his throwing day if necessary. Remember in the 50s/60s where bonus babies HAD to be carried on a roster (shades of Rule 5 now) and msot did little but learn by sitting on the bench. Right now, you can get a replacement player up and on the field in less than 24 hours. Another item of interest is the AAAA players. Looking over real old AAA rosters (go to baseballreference and look up the Twins stuff in the 60s), pretty much everyone who played in AAA was assured of making the big leagues or had played in the bug leagues at some time. We seem to get fewer former big league players hanging on in the minors -- must be the drop from a million-dollar salary to whatever AAA pays on the whole. In the old days, the difference wasn't as great. But to 30-man rosters - NO. You basically have a pinch runner, a third catcher, a wily-old vet to mop up innings, a total pinch-hitter, and an all-around utility player to backup the bench that yo already have. It's bad enough that a team needs more than 11 pitchers now because of the lack of guys who jsut get into the sixth inning. But wait, second thought -- and the Union would love this -- from hereon out no starter has to throw more than 100 pitches, a relief pitcher is a short reliever (24 pitches) or long relief (55 pitches) and their role is established out of spring training. A player must be replaced in the line-up if he bats five times. No infielder is allowed more than 15 chances or outfielder more than 9 chances of touching a baseball before being replaced by another player. And no single catcher is allowed to catch more than 2-days in a role, and if the team is willing, each starte can have their own personal catcher.

I would just acquire a left handed starter and keep Duensing in the Bullpen. Baker will not take a one year deal when he has an option that would pay him more. He will see what multi-year deal someone else might offer before coming back to the Twins for a match. Who knows, he might not get one. But he is a good enough pitcher that I would offer him 2 years with a third option -- the question I throw out is how much?

You sometimes fine life with a struggling team. Although not a great player, he is a great piece in the overall structure of the Pirates 25-man roster. He was that 26th/27th player on the Twins team that needed a new home and ... a chance.

He just needs to work on the walks, and chopping or bunting the ball more. Under the impression that he basically wants to steal a base a game, or everytime he is on base. He can cover ground, and wonder how many Willingham misplayed balls he would've recovered or caught. With all the talk about Span, well, at least he is consistent, but he is no Torii Hunter. Maybe he takes more piitches than any other Twin as the leadoff hitter...getting on base, but not necessarily via the bat. Like Carlos Gomez, Revere is a joy to watch. Gomez needed more seasoning, it still shows, but Revere is the real thing. You can find a place for him in the line-up, as long as he isn't redundant. Right now, there isn't much of a difference between him and Span. It would be nice to have an outfielder with a bit more punch. The Twins don't need 4 players (2B, SS, CF, RF) basically being singles hitters with some speed going from first to third. Sure, if they all hit .280+, you can be forgiven...but you need punch from at least two of those positions (someone who can hit the long sacrifice fly, or just good solid line drives, not to mention a more than occasional homer. There is hope that Benson would be of a Cuddyer bat in the outfield, and that Hicks would be a triple threat, giving the Twins a well-rounded outfield until the next batch offers some push (Buxton, Arcia, Morales t al). I'm happy for Revere. He listens. He works. I think he will continue to do so because he want a long major major league career -- and hopefully a plcae with Twins history. 90 stolen base! Yes!

People forget that Capps is still young. He is a proven closer and has a very affordable extension. So he is great trade bait. Burton and Perkins are still JUST relief pitchers. No one would be trading them to be an immediate closer. Even come next season, most teams have their own idea of a closer-in-training, why would they overpay for someone from the Twins. Both Perkins and Burton are undervalued important pieces of near future bullpens. Until they reach closer status, they will just be bullpen guys in par with Crain and Guerrier, both potential closer material but still in the bullpen two years into their higher-priced contracts. When you trade a solid relief pitcher, you can expect a salary savings and a comparable young prospect who may or may not pan out (remember Twins trading Mulvey for Rauch, for example). Again, Perkins gets worth IF he is named and performs as a closer. Same with Burton. At this point, if Burton shows stuff, make him closer until he itches out of it. Or he may become a gem.

I'll have to follow this Olney guy more closely. I didn't see this coming at all. I never thought it might come to trading players...what happened to buying them outright or filling the staff with 4th and 5th starter candidates from the sludges of AAAAers. I'm glad to read that Terry Ryan recognizes the Twins need, too, in this category. Thanks for asking Terry that question, Olney!

I don't really see the Twins adding Hicks or Hermsen to the roster for September. No matter how well they are doing there...UNLESS the Twins do a major housecleaning and trade away Pavano, Blackburn, Capps, Morneau, Span and others and are sitting at like 8 open spots on the 40-man. I always find construction of the 40-man interesting. You need a few bodies at the end of the season that can be removed if you add players later on...since the guys you add in November you have to carry thru spring training (I believe). No instant add then drop. It's tough being a GM, wondering about 40-man roster time, service time and such, in the midst of thinking of the future. You don't want ALL your young players hitting arbitration or free agency at the same time. Arcia more than likely will see some time because of being on the 40-man. Will he fast track ahead of Benson, Hicks, Tosoni...now.....

Baker will more than likely be cut, because he has the option year bargaining chip. Then it becomes anything goes. Who is the first person to offer him a multi-year contract at what price. If the Twins could sign him for 2-years for $10 mil and an option year, I might say yes. If Pavano can pitch, he might be worth an option with incentives. Will be interesting to see if he does end up anywheres comes August. You can put a lot of $$$ into a first class starter if (A) He wants to come here which means ( You better have an overall competitive team on paper. I don't see that happening. This was the year the Twins needed to invest, perhaps, another $20 million and if were right, could've would've competed in the division (weak division) except no one, and I mean no one expected the starting staff to fall to shambles. Would they be better with Francis o Maholm or any of he other names bandied around? If they had purchased just one $15-2o million star player for this year, would he be making a difference right now? Interesting about Bard. I don't see him going high (the Twins seem to have taken a high gamble on him, classified mainly as a reliever). It would fascinating to ead a story about what goes on in the minds of draftees sometimes.

DeVries is on the 40-man. There are currently two open spots. But then a position player or a eliever would have to go, too (Gray, Manship, Oliveros or Parmelee). I'd say French be placed in the mix nest.

What are the chances of Liriano signing a reduced contact with the Twins when he his free agency. Nil. I doubt the Twins will offer arbitration, which would put Liriano into the $8 mil range. That is also the downside to any team signing him...they need to sign him to something longterm. If they don't do that, they have to offer arbitration. Capps has a nice option year for 2013. He is very viable if a team is looking for a closer, beyond this year. Doumit...no one knows. He signed a one-year with the Twins for a reasonable rate. Is he looking to be a fulltime catcher, play somewhere as a DH -- he is not a first baseman or an outfielder. Tough call. How much will he demand. If the Twins can tie him up, more power to him, but they may be better served sticking with Butera and Hermann over the near future and getting a viable DH that can actually play another position on the field. Blackburn ash to pitch more than 5 innings and give up fewer runs. He;s Carlos Silva all over again. Nol one will want his contract, sorry. Casilla, Valencia...don't see them as future Twins beause of salary and attitude. And what can the Twins do with Toshi...the $3 mil embarassment. There is no room for him at Target Field, is there?

Two questions: What minor league free agents are on the bubble? And if someone goes up, someone must go down or be released (or disabled).

The thought of anyone of worth wanting to sign with the Twins being predictable is a pipe dream. That said, I see you deep-six Casilla, who I thonk will be gone, too. I picture Plouffe maybe being the third baseman of the future. The Twins have to figure out what to do with Valencia and the Japanese kid. The Twins do have bullpen depth, even Manship, Slama and Waldrop are around, as is Carlos Gutierrez and a couple of otehr names. The question is who is the 5th starter (Walters or DeVries or Bromberg). Gibson will still be a mid-season guy, if the Twins are lucky, and may be the 5th staretr with a late season callup. B.J. Hermsen might make the jump. But if the Twins want a free agent body, they have to make an overwhelming offer early and hope...similar to what they did with Carroll and the Rangers did with Nathan, to land even the guys you talked about. Valencia and Blackburn may both be untradable.

That's right, David West was the stud, the true prize pf that supposed deal. He was given every chance in hell, and didn't materialize. I still like the remembrances of all the names thrown out in Santana deals. Yankees" Hughes, Melky, Kennedy a PTBNL. Boston: Lester, Crisp, Masterson, Lowrie and Bowden. But the Twins had a hard-on for Ellsbury, When one trades for prospects, one team gets the player they need right now for that season to put them over the top. The other team may get a prize or two or three who are blocked in the system (Ramos was expendable because of Mauer, for example).

The Twins can offer him arbitration and thus have to sign him for an agreed upon amount. He is not a free agent, unless the Twins don't offer arbitration. They still have one more year of control. Gray, if waivered, would have to be claimed and kept on the 50-man roster of a team (and the 25 for now). Not sure if he can refuse a minor league assignment and become a free agent if not claimed. Doubtful. Would be like Maloney. Slama is on the DL. That could hurt any immediate chances with the Twins. Nothing like bringing a guy up from the kinors and then him being injured and getting paid major league money for sitting around. Oliveros is probably higher on the list than Guerra, still. Anyone worrying about the absolute need for Swarzak if you can have a choice between him, Manship, and say DeVries?

So, the Twins passed on him....... Man, usually they like going after former draftees (Thomas, Hollimon, Fultz, etc.....)

It is fun to go to baseballreference and just follow the different draft years, yet alone the minor league rosters of a team, and how few players advance on the course to the majors. The Twins seems to be in the 7-10 range for guys that make the major (not the Twins). But interesting to look at, like, the A rosters of the Snappers and how few make it thru to the show.

Which is why the Twins are better off trading any of the potential free agents (Capps isn't, he has an option year). The Twins won't go to arbitration with Pavano or Liriano. They could with Doumit...he will be looking for a multi-year, I imagine.

Doyle was just so wretched. You'd think, though, they could've buried him for a month or so. You just never know. Who did we keep instead of him and what happened to his 40-man spot. I mean - Doyle or Maloney. Based on spring...well........

Credit? Well. some players. They have gotten their chance and are making the most of it. Many realize this may be their only chance to score a major league contract and if they play good this year, they get at least one more next year. The flipside is a few players who are being paid good or big money. Why do they have to listen, change, adapt. It's still coming in, at least for awhile. Maybe THEY will play better when they get hungry again. So I give it all to the players, from the new arms in the bullpen salvaging a career, to the hopefuls in Rochester who come up, go back down and learn, and then come back up, to the many that do play but because of lineup construction or not knowing where they are playing today, do the best they can. I blame the front office for long giving the illusion that only fielding a competitive team will satisfy the fans, the coaches for not being able to adapt themselves to others and spreading the "we are a team spirit" to those who may need a little more "we" than "me", and us fans who were sold on the idea of Target Field is baseball. No, the food and games and other stuff is indy league puff. I go to watch players play to the bst of their abilities and compete -- win or lose, they have to be seen as enjoying being a part of the game. Again, the players who are being given a golden opportunity to shine and hone their skills get the credit. They want to play this game -- today and tomorrow!

A coach can only do so much. You have to want to change, and be able to change (or try new things). They can mess with technical stuff, but the mental is always there. Some players are coachable, by certain people. Which is why you do have a variety of guys around, especially on a major league team, and folks you can call upon (like Carew, Oliva, Hrbek, good ol' Killebrew, Molitor) for certain players. Plus, always nice to have a few crusty vets around, especially in the pitching department, to just show how things are done and offer encouragement. But sometimes coaches have to be flexible, too -- and I seem to be reading a lot of opinions about pitching and hitting being one-way in the Twins organization, especially in the majors.