Rosterman

#1 - The lack of a closer. You don't win championship with closer-by-committee. Add in the fact that you are going to pitch starters only five innings for most of the season, you better have a solid bullpen pipeline plan. For some reason, the Twins didn't feel Rogers would be the closer, or they felt whatever $$$ was too much for a lefty set-up guy. The fact that they sent along the salary cash to San Diego totally confused me. On paper, this was a plus trade: Paddack was supposed to be a part of the rotation, albeit another guy who would probably be carefully used to get 30 starts and 150 innings. We are getting neither. Pagan was a gamble (like Colome last year). Okay if you aren't winning games and need a closer. But to rely on him for saves - forget it. Siging a Smith is okay for a moment, hoping to change him out at midseason. #2 - Sano. One expected anything from him that was more than what the Twins got. In his potential "walk" season, or option season, he became deadwood. Left the Twins vulnerable at first base and designated hitter. Sure, it has been nice that the Twins have been able to rotate guys thru the designated hitter position, and after a slow start Miranda has become the multi-position guy without a position. No one would say that Arraez would be playing the most innings at first base. Even Kirilloff, who was supposed to be the first base guy of the future was trending more towards the outfield. I'm just glad Miranda is NOT in the oufield. #3 - The outfield. We are seeing one of the issues of an incentive-laden contract based on games played. The Twins just have to hope that they can get $100 million production out of Buxton for the length of his contract. But like how signing Mauer for an expensive longterm contract because he was a catcher, Buxton was signed because of what he brings to centerfield. That we are in the division hunt with an outfield of Celestino, Cave, Garlick, Billy Hamilton, and a trending down (and maybe injured) Kepler...makes one want Gordon back in the outfield rather than subbing at second base. Injuries have really shown in this arena. No Kirilloff. No Larnach. If the Twins weren't still contending, would've been nice to put Wallner out there. #4 - Rotation. Who would've thought that Bundy and Archer would be leding the club with 24 starts. Okay, Ryan has 21 and Gray 22. All four are above 100 innings. That is good. And look to finish out the season. Nine other pitchers (Smeltzer 12, Ober 7, Winder 6, Paddack 5, Mahle 4, Sands 3, Sanchez 3, Gonzalez 2, Varland 1) either show that the Twins have a lot of depth, or..... The Twins have Balazovic, Henriquez, Strotman, Enlow on the 40-man. None will pitch for the team in 2022. None of the four have actually put up numbers that would make you want to keep them beyond this season. 17 pitchers mentioned above. No #1 starter emerged. The amount of innings pitched have hurt the bullpen. #5 - Field management. I have long given up on line-up management, from the days you try and bat as much one way or the other against certain pitchers, of the need to bat R/L/R/L/R/L. So much analytics. Which batters work the count. Who is better to have try to be on base for someone who puts it on the ground. Can players adjust against the shift. Why do pitchers throw perfect balls to hit, that are hit, and hard...but the fielder is standing right there. Anyone know how to bunt? Baldelli seems to have settled down to a more basic lineup (why would Garlick ever bat first). But then we have the bullpen, having to come into a game in the 4th or 5th inning consistently. Worked fine when you had 14 or even 15 pitchers. But too often semed to be a bullpen usage chart with pre-ordained "who is pitching today and when" (okay, I know that is pushing it, but....) on the wall. Was Wes Johnson that good that the pitching fell apart when he left? #6 - Did I expect the Twins to be competitive? Well, it seems like the potential "come to the game" crowd is ignoring baseball, coming off a COVID no-no, a partial TV only season, and a player strike. Going downtown Minneapolis, especially riding the light-rail, isn't high on the list of many these days for some odd reason. The Twins are winning. But barely. The good part is that so are the White Sox and Indians...still. No one ran away with the division, although with a few well-bullpened games the Twins could've been sitting on a substantial lead. A lot of empty seats. But the team is playing good baseball. Getting hits, scoring runs, having close games. Player ups and downs. Lots of young talent. If you go to a game, the atmoisphere is great, the skyline gorgeous, and the food decent. Unless they totally tank, the Twins will have a decent season.

Did the Twins catch a roster break, able to add Varland as an extra guy for the double-header? They still have to make a 40-man move. Remember that they also have an upcoming double-header happening with Cleveland.

Welcome Louie! Nothing more memorable than your first major league start in Yankee Stadium!

Three of the four previous winners came down-to-earth when advanced up a league. Sigh!

The Yankees may look weak, but the entire eastern division is better than the central division, in most ways...because they have to play each other more. The B-squad out of the pen. Finally gald to see Davis. The Twins will have ahrd decisions if they decide to bring back WInder, Ober or Dobnak. All involved making 40-man decisions when they come off their rehabs, too. Not that the Twins don't have choices. But they would also have to make 40-man decisions for Larnach and Jeffers, too.

We still have a month to see if he is the closer we needed for thee season. Yes, Duran should probably be closing. He ahs earned it. I';m surprised, thoiugh, that Baldelli seems to have little faith in Pagan, Megill and hasn't used newcomer Davis (I would've pitched him to begin the 9th on Sunday). The only joy is that these three are on the bubble if the Twins need to find space for Winder, Ober and...maybe, Dobnak. Also, at this point, I would've rather taken a flyer on Sisk than sign Austin.

Teams do have Fall Instructional play, usually for the newest and other low-level prospects of note to get some extra one-on-one coaching. They usually play short competitive games amongst themselves for a few weeks (starting soon). The Arizona Fall League is usually the TOP PROSPECTS from A/AA levels competing. That, alone, is worth is. Players playing are much closer to each other in age, are the best of those levels, and most all do reach the majors, albeit briefly, in their careers. The difference between playing pick-up abseball amongst a group of your own, and being on the field against another team with a desire to win....well, the pitchers are not worrying about throwing inside. Usually the teams have a coach, so players won't mingle and exchange views and stray too far from an organization plan for how they should bat, pitch or field. It was also a way for a more controlled environment for upper level prospects to play. You would rather supervise them in Arizona then have them go off, as "top prospects" and play in the various winter leagues just to keep their game on. And, remember, minor league seasons ended a tad earlier. As long as MLB is footing the bill for this form of player development, I say go with it.

No. So do you sign him after the draft? Pay him too much that another team won't sign Rule 5 him if you do sign him?

Disaster for Peacock and Smeltzer, hurting their chances for any callup, I imagine.

Is he eligible to be a minor league free agent?

Ober and Dobnak should end the season with the Saints. Twins should try and run Dobnak thru waivers now, rather than off-season, to get back the 40-man spot. His contract would pretty much guarantee that he would stay with Minnesota at St. Paul come next season. Drew Strotman has been puting up decent numbers in relief, Still not sure if he has the stuff to be, say, another Griffin Jax. Not sure if there will be 40-man spot open to him. Henriquez back in the rotation. I would've kept pushing him in multi-inning relief roles, which may be his ticket to the majors. Go figure. Sisk is someone who could be grabbed in the Rule 5. Like how the Twins pretty much side-tracked Moran last September, looks like Sisk won't get an opportunity this season.

My favorite all-time Tony Oliva memory is watching him pitch wiffle-ball at the Minnesota State Fair to youngsters who really have no idea who he is, although their dads (and especially grandpas) do.

I, too, was frustrated seeing short starrts (like in the majors) by so many in the minors. Then realized that they want the pitchers to build on "season-long strength" and to get innings in over the entire season. Going into spring training 2023 the Twins prospect pitchers, no doubt on the 40-man, will remain Balazovic, Henriquez, Enlow and Sands, joined by Varland, Canterino and Woods-Richardson.d. Sadly Canterino will get major league service time and be carrried all season on the 60-day. Enlow will be in AA working up his own innings. But there will still be five arms vying for a chance to pitch in the majors, hopefully more than half of them fulltime in 2024 and beyonb

I'll tell you what. What we have seen is a lot of new bodies play for the Twins, both in prospects and pickups. The Twins also, as of today still have 17 players on the IL-list, 17! A goodly potion of those COULD stay on the 40-man roster. Whew.

He saw that there was no way he would be called up, with Winder and Dobnak rehabbing, Moran added. The Twins need to find 40-man spots if they activate Dobnak, Winder and/or Ober. Be ineresting to see who picks him up for September.

Last season wanted them to push Balazovic to AAA St. Paul. This season, I wished they had returned him to AA Wichita to work out whatever he needed to work out. They have to keep him on the 40-man and hope for a rebound. Martin, we forget, is only in his second minor league season, skipping any play in the lowly minors (because he exccelled at collegiate ball). I think the Twins need to make a hard decision on where they wish him to play. Canterino, sadly, will need to be protected on the 40-man, but will miss all of next season.

Ober and Winder, both coming off the 50-day IL list, will be there somewhere, somehow. (Not to mention a decision on Dobnak, which would also involve a roster move). So the Twins have to remove three bodies from the curreent 40-man roster. Mahle looks to be back Sepotember 1, so he will jsut be an add from the roster expansion, but moving Sanchez to the bullpen for now. Plus the Twins signed Jewell for a reason, and Peacock has been pitching well.

So, going into September the Twins may see the return of Dobnak, Winder, Ober and Maeda. That would mean four players have to be jettisoned, alone, from the 40-man roster spot. If Hamilton is added, someone has to go off the 40-man for him. Right away, Mahle will be coming back this week. SO he will probably be the pitcher add to the current roster. In limbo, you could write such names as Sanchez, Smeltzer, Megill, Pagan, and possibly Archer or Bundy if any of the returning in jurd guys would be capable of starting and pitching at least five innings. Unless if he rally shines, I don't see Dobnak coming back, and he could easily (I feel) be moved off the 40-man but still kept in the organization. Both Ober and Winder could pitch relief (which means they replace Smeltzer and Sanchez). I still want to see Moran added. Is Mahle replacing Sanchex or Smeltzer? So I doubt that Varland will land a 40-man spot this season. He will be added in the offseason.

The Twins outfield right now is Kepler, Celestino, Cave, Garlick with Gordon in reserve. Hamilton would provide depth. Hamilton will join Cave, Caleb Hamilton, Sandy Leon as players that could be jettisoned when Buxton, Jeffers and maybe Larnach return. So he would be a temporary roster add, at best. Depending if the Twins will feel a need to have a third catcher, or a runner. I expect him to be added come September 1. The Twins will probably designate Mark Contrereas for assignment.

It shall be all about the money. Is BUNDY worth $11 million? I would think not. He was a good bargain pitcher for half THAT amount. COnsidering the trouble the Twins were having in drawing interest from free agents. Glad we didn't get stuck with...Pineda. Is PAGAN worth $5-6 million? At this point, I would rather reinvest in Fulmer, if he is interested. Pagan is arbitration, so you have to pay him. If the Twins release him, I don't see him getting that, or even a multi-year deal, as a free agent. You can always carry a pitcher as a reclaim project, but the Twins had three that they couldn't trust in the end that promised better stats than they gave us. Two are gone (Duffey and Smith). Both of those pitched, I feel, better than Pagan, yet I don't miss either. As said, would reinvest the money in another. The Twins also have to take a hard look at DOBNAK shortly. He got bombed in his first AAA offering. Quite frankly, the Twins could run him thru waievrs and outright him to AAA St. Paul this season. Doubtful that anyone will absord his long-term contract. He would still be a abckup possibility going into 2023, but not eating a 40-man spot. I ee no reason to add him to the Twins roster for a run towards the post-season, especially with Peacock and Moran pitching better at St. Paul. It is all going to boil down to money. URSHELA has been a good player for the Twins this season. But can you take the $8-9 million you might have to pay him and put it elsewhere. Does he bring anything special to the table. Of course, that hunges on who plays first base (Arraez or Miranda). But the real question is the $35m of CORREA, that is one nice hunk of change. The Twins can afford another year of that dollar, and Correa may wish to build up his worth (is the shortstop market better for 2024 for him than next season...considering). When would Lewis be abck? Is Palacios are worthy write-in for much of a season? Should Lewis be groomed for shortstop or elsewhere, considering the Twins have Lee, Martin, DeAndrade on their top prospects list, too. Who knows if they will finally give up on Javier? And SANCHEZ is going to free up a hunk of change. Happily he is a free agent. Do the Twins attempt to bring him back, or will he be able to still demand $10m or so. PAGAN and BUNDY will both probably be gone. I'm not sure I would gamble that PAGAN would comeback strong to even be a tradechip if the Twins have a rough 2023. Lopez is the closer going fourth. Duran could be the future closer if the Twins don't try to make him a starter (would you?).

Holding the Giants to one hit until the end. But not able to do anything. first and third with no outs and first and third with no run. Anytime you get a runner to third in the extra inning, expect a walk. But not necessary to load the bases,

He is a great situational guy. He should be that second lefty in the bullpen now, instead of giving innings to Pagan and Megill. But he malso had options and was the go-to guy when you needed someone short-term, which worked against him as you ate up his up-and-down opportunities. Expect him to be added when the rosters expand. Peacock should also get a look, but at the expense of whom? The Twins will supposedly make room for Dobnak, Winder and possibly Ober. Heaven help us if we need to find a roster spot for Madea, too. Doubt if any would be the starter we need, although imagine any could replace Archer or Bundy, if the Twins want to go that route. The Twins have to evaluate their pitching staff hard, depending on where they are in the standings next week. Replace arms that are tiring, perhaps. Jettison players that have no future with the Twins and are on the 40-man. Every starter has to be evaluated at their potential to give the Twins a win in their last seven appearances. The Twins will carry nine arms in the bullpen...can they get their job done!

Some base stealers in the system. But recently signed Billy Hamilton will tell you that you can't steal a base if you don't get a hit or walk in the majors. Henriquez is still a keeper. We forget that he (like Balazovic) is still young. Have to keep them on the roster for another season. But I would try Henriquez out of the bullpen (or, do we send him to the Arizona Fall Leagu - can we - as a starter?).

I would play Celestino or Gordon in centerfield and I would go ahead and bring up Matt Wallner, adding him to the 40-man early. He can't be any worse than Cave of Beckham at this point. Also, Palacios. A backup shortstop now that could also be a stopgap if Correa opts out.

It all depends how much monye you really think you need. Yes, that alst contract pretty much keeps you in one palce for the rest of your career. He will easily be able to get 4 or even 5 uears whenever he decides to leave the Twins, with option years. But will he crack $300m? He had to be mnuch much better in 2022. He has to outdo all expectations in 2023.