Rosterman

MLB Trade Rumors reports that Cody Stashak will be out for the rest of the season. More than likely the Twins will add him as another to the growing 60-day IL. Plus Alcala had a setback after one appearance at Ft. Myers. Alcala is still at least a week away from being able to be activtaed. And one could assume that he was going to need as much work as possible on rehab. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/06/cody-stashak-to-undergo-season-ending-shoulder-surgery.html Just another day in Twins Injury Land!

Just Wait! When Sano reutrns, all will be Well!

In the big leagues, you have to be capable of challenging the hitter...on every team. You can nibble all you want, but the othegr team will wait you out if they see you don't have total command.

You also draft according to perceived need, especially after the first round when you might just grab "best available that you have a chance of signing." What is so remarkable, looking at the draft's in hindsight, is the amount of players that don't pan out, that don't even make three years iun the system. And those that do hang on, and maybe get a cup of coffee or a few years in lesser roles. The Twins are going to be unique this year, in how many rookies pass thru the gates of Target Field and how many years they dpo stick with the team. Looking ahead to 2023, we may have as many as 20 homegrown playes on the field. Which could be remarkable if the Twins remain a winning team this season. You usually only invade the farm system if in major rebuild mode.

The game is being played so differently today than it was, say, even abck in 2019. 100 pitches is the HIGH norm. You move players around the field like chess pieces because of things you call up on an iPad in the dugout. Lineups are constructed thru analytics and changed, daily. Seems like the Twins are great at moving players around the diamond and playing them anywhere and anywhere. You get more days off. There is no hit-and-run. The bullpen seems to have the daily workers set before game time, and not according to the situation on the field. Everyone rotates. And since there is no closer, there is no closer. Injuries are wild. At some point, you run out of roster spaces.

B.J. Boyd has been signed by the Angels out of Indy ball. Erik Manoah Jr. was released from the Braves organization and signed with Lancaster in the Atlantic League. Tyler Jay has found work after an absence of a couple of seasons. He was a first round draft pick by the Twins back in 2016. The lefty is pitching now for the Joliet Slammers in Indy ball. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=jay---000tyl

Time to start clearing out some of the minor league free agent signings in St. Paul. DO we just bring up a name, or a good name. Minaya gone. Do we bring Cotton back...again...on the 40-man? https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/06/twins-dfa-juan-minaya-reliever.html

I, too, thought this was going to be about a Kyle Gibson reunion. At least it wasn't about Jake Odorizzi or Michael Pineda.

I still don't understand pulling Smeltzer after four innings and 62 pitches. The ONE guy who has broken a hundred pitches and got us close to 7 innings. And we had a solid lead.

And the reality is Sands is doing what we kinda would like him to do, but he needs to throw more innings. That's why I wonder if it would be any worse to give the "other" rookies a shot - even if it the Yankees - than a grizzled AAAA guy. Of course, knowing Rocco, Tuesday - at home - is going to be a bullpen game against the Yankees since we have 10 relievers on the roster, three with three+ days rest!

Also Tyler Thornburg for the Saints bullpen. Both could be closer to major league ready than anyone on the Saints staff. Now all the Twins need is 40-man roster spots, which going on the 15-day IL doesn't create. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/06/twins-sign-aaron-sanchez-tyler-thornburg-to-minors-deals.html I would almsot like to see Balazovic for a game, and the Henriquez for a game, than more of Sands right now...at least until Winder comes back. Or do the Twins cut loose, say, Minaya, to create a rotating 40-man spot and bring back Dereck Rodriguez. Ober means Cano stays, the one guy who needs to throw some innings in St. Paul to work on his stuff that isn't working in the majors.

You want to say they aren't doing it because of incentives, but his chances of being MVP right now is slim to none. He could get a $500,000 bonus if he hits 500 plate appearances, which he can more easily do in 100 games or so if he bats leadoff. But at some point, is it worth it? Re: Kirilloff. At some point the Twins will have the consistent 13th batter/bench guy. I wouldn't argue with bringing up Kirilloff if you want him to play first. You have to hope that Sanchez can be closer to the fulltime catcher, and you can shuffle Arraez into DH, the game at third, and one or games at 1B with Kiriloff spelling a agme in left and batting DH himself. Having to make the DH a Buxton slot fpr even half-time screws this up. I'm sorry. I like Miranda, but send him to St. Paul to keep working and play him at third. He is the prime candidate for recall if something happens to Gio. Maybe shuffle him over to first base 2-3 times out of ten games, just top keep him in that mix. And keeping Garlick because he bats...right? Okay if he is the fourth outfielder. Not okay if he is the fifth...unless he is that 26th player. So confusing as to how the Twins are in first place. So confusing.

Being shut-out twice by Detroit. Not even able to manufacture a run. At least they didn;t leave the bases loaded multiple times. I can't wait to see the rotation going fourth. My biggest letdown was not letting Smeltzer go beyond 4-innings and 62-pitches. It is time for the rotation to go thru a lineup another time, to push towards that 7th inning. Considering Smeltzer was the ONLY guy that has really done that, it was a major letdown. Not like the Twins didn't have a decent lead. Of course, the regular scenarios would've been Smeltzer getting thru six innings with a 5-2 lead. Then bringing in Duffey who gives up three runs on two hits and a homer, then a single, and Rocco maybe bringing in someone else who gives up a 2-out double, and the Twins lose. Winning two of three with the COVID replacement players, all of whom are heading abck to AAA with no transactional fallout. That's a good thing. But I'm realizing that COVID is still very real when our players who tested positive aren't bouncing right back after even 10 days gone. It can be more than jsut the flu, even when vaccinated. And still spreadable, folks. I keep looking at who stays and who goes as players come back. Who does Alcala repalce. Will Winder be doomed to St. Paul to be a full starter for a couple of months? Is Royce worse off than we think and, essentially, losing a good part of THIS season because he played centerfield for ONE GAME. What can we do to fix Buxton so he is not only a viable centerfielder, but also a lead-off hitter? When wi ll Kirilloff come back and where will he play. Better yet, how can we play Arraez 95% of the time! Waiting to see the next start by Archer. I don't want him and Bundy to be Happ and Shoemaker. I also don't want to see Ober become our answer to 2021's Charlie Barnes. (I never quite figurd out why the Twins cut ties with Barnes, a lefty....). Gonna be a fun week against the Yankees and Tampa Bay. I bet we don't field the same line-up twice!

I guess players now don't need to wear camo caps on Military Appreciation nite, right? I suppose fan won't wear hats sponsored by Diary Queen anymore on cap night? Do we have to wear special North Dakota State University caps on THAT nite in Twinsland? Baseball ahs always panered to whomever. Why do they sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" before every game - because they wanted to brand themselves as The National Pastime, period. Thank goodness there's "no religion in baseball." Although lots of players like to write Bible-verse links when they sign autographs.

Well, every team needs a mop up guy if the game is beyond reach. Until the Twins depth pushes him (and Thielbar) out of the picture, he is here to stay. Someone mentioned about ALL the fine arms in the Twins farm clubs at AA, A+ and A. Sadly, they aren't at AAA. Duffey is proving himself to be better than Minaya, who will be the next casuality sent out when someone returns. Hamilton got his one-shot and might've blown it. Unless desparate, don't see the Twins adding him to the 40-man, yet. Cotton will play the up-and-dpown game until someone claims him and his $700,000 salary. He's not officially on the 40-man and will remain so until the Twins decide he is entitled to a reaaaaaal long look. Megill is doing okay. If the Twins are forced to make a decision when they need to add Coulombe, Alcala and Stashak back, he will be in the mix as a keeper or goer. As well as Stashak and Coulombe. Cano and Moran will get the righty/lefty up-and-down call in the far future, after the Twins have run thru na slug of minor league free agents. Maybe Tyler Thornburg will be one shuffled thru. WWladimir Pinto is throwing well out of the pen. Mario Sanchez has been decent as a starter/bullpen guy, who could possibly give the Twins multiple innings. Tyler Bashlor is someone to watch. The Twins actually need to thin the ranks at St. Paul, allowing guys like Sisk, Scherff and maybe Sammons (because he is a lefty and the Twins need to make decisions on him). Viza was lights out at AA but is not working out at AAA. Remember the wacky arm of Jordan Gore, hitter turned pitcher? He may go the way of once touted Ryan Mason, which I sometimes disagree with as we should give a longer leash to players we have developed than guys we sign from the outside. Austin Schulfer is doing good, but the 40-man will remain full until the off-season, which is when the Twins would have to consider adding him anyways. So Duffey stays. I guess we could live with the decision to pitch him in a game in which we had a 5-run lead, although giving up a home run and putting a runner on base so whomever follows him just needs to give up a home run for a tie game, had us hurling whatever we had on the lap, couch, endtable at the television that was still left in our possession after Rocco pulled Smeltzer after just 64-pitches and four innings...the one guy who has pitched the longest into a game and thrown the msot pitches of anyone this season!!!!!

Full-time first baseman. Gotta see if he is the TRUE answer. With no DH, we can shuffle players there while Arraez plays elsewhere when the need arises, or DH's himself. You can spell Kirilloff maybe every 4th and 5th game with Arraez, with Alex playing a game in the outfield and one at DH. Miranda needs to go to St. Paul and play third base most everyday, but also wedaring that first baseman's glove as a needed alternative, if that should arise. Just like Royce Lewis needs to return to St. Paul and play shortstop, period. If the Twins didn't fool around with sending him around the diamond, he would be experiencing another nice 10 game showcase at shortstop. Instead, he has set himself back...maybe half-a-season. Of course, when Sano comes back, we have to fit the big guy in everywhere and anywhere. Or do we? The past month, Sano who? Y'know, the Twins are getting pretty close to entering 2023 with a fully homegrown team of alent...maybe minus a rotation arm and a couple of bullpen guys. But wouldn't that be nice to have developed a potential winning team rather than just buying pieces?

Wow! Saints 4-2 in last six games, outscoring their oppoents 57-46. Lotsa runs!

Kirilloff needs to return to the mix. The pain is that most of the immediate crop in St. Paul aren't that much better than Duffey or Thielbar. We can argue about how out-of-shape Alcala is and how much time he will need in the minors. I picture Coulombe being out a lot longer than we thought. Not sure when Stashak is set to return, but he can still be optioned out. I'm losing faith in Bundy. I have hope for Archer. When Gray returns, we suddenly have one starter too many (right now we have one starter too few).

Kirilloff will be up at some point in plakce of Miranda. Garlick may be the odd man out. Depending on if Lewis needs more seasoning. Pain is if Kirilloff returns, you HAVE to play Arraez somewhere. Cotton is offically NOT on the 40-man. Moran can be the "more seasoning" casuality. Also picture WInder will go to St. Paul and stay there and become a part of the regular rotation. Sadly, I would rather see Winder pitching than either Archer or Bundy. But I haven't given up on Bundy, yet. Doubt the Twins will just move on from Thielbar or Duffey. Wish both were tradable, but not so. I would also like to see Jeffers go down and work things out. But that would mean clearing a 40-man spot, unless one thinks Godoy is the guy we need up here playing 30% of the time, as long as Sanchez is healthy. Watch Roy Morales. He is one of those dark-horse candidates for a major league call-up. Joy is he can catch and play first base, and he hits.

Be interesting to see what happens to Cotton. Officially, he's not on the 40-man and can just be sent easily back to St. Paul. No team is claiming him, because they have to pay his salary. At some point Smeltzer does have to face batters three times, as well as also face tough batters. I'm not sure what the issue was as the Twins did have a three run lead. Palacios is at least giving the Twins considering of giving him a future backup role. Maybe they need to try him at playing the outfield and first and catcher to make him even more well-rounded. Ryan Jeffers needs to go and play everyday in St. Paul. I'm not sure Godoy is even the temporary answer. I would almost rather see Hamilton or Banuelos get the shot. Let it be a temporary rotation spot for backup catcher. I mean, Wichita has five guys, and Sisco has to come off the IL-list...someday. would love to see Morales be the odd man on the roster, but don't see him s a primary backup catcher but an Astudillo-type guy who could also play 1B and DH rather than catch.

We just had this thread a little more than a week age!

Tyler Duffey is NOT a closer. Thankfully, this game didn't need him as a closer. But he shouldn't make a blow-out a closer situation for someone else.

Rooker got a couple more days of Big League service time, but no at bats! https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/06/injury-notes-clevinger-kittredge-kremer-gregorius.html Remins me of the career and hype we had for Mike Restovich and before that Dave McCarty all those years ago. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=rooker000bre

The Twins need to look hard at guys that will be minor league free agents come seasons end, and also players up for the Rule 5 draft. Last year, for example, we would've needed some arm twisting to include Balazovic and Sands in any trade, not to mention Miranda. Now, another team may not be looking at any of those three and salivating about potential. There is virtually no one on St. Paul's roster than another team would consider in a deal. At best, you could throw in Henriquez. People would be looking at our AA prospects on the cusp of advancing to AAA, which means Simeon Woods-Richardson, Martin, Wallner, Varland just as starters. A couple of those names, and maybe another prospect doing really good in the system. Which means the Twins have to look carefully at who they have coming up, and who they have going off the 40-man roster come 2023, and even what that roster will look like in 2024. You trade your future if you can afford it with depth. The only way you trade Lewis would be if Martin was lights out, and you thought you had a chance of keeping Correa another season.

Now problem swapping out Kirilloff for Miranda. Let Miranda get back in the groove in St. Paul, playing mostly third base (and a few reps at first). I expect Miranda to be a third baseman for out future. If necessary, you can rotate Alex and Luis at first and DH. Or let Alex play the occasional outfield game. Remember, the Twins will have to be up a batter come late June when pitching staffs are held to a 13 count. The odd man may still be Lewis. If you feel he needs to play everyday (andd at shortstop), do it is St. Paul. If we didn't do that dang "other position" experiment, he would be playing his future position, shortstop, right now for the Twins for another 10 days. As much as I want Lewis on the team, he also hasn't played for two seasons, folks. Re: Sano. He has probably played himself off the Minnesota Twins. He will have to rehab somewhere and unless he performs above and beyond, he would probably end up being designated for assignment and anotehr team could pick him up. Will have to wait and see. But no way is he coming back in 2023 unless he does come back and hits a homer a day and keeps the strikeouts away.