Rosterman

It's a big jump to the majors, not to mention playing first. You have to learn and get used to the different ways people throw you the ball. Be nice if he could rotate at third/DH with Gio, let's say. Get his swing back.

I just wonder WHAT three pitchers will NOT be on the roster come June 1 (which is when you must carry 13, but not 14, pitchers). Ober, Bundy back. Does Winder become a long man, or pitches when Archer or Bundy is basically an opener? Same could be said for Smeltzer. Is it true Smeltzer cannot be optioned back, which would be a huge gamble since he is young, a lefty, and can pitch multiple innings. He would have to be really really abd at this point for the Twins to send him out. Cano has options. So does (ugh) Duran. No one claimed Cotton before. The difference if he was a free agent is that a team can sign him to a minor league contract, or pay the league minimum if they bring him to the majors, with the Twins eating the rest. Makes you start to question the actual worth of Archer or Bundy. Maybe we can get another injury before June 1. Although I don't wish that on anyone.

Luis Gil was up to New York for a game and sent back to minors. Red Sox have designated Jaylin Davis, and Los Angeles Angels AARON WHITEFIELD for reassignmeent. Astros sent NIKO GOODRUM to minors. RALPH GARZA JR. had his third call up with the Rays, since he Twins let him go in spring training, the Red Sox claimed him, then dropped him from their 40-man, before he ws claimed by Tampa.. Miami has called up Lewin Diaz. Then sent him back down. Toronto calls up ANDREW VASQUEZ...again!

I'm all for giving a guy a day off. Or rotating him into the DH position. But if the opportunity is there to break a tie game, or maybe tie it up in the 10th, does a day off mean you can't come off the bench and maybe hit? Might as well be sitting in the stands, then.

Tough luck for Big MIKE PINEDA and his incentive heavy contract. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/05/tigers-michael-pineda-suffers-fractured-finger.html Pineda update - no surgery! https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/05/tigers-michael-pineda-no-surgery-broken-finger.html

Smeltzer would give the Twins another lefty, and a long-man to boot. Remember that they will have to go down to 13 pitchers come June 1.

Short season INDY Ball begins this weekend and into next week. Seems a bunch of guys released from the Twins this spring and beyond found work - not to mention VANCE WORLEY still out there! EX-TWINS Playing in Short Season Indy Ball Leagues AMERICAN ASSOCIATION Chicago Dogs Michael Bowden minors 2015 Stu Cliburn (c) minors pitching coach 1993-2019 Kansas City Monarchs Brandon Koch minors 2021 LEWIS THORPE pitcher 2018-2021 Kane County Cougars Ernie de la Trinidad minors 2018-21 VANCE WORLEY pitcher 2013 Jimmy Kerrigan minors 2017-21 Nick Anderson minors 2021 Sherman Johnson minors 2021 MIKE MORIN pitcher 2019 GEORGE TSAMIS (m) pitcher 1993 + former Saints manager Sioux Falls Canaries Blaine Hardy minors 2020 Tyler Beardsley minors 2016-17 Gabe Snyder minors 2018-21 New Jersey Jackels Adrian Salcedo minors 2008-15 Cleburne Railroaders Engelb Vielma minors 2012-17 OSWALDO ARCIA outfielder 2013-16 Winnipeg Goldeneyes Max Murphy 2014-17 FRONTIER LEAGUE Washington Wild Things Rob Whalen minors 2021 Trevor Casanova minors 2018-19 Joliet Slammers Tanner Kiest minors 2018 Tyler Jay minors 2-15-2019 New York Boulders Max Smith minors 2019-21 Sussex County Miners Nick Garland minors 2021 Randy Cesar minors 2019-20 Justin Washington minors 2021 Schaumburg Boomers Juan Pichardo minors 2019-21 Empire State Greys Zach Goree minors 2021 Quebec Capitales T.J. White minors 2014-18 (jumped from Mexican Leagues) PIONEER LEAGUE Boise Hawks Ryley Widell minors 2017-20 Aaron Sutton (c) minors manager 2020 Missoula Puddleheads Jared Akins minors 2017-2021 Billings Mustangs Allante Hall minors 2021

So, we can continue to beat up on the Front Office for the Yankees and Padres trades, not to mention the signing of Bundy and Archer. Or we can sit back and enjoy that the Twins actually have a winning record with 5-6 guys on the 60-day IL and a host of other nursing injuries. Not to mention that Winder, Lewis, Miranda, Duran and Sands have all had debvuts with the team...did I say they have a winning record going into Mid-May!?! Batting averages are down across baseball for some unexplianed reason beyond that guys seem to be standing exactly where balls are hit in the field. Not to mention that starters don't last and fresh arms can be had daily by any team as long as the rosters are set like they are (back to 13 pitchers come June 1 - WHO IS GONE FROM THE TWINS PEN?).

Why push Cano for a third inning? Well, with sttarters seldom going more than five, I guess ALL relief pitchers have to be able to now pitch at least two innings, if not more. Maybe the Twins NEED to use the opener logic for some of their pitchers! Have guys like Archer come in and face the bottom of the order to start their day.

I still haven't figured out who Cotton and Contreras replaced on the 40-man.

I wanted to say that the strikes vs. balls ration seemed so different in these games. But it was about even in the double-day game, and Verlander gave a lesson in pitching in the first game by going for contact vs. working the corners.The walks hurt with Ryan & Co. Probably didn't help Winder either. Pitchers throw stikes. Set their pace. Try to control the game. The minute first-class hitters see "the nibble" they can wait it out. First pitch strikes put the pitchers in front. If you can get a secon pitch strike, then you can start the nuibbling. The six pitch inning by Verlander is one ALL pitchers should study. That being said, were the Twins hitters just overmatched? Again, getting a runner on base SHOULD also change the pitcher work ethic. It should make them worry (as every Twins pitcher seemed to when a Astros was on base) that the runner was going to advance. So you throw strikes, which the Astros seemed prepared to attack, too...especially in that over-sealous inning for Cano/Stashak. The Dodgers and the Astros have showed the weaknesses of the Twins. Hey, even the Orioles and A's, in their own way (as well as The Royals) did hold their own. Don't start buying a season ticket package to get preferential treatment for the post season yet.

The question always was: Is Berros worth $100 million? Sometimes, when you reward a player with a LARGE contract, you could backhandedly say some of that money is for past play. (Yeah, like they do that every day!) There comes a time when you can't afford a pitcher. Kyle Gibson. Not worth HIS arbitration win, at least to Twins. Probably not worth what he signed with Texas, except in hindsight when you look at the money the Twins wasted on also ans. Would you rather pay Shoemaker and Happ than Berros? Would you rather pay Archer and Bundy than Berrios? Would you like to tie up monies for Berrios, or look for soemthing applicable and short-term (Gray) and be satisfied with something (when healthy) that is equally as suitable (Paddack). It all was money. From both ends. Berrios had visions of free agency. He knew what he wanted. Toronto offered. Twins kept nickel-and-diming. Lookito sign.ng back, it IS a wonder the Twins got Buxton

Get two great innings from a rookie. First game. WHY push your luck. You have other arms in the pen. Feel bad for Stashak.

He can play shortstop everyay in St. Paul. I picture the Twins do keep him until, say, Larnach comes off the IL. Because you might want to work Correa back into playing shortstop and have him alternate in the DH spot for awhile. But Lewis got some reps, has an idea of what major league piutching is like (especially facing the Astros staff and probably Bieber this weekend). He can work on things in the field. The Twins just need to keep Correa healthy so they could either (a) trade him or (b) hope he doesn't say he wants to stay another season, which then asks the question "what to do with Lewis?" The Twins are doing what you do with a top prospect, bringing him up and playing everyday in the position of choice while the veteran is on the DL, rather than running with Gordon or just a replacement temporary player.

Remember that players will have to go back to St. Paul when the Twins activate Bundy, Ober, Correa, Larnach, Arraez. Plus the fates of Garlick and Romero when they are activated. There's also a host of hitters (Robertson, Beckman, Cisco) that will come back to the team. St. Paul has been carrying 32+ players since baseball began (not counting injured guys). Yes, the Twins have mined the prospects (or have they - Moran needs to come back) . Balazovic has returned. You need playes to replace any that move, and that usually happens once the draft happens. Megill, Minaya, Smeltzer are vets that could still get a call. Palacios is a possible abck-up infield replacement if we lose Gordon for any length of time. Cano, Gore, Hamilton, Sands, Henriquez, Strotman should all get a shot sometime this season.

I was surprised they grabbed Cotton over Cano, even for a short period of time. Granted, they ARE paying Cotton more money than anyone on the Saints roster not named Jake Cave. But.... Picture Cotton and Contreras both back down by the end of the series.

Out of the three young outfielders, he needs to spend the most time back with the Saints getting regular work at first base. Or maybe Miranda needs to go back. If the Twins are to contend, they can't have too many guys working thru injuries or learning on the job.

ILDEMARO VARGAS, who played briefly for the Twins in the final month of 2020, has been called up by the Chicago Cubs. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/05/cubs-place-nick-madrigal-on-10-day-il-select-ildemaro-vargas-designate-adrian-sampson-for-assignment.html

They are paying Cotton a major league salary, although he is no longer on the 40-man, or something mroe than the minor league minimum, which is why was surprised when they didn't release him in spring training.

Well, Ryan has to learn to adjust his rhythm, because temas know that if they break it, it gets to him. Plus, throw strikes, especially early in the game. Challenge the hitters. Trust stuf. But, man, if he doesn't get his call, or a batter makes him wait...he is...lost. Too many walks. Coitton was lucky. Happily, when Contreras and Cotton go back to the minors, no waiver wire or anything of the sort. I imagine Contreras will join that small group of guys who made it to the Twins major league roster but never played in a game.

Sanchez would be one to also think about moving, but if teams are looking for catchers, who do YOU get to replace. No one in the system strong to step-in as a reasonable backup. Also, at this point, I would dangle Kepler as tadebait. Celestino and Larnach MAY be better than Max (and certainly cheaper). Plus you got Wallner coming up. If Kepler creates value, you can trade him for a solid bullpen arm with another "prospect."

Wait to hear, but adding both sounds like a COVID non-40-man temporary add to me.

I imagine Contreras and Cotton are COVID substitutes for Arraez and Bundy and will be gone when they return, keeping in line that non-40-man guys can be added in such a situation.

He is filling a role. A guy you can count on when runners are on base, which is a plus.

You can have a home run hitter. But he does less good if he doesn't hit them with me on base. If he hits 50+ homers, you can praise him for the ones that only make him run around the bases. But in the scheme of things, if looking for someone to hot 20-25 homers a season and playing one of the corners on the diamond, a place in the outfield, or desiognated hitter...you can find them any and every season for what you would have to pay Sano in 2023. Are we afraid that he will go elsewhere and shine? If he does, it will happen because of coaching, a better batting order (perhaps), and Sano wanting to have a much longer career. But with his current trajectory, it looks like he will have to settle for a lower salary come 2023, work his butt off to succeed, and might end up at a team that has played him worse than the Twins in his career...played him where, I don't know. Will a contender grab him (or maybe the Twins can trade him to the National League when he comes off the IL) or will he end up in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh or Kansas City. Maybe Oakland. Possibly Colorado would like to see if he would be a monster mash. What I am (sadly) most happy about is that the Twins can now see how they can work without Sano. Without worrying about keeping him in a position because he needs to play on the field than wander the dugout. How they only have to cringe at the bad swings of Sanchez in a game instead of the swings of two batters. They can see how he works to stay in shape for his return. How he plays during a 10-game stint (at least) in the minors. They will be able to maybe dangle him as tradebait. Maybe he'll end up like Oswaldo Arcia, going to foreign ball and ending his career in the lowly indy leagues looking for that return to the majors. But I will tell you all this...I am tired of watching him swing at the low outside-the-strike zone pitches. Maybe he goes a week holding back. But he is always doomed to return what he thinks is best in his batters box.