Rosterman

In the world of dating services, I ended up searching for Minnesota Twins fan and connected with a wonderful lady and have been married going on 15 years this June, proposing to her via the Metrodome scoreboard in a game started by Matt Garza but won by Pat Neshek. Also, her engagement ring was a pretty jazzy Twins World Series replica! She even would purchase the partial season-ticket package during the years when our schedules permitted more games live! I am always a bit jealous as she finds TC Bear to be quite lovable. And every State Fair when we visit Twinsland, Tony Oliva talks to her more than me. Thanks for seeking out all the wonderful fans of all ages and showing the Minnesota love for baseball, the sport that should be America's pastime and not running #2 to football. (photo from the wet and cold first game in the Dodgers series.)

The Twins will be cutting two players come next Sunday, a pitcher and a batter for sure. Then they also have to make another move when Sonny Gray returns, hopefully this week (or after a rehab start with St. Paul). And Kirilloff will also force a move an outfielder.

Journeyman utility guy and former Twin TAYLOR MOTTER has signed a minor league contract with the Reds and will report to the Louisville Bats. And wsa recently cut after signing to play in this year's Mexican League. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/motteta01.shtml https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/reds-sign-taylor-motter-to-minor-league-deal.html

I almost want to see Arraez at first base. At least until Kirilloff comes back! Then just cycle thru Sano at DH as needed. Cubs beat Pirates 21-0. Pirates only used three pitchers for this stumble and one position player on the mound for the 8-innings they had to cover.

Interesting, is that true? I mean, what prevents the Twins from moving ANY of their rotation arms to the bullpen. You can still make good money as a closer, if effective. Aguilera, we all remember him, don't we? Where when traded to the twins he was a starter in 1989, then switched to become an ace closer the next season, only to ask a return to the rotation after six years as a closer, to very mixed results, before returning to the bullpen for 107 more saves!

Right up there with Mr. Williams Astudillo. I'm glad we no longer have to worry about Rogers/Rodgers.

The only way we know if to give them a chance. Then it all ends up with pitching match-ups (for example, Ryan will be facing higher quality starters than, say, Archer or Paddock overall). And it all depends on how each pitcher handles their pitches during a game, adjust when the batters adjust. You can't emphasize enough the ability to throw clean strikes with all your pitches.

Wow!

I'm hoping the Twins do let Gray go and take a turn at St. Paul. He only pitched in one spring training game. Regarding Winder, yes, hopefully back to St. Paul and in the rotation. He will have enough experience with major league hitting to work on a few things. The Twins could cycle in long-lefty Smelter as a bulpen arm. Remember, come May 1 the Twins have to rid their roster of two players (three if they activate Gray). Who goes to the minors will be the big question (Winder, Jax, Romero). Or do the Twins lose a bat (Garlick) which would be fine if you need to add Smeltzer. Although Celestino could do with everyday play in St. Paul now that Gordon is showing off his skillset. Smeltzer is a starter in St. paul. Winder could take his spot in the rotation. Bigger question: What couple of players leave St. Paul...Gore back to Wichita, for example, or someone else gets released?

Hopefully Gray will be back in a few mores days (27th at the latest). But come May 1 (a week from Sunday), the Twins will have to send out two guys anyways.

Nick Burdi has been released by the San Diego Padres. Hoping to comeback after his second round of Tommy John surgery, looks like he won't be recovering further witrh the Padres, who signed him back in October. Burdi was one of the "hot arm prospects" that the Twins drafted over the 4-year period of 2012-2015 that included names like Tyler Jay, Kyle Cody, Jovani Moran, Michael Cederoth, Sam Clay, John Curtiss, Kohl Stewart, Ryan Eades, Stephen Gonsalves, Aaron Slegers, Jose Berrios, Luke Bard, Mason Melotakis, J.T. Chargois, Zach Ward and Tyler Duffey. A couple made it to the bigs for the Twins, but some drfited elsewhere and others just...to put it mildy, floundered. Here's a pre-draft interview Nick did with MLB Trade Rumors back in 2014. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?s=nick+burdi

FORMER TWINS IN ATLANTIC LEAGUE (Indy) BALL Long Island Ducks WALLY BACKMAN (manager) Twins second baseman 1989 Austin Rei was unsigned 2012 draftee Rick Tomlin (coach) was a minor league coach 1989-95 Diebinson Romero played in minors 2003-07 TZI-WEI LIN Twins infielder 2021 LEW FORD (player/coach) Twins outfielder 2003-07 Southern Maryland BlueCrabs Stan Cliburn (manager) coached and managed in minors 2001-09 DARYL THOMPSON (player/coach) pitched in 2012 High Point Rockers FRANK VIOLA (coach) was a Cy Young winner, and Twins ace 1982-89 LOGAN MORRISON played outfield 2018 Kole McKinnon minors 2021 JOHNNY FIELD Twins utility guy 2018 Zander Wiel minors 2015-21 Jared Mitchell unsigned 2006 draftee Tyler Ladendorf minors 2008-09 Staten Island FerryHawks Joe Kuzia minors pitcher 2021 Jose Velez minors pitcher 2015 Williams Ramirez minors pitcher 2013-20 Chris Nunn minors pitcher 2021 Norberto Susini minors 2012 York Revolution Jim Fuller pitched minors 2014 Charleston Dirty Birds Joe Testa (player/coach) pitched in minors 2008-10 Mitchell Osnowitz played minors 2021 Gastonia Honey Hunters MAURO GOZZO (manager) Twins pitcher 1992 Onas Farfan minors 2014-15 Jack Reinhammer minors 2020 Eric Jones minors 2019 Lexington Legends BEN REVERE (coach) played Twins centerfield 2010-12 Jordany Valdespino minors 2019 AUSTIN ADAMS pitched 2019 Kentucky Wild Health Genomes RYNE HARPER Twins pitcher 2019 GABRIEL MOYA Twins pitcher 2017-18 Lancaster Barnstormers Eric Monoah Jr. minors 2021. Erik Cha minors 2018-21

Being the play-by-play for television is quite different than radio, as your audience IS watching the game with you. Which is why someone like Dick works extremely well. He is drenched in Twins lore, does his pre-game homework, and tries his hardest to get the "other" person to be insightful about the game...yet still keep track of the action. That doesn't mean that the "other" body in the booth can just sit back and wing it from Bremer's conversation points. They also have to do homework. People often forget how much work goes into laying out a broadcast. You have to review player stats and make notes on when to talk about what, be familiar with pitching styles, have feeds on what is thrown and how fast and stay on top of the count, let alone the bodies on the field. What is nice about having players in the booth is that they can talk about the game from the on-field standpoint. Tom Kelly is wonderful, but needs to be regulated by Bremer more often than not (have to get the plays in, as well as the ad breaks and plugs). Bert, like Gladden on the radio side, shows you that work and dedication improve you over time. Bert started to fallback on sameness, but often supplemented it with more humor than you usually get from a broadcast booth. Dick has a wondeful deep voice. He looks good in his blazer. He is truly professional across the board. Yes, he has hometown giddiness, but he keeps it in check and doesn't let himself become the story of a game...never. At his best, he can be like the guy sitting with you in the stands and you talk all thru the game, and also keep score on your scorecard (who does this anymore). Verbally writing down what is happening. Dick was so lucky, coming into the broadcast market when cable was just beginning (and they were looking for "the cheap" for announcers. The real announcers were always the radio booth and WCCO where you ahd to be able to sell product besides the game. Not all games were broadcast on television like they are today. He became the hometown gem thru patience, hardwork, and too many broadcast partners to mention becoming the glue for the visual play-by-play for 40 years!

MICHAEL PINEDA is in the majors with the Tigers. Visa problems gave him and Detroit a mutual agreement to start the season at AAA Toledo, where he was scheduled to make three starts to get into shape. Needs have shortened that stay! https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/tigers-notes-mize-manning-pineda.html

Brayan Medina is player-to-be-named later from Padres trade. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/twins-acquire-brayan-medina-to-complete-taylor-rgers-trade.html 18 and raw potential. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/twins-acquire-brayan-medina-to-complete-taylor-rogers-trade.html

MICHAEL PINEDA who had Visa issues and accepted a trip to the minors to get in shape and was booked for three starts at Toledo got the call early by the Tigers after two starts. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/tigers-notes-mize-manning-pineda.html The Nats have called up Sam Clay, who walked as a minors free agent from the Twins. The lefty is getting a look for a second season in our nation's capitol.

Interesting thoughts going forwards. Correa, in all likllihood, will produce and make it worth his while to walk from the Twins. But if he doesn't, that juts one helluiva a complication that could arise come 2023. When I see the Twins playing Arraez at first base...well, it got him in the lineup. But putting a guy in an uncomfortable position (even leftfield) doesn't necessarily make him more comfortable in the game. Arraez, the guy with the lone Twins bat as of today, but no place to play. I started to think that Miranda should get the call, and be cycled in at first base or leftfield. Clearly staying in AAA would help Larnach and Celestino more than struggling at the major league level right now. And watching Garlick, I guess it will be time for more Jake Cave. I have yet to figure out Rocco. From bullpen usage (it is their turn today) to lineup construction (who hasn't batted cleanup, or isn't it time to reeeeeeestablish Kepler as a lead-off hitter) to player usage (let's play someone somewhere, at least for a couple of innings...hey, have we tried Sanchez at shortstop yet?). We (I) get emotional and call for heads to roll, and the season is still young. If WE all think the Twins are competitive, as our front office told us throughout the off-season, then we start questioning every decision, every player move, every thrown pitch, every swing. If it is just a team in a rebuild, or just coming out and giving us an entertaining evening of play, they we can sit back and hope that the next or the next or the next season will be a return to greatness that the Twins have only seen periodically in their 60+ years in the business.

Well, the second coming of Colome (Pagan), Robles (Smith), Farrell (Romero), Waddell (Cotton). And another cast of characters that will make us still remember we trotted out Law, Barraclough, Gibaut, , Vincent, garcia, Burrows, Garza and Anderson, amongst others. I imagine the Twins will make a couple of hard decisions come May 1, but will still stick with Duffey and others because they are paying them and hope they turn around and become, if nothing ese, tradebait if the team tanks.

Well, there would have to be a 40-man spot made, and would also have to take on his $700,000 salary.

Well, amidst all the changes the Twins made, they still needed a bonifide closer. And if they had gotten one, Rogers would've been one of two solid setup guys (with hopefully Alcala surplanting Duffey in that role). But we basically have a bullpen of all middle inning guys. Some have decent skill sets, but we keep our fingers crossed if the game is close. The joy is that there are a lot of bodies at AAA to run thru the system, depending on how far you wish to slip in the standings. And, at some point, you have to give the ball to THE FUTURE: Canoi, Moran, mabe Mason, possibly Gore...guys that you may expect to be around next season.

Well, Smith was the right choice with bases loaded. But Duffey has now been responsible for losing two games that the Twins should've won. Sorta like Colome last season. Pitchers are going to have ups and downs. But you have to use them carefully. Rocco tends to have "an order of use" sheet rather than a situational sheet. And, except with starters, tries to get a little more than necessary, especially in April with the expanded bullpen. Of course, having rotation arms pitch at least five and get into the sixth will be a blessing. We can excuse April as extended spring training. And that the bats (and line-up...any rhyme or reasoning there) is still working thru kinks. But.....

I'm thinking the front office didn't put a whole lot of thought into the bullpen this year. Although, once again, they stocked the St. Paul Saints with a helluva a lot of arms that couldn't quite break the major league roster...yet.

Infielder J.T. RIDDLE, who had a very brief stint with the Twins in 2021, was selected for the Reds major league roster. Marcos Diplan was optioned back to the minors by the Orioles.

ROB REFSNYDER has been called to the majors by the Boston Red Sox. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/red-sox-select-rob-refsnyder-place-christian-vazquez-jonathan-arauz-on-covid-list.html After a bad start, Atlanta Braves have sent Huascar Ynoa back to the minors. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/braves-dfa-sean-newcomb.html

Or, I imagine most of us do look at the Twins website daily, and they are all listed month-by-month and easy to read (but without any commentary) here: https://www.mlb.com/twins/roster/transactions Once you get past all the spring training ups-and-downs.