Rosterman

A bit of movement. ANDREW VASQUEZ has been called up by the Angels. RALPH GARZA JR. has been called up by the Tampa Bay Rays. The Garza was sent down and the next day former Rule-5 miss Dusten Knight was called up by the Rays for a day and then sent back out. Chase Anderson was released after one start with Toledo and removed from the 40-man roster, resigning a minor league contract. The 2006 42nd round draftee (didn't sign) for the Twins has played eight years, primarily as a rotation arm, with the Phillies, Diamondbacks, Brewers, and Blue Jays going 56-46 4.20 ERA in 938 major league innings. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/anderch01.shtml

Well, the Twins (and Saints) took a chance on the weather. It ws a beautiful night, in many ways, for a game until 9:30ish. The rain parkas came out, but Target Field is not a bad place if it isn't unbearably cold. But they maybe should've stopped play when they flashed the severe thunderstorm coming, move to the concourse message and covered the field...finishing the tied (at that point) game the next day.

It actually wasn't uncomfortably cold at the stadium tonight. Just wet!

He's in Yokohama for his second season of play. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=romero000fer

Taylor Rogers got a reunion with his brother Tyler, now that he wears the National League uniform of the Padres. A bittersweet movement as the brothers traded lineup cards before the game. Tyler ended up getting the loss in relief for the Giants. Taylor posted HIS THIRD SAVE for the Padres! https://abc30.com/sports/taylor-rogers-gets-save-for-san-diego-padres-as-twin-brother-tyler/11739702/

The Minnesota Twins MEDIA GUIDE 2022 is also on-line. https://pressbox.athletics.com/Publications/MLB Media Guides/2022 Minnesota Twins Media GuideV2.pdf

I'm wondering how the lockout pushed back the Yearbook. Didn't have last's years until mid-season. Considering that it is also an advertising revenue thing, you'd think......

What could Minnesota offer him that any other team couldn't? That is the question! If he wants to play in the future, he will want playing time, not just be a gench bat (or even a part-time designated hitter).

ANY COMMENTS, DON'T DO ON THIS THREAD. A NEW THREAD ON 2022 EX-TWINS HAS BEEN CREATED AT:

Let's judge them after the first two weeks.

The Dodgers home opener is Thursday. I'm sure they hoped to get into town, settled, and have their media day before the game. Who schedules a two-game series with a West Coast's team only appearance in Minnesota in April, without a travel day for both teams IN CASE you need a makeup? This is the problem that will be magnified even mroe next season when all 30 teams play each other at some point during the season. I'm sure the Twins are watching the weather closely and hope the storm will just brush downtown Minneapolis and the wind holds down so they can get at least five innings of play. Got tickets for tonight! Gonna be wet getting to and from the stadium, fer sure.

Hey, should post this weekly in this thread about Ex-Twins! I love following ex-Twins news! Yes, see that Taylor Rogers already has THREE SAVES!

Yes. Trey Cabbage lost that 2020 season, but his work in 2022 didn't get him to AAA yet with another organization. And he probably would've been stuck in the same spot with Minnesota this season with Miranda returning to St. Paul, at least for the start. Lots of former Twins with major league experience with the Twins looking for another trip to the majors. Michael Pineda is starting in the minors. Mainly because of Visa issues. He will be back up in Detroit before long. Not sure if it would be a major league team, but maybe a decent AAA team (?): Rotation arms: Stephen Gonsalves, Aaron Slegers, Tommy Milone, Chase De Jong, Andrew Albers, Edwar Colina. Lots of catchers: Chris Herrmann, Juan Centeno, Juan Graterol, Tomas Telis. Infield? Brent Rooker, J.T. Riddle, Travis Blankenhorn, Tsu-Wei Lin, Drew Maggi, Ronald Torreyes and super-sub Willians Astudillo. Patrolling the outfield: Rob Refsnyder, Ryan LaMarre and Aaron Whitefield. The bullpen looks like a Twins bullpen, lots of arms and pray for results but no closer! Tyler Clippard, Ralph Garza Jr., Aaron Vasquez, Shaun Anderson, Kyle Barraclough, Blake Parker, Brandon Waddell, Beau Burrows, Trevor Hildengerber, Mike Vincnet, and Michael Tonkin.

Not like Sano is doing any better. Polanco was also having difficulty. But, hey, it is THREE GAMES!

I've been doing this list stuff for ages, largely for fellow autographers. And especially for the long defunct Twinscards site where I illustrated yearly rosters (majors and minors) with player autographed cards. I originally got into collecting Twins autographs, then anyone on the 40-man. It expanded to those that were in the Twins system but made the majors with other teams. And as I got more into minor league card sets, I pretty much track anyone A-level and above. I also go over the draft records on BaseballCube as it is a powerhouse for tracking those drafted players...and started to be taken by the number of guys that never signed with the Twins but went onto careers with other teams. Far from perfect, and my mind forgets names over each year. But I have fun...still, after 50+ years sending out letters to Twins-related players with images for autographing.

Stevie Berman was also a possibility. Suddenly the Twins have TOO MANY CATCHERS! Hamilton also at AAA. Isola and free agent signees Morales and Ortega, plus Bechtold and Williams at AA. Carmago, Morales and WInkel in Cedar Rapids. Cardenas, Schmidt, Tatum in Ft. Myers. Plus at least six promising ones at the Training Center.

He was released from the Red system in 2020 and hasn't resurfaced anywhere. https://www.milb.com/player/felix-jorge-602928

Rogers is not a closer. The Twins needed a closer last year and got Colome. They needed one this year and got...no one. If you thought Duffey had potential, you ahd all last season, especially in September, to see if he could handle the job. The guy is a mid-inning and possible set-up guy. But NOT a closer. Alcala could be a closer, but again...did you try him last September? Of course, if you don't mind losing games like this, it doesn't matter. Go by committee. Have another crappy April. Of course, since you have no written-in-stone bonifide closer, better hope you don't have a full month of 1-run games. Duran NEEDS to be given the chance. He ahs the stuff. He can get the outs. But, alas, if we go thru the week and end up with NO starter giving us five innings...we may question how well the Twins used their limited spring training, and the faith they have in their aresnal of starting arms.

If this was looking at the list at the end of the Year, would easily find 10 names NOT to consider keeping, and many could still be upgraded right now or during the season. A few prospects on the Fringe...will either become a aprt of the team...but on the fringe...or bypassed this season. Names I would easily replace with others...but not with folks like Cave or Garlick or any number of minor league pitchers signed to fill the Saints roster.

Time for the RETURN OF TWINKIE THE LOON!

Baseball is always a game of subtle changes. The names on the uniforms may change. Of late, things change like a designated hitter for all teams, a runner starts on second in extra innings. Catchers have a contraption on their arm so their signs can't be stolen from dugouts. But pitchers still pitch. Fielders field. Hitters swing and miss or make contact. The ballet moves on the field are a joy to watch, as well as the cheers when a runnr makes it all around the base paths. Baseball is a relaxing time with friends and food. You get to yell and shout at times, shake your head quite a lot, be able to hold conversations and not told to shut up by those around you. Jump up and down mindlessly. And sometimes wish T.C. Bear actually could bat for the hometeam in a game.. But those who love the games always sit in the stands, more often than not now in Minnesota, in the open air. You enjoy a hot dog (especially on dollar dog day) and beverage of choice. And you watch the game. And always have memories. Ran across this old picture from 12 years ago of a favorite fan doing just that! Enjoying time in the stands while watching his favorite - a game of baseball!

It will be interesting watching the development of Ryan. He can challenge the hitters, but if a team is savvy, they can also make him throw strikes. It's that fine line of when you just throw strikes and when you try and be cute, and keeping the advantage in your arena rather than the batters. I'm glad Duran got butterflies out of the way. He might just be the closer the Twins need now and forever. What do you think? I keep trying to think how I would construct this lineup. I always loved Arraez as a lead-off hitter as he can make a pitcher work. Better than Buxton usually can at this point. Correa is a good #2 hitter. But if Buxton gets on base, I love his ability to advance if the #2 hitter puts a ball in plau compared to Arraez. Yet Buxton could also give us power and would be a nice fit in the #3 hole. But you don't want him followed by strikeout kings like Sano or Sanchez. Is Kirilloff the good #4 hitter...but then HE is followed by the strikeout kinds. Or Gio...should he be the #4 hitter? And I hate toi bury Polanco in the end of the line-up, but someone has to anchor that end of the card, too. The Twins did get their own walks, and didn't swing as free as the Mariners, which was good. Ray managed to endure, which is a plus these days for saving a staff and is the type of performance Ryan should study...how to work a game. Of course, both pitchers suffered from a lone home run. Ryan's had a hit batsman. Read somewhere that the Twins are going with a six man rotation the first month. Pushed Ryan into the 70-pitch count. Happily the bullpen had a couple of multi-inning arms.

My bigger question is: Obvious the Twins needed a Closer going into 2021. And especially in 2022. Why didn't they at least make an attempt to tackle this issue, eitehr via a trade (too) or a signing. Thery had no idea how Rogers would return until spring games. And, truth-be-told, Rogers is an exceptional set-up guy who can close if you are winning so many games that your closer can't pitch every nite. I hoped Alcala would develop in that direction, but he is not there yet. I had hoped that the Twins would've given other people an opportunity at the end of 2001 (Duffey, for example) instead of giving Colombe more value. At best, a light's out closer is valuable if you are the competing team you say you wish to be. The problem is you have two rookie starters who will be pushing to do 30 rotations and 150 innings, two reclamation projects, a bunch of rookies, and - at least now - two veterans who can eat some innings. April will be a telling month in Twins land! Can Rocco manage the bullpen!

FORMER TWINS PLAYING IN JAPAN MATT SHOEMAKER pitched for the Twins in 2021. DIETRICH ENNS pitched for Twins in 2017. FERNANDO ROMERO pitched in Minnesota in 2018-19. Estamy Urena was a Twins prospect from 2017-19. TYLER AUSTIN was a Twins slugger from 2018-19. NIK TURLEY pitched for Twins in 2017. JOHN GANT pitched last season for the Twins afetr coming over in the J.A. Happ trade in 2021. Adam Brett Walker was in the Twins system from 2012-16. ALAN BUSENITZ pitched for the Twins in 2017-18.

He slid in and his frozen mitt is still stuck to homeplate! Happily no Snowman interference was called!