Rosterman

Well, if you got 6 innings average out of your rottion arms, that would be 1,000 innings...five pitchers pitching 200 innings. Hard enough to have one pitcher on a staff reach that mark these days. The Twins have no pitchers currently that will come close to 200 innings. Ober and Jax MIGHT hit 50 innings (at best, 30 starts, five innings a start. Ryan could be ushed towards that amount. Bundy, who knows. Looks like the Twins, baring a free agent or trade addition, will have to cycle thru some 10 pitchers at the least to start games in 2022. And even those, if they spent a full year at AAA or AA, might be hard pressed to surpass 150 innings, which would be the dream if you want them going forwards. It's all about the innings, and the pitch counts it takes to get to those innings. And hope you have the 40-man roster spots to shuttle guys back and forth, not to mention the strain on the pen. It's a situation like this that someone like Griffin Jax may get a chance to shine, of be one of the worst starters ever in the history of the franchise.

C'mon, You expected him to jump right to the Big Leagues? He got his feet wet in Ft. Myers. The Florida Leagues were notorious last season for pitching starters 3 innings, soemtimes 4 at the most. You were seeing such a wide variety of pitchers. Yes, it wasn't the Instructional League, but still...everyone of those guys you are facing are equal (and some better) than you. Plus you are adjusting from collegiate bats to the wooden ones. He advanced to Cedar Rapids, made some adjustments while facing more seasonsed (okay, that is an understatement) pitchers and did well. 2022 will be a good year to see what he does, starting with spring training, hopefully at Cedar Rapids, and then a kick to Wichita, maybe sooner rather than later if the Twins can stop signing minor league free agents. He has to learn to stay away from his weakness swings (like Sano), but is showing that he can at least get a base-on-ball. Coaches, film will hopefully make that better. Will he be a big bopper than can hit for average? Let's wait until he has at least two seasons under his belt.

Ultimately, the Twins need pitchers that will throw innings. You pay him for NOT pitching in 2022, and who knows what he will pitch in his walk season. You give up a player/s for someone you need to add to the 40-man until you can injure-reserve him come SPring Taring end. He contributes nothing for 2022. You lose out on players (unless you are trading, say, a Lewis Thorpe who needs to make the majors in 2022). Again, the Twins need to develop pitchers that can throw innings, as well as add pitchers as free agents who can also throw innings.

Grienke should be able to get a competitive offer from anyone but the Twins. A team would welcome him. Because he is a known innings eater. If he signs with a lesser team, it would behoove that team to flip him at the trade deadline if need be. Pineda has enjoyed success with the Twins. How much is he worth? I wondered after the Twins failed to find any takers at the tading deadline. I imagine he wants a multi year deal (two years with a third year option minimum). See if that happens. The Twins have to find a way to egt Arraez and Polanco and Donaldson and maybe Gordon and Miranda in the line-up. What all those names alck is shortstop ability. Watch the Twins pick up the lowest available opportunist that they can to fill this hole. I still feel the Twins need a bonafide closer...unless they have no desire to compete at all in 2022. Then, they can stick with what they have, tryout Alcala for the job, maybe even showcase Duran for their future.

I think Sano was always figured to be a permanent DH at some point in his Twins career. The question is, will he have a longtime career similar to Ortiz at Boston, or is his perceived value as a DH makes him a more movable commodity once DH is added to the National League and there is a sudden surge (need) for players that can just hit. Yes, Sano makes outs when you don't need an out. He is streaky. Does he stay in shape? Is playing in the field a way to keep him in the game and also in shape? Right now, he is more valuable because he is a bat thaty can also play first and, in a pinch, third. Yet the DH just being a bat is a problem. How many times did you want to play Nelson Cruz or Jim Thome in the outfield. When you play games with a National League team in the past, the DH became basically a bench bat. Sure, they were going to be used because you ended up pinch-hitting at least once for a pitcher. The Twins have a bunch of DH guys. Fist, Mitch Garver. The guy will be lucky if he could catch 80-100 games. But if his bat remains, it would be nice to get him into more games rather than sit on the bench. He ahs also been used at first, although I doubt that he would be a regular there like Mauer. We have Josh Donaldson. Age alone people think he should DH more. Maybe, but as long as he can play third base, he is the Twins best option there. Of course, the Twins may have Miranda or Lewis or Arraez or Martin needing a position, and any of those could factor into third, and all are expected to be Twins for the foreseeable future. Donaldson could also transition into a first baseman. Again, if he is a DH, does he suffer conditioning wise, because he does seem to enjoy staying in the game on the field. Alex Kirilloff. Pencilled-in as a future first baseman. But the Twins still need a corner outfielder to start the season. Musical chairs, perhaps. I would vote to let Alex play at first as much as possible. He is the future. I would ake the chance that there is another corner outfielder coming up in the system (Wallner, Celestino, Martin, Lewis, whomever). Sadly I don't want to see a replay in 2022 of Refsnyder, Cave, Garlick or any host of otehr guys not part of the future Minnesota Twins. And then we come to Rooker. This is his last chance to claim the fourth outfielder position. He is also a butcher at first. He could be a power bat threat. He is still cheap. Is he worthwhile to keep. Do we need a true cenetrfield backup option, or can we live with Kepler and Nick Gordon if need be, while Celestino plays everyday in the minors for another season. I like Sano. But I sometimes fear he is more Oswaldo Arcia than David Ortiz. That right now, he could be more valuable as a tade chip (probably tagged with another system player). Him gone would allow the Twins to cycle all of the above names thru the DH hole, getting them in the lineup. With him here, two just become bench bats in every game, compared to one.

You can keep track of other minor league free agent signings, as well as movements of former Twins into other minor league systems, at this long running link.

We talk about someone like Maris...he had that record. Well, folks, he is in the Hall of Fame with that record. Immortalized. Just not in the room with the plaques. The Hall of Fame does recognize achievements. You are somewhere on the walls or trophy cases if you won a batting title, rookie of the year, Cy Young, MVP, etc. Who should be on a plaque? According to the Baseball Writers Association, someone who had an impact on the sports of baseball, usually tied to longevity and overall excellent stats. Some get in because they just excelled in everyway during a short career (Koufax, Puckett would apply here). Some, like Ernie Banks, did the best possible with the team he represented, and he represented baseball well for that team. There always was numbers, before, that pretty much guaranteed success. But then you start to look at players of the decade, players of the team, players that bring as much off the field as they do on the field. For the longest time it seemed the Big Market dominated. Look at the Twins. Harmon Killebrew WAS the biggest name in the franchise until Puckett came along. If Santana had pitched his career with Minnesota, and won that third Cy Young, he would probably be a shoo-in. Too bad he was a one year and gone candidate. You had workhorse pitches like Morris, Blyleven, John, Kaat...all that would've thrived in different locations, but you actually look at the numbers and they are Hall of Famers. Not maybe the flash, and always playing second or third fiddle to others of their era, but they are Hall of Famers. If Harmon Killebrew or Reggie Jackson had retired from the game today with their numbes, would they be as popular shoo-ins as they were when elected to the Hall of Fame? Why does it work for some players in some decades but not others nowadays. No thought it given to bullpen arms, and here were some great workhorses before the popular invention of the save. And as starting pitchers fail to even approach 200 innings a season, will we ever see the win/loss records of old, yet alone the strikeout marks of the past. David Ortiz brought love for the pure designated hitter. Again, he was good, but was he super great (just barely getting the vote tells us what the writers think). But, if you look at his career, his work for the team, his effect on the game of baseball...he excelled. So many players are ignored or forgotten because of the market they played the game. You have to become the total face of the franchise. Joe Mauer is an example. He wilal get in as the Face of Minnesota Twins abseball, he had a solid career as a catcher, and his overall numbers are worthy. Every player needs to be carefuly evaluated, looking at what they do best, and what they brought to the game. Not where they played, how they dominated because of the team, and what they did with their time in baseball.

2019 Minor League Free Agent signee DANIEL CAMARENA who pitched for the Red Wings has signed with the Padres.

One and done, a snub for sure. That third Cy Young should've clinched it for Santana, but then even people would argue about longevity. (Us Twins fans still wonder what would've been Santana's career if he had stayed a Minnesota star forever rather than go to Big Market land). Players stay on the ballotting for multiple years because there is something to discuss regarding their careers. You can make many pros on factoring Santana as a Hall of Famer, but now it is moot. Especially for Joe Nathan. Criteria has to be established over every decade about the importance of relief pitchers (anyone want to talk about the sheer dominance, late in his game, of Al Worthington out of the pen, in multi-inning stints, during his Twins career and stats compared to msot relievers of the time?). More discussion needed to be made about Nathan and the save, but closers get shafted...forget about being a dominant relief pitcher who maybe closes some during a career. We can argue about how writers get to make this call. I like how many do share their picks (and why). But now we do have a players choice sub-committee that reconsiders people down-the-line.

Well, he is one of those guys you expect to be dazzling on the bases if he can get on base. Doesn't matter if he has power, but he can turn a walk or a single into an extra base when no one is looking. Unfortunately, more people are looking in the big leagues, and even if your BB/K ratio is betetr than most, you still need the occasional single to put you in a position to score. Is there a learning curve for any prospect? Sure there is. Gomez, Hicks, Buxton all started off slow. Celestino got some licks in, but at least he has shined at AAA so he isn't on the "let's move on" list -- yet. And, no matter how good a Granite may rock in the minors, you still get a bit more time if you are a bigtime bonus draftee. Granite was a fourth outfielder. You have to produce when called upon, or are replaced by the Grossmans or Caves of this world.

Twins sign Brandon Lawson, a 27-year-old pitcher who seems to be floundering in AA ball, which is where he will probably start for the Twins in 2022 as he tries to find his mark on a career path to the majors.. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lawson002bra

When signing free agents, there are two factors. (1) What are you willing to pay them. (2) Do they want to play for your team. Often, no amount of money thrown at a player will guarantee that the player will come and play. Where it works...if a guy is on the fringe like, say, an Ervin Santana who wants that additional guaranteed year. or a Michael Pineda, who wants a decent salary while rehabbing and will give you a deal on his first year back. Then, you to evaluate your own players. That is where the Twins seem to have the most trouble. Did they wait to long to bring Berrios into the long-term contract fold discussion, because if you wait too long they find themselves seeking another team for the same amount, if not maybe even less, than you might've paid for their services. Evaluating players is always an issue, because you balance giving someone like a Morneau or Cuddyer or Hunter or Nathan a longer contract against someone coming up to take their place at a substantial cost savings. Forget that they have been a loyal part of the team for many seasons. But you like them, but not enough to keep them around when you would raeehr deal with a lesser option. And then you scramble when the replacement isn't as good. Every year there are hundreds of players looking for work. Last season the Twins gave innings to Happ, Shoemaker, Barnes, Albers,, Barraclough, Robles, Farrell, Law, Colome, Waddell, Minaya, Coulombe, Gibaut, Vincent, Garcia, Burrows and Gant. None are returning. Some got a showcase at season's end when the Twins would've been better served giving innings to people like Balazovic, Strotman, Cano and Moran who are the future. They jettisoned Wade and allowed Baddoo to depart, but filled the outfield with Garlick, Cave, Refsnyder and Rooker. They also managed to NOT increase the value of Simmons and supplemented the lack of a shortstop with Maggi, Lin, Riddle and found a backup keeper in Gordon, who many fans thought the Twins should've kicked off the organizational chart a couple of prior years earlier. So, yes, there does seem to be a love of the scrap pile. See 2020 with Homer Bailey, Corey Gearrin, Juan Minaya, Matt Wisler, Alex Avila, Ildemaro Vargas seeing major league time in a short but competitive season. That's how the cast-off signings should work, rather than filling your backup roster and the upper minor league levels with guys who are basically around for one year and gone. And, especially during a losing season, you can bring up your own future players and allow them to fail, rather than guns for hire who are playing to gt something better, which will probably NOT be with your team.

Back when Scouts had to visit small towns and more local games, rather than competitive showcases. Dick has always been a wonderful Minnesota Twins alumni. As an autographer, he was always kind to fans requesting his signature. And was a mainstay at every TwinsFest since they began, until newer fans started NOT knowing who he was. There is so much charm from players from the early days before big salaries and such. They really enjoyed playing the game and it was heartfelt when they no longer could and had to walk away, back into their real world. Often their communities where they were absorbed into the everyday workforce.

Brian Dinkelman, who was actually a second baseman and outfielder and split his time at each position for the 2011 Twins. He hit a whopping .301, which was higher than anything he ever hit in abseball before and definitely afterwards. He stayed with the Twins after retiring and will be starting his ninth in the organization, 4th as a minor league manager. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=dinkel001bri

If Joe Nathan can't make the cut, not sure if Glen can.

Joe Nathan is one of the last GREAT relief pitchers.

I seemed to remember Jason Bartlett expressing interest to return to the Twins as a systems coach. Never happened.

Twins signed free agent Elijah Greene, once of the Angels and last sumemr of the Diamondbacks. The outfielder was put on the Cedar Rapids roster. Not to be confused with Eiljah Green. Former Twins catcher Juan Centeno signs a minor league contract with the Diamondbacks. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/01/diamondbacks-sign-juan-centeno-catcher.html

Find a rundown of former Twins coaching elsewhere at this link:

Most affiliates are just finishing naming their field staffs. I imagine an influx of minor league free agents (as well as a few former Twins signing as 40-man free agents like Rosario, for one) will happen once the lockout ends. But probably holding off any look at Twins in the minor leagues until the roster are set at the end of Spring Training. Many given a looksee in the spring don't make the final cut. LeCroy is the AAA Manager for the Nationals with the Rochester Red Wings, at least thru last season.

WILKIN ROSARIO, who spent the 2019 season with the Twin's Rochester Red Wings. He has quite the international career, playing in Korea, Japan, the Dominican Winter Leagues. Mexico, after spending a decade in the Rockies system and playing at Coors Field. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/01/cpbls-uni-president-lions-sign-wilin-rosario.html

We all got excited that even though TwinsFest was not going to happen again, the Winter Caravan was back on, where Twins prospects, broadcasters and a couple of diehard old-timers journey out into the rural snow-covered freezing areas of the five state area. https://www.mlb.com/news/twins-winter-caravan-returning-in-2022 But, alas, because of the latest virius news - and also something called "a lockout" I imagine - players and the only guy who does manage to stay warm doing this event (TC Bear) will not be visiting the frozen northlands. https://fergusnow.com/2022/01/17/minnesota-twins-officially-cancel-2022-winter-caravan-due-to-covid-concerns/ Someday, again, we may have a Twinsfest, an autograph party, or see players drift out to what remains of card shows or card shops. Appear at the Minnesota State Fair. Maybe ride in a parade. Or just get close to fans-in-the-stands pre- and post-game.

The pre-Big Television days. Baseball was a game for the people, because people played it as a recreational, pick-up sport. It was something thhat anyone could be a part of the game if you had even one skillset. Be it throwing, batting, catching. And it was a slower-paced, more relaxing game with suspense in the play at times. 150+ games. Lots of seats to sell everyday. You could relax and just watch. Talk with friends. Enjoy the outdoors. Smoke and Eat. What more do you want. Sure, there were superstars, but there also were a lot of players that could be your next door neighbor, that returned home to work in the butcher shop or sell insurance or cars or run a liquor store in the off-season. You worrked hard for your money as you went up the ranks of the minors, and worked especially hard devoting your time to the sport and entertainment once you hit the bigs, knowing you might have a career of 1-2-5 years at best for most. There were always expensive seats, but also lots of cheap seats. The game appealed to groups of youngsters. It appealed to families. And the appeal was always there when families would gather and someone brought along a softball and a bat so you could play without gloves. Pick-up games with a dozen kids where you just cycled thru all the positions and just played ball. I'm sorry. When you have to sell 20,000-35,000 ticekts a game (or more)...well, bravo if you sell out at your big prices, which you have to charge because of big contracts and the need for profits. But ownership (and the legues) forget some of the better basics. You do like to face the same teams more often than not (although the Yankees always draw bigger crowds). But that was the joy of division rivalries, and also lesser transportation costs etc. Inter-league play? I don't know. Just seems to have forgotten the roots of the sport. There is something special about watching the home team, the professional town ball club, the players that grow oevr the years. You can now watch games from any market (for a price). Players change every season. Are they really a part of the community? Baseball was the great National pastime because you could play the game with a bunch of friends and not get hurt. So what if you missed a catch, struck out!

Thoughts about OPENERS. There seems to be a certain mindset amongst some starters that they do need to "start" a game, especially if they have a pregame routine. But can they just keep throwing in the pen? Also, the opener would face the first 3-5/6 batters. Part of the charm is that the "real starting pitcher" would make their start, facing the weaker part of the order, while they find the plate. Plus then the 1-2-3 batters would have to adjust to a whole 'nother pitcher, especially if you are from the school that your first two baeetrs in the order have the capability of making a pitcher throw 4-6 pitches at least so the players watching from the dugout can get a read on the arm on the mound. (WHich is why Luis Arraexz is a great leadoff hitter). And if you had two of these guys, capable of starting every third day (and maybe being available on other days to face a couple of batters), it would work because you should have at least two starters who want to start and can get you into a game. Using an opener, especially in the case of the Twins, might mean an Ober can go more than five innings. And, if can keep the lead, also get a win, which you don't when you have a short start. If there was one plus for still having Wisler on the staff, he could be a crafty opener, as well as a bullpen arm. But the whole reasoning is that the real starter will face a weaker part of the order...why have Jax pitch thru the order, then the starter gets to face the tough guys all over again anyways...might as well have him start and bring in a bullpen arm. Or, the real reason is that you hope the "real starter" will go further with his 100 pitches if he doesn't have to face the first 5-6 batters right away. Now with 8-man bullpens, you can basically have a guy be an opener, if you have guys on limited innings/pitch counts, of which the Twins have a whole slew for '22.

Micahel Tonkin returns on a minor league deal with the Barves! Who remembers him? https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/01/braves-michael-tonkin-agree-to-minor-league-deal.html