Rosterman

The general thought was a tad more seasoning, wear out the arms that are currently up here, and the Twins are set...especially if they are hovering around .500 and the bullpen IS the weakest link (at the moment). Where is Nick Tepesch? Did he miss his plane?

I would love to hear the coaches discussion on Buxton. What they were teaching him in the minors and how they approach him in the majors. You'd think that with all that talent he would be far better than he is showing at the plate. Even in the field where he basically is a gem because he ahs such natural abilities. Would've thought he could've beena leadoff or #2 in the order guy by now. More seasoning in the minors? Not necessary if you are a rebuilding team. But get him his own personal coach, not only batting but for life decisions.

You worked your bullpen around pitchers who could get certain hitters out, made less complicated with the designated hitter rule, meaning you didn't have to worry about making a pitching change because the pitcher was going to hit. You have the bases loaded in the 7th with one out, you bring in a ground ball pitcher or the strikeout king. Period. Of course, how many teams have true closers? Do the Twins in 2017? Even part of alst year?

The Twins will most definitely work in the future this season. Yes, we had a hot start, but the next two weeks will put everything into perspective...how well we do in our division. If we play .500 ball in the division, then we have to hope we don't get clobbered in the other divisions. Pitching is holding its own, and although we should be looking towards the future, no starter is going anywheres yet. Santana might be a valuable trade chip. It would be nice if Hughes is, too. Gibson is derailing, or just an okay guy who will be hard to keep come arbitration deadlines, if push comes to shove. At some point, the Twins will have to think TOTALLY about who will be on this team in 2018 & 2019.

Where is Zack Jones hiding?

Walker is gone. Buxton could be the next Gomez, Revere, Hicks center fielder sent packing (with Granite taking his spot). Berrios needs to come to the majors. Where is Jones right now? Bard is getting older from injuries. Duffey and Rogers are here and holding their own. Chargois could be a stud. The Twins didn't see fit to add Baxendale to the 40-man this off season. Only time will tell.

And then who would O'Rourke replace, if need be? If you need that fifth starter, better to stretch out Duffey or just call up Berrios and make a cut in the bullpen. Tonkin WOULD free ups pace and I doubt anyone will leap out of the brush to claim him. Breslow goes if you feel you have a lefty or two inreserve to replace him.

The 40-man roster debate! You have Danny Santana, Michael Tonkin and Justin Haley who could all disappear if they don't put up decent numbers...because there are adequate replacements in the wings. And you have Boshers in the minors holing up a spot. And you have to decide on Kennys Vargas. Of course, having people like Park on the disabled list never helps matters. Dilemma #1. What to do when O'Rourke and Adrianza come off the DL. O'Rourke could go to the minors. Adrianza needs to stay (even though he could probably pass thru waivers at this point). Dilemma #2: The rotation. Can you trust Gibson and Hughes in the long haul? Is Mejia ready? Is it better to keep Duffey in the bullpen (yes). Can the Twins get six innings out of each of their pitchers the next go around? What about the outfield? Do we panic? Who lays out there. Looks like Santana is basically a fourth wheel getting stuck in the mud and your true 4th outfielder is still in the DH land. You gotta play Buxton, Kepler and Rosario to see what you have. But someone will be on the bubble and hopefully Palka and Granite are in the wings. Also, remember, Palka is a designated hitter possibility...someday. I don't see the Twins jumping anyone from AA ball to the majors. I also don't see them adding anyone of note to the 40-man. At best, we see them shuffle thru any of the variety of minor league free agents they signed, jettisoning them when the time comes and they move prospects into play at each level.

What is the status of Zach Jones and Lewis Thorpe. Will either get enough work to shine in the minors this year?

I would still like to see Dozier in the 3-hole with Polanco and Buxton ahead of him. Mauer at clean-up? Perhaps at 5th behind Sano (Sano between Dozier and Mauer might actually get good pitches to hit). Kepler at sixth. The rest up for grabs. Grossman is the 4th outfielder.

Yes, not being on the 40-man is often a player's undoing. Like being out of options sometimes give you a bit more slack. But as proven by all the"talent" the Twins signed and brought to camp, you can find replacement players for fringe players/prospects. I harp on this, but you have to - at this point - look at who will be on the roster next season, and preferably beyond. This is the future of your organization. Then you decide if they need LOTS of seasoning, still, in the minors - or need to work-it-out at the major league level. Few players go right from the minors to stardom in their first big league season. Many spend a season (or two) adjusting and then become mainstays in an organization or in pro ball. As to 30-days of spring training. It is a way for guys to egt into shape. Maybe they don't need as much time as they did in the past, where they toiled in other jobs and reporting to camp early was a financial hardship compared to today. Besides the "meaninglessness of spring training games" that is harped - if you win OR lose - it is also a wonderful promotional angle for the season...if people still read newspapers or if TV can be brought into the fold. You used to have a story a day - a happy story - about the team, mixed in with the new food at the park stories and all. But that ahs gone bye-bye with the failings of the press to increase readership. I'm waiting to see how the team markets itself after Game One is over!

I'm curious to see how long a look the Twins need for Park at AAA. Considering they removed him from the 40-man and that he also cleared waivers means he wasn't necessarily fitting into the plans of the new administration. For Vargas, it was his job to lose and he lsot it. I look at a rewarding career for him overseas. Do the Twins send him there or does he go there himself. Better yet, does he stay in the Twins organization this season. I don't see Grossman as a DH at-all. I see Mauer and Sano getting at bats in the position. But the flip side, right now, is "Who's on First" and "Who's on Third." Suddenly the though of having Trevor Plouffe as a bench player looks mighty tempting, especially at the salary he signed with the A's, which the Twins could've done if they had parted company i August. They have no one to play first (Kepler?) and I don't want to see Escobar at third, ever, never. Yes, at this point it would be nice to have the bat of Park, if he does hit for the power, and the ability of Park to play better than even Mauer at first. But we suddenly see the folly in dreaming of a great year for the Twins. They have weak catching at the plate, no bench whatsoever, the question of Sano at third of fulltime DH (but then who plays third) and the elephant in the room -- Joe Mauer. Will he be the Mauer of Real Old or just an aging Mauer of the now. And I can't wait to see the new batting order and how many times it changes in the first week/first month. Who are the mid-season managerial candidates for the Twins to look at? Is there any longterm hope for Dougie or Jake to become a Twins manager, or where the powers-that-be go outside the organization? Is here a Fire Sale happening soon!?

Good solid list. The outfield might be a problem, unless someone goes down. But expect a total revamp of the bullpen. Sadly, many of the rotation names won't be here until 2018/19 because of current contracts and the possibility that a Gibson or Santiago may shine brightly.

Well, they have wo choices and we now know which choice they made. Raise prices, because we have to still make money on concessions, but colume-wise they will probably sell fewer. The question will be WILL all these items always be available during a game and will SOME SELL-OUT before a game ends. Lower Prices and make Target Field an eating destination with entertainment. Figure out a way to put fans into the stadium (the standing-room-only ticket sale - especially for a stadium with lots of empty seats was a good idea...if people go to enough games.) For all the push on fan and family friendly, the Twins seem to be pushing towards an elitist crowd. Okay, sure, a family of four can come to the game and get seats in a non-beer drinking section and get a bad dog and a small pop for less that $50. But would actually like to see even more of an emphasis on the Twins, especially when families can now spread out, being friendly. The kids you excite today with baseball become the fans and patrons of tomorrow. Of course, putting a baseball product on the field has something to do with that, too. In some ways, the Twins need to pay even more attention than ever to their compatriots across the river in Saints-bille, who fill the stadium and offer a good variety of reasonably priced food fare. I know. Sure, I didn't always buy a ticket because I lived across the street, but many a time I walked backwards into the stadium around the 7th inning because I was hungry and wanted to partake from a rail the baseball experience. I didn't break-my-bank buying a decent three course dinner there. Going to be closely watching the attendance! That the Twins are trying to sell all sorts of multi-ticket plans means they are trying to figure out a way to get money-in-the-bank ahead of time, still. The abcklash on that is that the more advanced tickets you sell -- for a bad team -- the more tickets there are competing in the market for your own single ticket sales. We know the Twins can't giveaway tickets because of major league rules (unless it is standing-room-only wandering passes). But it all becomes moot if the Twins pull off a 2015 and people actually have to buy single game tickets from them.

Who plays first when Mauer is the DH. I mean, now WE NEED Plouffe as a bench bat!

What a mess. Kepler would have to be the backup at first base, so you can DH Mauer, at times. But when was the last time Kepler had a first baseman's glove. Danny Santana and Eduardo Escobar are then the 4th outfielder of Grossman is the DH. And pencilling in Grossman as DH is NOT what you need to do for a strong lineup. He's that 4th outfieler...and he'll play out there when Mauer DH's...but, again, who plays first. What happens with Vargas (who will probably go on the DL) comes off. The Twins DON'T need that extra arm in the bullpen. All their starters should easily go five innings now and be pushing six, at the least, after the first week. If you wear out a bullpen arm, there is always the Rochester shuffle as there are many guys waiting there. Of course, it all boils down to 40-man roster decisions. We haven't heard yet if the Twins are 60-dayin Perkins. You need to find someone for Gimenez to replace. Of course, you want to keep the door open to easily bring up Boshers. At this pont, I would've rather seen any of the cut guys (including Drew Stubbs) on the bench. But, again, that would involve 40-man roster decisions. Considering you still have a team in which you can easily jettison 4-5 players off the 40-man roster and stash them (if you really need to) in the minors...well, I hope the front office knows what they are doing. I know a rebuilding team full of prospects is hard to market, but so is a roster of no names who won't sell a jersey and doesn't excite people when their stats -- today and yesterday -- are flashed on the jumbotron.

But who will still be pitching for the Twins, or in the organization, come 2018 and especially 2019. Wimmers was showing signs of success after battling injuries over the past few seasons. He was actually the closer at Rochester and got a cup-of-coffee with the Twins, finally, last season -- which is what you hope happens to 1st round draft choices. But because of age and roster number crunches, they felt Boshers was worth more than Wimmers and no one claimed him and Wimmers looking in the mirror still felt the Twins were good for a go and signed a minor league contract. Tonkin the Twins don't want to lose yet. But eventually, they will. I don't see him being back next season at all. And Haley. Okay, an okay pick-up, but we have significant depth of 41st-roster men already from ALL the minor league free agent signings. The bigger question is HOW WILL THE TWINS win with the team they are putting on the field. How many real changes have they made - Castro and Gimenez, Breslow and Belisle. Throw in Haley. That is it. I'm sure the cheering sections are being established right now in different parts of Target Field. Would the Twins have been better served to just push the prospects. You expect that will happen, especially in the bullpen, and if the veteran rotation implodes you should be able to throw the same poitches with Berrios, Wheeler, Mejias, Gonsalves and Stewart, who will ALL be here in the next couple of seasons more than likely, unless they pitch so brilliantly in the minors that the Twins feel a need to trade them. Again, one doesn't see a lot of worth in the Twins 25 above and beyond the prospects who really are already seasoned from a year or two and have to show that they belong. Otherwise, the chances of someone claiming a Tonkin, Duffey...heck, teams passed on Park who looks like he might've been a steal if someone was smart outside of the Twins. Lets hope Polanco, Sano, Kepler, Buxton, Rosario show us great play. Quite frankly there is no one in the current rotation or even the bullpen that I would care to see on Opening Day 2019.

Can't wait to see the breakout at Rochester and Chattanooga with more than 30 pitchers vying for roster spots, many that will be returning for another season at the same level.

Yeah, the DL will probably have Vargas, Adrianza and O'Rourke on it to start the season, and the Twins would be wise to let Perkins ease back in and put him on the 50-day...because they can. Sure, they need a couple of roster spots. Boshers is a name that will be sent onto Rochester or elsewhere (all those non-roster guys will be taking up some space, unless the AA/AAA disabled list gatehrs some names). Interesting to have to choose between Tonkin and WImmers. The Twins have a bit invested in Wimmers, so it would be nice to see if he can be a presence for the next couple of seasons. Of course, all players ARE on a short leash, especially Danny Santana and Escobar. Surprised Drew Stubbs didn't take the offer. He didn't show alot in spring training that will get him a major league roster spot, and I would think he might've been on the ball enough to know that if ANY of the Twins outfielders start off badly, they could be demoted for regular playing time at AAA, as well as the possible injury angle, and he would've been in a decent position for first call-up. I'm trying to figure out what the Red WIngs rotation will be. Is Duffey better suuted for the rotation, or the bullpen. But, I imagine, he will be on a leash, too, as the twins watch the progress of Mejia and Berrios for immediate needs. I'm curious to see what Jason Wheeler does at AAA. And what position Yohan Pino is used in the minors. Too many names down on the farm. Kudos to Park for finding his swing and getting into the groove. Plus, the guy is actually autographing items for fans after last season where he had the most "certified" autographs on cards available of any player in the Big Leagues. But his signature has shortened significantly. I'm hoping Stu Turner comes abck, as the catching depth is really light in the minors...no extra bodies if someone goes on the DL at the moment. Can the starters come out of the gate strong? What will the bullpen really contribute? Talk about a bench...really...ask yourself WHY would you play any of these guys on a regular basis compared to promoting someone from the minors to take a position if there is an injury. And what will the line-up be...and can that line-up be set this week. No need to have those extra bodies in camp. Give a good week to your regulars...you have to win games in April, Twins, if you want fannies in the seats this summer!

The big question is where are the Twins heding with offense players like Buxton, Kepler, Polanco, Sano, Rosario plus pitchers like Gonsalves, Berrios, Stewart and whomever else is in the mix. Will ANY of these guys fail, or be a longterm bargain, or do you also ry and trde them. Who is pushing any of these guys for a job. Right now,the Twins even seem to lack trdaing depth in the minor leagues if they wish to depend on growing from within. So the alternative is strictly to spend money, and probably spend big and hope you can move that BIG contract mid-term.

Sadly, Chargois, with all his potential, will probably get bumped to the minors. Man, what a miserable bullpen. Capable guys, but they have to notch it up to be real shut-down guys. The 5th starter spot is still up for grabs. Sadly, we really wonder who from that lsit will be around in 2018. Can agree with the lineup AND the bench. Not the best bench. But not sure if I do want to carry Vargas. We don't have a comfortable power replacement for Sano at third if he is the DH. That's where we have some shakiness. Polanco has to make the roster and play and I hope he does well, a well as the outfield...which if they play to their potential will be superstar land. Of course, we all wonder what Joe Mauer will do in 2017. I'm so torn between THAT 25-man roster, who filling it with even more rookies. I'm not sure the roster you present will win 70 games. But a roster of prospects might lose 100 again, sadly.

I'm worrying more about where the extra 15 guys on the 40-man and the 22 invites to spring training will find a home at AAA and AA ball and where the Twins of the Future will end up. At some point (soon) the minor league vets need packing papers to find jobs elsewhere (or go to the indy leagues) and the Twins need to give competitive playing time to their real prospects. That I wouldn't miss most of the names mentioned above shows just how weak the Twins are in pieces that NEED to be on the roster and that ANY OTHER TEAM might want. Except for Trevor May, ALL the names above will not be here in 2018. That's what is truly scary. And I don't really see any of them creating any value as a trade possibility (maybe Breslow at best) and even then, we would just get back someone that needs protection from another team.

You cut first from the 40-man of guys who have pretty much no chance of making the team in case of injury during spring training. If in major league camp, they go on the major league disabled list. Minor League free-agents aren't in that category, as well as other minor league guys. You will see players shuffle over at times from minor league camp to offer some depth during spring training. But right now, you don't want to pay them a major league salary if injured.

We have to see who is patched into the bullpen. Lineup construction is a key. Less strikeouts. Putting the ball in play. Runners moving. Strong starts from the big 4. Not just five innings anymore, especially with the bullpen, which needs to stay at 7 and not climb to 8.

What is scary is looking waaaaay ahead. Who on the current 40-man roster do you expect to be here in 2019. Who in 2020. After you eliminate about half the names at the least, then you start looking at the prospects that will make the call this season (few) or in 2019 (many) and 2020 (hopefully everything is pretty set). Then you figure out the revenue you will have fielding the current team and the team of 2018 and who you might be looking at as a free agent, or better yet trade some of these prospects that MAY not pan out for the expensive guys early. Man, I look at the 62/63 names that opened spring training camp and the list that I expect to be here is 2018: Berrios Chargois Hughes Jorge May Mejia Melotakis Romero Rosario Santana Castro Garver Dozier Mauer Polanco Sano Vielma Buxton Palka Granite Kepler Gonsalves Reed Slegers Gordon Hey, I have my 25-man roster! For 2018.