Rosterman

I agree with all of these. Especially Poppen!

Hopefully they can skip Gibson this round. We'll see. The Twins should be pushing their AA-starters. Sadly, Stewart has pitched himself out of the mix (these guys, they have every opportunity right now to make the big leagues). Santana and Hughes aren't long term. One can bring us something of worth, the other has to be considered gone. Santiago will be a free agent. Gibson is the new Mike Pelfrey. We don't need to give innings to Tepesch or Turley or others of that ilk if a possible prospect can pitch equally as good. If we win games and make it, good for the Twins. But NO selling the system at this point.

Who is the rotation for 2019. Better yet, 2020? The top four, built from within. We know it won't be Hughes, Santana, Gibson.

I, too, wonder on Cederoth. Thought he was a top possibility if healthy.

They still haven't played every team. They have three solid starters that SHOULD be good. The bullpen is a mess. Who knows what the lineup will be. No rhyme or reason why certain people are batting certain places at certain times and not sure how you can arrange it so the Twins do get their hits and walks more strung together. See how they fare against ALL the teams. They MIGHT have a chance with their own divisional play, if they can get a 4th solid starter and the bullpen under control. But lots of holes, or lots of pieces not filling those holes...correctly.

I ttoally agree that we have to find a couple of spots to at least rotate up and down some of our promising future arms. Right now, answer this question: Who do you bring in for a ground ball (I guess, our closer). Who do you bring in for a fly ball. Who can possibly strikeout a batter. Who can give us 2+ innings of ball (or once thru the order). Do we have left/right options at any or all of those positions right now. Command may still be an issue with some of the youngsters being groomed, but putting the ball into play seems to be the commodity of the current bullpen. Of course, our starters have to consistently get towards the 7th inning to make any of this work. We have four that we are holding onto right now, one that isn't consistently getting into the sixth (so far). And we are a total sham with the fifth starter, and his name shouldn't be Haley or Duffey, sorry. I would rather see a Wheeler get a promotion than going after the Wilks and Tepesch's, at least at this point. Happily the Twins have been lucky with some first-rate rotation stuff. But of even greater concern is the batting lineup...is there a lineup or is it darts on who bats where and what. Sure, they have hit dingers in x-amount of straight games, but overall...it is an average lineup that is full of a bunch of 1 for 4 hitters, or so it seems more often than not.

That doesn't really speak too well for Twins development.

Why we really wouldn't have suffered if someone, anyone had offered worth for Dozier. But he wasn't THAT sought after, in reality. Ervin Santana...if he continues to show...you fliphim...DON'T make him part of the future. Same with Santiago. At this point, you probably have zilch of a chance to sign him if he does excel. If he is traded and excels, you MIGHT be able to sign him then, if you want. The trouble with the team is that you have a lot of prospects you do wish to keep, some who might draw some interest (Rosario) and lots and lots of guys who shouldn't be here or on any team, but you have the slimest of hope that they might generate something, anything, in return (i.e. Santana) ratehr than just cutting and walk. The new kings need to draft well this round, hope the talent stays of the disabled list in the minors, and TAKE THE CHANCE by forcing them to play above-their-levels and getting them to the majors sooner rather than later. We don't need 36-year-old rookies. Once we get a handle on prospects, once Mauer is figured out in the future equation, you can spend money (still a gamble) in the free agent market. Happily the division is proving to be quite week. You still HAVE TO BEAT the teams in your division -- all of them, not just KC -- to be competitive.

Yes...better than nothing. No need to keep a roster space for him, yet. Him and Boshers can be the setup guys at Rochester (sic).

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.