Rosterman

Bring in Lucroy. Catching is a demanding position, which is WHY the catcher should never leadoff. You can survive a light-hitting catcher in the number 8 or 9 spot if they call a good game because, afterall, someone has to make up to 27 outs in a game. But not sure he is even calling a good game these days. And Jeffers is overmatched in both areas and needs seasoning at AAA. I both LOVE and HATE the thought of Willians behind the plate. But I know he would give it his all and play the best he possibly can!

Always felt Garver would eventually be passed by folks like Jeffers and even Rortvedt as catchers, mainly because of defense. But he could still catch, play the field at first base (and maybe the outfield) and be a rotating designated hitter after Cruz steps away. If a catcher calls a good game, you can have a light hitter. But both of our backstops are striking out too much (you at least like someone to put a ball in play) and the defense is not there. Jeffers needs time to work on his swing. And being a catcher IS a demanding job, calling a game. Jeffers would be best served at AAA once the Saints start to play. Right now, Jonathan Lucroy looks like a buffet table grab. but who would the Twins jettison to add him to the roster, and also, say, Tomas Tellis. (Okay, I can think of a couple of bullpen arms).

Thank goodness the Twins didn't have to pay him the full $19 million!

The Twins at full strength this weekend? Well, first off....... Catcher. We need one. Not only someone who can hit, but also call a game. Maybe Astudillo needs to be our go to guy. Anyone on the market> Jeffers needs time at AAA. I would rather see Kirilloff at first everyday than Sano. What to do with Sano. I can live with Arraex Simmons and Donaldson everyday in the infield. Polanco is the reserve. No need to go out of the way to find him playing time. Can Buxton play in three straight games? What to do with Kepler, but he is better than most anyone else. Are we really excited about the return of Klye Garlick and has Jake Cave kept himself on the roster? Rooker is going back to AAA. Drobnak needs to start at AAA. Bring back Smeltzer if you need a long man, and decide if you want to make Thorpe a bullpen arm or stretch him out as a starter. Berrios is it. Pineda is here for the year. So is Shoemaker and Happ. If any of the three pitch well, they can be traded. Maeda needs to lower his pitches...fast. The bullpen. Who can strike out batters. Stashak, Alcala. Who should be striking out batters. Duffy. Who strikes out batter but allows inherited runners to score: Thielbar and everyone. Can anyone get a ground-ball out (Kintzler, but he's elsewhere). The Twins need one or two guys to pitch as openers. Who do they jettison to make room on the 40-man and potentially on the 25-man. Colombe? Garlick? Cave? You can't bring guys up unless you have roster spots for them, or people getting COVID. What to do with Sano? Garver? I end by asking: who on the current 40-man roster do you want to see in a Twins uniform in 2022. We should start with that thought in mind and do moves accordingly!

Using Colome in a lesser situation. I guess a one-run game when we are behind is a lesser situation. Let him get one man on base. Okay, we will let him get two on. So, go ahead and load them up, he can still strikeout the side...maybe after he walks another guy. So, you threw in the towel when the Twins were behind?

So far the Twins have two guys on the 26-man who didn't get in a game - Gordon and Anderson. Last year it was Minaya. So, officially these guys were on the Twins major league roster?

Well, he is already a general manager for a team rebuilding or on-the-rise or with a multi-year plan. The next stop would be president, which he passed on with Philadelphia. Falvey would leave the Twins if a job opened up with a bigger team (New York or Los Angeles, for example). And money is also a factor.

Whoever it is, they need to work with Rocco. That is job #1.

Alex will go back to St. Paul if and when Sano returns. I am glad that he is getting regular play. When a player goes down for an injury, this is what should happen with prospects on the cusp. They get a taste of the majors and know what to work on when they go back to AAA ball. Sano will push him back, just because. And when Gar and Kep return, I hope they play Alex at first base. But, again, if the Twins are just going to be a so-so team, then they have to rethink who is on the roster across the board, especially as AAA ball gets underway and we see some live work from Duran and Bala. Too bad Royce Lewis is losing a year in the picture. And, maybe Jeffers needs a bit more time at the minor league site before making the year-long plunge to the majors.

Get players for set positions. They got Josh Donaldson for third base, but who knows where he will be in 1-2-3 years. Nelson Cruz is the DH. Is Kirilloff the left-fielder or first baseman of the future? Where do you honestly think Sano fits into the greater scheme. Good luck trading Rooker, or even Kepler. Like Sano, they have to show worth if a team wants to add them. The Twins need a top flight arm in the rotation. Maeda is good, but not a #1. Berrios, too, falls short. Stop getting a bunch of end of the rotation guys. You gotta get the right arms for the pen. Who IS the closer? Who can pitch long relief. Who can get a ground ball, a strikeout, a flyball out. Plan for that dreaded extra-inning situation that throws you out of whack with a guy starting at second. Of course, 2021 we would like to think the Twins have momentum and not rebuilding. You can carry a catcher of the future learning the game with 30-40 starts. You can't carry two catchers who give you nothing on offense. You need to play your best players every game. Subs are subs for a reason. And, even then, you need to trust every player on the major league roster. If they can't contribute in anyway consistently, I'm sure there are others that can. Non-competitive teams have no fifth starter, a constant swing in one to arms in the pen, a bench that is only good for pinch-running the slowest of players or giving a fielder the occasional rest in a game you are set to win. The killer of 2021 will be ... can players play a full 162-game season. It is a big step-up for many, especially anyone in the minors who basically lost a season of refining skills.

I am still in wonderment how the taxi squad of non-40-man guys work into the picture. They can't stay once the COVID-guy they replaced, unless a 40-man move happens, right? Good way to use people and not have to option them back out, I guess.

Rocco would've loved Denny Hocking.

Kirilloff and Rooker can hit .150 as well as Sano and Cave, and are more the future of the Twins.

You want you better hitters to get upwards of five at bats a game. You want your lowly hitters to only bat three times in a game. Or, if slumping, to be able to execute putting a ball in play.

By doing day games you have a tad more latitude if you need to delay because of weather, especially in the opening weeks. Plus, this year it kinda makes sense since you can only have 10,000 fans at the game. If you can make a day game, great chance to get great tickets. Doesn't play well for television or radio audiences, although the game can be re-run, if one chooses, on television.

Tell me I'm wrong. In baseball, you ant your leadoff man to be the one guy you hope gets five plate appearances in a game. It is a bonus if he can also work the count and fouls off pitches and allows the team to get a good 6-10 pitch look at the night's mound guy. You also hope that the 2-3-4 hitters will also see five at bats. Of course, you also bat 8th and 9th the guys you would be happy to get to the plate only three times in a game, although sometimes either could be a leadoff hitter. Why is Garver batting leadoff?

Jeffers is still young and in a normal year you might say keep him at AAA for another season. But as a second to Garver, he will be able to catch at least 50+ games this season, if not more, and he will learn on the job, Catching is a tough position, and many catchers don't have to show complete skill sets if they can handle the duties behind the plate. I have faith that Jeffers will be a solid catcher for seasons to come.

You have your weakest hitters getting the least at bats. I'm sorry, but Arraez thrives a bit more at the top of the order than the bottom. With Donaldson back, I would make Polanco the reserve, for now. Something has to be done with Sano. We can't always wait for him to start tearing the ball. Exept we don't have a ready replacement yet, do we?

Jaylin Davis (former prospect) recalled by Giants. Ildemaro Vargas recalled by Cubs.

Right now Sano needs to bat 8th or 9th. Having him have one less at bat can benefit the team more than hoping he punches the ball. Arraez works good at lead-off as he can work a pitcher better than most anyone on the team. You want the opposing pitcher to work in that first inning.

LaMonte Wade gets recalled by Giants and goes 2-4 with a walk in his debut!

Yes, pull Shoe. You had Stashak ready. Whole new game. Columbe...if you can't trust him, might as well give the ball to the rookie. Alcala could be the future!

Anthony Swarzak is back up with the Diamondbacks. Juan Graterol signed with the Blue Jays system. And the Cubs signed Andrew Romaine to a contract to play in their system.

Others on 40-man or extended rosters are Tyler Wells (Orioles), DANNY SANTANA (Red Sox), Luis Gil (Yankees), Nick Anderson and Chris Mazza (Rays), NICK TURLEY (White Sox), Akil Baddoo (Tigers), Brooks Raley (Astros), BLAKE PARKER (Indians), Luke Bard (Angels), Kyle Cody and John Hicks and DREW BUTERA (Rangers), Huscar Ynoa (Braves), Sam Clay and RYNE HARPER (Nationals), KOHL STEWART and IAN MILLER (Cubs), SEAN POPPEN (Pirates), Jaylin Davis and ZACK LITTELL and LAMONTE WADE (Giants), Wynston Sawyer (Padres), Luke Raley (Dodgers), Dereck Rodriguez (Rockies). (former prospects lower case, EX-TWINS CAPS).

Here's what I came up with for opening day/weekend. Baseball is back to a full-season schedule and lots of former Minnesota Twins are on other major league rosters. Pitchers: Kyle Gibson (Rangers), Martin Perez (Red Sox), David Hale and Brandon Kintzler (Phillies), Rich Hill and Oliver Drake (Rays), Lance Lynn and Liam Hendriks (White Sox), Aaron Slegers (Angels), Ryan Pressly (Astros), Trevor May (Mets), Sergio Romo (A's), Tommy Milone )Blue Jays_Brusdar Graterol (Dodgers), Matt Wisler (Giants), Tyler Kinney (Rockies), Tyler Clippard (Diamondbacks), and John Curtiss (Marlins). Jake Odorizzi will be called up shortly since he signed late with Astros. Former catchers: Alex Avila (Nationals), Jason Castro (Astros), Wilson Ramos (Tigers), and Kurt Suzuki (Angels). Lots of infielders: C.J. Cron (Rockies), Ronald Torreyes (Phillies), Ehire Adrianza (Braves), Eduardo Escobar (Diamondbacks), Marwin Gonzalez (Red Sox), and Jonathan Schoop and Niko Goodrum (Tigers). Only three in the outfield: Aaron Hicks (Yankees), Robbie Grossman (Tigers), and Eddie Rosario (Indians). (Remember when all those former Twins centerfielders were on other teams: Span, Gomez, Revere, Hicks?). Derek Shelton is managing the Pittsburgh Pirates.