Rosterman

No bullpen is going to be light's out every nite, yes.
But each arm needs to know the role. And be used according to the situation, not where they fall on the daily flow chart. And if you wish to win, you don't "save" an arm for later in the game, or even the next day. You jsut deal with it.
At full strength, the Twins pen isn't all that bad. They have two closers. They HAD two lefties who can pitch to more than a batter or two. They could use a real innings eater that could push three innings, but a number of guys can pitch two innings, if you are willing to take a run or two on the board.
Do they have a bonifide fly ball guy, or groundball guy? 
But, hey, all can say is that the starting rotation ahs saved this team...going into the 6th, often the 7th. And keeping runs off the board.
Which then means the offense has to score more runs than runs given up. And that is the bigger problem right now.

No bullpen is going to be light's out every nite, yes.
But each arm needs to know the role. And be used according to the situation, not where they fall on the daily flow chart. And if you wish to win, you don't "save" an arm for later in the game, or even the next day. You jsut deal with it.
At full strength, the Twins pen isn't all that bad. They have two closers. They HAD two lefties who can pitch to more than a batter or two. They could use a real innings eater that could push three innings, but a number of guys can pitch two innings, if you are willing to take a run or two on the board.
Do they have a bonifide fly ball guy, or groundball guy? 
But, hey, all can say is that the starting rotation ahs saved this team...going into the 6th, often the 7th. And keeping runs off the board.
Which then means the offense has to score more runs than runs given up. And that is the bigger problem right now.

That's like not calling Joe Mauer a catcher anymore. Sigh.

Best catching in baseball? Still hasn't been challenged in a running game. Because the pitchers aren't putting guys on base.
Yes, the hitting could be better. Solano is basically an older version of Arraez at first, but saving the Twins in that respect. We see there is no depth until Kirilloff challenges a returning Gallo.
Kepler, Polanco return will make the team better, one hopes? If anything, the Twins have allowed folks like Castro and Gordon and Taylor to get at bats and show they can play in a pinch, although we don't really want them as regulars. Farmer will be interesting to see when he comes back.
The name of the game is pitching and what the Twins do with pending free agents Gray, Mahle and Madea when the time comes. Will Varland, Ober and others come thru with limited appearances? Do the Twins break the bank and offer any of Gray or Mahle a bigger contract to hang around?
Good exciting baseball. Dynamite starts from the rotation. Overall decent usage of the bullpen, as we see the, um, hesitancy of Rocco to use Pagan or Sands unless really needed, and the hopeful gaining a solid footing in the pen of Alcala and Moran.
Duran will give up homers if his throws meet a bat. He has to stay comfortable with winning that challenge. A young super closer in action.

Best catching in baseball? Still hasn't been challenged in a running game. Because the pitchers aren't putting guys on base.
Yes, the hitting could be better. Solano is basically an older version of Arraez at first, but saving the Twins in that respect. We see there is no depth until Kirilloff challenges a returning Gallo.
Kepler, Polanco return will make the team better, one hopes? If anything, the Twins have allowed folks like Castro and Gordon and Taylor to get at bats and show they can play in a pinch, although we don't really want them as regulars. Farmer will be interesting to see when he comes back.
The name of the game is pitching and what the Twins do with pending free agents Gray, Mahle and Madea when the time comes. Will Varland, Ober and others come thru with limited appearances? Do the Twins break the bank and offer any of Gray or Mahle a bigger contract to hang around?
Good exciting baseball. Dynamite starts from the rotation. Overall decent usage of the bullpen, as we see the, um, hesitancy of Rocco to use Pagan or Sands unless really needed, and the hopeful gaining a solid footing in the pen of Alcala and Moran.
Duran will give up homers if his throws meet a bat. He has to stay comfortable with winning that challenge. A young super closer in action.

Best catching in baseball? Still hasn't been challenged in a running game. Because the pitchers aren't putting guys on base.
Yes, the hitting could be better. Solano is basically an older version of Arraez at first, but saving the Twins in that respect. We see there is no depth until Kirilloff challenges a returning Gallo.
Kepler, Polanco return will make the team better, one hopes? If anything, the Twins have allowed folks like Castro and Gordon and Taylor to get at bats and show they can play in a pinch, although we don't really want them as regulars. Farmer will be interesting to see when he comes back.
The name of the game is pitching and what the Twins do with pending free agents Gray, Mahle and Madea when the time comes. Will Varland, Ober and others come thru with limited appearances? Do the Twins break the bank and offer any of Gray or Mahle a bigger contract to hang around?
Good exciting baseball. Dynamite starts from the rotation. Overall decent usage of the bullpen, as we see the, um, hesitancy of Rocco to use Pagan or Sands unless really needed, and the hopeful gaining a solid footing in the pen of Alcala and Moran.
Duran will give up homers if his throws meet a bat. He has to stay comfortable with winning that challenge. A young super closer in action.

Spring training is all about working, developing and getting into shape for the season to start. You can try different things, with may show negatively in performance in games. But Madea does look like he is ready for a full season. Now, can he give us 25-28 starts at least and 150 innings. 

Spring training is all about working, developing and getting into shape for the season to start. You can try different things, with may show negatively in performance in games. But Madea does look like he is ready for a full season. Now, can he give us 25-28 starts at least and 150 innings. 

The biggest thing in spring training is to develop reads. The guys who will be on the mound pitching, where the balls hit are hit, how you all in the field learn to lineup for throws and cutoffs. Plus, it is a time to also work out lineup kinks. I always felt some batetrs work well if they consistently know who is hitting before and after them in the order.
You worry about pitchers working on certain pitches in a game that might result in an injury. 
But, yes, am amazed at the amount of "non-Twins" that are getting innings as well as time in the line-up, compared to the 25 coming north.
Sure, there are enough guys in camp that you can have short mini-games, especially between major and minor league guys, to get the swings in, work out the muscle kinks and such, in a playful and non-competitive way. 
The pitchers have to work up to 75-80 or even 100 pitches by April 1. The batters need to get back into the swing of things. You can have all sorts of fielding drills. The players do work in spring training, at least four hours, if not 6 to even 8 (counting strength/conditioning time) at the minimum.
I'm all for players on the main roster only playing half a game, if need be.
But at some point the starting nine have to work together.

Interesting. Make a roster spot for Julien. And also, with Kepler gone, Larnach is back in the mix. Julien is still unproven but, y'know, I always pictured Polanco moving into the infield backup role as he ages...not necessarily with the Twins, but if he isn't ready out of spring training, he may find his role dimnishing if other step up to the plate.
Julien can also be in the future first base mix, depending on the outcomes of Lewis, Martin and Lee. But those three MIGHT not make more than an appearance with the Twins in 2023, depending on injuries.
 

Interesting. Make a roster spot for Julien. And also, with Kepler gone, Larnach is back in the mix. Julien is still unproven but, y'know, I always pictured Polanco moving into the infield backup role as he ages...not necessarily with the Twins, but if he isn't ready out of spring training, he may find his role dimnishing if other step up to the plate.
Julien can also be in the future first base mix, depending on the outcomes of Lewis, Martin and Lee. But those three MIGHT not make more than an appearance with the Twins in 2023, depending on injuries.
 

They kinda drag a line behind the boat ...........

Let Lewis play as long as he needs in St. Paul, but choose a position and run him out there as a regular. I would rathr see Lewis get built-up and push someone out of the outfield than bring him back waaaaay too soon.
 
Decide, too, what to do with Austin Martin. Suddenly the Twins could have a wealth of disposable redundant outfield talent. I like Martin on the bases. Put him in a lineup with a running Julien, Arraez somewhere, Lewis, Buxton and someone like Corea.......phew!

The only problem I have with Correa getting the one-year salary (or total 3-year offer), is the bar that it may set for keeping players that have worked years in the minors and busted their butt as minimum wage Twins, and then deserve a payday. Who is to say a Brooks Lee might not be as valuable someday.
Will the Twins ever again be able to make a comparable offer (one year with opt outs) again?
And, yes, "blowing" a wad on a Big Name doesn't necessarily make the team better, even if the player performs at or above their average play. 

My favorite all-time Tony Oliva memory is watching him  pitch wiffle-ball at the Minnesota State Fair to youngsters who really have no idea who he is, although their dads (and especially grandpas) do.

My favorite all-time Tony Oliva memory is watching him  pitch wiffle-ball at the Minnesota State Fair to youngsters who really have no idea who he is, although their dads (and especially grandpas) do.

Ober and Winder, both coming off the 50-day IL list, will be there somewhere, somehow. (Not to mention a decision on Dobnak, which would also involve a roster move). So the Twins have to remove three bodies from the curreent 40-man roster.
Mahle looks to be back Sepotember 1, so he will jsut be an add from the roster expansion, but moving Sanchez to the bullpen for now.
Plus the Twins signed Jewell for a reason, and Peacock has been pitching well.

My favorite all-time Tony Oliva memory is watching him  pitch wiffle-ball at the Minnesota State Fair to youngsters who really have no idea who he is, although their dads (and especially grandpas) do.

Ober and Winder, both coming off the 50-day IL list, will be there somewhere, somehow. (Not to mention a decision on Dobnak, which would also involve a roster move). So the Twins have to remove three bodies from the curreent 40-man roster.
Mahle looks to be back Sepotember 1, so he will jsut be an add from the roster expansion, but moving Sanchez to the bullpen for now.
Plus the Twins signed Jewell for a reason, and Peacock has been pitching well.

C'mon, Bundy could've given us five.
Is there any reason Jax can't go two these days?
Sure, a hit and walk the bases loaded...with one out...he can get out of it. 
You are a starting pitcher and expected to be up to pitch EVERY 5th DAY But we have to send 4-5 guys out there every game because the starters can't do their job. If you want to be a major league starter, you get a rhythm, you excel as you get deeper into the game, you mix up your start. It would be different if the Twins rotation arms were hitting 100+ pitches, but they aren't. Season is more than half-done. Our starters have been given every opportunity to buildback, and most all of them can double their inning output for the remainer of the season.

C'mon, Bundy could've given us five.
Is there any reason Jax can't go two these days?
Sure, a hit and walk the bases loaded...with one out...he can get out of it. 
You are a starting pitcher and expected to be up to pitch EVERY 5th DAY But we have to send 4-5 guys out there every game because the starters can't do their job. If you want to be a major league starter, you get a rhythm, you excel as you get deeper into the game, you mix up your start. It would be different if the Twins rotation arms were hitting 100+ pitches, but they aren't. Season is more than half-done. Our starters have been given every opportunity to buildback, and most all of them can double their inning output for the remainer of the season.

Sano could also have a breakout second half here and get his option picked up for next season.
Miranda would be a choice for demotion, to play everyday. Since he won't be getting time in a rotating DH spot. And just put in the time in St. Paul because if Sano is a bust, you will be back.
Of course, Urshela is a trade chip. I would also put Kepler in that potential category. Whioh would solve the roster problem if you are getting back a top flight bullpen arm (and prospect) for either, or if they ae part of a rotation trade. Then you just have to figureout who goes from the pitching staff.
If Kepler is healthy (and Buxton) I sadly see Celestino going down to the minors. I can also see Miranda going, as he will be the man NOT getting any at bats, which is sad, because he is hot and, in reality, would rather see him as the sub than Gordon at this point, who has cooled.
Once again, Sano creates issues. Soon he will begone! Unless he really starts to crush the ball. Then he becomes a roster problem again!
 
Urshela to Oakland in a package for Montas.
Kepler to San Diego for a young catcher and maybe the Twins take Blake Snell's salary?

There are two factors when filling out a major league roster.
A guy is a bench player, filling a hole on the roster.
A guy is developing in the minors and is brought up to play when a position player goes down, because theya re the future. In this case, we HAD Royce Lewis briefly for Correa.
In the first instance, the Twins have had a wide variety of names from Reboulet to Hocking to Adrianza who stepped into a starting role fulltime instead of the future (we could add names like Grossman, Cave and Refsnyder to that list).
This year, the Twins bench has settled into GEM level. If you consider that the DH is basically a rotating spot, you have Hamilton (now) as the reserve catcher, Miranda at first or third, Gordon at second/short/outfield, and Garlick and Celestino in the outfield. In reality, if ANY of the bench players start, whomever they are replacing would probably be the DH.
Now that will all change when Sano returns, and there are 10 million reasons he has to play. Best at DH. No need to put him ever in the field. Of course, one of the above names will have to depart, and picture it will be between Garlick or Celestino, although IF the Twins would like Miranda to play third/first everyday...just maybe he will go.
But everyone has been hitting Sano's weight. So......
A decent luxury for the Twins to have. Especialy with other players being versatile to play elsewhere (Polanco at short, Arraez at second or third, Kirilloff at first). 
The only BIG change is to keep Sanchez primarily at catcher, and never DH. Can't wait to see if Hamilton has anything in his arsenal.
 
 

There are two factors when filling out a major league roster.
A guy is a bench player, filling a hole on the roster.
A guy is developing in the minors and is brought up to play when a position player goes down, because theya re the future. In this case, we HAD Royce Lewis briefly for Correa.
In the first instance, the Twins have had a wide variety of names from Reboulet to Hocking to Adrianza who stepped into a starting role fulltime instead of the future (we could add names like Grossman, Cave and Refsnyder to that list).
This year, the Twins bench has settled into GEM level. If you consider that the DH is basically a rotating spot, you have Hamilton (now) as the reserve catcher, Miranda at first or third, Gordon at second/short/outfield, and Garlick and Celestino in the outfield. In reality, if ANY of the bench players start, whomever they are replacing would probably be the DH.
Now that will all change when Sano returns, and there are 10 million reasons he has to play. Best at DH. No need to put him ever in the field. Of course, one of the above names will have to depart, and picture it will be between Garlick or Celestino, although IF the Twins would like Miranda to play third/first everyday...just maybe he will go.
But everyone has been hitting Sano's weight. So......
A decent luxury for the Twins to have. Especialy with other players being versatile to play elsewhere (Polanco at short, Arraez at second or third, Kirilloff at first). 
The only BIG change is to keep Sanchez primarily at catcher, and never DH. Can't wait to see if Hamilton has anything in his arsenal.
 
 

He is owed a hunk of change and we know the front office hates to give anyone away. But remember, if a player is on the waiver wire in August, he goes. No pulling back. No trade worked out.
So the Twins will run him out as long as they can afford to do so, at the expense of Celestino, Garlick or Miranda.
And, whew, what happens if he produces, slams like 20 homers in the last two months at DH and hits .250 or above. Do the Twins (ahem) grab his...option for 2023 and go forward from there?