Thanks for your initial post - good stuff. I think he makes a significant impact, both defensively and offensively, and maybe more so defensively to start.  I can't wait!

I liked your point about The differences in Vargas' stats depending on his spot in the batting order. I am a firm believer that numbers will not necessarily replicate themselves in any spot in the order. It's why I would not move Dozier to 3or 4.

I hope to see more time with Hicks in RF and Hunter as DH. If Vargas struggles again then it might be time to send him back to AAA and let Hunter be the full-time DH and Hicks your full-time RF. Hicks' defense should be enough better than Torii's to justify moving Torii to DH and Vargas to AAA if he struggles.

I liked your point about The differences in Vargas' stats depending on his spot in the batting order. I am a firm believer that numbers will not necessarily replicate themselves in any spot in the order. It's why I would not move Dozier to 3or 4.

You might be right above moving Dozier, maybe his numbers would fall off a bit batting second or third. I would imagine pitchers would start pitching him differently if he were batting more often with men on base, and with his extreme pull tendencies, that may prove detrimental to him...good point. 

I hope to see more time with Hicks in RF and Hunter as DH. If Vargas struggles again then it might be time to send him back to AAA and let Hunter be the full-time DH and Hicks your full-time RF. Hicks' defense should be enough better than Torii's to justify moving Torii to DH and Vargas to AAA if he struggles.

Good point with Vargas as well. If he continues to struggle I think its time to give Arcia another shot. Bring him up and play him 3 or 4 games a week, platooning between left and DH. I don't think its time to give up on him quite yet, and if nothing else, it would give him a chance to build some trade value.

Line-up construction has always been a Twins problem, and it starts with Mauer. Should he bat second, should he bat third. Right now, I'd bat him fifth. See if Buxton can lead off. We'll know right away if he is a free swinger or actually will take pitches. But watch the first three games where pitchers will try to stay ahead of him in the count to see if he THE REAL DEAL. I like Hunter at second. I would bat Dozier third. Plouffe is fine at cleanup. Mauer fifth. Vargas 6th, although that prevents people from pitching to Mauer. Would you rather see Suzuki or Escobar behind Mauer. Or Rosario. The end of the lie-up is a catch-all with no one really showing skills at being the guy to move the runner, hit the sacrifice fly, or taking a walk and working the other rotation.

Thanks for a good read!

I agree about Dozier not batting leadoff. The team's leading HR hitter should not be batting in the spot in the order with the fewest RBI opportunities. 

I don't agree with commenter who worried whether his performance would sustain in a different spot in the batting order. It's too big a sacrifice to make for a hypothetical worry. My personal opinion is while comfort with a particular spot in the order may offer some emotional security it's way overblown--hitting is hitting.

Aaron Gleement tweeted recently that 45 of Dozier's 60 career home runs have been solo. That's just a waste.

To quote another AG tweet:

Re: Byron Buxton's initial expectations. Here are the only 21-year-old CF since 1980 to be above-average hitters:

Trout

Andruw

Griffey

Bonds

This to me suggests he should not bat lead-off. A guy straight from AA would impress just by hitting .250 with a .300 OBP.  I would be extremely pleased to see that production in his first go round, not disappointed. I find it highly unlikely he would get on base enough not to be a drag on the batting order leading off.  I'd bat him 9th.  Then you get all the benefits of his speed on the bases at the top of the order if he does get on base, with no damage if he doesn't. Let him learn. If he turns out to be Trout, move him up. But expectations of him being Trout are just unrealistic. We have a gem here, but he's not a superstar -- YET.

Finally I personally hope they don't trade Plouffe just yet (at least not just to dump him, of course anyone is tradeable if you get back more than you give up). There's no certainty that Sano will stick at third, or that he can get on base in the majors. You have just one weakness in your swing -- one -- major league pitchers will find it and relentlessly exploit it.

I've seen all-stars suffer for years trying to overcome a single weakness -- like Darryl Strawberry's vulnerability to an outside curve ball. Look at what happened with Arcia and Vargas. They came up and lit the world on fire -- and then they got shut down. Until they learn to compensate, there's no guarantee they'll ever be back.

Suppose that happens to Sano.  If you've already traded Plouffe, who plays third? Nunez?  Escobar?  I guess you can limp through that way for a while. But as long as we're fantasizing about contending, let's keep open the possibility of Plouffe returning to last year's form, when he outhit Pablo Sandoval.  He's a good fielder now, too.  I prefer to give him a long leash at third, and if he earns the job, plunk Sano in the DH spot next year. If they both play at all star levels, that's not a bad situation. If you don't want to DH Sano because of Hunter, that's a mistake. Hunter is not part of the future; I would not give up Plouffe in order to sign Hunter for another year. Plouffe is more valuable, a better fielder, AND costs less. If someone needs to go, give up the 40-year old. He may or may not have another year or two in him, but he'll be gone soon either way. If he wants to be a mentor, make him a coach. That's my two cents.

welcome aboard, and come again soon!