I've posted it several times in different blogs or comments over the last couple of weeks, but as much as I'd love to think the twins can compete this year, I don't think they are going to. However, I do think that the Twins can win 80-82 games, and at least be fun to watch, and the recent surge of minor league talent flooding the big league team has kept me very interested in the big league team despite a losing month of June. I've watched the major league debut's of Eddie Rosario, Byron Buxton, Alex Meyer and look forward to watching Miguel Sano hit a 430 foot bomb tonight against the Royals. My opinion is that the twins FO is doing things right, and I hope and pray that they don't trade away any valuable future prospects this month in an attempt to win 4 or 5 more games. I strongly believe that we have the talent to be a .500 team within our organization, and I hope that the front office believes that as well, and sees that trying to please the fan base by making the playoffs is not worth sacrificing any of our potential future stars. I think I speak for most of the twins fan base in saying that what would make me more happy than getting to the playoffs and then losing in 3 games...or maybe even 1, would be to finish around .500 and continue to see glimpses of who we will be next year, and for years to come.

With this in mind, what would you like the 25-man roster to look like by years end? Below I have put the current roster on top and my ideal roster underneath. Below that I have put down what I would like our lineup and starting rotation as well as our bullpen to look like down the stretch in August and September.

Catchers

Kurt Suzuki

Chris Hermann

Infielders

Brian Dozier

Joe Mauer

Trevor Plouffe

Eduardo Escobar

Eduardo Nunez

Danny Santana

Miguel Sano

Outfielders

Torii hunter

Eddie Rosario

Shane Robinson

Pitchers

Phil Hughes

Kyle Gibson

Mike Pelfrey

Tommy Milone

Trevor May

Blaine Boyer

Aaron Thompson

Ryan Pressley

Glen Perkins

Alex Meyer

JR Graham

Casey Fien

Brian Duensing

Catchers

Kurt Suzuki

Chris Hermann

Infielders

Brian Dozier

Joe Mauer

Jorge Polanco

Trevor Plouffe

Miguel Sano

Eduardo Escobar

Eduardo Nunez

Outfielders

Byron Buxton

Eddie Rosario

Torii Hunter

Oswaldo Arcia or Max Kepler...(whoever the twins see as ready, and part of their future)

Pitchers

Phil Hughes

Ervin Santana

Kyle Gibson

Trevor May

JO Berrios

Alex Meyer

J R Graham

Taylor Rogers

Blaine Boyer

Casey Fien

Logan Darnell (if the twins want a 3rd lefty in their bullpen) otherwise AJ Achter or Tyler Duffey

Glen Perkins

Ideal Starting rotation: Hughes, Santana, Gibson, May and Berrios. We'd have Alex Meyer for a spot start if needed and trusted, or Milone in AAA.

Long relievers: Meyer and Graham. Either of these guys could be used in higher leverage situations if they prove capable over the next few weeks/months.

Mid relievers: Meyer, Graham, Rogers, Boyer and either Darnell/Achter/Duffey

Setup relievers: Fien and possibly Boyer and Darnell/Achter/Duffey

And we all know who the closer is.

Ideal starting lineup

Buxton CF

Dozier 2B

Mauer 1B (if Mauer continues to progress. If not, swap him with Rosario, but you need a lefty here)

Sano DH

Plouffe 3B

Rosario LF

Hunter RF (Arcia every 3rd or 4th day)

Polanco SS

Suzuki C

That would be an exciting lineup and pitching staff...one that would keep me watching through September.