Minnesota Twins Talk

No one wants a 13 man pitching staff. The Twins did that earlier in the year out of necessity. It's not like the team does a lot of pinch hitting, and frankly, with the state of the team's starting staff, I think it makes a lot of sense to do again right now. Here are the Twins starters this coming week: Sunday - PJ Walters Monday - Scott Diamond Tuesday - Cole De Vries (Nick Blackburn making first of probably two rehab starts) Wednesday - Francisco Liriano Thursday - Day Off Friday - Carl Pavano (Rinse and Repeat) Swarzak will be able to work long relief against by Tuesday or Wednesday, but how much confidence should we have in this group. Right now…

Twins Daily tonight learned that the Twins have decided to promote right-handed pitcher Jeff Manship from AAA Rochester. He will be pitching out of the bullpen for the Twins. Manship was scheduled to start on Sunday afternoon in Gwinnett (Georgia) against the Braves affiliate, but instead he will be hopping on an airplane to join the Twins. Overall this season, Manship is 4-1 with a 3.08 ERA for the Red Wings. He pitched eight times out of the bullpen and made four starts. As a reliever, he threw 18 innings. He walked eight and struck out 18. In his four starts, he has thrown 20 innings and given up 16 hits, seven walks and struck out ten. At this time, we do n…

Here's a wild, out-of-the box idea. Liriano seems to have good stuff the first 1-2 innings he pitches. Then the wheels come off. So how 'bout making him a closer? Just a thought.

Liriano seems to have great stuff, but goes through extended periods when he is not effective. He looked good in spring training then he fell apart. He sorta reminds me of Kyle Lohse, who had great stuff but could not consistently perform to his potential. Maybe Liriano has some personal issues with some of his teammates or coaches. Or maybe he is just a head case. We know from spring training that he could still be a solid starter. If only someone could identify the problem, then maybe there might be a solution. I expect that he will be traded for low quality prospects, then like Lohse he will start playing a lot better for his new team. If you were th…

When Marquis clears release waivers, the Twins will have another open spot on their roster. Who will the Twins put on the 40-man roster to replace Marquis? (If I remember previous threads, the Twins already have a spot open on the 40-man roster, which means that if Marquis clears waivers, there will now be only 38 players on the roster)

The Twins have 12 pitchers on the roster and Burnett could end up on the disabled list according to ESPN's Phil Mackey. (Source: http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Alex_Burnett_dealing_with_elbow_soreness_Twins_could_make_roster_move052512) Don't get your hopes up too high though Slama fans. Ron Gardenhire says right-handers Deolis Guerra and Lester Oliveros are the two likeliest bullpen candidates to be called up if a move were made. Mackey writes: "Anthony Slama also has solid numbers -- a 0.44 ERA with 33 strikeouts and 12 walks in 20 1/3 innings -- but Gardenhire said Guerra and Oliveros have "better stuff."."

5 Eyewitness New's jack-of-all-trades Darren Wolfson relayed a note today on Twitter from ESPN.com's Jayson Stark. The Twins say they are not interested in trading Justin Morneau: Given his injury history, age and remaining contract (2014, $14 million), I have to agree with Wolfson, it behooves the Twins to consider their options if teams come calling. After all, there are only so many pitchers you can buy on the free agent market. The Rangers were discussed as a potential suitor by Jim Bowden. The Cardinals and Blue Jays could also use a first baseman. According to MinorLeagueBall.com, Blue Jays (1), Rangers (3) and Cardinals (5) have farm systems that are highly thou…

Last night they both pitched and Hendriks went 7 and gave up an unearned run on five hits with two walks and nine strikeouts. Now on the year at Rochester he is 3-0 with 1.40era in 4 starts. Cole De Vries went 5 innings and gave up 6 runs although only 3 were earned on three solo homeruns. I really respect Cole De Vries for his story and the hardwork he put in to get a cup of coffee with the Twins. However, for anyone to compare the two is like comparing Barry Bonds to Nick Punto it just is not a fair comparision. The reason I have a problem with bringing up De Vries now is the Twins with a move like this are giving up when you have a better option. I would have 0 p…

Which of the potential contenders needs him, and what can a Morneau trade bring back?

So now we are almost two months into the season and the starting rotation has proved worse than possibly thought, I wonder if the Twins are having second thoughts about sending Terry Doyle back to Chicago. Granted, he hasn't cracked the majors there yet, but his AAA numbers are decent, even good: 3.46 ERA, 1 CG, 1.098 WHIP, 8.7 SO/9, 2.1 BB/9, 4.08 SO/BB If we're giving starts to DeVries and Walter, you have to think Doyle couldn't do any worse.

TV crew & interview with Gardy state that Butera is catching Cole tonight instead of Mauer since Drew has worked with him before & they dont want him to have a new catcher as well to think about. Drew has caught him twice in April......13th & 18th ONLY for a total of 12 innings. Mauer is a 3 TIME GOLD GLOVE WINNER......tho that award is a joke on itself. What kind of indictment is this on Mauer's ability to catch anymore as he's started less than half the games this year.

Most team goes one or the other & the good teams have a nice mix of both....current Twins have neither. Twins rank 23rd in steals with 21, 26th in attempts with 28. Powerwise... 28th in HRs w/28, 27th in TBs w/524. What are the Twins & what are they lookin towards in the future. 2011 22nd in SBs w/92......2010 26th in SB w/68....09 18th w/85.....2008 12th w/102.....07 9th w/102 2011 28th in HRs w/103....2010 19th in HR w/149...09 13th w/172...2008 29th w/111.....07 29th w/111 We are as slow as we are powerless at plate. Gardy has the rep as a guy who likes to run, but he doesnt. We have gotten slower every year and have never really improved the po…

I've never got the hating on AJ thing that many people in MN have. When he was here, he played really hard and produced. Then he was traded. Would any of you like to see the Twins bring him back for a 2 year deal next year, sign Doumit for 3, and start transitioning Mauer to 3b or RF? That would be a lot of catchers on the team, but all three of them are good bats.

Any chance that Mauer could slide over a play some 3B if Justin Morneau can stay healthy?

Many people may have noticed during last night’s game that Twins starter P.J. Walters etched the initials “AFW” into the back of the mound. In his two previous starts, Walters also placed these letters on the back of the mound. The initials are those of the daughter who passed away after just 52 short days - an unimaginably devastating loss, no doubt. I assume for most viewers, this gesture of memorial for the daughter he and his wife lost seems appropriate. As a pitcher, Walters will approach the mound from the back and see his daughter’s initials and be reminded of her. However, at Uni-Watch.com, the proprietor and several commenters have found this practice to be ina…

Does someone know for sure if Parmelee is still on the 40-man roster or not? Originally he was optioned, which normally means he stays on the 40-man. The Twins website, however, does not have him on there and hasn't for some time. In addition, the Rochester webpage lists him on their roster but also says he is not on the 40-man. At first I thought it was a glitch, but it's been over a week.

I was on the WCCO website this morning and there was an article about a "major announcement" from the Minneapolis mayor regarding an event coming to the city in the summer of 2014 that would have a huge economic impact on the city and state. Obviously, my immediate thought was, what else could it be besides the MLB All-star game. I'm sure everybody here knows the Twins are a favorite to get that game and an announcement should come soon. Then 11:00 came and they announced it would be a junior national volleyball tournament. Just thought I would share my disappointment with everyone here. I still have hope that we get that game.

According to the Long Island Ducks' Twitter feed, the Orioles have signed Lew Ford and have assigned him to their AAA team. Ford is my most favorite Twins player to start a game with a wispy goatee only to shave it mid-game. Welcome back to baseball, The Great Lewtardo.

It looked to me tonight that he has decent stuff. But some would argue that once MLB players figure him out, he will be very hittable. How would you rate his potential?

I know somebody that wanted to know what the AFW on the back of the mound at the White Sox field stood for. It stands for the initials of Walter's daughter that was born 14 weeks prematurely and died 51 days later

He's still floating around as a FA, and the Twins need at least one new starter, and that's assuming Walters and Diamond hold up, and either Blackburn or Liriano make it back to the rotation this year. Would he be worth a shot at? Would he be willing to come here?

I don't usually speculate about trades, but there are times when I see a match of needs and excess. The Angels have Morales and Pujols plus a full outfield, even with Vernon Wells being sidelined (big loss). Their rotation is solid, but their bullpen lacks both talent and depth. The Twins have too many bullpen arms and no one in their rotation. The Angels have an excess RH power hitter (Trumbo). I think something could be done that would help LA- Anaheim this year--something like Trumbo and their most projectable AAA pitcher for one or two bullpen arms (Duensing and Burton/Capps) and maybe Benson, depending on how good a projected starter the Angels would give up.

According to the official Twins Twitter feed: #Twins designate RHP Jason Marquis for assignment and will select the contract of RHP Cole DeVries from AAA Rochester for tonight's game. Very exciting for the Eden Prairie native and former Gopher who signed as a free agent after the 2006 season! Good for him!

Robby Incmikowski and AJ Pettersen were the guests on tonight's SethSpeaks Weekly Minnesota Twins Podcast. It was lot of fun to talk to Robby and Aj about a plethera of subjects regarding media, the Twins, the draft, the Gophers, and much more. Check it out and leave feedback! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jack-steal/2012/05/23/sethspeaks-weekly-minnesota-twins-podcast

The following was a tweet from Jon Morosi in the last five minutes: Source: #Twins to designate Jason Marquis for assignment. Has 8.47 ERA in Minnesota but good track record in National League. Only 33. Let the speculation begin: I'd project that Cole DeVries will take Marquis's 40 man roster spot and his spot in the starting rotation. Could be Liam Hendriks as well. Could be Anthony Swarzak to start with Anthony Slama taking Marquis's 40 man spot and a bullpen spot.

Kidding, but seriously, he looked impressive. A little wild, 9 strikes on 17 pitches, but still. Hit 94 MPH and had a decent knuckler. What do you guys think, any future in him? He'd have to go down to New Britian or Rochester if the organization even debated it. The way he's swung the bat in the past, maybe he should be in the bullpen. He's still young and could do a reverse Ankiel.

http://youtastelikenachos.tumblr.com/post/23487381466/this-is-a-story-about-a-former-new-york-yankee Normally I don't root for a guy to hit rock bottom, but for Chuck I think I can make an exception.

He's gotta go now. He stinks, it looks like he is throwing BP to all hitters. There has to be better options than putting him out there. Duensing or Swarzak should replace him in the rotation and call up Lester Oliveros or Deolis Guerrato fill in the bullpen.

If nothing else, he's really made a nice push to stay up here since his call up.

Does anybody know why the Brewers pitcher who was ejected today threw behind Carroll?