Never too early to start another thread on what the playoff roster should look like if the Twins keep up the winning. Here is what I would like to see:

First off lets go with the near "locks" assuming no more injuries:

Lineup:

1. Hicks

2. Dozier

3. Mauer

4. Sano

5. Rosario

6. Plouffe

7. Hunter

8. Suzuki

9. Escobar

Bench:

 

Hermann

Buxton (PR, Defensive Replacement)

Nunez (Util INF)

 

SP: Gibson

SP: Duffey

SP: Hughes

SP: Milone

 

CL: Jepsen

SU: May

SU: Perkins

MRP: Boyer

MRP: Fien

MRP/LOOGY: Cotts

 

So that is 22 "locks" by my count, which leaves 3 open spots. Ideally I would like a "deeper" bench rather than a deeper bullpen.

 

I think Vargas should be a near lock to make the team, his bat off the bench provides the only "pop". So that brings the number to 23.

 

The bullpen needs at least one more arm, and you have some intriguing choices to choose from: Pelfrey (Long relief), Graham (Long Relief), O'Rourke (LOOGY). Out of that group I think you have to go with Pelf. Just for his ability to go 5-6 innings if a guy struggles early in a game.

 

That leaves one spot open for the following candidates IMO:

Robinson

ORourke

Graham

Santana

3rd catcher (please no)

Nolasco?

Kepler

 

I think Robinsons speed/Defense would be the best bet, he also has played all year long and has "earned" it.

 

What do you all think?

Duensing, Vargas, and Robinson. Maybe O'Rourke as a pure LOOGy.

I forgot about Duensing, yeah he is a lock.

That probably keeps either Pelf or Robinson off the roster.

Duensing- because he's a veteran in the bullpen and has "earned" it- will be placed on there. Either Robinson or Santana for PR (although Robinson adds more for late-inning defensive replacement over Santana, but Santana adds the switch-hitter should he need to stay in for an extra-inning's game). Vargas' bat needs to be on the bench, otherwise Nunez is the only one sitting on the pine the opposition's manager might be "scared" of. Plus he's another switch-hitter, somewhat negating Santana's value there.

 

I'll have to go with Duensing, Robinson, and Vargas as the final three, too. 

 

 

CL: Jepsen

SU: May

SU: Perkins

MRP: Boyer

MRP: Fien

MRP/LOOGY: Cotts

 

These are the only relievers Molitor would use. Unless it literally got deep in a series and all their arms were falling off. I'm not even sure he would use Boyer, unless it was an early inning appearance. 

 

 

Robinson definitely. I think Santana would get on a roster but not in a game.

 

 

Edited September 24, 201511 yr by Hosken Bombo Disco

Fingers crossed that Nolasco pushes himself onto the roster.

 

Santana could fill the backup Inf and PR roll himself.

 

I think you gotta load up on BP arms.

 

edit: Santana could also play OF.

Edited September 24, 201511 yr by Willihammer

 

Duensing- because he's a veteran in the bullpen and has "earned" it- will be placed on there. Either Robinson or Santana for PR (although Robinson adds more for late-inning defensive replacement over Santana, but Santana adds the switch-hitter should he need to stay in for an extra-inning's game). Vargas' bat needs to be on the bench, otherwise Nunez is the only one sitting on the pine the opposition's manager might be "scared" of. Plus he's another switch-hitter, somewhat negating Santana's value there.

 

I'll have to go with Duensing, Robinson, and Vargas as the final three, too. 

 

Robinson is not much of an upgrade defensively over anyone but Hunter and they have Buxton already for that.  I imagine that Santana or even Fryer would make it over Robinson - the Twins will be pinch hitting for SS/C and will thus be looking for people who can subsequently play those positions. Also, Nunez and Escobar have played OF if it comes down to something like that in extras.

I also would not be surprised to see the Twins keep Pelfrey over Milone. They did it to start the season.

My three would be Duensing, Santana and Vargas with the caveat the Milone is off and Pelfrey is on. (Note that this is not what I want, just what I'd expect).
 

Milone is a lock?  I thought he was injured and out of the rotation right now?  Wouldn't Pelf be that 4th starter?

I agree that we would have to load up on bullpen arms, but I don't think O'Rourke or Graham are very exciting, especially given their usage so far in the regular season.  Milone or Nolasco seem to be the best bullpen wild cards.

Can the playoff roster be changed after the 1 game playoff if they advanced?  

 

Milone is a lock?  I thought he was injured and out of the rotation right now?  Wouldn't Pelf be that 4th starter?

Yeah, I think Milone is definitely not a lock. He's currently on the shelf and I don't think he'll be ready for the playoffs. This probably means Pelfrey has to start. Yikes.

Pelfrey will be on in one way or another. Can I make a suggestion? Why carry Boyer?

 

I'd be much more confident with Pelfrey/Nolasco coming in for an inning or so than Boyer. I don't see the need he fills. 

 

Can the playoff roster be changed after the 1 game playoff if they advanced?  

 

Yep!

 

Can the playoff roster be changed after the 1 game playoff if they advanced?  

 

This is why a wild card game roster would look much different. They'd leave more pitchers off and carry Santana, Robinson, perhaps even Kepler if they can get him added.

 

Yeah, I think Milone is definitely not a lock. He's currently on the shelf and I don't think he'll be ready for the playoffs. This probably means Pelfrey has to start. Yikes.

Weren't you the game thread guy when Pelfrey was on a roll last spring? Problem solved.

 

This is why a wild card game roster would look much different. They'd leave more pitchers off and carry Santana, Robinson, perhaps even Kepler if they can get him added.

 

That's an interesting point I haven't thought of. Is there a one-game wild card roster? You could de-activate all of your starting pitchers except your one guy for that game. 

 

That's an interesting point I haven't thought of. Is there a one-game wild card roster? You could de-activate all of your starting pitchers except your one guy for that game. 

Yep, teams pretty much do this (well, they usually keep one other rested starter in case of emergency or extra innings).

 

That's an interesting point I haven't thought of. Is there a one-game wild card roster? You could de-activate all of your starting pitchers except your one guy for that game. 

 

Yeah, that's why I asked.  You would think they would want to load up on as many position players as possible and leave off 3 starters or so.  Carry 7-8 pitchers and the rest position players, or something along those lines.

 

Can the playoff roster be changed after the 1 game playoff if they advanced?  

Yes, and more accurately, the roster can be changed between each round of the playoffs (and the wild card game counts as its own round).

 

Not that we'd probably make many changes without injury (and injuries allow mid-series roster changes), but we could change its composition a bit between rounds if so desired.

Because Ervin Santana cannot play in the post-season due to the suspension, he can be replaced by anyone on the 40-man, right? It doesn't have to be someone who was on the squad by the cut-off point (end of August I believe.) They treat it like an injured player I assume.

The one game WC game shouldn't have more than two starters, and the non-starting starter should only be there in case of a long extra innings game.

 

Because Ervin Santana cannot play in the post-season due to the suspension, he can be replaced by anyone on the 40-man, right? It doesn't have to be someone who was on the squad by the cut-off point (end of August I believe.) They treat it like an injured player I assume.

Yes.  Actually, it doesn't really have to do with Santana -- the new rule is your 25-man playoff roster isn't submitted until just before each playoff round begins, and it can be comprised of anyone on your 40-man roster as of midnight August 31.  (The 25-man roster on August 31 is irrelevant.)

 

You can also petition to replace injured and perhaps suspended players with non-40-man guys from your organization as of midnight August 31, but seeing how Aaron Thompson is still on the 40-man and sitting at home, we don't seem to using the spots we already have, so I doubt it will make much difference.

Edited September 24, 201511 yr by spycake

Pelfrey to the pen. Troubles making up this playoff lineup stem from the old Twins giving way to the new Twins of 2016. My temptation here would be to let the younger players with upside have a taste of playoff ball, if the team actually makes it that far. 

That was pretty close to a like post-season roster.  Milone is hurt and I suspect out and done with.   I suspect that Perkins will go to the DL shortly. Nolasco not on the 40-man and they need a spot (sorry Darnell) to get him there.  Here is my take:

 

1. Hicks

2. Dozier

3. Mauer

4. Sano

5. Rosario

6. Plouffe

7. Hunter

8. Suzuki

9. Escobar

 

Bench:

 

Hermann

Robinson

Nunez

Buxton

 

That's 13 position players (with only 4 SPs they better go with 12 Ps)

 

SP: Gibson

SP: Duffey

SP: Hughes

SP: Pelfrey

 

CL: Jepsen

May

Duensing

Boyer

Fien

Cotts

Nolasco

O Rourke.

 

Edited September 24, 201511 yr by Thrylos

Feel bad for Robinson or Pelfrey not to make it. Pelf can be great a single time through the order. Robinson has been a good 4th outfielder. 

 

Life is hard though.

 

Cotts/Duensing will be the tough call - probably. Duensing's control has been so bad this season, I'd lean toward Cotts.

 

They both are gone this off-season, no?

 

 

Here's my 25 man playoff roster:
 

Starters (9)

C: Suzuki

1B: Mauer

2B: Dozier

3B: Plouffe

SS: Escobar

LF: Rosario

CF: Hicks

RF: Hunter

DH: Sano

 

Bench (4)

C: Herrmann (he should never play, but he's there if Suzuki gets hurt)

OF: Buxton (Replaces Hunter in 8th inning or later when ahead or tied)

IF: Nunez

PH: Vargas

 

Rotation (4)

SP: Hughes

SP: Gibson

SP: Duffey

SP: Pelfrey ( I just threw up in my mouth a little bit)

 

Bullpen (8)

CL: Jepsen

RP: Perkins

RP: May

RP: Fien

RP: Boyer

RP: Cotts

RP: O'Rourke (as a LOOGY. Don't think about letting him face RH hitters.)

RP: Nolasco

 

Essentially, ROR, Nolasco and Vargas are my 23-25 guys.

-I'm sure the Twins will put Duensing in bullpen (veteran-ness!) and ignore his awful splits, at the expense of O'Rourke-- who's not been great, but he's actually been pretty good against lefties.

-If Nolasco is healthy, I think using him as an innings eater in the back of a bullpen is fine. They're paying him, may as well use him.

-Vargas pinch hits late in games when you have a favorable matchup or you need a home run threat.

Not to be a killjoy, but I'll think seriously about this if the Twins are still in range after the Cleveland series.