Updated Opening Day Roster

[travistwinstalk]

With the cuts today, I am going to post my projected Twins roster. I would love to hear others thoughts on this if you agree or disagree.

C Mauer

1b Morneau

2b Casilla

SS Carroll

3b Valencia

LF Revere

CF Span

RF Willingham

DH Doumit

Bench

Butera

Plouffe

Hughes

Burroughs

 

I don't know if Burroughs deserves to make the roster, but I think he will as the Twins won't want to rush Brian Dozier into a starting job from AA. It goes against everything Gardy usually likes to do, but Casilla will be the backup SS. I can see at some point in 2012 where Dozier gets called up and either Casilla or Carroll gets moved to utility role. I just don't think now is going to be the time and because of that I think Burroughs gets a job as a bench bat.

 

Pitching

1. Pavano

2. Liriano

3. Baker

4. Blackburn

5. Marquis

 

I look for Twins to not put Baker on DL instead skip him with the offday on April 10th and will make his season debut April 14th. That could change if Twins bullpen is abused in Baltimore then you DL Baker and bring up another arm, but I am projected that Baltimore series will go ok.

 

Bullpen

Capps

Perkins

Duensing

Swarzak

Waldrop

Burton

Manship

 

This is tough to figure as each have had good outings and some bad ones. Capps, Perkins, Duensing, and Swarzak are locks in my opinion. That leaves 3 spots with 5 guys vying for it and the next 2.5 weeks will determine who makes it. I believe that you could put Waldrop, Burton, Manship, Burnett, and Maloney in a hat and pick any combination and have a good chance of being right. I picked Waldrop as the Twins love his ground ball rate and has been excellent again this spring. Burton I picked because he has been a little bit better than Burnett so far and is out of options while Burnett has options remaining. Manship I picked because even though I am not real high on him the Twins are high on him. I would pick Maloney because of him being left handed, but this role will be long relief so it really is not that big of a deal. That is my opening day Minnesota Twins roster let me know what you think if you agree or disagree.

[Seth Stohs]

The thing that Burroughs has going for him is that he is left-handed. It would be good for the Twins to have a left-handed bench bat... in that scenario, Casilla becomes the backup SS.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm thinking more and more that this is opening a spot for Parmalee. Move Doumit to RF, Willingham to LF, Parmalee to DH, and Revere to the bench. I could see Towles replacing Butera as well.

[righty8383]

the Twins won't want to rush Brian Dozier into a starting job from AA. It goes against everything Gardy usually likes to do

 

This is a misconception about Gardy. Did you know that Gardy lobbied to have Dozier brought up last year but was denied? In any event, I would prefer the Twins take Dozier over Burroughs. He might have a couple things he can improve on but so what. He is good enough to play in the bigs right now and there is no reason he can't continue to get better while playing with the Twins as opposed to the Red Wings

[Seth Stohs]

I'm thinking more and more that this is opening a spot for Parmalee. Move Doumit to RF, Willingham to LF, Parmalee to DH, and Revere to the bench. I could see Towles replacing Butera as well.

I don't see this even a little bit.

[Seth Stohs]

Did you know that Gardy lobbied to have Dozier brought up last year but was denied?

That is right, but he would have been called up to start, not to sit on the bench. It's the front office's job to make smart decisions on players. It's the manager's job to want the best players up with the team. The good thing is that Gardy and Terry Ryan always appeared to be much more on the same page than Gardy and Bill Smith.

 

I'm sure there is an understanding between Gardy and Terry Ryan whereby if Gardy tells Ryan that he wants Dozier as a starter, it could happen. If Gardy can't provide the scenario in which Dozier plays 5-6 games a week in teh big leagues, he'll go back down and they'll keep that 40 man roster spot open.

[James]

I'm thinking more and more that this is opening a spot for Parmalee. Move Doumit to RF, Willingham to LF, Parmalee to DH, and Revere to the bench. I could see Towles replacing Butera as well.

Towels as backup catcher I could see. Doumit as a full time RF is a bad idea. If he and Willingham were in the outfield together, things would get ugly in a hurry. Willingham just won't be able to cover all of LF, at least not in Target Field. Parmalee is too young to be considered a full time DH anyway.

 

I'm excited about Parmalee as well. It looks like your lineup is trying to get Doumit, Willingham, Parmalee, Morneau and Mauer all in the lineup at the same time. That would be exciting yes, but probably not practical. If anything, you'd have Parmalee play RF (which he has done in the minors), Willingham in LF, Doumit DH. That would still leave some big questions in the outfield for defense.

[Thrylos]

The thing that Burroughs has going for him is that he is left-handed. It would be good for the Twins to have a left-handed bench bat... in that scenario, Casilla becomes the backup SS.

Not necessarily... Too many lefties in the lineup as is (Span, Mauer, Morneau, Revere, Doumit -practically, Casilla - practically.) I still doubt that with the game late and close and a RH closer against the Twins anyone in their sane mind should PH Burroughs for Valencia or Carroll (if he PH for Carroll, they bring in a Leftie to face him, Mauer and Morneau)... With any of the Lefties against LH in late and close situations, Burroughs is neutralized. Hollimon being a SH, has the advantage there (plus he has been performing better...) Would he be repititious with Hughes there? Not necessarily... Hollimon has played a lot of SS and 2B, and Hughes can back up 1B, 2B, and 3B.

 

I just hope that they go with the hottest backups when they move North

[Neinstein]

http://www.twinsdaily.com/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by Seth Stohs http://www.twinsdaily.com/images/buttons/viewpost-right.png

The thing that Burroughs has going for him is that he is left-handed. It would be good for the Twins to have a left-handed bench bat... in that scenario, Casilla becomes the backup SS.

 

Not necessarily... Too many lefties in the lineup as is (Span, Mauer, Morneau, Revere, Doumit -practically, Casilla - practically.) I still doubt that with the game late and close and a RH closer against the Twins anyone in their sane mind should PH Burroughs for Valencia or Carroll (if he PH for Carroll, they bring in a Leftie to face him, Mauer and Morneau)...

 

I was just thinking about the same scenarios. Does anyone have quick access to Hollimon's vs Left/vs Right splits?

He might be the answer to the argument.

[Gernzy]

We need to see Burroughs play some more IF positions before any decision is made. Plus I know his defense hasn't been the greatest so far.

[Esoteric Ball Guy]

I can't see Gardy letting any team go North without a competent backup SS which makes me think they'll need somebody besides Burroughs and Hughes. If they are serious about Dozier I could see them giving him the starting job and keeping Casilla as the backup SS/2B. If they decide to give Dozier more seasoning I like Florimon, Chang or some other all glove type getting that last spot over Burroughs.

[glanzer]

The only thing I differ with on your projections is the bullpen. Just a gut feeling, but I imagine the Twins will continue to give Alex Burnett every shot possible.

[TwinsTakes-RD]

Just a gut feeling, but I imagine the Twins will continue to give Alex Burnett every shot possible.

I disagree about Burnett as he looks like a player the Twins rushed a little. He's only had 23.1 IP in AAA and he's getting rocked in Spring Training - he needs more time in AAA if only to get some confidence back in his game. Now they have guys that can take his place on the major league roster.

[Dilligaf69]

I don't see this even a little bit.

 

Nor do I???

[Dilligaf69]

Dozier at SS and Carroll at 2B with Lexi backing up seems like the likeliest of scenarios IF they choose to go that route.

[Nicholas Mueller]

I doubt Burroughs makes the team, I would guess a middle infielder would over him since Luke Hughes can play third base as well. I'd bet Ray Chang would make it over Burroughs.

[SweetOne69]

I think Maloney will make over Manship. Manship has an option left and will probably be a starter in Rochester with a chance to make the rotation in 2013.

 

I also think that Hollimon or Change will make it over Burroughs as they are more versatile. Burroughs would almost be an exclusive bench bat, like Thome was the past 2 years but without Thome's production potential.

 

It is really a coin flip as who the 3rd catcher will be and frankly it doesn't really matter between the 3 possibilities. Butera and Rivera are pretty similar offensively and defensively whereas Towles is potentially better offensively but worse defensively.

[Nick Nelson]

I was just thinking about the same scenarios. Does anyone have quick access to Hollimon's vs Left/vs Right splits?

Hollimon has generally been quite a bit better against righties than lefties, especially when it comes to power.

[Guest USAFChief]

Dozier at SS and Carroll at 2B with Lexi backing up seems like the likeliest of scenarios IF they choose to go that route.

I would think IF Dozier makes the opening day roster--and that's a big if--he's at SS, but Casilla is the 2nd baseman with Carroll backing up both.

[AT4MVP]

No way Manship breaks camp with the team. He struggled last year, and no matter what his stats look like this spring, he'll be in AAA. I look for Maloney to be in the bullpen on Opening Day, because of his ability to make a spot start and have a long relief role, while being a lefty specialist at times. I would also expect Burnett to make the team because of his experience from the past couple years, likely meaning Waldrop will not be up just yet.

 

As for the bench players, I "hope to Gardy" that he picks Towles over Butera. I am not expecting this though. I still consider Burroughs to be a toss up for making the club.

[TwinsMusings]

Right now Burroughs does not appear to be versatile enough for a utility role. I think it is just as likely at the end of spring training that Terry Ryan will find a SS/UTIL guy from outside the organization to handle that role until Dozier is ready. If they go with who they have right now, I'd expect Chang or Hollimon to get the spot, but just until Dozier is called up sometime in June (or before is someone is injured or doesn't perform). One reason I don't see Dozier on the opening day roster is Gardenhire likes to rotate his bench players into games fairly regularly, especially in the early part of the season. If Dozier is on the team, he needs to play every day with just an occasional day off.

 

In the bullpen, I'd be surprised if Maloney is not with the team opening day. He has pitched too well to expose to waivers, and I believe he is out of options. Also, according to Terry Ryan, Maloney, Swarzak and Hendriks are going to be stretched out in case they are needed as starters. That would put Maloney as my #1 option to move into the rotation is Baker or someone else is not ready. Manship is probably the odd man out.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Towels as backup catcher I could see. Doumit as a full time RF is a bad idea. If he and Willingham were in the outfield together, things would get ugly in a hurry. Willingham just won't be able to cover all of LF, at least not in Target Field. Parmalee is too young to be considered a full time DH anyway.

 

I'm excited about Parmalee as well. It looks like your lineup is trying to get Doumit, Willingham, Parmalee, Morneau and Mauer all in the lineup at the same time. That would be exciting yes, but probably not practical. If anything, you'd have Parmalee play RF (which he has done in the minors), Willingham in LF, Doumit DH. That would still leave some big questions in the outfield for defense.

 

I should clarify that I'm not sure if this is what I'd do (though I don't think it's a bad idea)... simply that I suspect that the Twins might be thinking about this. Parmalee is on the 40 man, if memory serves me right, which means that he should have been sent down already, but he hasn't, so they are giving him a strong look. I doubt Doumit will be a full time anything given his injury history, but with LF essentially being an offensive void, I could see him replacing the Plouffe/Revere combo with some frequency in order to minimize that damage. I'd forgotten that Parmalee has played some OF... Like you said, they could put him out in right as well.

[J-Dog Dungan]

I think the Twins want to give Dozier some time at AAA to see if the success he had in AA continues before they bring him to the bigs

[Nick Nelson]

I think the Twins want to give Dozier some time at AAA to see if the success he had in AA continues before they bring him to the bigs

No reason to rush with him really. He'll be there if Carroll/Casilla get hurt or struggle, might as well get him some tread in Rochester.

[Dilligaf69]

No reason to rush with him really. He'll be there if Carroll/Casilla get hurt or struggle, might as well get him some tread in Rochester.

 

Agree ...I think this is what will happen although i'd like to see him stick but only as an everyday guy.

[James]

I should clarify that I'm not sure if this is what I'd do (though I don't think it's a bad idea)... simply that I suspect that the Twins might be thinking about this. Parmalee is on the 40 man, if memory serves me right, which means that he should have been sent down already, but he hasn't, so they are giving him a strong look. I doubt Doumit will be a full time anything given his injury history, but with LF essentially being an offensive void, I could see him replacing the Plouffe/Revere combo with some frequency in order to minimize that damage. I'd forgotten that Parmalee has played some OF... Like you said, they could put him out in right as well.

I can see Doumit being a full time DH with his injury history. Hopefully, not playing in the field as much will really help him stay healthy. I don't know for a fact, but I have heard that even though Doumit can play RF, he's not that good at it. I don't have any numbers to back that up, nor have I actually watched him play RF, so my opinion on him playing RF is all hearsay at this point.

[The Greatest Poster Alive]

Dozier at SS and Carroll at 2B with Lexi backing up seems like the likeliest of scenarios IF they choose to go that route.

Casilla>Carrol

[Highabove]

Burnett was a big contributor to the misery at Target Field last year. HE needs to go to Rochester, and learn how to pitch.

[John Bonnes]

- Towles has to beat Butera to get that job, and so far I don't think he has.

- I like Maloney over Waldrop.

- I thought early in spring training that Burroughs might have a shot to make this roster. I haven't had much attention to pay to the games the last couple of days, but I think I would say it is more likely they bring in a true utility infielder from another team.

- But I'll add one more....I'm not sure Baker is ready or that the Twins are confident he'll be ready. So I'd swap out him and Hendricks.

[diehardtwinsfan]

- Towles has to beat Butera to get that job, and so far I don't think he has.

- I like Maloney over Waldrop.

- I thought early in spring training that Burroughs might have a shot to make this roster. I haven't had much attention to pay to the games the last couple of days, but I think I would say it is more likely they bring in a true utility infielder from another team.

- But I'll add one more....I'm not sure Baker is ready or that the Twins are confident he'll be ready. So I'd swap out him and Hendricks.

I would think based on upside alone that he already has. We all know what it is we have in Butera. It's nothing that cannot be had in Rene Revera or Towles. If it was a wash, I'd go with Towles knowing that there's a small chance that his bat actually plays at the ML level if called into service..