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A Year From Now

tmerrickkeller

By tmerrickkeller
in Minnesota Twins Talk

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tmerrickkeller Prep Ball

tmerrickkeller

Provisional Member
Posted
Posted

Much has been said about the speed of ascension of our prospects (and I love that series of articles), but the Pollyanna in me put them all together and dreamed of a day in August, 2014....

 

Lying in a hammock, edge of the water, listening to the Twins play the Royals.

 

Batting first and playing center field, Byron Buxton.

Batting second and catching, Joe Mauer

Batting third and playing first base, Justin Morneau

Batting cleanup and the DH, Josh Willingham

Batting fifth and playing left, Oswaldo Arcia

Batting sixth and playing third, Miguel Sano

Batting seventh and playing second base, Eddie Rosario

Batting eighth and playing shortstop, Brian Dozier

Batting ninth and playing right field, Aaron Hicks

 

Starting five of Johan, Hughes, Deduno, Meyer and Diamond/Albers (we traded Correia wisely in mid-May when he started the season strong again and have Worley, May, Diamond/Albers, and Hendriks waiting). This year we actually strike out opposing batters.

 

Bench of Plouffe, Mastro, Pinto/Herrman (we were also able to find a home for Doumit) and utility infielder (Beresford? Bernier? Florimon? Escobar? Shoot me, I'm saying Punto for 200 AB's a year and flexibility and clubhouse leadership).

 

Perkins, Burton, Duensing, Fien, Thielbar, Swarzak and Tonkin (maybe that's one too many short-relievers....)

 

I'm not saying Colabello or Parmelee couldn't play first, but I think we get Justin on a 2-year hometown deal and he rakes. We get Hughes for 3 years on a gamble and it works (for once). We get Johan on a make-good with an option (our option) for a second year. We have depth and flexibility. Dozier is a gamble at short, but we've gotta make room for Rosario. We're pushing some younger talent, but it's time to push them. Twins fans start showing up to see the future. I can't imagine anywhere else I'd rather be (a feeling that hasn't happened in awhile).

 

What's your dream look like?

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Oxtung First Round Pick

Oxtung

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
Much has been said about the speed of ascension of our prospects (and I love that series of articles), but the Pollyanna in me put them all together and dreamed of a day in August, 2014....

 

Lying in a hammock, edge of the water, listening to the Twins play the Royals.

 

Batting first and playing center field, Byron Buxton.

Batting second and catching, Joe Mauer

Batting third and playing first base, Justin Morneau

Batting cleanup and the DH, Josh Willingham

Batting fifth and playing left, Oswaldo Arcia

Batting sixth and playing third, Miguel Sano

Batting seventh and playing second base, Eddie Rosario

Batting eighth and playing shortstop, Brian Dozier

Batting ninth and playing right field, Aaron Hicks

 

Starting five of Johan, Hughes, Deduno, Meyer and Diamond/Albers (we traded Correia wisely in mid-May when he started the season strong again and have Worley, May, Diamond/Albers, and Hendriks waiting). This year we actually strike out opposing batters.

 

Bench of Plouffe, Mastro, Pinto/Herrman (we were also able to find a home for Doumit) and utility infielder (Beresford? Bernier? Florimon? Escobar? Shoot me, I'm saying Punto for 200 AB's a year and flexibility and clubhouse leadership).

 

Perkins, Burton, Duensing, Fien, Thielbar, Swarzak and Tonkin (maybe that's one too many short-relievers....)

 

I'm not saying Colabello or Parmelee couldn't play first, but I think we get Justin on a 2-year hometown deal and he rakes. We get Hughes for 3 years on a gamble and it works (for once). We get Johan on a make-good with an option (our option) for a second year. We have depth and flexibility. Dozier is a gamble at short, but we've gotta make room for Rosario. We're pushing some younger talent, but it's time to push them. Twins fans start showing up to see the future. I can't imagine anywhere else I'd rather be (a feeling that hasn't happened in awhile).

 

What's your dream look like?

 

Just to pick a nit, but hopefully not distract from the mood of the thread, I wonder if Morneau and Willingham would be hitting 3/4 in that lineup. I think that Arcia/Sano could be better hitters by that point and lineup better in the 3/4 spot. On the other hand that is a lot of pressure on 2 young players when there are other reasonable options available. I guess I'm just not sure what I think the Twins would do (not that that was the point of your thread).

 

I'll just wonder back out now with the suggestion of a Corona or Summer Shandy in your hand. :th_alc:

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Jdosen College Ball

Jdosen

Provisional Member
Posted
Posted

If we're really talking about what my dream looks like, you can pencil Jose Abreu in for Morneau.

 

Other than that, looks like a very enjoyable club to follow on a daily basis, much unlike the one we have on our hands right now.

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Major League Ready Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

Major League Ready

Verified Member
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I will second Abreu instead of Morneau and I hope Willingham is traded either in the off-season or at the deadline. I was hoping he would have a strong year and be traded at the deadline this year.

 

No thanks on Johan. I would prefer Sanatana but not on more than a 3 year deal and someone will give him 4 years. I am not a KC fan but I don't understand the hate. He ranks 34th in ERA. .29 points better than CC Sabathia and .39 ahead of Phil Hughes who would likely be a welcome addition.

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stringer bell MVP

stringer bell

Community Leader
Posted
Posted

Yes, add Gibson to the rotation, subtract J. Santana and add maybe a Vargas or Hughes. Morneau gone, Mauer at first and Pinto catching. Herrmann is the 25th guy, playing outfield and catching occasionally.

 

The Dozier/Rosario second base situation will be interesting. I am a pretty big fan of Dozier and really think he's more of a natural 2B than Eddie. However, I think both guys might be fixtures when one is moved to another position.

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cmb0252 GCL Twins

cmb0252

Provisional Member
Posted
Posted
If we're really talking about what my dream looks like, you can pencil Jose Abreu in for Morneau.

 

Other than that, looks like a very enjoyable club to follow on a daily basis, much unlike the one we have on our hands right now.

 

I will see your Abreu and raise you Tanaka! Tanaka, Gibson, Meyers, D, fill in the blank. That's a fun starting 5....errr 4!

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amjgt GCL Twins

amjgt

Verified Member
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2nd the motion on Kendrys, by the way.

 

This didn't really get shook out when I brought it up before.... What can Morales expect this offseason?

 

2/18?

3/24?

 

Willingham, before we signed him, is a pretty good comp.

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amjgt GCL Twins

amjgt

Verified Member
Posted
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What about finding a new home for Willingham, which gives us some flexibility to DH Arcia (or Morneau, or Mauer, or Sano) and shifting Rosario to the OF and keeping our 2013 Middle Infield in tact?

 

We're seeing that more and more, I feel. Super-utility types (of Rosario's ilk) that can play some 2B and wherever you want to slot him into the OF. That gives good flexibility to ramp up the infield defense with ground-ball heavy pitchers on the mound and/or mix in some off days for a bunch of different guys without massively messing with the lineup.

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Shane Wahl Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

Shane Wahl

Verified Member
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Well it will be interesting to see where Buxton, Rosario, Sano, Arcia and Hicks will fit around Mauer (note: I see no other good lineup alternative by August of next year that doesn't have those 6 as the top 6 in the lineup)

 

Maybe:

 

Buxton, CF

Mauer, C

Sano, 3B

Arcia, DH

Rosario, 2B

Hicks, RF

 

with some combo of Dozier, Plouffe, Parmelee, Herrmann, Pinto, Florimon at LF, SS, and 1B/C?

 

Platoons ought to come into play, but these first six seem untouchable to me.

 

Plao

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