Twins Finalize Opening Day 25-Man Roster

Think you mean Addison Reed.

I'm thinking the relief corps will be on a short two-week leash. Moya and Hildenberger have to prove that they don't need to work on things in the minors. Kinley needs to NOT fail, or he could be cut loose easily (freeing up a 40-man rotating spot for relief pitchers. Taylor Rogers has to pitch better than he has the second part of last season and in spring training. And Fernando Rodney can't such as a closer. He's making a decent salary, but if he blows games for a club that wants to win, they shant keep him in the pen.

LaMarre is getting his chance, otherwise his becomes a rotating roster spot. Robbie Grossman has to be on notice, too.

Baseball begins Thursday. The Twins need to get off to a dynamite start, create fan enthusiasm, get tickets sold, make people forget basketball, the Super Bowl, the Vikings, and love again the wonderful game of baseball.

One body available to back up 3 positions (3B, SS, 2B). If you were to DH Sano you have zero bodies available...without losing the DH. Rosario in an emergency? Does this seem sustainable?

The Granite move makes sense. His bat has zero value on the bench. We’ll see him play plenty if one of the big three goes on the DL.

Damn, I had Ryan Lamarre in the pool, but foiled by Jake Reed.

Holy crap am I excited for this season to start.  Go Twins!

Think you mean Addison Reed.
 

Fixed--ed.

 

Is Yunel Escobar still a free agent? He would seem more useful than a 5th OF'er. 

Agreed ... Adrianza and maybe even LoMo can play corner OF, but I don't think either LeMarre or Grossman can play any infield.

LaMarre until we claim Trayce Thompson.

I’m curious how that open 40 man spot will be used…I’m guessing Falvey has a couple names he has an eye on to be waived as team come out of camp?

Yeah, with that extra spot open on the 40-man roster, if would make sense to find another infielder. As theLeviathan noted, with the current situation things do indeed look thin, especially after Aybar was released.

The extra roster spot if it really exists is flexibility to call anyone up from the minors that they want.  We have no really need to go outside the organization again at this point.

There's no way I would have sent LaMarre down. If he's at all for real, or even if he's on a hot streak, you have to ride it out. The downside of adding LaMarre now could be having to cut him from the 40, depending on whether the Twins need the spot, so his fate might ride on whether he starts out hot. Had he gone to AAA and shown that he's truly turned a corner, he might have ended up with a better opportunity, especially if Grossman regresses more. Now, if he starts out cold, he might be searching for work, though I'm sure the Twins would love him back at AAA.

But from the Twins point of view, ride the hot hand. I hope they give him time and opportunity.

There's no way I would have sent LaMarre down. If he's at all for real, or even if he's on a hot streak, you have to ride it out. The downside of adding LaMarre now could be having to cut him from the 40, depending on whether the Twins need the spot, so his fate might ride on whether he starts out hot. Had he gone to AAA and shown that he's truly turned a corner, he might have ended up with a better opportunity, especially if Grossman regresses more. Now, if he starts out cold, he might be searching for work, though I'm sure the Twins would love him back at AAA.

 

But from the Twins point of view, ride the hot hand. I hope they give him time and opportunity.

If Vargas cleared waivers, it’s pretty likely LaMarre will especially if he starts poorly (which would be why he would be sent down anyway).

Really like the team overall, though it looks better with Santana on that roster.

Completely understand Martte and Grossman both on the roster. This will hopefully be Grossman's best overall season, or he could be moving on. Because of his RH bat I can get riding Martte and his hit spring, but I doubt he's here long term. If he keeps it up, he will earn his spot.

But I'm going to echo other comments I'm concerned about the lack of a second reserve infielder. Seem to have too many OF and guys who can fill in if push comes to shove. Hard to put an OF in the infield late in a game.

To me, this is a classic "lot of potential" team but also a lot of uncertainty. This team could definitely go up from last year but also could go the other way. I think Molitor's ability to keep the team fired up will be key and , so far, he hasn't been that type of manager. Tomorrow I will be looking for their attitude and determination as much as whether or not they win the game. I want to see some fire out of Molitor and I want to see some fire out of #7.  This team has to start with a winning attitude and keep it for 162, and hopefully more, games. The 60-60-42 rule always works and its the team that plays every game like it is one of the 42 is the one that goes far.

Go Twins.

It would be another change for the Twins. After years of putting IF in the OF, we now could see OF in the IF. But taking my tongue out of my cheek, it's really not that big a deal with the ability to get someone here in a half day. None of the players discussed are actually a big bat. They are all fairly mediocre with the stick. And since it seems the Jim Thome style PH is no longer in vogue, it's not a huge difference. I will say this. If I am keeping both LaMarre and Grossman, then it begs the question why isn't one of those two, likely RG, replaced by a big RH bat? RG and RL are fairly redundant. RG in the lineup may have value as an OB guy, but you don't send up a PH to work a walk as a rule.

To me, this is a classic "lot of potential" team but also a lot of uncertainty. This team could definitely go up from last year but also could go the other way. I think Molitor's ability to keep the team fired up will be key and , so far, he hasn't been that type of manager. Tomorrow I will be looking for their attitude and determination as much as whether or not they win the game. I want to see some fire out of Molitor and I want to see some fire out of #7.  This team has to start with a winning attitude and keep it for 162, and hopefully more, games. The 60-60-42 rule always works and its the team that plays every game like it is one of the 42 is the one that goes far.

Go Twins.

Regarding uncertainity...there are a few players who will be playing like it is their last chance to score a big payday. Right away we have starters Lynn and Gibson (and Santana when he comes back). Joe Mauer and Brian Dozier can both walk at the end of the year. Morrison might want the option. As for the "youngsters" - this will be a tell on how much they can extend their life with the Twins, or see a quick trip out the door to be replaced, if not next year, by younger talent.

The bullpen is interesting. Six of the guys weren't here at this time last season.

And, yes, LaMarre and Grossman are redundant. One or the other, but not both.

I want to see some fire out of #7.

If we haven't seen any fire outta Joe yet, I don't think we will.    There's more than one way to be a leader.    Joe just isn't a rah-rah guy.    He is what he is in that department.    And that's fine.

I want Joe to make a clubhouse speech that includes "was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?... who's with me??? Let's go, come on! Ahhhhh!" That would surely accomplish something fantastic.

He should plan ahead and sell tickets to that.   

In today's game a player's clock is more important than early season wins, I have to wonder if Nick Gordon isn't a victim of Clockitis

Starts yesterday's 9th with a single, not a Robbie Grossman work a walk, an actual bat on ball rally starter

Had a decent spring at the dish showing shades of Cristian Guzman (SSS and all that acknowledged)

Able to play SS and 2nd while also providing some help at 3B by freeing Escobar or Adrianza to play 3B if the big fella snaps his titanium tibia

Tip of the Hat to the "He's gotta play everyday" folks...i get it...but why couldn't he?

Polanco played when he wasn't fully prepared, turned out ok...maybe

Escobar goes back to keeping everyone loosey goosey on the bench while playing somewhere 3 outta 5 games

Any acceleration of Gordon's clock would be offset by the $1.5M saved in the corresponding roster move of releasing Grossman (I'd say trade but IMO we'd find out that the league has moved on from "a walk is as good as a hit" mode, unless there's added value to that type of player with the glove or speed or prodigious pop). Let's face it...in today's game RG is like that guy in softball that comes to the plate looking for a walk

Hindsight and all that considered this was another exercise in shoulda-coulda-woulda...I'll be there on the 5th freezing and cheering what looks to be a team with promise and potential, just like me trying to fit a 3XL body into an XL Twins Hoodie