BJames

I'm with the Owners. They are taking up the cost of the League. The Players (union) seem to be moaning about Millions not being enough for 75 games. Suck it up like the rest of the Amierican Workers are doing.

Larnach and Kirilloff look like they could handle the Bigs Pitching Now. Not that I'm pushing for them to make the team. Rooker, So-So and Jeffers, Lewis, Celestino, Not yet.

I've always liked Littell. He looks in control on the mound. His execution hasn't always been great, but I'll let that slide because he's young and still has to learn to pitch in the Bigs. Someone else I've like, though not a prospect is Baxendale. He's been up a couple time in the Bad year and he gets the ball and throws the ball never being to fancy. I like that in a relief pitcher. Also, I'd like to see Eades again.

Maybe this should be the start of a different thread. I was so glad to see Littell get his two innings in with out falling apart. We all saw Berrios struggles (and he was a top rated pitcher) with his call-ups and how long it took him to adjust to the Bigs Hitters. I hope as the year goes on we'll be able to do the same with Thorpe, Romero, Stewart, Gonsalves,Eades and Reed. It seems to me, the more these young guys get innings in (better under low stress situations) the quicker they will be able to adapt (or not) so we will be in a better place with the whole of the pitching staff come Sept. One more thing, I like to see May go back to AAA, to build some confidence and throw strike after strike. Seem he's trying to learn on the job and it;s not working.

Time will resolve this issue. But, I would prefer to see more Garver-Tortuga as the season moves on.

any news on Sano's return to the Minors?

Has anyone blamed Garver yet???

I'm shocked to see the Pitchers struggling early.

My only gripe was letting Castro hit in the 7th with one out and Good bats on the bench. Castro should never play past the 6th inning.

Great to see Astudillo batting 2nd in the line-up. I don't think Molitor would have done that. Also, It's good to see Cave, Gaver, Adrianza getting AB's. The Twins Bench is solid, so its good to keep everyone involved. Looks like De Jong was called up to fill the long relief role. Mejia and Perez have the most inning in relief. Friday we'll need to go back to a 5 man rotation, so this was a couple game early.

Luke Raley, I get that some of these guys have more hype and guys at Rookie and low A seem like can't miss. BUT, Raley looks like can't miss to me. Good Speed, Good Power, Good AVG. #12 at the Highest. Rortvedt, I'm not a big fan 20-25 seem good to me.

I've always prefered the first week or two be played like extended Spring Training. It's a long season and the first week or two isn't that important come July and Aug. I see no reason, especially with the cold weather not to be bunting, and trying to get runners into scoring position, as well as using the bench. No one is playing that well, use the bench. I get going with the same line-up and swinging 3-0, no outs, 2 men on, but its not 82 degrees with 100 ab's on the season. At this point the only managing seems to be with the pitching. So, why not just make the Pitching Coach the Manager and just go with the starting 9 and swing away. Why do we need Rocco? I don't like the N.L. but it's looking much better after watching two Twins games and the lack of Managing. AAA games start on the 4th, so I would expect some Roster movement shortly after. No need to keep guys on the bench that could be getting swings in.

Today it's about the bench guys. Congtats. Come Thursday it will be about the starting 9. We'll see how April plays out.

Of the guys we picked up this Winter, it looks like they'll be Batting 5-6-7. I don't think any of them should have a long leash. We'll have guys on the Bench at can hit just as well. We'll see how Rocco plays it. I was not to pleased with Paul same line-up everyday last year and lack of benching non performers.

I'm still hoping Eades will get his shot. He's 27, so its not like he need to be in the Minors any longer.

I'd be looking to trade a number of our Bench players, for some minor league players. We have back-ups to our back-ups with young guys on the way.

I can see why Romero is in the Pen. To me, he hasn't looked that great. He seem to lack a cure or solid offspeed pitch. To me, he's just getting by on his fastball. On the other hand guys like Gonsalves and Stewart seem to be able to mix in more pitches.

AAA and AA Teams starting to look stacked.

Wade has looked solid at the plate.

Adrianza.- is singed and on the 40 man roster. I like Adrianza, I think he's underrated. But it all depends on what you want from your bench player. Adrianza is more of a Shortstop not 3B man.

"The Twins do have a number of 40-man guys on the bubble that they will probably keep up as long as they can and play the possible injury game (Duffey, Austin, Reed, Torreyes, Magill) all who could be lost or removed from the roster when the time comes".( From Rosterman) . I think all but Torreyes would get picked up by someone. So, What do we do with Duffey, Austin and Magill. I'm ready to let Duffey go. I'd keep Magill and Austin to start the year, but on a short leash. We do have some good talent at AAA and AA ready to come up. One guy I would look to DFA is M Reed Outfielder. We've got Cave and Wade as back up plus Alex Kirilloff, Brent Rooker and Luke Raley.

The issue I've seen with Buxton is, he likes to hit the ball way out in front of the plate. This leaves him open to the off speed pitches and the outside corner. He's a dead pull hitter and he's was talented enough to get away with it till he hit the Majors. I'd like to see him let the ball get a little deeper in his swing. This would be hard to do and at this point I don't know if its worth trying. Just let him go! Just like a golfer trying to work on his swing, during a match, it doesn't work. Time to sink or swim.

At this point, play it safe and let him (heel) ha. So, he starts the season at extended Spring or at AA. April isn't that important as far as wins-losses goes. It will be much more important to have Sano playing well from May on.

IF Gonzales can hit, why wouldn't he be the everyday Second baseman? Looks to me Schoop's D isn't that great and we don't need a .230 hitter that is prone to strikeout in the line-up. Why move Gonzales around to replace better hitters i.e-Polanco,Sano,Kepler,Rosario?

On that Line-up. I'd go with Polanco leadoff, Buxton,Rosario,Cruz,Kepler,