stringer bell

I haven't been near a keyboard since I heard the news that Arcia was DFAed. Not a total surprise by a long shot, but still sad because Arcia came to spring training in great shape and did seem to work hard at his deficiencies in the outfield, plus he is one of the few guys to show a lot of emotion when out on the field. It's a failure all right. First, the Twins had a young player who looked like he would be a candidate to hit 30 homers a year as recently as 2014, but he went backward big time last year. This year, he hasn't shown enough as a hitter to garner regular playing time and I would suggest that Arcia is a guy that will never to a good bench player. I believe he needs regular at-bats to keep the holes in his swing from becoming open invitations to throw high fastballs and breaking balls in the dirt. It's also a failure of the organization. They haven't prevailed on him to make the adjustments needed to be consistently successful. Also they've used up options too early and have a glut of younger guys and not enough playing time for all of them, while carrying a 30 year old DH and a 33 year old first baseman on multiple year contracts. I don't think the 40-man decisions have been good for a long time. The Sano, Plouffe, Park, Mauer merry-go-round is a mess and leaves no place really for Arcia or Kepler.

Free Tommy Milone! With the devastation that is the Twins starting rotation, Milone has to deserve another chance in the rotation, if nothing more than to build trade value.

I think it is Nuñez mostly because of positional flexibility. If Abad allowed a three-run homer, his numbers would look pretty average pretty quick. If Nuñez hit .250 for two weeks, his BA would still be north of .300.

His value will probably go up after the All-Star break. Yes, I believe in some respect an All-Star nod is a consideration, but not many trades happen until after the AS game. Nuñez' story is a really good one for the All-Star game and I will be very happy for him if he does make the team. I'll also be happy for him if he's traded to a contender.

I think so. Who'd a thunk it on April 1st?

Apologies for temporarily locking the thread. Trying to operate from a mobile device. How long will the Dean experiment last? Very reminiscent of Andrew Albers.

Only when John Ryan Murphy was catching.

Winnah! First MLB win for Taylor Rogers, who was very impressive against the Rays. I do have to say that I haven't seen a worse lineup against the Twins this year.

I'm holding my breath. It does help that Jep is facing three guys with a batting average under .200.

I think everyone agrees that doing what is best for Buxton long-term is what is best for the Twins. There is no need to rush him back. However, there is no agreement on what is best for their top prospect. I was in the camp that believed he could have benefited from starting the season in AAA, but he was basically handed the starting job in Spring Training. Without a doubt, Buxton was thriving at Rochester, hitting for extra bases, reducing his strikeouts and playing every day. Should he have stayed in upstate New York with a lesser talent promoted? No one really knows for sure. I hope he starts almost every day for the Twins and thrives. I don't have a problem with Buxton getting an occasional day off, but wherever he's playing, he should be the principle center fielder. As for hitting him ninth, I don't think such baby steps are an issue. Batting at the top of the order adds just a bit of pressure IMHO and there is no need to subject Buck to that. It is also interesting that the Twins didn't recall Eddie Rosario. After a slow start in Rochester, he's been hitting better than Buxton. Interestingly, when Buxton left the Rochester game early yesterday (presumably to catch a plane to the west coast), Rosario moved from left to right field while Max Kepler took over center. Do the Twins not consider Rosario a center fielder at all?

Not quite fair to include Rosario and Santana in this discussion. Santana has played center out of need at the big league level and Rosario was an outfielder who the Twins experimented with as a second baseman. The young talents present make the Sano experiment tougher to understand.

OK, speaking of marginal players, I understand the love for Beresford, but he is at best a utility guy. On a team that thought it had a chance, he wouldn't be worth losing a 40-man spot to give him a shot in the majors. The Twins have 12 wins on Memorial Day weekend, so the scenario is different and maybe it is a chance to reward Beresford with some big league pay and meal money. Robby Grossman is interesting to me. How many left handed throwing switch hitters are there? I can think of a couple, but not many.

No, it is not June yet.

I think Brian Dozier is a better player now than Jorge Polanco and I think that it is pretty likely that Dozier will always be a better player than Polanco, but for the first time since Dozier emerged (three years ago), I believe that it may be time to move Dozier for a better fit on the team (Polanco). The assumption for a long time has been that soon the best two players on the team will be RH hitting youngsters Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton. I hope that day arrives some time in the second half of the year. Of the next five most established players on the Twins, four of them hit right handed (Dozier, Plouffe, Suzuki, and Park). Dozier, Plouffe and Park are all players whose power is a big portion of their value. I want to see more guys who make contact, provide speed and defense, who maybe can hit at the top of the order. The projection for Polanco fills that bill better than today's Dozier. As for playing Arcia for now and optioning Rosario, I get it. Right now Rosario is rolling a little better and Arcia is having a tough time. A week ago, the situation was reversed. Ideally, Rosario could be optioned, but until Buxton is ready, there really isn't anyone to replace Rosario, so I leave them alone for now and get both Arcia and Rosario enough at-bats. I don't think it would be a terrible idea to give Santana a day off or two, but I'm satisfied with his play in center and hitting ninth.

Buck had another good game yesterday (2-5, walk, leadoff homer and no Ks). I think he leads Rochester in BA and OPS, although he only has about 50 PAs. A month at AAA would be good for him. Buxton's development is crucial to the Twins in so many ways. If staying in AAA is the way for him to be as good as almost everyone has predicted, so be it.

Who's with me? The season turned on the fourth inning reversal of an out call at first base. The Twins will roll from here.

I do have a special sense of anticipation for Berrios to make his debut. I met him and spoke a few minutes with him in Cedar Rapids three years ago, I think. Nice young man. I also shook his hand in ST the following year. Anyway, he is the last of the golden group of prospects to make it to Minnesota. I'm sure there will be some early struggles, but the kid has a lot going for him. Best of luck to JO!

If Santana can't go, for his next start, then Duffey can stay and Polanco can return for him. I suppose the Twins could disable Duffey if he has more than a bit of soreness. Santana hasn't pitched since last Tuesday, so he would only have to miss one more start. I'd do that unless he's absolutely 100%. I still think the 40th roster spot should go to Juan Centeno, who has hit OK for Rochester and is a LH hitter. He should replace Murphy on the active roster.

Centano for Murphy? Or maybe they reach down to AA. At least whatshisname is a good receiver.

Stellar at-bat for Plouffe!

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Maybe this guy can turn into a 21st century version of the late Toni Phillips. Play a lot of positions, switch hit, steal some bases and play acceptable defense. Phillips was more of a lead off hitter than DanSan likely ever would be, because of his patience and ability to draw walks, but Danny is faster and has the arm to play shortstop.

Regarding the bullpen, my biggest gripe was keeping Fien for a role that would be better suited to a young developing reliever or (as it turns out) a guy who can on occasion go three or four innings. I have liked having May in the 'pen and think Tonkin deserves a legit shot. Pressly won a spot and Abad might be OK as a lefty arm there.

OK, where and when is Kepler going to get his chance? Comparing his situation to Rosario's is instructive, because there was a 39 and a half year old starter in right and a waiver claim starting in center. The possibilities for Rosario to get a shot were all over the place. This year, Kepler is looking at three guys--nine years out of ten Rosario's stats would have netted a team ROY, the team MVP is on the other corner, and a top five prospect in baseball is starting in center. The oldest of these guys is 24. Besides this, there are two young guys who already have experienced some success in the majors who probably would get a chance before Kepler--Santana and Arcia.

Small sample size, but Arcia is moving better and fielding his position(s) better than in seasons past amiright? Certainly, from what I've seen, Oswaldo is in better shape.

I never thought Quentin was a good good fit with the Twins. It seems like there is something left, but I don't think he'll get an opportunity with the Twins.