stringer bell

I guess I'm still being misunderstood. I am saying that Duensing shouldn't be limited to being a LOOGy. I think he is a reliever, but capable of going 2+ innings on occasion. I am thinking that the Twins will have several short starts and BD should be available as a reliever to pitch long relief.

Let's see if I can clarify. I have abandoned the Duensing in the rotation bus, probably later than most. The Twins figure to have either four or five righthanded starters depending on Diamond's health. It figures that there will be short starts from the starters early in the year because of health concerns and ineffectiveness. Having a lefty like Duensing, who has been in the role, available to go multiple innings against lineups that might have maxed out on their lefthanded hitters makes sense to me. While Duensing hasn't done well against RH hitters, I don't think he should be relegated to LOOGy just yet.

If he's facing a lineup with 6-7 LH hitters, he could/would do just fine, I think. I think making Duensing into a specialist is the waste of a versatile arm.

I probably regard "handedness" more than most and hence I have held out hope for Duensing as a starter longer than most. He was okay or better as a starter until 2011 IIRC. I have finally given up on the prospect of BD being a regular starter. However, stretching him out might be needed with the number of suspects in the rotation. They will need a long man perhaps most often of all teams in the big leagues and several of those games could be had if they get capable long relief in lineups most likely stacked with LH hitters. With either zero or one LH starter (Diamond when he's ready), it would be good to have at least three lefties in the 'pen, one of whom (Duensing) who can go three or more innings routinely.

I certainly agree that Dozier was pressing last year. He showed enough to me that Twins' fans shouldn't give up on him. If Kelly is praising him, that is good news, because he is not one to give empty praise. I hope Dozier hits and fields well the rest of ST to give him confidence when the regular season starts. I'll repeat that he shouldn't be counted out as a shortstop long-term.

I certainly haven't given up on Dozier as a shortstop. If he could play decent defense and OPS .750, he could be a regular until the team is good again. As for Rosario, late '14 is the most optimistic anyone should be. Just in time to be part of the Twins' run in the playoffs in 2015!

mlbtraderumors.com has a line on him. He will be 26 in June, is out of options, has just less than a year's service time, and looks to be squeezed out of the Tribe's Opening Day roster. Carrera is a speedy LH hitter, who has played all three OF positions. In 384 MLB PAs, he has OPSed .653 with 18 stolen bases. To me, he would be an ideal 4th OF, particularly since all three of the CF candidates look like they'll hit lefties better than righthanders. He could start some games in center, pinch-run and could also be a defensive replacement for Parmelee or Willingham. Two questions though: 1) Would Cleveland trade him to a division rival? 2) What would it cost to acquire him? I presume that MLB rosters are sprinkled with guys like this. Are there any others like him thought to be available?

2/3 of the starting OF when the Twins get good (I hope).

I've heard a lot of people say that his ceiling is being a solid #2. I think he might have the ability to be an ace. I certainly believe he has the makeup and poise to be very good.

I think Burnett will have to win a spot this year. Given that some guys are out of options (or Rule 5), they might have an edge on Burnett.

Good article. It is tough to believe Florimon is the answer at short, but eventually someone will succeed in the middle infield.

A pretty good column. I think a lot of the predictions are spot on. Time will tell.

Agree, Seth. Cuddy remains my all-time favorite Twin. He was both a good guy and a good player. The time was right for him to move on, but maybe he should have gone some place other than Denver.

While Carroll may be the better player than all of the other options, he's also 39 and has always been limited by his lack of power. He doesn't really belong on a rebuilding team except as a mentor. That said, if two of the three of Escobar, Dozier, and Florimon prove that they are not prospects, then Carroll should play. I would think that Carroll would be an asset on a contending team as a utility guy so maybe he could be peddled for something as useful, but a decade or two younger.

Carp could be a good pickup. He's young, has a good pedigree and big-time power. Give him a shot, especially since the odds are long that Morneau will be a Twin in a year.

Plouffe or a light-hitting utility guy (Carroll or Escobar) at third this year. I'll take my chances with Plouffie. I would say that Plouffe has this year to establish himself. He has established his power, he needs to hit better with runners on base, play better defense and avoid horrendous slumps. His success or lack of it will have a lot to do with the success or lack of it for the Twins this year.

If the club feels they need a third catcher, aren't there better options available at the cost? Drew Butera is a woefully inept hitter. Isn't there someone out there who is a defene-first catcher, but can top .600 in OPS? That is my gripe with the Butera issue--the argument can be made that given the other two catchers and where they play, that the Twins are one of the few teams that can use a third receiver, but if so, can't they do better than Drew Butera?

The optimum would be to have two versatile catchers and an emergency third catcher, who is also versatile. The Twins don't have that and they don't have lefty-righty balance either (Doumit is a much stronger LH hitter). Mauer is a franchise player and as long as he is a catcher, everything needs to be built around him. Doumit is a good hitter for a catcher and acceptable as a DH and he can spell someone in the outfield. His defense doesn't have many admirers. He would be best paired with a gold-glove type righthanded hitter. Butera doesn't hit well enough to be a major leaguer. There are equally proficient defenders to be had, who would have a far better chance to do offensive damage than Drew Butera.

I have liked Benson since he joined the organization. He has plus power and speed and a good throwing arm. I'd like to see him get a good chance and find out if he can produce. I also have hope for Michael. The FSL has killed a lot of guys' stat lines. I hope Levi makes it to NB sometime and flourishes.

What is the projection for Herrmann? I've gotten the feeling that the team doesn't see him as more than a backup catcher or a third catcher/utility guy. If that is the case, why not have Herrmann make the club if he is demonstrably better than Butera and just about anyone can see that Herrmann can and will hit better than Son of Sal.

When Hudson and Hardy were healthy, they played. That is the last time, and one of the few times when Gardy had big league regulars at second and short. Dozier should develop into a much better hitter than Florimon or Escobar. He has a moderate amount of power and will steal a few bases. Considering the lack of power at so many positions, Brian should be given the longest look as a middle infield starter. I was hoping that the team would give him another fair shot at shortstop. While he didn't play well defensively, I thought he showed enough hands, range and arm to be an adequate major league shortstop.

Of Seth's picks in the bullpen, I think Burnett will end up in Rochester. He has an option left, and while he was okay last year overall, he faded as the season went on and his peripherals weren't very good.

The Twins won a lot of game with Delmon and Cuddy on the corner OF posts. I don't think Willingham/Parmelee is much worse in covering ground. However, Delmon/Cuddy was a pair of strong arms that Willingham and Parm will not match.

Smalley was by far the Twins best hitter for a couple of years. I don't recall him DHing at all during his first run with the Twins. Good looking, well spoken and the manager's nephew, he was the face of the franchise. He's my second favorite #5. I remain a Cuddy fan. He played hard, played hurt and was available whether the club was good or not. He was a mainstay for the nice run that the Twins put together between '01 and '10, starting playoff games in right, first and second.

mlbtraderumors.com says that the Twins are interested in Reid Brignac. From what I've seen, he is a very good fielder with a poor bat. He did have one good year with the Rays when he hit above .250 (.692 OPS in 2010). Worth a shot?