kab21

I think I predicted a 4.75 ERA with 40+ saves for Rodney this year. Yep, that is the closer that the Twins have this year. Yippee!

Grossman is nice bench bat on a good team. He is the Gene Larkin of this team. The Twins just happen to have Mauer (1B), Morrison (DH/1B), Sano (part time DH) and Garver (C/1B/DH). He just doesn't really fit on this team with so many DH/PH options. You might not think that Granite needs daily AB's but he has only played half a season at AAA. He could be in the majors right now but getting daily AB's still helps.

In an ideal situation the utility outfielder, utility infielder and the last bullpen spot are guys that can fill in in a pinch but are mostly outside of the playing rotation. You could put a prospect (like Granite) into that role but a prospect needs regular AB's for development. I don't have any expectations for Lamarre (regardless of his 12 AB's) but I am also not upset that they didn't acquire a better 4th OF'er. If any of the OF'ers goes down then I am okay with Granite (injured), Cave (struggling) or Wade getting some chances. For day to day issues I am also okay with Grossman (struggling) or Lamarre filling in.

Good addition. That makes 3 including Joe. I think that is a decent minimum for a position over a 10-15 year span.

The other thing about this is if he is still considered a catcher on the ballot and by the voters. Guys like Sheffield, Grace, McGriff get ignored because they are a few of many 1B/DH or corner OF'ers that hit well. I still consider him a catcher. Mauer is 4th in OPS for catchers between 2000-now. Piazza, Posada and Posey are the only catchers ahead of him. I am partial to the argument that at least a few players of each generation should be inducted. Piazza and IRod were closing their careers as Mauer was getting started. Besides Posey what other catchers would be considered HOF'ers that were Mauer's contemporaries? Posada (not a bad case)? VMart? McCann? I think when compared versus other catchers that played during his career it shows that he wasn't just 'very good'.

He looks like Grossman statistically. Solid but I am not sure I make this move. Grossman - Granite - Cave - Wade Obviously if both Buxton and Kepler are out for an extended chunk of time it isn't good but the Twins do have some options in the OF. I left off Lamarre since I don't really understand why he would be any good despite his spring and limited AB's that show him as a legit option.

The significant thing is that he appears to have taken the next step towards realizing his potential. The short summary of his career Great MiLB prospect - MLB struggles - MLB above average - NOW Not every great prospect takes the steps that he has. I was always an optimist with Berrios but I reigned in my enthusiasm with the expectation that he would be a very good pitcher (let's say 3.60-3.80) with upside. My expectations are becoming unreasonable (still less than Pedro Martinez peak) now. He might even an elite pitcher (top 10 MLB).

1.63 ERA - 29 K - 1 BB - 27.2 IP - OppBA .155 He isn't this good. Nobody is this good. These are like Pedro Martinez peak numbers. But I think we can start the conversation that he is a #2 at minimum (with upside for more). Exactly what the Twins have been looking for.

What a great game. Lucky fans in Puerto Rico. How long until we say that Berrios is becoming something special? He obviously isn't this good but is a true #2 at minimum?

The biggest factor in favor of Joe's HOF case is that he was an elite player at his position for quite a few years. This is a pretty important criteria for me. He did things statistically that are unheard of as a catcher. Especially one that was at least very good defensively (hello Piazza - another great hitting catcher). The negatives are that his raw counting stats (HR's, hits, etc...) don't measure up. I don't know how much HOF voters will focus on that or if they will take into account that he played much of his career as a catcher with days off and extra injuries. Or if they will take into account the concussion (much different than Puckett's career ending glaucoma though). The other negative is that he will have spent a substantial time at 1B but so have other HOF catchers. Mauer would be a HOF for me. And I would consider him a HOF'er over most of the other borderline Twins candidates (Johan - Morris - Bert - Oliva - Kaat). Not saying that the others don't have a case but if I had one vote then it would be for Joe.

You do realize that this entire debate started with Thrylos's bold claim that they are better than Ervin? He didn't even leave it open as a possibility that Ervin had any value to this year's team due to the two mentioned pitchers AND the rest of the rotation. That is the flat out absurdity of the statement. This rotation is much improved and there are actually good reinforcements available (like those mentioned) but the rotation isn't that good.

Worried? I am pleasantly surprised that Sano is hitting the ball at all and playing a passable 3B. He had an absolutely awful offseason with surgery and some very serious allegations. He certainly still has things to work on (just to be a lowly .850+ OPS player) and there are concerns (the K's and the weight) but the first 11 games haven't increased my concerns at all.

Right now the record doesn't tell us much and the stats don't tell us much more. The one good thing is that they aren't off to a terrible start and they are doing kind of what we expect them to be doing. So far the bullpen and rotation both look improved and they played well against the Astros. I expect Lynn/Odorizzi/Gibson to be competent low 4 ERA pitchers this year but BERRIOS START IS SOMETHING TO REALLY GET EXCITED ABOUT. 24K's and 1BB is pretty amazing even if it is SSS. He could be turning the corner in the #1/2 this organization needs.

Your final sentence is 'will be' and Thrylos stated now. I am cautiously optimistic that Romero goes the Liriano route (with the injury risk) because his upside his really high (not just a 4+ ERA guy) but I wouldn't say that he is better than Santana now (minus Santana's injury). Santana wasn't going to be irrelevant (also stated by Thrylos) this season. He might be now though and that is a loss to the rotation.

At this point due to injury, a late season start and age I am not any more confident that he would outperform Romero or May this season. But Thyrlos made a statement that Romero and May were better than Santana and Santana was going to be irrelevant this season anyway. I completely disagree with that. The injury changes things though.

I was worried about Santana the second that I heard that he was having surgery and would miss the start of the season. That sounded like a typical final season for an older pitcher that ends with a really ugly ERA. But luckily the Twins have depth in both veterans and prospects. Hopefully we see Gonsalves or possibly even Romero up with the Twins by midseason. Or do Pineda or May make an early comeback?

You missed the part that the Wolves would be a 4/5 seed with Jimmy. They wouldn't matched up against GS. That is the difference that Jimmy makes.

The Twins have a strong young core with tons of money coming off the books and a FO/ownership that seems willing to spend. This team is primed for the future with the caveat that the young players (and upper level prospects) collectively need to take a step forward. If they go the Andrew Wiggins/Gorgui Dieng route then this won't end well but if we see improvement from the group then they will have a strong team now AND later.

The Twins are in win NOW and win LATER mode. They added vetarans but they also didn't mortgage the future to do it (either trades or long term potential terrible contracts). They are in a very good place imo. Don't confuse that with 'this is a great team' now though. There are many issues with the roster but they are making big progress right now.

A) Games are singular events and huge swings can occur Not many have said that the Wolves would be favored to win a series against GS but there would be a chance of upsetting them. The Wolves w/o Jimmy are a 40 win team tops. With Jimmy they are a 46-48 win team. Right now they have the chance to lose to some bad teams and they will sometimes.

Called it! Come back Jimmy!

We barely missed you Kennys. tbh - I prefer Grossman over Kennys though so his only value is if there is an injury or if he can sneak through waivers.

The days off are fine. It is the middle of the series part of it that doesn't give teams a rest day after traveling that didn't make sense. But it does with the ability to reschedule the home openers such that those tickets still are the home opener.

The problem with Vargas is that he needs to be on the 25 man roster since he doesn't have any options. If they could option him then he would still be a Twin.

I am usually not a fan of 2 utility IF'ers or at least the necessity of them on the roster but this is an instance where I want two of them. Sano has question marks (health) and probably won't play 3B every day. At that point you don't have a backup IF'er on the bench. Additionally they are going with a backup as starter at SS. Grossman is really the odd man on the roster though. I like his specific skillset but that skillset doesn't work with Morrison as the defacto DH, Sano getting plenty of starts at DH and a backup catcher that might outhit Grossman. And Escobar is also a really good hitter on the bench although he won't be on the bench much to start the season. There just isn't a role that Grossman is needed for.