Monkeypaws

the more I think these people know nothing about the Twins. The main culprits: •terrible defense - in the infield, no way. Our infield is solidly above average around the horn. Outfield? Schafer is good, Torii and Oswaldo, meh, but overall, the whole nine is average at least. •starting pitching - well, we have progressed from Kevin Correia as opening day starter. Hell, Hughes, Santana, Gibson, that sounds like a pretty good top 3 to me. If Nolasco and Milone attain career average, you need to go back to the 60s-70s to find a Twins rotation with such depth, not to mention studs and such in waiting. •power - potential, to be sure, but there are a number of guys capable of 20+ pops on this team. Guys who have hit 20+ : Dozier, Pouffe, Arcia, Mauer, Hunter. Vargas is easily capable. There could be some serious lumber going on here. I also think a Molitor will help overall in attention to minor things: baserunning for sure, but also defense. Kelly was a stickler for detail, Gardy not so much. This team has depth options at key positions that also go beyong AAA filler, except at outfield and perhaps catcher: bullpen and infield look good. But if Buxton gets off to a good start, and Rosario thumps in the minors, it could turn around quickly. I expect, even as a pessimist, that the Twins will not finish last, and will be at least near even in win loss this season.

I am hoping you thoughts on Gibson will prove true.

Our infield defense is actually pretty good. Must really hate that OF.

Does Sickels put his pants on one leg at a time?

It would be in keeping with theTwins current collection of Kentucky products. Sounds like Meyer jr.

Conventional wisdom has Escobar being the utility guy - wouldn't Santana be the perfect guy in that role? Infield, outfield, pinch runner, he could play 150 games filling in for just about anybody in any situation. He is young enough to get a starting role down the road. I just really like Escobar's game. Low maintainence, better than average performance.

I've seen him with his boys at Target Field - great guy. Love the story of him hiding in Hunter's car. Didn't he fill Ortiz's underwear with peanut butter as well, amongst other pranks?

Tell me why this guy doesn't deserve to be penciled in as the starting shortstop on the 2015 Twins.

First of many more to come I hope.

I think it's time to see what he can do as well.

I don't like the nutrition

Seeing there is no salary cap in baseball, I'm not too worried about this.

And boom, Souhan's article on Perkins today drops. Perkins want the analytics job in the Twins organization: http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/294313461.html edit: ah to late again I see. Gotta get up pretty early in the morning to scoop Twins Daily....

It would be a huge boost if he could throw around 200 innings with an ERA below 4.5. Given there was clearly something wrong last season, I'll drink the kool-aid on this one.

I like the "attention to detail" stories that have emerged from the first days of camp. Perfect attitude to instill as all these new young players make their way into the major leagues.

People assume Santana will regress, but I'd keep him there until he actually does regress.

Good write-up Nick. I think the Twins have done well in erring to the side of caution with Meyer. It would be awesome if Allen could help him smooth out the mechanics and find consistency and durability down the road.

For a guy drafted out of college, who has shown major power at every level, I don't see any value in repeating A ball. If he was to repeat a level, make it AA. As for the comparison to Arcia, point taken, but then again, Arcia exhibits many of the same characteristics that people cite as a reason for Walker to start in Fort Myers.

Damn, what the Twins lost these last 7 years.

Walker is 6 months younger than Arcia - push push push!

I'd rather see them in their own park actually Love the minor league experience, and the prices.

At the least, the Twins current big contracts will expire before the future studs will demand the big bucks.

i saw him at Target field with his sons last year - friendly guy.

I saw this morsel in their discussion of Andrus's contract: Dozier sprang immediately to mind.

Hopefully this will fill that beautiful stadium of theirs this season. Padres are a team I've always had a soft spot for. Love San Diego too.