Monkeypaws

Good write-up TFFA. I'd like to see the Twins get aggressive at promoting their own talent - Bring up Mays and Meyer next season, and Sano at some point as well. If your going to trot out a low budget line-up, at least do it with prospects that one can get excited about when they have a good game. Pinto, Arcia, Dozier, those guys have been fun to watch because they are on the upswing of their careers. I remain optimistic that they will return to relevancy someday.

Whatever they're teaching them at Kentucky, it's working. #1, #2, and an HM. Not too shabby.

Probably best to steer the top prospects clear of this Twins team - most of them have just come from playing meaningful games in September, a good note to end on. In fact the guys they did recall are a perfect fit for this Twins team, and will be great trivia questions in 15 years when trying to come up with obscure Twins.

Fun with numbers indeed. Well, you gotta tip your hat to a guy who mainly goes deep into games he starts, and has 3 outings without a run given up.

Nice write up. I am sure there will be some variations in other lists, but worthy effort.

I agree SD. The Morneau analogy gives one pause....

Yes, but two of those were when he was 22 and 23, shuttling to and from the minors, 93 innings total. Why don't we count 2012 and his ERA of 2.29 as well? Before this season had had 2 good seasons and 2 not so good as a full-time major league pitcher. People are making it sound like he was atrocious, which is an exaggeration.

Well, the guy did have 2 seasons with winning records, ERAs in the 3s, and over 200 innings pitched. How is that sucky?

Actually, if the Twins had a rotation of true MLB 4-5 starters, they'd be close to .500. This lot is more like 6-7 starters. As Pelfrey's fastball velocity has returned to the mid 90s, he has gotten better results. He would be worth keeping at the right price. (Remember, this guy was on the same timetable roughly as Scott Baker, who is just now getting his feet wet again in A ball.)

The Twins have never had a wealth of Latin American talent: the 65 team had Oliva, Versalles and Pascual, the Cubans, but for the most part, they have been isolated cases, Carew, Santana, Liriano, Berenguer, Guzman, etc. Now, with Sano, Arcia, Rosario, Pinto, Santana, Berrios, and Landa in the wings, plus current guys like Florimon, Hernandez, Escobar, Deduno, Ramirez... I can't recall a more Latin American Twins team. About time!

Why not? And don't say "because."

Just imagine in Kevin Correia was allowed to assume his natural role as a bottom of the rotation starter here. He ain't too shabby for a 4-5 guy, but because the rest of the rotation is a disaster, he suddenly is put in a role he shouldn't be, and people hate on him because he ain't a 1-3 stud.

First AL catcher to win a batting title, and he gets 3, most ever for a catcher in either league. That alone, along with what will likely be a lifetime BA near .320, and gold gloves, MVP, makes him a definite HOF'er. Seriously, the AL was born in 1901 - think of how many catchers failed to win a batting title in over 100 years. Mauer did it 3 times. Greatest hitting catcher in AL history gets the nod from me.

Rosario hasn't proven a thing at the big league level - Dozier has. Assuming Dozier will play SS as well defensively as Florimon, and that Rosario will be as good at 2b as Dozier, is a dubious proposition. If Dozier falls flat on his face next season, it will be nice to have someone to take his place, but otherwise, how long has Rosario played OF as opposed to 2b, and how big a deal would it be for him to switch back? Probably not hard at all.

I'm more than happy with the current middle infield - if it ain't broke, why change it? Florimon looks weak on paper, but he has had his share of clutch hits this season, and his glove work is outstanding. The guy hasn't even had 500 major league at bats, so whose to say he won't develop into a .250 hitter capable of 10-15 homers? He isn't that far away now. Dozier just set the Twins all-time record for HRs for 2nd baseman in his first full season, and his defense has also been fantastic. Their play has been a bright spot for me this season. To me it makes much more sense to return Rosario to his natural position in the OF, with the ability to fill in at 2nd on occasion.

Gahh - I saw a thread predicting the misspellings. I know the media view, I was looking for TR or a scout or someone saying "we really like this kid," or some such. Commentary does seem to be curiously lacking.

Let's not forget Papa Jack, Ron Jackson.

I didn't see the usual "we like this guy's game" in the media. Anyone see anything from the Twins brass?

I think Rosario fans should be looking at CF instead of 2B. Dozier has taken root there. If Hicks flops, there's a vacancy.

So is Welker official or no?

Hate the F*&%$n' Rangers. Good job Twins.

I don't mean my previous comment as a slight to Justin. As I've made clear in other threads, I would love to see him turn it around AND end his career here. Special player.

Home-grown smokin' and drinkin' Hrbek, 2 time World Series Champion. Dude was a winner and a competitor and never donned a uniform other than the Twins. He for sure would be the Twins 1b I'd most like to have dinner with.

It ain't Monopoly money folks. 2 million is enough money to live on comfortably for the rest of one's life. Sure, it's a drop in the bucket of the Pohlad fortune, but you don't just throw money around when you are running a business, and that is the position Ryan finds himself in. Unfortunately, unless the Twins are bought by some oil emir, penny pinching Midwest common sense are the rules the Twins GMs are confined to, regardless of what ownership says. IMHO.

No Hicks?