Physics Guy

I noticed the "penalty" on the top DH for each of the playoff teams as well. Michael Young was the one who noticed the least decline and his numbers weren't great (under .700 OPS as DH and when in the field).

Don't disagree with your premise, but I think it depends on the team. The Twins used the DH spot as a way to keep players healthy (Morneau and Mauer) yet still keep them in the lineup. Last year, here were the top 4 in AB for the Twins at DH: Doumit 200 Mauer 187 Morneau 140 Willingham 108 This is the strategy that most contending teams use. The Tigers were the only team in the AL playoffs that had a player have more that 300 AB's at DH (Delmonzie). They use the DH as a rotation for their older players to stay fresh. I'd say Morneau and Mauer's numbers will decrease this year. Quite a bit of the time Mauer was at DH, Doumitt was catching so that isn't really changing the lineup. Those two will eat up the bad AB's given to Butera last year. I guess my point is that you should get what you want to some extent, it's just going to be Doumit and not Willingham this year. Teams that employ a nearly full-time DH should have young position players that play nearly all of their games. This likely describes the Twins either in 2014 or 2015. Teams like the Yankees have to use it for Swisher/Ibanez/A-Rod.... You could very well get your wish in the near future.

No 3-time Batting Champ???? Led league in OBP last year???

Nobody should be surprised next year if payroll goes down. As the young guys start to break into the big leagues, they will be making league minimum. If any of Morneau,Willingham or Doumitt were traded, payroll would go down. I think Blackie's salary comes off the books also. Ryan pretty much proved this season he won't spend major money on FA, saving it for extending players we already have. After what is happening to Baker and Marcum, maybe Ryan made the right moves. Here's an excerpt from the New York Times: "So it goes at Mets camp, where the medical rolls keep getting longer. Earlier Tuesday, the Mets said Shaun Marcum, who signed a one-year, $4 million contract to help make up for the loss of R. A. Dickey, would skip his last scheduled start of spring training Thursday. Last week, he received a cortisone shot in his shoulder; now, he apparently has neck pain. Manager Terry Collins said he did not expect Marcum to be with the team at the start of the season because he had not pitched in two weeks."

Mauer 33

Guzman was an All-Star at 23 with a 4.6 WAR and 4 other seasons surrounding that one all at about 1. That is a substantial improvement over what we have seen lately.

Very well laid out argument. Considering some of the issues he was dealing with (Morneau DH'ing, giving Mauer more rest), I would agree that there was a reasonable amount of stability in those lineups. Part of the reason for so many lineups is that he most likely only chose to switch one or two players on a regular basis rather than having a day where Plouffe, Dozier, Burroughs and Parmelee all played the same day.

There was a new article posted about Joe on ESPN.com today: Twins story: Joe Mauer still the man - SweetSpot Blog - ESPN

What I think I would like to happen (non-Pitchers): Mauer, Morneau, Dozier, Florimon, Plouffe, Willigham, Hicks, Parmelee, Doumit, Carroll,Mastroianni, Ramirez, Colabello Every position would have a competent backup and this would give Gardy more pop on the bench. Escobar gets to play every day and Butera is available in AAA if we need another C. I think with Swarzak and Diamond on DL, there is room to add the last two. What I think Twins will do: Mauer, Morneau, Dozier, Florimon, Plouffe, Willigham, Hicks, Parmelee, Doumit, Carroll, Mastroianni, Escobar, Ramirez

Willingham 140, that just leaves Mauer somewhere in the top 100.

He was #39 last year, so discount away.

Morneau 172

Well said. I think he will post 20+ HR and improve moderately on his BA, hopefully around .260. If he can do that he's probably a league average 3B. Physically, I don't see any reason why he can't be at least an average 3B defensively. If he can focus, I think we have a solid 3B for at least a couple of years.

Here's another way to look at it. With the changes made to the coaching staff during the offseason, it appears as though Gardy has been put on notice. Wouldn't it be hypocritical to fire Gardy at the end of the season when you don't allow him to keep what he believes are the best players?

Nobody should see this as a shock. Hicks has been the predominant CF and leadoff batter all ST. Reports have been very encouraging and he has even showed a bit of pop with the bat. Watching him on Thursday, I thought he looked quite ready. He takes solid AB and looked very comfortable in the field (unlike Benson). I understand the hand-wringing regarding the team-control issue, but I hope this thread doesn't evolve into more ranting that he should start in the minors. It's not going to happen. There is always the chance he scuffles a bit and gets sent down, like many players do. I for one hope he takes this chance and runs with it.

Thanks for the update. No real surprises here. I was a little surprised last night when one of the announcers let Benson off the hook for the drop down the line. They used the excuse that he was near the fence and wasn't used to it since he normally plays CF. I don't buy it. Yes, he is normally a CF, but that catch wasn't that difficult and should have been made. He later dropped a ball during the transfer from the glove. Maybe we can chalk it up to end of spring training nerves.

So, tell us how you really feel about the front office. Are you really worried they will make this move? It seems pretty apparent that they are going to stick with what they have.

Worley 337, Doumitt 373.

I agree, the lineup looks good to me except where they have Dozier. Dozier should bat 8th with everyone 3-8 sliding up a spot, IMO.

I think you are probably right. I didn't have Doumit at first and it could even reach 6 if Worley makes it.

ESPN started posting their top 500 players for 2013 today, starting with 401-500. MLB -- BBTN 500: Ranking the top 500 Major League Baseball players of 2013 (Nos. 401-500) - ESPN Plouffe is 429 and Diamond is 434. The question is, how many other Twins make the list? My guess is 4.

Have you seen Roenicke pitch or are you just going by his spring training stats? He threw 88 innings in Colorado last year with a 3.25 ERA. Statistically speaking, Roenicke is not Jeff Gray. I haven't actually seen him pitch yet, so maybe last year was a fluke. His K rate was down last year, but at least he had a history of higher numbers.

Shockingly, LaVelle projects this lineup in his blog today: "Hopefully, that Friday game will be the day manager Ron Gardenhire posts the lineup he intends to open the season with. Indications are that the order will go Hicks, Dozier, Mauer, Willingham, Morneau, Doumit, Parmelee, Plouffe, Florimon. Gardy could come up with something else between now and Opening Day. But the last week to week and a half of camp is when spring training games are treated more like regular season games." Twins spring training: Plouffe, Deduno, rain | StarTribune.com

I know this is a Deduno thread, but we've been talking Hendriks also. Souhan had an interesting take (I know, I was surprised also) regarding Hendriks on 1500 last week with Reusse. His impression was that at AAA he commands the outside corner (actually just off it), causing guys to swing at pitches just outside the zone. He tries to do the same thing with major leaguers who have more patience and has no success. IMO, until he can command inside the zone at the MLB level he won't take that next step. I for one, certainly hope he does. Also, kudos to Deduno for picking up the W tonight.

They need a couple of "Diamond-like" surprises this year. I'm hoping Hendriks figures it out and can be included.