Physics Guy

I want one SP and two relievers (inc. a closer) added to the team. Santana, FA, Berrios, Gibson, Mejia, Gonsalves, Romero and maybe May gives them some depth. Off the top of my head, here are my choices. 1). Pay what it takes to get Darvish. I doubt the Twins win the bidding. 2). Trade for Archer. I would like to see an upgrade. Romero, Polanco and a couple of prospects. Don't want to see Gonsalves or Gordon traded. Adrianza and Esco fill in until Gordon is ready. I don't think Polanco stays at SS long term. 3) Sign Cobb, 4 years/64M. He had two 3+ bWAR seasons in the AL East before his TJ surgery. 4). Sign Lance Lynn. Three years at 3+ bWAR. Like Cobb better because of AL East history.

Busenitz and Hildy alone means you don't need seven new arms in the bullpen. Outside of a four game stretch in late July where he gave up nearly half of his earned runs, Rogers has been excellent. I think he was overused a bit before Hildy and Busenitz gained Molitor's confidence. I also would be OK with Belisle in the 6th and 7th innings. Would like to see them bring back Kintzler and another guy to battle for closer and 8th inning. I think two new guys could make for a pretty solid bullpen. As an aside, I don't know what to make of Pressly and Duffey. Both seem to have the velocity and secondary pitches to be successful, but I'm about done with giving them chances. Either one could be the last guy in the bullpen, but it sure would be nice if they could figure it out.

So Santana, Berrios and Gibson or Meijia are the only things worth keeping? 7 new bullpen arms is pretty much the whole thing. I couldn't disagree more. I think one additional starter in the mold of Santana would stabilize the rotation and leave some room for young kids to come up. There are plenty of encouraging signs in the bullpen. I think two different pieces, specifically a shut-down closer would do the trick in the bullpen.

It's not. My guess is you are referencing his ejection when Sano got tossed for yelling at the opposing dugout after hitting a home run three pitches after being thrown at. Yeah fine, no problem with that. Not sure these other two are the same. https://www.gomn.com/sports/twins-minor-league-manager-doug-mientkiewicz-was-ejected-before-first-pitch http://www.foxsports.com/other/story/managers-brawl-ejected-from-ft-myers-miracle-game-081813

This should not come as a complete surprise. Falvey and Levine are cleaning house of people that don't fit what they want, which they are entitled to. It absolutely could have been handled better, but Mientkiewicz would have been bitter regardless of how it was handled. Mientkiewicz has had some run-ins with umpires in the past and I have to wonder if that had something to do with this decision.

Bombo Rivera First game I ever went to at the old Met, he crashed into the LF wall making a catch and had to come out of the game. Still bitter that Mauch sat Carew that Sunday.

Well, there is always the option of putting Kepler at 1B.

Can I take Door #7???

You sound concerned. Who have the Twins missed out on that is better than what we have?

I am convinced it will come down to starting pitching. If this staff hovers anywhere near a 4.00 ERA I think they can be in the fight for a WC spot. Sano looks like he may fulfill the promise of his rookie season. Polanco is not looking overwhelmed at SS (I was doubtful). I haven't been able to watch much yet, but it seems like the OF pulls off a Web Gem on a daily basis. This beats the hell out of 0-9 to start the season.

By the way, for those who are wondering about Alex Meyer. http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/angels-alex-meyer-sent-down-to-triple-a/

He won't. Only two teams (KC and ChW) had fewer PH appearance than the Twins last year.

vs RHP Polanco Mauer Dozier Sano Kepler Park Rosario Castro Buxton vs LHP Polanco Mauer Dozier Sano Park Kepler Buxton Rosario Gimenez

Granite appears to be a Ben Revere clone. He is older than Revere with slightly higher power. Hopefully he can throw better than Revere. If so, he fits at least as a 4th OF.

I agree, I don't want crappy veterans either. I'm OK with them starting the veterans in April, but kick them to the curb if they aren't doing the job.

From previous posts on other threads, I know you are not happy with the Berrios situation. In a vacuum, I would want Berrios up with the Twins in April. From what I see, I believe they think they have 5 other starters who are better right now. Having Berrios and Meija in AAA to replace one of those five when they falter is more preferable than having Santana, Gibson, May, Berrios and Meija in the rotation to start the year and then no fallback. I'm not sure I see any other options that are ready. As for the other positions, I think many of those changes were made during the season. At catcher you add Castro for Suzuki (getting younger in the process). I can handle Gimenez and #2 because both Murphy and Garver will get more playing time, even if they equally split, than they would with the Twins. 1B and 2B stay the same as last year, but SS and 3B get younger. This year Polanco gets the AB from Nunez. Sano takes over for Plouffe. The OF stays the same, except Kepler is full-time in RF instead of Sano/Kepler. The OF and left side of the IF can't get much younger. In the bullpen, I see Chargois making it. He was on the team last year, but only threw 23 innings. I am also hoping Haley will be added. I guess my point is that the Twins have already added a bunch of young players. I think I am OK with having some veterans on this squad to start the season. Six of what I anticipate to be the starting lineup are what I consider to be young. My issue will be in May if those vets are sucking it up and the FO doesn't start bringing in younger options. This needs to happen in both the rotation and the bullpen.

Has anybody thought that maybe the Twins are OK with this because it is an easy way out for them to start Berrios at AAA. It makes their decisions easier, unless of course Berrios tears it up at the WBC.

I agree with the sentiment of having Berrios, Duffey, Meija in AAA gives us less likelihood of seeing starters like Albers and Dean this year. Let the vets start the season in the rotation and move them out when they've outlasted their usefulness. I don't understand the problem with Gibson. Discounting his abbreviated rookie season, he has 2.0, 3.2 and 0.6 WAR seasons. Let's remember that Gibson was not healthy last season. If he is a 2-3 WAR pitcher, he is a useful #3-4 starter.

Let's remember he is still only 25. He is a playmaker, so it stands to reason they might start him at C. I wouldn't fault Yeo too much as far as Granlund is concerned. Granlund showed stretches during Yeo's tenure of being a good player. I think he has improved his skating significantly the past two years and that is partly responsible for his improvement, besides switching to W.

This is correct. Hanzal is meant to give the Wild three tough centers to match up with the big centers in the West (Toews, Kopitar, Getzlaf...). Hopefully it takes some defensive pressure off of Staal so his line can start performing again. This gives them another top faceoff guy to go with Mikko (Staal is just OK). Also, both Hanzal and White have more hits than anybody on the Wild, which is clearly a need for this team. Against rougher teams, play White. Against finesse teams, play Schroeder.

If there is ever a time to go for it, now is the time. They are in first place but Chicago reminded them who they have to beat to get to the Finals. The Wild was relying on too many young players. Here's how I'd like to see it the rest of the way: Mikko, Granny, Zucker Staal, Nino, Coyle Hanzal, Parise, Pomminville Haula, Stewart, White/Schroeder (depending on matchup) Suter-Spurgeon Brodin-Dumba Folin-Scandella We have to split up Dumba and Scandella. Play Prosser or Olofsson if they continue to suck.

I'd rather see Park play for Mauer and Grossman for Rosario vs LHP.

Correct

Forgot to mention, Haley makes it as insurance against Hughes. We need somebody who can eat innings.

Rotation: Santana, Gibson, Santiago, Hughes and May. Berrios first call up, maybe Vogelsong in AAA if he accepts assignment. Bullpen: Kintzler, Pressly, Belsile, Chargois, Haley, Rogers and Breslow. Duffey either goes to AAA to work on a third pitch or is converted to a reliever (which is what I would prefer). Tonkin becomes AAA filler if he goes unclaimed. Boshers and O'Rourke are filler if Breslow or Rogers struggle. O'Rourke is a LOOGY and a team fighting to get back to .500 can't afford that, especially with the rotation we've dealt with lately.