specialiststeve

You will get tired of me saying this but the DH ..NEEDS to be Polanco. Switch hitter that the DH'ing will keep him healthy. 150 games played ... That IS a difference vs the 90 or 100 if he plays 2B and gets dinged. As far as Julian... Let's all take a deep breath!! Let him start at 2B in AAA and see if they can make it work defensively. If not put him at 1B as those are the two spots other than the DH. We shall see how his bat responds to AAA pitching .. one more step up the ladder. There will be opportunity if he continues to rake.

Guess I was thinking "bigger" picture of since the front office came we have been in the hunt for the division title and had a very good farm system. I COMPLETELY agree with the assessment of the play but I put that on the coaching staff and lack of detail. I think this should be a make or break year for Baldelli.. he has not coached quality baseball. That being said... that has little to do with the Twins being cheap. The FO has put quality players out there for the team. Not the Mets or the Dodgers spending but responsible spending and good "value" moves. My take at least.

The Twins consistently put a good product out on the field and have had a quality minor league system for a long time. That is the standard that you should be looking at not money spent. If we were on the bottom of both and not "trying" I would be yelling but throwing money at things doesn't work.. proven over and over again. We all want the same thing and I get frustrated as do many but realistically the team has put a good product out there..

Rocco said earlier this spring somewhere that his goal was to get as many pitchers throwing 100 mph as possible.. STUPID! We are asking for more arm troubles. Can't blame the players as it is "notible" to throw 100 and will get publicity and if clearly hard to hit but..... We are also playing roulette with these guys arms. Wonder why there are so many arm.. elbow and shoulder issues.. Look no further. How about throw mid 90's and have great control and a mix of pitches to keep hitters from sitting on the FB? We are going to have a bunch of guys burn bright but a short burn.

You may be right .. okay not zero percent.. but still not seeing that they will go with what they have ..

ZERO chance they don't make a move before opening day. Not going to spend the money they have spent and go with a castoff from the Marlins as their everyday guy. It's LA man.. they will go get something as Lux was questionable there anyway. I hate to say it but the Dodgers and the Yankees match up really well.. Yanks have too many middle infielders and Dodgers have a need.

Would take more than Farmer but Getting Rushing who is LH bat would be ideal. Max and Farmer for Rushing and one of there seemingly endless number of quality arms in the minors...

Given his stature .. listed at 5'10 and 155 he is most likely to be headed to the bullpen for short but "big" stuff. It appears as he would be what they call "high effort" and that leads to injuries if his arm is not used right. Saw Baldelli say somewhere that his goal was to get as many guys throwing 100 .... umm... Goal should be getting guys that have great stuff and can locate and change speeds. Drives me bonkers the throw it hard and nothing else mentality!! a majority of Major league hitters will catch up to ANY fastball if they know it is coming..

Folks, stop whining about the rule... It is in place and we have to deal with it.. As far as it hurting the Twins and why the Twins have taken it in the shorts since the rule is in place as Baldelli and the coaching staff has forgot and stopped focus on fundamentals of "small ball". He has stated he will adjust .. we shall see. Old school... man on second... bunt over to 3rd.. 2 shots at a base hit... sac fly ... error.. put pressure on the defense to make a play... Baldelli and much of baseball... Swing from the heals and see what happens. Just bad baseball. Am hoping and praying that the new rules bring back movement and actual baseball "activity"... Bunting... hit and run.. stolen bases.. all the lost parts of the game.

You and I both Brother!! Someone in the FO please listen!! LOL

I will preach in every format here that Polanco should be the everyday DH. Switch hitter with ongoing injury issues. Plug him in at the 3 spot and play. Imagine if he could play 155 games. We have a ton of options at 2B. This is just too logical...

I will stay consistent in my belief that Polanco should be our full time DH. His bat is too important to this team to have him dinged up for a third of the season. I also think that Nick Gordon has "earned" the right to have a shot at a full time gig. Yes he is a valuable utility guy but we have a ton of Utility guys.. Castro.. Solano...Let the guy play. Some would question his defense but I do think that given a shot to play everyday at the SAME position it would improve a ton. The guy has just played great given the opportunity.. Let's see what he's got while ensuring that Polanco's bat stays in the lineup.

I would trade Lee, Raya and others in a heartbeat for Burnes IF he would sign an extension for say 4 years. Otherwise just can't go there.

So... if you are worth 30 million on the market or more... and they go to arbitration over 700 K while making 10 million and are underpaid by nearly 20 million... So, if you at your job is worth 30 dollars an hour and they offer you 10 dollar and hour but would settle for 11 dollars an our and they go to court (arbitrator) to get that dollar... ridiculous and REALLY dumb of the Brewers.

Head scratcher... With all of our infield options why add another. As stated... me thinks something is up...

Maeta will be the 5th starter... more about getting his trade value up than anything. Will be teams lined up by June for him if he can show that he is healthy and effective. Rays .. I mean the Twins way of getting guys for reasonable contracts and them flipping them for value. I believe that Sonny and Mahle will be in the same boat and there is a good chance that we Will move at least 2 of them depending on health of the rotation. Makes little sense letting them go for nothing unless we are "killing it".

Completely disagree... He clearly has talent and Japan has and continues to take WAY less talented players that him. But we shall see.

I was a huge Miggy fan when he hit the scene.. then I could not understand why they kept him around at the end. That being said.. he really should sign a 2 year deal and learn how to hit the off-speed stuff and some discipline. Would be in his best interest!

Our BIGGEST addition may be our new trainer... If we have the ability to keep players of the DL we could be pretty good.

My hope is that he pitches well in spring training and somebody wants him and we move him for something with any kind of value. We all... knowing it or not will start turning off the TV or Radio when he comes in as can't take the implosion that is on its way!!

Bingo! Timing was fairly bushleague but ... That was/is our BIG issue was our handling of our pitching. Was an F after Wes left. Not sure how Maki kept his job. Was the one BIG move that I expected the Twins to make that they didn't. If Maki and Baldelli handle the staff comparably it doesn't matter who is in the rotation or bullpen. Baldelli's lack of feel for the game and when to make a pitching move or NOT to make a move is glaring. We shall see.

Megill is bad? Um Pagan is Horrible. Would be glad to see both not on our roster and bring some of the good young arms up and get them experience. Have a distinct feeling that Maeta will be moved to a pitching starved team.. and there will be many!!

I would expect that he start at AAA as the starting 1B to get his reps in. If he can be decent and special K doesn't get it done.. we should see him there..

Have posted several spots but do believe that Polanco should be the everyday DH. Give Gordon a shot at the everyday 2B. Know he has been under par so far but playing a position once a week or 10 days is fairly impossible. Let him play every day there and see what he can do... if he shows after a time, he can't do it .. am sure Farmer can do it. Polanco staying healthy is VERY important. One of those two ought to be to handle it...

I have said this in other posts but the Twins NEED to make him the full time DH. Great way to keep his bat in the lineup and keep him healthy. We have MANY options for middle infielders that would work.. Being a switch hitter no need to take his bat out.... just makes too much sense... at least to me.