AScheib50

Does anyone else feel like Tyler Duffy has completely flown under the radar on a pretty quick rise through the system? I feel like he was in Ft Myers just yesterday and now he is knocking on the door. What is the scouting report on him? Probably more of a 4th starter type? his K numbers seem pretty good as he has moved up, too, which is nice. He was one of the college relievers, right? Because he has seemed like a nice innings eater so far, too.

I'm interested in seeing if Rosario gets much time at 2b this year now that Michael is in AA as well. With buxton being hurt now Rosario will probably be in CF a lot but I wonder what the plan was before.

I think that looks pretty good. I mean, we all want to see Meyer but it seems less likely. Might as well see what Milone has to offer, as he was pretty stellar in Oakland in the past. May would be the more exciting move, but both are moves I can get behind. I still can't quite wrap my head around what will happen with Meyer, but I feel like he would have to get at least a few big league innings this season, but who knows. I think Correia has gotten a pretty rough shake...he has been about as good or better than expected for 2 years...but he is not a guy that should be here next season, so you hate to waste precious starts o him. Wouldn't mind sending him to a contender instead of throwing him in the bullpen on this team but who knows if anyone will scoop him up or not.

For some strange reason while reading this I got to wondering what Luke Bard was up to...anyone know what his status is? Have we given up hope on him at this point?

One of the more frustrating things about the Buxton season is watching other guys pass him up on the ladder to the Majors. I'm from Chicago and I just read the Cubs promoted Albert Almora to AA...I saw he and Buxton play last year against one another at Kane County and they were on two different levels at the time...makes me wonder where Buxton could be if healthy. And as far as Dougie goes, I would love to see him get a well earned "promotion" I am all on board with him as Gardy's replacement even.

Looks like I will be heading over to Fifth Third Bank Ballpark on Saturday to catch that Cougars matchup!

Agreed, we've seen how that 40% K rate worked for Dylan Bundy. Clearly he isn't the only guy on that list to have arm injuries either. I wouldn't worry about Kohl Stewart just yet at all. You almost wonder if his involvement in football will be a blessing in the long run because he wasn't one of those kids who only pitched for 12 months a year. Hopefully that will help his arm in the long run.

At this point, would anyone be on board with Kubel being the guy to go when both Arcia and Willingham return? If Parmalee keeps his head above water this time around you have to think he won't clear waivers. I'm hoping when Arcia returns Gardy uses an outfield of Arcia Hicks Parmalee with a DH platoon (of sorts) of Colabello and Kubel.

That, to me, is the most depressing thing of all this. As of like a week ago there was still some positive vibes around here and surrounding the team. Now it appears this ship is sinking in a hurry and people are scrambling for their life vests.

My biggest issue here is that there are several other guys who I think should have been ahead of the Guerrier. It doesn't mean they should have gotten the call because the Twins have no need in the bullpen, but for the overall betterment of this team wouldn't you have rather seen Achter or Deolis Guerra? Young guys with promise for the future is something we should be seeing. If anything to create some buzz? Who really wants to see Matt Guerrier come out of the 'pen?

In the comments Sickels mentions loving Lewis Thorpe, so there's that. He admits there's some risk in projecting him too much since he has hasn't made it to A ball yet but still nice to see him get some love.

I'm on board for this idea, too. Although it would complicate the whole Mauer learning first base thing. He would take some time learning the OF, but I do like his chances of being good in RF better than Colabello's. I am pretty sure LEN 3 wrote something very similar in one of his postgame notes last week even.

Are they going back to using Mason Melotakis out of the 'pen? Or is the plan to let him start some games this year too?

I would love the idea of them going younger and not clinging to some of these older guys, but the problem is the young guys aren't ready yet or they are hurt(ie: Sano). It's starting to become painfully clear this year is not the youth movement year...maybe next year, or if we are lucky things change this summer and they go young. If you look at our division rivals, the White Sox, they did the youth movement thing this offseason...not sure what the Twins were waiting for...we will see how things turn out I guess.

As am I. I'm just playing the wait and see game since tix on stubhub are pretty cheap other than for Opening Day. If the weather turns out nice I will probably end up at Wed or Thursday's game.

So last year was my first trip down and I went sometime around the 13-16 I think...I watched a lot of minor league drills and BP but never caught a full game. I feel like the minor league games were ramping up by the time I was leaving though. I never caught any big league practice or drills though, was I too late? Where do they do their drills, practice etc? I am planning to go down this year but can't make it til about the last week, like the 22nd...will there still be a lot going on at that point? Can I catch the minor leaguers on the back fields still? Or will I have missed all the good action?

Alright, thanks for the heads up. Not having a friend to stay with is already a bummer. Had a blast last year and I didn't even get to watch a full minor league game, just batting practice and drills. So I hope to see some minor league games this time around!

Hey, does anyone have any good info on hotels and prices and things of that nature? I was down there for 4 days last year but I had a friend who I crashed with who no longer lives in Ft Myers. I haven't booked anything but I have been thinking of making a return trip, especially if the minor leaguers aren't getting moved to a different site. I was trying to think back to last year if there were hotels within walking distance or not? I am pretty much winging it based off my work schedule for now.

As a kid growing up in Chicago watching a lot of White Sox games in Frank Thomas' hay day, I feel like hes got to get in. He was an absolute beast. I struggle with the PED guys. I have a weird outlook. To me Barry Bonds was a top 5 player before he ballooned up. But to me guys like Sosa and Palmeiro probably would have been nobodys without PEDs. So I find myself leaning more towards favoring Bonds even though he was easily the most unlikable player of the generation. I'm still on the fence whether or not I would vote for any of them, but if I voted for any PED user it'd be Bonds...mostly based on his seasons in Pittsburgh.

At this point Hicks has a lot to prove before he becomes a part of the future. Buxton is fast on his tail. So if Buxton stays on his current trajectory of a 2015 arrival(or sooner depending on who you talk to) Hicks has basically this year to prove himself. He'd really have to improve his numbers at the plate to suggest he could be a regular at the corner.

I feel like it has to just be 2 catchers. I was always under the impression Gardy had his third catcher just because he Dhed Mauer and hated to idea of losing the DH spot for one game should the catcher get hurt while Joe DHed...I always found this crazy (even though I was at the game where I believe Garza had to hit because the above scenario actually happened) But with these catching options, none should be DHing anytime soon so that concern should be gone, thus the need for a third catch is out the window...right?

Not sure about the Polanco love...everyone seems to be on his bandwagon this offseason. I watched him a few times this year when the Kernels were in town playing Kane County and I wasn't blown away personally. Extreme small sample size, I know, but I don't see him above Rosario yet, considering league and track record, Rosario is a ways ahead of him in my opinion.

I haven't been as high on the Anderson talk as a lot around here, but the more I hear about it and the more I read I get more interested. I think I would do Adam Walker for Anderson...depending on who else is in that deal. But the idea of getting a possible ace lefty in his mid 20s is pretty enticing. I'm with Thrylos on trading some prospects while we have em. Can't keep them all, just have to make sure you trade the right pieces. But I think this would be a huge addition for the Twins.

That was an awesome report...reminds me of my time down there for ST this year and now I am jealous! haha but anyways... The fact that he sat and chatted with you for that long is very cool.