mikelink45

To keep him fresh for all the season what you're seeing in spring training is a preview of the year. We aren't going to put him in the field or at bat but we are going to have him in batting practice everyday so he can entertain those who come to the game early.

I expect him to do really well. Both with the bat and in the field. Has he settles and he's going to be hard to move and despite our love of versatility I know what we did to Sano.

If healthy I take Ober - then it is between Winder or Richardson.

I have seen Polanco as a trade candidate for the last year. We missed the opportunity to sell high. 2B does get more important without the shift and if we have ground ball pitchers. Otherwise 2B seems to be where we push players without position or fielding greatness.

Our weakest position is the BP. Then if Gallo does not bounce back and Kiriloff is hurt then two areas - 1B and OF because major areas of concern. I know you list RF and LF separate, but I just lump them together.

More ST wishes - what matters to me is the fact they still have a manager named Francona - don't sell them short. In the last 10 years they were under 500 once - 494. Seven times they were over 550. Our job is not to wish for Cleveland to go backward. It is our job to be better. But dreaming is allowed this time of year.

I worry and hope with Kiriloff, but wonder why Wallner is not an option here too? My one comment on defense at 1B - it is the position that is involved in more action than any position except catcher and we should give it more defensive consideration.

I really like him and feel he has gotten some unjust criticism. I hope he comes back healthy and is back on the roster next year.

If we were rating MN disappointments - Jeffers would be high. His rookie years showed so much promise, but his diminishing numbers don't show a player who is progressing. And the next depth wave looks pretty meager.

Good reflection - hard to add anything to what you wrote - they are such a disappointment that figuring out how to fix them is almost impossible. But they definitely showed that adding a FA to a bad team does not make a better team - it just might make a worse FA.

What a fun fantasy - this is what spring training is all about - dreams and hopes

I like Miranda a lot -but Machado - the pressure is on. ST is so full of optimism - I think we will be 162 - 0 this year!

Wow - the ACE card has come up again. No there are not 24 Aces out there if we go by the definitions that seem to float around that this is the guy you want to start and end a WS. I will take 5 really good pitchers, and an outstanding BP. The age of 100 MPH means that arms disintegrate - not worth a lot of prospects. We have enough articles about how good this SP depth is. Let's test it.

I was not happy with Molitor being replaced, but it is not Baldelli's fault. I am not happy with his by the book approach, but it reflects the FO and all the coaches that have been brought in so I am not sure what I should be using to judge him.

When I see Pagan replaced by a quality pitcher I will have more faith. I just cannot fathom what the eventual lineup will be at this point. We do need Miranda.

I do not see him making it as a SP, but based on what we have seen, I am not sure he is a quality reliever either. With all the names at St Paul, he is in danger of being on another team before the year is over.

You know I I know somebody the reason I didn't write what you were expecting is because I have high hopes for Miranda. Probably more than most of the writers on these pages. So I think we have an interesting situation with Miranda Lewis and Lee and I have to see what Lewis comes back as before projecting him for anything. We also have to see what Kiriloff can do if he's healthy.

Interesting to speculate but like the rest of you I have no idea

I find this fascinating after yesterdays article about Moran - he is the key addition and if we are worried that he sometimes walks batter we should not be extending Pagan. Sometimes wildness works for a pitcher - see Ryne Duren of the Yankees. But Moran is much more in control that Duren was. The Yankees used to walk him to the mound with those big thick glasses and he would remind you of Rick Vaughn in the movie Major League. I can see some other starters making it to the BP and hope they do before the rejects of other teams.

I love it - let the prospect rise as quick as his talent and attitude allow. I would love to see him at 2B with Miranda at 3B, Polanco trade bait. Then what to do with Lewis - what a good problem.

I have no idea. I know that the SP rotation is more likely to block him than the BP so I would favor the BP to start with..

Much better than another dumpster pick up. Give him a chance.

I can only repeat myself. Wait and see. I hope they're all great.

I like your optimism, but I do not see Cavaco or Sabato making it which puts them with Rooker. I am still questioning the Noah Miller pick and sorry we lost Petty. Not sure they will allow Wallner to get a role in the crowded roster. So what we have is Lee looking great in one year, Lewis seeming great but with a terrible injury history, Larnach with lots of promise and two years of injury. So my grade is incomplete for your list.

I loved going to Millers games, although I missed Willie and Roy. That was fun baseball. WIllie will always be the greatest centerfielder. No matter how bad they wanted Andruw Jones in the HOF, his short career cannot compete with Willie's overall and long value in the field. Roy suffered a wait that was too long and his counting totals have to include the Negro Leagues. I remember how sad it was to see him in a wheel chair, but he always had a smile. Look at this list of HOF players who were Millers at some point: Orlando Cepeda (1957) Jimmy Collins (1909) Ray Dandridge (1949–1952) Red Faber (1911–12) George Kelly (1930–1931) Billy Herman (1948) Monte Irvin (1955) Another great player who only got 10 years in the big leagues because of prejudice. Willie Mays (1951) Rube Waddell (1911–1912) Zack Wheat (1928) Hoyt Wilhelm (1950–1951) Ted Williams (1938) Carl Yastrzemski (1960) The games against the Saints were memorable and a pleasure for any baseball fan.