joemama

If you were Glenn Perkins, ninth inning save situations would be the only time you would pitch! ;-) Great article, Parker. Allen has been the biggest factor in the team's turnaround, in my opinion. Torii's leadership has clearly helped, as has Molitor's. But the offense, in general, has been worse, and yet the team is winning more...because of the improvements shown by Pelfrey, Gibson, May, and Milone. One could argue that improvement should have been expected of all of them, but not to the degree we've seen. I'm once again proud to be a Twins fan.

My thoughts exactly. All of these guys have shown talent at various times in their careers. Harnessing talent is another story...throwing and pitching are two different things. When nearly everyone on the staff is showing improvement, a ton of credit has to go to Allen.

I thought the same thing when I read Bernier got the promotion. All I can come up with is that perhaps Bernier offers a little more of a positional complement to Escobar than Beresford does?

Earlier today Moli said something along the lines of "not going to announce starters for the weekend because we don't know yet". My guess is they were waiting to see how Pelf pitched. He not only answered the bell, he clanged the sucker loud and clear. So I agree with earlier posts that for at least another turn through the rotation, nobody should get demoted to open a spot for Nolasco. I hope the Twins will either give him another rehab start (or two, if that's allowed) or stick him in the pen. The flip side is that they need to give him innings to hopefully get a string of half decent outings so they can trade him.

If their Spring Training results are all decent, I'll be most content ("excited" is just too strong at this point) to see May and Milone both in the rotation, with Meyer at AAA, Nolasco in long relief, and Pelfrey who knows where...probably the last arm in the bullpen or "on a rehab assignment" at AA/AAA trying to figure out how to pitch again. May has proven he's ready. Milone has had too much success, despite it being with Oakland, and offers the 'change of pace' lefty. Pitching him 5th between #4 May and #1 Hughes could be quite effective. Meyer still has issues to work out, but could prove by May 1 that he's ready. If Nolasco and/or Meyer is pitching great, SOMEBODY will be struggling enough or be hurt to give them their shot. Pelfrey?....it's gonna take him pitching well and a slew of injuries.

I read it differently...that Ryan wants to hear ideas from these guys on what can and should be done differently with the pitching staff, who they might envision as their pitching coaches, and why. I think he's looking for new ideas, not an endorsment of his own concept.

Thanks all you writers; I'm a daily (sometimes twice daily) visitor and reader but I haven't been a writer or commenter. My take on Mauer is that the move to first base has been a lot more than just learning to play first base. It's also Joe Mauer mentally coming to grips with the fact that he's no longer a catcher, something he's been his entire baseball life. Have you ever been thrown into a new position in your company, somewhat against your wishes and out of your comfort zone? How'd your first six months go? How about if you weren't "measuring up" in the early going...how'd that affect your stress level? Mauer knows that first basemen are supposed to have pop; you think that doesn't mess with his head just a little? Mauer also needs to adjust to the less physical demands of first base, and do more conditioning and strength work. I think he figured that out; I recall a comment in late June that he realized that he didn't have the leg strength that typically comes naturally from all the squatting a catcher does. I believe he'll return to his .330 or so self, but still without much power. More positional flexibility would be good (corner outfield?), so that if a young first baseman with pop comes along (Adam Walker in a couple years? I see Vargas as DH material), there will still be options. He's meant too much to this franchise - and his salary is too much of an albatross - to move him.