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Why are the balls different? That doesn't seem to make any sense!

Can someone provide a scouting report on Poppen? Is he a legit prospect? Will he stick as a starter? What does he throw?

I saw that Sean Poppen had another very good start yesterday. I've never seen him pitch. Can anyone that has seen him pitch offer a scouting report? What does he throw? How is he effective? Will he stick as a starter? Is he a true prospect? Thank you.

I think a case can be made to attempt to acquire Hand but I don't see the same with Neshek. If the Twins see Hand as a piece for the next few years, then it would make sense to attempt to acquire him. However, to suggest that the Twins start with Gonsalves is absolutely crazy! You can trade prospects but but why would you trade a valuable, young starter for a reliever? Makes no sense at all!

Not so much even the age, but, for me, the position the Twins are in as far as competing. Chargois needs to be the closer at the big league level so he gets the experience and he is ready when we really need him, which would be next year or after. I like Kintzler but he is not the closer of the future. Its time.

Gotta agree with this evaluation.

Sano and Polanco are the most interesting to me. Both have so much potential with their bats and so many question marks with their gloves. If they can develop the glove to average levels, their ceilings are quite high. To me, their development is the key to this teams improvement this year.

We can only hope that the Braves as a dark horse spur the Dodgers to offer more or the Braves offer enough to make it happen. If not, the new front office is right to hold on to him.

Management has to have a strategy and then stick to it. Everyone on here whines and proposes ridiculous trades to solve the Twins problems. The fact of it is, they have to do something and, if done correctly, with specific players, this strategy can be successful if the contracts the players are signed to make sense.

Somebody young and from outside the organization. It is time for significant change and hiring from within the organization would be a terrible move.

Molitor needs to be accountable for not playing some of the kids when they come up. It makes no sense o bring them up and let the rot on the bench.

I think people need to calm down. Yeah the start sucks. But it is beyond stupid to blow things up at this point. Cutting Fien is crazy. Sending Park down might be a valid move but not yet. It could also kill his confidence. I think Kepler needs to play every day if he is going to be up, he needs to play. You could easily rotate the OFers we have along with our DH's and give everyone a day off pretty regularly until they start to hit. The entire team definitely needs a different approach at the plate. Bruno, earn your pay and make it happen. But firing Bruno at this stage is crazy. All too often, the correct move is patience.

I'm excited for Arcia this year. I've always liked him but he really disappointed last year and it seems progress hasn't really been there for the last 2 years. Hopefully last year was a wake up call and he can become the middle of the order power hitter everyone thought he could be a couple of years ago. If he does, it makes perfect sense that Sano goes to DH most of the time but plays a day a week or so in RF, 3B and 1B. His bat will be in the lineup everyday. This would allow Byung Ho Park to start in AAA with no pressure and get comfortable. I still think that would be a good path for him. To Mauer makes or breaks the Twins lineup again this year. If he can return the the .300+ hitter he was, then our lineup should be very solid and should score a lot of runs. If he repeats last year, the key will be if Twins management has the courage to DL him until his vision improves.

That's not how it works. In the business world, and baseball is a business, since the posting fee was paid this year, it will be counted against this year. It shouldn't be prorated or amortized.

No, he has it right. This team was not supposed to contend this year and are not as good as their record. Managing for the future is still the right move.

It would be fun to see Buxton on the Twins this year but he is still just 21 years old and I think the key is development and patience. Let him earn the call-up.

I like the idea of him starting in the bullpen and then moving into a starting role as the opportunity presents itself.

At this point, the Twins are rebuilding and we should be going with younger talent. I love Johan but if they sign him it should only be to a minor league contract. He hasn't pitched in how many years. Let him pitch and see if he can regain his stuff. If so, then injuries and poor performances by our starters will give him a chance. Again, if he were to regain his form, if nothing else, he would be a trade chip at the trade deadline.

The Twins trading starting pitching at this point seem ridiculous. It has been their biggest issue the last few years and, as of now, the still really only have 3 guys that I feel are assured spots in the rotation next year and they are Hughes, Santana and Gibson. Nolasco had a bad year but it is WAY to early to give up on him. I think the same goes for Milone. As for May and Meyer, neither one has proven that they are ready to be a major league starter. Give them a chance in the bull pen and once they have some success there, then you can decide how to proceed. The only starting pitcher the Twins have that they should be considering trading is Pelfrey and good luck getting anyone to give you more than a ham sandwich for him. He would be strictly a salary dump.

Good article! I enjoy watching the minor leagues and was aware of a lot of these names but there were a few that I knew but hadn't paid attention to. I will now! Thanks!

I think the Twins are going to make the pitchers compete for their jobs this year. Obviously, some of the big contract starters are set in stone. But i think May, Meyer, Stauffer, Theilbar, Tonkin, Pelfrey, Graham, Duensing, Oliverous, et all are going to have to earn their roster spot in spring training and then pitch well to keep it after that. That is depth and that is good.

nd I hope we dodge a bullet with Volquez too. I'm nbot sure he is an upgrade over anything we have.

The article was spot on. Too many o the Minnesota baseball writers fallow the lead of Souhan, Barrerro and Reusse and write garbage. It's time someone calls them out. Just becasue they have a pen or a mic should not mean they can be ignorant idiots!

I like the Greg Maddux idea. I think he would be an excellent pitching coach.

I agree of your first three starters. They are a given unless injury issues arise. For the last two (2), I think it is going to be May and Milone with Pelfrey operating out of the pen. I think Darnell and Meyer will start in Rochester.