MileHighTwinsFan

I agree that it will be soon - but probably not before the end of May. Robinson has been better than expected and Schaefer has struggled, but provides a counter to Hicks" weaknesses against right handed pitching. While Hicks may be ready - the prospect of DFAing either Robinson or Schaefer could bring back the sour memories of the Alex Presley/Darin Mastroianni debacle of last year. The front office is probably thinking that the next promotion of Hicks will be his last. As a result, they are going to want to be super comfortable making the move, which translates to a more conservative approach. It may take an injury to an outfielder to make this happen.

I don't think Sano is ready or will be for most of the year - but the good news is that Plouffe is playing All-Star and Gold Glove level third base. Buxton may appear sooner, but I am not sure it will be a mid-season playoff push promotion. I still think he is a late season call up. He has had a good week, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Think it is more likely that Hicks makes it up before both of them. His numbers are solid, if unremarkable. If they hold up for another month, I think we will see him up with the club.

You can't keep a healthy player on the DL to make endless "rehab starts" can you? Nolasco can't be optioned, so either you option May or option a reliever and put one of the starters in the pen. I see no reason why you can't put Nolasco in the pen for now and delay a decision for a couple more rounds through the rotation.

He is a good 3rd baseman, but I have a hard time believing the Twins will or can convert Sano to any other position. It is because of Sano's limited versatility as a fielder that Plouffe is eventually a trade candidate. Unless, of course, Sano becomes the trade chip for that #1 starter that we all desperately want.

While it is pretty clear that Sano will be the Twins third baseman at some point, it is not likely this year. Ultimately Plouffe is either a trade chip or a super utility player for the club. In many respects it is the development of other players like Arcia, Rosario and Vargas that have more of an impact on Plouffe's future. I agree that he is a strong extension candidate - but don't agree that this means he is the Twins' third baseman beyond the foreseeable future.

Definition-- jour·ney·man \-mən\: a worker, performer, or athlete who is experienced and good but not excellent In the nomenclature of the game we have many names for the journeyman. On competitive teams we typically use the more endearing terms: role player, utility man, pinch hitter, defensive replacement. But on a losing team we tend to describe them in less complementary ways: placeholder, seat warmer, has been.A journeyman’s value is not typically described with season stats or career slash lines, but in single moments; when he gets a key hit, makes an outstanding defensive play or simply moves a runner over to allow the franchise player a chance to hit with a player in scoring position. With a team like the Twins that is filled with players that meet the definition of journeyman, fans are quick to dismiss their value and instead pine for the brilliant prospect filled with promise and potential who is waiting in the wings. Trevor Plouffe must have a clock ticking in his head. Intellectually he knows that his days as the Twins starting third baseman are numbered. Conversely, his competitive instincts keep pushing him to keep his job and show the world that he is not simply a placeholder for superprospect Miguel Sano. Spring training and the first two weeks of the season were a struggle for Trevor. Despite coming off his best major league season, he had to overcome a late season freak injury, his average was firmly planted below .200 and the team had not started strong out of the gate. Anyone in his shoes would start to look in the rear view mirror to see if Mr. Sano was gaining on him. Because of all he was up against, Plouffe’s walk-off homer in extra innings on Friday must have been particularly sweet. The cathartic reaction from Plouffe as he screamed at his teammates in the dugout during his home run trot was a message to us fans. He is saying, I too was once a hot prospect, a player with potential. While it hasn’t worked out for me just yet – I am still here. I have worked my ass off and I don’t intend to go quietly into the night. So today I take my hat off to Trevor Plouffe, Shane Robinson, and Jordon Schaefer and the other journeymen who may never make an All-Star game or get the long term, multi-million dollar deal. Get after it fellas, I respect your commitment. Hang in there, celebrate every success and know that when you do yield to that young superprospect, there is one fan out there who respects what you bring to the game. Click here to view the article

Gardy would be the proverbial fish out of water in Miami.

I am pleased to see some payoff for Pelfrey, but I think the article gets it right. He is highly susceptible to the big inning. He seems to struggle in runners on base situations, particularly in the critical 5th and 6th inning when you need a starter to get through the top half of the lineup a third time. Given this tendency and the new found splitter, which can put undo stress on his arm, I still like him as a late inning reliever. This team desperately needs help there. I know Pelfrey does not want that role and would rather be traded somewhere where he can start, but I think it is important for the Twins to give him a real chance to help the club from the Pen, which solves two problems for the team - finding a spot for Nolasco and helping the beleaguered bull pen.

Big day today - 3 for 5, 2 doubles, single and a walk. Now hitting .286.

I think Hicks is up in the next month if he can get and keep is average north of .250 and his OBP in the .350 range.

Def. jour·ney·man \-mən\ : a worker, performer, or athlete who is experienced and good but not excellent In the nomenclature of the game we have many names for the journeyman. On competitive teams we typically use the more endearing terms: role player, utility man, pinch hitter, defensive replacement. But on a losing team we tend to describe them in less complementary ways: placeholder, seat warmer, has been. A journeyman’s value is not typically described with season stats or career slash lines, but in single moments; when they get a key hit, make an outstanding defensive play or simply move a runner over to allow the franchise player a chance to hit with a player in scoring position. With a team like the Twins that is filled with players that meet the definition of journeyman, fans are quick to dismiss their value and instead pine for the brilliant prospect filled with promise and potential who is waiting in the wings. Trevor Plouffe must have a clock ticking in his head. Intellectually he knows that his days as the Twins starting third baseman are numbered. Conversely, his competitive instincts keep pushing him to keep his job and show the world that he is not simply a placeholder for super prospect Miguel Sano. Spring training and the first two weeks of the season were a struggle for Trevor. Despite coming off his best major league season, he had to overcome a late season freak injury, his average was firmly planted below .200 and the team had not started strong out of the gate. Anyone in his shoes would start to look in the rear view mirror to see if Mr. Sano was gaining on him. Because of all he was up against, Plouffe’s walk-off homer in extra innings on Friday must have been particularly sweet. The cathartic reaction from Plouffe as he screamed at his teammates in the dugout during his homerun trot was a message to us fans. He is saying, I too was once a hot prospect, a player with potential. While it hasn’t worked out for me just yet – I am still here. I have worked my ass off and I don’t intend to go quietly into the night. So today I take my hat off to Trevor Plouffe, Shane Robinson, and Jordon Schaefer and the other journeyman who may never make an All-Star game or get the long term multi-million dollar deal. Get after it fellas, I respect your commitment. Hang in there, celebrate every success and know that when you do yield to that young super prospect, there is one fan out there who respects what you bring to the game.

Guys in the lineup have pretty good splits against Kluber - looks like Molitor is working matchups tonight against the reigning Cy Young winner.

. . . And then the Twins take two of three from the defending American League champion and previously unbeaten Royals. I love the optimism on the minor league side, but give it a rest about the major league club. The season is fluid, changes will be made either with the existing players (as evidenced by the swapping of Hunter and Dozier in the lineup) or by bringing up new players. Give Molitor a chance to fully see what he has before hitting the panic button. I am as anxious to see Sano and Buxton in the big leagues as you are - but as your own post points out, they are not exactly crushing it in AA. Sano is below .200 and Buxton has struggled to get the ball in play. Give these guys the time they need to work on their skills without the red hot spotlight that would be focused on them if they were with the big club. Patience is a virtue.

I am not sure the dichotomy has to do with numbers vs. words, but more individual vs. team. People of numbers and words get caught up in discreet skills a player brings to the game. Some articulate it as slash lines others by prodigious power at the plate. What I don't think people consider is how it is the mix of skills among 25 guys that makes a difference on a winning team. More importantly, from management's point of view, it is who can consistently deliver on their unique skills game after game for 162 games. I find those frustrated by roster decisions not understanding that while Trevor May has great stuff and has shown glimpses of brilliance, he does not have the consistency that Tommy Milone has shown at the major league level. I choose to trust management on these decisions until there are the words or numbers to prove them wrong.

Love these updates, helps salve the wounds from the big club's first series. Quick question. I was trying to follow the games on the MILB Gameday Iphone App and it looks like the software needed an update - but there was nothing available online. It still has New Britain listed as the AA affiliate for the Twins and you weren't able to find any of the games last night. Anyone else have trouble?

No provision in his contract that allows Twins to nullify the deal? Seems like Twins could and should find a way out of this deal.

Like their decisions in the outfield, the call on the pitching rotation reflects a commitment to reliable assets over big upsides or loyalty to players. May is still young and has room for improvement. Milone, while not flashy, is a reliable pitcher who knows how to avoid the big inning. Seems like an easy decision. As for Pelfrey, what right does he have to expect a starting job after the last 2 years? He has to prove that he can be relied upon in that role. A 13 inning sample size in ST is not nearly enough to justify that kind of decision. It is a long season and both May and Pelfrey will have the opportunity to start. These decisions are about putting together a coherent and consistent everyday lineup. There may be a point this season when the Twins will mine the minors to see what they have. Opening day is not the time to do it.

Welcome to TR/PM Twins. I think the moves show a great deal of clarity . The decision to option Hicks/Rosario in favor of Robinson/Schaefer is a move to invest in reliable assets over potential. Robinson's defense and Schaefer's speed give something for Molitor to work with everyday. While Rosario/Hicks provide bigger upsides in the long run, Molitor has no idea what he will get from either of them on any given day. For the past 2 springs the Twins have thrown Hicks out there everyday and hoped for the best. The new TR/PM Twins are abandoning that approach and instead are creating a lineup and game strategy based on what each player reliably brings to the lineup.

Great Blog. All Twins fans who were tormented in the 1970's should read this piece to get the full story about CG.

I look at Aaron Hicks and see a physically impressive player with great potential - not completely unlike Lorenzo Cain. It was only this year - at age 28 - that Cain became a force to be reckoned with at the major league level. At age 25 - he had a cup of coffee in the majors and played sparingly at age 26. Hicks is only 24 and already has far more exposure at the major league level than Cain did at the same age. We do need to recognize that Hicks was thrust into this role by an amazing series of events where two major league CFs ahead of him were traded in a matter of weeks. Otherwise, he would probably have a stat line like Cain's at his age. Does the kid have issues - yes - but it seems far too soon to write him off - particularly when there are no other major league ready options and the team is still at least one year away from being serious contenders. I still hold out hope that Hicks will be a solid contributor when the Twins return to contention. As far as where he starts the year? I see no reason at this point to send him to AAA. He is too valuable defensively and has enough of a foundation at the major league level to build on. Give him the job in spring training - tell him it's his job until someone steps up and takes it from him - and stop with the journeyman centerfielders with strong gloves and below average bats.

It's all about options. The Twins will go into 2015 with multiple scenarios for fielding a competitive rotation. In 2015, the team will have protection from injuries and poor performance - while still leaving the door open for prospects to get major league innings. Depending on how 2015 unfolds - we could have a veteran rotation that enables us to compete for a playoff spot in September or the opportunity to trade off veteran assets to make room for younger arms. I see absolutely no downside to this strategy. I have no doubt that if the young arms are effective either out of the pen or in spot starts, they will get an opportunity to start next year and beyond.

A great and aggressive move. Twins have proved that they are committed to fielding a rotation that will give them a chance to win every night. We have three starters with proven major league credentials, a fourth young arm with dominant - if inconsistent stuff and a legitimate competition for a 5th spot between young arms and proven major league talent. Not sure what more the fans could want from the team at this point.

I have to wonder if this is just the first shoe to drop in what could be other outfield moves. I have thought for awhile that Arcia is on borrowed time with the club. Could we see Arcia on the block for pitching with the Twins looking to add a legitimate left fielder? Just speculation, but with Rosario close and Buxton not far behind, Arcia may be expendable.

I think the comparisons to Sandoval and Yeager shows he has value in the market. If the Giants empty the piggy bank to land Lester, I would not be surprised if they come calling. Plouffe is a solid and affordable option with several years of team control. Based on that logic, the the team should avoid a long term deal.. On the other hand, if the team sees Plouffe as a versatile and important part of the rebuild, I could see them locking him in soon. Another good season could increase the price tag considerably. Knowing that the team will likely have to open their pocket books for free agents and extensions to prospects down the road, it might make sense to make a deal now. It all depends on how Plouffe fits into their long term plans.