Rezzy

That was way too much fun! And without Sano or Buxton, no less. And yes, Laudner, you are stupid.

Nice work on the article, interesting stuff for sure. I think I'm all for most of the moves except I would have a hard time trading Rosario. For one, I think you would be selling low and two, I think he will be a valuable piece if we ever get to a place where we are contenders. He has flaws no doubt, but he looks to have an idea at the plate now. He is taking a lot more pitches, at least it seems that way. And he is making a lot more contact this time around. He really seems like he is a player, and I only see he getting better.

I'm surprised how bummed I am to see Eddie go. He was a fun ballplayer to watch. I hope he gets a ring. As far as the new guy... I don't think you can expect much more of a return for Nunez. Seems like a nice move by Antony.

This is very unlike how the Twins operate. Which makes me guess that they already have the next GM chosen and waiting in the wings (much more Twins like). Antony is probably just a puppet for the next few months and the moves that are going to be made in the next 13 days and the rest of the season will be salary dumps that the new GM or ownership won't want credit for. Not to say the moves will not be prudent, just not very sexy, at all. Better things are to come, just not this season. I hope JP found a good one. *fingers crossed*

Great game from Blankenhorn! I'm excited to follow this kid as he moves up the ranks.

I was part of the group that was fine with Sano in RF... I didn't expect him to be great out there or even good but, I also expected his bat to make up for it. I also thought Plouffe would be at least decent and justify keeping both bats in the lineup. I was wrong. I'm still pretty sure Sano in RF isn't the reason why this team is awful this year.

I couldn't like the Rortvedt pick any more than I already do. This should allow the Twins to make a fairly big FA (3-4-5 years) catcher and allow Garver, Turner and Murphy to battle it out for the backup spot that they seem destined for. All while the new guy develops at his own pace.

And the wheels fall off! C'mom Ricky!

Sano at 3b? This could get real interesting, especially if he makes a few nice plays.

The most important thing that shouldn't be missed is that this is the best roster the Twins have put together in a very long time. I don't think anyone can debate this. The lineup is full, top to bottom, with quality or better. (Maybe not at catcher, but my fingers are crossed regarding Murphy) These guys are going to put runs on the board. A requirement to win games. The starting pitchers are ok. Not great, but better than we have seen in quite some time. Nolasco was going to be given one last shot, we all knew it. It's hard to fault the FO for this. But this time we can tell the leash is going to be short... They darn near gave Duffey the rotation spot before ST started. If he falls flat again this year, they will pay him very well to mop up ugly games or pay him to stay away. I understand the frustration with May in the pen. He offers more upside than Milone because... he throws harder? But for now, we NEED May to win games from the pen. He has shown that it is something that he is good at and comfortable with. Berrios and Duffey will get called up at some point, and hopefully provide another dynamic that this team hasn't seen since J. Santana. Until then we need Milone to provide some quality innings at the end of the rotation. There is a lot to be excited about this year. Please don't let a couple of hand-cuffed FO decisions stand in the way of that. This season will be the first real look into the future of Twins baseball. And the future looks bright. And thank God for that, because it hasn't always been easy being a fan of this club. Go Twins!!!

Rosario is probably my favorite Twin right now. I'm not sure their is anyone on the team I would rather have at bat or in the field with the game on the line. He has some flaws in his game for sure. The K's will need to drop and obp is going to have to rise if he plans to take the next step toward stardom. But with the gold glove caliber defense and quick hands and bat control he has the makings of an elite ballplayer, no doubt about it!

I think May and Duffey might end up trading places in a couple years if the change-up never materializes. Until then it us wise to continue the development of 'starter to be'. Does anyone know what type of velocity he had when he was in the pen?

I have no idea what his numbers are going to look like by the end of the year. But, I am almost positive it's going to be really fun to watch.

Opening day: Dozier - 4 Mauer - 3 Sano - 9 Plouffe - 5 Park - DH Rosario - 7 Escobar - 6 Suzuki - 2 Buxton - 8 If Buxton gets hot at some point they will have to shuffle it around. Same goes for Arcia.

I love this kid's game. If he can cut down on the Ks he will be a borderline All-Star. I'll go .285/.315/.475 20 home runs, 30 doubles, 10 triples, 18 steals

Yes! Thank you! It's only a week away, friends!

Lots of pessimism going around here lately. Maybe the Star Tribune commenters have caught on to Twins Daily. The best roster this team has seen in years and people are freaking out about our All-Star closer. I just don't get it.

I think the main thing to remember is that right NOW, with a record of 0-0, the Twins are contending. When the season starts May is going to come out of the pen and hopefully preserve a lead that Milone and Nolasco somehow left us with. I like the odds of that better than Milone or Nolasco preserving a lead left to us by May. Now when the record changes for better or worse due to the performance of said 3, we might see May, Nolasco, and Milone in a different role. But for now, in the words of some poster that might over use the phrase, May in the pen, is called good 'asset management'.

Buxton will travel north with the team. The 'out of options 3' all go north as well but the leash is short. If this team starts cold like last year plan B goes into full effect. Plan B might be some young flame throwers, Polanco, Quentin, Duffey, and Hicks.

Plouffe just went yard for the second time today!

The last 2 open bench spots are becoming a little more interesting. It would be hard to let Santana or Arcia go to waivers. They would surely be picked up by someone. O. The other hand, I like what I've seen from Sweeney and Quentin. Would Sweeney and Quentin go to Rochester if they don't make the roster?

I think this is a good take on the rotation situation. There are 5 guys, 6 including May, who have earned a starting role. May has to go the pen because he's good at it. And then, hopefully, Nolasco gets shipped out when he voices his feelings about being moved to the pen.

So, how tall is too tall? And how big is too big? Do we need a "Must be smaller than ??? to ride" sign on the way out to the OF? Hell, we can even put a picture on Miguel Sano on the sign if you want. It's just preposterous to me that people are convinced that Sano can't play out there without any proof that he can't.

I hear what you are saying. A.) Changing positions = players playing poorly and, B.) Outfield is hard on the body = Players playing poorly. I just don't buy it. For one, these guys are professional ballplayers. Mauer moving out from behind the plate is not the reason he isn't hitting anymore. A lot of things changed with Mauer, not just position. And the reason that Santana isn't hitting is more likely because he wasn't all that great in the first place. And your wear and tear argument... I just don't think that playing OF is that tough. Yes, diving for a ball can get you injured but, it can happen to anyone at any position who dives for a ball. And 162 games at 3B is roughly equal to 162 in the OF. 162 games is a reality for all MLB ballplayers except DHs, those friggin' pansies. Just remember, "correlation doesn't always equal causation".

I'm in the group that wants to wait and see. Maybe it's my science background or something but, I want PROOF that it won't work. Maybe something like... "it's not working, really, see it's not" - from someone who matters. I like the fact that this team is trying to find a way to put lots of runs on the board. They are going about this is by putting Sano, Buxton, Rosario, Plouffe, Escobar, Dozier, Park, Mauer, and probably Murphy in the same lineup. That's a scary lineup. A lineup that is going to punish a pitcher's mistakes. Pitcher Mistakes > Sano OF Mistakes And the only way you can write in that lineup is by moving someone to a new position. Sano seems to be cool with the move to OF, and many have said that he moves well for a big man. Let him try. If it doesn't work I am confident that a change will be made.