nicksaviking

I agree and it makes tons of sense as technology has evolved. What kind of scouting reports did the FSL have twenty years ago? College players weren't watching tape, HS kids weren't specialized to the point of only focusing on one sport. Sports medicine, weight training and nutrition have all drastically improved. Things that were once only available to the pros are now available to everyone. The younger players have a huge head start on their historical counterparts and it should be taken advantage of by all teams.

I guess my feeling is that if the goal is to be competitive in 2017 (and 2018 and 2019) the guys in the minors shouldn't have to be better than the vets at this moment. Polanco's on base skills may be essential in the future so if he cuts into Plouffe's or Dozier's ABs, you just have to suck it up and and sit more than they like. Same with Chargois. Tonkin and Pressly have a chance to contribute the next couple of years, but I'd call up Chargois now and start funneling Jepsen's and Kintzler's innings his way. I know it's cold, I know there are a lot of Twins lifers in the dugout, and it's hard to replace fan favorites, but at this point there is nothing left to lose, the veterans are not winning games for this club so they are not contributing to attendance if that is the concern. All this losing is good for one thing and one thing only, evaluating the young guys to see who has what it takes to get back to relevance.

Somebody up there really didn't want Mauer to lead off.

Well we still haven't put him on the mound yet. I want to see that rumored high 90's heater.

I think the complaint being made is that there weren't "trades" last year, there was one trade. If Ryan was going to shore up the bullpen to the point where it made a difference, that's one thing, but only getting Kevin Jepsen certainly wasn't going to do the trick alone. So, if you're only going to make one trade, which isn't going to accomplish enough to matter, why make a trade at all?

I didn't like the trade last year because Jepsen wasn't very good in TB and looked to be on the decline. That was an incorrect read, at least last year. But this is exactly right, it was just more half-measures. This team just cannot commit to anything, whether it's going for it at the trade deadline or committing to a full rebuild, they hedge their bets every single time and it's beyond frustrating. They have clearly resolved to get harder throwing pitchers in the draft and trade, but then are hesitant to promote them or put them in key spots. They commit to increasing the payroll, but only by getting multiple average players, not a couple of really good players. They replace most of the field staff, but they do it mostly with other organizational guys. Come on, get off the fence and stop being so wishy-washy.

I'm not making assumptions, you made a blanket statement about how the young players act entitled. If hitting poorly is proof of entitlement, than mark Suzuki, Plouffe and Dozier as entitled as well, and as much as most of us would like a new catcher, Kurt Suzuki appears to be nothing short of the ultimate professional and team player.

Well that's because Kelly never would have let them play, he did not like young players. What kind of evidence have you seen that says the young players act entitled? Arcia, Buxton, Polanco, Kepler, Santana, Duffey, Meyer and May have all been humbled by multiple demotions to the minors, pen or bench. This just sounds like an assumption based on our perception of Millennials. The only person we as fans can even presume to guess has an entitled attitude is Ricky Nolasco who through his agent made a stink about the prospects of him being moved to the pen.

I'm going to be disappointed if Polanco is riding pine for the Twins, he has more than earned an extended look with the team.

I'm not in to throwing at guys, but if I were, I'd do it again right now.

Too many men on the field,five run penalty on the White Sox.

They're letting wives in the dugout now?

He still only swung and missed at one pitch in high school. Also he had that blue ox I believe.

I agree that they were way too late to do the rebuild, they should have started the youth movement after 2010, I know they won the division, but there were a lot of us who said the end was at hand after that season. Still, just because they were late with the youth movement and turning over the vets, they still need to do it. I also don't think the team was anywhere near close to a contender last year, the whole season seemed like a mirage, even when they were winning. Record-wise sure, just not ready to compete. I'm good getting vets once we know what we need, but they have to flush out the system first. We still don't know which of these young guys are going to be capable players, in my view that has to happen first or we're just blindly guessing, trying to fill future holes. Will we need bullpen help in 2017-18? We're not going to know until we see what Burdi, Chargois, Melotakis and Rogers can do. Does the rotation need another stable veteran? Who knows, we haven't seen nearly enough of Meyer, Berrios and Duffey and May is still banished to the pen. Will we need a catcher? Well uh, yeah, that's a given, go find a catcher if one is available.

I'd say the benefit would be giving Gene Glynn a reasonable audition this year.

I agree with the grievances, except for this one. If anything, I wish he would have gone even more youthful, particularly in the rotation and the pen. But I also wasn't expecting them to go out an win a pennant in 2016. However judging from Jim Pohlad's comments, that was what was expected from the organization. I wonder if they had any kind of organizational meeting last off season to discuss the goals for 2016, because it sounds like ownership thought they would make moves to contend, the front office made moves for development and the field staff is managing like they are in a pennant race. I'm beginning to suspect that the Twins notorious cloak and dagger level of opaqueness with the fans and media might not be systematic and internal communication between ownership/front office/field staff might also be lacking.

Great read and great effort, you must have stayed up pretty late writing that one. I think the bolded part is accurate, personally though, I don't see the importance of a hypothetical new manager getting the same responses from the vets as the kids. I really only care about developing the kids and getting as many of them as possible to reach their potential, I don't see any of the vets, save possibly Gibson, as important long-term pieces anyway. Most of the vets have been around the block, they've already had multiple managers and most have played for multiple teams, if they can't mesh with a manager who relates to young guys, the vets can take a hike. That's all strawman stuff I bring up though because Suzuki, Nunez and all the other vets appear to be committed and professional ballplayers. I think these guys would likely perform the same with any competent manager. Saying that, it also makes me resent Pohlad's comments laying all the blame on the players. These guys are working hard and it's evident, though it's not all clicking for some reason. I've been advocating for wholesale roster changes, but this 25-man and 40-man is made up of very likeable men.

Only 26 games in AA, but very encouraging. He has actually decreased his K% in the move up a level. If he can continue on this path, the Twins might have stolen a useful player. Maybe a promotion is in order simply to see if whatever infected him can rub off on Walker. Man, I see he's now striking out 40% of his ABs this year.

Buxton needs to re-tool his swing. I'm sure someone had the bright idea that it would be beneficial to him to limit movement in the batters box, but his swing is just a right-handed Denard Span. There is no stride toward the pitcher and no leg kick. He has the talent and I believe that he'll realize most of it, but he's not going to become a well rounded player being a Denard Span slap-hitting clone. I'm sure some in the organization see that as exactly what this club needs, and that's partly true, but they have to incorporate a more powerful swing or regardless of whether he starts making better contact, he'll never have a chance to live up to the expectations we had previously hoped for. Plus, plenty of guys improve their timing by incorporating a leg kick, it isn't all about making harder contact.

No he and Ulger got canned for being the sole causes of the 90 loss seasons.

That sounds Sweedish, you sure it's not ABBA?

The season's still young.

I don't know any Rihanna songs. And no that isn't an invitation to introduce me to them.

So who's getting DFA'd to add Juan Centeno or Carlos Paulino to the 40-man for their call up tomorrow? I know Dean has been a near unanimous target, but I think it's Vargas.

I think I like Murph more. I think. Start him the rest of the series.