sckelm

Have we learned nothing about relying upon oft-injured players? Buxton is fantastic but has missed >50% of Twins games in the past three years due to injury. Donaldson was known to have a chronic calf issue. If you squint just right, you can see Arraez in an injury-free year, but gimpy 24-year-old players don't age well. The Twins have determined that Polanco is better defensively at 2nd base. What other team will look at Arraez and think 'starting second baseman'? Do you trade him? Certainly you could, but I think he will remain on the roster as there just won't be enough demand.

I wonder how the looming negotiations between the players association and owners will (are??) impacting short-term negotiations for all players. The storm clouds sound like they have been forming for some time. If a season may be lost due to a work stoppage (or partially lost), how does that influence the thinking of each side?

I was considering some of the poor staffs in the past, but then I remembered one huge factor...we are in the year of the pitcher! Baseball is considering drastic measures to reduce pitching dominance. But the Twins pitchers have been dreadful within a year when everyone else has been pitching lights out! Brutal.

If you have ever wanted to review the entire Twins draft from a given year, you can find the information at Baseball Reference. The link below is an example and shows a stunningly weak 2011 draft for the Twins: https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?team_ID=MIN&year_ID=2011&draft_type=junreg&query_type=franch_year&from_type_jc=0&from_type_hs=0&from_type_4y=0&from_type_unk=0 I seem to recall a site that gave similar information but stated whether or not each player signed during that particular year. Anyone else remember seeing anything like that?

Great first game! I was also surprised that Berrios started the 8th, but I didn't hear anything in post-game interviews to shed more light on it. I would have to think that it was more a matter of Berrios dominance, so don't interrupt a good thing until necessary. A second item that surprised me was not pinch-running for Nelson Cruz in the seventh. Seemed to be a likely move with a deep bench and the appearance that runs would be scarce today. Again, not nit-picking Baldelli's first game, but I think it does tell you a bit about the confidence in the bench. Finally, I loved that Taylor Rogers was given the opportunity for a multi-inning save!

I would guess that Austin, Cron, and Nelson Cruz get almost the same number of plate appearances over the first couple of weeks. Cruz only has 26 plate appearances thus far in spring training, so he will likely get a few more off days early than we would expect to see later in the year. Austin is swinging a hot bat right now, so keep him up here until he cools off.