Those pesky Indians never fail to impress. Not only do they sign Brian Buscher as a minor league free agent, they also add Luis Rodriguez, fresh off a couple of split seasons between AAA/Padres. Now they just need to bring back Luis Rivas and look at that infield!

This from the team that also gave a shot to Jason Tyner!

Michael Restovich, Cleveland is calling you, too!

Seriously, kudos to Buscher and may you get many at bats in Cleveland!

On Friday, the Minnesota Twins will join ALL otehr teams in announcing their 40-man rosters, players protected for immediate play, and a handful that appear to be good bets to make the team in a season or two.

Then teams will then look at arbitration eligible players and decide who to keep or cut loose, cutting loose many who may be overpricing themselves for services needed (i.e., we all remember David Oritz in Minnesota, going because the team didn't think he wsa worth $1.2 million or more and the chances of getting him cut to $800,000 or so wasn't a reality...instead, he went elsewhere and signed for what the Twins wished they could've signed him for...but union rules and regulations forbid it).

So, two new groups of players will enter the fold now made up of free agents and players cut as recent as the end of World Series, plus all those minor-league six-year guys. Baseball America recently released a list of some 500 guys eligible for filling minor league rosters...

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=6994

Looking over the list, do any names standout to Twinkie Town folks as people the Twins should go after to fill Rochester and, maybe, New Britain ranks?

Teams will have an opportunity to pluck a body or two in the Rule 5 draft, the sticker is that the player needs to remain on the choosing team all year or go back. I don't really picture the Twins getting hit hard in the major league portion of the draft, but feel they may lose some promising folks in the minor league portion.

November 20th thru the General Managers meeting in early December will be another hot Hot Stove League time. I'm glad Twinkie Town is here for all the news, rumors and analysis!

I anxiously wait to see who each team jettisons, or which players declare free agency.

I can't wait to see the list of minor league free agents. Anyone from the Twins Rochester roster returning?

The talk can begin about trades and such, but somewhat stilled as teams wait to see who will gain arbitration or free agency, too...which is round #2 of the free agent madness.

Contracts, who wins and who losses.

Plus, it is Awards time? Joe Mauer MVP? Who gets the gold gloves.

It's not too early to plan for spring training and 2010, baseball as it should be played in Minnesota, outdoors amongst the snow, rain and smoke from the garbage garage!

Someone, somewhere is wondering what the f....devil!

1st and 3rd with no outs, a dream.

But, of course, bases-full and no outs proved fruitless the game before.

I understand enthusiasm. But......

So, the Twins season ahs ended...some 50,000 short of 50 million fans viewing major league baseball in the Metrodome. Whew. So close, so far away.

Next October, we can sit, wet and cold, watching the Twins do a repeat of this season, I hope, making a playoff run in September that doesn't need to energize the fanbase or keep the stands full...think this seasons finale run of wins vs. losses will carryover just fine.

No more beer. No mroe peanuts. Go Vikings!

The Minnesota Twins are fielding quite a crop of players for the annual Fall Instructional League, with games played between September 22 and October 16th,

Staff coordinators Joel Lepel, Eric Rasmussen and Bill Springman, along with manager Jake Mauer, pitching coach Gary Lucas and coaches Jeff Smith, Jim Dwyer, Jose Marzan, Chris Heintz and Tommy Watkins (!) put top prospects thru their paces.

Not all up-and-coming prospects participate in the Florida series. Some return to their South American winter  homes, while others play in their native lands, the various World squads, Hawaii or the top prospects go to the Arizona Fall League.

Down in Florida for the Fall are:

Catchers - Chris Hermann, Buddy Monroe, Danny Rams, Tobias Streitch and Nick Tindall.

Infielders include: Hyung-Rok Choi, Michael Gonzalez, Nick Lockwood, Derek McCallum, Rory Rhodes, Nick Romero, Daniel Santana, Yangervis Solarte, Kennys Vargas, Reggie Williams.

Outfielders are: Oswaldo Arcia, Joe Benson, Aaron Hciks, Max Kepler, Steve Liddle, Wang-Wei Lin, Angel Morales, Daniel Ortiz, Ramon Santana and Adan Severino.

Pitchers throwing are: Michael Allen, Boof Bonser, Billy Bullock, Tony Davis, Kyle Gibson, BJ Hermsen, Kane Holbrooks, Peter Kennelly, Brian Kirwin, Andrey Lobanov, Bruce Pugh, Adrian Salcedo, Zach See, Michael Soliman, Brad Stillings, Joe Testa, Matt Tone, Michael Tonkin, Dakota Watts and Blayne Weller.

Swarzak sent back to make a start or two before the Rochester season ends.

Armando Gabino, added to the 40-man this past winter, gets the latest call and will start on Tuesday for the Twins.

He'll celebrate his 26th birthday on August 31st.

His 7th year in baseball, he was signed as a minor league Rule 5 draftee in 2004 and pitched for Elizabethton in 2005-06, Beloit in 2006-07, plus stints at Ft. Myers and New Brit before settling in with New Brit in 2008. Largely a long-relief guy, he recently entered the starting rotation at Rochester, coming off a great last start. Not a lot of hits, not alot of K's. But so far is 5-3 with a 2.83 ERA and holding hitters to a .217 average.

We'll see him start on Tuesday against the Orioles!

How many is too much!

If you call them up, do they play or just sit on the bench?

Pitching. The Twins have Gabino as the sole survivor 40-man hand who hasn't come to the majors. One would hope they call him up, just to get a decent look at the fellow. Now, the problems. R.A. Dickey. Horrible in his first couple of bouts with the Red Wings. Does he derserve a come-back, or a long winter of job searching? Do you look at Sean Henn (a lefty) again? Is it time to promote Delaney and Slama, or will the Twins pull the wait-and-see you in spring training. Juan Morillo, I see, getting a call...just because he can walk if the Twins don't see a use for him in 2010, and if he can't produce NOW, he won't be 40-manned during the winter.

Catching. Jose Morales is a given. Do you bring up WIlson Ramos to give him a bite. How about Drew Butera. Do you give him the token Ryan Jorgenson two at-bats as a tribute to dad, Sal. I doubt Drew will be back in 2010 as Jeff Christy can fill his role at AAA. With the amount of warming up going on in the pen, maybe the Twins need 2-3 extra catchers out there.

Outfield. Jason Pridie. For someone the Twins Rule 5ived, and had high hopes of being a main backup after the trade with Tampa Bay, does he fit long range? Do the Twins add Dustin Martin instead? Do they dip further and look at Brandon Roberts or Rene Tosoni? Do they actually need a sixth outfielder on any roster?

Infield. Ah, the questions. Bring back Buscher (for what) and/or Valencia. You need to look at Valencia, hard, if you won't re-sign Crede. Then you could still decide about Buscher during the offseason. Matt Tolbert returns? And do you give him AND Steve Tolleson a chance to come off the bench. Trevor Plouffe. Does he need to see major league pitching for 10 at-bats, get the desire to make the Show, and work harder, yet again, in his upcoming third season of AAA ball in 2010? Where does Luke Hughes fit into the picture? I'll be disappointd if the Twins bring up Tolbert and Buscher and no one else. I would rather see them NOT bring up that pair and concentrate on people who MIGHT contribute in 2010. I would like to see Brock Peterson get some bench shots, but not at the expense of removing anyone from the 40-man, unless the Twins would truly part ways with Buscher, Tolbert or Hughes now.

So September. Twins add two pitchers, one catcher, one outfielder, and probably only two infielders. Six guys...which can be a lot. Why not add 10, though. Yes, more major league salary, more rooms on the road, more meal money spent. But, hey, think about 2010, too. And 2010 shouldn't include names like Buscher, Tolbert, Pridie, Dickey, Butera, Hughes...who will join Keppel as 40-man fodder, as well as free agents Crede, Redmond, Cabrera and Pavano as former Twins.

Marte was cut by the Indians. Remember when he was a top Braves prospect and the Twins were salivating over him as a potential third-baseman of the future?

What happened to Marte? Anyone know?

Sadly, if the Twins claimed him, they would basically have to swap out Macri and if the Twins couldn't keep him, he would go thru waivers again. So, he would be a bubble guy who would have to out-play Harris or Buscher to significantly have a chance with the Twins...who would then have to cut a Buscher or Harris to make room for him on the 25-man.

Twins cleared another ropster spot (now have two) but releasing Randy Ruiz, the longtime minor league slugger who got his first taste of big-league ball after more than a decade in the minors. Primarily a designated hitter, he COULD play first or the outfield. There's doubts the Twins will offer him a Rochester contract, as he did show some life and will probably attempt to pursue opportunities elsewhere, although his bat and experience could be beneficial to a Rochester Red Wing roster that will be full of past AA players and longer-term prospects.

So, are the Twins clearing a spot for Casey Blake AND a possibility Rule 5 pick (a end of the bullpen prospect, perhaps, letting Miajres get a bit mroe exposure at AAA ball and having a longer bout to look for a return from Boof or Humber?).

So loong, Randy! Gald you got a shot at big-league ball with the Twinkies!

Well, a surprise, surprise.

Jose Mijares, pitching 10 games this season, is the lefty promoted to the big leagues. Yes, he's on the 40-man roster. I think the Twins need to make a decision on him next season to see if he is good enough to keep around. Be interesting to see.

Otherwise, the team called up Bobby Korecky and Philip Humber, as expected.

Matt Tolbert returns from the disabled list.

Matt Macri and Jason Pridie come up for the bench.

(Damn, a bunt and error and the Twins lose!)

The other surprise is Ryan Jorgensen, who has to be added to the 40-man roster, as the third cartcher. He's a vet. Originally thought the 29-year-old was also injured. Expect that he won't hang around as the Twins will just protect (again) three catchers on the 40-man come late fall.

Be interesting to see what happens to vets like Julio DePaula, Oswaldo Sosa, Sergio Santos when 40-man rosters are set after post-season play.

Almost thought Brian Duensing would get a call as he is aging, the Twins could look at him above and beyond work in spring training. But not to be in 2008.