SB Nation User Blog: rosterman

Carlos Silva for...

rosterman — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:12:49 -0000

Wow. Let's trade one overpaid nice guy who can't get anyone out for an overpaid guy who thinks he shouldn't be on the outs.

The Cubs got some cash back on the deal (Silva still has $24 million coming after two of the most highly disasterous seasons a veteran starter ahs ever posted in the history of baseball)
.

Maybe Carlos will find his sinker and the Cubs will field the grounders...but a lot of $$$ for a back-of-the-order starter. Of course, trading one deadweight for another ultimately works out in the end.

Still can't believe that Carlos managed to pull a $48 million contract out of Seattle. And he doesn't have to give any of it back.

And now rumor ahs it Seattle will trade Morrow for a first baseman. Cuddyer, perhaps...........

Humm...could we have gotten Carlos back for Young, along with some cash?

What a team will do to get rid of somneone like Milton Bradley...and amazed that he keeps finding work and a high-end paycheck!

The Twins Are Moving.....

rosterman — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:32:59 -0000

The Minnesota Twins are moving...but not in the way many of us hot-stovers, sitting on the edge of our seats, wish they should -- making a totally exciting and deep-into-playoff team to win games.

But maybe being anxious is the fault of the fan. As the trucks pull up to the Metrodome, loaded with the bats and balls and compters and office boards full of player names...we can only wait until the holiday season passes and the real action happens in Twinsville -- like getting a second or third baseman, fortifying the bench, and maybe -- just maybe -- exploring another arm for the rotation.

We have seen the delightful commercial and can only imagine during the cold winter Joe Nathan sitting in the bullpen waiting for the season to begin and Denard Span in centerfield throwing snowballs to keep his arm in shape while Tom Kelly reclines in a heated alcove overlooking the field while checking our racing cards via the internet for his Florida ponies.

But I dream of the Twins leaving somethings behind, unearthed, perhaps, for that last Metrodome event -- Twinsfest.

Suddenly discovering, perchance, that Little Nicky Punto was accidently locked in some players valuable locker at the end of the season and the Twins now do need a second baseman, or a cheaper utility infielder.

Opening the freezer and discovering that Francisco Liriano's iced arm is still wrapped in there next to popcicles.

Discovering that Delmon Young's personal bats were actually used to make a pallet which holds the monstrosity that used to be the Metrodome pitcher's mound.

And the problems of the new Target field. Like the lockeroom only having stalls for five starting pitchers and the Twins have eight that want a space.

That Mike Redmond has made the new swimming pool his future summer home rather than look for a job with another team.

The new train from the burbs brings in lots of fans, but refuses to take them home at night and the field becomes a tent city.

Fans have decided to pull up chairs in the upper level offices of the IDS center for a view of the game, rather than pay those prices for third (or is it fourth) tier seats.

The players discover during opening week that they get snowed on, but the fans remain dry and warm in their new Twins jerseys.

And a ball is hit to centerfield and Carlos Gomez is no where to be seen and it drops in for a hit!

Brad Thomas gets $1 million from Tigers

rosterman — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:46:54 -0000

You remember Brad Thomas, don't you. One of those lefty prospects, a pitcher the Twins dug out of the Australian outback.

Parts of three seasons, 11 games, 23+ innings. Walked 18, struck out 8 to go with 33 hits and a lifetime 9.89 ERA.

Been pitching for the Red Sox minors, spent a couple of years in Japan, got a shot with the Mariners AAA in '07, then retreated to Korea.

But, he's a lefty.

Everyone that needs his autograph on a Twins card, send to Detroit spring training...early.

But it doesn't end, yet. Luis Ayala, the guy who wanted to be setup, who dreamed of closing, is taking a ride with the Dodgers in spring training, after his parting with the Twins in mid-2009 and his walkout from the Marlins later in the season.

Anyone hear if Sidney Ponson has found a job for 2010 yet?

Philip Humber a Royal

rosterman — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:49:44 -0000

One of the key players in the Minnesota Twins trade of Johan Santana has signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals.

Humber had multiple shots with the Twins the past two seasons, ending up with a combined 6.10 ERA in 20.2 innings, walking nearly as many (14) as he struck out (15) do go with 28 hits allowed.

He will get an invite to spring training. A combined 17-17 in two seasons with the Rochester Red Wings, mainly as a starter, Humber joins fellow pitcher Kevin Mulvey and outfielder Carlos Gomez as the third now former Twinsr of the 4-players received in this trade from two-seasons ago.

Happily, the Twins may have J.J. Hardy and Jon Rauch producing better for the club in the next season and giving the Twins back some worth!

Brian Buscher Cleveland bound

rosterman — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:03:54 -0000

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!

Signing up for the Minors

rosterman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:57:34 -0000

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!

And NOW THE OFFSEASON BEGINS!

rosterman — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:52:32 -0000

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!

The Nick Punto Reign of Hustle Stops Now

rosterman — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:12:40 -0000

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!

Fall Instructional League

rosterman — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:58:08 -0000

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.

Gabino Time

rosterman — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 03:50:39 -0000

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!