Twitter Mailbag – Part 1
As I noted yesterday, the second contest (for
two 1991 World Series DVDs) began yesterday afternoon. It’s a simple Twitter
contest. On Twitter, ask me a Twins-related (specifically minor league related)
question, and be entered into a drawing. I will accept questions through 5:00
p.m. central time on Wednesday. At that time, I will take all of the names, put
them into a hat, and pick out the winner.
To be honest, I already have had a lot of
questions submitted, so the Twitter Mailbag will be multiple parts. Here is
Part 1, and again, to get your question asked and be entered into the contest, follow me on Twitter and send a
question to @SethTweets. Enjoy the questions and
responses today. And again, I will be back later with Part 2.
thecazbah @SethTweets #91worldseriesdvds What is your fondest Twins
memory?
Tough
first question because there are so many. As far as games I have been at, it is
hard to get better than Jim Thome’s walk-off homer
off of Matt Thornton at Target Field last August. Getting a Batting Practice
foul ball from former Red Sox pitcher John Henry Johnson when I was 8 or 9
years old was pretty cool! And of course, I remember Game 7 of the 1987 World
Series. I remember being in my parent’s then-unfinished basement, watching it
by myself on a snowy, black-and-white TV because I was too nervous to watch it
with other people. Game 163s have been great. So many great memories as a Twins
fan!
JoshuaJSwain @SethTweets Is there any way the Twins offer arb to Capps? It has to be too big of a risk....right?
Dave_MN
@SethTweets
Is there any reason on Earth that the #Twins would
offer Matt Capps arbitration this offseason? #ContestEntry
Absolutely
not! OK, I wouldn’t be 100% shocked, but I think it would be crazy unless they
can somehow tell him that he can’t accept it (which they can’t). He is a Type A free agent which means declining arbitration would mean
another team would have to give up a draft choice and pay Capps. That will hurt
him. He would accept and that would not be good.
thundernation41 @SethTweets
Hi Seth. In your opinion, who will be in the starting OFs on opening day
next season?
Ben
Revere in LF, Denard Span in CF, and Michael Cuddyer in RF.
Hattsmoustache @SethTweets Would it be wise to consider Joe Benson for
the 2012 outfield? Defense alone makes him an upgrade over Delmon.
Good
question, but really two very distinct questions too. Personally, I would be
shocked if Delmon Young remains with the Twins. If he
hits like he did in 2010, the defense isn’t a big deal. If he hits like he has
through most of 2011, it just isn’t acceptable.
Benson’s
defense would be a HUGE upgrade over Delmon’s.
However, I don’t think he would be considered as an Opening Day 2012 guy yet.
Maybe midseason though. As we’ve said, the biggest part of his game that needs
to improve to get a good shot is his contact rate. He knows it, and he has
improved it somewhat in 2011.
jjlee1980
@SethTweets
Who gets to the bigs first Benson or Hicks?
Benson,
and it’s not even close. I do think that Benson gets to the big leagues in
2012. With Hicks, he will need to be added to the 40 man roster following the
2012 season, and it will be late 2013 at the very earliest that we would see
him.
George__Damian @SethTweets Twins starting OF in 2012 and then 2013. With explanations of course. And why not, how should Gardy handle it the rest of 2011?
Like
I wrote above, I think the starters in 2012 on Opening Day will be Ben Revere
in LF, Denard Span in CF and Michael Cuddyer in RF. The Twins love Revere and his speed and his
range, even if he can’t get on base. I also believe that Revere will improve
and be an average OBP guy in time. Span should be around for awhile, and I do
think that Cuddyer will come back for multiple years.
Because
of multi-year contracts, I think that Span and Cuddyer
remain in the OF in 2013 (unless Cuddyer is at 1B,
but Morneau will still be under contract). I think we
could see some sort of Joe Benson/Ben Revere platoon system in LF or CF (if
Span does move to LF in time).
I
think Rene Tosoni will be a 4th OF, part
time DH, corner OF, pinch hitter type. I don’t think Jason Repko
will be around next year. I’m curious what happens with Trevor Plouffe going forward. And, would the Twins bring back Jason
Kubel to play RF and DH since Jim Thome
will not be back.
coryjensen @SethTweets Who do you like for the Twins to either call
up or acquire to make a run at the division?
In
previous Augusts, GM Bill Smith has brought in Carl Pavano,
Jon Rauch and Brian Fuentes, so I definitely think that the Twins will be
watching the waiver wire closely throughout the month for anyone that makes
sense. The Twins allegedly had discussions with the Blue Jays about bringing
back Rauch, so that is something that could happen in August. The Twins have
such a low record in the AL, so they have a great spot in the waiver order. It
is possible that the Twins could acquire Heath Bell, although the Padres would
likely pull him back unless the Twins made a big offer. Most players get put on
waivers in August, so really the Twins could go a number of directions.
As
for call ups, the only players that I think could be called up that has not
already spent time with the Twins is Liam Hendriks
and Kyle Waldrop.
bbeecken @SethTweets What level do you think Miguel Sano will
start next season at?
He
will start the season (and probably spend the whole season) in Beloit.
thecazbah @SethTweets #91worldseries
As of right now what do you see as a starting rotation for next year? Gibson,
does he make the squad?
That
is such a tough question because I don’t know that there is a given in the group
other than Scott Baker. I can’t imagine teams would be terribly excited to
acquire Carl Pavano, but he could be traded in August
to a contender looking for a veteran. Can the Twins trade Francisco Liriano in the offseason for anything interesting? Nick
Blackburn has the bad contract and low strikeout rate, so he’s not tradable.
Brian Duensing has been a solid big league starter
the last three years. So there are five guys, plus until Kevin Slowey is traded, he is still a Twin. Anthony Swarzak has warranted a look.
So,
I will guess that the starting rotation out of spring training next year will
be Pavano, Baker, Blackburn, Duensing
and Slowey. However, I think that by mid-June, we
could see any or all of Kyle Gibson, Liam Hendriks
and David Bromberg in the Twins starting rotation.
nibbish @SethTweets Who are some of the bigger prospects that
you think will be included in September callups?
My thoughts on September call-ups is that the Twins will bring
up Rene Rivera, Luke Hughes, Rene Tosoni, Jim Hoey and Chuck James. Tosoni is
the only prospect in that bunch. If they are way out of contention, I would
like to see Deolis Guerra brought up since he is
doing a very good job since he was moved to the Rock Cats bullpen. And, I do
think there is a chance that we could see Liam Hendriks
in September.
bgipple @SethTweets Will the Twins ever draft a high-ceiling
high school pitcher in 1st rd.? Or will we continue to see "safer"
college pitchers?
High
School Pitchers drafted in Round 1 by Twins in last 25 years: Willie Banks
(1987), Johnny Ard (1988), Todd Ritchie (1990), Dan Serafini (1992), Kyle Waldrop (2004), Jay Rainville (2004).
Aside
from when the Twins drafted Ben Revere in 2007 instead of the
big-bonus-demanding Rick Porcello, who else have the
Twins passed on… and based on where the Twins have drafted, who have they
passed on that every other team passed on too?
And,
in 2011, the Twins took Hudson Boyd with a supplemental first-round pick. Let’s
hope they can sign him and his upper-90s fastball.
cdelzer @SethTweets
With the contract the Span has, the emergence of Revere, what are the plans for
Benson and Hicks?
Let
them develop. See, as excited as we get, and I get in prospects, they are
prospects because they haven’t done it yet. Guys like Span, Kubel
and Cuddyer have already done it. Until guys do it at
the big leagues, we just don’t know what will happen. So, you just let them
develop in the minor leagues, and when they get up to AA and AAA, then you
start thinking about where they ‘might’ fit in over the next couple of years.
Joe
Benson definitely fits into the planning for 2013, but some of that does depend
on what happens with Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel in the offseason. Ben Revere hasn’t done enough on
the field to earn for-sure status in 2012. He would be best served to go back
to Rochester and play. However, we know that Gardy
loves him, and he’s fun to watch and he has the great smile, so we have to
assume that he will be in the lineup somewhere in 2012.
gaborik24
@SethTweets
when do you think Liam Hendriks will be ready to
pitch in the MLB?
I
think he’s pretty much ready now. But I’m sure getting some more AAA innings
under his belt and facing AAA hitters that have been in the big leagues will
help him. But I’m convinced from all reports that he is pretty close to ready
now. That said, I would say early in the 2012 season.
hoss792
@SethTweets
will Liam Hendricks be an expanded roster call-up, not hard throwing, but a
"pitcher" could be useful.
I
don’t know if he will be. I think it will be more about where the Twins are in
the standings and how many they plan to bring up. Like Ben Revere a year ago, Hendriks has to be added to the 40 man roster in November,
so there is no logistical reason not to bring him up in September.
themnjocksniffe @SethTweets
Where does Chris Parmelee stand with the #Twins? Will
we see him ever?
I
would think he stands pretty well with that Twins right now. He is hitting for
average, along with taking walks and cutting down the strikeouts, and he has a
lot of doubles and 11 home runs in AA. I definitely think we will see him. Of
course, a big part of that is the future status of Justin Morneau.
I think he can be a very solid big league first baseman in the mold of a Lyle Overbay-type.
Again, head over to my Twitter page, follow
me, and submit a question to me and be entered into the contest for the two
1991 World Series DVDs. Any thoughts or comments on what you’ve read today?? E-mail
me, or leave
some Comments.