Roster Watch: Wednesday

by Jesse on Mar 31, 2009 7:13 PM EDT in News

With Jose Mijares getting sent down and Jose Morales getting the second catcher spot earlier today, very few open roster spots for Opening Day remain.

(Roster speculation after the jump...)

Catchers
Mike Redmond
Jose Morales

Infielders
Justin Morneau
Alexi Casilla
Nick Punto
Joe Crede
Brian Buscher
Brendan Harris

Outfielders
Delmon Young
Carlos Gomez
Michael Cuddyer
Denard Span
Jason Kubel

Starting Pitchers
Scott Baker
Francisco Liriano
Kevin Slowey
Nick Blackburn
Glen Perkins

Bullpen
Joe Nathan
Jesse Crain
Crain Breslow
Philip Humber

Still In the Running

Matt Tolbert, IF - We discussed this last week, but I believe Tolbert's best shot of making the roster will be if the Twins decide to go with an eleven-man pitching staff. He's hit .292/.404/.500 in March, and a lot of people think he deserves a chance; I'm one of them.

Brian Duensing, LHP - Brian's having a superb spring in terms of preventing runs, but he's had a few roung patches allowing baserunners. Oracles CHONE and Zips aren't very optimistic about his chances should he make the trip north this year, but Duensing is 26-years old and can't be much more ready than he is right now. In the right spot, he could be an effective arm out of the 'pen.

R.A. Dickey, RHP - Dickey's strong performance for the Mariners down the stretch last summer didn't do anything to impress the Oracles, but he's making a great case to take up a role in middle relief for the Twins. Having a knuckleballer as a change of pace is great in its own right, but after working with Rick Anderson to help him throw it for strikes and having a good spring, he's a very attractive option. If he can keep the ball on the ground, he has a chance to be a pleasant surprise this year.

Matt Guerrier, RHP - I know a lot of people would consider him a sure shot, but considering how he pitched last summer and how rough of a March he's had, I'm not sure anything is guaranteed. There's a lot of pitching depth on this team, and even though there aren't any A-level prospects in waiting, I still have to believe there's a cut-off point where the organization may choose to give someone with less service time an opportunity if it's deserved. Having said that, I still believe he's going to make the trip north.

Luis Ayala, RHP - Ayala has only pitched every few days over the last couple of weeks, but all this tells me is that this is all the organization thinks he needs. Whether this is because they're simply unimpressed and are just running through the motions, or whether it's because they know he's ready, the team definitely knows what they want to do with him. When he has pitched, for the most part he's been just fine.

What do you think -- is there anyonoe else, or are these the options? Who makes the trip, and is Tolbert going along?

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Comments

Oops.

Meant to post this later tonight, but clearly I have failed at future-posting.

But I’ll still see you tomorrow!

by Jesse on Mar 31, 2009 7:14 PM EDT reply actions

With Jose Mijares getting sent down and Jose Morales getting sent down yesterday

??? Jesse, I think you may have goofed. It was Butera that got sent down not Morales.

by BCTwins on Mar 31, 2009 7:18 PM EDT reply actions

haha, yup.

Looks like I got messed up with thinking about who was going where. I have it right in the roster list, but looks like I was a bit confunded here…

by Jesse on Mar 31, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that

Tolbert will move north if the Twins only go with 11 pitchers (highly unlikely in my opinion) or if they trade away Harris. Both of these options, in my opinion, are highly unlikely, but they are there.

As for Ayala, I think he has made the team. There really isnt a reason why he shouldnt, unless he is being a clubhouse cancer.

I still consider Guerrier a sure shot, based on his previous years and knowing that if he isnt overused, he is very effective. The Twins must watch out though that they do not overuse him and just instead let him pitch 60 innings.

Duensing has a better shot at making the bullpen than Dickey. The reason: Gardy always likes to have two lefties in the pen, and Dickey, if he were sent down, would be a starter at AAA rather than a reliever.

by BCTwins on Mar 31, 2009 7:23 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Duensing/Dickey

I can see your point here, but do you think Dickey’s veteran status gives him any help here? That, and that knuckleball?

by Jesse on Mar 31, 2009 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Ayala and Guerrier are locks from what I’ve read. It’ll be interesting to see who the Twins go with out of Humber, Duensing and Dickey. It sounds like they’ll go with two of the three which would put Tolbert to triple-A unfortunately.

by Twins Territory on Mar 31, 2009 7:41 PM EDT reply actions

My guesses

Ayala, Guerrier, and Duensing go north. Tolbert and Dickey go to Rochester.

The only contingency is if the Twins make the rumored trade of Harris and a prospect for an eighth-inning reliever. But I don’t think that will happen.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Mar 31, 2009 8:09 PM EDT reply actions

Ayala, Guerrier, Dickey

is what I expect

I’d prefer

Ayala
Dickey
Tolbert/Duensing

by TMW on Mar 31, 2009 8:26 PM EDT reply actions

Duensing vs. Dickey

All things considered, you’d prefer the lefty so Breslow doesn’t get over used. Also, you’d prefer the guy on the 40-man roster. So I’ll pick Duensing.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Mar 31, 2009 8:31 PM EDT reply actions

I'm confused...

Dickey has played in 109 major league games over 6 seasons in the majors…7 if 2007 counts. At this point can’t he refuse to be assigned to Rochester and take his veteran status to some other team that will pay him a veteran minimum? He’s good enough to stick somewhere.

by montanatwinsfan on Mar 31, 2009 11:03 PM EDT reply actions

Dickey

Dickey signed a Minor League contract, so the Twins are free to send him down without placing him on waivers. Or thats how Dan Gladden explained it on the radio this afternoon

by DedicatedFollowerOfFashion on Mar 31, 2009 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions

aha!

by montanatwinsfan on Apr 1, 2009 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Most of these veteran contracts...

…have a date after which time the player can ask for his release. I believe I saw recently that LaVelle E. Neal III stated that in the case of Dickey it was sometime in June.

by roger13 on Apr 1, 2009 7:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Dickey

Dickey will draw a release, if he wants one, come July.

I doubt there are any immediate openings for him on any other teams.

Visit www.TwinsCards.com and check out "rosters" to see my collection!

by rosterman on Mar 31, 2009 11:40 PM EDT reply actions

Denard Span

I know he’s practically a sure shot for opening day, but if he’s still struggling, why not start him in AAA? Maybe a wake up call, or just a chance to get his swing down. Unlikely though.

by ianmader on Apr 1, 2009 12:50 AM EDT reply actions

Span

If Span doesn’t play well to start the season, Gardy is going to have a tough time deciding how to structure the lineup. The two best leadoff guys are Span and Mauer. Mauer won’t be playing there, even when healthy. Gomez played better out of the 9 spot, and more importantly, I really don’t expect him to have the OBP to justify leadoff. I already know I’m going to hear about how drastic his improvement is going to be, but for leadoff, outs are more important than speed. I doublt Gomez will have OBP over .350.

If this issue comes up, I really hope they consider going with Casilla. He really impressed me last year, until his injury. He’s patient enough (not Span/Mauer patient), makes contact, and most importantly, is the only other player that makes sense, besides Mauer.

by snolls on Apr 1, 2009 9:00 AM EDT reply actions

Casilla

I think Lexi is the fall-back for lead-off. He’s got the right approach and contact skills to be effective in that role. And, unlike Span, he’s had a good spring.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Apr 1, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions