Making the Team: Week 4

The final two weeks of spring training have arrived, and the races are heating up. All around, there seem to be deadlocks. At catcher, there is still no favorite to be Joe Mauer's backup, the infielders fighting for the final bench spot are struggling, and there seems to be uncertainty in the team's plans for the bullpen.

Can guys like Mike Maroth or Anthony Slama sneak into the race down the stretch? Who might have the slight advantages in the seemingly deadlocked competitions? Who might pull away before the team breaks camp for two exhibition games at Target Field next weekend?

almost 2 years ago Twins Territory 12 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Lefty

Looks like the Twins don’t want Perkins of Duensing. They went out and signed Ron Mahay, who probably is all set and ready to throw.

The other question in the bullpen is Condrey, who ahs been awful.

Suspect that Neshek will start in the minors (do you want him pitching in cold weather).

Considering that Slama is not on the 40-man?

Let’s see…Harris stays. Thome stays. Casilla is the future, I guess. There needs to be a catcher backup (until the day Toby Gardenhire can be back-up catcher and infielder). So that seems set (see you in Rochester, Jacque Jones).

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

by rosterman on Mar 24, 2010 10:56 AM EDT reply actions

+1

by b1 on Mar 24, 2010 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Slama

isn’t on the 40-man roster and I expect him to start at Triple-A, but all it would take for him to be added to the 40-man roster is the team placing Joe Nathan on the 60-day DL.

by Twins Territory on Mar 24, 2010 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Right. That goes for Mahay or any closer acquisition

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

by cmathewson on Mar 24, 2010 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions

5 IP 1W 0Hits 9 SO

What else does Slama have to do to make the team?

by clutterheart on Mar 24, 2010 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I would like to see him make it

But at this point, he’s still Plan B. Plan A is acquiring Fasor from the Jays.

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

by cmathewson on Mar 25, 2010 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions

You can't use 5 innings to determine anything

I’m much more interested in a scouting report than stats in 5 innings against scrubs.

by DJL44 on Mar 25, 2010 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions

+17

or whatever Slama’s number is

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett

by BCTwins on Mar 25, 2010 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Mahay

He is a real relief pitcher, not a starter waiting for someone to get hurt or be ineffective. If the Twins use Mijares only in late innings (7 & 8), they could use a LOOGy. Mahay fits that bill quite well.

by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Mar 24, 2010 11:00 AM EDT reply actions

I would like to see Slama make the team...

Mahay was good down the stretch last year, but throughout most of his career he has been pretty mediocre. Slama has absolutely dominated the minors, and could have similar success to Pat Neshek if the Twins give him a chance.

by kcoryell on Mar 25, 2010 12:45 AM EDT reply actions

Apparently Gardy said today that if Liriano is the fifth starter, Duensing is a lock for the bullpen. Earlier in the day he said Liriano was way ahead for the fifth spot.

So it looks like the rotation is set and one spot is open in the bullpen for the group of Neshek, Slama, Mahay, Perkins (unlikely).

by Twins Territory on Mar 25, 2010 4:05 PM EDT reply actions