As I said yesterday, Ortiz will go north, but not Ponson.
I expect the Twins to start the season with 12 pitchers. The starters are (not in the specific order) Santana, Bonser, Ortiz, Silva and Baker. Garza will also go north, along with Perkins, who will be the second pen lefty. They will be the long men. Joining them in the pen are the familiar Nathan, Neshek, Reyes, Rincon and Crain.
This leaves JD Durbin, the righty in the minors with no options. He'll be traded or released.
Cali, Choate, Ponson, Slowey and Venafro will either go to the minors to start the year, or will be released or traded.
Garza will be there in case any of the starters falter. He needs some major league time. Same with Perkins, but he'll probably stay in the pen as their second lefty, behind Reyes.
Don't look for the Twins to sign any more pitchers; Ryan's run out of ink.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Infield
It's been suggested the Twins will trade Castillo this year and bring up Casilla. Won't happen.
The Twins will likely keep Castillo through the season, barring injury. Casilla is at least a year away yet.
On another note, look for Jeff Cirillo to get some major playing time at 3B, along with Punto. Look for Matt LeCroy to come north with the team as a reserve – one of Gardenhire's big concerns last year was about Joe Mauer and Mike Redmond both playing (one as a DH) because a potential injury could force the loss of a DH that game. With LeCroy waiting on the bench, it gives the team an adequate backup catcher, first baseman and pinch hitter – and puts another .300 hitter (Redmond) into the lineup. And really, Morneau didn't have a good back-up last year. Even though Cirillo has played some 1B, I think he's better suited for 2B, SS or 3B.
Regardless, LeCroy gives Gardy some options he didn't have in 2006.
Look for Redmond to DH/Catch, and Mauer to Catch/DH.
Ponson won't go north, but Ortiz will. He was pitching for a poor team last year, and I think he'll turn it around in 07.
Surprise: The Twins will again contend, and will again take 1st in the division.
Pirannhas Prevail!!!
The Twins will likely keep Castillo through the season, barring injury. Casilla is at least a year away yet.
On another note, look for Jeff Cirillo to get some major playing time at 3B, along with Punto. Look for Matt LeCroy to come north with the team as a reserve – one of Gardenhire's big concerns last year was about Joe Mauer and Mike Redmond both playing (one as a DH) because a potential injury could force the loss of a DH that game. With LeCroy waiting on the bench, it gives the team an adequate backup catcher, first baseman and pinch hitter – and puts another .300 hitter (Redmond) into the lineup. And really, Morneau didn't have a good back-up last year. Even though Cirillo has played some 1B, I think he's better suited for 2B, SS or 3B.
Regardless, LeCroy gives Gardy some options he didn't have in 2006.
Look for Redmond to DH/Catch, and Mauer to Catch/DH.
Ponson won't go north, but Ortiz will. He was pitching for a poor team last year, and I think he'll turn it around in 07.
Surprise: The Twins will again contend, and will again take 1st in the division.
Pirannhas Prevail!!!
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