The Spring So Far

The Twins have played about 1/3 of their spring schedule, going 7-3 (plus 2-0 in exhibition games vs. WBC teams). The WBC has made it a little tougher to evaluate players at this stage, since the exhibition and WBC stats don't count in the normal spring stats. But I'll take a crack anyway.

Getting It Done
Delmon Young - 3 XBH in his first 19 AB and 0 K. 0 BB, too, but I'll take it.
Jason Kubel - .400/.538/.800 doesn't even include his 3 for 3 game vs. Puerto Rico.
Alexi Casilla
Brian Buscher
Brendan Harris - perhaps the Crede signing fired them up?
Justin Morneau - 3 for 7 with 2 doubles for the Twins, 4 for 9 with 2 doubles for team Canada.
Carlos Gomez
Glen Perkins - of course, the first couple times through the order usually wasn't the problem last year
Francisco Liriano
Kevin Slowey - his spring also includes 3 perfect innings vs. the Netherlands
Craig Breslow
Jesse Crain - he struck out all 4 batters he faced in the WBC
RA Dickey
Jason Jones
Dustin Martin
Danny Valencia
Wilson Ramos
David Winfree - good to see some of the Twins' better prospects faring well

So Far, So Good
Joe Nathan - glad the shoulder is OK
Brian Duensing - too many walks, though
Luke Hughes - too many strikeouts, though

Need To Pick It Up
Denard Span - nothing's falling in, though the 4/2 BB/K rate shows that the leadoff approach is still there
Michael Cuddyer
Jason Pridie
Mike Redmond
Luis Matos
Joe Crede - 14 H behind Buscher/Harris so far
Nick Punto - please don't be that Nick Punto this year!
Matt Guerrier - too many walks
Jose Mijares - way too many walks
Scott Baker - too many hits, though 3 scoreless innings vs. Puerto Rico bring his spring ERA to 4.00
Philip Humber - really just the one bad outing, but it was really bad

Need To See More
Luis Ayala
Nick Blackburn
Joe Mauer - starting to get nervous, now.

It's nice to see that the majority of the team is performing well so far. Morneau and Crain should be back from the WBC this week now that Canada has been eliminated.

There are very few spots up for grabs on this year's roster. At this point, I'd have to wonder whether Tolbert can make the team over Busher and Harris. Dickey and Jones both look like better options than Humber for the long relief role.