Hi Twins fans,

Here we are to the end of spring training. Wow, did that ever go fast.

Twins are schedule to fly out of Fort Myers Saturday after the game vs Pittsburgh. They will work out Sunday at the Metrodome and then the opening game of the regular season is Monday, April 2nd.

TWINS SET FINAL ROSTER.....The biggest surprise player on the Twins final roster is C Chris Heintz. The Twins decided to carry three catchers, and Heintz (with only 58 days in the major leagues) will back up Joe Mauer and Mike Redmond. With Heintz on the roster the Twins will be able to DH Mauer occasionally and catch Redmond and still have a catcher in reserve. Of the

25 guys on the final roster, there are just 4 players that weren't with the Twins at the beginning (or with the team sometime)of the season last year.

They are RHP Sidney Ponson, RHP Ramon Ortiz, IF Jeff Cirrillo, and Heintz.

I doubt there are many teams in baseball that have that few turnover players.

ROCHESTER STARTER ROTATION STRONG....With RHP Matt Garza being send down earlier this week, the Rochester Red Wings starting rotation will be Garza, RHP Kevin Slowey, LHP Glen Perkins, RHP Scott Baker, and either LHP Dave Gassner, or RHP Jeremy Guthrie. That's about as strong a starting rotation as you will find at the Triple-A level. Rochester should have a banner season. Of course if one or maybe two of those pitchers is called upon to help the Twins sometime during the 2007 season, Rochester's top starting rotation could be depleted.

ROAD TRIP TO SARASOTA....Each year I pick a particular road trip to drive with Twins General Manager Terry Ryan and Terry rates the entire Twins minor league roster. Every player on every team. I get the roster sheet from the Twins Director of Minor Leagues, Jim Rantz and I start with the Triple A roster and take it all the way down to the extended spring roster. Terry rates the players on a basis from 8 (that's best) to one (that's worst) and gives each player a number. I will tell you there are no 7's or 8's, but there are a number of 6's. Terry is a tough grader, so a 6 is really outstanding. I also finished my extended interviews with the Twins hitting and pitching minor league co-ordinators and Bill Springman (hitting) and Rick Knapp (pitching) give updates on the Twins top prospects. I pick a top ten in both hitting and pitching and Bill and Rick give their opinions.

Interestingly, Rick Knapp said it is unfair to pick just 10 top pitching prospects. He said, "We have at least 20 top pitching prospects." Just an indication on how strong the Twins pitching stock is in the Twins minor league system.

That's all for today folks. Flying home Saturday night and that's exciting.

Take care and let's hope the Twins get off to a fast start.

"Touch 'em All,"

JG