Thread by @TCAnelle

#MNTwins STH fan forum getting ready to start. Rocco, Thad and Derek on tonight.

.@CoryProvus hosting and welcomes @roccodbaldelli.

Discussion of how special Joe's retirement press conference was. So many people attending. Lots of Joe love. [*sniffle* I miss Joe]

Thad excited to hear Joe wants to stay connected to the team.

Cory asks Rocco if he tried to recruit Joe. Rocco doesn't say he did. Says retirement was a special moment. Felt honored to be a part of it.

Over 1,000 people listening. Cory going to take listener questions.

Bill from Crookston - Welcome to MN. No org treats their fan better. Welcome. Game is changing, shifting, "utilization pitchers"[???] and what does he see changing.

Rocco - ultimately it's the players will bring us to where we need to be. Looking forward to working with them. Can make a huge impact.

Diane from Buffalo - With Joe's retirement and others, who's the leader?

Thad - Acks that lots of leadership gone (Escobar, Santana). Hopes past vets had an impact on younger guys for them to take over the role. Will look at FA. Mentions Buxton, Rosario, and Sano[ugh]. Others leading by example - Berrios, Max. Are they ready? We'll see but will try to

complement them with others and good coaches.

Cory - What steps has FO taken to make things right with Buxton.

Thad - One of the most dynamic players will in uniform next year. Thad, Derek, Rocco have reached out. Lines of comm have started to regenerate. He's reconnected with us. More work to do. Heart in right place.

Bob from Rapid City - Questions on future Twins philosophy of starting pitching concerning new starter model

Derek - Seeing across the game, but of an evolution. Game has always evolved. We believe guys who can go deep into game are incredibly valuable and we need to develop them. But we need to use the players strengths and we saw some pitchers excel in that role.

Derek - need to put guys in best position to win.

Jill from Dawson - Hi Cory! Question to Rocco - what would you like to see for the Twins. What's your stamp on the team under your leadership?

Rocco - The player can take on the personality of the manager. Likes to create an environment of fun with the people he works with. Will take time. But hope to imprint over course of spring/ear;y season. Hope to create great environment to come to work to. Wants players to have

says if the leaders are having fun, we should too.

I did not win the first bobblehead giveaways. Boo.

Juan from somewhere - What was the plan for Sano next year? He's listed as a first basement.

Thad - We're going to keep him at 3rd as much as possible. He's a really talented 3rd basement. More versatility is valuable. Will be primary 3B coming into camp. He will get every op to be 3B

Cory - is it easier with Joe settled.
Derek - planning for both. Plan for injury, etc. We have a decent sense of the market and opportunity. Excited about young players. Have more clarity of what to target.

Matt from Little Falls - Polanco, no question about his bat. Played 2B in MiLB. ANy thought to move him to 2B.

Derek - He rolls out of bed and he can hit. Clear strength. Played both in MiLB. Made more sense at SS based on past roster construction. Saw some improvement back end of 2017. Suspension impacted SS work. We're open minded, he can play 3B, SS, 2B. Jorge will work at it.

Pamela from Minneapolis - Please Rudy Hernandez is staying. Any other Spanish speakers to join the team.

Rocco - Absolutely a priority for me. With diverse staff enables you to work with diverse player staff. Very large priority in my mind.
Derek - Fully intend to have Spanish coaches to increase.

Cory - Rocco have you reached out to players.
Rocco - Not all the way through but getting there. Never sure how to read them but they sound excited. Telling me I like to have fun and want them to have fun.

David from somewhere - What can we look forwrad to from FA market.

Thad - Lot of convo leading up to FA class about how robust it will be. Machado, Harper. Building concurrently for 2019 and mid-range future. Need to be smart. Know we have holes with Joe/Dozier gone. Need 2B/1B/SP/RP. Focus was get right manager. Focus not to MLB roster.

Thad - not strictly to FA market. Trades, MiLB system. Evaluate everything available to help team.

Actually that may have been Derek. I don't type this fast this long very often.

Derek - We have the core of our team and need waves of players to build around. FA will always be a way to supplement our core. Watch WS and see the core of those teams and FAs that supplemented. We're flexible moving forward. Have to make best baseball decisions.

We know if we take a good baseball decision to Pohlads, we'll get the financial support.

Tom whose call dropped - WHy did you trade Pressly?

Derek - We felt like there was an opp to acquire two players who impact our system, and Jorge Alcala(sp) who throws even harder than Pressly. Building toward the future and present at the same time. It's never easy. Difficult decisions to build into a perennial winner.

New caller whose name I missed is happy Rocco isn't old. *eye roll* Wants to know if Rocco will focus on OBP like Joe did.

Rocco - Of course. Players have strengths and weaknesses. Need to put them in position to succeed. WIth hitters you're going to take a guy with a certain skill set and make the most of it.

We all love HR and 2B, but for hitters with other skill sets, they will be the best if they focus on those things.

I didn't win the second bobblehead giveaway either. Boo.

Nate from Oakdale - We want to see our team to win as soon as possible. What are FA targets.

Derek - We try to put the best team on the field. Have to think about how to build the roster. Rocco focus on how staff to make them better. Lot of FA options. Target infielders. Pitching of course. [he's not going to name names, Nate]

Missed the caller name - Bullpen question on closer.

Thad - Got Rodney last year. Heading into off season, no incumbent. Hildy got lions share. Will try to address back in in offseason. We're more open minded to role they will be in for last 9 outs. Rocco will have manage personnel. Mix and match. We feel important to add to BP.

Lots of young players we saw last year that would be in the running for those roles as well. Doesn't have to be same guy every night.

Caller - Will the TOrtuga be on the roster next year?

Lots of WIllians love. Then Thad says we over look him if we only look at entertaining part of him. He's extremely confident. Versatility is king. Performance behind plate was critical. Plays other positions.

Batters box is his fave. He'll be given every opportunity, but will have to earn it.
Cory - He's Manfred's dream because he gets in and swings.
Thad - He's a unicorn, almost never strikes out. He's the new microwave. His attitude is celebrating every day in the big leagues.

Laurel in Fergus Falls - How will you build rapport with legacy players - Morneau, Cuddyer, etc. How to include Joe.

Rocco - Had to learn that Twins have such a strong alumni relationship. Know some from playing against. They are great people, they can have such a great impact on players. Have spoken with CUddy, Morneau, LaTroy, TOrrii. Every person in here wants Joe to have all time he

wants to decide what role he wants to have. Everyone want him, but it's his call and we will respect that.

Kid with high voice - What manager will impact you most.

Rocco - What Kevin Cash did was extraordinary. Heard Melvin won, but Cash was deserving. Mentions Lou Pinella, Maddon, Francona. GOes back to watching how Cash dealt with people. Would like to emulate.

Cory - Lou had rep for animated call disputes. Would Rocco?
Rocco - Never know. That's why you show up to the ballpark. Never know what you'll see. Wouldn't say it's my personality, but maybe something sparks something and the dust flies.

Greg in Boston - Trevor May was real weapon. Starter or relieving?

Derek - Trevor is great example of someone who can step up and have a great impact. Had intended to stretch him out as a starter after TJ, but Trevor asked about relieving. Trevor for him coming out of BP fit is approach and mentality. Expectation is he will be a reliever.

Could always change over time, but expectations in short term is he's in BP. He's had success at the back end. Could slide into closer. Has the pitches, but also Hildy.

Brett from WIsconsin - Plan for Nick Gordon? 2B or SS

Thad - He "matriculated" to AAA, but he was one of the youngest players at AAA. Have to be patient with them. Players will tell you when they're ready to come to MLB. Mentions Polanco SS. When Gordon gets to MLB he will have earned it and hope it's a one way ticket.

Will be at the best position for him and other infielders.

I did not win the final bobblehead giveaways. Booooo.

Young Landon from Minnetonka - What do young player have to offer?

Rocco - They have a lot to offer. I'm used to working with younger players. Team mixes are different. One view from our staff, we have good youthful players that play hard. When you work with young players they have the ability to get better.

Young players have the ability to grow. Great recipe for improvement.

Someone in South Minneapolis _ what is org doing to ward off suspensions?

Derek - Unfortunate aspect of the game. It's about education. What are you taking, who's advising you. Discussions with Polcano, he was remorseful. Get into lowest levels of the draft and educate them about what's ok and what's not and long term impact.

Good for the game we're all taking time to make it better.

Parker from Bethel - When will ROyce and Kirilloff be up?

Thad - [smartass] Tomorrow... Not going to name a date. Will do what's responsible. They've moved quickly in our system and we want to accelerate the development of the gifted. Need to check off the boxes and then we'll see them in MN for years to come.

Cory - Are we getting pitch clock etc?

Derek - We're talking about it all. It's not a decision made unilaterally. Teams, MLBPA. It's all on the table. Anticipate some change going into the season.

Judy in Big Lake - Tells Thad how disappointing the seasons was and when are get getting a competitive team.

Thad - We're all tied by the love of the game blah blah blah... our goal is to put the most competitive team on the field every season. We're clearly in a building process to have team for future and beyond.

Cory - Rocco, favorite restaurant
Rocco - Alma, Young Joni, great food scene. Know there will be more. Food has been beautiful.
Derek - Butcher and the Boar
Thad - Moved from Dallas. Bar La Grasa, Red Cow.

That's all folks. Don't @ me about any typos. You get what you pay for. Now, back to hockey.