Riverbrian

Using the LaRussa Maddon strategy. Batting the pitcher in the 8th spot.

I don't know if a move to the pen will help Gibson or not. However... make it more of a two way street please. How about flipping some bullpen guys into starters. Yeah... I know... they are in the bullpen for a reason... haven't been stretched out... I know. All I can say is... it's been done before and the consideration isn't completely without merit. We can't keep shoving our failed starters into the pen without replacing the starters. Starting Depth is critically low. The Twins will need to consider Duffey and maybe even Rogers for the rotation at some point this year.

As the Twins travel to Chicago again to take on the hated White Sox, it’s the bullpen that is on most minds. It has been stunningly bad of late and in some serious need of immediate improvement. Without a good bullpen… the bulls get loose and that leads to innocent people getting gored and crushed. The Twins need a better bullpen for containment. Perhaps they should look to the farm. That’s where the best bullpens are built out of necessity. It was Pamplona at Target Field. The carnage was extensive. Here are some things to think about: As the Twins travel to Chicago again to take on the hated White Sox, it’s the bullpen that is on most minds. It has been stunningly bad of late and in some serious need of immediate improvement. Without a good bullpen… the bulls get loose and that leads to innocent people getting gored and crushed. The Twins need a better bullpen for containment. Perhaps they should look to the farm. That’s where the best bullpens are built out of necessity. It was Pamplona at Target Field. The carnage was extensive. Here are some things to think about: 1. Chicago – I have written about Chicago time and time again over the years, and I’m running out of ideas… but the Twins are back… so… I’ll give it another shot and write something else about Chicago. Here are some strange facts about Chicago: Many don’t know this but Chicago actually sprung out of DePaul University. Here is something else, to become famous worldwide, Chicago had to go to Los Angeles. Chicago began politically charged, experimental and edgy, eventually transforming into soft and laid back which made Chicago both worse and bigger at the same time. Chicago has a fascination with naming things numerically and there are a lot of horns in Chicago… If you compare Chicago to Boston and Kansas… Chicago is hornier. 2. Our Twins – There isn’t much to say when you have given up 28 runs in just two games. What you would like to say is, “Thank God that’s over”… but is it? All it took was a Teufel on Saturday and a Redfern on Sunday and we are staring at a Blyleven over two games. I used to like 11, 17 and 28. 3. The White Sox – The color of the Sox have changed from Red to White. Ladies and gentlemen… Welcome back to Target Field… Mike PEL-FREY!!! Mike could be exactly what we need and here’s why. K% is perhaps the biggest problem our hitters have. Our guys are pretty good but they would be even better if they could somehow lower that lofty K Rate. Here comes a pitcher… Mike Pelfrey who does not strike out anyone… He has 4 K’s total. What happens when you practically guarantee Sano and Buxton and Vargas contact? It’s going to be like throwing a truck load of Eucalyptus leaves into the Koala Cage. 4. Today’s Joe M Conversation McCarthy: Hey Guys… look at this… Watermelons were on sale… I bought 30 of them and they are big ones. Mauer: Awesome… I love Watermelon… I’ll get the baseball bat and open up some of them. Maddon: 30 Watermelons? Why would you buy 30 watermelons? McCarthy: They were a buck a piece. Montana: You won’t fit them all in the fridge. Mauer: OK… I got my bat… Let’s go to WORK… Put one down. (Pause) Ok put another one down. Maddon: Why? What was wrong with the first one? Mauer: I never swing at the first watermelon. 5. That’s why – Here’s a conversation that my Son and I had last night: “Dad… Why are you always living in the past?” Reply… “The housing was cheaper.” ____________________ Lineups: TWINS Joe Mauer 1B Jorge Polanco SS Max Kepler RF Kennys Vargas DH Eddie Rosario LF Eduardo Escobar 3B Jason Castro C Ehire Adrianza 2B Byron Buxton CF Hector Santiago P WHITE SOX Tyler Saladino 2B Melky Cabrera LF Jose Abreu 1B Avisail Garcia RF Todd Frazier 3B Matt Davidson DH Tim Anderson SS Geovany Soto C Willy Garcia CF Mike Pelfrey P Weather: Crappy. Damp and chilly 40s, with a breeze from the ENE that will make that feel even worse because that will come from the lake. So not just a crappy, but a yuck, too. View full article

Then the team won't be in contention and the potential issue is removed from consideration. Problem Solved!

This Photo is when his foot comes down and he has to decide if he is going to start his swing. Good Luck to Anyone in this situation!!!

I will criticize Joe for swinging at Ball Two on the second pitch of the at-bat. That wasn't necessary at the time and a little out of character for Joe. I will criticize Joe for looking at Strike Two on the 3rd pitch of the at-bat which was a fastball dead center. I will criticize Joe for habitually throughout his career getting himself into 2 strike counts by passing by pitches down the middle and therefore putting himself in position to get rung up by a blind umpire on the third strike. But I will not criticize him for looking at pitch number 8 of the at-bat. It was a backdoor curve that didn't make it to the back door. It was a ball when it left his hand... it was a ball when it reached the catchers glove... There was never a time when that ball would make any hitter's brain start a swing. It was not only outside but high. He would have had to of known that a 3-2 curve was coming from a closer with a wicked fastball just to hold back long enough to foul it off defensively. It was never in the zone... It wasn't close to a strike. It was a bad call.

Yep and I'll add that Grossman has played well enough to play.

I had no idea what kind of health he had but I was thinking he was worth a roll of the dice because if he came back strong. He would have had value at the deadline... or value if contending. You gotta gather assets where and when you can.

I would have pushed Duffey to AAA Starting depth with those 4 and we wouldn't need Tepesch. Belisle and Breslow wouldn't have been in uniform because Kinsler, Rogers, Pressly would have rounded it out.

In order to be fair I wanted the Twins to be bullpen aggressive and I wanted them to go after: Daniel Hudson -- 11M -- 2 Years Greg Holland -- 7M -- 1 Year Joe Blanton -- 4M -- 1 Year Joe Smith -- 3M -- 1 Year Don't know if 19.5M added to the payroll this year would be out of bounds but they were the guys I had on my list. I wanted the Twins to get them all and that would push the returning bullpen arms down. Here's how it would have turned out so far Hudson 7.82 ERA so far... I'm Fired Holland 12 Saves 1.38 ERA... I'm the Man... . Blanton 10.64 ERA so far... I'm Fired again Smith 20K in 14 IP... 2.57 ERA... I'm the MAN!!! I'd like to criticize the FO but I need to criticize myself to be fair.

Ok Tepesch with one more start Berrios threw 6 innings today Santana threw 6 innings today. We have an off day Monday. Santiago I assume throws on Tuesday Hughes I assume Thursday Tepesch I assume Friday Both Santana and Berrios would be good to go on Saturday. Who starts Wednesday? It Won't be Berrios I assume

Actually Ok Until the ump made Chief mad at Mauer

Not just players but front office personnel. They should be nose deep in assessment with arms full of those that need to be disposed of this year.

I've already typed Monkey So I can't help you Bark

It was fun until the 9th... Kind of like a Bernie Sanders Speech

It's going to be hard to come back with the pitcher hitting in the 8 spot!!!

Last Word? Mmm... Gotta think of a good one "MONKEY"

8 runs is the most dangerous lead in sports

It started well off the plate... Why would anybody engage to actually swing at it. If you don't engage... you can't get started and therefore can't hit it. The only way you hit that ball is if you are just going to jump on anything. Rosario maybe.

In my opinion... That pitch couldn't be hit It was a curveball from a Righthander... left handed batter. It started well off the plate and broke to still off the plate. Mauer would have had Gorilla Arms to touch it. I'll crab at Joe for many things... not that AB in my opinion. Now the 1-1 Fastball he took... OK... but he swung at everything else that made sense. Red Sox pitch tracker was wrong.

The 8 spot in the order now belongs to the pitcher.

That wasn't his fault... That was ball... Curve ball on the outside of the plate never crossed into the strike zone. He wouldn't been able to hit that. He took his cuts

Bad call

Gotta bat Kepler for Adrianaza?