stringer bell

We've seen good and bad from almost all of the relievers--getting them sharp and relatively rested is a real key. If, for example, Jax retires about 15 batters in a row between now and October 3, Rocco and the fan base will have a lot more faith in him. Varland and Funderburk probably have to do well to secure spots on the postseason active roster.

They’ve been less than spectacular, but Solano has a.782 OPS vs. LH and Farmer is at .732, both better than the team average. Just about everyone has been worse than their previous stats against lefties, particularly Correa and Buxton. As a team, the Twins have progressed from rock bottom against left handed pitching to low 20s in OPS, despite the struggles (in limited opportunities) against lefties by Kirilloff, Julien and Wallner.

That’s what I thought. However, I’m pretty certain that the Twins will have to make room on their 40-man roster for Paddack and Nick Gordon when their rehab assignments expire. In addition, the Twin’s website shows Alcalá as being in the 60-day list, but I believe that is an error.

From the injury information received, the rehab performances and the way this organization does things, here are my predictions for the active roster when the Twins host a postseason series against the #6 seed: Locks are bold, injured players returning are in italics, minor league call-up are underlined. Catchers (2): Jeffers, Vázquez. Infielders (7): Kirilloff, Polanco, Julien, Correa, Lewis, Solano, Farmer Outfielders (6): Luplow, Wallner, Castro, Taylor, Buxton, Kepler Pitchers (11)--Starters (3): López, Gray, Ryan. Bullpen (5): Funderburk, Maeda, Varland, Stewart, Pagán, Jax, Thielbar, Duran Discussion and rationale--A lot can happen in two and a half weeks, when the postseason roster will be finalized, including injuries, slumps and ineffectiveness. The last player I included was Buxton. I remain skeptical that he can both be healthy and contribute, but I think the Front Office will give him the chance unless it is certain he isn't healthy. I left veterans Gallo, Floro and Keuchel off the first series roster because their performance wasn't good enough. If Buxton is too unhealthy, my assumption is that Stevenson will be added for pinch running and defense. The third starter seems to be Ryan, although his performance since returning from the IL has been only satisfactory, not lights out. Maeda goes to the bullpen, where he has experience and I left Bailey Ober off the first series roster despite his good performance for the year. He would certainly be a candidate as a fourth starter in the next round. Outside of a 3-0 cookie that cost the Twins a game, Funderburk has been very good and adding another left handed reliever makes good strategic sense. Varland also has looked good as a multi-inning bullpen piece. I think Paddack may well be under consideration as a bullpen arm if someone falters. Dylan Floro might be an addition if someone is injured or has a skid.

Another component of yesterday's scenario that wouldn't occur in a postseason game was the unavailability of Correa. If Correa is playing, then Farmer would be available to pinch hit, a much more positive scenario.

Julien has been on the major league roster roughly 110 days, not exactly five months. They acquired both Donovan Solano and Kyle Farmer as bench players who were earmarked to improve the Twins' performance against left handed pitching and both are capable second basemen. I know that I don't favor pinch hitting, but it does figure that Julien doesn't get many starts against left handed pitchers.

Count me as skeptical, as well. The chance that he go directly from the Injured List to being a productive postseason hitter are pretty remote. Buxton is a remarkable athlete, but his history is that he takes a while to find his groove as a hitter. There is precious little time for that.

My point was that they are quite similar, but Wallner has done a far better job of converting mistakes into runs. I don't know if getting hit by an inordinate number of pitches is a great strategy in that getting hit that many times is an invitation to injury. I do agree that AAA stats this year should be taken with a grain of salt. Larnach was the better player in spring training and won a spot on the team. After a quick start, he struggled while Wallner did well at St. Paul. Wallner came back to Minnesota later in the summer and had a good run and now he is struggling while Larnach is doing well at St. Paul. I don't think it is established right now who will be the better player going forward, but IMHO neither has stepped forward enough to lay claim to a regular job in MLB and the clock is ticking.

I thought that Larnach was the superior option to Wallner, but Trevor fell on hard times with the Twins. Wallner came on and provided power that (so far) Trevor has been unable to produce. As many have pointed out, having depth is desirable, but having Trevor go back to AAA isn’t great for his career. He’ll probably get another chance and it may be his last with the Twins. If the team thinks they have other guys to step up perhaps they will try to trade Larnach.

In a similar number of plate appearances, Larnach and Wallner have similar numbers with the exception of home runs. Wallner’s OBP is bolstered by his HBP propensity. After having a prolonged slump at St. Paul, Larnach is again swinging well.

The question I have deals with procedure on postseason rosters. 1) Can a player be on rehab when there are no minor league affiliates playing? 2) When a player’s rehab time expires after the conclusion of the regular season, must he be placed on the active (postseason) roster or can they be on the 40-man without being on the postseason roster? Nick Gordon will be eligible to be on rehab until about October 4th. St. Paul and all the affiliates most likely will be done playing long before that.

Two guys who could be moved to create space are Gallo and Keuchel. A third could be moving Buxton to the 60-day IL. I would agree that Paddack and Stewart for sure are preferable options to Headrick/Winder /Floro and that Ober would be preferable to Keuchel. With no more than three starters needed for the first round, all of the guys who have been used in low leverage could be sent to St. Paul. The next stage would require no more than four starters and probably seven relievers.

I attended today’s game and it was as beautiful outside and comfortable as anyone could ask for. From my view in section 209, it was entertaining and in the end Tampa took advantage of Twins’ mistakes more than the Twins were able to take advantage of TB miscues. I guess a 7.5 game lead allows Rocco to give Correa a complete day off. Saving the best pinch-hitting option (Solano) for later might have given the Twins a better chance in the ninth. Having 14 position players really doesn’t allow for pinch hitting all the time for Wallner, Kirilloff and Julien with Correa unavailable. Kepler has apparently graduated from this status. Jax looked really good until he didn’t. I speculated he, like Pagán, could go one of two ways—challenge him or try to trick him. He threw a middle-middle nothing pitch which resulted in a predictable outcome.

The brave talk on Buxton returning seems overly optimistic. He played seven innings in Triple A and couldn’t continue. Can he now, after over a year, be able to play in the field? Further, his hitting has always been streaky. I have a hard time expecting him to be ready to help the team in less than three weeks.

Of the three pitchers rehabbing. it seems Stewart is certain to be added if he holds up in his rehab outings. It would appear that Paddack has to show he would be effective in a relief role. Alcalá hasn’t done enough pitching in the last two years and hasn’t been effective BBB anyway.

This follows Rocco’s trend, which started on Opening Day, of pinch hitting with the platoon advantage, as soon as the third or fourth inning. It has worked sometimes, but I always feel that emptying the bench early is a net disadvantage unless runs are produced, especially if the defense is weakened.

I think it was the wrong move and said so at the time. Is it managerial malfeasance— I’m not at that point. The better move was to let Julien face the lefty, but it was a choice of two low-percentage options.

Polanco is back. Celestino back to St. Paul.

Several Twins players are rehabbing with the hope of joining the club yet this season and perhaps making the postseason roster. Piecing together the information received, each of Paddack, Stewart and Alcalá hope to join the bullpen, while Nick Gordon is starting a rehab assignment on Thursday. In addition, on the Twins' broadcast, it was stated that the Twins still think Buxton can return and perhaps play in center field. How many will make it back and be able to help the team? I am assuming that Michael A. Taylor will be back within a week.

Cincinnati beat Detroit so the Twins magic number against them is already 9. I suspect that the Tigers will be the last team eliminated in the Central race.

Winner!!

Wallner looked rough in the field last year and in his first couple call-ups, but I continue to say he looks much, much better now and does have a big arm. BBRef has him as a marginally plus defender this year. He is not slow! He has a 72 percentile sprint speed.

Now have to watch Detroit as well. Magic number to eliminate the Tigers is also 11.

Unmentioned as a potential replacement is Trevor Larnach, who had a good week with the Saints last week. Wallner has seemingly passed Larnach, but maybe that isn’t the case.

Giants walked off the Guardians on a Wade Jr. single. Magic number is 11 and we will have to count down on both Cleveland and Detroit.