stringer bell

It really doesn’t matter if everyone strikes out behind you.

One hit since.

If only López, Gray and Ober could do that. Oh wait……

Ortega for Balazovic. That’s a start, but it does not address the underuse of Sands/Winder/Headrick.

Or good games.

Ahh-oooo!

Solano isn’t fast in the first place, but he does seem to be favoring his leg.

GDP chance??? 50%?

I thought they’d save Gallo to pinch hit until they needed a sacrifice fly /s/.

Glad to see both Jeffers and Wallner in the lineup.

Nine in a row. I do not believe what I just saw!!!

Three strikeouts—swinging, called and pitch clock.

Got it! Probably a bad call by Laz Diaz.

Waiting for the first Keuchel strikeout.

Borucki is an opener. I believe that is why there is a mixture of lefties and righties. Kepler probably will hit for Luplow the second time through.

Nice defensive play to start the game!

My view for the game!

The team's weaknesses showed up today. 1) Defense--a decent third baseman makes the play on the first hit and some first basemen catch the ball that Polanco threw. Cufoff men weren't in proper position twice (didn't cost any runs this time, one of them was Polanco). It's great that Jorge Polanco is willing to play third base, but he hurts the team over there. Julien probably turns the DP in the seventh if he comes across the bag instead of staying behind it. 2) Fifteen more strikeouts. Yeah, their starter has good stuff, but he wasn't Nolan Ryan. 3) Bullpen--Floro gives up an inherited runner when he came in with two outs and then Jordy Blaze gives up a three-spot in the ninth. Even if it is rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, some changes need to be made. Day game tomorrow and I'll be there in the heat. I hope Wallner and Jeffers are in the lineup and Lewis is back at third base. Best wishes to Keuchel and if he gets hit hard, best wishes for his next job.

38 games to go. I think it is time for a true bullpen reorg. First of all, the starters (not counting Dallas Keuchel) have established they can give a decent start almost every time out. Yes, Joe Ryan will be treated carefully when he returns, but it is doubtful there will be a four-alarm fire started by someone in the rotation. What the Twins need is guys to pitch one or two innings every other day to set up what has become a thin and precarious back of the bullpen. We'll call the back end Jax, Pagán, Thielbar and Duran. Floro is just a guy. He gives up base runners, doesn't get a lot of strikeouts and struggles getting left handed hitters out. He is not going to give up big numbers too often, but also isn't the guy you want to shut down a budding rally. He should be the six to eighth guy in an eight-man bullpen. Balozavic has some potential. The fastball isn't dominating, but it is okay when well-placed. The league seems to be catching up to him right now. Send him down. Sands and Winder aren't trusted in any kind of leverage situations. The Twins don't need innings unless they are well-pitched innings. Send them down. Who to recall? I'd give Funderburk a look. He has good numbers with the Saints and he is a breathing left handed relief pitcher. I'd try Oliver Ortega again. His worst outing was pitching multiple innings in a back-to-back situation. His overall numbers were passable and he has been one of St. Paul's best relievers. The eighth guy in the 'pen could be Headrick or Henriquez and maybe Stewart will be back in September to take a spot in the bullpen. Only one 40-man spot would be needed and Alcalá has already been on the IL for more than 60 days, so he could be moved. Eight bullpen guys won't be needed for October. Challenging everybody in the bullpen is something that needs to be done. The team has six weeks to sort it out. They are fortunate to have enough of a cushion to make such moves if they see fit.

I’m going to tomorrow’s game and was disappointed when Keuchel was announced as the starter. It is more than the pitching matchup thankfully. That said, the Twins need a win today and maybe they can open their widest lead of the year. Lots of Rangers and Guardians the rest of the month.

The average OPS in the International League is .800, so let’s cool off a little about St. Paul’s hitters, Martin included. I think Martin’s skill set would fit really well with next year’s Twins roster. That he’s having success at the highest minor league level is great for his confidence and bodes well for his future.

Can the Twins have a roster with utility guys Castro, Farmer and Martin as their bench? There really isn’t a lefty-mashing outfielder and there is no real backup at first base. IMHO, the most expendable is Farmer, but he’s a preferred alternate shortstop and he’s got the best résumé as hitting left handed pitching.

Depending on Ryan’s recovery and Keuchel’s next outing, Dallas Keuchel would be a prime candidate for DFA. If Austin Martin is clearly restored as a prospect, I also wouldn’t be surprised to see a DFA for Gilberto Celestino.

I believe there are currently 59 pitchers in MLB that qualify (one IP per game) and the number of qualifiers will probably end up lower than that. I thought for awhile that the Twins might actually sneak four qualifiers in this year, but recent short starts by Ober and Ryan's injury and ineffectiveness might make it only two. I wouldn't be surprised to see MLB lower the threshold for innings pitched to .9 or even .8 innings per game, but the standard for hitters seems to still hold for BA, OBP, Slg and OPS.

I pointed out on another thread that Sands has faced ZERO batters in high leverage situations. I don't know the exact number of days he has been on the active roster, but this is astonishing. Winder has faced five batters in medium leverage (none in high leverage) and a third "long reliever", Bret Headrick, has faced two batters in high leverage and eight in medium leverage. The Twins' starters have given the front office a gift in minimizing the workload for the bullpen and the front office has squandered that gift.