stringer bell

Austin Martin 3-3, with a walk and stolen base. Keep it up!!

The Twins continue to have the lowest batting average against left handed pitching, but they have a better OPS relative to the rest of the league. They have a higher OPS than five teams vs. lefties.

On a first place club that’s won five in a row.

The Twins four biggest contracts for position players (this year): Correa--$33M, .689 OPS, .9 WAR. Buxton--$15+ M, .731 OPS, .8 WAR. Gallo--$11M, .726 OPS, .4 WAR. Vázquez--$10 M, .592 OPS, -.2 WAR. If they were getting value from their highest paid players, we wouldn't be in a race for a division crown. Does it mean the Twins will sour on big contracts for position players? I dunno.

Okay, Wallner gets a start vs. a quality lefty. I would have preferred to see if Jeffers could carry his hot streak another day, but it's good to give Wallner a chance.

Through almost three quarters of a season, 2 WAR is a lot to make up. That said, I think WAR for pitchers is arbitrary (more so than position players) and López' overall value is understated by the WAR number.

I think that''s AK's best position, but if they have to put a guy with a suspect glove at first (Julien, Miranda, Severino, Prato), Kirilloff would be acceptable in an outfield corner.

I've speculated that there's a pretty good chance that the Twins would pick up the option for Polanco and then trade him. He's a better-than-average second baseman, but his recent injuries have to have decreased his value. I don't think the Twins get more than a prospect or relief pitcher for him.

I think Kirilloff is at least written in the plans in pencil. His performance this season has been shortened by injury, but he has shown he is a good hitter. His current injury is completely unrelated to the career-threatening wrist miseries that ended his 2021 and 2022 seasons.

The Marlins had several options from among their starters when the Twins came looking for a trade partner in the Luis Arraez deal. Or maybe it's the other way around--the Marlins were willing to give up one of their starters in pursuit of Arraez. Regardless, there were rumors that the Marlins trade a starting pitcher for Arraez. The deal happened and the Twins got Pablo López. We all know Arraez has thrived with the Marlins. He's winning the batting championship in a walk, currently hitting .375 and he's stayed on the field and performed acceptably as a second baseman. That said, the Twins could be satisfied if they got a starting pitcher to front their rotation for the rest of the decade. Did they do that? We won't know until Pablo López completes his time with the Twins, but the results have been promising. López is on course to set career highs in innings, strikeouts and WHIP with no indications of tiring or injuries. The ERA is quite a bit higher than his FIP indicating he might have been a bit unlucky in run prevention. He has signed an extension through 2027, which will be his age 31 season. He seems to have fit in with the Twins very well. Miami had uber-prospect Eury Pérez, who was probably not available and reigning Cy Young Sandy Alcantara, who again probably wasn't available or would require much more than Luis Arraez. Jesus Luzado has similar numbers to López this season and is younger, but would he have agreed to an extension? Now, more than ever, I think this is a classic win-win trade for both teams. It will depend on the health of the principals, but the addition of Pablo López has helped the Twins as much or more than the loss of Luis Arraez. The Marlins got a great singles hitter, the Twins got a top rotation starter.

Stealing third is non-typical and circumstances came together in the game Sunday. Keuchel is tough to run on (first to second) and perhaps Keuchel’s attention waned with the low percentage move of stealing third with two outs. If he gets run on again, he’ll probably have to make some adjustments.

It hasn’t been a problem for the Twins up to now. The eight stolen bases included three double steals (two of them against Keuchel) and also included a steal of second with a runner on third. Up until that game, the Twins had stolen more bases than their opponents and had done so with a higher percentage of success. All of Arizona’s steals netted zero, while the Twins stole one base (Julien) and he scored from second on a two-out single. Vázquez will have to wear 0-8 on CS for that game, but the problem in reality was Keuchel (and Floro?) on the double steals.

I was going to comment on the good strike zone by the home plate ump, but forgot to do so. I checked Umpire Scorecard and found out yesterday's home plate ump (Pat Hoberg) is the best in the game this year.

I’ve been thinking about this for some time. Since late June, Kepler has been a fine right fielder. Health might have been an underlying factor in his poor performance idk, but he’s been very good for about six weeks. It appears they have a cheaper, more powerful replacement in Matt Wallner. Tough call, for sure.

I understand that argument, but for three guys (Luplow, Solano and Farmer) if they’re not starting against a tough lefty, why are they on the team? Jeffers is a hot hand and should be in the lineup. Yes, I’d like to give Julien and Wallner more chances against lefties, but the way the team is structured, the right handed bats should be in there.

Well, they do have options for right field. The injury didn't appear serious, but last year a broken toe really messed up his season. They could put out an all-righty lineup. Vázquez (c), Solano (1b), Polanco (2b), Correa (ss), Farmer (3b), Castro (lf), Taylor (cf), Luplow (rf) and Jeffers (dh). That would leave a bench of Kepler, Wallner, Julien, and Gallo.

Probably all for López. Another really good low-stress (for Twins fans) outing.

Single season career high. Pablo struck out 174 (in 180 innings) last year. He is at 173 in 140 innings this year.

Pablo is one K short of his career high.

Oh boy, another left hander.

Probably correct, but Correa has had a few balls he got leather on and wasn't given an error.

Ohtani's.

A little drama is good for the viewing experience.

Just working on those "worst in MLB" stats against left handers.

Caution--López has given away big leads a couple of times this year, once against Washington and also against Oakland. I don't expect any problems, but it has happened before.