stringer bell

Nice at-bat Edouard.

I don't know exactly where to post this, so I'll put it in the game thread--I was checking BB Reference this morning and seven of the eight top Twins by WAR were pitchers, with only Buxton listed. In order--Gray, Ryan, Ober, Jorge Lopez, Buxton, Pablo Lopez, Stewart, Duran.

Last thought first, Gordon back by July 1? From what I've read, the recovery time for a fractured shin is in the 4-6 month range. I've been believing Nick will be on the 60-day list when they need to clear a 40-man spot for Lewis. RH hitting specialists did do their job last night. Castro has been a valuable utility guy as of late, mitigating the loss of Nick Gordon. I don't want to see it, but I think the lineup will be okay without Buxton (if he goes on IL). There are some pretty good options for each position including DH.

Who plays and who sits today against Ohtani? My guesses: C-Jeffers, 1B-Kirilloff, 2B-Castro, 3B-Farmer, SS-Correa, LF-Gallo, CF-Taylor, RF-Larnach, DH-Julien.

Also wanted to commend Farmer. Solid at third base and right now he's hitting very well. He needs to stay in the lineup at least until his hot streak fades.

The raw numbers (ERA, WHIP) don't look much beyond #5 starter, but he does get a lot of swings and misses and has had a decent number of 1-2-3 innings.

Speculation on injuries and lineups. Watching MAT run out a double play grounder, I'm not convinced he's 100%. I believe this is still his back barking at him and that he'll try to keep going, but it probably means there is a need for someone else to cover center field. Especially with the latest news on Buxton, it isn't going to be Buck in center any time soon. There were three outfielders DFAed in the last 48 hours--Brett Phillips, Adam Engel and Aaron Hicks. It is possible the Twins might go out of the organization to back up Taylor. Another player I noted doing some odd stretches was Correa. I wonder if his back is still a problem. Again, I doubt he will end up on the Injured List, but with the pending arrival of Royce Lewis and the possible disabling of Buxton, it might happen that CC gets some days off or maybe is used at DH. Roster moves: Switching out Garlick for Kepler (if he's ready by midweek) still makes sense. I already saw that Buxton won't be playing today and I wonder if he ends up on IL. I think it's infinitely better to get him to where he has been than to have to try and get him through this injury without shutting him down. It really didn't work last year. If Buxton does go on IL, the man who should come up is the best hitter. I'm not sure who that is--Contreras, Miranda, Wallner? It would appear to me that two injured players are candidates for the 60-man IL--Gordon and Alcala--so adding a player not on the 40-man shouldn't be a problem, even allowing for a space for Lewis.

Kirilloff is going to be ahead of Larnach. With Taylor in center, it would be Gallo in left, Kepler in right (when off IL) and Kirilloff at first. Moving Buxton to center would allow Larnach to DH or for a rotation between the four left handed hitters.

Willi Castro is having a nice road trip. He's played all over the place been solid and hit a little bit. Last night, he got a squeeze bunt down and hammered two balls, one a line out and the other a double. With Gordon out and Taylor seeming to be wearing down, he may get more time in center field. He might just be all right out there.

He wasn't having a good time when the home plate ump missed strike 3 on the lead off hitter of the inning and two pitches later had a double. That was the worst missed strike I've seen this year.

As I understand it, Sands is the "long man" out of the bullpen. If a starter leaves early due to injury or ineffectiveness, he would be expected to go multiple innings, probably at least 3 and maybe as many as 5. In their brief stays on the roster, Simeon Woods Richardson and Brent Headrick were in the same role. The work for these guys has truly been low leverage and is the one slot in the bullpen where all of the work is expected to be low leverage. The Twins don't want to waste service time and development on a prospect, if they can help it. My theory is that with the injuries to Maeda and Mahle, Headrick is now considered too likely a spot starter to be used in this role. Good for Sands, he get major league service time and if he's effective when used, he might be considered for some high leverage innings

I'm going to bump this back up for discussion. Many recent pieces of news and transactions. 1) Nick Gordon probably lost for a long while with a fracture of the shin bone. Kyle Garlick recalled to replace Gordon. 2) Jorge Polanco placed on the IL for a strained hamstring. Edourd Julien recalled to replace Polanco. 3) Jorge Alcala was recently placed on 15-day IL. News today that he has a stress fracture of his radial bone. 4) Byron Buxton left today's game with right leg tightness. 5) The Twins' website indicates that Max Kepler may not be ready to be activated when his ten days on IL will be up. 6) Royce Lewis is on his rehab assignment, but so far hasn't played on consecutive days. In his last game, he had three hits, including two homers. Lewis is eligible to come off the IL on or about June 1. The Twins will have to make room for Lewis on the 40-man roster (Alcala or Gordon to 60-day?).

Alcala reported to have a stress fracture of the radial bone. It sounds like he will be out for a while.

I do want to give credit to the bullpen tonight. For two very different reasons, possible disaster was averted in the 6th and 7th innings. In the 6th, Varland left with a 4-2 lead, two on and none out. Previously unreliable Jovani Moran set down three straight hitters and kept the lead at two. In the 7th, Jorge Lopez clearly had the lead off batter struck out, but the home plate ump blew the call, it seemed to throw Lopez off as he yielded a double and then fell behind the next hitter, but he struck out the next three batters including Trout and Ohtani. End of threat. Stewart and Duran closed it out mostly routinely, game over.

If Headrick is in the 8th spot in the bullpen, it just isn't worth it. The last guy in the bullpen has been the long guy who hasn't pitched in a close game yet. He's more valuable in St. Paul waiting for a spot start.

You're late, Chief.

More Plouffe and less Laudner, please.

2-3.

I like the 6'2" guy at first instead of the 5'8" guy.

Got to believe the choice would be Taylor vs. Larnach.

Good job Louie!

Not great defense in this half inning.

clank

Smalley would be saying they need to change the number.

If Varland goes 6 or 7, the game should be over in 2 hours. Really works fast.