stringer bell

Freeman and Soto are two hitters who I feel like they'll get a hit every time, no matter who is pitching.

Sounds like the company line is to keep Buxton at DH.

By the way, for the second day in a row, it's "hit a home run, get tomorrow off" as Farmer gets his first day off since coming back from injury. Anyone who homers today will get Thursday off, guaranteed!

I'm retired and injured, so I have time for this: Here is my list of ex-Twins who have played in the major leagues so far this year. This only includes players who actually played in a regular season major league game for the Twins, so no Wells, Baddoo, Steer etc. Eddie Rosario--Atlanta, Michael Tonkin--Atlanta, Ehire Adrianza--Atlanta, Kyle Gibson--Baltimore, Yennier Cano--Baltimore, Danny Coulombe--Baltimore, Rob Refsnyder--Boston, Zack Littell--Boston & Tampa Bay, Michael Fulmer--Chicago Cubs, Derek Law--Cincinnati, Ian Gibault--Cincinnati, Alan Businitz--Cincinnati, Billy Hamilton--Chicago White Sox, Lance Lynn--Chicago White Sox, Alex Colome--Chicago White Sox, CJ Cron--Colorado, Jonathan Schoop--Detroit, Ryan Pressly--Houston, Gio Urshela--Los Angeles Angels, Bruster Graterol--Los Angeles Dodgers, Luis Arraez--Miami, Deven Smeltzer--Miami, JT Chargois--Miami, Chi Chi Gonzalez--Miami, John Curtiss--New York Mets, Eduardo Escobar--New York Mets, Aaron Hicks--New York Yankees, Josh Donaldson--New York Yankees, Ian Hamilton--New York Yankees, Brent Rooker--Oakland, Trevor May--Oakland, Jake Cave--Philadelphia, Rich Hill--Pittsburgh, Chase De Jong--Pittsburgh, Nelson Cruz--San Diego, LaMonte Wade--San Francisco, Taylor Rogers--San Francisco, Tommy Milone--Seattle, Jose Berrios--Toronto, Taylor Motter--Saint Louis, Robbie Grossman--Texas, Sandy Leon--Texas, Mitch Garver--Texas, Idemaro Vargas--Washington. 44 players, including 23 pitchers. After today's Twins game is over, I'll probably comment on the guys who have blossomed and surprised.

I probably shouldn't write anything before this series is over, but I don't think the Dodgers are all that. They have a top-heavy lineup--Betts, Freeman, Muncy and Smith are fine players--and their top three starters (even without Buehler) are very good. I don't think their BP is fantastic and the bottom of their order is not very threatening. To me, Atlanta is superior and the Phillies could also be better, although they haven't started very well. San Diego also should be better, but they've really struggled so far.

Disagree. The Twins are playing for this year and they can't use this year as a time for development. Injuries and poor performance will provide many of these guys a chance to show what they have. Maybe a couple of the hitters can force their way on the team, Royce Lewis has a clear path and anybody that can get big league hitters out will get a chance to pitch for the '23 Twins.

They all scored six runs and they all won! I'd much rather the teams I'm pulling for consistently put up five or six runs rather than scoring double digits a few games and then getting shut down to three runs or below for five or six games. Nice to see Lee have a really good game. His overall numbers are good, but don't scream for promotion just yet.

They pulled the plug on Larnach (quickly reinstated) and Miranda, would you propose that Correa be benched as well? They really had to ride with CC, at least until Farmer returned, due to having no one to replace him. The other guys allowed to struggle and still get playing time are Vázquez and Buxton.

Yes, Solano played second base last night and that throw was his only fielding chance. Castro moved to second in the later innings when Larnach pinch hit for Solano and Willi made two underrated good plays in the field (IMHO).

Farmer will regress to the mean about as certainly as Correa. He’s a starter for a second division club and a valuable bench piece for a contender. Having him available to start against lefties and fill in at three positions is really valuable. If Lewis is healthy (sure appears to be!), he’s the third baseman. I will believe Buxton in center field when I see it. We’re past “mid May” and AFAIK he’s not even started to prep to play in the field. An injury to Taylor might get that particular ball rolling, but it might not happen this season. I doubt the Twins trade major league talent to acquire bullpen help. If they get a guy or two, I would expect they part with prospects, probably from A ball or below at the deadline.

Nick Gordon has played more center field lately. He made a couple of outstanding catches, but I still believe he’s a step below Taylor in CF. The thought that occurred to me was whether Nick would have caught the short fly that Taylor caught on the run in the eighth inning. Maybe, maybe not. That was a ball that many if not most center fielders catch and in this case it might have been the difference in the game. I wouldn’t be surprised if Gordon is the starting center fielder in today’s matinee. It seems it is his way to playing time with the roster as constructed.

IIRC, Balazovic’s control problems develop after he’s thrown a couple of innings. As he fatigues a bit, he loses command of the zone. He might be a classic to convert to relief IMHO. A starter that weakens after 3-4 innings is a bullpen killer, as we saw last year. I think Jordy Blaze has a real future as a reliever, not so much as a rotation piece.

I wonder if Rocco is thinking about giving either Correa or Buxton a day off with the off day coming tomorrow. I would hope that both aren't out of the lineup at the same time despite their less-than-stellar results recently. A six-inning start from Gray would be very beneficial. The bullpen lineup for today would include De Leon, Sands, Lopez and Duran with a day off tomorrow. Maybe they could get a couple outs from Moran.

Some stats to highlight--.231 team BA ranks 25th in MLB. 15 SB rank next to last, however team OPS is 15th and in runs per game the Twins rank 10th. They are going to win a lot of games if they score 5 runs or more, as they have in the last four games. Willi Castro may or may not be on the roster all season, but he has demonstrated the ability to play all over (he made a couple of nice plays at second yesterday) and get an occasional hit from either side of the plate. In addition, he can steal a base (4 steals and should be 5).

Someone questioned Solano and Castro being in the lineup. They both had good games. Major league ballplayers are going to have good games even if they aren’t regulars. In addition to scoring runs without homers ( until the 9th) and stealing bases, they played a clean game in the field. That’s what it took.

It’s Jax and Sands left in the bullpen, correct?

Not quite. They’ve only won one game against the Dodgers at what is now called Dodger Stadium. The Angels played their home games there for a couple of seasons and I’m sure the Twins won a couple against the Angels.

Okay Jovani, earn the team’s confidence.

Solano handled second okay tonight—good throw on the attempted double steal. I don’t think there was a ball hit to him otherwise.

Plouffe said the ball arrives at the same time. That kind of figures, because you don't have to put any air under it.

A lot of good fortune so far for Ober. If they have the arms, they gotta go to the BP IMHO.

Gotta get this guy.

Too bad. Keep it at 3-1. I don't know if Ober makes it past this inning.

Jeffers executed the squeeze a couple times last year. Castro and Taylor get the ball down. I don't know how many others I would trust to lay it down.

Jeffers gets him in.