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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    None of the hits Boston got were hard hit and Moran struck out a guy who then reached base. Yes, he walked a guy and pitched himself into trouble, but it wasn’t like batting practice.
  2. stringer bell
    Gallo is in Boston and will almost certainly be activated for tomorrow’s game. It seems the choices are a)Castro, utility guy hitting .150 b) Julien, top prospect but so far only two hits or c) Garlick, supposed lefty killer. My guess is Julien, but none of the choices would surprise me. I will add that it wouldn’t shock me if Max Kepler was put back on the IL.
  3. stringer bell
    Disagree. With a day off preceding, going with four one-inning relievers would have left four available with no one working consecutive days. Due to the fielding misplays, it didn’t work out. I think López and Thielbar and maybe Duran can go tomorrow in addition to those that didn’t work today. Seven innings from Ryan would be helpful.
  4. stringer bell
    Defense cost them. Gordon/Vázquez should have made the play at the plate and I don’t think they understood the Catcher’s Interference rule. Miranda pooched the ball to first and Solano made no attempt to tag the runner or hold the bag. Vazquez keeps 90% of those low pitches in front of him, but the one in the tenth got by him. The pitching options were Alcala, Pagán, Headrick and Moran. I would have been on pins and needles for any of them, but Moran absolutely needs to throw more strikes.
  5. stringer bell
    The eighth inning run scored as a result of a mental error. Miranda tossed the ball to first and Solano didn’t try to stay on the bag, if he had, the runner wouldn’t have advanced to third. Then Duran would have been trying to save the game instead of keeping it tied.
  6. stringer bell
    I miss Marnie. Hope she is doing well. As bad as Gladden is on the radio, I think Laudner is worse on TV. He says basically nothing but uses plenty of chiches doing it.
  7. stringer bell
    And we get word just that Kirilloff is moving on to St. Paul!!
  8. stringer bell
    Lots of pessimistic Kirilloff posts on this thread. I was thinking the same when he didn't make the active roster out of spring training, but that he's rehabbed for about 10 days without a setback and has progressed to playing on consecutive days tells me that he's doing well. I'm more optimistic than I've been since he had his surgery. I do agree that if he can establish himself as a better than average hitter and fielder at first base, it can move the needle on the Twins chances to reclaim the Central and succeed in the playoffs.
  9. stringer bell
    Cleveland just lost so the Twins lead by 1.5 games. I think coming home with a lead should be a minimum expectation. Two of three should reasonable, making it a winning road trip and 8-5 against Houston, ChiSox, Yankees and Rose Hose.
  10. stringer bell
    The Twins have had a day off to rest, while Boston will be traveling across the country following a series with the Angels and no rest.--not quite. The Sox were playing at home in Fenway Park. I'll be interested in the lineup against Sale tonight. Joey Gallo could come off the IL and somebody would need to be sent to St Paul. Whoever isn't in the starting lineup on Tuesday between Julien, Castro and Garlick would probably be the one to be sent out. I'm pretty sure they will start Garlick against Sale, even if that means delaying activation of Gallo to Wednesday.
  11. stringer bell
    Regarding the rehab of Kirilloff and Polanco--Kirilloff played seven innings of first base and seven innings of outfield on back-to-back days. Polanco played a full game at second base and DHed the following afternoon FWIW, Twenty days rehab for Polanco end around April 26, so he'd have to be added to the active roster at that point. Kirilloff's twenty days run out around May 1, but he could be optioned at that point.
  12. stringer bell
    Don't forget Josh Winder. He's further along in rehab than Polanco and Kirilloff and has worked multiple innings out of the bullpen in each of his outings. He is on the 40-man roster, so when he's ready to go, he could be promoted directly and save having his option used (for now).
  13. stringer bell
    This list is why I'm not overly concerned about the Twins' offensive struggles this spring. It also is why next year when Seth profiles the longest-tenured Twins, the top two from this year will most likely be gone. Kirilloff, Lee, Lewis and Julien could provide a lot of offense for the remainder of the decade.
  14. stringer bell
    Red Sox series starts on Tuesday.
  15. stringer bell
    He's given the Twins every reason to want to keep him here long-term. I don't think there's any doubt that if he stays healthy, this is a great deal.
  16. stringer bell
    I don't want to make this sound like a rant against Nick Gordon. However, I've seen it written "Gordon can play anywhere, he's extremely versatile" or things like that. The fact is that he is a second baseman/left fielder who can function in center. His manager hesitates to play him at shortstop, he's played only a couple innings in right field and third base. On top of that he is a left handed hitter with pretty extreme platoon splits. While Gordon runs well, the other utility option (Willi Castro) is faster. As a "do everything utility player", Nick Gordon leaves a lot to be desired. Nick seemed to unlock the hit tool in the second half of 2022 when he got regular playing time. I don't think 40 plate appearances is enough to label last year as a fluke, but if he isn't an above average hitter, he really isn't an asset.
  17. stringer bell
    Garlick is under three years of service. He can't reject an optional assignment.
  18. stringer bell
    When Farmer got hurt (Correa also out), Baldelli moved Castro, not Gordon, to shortstop. Castro has started a game at third and played there when Miranda moved to first in another game. Gordon hasn't played there this year and only a few innings in his career. Castro would be the preferred backup at either of those positions, Does that mean that Gordon (or Solano at third base) couldn't step in? I suppose not.
  19. stringer bell
    The speculation was that the team might wait to activate Gallo until Wednesday with the Red Sox starting lefty Sale on Tuesday. That might make sense, but the Twins will have to start a left hander or two against Sale and Gallo has less pronounced platoon splits than Kepler or Gordon, neither of whom are hitting their weight. There can be a case made to send down any of three players IMHO: Julien--just two hits and five strike outs so far, he needs to play regularly and with Polanco on the horizon, his chances will be limited. Castro, as Brian noted, hasn't been trusted to start despite the injuries that have occurred. However, with Farmer on IL, he is the nominal backup at both shortstop and third. Garlick is not going to get anything resembling regular at-bats, but he has a history of hitting left handers well and with power.
  20. stringer bell
    I didn't even bother to check until noted scholar Ashbury made a comment that Garlick had an option remaining. It is true, the 31 year Kyle Garlick can be optioned. The 27-year-old Nick Gordon can not.
  21. stringer bell
    The new rules in baseball have made a faster game, more appreciative of defense and base running, but so far there remains a lack of contact, particularly for the Twins. The Twins are fanning at a rate of 26.06%. I am confident if that rate continues, they will shatter their all-time record for strikeouts in a season. It was noted that the Twins lead the American League in Ks this season and when I checked just three short games ago they were seventh. Such is the variability early in a season. However, the raw number of strikeouts shouldn't be the be-all and end-all of the discussion. I used my limited internet skills and checked on K% for all MLB clubs, hoping to see the Twins closer to tenth than first. Here is what I found: With 153 strikeouts in 16 games (about 9.5 per game) the Twins rank fourth in strikeout percentage, trailing only the San Francisco Giants, the Royals and the Tigers. Truly not good. Here are the strike out percentages for the Twins--worst to best: Buxton 40%, Taylor 37%, Wallner 36%, Gallo 35%, Larnach 34%, Farmer 31%, Correa 27%, Julien 26%, Garlick 25%. Jeffers 24%, Castro 21%, Vazquez 20%, Solano 18%, Kepler 17%, Miranda 15% and Gordon 7%. It should also be noted that the Twins have fanned 12 more batters than they have fanned, so they are doing better than their opponents.
  22. stringer bell
    Castro has an option year remaining, as does Garlick. They both could be sent to St. Paul without being exposed.
  23. stringer bell
    Kirilloff has played a game in left field and a game in right field for the Mighty Mussels. It absolutely makes sense to keep his hand in for the outfield as long as a guy like Solano is contributing at first base. I have been hopeful that AK could establish himself as a middle-of-the-order hitter and everyday first baseman and continue to think that is a possibility, but settling for something less would be OK in light of the struggles of some of the hitters and the success of Solano.
  24. stringer bell
    If Julien does in fact return to the minors for Gallo, the easy move would be to have Solano play second base. Gordon is hitting .100 and Kepler is hitting .091, based on this year both should be sitting and Solano should be playing.
  25. stringer bell
    Considering that Lopez had only one 1-2-3 inning, 2:07 is really quick. Both runs were in "woulda-shoulda-coulda" territory (the HBP was questionable and probably more than 50% of the time Kepler catches the ball that hit the top of the fence.
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