stringer bell

I agree with the selection. Twins broadcasters said that BD had a better year this year. I wouldn't go that far, but he was very good. I think his overall contribution puts him near elite, with only Altuve being clearly superior to him at his position. There is something to be said for his durability, as well. Since he became a regular st second base, he's logged far more games and plate appearances than anyone on the Twins and I don't know of anyone else in MLB that has over 2800 plate appearances in the last four years. Dozier's ability to adjust (use the whole field, chase fewer pitches) bodes well for the future.

Bad second strike call hurt Castro.

Need another hit!

3-0!

I believe that since August 1, the Twins have had the best offense in MLB by quite a large margin. We shall see if good offense can beat the best run suppression this week, and get a chance to exorcise the demon in the Bronx.

We all dislike giving away outs, but bunting for a hit is a completely different animal. In games in the past 7-10 days, how many nominal sacrifices turned into something good? I just wish the Twins bunted better.

Related to Shannon perhaps?

I've read throughout that Rochester would lose the tiebreaker, so I think that means they lost the tiebreaker. It's good news for the callups. They get a few more days of major league service and meal money.

What happens to the rehabbing major leaguers? If Rochester doesn't make the playoffs, can Santiago and/or Meíja start playoff games for the Lookouts? What if Rochester does make the playoffs--can Grossman and the two pitchers play in playoff games?

Niko Goodrum hasn't established himself, that is obvious with only six at-bats. He's gotten his name in BB Reference and earned free health care. If he shows enough the rest of this season, he could push Escobar out the door. First and foremost, he would give the Twins the roster flexibility to carry only one utility infielder. Goodrum would have options and could fill in if any position player other than a catcher were disabled. With Adrianza profiling as more of the traditional utility infielder (good glove, good wheels, switch hitter) and the three starters all being more bat-first players, I think he is a good fit as the primary utility infielder. That pushes Escobar out the door. Niko Goodrum isn't better than Eduardo Escobar and might never be. Esco is a pretty good player, but he's never been able to establish himself as a major league regular in almost six years. However, he has already hit 15 homers in less than 400 plate appearances and figures to be the regular third baseman perhaps for the rest of the season. Goodrum and Escobar are similar in some respects, with more power than traditional utility guys and positional flexibility. Goodrum also would save the Twins $3M, not to be ignored. Finally, Goodrum is a more established outfielder than certainly Escobar and probably Adrianza. The Twins would also have to make the decision that Sanó could play third 140 games. He hasn't been able to in his first 2.5 seasons. If they don't believe Miggy can make it through a whole season at third, they probably will keep Esco as an insurance policy.

It's a good play if he is 100% sure he can make and he was. It would force the Royals to hold Buxton at first and give Garver a bigger right field hole and he has already shot a few balls that way. Also, of course, a wild pitch or infield single scores the tying run. Finally, it wasn't the ninth inning so that changes the calculations a bit.

The swing-no swing controversy is interesting. Foster let the first base ump make that call and I think he should have. The home plate ump is behind the hitter and doesn't have a good view of how much the hitter commits to a swing (disagree with LaTroy on this). For what it's worth, I think the first base ump missed it. Cain "swung" and got away with it. Molitor couldn't challenge the first base ump directly so he yelled at Foster and got booted. I was surprised Goodrum got the start at DH. Not to alibi for the Twins, but they expect both Grossman and Castro back within the week. With no real call-up options to be a "bat off the bench" and only a short-term void they tried to roll the dice with a limited bench for the Royals series. It hurt them yesterday.

This year, Goodrum might be an extra piece who gets some starts against LH pitching. If he shows himself to be satisfactory, I think it means the exit of either Arianza or Escobar, most likely Escobar. The Twins stand to have only one utility infielder next year, if Goodrum were in Rochester with an option. Any injury to a position player other than a catcher and Goodrum could get the call to replace that player.

Carlos Santana would be a good fit. His OBP is still high because of the high BB rate. He's OK at first base. Signing him would probably be goodby to both Kennys and Park (I read somewhere that Park's agent was talking buyout of his contract). I think one of either Espinosa or Adrianza will go. On the pitching side, they need a starter for sure.

Easy peasy. Let Buck go get it.

I'll interject a few random things after catching up on a doubledheader thread. Melville has some stuff and so does Turley IMHO. We'll likely see Melville again (my guess is he is the long reliever and Gee stays in the rotation). Remember, Melville was a Top 100 prospect until he had TJ surgery. Turley has some stuff and he's a lefty so somebody will keep taking chances on him. I really like Slegers, but he's a guy who has never been a top prospect. He's making the most of what he has and I'd take him over Gibson, which might happen as soon as tomorrow. Chris Gimenez looks like a lock to log a full season with the Twins. He's been up and down every year since 2009. Until Castro homered about a half hour ago, Gimenez was tied with him at 6 homers each. Does anybody have money on who leads the Twins in homers? Don't sleep on Brian Dozier. He's only two behind Sanó and has eight homers already this month. Dozier might not get to 40 homers, but this surge puts his numbers for the season nearing elite again this season. His OBP is on a pace to be a career high.

I was thinking about Melville's situation. He is most likely out of options, so the Twins can simply send him back after today's game. That will shorten the bullpen a bit after the DH today. I hope Turley gets to pitch and does well.

Overachieve, underachieve, overachieve. That part I can see, but look at the lineup, even with Sanó out and there is good depth to it, now that both Buxton and Polanco are hitting. The team has taken huge strides on defense, probably their biggest step forward. The entire outfield, plus Sanó and Polanco are young players getting better, moving toward that 1000 plate appearances milestone, where we can start to trust their performance.

Brian Dozier has easily been the Twins best player since he moved to second base. He's been a good player for most of the four years, with a few dreadful months mixed in and a superstar summer last year from June to mid-September. I'll also say that Dozier is playing at a position that is packed in MLB. 10-15 years ago, a second baseman with Dozier's power performance would be elite at his position. Not now. I like Dozier as a person, a bit of an aw-shucks southern gentleman with no skeletons in his closet. I like him as a player because he's durable and has far exceeded projections for himself since being a mid-round no power draft choice. That said, some of Dozier's act is wearing on me a bit. He acts like a superstar without portfolio to me, doesn't bust it down the line when he hits a popup or routine grounder, he makes many lollipop throws, although he cuts loose when he has to, and his demeanor at the plate seems to be I'm a great player, why don't I get the borderline pitches? I do wonder if he is playing 100% healthy, which would explain the apparent lack of hustle. In addition, he's stopped stealing bases and seems a step slower on the pads. Or maybe it is just turning 30. Dozier has made improvements in going the other way and he's capable of drawing a walk. However, now that the team seems out of it for the season, BD seems more intent on hitting bombs than having good at-bats. I think there's a chance that Dozier could have another superstar season, maybe even better than 2016 turned out in it's entirety, but father time makes that unlikely. I also think that the Twins can be winners with Dozier manning second base, but there is a lot of things that have to improve.

I was going to start a thread saying that Rogers is the most underappreciated Twin. He has been very good, but under the radar.

Thanks for the summary. IMHO earned/unearned isn't the best way to judge defense, but it is wise to reveal and review a defensive misplay as a key play in a game.

I'd love to see Slegers get a chance with the Twins.

4:03, I'm out. Hope it doesn't rain too long.

I doubt they hit for Buxton unless he's injured somehow.

Alright, what happened to Buck?