stringer bell

Nice outing for Gray. I suppose they didn’t want to push him to 100 pitches, but he had retired 10 in a row.

Putting in subs for Kepler and Polanco in the seventh Is a bit early IMHO.

I wish there were more games like this. Good hitting up and down the lineup, good pitching from the starting pitcher and there are 11 runs in six innings.

Every player has reached base at least once and every player has either a run scored or RBI. Only Buxton is hitless. Kind of fun to have the whole lineup contribute.

I think you're right, but Dick and LaTroy were saying that Larnach might have a short rehab before he rejoins the club. If Miranda is optioned, there is about 10 games total of first base experience, almost all of it in Arraez. I'd really love for Kirilloff to start raking, but the team can't count on that at this point. Until the Oakland series, I thought it was a no-brainer that Lewis would be sent down. He was the best offensive player in the two game in Oakland and I started to warm to him becoming a 10th starter on the fly. This isn't an outrage and I don't think this says much about how the front office is viewing this season. I hope Royce is back soon and it's not to replace Correa because of another injury.

I submit that if Lewis stayed, the guy to go would be ........Celestino, and he's hitting for a higher average than Royce. The Twins have a short-term first base problem and I wouldn't be surprised if Curtis Terry is brought up to fill the RH half of that problem. I'm pretty sure if there was room on the 40-man, it would already be done. The place for Lewis to find playing time with Correa being activated is in the outfield, I think. If Buxton is the half-time CF, Lewis could take the other half, but where does that leave Celestino? Lewis' history in other defensive positions is all from his time in the AFL, correct?

Posted 13 hours ago · IP 1) Where do you follow the Twins from? Elgin MN (20 miles east of Rochester) 2) What's your jobby job? Retired, former Postmaster and Mayo Clinic Mail Center Supervisor 3) How 'bout hobbies? Golf (might be an obsession), politics, travel 4) How long have you followed the Twins? Since 1961 5) How many games do you attend a season? Usually 5-10. 6) Who is your favorite all-time Twin? Michael Cuddyer. Honorable mention Gary Gaetti and Brian Dozier. 7) Who is your current favorite Twin? Buxton 8 )What is the coolest/craziest/most absurd/etc thing you've seen in person at a Twins game? In the middle of the 1987 pennant drive, a bunch of college students doing strange things to a blow-up doll in the left field pavillion. 9) What is the most memorable thing you've seen in person at a Twins game? The Dave Kingman popup that never came down. 10) What is your favorite all-time Twins moment? Alexi Casilla singling home Carlos Gomez in game 163

Royce Lewis spent a whole month in St. Paul. If he stayed in the majors the remainder of the year, it wouldn't change his eligibility for free agency. There could be the matter of salary arbitration, but the Twins will have Lewis for six more years beyond 2022. Miranda has performed poorly, but is an option at first base.

Of the "Big Four" sports leagues in North America, Minnesota fans haven't had a winner since 1991 (31 years!). The Vikings haven't been to a Super Bowl since 1977, but have won divisional titles and gotten to Conference Championship games as recently as 2019. The Minnesota Wild has made the playoffs often, but hasn't won a playoff series since 2014 and were defeated in the first round this year after having their best regular season. The Minnesota Timberwolves have been infrequent playoff participants. This year they won their play-in, but were defeated in the first round. Since this is a Twins site, we all know the futility since 1991, the long losing streak in postseason and no playoff series victory since 2002. Which franchise will break through? Bonus points for picking a year when a Minnesota franchise "wins it all".

Pagán has a decent fastball, but it’s the second pitch that will determine his effectiveness. If he can get the split change in the zone or get hitters to chase, he’ll be fine. If not, low-leverage middle relief.

I certainly agree that there is more clarity now. Prior to Baldelli's postgame comments on Saturday (from team and media reports) there wasn't much information at all about Buxton's injury status. I think it is still debatable that the course of action is proper. If Buxton misses dozens of games and still ends up on the Injured List, second guessers will have ample ammunition to blame management (and they might be right). We fans don't have all the information that the club and medical consultants do and I will believe they are doing the right thing, but by no means does saying that this is the plan make it the right thing.

Why use an option and deny the player service time? Rehab assignments are exactly for what you originally said “to get some playing time” so that they are full-speed when they return.

You mean send Larnach on a rehab assignment? I suppose that is possible, but from the sketchy accounts Larnach should be ready to go right away.

My opinions about Baldelli--1) "Player's Manager"--The first two years here, Rocco had players older than he was. He is as connected to today's players as any MLB manager. He doesn't publicly berate his players and routinely gives players days off, tries not to overextend key bullpen arms and makes some BP voluntary. Most players welcome being treated in this manner, I think. Some might take advantage in some way. 2) Big Picture--Today's game is important, but having the squad have a chance to win games in postseason is more important. Two instances of resting star players have been controversial, but Baldelli would not use Correa in a game against the White Sox and Buxton in a game vs. Cleveland. Rocco and Wes seem determined to limit innings for most of the starting staff, while at the same time, trying to keep the bullpen stocked with available arms. It's tricky, but so far the results have been excellent. The big picture philosophy also shows in use of the Injured List. Better to be careful with a player and let them heal as opposed to playing through an injury that results in missing a large portion of the season. Of course, this is not the case for Byron Buxton, who is being frequently rested and used as a DH in an attempt to get him through a knee injury. 3) Analytics etc.--Baldelli has been accused of being a slave to analytics--refusing to let a pitcher face a lineup for the third time, shifting, changing the lineup on a near daily basis as well as not using small-ball tools like bunts and stolen bases. I think analytics are helpful in deciding when a pitcher should be taken out. Baldelli goes with percentages and tendencies and most often he is right. I think Rocco Baldelli is a good fit for the MInnesota Twins this year and probably going forward. Manager of the Year? It's way to early to even speculate.

The actual date is May 30--two weeks from today. While I do wonder about these things, it seems injuries usually take care of full rosters. There's been speculation about the position players when Correa, Garlick and Larnach are activated, but I fully expect that someone will go on the IL rather than Lewis or Celestino being optioned.

Short starts and a well-used bullpen argue to keep the maximum number of pitchers. Of all the factors about Lewis, the one area of concern would be defense. Sticking him at third where he played a bit in the AFL, or in the outfield would be a stretch IMHO. He has aced the audition, but that doesn’t qualify him to be a utility player or supplant Correa

We have more information about Buxton's situation than we did before the game Saturday. Here is Jim Souhan's take. https://www.startribune.com/twins-byron-buxton-injuries-plan-100-game-derek-falvey-healthy-jim-souhan/600173541/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=twins I hope that Buck can reach that number. Actually, my hope is that he exceeds the number, but something nearing a game a series of rest days looks baked in for now.

Garlick is meeting the team in Oakland. Someone isn’t going to be active (probably Contreras). Correa and Larnach are both on track to be activated in the coming week. Miranda and (gulp) Lewis would be the logical choices. These moves would mean nearly zero depth at first base. If Lewis stays, it would mean Celestino goes.

Negative Nelly thought: Gio had a great series, but that check swing GDP,,,,,,,,

You'd think they would have to come to some agreement on how to get him in the game the most. The solution for now is no IL, but rest and DH time. I'm saddened that Buxton isn't causing havoc on the bases, isn't in the field or when he's not in the lineup at all.

Radio guys, right? Sounds like they were referring to homers by Harmon Killebrew (as high as they were long). Buxton's ball was in the air a long time, but easily made the seats.

A lot of outfield flies for both teams. Twins have gotten two over the fence while the Guardians only have one.

So, Ryan is the first Twins pitcher to go over 100 pitches this year?

I agree. It seems to me that we might be seeing a diminished player for most, if not all, of the season. I'm sure the medical professionals have been consulted and I'm sure Buxton's people also have been consulted.

Or a college grad?