stringer bell

Just wanted to clarify that by “there” I meant center field.

He’s doing a rehab start today or tomorrow and may be ready for activation in time for his next start.

Good start with Garlick taking the lefty deep.

If it is "only a bruise" I'm glad and it is fine that Buck can sit today. I was afraid the knee still wasn't right.

I don't think that DHing him substantially reduces risk of injury, and he is so valuable there.

He's on the 40-man and can give the club innings, I guess. I'm guessing that he'll fill Winder's role of long relief until Gray and/or Ober are back.

Ober to IL. Cole Sands recalled. Color me surprised. Ninja’d by lecroy!

They are 20th in MLB in runs scored (10th in the AL), they are 17th in team OPS. Below average.

Errors really don’t measure defensive efficiency. As of yesterday, the Twins were fifth in runs allowed, which would include both starting and relief pitching as well as defense. The offense has been well below average in total. My take is that the defense is that it is pretty good. Bremer noted that the Twins lead the league in outfield assists and I think they have also been fundamentally sound.

Silver linings: Only two pitchers used and it was quick. Plenty of time to watch the Wolves disappoint me.

Bundy’s ERA is normalizing in one outing.

Now Buxton gets HBP.

We really could use a reset or do-over.

In Bundy’s defense, a few of those balls weren’t hard hit at all. Those kind of things tend to even out. If the Twins lose this game by 10 runs, it is only one loss.

The Rays are just getting started.

Buxton DHing again. If that is what it takes to keep him in the lineup, but is this also indicating that the knee isn’t 100%?

They only have five in the rotation now and if Ober is out, it makes sense to move Winder in. When Gray returns, that is when it would be decided whether to keep Winder in the rotation.

I think health is the decider for demotions after Sunday’s game. The team needs to have Sánchez available on a daily basis to demote Godoy. Celestino’s roster case is strengthened if Buxton can’t be a full go. On the pitching side, uncertainty about Ober and Gray probably is enough to assure that Winder sticks around as a starter in waiting.

Not unexpectedly, JT Riddle was outrighted by Cincinnati when two of their infielders were activated off the IL.

I agree that Garlick isn’t great in the field, but it’s not fair to judge a player on one play. Fenway’s right field is notoriously tough and the wind was really blowing hard that day IIRC. Later in that same road trip, acknowledged good outfielder Max Kepler played a catchable ball into a triple, it happens especially when the wind is howling. Since the OP, Tampa has changed their starters, so the Twins might face only one lefty in Florida this trip.

Okay. Middle of the pack in what I am sure is a tightly bunched IP per start stat. That they have been effective tells the story about # of pitches IMHO. It does not appear that the Twins will have any workhorses, especially if they opt to use a 6-man rotation again. I have opined that Winder should be optioned because the Twins are using him in a very limited role, one in which he only pitches when there is a short start. I think a better-constructed ‘pen might consist of two guys who could work long(ish), but also could be in the plan as one-inning guys which could occur 2-3 times per week.

These are all small sample sizes. Everyone in questions can be optioned, including Godoy. It does make sense to keep Godoy in the system. Thre is a near certainty that more than two catchers will be needed down the road. I disagree with the contention that the Twins benefitted most from the expanded rosters. They are in the upper tier for starter innings pitched and have had two occasions to have a long reliever. I’m confident that other teams have had more need for long relief. I also understand that if the situation could change immediately. The Ober injury could trigger changes to the team’s plan.

Currently 14 pitchers and 14 position players on the active roster. Three players can be activated by the May 1 cut down date. I would 100% expect that Romero, when he is activated, will go on a rehab assignment in St. Paul. From the sound of it, Gray will not be activated until next week, so the Twins could get away with carrying 13 pitchers until then (about May 5). That would mean they would have to cut one pitcher and one position player until Gray is activated. I suspect Kirilloff won't be activated until he is driving balls all over CHS Field, so the one position player that can/should be sent to St. Paul is Celestino. The second player? I am going to go with Winder, but it could be Stashak. Another option would be to send Godoy back to St. Paul and keep an extra pitcher.

I just read that Jordie Blaze (Jordan Balazovic) will be doing a rehab start soon. I've always thought that he profiled better than Winder. Last year, he missed the start of the season because of a back injury (IIRC) and this year, it has been his knee. At least, it hasn't been arm issues to set him back. Simeon Woods-Richardson is starting tonight for Wichita. He has been lights out so far for the Wind Surge. Canterino has pitched a couple of times for Wichita, but only short starts. He also has great stuff if he can stay healthy.

For those among us that have seen the earth orbit the sun more than 50 times, the St. Paul paper had a writer named Don Riley who weekly had an item "scattergunning from the catbird's seat". In a similar fashion,I have several thoughts and have thrown them together for comment: 1) Has anyone seen two wackier late inning victories than the Twins 2-1 win on Friday and the 5-4 walk-off on Tuesday? 2) Raise your hand if you thought at the start of the season that the best lineup against a right hander would include Nick Gordon in left field and Luis Arraez at first base. 3) Is it time to move Carlos Correa down in the lineup temporarily? He seems to be fighting himself at the plate. 4) With three of the next four opponent starters left handed and a roster reduction coming, I think Garlick will be getting his chance, but if he doesn't hit soon he could be the roster casualty. 5) Dylan Bundy's stuff doesn't make anyone go "wow", but his command has been beyond excellent and he knows how to pitch. 6) Things are going well for the Twins now, but the bullpen doesn't have enough impact arms. They either need to go outside the box and convert a minor league starter or outside the organization (my preference). 7) Sano, Correa and Polanco are off to miserable starts, but there are dozens of established major leaguers who aren't hitting. ? I’ll believe that Alex Kirilloff is healed when he starts driving the ball regularly. I'm not convinced he will contribute to this year's team. 9) The schedule in May for the Twins is Charmin soft. They need to take advantage and run of a 20-win month. 10) Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober have been terrific so far. This shouldn't have been taken for granted. Maybe the Twins' staff knows something about developing pitchers after all. Please comment on any of these items or any random thoughts you might have about the 2022 Twins.