stringer bell

Good teams take advantage.

Lamb’s got a homer and three misplays at first.

Larnach is going to be a good one. I really hope he and Kirilloff are in the middle of the order for the Twins for a long time.

Did Lamb’s ball hit the top of the fence? Obviously didn’t make it out by much. Still counts of course.

What would Bert say about all those fastballs in the top of the zone? Hitters’ swings aren’t geared for 95 up in the zone.

Apparently some formatting issues on the lineup. My apologies.

We’re nearing the witching hour when the Twins stop scoring.

Let’s go Happ.

Chances the guys on base will score? I’m gonna say 10%.

Three run deficit—insurmountable.

Billy Hamilton hit the ball hard. Happ doesn’t have it tonight.

Simmons has good range, but not fast. Does that make sense?

And.......Simmons GDPs.

Time to build an inning.

Pretty good news on Kirilloff and Buxton.

The first three guys didn’t hit the ball hard. The next three did, so I guess two runs is about right. I don’t know if the Twins will score three in nine innings.

Disagree. Even with Arraez’ own leg miseries, he improved greatly on defense last year (positive numbers at BBRef). I know he’s not particularly fast, but he is a competent fielder at second base. His lead off bat with high OBP is one thing the club has in short supply. Polanco is a good offensive player and should become a competent defender at second. I don’t think he’ll have a full season to rival the first half of 2019. There isn’t room for both players at second base. I think one could go and I’d prefer to keep Arraez.

What about Polanco? I know he has time on his contract, but if he's a second baseman where will Arraez play? In terms of value to the Minnesota Twins, I think Arraez is more vital, but I don't think it suits him short-term or long-term to try to play multiple positions. Polanco could fetch quite a bit especially if he continues to hit. I have thought since the club headed north that the position player balance was messed up--too many left-handed hitting corner OFs and no true utility infielder for starters and two right handed hitting catchers who both seemed to need more playing time than they were getting.

Yeah, I hope the pillars produce, but if the struggle goes on much longer it may be only so that their trade value can increase. Kepler, Polanco and Garver all have someone with high upside or proven value (Larnach/Kirilloff, Arraez and Jeffers respectively) who could replace them if they were traded. All three guys are under team control for multiple years and Garver is the oldest (30), so I think rather than just trading expiring contracts, the Twins could look at moving any one (or all three) of these guys.

The Twins conclude their series against the Chicago White Sox with a day game today. The forecast is for sunny skies and 61 degrees so they likely won't be saved by a rainout. Scheduled starters are Michael Pineda versus ex-Twin Lance Lynn. In what appears to be a star-crossed season for the Twins, I have a couple of observations. First, they have been pretty luckless--it seems that more bloopers are falling in for the opponents, more wall-scaping homers have been hit against them and more balls falling just out of reach of Twins defenders. The basketball term of winning 50-50 loose balls comes to mind and the Twins aren't winning their share. Secondly, the Twins have been terrible in some crucial facets of the game (and it isn't bad luck) advancing runners, hitting in scoring position, closing games and even making a routine play on a ground ball. In golf parlance, they've missed a lot of three-foot putts. Combine that with key injuries and it looks bad for Rocco's crew. What to do? Well, I have no financial stake in the Twins, but I've been an avid follower of the club since Calvin moved the original Senators to Bloomington. There probably will be plenty of time to discuss trades releases, maybe an extension or two, and promotions of minor leaguers. I actually believe the front office is pretty sharp and will make some shrewd moves if they continue to struggle this year. In order to maintain what is left of my sanity, I have pursued my favorite athletic endeavor--golf. I'm not a good golfer by any means but I am an avid golfer for sure. I have played over 40 rounds already and I live in Minnesota. Many of the days have been cold, a few were wet and most were windy, but if the courses are open I'll play. What I have determined is that all sports are "a game of inches", missing the sweet spot of a club is not unlike missing the barrel of a baseball bat, misreading the line for a putt can be as devastating as missing the target on a pitch. Mental mistakes in golf cost strokes, in baseball they cost runs. I also appreciate that I can play and compete in a sport well into my third quarter-century on this planet (yeah I'm really old). Enjoy the game today. Something memorable might happen and even if the game is forgettable there's always the game thread for entertainment. Speaking of game threads, there still are openings to write introductions this month for the following game dates: 5/15, 5/20, 5/23, 5/28 and 5/29. If you want to take a shot at doing an introduction (or more than one) message me and we can work out a date. Lineups: Twins (12-22) Arraez 2b Donaldson 3b Polanco ss Cruz dh Larnach lf Garver c Kepler cf Astudillo 1b Garlick rf Pineda (p) 2-1 2.43 ERA Chicago (21-13) Anderson ss Lamb 1b Moncada 3b Abreu dh Eaton rf Vaughn lf Collins c Garcia 2b Hamilton cf Lynn (p) 3-1 1.52 ERA

Starting to look like a little role reversal.

Big at-bat for the rook.

Larnach says thankyouverymuch.

Jorge got ahold of one!