stringer bell

I'm a big fan of Dozier, and thought his value to the team was pretty high. This year he hasn't been very good, let's face it. However, the last two years he was an elite player playing in the middle infield. I have said before that I thought he was the team MVP for four years running. He was durable and developed into a power hitter despite less than optimum raw power. He was a good example to other players and never got in any kind of trouble. Replacing Brian Dozier won't be easy. What I've said since his breakout is that his career will be determined by his performance in his 30s. Will he be a Jeff Kent, who flourished until he was almost 40 or will he be Dan Uggla, who hit a wall right around 30 after being an all-time slugging second baseman. Most likely, he'll be something in between. I think there will be times the team and its management realizes that trading Dozier is a huge loss, but it does give someone else a chance and maybe that guy will be a great player, too.

Good morning and welcome to your Twins Game Thread for Sunday. It is the series and season finale, with the Twins currently 3-3 against the Red Sox. They are down 2-1 in the series, hoping to come out of Fenway with a split. Last night's game got away from the Twins after they had gotten a 4-1 lead going into the bottom of the fourth. Too many balls caromed off the high walls in center and left and Mookie Betts and JD Martinez did what they have been doing regularly. We are now 53 hours away from the trade deadline. Still remaining on the club are Brian Dozier, Lance Lynn, Logan Morrison, Zach Duke, and Fernando Rodney--all guys with some value and all potential free agents after this season. There have been rumors about a deal for Kyle Gibson, who would (IMHO) command the most return. On the field, Miguel Sano returned and had another tough day at the plate (0-4 with 3 Ks), but he does look better at third base. Trying to get Miggy back to where he was the first half of 2017 has to be one of the Twins biggest priorities the rest of the way. Lineups: Twins 48-55 Mauer DH (L) Rosario LF (L) Polanco SS (S) Dozier 2B. ® Morrison 1B (L) Sano 3B ® Grossman RF (S) Cave CF (L) Wilson C ® Jose Berrios RHP Red Sox 73-33 Betts RF ® Benintendi LF (L) Martinez DH ® Pearce 1B ® Bradley Jr. CF (L) Nunez 2B ® Swihart 3B (S) Holt SS (L) Leon C (S) Eovaldi RHP

Carew suffered a severe knee injury turning a double play in 1970. It wasn't until 1976 that Rodney became a first baseman full time. While he gained back his running speed after the injury, it was said that he wasn't the same making the double play pivot after the injury.

Another position change that happened for the Twins was Carew from second to first, although I don't think he played second at all after he moved to first. In the era of large bullpens and small benches, I have thought the optimum situation would be to have four players available to play three spots, grouped something like this: Group one--catcher, first base, DH. Group 2--Second, short, third and Group 3--Left field, center field and right field. With the right mixture of versatility and handedness for hitting, all of the position players could be at least partially platooned, get adequate rest and injuries could be covered. A thirteenth position play could be a play everywhere guy who could catch like Austadillo or perhaps Chris Herrman.

I was going to mention Cuddyer, as well. His ability to move around helped, although he wasn’t a Gold Glover anywhere. Mr. Twin, Harmon Killebrew moved off first base when Vic Power was acquired. He played left field at least one year and played third frequently at least for a few years.

Typo! I’ll fix it.

Hello again! 24 hours after the last game thread was posted, the Twins have traded two players for prospects, leaving no doubt that they are sellers. Yesterday's events on the field featured aging veterans Fernando Rodney and Matt Belisle giving up the tying and game-winning home runs respectively. Tonight, the Twins face Rick Porcello, whom they handled quite well when he was a Detroit Tiger, but who has been one of the winningest pitchers in baseball since being traded to Boston. The Twins counter with Jake Odorizzi, who often labors, but who usually keeps the team in the game. Odorizzi averages just five innings per start, so the bullpen will be tested. Random thoughts on a beautiful midsummer afternoon: Most teams play on Saturday night, which makes sense, but it used to be fun to watch Saturday afternoon games back in the day. Eddie Rosario is entertaining! Great at-bat and then an outstanding defensive play at third base! I had an opportunity several years ago to go to Fenway, to watch the Red Sox play the Dodgers, but instead went on a Boston city tour. I will regret that decision until i get to see a game there. It will be interesting to see how Sano performs, both at the plate and in the field, after his demotion to the minor leagues, and return yesterday. Boston looks like it has the goods to win it all--hitting, defense, pitching, speed and power. The outfield of Betintendi, Bradley Jr., and Betts looks like they could be special for a long time. Lineups: Minnesota 48-54 Mauer (L) 1B Rosario (L) LF Polanco (S) SS Dozier ® 2B Morrison (L) DH Sano ® 3B Grossman (S) RF Garver ® C Cave (L) CF Odorizzi (RHP) Boston 72-33 Betts ® RF Benintendi (L) LF Martinez ® DH Moreland (L) 1B Bogaerts ® SS Devers (L) 3B Nunez ® 2B Leon (S) C Bradley Jr. (L) CF Porcello (RHP) Enjoy the game!

I wrote a Game Thread opener that had nothing to do with today’s game and very little to do with this year. Then the Twins won four games in a row and the intrigue about buying and selling heightened, as well as some great performances to talk about—Garver with four hits Wednesday and the gamer last night, Gibson with a great performance against the best team in baseball so far this year—and I’m reeled in to discussing the balance of the series versus the Rose Hose. So, today Chris Sale faces Lance Lynn. Sale has been dominant of late, and Lynn has been a disappointment, if not and out-and-out dud. However, the Twins have played the Red Sox very well and done a respectable job against All-Star pitchers and former Cy Young winners. No lineups yet, and I won’t be able to post them, so if someone could post them as soon as they are announced, it would be appreciated. Five topics (sorry, I’m not RB, so no humor): 1) Joe Mauer, Hall of Famer? If the Hall is good with Jack Morris and Allan Trammell, I think Joe eventually has a shot. I’d like to see him rise up and win another batting championship to close the deal, but he’s got a good resume already. Joe has been swinging well lately. I don’t know if he’ll get to .300 again this year, but he’s been one of the Twins better hitters. 2) 311-310. I’m not certain on the exact numbers, but Probus mentioned this on the radio broadcast last night. The Twins and Sox had played over 600 games in their histories and were dead even before last night. Hard to believe—like balancing a pea on the edge of a knife. 3) Molitor—There’s been some rumbling about last year’s Manager of the Year. I tend to believe most managers are good baseball men, who do well enough with the material they have, and that is the case with the Twins’ skipper. Molitor has two or three guys that can’t seem to get through even six innings putting pressure on the bullpen, and he has a bullpen that has been inconsistent. I can’t blame him for that. I question the use of veterans such as Belisle and Bobby Wilson, but most managers have a guy or two like that. 4) Buxton and Sano. For those of us, who had those two guys in the Hall of Fame, or at least perennial All-Stars, oops! Will they return this year or will the Twins get another service year from each? Two separate cases, but both guys seem a long way from their good half seasons last year. 5) Buy, sell or stand pat? Can this squad win 40 of the last 61 games? Can they catch Cleveland? TD has had this conversation for weeks. I think Cleveland is more perilous than last year, but it is the Twins only option to play post-season baseball and seven games is a lot to make up. Sit back and enjoy the game at Fenway. I haven’t forgiven myself for going on a Boston city tour instead of taking in a game there several years ago.

In essence, Clinton lost by 70,000 votes in three midwest states. She wins those states, she wins the election. In comparing turnout there, it was uninspired liberals and African-Americans plus a fair amount of voter suppression, particularly in Wisconsin. Democratic voters are not as reliable as Republicans, but I believe they are more motivated than I’ve seen in decades. I think they’ll narrowly control the House, but the key is to gain or take over governorships, state legislatures and other partisan offices.

I was at the game. Great game to watch, but not some kind of masterpiece. Probably the right call to pass both Mauer and Rosario, but Dozier had to have some extra incentive at that point. As far as the Cave play, his foot went across the plate before he was tagged, but the replays didn’t show clearly when any part of his foot touched the plate.

1) Where are you from? I grew up in a really small town (Minnesota Lake), went to college in Marshall, MN and settled in the Rochester area. I've lived in Rochester, Goodhue, and Zumbrota. 2) Age Range? 64. In the midst of my last year of work. 3) What brought you to Twins Daily? BYTO, and the crazy cast of characters there, most of whom came along when Twins Daily was formed. 4) Highest level of baseball/softball played? High school baseball--I wasn't very good. I played softball into my 40s. 5) Favorite Twins player, favorite underappreciated Twins player and current favorite. My all-time favorite is Michael Cuddyer. Favorite underappreciated Twin is Greg Gagne and my current favorite is Brian Dozier. 6) Favorite non-Twins site/authors. For baseball--baseball-reference.com, for other interests--politicalwire.com. 7) Favorite Twitter follows. None, I don't do Twitter. 8) Other interests outside of baseball. I love to golf, even though I am a 20-handicapper. I follow other sports, but not nearly as closely as I follow the Twins. I am kind of a political junkie and enjoy music. With retirement looming, I hope to travel a lot more in the coming years. 9) Favorite part of Twins Daily. Whenever I see a great conversation, sometimes in the game threads, sometimes in other sections, I think "wow, there's a lot of smart knowledgeable people on this site!" A lot of good stuff. 10) Tell us what we can do better. Every thought I have for improvement has the potential for undesired consequences. 11) Have you been to any of the Twins Daily "events"? Yes, and enjoyed myself.

Dozier has been the Twins' best player for the last four years. He hit over 40 homers in 2016 and has led the team in homers for the last four years. No other Twins has done that since Killebrew. This year he hasn't been the team's best player, not even close. But he does have a history of having big second halves, and did so in both '16 and '17. He also had a poor second half in 2015, so maybe all we can expect is one torrid half out of two. I believe potential suitors will look at more than this year's poor numbers and his close and late stats. Dozier has proven to be durable and productive and trading for him for August and September and perhaps October could and should make a lot of sense for a contender needing a second baseman. I would think that someone would see him as the piece that puts them over the top. I do agree with Jorgen that most players close and late numbers in this era will be a far cry from their overall numbers. If you're facing the closer and setup guy, it's a lot tougher than hitting against the last guy or two in the 'pen.

I said awhile ago that it would take overturning Roe v Wade to wake progressive/liberals up. I believe it will happen sooner than I feared. The argument against public unions revolved around the First Amendment , which Justice Kagan noted had become a spear. I will wait patiently for the conservative justices to protect minority rights on the basis of Free Speech.

From media reports, it is nearly impossible to be granted asylum and (at least from Latin America) equally difficult to legally emigrate to the USA. In actuality no one wants “open borders” and there needs to be an expanded number allowed in legally. The other side of the coin is what to do with the undocumented already in the country. There is wide approval for “dreamers” to stay in the country indefinitely. Adult illegals? No consensus. The majority party can’t come up with any policy to address these issues, with a significant portion of the party opposed to any softening of immigration policy. And there’s the wall.

At various points, all five in the rotation have looked like they belonged near the top of this rotation. Romero hasn't been able to go very deep into games. The same is true in the case of Odorizzi. Lynn, Berrios, and Gibson are currently going well. Gibson has been by far the most consistent of the five. Berrios has had several outstanding starts, but a few poor ones. Lynn seems to have found what he had with the Cards.

No, Ian Kinsler is! The Twins couldn’t get him out. SSS, I guess.

Option clock? Littell gets credit for one day of major league service. If it were someone who has already spent time in the majors, they would get one additional day of service. All players in the minor leagues who are on a minor league team and on the 40-man roster have already used their option for this year. Rehabbing players (like May and Santana) haven’t been optioned.

Kate Spade—55 years old. Apparent suicide.

Election note—today is the California primary. Several vulnerable Republican seats could stay Republican because of the “jungle primary”, but statewide it is possible that Republicans could be locked out of both the Senate seat and the governorship.

Reed, Ehire, and Pressly say thanks to Rosario, Dozier and LaMarre for pulling out this game. Also, a nice, but risky play by Wilson on the bunt. Further on Reed, the velo is there, so I think we have to chalk it up to a rough patch and a bit of bad luck. Patience paid off with Rodney, I think, and probably will with veterans like Lynn and Morrison, as well as Reed.

Very versatile and fast. FWIW, a RH bat. Probably a much better fit than LaMarre, especially if he has an option remaining.

Looking at the box score and Buxton’s .167 average. Does anyone know the lowest BA to qualify? That would be 3.1 PAs per scheduled game.

Gibson getting cuffed around in the first? Sounds like 2017. He got the Twins’ AAA rejects out to hold it to 1-0.

On the golf course and in the clubhouse for most of the game. It looks like Lynn was pretty good. 14-2 go/fb is reminiscent of vintage Scott Erickson.

I hope Lynn puts up a good start, but truthfully I expect a high scoring game. Throw strikes big man, or you'll be in Hughes spot.