stringer bell

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.

To be honest, I have only seen a handful of games from each analyst. I think people are either going to love or hate Hunter. He's way out there. Smalley knows what he's talking about, but much like Blyleven he has phrases he repeats "really, really" far too often, making him hard to listen to. "Big end of the bat" grates me almost as much as "uppercut swing". I like Hawkins best, he doesn't demand the spotlight but has good commentary. Also he played with or against a great number of the players he is commenting on (same is true for Torii) and I like that perspective moreso than Bert and Roy who have been retired long enough so that mostly they only know the coaches and managers from playing in their eras. I think I've only listened to Morris once. Again he knows his topic (pitching) but he preaches and plays the curmudgeon (maybe not playing that role, he probably is).

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.

LEN3 also posted that Slegers will start in place of Gee on Wednesday.

There are a lot of Twins who have merited their attention for their play in the last month or so. Polanco, Buxton, Mauer, Rosario, and mighty mite Eduardo Escobar's power come off the top of my head. However, let's consider Brian Dozier in this conversation, too. Since the All-Star break, Dozier is hitting .309, he has an OBP of .401, Slugging of .601 yielding an OPS of 1.002 in over 370 plate appearances. It appears for the entire season Dozier will have his best career OBP (it's sitting at .355 now) plus he should surpass 30 homers and come close to 90 RBI and runs scored. Those are good numbers folks. The other thing that has occurred is that the supposedly loaded position of second base doesn't seem as loaded any more. Dozier's season .838 OPS and 3.5 WAR rank third in the AL and fourth in MLB. The next qualifier in the American League has an OPS of .786, so there is quite a gap between players. I've been particularly impressed by Dozier's OBP improvement. It seems to me his approach is to look for something to drive early in the count, but then work the count and use the whole field. I witnessed a game against the D-Backs where Dozier got to three balls on each at-bat against Grienke, a tough righty. He coaxed two walks, rolled a grounder through the infield and got a slug bunt single down the third base line. Dozier seems to have the confidence to hit when down in the count. Yeah he'll strike out about once a game, but it's not just home run of strike out. He's also gone to the right side of the diamond much more and hit the ball harder to that side than in past years. I've liked that Dozier has been a person who can help win a game with the bat, the glove and with his legs. He's a very good base runner and a couple instances in yesterday's game illustrate that. Dozier made it to third on a single to left by Mauer and then scored on a roller between the pitcher and third that Buxton beat out. Defensively, Dozier is OK. I don't think any part of his defense is lacking enough to move him away from second base. According to BB-Ref, his defensive numbers this year are essentially neutral. Another factor that increases my appreciation for Dozier is his durability. He's getting high counting numbers because he plays every day and he's played at least 147 games every year since 2013. All-in-all, Brian Dozier is a really fine ballplayer who might have the most value for the team he is playing for right now.

Santiago is either already at 60 days disabled or very close. If he is activated someone else will have to taken off the 40-man. The Twins have been optimistic about Meíja's chances to return. Less so for Santiago. I think to expect any of Grossman, Sano or Castro to be sharp after being disabled is wishful thinking.

Joe is my all-time favorite reliever. He had a great run with the Twins and is my pick as the best Twins' closer of all time.

From the Kings: "Hey Little Donna, I still wanna. You said to ring me up when I was in (sure sounded like Toranna, but the lyrics say Toronto).

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.

OK, Garver's guys and girls, you get him behind the plate for his first start as a catcher.

Easy peasy. Let Buck go get it.

The number one thing I'd like to see in the two highest level affiliates is not so much bad weather. Rainouts and the subsequent doubleheaders scramble things. Pitchers will go a week without pitching and then the teams will be playing back-to-back doubleheaders.

I'm pretty sure it will be a Gee Saturday and if Gibson is ineffective, Slegers will replace Gibson on Sunday. Pretty sure the Twins don't want to see Garver in the outfield.

Dozier is my favorite active player. He has transformed himself into a slugger and while he won't hit 40 homers this year, his numbers are really good. He is using all of the field more and currently has a higher OBP than he has had in any season to date. I don't know how long he can sustain his productivity, but every year he seems to improve some part of his game. Extension? Maybe, but not too many years.

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 don't think Melville has options either. My understanding is that he (and Gee too) would have to be DFAed if returned to Rochester.

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.

Now official--Vargas replaces Sanó on the 25-man roster, Melville added as the 26th man and on the 40-man. Really, the bullpen is in pretty good shape. I'd imagine Busenitz would be ready to go today and Pressly only threw 18 pitches on Sunday. Hildenberger, Duffey, Turley, Rogers and Belisle are all rested, with Turley and Duffey available to go multiple innings.

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.

During the broadcast, Bremer was suggesting that the Twins bring up a fresh arm for the Chicago series, perhaps optioning Pressly again. They could recall Boshers (for Sanó) and option Pressly or someone else for Vargas, getting around the ten-day rule. Boshers is really the only guy I can think of on the 40-man who figures as a bullpen piece. I suppose they could add someone else from the Rochester bullpen, but that would cost a 40-man spot.

The announcement of Sanó to the DL is on the Twins Web Site. Are they going to bring up a pitcher for the doubleheader (other than Melville)?