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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    Buck had another good game yesterday (2-5, walk, leadoff homer and no Ks). I think he leads Rochester in BA and OPS, although he only has about 50 PAs. A month at AAA would be good for him. Buxton's development is crucial to the Twins in so many ways. If staying in AAA is the way for him to be as good as almost everyone has predicted, so be it.
  2. stringer bell
    Of the four guys DFAed/waived, no one has been claimed as yet. If none are claimed, only Fien would likely leave the organization. The Twins can outright Milone and wait and see if he's needed in the rotation, similar to last year, but with different 40-man issues. If Fien clears (I think he will), he will have the option of going to Rochester or being a free agent. I think he is about 99% certain of being a free agent. I think the team wants Graham and O'Rourke in their organization, but they have used 40-man space to bring up Mastro and Centeno, both of whom don't figure to last until the All-Star break on the big league team.
  3. stringer bell
    Fien, O'Rourke, and Graham are all relief pitchers who have options remaining/ They are being moved off the 40-man. Connecting the dots here and what I see if roster space cleared for the young hard throwers really soon. To me, that is good news. Milone was moved for a good reason--the Twins want one or both of Duffey and Berrios in the major league rotation. That is good news. I don't like seeing Mastroianni in the majors and especially not in a Twins uniform, but he is going to be the fifth outfielder. Santana starts in center, Arcia and Rosario both get time in left and Sano is in right. If Rosario continues to struggle, I believe we'll see Kepler (who BTW isn't tearing up AAA) and he'll play regularly. I suppose if Arcia goes all 2015, Kepler will get his chance, as well. Murphy needed to be sent down. He wasn't receiving that well and he sure wasn't hitting. It is nice that Centeno hits lefty. He had a really good spring training and IIRC, his rep is good as a defensive catcher. Maybe he can make a place for himself as a backup, while Murphy tries to find his mojo. Everyone in the offseason had 23 to 25 guys right on the 25 man team. As usual, players have disappointed and some of them are being replaced. The unsaid message probably is that the team isn't going to contend this year (shock!) and might not next year-that ticks me off, but it is probably reality.
  4. stringer bell
    Roster predictions: Centeno for Murphy, probably Chagois for Fien and Gibson and Santana replacing Graham and Milone. I haven't seen much about Gibson's injury, but he was disabled retroactive to April 22, so he would be eligible to come off the DL on May 7. I also haven't heard much about Perkins, but he's been on the shelf long enough that he'll need a rehab assignment. Edit: It looks like neither Gibson or Perkins is close to being activated. There is a need for another outfielder, I dunno, I guess it could be anybody, but please no Mastro!
  5. stringer bell
    I thought keeping Fien was a mistake. They needed someone who could go multiple innings and it would be a good position for a big arm without refinement to learn how to pitch. I liked Milone and still do. As pointed out above, with the SSS of this year, his record could look much different if he was handled differently and with better bullpen help. He has a low ceiling and the Twins are probably right in trying guys who could be a lot better. Coming into 2016, the Twins were thought to have a decent chance to contend and a very good chance to be relevant. So far, it look really bad for our home nine. In a scenario where the team has a chance, having veterans on the roster like Fien and Milone makes sense. If this is a lost season, then go with the kids and see what you have. Finally, the DFA of Milone and Fien won't cost that much. I am almost certain that someone will claim Milone and his reasonable contract. The Twins would then pay only one-sixth of his contract, less than a million dollars (chump change in mlb). Fien could be outrighted if they choose, but I think it is goodby for Casey. They could have optioned him to Rochester, but they want to use the 40-man spot.
  6. stringer bell
    I would say that the Donald and Hill are equally as likely to be the nominees. Technically, neither have clinched the nomination, but only an indictment or pictures of Trump "in bed with a live man or dead girl" would upend a Trump-Clinton matchup.
  7. stringer bell
    Who's with me? The season turned on the fourth inning reversal of an out call at first base. The Twins will roll from here.
  8. stringer bell
    When Castellanos worked the count full and fouled off Ricky's best breaking ball, I said to my significant other that he was going to hit the ball hard. I was right. I expect Molitor must have felt the same thing, but the die was cast when he kept him in after Upton singled. With two outs, none on and less than 100 pitches, I didn't see anyone warming in the 'pen. Upton singled on the first pitch IIRC, so maybe they didn't have time to get someone ready. I don't bunt Zuke unless I'm going to hit for the #9 guy, but it is old-timey Baseball 101 to play for the tie at home. When sitting with RB yesterday, he said that almost every team in the AL made acquisitions to improve their weaknesses and I think he's right. The Twins had Hunter retire and allowed Pelf, Duensing, and Boyer to leave and added Park and Abad. They didn't address the bully and they still have issues all over the field.
  9. stringer bell
    Nope, too much age and not enough depth. KC wins again, I'll wager. That said, right now the Tigers are really hitting. It looked like some good pitches got turned into hits and they hit a number of long drives that got caught. Nolasco had them at 3 hits with two outs in the sixth (IIRC) and they ended up with 14.
  10. stringer bell
    After today's loss the Twins are 11 below .500. They are close to being out of the race by the All-Star break unless they don't turn it around soon. The problem is ...........everything--pitching (short starts and bullpen), defense including poor fundamentals and the shortstop has not played as well defensively as he had in the past two years. Hitting all around with the exception of Mauer and three guys who started on the bench--Nuñez, Arcia and Santana. The hitting with RISP has been brutal and all but two of their homers have been solos. There's also been some head-scratching strategy and roster-filling. Is it possible they can make this up? Sure. Likely? No.
  11. stringer bell
    I like Dozier, always have. He went from suspect to starter because he was able to pull effectively. He was hitless in the Detroit series after bringing his average to .220 with a nice series against Cleveland. He is striking out much less than he did last year (still quite a bit) and IMHO hitting in tough luck. From May of 2013 to June of 2015, Dozier was a top quartile offensive player, that is over two years. He been bad for just over half a year, and I do believe he was nicked late in the last season. I can get behind hitting Dozier down in the order, but his 2014 was the best leadoff hitting the team has had since Denard Span.
  12. stringer bell
    That third out is elusive for Ricky.
  13. stringer bell
    I am a big Dozier fan, but I thought he needed a day off more than Nuñez.
  14. stringer bell
    Two of the more reviled team members of this decade. Time for the Twins' bats to break out! I'll be a witness in Section 219 today.
  15. stringer bell
    Nice job, No Crying. I am headed to the game today.
  16. stringer bell
    OK, Santana is fast, although not as fast as Buxton. Maybe Buck catches that ball, but even with a dive, I don't think Santana gets leather on it. DanSan can and should get a lot of infield hits--he hits the ball from line to line and with a LH swing, he is extremely quick to first (does anybody have measurements, because I bet he's really close to or faster than Buxton from the RH box). I've seen enough line drives to sustain a high average and the Ks are down (SSS). He does have to be a more patient hitter. I think Santana can be an average CF, which is really a pretty high bar. He has the range and arm to be decent anywhere, but not consistency and focus. I wonder if a super-utility role could keep the focus for him.
  17. stringer bell
    Big kid, big arm, but man.....the times I've seen him pitch, he's been well......not ready at best. Seldom have I heard a Bremer comment so right--his arm slot is all over the place and command seems to be a constant issue. He looks more like Hoey than the Big Unit.
  18. stringer bell
    Reminds me of the Bob Clemente baseball card I had from the early 60s.
  19. stringer bell
    On 81 pitches?
  20. stringer bell
    Two things: I am going to give Dozier a partial pass for last season's second half--he was injured, fatigued and in his first postseason race. Secondly, the repeated story is that Dozier slumps in the second half. Not really true except for 2015. I think he'll be fine in '16.
  21. stringer bell
    I do have a special sense of anticipation for Berrios to make his debut. I met him and spoke a few minutes with him in Cedar Rapids three years ago, I think. Nice young man. I also shook his hand in ST the following year. Anyway, he is the last of the golden group of prospects to make it to Minnesota. I'm sure there will be some early struggles, but the kid has a lot going for him. Best of luck to JO!
  22. stringer bell
    While the .220 batting average is nothing to write home about, Dozier is showing some life, and yes those hits to the right of second help. I believe he was at .167 at some point in the Nats series, and now BD stands at .220, with an OPS of .695. In addition, lately he has had some big hits with runners on and leads the Twins in both runs scored and driven in.
  23. stringer bell
    If Santana can't go, for his next start, then Duffey can stay and Polanco can return for him. I suppose the Twins could disable Duffey if he has more than a bit of soreness. Santana hasn't pitched since last Tuesday, so he would only have to miss one more start. I'd do that unless he's absolutely 100%. I still think the 40th roster spot should go to Juan Centeno, who has hit OK for Rochester and is a LH hitter. He should replace Murphy on the active roster.
  24. stringer bell
    Centano for Murphy? Or maybe they reach down to AA. At least whatshisname is a good receiver.
  25. stringer bell
    Yes, things are way worse than almost anyone predicted. Many, many disappointments. Few rays of hope. There's more talent than any time since they were a playoff team and most of it is young, but they are mismatched all over the place.
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