stringer bell

Not for the next week, Pinto was put on the concussion DL. I suspect he hasn't been 100% for most, if not all, of the Red Wing's season.

In the online PP, it is reported that Josmil Pinto has been placed on the concussion DL for the Rochester Red Wings. This might explain his sluggish hitting.

Instead of comparing Buxton and Hicks, compare Rosario and Hicks. They were at the same level and Hicks' numbers were superior, however Rosario was called first and hit much better in the majors. Why? Perhaps the skills possessed by Rosario more readily translate to success than those of Hicks. I believe Buxton would supply more extra bases than Hicks with any other improvements being negligible, but there is no way to know.

I still can't understand the "need" for 13 pitchers. The Twins have weathered the "bullpen game" on Saturday and since gotten 8, 7+, 6 and 6 innings from their starters. They now have an off-day. In addition, the way they've been hitting, they are probably in for three or four eight inning games from the pitching staff.

And he throws harder. By itself that doesn't make much difference, but if Tonkin can manage to add a league-average slider or change, he can be effective with his fastball and another pitch. Stauffer didn't have that luxury.

Regression everywhere.

I loathe what Republicans have done to elections. All manner of attempts to put their thumbs on the scale--ridiculous Voter ID laws, reduction in voting hours, fewer polling places and overzealous registration procedures. Combine that with aggressive gerrymandering and the money game and Repuublicans have really distorted what I see is the will of the electorate. The behavior of our state's Republican party during the Senate recount in 2008-9 was a low light I won't soon forget.

Ouch.

Way too many pitches.

Tough luck for Gibson compounded by the walk. Two grounders that found the right spot.

Thanks ChiTown. Don't know how it happened. I guess CRArko's comment makes sense now.

I hope not too many people were so impressed by his eight plate appearances. He has been very good at Chattanooga, but that is two levels away from the majors. I think he will hit better than Santana did this year. We shall see.

Third thread in three days--hoo boy! I have to give Brian a lot of credit for being able to provide topics every day. There are some talkers going on with the Twins, so I will bring them up along with my own observation. 1) I just heard that Mauer is hitting second tonight. I have no problem with this except that there really isn't a legit #3 hitter. Molitor is going with Plouffe at #3, not my preference, but I guess shaking it up is a good idea. Joe hit like a #3 hitter for about three weeks IMHO. His slump has been longer, but not as deep as Plouffe's. 2) Polanco is in the lineup, batting ninth. I wasn't in favor of him assuming the shortstop position and I'm still not convinced he is a true shortstop. He is a more of a sure thing as a hitter and I doubt he will be overmatched offensively. 3) Iron man Kurt Suzuki is catching again. I have seen more balls get by Zuke in the past couple weeks than he permitted last year. At least two of May's wild pitches (and maybe all three) should have been blocked IMHO. He isn't doing much offensively either. Of all the positions on the team, I believe upgrading the catcher position is the most troubling. The Twins don't have a prospect at catcher that projects as a satisfactory hitter and a good defender behind the plate. If the Twins stay in the race, I think they should consider trading for a catcher (I have been beating the drum for Jonathan Lucroy). 4) Gibson on the mound. Molitor (I don't call a grown man "Molly") moved Gibson in front of Milone, in part because of his success against the Royals. I came away much impressed with his outing last Friday. He allowed three homers for five runs in the first three innings, then completely shut down the Brew Crew, retiring the last 13 hitters, with only one ball leaving the infield. 5) The Royals. Another thread is pointing out the better talent among the position players and the absolute superiority of the Royals' bullpen. True, oh so true. Bullpens come and go, but KC has depth in the 'pen, so even if somebody flames out, the Royals figure to have probably the best bullpen in the majors. I would like to point out where the Twins have really improved--their starters have the fourth-best ERA in the AL. There have been a lot more innings pitched by the starters, protecting the Twins suspect bullpen. Their numbers are far better than the Royals. BTW, the Twins and Royals have scored approximately the same number of runs, so while KC might have the better position players, it hasn't translated like that on offense. I predicted a Twins win both on Monday and Tuesday. No prediction today. Time for some bats to break loose. Here are the lineups: Kansas City Escobar ss Moustakas 3b Cain cf Hosmer 1b Morales dh Gordon lf Rios rf Perez c Infante 2b Volquez p (4-4 3.26 ERA) Minnesota Dozier 2b Mauer 1b Plouffe 3b Hunter rf Suzuki c Vargas dh Robinson lf Hicks cf Polanco ss Gibson p (4-3 3.00 ERA)

There are problems with #3, #4, and #5 IMHO. Mauer has hit like a #3 hitter for probably three weeks of the first 2+ months. There is some respect for his skills, but no fear. Make a mistake to him and you allow a single. Make a mistake to a great hitter and the scoreboard changes. Plouffe is streaky and currently going poorly. He will snap out of it and maybe he already has. Since some time in May, he hasn't had much protection and that often wears on players.

I'd love to acquire Jonathan Lucroy from the Brewers. Arcia + 1 minor league hitter + 1 minor league pitcher (not top 5 prospects). Buxton should be recalled sometime around July 1. Deal for a LH reliever (maybe taking on the salary will be enough). I am not convinced that Polanco is the answer at short. I think Escobar would be fine, if given the job. Otherwise, the Twins are kind of playing with house money. They weren't supposed to contend and if these tweeks keep them relevant and help them in 2016 as well, it is a win-win.

Achter doesn't have the big fastball, but he's been very effective in AAA. Oliveros has not had an EXTENDED chance ever, and certainly not since his TJ surgery. I loved what Thompson did early this year, but he's been somewhere between bad and dreadful for the last month. He has an option this year, so I think it will be him who is demoted, despite the horror show numbers put up by Duensing and Stauffer. It would be nice to get back to 12 pitchers.

Boyer's not the biggest problem for the Twins. The bullpen is a big problem, though.

Needed to get him in there.

OK, bottom of the order needs to get the rally started.

Three quick outs after the run-scoring single.

Today the Twins play the middle game of a three-game series against the Royals. The teams are in a virtual tie for first place, with the winner tonight assuming a one-game lead. The Twins will start Trevor May, coming off his best game as a major leaguer. The Royals counter with 36-year old journeyman Chris Young, who has pitched effectively for the Royals. He is 4-2 with a 2.56 ERA. Twins fans may compare Young's results with Mike Pelfrey's. Some random musings: the team is in a hitting slump. One guy isn't picking up another, runners are being stranded in scoring position and and extra base hits are coming with no one on. A couple timely hits could make a big difference. Kansas City also has been slumping, but showed enough to get a big win in game one of the series. The back end of the Royals' bullpen is the biggest factor for this series and for the Royals' season. It is hot. I have attended Twins' games in every year they've been in existence. I remember a really hot day game against the Blue Jays at Target Field. The Jays clobbered the Twins and my daughter and I had a whole section in the sunny low third base seats to ourselves. Almost got a foul ball, but a kid from two sections away outran me for the ball. The warmest I have been at a Twins' game though, was in the Metrodome. The first year or two, either they didn't have air conditioning or it didn't work. Two of my co-workers and myself went to a weekday game and it was sweltering inside. The hottest game I attended at the old Met was a twi-night doubleheader against the Indians. The humidity was intense, and then a thunderstorm. The temp dropped about thirty degrees. I went home, but they completed the DH at some ungodly hour. I am trying to remember to space only once after punctuation. It is tough to break old habits. I have the Royals logo as my desktop, it didn't work for Game 1. If it doesn't work for Game 2, I'll try something else to reverse jinx the Twins opponent. Key players for the Twins today--Dozier, Plouffe and Vargas. I predict they get five runs today and I believe May and company will hold KC to three or less. 5-3 Twins. Lineups: Kansas City Royals @ Minnesota Twins, 8:10 P.M. ET Royals SS: Alcides Escobar 3B: Mike Moustakas CF: Lorenzo Cain 1B: Eric Hosmer DH: Kendrys Morales LF: Alex Gordon RF: Alex Rios C: Salvador Perez 2B: Omar Infante SP: Chris Young Twins 2B: Brian Dozier RF: Torii Hunter 1B: Joe Mauer 3B: Trevor Plouffe LF: Eddie Rosario C: Kurt Suzuki DH: Kennys Vargas SS: Eduardo Escobar CF: Aaron Hicks SP: Trevor May

I just looked at a prospect list--it counted the Top 5 as Buxton, Sano, Berrios, Meyer, and Stewart. That would leave some pretty good arms and intriguing hitting prospects available, including Gordon, Kepler, Walker and Polanco. Gonsalves and Hu (starters) and Reed, Burdi and Jones among the relief pitchers. Lucroy is 29 in a week and is under contract for essentially two more years. I would think one starter, one reliever and a bat for Lucroy was more than fair.

I was thinking the same thing.

To paraphrase Yogi--when you play the Royals, it gets late early.

Thompson started strong, but he has been very hittable for awhile. He should be in the demotion discussion along with Stauffer and Duensing.