stringer bell

Got to take advantage with RISP.

But Doc, Thielbar may be younger, but he does not throw as hard as Duensing. Duensing tops out at 92-93, while I haven't seen a Thielbar pitch exceed 90.

Brian Duensing has been with the Twins a long time. He served in every role on the pitching staff, except closer. His production has ranged from so-so. For the last couple of years, Duensing has been an adequate middle reliever. He wasn't particularly tough of left handed hitters, but managed to get get enough hitters out so that his ERA looked decent. This year, Duensing returned in the same role and after a couple outings of early success and his first disabling injury, Brian has been flat-out bad. Counting the runs scored against him today, Duensing has allowed five runs in his last 3.2 innings, but much worse, he has allowed nine hits, walked four and hit a batter in those 3.2 innings. That would mean Duensing retired 11 hitters, while allowing 14 to reach. That is bad, really bad. I like Brian Duensing and respect what he has done, but it could be that the sand is out of the hourglass. He certainly can't be trusted in close games.

I was delighted when Eddie Rosario was recalled from Rochester despite only average numbers at AAA. Much like Danny Santana, I saw a free swinging young player that just might find his stride as he ascended to the majors. Rosario had a good few weeks in the AFL this winter and looked good (not great) in spring training. As we all know, Rosario's major league career began with a bang. He homered on the first pitch he saw. However, it is getting to the point that making contact is a real challenge. Currently, Rosario has 10 strikeouts in 27 PAs and so far he hasn't accepted a base on balls. In addition, Eddie has already been charged with two errors in the field and had another ball hit off his glove for a triple. Much speculation has gone on about what happens when Arcia returns from the disabled list. It seems pretty clear to me that Eddie could use some more time in the minors. I think he's actually close, but he's not read to contribute to the Twins.

Well, if he has a couple more innings like the first, Mike Pelfrey might be 3-1 with a 6 ERA.

Actually, the Twins have a half game lead after play today. They have held the lead for about a week.

Just caught up with the thread--good as usual. Molitor did everything he could to win this game (that is he managed it like a playoff game). The bully did a great job, particularly Boyer and Tonkin. Pelfry needs to give them innings tomorrow.

IMHO, the Robinson thing buys the Twins this week to decide on what to do. Schafer has to be the favorite to be taken off the 25-man either by DFA or disabled list. Regarding Plouffe's baby, "Winston James" for middle names? We have a couple regulars, one posting as Winston Smith (IIRC) and another that posts as "James". Coincidence? I think not.

I have written more about the pluses and minuses of Aaron Hicks (mostly the minuses) in the past six months than any other player. I wrote that he didn't deserve to be considered the incumbent based on his major league work. I think I was absolutely right. I've also written that Jordan Schafer did more in his short stay with the Twins in 2014 than Hicks did in his two years with the Twins. I think it was good and right for Hicks to go to AAA and earn a promotion and the numbers say that he did just that. Best wishes to him on his return to the big leagues. I hope he continues to "earn it". As far as Schafer goes, he was a good story last year. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to continue his success from last year to this year. He has hit an empty .217. I have read the reports that he hasn't been 100% healthy and I actually believe them, but his chances of getting even a platoon role with the Twins or somewhere else whould be close to zero. I expect that the Twins will disable Schafer and then send him to AAA for rehab for the maximum amount of time, just in case they will need Schafer. The outfield is unsettled, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The guy with the most defined role going forward--Shane Robinson.

Since Steve quoted my post about not having the bat to be a regular corner outfielder, I'd like to remind everyone that I never used the word "power" . I see Hicks as someone that will always hit 8-9 in the order and could provide plus OBP, but he's got to hit more than .225. I don't think that's enough to be a regular in left or right, especially if he continues to struggle against RH pitching. If we're considering Hicks as a center fielder, the bar is much lower for offensive production to be a valuable piece. Since I continue to be a "Buxton Believer", I don't see much future for Aaron Hicks with the Twins. Calling him up and having him produce could improve his trade value. I really haven't closed the door on him being a better hitter, but something about "fool me once" "fool me twice" comes to mind.

Yes, there is a reason to move Hicks up soon. That reason is Byron Buxton. Further, I don't ever see Hicks as a starting corner outfielder. I can't see him hitting enough ever to have his bat play in left or center. Finally, as long as Target Field has more ground to cover in left, the Twins should put the least mobile outfielder in right field. In the scenarios above, that guy is Oswaldo Arcia.

I have been critical of Hicks and for two straight springs I said "send him to AAA". This year the Twins did as I suggested. Hicks has done everything asked of him in Rochester. My only concern is that it has only been a little over a month. In Schafer's defense, he hasn't been 100% healthy, but his contribution has been minute. Unless there is something we don't know about, it is time to give Hicks his third and final chance.

Wish Mrs. Ashbury a Happy Mother's Day for me.

Bremer made a comment yesterday about Schafer not being 100%. I wonder if when Arcia is ready if they might not disable Schafer and let him heal. That would give them a chance to audition Rosario a bit in center and if he's not up to it, then go with Hicks. Schafer has both a toe and knee injury and it deprives him of his biggest asset. In some respects, it isn't fair for him to keep going out there, but on the other hand, if he were to be disabled, I don't think there would be a job waiting for him, so he probably tells the training staff he is good to go.

Schafer hasn't ever been regarded as a plus center fielder despite great wheels. I think he struggled on D the first two weeks (didn't see many games), but has been solid since. Robinson has been very good. Also, everyone but Torii has picked up assists in the OF. There have been a lot of very good throws from the outfield.

Regarding the schedule: I fully expect both Chicago and Cleveland to be much better at some point in the season. The Twins have played them at just the right time (that is, if they beat the Tribe today). Probably, the same is true for the A's and the M's. It seemed to me that the Twins, with the exception of the time they swept Chicago last year, never got lucky with playing teams during a lull. Some of that, of course, is if you are a bad team you can bring another team out of a funk. My rosy predictions for this year have included the belief that the Twins were due for a large dose of good fortune after enduring four years where basically the only luck they had was bad luck.

Great job Chi-Town! BTW, which Chicago hockey player is it that graces your avatar?

Molitor said on his radio show that he made two lineups, one with Plouffe, one without. He's apparently not yet on the ground in Cleveland. I hope that this lineup is correct!

Thompson has been awesome. After seeing Duensing and Thielbar struggle to get anyone out, it has been refreshing to see a guy come in and get 3-6 outs. I don't think the ERA should be as high as it is, I can recall a couple instances when he left a runner on first with two out and the reliever (probably Boyer) allowed Thompson's guy to score.

Hope you are out on the golf course soon, Halsey!

The Twins started playing better baseball sometime during their previous road trip. They lost two of three to a good KC club and then were shut out 2-0 by King Felix. I believe it was after Hernandez blanked the Twins that Molitor made some lineup changes. Hunter had been moved to #2 which freed Dozier to hit cleanup. BD looked lost there, Santana had drawn zero walks and was hovering near the Mendoza line and Trevor Plouffe was, at the time, easily the hottest hitter on the team. Let's look at those moves, shall we? Hunter: Torii was moved to second in the order after about a week at cleanup. His bat warmed immediately, but in the past week or so, he has been on fire. Overall as the #2 hitter, Torii has posted a .379/.584/.963 slash line in almost 100 plate appearances. Santana: After having an outstanding run as the Twins' leadoff guy in 2014, Danny was having a hard time getting it going this year. Santana has posted only a .235 OBP (and batting average) in the #1 slot in the lineup. He has slumped a bit, as of late, but still has posted an improved .333/.429/.762 in the #9 hole. Plouffe: Trevor was the fourth guy to log multiple games as the cleanup hitter. The Twins started with Hunter, tried Vargas for a couple games and moved on to Dozier, before elevating Dozier to lead off and moving Plouffe to #4. As I noted earlier, Plouffe was the hottest hitter on the club when the move was made. As the cleanup guy, he has done just fine--slashing .367/.462/.829. Since being moved to the cleanup spot, Plouffe has been very consistent, reaching base in every game and slamming three homers accumulating 14 RBI. Dozier: Brian did well as the Twins' lead off guy last year, and was slotted there after being displaced by Hunter at #2 and then struggling as the cleanup hitter for about a week. Some have thought he isn't a very good fit as a lead off guy. I think he is excellent in that role. Dozier hasn't hit for a big average, but he gets on base. When he does reach, Dozier is the club's best base runner. Dozier also sees more pitches than any other player on the team. He does strike out a lot, but also draws a lot of walks. Dozier's slash line in the #1 hole: .360/.538/.898. I would imagine that improvement was due anyway, but it seems that Molitor made sound lineup changes at the right time and put the right people in the proper spots, at least for now. Until the offense cools, I would imagine that the four guys listed will stay in the spots where they have been productive.

Plouffe recently said his grandfather died. I thought he and his bride were from California, so I'm thinking something about his recently deceased grandfather.

C'mon Perk!

Not much LH relief pitching on the horizon. One sneaky prospect would be Mason Melotakis, but he had Tommy John surgery and will be out all of 2015.

It was a good at-bat by Moss, but still Duensing has to get that guy. Now, will they tie or go ahead? (reverse jinx).