stringer bell

Missed that extra point on the second touchdown.

10-0. How's that Pythag doin'?

Stick a fork in him, he's done.

BTW, great job on both yesterday's and today's game threads, Always 33.

Nice job Gibson!

Better than Colabello's homer in Tampa?7

Keep him!

Who gets more at-bats, Bernier or Rosario. If it is Bernier, then something is really wrong.

Super 2 is about money. the Twins have enough money to sign a couple of #3 starters for eight figures per year. They can afford to pay Buxton extra as a Super 2. I say that if he stays where he is or his numbers get better by Memorial Day, he is a Minnesota Twin by June 1.

Molitor mentioned more than once that he liked the way Rosario hung in against LH pitching. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Eddie R in left field today or tomorrow, maybe even both.

As much as I was in favor of the 23-year old Eddie Rosario being promoted, I am disappointed in hearing that Bernier was added to the 40-man roster and promoted. Eduardo Nuñez has an oblique issue and it wasn't improving so he went to the DL. This moves adds a light-hitting guy with almost no power and little speed to the bench. He's 34, a baseball lifer, who has gotten a few at-bats for the Twins plus a cup of coffee with the Rockies. Don't know if it is ish or ick, but either way I don't like it.

27 games is one sixth of the season. A team can't win a championship in 27 games and seldom will lose one (except maybe Milwaukee this year) in such a short span of time. I'm satisfied with the Twins' record, but not satisfied with many individuals. Last night, I was going to summarize this first section of games, and after an exciting and fortunate 8-7 win, I was going to speculate that maybe the tide had turned. Today's loss sours my mood enough to not make that claim. Today's game was a chance to steal a win when the hitters were totally handcuffed by the opponents' starter. It didn't happen. Also, a perfectly good start was diminished because a relief pitcher couldn't keep a run from scoring when taking over with two out and a runner on first. Finally, the aging veteran could make contact to drive in the tying run with one out and the tying run on third, followed by the top hitter on the team failing to get a hit with the tying run in scoring position. Here are some observations on the 2015 Twins: 1) After a slow start, the offense has been pretty good. Most of the slow starters have at least righted their batting averages. The power hasn't been there--on target for just 100 homers. Of late, the homers have come with runners on base--several three-run homers and a Plouffe grand slam, Most hitters have not matched their career norm. However, going into today's game, all the players were over .200 and the guys with the lowest averages had been hitting well of late. 2) Putting together pitching and defense, the Twins are just about exactly in the middle for run prevention. Given the notes that the Twins FIP is lowest in the league, that may be hard to sustain. I don't think FIP will ever be kind to a staff that strikes out the fewest in the league. 3) A big reason for optimism is that there would appear to be real help on the farm. Aaron Hicks is hitting very well at Rochester, while Byron Buxton has been white-hot for the last ten days. Several pitchers have thrived, as well. 4) The Twins, for the first time since 2010, have played better at home. They have a nice 10-5 mark at Target Field, while only going 4-8 on the road. Run scoring reflects a .500 team, as of today outscored by 1 run through the 27 games. 5) I expect the team to transition by mid-season. Some players will be disabled and a couple of guys will most likely be discarded. I like what I've seen from May and Gibson and Aaron Thompson has been a revelation. The bench guys have performed well when given a chance.

Second time through the order. Here we go!

Every prospect is not like every other prospect. I think the handling of Hicks is trying to undo what has been done. Is it the right move? I think so, but I don't know for sure. I like what Rosario brings to the table and think that he will hit and field well enough to be a regular corner outfielder. I don't believe Hicks will ever hit that well. Because of those opinions, I think this is the right move, especially given that it is likely that if Rosario struggles, he will be back in Rochester before Memorial Day. Hicks is getting squeezed, no doubt. The Twins have their top prospect who plays the same position raking behind him, while in front of him a utility guy is handling platoon duty in center quite well. Even the left handed half of the platoon is showing some signs of life.

Very interesting piece. A catcher call-up would have meant an expanded role for Herrmann. I'd rather see Rosario. Hope he gets three hits tomorrow.

Jordan Schafer had his second three-hit game of the season today, getting his batting average above .200 for the first time since the first week of the season. He also made a fine catch for the third out of the eighth inning and drew a walk. It was probably the game in which he had the most (positive) impact for the entire season. Schafer has been the whipping boy for many of us. His batting average got very low (.125?), he demonstrated that good speed doesn't equal good range in center field and lastly, he hasn't been able to be a threat on the bases. Schafer was caught stealing for the third time in three attempts today. Several days ago, Schafer beat out a bunt single, but had to be removed from the game due to a knee injury. A day or two after the injury he pronounced himself ready to play and has started against right handed pitchers since. Schafer also revealed that he has been dealing with a toe injury since the first week of the season. This information brings several questions to mind. Have the injuries, especially the toe injury cost him speed both in the field and on the bases? If his situation were different, would he have gone on the disabled list? Did the Twins' staff know of the toe injury from the time it happened? Schafer is a 28-year old outfielder picked up by the Twins when he was designated for assignment by the Atlanta Braves. His resumé includes disappointing hitting, less than stellar fielding, drug problems and an elite ability to steal bases. Schafer performed very well for the Twins after he was acquired. He faded in September after experiencing a shoulder injury. Schafer claimed the left handed hitting half of a center field platoon with adequate play this spring. It wouldn't be an understatement to say that Schafer's hold on his role in center field is tenuous. Further complicating Schafer's prospects is three potential replacements playing in the upper minors. Just-promoted Eddie Rosario has played all three outfield positions, although he will probably play mostly left field for the Twins. Byron Buxton was Player of the Week in Chattanooga and is one of the top five prospects in all of baseball and 2013-14 Opening Day starter Aaron Hicks is doing quite well in Rochester. Schafer knows that the window that is open to allow him to start in center will close soon and if he doesn't succeed now, he might never get another chance. I think the pressure supplied by the depth chart could cause many players to underachieve and perhaps that is what has happened to him. It would also mean that if he suffered a nick,he might never get the opportunity be a starting player again. I think he may have kept his injury quiet and tried to keep playing when it might have been better to heal up and rest. I doubt that Jordan Schafer will be a Minnesota Twin beyond this year. I wish him well because he is on the team I support, but also because he's a guy trying to make good on probably his last chance. I hope he succeeds and can help his present team.

It got a little too exciting! It does make the victory sweeter.

Schafer with a pretty nice game. I will have more to say after the game.

Would the OP like to withdraw this thread. 6-7 w/ a walk, 2 2B and a 3B. All of a sudden he looks pretty good. That is SSS for you.

Things are normalizing. Both Vargas and Schafer have climbed above the Mendoza Line. Escobar is next.

Robinson stayed in center when Schafer took Arcia's place yesterday. The first game after Schafer's knee injury, he was slated to start in left with Robinson in center (Schafer later scratched).

Rosario promoted. Hicks stays in Rochester. The SSS numbers say this is wrong. However, I do believe a lot more of what I've seen of Hicks as a major leaguer--weak contact from both sides. Eddie gets a shot to see what he can do. I wish him well. I think that this event illustrates that in spite of what has been written at TD, Hicks has forfeited any inside track or favored status because of his experience in the majors. If Hicks continues to hit, he can certainly open the door and get back to Minnesota.

This is the decision I wanted, but I didn't think would come. I think Rosario will be pretty good hitting toward the bottom of the order. He will be an improvement in the field over anyone but Shane Robinson. If he hits, he moves to center when Arcia returns (I think).

The discussion here about recalling Buxton is actually about three different factors: 1) "Burning an option". Buxton is currently not on the 40-man. If he were recalled and then sent to the minors, it would be one of his option years. I doubt this would even be a thought at this time. I believe the thought is that Buxton will be promoted when he is ready and when he gets here, he will be the Twins center fielder for 6+ years at least. 2) "A year of control". Nope. We've already passed the threshold for any player coming up from the minors getting a full year of service. Kris Bryant was recalled after that deadline so that the Cubs could get almost seven full seasons out of him before he could be eligible to be a free agent. 3) Year of cost control. Yes, if Buxton were recalled before the All-Star break, it is possible that he would be eligible to be a "Super 2" and making him arbitration eligible after less than three full seasons. This would make every contract he signs with the Twins more expensive. It wouldn't effect how long Buxton was h If a prospect with this pedigree is ready, he should be recalled. After seeing Buxton in the spring and watching his number in Chattanooga, I thought he wouldn't be ready 'til September at the earliest. His numbers have improved dramatically and maybe the rust is off. I hope so.

Your reminders about Escobar's futility haven't yet struck fertile ground.