stringer bell

Yeah, they're the last two guys in the BP. Maybe two or three times a month they'll pitch in high leverage and maybe they'll succeed half the time. I'd rather have the aforementioned Scott Blewett than Alcala despite his outing today and I think one of the St. Paul relievers (perhaps Lovelady) should and maybe will take Fundy's spot.

For those who are saying the Twins should never lose to the A's, the White Sox split a series with the mighty Tigers. Every team is going to lose 50 games, even if they are clearly superior to their opponents. KC is playing a team with similar talent and they will be playing the rubber game later today. Cleveland has won one of two vs. the Evil Empire and will be playing the third game this evening. I think the divisional race will come down to divisional play. So far, the Twins haven't fared well against anyone except the Pale Hose, but they have plenty of games to change the current deficit with the Tigers and to stay ahead of Cleveland and KC.

It makes zero sense to use the 60-day IL until a 40-man spot is needed. With Lopez’ injury the Twins can add a player without exposing someone to the DFA process.

Thanks for the expert information.

A's starters are all probably better than their numbers, what with the bullpen letting in plenty of inherited runners.

If they use Stewart, then Durán, the front end might be a little depleted for Festa's start tomorrow.

Topa pitched two straight days, so likely out today.

Stew meat for the eighth.

I wish they had a bigger lead and then I would think Zebby would have gotten the sixth. I don't blame Baldelli for trusting his BP more than a rookie starter on the third trip through the order.

Two innings yesterday. I'd imagine he isn't available today.

Louis, throw strikes!

12 weeks would be around September 1. I think that is realistic. I doubt it will be as soon as eight weeks. Get well Pablo.

Ouch. Get well as soon as possible Pablo.

He was talking about McCusker going to Seattle when Buxton was going to be activated. It’s not like the Twins are the only team that does this, but it sometimes looks petty.

If there is one benefit of an opener, it messes with platoons. Wallner and Clemens don’t get starts, but they can come in later.

France has played a surprisingly good first base. Nice play on the first defensive play of the game.

I've liked Larnach since he made his way to the majors. His defense is okay but despite hitting a homer off a lefty last night, he's got pretty severe platoon splits. I've thought with Emma and Jenkins on the rise that one or both of Trevor and Wallner would be moved, but both young guys have been slowed by injury again. Larnach should be getting consistent PAs for someone for the next few years and if the Twins can't count on Rodriguez or Jenkins, he might be getting them with the Twins.

Some differences between Nick Gordon and Brooks Lee--first of all, Lee was a college guy and projections for his skills were much further along and he came into the organization as much more of a finished product than Gordon. Secondly, Lee was viewed to have a superior hit tool, one of the best in the draft.

Lousy at-bat Brooks.

Here's the lefty.

Brooks Lee was drafted by the Twins in 2022 as the eighth pick in the first round of the MLB draft. Most observers thought the Twins did well to get a polished college hitter with their pick. He was thought to be a very good hitter who was a polished defender. Add in that Lee is a switch hitter capable of playing shortstop and it appeared that the Twins hit a home run with their pick. Lee advanced quickly despite injuries and made his debut last year at age 23. After a good first week in the majors, Brooks struggled with the rest of the team in the last quarter of the season, finishing with a .221 average and .585 OPS. Twins watchers suggested that his back injury and first season that ran past Labor Day may have sapped his strength. Maybe so, but the numbers didn't show a picture of an elite hitter or fielder. Most of the metrics show an average-ish hitter with poor leg speed and not much athleticism. 2025 opened with Lee on the IL again to start the season. He's been on the team since he's been activated and he's started almost every day, playing double digit games at second, short and third. In conjunction with Willi Castro, Lee gives the team great versatility and both guys are also switch hitters. Lee's batting average and OPS are improved from last year, but not dramatically so. His OPS+ is a very pedestrian 76, he's hit four homers and has 18 RBI. However, his manager has used him frequently in the middle of the lineup, hitting third eight times and fourth nine times in the 39 games he has started. His usage seems to indicate faith that he will produce good numbers. Given the struggles of three other infielders who have been on the team--Miranda, Julien and Royce Lewis--it seems that Lee will continue to be in the lineup almost every day for the foreseeable future. What I am wondering is what his future will be in the next few years. Will he assume a position and be a regular? Will he stay on the team as a three-position infielder getting plenty of at-bats or will others pass him by where he may or may not play significant time for the Twins. My thoughts are that Lee is better than his numbers, but there's no evidence yet that he is any more than an average player. He is quite polished and makes up for much of his lack of speed and arm strength on defense, enough so that he is a capable defender, particularly at third base. Still, he has to hit better than he's shown or he'll be a wasted first round pick. I can envision Lee assuming Willi Castro's role as a starter at multiple positions. Maybe he can become an everyday starter at second or third, but there isn't evidence that he will ever hit enough to claim a position for himself.

After waiting for Paddack to be healthy and stretched out for three years, he is finally there and he's been head and shoulders more effective than he has been since 2019. Will he regress? Yes, probably, but the stuff has been really good for his last 4-5 starts. I'm more worried that his twice repaired elbow or shoulder won't hold up, but he is providing real value as a healthy member of the rotation.

Technically, Alcalá is not out of options. His service time is at a level where he can reject an optional assignment, so if he consented, he could be sent down. I don’t know if there is a scenario where this could come into play. This also highlights the delicate dance with service time and options which we fans don’t focus on enough. Alcalá accrued considerable service time while on the IL and Ronnie Henriquez had his option years used up at a really young age, affecting the Twins’ ability to move both of them on and off the active roster. Having a bunch of guys without options makes handling the bullpen difffcult. In hindsight I wonder if they would have preferred to keep Blewett and/or McCaughan instead of Alcalá.

Relievers are fungible to the max. It is entirely possible that Alcalá could put up good numbers, but there are several others who are a better bet long-term. Since he can no longer be optioned, he doesn’t offer flexibility on the low-leverage side of the ‘pen. He’s not ever been good enough to move to the front end of the BP. Adiós Jorge.

Two long hitless streaks and indications that he isn't 100% are plenty of justification to take him off the active roster. I think he could and should be put on the Injured List if he can't run close to 100% and most or all of the allotted rehab time should be used once he is ready to get on the field. Many thought of him as a savior, but the guy trying to play right now is not contributing positively to the team. The superior player is in there somewhere and he needs to get right first and foremost.