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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    On the previous road trip, it looked like Lewis was on the way to being good again. He was moving better and getting hits including a homer (and almost a second one) in Milwaukee. All of that seems as far away as the 2023 playoffs. 0-24 is a pretty long snag. What I see is a guy who's unsure that his legs will hold up and when I see him jogging to first base on a double play grounder, I think he should be put back on the IL. If there isn't really an injury, I have to believe the best answer is to send him to the minors. I haven't seen every game, but in what I have seen Lewis has been pretty good in the field, but he's got to hit in order to be a real contributor to the team.
  2. stringer bell
    I've thought it would be nonsense to send Lewis to the minors, but his slump has been epic and not in a good way. Most of his outs have been weak contact although yesterday he hit the ball hard (I didn't see the game). Whatever it takes to right the ship for Royce Lewis should be done and a trip to the minors or back to the IL if the effects of the injury are lingering, should be in play. Bride isn't exciting, but he is competent and right now he's hitting much better than Royce Lewis.
  3. stringer bell
    Ildemaro Vargas, briefly a Twin in 2020, will rejoin the Diamondbacks. Vargas is one of my favorite entries in the Immaculate Grid, due to playing on a lot of teams and his nearly anonymous stay with the Twins. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/05/diamondbacks-to-option-jordan-lawlar-sign-ildemaro-vargas.html On a much sadder note, former Twins pitcher Scott Klingenbeck died at age 54, apparently related to long-term alcohol abuse (or addiction). He was acquired in the Scott Erickson trade and had a pretty forgettable career.
  4. stringer bell
    Yeah, lots of possibilities to cover the infield positions outside of shortstop. Fitzgerald and Lee can cover SS as well as second and third. Keirsey is fast and a good outfielder, but the offense he showed in St. Paul is an illusion (might also be true for McCusker). With all the possibilities in the infield I don’t think Jonah Bride has that much value to the Twins and so losing him is pretty inconsequential IMHO. Having made the case for Bride’s DFA, I feel compelled to say he isn’t a bad ballplayer. He’s a capable defender at first and third and he’s hit decently for the Twins. Finally, the one thing that makes Bride a bad fit is his severe reverse platoon splits—he’s a much better hitter against right handed pitching. He shouldn’t be used as a short-sided platoon player. A final way for Bride to stick around (outside of more injuries) is if the Twins think Lewis needs some Triple A time, in which case Bride would get quite a bit of playing time. Bride, to me, represents high-floor competence with little or no upside. Not a bad player, but a tough one to fit on the current Twins’ roster.
  5. stringer bell
    A comment that aged well.
  6. stringer bell
    I've felt like Paddack has eternally been recovering from injury during his stay with the Twins, resulting in having less stuff. He may well have less stuff than when he broke in with the Padres. I think he still has the pitches to be successful and he has been successful of late because his command is sharp right now. Getting ahead on counts helps in many ways and makes so-so stuff look much better. Paddack has been filling the zone during his good run.
  7. stringer bell
    Yeah, it looks like a spring training game.
  8. stringer bell
    Two hard-hit balls right to the Rays' fielders and a three-pitch strikeout.
  9. stringer bell
    Keirsey for Bader. Any word of an injury?
  10. stringer bell
    Before the Memorial Day games start, the AL Central has the best cumulative record in the American League--11 games over .500--and the best run differential (+54) and if the season ended today, the Central would claim all three Wild Cards. It's way too early to worry about such things, but I have checked BBRef to see what they are saying about playoff chances. Interestingly, the Tigers are given a 99.7% chance of reaching postseason, the Guardians and Royals are at 52.5% and 48.9% respectively and the Twins trail with only a 36.8% chance of being in the playoffs. What gives the Twins less of a chance? I presume two factors that work against them are strength of remaining schedule and their record against the rest of the division. Still, they have the second best run differential and are arguably the hottest team in the American League at this point. The Astros, currently 28-25, are given a 90.1% chance of advancing to October and division leaders Seattle and New York are also thought to make the postseason tournament. From their body of work so far, do you think the Twins can make postseason? Why or why not?
  11. stringer bell
    Routine outs in the top of the ninth.
  12. stringer bell
    Why has Bubic been so good? Better command, enhanced stuff, good fortune? I remember him as pretty hittable and then moved to the bullpen, but he’s been outstanding so far this year.
  13. stringer bell
    FWIW Clemens’ defensive stats at first are good. A snapshot of a game or two (or a play or two) may not be representative of his ability as a defensive first baseman.
  14. stringer bell
    Another tough matchup. Bubic has been outstanding this year. A sweep would be sweet, especially since the club is going on their longest road trip after this.
  15. stringer bell
    I think McCusker will get a start tomorrow, but it may well be his last before he's sent back to the minors. Disagree. Matthews was over 80 pitches and had struggled with over 25 pitches in two innings. I suppose they could have gone batter to batter with Zebby, but he likely would go out with the first guy getting on base. The Royals three best hitters were coming up in the fifth (really the only guys right now who seem like threats) and it would be the third time through the order.
  16. stringer bell
    Guards beat the Tigers in extra innings today. The Twins are only three games back, but tied with Cleveland for second place. I don't know which team I was pulling for in that game. I'm pretty sure I don't want Cleveland to sweep a four game series at Detroit.
  17. stringer bell
    Contrary to popular opinion, I think Rocco values defense and the belief is that Keirsey is one of his best three defensive outfielders, even with Buxton active. Baldelli has consistently pulled Larnach or an infielder (with Castro moving to the infield) to get Keirsey in the game in late innings when the Twins have a lead. Keirsey has also often been used as a pinch runner and allowed to try to steal bases. What I'm saying is Rocco believes his talents are good enough to change games despite his really weak hitting profile. I do predict that McCusker gets a start tomorrow in the series finale. Unless he hits a couple homers or hits four screaming liners, he will probably be sent to St. Paul when Wallner or Buxton return.
  18. stringer bell
    Not exactly Murderers' Row for either lineup, so of course the final score will be 12-10. A lot of guys are due to bust out at some point. I hope Zebby has a better outing the second time around.
  19. stringer bell
    KC is the only team in the AL that has allowed less runs per game than the Twins. They don't have great offensive talent outside of Witt Jr., but they make contact, run the bases well and play good defense. That formula usually makes a team competitive and I think that is what the Royals are. There won't be many easy wins against that club. They'll be in almost every game. However, they just don't have enough firepower right now to take the next step.
  20. stringer bell
    Lee has had a couple weeks where he’s hit well, but overall numbers are subpar. Right now, I’m envisioning him as a three position backup infielder who could step into regular play with any injury to the guys he backs up—sort of a Willi Castro without outfield play. He just hasn’t been good enough to become a full time regular at any one position IMHO.
  21. stringer bell
    Agree. Both Stewart and Topa are over 30 with long injury histories, but also with a history of being effective when able to pitch. Neither guy has been asked often to work multiple innings or exceed 20 pitches and work on a second day. I think their usage has been prudent so far and no one else has been overworked.
  22. stringer bell
    Brent Headrick was recalled by the Yankees earlier this week. He worked a scoreless inning today. For the season he's pitched 7.1 scoreless innings for the Bombers.
  23. stringer bell
    Walkoff homers—I recall the first one at Target Field (Thome). I know Kepler had a couple. I was at a game when Dozier hit one. I don’t remember many other, but I’m sure there are many more. The most famous walk-off homer is Puck in the ‘91 World Series (game 6) and second is Harmon against the Yankees on the day before the All-Star break in ‘65.
  24. stringer bell
    I take full credit for France's game-winning homer tonight!
  25. stringer bell
    France has continued to get some singles this month, but he has exactly two extra-base hits (both doubles) in May. In addition he only has one walk (also three HBPs). His OPS for the month is in the mid .500s and that's not good enough. I know that patience is a virtue, but I think the leash should be getting pretty short for France, at least as an everyday player. For now, I would given Clemens the at-bats against right handed pitching. I do think France could be a pretty good pinch hitter with his ability to use the whole field and make contact.
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