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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    My highlights--the new kids-Santana and Vargas. I enjoyed the progress of Plouffe and Dozyier. The single play or event was probably Parmelee's walk-off homer in extra innings. I should also add Hughes' season. Pretty special.
  2. stringer bell
    Bert continues to downplay how hard Scherzer is throwing. He must have thrown a dozen fastballs 95 or better. Bert says 92-93 up to maybe 94.
  3. stringer bell
    Does anyone know the procedure if the Tigers and Royals tie for first?
  4. stringer bell
    See comment at 5:22.
  5. stringer bell
    Three games to go and it looks like it will be Morneau or Harrison. Morneau leads by less than one point, both have reached the PA threshhold and everyone else is quite a distance back. My under-the-radar guy (Dickerson) won't have enough plate appearances.
  6. stringer bell
    It sounded to me like Hughes and Gardenhire pretty much wrote it off. I also keep going back to his BB/K record. If he came in for a relief appearance and walked a guy is that worth $500,000 to a guy who has enough money to live comfortably the rest of his life?
  7. stringer bell
    Pavano won 17 in 2010.
  8. stringer bell
    Wins mean something, but they don't tell the whole story. Hughes had an excellent season, and Gibson had an erratic season, but demonstrated quite a bit, despite some disturbing numbers. Who was the last player that the Twins signed and developed that won more than 12 games for them? My guess would be Scott Baker, but I'm not sure.
  9. stringer bell
    I agree with almost all of your take, SD. Yes, the Twins need a top flight pitcher and yes they need a Hispanic presence. I think four 90-plus loss seasons is too many, but I can't see either of both Sano and Buxton starting 2015 in the majors. The strib put together quite a nice series of articles. This is a real good response to the articles and should be a great thread to talk about the Twins' immediate future.
  10. stringer bell
    No to just giving him the money. Yes, he had a fine season and set a record for K/BB ratio. He already got a bonus for more than 200 innings. It is unfortunate that rain took the opportunity for him to earn his next bonus. If the Twins would like to contribute to a Hughes charity, go for it. If they make a gentleman's agreement to tack on $500K to any contract extension, that is fine. The risk of having him throw an inning of relief is that he might walk a batter and of course there is some risk of injury. I continue to hope for a rainout on Sunday so that Hughes can get that last start and beat the Tigers in a significant game.
  11. stringer bell
    Just saw the replay on Plouffe's injury. I don't think we have to worry about error #15.
  12. stringer bell
    I was thinking the same as you about Hughes, Brian. One thing to consider is if there is a rain out on Sunday, Hughes would be available in the grand finale. That would be cool.
  13. stringer bell
    The "losing culture" stuff is the hardest to pin down. I do believe becoming a perennial loser makes turnover necessary. As couple comments have come out about Mauer being the only player who hit in the Metrodome, and since the Twins had only one good season (the first) at Target Field, we can infer that most of the players have seen nothing but 90-loss season for the Twins. I have no doubt that the young Hispanic players have changed things a bit in the clubhouse, but having another veteran beyond Mauer who has been a winner would be a good idea. I think also that it is time for a new manager with at least a couple new coaches. More talent is coming, but they will have growing pains. I really believe the Twins can have a winning record next year, but it will take a revamped pitching staff and a new manager.
  14. stringer bell
    Injuries, ineffectiveness and overuse all happen. Being able to call up another arm and option a tired, nicked or ineffective reliever, or maybe even a starter, could help keep only 12 on the pitching staff.
  15. stringer bell
    13 wins for Gibson and 15 for Hughes. That is a bit of a silver lining
  16. stringer bell
    I was saying the exact same thing one year ago and said it through spring training this year. What is the definition of insanity again? How major of a transgression did Hicks commit? The second question is, how many of these transgressions have been committed this year? If Hicks is the only guy to show up late or not be prepared to play that says this guy doesn't want to excel at his profession.
  17. stringer bell
    No. Don't go the free agent route. Signing free agent pitchers is hit-and-miss at best and signing free agent relief pitchers is worse than that IMHO. I, along with the majority of posters in this thread, don't trust many of the Twins' 2014 bullpen arms. There will be some turnover coming out of spring training (Burton gone, Swarzak and one of Duensing/Thielbar also) and the transition likely will continue as the season moves on. By mid-season, I'd like to see Burdi, Oliveros, Pressly, and maybe Melotakis get a look. I'm probably missing somebody in that list. On top of that, I think there will be at least one and maybe two guys that lost out for starting spots going north as long relievers.
  18. stringer bell
    I have heard snippets from Twins broadcasters in the past few days. The season is winding down and the product on the field isn't much fun, so they have talked about the future. Some of the comments interest me--these are guys that have been around the team for years and seen a lot of major league baseball. However, sometimes I can't believe what I'm hearing. Dick Bremer discussed the late-season catching combo, and suggested that Pinto might get a start against the Diamondbacks, but that Fryer would most likely start against the "contending" Indians. This blew what is left of my mind. Does Bremer think that Pinto's defense is that bad? Anyone that doesn't see Josmil Pinto as the overall better option at catcher isn't really looking at the whole picture. Bremer and Bert discussed next year's middle of the diamond. Bert suggested that Espinosa could be an outstanding utility guy and went on the say that Escobar "can play the outfield". If Escobar and Santana are both in the lineup all year, Santana has been in the outfield. Escobar played two games out there, and one was disastrous. Finally, I only heard part of the conversation, but Provus and Gladden were discussing Swarzak competing to be a starter. What I have seen is that Swarzy barely has enough stuff to last as a long man. If he weren't arbitration-eligible and out of options, I would be fine with him returning as the long man, but competing for a rotation spot--c'mon!
  19. stringer bell
    After reading Birdwatcher's comments, I think there is some truth to his rationale. I think that he might be one of the thirty best catchers, but that it is possible that he wouldn't be a good fit as a backup. He hasn't done well with sporadic playing time and he hasn't yet got a pinch hit.
  20. stringer bell
    I wanted to see Pinto catch more. I. don't like that Suzuki has played as much as he has. I think the conversation has veered way beyond reality. Pinto isn't the best receiver, but he's not a complete butcher. Gardenhire's decision to play Suzuki could be wrong, but it is defensible. Suzuki isn't Johnny Bench, but he isn't Drew Butera.
  21. stringer bell
    Swarzak is a long man only and out of options. If someone wants him, trade him. If not, non-tender. I imagine a starting candidate will get a long relief role (Milone, Pelfrey). I think one of Duensing and Thielbar will be let go or traded. There really should be a big turnover in the BP. the time to do it is in the offseason, not retooling at midseason.
  22. stringer bell
    Bases loaded with Nunez, Schafer, and Santana due up. How many runs, if any?
  23. stringer bell
    Happy Birthday, Brian. I hope you enjoy your day. I'm sure you will watch the Twins game and pull for the Sioux.
  24. stringer bell
    Since the rosters were expanded, Fryer has started one game. He's appeared late in two others, a grand total of four at-bats. That is 1.3 at-bats per week. In the same time, Pinto has 21 at-bats (with four hits), he has started five games, one as a DH. No, Pinto is not playing enough to suit me, but Fryer isn't getting more playing time.
  25. stringer bell
    The game was in extra innings. Gardy wanted to win the game, so he put in the better defensive catcher. It would allow Pinto to hit for somebody in a later inning, and certainly Fryer wasn't going to hit with the game on the line. Yes, I'm disappointed that Pinto isn't getting more reps, but if Gardenhire wants to put his best lineup out there, Suzuki currently gives them a better chance to win. It wouldn't surprise me if Pinto is the DH today, considering Vargas' struggles and poor ABs as a RH hitter.
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