stringer bell

There's the double!

I hate to say it, but Pino looks pretty good.

Schafer and Nunez can really motor. I like having bench players with that skill.

Parmelee succeeds Zuke as "Designated Out".

Dreaded 5-run lead.

Nice at-bat Schafer.

Maybe we can get more than just one run.

Nunez needs to get a helmet that fits.

I am waiting for a long ball to say "home plate is scoring position".

RBI single scores Dozier from first!

Dozier has 72 walks. That keeps the OBP respectable.

I don't think Cabrera is right. If he doesn't hit like a Triple Crown winner, the Tigers will be watching in October.

Here we go! Pino gets Kinsler on a short fly ball.

September 1 is just over a week away and the Twins will be recalling a few players, I am sure. Basically, anyone on the 40-man roster is a candidate for recall and the Twins have two available spots on the 40-man roster. I am pretty sure that the Twins wouldn't add a player to the 40-man to recall him and then ship him off the roster at the conclusion of the season. Here's my take on what the team will do: Pitchers: Yohan Pino is on the roster today for the split doubleheader. He has been up and down a couple times already and I'm sure he will pitch for the Twins in September. Mike Tonkin has had a couple of brief stints with the big club and has been only okay at Rochester. I'm not sure he will be recalled. Stephen Pryor was acquired from the Mariners in the KMorales trade. He has pitched very well for the Red Wings. I think he is a lock to be recalled. Both Kris Johnson and Logan Darnell have had cameos with the Twins. With an already full rotation, I don't see any place for them, but perhaps one or both will be recalled for bullpen depth. Among non-roster pitchers, AJ Achter has put up a fine season, but has flattened out after being nearly unhittable for half a season. He probably deserves a look, but I don't think he will get the shot this September. My choice for adding a non-roster pitcher is Lester Oliveros, who is older (26), coming off TJ surgery and who has been dominant at two levels this season. The elephant in the room is top prospect Alex Meyer. He has shown obvious talent, but has been limited both for innings and pitches. I don't know if the Twins want to risk Meyer's arm so that he can throw a few meaningless innings late in 2014. Position Players: Chris Colabello, Pedro Florimon, Chris Herrmann, Josmil Pinto, and Aaron Hicks have all spent considerable time with the Twins. The Twins will add a catcher or two--I fully expect both Pino and Herrmann to be recalled. Florimon has been given time at second and third, as well as shortstop to now be considered as a utility infielder. My opinion is, no thank you. Colabello has been decent in the minors, but after an All-Star April, he has not been able to solve major league pitching and it looks like he really doesn't figure as a bench player. It wouldn't stun me if he were recalled, but I don't think Chris is on the 40-man after the season ends. Hicks could be used in the Twins' outfield. I guess that decision depends on what the Twins think is best for the 24-year old fallen prospect. Several non-roster farmhands have had decent years. Doug Bernier got time with the Twins last year and had a good season in Rochester. James Beresford has also been very good at Rochester. I don't think either will be recalled because the Twins have a full allotment of utility guys. My best guess is that the Twins recall Herrmann and Pinto along with Hicks and don't add anyone from off the 40-man.

It really doesn't matter if Mauer earns his salary if the Twins get productions far above salary from other players. Hughes has to be worth more than twice his salary, for example. With Dozier, Arcia, Vargas, earning less than they produce the Twins can afford Mauer at $23M per. The problem is that the last two trips through the rotation has shown precious few good performances, other than Hughes. For the Twins to improve, the starting pitching has to improve dramatically.

Tigers: 4. Kinsler 8. Carrera 3. M. Cabrera V. Marinez 7. JD Martinez 5. Castellanos 9. Kelly 2. Avila 6. Romine 1. Farmer Twins: 8. Santana 4. Dozier Mauer 3. Vargas 9. Parmelee 5. Nunez 6. Escobar 2. Fryer 7. Schafer 1. Pino I don't think six runs will be enough to win this one, either.

Pressly gets the W. I would have scored it that way, too. Really no one to award the win to but the bats.

The Twins played a sloppy three error game today, but on the whole errors haven't been their biggest defensive problem. They have several players that lack range, especially outfielders, and they have played several guys out of position during the course of this season. The team, overall, hasn't been very good defensively. That is an "eyeball evaluation" not based on defensive metrics. With a staff that still consists of many guys who rely heavily on the defense behind them, I am wondering what can be done to improve the defense going forward, looking hard at 2015. Here are some suppositions: Joe Mauer will be the primary first baseman, Brian Dozier will play second, unless Miguel Sano is off-the-charts impressive, Trevor Plouffe will open as the Twins' third baseman, Oswaldo Arcia is the right fielder and Danny Santana will be in the lineup somewhere. Also Kurt Suzuki will be the starting catcher when the spring rolls around. This scenario leaves three positions open and Santana will start at one of them. Where should Santana play and who should fill the other two spots? Here's my take: Santana starts the season as the Twins center fielder, but can be moved out of center by a resurgent Aaron Hicks, or Eddie Rosario or Byron Buxton. Having watched Santana in center for about 50 games, he has rough edges, but has the range and arm to be a quality defender. The decision in center field makes Eduardo Escobar the shortstop. Finally, the Twins have to find a left fielder. Early in the season, I think Jordan Schafer will get a long look in left field. I also believe and hope that both Santana and Plouffe get some reps in left because both could be moved off their positions by phenoms who aren't quite ready at this time. While what I have sketched out doesn't involve wholesale change (or early position shifts), I think it represents some improvement and I think the relative continuity would also help the defense perform better. Here's a thumbnail of each prospective starter: Mauer: has adjusted to first quite well. I think he's already a better-than-average first sacker. Dozier: He's made a few too many errors, but he has made many acrobatic plays. He is a good defender at second, overall handling the double play well. Escobar: Not great range, but good hands and a fine throwing arm. Plouffe: He's made good strides defensively, he'll never have much range and he really doesn't seem to have soft hands, but his reactions are a bit better and he's throwing the ball far better than I ever thought he would. Schafer: The word out of Atlanta was that he was a lousy outfielder despite great speed. Probably true, but he has looked pretty good in left field so far for the Twins (SSS). Santana in center: Again great speed is an equalizer. He takes some bad routes and bad chances, but his speed has bailed him out a few times. Arcia: He is much improved over last year, demonstrating a nice arm . Suzuki: Not a strong arm, but he is reliable and durable. I would rate Dozier as above average, Mauer slightly above average as are Escobar and Plouffe. In the outfield, Arcia is improved but still a work in progress. Santana is probably just a tick or two from being average and I'll rate Schafer as adequate, just because of his tools (arm and speed). I think this defense is good enough. If the Twins acquire an outfielder, he really need to be good in the outfield. The addition of guys like Sano and Buxton might hurt the defense short term, but they too have good tools.

Brian Dozier has made it to the 20-20 club (HRs and SB), but has struggled since the All-Star break. While Dozier looks like a fixture on the club, I don't know if his position in the lineup is assured. Dozier had done a admirable job in the leadoff role, but Danny Santana has supplanted him in that role. Things haven't been as smooth for Brian in the #2 slot. With Mauer injured, Dozier actually had a few games as the Twins #3 hitter. The splits say Dozier is a bit better in the leadoff position, hitting .238 with a .746 OPS, while hitting .221 with an OPS of .730 when hitting #2. Dozier doesn't profile as an ideal #2 hitter because of his extreme pull and fly ball tendencies, plus he is strikeout prone, being the first Twin to get to 100 Ks this year. I submit that Dozier should hit down in the order, at least until his OBP is higher. His base stealing ability is more readily used when not getting on in front of Mauer and the power hitters and he might have some runners to drive in with his home runs. The primary difference for Dozier between last year and this year is the number of walks he has drawn, already netting 71 free passes (plus seven HBP) on the season. That makes his OBP an acceptable .335 despite the low BA. I expect that Dozier will try to adjust a bit next season--probably bunting more and trying to use the whole field more--but the player he is could be a real asset hitting 6-8 in the order.

Looking at the ERAs of the pitchers, we might see a lot of runs tomorrow.

20-6. I guess extra points aren't a sure thing with the ball moved back.

Five hits and he can't get a double!

Arcia might catch Dozier!

If I were Gardy, I wouldn't ask for a replay, just because it's almost 11 and they have two games tomorrow. Plus they are up by a dozen.

His hat should be grease stained and say "Mack".