stringer bell

Here we go again. Supposedly, the Twins most reliable hitter for getting runners in from third. Can't ask for much more.

He's got the one skill, for sure--he can steal bases. If he were truly the 25th man, it wouldn't be bad, however with the short benches nowadays anybody on a big-league team needs to be more than a stolen base specialist.

One-man bench today. Can't complain when the only guy on the bench is the backup catcher. I am "watching" on GameDay, I presume that Schafer couldn't get the bunt down against the relief pitcher. However, at least they tried something. I like that even though it didn't work.

And the Twins get red-hot KC for their next home series! That should be fun.

Now, I can't quote again! Anyway, Lee was famous for his low-speed change-ups. Earlier, there was a left handed reliever, who spent one year with the Twins named Dave LaRoche, who threw a pitch that was nicknamed "LaLob". I can't remember Rip Sewell, but they did name his off-speed pitch the "eephus pitch".

Jacque had good speed, but was never much of a base stealer. I recall reading something a while back that he had only one (feet-first) slide.

I predict that he won't be successful unless he brings that WHIP down.

"Joe Mauer went 2-4, though his manager and brother, Jake, didn’t see either of the hits as he was ejected before Mauer got his first hit." Jake Mauer got thrown out two days in a row? I know he was tossed on Friday, but I didn't hear that it happened again the next night.

I should hope so.

Hallelujah!

Maybe, but right now I'm seeing Maybe, but I'm seeing the Twins as being the Washington Generals to the Athletics right now.

Love the scene-setters RB. Keep it up!

LOL. Glad Donaldson survived that.

It's another losing season for our favorite team. I submit that there is some reason for optimism and things will get better next year. Still, finding ten positives took some thought. 10) Use of data to execute overshifts and other positioning adjustments. The Twins are moving in the right direction although they have lagged behind many MLB teams. 9) With top prospects on the horizon, the team looks to have the players to form a solid bench in future years--Parmelee, Nuñez, and perhaps Escobar. 8) Graduation to the big leagues of prospects Kennys Vargas and Trevor May. Most likely for good although either could be optioned the rest of this month or next year. 7) Brian Dozier has proven that last year's power surge was not a fluke. He has shown that he is at least an above-average player and is a borderline All-Star. 6) Trevor Plouffe has improved to be marginally above average both as a hitter and fielder. 5) Phil Hughes has proven to be a solid starter and a bargain at $8M per year and the Twins have him for two more years. 4) Eduardo Escobar has shown himself to be a capable starting shortstop. Eduardo Nuñez has shown himself a capable backup and the best option at short may be in center field, making shortstop no longer a critical issue. Prospect Jorge Polanco has had a solid year. Pedro Florimon might never get another at-bat for the Twins! 3) Kurt Suzuki is a great free-agent pickup. He earned an All-Star selection and has rendered the no-Mauer backstop era a non-issue. 2) Kyle Gibson, while inconsistent, has shown that he's at least a functional big-league starter, probably more than that. 1) Danny Santana has saved the team's bacon by playing center field. He has been a huge surprise and a spark plug as the leadoff hitter. All from a guy who hasn't ever put up boxcar numbers in the minors.

Over the past few years the Twins have made several roster moves which I would charitably call "puzzling". The addition of Matt Guerrier when the club needed multiple outfielders, the carrying of alternately three catchers or thirteen pitchers, the recall of Polanco from Single A, the recalls of Kris Johnson and Logan Darnell to start games when acknowledged better prospects are in Triple A are just some examples. I suggest that many of these decisions are based on a flawed 40-man roster. Some candidates worthy of promotion are not on the expanded roster, too many minor leaguers on the 40-man are not worthy of being in the majors, and too many marginal players on the active roster are frozen there because they can't be optioned to the minors. Several players who may have been optioned at one point can't be because they would have to be DFAed, and if they cleared they would have the option to declare free agency. Anthony Swarzak, Samuel Deduno, Chris Parmelee and Eduardo Escobar are all out of options. Escobar has cemented his status as a major leaguer and Parmelee may have, but it would have been in the Twins' best interests to demote either or both of the pitchers at some point this season. That is why next year, I am hoping one or both of pitchers is traded, non-tendered or released so that a player with flexibility (for example Yohan Pino) could take their place. The Twins were so thin in outfield depth that they were forced to use several infielders in the outfield this year. They have lost centerfield depth because the 40-man was filled and they attempted to designate players (Alex Presley, Darrin Mastroianni, Kenny Wilson) off either the active roster or 40-man. I respect Terry Ryan's ability to judge talent and I expect the next twelve months will be better in respect to roster issues than the past year has been. However, it cripples a team to have so little roster flexibility and the Twins need to do better.

Not the worst idea IMHO. There should be a number of Chris Youngs and Schafers available in the off-season. I certainly would take a flyer on a couple of them. Currently, Twins outfielders for next year figure to be Parmelee, Arcia, Hicks and/or Santana. Certainly, not a contending team's OF.

Rehabs are 20 days maximum. The Twins get a "free" player move for the nitecap of the doubleheader but I seriously doubt they would add Meyer to the 40-man for that.

No Colabello. We all know he slumped after his fine April. His stats since his recall have been bad, as well (not Florimonian, but still bad). I see Nuñez as a keeper. Here's my list: C: Suzuki, Pinto, Chris Gimenez 1B: Mauer, (Parmelee, Vargas) 2B: Dozier (Escobar) 3B: Plouffe, Nuñez (Escobar) SS: Escobar (Nuñez, Santana) LF: Parmelee (Nuñez, Schaefer, Gimenez) CF: Santana, Schaefer RF: Arcia (Nuñez, Parmelee, Gimenez) DH: Vargas (Mauer, Pinto) SP: Gibson, Hughes, May, Milone, Nolasco RP: Pino, Pelfrey, Duensing, Oliveros, Pryor, Thielbar, Perkins

With the benefit of a good night's sleep and DVR, I thought it was strike three, or at least way too close to take.

Well, Pino can be optioned. They have an extra bullpen arm (Pressly) or maybe someone gets traded (pitchers Correia, Fien, Duensing, Burton or OF Hammer). From what I can see there should be room made for Mauer and Milone and within a week Nolasco could be ready. Time for some waiver trades!

This looks like a no-chance game again.

Might be time to give up and get to sleep.

This is looking pretty grim.

Good play by Fuld. Parm should have thrown it to second.

Add Tonkin--he's 6'7".