stringer bell

Referring to the 3-0 pitch.

Don't make it too fat.

Brock had some techspeak reason for the quote problem. I will just wait until the problem is solved.

How much credit does Shields deserve and how much can be put on the Twins?

You and me both Gibby. Actually I can quote with my Kindle, but not so with my desktop.

Snap out of it, Dozier!

Download attachment: milestone_in_design.jpg The Minesota Twins have hit the four-week milestone and are above .500 at 11-10. Considering the pessimism going into the season, Twins Territory should be happy with the results. Some raw numbers: Run differential is -1. Team ERA is 3.92, the Twins have scored 88 runs despite only 14 homers and a league-worst slugging percentage. They are 5-2 in one-run games and have allowed only 11 homers, second best in the AL. Many of these stats can't be sustained - they will allow more homers and win fewer close games - but the team is improved. The Twins also haven't gotten much from several players - Aaron Hicks is off to a historically bad start to a career. Justin Morneau, Trevor Plouffe, Ryan Doumit, and Chris Parmelee (normally the fourth through the seventh spot hitters) have combined for only 4 homers and 24 RBI in 294 plate appearances. Pitchers Vance Worley and Scott Pelfrey have been much more bad than good in their starting turns. Eduardo Escobar and Kevin Correia have far exceeded expectations, but they are really the only ones who are performing better than one might have expected. The defense has been inconsistent, highlighted by shortstop Pedro Florimon. However, there have been many highlight defensive plays as well. Two players in new positions - Parmelee and Dozier - have been good fits in their new spots. I think the club is still a ways away from truly contending. The top end of the rotation is suspect, the hitting is inconsistent, and these have combined to put pressure on a pretty good bullpen. The upcoming road trip, with series against the Tigers, Indians and Red Sox, will probably tell a lot about the present for the Twins. In looking at minor league performance and players returning from injury, it appears that the back end of the rotation has many candidates for few spots. Current #4 starter, Pelfrey, hasn't had a quality start and has had two lousy outings and two okay starts, having not gotten past the sixth inning. Pedro Hernandez, the nominal #5, pitched only 5 innings today, but was effective. There are no fewer than four candidates - Kyle Gibson, Liam Hendriks, PJ Walters and Sam Deduno - for starting spots and at some point Rich Harden could also be considered for a spot. Add the two off-season trade acquisitions in AA (Alex Meyer and Trevor May) and that is quite a logjam of potential starters. In the bullpen, Tim Wood and Rafael Perez are nearing health with a full bullpen and 40-man roster. Tyler Roberton has also pitched well at Rochester, so there could soon be too many okay options for too few spots there. In the outfield and at first base, the Twins have service time considerations with rookies Hicks and Oswlado Arcia. When Darin Mastroianni returns from the disabled list, one of those two might be sent down to Rochester. There is a chance that Parmelee could be sent down instead, but I think the Twins have seen enough of Parm raking at Rochester. The outfield/first base decision could be complicated by somebody catching fire at Rochester. Colabello has been outstanding so far and onetime top prospect Joe Benson has put together a few good games. Another week in the minors would delay 21-year-old Arcia's free agency for another year. Hicks would need to be sent down for three weeks to delay free agency. As with most roster decisions, it probably doesn't make any sense to decide until the Twins have to. Injuries and ineffectiveness usually help make the decision easier. Click here to view the article

Can the Twins go 3-0 against Shields?

Download attachment: Escobar_Eduardo_Shortstop_US_720.jpg Right now, the Twins have a wealth of shortstop candidates. Conventional wisdom is that shortstops aren't platooned because working with the keystone partner is so important. Here is a short tutorial of the shortstop options and my best guess as to what will happen. I invite anyone else to comment and offer his opinion. Eduardo Escobar Escobar is starting most games right now and why not? He's hitting over .340 and he's pretty good in the field. News flash: he won't hit .340 and he's not going to get 50 doubles. When his bat cools, we'll see how manager Ron Gardenhire feels about playing him every day. For whatever reason, Escobar has been tabbed as a utility guy and he is a versatile player. Defensively, Escobar is a solid shortstop with good hands and a strong arm. He doesn't have great range. He has earned this shot and I think there's a chance he may succeed. Regardless, he has proven he is a capable utility player. Danny Santana Sanatana has the range Escobar lacks - it's the routine plays that are a challenge. Since his promotion, Santana has played short and center field and demonstrated his blazing speed and strong arm. So far, he has also hit the ball. Santana isn't going to hit .400 any more than Escobar will hit .340. In fact, if he gets a couple hundred plate appearances, it is doubtful he will be above average as a hitter, or at least that's what his minor league record suggests. In his very short trial with the Twins, he hasn't shown he's ready to be a regular major leaguer, but he also has shown he has major league tools. A trip back to Rochester is nearly certain. Maybe he can develop into a big league regular with quite a bit more sizzle than Escobar offers. Eduardo Nuñez He is the most established hitter of the group, but that isn't saying much. He currently has taken on the utility role that Escobar vacated. If Escobar slumps, I wouldn't be surprised if Nuñez gets a shot to prove that his poor defensive rep is overstated. I can't see Gardy going with one of the worst defensive shortstops for long, but then again we saw Plouffe and Nishi playing the position. Pedro Florimon The manager is reportedly already missing his magic glove, but Florimon just didn't hit at all this year, either with the Twins or not at AAA. (He has also already committed five errors in Rochester. Those minor league fields must be rough!) Florimon is 27 years old, and we likely saw his peak as a hitter in the first half of last year and that was barely passable. He needs to put up some kind of offense to justify his recall. Down the road there are others but they are years away. I hope someone separates himself. Some are predicting the Twins will draft a shortstop with their high first round pick. Maybe that will be the solution to the shortstop problem. Click here to view the article

I am not a total believer in Santana, although his hitting has been encouraging. I think both Escobar and Nunez have shown themselves to be major leaguers. Hicks' bat won't play anywhere but center field. As soon as next year, there won't be a vacancy there. I think Pinto can become a solid regular catcher, but he needs to catch, so Suzuki should be traded.

Duensing is a nice bullpen piece. Any team short on left handers arms could be interested in his services. He has shown to be durable and versatile, so that would up his value a bit more than the raw numbers.

My post was made to point out that there were differences in the three guys promoted who have gotten starts. I think it is beneficial to see what is there and if their effectiveness will play in the majors. However, I believe (along with the large majority of TD posters) that the Twins need to see what they have with the guys with upside, specifically May and Meyer. Super 2 and years of control shouldn't matter that much with guys in their mid-20s or older. They need to have a better idea if either or both of the big guys are going to be ready to help the club next year.

Since the return for Willingham wouldn't be much more than the $2.3M he will be owed for the balance of the season, I don't see much need to trade him by July 31st. He almost certainly would clear waivers and the Twins could send him to anyone in August. A hot streak for Hammer or an injury to a contender would make a spot available and maybe net a prospect in addition to the salary dump.

Lets go over the three promoted before Meyer and May: Johnson, a former high draft choice (LH), throws hard enough (92), but he lost his prospect tag after being discarded but has been very successful for two years at Triple A. Darnell, never a high prospect, is younger (25), left handed, and has been successful at AAA. Darnell doesn't throw that hard, but has a nice change-up. Pino is older (30) and has been in the minors for over a decade, he once was property of the Twins (traded for Pavano) and signed as a minor league free agent. He doesn't get it much over 90, but had excellent, perhaps dominant, numbers at Rochester this year. Pino is a right hander. It is a mixed bag and all three don't ever figure to be more than back end of the rotation guys, but all three aren't career minor leaguers, all three aren't soft tossers, and two have the dividend of being lefties.

Gotta give the manager credit for not overhanging. He could have pinch hit or pinch run for Hammer, Parm, or Fryer. It worked out and if the score was tied, he had bench moves left, and the Whities had only the other catcher.

Perkins vs. Andrei. Should be interesting!

Besides struggling to get a hit. Has Dozier drawn a single walk since the break?

Hey! Who changed my Member Title? I swear I didn't.

I am guessing that Perk is going to have to get Konerko out for the Twins to win the game.

Fuldsie!

Escobar fails, but at least he didn't GDP. Pressure on Santana.

Blown chance to tie or go ahead. How long can the agony last?

Upsetness because of Pino's non-pitching mistakes. He should have covered first and he should have pitched around Abreu. Plus Parm may have gotten his toe on the bag before Eaton.

Mauer's history has been exceedingly long recoveries from his various injuries. Although all catchers play nicked up, Mauer's threshold for playing with injuries seems lower than most. Probably the harshest thing I can speculate is that Mauer seems to regard his productivity and image above contribution to a losing team.

Dozier is really fighting it right now.