stringer bell

Dozier is doing exactly what leadoff hitters are supposed to do--score runs. Because of the high walk total, his OBP is solid, and with the 11 SB and undoubtedly good baserunning skills, he scores more runs than his OBP would suggest. Further, even though he has struck out 30 times in about 140 PAs, even when he has fanned, he has worked the count most of the time, very few three or four pitch punch-outs. IMHO, the long balls are mostly a bonus and it would be great if they were all three run bombs, but the fact is that almost all of the Twins homers this year have been solos.

The Twins are 4-0 in rubber games. I heard yesterday that they are 1-9 in series openers. If you had heard that after 29 games, that Dozier and Plouffe would have combined for 15 doubles and nine homers, who would have guessed the distribution? Plouffe has 14 doubles and a solitary homer, while Dozier has only one double, but has clubbed 8 homers. In checking team statistics, the team is still second in run scoring (per game), while allowing the third-most runs in the American League. Finally, here's my first All-Star watch: Brian Dozier is #1 in OPS among AL second basemen and Trevor Plouffe and Kurt Suzuki are #2 at their respective positions.

Bernier has one skill, a versatile glove. If Escobar is the regular SS, the Twins need to have someone who can hit a little or run a bit as a utility guy. I see the Nuñez played for the Red Wings today. Overall, he would be the better fit as a utility infielder. If Mauer is out for any period of time, DL or not, adding Parmelee and optioning Herrmann makes sense. The Twins still need someone who can play center, unless Hicks is ready in the minimum amount of time. Of course, it may be that the Twins need a center fielder because Hicks isn't a big league hitter.

Two nice wins this weekend. Good starting pitching, enough hitting, good fielding (Herrmann's goof notwithstanding).

I think it is far more complicated than player has X injury and this should automatically be the treatment. Depending on their situation, players will not be forthcoming about injuries. If they don't want to lose playing time, they may hide the injury and hope to play through it. If they are secure with their position, it might well be another story. The field staff wants to get their best players on the field. The front office wants to protect their investments, witness the long layoffs for Alex Meyer last year and Byron Buxton this year. All front offices use the disabled list differently depending on the player. If Brian Dozier and Pedro Florimon both had an injury that sidelined for 3-5 days, the team would gladly DL Florimon, but would sit Dozier because he's vital to the team. The Pelfrey DL assignment is the same thing--if Perkins had the same injury they'd roll for a few days without him, but they needed some place to stash big Pelf. Josh Willingham has a hairline fracture in a small bone in his wrist. He's been out a while now and pain will probably be the guide when he's ready to play. The team said that he might be able to be back in two weeks, but that was extremely optimistic.

Brian Dozier wasn't a high draft choice. He had a breakout minor league season in 2011 and became a prospect for the Twins mostly because of the dearth of talent at shortstop, which was then his position. Dozier was then assigned to Rochester and got a promotion to the Twins after a hot start in Triple A. Brian's rookie season was by most measures disappointing and ended with a demotion back to Rochester without a September recall. 2013 looked to be a year of decision for Dozier. He was moved to second base and given the inside track to win a starting position there for the Twins, which he did. After a slow start, Dozier hit well starting in mid-May and throughout the season he was a standout defensively at his new position. After watching Dozier for the better part of part of two seasons, I have become a big fan. As mentioned, with the position switch, Dozier has become a truly excellent defender, making web gem plays along with always being heads up on the field. He has developed surprising power, hitting 18 homers last year and already stroking 8 long balls this season. He has moved almost full-time to the leadoff spot and has shown far better plate discipline, ranking among the league's leaders in walks and he has scored runs--his 29 rank tops in all of MLB. Brian leads the club with nine stolen bases (3rd in the AL), but more than that he seems to have taken great strides in base running, aggressively taking extra bases, but not often getting caught. Dozier's game is not without flaws--he hit below .250 last year and is below that mark this year, he strikes out a lot. His season so far has some statistical oddities--he only has one extra base hit besides his home runs and all of his long balls are solos. Dozier only has 12 RBI despite the 8 homers. Brian Dozier is one of very few Twins players that is above average as a hitter, fielder and base runner. It seems that he doesn't go a game without doing something good at the plate, making an outstanding defensive play or showing good base running skills. The Twins need more players who can win a game with their legs, their glove, or their bat. And he's got really good hair!

From the angles the TV showed, it sure looked like Florimon was picked off. The play at second was very close, could have gone either way.

Nice baserunning by Dozier. Or maybe he got lucky.

Or maybe no one is interested.

Are there internet issues? My significant other can't get on the internet. My kindle isn't working right and the battery is drained. I've been knocked off several sites as well.

Nice first for Correia. Now score some runs.

BTW, the solution to backup infielder and backup center fielder? Emilio Bonifacio was cleared and could have been claimed before the season. Just sayin'.

Agree, Chief. I ran out of time, but I was going to analyze the composition of the 40-man roster. It also is malfitting, housing several players who don't have major league futures, too many catchers and not nearly enough possible contributors for this year. The two position players most likely to be competent for the Twins are Nunez and Parmelee, one injured and the other not on the 40-man roster. On the 40-man roster, the Twins have three injured outfielders, and only one other position player is injured--Nunez. Maybe that is a little bad luck. Much of this juggling will likely be undone after this weekend, but still it is truly a mess right now.

50-some at-bats doesn't undo 10 season of less than mediocrity for Bernier. I don't remember one hard-hit ball from him last season for the Twins. If the Twins want a no-power guy they should go with Beresford, but I guess I would wait for Nunez, unless it is going to be a month.

The Twins current 25 man roster (counting the transaction of Pelfrey, Hicks, Santana, and Darnell) has six starting pitchers (one assigned to the bullpen), seven relief pitchers, three catchers, three shortstops, one third baseman, one second baseman, two first basemen, one corner outfielder and one utility outfielder. What's wrong with this picture? Well, there's no center fielder to start with--Sam Fuld, a perfectly fine fourth outfielder, had started 182 games in the major leagues, 54 in center field, when the Twins acquired him. He now sits as the only option to play center, leaving the team without a backup there. Eduardo Escobar has won an opportunity to become the Twins' everyday shortstop. However, that leaves the team without anyone who can play multiple positions in the infield. Chris Colabello, who played a few (less than 10) games in right field in the minors has now started 14 games in right for the major league team this year and cost the team multiple outs and bases in the field. The idea of a solid starting nine backed up by a versatile bench has been knocked on it's rear end.

Yes, they are slumping--specifically the previously surprising middle of the order. I was thinking that it might be time to move Mauer back to the #3 spot. Healthy and productive returns from Willingham and Arcia would be welcome. So far (super SSS), Fuld has looked capable as a stopgap in center and Escobar has been fine at SS. Let's give Escobar a couple weeks and hope for someone to take the reins in center.

Nolasco goes 9. That is a silver lining in the midst of a four game losing streak.

And I totally jinxed Nolasco. The way the Twins are swinging, it is wait for tomorrow.

What's happening on the field? Competent pitching and pretty poor hitting for the Twins. That's a change, but much more like what was expected.

Regression to the mean sucks.

Regarding center, I called for Hicks to be sent to Triple A and Presley to start the season as the centerfielder. Presley made that tough with poor Spring Training, but still we all should have learned the spring is often a mirage. If not Presley, the Twins needed somebody to serve as a capable alternate. They got lucky to get Fuld, but calling Fuld "capable" is probably a stretch. Regarding shortstop, similar production from last year by Florimon would make the squawking much more muted. It wouldn't solve the long-term problem. Maybe Escobar can solve the problem short term, I don't know.

There is no one except Santana and Fryer on the 40-man. Parmelee is on a hitting streak. Ramirez has done well and played some center for the Twins last year. Romero has hit well at third base, Bernier has had a good start, and Beresford started hot, but has struggled a bit lately. Nobody really jumps out. They need a center fielder to pair up with Fuld.

I put Pelfrey on the top of the "Dump List" and it looks like he will at least lose his spot in the rotation temporarily. However, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Pelfrey was pitching in a starting rotation somewhere not only later this year, but also next year. I think he is injured or something. He doesn't have to lose much off his fastball to become a batting practice pitcher and right now that is what he is. If he goes on the DL or accepts a demotion I think there is a chance that the Twins can get some performance out of him. It is tough to be patient with a 30+ starting pitcher whose upside is back-of-the-rotation starter. I don't blame the Twins if they discard him, but I won't blame them if they give him another chance.

The biggest folly is overestimating Aaron Hicks IMHO. He has tools, no doubt, but he's just not shown he can hit major league pitching. The Twins have put the stamp of "full-time CF" on him two straight springs and so far, it hasn't panned out. There should be a legitimate back-up plan for Hicks, not only in the event of injury, but also for ineffectiveness. The secondary problem is not enough depth in the high minors. The Red Wings are using an infielder in center and Kenny Wilson is in New Britain and quite a ways from being a major league ballplayer.

Dozier is on. Somehow he'll score.