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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    There aren't many sure things. Among the surest things for the Twins is that if he is playing, Joe Mauer will hit. I certainly think that he will hit better and in more games as a first baseman. I also am pretty certain that Mauer will be an asset at first base whether he plays there for 20 or 50 or a 150 games. Will Pinto be the regular catcher immediately and last there for several years? I think so, but it is far from a sure thing. It would be great if he could step in but I think the Twins need to have a contingency plan--one not involving Mauer going back to catcher if Pinto isn't ready or gets hurt.
  2. stringer bell
    Cuddyer makes $3.5M more per year than the Hammer and both player's OPS+ for the first two years of their contract is in the 120s. Cuddyer is my all-time favorite player so I was disappointed when he signed elsewhere, but it probably was best for both the player and the team. He is now 8 points ahead of Johnson and I am wondering if Walt Weiss might not shut him down, since the Rockies are going to finish last anyway.
  3. stringer bell
    Not a real articulate reply from Ryan, but in fact given the 13-man pitching staff, it is pretty hard to have a firm platoon. So, the Twins need better starting pitching, if they want the opportunity to platoon as silly as that sounds. There are guys with severe platoon splits, but with so little roster space it is tough to commit two guys to one position. A modified platoon is possible--for example having a switch hitter like Escobar getting starts against right handers for Plouffe and Dozier and then getting at bats vs. left handers replacing Florimon. Right handers start somewhere between 2/3s and 3/4s of games, so the RH hitting half of a platoon would basically be a bench player.
  4. stringer bell
    I was opposed to moving Mauer going into this season. With the impending free agency of Morneau and his subsequent trade, I then advocated making Joe a part-time first baseman believing that Pinto could be behind the plate for about half the innings, with Joe and Doumit or Herrmann splitting the other 50% of the innings. Now, I am with those saying that Mauer shouldn't be considered a catcher any more. He's one hard foul tip or home plate collision from perhaps being a shadow of himself and the Twins have a lot of money tied up in him. I agree that he could be the emergency third catcher. The time is now to make the move--the Twins don't have an incumbent first baseman and Mauer would have the entire spring to polish his first base skills, providing he has recovered from the concussion symptoms.
  5. stringer bell
    I think Gardenhire is a good baseball man and a good manager. I was on board with him returning last year, but three straight seasons of losing and this year's slide at the end of the season have me accepting that people wear out their welcome. I am now on board if the Twins want to try someone new.
  6. stringer bell
    Diamond wriggled out of that jam. He even got one of those strikeout thingies.
  7. stringer bell
    I was listening to Dan Barreiro on KFAN. He said the LENIII had interviewed Ryan and that Terry had categorized the 3-$21M as a huge contract. While most considered the Willingham deal a middle of the road deal, if Ryan considers it huge dollars, the Twins just will not pursue and offer enough to attract a top tier or second tier free agent. It has been my concern that Ryan is still operating in the 20th Century both on what he considers a rich free agent contract and how much he is able and willing to spend. The Twins don't have to live on leftovers and scraps any more. They have middle market revenues and the prospects of rich revenue streams. If this is truly Ryan's view, Pohlad should retire him.
  8. stringer bell
    With the news that Mauer was officially shut down combined with a club-leading 18th homer by Brian Dozier, it seems to me that Dozier has earned the team MVP. The other candidates would be Glen Perkins and Mauer. Perkins has had a fine year, but as a closer on a 90-loss team has only logged 61.2 innings. Mauer had a very good season, but finished playing only 113 games. Dozier will finish with somewhere around 145. At this point Brian leads the team in games, at bats, runs, triples, and homers. He is second on the team in hits, doubles and RBI. Dozier has played splendid defense at a new position. In a disappointing season, Brian Dozier is one guy who has thrived.
  9. stringer bell
    Pinto! 998 for Gardy.
  10. stringer bell
    Way to move him over, Hammer!
  11. stringer bell
    How do you want him scoring the winning run--sliding or trotting across without a throw?
  12. stringer bell
    Please don't bunt him over with the bottom of the order coming up!
  13. stringer bell
    Walkoff homer by ??????
  14. stringer bell
    Settle down ChiTown!
  15. stringer bell
    With the exception of Perkins and possibly Thielbar, the bullpen is cooked.
  16. stringer bell
    oh-fer how many w/ RISP today?
  17. stringer bell
    Ugh, I don't have two hours to spare to watch Pelf "pitch" four innings.
  18. stringer bell
    Doesn't look like Texas is playing along with the "A's clinch tonight" plan.
  19. stringer bell
    On field note--is it me or are the only two guys putting up consistent big league at-bats Dozier and Pinto?
  20. stringer bell
    Piece of pie? I didn't think so.
  21. stringer bell
    Here is a ray of hope for you--the Twins have supported Hernandez very well when he has started. Even since his last recall, the Twins have scored more for him than anyone else on the staff. They scored five and won when Pedro made his cameo start (drove to Cleveland from Louisville) and since he was recalled they have scored 9, 6, and 6 in his three starts (the Twins have won all three games). The team scored 7, 6, 15 and 10 runs in consecutive starts for Hernandez before he was optioned.
  22. stringer bell
    They are missing their best hitter, that hurts a lot. Add a Buxton and Sano in two of the top four spots and the lineup will look better, but that might not be until midseason 2015. Besides being a lineup of sub-.250 hitters, there isn't much speed around to manufacture runs, so they really do have offensive problems at this point.
  23. stringer bell
    It was by all accounts pretty bad. I checked out when the score was 1-0, so I didn't get to witness the carnage first hand. What bothers you the most?
  24. stringer bell
    Here is post #100, just a little late.....I wrote a blog entry a couple of weeks ago entitled "Fire 'em all"--today is an exhibit of why it wouldn't be a bad idea.
  25. stringer bell
    I suspect the Pravda reference was referring to the strib (aka the Red Star) due to its perceived political leanings.
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