stringer bell

LaPanta noted that Gardy said today's start was "very important". I interpret that to mean, "pitch effectively or you're out of the rotation" and De Vries threw well yesterday, so he would be ready to take his spot.

Perhaps a bit off topic, I have thought for a while that Gibson would be helped by having adequate or better defenders behind him, since he is an extreme ground ball pitcher.

Clete might run into a couple of fastballs at some point, but I maintain he just isn't a very good player. It was telling that Clete played center when Richardson and Thomas were in the outfield together at Rochester. The biggest problem for the current position roster is finding a leadoff hitter. So far, the Twins have to have the absolute worst numbers from their leadoff hitters. That is the case for Richardson, but if he's not going to play, it just doesn't make any difference.

IMHO, Herrmann doesn't need to play every day and shouldn't stand in Pinto's way. Isn't his ceiling utility guy/3rd catcher? I submit that Ryan Doumit is trade bait and if he leaves, someone like Pinto can fill his role (probably the role would be altered a bit). It is probably most important that he develop to be a quality receiver so that he can catch more and have Mauer catch less, it is good for the team.

Nice AB Justin. That was strike #5.

De Vries with a pretty good start. Does he jump ahead of Gibson, too?

A nice crisp first inning for both teams. Tiny zone from this ump. While Walters was charged with no earnies, he looked pretty awful.

Florimon ups the error total in a hurry!

No one is being hurt by the lineup. The bench of utility infielder(s) Carroll/Escobar and non-prospects Herrmann and Thomas isn't very strong, but they are drawing major league salaries for watching basically the best nine the Twins have take their hacks.

I hope he stays hot for another two months so that the Twins get a really good prospect for him.

You'll never get there, dear.

Well, Sandy's been retired since the 60s and Double D is deceased, so I guess Scott and Sam are greater than the Dodger greats at this time. FWIW, Koufax is/was the best pitcher I ever saw--I only really remember two pitches--a great fast ball and an outstanding 12-6 curve.

I'll type this fast...Morneau is due for a long ball. Maybe not, but he got an infield hit.

glunn!

Decent start for Gibson, too. 11-2 GB/FB ratio.

I posted a comment on this thread yesterday. Somehow it has disappeared. Anyway, I think Pinto can work in next year in place of Doumit. He can catch and occasionally DH. He offers RH power and more defensive tools than Doumit, who should have quite a bit of value at the trading deadline. I think it might be a good idea to have a versatile third catcher, especially of one of the two catchers is DHing or perhaps playing another position. Herrmann provides that versatility plus a left handed bat. His opposite number, Dan Rohlfing, was recently promoted to Rochester. He's righthanded, and plays first and the outfield corners in addition to catching. It seems to me that to have two alternatives as a third catcher/utility guy is a better situation. Neither Rohlfing nor Herrmann look to be much more than bench players with limited power, but with the proper 25-man roster either could be valuable.

The Royals have almost impossibly low home run totals--Butler with five? Gordon with six (about right)? Hosmer (1) and Moustakis (4)? Wow. Brett knew when to step in becuase it has to get better than that from a power standpoint. They have been outhomered 66-29. I just hope the turnaround doesn't start tonight.

This is the Tigers year. Cleveland basically did what you are calling for and is hanging with the Kitties for now, but I doubt they hold up. Perhaps next year and certainly by 2015, the Twins will have improved personnel and could challenge the best in the Central. I am pretty confident that the lineup will be very good. I am less confident about the pitching staff.

Francisco was traded to the Brewers for a 25-y.o. minor league pitcher. I would have liked to see the Twins acquire a young 3B who hit from the left side, but Romero hit two homers for the Red Wings tonight and uber-prospect Sano is probably less than a month from being in AA.

Two things--if the Twins aren't contenders, Ryan Doumit absolutely should be traded. I like Doumit, but he is a poor defender, has an injury history and should appeal to several other clubs at the deadline, and the Twins should be able to get more for Doumit that he is worth. Secondly, I like the idea of Pinto as the backup/alternate catcher next year. If the improvement shown in his numbers is real, he would seem to have decent power and a decent RH stroke. Mauer could play more first base (especially if Morneau isn't on the team) and Pinto would garner more innings behind the plate. As far as a third catcher, the right handed version of Herrmann is now playing in Rochester. Dan Rohlfing is playing the outfield corners, first base and catching. He hasn't hit for much power in his minor league career, but had a strong spring with the Twins. Having the choice of two versatile third catchers is better than just having one.

Here are some answers for you: Arcia is presently only DHing. Originally, it was thought he would be sidelined a short time. He only missed a game or two, but has DHed exclusively since. I do not think an injured player can be designated. I am not sure of that. Butera tweeted over a week ago that he was rehabbing, but Bremer noted that Son of Sal had a "setback", and I have heard nothing official since. Thomas is apparently the superior defender between himself and Richardson. Glynn consistently put Thomas in center when both were in the lineup. Good question on short stays, such as Colabello, and now Thomas. I suppose such movements are open-ended--Colabello didn't hit and the players got ready to play off the DL. If Colabello were currently 8-20 with a couple bombs and a game-winning hit, he probably wouldn't be gone, but he's got two singles and a bunch of strikeouts. Obviously, the Twins were trying to keep Benson and still reward Colabello. Didn't work out. If Benson makes some noise in the majors, the Twins will probably regret letting him go.

I'll comment on all of this: Clete Thomas does 0, nada, nothing, zilch for me. I'd rather they use Parmelee and/or Herrmann as backup center fielders (although that would be ugly if they ever played more than a sporadic game). I would have preferred the callup of Antoan Richardson, only because he is a leadoff guy, which this club sorely needs (I don't hold any illusions about Richardson's overall ability, but I think he would get on a fair amount). Regarding DFAs. Burnett is a loser, because he has been shuttled all over the place without a real chance to perform and show anyone if he has the skills to be a big-league relief pitcher or not. The first third of his season has been rendered null and void, not from injury, but from coming and going. Counting spring training, Burnett has been assigned to eight teams--eight managers and eight pitching coaches. This is not how players should be treated and IMHO, it is not fair to Burnett to be a pawn in 40-man roster machinations. Designating Robertson: I saw his best performance of the spring, a one inning job where he struck out two big-league RH hitters and got Joyce on an easy grounder to first. I asked Ryan if he thought Robertson had found himself and he replied that he needed to throw the ball like he did that night a lot more often. The velo has been down all year, from what I saw and from reports from Rochester. He can get a lot of minor leaguers out with 85 mph fastballs and a pretty sharp slider, not so much for major league hitters. I have a fondness for most guys that throw lefty, so I would have picked soft-tossing Hermsen instead, but unless both of these guys find a way to electrify their fastball, they don't have much future.

With the exception of the big first baseman, I'm liking the power being displayed by this club. I should also add that I expect Plouffe to hit a lot of homers in the second half. Mauer, Doumit, the middle infield, Parmelee, and Hicks all look like double digit producers. Eventually, some of those long balls will come with runners on base and turn around some games that have been hopeless cases previously.

While I confess to knowing very little about Francisco, I see he's a big guy with major league power. I don't trust defensive metrics but his look to be acceptable. If he can put mistakes over the flowers in RF, he could be an asset for the Twins going forward. That said, I doubt the Twins want to commit to him if Plouffe would be just as good and cheaper longer.

He's out of options, I presume, hence the DFA. He's also young enough that if he isn't claimed, I am sure Atlanta will outright him to Gwinnett. Still don't think it will happen.