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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    Doumit is a slightly better version of Brendan Harris and Matthew LeCroy--two guys who didn't have the skills to hold down key defensive positions but didn't have the bats to be regulars at less demanding positions. I don't think a lot of teams wanted Doumit as a starting catcher and the teams that would have him probably don't want to pay what he should be making. That Doumit can get some at-bats as an outfielder and DH increases his value. No, he is not a great defensive catcher and he's not a good defensive outfielder either, but he can perform those duties well enough to be more than an emergency backup.
  2. stringer bell
    Doumit is fine in his role. He is not ideal, but as Pig has pointed out, he is worth the money spent on him. That said, I'm in favor of trading Doumit if a) they get a decent return and somebody with the ability to hit at or above the replacement level replaces Doumit.
  3. stringer bell
    Fien has an option remaining. That is why he is being considered. It is either option Fien or risk losing another reliever. I am a Fien fan and so I vote for DFA of Wood. If he's claimed, he's lost, if not the Twins outright him and either way have a spot of the 40-man.
  4. stringer bell
    I laughed out loud about Christmas! April 19 is my birthday as well. I can testify that I've seen snow on my birthday as recently as the 90s. My sister-in-law visited us on her birthday on the 27th of April and we had about eight inches of sloppy snow in Rochester (late 80s I think), but never, ever have I seen unrelenting cold and wave after wave of snow this late. This is far from routine and every bit as rare as the 75 degree temps we had in March last year.
  5. stringer bell
    Seattle's park is well-designed and looks and feels like an outdoor park when the roof is open. Every other domed stadium does feel like a dome when opened.
  6. stringer bell
    I was on board for acquiring Saunders or a Dodger lefthander. Saunders has done well. I was underwhelmed by the three guys the Twins ended up adding, but perhaps they were good purchases.
  7. stringer bell
    I agree that the overall health of the Twins has improved markedly. After two years of everything going wrong it figures that some things will go surprisingly well. For the big league club, two numbers stand out--their 4-0 record in one-run games and the bullpen ERA of 2.15 with a 4-1 W/L record. It figures that the Twins will hit better down the road, but it also figures that they will pitch less well. They currently have a negative run differential, which predicts troubles ahead, unless you are the 2012 Oriole.
  8. stringer bell
    The forecast I have read says cold but no precipitation tomorrow. High in the lower forties. It won't be great, but the Twins should get the games in. They may have moved the start back because it won't be a "getaway game" for the Marlins, just a guess.
  9. stringer bell
    I don't think Mauer is as good defensively as he was early in his career. I think he lets too many balls past him (scored Wild Pitches) and his throwing was off last year. That said, I think he's still a good defender and within reach of winning another Gold Glove. Most of Mauer's throwing woes were from the pitchers not giving him a chance or very little chance. Regarding Doumit, I'm not in love with him DHing and I also don't think he's an ideal backup. The ideal backup for Mauer could/should be a defense-first RH hitting guy with some power and versatility. There aren't a lot of those guys out there, obviously. I don't think the season turns on Doumit's defense. Pitching is the key here and secondly, the guys given an opportunity to become regulars need to earn it--Hicks, Dozier, Plouffe, Parmelee, Arcia and Florimon.
  10. stringer bell
    From a hitting standpoint, walks are a really good thing. The whole focus of "moneyball" is the enhanced importance of getting on base. From a pitching standpoint, I think walks can be tolerated if they are exchanged for fewer hits and more strikeouts. The Twins, for many years, have been composed of low walk, low strikeouts starting rotations, with less than wonderful results. Other teams have tolerated more free passes in exchange for weak contact and missing bats. Back to the offensive side of the ledger, Minnesota is sixth (IIRC) in OBP because they are getting the second most walks per plate appearance and they are in the middle for run scoring despite being dead last in homers, and twelfth in OPS.
  11. stringer bell
    I was only half-listening, but I think DickBert were saying that Gardy would only pinch-hit Doumit for the DH (Arcia on Saturday). He could still hit for an outfielder under Gardy's "rule", but he'd have to stay in the game as an outfielder.
  12. stringer bell
    Well, close but no cigar. Royals win in 10 to take over undisputed first place, a game ahead of the Twins. Anyway, going home above .500 and playing Miami is good news.
  13. stringer bell
    I am holding out hope for Pinto to develop into a long term partner for Mauer, perhaps going from alternate to primary catcher if and when Joe changes position. He needs to continue developing both his bat and mitt, but the results have been encouraging both last year and early this spring.
  14. stringer bell
    Update on Santana and so far I would have to call him a disappointment. His BA is down to .250 (.586 OPS) and he now has eight errors. I am waiting for a solid shortstop to come up through the minor league system, so I'm quite disappointed in Santana's performance to date.
  15. stringer bell
    AJ has a fan in the front office. Terry Ryan said that he thought AJ could very well have a major league career. He said that he could capably play short, has decent speed and took a pretty good at-bat.
  16. stringer bell
    Great comments by the last three posters here. If Twins fans are waiting for Santana to take over at SS, they can't be encouraged by his early season production at New Britain. He is OPSing .586 while he has committed eight errors already this season.
  17. stringer bell
    I don't see many similarities beyond unproven pitching. Colorado has two great players--Tulo and CarGo--plus an emerging star (Fowler). Cuddy is a veteran with a track record, Helton is literally on his last legs and everybody else seem to be players trying to establish themselves.
  18. stringer bell
    So, who pitches the eighth? Burton (second day in a row), Roenicke, Duensing, Fien, Pressly, Bueller?
  19. stringer bell
    Shows what I know. But I guess Dunn is strong enough to hit it out in a gale.
  20. stringer bell
    I presume Diamond is done. Good outing for him. The wind seems to be the great equalizer in this series. Pretty tough to get anything other than a line drive out of the park.
  21. stringer bell
    This is how the lineup is supposed to work!
  22. stringer bell
    And Veal leaves after one batter? Does Ventura overmanage much? Time for a big hit from The Hammer.
  23. stringer bell
    Give Florimon more time, but I think eventually the sure-handed Escobar will be the shortstop, especially if his hitting so far (I know, I know SSS) isn't a mirage. If Florimon continues to hit acceptably and steadies in the field, then maybe Eduardo moves over to second.
  24. stringer bell
    I think we'll be seeing 92-94 if he remains a starter. If he goes back to the bullpen, he might up the velo by a couple MPH.
  25. stringer bell
    Probably the most (positively) surprising team in MLB has to be Colorado. The Rockies were among the biggest disappointments last year and looked like a sure bet to be fighting with San Diego to stay out of the basement of the NL West. Somehow Colorado has won 13 of their first 17 games. Dexter Fowler is putting up great numbers, CarGo and Tulo are two of the better hitters in baseball and a couple of other young guys are adapting pretty well to Mile High baseball. My favorite Twin of all time, Michael Cuddyer, is off to a great start. He's hitting .357 with 1.089 OPs--4 homers and 13 RBI. He also is playing well in the field, starting at first and right field and leading baseball with three assists from right field.
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