h2oface

The two games in Pittsburgh this week and the two games at St. Louis several weeks later on June 15 & 16 are the only 4 games in a National League Park until the "stretch" of 7 games in a row starting June 26....... so not much of an away stretch of interleague play with no DH. They go two games in a row without using Vargas, anyway. Maybe it is part of the reason, but it would be a better reason on June 25.

Please. Capps was always mediocre and had already been demoted as Washington's closer the year Smith traded a future "real" all star catcher for him! The only reason Capps was an all-star the year before was because he was the Nats only all-star - that mandatory obligatory pick (just like Cuddyer was that year from the Twins with nothing close to all star-numbers). They had to take someone, and with Capps, they wouldn't even have to get him in the game. It was obvious then that Mauer would not be behind the plate that long, and we had our future catcher. One of the worst trades the Twins ever made was in 2010, and Ramos was needed all the next year. But this is all for a different thread, and the "Oh to have not traded Wilson Ramos" was just an aside. Back to topic, for me.

I contend lifetime stats are the ones that can't be used in projecting what is going to happen in the coming games. As an example, use Joe Mauer. Relying on his lifetime stats and large sample is ignoring his present trends. Small samples and streaks can be very important to utilize. Kudos to a manager that will pay particular attention to trends and steaks, and utilize it in the lineup while it is happening, rather than being the cooler and sitting the player because of some lefty righty tradition. Recognizing it quickly and taking advantage while it is happening by adjusting the lineup order or keeping it in the lineup can be worth several wins a season. Nothing is absolutely meaningless, and even nothing has meaning.

Meaningless? arrggh. Is a 4-4 day at the plate meaningless because it is just one day? I don't think so. One can weight it as they like, but I can't accept that the stats are meaningless.

It is too bad Hermann can't hit like he does in AAA. He has thrown out 3 or 4 runners trying to steal. He never really gets a chance to play more - to get a rhythm in the show. Oh to have not traded Wilson Ramos.

The first base defense that irked me was Mauer ignoring the sure force out at home (when the Twins were still ahead 1-0) with no outs and the bases loaded in the 3rd to save a run, and then lollygagging around and not throwing quickly to second and just getting one out and even missing the alternate double play (a double play that if successful would have still let a run in needlessly) .... Plouffe got the next runner at home on a similar grounder and it wasn't even a force out. We have bad defense at first base no matter what the option. I have seen Vargas make some pretty good picks at first base.

I didn't know the numbers, but I thought he had been hitting quite well lately. I think this move is baffling. I guess Bernier is the player to be designated when Arcia is ready? Nunez can play positions Bernier plays. This is baffling. I guess it is important to restock Rochester with major league players instead of AA players. I do like the outfield a lot better defensively though. It is not like they have been giving Nunez at bats, anyway. His current over .400 batting average must be too small of a sample.

It doesn't even look like anything happened! He didn't even dive on the ground really, and didn't get hit in the head. Weird. http://m.rockies.mlb.com/news/article/124669758/colorado-rockies-justin-morneau-still-has-stiff-neck-after-diving-for-ball-wednesday

Absolutely, and for me, no buts about it. What now for Buxton? He shook the rust off, and went on a that tear and it was declared by all that the rust was no more. The rust was gone. He was player of the week somewhere..... now into May and a horrible slump. You can't call it the ol' convenient rust now, can you? 132 at bats and 34 games in, things are starting to look kind of ugly. It is still early, though, right? Just forget about it, eh? Hey Hey, My My. Rust Never Sleeps.

The AAA roster is looking bleak right now. I mean, other than some pitchers and Pinto, who in yesterday's box is excepted or hoped to ever be a part of the major league lineup? Not as perhaps emergency replacement players, but in the lineup? Meyer is down to 2 walks and only 4 Ks in 6.1 innings. So great. Maybe by the time they promote him they can get his Ks down even further.

The second ten (11-20) are having much better years, so far, than the top 10. Thanks for the great update.

Can Duensing be sold as a good reliever? Stauffer?..... just look at last years stats? Please?

Boyer looks good if you don't consider the inherited runners scored, I guess. But when they tag on runs to the pitchers they relieve for, it is hardly relief.

Maybe you should have titled the post Stick a fork in Duensing, he is done. That seemed to get Hunter turned around! Personally, I couldn't believe he was tendered this off season... but then, Ryan signed Santana and Stauffer, too. Duensing can't even get lefty's out anymore. And he has always seemed to let in way too many inherited runners. Does he have any options left?

Nope. I think most knew it, too. He has a ways to go, but with this taste, maybe he gets a better drive in Rochester to get back to the show. He sure can't jump very high!

Sorry. I am not in, or part of, the "don't forget to tell" club. Personally, like you it seems, I'm not "willing to take the risk and let him catch 100 games if he's going to win a gold glove and still get on base like he does." It is not my risk to take, only Joe Mauer's. I find it quite cavalier and distasteful to suggest someone else risk brain injuries for the success of my favorite baseball team. He is under contract, though. And I am not a lawyer, but I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express. He will be at first, I suspect, as long as he is healthy and isn't traded (and accepts the trade). It might not end up being what is best for the Twins as a team, but that could still change. Hope for the best.

Buxton sure has cooled off, dropping .35 ponits in 11 games. . BA from .287 to .252. (and more today now). Pinto now slumping, too. Bummer. Nice to have the Kepler news.

Most people that get paid 23 million a year and still aren't the boss, usually have to do what they are asked. If asked, and he doesn't want to, he can always retire or forfeit his contract - and I am sure the Twins could come up with another 1st baseman and/or catcher. Or perhaps he could renegotiate his contract to have a clause that he won't catch again and be more fair in relation to his performance. Fat chance of that, eh? I am sure if it was all about Joe's wife and kids and health, he wouldn't even play baseball at all anymore, as the chance to get hit in the head from a pitch is still looming, as well as all the other ways and possibilities he is exposing himself to, albeit not as much as being behind the plate. I am not advocating for someone (Mauer) to risk their life or brain by typing this perspective. Catching is something I don't think he should do anymore. It is not my concern, really, or decision of course. I had really expected and believed that Mauer would prove all the pundits, apologists, and supporters wrong, and transform himself into a power hitting 1st baseman that also hit for high average. I really did. And I thought it would happen starting last year. I thought the move from behind the plate to first would transform him into a hitter with numbers like 2009 for several years running. All that is needed is just 10-15 feet more power. He is/was just so big and a such a great athlete. Certainly a man touted with a perfect swing can adjust and do it fast and still be the best at his new position, right? Mauer certainly can't need anymore money to make his life and family more 1% and entitled, now. Maybe he still does transform. I am no longer one that believes it will happen though, and he is proving to be quite average at his position and the remaining years of his contract an albatross like so many other long term contracts. If a nasty businessman/owner wanted to call his bluff and risk the ire of its fanbase, he could ask Mauer to catch, and if he wouldn't...... well, he could quit. Take that job and shove it, and forfeit the rest of his contract and money. I root for Mauer bigtime. I hope he does himself proud, and becomes a great first baseman that is a first ballot inductee into the HOF, because he needs to be great the rest of his years for that to happen. Time will tell if he can. I will not be betting on ever seeing him behind the plate catching again, that is for sure.

I was fully in support of the move to start him in 2013. Everything seemed to be falling into place like a dream. His spring training was a chapter in that storybook progression. I don't see how anybody wouldn't give it a shot there and with total fan support after the shocking trades of both center fielders. But after the struggle, I felt he should have really been moved to AAA sooner and stayed there until a September call up to see if Hicks was progressing. Much of what he has been judged by was brought because of his behavior as well as his performance, especially considering the switch to not switch hitting and back (reportedly without consultation, I guess, even though gardenhire and ryan could have told him no way), the reports about winter ball, and his lack of focus in spring training. But I still hope for the chapter where he finds his mojo at 25, holds center until Buxton takes over, and then moves to right and replaces Hunter. I am super stoked that it is happening now, sooner than later.

Awesome report, Jokin! Glad you made it to the game. I am very fond of Chattanooga. Spent many hours above Lookout Mountain in hang gliders. From the southern launch above Lookout Mountain Flight Park across the border into Georgia (Rising Fawn/Wildwood/Trenton), it is 12 miles to the north point above the Tennessee River (a nice 24 mile down and back on a honking northwest wind day). Go get yourself a tandem while you are there. Ask for Matt Tabor and tell them Aer Stephen sent you. They will tow you up to about 3000'-3500' behind an ultralight, and do you right.

You called it, Nick Nelson!

Great. Time to make all the doomsayers eat their words. All future and no past. Now is all there is. Great call Nick Nelson.

It does if you are 25. If you are 25, it is really old.

Kind of like Perkins' outings now that Guardado is back and exerting his influence on the bullpen, eh? ;-) Only Perkins is doing it in only one inning lately.

I think that Hunter has been streaky with the bat so far, and not solid. He just appears solid right now at the top of a streak. The first two weeks, we sure could have used solid. All that is not unusual, though, and surely he will go though his valleys and peaks, but I expect him to hit at least .280 and do pretty well at the plate when he is not trying to swing like Arcia. His defense is surely suspect and he is slow and gives up singles and doubles and triples that other more fleet of foot catch for outs. I think his best value will be mentoring, and as soon as they get Hicks and Buxton up, it will be a big advantage. I hope they don't trade him, and use him for what they got him for, and groom the future outfielders. Now.......... if only they were on the team.....