Thrylos

I am trying to do a bit of math, looking at Mauer's slash line, career tendencies and 2011 line: Career average isoD (OBP-BA) is .080, 2011 isoD was .073 Career average isoP (SLG-BA) is .148, 2011 isoP was .081 with a .310 BA, using career averages OBP would be .390 and SLG .458; and 2011 (worse case) numbers OBP would be .383 and SLG .391 so that .310/.370./.460 assumes a career isoP and a well below career isoD, which may result if he becomes more of a free swinger, but I highly doubt that. I really think that .310/.385/.450 might probably be more realistic; however, I really think that that .310 will be closer to .325 this season

This is an interesting take (in a good way ) So, would you say that Slowey was a pretty sensitive guy too, in the same manner? (And we know how this organization treated him...)

Alex Burnett or Terry Doyle, but I really liked what I saw from Matt Maloney today.

If you put them in St Paul, they will take ticket sales from the Twins because of the affordability of prices. I think that Rochester (MN) is as close as you want to have them and not compete for tickets. There is no competition between the IronPigs and the Phillies. For the ones of us who live up here, it is a major pain to go down to Philly (no public transportation and hellacious traffic.) I bet some folks from Philly come up here to watch the Pigs on off-days because it is easier for them.

Indeed, stay in the IL, since I can watch them a couple series a year in my own back yard

Actually I think that it would be a good thing for the Twins to bring their AAA affiliate at a distance closer to the MLB team. Right now, Rochester is the second furthest AAA affiliate from its MLB parent club in the majors. The furthest is AAA Vegas, which is Toronto's affiliate. Toronto is less than 100 miles from Rochester. Do the math Plus there is no much love for the Twins there. The local press, still thinks of Rochester as an Orioles' city and the local management is hosting the Yankees AAA team also (while the Scranton ballpark gets renovated.) Not sure that sits well with the Twins' brass, since their AAA team will have less access of their own park in off-days if the Yankees' AAA has a home game, among the reasons...

Glen Perkins by far. He might not have scored any runs by he is close to mid-season form. Nice movement on a 92-94 mph FB, silly nasty slider. He is ready and will have a monster of a season. You are welcome guys, no problem

Originally posted at The Tenth Inning Stretch ---- Not a game report by any means; just some random, stream of conscious type notes I took while I was watching the Twins' game on TV this afternoon: Jamey Carroll's strike zone is smaller than Ben Revere's. He really gets down in the box Doumit looks like Kubel. A lot Great double steal by Revere and Carroll in a botched pick-off move. Carroll seams a very astute base runner Baker's fastball at 86 mph to start the game, then up at 87-88 by the end of the 1st inning. Nice and easy first for Baker. Niemann really fooled Brian Dinkelman with a called strike 3 on a 57 mph curve to start the second inning. Did not realize he had that pitch to go with his 93 mph fastball Baker's fastball at 83-84 to start the second inning then up to 86-87. His change up sat at 78-79 and was very effective. Up to 88 with the FB Casilla was avoiding Nunez' heat (93-94) but waited on a change and pushed it nicely through the middle; then appropriately stole second on the next pitch. Then Revere sacrifice bunts to get him to 3rd with one out. Smart ball Interesting situation to see Carroll hit with one out and man on third. He was slapping every pitch. This guy can make contact. Takes ball four at shoelaces to walk. Then steals second on a ball in the dirt. Maloney started the bottom of the third. Hitting 86-89 with fastball and lots of movement with the slider. Strikes out the first pitcher he saw (that is 4 in a row for him), second one grounds out and the third one bleeds a single through the SS (Carroll's range was exposed). Another hit to left, Revere bobbles the ball and runners in the corners with Pena up. Twins are shifting the infield with 2 outs for Pena. Interesting Leftie-Leftie match up for Maloney. Got him to fly out. Pretty good performance by Maloney overall. He is a dark horse to make the team Steve Pearce seems to have problems making contact with breaking balls. Not sure if it is just early, or it is an issue Benson looks really over-matched at the plate Maloney in for a second inning. Gets the first batter to ground out to short on a cutter. Nice deceptive delivery and long arms and legs. Second and third batter flies out to center. Nice spotting of the fastball. He looks in a very good shape. Very impressed overall. Reminds me a bit of Matt Guerrier, in a lefty kind of way. Both Doumit and Carroll are taking many more pitches and working the count deeper than the men who they replaced (Kubel and Nishioka). This will be good for the Twins. Capps in for the bottom of 5th. FB starts at 91 with decent movement and get the first batter to fly out. The second batter gets a broken bat bloop. Capps' FB looks heavy. Up at 94 later in the inning. Overall a good performance Glen Perkins' fastball at 91-94 with good downward motion. Picked two K on a hard slider and a ground out to him on a 94 mph FB. Close to season form. He looks so there and ready to pick up from last season. Very impressive. Casilla is locked in Duensing's FB 90-92. Looks nice and loose but some command issues (it is early). Great defensive play by Benson to cut a double into single. Towles shows pretty good patience on the plate. Going 3-0 (and took ball 4 but was called a strike.) Then shows some speed by beating the throw on a tailor made double play ball. Then he was asked to steal second and was barely caught. So he's got an eye and wheels. Two things that Drew Butera lacks. Jeff Gray makes his first appearance this spring. Problems locating his fastball outside, then goes inside with a FB that goes into a double. That is not a good prescription for success... Major command issues. This reminds me of Marquis' second inning the other day minus the wild pitches Very windy out there, but if Mastroianni wants to make the team he better not drop those fly balls. That one hit the heel of his glove Oswaldo Arcia is build like a bull, but does not like the breaking ball Doumatrait in to close the 9th. Can locate his FB somewhat consistently, unless he is nitpicking at the corners, but breaking ball is either all over the place or the middle of the plate. I think that right now he is behing Maloney at the depth chart Perkins, Maloney, Capps, Revere, Carroll, Doumit and Towles impressed me today in various degrees. Good to see Perkins close to mid-season form and Maloney and Towles were happy surprises

Originally posted at The Tenth Inning Stretch ---- Not a game report by any means; just some random, stream of conscious type notes I took while I was watching the Twins' game on TV this afternoon: Jamey Carroll's strike zone is smaller than Ben Revere's. He really gets down in the box Doumit looks like Kubel. A lot Great double steal by Revere and Carroll in a botched pick-off move. Carroll seams a very astute base runner Baker's fastball at 86 mph to start the game, then up at 87-88 by the end of the 1st inning. Nice and easy first for Baker. Niemann really fooled Brian Dinkelman with a called strike 3 on a 57 mph curve to start the second inning. Did not realize he had that pitch to go with his 93 mph fastball Baker's fastball at 83-84 to start the second inning then up to 86-87. His change up sat at 78-79 and was very effective. Up to 88 with the FB Casilla was avoiding Nunez' heat (93-94) but waited on a change and pushed it nicely through the middle; then appropriately stole second on the next pitch. Then Revere sacrifice bunts to get him to 3rd with one out. Smart ball Interesting situation to see Carroll hit with one out and man on third. He was slapping every pitch. This guy can make contact. Takes ball four at shoelaces to walk. Then steals second on a ball in the dirt. Maloney started the bottom of the third. Hitting 86-89 with fastball and lots of movement with the slider. Strikes out the first pitcher he saw (that is 4 in a row for him), second one grounds out and the third one bleeds a single through the SS (Carroll's range was exposed). Another hit to left, Revere bobbles the ball and runners in the corners with Pena up. Twins are shifting the infield with 2 outs for Pena. Interesting Leftie-Leftie match up for Maloney. Got him to fly out. Pretty good performance by Maloney overall. He is a dark horse to make the team Steve Pearce seems to have problems making contact with breaking balls. Not sure if it is just early, or it is an issue Benson looks really over-matched at the plate Maloney in for a second inning. Gets the first batter to ground out to short on a cutter. Nice deceptive delivery and long arms and legs. Second and third batter flies out to center. Nice spotting of the fastball. He looks in a very good shape. Very impressed overall. Reminds me a bit of Matt Guerrier, in a lefty kind of way. Both Doumit and Carroll are taking many more pitches and working the count deeper than the men who they replaced (Kubel and Nishioka). This will be good for the Twins. Capps in for the bottom of 5th. FB starts at 91 with decent movement and get the first batter to fly out. The second batter gets a broken bat bloop. Capps' FB looks heavy. Up at 94 later in the inning. Overall a good performance Glen Perkins' fastball at 91-94 with good downward motion. Picked two K on a hard slider and a ground out to him on a 94 mph FB. Close to season form. He looks so there and ready to pick up from last season. Very impressive. Casilla is locked in Duensing's FB 90-92. Looks nice and loose but some command issues (it is early). Great defensive play by Benson to cut a double into single. Towles shows pretty good patience on the plate. Going 3-0 (and took ball 4 but was called a strike.) Then shows some speed by beating the throw on a tailor made double play ball. Then he was asked to steal second and was barely caught. So he's got an eye and wheels. Two things that Drew Butera lacks. Jeff Gray makes his first appearance this spring. Problems locating his fastball outside, then goes inside with a FB that goes into a double. That is not a good prescription for success... Major command issues. This reminds me of Marquis' second inning the other day minus the wild pitches Very windy out there, but if Mastroianni wants to make the team he better not drop those fly balls. That one hit the heel of his glove Oswaldo Arcia is build like a bull, but does not like the breaking ball Doumatrait in to close the 9th. Can locate his FB somewhat consistently, unless he is nitpicking at the corners, but breaking ball is either all over the place or the middle of the plate. I think that right now he is behing Maloney at the depth chart Perkins, Maloney, Capps, Revere, Carroll, Doumit and Towles impressed me today in various degrees. Good to see Perkins close to mid-season form and Maloney and Towles were happy surprises

Doom gets the save with the last batter striking out looking. 3-2 Twins

Mastroianni a nice catch at deep left. Two outs

Beckham gets a hit off Doom

Doumatrait strikes a minor leaguer with soft tosses low and away in the zone

Someone sent him But it was pretty close

Valencia grounds to third, Arcia strikes out swinging on curveballs outside the zone, Carson draws a walk, Benson strikes out looking. He will be wearing the hood tonight. Bottom of 9th Twins up 3-2

A base on balls and a ground out to short. Gray and the Twins get out with just the 2 runs damage. Twins up 3-2 (for a while at least.) Doom is warming up in the pen

Flyout to LF (Mastroianni caught that and I really need to tape Bert killing his name), single to the right, runner scores. 3-2 Twins

A flyout, and a long fly at LF dropped by Mastroianni, scoring a run. 3-1 Twins

Jeff Gray in and very wild. Trouble locating FB then tossing in the middle of the plate. A double so far

Parmelee Ks

Towles get caught stealing second

Towles hits into a FC, beats the throw to 1st to avoid the GIDP

Great bunt single by Brian Dozier to start the 8th

Duensing: groundout to third, flyout to left, Single that Benson cut really well to hold it to a single with a slide, BB, ground out to second end of 7 Twins 3-0. Some command issues especially against RHB

Pearce grounds out to short, Benson Ks, Casilla singles through the middle (Florimon PR), Mastroianni (PH for Revere) grounds out to 3rd. Mid 7. still 3-0 Twins