RpR

What do they do if the young ones are not better, who do they turn to then? Just keep rolling the dice like last year?

https://www.twincities.com/2022/05/06/saints-derek-fisher-a-world-series-winner-keeps-his-focus-on-future/ Saints’ Derek Fisher, a World Series winner, keeps his focus on future By Dean Spiros | Special to the Pioneer Press PUBLISHED: May 6, 2022 at 9:50 p.m. | UPDATED: May 7, 2022 at 10:16 a.m. "One of the great observations about baseball is that it’s the only sport where you can fail 70 percent of the time and still be considered a success. Saints outfielder Derek Fisher is among the many who can relate. Talented enough to be a first-round draft pick in 2014 and to reach the major leagues three years later, Fisher finds himself at the age of 28 still trying to gain a foothold in the major leagues. “I think everything happens for a reason,” Fisher said prior to the Saints’ 6-2 loss to Iowa on Friday night at CHS Field. “This game is extremely humbling for everybody at different ages and different stages. I think what makes baseball players appreciate the game the most is that we appreciate the people before us and what they’ve done, because we know how hard the game is.” Fisher spent at least part of the past five seasons in the major leagues, including four games with the Milwaukee Brewers last season. The Twins signed him as a minor-league free agent in December. While Fisher said he was able to stay relatively injury free early in his professional career, the past two years have been a different story. Included was a bout with COVID-19. “It’s made me appreciate the game more,” he said, “and appreciate the days you can be on the field.” The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Fisher, drafted by Houston in 2014, was on Astros’ World Series roster in 2017. He scored the winning run in Game 5 as a pinch-runner. “I got to play with guys who I had watched on TV,” Fisher said of the experience. “Guys I can definitely thank for the things I have learned. I was roommates with (Astros third baseman Alex) Bregman coming up all the way through (the minors), and we’re still friends.” The Astros claimed the world championship that season, and while Fisher cherishes his World Series ring, he’s more inclined right now to think about the future than the past. “We all have high expectations, and we’re all hard on ourselves,” Fisher said. “As we play we just want to keep getting better, and don’t look back at those moments. There will be a time and place for that, but for me that’s not right now. “I feel like I’ve played for so long, but I’m only 28. I still have plenty of time left.” A big man who can also run, Fisher said he can still do the things that made him a first-round pick. But he’s not the same player. “The mental side of the game has gotten really big for me,” he said. “Early in my career I was really honed in on mechanics. Now it’s just the feeling of competing when the lights go on instead of trying to be perfect. “This year has been a lot of fun, and I’m excited to see what happens.” BRIEFLY With shortstop Royce Lewis being called up to the Twins, infielder Kevin Merrell has joined the Saints from Double-A Wichita. Merrell signed as a minor-league free agent in January."

https://www.milb.com/news/saints-reel-in-sturgeon-from-wichita-yake-from-fort-myers Saints Reel In Sturgeon From Wichita, Yake From Fort Myers May 5, 2022 ST. PAUL, MN (May 5, 2022) - For the first time this season the St. Paul Saints are getting reinforcements from the crop of talent throughout the organization. Outfielder Cole Sturgeon, in his first season with the Minnesota Twins organization, has been assigned to the Saints from Double-A Wichita, and infielder Ernie Yake, in his second professional season, joins the team from Single-A Fort Myers. The 30-year-old left-hand hitting Sturgeon is hitting .266 with three home runs and 17 RBI in 16 games. Sturgeon has scored 13 runs, has two doubles, two stolen bases, a .342 on base percentage, and .438 slugging percentage. Sturgeon spent the last two seasons in Independent Professional Baseball. During the pandemic year in 2020 he played in the Constellation League for the Sugar Land Skeeters and last season he began the year with the Atlantic League’s Lexington Legends before being traded to the American Association’s Milwaukee Milkmen. He hit a combined .300 with 12 homers and 58 RBI in 2021. In 2014, Sturgeon was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 10th round out of the University of Louisville. He spent six years with the Red Sox organization from 2014-19, spending all of 2019 at Triple-A Pawtucket. Sturgeon had a solid season hitting .277 with 10 home runs and 43 RBI in 99 games. He scored 43 runs, roped 17 doubles, two triples, stole six bags, had a .334 on base percentage, and a .426 slugging percentage. At the University of Louisville, Sturgeon reached the College World Series as a junior and a senior in 2013 and 2014. The 24-year-old Yake returns to the Saints after playing in one game in 2021. This season he’s hitting .257 with four RBI in 13 games with the Mighty Mussels. Last season Yake hit .238 with three RBI in seven games at the GCL Twins. He went 0-1 in his lone game with the Saints. Yake spent five years at Gonzaga University from 2017-21, redshirting in 2017. During his redshirt freshman year in 2018 he was selected as a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American Team, WCC All-Freshman Team, and All-WCC Second Team. In 2019 he was an All-WCC Second Team selection. As a redshirt senior Yake was selected to the NCAA Tournament All-Eugene Team. In order to make room for Sturgeon and Yake, the Saints placed outfielder Jake Cave on the temporary inactive list (paternal leave). The Saints roster stands at 32 players with one Major League rehab player, Alex Kirilloff. The Saints have a total of 2 12 position players. The Triple-A maximum roster is 33 with 28 active during any given game.

Luck has zip to with it, they look at performance and stats. and make a decision from that knowing full well that odds may , or may not, be against them; whether the athlete can perform at a Major League level, is up to the althlete.

Keep Arraez OFF of third base, period.

Chemistry -- look at Sano without Cruz.

For what it is worth Major League Baseball Today on TV gave a shout-out to the Twins to make the play-offs.

I am as much an expert as any one posting here who is not involved in the business. I like what I like and you like what you like.

You said it not me, but he is simply not good; they should have kept Rortvedt.

Your opinion , believe as you wish.

Today's at BatsFull Player Profile 2nd: Jeffers struck out swinging. 4th: Jeffers struck out swinging. 6th: Jeffers struck out swinging. 7th: Jeffers struck out swinging.

Jeffers is not a good catcher, period and has no bat to make up the difference.

Dozier and Rosario used to thrive on first pitch hits, but from this game, it seems, both teams, that they did not hit first pitches that were right down the pipe, some times same for second pitch.

In his few at bats he has had 6K, 6BB and scored 4 runs; not sure why he is not doing better but they would do better to send Jeffers down for batting practice rather than send Garlick down. He is far better Left Fielder than Larnach who seems to be headed for DH, more often.

Your evidence he not first; oh yes, it's on the net, it must be true,?

Five days from now, will be a much better indication.

Twins need a better first line catcher; Sanchez has not played enough so we do not know how good he is here. Jeffers so far, is not a Major league catcher.

It is on the internet, it has to be true!?

Larnach is the worst fielder of the bunch, Celestino is definitely the best Center Fielder and Garlick is the best Left Fielder but Gordon is the most versatile. Time to send Larnach down to AAA, but Kirilloff has not done enough fielding to justifiy anything yet.

Kirilloff went 0 for 4 today so don't hurry ; at that, all Twins out-fielders at St.Paul are dropping including Cave.

That is not saying much, the supposed better of two very bad choices in left field.

Larnach started the screw-up that Detroit saved us from; he should have gone home although the Third Base coach should have told him to go, if , he did not. Bases loaded with one out is worse than a man on second and third with two outs, the former gives Detroit a forced play. Of course Larnach is far from fast on the bases.

I really would not remind any one of those games, especially the loss against the Athletics.

At the point I would not worry about it.

Neither is Jeffers.