Halsey Hall

Having been at opening day 1961 and a fan ever since, this is the stupidest thing ever happened to the Twins.  Falvey best be ready for my ire when I get there in a couple weeks. I totally hate this move.  I wish Pohlads would sell.

All season long, there had been something nagging at the back of my head about seeing Bundy and then Archer - or vice versa - go back-to-back. Then John Bonnes finally pinned down the problem - they're the two most likely pitchers to have short starts.
Couple that with a crappy bullpen for most of the season and it's a continual recipe for disaster. You're burning a bunch of relievers to cover for two mediocre/bad pitchers and that makes it really hard to set up an effective bullpen.
These two should have been separated in the rotation months ago. The next off day should see Gray move up a day and wedge his starts between the two weakest links, giving the bullpen a little more breathing room in the process. Sonny has had plenty of rest this season, he can go on regular rest while everyone else shifts backward.

I understand there's only so much you can do. Unfortunately 2 of the worst bullpen pitchers remain on the roster as evidenced last night. What I don't understand is the reluctance to DFA players that just aren't worth keeping. Dumping Sanchez and Cotton, who just pitched reasonably well instead of Pagan and Duffey shows a lack of fortitude and IMO brains by the FO. Fulmer, Duran, Jax and Lopez can't pitch every game so the moves made will have limited effect.
Mahle pitches tonight so we'll see if the FO is as smart as they think they are since he is the guy they supposedly had been targeting from the get go. If he's your Game 1 starter in the playoffs we'll see how he does against the playoff caliber lineup of Toronto.

I think Correa is probably one of the most clutch Twin there is.

Archer retires 12 straight, so what’s the book say, Rocco?

Baldelli pinch hitting for Kirelloff just pissed me off at the time and it bit us in the end.

Ruesse is the best baseball writer the Twin Cities have ever seen.
I hope he lives and works to be Sid's age.

There’s a pile of money to be made on this team, as starting pitchers dictate.  Should of bet the house against Buddy.

I put the over/under on future Bundy starts at 2.5.
 
 

Really? Anyone? Do you really think nobody was screaming at the screen saying get Duffey out of there? I would have pulled him in the pen and not even had him pitch. I would have left in Smeltzer, who said in the post game he didn't want to come out, and Baldelli said that "was the plan, we talked about it the day before, so it didn't matter what lobbying Smeltzer did (not exact quote but paraphrased)." I would have an ultra quick yank on Duffey, because I was watching him pitch yesterday, and paying attention. But I would have had Smith ready as well, and immediately pulled Duffey after he gave up the pinch hit single to O'Hearn. And in comes magic man Smith for the one out, the single out, with the go ahead run, Twin killer Merrifield at the plate. But I would have had someone ready with a pecarious 2 run lead and Duffey on the mound, for sure. He was already at 17 pitches! And then I would have had Duran in the ninth for the save, because we were still ahead 2-0 (and maybe more because the offense would have been loser in the 8th and maybe scored with no outs and the bases loaded). Duffey would not have pitched to Merrifield. The big mistake and flawed part of "the plan" was not having Smith up and ready if needed. If he was, and Baldelli waited, Duffey doesn't pitch to Benintendi, and he certainly doesn't pitch to Witt, now with 25 pitches and the last 4 scared balls to Benintendi after an 0-2 count. Did Baldelli even get anybody out for the whole 34 pitches he watched Duffey throw? I can't remember. I was so livid by then. 
Ah......... the plan. The dreaded unbending rigid plan. These games matter, and should have more respect than the plan.

Larnach did spend hours more than anyone not named Jake Cave in the batting cages this spring.

Do we have a hitting coach?

Do we have a hitting coach?

Do we have a hitting coach?

Buxton will have a super year.  Reason - he now signs autographs with a bible verse.

Kepler, Kirilloff and Arraez worked out today, and signed a ton of autographs.  Max has buffed up and on a mission.

Happy New Year to all.  And many thanks to all that run this site.  I was to leave for Ft Myers tomorrow, but cancelled out Thursday.  Still hopeful for a spring training and will get there if there is. 

Happy New Year to all.  And many thanks to all that run this site.  I was to leave for Ft Myers tomorrow, but cancelled out Thursday.  Still hopeful for a spring training and will get there if there is. 

It’s with heavy heart I report that Big John Mele passed away.  A great guy and grounds keeper.  A friend of many players and fans.

No worries about offense tonight, 2 dingers already.

So there is finally a game on tv, and we are down a td in the second.  I may not watch much.

So there is finally a game on tv, and we are down a td in the second.  I may not watch much.

I was fortunate enough to sit and talk to Mudcat several times in Ft Myers.  He told me a lot of stories, some I’ll never forget.  I really enjoyed him, a great guy.

I was fortunate enough to sit and talk to Mudcat several times in Ft Myers.  He told me a lot of stories, some I’ll never forget.  I really enjoyed him, a great guy.

We need a pen tonight.