Don't Feed the Greed Guy

Hey all, Just in case you start counting Andrew Alber's scoreless inning streak, the record for consecutive scoreless innings to start a major league career is 39. Brad Ziegler posted that number for the Oakland Athletics from May 31 to August 14 of 2008. I think Caleb Thielbar went 20 innings without giving up a run to start his career. Thielbar did set the record for consecutive scoreless appearances as a Twin. Albers is currently at 17.1 scoreless innings. Any idea of when the streak ends? Predictions?

A chip on his shoulders and a large set of... Oh, never mind.

All I hope is that someday Buxton leads the league in on-base percentage and runs scored, and Sano fills the leaderboard with RBI's. Then we can argue about who's the best.

Absolutely! Hicks is not longer the "sure thing" he appeared to be out of Spring Training. He's batting .209 in AAA with only one extra base hit. Position switches--even from outfield to infield and vice versa, can occur at the MLB level too, ala Robin Yount and others. We know Rosario can play at the keystone postion eventually. Let him break in at his natural position, then Buxton can push him back into the infield in two years. Also, back to the three-headed middle infield, why can't Rosario play a few in the outfield while Dozier and Florimon team up. Let's keep the band together!

Check out this dynamic duo! Nicky Punto and Danny DeVito celebrate Punto's second homerun of the year, as the diminutive DeVito was sporting Punto's #7 jersey. Awesome!! It seems Punto is finally getting some Hollywood cred after being thrown under the MTC here in Minnie! (click on the post-game interview) Danny DeVito really likes watching Nick Punto play (Watch) - MLB - Sporting News

I think there will be enough innings and at-bats for a three-man middle infield of Dozier, Florimon, and Rosario. We have been waiting for this sort of talent, and it would be a crime to trade away one of the three before we see what we've got. Dozier is sitting on 692 major league at-bats. We won't see him "seasoned" as a professional hitter until that number reaches 2000. I can see him mature into a J.J. Hardy type of middle infielder with a consistent on-base percentage over .300, with twenty or more dingers. He's on that pace right now. He could slide into the DH spot on days when Rosario and Florimon are in the starting lineup, or he could be a solid pinch-hitting option in the late innings. As for giving Dozier another shot at shortstop? I think we've got our shortstop of the future already. Pedro Florimon is putting up better offensive numbers than Ozzie Smith displayed over his first four seasons. (The Wizard of Oz---the gold standard for MLB Shortstops) Florimon leads the American League in Total Zone Runs and Range Factor among shortstops. Florimon also has only 431 major league at-bats, and has room for a modest offensive upside. Still, Dozier could slide over to SS to give Florimon a break. Finally, I think we will need a shortstop with dynamic range with Miguel Sano at third. Sano has a cannon arm, but his range is a bit more suspect. Florimon helps solve that issue. Dozier and Florimon aren't eligible for free agency until 2019. Rosario's clock isn't even ticking, yet. Why wish away what we've already got--a solid middle infield for years to come.

Call: Either the Twins score on something other than a home run, or that walk means we're due for one more Twin killing.

Double play, a pitcher's best friend. Pelfrey's Best Man. After all, it's a beautiful summer afternoon for a Saturday wedding.

I nominate a Jared Burton/Brian Duensing bobblehead with the words, "C'mon, Punch Me!" carved in the base. Picture, if you will, Burton's fist as it connects with Duensing's bobble.

"Who knows how many pitches lurk in the arm of young Kyle Gibson? The Shadow Knows....Mwahahaha!" Pioneer Press scribe Mike Berardino recently asked Kyle Gibson if the young pitcher knows when he will be shut down for the remainder of the 2013 season. It appears, based on Gibson's response, that the Twin's 2009 1st round pick has no idea when his last start will be. Berardino quotes Gibson: "I'm sure (Twins officials) have a plan," Gibson said after coming within one out of a quality start in Friday afternoon's 7-5 win over the Chicago White Sox. "I think they have a number in mind. Once I get there, they're probably going to back me down and say, 'Hey, that's enough, and get ready for next year.' " So who knows? Does Gardy know when he will be summoned to the mound one last time, hand outstretched to take the ball from the talented right-hander? Umm, no. "That's coming from offices other than mine," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I'll let them tell me. What their thought process is, I'm not sure. We'll sit and talk about it as we go along and make a decision, but first I'll talk to the general manager." The Shadow knows. He sits behind home plate with his hat brim pulled way down low. Stopwatch in hand, the Shadow counts seconds, pitches, innings, and intangibles. The Shadow in this saga, Terry Ryan, remains eerily silent on the subject of Gibson's innings limit. Perhaps he wants to avoid the mess that Washington National's General Manager Mike Rizzo created by announcing Steven Strasburg's 160 inning limit last year. There is some debate whether Rizzo or the media created the controversy. Y! SPORTS So, two questions: 1. Do you really believe that Gibson and Gardy have no idea when an innings limit will be reached? Again, according to Berardino, Gibson says, regarding his innings count, "I think it's probably going to be somewhere around 150, 160, but I have no idea," he said. 2. Is that good strategy? "The Shadow Knows... Mwahahaha!"

"Who knows how many pitches lurk in the arm of young Kyle Gibson? The Shadow Knows....Mwahahaha!" Pioneer Press scribe Mike Berardino recently asked Kyle Gibson if the young pitcher knows when he will be shut down for the remainder of the 2013 season. It appears, based on Gibson's response, that the Twin's 2009 1st round pick has no idea when his last start will be. Berardino quotes Gibson: "I'm sure (Twins officials) have a plan," Gibson said after coming within one out of a quality start in Friday afternoon's 7-5 win over the Chicago White Sox. "I think they have a number in mind. Once I get there, they're probably going to back me down and say, 'Hey, that's enough, and get ready for next year.' " So who knows? Does Gardy know when he will be summoned to the mound one last time, hand outstretched to take the ball from the talented right-hander? Umm, no. "That's coming from offices other than mine," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I'll let them tell me. What their thought process is, I'm not sure. We'll sit and talk about it as we go along and make a decision, but first I'll talk to the general manager." The Shadow knows. He sits behind home plate with his hat brim pulled way down low. Stopwatch in hand, the Shadow counts seconds, pitches, innings, and intangibles. The Shadow in this saga, Terry Ryan, remains eerily silent on the subject of Gibson's innings limit. Perhaps he wants to avoid the mess that Washington National's General Manager Mike Rizzo created by announcing Steven Strasburg's 160 inning limit last year. There is some debate whether Rizzo or the media created the controversy. Y! SPORTS So, two questions: 1. Do you really believe that Gibson and Gardy have no idea when an innings limit will be reached? Again, according to Berardino, Gibson says, regarding his innings count, "I think it's probably going to be somewhere around 150, 160, but I have no idea," he said. 2. Is that good strategy? "The Shadow Knows... Mwahahaha!"

Brian Duensing, the best Twins bullpen punching bag since Ron Davis... "And the hits just keep on coming..."

Absolutely. The 2013 draft may also be seen as a precursor for the post-Mauer era, with catchers Stuart Turner (round 3), Brian Navarreto (round 6), and Mitch Garver (round 9) all signed. It will be interesting to see the Twins moves at catcher over the next five years, until Mauer's contract expires, at the end of 2018. The Butera trade broke up the logjam. If nothing else, it brought good flow to the development of Pinto, Herrmann, and the heirs apparent in the lower levels.

Regarding Pat Dean: I saw him pitch on 7/11 when he shut out the Trenton Thunder over 7 2/3 innings, while giving up 6 hits. Dean was lucky. There were several line-outs, and finesse plays behind him. You mention that he leads the Eastern League in hits allowed... Sounds like a minor league version of Carl Pavano or Carlos Silva. I hope Mr. Dean develops one more pitch that helps him to miss bats. By the way, he's super nice guy. My boys (eight and ten) got his autograph and he posed for a picture with them after the game. I wish him the very best.

You may be getting ahead of yourself by projecting Albers as an innings eater in the Twins rotation. But, if you are right, I'd love to see Albers (lefty) follow Deduno (righty) in the rotation. Deduno's "effectively wild" fastball, followed up by a junk balling lefty might make a nice tandem. On Tuesday and Wednesday it will be Albers, then Deduno.

The crappy garage sale image works. Nice writing. Tables full of macrame and decoupage.

trolling

Hopefully Scott Diamond's demotion means that Andrew Albers will finally get his ticket punched to "The Show." According to Lavelle E. Neal, we will know more on when the Twins, we will know more on Friday.Minnesota Twins swept by Royals; Diamond, Hicks demoted | Star Tribune I saw Albers pitch in Buffalo on July 3rd. Albers went 7 innings, striking out six. He surrendered five hits, no walks. One of the five hits was a solo homer by Kevin Pillar, a vastly underrated prospect in the Blue Jay's system. I posted this about Albers 7/3 start on the minor league update: "Albers was awesome! Kevin Pillar's home run was a nice piece of hitting on a pitch low in the zone, and away. Pillar dropped the head of the bat down and connected. Pillar finished the game hitting .382, after going 2 for 4, which means that Albers made a quality pitch to a quality hitter. Nice matchup between two talented players. We should eventually enjoy watching them face each other again, and again, in the big show." Uggh. I too, am noticing that the M & M guys (May & Myer) aren't on this list...

I respectfully disagree. With Sano at 3rd, the Twins will need a ++ defensive shortstop with great range. That may be Florimon. Twinstalker is correct in stating that "Florimon's bat can be hidden, on the Twins he's just another hole in the lineup." That's the 2013 Twins, for sure. But a 2016 lineup will include Mauer, Sano, Rosario, Arcia, Buxton, Hicks AND a seasoned Florimon with over 2000 mlb at-bats (he has 414 now). For the same reason, I like Dozier as a platoon option at short and second. He has 640 mlb at-bats, with some offensive upside--certainly more than Florimon. Dozier was .298/.370/.409 over four minor league seasons. By 2016 he could be a legit pinch hit option too. Now, Rosario as an outfielder... This makes sense once or twice a week, or 30-40 games a year, depending upon the defensive assets/liabilities of Arcia, Buxton, Hicks and a fourth outfielder (Herrmann? or other catchers in the system being groomed to play in the outfield and behind the plate.) Bottom line: Florimon, in my opinion, is a keeper. Ranking first (AL 2013) in the following defensive categories: Assists, Total Zone Runs, and both Range Factor metrics. He's also second in double plays turned as a shortstop. Let's keep him.

"Deduno is a unique and unconventional case." This also serves to break up the "look" of a rotation, creating adjustments from game to game for opposing hitters. Thanks for the article, Nick.

IF the Pohlads and Terry Ryan can't get over their love-fest with Ron Gardenhire, then I think Guillen makes perfect sense as a bench coach, if he's willing to accept the position. Tactically, I think Gardy is the better manager than Ozzie, but Ozzie brings the intangibles that Gardy can't match, including a cultural bridge. Our view, through the media, is that Guillen has long taken a shine to Gardy and the Twins way. The whole "gist" of the Reusse article is that the Twins management can benefit by bridging the potential cultural gap between their present management and their emerging talent base. Given the dust-ups in the minors, that just makes a whole lot of sense. Pbannu's suggestion (one I blogged about months ago) would be a visible commitment to building that bridge.

Not a chance... Well, Mike Pelfrey gave the Twins a chance today, as their most seasoned hitter was on paternity leave, but c'mon, can't we at least field a major league roster? It's fun to see two or three position prospects try to make a major league roster. Aaron Hicks, Chris Hermann and perhaps Pedro Florimon fit the prospect label. But Doug Bernier, Clete Thomas and Chris Colabello hardly fit the prospect mold. Here's a chart showing the disparity of minor league versus major league at-bats among six of the Twins players that Ron Gardenhire penciled into today's starting lineup: [TABLE=width: 500] Player milb at-bats mlb at-bats Clete Thomas 2743 549 Doug Bernier 3187 9 Chris Colabello 3024 (818 affiliated) 34 Chris Herrmann 1753 40 Aaron Hicks 1783 256 Pedro Florimon 2556 395 totals 15,046 1,283 [/TABLE] The old adage is that it takes about 2000 major league at-bats, or about 4,000 (mlb & milb) professional at-bats to round out a seasoned hitter. Today's lineup had six hitters with 1283 COMBINED major league at-bats. At 4603 at-bats, Justin Morneau has three and a half times as many at-bats as those six combined. That's not just fielding a young team of hot prospects. That's not just throwing in the towel, a baby blanket--or two for the twins. That's waiving the gray-haired flag. A Weaver two-hitter, facing this Twins lineup, is no wonder.

Not a chance... Well, Mike Pelfrey gave the Twins a chance today, as their most seasoned hitter was on paternity leave, but c'mon, can't we at least field a major league roster? It's fun to see two or three position prospects try to make a major league roster. Aaron Hicks, Chris Hermann and perhaps Pedro Florimon fit the prospect label. But Doug Bernier, Clete Thomas and Chris Colabello hardly fit the prospect mold. Here's a chart showing the disparity of minor league versus major league at-bats among six of the Twins players that Ron Gardenhire penciled into today's starting lineup: [TABLE=width: 500] Player milb at-bats mlb at-bats Clete Thomas 2743 549 Doug Bernier 3187 9 Chris Colabello 3024 (818 affiliated) 34 Chris Herrmann 1753 40 Aaron Hicks 1783 256 Pedro Florimon 2556 395 totals 15,046 1,283 [/TABLE] The old adage is that it takes about 2000 major league at-bats, or about 4,000 (mlb & milb) professional at-bats to round out a seasoned hitter. Today's lineup had six hitters with 1283 COMBINED major league at-bats. At 4603 at-bats, Justin Morneau has three and a half times as many at-bats as those six combined. That's not just fielding a young team of hot prospects. That's not just throwing in the towel, a baby blanket--or two for the twins. That's waiving the gray-haired flag. A Weaver two-hitter, facing this Twins lineup, is no wonder.

Great numbers for Hicks. Are you suggesting that he should stay at the bottom of the order? Since the Twins lack a legitimate leadoff threat, perhaps it would be better to try his hand at leading off again during this testing period (not afraid to lose over the second half) rather than next spring.

Aaron Hicks, improvement at the plate. I'd like to see him at the top of the order again, just to see if he can handle it now.