LA Vikes Fan

I actually like Danchat's betting strategy. I used to bet baseball and stopped because it became a bit too much of an obsession rather than fun. Last night's bet did seem like a slam dunk for the Yankees but even if you lose you win because then the Twins win the game. Works for me. I'm thinking about tonight's game. Danchat, which of the online services is the best?

This actually answers a question that I had- is Buxton as bad a DH as it looks? Seems as though he is. I have to think playing 2 out of 3 games in CF is a better way to go with him. Some guys just have a hard time as a DH. Buxton May be one of those guys.

Yankees -1.5 runs, money line is Yankees -157, Twins +136. O/U is 8.5. Seems like the Yankees should be bigger favorites. What am I missing?

Please dear God, no. Same guy. Hot streak then disaster. If he's stays this good through end of July? Maaaaybe....

Wow, ugly matchups. I guess that's what one has to expect form a team down its #1, #2, #3, and #6 starters. I just hope we can find a way to win 1 game out of 3.

I tend to agree. His knee is robbing him of the three things that make them so special, his speed, defense, and power. It's an unusual combination and it requires a good base to pull off. He just doesn't have that base now to either run or form the solid back side while swinging. I'm not sure though that putting Buxton on the IL makes room for Kirilloff though. Assumedly, Celestino would have to play centerfield on a daily basis and you still have the logjam at !B, LF and DH if you bring up Kirilloff. Maybe that frees up a few more DH at bats for him but that's about it. I think the real choice here is between Larnach and Kirilloff, one up and one down, losing Garlick, demoting Miranda, or exposing Gordon so both Larnach and Kirilloff off can be on the team. Before the season I would've said that's an easy choice, simply lose Garlick. But with the way he has hit LH pitching this year, it's hard to not keep him around. Three weeks ago I would've said that's an easy choice, demote Miranda, and then Miranda turned into one of our best hitters over the last three weeks. The bottom line may be that Kirilloff failed to perform when given his opportunity and he will simply have to wait until someone gets hurt or goes into a prolonged slump before he gets another.

Assuming he's really back, there shouldn't be that big a problem finding him ABs. Essentially, we have 7 players for 3 positions if he returns - Arraez, Larnach, Kirilloff, Celestino, Sanchez (when not C), and Garlick, Miranda or Gordon (one of those three has to go to give Kirilloff a spot) for 1B, DH and LF. I would Catch Sanchez 4 days a week, Jeffers the other 2 (or even consider moving Jeffers to AAA to work on his hitting), but not DH Sanchez when not catching. That leaves Arraez, Larnach, Kiriloff, Celestino, and Garlick or Gordon for LF, DH and 1B. Arraez plays only against RH pitching with Kirilloff at 1B and Larnach in LF or DH with Celestino getting the other. Celestino plays CF when Buxton sits/DHs and occasionally in RF for Kepler. Garlick starts as the LF/DH against LH starters with Arraez at 1B and someone from the Larnach/Kirilloff/Celestino/Miranda group in the LF/DH spot. There is a path to playing Kirilloff 4-5 days a week. The losers here are Jeffers becoming the true backup Catcher, Larnach not playing every day, and either Garlick, Mirnda or Gordon gone with the other two not getting anywhere near as many at bats. That means you only do this IF you think Kirilloff will play/hit better than Gordon, Miranda, Larnach and Jeffers. Where it really becomes crowded is when Lewis is ready to come back. he frankly has played better at the MLB level than Gordon, Larnach, Kirilloff, Garlick, Miranda and Jeffers. Lewis should have first call on ABs over all of that group. Good problem to have but injuries will probably solve it for us.

At the risk of wading into the deep end, I just don't get this one from the players. One of the players was stating that his refusal to wear the patch was a "faith based decision". I don't know what his faith is (none of my business) but as a Christian, his faith must be something other than Christianity.

You have to think an IL stint is coming for Duffy. I watched him yesterday and he couldn't throw strikes with his curveball. The Jays just didn't even consider offering at his breaking pitches. They then jumped all over his fastball, even if it was 94 with some movement. He can't pitch his way out of this.

I'm not a huge Baldelli fan but I actually see him trying to react to the lineup issues. He called for a sacrifice bunt in the late innings today and he is definitely trying to manufacture runs with Correa out and Buxton and Polanco both hurting and not hitting. I think he's done a decent job with an undermanned bullpen. Overall, I'd give him a B/B- for the year so far. Not great, but not bad.

I think Polanco is playing hurt with a bad ankle. He doesn't complain but you can see him favoring the ankle when he gets fooled on a swing. I could easily see him going on the 10 day IL either when Correa comes back with Arraez moving to 2B and Miranda the full time 1B, or when Lewis comes back. It would probably be the best thing for him,

Agree both that Oakland and Cincinnati would want Lewis AND agree that that's a hard NO. Pretty much anyone else should be available except Miranda on the prospect list. How about Celestino, Larnach or Kirilloff plus SVR, Sands or Balazovic? MLB ready bat plus higher end pitching prospect. Or the reverse, Ober plus Martin or Steer? Young MLB starting pitcher plus higher end prospect? Unlikely we trade for either one unless the FO really believes they can sign them to a longer term deal. This team is fun, but it isn't one starter away from WS contention this year. Better to play this year out with who we got, with maybe adding a bullpen piece, and then see if one more starter could take us really into contention. If so, make a move over the winter.

Excellent summation. I do think that Ober and either Winder or Archer can hold down the ##4 and 5 spots once Gray and Ryan are back. Good luck until then. Bundy and Duffy need to be gone, I would actually start Celestino in LF - CF when Buxton sits or DHs - and make Larnach the LH DH. I'd like to see what Celestino can do playing every day. He would improve the defense and Garlick is out so why not? Hit him 8th or 9th and add some speed to the lineup.

Whew! More exciting than we needed. Can't blame the manager, Duran got hit by a line drive. No way he could pitch the 9th once the bruise set in. Smart of him to use the challenge to buy time for the reliever to warm up with Duffy imploding. Besides, that same manager brought a AAAA squad to Canada and beat the Jays 2 out of 3. Seriously, does Duffy have any options left? He should go to AAA, not Cotton.

Ok, well. I guess we now know why the team wasn't rushing to get Hamilton up here.

I can see Archer in the bullpen but not until Gray, Ryan, and Winder are available to start. Right now all we have is Ober, Archer and Smeltzer to start.

We may be witnessing Bundy's swan song. Once two of Gray, Ryan, and WInder get back one of the starters has do go by DFA or into the bullpen. I'm guessing Bundy goes on the IL after today assuming Ryan can come back for the nest open start - next Thursday against the Yankees if I'm calculating right. Archer hasn't been great but he's looked better than Bundy.

I don't know about you guys, but I am enjoying the ride so far. I just have to be careful not to think this team is better than it actually is for my own emotional health. I think this is a solid team, not great, not even very good, but very solid. Should be a very fun summer and I think we have a better than 50/50 chance of being in the playoffs. Who would've thought that after last year? Let's face it, we are one guy short in all three major categories and we need a top-end guy in each. The starting rotation is a #1/2 starter short, the bullpen desperately needs two late inning arms (I think Alcala can be one of those two), and the offense desperately needs a middle of the order bopper or for Buxton to be that guy and a high OBP guy to add. The fun part about the rest of the season is that we may actually have or be able to trade for or develop all of those guys. We have the prospect capital to get a Frankie Montas type starter, relievers tend to be the one thing you can trade for at the deadline and get actual help, and between Lewis, Miranda, and maybe even Kirilloff, we might have that extra middle of the order bat or high OBP guy we desperately need. Who knows, maybe even a miracle will hppen and Miguel Sano will come back with a .260/.325/.550 second half and be that middle of your bat. Stranger things have happened. Hey, it's been fun so far. It could be a fun summer baseball for this team.

20 pitches for Duffy and can't get through the 7 8 9 hitters without walking someone.

Book on Duffy is easy. Lay off the curve since it probably won't be a strike, wait for the fastball.

Remind me, why is it that we keep sending Cotton to AAA? Looks like he can pitch at this level.

Anybody hear anything about an early diagnosis on Urshela.

With the "free movement" on the 40 man due to the unvaxxed guys not being able to enter Canada, can we now send Chi Chi down tomorrow and call up another reliever? He isn't staying after this "emergency" 3 inning gem any way.

Can we get 5 innings of 4 runs or less from Chi Chi? The Magic 8 Ball says ... Not Likely....

Not as big a deal as it could’ve been. Surprised about Kepler but I guess this may help him get through his leg issues by resting until Tuesday. Gonzalez’ start looks like a throwaway start but I’m very interested to see if Hamilton pitches well. If he does, he has a real chance of being added to 40 man and being brought up right away or later in the season. I kind of wish I we could find a way to get Spencer Speer a look right now since watching Polanco play makes me wonder if an IL stint may be coming up soon. He is completely off.