Hosken Bombo Disco

Had it the whole way

God I miss these

The Twins sit at 8-10 through their first 18 games. The Twins are in a much better spot than last season, but considering that opening series sweep against Kansas City, the Twins have been heading in the wrong direction recently. The Twins begin a six game road trip in Texas tonight. I want to get my hasty thoughts down for the upcoming week. There's not a lot the Twins can do about the starting pitching right now (yes there is, but anyway), so I will set that aside. There is also specific information we do not have access to, as fans. However, in my opinion, there are four general things I would like to see the manager do this week to improve the team's present and future outlook. Here they are, as addressed to Molitor, in no particular order (except for the number one thing, which is unquestionably the number one thing, in my mind): # 4 : Hold the outfield together. Rosario-Buxton-Kepler should start all six games. They will not need rest, as there is a day off after each series. If you feel compelled to make a starting lineup substitution, then it needs to be Grossman, and probably as a right fielder. Kepler can move to left field or DH. # 3 : Move Mauer down the order. These are the players that should be batting ahead of him: Dozier, Polanco, Grossman, Sano, Kepler. Against a lefty, Mauer can sit (Hamels pitches Wednesday) and Vargas can slip into that sixth slot as a RHB first baseman. I liked the early lineup experimentation, but things are coming into a little more focus. Polanco and Grossman are OBP machines. Take advantage. # 2 : Manage pitching changes as if it's August. Manage them as if the Twins are in a pennant race, too. I understand it's pretty slim pickins out there, but there's no need to bring in a guy like Breslow to face a guy like Castellanos, as you did on Saturday. Granted neither of those two has a strong platoon split, but mind the splits anyway. Also, I like how you used the mop up guy for three inning stretches when necessary. Tepesch is that guy this week. # 1 : Let Buxton bat. This might be the week Buxton gets on track. Do not pinch hit for him, do not pinch run for him, do not ask him to bunt. In fact, tell him not to bunt. Just let him hit. The Twins have played mostly afternoon games to this point. Oddly, the Twins have played one night game on the road so far. It is April, and it has been the cold weather schedule. Beginning tonight, they will start their normal schedule. They will play three consecutive night games, followed by a day off, followed by two more night games this week, and then the Sunday day game before heading home for an evening series beginning Tuesday. These are good conditions for establishing a routine. Often, teams do not take batting practice ahead of day games. I'm sure Buxton is being coached well and doing tee work and getting swings off the machine. It's the real stuff out on the field where he needs to be this week, standing tall (DeRosa), and keeping his eyes on the ball (Reynolds). Lots of repetitions. Minimum distractions. Sound mechanics, same approach, swing after swing. Then into the clubhouse to think about it, grab a bite, get dressed, and get ready. Let him carry his batting practice work into the games. Buxton was slotted third in the batting order to start the season, a show of confidence. Removing him from a game for a pinch hitter is probably a contradictory message. Imagine if Buxton is allowed to bat in those late innings and comes up with a big hit, instead of being pinch hit for. That might be the biggest affirmation of his work and confidence boost of all. Tell Buxton he has 12 plate appearances in Texas, and 12 more in Kansas City, and as long as he's doing things correctly, there's no pressure to change or make it all up in that first at bat. He's got 4 at bats tonight, 4 tomorrow, and just go out there and do it. Unless of course the Twins clobber the starting pitcher tonight, in which case he might get 5 at bats. Or 6, if it really goes off the rails. Go Twins!

Seriously though, congrats to Chi-Wei Hu

Haha good one. I see what you did there, but he pitches for the Rays now.

Cedar Rapids won in extra innings Friday night, April 21, by a score of 4-3. The Kernels scored the winning run in the bottom of the 12th on a base-on-balls, followed by two wild pitches, and finally a fly ball single (pulled-in outfield?) to bring the run home. Poppen's line: 6 IP, 6 hits, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO It's another nice pitching line, but compared to his first two starts, Poppen labored. - Poppen loaded the bases in the top of the first with nobody out on a single, single, and hit batsman, but got help from a ground ball double play, allowing just one run to score. - Poppen allowed a run on a walk and two singles again in the third, and then a double and a single in the fourth brought home Kane County's third and final run. - Poppen held Kane County hitless in the fifth and sixth. - There were two "singles to pitcher" in the game, and Poppen apparently made a throwing error on one of them. Unknown whether they were bunt hits, or what. Anyone know? (My plan is to stop through Cedar Rapids a couple times next month and see him pitch in person to fill in some of the grey areas.) - Poppen faced 27 batters, struck out 7, for a game K% rate of 25.9 The one walk and seven strikeouts pushes Poppen's BB:SO ratio to 2:22 in 20.2 innings pitched on the season.

Tepesch probably is the right choice for right now, though he will draw a collective yawn, at best.

It must be hard to pull yourself away, but I'm glad you are going to try anyway...

POTD

Here's the kicker, in the Twins interview this morning, Gibson said he's not going to change his approach.

And Dozier gets in on the sh*t-show

Good pitches by Gibby on 0-2 and 1-2, unfortunately V-Mart is a pro and has seen it all before

Gibson: also great at holding runners!

My thoughts on the shin-high pitch Gibson threw to Avila: "So many pitchers have been down in the zone that hitters have started to adjust over time. It’s a product of being down there so long that hitters have made the adjustment… [Mike] Trout will hit balls that are shin-high 450 feet like it’s nothing,” Odorizzi said. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/tampa-bays-cult-of-the-high-fastball/

Our beloved Twins are back.

Joe Hustle

Miggy Hustle

that's similar to the "prick" pitch that a pitcher named Berardino used to throw a couple years ago

DanSan fires a strike to the plate! *not sarcasm

The red uniforms! Where are you, my red-uniform-loving brethren? http://www.buildyourmarriage.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/group-cheering.jpg

ye of little faith

I am glad the Meija demotion happened sooner rather than later. Completely aside from his pitching, he has no mound presence and is not finishing in a fielding position. These are things he can work on and think about in AAA.

For the record I don't think Shaggy should be called up yet. But if he's healthy and pitching in AAA games, I don't see why he couldn't be since he would be taking the spot of the lowest guy anyway.

What's the right number?

Minor league depth who are healthy and ready to be called up right now, today: Starter: Berrios Reliever: Chargois bench bat: Vargas (who btw is a first baseman, which Sano isn't)