IndianaTwin

Pitcher made a not too well throw to second, but they had plenty of time to make the turn.

The late start is letting me get some laundry done. Washing some teddy bears and some towels. Fortunately I know when to hold them and know when to fold them.

Taking advantage of the freeness on MLB.tv. Now I understand why people complain about Span. He’s almost Gladdenesque in his command of the English language. Lee had a “not too well throw”?

That triple call is one of my least favorite official scorings. Wallner didn’t touch it, so they have to call it a triple, but if you are going to dive for that you have to have it. To me that’s an unearned run.

I said, “Someone’s going to say ‘consistent,’ and it was the first word used. Loved hearing Carew say, “Minnesota.”

The way I describe to friends how special she is is to say that she’s turned Mrs. IT into a basketball fan. By now, she nearly out yells me when we’re watching games.

Seven assists in the first quarter?

What channel?

I was waiting for this. It’s about as low-hanging fruit as one can get.

On vacation recently, we went to a Dire Straits-themed restaurant. Had to pay money for muffins, but the chips were free.

To clarify, you're disagreeing with Rocco, not me. I specifically said that I may not agree with his thought process. But it's no biggie to me either, it just leads into the rest of my comment. --------------------- I suspect that in some of my posts, I come across as a Rocco fan. What some have called a Rocco apologist. In actuality, I'm not sure I have a strong opinion on Rocco either way. But my general thought process on him is: Rocco is smarter than me. He also has information that I don't have. Every move Rocco makes is intentional. He doesn't make decisions without a thought process (and to anticipate a comment, I think considering "hunches" and "feel" is part of his thought process, including considering whether or not to go with that hunch). Given Nos. 1 and 2, when there's a move that I wonder about (and Vazquez DHing is an example), I try to consider things from every angle I can imagine and try to figure out what that thought process might be. In response, sometimes I say, "Hmm. I hadn't thought that, but it makes sense." And I enjoy the process of considering something from a new angle. Sometimes I post my thoughts. Sometimes I say, "Okay, that's defensible, but I'm not convinced." Sometimes, but probably not as often, I post my thoughts. Sometimes I say, "Hmm. I still can't think of anything." If I post anything, it's probably in the form of a question. In the case of Nos. 5 and 6, I tend to revert to No. 1. That may or may not work for others, but it works for me.

Besides, in a truly ideal world, Vazquez doesn't hit anyway because the Twins have rocked the lefty so bad the Giants brought in a righty by the time they got to the No. 9 spot. I can wish.

I posted this in a different thread, but it makes more sense here: Jeffers is nicked. At least he was during the Chicago series. He was pinch hit for on Monday night and was noticeably limping on Wednesday. If that's still case, it makes sense to bring up Camargo rather than Julien. However, based on past experience, the desire to actually play Camargo is minute. Starting both Vazquez and Jeffers is a way of maximizing right-handed batters. DHing Vazquez allows the opportunity to pinch hit for him. If you DH Jeffers, you can't pinch hit for Vazquez without a) losing the DH by bringing in Jeffers to catch; b) bringing in Camargo's -36 OPS+ (SSS) to catch. See first paragraph. Having Camargo available does provide an emergency catcher if you pinch hit for Vazquez and then Jeffers goes down. People may not like that. I may not even like that. But there is a defensible explanation.

Jeffers is nicked. At least he was during the Chicago series. He was pinch hit for on Monday night and was noticeably limping on Wednesday. If that's still case, it makes sense to bring up Camargo. However, based on past experience, the desire to actually play Camargo is minute. Starting both Vazquez and Jeffers is a way of maximizing right-handed batters. DHing Vazquez allows the opportunity to pinch hit for him. If you DH Jeffers, you can't pinch hit for Vazquez without a) losing the DH by bringing in Jeffers to catch; b) bringing in Camargo's -36 OPS+ (SSS) to catch. See first paragraph. People may not like that. I may not even like that. But there is a defensible explanation. EDIT: Apologies -- I'm way off thread.

That's why Vazquez is listed as the starting catcher, even though Jeffers has more than 50 percent more plate appearances. So many of Jeffers's plate appearances came as a DH. You may have heard somewhere, perhaps even in a post or two* on Twins Daily, that Vazquez starts a lot of games. *Or 12,000 or so.

Interestingly (at least I think it's interesting)... Baseball-reference.com lists a team's stats by position, using the number of games someone has played AT THE POSITION. Even if Castro becomes the full-time 2B for a time and continues to play every game, it will be well into August before he shows up in the starter section. That's the epitome of a utility guy, leading the team in plate appearances, with 12 percent more than the next guy, and still not being listed in the top group.

Yeah, I wasn't explicit in noting that I was referring to the possibility of having 20 starts at each position. I think four positions is realistic by covering a few off days for Buxton and Correa, but it will be hard to reach 20 at 3B with all the other options there. His last start there was May 16, and he still needs 10. Said another way, I hope he doesn't get another 10 starts at 3B, because that means something's happened to at least two of Miranda, Lee and Lewis.

I could see him getting two at SS and four in CF, but with Lee, Lewis and Miranda, I doubt he'll get 10 more at 3B.

The only way I'd see him playing multiple positions is if they want to have fun and let him play all five. I doubt that has happened before. As you note, there's only one other 2B on the roster, however, so it's doubtful they would do that. Pete Rose played five different positions in ASGs (1B, 2B, 3B, LF, RF), but not in a single game.

1. Twins Talk Tweet: Castro “worked effortlessly.” Where can I get a job like that? 2. Does Falvey/Levine/Baldelli get any credit for finding a diamond in the rough?

It also eliminates the possibility of using Ober on Sunday if they wanted to use him instead of Paddack, which they could have done with the Thursday off day.

Yes. Currently 2.5 games out of the race, and they've shown themselves to be willing to spend even when they shouldn't. But if they do fall out of the race, I'd rather have Ottavino. Much more of a track record. Has a 1.106 WHIP over the last three seasons. ERA is lifted by 1 run thanks to a single outing. 3.25 K/BB ratio. Free agent after the year, so not as expensive.

One can only imagine the angst present on Guardians Daily. "How can we be legitimate if we are only 5-5 against the dregs of the division?"

Yes to a reliever. Or at least to someone they can use in relief. Ober and Lopez start the two games. It won't be Boushley, who is pitching tonight. I suppose there's a slight chance it could be Camargo, if they are concerned about Jeffers foot and the possibility of Vazquez needing to go 18 innings.

Carry on, friends. I’ve got a 2.5 hour drive back to Eastern time zone. Thanks, all, for a fun time.