IndianaTwin

After last night, I wonder if Festa will get another start in this stint. Paddack would be eligible to come off the IL by the time that spot comes up Monday. That spot comes up twice (8th and 14th) before the All-Star Break. Assuming Paddack has had the rest he needs, I would make that change.

Sorry, that's what I meant -- four outs' worth of hitting, and he was eight spots away. Would have indeed been fun. But this way he can always tell his kids that he would have had six hits, but the game was called early. 😀

With where they were in the batting order with two outs in the eighth, there's a good likelihood he wouldn't have had a chance. But then again, the way the Tigers were pitching...

Or in the case of suspended game which will be picked up later, such as if a) the game was tied at the beginning of the inning and is still tied or the visiting team had taken the lead; b) the visiting team had taken the lead in the top of the inning and the home team hadn't finished the bottom; or c) the home team had tied the game, but not yet completed the inning. (So you can see why suspended games are pretty rare -- it takes several things to come together to make it happen.)

Nuanced addendum: If the home team has taken the lead in the incomplete inning, though it's effectively a walk-off situation, all stats still count, even if the game has continued on. Example: Visiting team is leading 5-4 after 5 1/2 innings. If the home team scores six in the bottom of the inning and the game is not completed, everything counts, even though if it was a normal walkoff situation, play would have stopped when they took the lead.

Confirmed with a person who knows the scoring rules as well as anyone short of Stew Thornley -- if the game is official and the lead hasn't changed in the inning the game is called, everything to that point counts.

I like how 64 is hitting it square, about eight days a week right now.

The MLB Audio plan is much better. They have at least five or six commercials.

Looks like it would be a good day to pull out my "I Miss the Metrodome" t-shirt.

Interesting exercise, including how it plays into the trade deadline. Over the last couple years, we've noted how the Twins have started the season with six starting pitchers with at least some experience, recognizing that it is almost a certainty that someone will be hurt. That meant sliding Ober into the rotation early last year and Varland this year (replacing DeSclafini). That's been a good plan. Similarly, I've observed that last year and this year, they began with about 16 "legitimate" hitters. By "legitimate," I mean with some level of MLB experience. They are reluctant to have a true rookie above about No. 15 on their roster. I think that's been a good plan. The presence of Margot and Farmer, for example, meant they weren't forced to keep a Wallner and Julien on the MLB roster when they struggled. I think shooting for 16 hitters is a good plan as well. With that in mind, I don't think there's enough time (barring injury) to get Severino or Rodriguez enough at bats to be above Nos. 15 and 16 on the list, so I've struck them from your list of 13. Even if they get a few at bats this year, I don't think they would count on them for an Opening Day spot, even if it's because that means they don't want to see someone with no experience (Kiersey/Prato/Helman, etc.) in the 15/16 slots. That leaves 11 on your list. I agree with your implied assumption that Farmer, Kepler, Santana and Margot won't be back. If we slot Severino and Rodriguez at Nos. 15 and 16, that means spots 12-14 are left. In that context, I think there is a place for Julien, if he continues to hit and gets at least some time back for the Twins. I agree that Kirilloff is a non-tender candidate. Either way, there is still one or two roster spots open. To that end, good as this overall list looks, I think there will still be at least one Farmer/MAT/Solano/Margot-type "veteran presence" added to the roster. (Note: I'm not saying this is the way they should do it -- I'm just thinking this is the way they will do it.)

At the very least, I anticipate an active winter on TD discussing permutations...

Paddack is under contract. Assuming his inconsistency this year has been the remnants of TJS recovery (and I'm of that mind), he's in the top 5.

I was having the same thought while listening to last night. If Lewis is back by even Aug. 1, that's a 20-25 game audition. These things have a way of working themselves out, so I don't get too anxious about this, and it's a good problem to have, but it does create an interesting situation with Lewis and Lee if Lee shows himself better defensively. The assumption has been that one of them will transition to 2B, but Lee didn't play there a ton and Lewis played none (or virtually none). Teams tend to give the incumbent his job back when returning from injury, but I'm not sure it's that clear cut.

This isn’t the purpose of the article, but when you add a rotation of Lopez, Ryan, Ober, SWR and Paddack, backed up by Varland, Festa, et. al, followed by Duran, Jax, etc., they already have a pretty impressive floor. This assumes letting Farmer, Santana, Margot and Kepler go, all of which seems likely. What would that make the payroll?

With a penchant for rotating through the DH and with where things are now, I’d list Miranda at 1B rather than Julien.

It all depends on the return. I can’t see them taking on the contract for someone like the Phanatic, even if he was available, and guys like Billy the Marlin do nothing for me. Wally the Green Monster would need a position change to be a Limestone Monster. Remember, too, that he’s a 10-and-5 guy, so he’s going to have to approve a trade. Aside from Colorado and maybe Seattle, I don’t see many climates a bear is going to accept. I think they are stuck with him. If they are going to make a change, I’d rather let him walk as a free agent. They aren’t going to give him a QO, and he’d probably accept it if they did. Why don’t they bring up Shucks from Cedar Rapids and let the young guys play? He’s some sweeeet corn.

1. Unless you have reason to have a seat “inside the fence,” when you get to town, your first stop is the grounds where the ceremony happens. Put out your blanket and lawn chair to reserve your spot. We put ours out around 9 a.m. on Saturday morning and were still back a ways. It will be safe until Sunday. 2. Visiting the Hall is great, but it will be very full on Saturday. If you have the ability to visit earlier (even Friday) or later, you will likely have a more enjoyable experience. If Saturday is your only option, by all means visit, but know it will be packed. 3. Cool as the ceremony is, the Saturday is evening parade was even more enjoyable for me. Particularly read point 3 in my blog from the Oliva induction for more than explanation. 4. Have fun!

How can we ever win a one-run game if they keep extending leads?

First job out of college was as a sports reporter and a local volleyball team had Nicki Miller, Nikki Miller and Niki Miller.

Going to take a little nap on the couch after this game before I head to bed. It’s my snors d’ouevre.

Can’t really bring myself to root for said team. Best I can do is to say that I wouldn’t mind if they don’t lose tonight.

Would be interesting to see if a particular menace made that name fall into disfavor, with parents not wanting to put their kid through elementary school with that gift.

Bringing new meaning to Mar-gone.

And if you live in Bulls country, including northern Indiana, Paxson and Jordan. Don’t remember anyone naming their kid Rodman, however.

I hear he doesn’t do those.