IndianaTwin

Based on the discussion from earlier this week, I assume we’re okay with that?

Could they have come back? Sure, But even if the new reliever shut down the Astros, they have six outs to get two runs against Pressly and Hader. Could they do it? Maybe, but I’m guessing the likelihood is quite small. On the other hand, Winder is going back to St. Paul by Tuesday when Paddack comes back. By giving Winder the second inning, they go ahead and save someone for Saturday. In fact, it fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if Winder is back down after tonight’s game, meaning that giving him the second inning tonight actually means that two relievers will be fresher tomorrow than they would be if someone else came in.

Nine.

Apologies if this story has been shared — it’s the middle three innings, so I’m listening to the Astros radio. Apparently Lee’s dad’s favorite players were Brooks Robinson and Lou Brock. Dad wanted to name his son after one of them, but didn’t think “Brock Lee” would work well.

We don’t.

Twins record is nine — Oliva, Mickey Hatcher and Todd Walker. EDIT to add: Also Mauer.

I like it when the other team has a regular starter and then it turns into a bullpen game.

“While he wouldn’t commit to anything concrete, manager Rocco Baldelli did say that Paddack has responded well to his extended break.” —From the Twins injury report on mlb.com

Listening to MLB Audio and one of the promos was for the app, asking about the term “payoff pitch.” The voiceover defines it, they use a classic clip with the term, and the voiceover says something about listening to every game as a way of expanding your vocabulary. Yep. As I listen to Gladden, I hear words/pronunciations I’ve never heard before. Last night, he showed that it’s possible to pronounce a word “correctly” and still botch it. Atteberry was promoting relish-flavored ketchup, saying the tagline that “it’s a big dill.” Sure enough, when it’s Gladden’s turn, we get, “Relish-flavored ketchup. It’s a big deal.”

I don’t disagree. Just curious whether such a list would take care of staying within range of where they are this year or even pull off one more starting pitcher.

Gotcha.

Unless I missed it, no one has noted that he’s fourth in bWAR on a team that’s on pace for 91 wins. It’s hard to do that and not be worth $15M.

I think he earned both the promotion and the demotion. He pitched well enough to get the opportunity when Paddack needed rest. He showed bright spots, but not enough to stay. In the long run, it's nice for him to have gotten a looksee, experience the bigs and get some reinforcement of what he needs to work on. The team split his two starts, so it didn't really cost them.

With a corresponding move the other direction? I think I heard the Twins say they wouldn't use off days to get extra starts for people, but if you're going to do that, now is the time. With a bullpen game on Monday, they could get to the All-Star Break while still resting Paddack: 30th: Ryan 1st: Off 2nd: SWR 3rd: Festa 4th: Ober (today) 5th: Lopez 6th: Ryan 7th: SWR 8th: Bullpen 9th: Ober 10th: Lopez 11th: Off (to celebrate my mother's 92nd birthday) 12th: Ryan 13th: SWR 14th: Ober If they indeed bring back Paddack for the 8th, he'd get the 13th, SWR the 14th and Ober isn't needed until after the break. I'm not sure it's worth it, unless Paddack truly isn't ready to go.

Yes. I didn't go into the detail of looking for who would get that short-term gig, but you've named a couple possibilities.

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.)