Steven Buhr

If both these guys are playing games that matter by the end of the season and doing well, it will be a lot easier for Twins fans to smile during the off-season.

Great idea. I strongly suggest Saturday and/or Sunday before the Futures Game. Of course, that preference probably has something to do with my plans to be in the Twin Cities those days and then get the heck out of town Monday before the real craziness begins.

Sorry but there's no way Jorge's AAP thread shouldn't be elevated to the top of the list, so that's what I'm doing. Seriously... even if it's just for a few days, the guy got promoted from Class A to the Show! And Friday night, he had a 2 run triple in the 9th inning for his first Big League hit. It just doesn't get much better than this. Hip Hip Jorge!

I'm not willing to go through 2.5 years of "on the job" training for a catcher at this point. Suzuki's offense is not the issue. The issue is that he's getting credit from his pitchers for his handling of duties behind the plate and I believe that's an important consideration for a club that I hope to see being competitive in 2015-16. If you think the pitchers are full of crap with their praise and that Pinto would be just as good at that job because he gets similar "framing" scores, then ok. I just disagree.

Well and good, but you still didn't indicate who you think the Twins would use as their primary starting catcher next year and in 2016. Seems like Pinto and, if so, I just don't think the Twins are likely to do that at this point.

I think Pino was just a victim of unexpected circumstances. I would guess he would have gotten at least another start if they didn't need to clear room for an emergency reserve infielder. Because he wasn't going to be in a game over the weekend, his roster spot was the most dispensible without leaving them short on relievers who may be needed.

Yeah, I guess I just don't know why there's this concern over "buying high" when there is absolutely no shortage of money available. Even IF it turns out to be a mistake, the Twins aren't in a position where having even $5-7 mil flushed down a toilet keeps them from affording virtually anything else they want to do. Now, IF you believe trading Suzuki would bring in a legitimate high potential prospect or other valuable pieces to the near future success of the Twins, I guess I could at least understand that. I just think you'd be wrong about what you're expecting as a return for Suzuki. I'd also understand if you believe Pinto is a serious option to start at catcher the next 2 years. I simply don't think there's any indication the Twins see that as likely at this point, either. He's going to be a DH going forward with the ability to catch in a pinch. I don't expect Suzuki to maintain current offensive productivity levels two more years. I do expect him to perform near or slightly below his career offensive levels and I'm OK with that given the lack of other options.

If you want to tailgate in the parking lot for a couple hours, go for it! Doubt you'd need to get there quite that early, though, for a spot near the front of the line. Late change on the rotation for the weekend, btw. Romero has been DL'd so there will be someone else getting that start on Sunday. Will try to post here when I hear who it is. Update: team website showing Mildren as scheduled starter Sunday.

I doubt Suzuki would sign a 1 year extension for a "modest" raise. He's having a good season and could likely turn that in to a decent multi year deal on the open market. Of course, locking up security at mid-season eliminates risk on his part that he falls on his face (or breaks his leg) in the 2nd half and has no value in the offseason. I think a significant raise, maybe to $5-6 mil, for 1 year plus an option year will be what it would take for an extension and I'd probably do it at this point if I'm running the Twins and can get that deal done. The Twins have so much payroll flexibility for the next 2 years that even if the deal blows up in their faces, it wouldn't prevent them from being able to afford to add other talent. And, as others have said, there's really nobody at this point that you can realistically see becoming the next regular starting catcher over the next 1-2 years. I think Stuart will take until at least mid-2016 to arrive.

Thorpe tonight, Eades Sat, Romero Sun If you want Carew's autograph, make sure you're there well before the gates open Sat (5:30) and head straight for the autograph line (probably behind home plate on the concourse, I would guess) when you enter. They let season ticket holders in at 5:00 and Carew is only signing from 5:15 until 6:00. There are limits as to what he will sign. Here's the summary from the Kernels' website. Carew will sign autographs on the concourse from 5:15 until 6:00 pm. There is a limit of ONE flat item (8 x 10 or smaller) per person and he will sign ONE personalization (HOF 91, MVP 1977). Items 8 x 10 or smaller include standard photos or magazine cover (Sports Illustrated size), a baseball is considered a flat item. He will not sign equipment other than baseballs (helmets, jerseys, gloves, bats, etc.).

Really excited for Jorge! Would imagine that even getting a small taste of Big League life will just make him want to work all that much harder to get back up there after his cup of coffee is over.

Not sure and haven't heard. They haven't played at home since before the AS Break. He left Tuesday night's game with 1 out in the bottom of the 8th, so I'm assuming it was a single injury event.

Because, you know, the Kernels have just had way too much good luck this season, Mitch Garver has been placed on the 7 day DL with concussion symptoms.

sorry jokin, I thought I had answered your question. You're right about it being too soon to know since all 3 guys are still at A+ and below. I don't consider Vielma a utility type at this point. He's grown some and certainly has plenty of room to get bigger, since he just turned 20. I'm not sold on Polanco at SS long term, but I agree there's no point in moving him off SS at this point because he still has potential to play there. Not sure what Gordon will be like, but with so many scouts saying he can stick there, I'd tend to give them the benefit of the doubt. I like having 3 potential MLB level shortstops in the pipeline.

I think it's premature (and inaccurate) to call Vielma a no-hit SS in A ball. He's hitting .262 and has 11 XBH. Not an "offense first" SS, by any means, but considering he had an awful time hitting in the cold of April, he's been putting the bat head on the ball pretty well since then (.304 BA since May 1). And he just turned 20 this past Sunday. Given the issues the Twins have had at SS for, oh, the past couple decades or so, the last thing I'm going to be concerned about is having too many potential MLB level shortstops at Class A+ and below right now. These things tend to work themselves out as guys reach higher levels. I will say that it's been a long time (maybe in forever) since I saw a guy in CR as good at SS defensively as Vielma has been.

I suspect this is a place where Twins brass can see where Burdi measures up. Is he challenged or immediately dominant? The answer will determine when he moves up. I also suspect Van Steensel is nearing the point where he'll be considered for promotion. Just depends on what the bullpen situation in Ft Myers is, I guess.

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php/3154-Few-Silver-Linings-for-Kernels-Nick-Burdi

I think expectations locally were such that everybody knew it would not be a line up that measured up to last year's, but yes, it's been a letdown to this point. I do think there is more talent in CR than what they've shown. The starting pitching, outside of Stewart, was simply expected to be much better than it has been. I'm not sure there's a lot of help in that area still to be had outside of perhaps Gonsalves. By and large, the guys here now are going to have to simply pitch better. Not sure on Williams. He got off to a hot start his first couple games and then faltered. I'll be surprised if we see Gordon this year. More likely he starts in CR next year, as Buxton did. Then again, he's starting a level higher than Buck did, so who knows? I do know the Twins like Engelb Vielma, the current CR shortstop, and I imagine they want him to get regular ABs.

I'm pretty sure the Twins heard that Seth was planning on being in Cedar Rapids this weekend and that prompted them to get this deal done now so Burdi can debut this weekend.

June has not been kind to the Cedar Rapids Kernels. As a team, they’ve lost a dozen games this month and won just six. The first half of the season mercifully drew to a close a week ago, but the Kernels started off their second half season by dropping three of four road games to the Midwest League’s Western Division champions, the Kane County Cougars. Silver linings are a little difficult to come by for a team that most people expected to be led by their pitching when the season opened, only to find themselves with the 15th ranked team ERA (4.83) in the 16-team Midwest League. (This article was originally posted at Knuckleballsblog.com) There are a handful of bright spots as the Kernels begin the race for a postseason spot that would come with finishing as one of the top two teams in the MWL Western Division among the six teams that have not already qualified for postseason play. The brightest of those bright spots might be catcher Mitch Garver. So far in June, Garver is batting .364, has an on-base percentage of .500 and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 1.045. http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Garver2-469x600.jpg Mitch Garver According to TwinsDaily.com's Seth Stohs, heading in to this week’s series in Peoria, Garver is among the Twins minor league organizational leaders in batting average (2nd), on-base percentage (1st), slugging percentage (3rd), OPS (2nd) and home runs (tied for 4th with teammate Bryan Haar). Cedar Rapids native Chad Christensen has also shown he can handle Class A work. He is hitting .323 in June and has a .963 OPS. He’s had eight extra-base hits in the month, including four home runs. http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Christensen2-600x449.jpg Chad Christensen Christensen’s .299 batting average ties him for fourth among all Twins minor leaguers. But Garver and Christensen can’t win games by themselves. Most of the rest of the Kernels’ batting order have seen their hitting numbers drop considerably in June. The Kernels could get some offensive help as some of the hitters that have been idled by injuries begin to return. That process has begun already as outfielder J.D. Williams was activated from the Disabled List on Tuesday. Zach Larson, Logan Wade and Jeremias Pineda remain on the club’s DL for now. Larson, in particular, could provide an offensive boost if he can get healthy and return to a level of productivity he demonstrated in April when he hit .307 for the Kernels. Unless you’re a fan who worships strikeout numbers for pitchers, there has been nothing to complain about in starting pitcher Kohl Stewart’s performance thus far. http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Stewart5-600x449.jpg Kohl Stewart Stewart’s 2.44 ERA on the season would be good enough for fourth best in the league if he had enough innings to qualify (he’s one inning short, which should be more than met in his next scheduled start on Wednesday). Stewart has continued to lead the rotation with a 1.13 ERA in three June starts, with batters putting up just a .236 batting average against him this month. To find anything else resembling “bright” among the Cedar Rapids pitching corps, it’s necessary to turn to the bullpen, which has had its own share of ups and downs through the first half of the season. Todd Van Steensel perhaps represents the best of the “ups” for the bullpen corps recently. http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/VanSteensel3-600x449.jpg Todd Van Steensel Van Steensel has put up a 1.67 ERA since joining the Kernels at the end of April. He has struck out 35 batters in 27 innings of work and opponents are hitting just .179 off the right hander. Alex Muren has been among the team’s most consistent bullpen arms, assembling a 3.43 ERA on the year and a similar 3.48 ERA so far in June. This month, hitters are batting just .171 against Muren. He’s thrown 10.1 innings in five June appearances. All four runs surrendered this month came in one forgettable appearance on June 15. http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Muren3-600x439.jpg Alex Muren Brandon Bixler had two good months in April and May, but has been less consistent in June. He has a 3.13 ERA on the year and hitters have just a .201 batting average against him. He’s struck out 39 batters in 40.1 innings. Jared Wilson’s year has been similar to Bixler’s. Since joining the Kernels in mid May, Wilson has put up a 2.49 ERA and a .197 BAA (batting average against), while striking out over one batter per inning pitched. He’s been somewhat inconsistent in June, with three outings where he was almost unhittable and three others where he gave up almost an earned run per inning. The Kernels bullpen could be in for a boost, however. On Tuesday, the Twins announced that they had signed Nick Burdi, their second round pick in the 2014 draft, and that Burdi will be joining Cedar Rapids on Friday. Burdi, the closer for a University of Louisville squad that qualified for the College World Series, reportedly throws in the 96-98 mph range and is capable of regularly topping 100 mph with his fastball. Expectations for the Kernels coming in to the season were modest, but a seventh place finish in the MWL Western Division first-half standings was a disappointment. Garver and Christensen will need some of their teammates to step up their games and the Kernels rotation will need to start contributing more than three or four innings of solid pitching on a regular basis if the team expects to contend for a postseason berth in the second half of the year.

Beresford has certainly had a tough stretch his last 10 games or so. He's hit just .147 in that stretch, but hey, he's struck out just 3 times in 38 plate appearances in those 10 games so I guess we just hope some of the contact starts dropping in for hits again.

Frankly, I'll be surprised if Aaron Hicks is still in the Twins organization when spring training rolls around in 2015.

It will follow the same path as smoking bans in dugouts, etc. In 10 years it will be gone from public view on MLB fields. It's unfortunate that so many ballplayers will suffer the consequences of their "choice" in exercising this particular "individual freedom" in the meantime.

Hey if I knew why it was happening, I'd be a pitching coach! They've both had a few pretty decent starts, but there have been too many real clunkers, as well. The thing I have to keep reminding myself about is that there's a very real difference between the approach you take to "working on things" at Class A than at the Big League level (or even higher minor league, I suspect). Kernels SPs have 2 bullpen sessions between starts where they are working with their pitching coach on various things. Maybe it's a new grip on a pitch, maybe it's something in their mechanics, or whatever. You may tweak things at high levels, too, but I think you just work on things in your pen sessions and then go out and and just pitch when you get in games. At this level, the games are part of the instructional aspect. They're expected to go out during their starts and put in to practice the things they've been working on in pens, possibly much sooner than they would if winning games was the be all and end all of things. Not saying they don't care about the results. These guys really do. They hate losing. Most of them aren't used to losing. But they have to balance that with also working on whatever improvements their coaches are trying to help them make so they can be even better in the long run.