wsnydes

That'll work. I'm demanding though, so I want more!

Atta boy, Kep! Provus basically called it, too!

Nice 1st for Pineda.

Ok Twins, SHOW ME SOMETHIN'!

That appears to be standards protocol, yes.

So, what you're saying is that he hasn't regressed enough?

*golf clap*

That could have gone better...

At least Garver isn't leading off.

Falling... ...in the form of light rain.

Y'know, he's there for a reason.

Absolutely right. This was the original intent coming into the season, so why would anything change? If you play Kirilloff at 1B, then you need a LF. If you play Arraez in LF, then you need another utility guy. All of this while Sano rots on the bench? Making changes just creates an issue elsewhere, so why deviate from what you wanted to happen in the first place? That's how the roster was constructed going into Spring Training.

I don't think it's a coincidence that they are getting healthy and suddenly putting up runs again. Couple that with Garver and Kirilloff coming alive and suddenly the offense looks about like what we expected it'd be. It's only one series, but a good early and important test for both clubs. Good to see our squad come out on top. Hopefully, they can build on it and get the bullpen figured out.

On the bright side, Kirilloff has awakened!

I was thinking that Cave would be gone when Garlick and Kepler came back, but I see why that's not the case. They're basically short an backup at 1B or in the outfield until Sano comes back. I know that Arraez can play either in a pinch, but I don't think that's ideal. Perhaps that's the corresponding move when Sano comes back?

Agreed. I think this series of moves says far more about Jeffers struggles and Kirilloff's approach than anything or anybody else. It says little about Astudillo. Though, these moves show the value that he does bring to the roster.

I was thinking the same thing, barring an injury in the near future. There are younger, better with higher upside prospects waiting in the wings.

Hopefully, now that they're finally getting healthy, they can put together some offense. The bottom half black hole lineups are depressing.

Maybe. It could also be an acknowledgement that Jeffers needs more work and should be playing every day, which he should be. The timeshare approach at catcher clearly wasn't working. It was likely detrimental to both Garver and Jeffers. Astudillo doesn't need to play every day. I'd say that it's a bigger vote of confidence in Kiriloff since Rooker was sent down.

Keep making good contact and the hits will come. Hitting rockets right at people doesn't do much for the batting average. Not having been in real game action since ST doesn't help anything. Let him get his feet wet, play every day and see what he can do at this level.

I'd disagree that I'm on the other side of the coin. I'm not even on the coin. I'm allowing the team to adjust and try to improve itself before I decide what they are. I'd be saying the same thing if their record were reversed. You've already decided on an outcome. You're correct, this team hasn't shown anything that justifies expectations. So far. The frustration and pessimism is definitely reasonable at this point. I don't really consider myself to be optimistic. While I don't think they'll be a team that wins only 38% of their games, I'm not convinced that they'll come close to the expectations of many. I've always thought the White Sox would win the division anyway. All I'm (and I believe Brock) are saying is that people should allow a team to get into a season and evolve. Still a lot of games left...for better or worse.

Over the long run, yes, some believe they'll be better. You're taking a small snapshot of a long season and broadly applying it to the whole season. What were your thoughts after the first week of the season? And what I, and I believe Brock, are saying is that we don't really know what this team is going to be yet. They really don't even have an identity. The season is so young that people need to let the team figure out what they have that works, what is not, and make adjustments accordingly. What you're seeing right now is not what you will see later in the season. Players will be brought in. Players will be shipped out. Players will play better. Players will drop off. The end result may very well be the same, but we don't know that yet. Just like we don't know that they'll be better. That's the same for every team. That's why the don't hand out playoff spots in April. Could this be what the team is? Sure. Is it possible that they tweak some things and start playing better? Yup. Could it get worse? Entirely possible. We've got such a small sample size that nothing can be determined yet. They're 23 games into a 162 game schedule, not even 15% of the way through. Buxton isn't going to keep hitting .438. As you said, that's how baseball works. Anyone can catch fire or go ice cold for extended periods of time (see Sano, Miguel). Sustaining those for a full season is more difficult. I understand the pessimism, but it's a bit early to write anyone off. Especially in this division. I don't think they're celebrating a division title in KC yet. Still a long way to go. Apologies if that got preachy. That is not my intent.

FWIW, I don't know what you're getting at either. It's not even May, no team knows who they are yet. Everyone is trying to figure something out. Some more than others, obviously. The season doesn't end tomorrow, so whatever it is that a team is today, doesn't mean that that is what they'll be at the end of September.

This is probably just as much the case for the Twins too. This will be an important early season series for both teams, in my view.

I agree completely. The only way the Indians and Twins remain contenders is if the Sox don't go on an extended run. I think it's very likely that they do though. Especially since their two main competitors for the division are so flawed.