Rosterman

The good news, Duffey on needed 13 pitches in this game in facing six batters. Unfortunately five of them scored runs. Pressly gives up his first run. Humm, maybe the Twins needed to drag Rodney out again. Wait, Hale the new guy is long relief. Well, he ate up some innings and faced more threw as many pitches as Hughes, well almost. Duffey made me long for Kinley. Well, the Twins showed their bats can bang Reds pitching, but.....

Hughes was ALMOST the best guy pitching tonight!

Right now, who would they bring up that is better suited for whatever his role is in the bullpen. By the way, what is his role...to come in, worth men on base, and end the inning. Not working. Pitch mix/match? Is the film on him working for the other team? Is his velocity down? Better to work on it in the minors, in many ways. But if you choose between him or, say, Busenitz or Curtiss, who do you pick? The Twins are actually one plus in the relief corps now...but only if they felt the need for a stronger bench. Buxton coming back will show movement of a bullpen arm, perhaps.

At some point this season the Twins need a good look at Slegers, Mejia (althugh he is a lefty) as well as Enns to see if they fit into next year's plans. Not that Hale is necessarily someone that I would put stock in for sticking beyond 2018. So Hale will be the longman, along with Duffey. Or..."the guy who completes the game Phil Huighes starts."

He is NOT getting the job done. Yes, he seems to be putting on a show, being a character and everything, but if the Twins want to win...this is not the guy to call upon. Do we need a Fall Guy for this 8-game losing streak? I nominate.......

Yeah, we complain when he let's someone start an inning that they shouldn't. And now, in a possible win-win situation, he goes with his supposed best, the vets acquired in the off-season. Like Duffey, Pressly, Rogers and the ink are leftovers from last year and can't always be trusted. Does he know the bullpen? Rodney is NOT getting it done. I might've pulled Duke after he got someone on base. But who do I go to...an overworked Pressly, the newcomer Slegers, Hildenberger who needs to be shipped out, Duffey? Rodney is NOT getting it done. Rodney needs to be the backend guy, for now, until he proves otherwise. Let him do his show in non pressure situations (i.e. leads of 3+ runs). What is the feeling in the clubhouse, after this hard fought game where every out counted, every run scored was a chore.

But Molitor was named Manager of the Year in 2017.

Interesting. So the Twins would basically make him a free agent if no one claims him once they decide to send him off. But wait, maybe he IS better than someone we currently have. And he can pitch multiple innings, right? We are still considered plus-1 in the bullpen department, though. I would send out Hildenberger!

The Twins signed Castro to better the pitching staff. He still has one more season on his contract. The Twins knew he wouldn't hit a ton (and someone HAS to make outs in every game). So, as long as he remains healthy, he will get the starts. Garver seems to be Berrios catcher, for now, and that's pretty much it. He will be the limited use reserve this season (surprised he isn't worked into any extra inning games) and may see 50-60 starts next season. But yes, come 2020, the Twins will probably need to pick up a veteran backstop (Drew Butera should still be available) to split games with Garver. Of course, the catching situation is a mess beyond that. If Castro would go dowm, Garver WOULD get a chance to play most everyday, and he can't be any worse with the bat than Castro. But who comes up to sit on the bench and why? Are any of the catching prospects a fulltime catcher come 2021, say. We can hope. Also look for the Twins to use one of their higher draft picks this season for the catching position. We all complained about the old "pitch to contact" of the Twins of the past. Now we get a game of catch between the pitcher and the catcher while the guys in the field stand around watching pitch speed and pitch counts. Go figure. Castro IS producing as requested. Let him sit in the 8th or 9th spot and get his four at bats a game. The choice was made and he's here to stay, as no one will be tying to pry him away from us at the trade deadline. Hummmmm...suddenly starting to wonder about the Twins 40-man roster again. Who actually NEEDS to be on it, has a future, why are they being carried.

Somehow I had high hopes that the Yankees, early in the season, would be more beatable. But after the Rays disaster, and now this...talk about a tailspin. With the Reds around the corner, can the Twins rebound...just get thru five innings with each rotation starter?

Buxton back? Take a pick between LaMarre and Grossman. I know who I would pick. But, we still have an extra arm in the bullpen. Hildenberger will need more seasoning. Yes, it would be interesting to see Romero get his cup-of-coffee sooner rather than later. You can always send him down to work on some things. But then you still have to put Hughes somewhere. I picture management trolling out Hughes 2-3-4 more times until Santana pushes a decision. Bullpen usage. Need of Rodney as closer. Role of Suke. Can Duffy be the longman? Line-up construction. When Buxton comes back, move Dozier out of leadoff? Who bats third. Who is the clean-up hitter. Why are guys not doing anything getting potentially five at bats a game and Kepler or Escobar not? Should we be seeing a tad more of Garver behind-the-plate, or is that a "wait until next year" when they start phasing out Castro moment? What do players do during "cold outs?" Swim, interior batting cages, workout, play cards?

Well, I think coaching should talk to him before each at bat. Tell him NOT to chase things inside or down low, if at all possible, and if it seems like the pitcher is working in that arena. Force him to take pitches. Of course, you can't do that for the entire game, so have an at bat plan. Work on it, especially in the batting cage. Get his eye/ball coordination to focus on a few particular areas of ball flight. And come down hard, discipline him. Get rid of the free swinging. It will come back and keep happening, yes. But you have to lean on him hard. He may take a few more called third strikes, than swinging strikes. But he has to learn to swing at those balls that ARE in the strike zone, and totally zone out the others that look "tempting".

The twins also have to make decisions on Mehia, Enns and Slegers. Sure, it is "nice" to have starting depth, but can they pitch relief, or even long-relief. AT this pont I would rather see one of them at the backend that Kinley (sad to say). Enns is a question. Not doing great, but has possbilities...or if he doesn't, cut him loose. I'm sure the whole "value" thing is in play, and the Twins want to bring him up to see if he can produce at the major eaegue level because of the minor trade value they did. But at some point, if they guys aren't usable, you replace them with guys that are. Or figure out how to use them. Use Duke for one or two batters. But Rodney in setup or mopup until you are comfortable with him back in as closer. Pressly is doing better than Rodney, so is Reed. They both should be getting the ball if the Twins ever have another save situation. Yes, it is too early to panic, and the Twins can run thru Busenitz again and bring up Moya and use Curtis. But at some point, these names will be judged against Anderson and Reed and Melotakis and others, too. If the Twins are a competitive team, that is!

We should just be glad that Goncalves and Romero are showing so much promise. Remember, at the end of the season Santana, Gibson and Lynnn will be gone. The Twins will (hopefuylly) make a decision on Hughes. Depending on the quality of any of these guys, they might be able to flip them out for a solid prospect before the trade deadline or thru waivers in August. Next year: Berrios, Odorizzi, Pineda, May and build from there. Same with the bullpen. The Twins DID make some decent moves to bolster their pitching for a possible run at the Wild Card (if not the division). But they happily didn't tie into longterm contracts and we do know there are POSSIBLE arms in the system to work into the mix.

You hope it is just growing pains after all those days off and playing against some hungry teams themselves. But, yes, the pitching, which started the season well, is quite putrid. It is bad when the bullpen gives up more runs than the rotation, no matter how you look at it. And the offense. Batters protecting each other? Non-existent. Base stealing? Putting the ball in play (strikeout king Sano!). You want Sano to find a grove, Morrison to stop pressing..... Why not use Rodney and Duke in any of these blowouts? Not like they are the pressure guys fer sure.

So, do most of these guys live in housing supplied by the Twins (which would be great if ALL minor league systems did this...i.e. basically own a hotel with 30 or 60 rooms, food service capabilities, meeting rooms and a pool). Plus, they do have better off-field facilities than most minor league parks, right? It is great that the Twins share their High-A space in Ft. Myers, too. Easy to shuffle guys in for some real game experience. Plus great for players on rehab. Are there ANY restrictions on how many players can be in an extended training camp (which also operates in the fall)?

You would think that you would want your best 25 men on the field. Yes, you can always find exceptions. The veteran contract of Logan Morrison, the vet presence of Robbie Grossman. And anyone in the minors IS an unknown factor. How will they produce in the majors compared to great minor league numbers. You don't know until you try. But, yes, the Kinley fire is hot. We will make him the poster pitcher for our losses of Burdi, maybe still Bard, Chargois, Boshers (Boshers?). The Twins want to win. They really do. Yet they hang onto Phil Hughes. They filled the bullpen with rookie Moya (has great stuff, but...), a bashed in spring Hildenberger (the league caught up to him), and even though you can say the extra bench bat or the end of the bullpen guy should be immaterial, we see that the Twins do have a short bench (albeit the bench guys are performing better than their starting counterparts) and the bullpen has been called upon for more innings than necessary, especially considering how graet the starters were the first week. But then remember this is baseball, 162 games, day night, rain sun, cold heat. Better coaching, more powerful arms, swings out of this world. It is a long season. Sit back, enjoy. At least we aren't complaining about pitching to contact, although it seems the fielders are watching a lot of base-on-balls and strikeouts compared to season's past. As are the fans. In the end, the BEST are the winners, the others fall into their places, and the game goes on.

Fernando Rodney not available?

I think Reed is also injured. Yes, you can shuffle some bodies in and out, if you like. Enns (not doing well) does need another look at some point. You could always grab Slegers or Mejia as bullpen strength, too. Hildenberger is an asset but should go and work somethings out in the minors. If the Twins get Bard back, that could be a plus, although he's not on the 40-man. Jorge is injured. Romero needs to stay in reserve for pitching on a double-header day, or if the Twins do give up on, say, Gibson at some point. Still early. I still think something has to be said for letting pitchers start innings that they shouldn't, overall bullpen usage, and something has to jumpstart the offense. Line-up construction is out of whack!

These things are always a gamble. You saw it with Perkins. You saw it earlier with Mays and Blackburn. You can always look bigger, the Joe Mauer contract. Of course, if Joe was going to catch into year 35-36-37 and you didn't need to find, say, a Castro to replace him...then it looks pretty good. Name WONDERFUL more than 3-year contracts the Twins have signed with players!?!

At worse, Moya becomes a situational lefthander. Give him some time at AAA. Actually, would've been nice to see him in the Arizona Instructional League. He is a work in progress. Had the stuff, now needs to know how to use it.

Angels are cutting Luke Bard. If no one else claims him,the Twins can have him back for $50,000. They can also see if the Marlins will take Kinley back and get $50,000 in return. They have a fireballing 27-year-old in the minors who isn't on the 40-man, then, plus a newly opened roster spot for...what...who knows. Yes, switch out Hildenberger, too, for someone. We need a relief pitcher who can go two innings. Wait, we have Taylor Rogers. No to a third catcher. Molitor doesn't seem to fear the Gardy rule of having Escobar catch if both are used in a game and the second one up is injured.

Luke Bard was cut by the Angels. If he passes thru waivers, do the Twins reclaim him for $50,000 and stash him at Rochester?

Molitor got the reserves to play: Grossman, Garver, Ehire and LaMarre started. Stayed a close game. Low pitch count meant you tried to get 7 out of Gibson, but is it really necessary top push starters anymore. The two kids were horrible. Luke Bard cut by Angels. Should the Twins pay $50,000 to get him back?

Luke Bard has been cut by the Angels. If he clears waivers, do we keep him in the system for a $50,000 return? I say YES! We could even afford to cut loose Kinley, have an open roster spot. What ya say?