Jacksson

DFA Bell and get him off of the 40 man Roster. Play Caratini only at Catcher & DH. Trade SOMEBODY to the Cubs for Jonathon Long to play 1B.

Bell is not only bad and old, he is unable to play the position (1B) he was signed to play, relegating him to DH and pushing Larnach off of DH and into LF, depriving an OF opportunity to a better defensive outfielder. Bell is also overweight and S-L-O-W.

Observations: To begin the game with the bases loaded and no outs, yet come away with NO RUNS SCORED is an embarrassment ant a poor reflection on the coaching abilities of the Hitting Coach and the Assistant Hitting Coach. Additional hitting and situational hitting practice for the entire team is called for. Regardless of the scope of the lead, there is ZERO excuse for a reliever to enter the game, get 2 quick outs, then walk 2 batters and then give up a run scoring, shutout ending, RBI single before getting the final out of the inning. Extra bullpen session for Rojas with the focus on throwing STRIKES !! Additionally, the Home Plate Umpire' strike call pattern needs to be communicated to and shared with relievers entering the game. That is on the: Catcher, Manager and Pitching Coach. Outman has now reached Wallner's level of offensive performance. Lewis' offensive performance STINKS. Bell can clearly look down from .214 and see the Mendoza Line. Caratini has become the same level of offensive performer as the previous free agent catcher who was signed out of the Astros' organization for $30MM over 3 years. Kreidler is now tied for second place with Jeffers in team BA, behind only Martin. Of the Twins' 7 Strikeouts on the day, Bell had 3 and Keaschall had 2. Both must have found game conditions to be too hot and tried to cool things off by swinging at and missing pitches. Extra batting practice focusing on making contact for these two. For a player signed to play FIRST BASE, Bell sure "plays" DH quite a bit. FINALLY: Miami actually has a relief pitcher named Jo King, no fooling.

The light at the end of the tunnel was extinguished at the 2025 trade deadline. This spring the tunnel was sealed shut.

Find Matt and quickly sign him to a Major League Contract before another organization recognizes that he is an asset that slipped through the cracks. DFA Garcia.

Predictable, yet unforgivable loss. Inning #2 = 2 runs in, 1 out, Runners at the corners from: Walk, single, HBP, single. Gray hits a short fly to CF and Clemens is thrown out at the plate trying to score on the play resulting in an inning ending double play and leaving a runner on 1st. Inning #3 = 2 out, runner on 1st. Jeffershits a double to RF and Martin is out after rounding 3B too far after getting a STOP SIGN and the cut-off man throwing behind him. 3 Outs and a man left stranded at 2B. Inning #5 = 1 run in (go ahead run, score now 3 - 2), 1 out, runners at the corners, Martin ends it on pitch #3 after having taken 2 sinkers down and away for strikes by swinging at the third down and away sinker and hitting a ground ball 6-4-3 double play. 2 runners are left stranded. Bottom of Inning #5 = Now with a 1 run lead, SWR walks the lead off batter, HBP to batter #2 and then a double is hit by batter #3 on a full count ( batter started out 3 - 0) splitter down and away. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to batter. The runner on 2B is sacrifice bunted to 3B with now 1 out and SWR exits. Banda enters the game. He promptly walks the first batter he faces and gifts a HBP to the 2nd, to load the bases. After Wallner fails to take charge on a short fly to RF by calling off Keaschall, Wallner gets a forceout on the runner from 1B moving to 2B, AFTER allowing the runner from 3B to score. After contributing to a SB, to put both runners in scoring position with now 2 outs. Banda then throws 7 pitches to the batter, all out of the strike zone, yet the free-swing batter has a count of 3-2 for pitch #8. The low and away strike of a fastball, ends the inning with a short fly out to SS. Twins down 5 - 3. It took Banda 20 pitches to face 4 batters and get the 2 outs needed to end the inning. Inning #6 = Twins come out smokin'. Jeffers homers. Twins then trot out their offensive weapons: HBP, Walk, Sac Bunt, Walk to load the bases with only 1 out. Down a run, both Gray and Buxton strikeout swinging. For LHB Gray, he saw 3 pitches from the LHP, only the 1st was a real strike. He struck out badly on a sweeper down and away. Buxton, worked his count to 3 - 2 but missed a slider down to end his at bat. Inning #7 = Tying run in, 2 outs, runners on 1st & 2nd. After taking 2 down in the zone pitches for strikes, Caratini Strikes Out Swinging on a 2 - 2 count on a fastball down and away and out of the strike zone. Bottom of Inning #7 = After having worked a scoreless 6th, Klein comes back out and gives up a leadoff HR on a 3 - 2 count on a fastball down the gut, and the only actual strike the batter saw. After a ground rule double to left, Rogers come in to bail out Klein, with 1 out. Rogers starts off by giving up singles to the first 2 batters he faces which provides an insurance run to the Nationals, now up 7 - 5, before getting the final 3 outs of the inning. Inning #9 = Fittingly, Outman strikes out swinging on a 1 - 2 fastball right down the middle. The 3 pitches thrown that were strikes were right down the middle. Choke Artists for the day, though the state don't show it: SWR, Banda, Rogers, Wallner, Buxton, the 3rd Base Coach, the Bullpen Coach, the Pitching Coach, the Manager.

What are the Pitching Coach, Bullpen Coach, Hitting Coach and Assistant Hitting Coaches doing to justify having a job? I get the whole silk purse - sow's ear bit; but the coaches are supposed to be coaching up the "talent" we have AND if that pitcher/player ability just isn't there, the powers that be must be told so decisions can be made on whether or not those pitchers/players belong on this team's roster.

What an embarrassment. Both Topa and Garcia need to be DFA IMMEDIATELY, Should have DFA Garcia and kept Roa. Should have kept Kent also. Both Clemens and Wallner are looking up at the Mendoza Line.

ANSWER = Nobody - same trust level as the Bullpen.

Today's game resulted in not only a SAVE for Topa, but also earned him a "You Almost Pissed This Game Away" Award. Topa cannot and should not be used in high leverage situations. A review of the pitches called for by the Catcher as well as the location being called for as well as the actual pitch location is definitely in order for this guy by bothe the Pitching Coach and Bullpen Coach. Topa came in with a 4-1 lead the bases empty and all he had to do was to get 3 outs. His first batter made an out to 2B on a liner. He then gives up a single on the first pitch, low in the zone and down the middle on a sinker. After missing with a sweeper up and in to batter #3, Topa tries another sweeper, low and down the middle which the Jays' power threat deposits 401 feet away for a 2 run homer, just to keep the day interesting. With just 1 out, then Topa gives up 2 successive singles putting runners on 1st & 2nd in a 4-3, now game. If not for a nice inning ending Double Play on a hard hit ball just to the right side of 2B, with good effort by both Keaschall and Lee (as much as Lee's D is maligned, this was timed and executed perfectly). If not for the DP, the game might well have ended up tied. Other Game Notes: 9 Twins Strikeouts = Martin -2, Lewis - 2, by going 1-3 Clemens has raised his BA to over the Mendoza Line at .205, Lewis dropped his BA to .176, while Wallner RAISED his BA to .175, Outman didn't get an opportunity to bat and continues to sport an unworldly .129 BA. Rogers used 32 pitches to get through 2.1 innings due to giving up 4 hits, plunking a batter and pitching through 3 strikeouts, FIVE times hitters failed to deliver with RISP. Seen after the game: Outman's DFA still on the desk, Lewis' Option to AAA still on the desk, Wallner's Option to AAA still on the desk, Caratini Option filed away for the moment, the Who can we dump Bell on paper is still on the desktop. Order for Monday, extensive workout with ALL Batters on situational hitting, hitting in the clutch, strikezone awareness, identifying pitches and predicting pitching patterns will be held.

This loss is on Woods Richardson. The bullpen, for the most part, did their job. Seen after the game: a list of potential trade partners at the trade deadline for Josh Bell, DFA paperwork for Outman, paperwork showing options of: Caratini, Lewis, Keaschall and Woods Richardson to St Paul.

A 2 run lead. All that is needed from the bullpen is to get 12 OUTS. The THREE STOOGES OF THE BULLPEN TONIGHT, Topa, Garcia and Banda were only able to get 5 outs WHILE walking 2, giving up 6 hits, 9 runs and making a costly and inopportune fielding error (HOW MANY errors by Twins' pitchers so far this year??). Seen after the Game: A cake being delivered for Clemens to celebrate improving his BA UP TO the Mendoza line, a discussion between the team's medical staff and manager weighing whether to place Wallner (and Lewis) on the IL or to just option them to AAA. completed DFA paperwork for Garcia and Banda and Rogers, option paperwork for Topa, Orze, notes calling for TWO HOURS DAILY of fielding practice for all pitchers and all infielders as well as additional instructional time with all pitchers on not walking or hitting the opposing team's batters.

This loss is on Bradley. Problem must have either been emotional due to the return to Tampa or on the way the game was called by Caratini. You just cannot give up 4 Gopher Balls and 3 walks and have any expectation of winning. He only gave up 7 hits BUT 4 of those left the yard, EIGHT STRIKEOUTS by Twins batters and Buxton =2, Caratini =2. That's half the team's strikeouts by 2 players. Time to give Buxton a few days of riding the pine as he is not positively contributing. Until he gets his head screwed on straight, he shouldn't be leading off. I knew this game was a loss after the very first Twin's batter, Buxton, struckout. Both Clemens and Wallner are comfortably below the Mendoza line. Third inning: Leadoff walk. followed by Strikeout, Strikeout, Force Out =by Buxton. Fourth inning: Runners on 2nd & 3rd, NO OUTS. followed by Strikeout, Strikeout, then Lewis pops out to 2B on the first pitch. Ninth inning: 1 run in, down 6 - 2, runners on 2nd & 3rd, ZERO OUTS. followed by: Gray grounds out TO THE PITCHER on a changeup low and outside, Buxton STRIKES OUT on a high fastball barely in the strike zone after fouling off 7 pitches, Larnach grounds out to 1B on a fastball up and in. Offense is not good enough at this time to make up a 5 run deficit and as evidenced by a recent game; even if the offense did, the bullpen wouldn't be able to hold the game.

This loss is on Ryan. When you are the ACE, giving up 7 runs over 4 innings is unforgivable. There is plenty of credit for this loss to go around: Keaschall, Larnach, Clemens. 9 team strikeouts = Buxton - 2, Larnach - 3. Twins biggest offensive weapon = the other team's inability to throw strikes. The Twins received a total of 7 walks. While the Twins had 12 hits, Martin = 3, Lee = 3, Gray =2. 8 of the 12 from 3 guys. First Inning: Four walks load the bases and bring in a run, 2 outs, thanks to Bell popping out to SS on the first pitch which was up and out of the strike zone, Keaschall ends the inning and leaves the bases loaded by flying out to RF on a fastball. Second inning: Runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out, Larnach strikes out and Bell grounds out to 2B to end the inning and leave the runners stranded. Fourth inning: Runner on 1st, 1 out, Buxton Strikes Out, Bell singles in a run and Jeffers strikes out looking to end the inning. Fifth inning: With 1 out, Martin singles and Keaschall grounds into an inning ending double play TO THE PITCHER. Seventh inning: With runners on 1st and 2nd and 2 outs, Keaschall flies out to RF on a curveball. Eighth inning: METS, With runners on the corners and 2 outs, Banda comes in to pitch. All he has to do is GET ONE OUT. He walks the first batter then gives up a base clearing double, with the bases now with a runner on 2B, and the Twins now losing 10 - 7, Banda ends the inning by getting Soto to fly out to RF. Ninth inning: With a run in and the score 10-8 and runners on second and third with 2 outs, Larnach STRIKES OUT on a changeup. Four of the five pitches he saw were changeups. After the game in Shelton's office, on his desk were seen: DFA notices for Clemens and Banda, paperwork to option Keaschall and Wallner to St Paul, and instructions to the hitting coaches ordering extra work with Buxton and Larnach and Wallner.

Keaschall was the real Choke Artist today. Top of the 6th, 1 run in, runners at 2nd & 3rd, 2 outs and Keaschall pops out to 2B on a hanging slider up and in ON THE FIRST PITCH. Then, top of the 8th, bases loaded (1 walk, 1 single, another walk), 2 outs and Keaschall, with a chance to plate 2 runs, pops out to the Catcher in foul territory on a 4 seam fastball up and out of the strike zone. There was also the play in the field he couldn't come up with as well. Seven Twins Strikeouts on the day = Buxton - 2, Lee - 3. Sure seems as though Buxton is striking out a lot these days: either he has fallen in love with hitting the long ball or since the offense is struggling so badly, he's trying to provide all the team's offense. Such is the life of a relief pitcher, yesterday goes well and today, Topa blows the game. Rogers has to get 1 out in the bottom of the 8th. Bases empty, tie score. He walks the batter. Shelton yanks him and turns the inning over to Topa who just needs to get 1 out. He walks the first batter he faces, then gives up a single to put the Mets ahead 3 - 2. The damage done, Topa escapes further damage due to a diving catch in CF by Buxton. As stellar as that play was in CF, the defensive play of the outfield corners is just an embarrassment. Not only do they get poor jumps on balls in play, but they "run" like trucks. How could these guys, offensively and defensively made it to MLB?? But wait, the Twins have a chance to tie the game up again in the top of the 9th. They send Wallner, Lewis and Buxton up to bat and ALL 3 STRIKEOUT. Game Over. Have to mention that both Clemens and Wallner, having gotten a hit a piece, are streaking towards raising their batting averages to the Mendoza line: While both lewis and Lee are streaking to LOWER their averages to the Mendoza line. What are the Hitting Coach and the TWO Assistant Hitting Coaches doing to earn their salaries? What is Hawkins doing that justifies him being anointed the bullpen savior?