yarnivek1972

Pressly has allowed 9 of 29 inherited runners to score. By way of comparison, Taylor Rogers has allowed 4 of 26 inherited runners to score. Regarding Duffey, no, he has not been "very good all season". 8 times he's allowed more than one run in an outing, almost 20% of his appearances. IMO, that is very poor.

So, looking at the bullpen chart, I see 3 guys available tomorrow, maybe 4. Belisle, Rogers and Busenitz should be good to go. Duffey threw 19 today (ineffectively), but hadn't pitched since the Monday doubleheader before today. He's the guy on the fence. I suspect he'd be called upon if the game turns south to go an inning or two. Hildenberger has worked 4 of the last 5 days (granted just 1 pitch yesterday). He's out IMO. Pressly threw 25 today. Out. Perkins pitched today. I highly doubt he ever pitches back to back again as a Twin. Out. Curtiss has thrown almost 30 pitches in the last two days. Out. Good thing Monday is an off day. It's amazing. Actually, it's sickening. 8 fricking relievers and it still isn't enough. 13 pitchers. 6 or 7 that I have confidence in right now. Not exactly a good ratio.

The bullpen as it is currently composed is about as poor as it has been all season. Belisle is the default closer and he has earned it, but he's far from a "shut down" closer. Rogers seems to be wearing down some. He came out of the Break horribly. He seems better since the Twins cut his workload. But problematically, the Twins have no other reliable LH reliever. Believe it or not, I think the Twins will be very happy when Buddy Boshers is back. He's holding LHB to a .583 OPS, which is in line with his career mark (Rogers is .639 in 2017, but is about the same as Boshers career wise). Duffey, I don't even know what to think. This is the 4th time he has given up 3 or more runs in an appearance this season. It is the 8th in which he has given up more than 1. That's almost 20% of his appearances giving up at LEAST 2 runs. By contrast, the oft maligned Belisle has given up more than 1 run in just 5 of 50 outings. Only once since July started. Have to go back to mid June to find the second to latest time Belisle's given up more than 1 "earned" run in an outing. I'm starting to think Duffey simply isn't a MLB pitcher. Given all the shuttling that has gone on this season, it's surprising he hasn't been one of the guys shuttled. Hildenberger is an odd case. He has "reverse" splits in that he has been far more effective vs LHB. Usually side armers would have "normal" same side splits. Obviously, extremely SSS, so we'll have to see how that continues to play. Curtiss throws hard, but is too green to be expected to fill a key role. Same really with Busenitz. Although he seems up to the task. His K rate has picked up as he has gained experience. He had just 4 K in his first 10 IP. 10 K in the 12 IP since, which is more in line with what "we" expected. At some point, as with all pitchers, hitters will adjust to what he is trying to do to them and then he will have to show he can adjust to what hitters do differently against him. Perkins' stuff just doesn't fool hitters anymore. Pressly, much like Duffey, has great stretches and then stretches where he is just brutal. Nearly all the damage done against him was in a two week stretch in April and 5 days at the end of May. Of course, he probably more than others (anecdotally), gets bailed out by others in the pen, saving him runs. So, there's basically 3 that the Twins have reasonable confidence in (Belisle, Rogers and Hildenberger) and one more that is trending well (Busenitz). 2 of them made their MLB debuts within the last 10 weeks. Another made his last year. Concerning, to say the least. At some point, the Twins need to seriously consider giving Michael Tonkin another shot. One can't hardly pitch much better than he has in AAA this year. He's been particularly effective against RHB and with runners on. 41 K in 111 PA with runners on this season (between AAA and MLB). That's impressive IMO. Plus, he's far more experienced than Busenitz, Hildenberger, et al. If, and that's still a big if, the rotation holds together for the next 5 weeks, it is going to be extremely difficult for the Twins to hold leads with 3 or 4 reliable relievers without wearing them out. IMO, this is not the bullpen of a contending team.

I think most people would say that Curtiss hasn't earned the right to pitch in a one run game yet. And that most would have said so before the move was made.Curtiss threw 13 pitches yesterday. Hildenberger threw 1.

Day game after a night game. On turf. No way was Mauer going to play the field last night AND today.

A hit? Seriously, fielding percentage is now a worthless stat. The ball hit him in the GLOVE. That play has to be made!

From yarnivek's facebook feed, Today in Twins History: Eight years ago today I attended my final game at The Hubert Horatio Humphrey Metrodome. The Twins won in walk off fashion but it was otherwise a thoroughly ugly and forgettable game. Something called Armando Gabino made his first (and only) MLB start. It did not go well. He lasted 2 2/3, gave up 5 hits, 3 walks and 4 runs. He was followed by the equally forgettable Phillip Humber. He faced 8 batters, allowing 1 hit, 4 walks and recorded 3 strikeouts. Bobby Keppel took the game to the 7th, by which point the game was already 2 1/2 hours old. Jesse Crain pitched two shutout innings. Jose Mijares pitched a perfect 9th. In the bottom of the 9th, the M&M boys grounded out. Then Michael Cuddyer singled. Jason Kubel pinch hit and drew a walk. Up to the plate stepped Delmon Young, already with 3 singles in the game. He worked the count full and drove a pitch to RF that plated Michael Cuddyer and gave the Twins a 7-6 win. I think I got home (to Winona) at about 1 am. But, at least they won.

I still burn over the 1999 gold glove for first base. It went to Rafael Palmeiro. Now, he was a very good fielder in his prime and I'm sure he fielded reasonably well in 1999. But he only appeared in 30 some odd games at first in 1999. It is just starting to change, but I paid zero attention to who won the gold glove after that. That was utter nonsense and an embarrassment to MLB, Rawlings and Palmiero.

So, sorta reading between the lines, I interpret this to mean he's a slightly less than average power hitter. Sounds like an accurate assessment of his MLB career to date.

This is 3 straight games Kepler has missed. Any word on how serious whatever he has is or when he is expected back in the lineup?

With half his games in San Diego, plus another 9 in San Francisco. 90 games per year in 2 of the most difficult HR parks in MLB.

Some catchers use the so-called "hockey goalie" masks. Presumably they protect better. I would guess that not all catchers like wearing them or more would. I don't know what they use for padding, but would hope it is similar to what the NFL now uses in it's helmets.

You do understand that was typed with tongue firmly planted in cheek?

No

One way or the other this is shields' last hitter.

They apparently have a blind spot when it concerns Kyle Gibson.

See that sharp line drive single...

Polanco will probably be bunting here.

Nice catch.

Vargas has always had plus power. He has a minor league career ISO of .200 and it's right at that mark for his AAA career. I guess that's what I mean when I say "monster". I don't mean to suggest he's a potential all star. But if he can pull it all together, I could see Chili Davis type numbers. 20-25 HR, 75-85 RBI. He has to put it ALL together though. Discipline and power from both sides. Will he? Maybe. I suspect someone will give him the chance. As I said at first, switch hitters with power are rare.

I'm basing removing Gibson from the rotation based on two years of lousy pitching. That sufficient sample size?

If you use Gibson on short rest Monday, Slegers would be on normal rest Tuesday.

Switch hitters with big time HR power are rare. Vargas has, at times, shown he can hit with power from both sides, though usually not particularly well from both sides in the same season. He has also, at times, shown discipline at the plate. Not consistently to be sure. More like in short spurts here and there. Last year, he drew 24 walks in 175 PA, a 13% BB rate. It has dipped considerably this year though. On the plus side, his K rate has improved quite a bit over last year, to a manageable 27%. That's considerably better than Sano FWIW. I would have liked to have seen Vargas get a shot all season at the MLB level. He's a far more dangerous hitter than Grossman or Mauer, that is certain. Better? Iffy. Like I said, switch hitting power hitters don't grow on trees. If Vargas can put it all together, he could be a monster. Can he? I think so.

Counting on Burdi or Chargois next year would be an enormous mistake IMO. This is the second time both have missed essentially a full year with injury. They may never be healthy enough to pitch at the MLB level.

All I can say is that if Falvey doesn't understand the difference between Gibson facing Chicago and Slegers facing Arizona, I seriously question his evaluation skills.