Thoughts

[stringer bell]

1) Wow, the AL Central is tight. Cleveland is 3.5 back, in last place, and they are closer to the division lead than the second place team in the other divisions.

 

2) Oswaldo Arcia is looking much better in the field. He made a catch in the gap tonight that wasn't a web gem, but he took the proper route and closed on the ball and caught the ball without any trouble. Wednesday he made a really nice play on a pop foul. He's got a good arm and seems pretty well suited to right field.

 

3) Give me Escobar at short. He's probably not going to hit .300, but he makes all the plays, has a really good and accurate arm and the clubhouse loves him. Today, he hit a homer and took a bases-loaded walk.

 

4) Detroit has great starting pitching. They have Miggy and V-Mart. The rest of the team, I'm not a fan. Everyone in the central has to think "why not us?".

 

5) Someone made a comment that the Twins lack a reliable 7th inning guy. I agree. While Duensing would be fine facing a couple lefties, I would want to see him facing Jackson, Miggy and V-Mart or something like that. No to Burton, no to Swarzak and probably no to Thielbar. There are candidates at Rochester and a guy in New Britain.

[Thrylos]

There are candidates at Rochester and a guy in New Britain.

 

And even a guy in Omaha

 

replacing Burton and Guerrier with Pino and Achter will work wonders for this team tomorrow.

 

But they will not do it.

[John Bonnes]

1) I need to find a way to watch these next two games, especially tomorrow's Deduno-Sanchez matchup. It just sort of feels like one of those days where Deduno rises to the occasion. He needs situations like that.

 

2) +1

 

3) It's early, but he's +9 in UZR/150 right now. He's better than he seems to be defensively. I still worry about that K/BB ratio though. Great to see him come through tonight. The biggest reason I'm optimistic about Eduardo: I criticized that trade bitterly. That usually mean that Terry Ryan has pulled of a steal.

 

4) Yup. Stars and scrubs. That team got worse this offseason. They're one pitching injury from being very mediocre.

 

5) Yep. I would like to see Tonkin get another shot. People keep saying Achter, but Tonkin seems like a "real deal" guy that just needs to get over the hump.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

And even a guy in Omaha

 

That's Burdi - is there precedent for that? Not that it would happen, but are there signing rules that prohibit it?

[NoCal]

I really like this team. They are on the way to building a really fun rotation. This is an incredibly fun ride for a team that still is below .500. Baseball....ya gotta love it.

 

And once they believe that they can compete now, they will. They are.

[jokin]

1) I need to find a way to watch these next two games, especially tomorrow's Deduno-Sanchez matchup. It just sort of feels like one of those days where Deduno rises to the occasion. He needs situations like that.

 

2) +1

 

3) It's early, but he's +9 in UZR/150 right now. He's better than he seems to be defensively. I still worry about that K/BB ratio though. Great to see him come through tonight. The biggest reason I'm optimistic about Eduardo: I criticized that trade bitterly. That usually mean that Terry Ryan has pulled of a steal.

4) Yup. Stars and scrubs. That team got worse this offseason. They're one pitching injury from being very mediocre.

 

5) Yep. I would like to see Tonkin get another shot. People keep saying Achter, but Tonkin seems like a "real deal" guy that just needs to get over the hump.

 

3) Again, another TD contributor got it right in the offseason personnel analysis, started up the "Eddie 400", and was way ahead of Gardy and management on who should be playing in the Twins MI, and why. Escobar is likely not the long-term answer, but you have to love a guy who takes full advantage of an opportunity.

 

4/5) Give Ryan credit and question Dombrowski's judgement. Putting together a bullpen is a relatively cheap fix, provided a GM has some insight into the process....once again.....Ryan has a decent bullpen that can potentially quickly get much better, meanwhile, the Tigers bullpen has the worst ERA in all of baseball (4.68). Ironic, isn't it, the Twins seem to be one good starter and maybe one good reliever (and they have multiple candidates to fill those roles) from being a legitimate team to beat candidate in the Central, while the Tigers SPs are one injury away from probably a lost season for the Kitties.

[LaBombo]

2) Oswaldo Arcia is looking much better in the field. He made a catch in the gap tonight that wasn't a web gem, but he took the proper route and closed on the ball and caught the ball without any trouble. Wednesday he made a really nice play on a pop foul. He's got a good arm and seems pretty well suited to right field.

 

Didn't see much of the game, but pretty sure I saw the one you're talking about. At first it looked like he was giving up on it as uncatchable and letting Santana track down the rebound. But the glove went up and came down with the ball; no dive, no last-second drama.

 

The route was pretty much perfect, without the etch-a-sketch tendency he exhibited earlier on occasion, tracking laterally or adjusting depth, but not getting a simultaneous read and taking the most direct route to where the ball was headed.

 

Hard to know if he'll hit lefties enough or develop the plate discipline to be really good, but at age 23.1, wouldn't bet against it. And he's already really fun to watch, which is something that was seldom said of many, many Twins players the past three years.

[Brandon]

1. The central is a tight race which is why I support the Morales signing. If we can get one more starter......

 

2. I don't get to watch the games so good to hear about Arcia.

 

3. For fun look at how he ranks among other American league SS by OPS from MLB.com:

[TABLE=class: stats_table data_grid]

[TH=class: dg-rank]RK

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-name_display_last_init]Player

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-team_abbrev]Team

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-active_sw][/TH]

[TH=class: dg-player_id sortable]▲

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-pos]Pos

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-g sortable]G▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-ab sortable]AB▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-r sortable]R▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-h sortable]H▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-d sortable]2B▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-t sortable]3B▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-hr sortable]HR▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-rbi sortable]RBI▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-bb sortable]BB▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-so sortable]SO▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-sb sortable]SB▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-cs sortable]CS▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-avg sortable]AVG▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-obp sortable]OBP▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-slg sortable]SLG▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-ops sortable active]OPS▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-ibb sortable]IBB▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-hbp sortable]HBP▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-sac sortable]SAC▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-sf sortable]SF▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-tb sortable]TB▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-xbh sortable]XBH▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-gidp sortable]GDP▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-go sortable]GO▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-ao sortable]AO▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-go_ao sortable]GO_AO▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-np sortable]NP▼

[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-tpa sortable]PA▼

[/TH]

[TD=class: dg-rank]1

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-name_display_last_init] Suarez, E

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-team_abbrev]DET

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-active_sw][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-player_id]553993

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-pos]SS

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-g]6

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ab]16

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-r]5

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-h]5

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-d][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-t][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-hr]2

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-rbi]4

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-bb]3

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-so]4

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sb][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-cs][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-avg].313

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-obp].421

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-slg].688

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ops active]1.109

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ibb][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-hbp][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sac]1

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sf][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-tb]11

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-xbh]2

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-gidp][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-go]4

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ao]4

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-go_ao]1.00

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-np]83

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-tpa]20

[/TD]

[TR=class: odd]

[TD=class: dg-rank]2

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-name_display_last_init] Santana, D

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-team_abbrev]MIN

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-active_sw][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-player_id]542454

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-pos]SS

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-g]25

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ab]86

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-r]12

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-h]32

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-d]5

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-t][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-hr]2

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-rbi]12

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-bb]5

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-so]21

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sb]4

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-cs][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-avg].372

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-obp].407

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-slg].500

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ops active].907

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ibb][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-hbp][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sac]1

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sf][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-tb]43

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-xbh]7

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-gidp]2

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-go]21

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ao]15

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-go_ao]1.40

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-np]361

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-tpa]92

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TD=class: dg-rank]3

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-name_display_last_init] Escobar, E

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-team_abbrev]MIN

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-active_sw][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-player_id]500871

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-pos]SS

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-g]52

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ab]159

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-r]18

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-h]49

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-d]20

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-t][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-hr]1

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-rbi]12

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-bb]10

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-so]36

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sb]1

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-cs]1

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-avg].308

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-obp].347

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-slg].453

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ops active].800

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ibb]1

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-hbp][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sac]2

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sf]1

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-tb]72

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-xbh]21

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-gidp]2

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-go]44

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ao]35

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-go_ao]1.26

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-np]665

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-tpa]172

[/TD]

[TR=class: odd]

[TD=class: dg-rank]4

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-name_display_last_init] Ramirez, A

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-team_abbrev]CWS

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-active_sw][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-player_id]493351

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-pos]SS

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-g]67

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ab]257

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-r]34

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-h]80

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-d]9

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-t]2

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-hr]7

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-rbi]36

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-bb]13

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-so]36

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sb]12

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-cs]3

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-avg].311

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-obp].347

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-slg].444

[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ops active].790

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

4. Detroit has several good starters and 3 or 4 solid relievers. They could use 2 or 3 more relievers. Sad to see Nathan failing as I wanted to see him get to 450 + in his career.

 

5. I have more faith in our bullpen. Burton is the only one I would find to be questionable in our pen. Swarzak's job is to eat innings in a blow out to save the rest of the pen not pitch the 7th inning.

[Brandon]

That's Burdi - is there precedent for that? Not that it would happen, but are there signing rules that prohibit it?

 

There are lots of players who went from college straight to the majors. Pete Incavilia is one. Mike Morgan pretty much went from High School straight to the majors.

[Highabove]

There are lots of players who went from college straight to the majors. Pete Incavilia is one. Mike Morgan pretty much went from High School straight to the majors.

 

Add Dave Winfield.

[nicksaviking]

Steve Avery and Jon Olerud I think was the last. Let's do it.

 

Olerud in fact never played in the minors until his final season when he had a rehab assignment.

[jokin]

1. The central is a tight race which is why I support the Morales signing. If we can get one more starter......

 

2. I don't get to watch the games so good to hear about Arcia.

 

3. For fun look at how he ranks among other American league SS by OPS from MLB.com:

[TABLE=class: stats_table data_grid]

[TH=class: dg-rank]RK[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-name_display_last_init]Player[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-team_abbrev]Team[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-active_sw][/TH]

[TH=class: dg-player_id sortable]▲[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-pos]Pos[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-g sortable]G▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-ab sortable]AB▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-r sortable]R▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-h sortable]H▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-d sortable]2B▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-t sortable]3B▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-hr sortable]HR▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-rbi sortable]RBI▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-bb sortable]BB▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-so sortable]SO▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-sb sortable]SB▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-cs sortable]CS▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-avg sortable]AVG▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-obp sortable]OBP▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-slg sortable]SLG▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-ops sortable active]OPS▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-ibb sortable]IBB▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-hbp sortable]HBP▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-sac sortable]SAC▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-sf sortable]SF▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-tb sortable]TB▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-xbh sortable]XBH▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-gidp sortable]GDP▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-go sortable]GO▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-ao sortable]AO▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-go_ao sortable]GO_AO▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-np sortable]NP▼[/TH]

[TH=class: dg-tpa sortable]PA▼[/TH]

[TD=class: dg-rank]1[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-name_display_last_init] Suarez, E[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-team_abbrev]DET[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-active_sw][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-player_id]553993[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-pos]SS[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-g]6[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ab]16[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-r]5[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-h]5[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-d][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-t][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-hr]2[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-rbi]4[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-bb]3[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-so]4[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sb][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-cs][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-avg].313[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-obp].421[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-slg].688[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ops active]1.109[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ibb][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-hbp][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sac]1[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sf][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-tb]11[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-xbh]2[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-gidp][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-go]4[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ao]4[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-go_ao]1.00[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-np]83[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-tpa]20[/TD]

[TR=class: odd]

[TD=class: dg-rank]2[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-name_display_last_init] Santana, D[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-team_abbrev]MIN[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-active_sw][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-player_id]542454[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-pos]SS[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-g]25[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ab]86[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-r]12[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-h]32[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-d]5[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-t][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-hr]2[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-rbi]12[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-bb]5[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-so]21[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sb]4[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-cs][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-avg].372[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-obp].407[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-slg].500[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ops active].907[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ibb][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-hbp][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sac]1[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sf][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-tb]43[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-xbh]7[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-gidp]2[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-go]21[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ao]15[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-go_ao]1.40[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-np]361[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-tpa]92[/TD]

[/TR]

[TD=class: dg-rank]3[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-name_display_last_init] Escobar, E[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-team_abbrev]MIN[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-active_sw][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-player_id]500871[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-pos]SS[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-g]52[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ab]159[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-r]18[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-h]49[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-d]20[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-t][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-hr]1[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-rbi]12[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-bb]10[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-so]36[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sb]1[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-cs]1[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-avg].308[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-obp].347[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-slg].453[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ops active].800[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ibb]1[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-hbp][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sac]2[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sf]1[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-tb]72[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-xbh]21[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-gidp]2[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-go]44[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ao]35[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-go_ao]1.26[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-np]665[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-tpa]172[/TD]

[TR=class: odd]

[TD=class: dg-rank]4[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-name_display_last_init] Ramirez, A[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-team_abbrev]CWS[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-active_sw][/TD]

[TD=class: dg-player_id]493351[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-pos]SS[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-g]67[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ab]257[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-r]34[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-h]80[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-d]9[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-t]2[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-hr]7[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-rbi]36[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-bb]13[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-so]36[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-sb]12[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-cs]3[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-avg].311[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-obp].347[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-slg].444[/TD]

[TD=class: dg-ops active].790[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

4. Detroit has several good starters and 3 or 4 solid relievers. They could use 2 or 3 more relievers. Sad to see Nathan failing as I wanted to see him get to 450 + in his career.

 

5. I have more faith in our bullpen. Burton is the only one I would find to be questionable in our pen. Swarzak's job is to eat innings in a blow out to save the rest of the pen not pitch the 7th inning.

 

Detroit relievers collectively have the worst ERA in baseball (4.68). And Joe Nathan is the worst individually (7.04).

[Willihammer]

5) Someone made a comment that the Twins lack a reliable 7th inning guy. I agree. While Duensing would be fine facing a couple lefties, I would want to see him facing Jackson, Miggy and V-Mart or something like that. No to Burton, no to Swarzak and probably no to Thielbar. There are candidates at Rochester and a guy in New Britain.

 

May or Meyer. What are we waiting for? Let's go already.

[Benchwarmerjim]

Steve Avery and Jon Olerud I think was the last. Let's do it.

 

Olerud in fact never played in the minors until his final season when he had a rehab assignment.

 

the last to do it was Mike Leake in 2010

Before that Xavier Nady in 2000

[TheLeviathan]

I have definitely noticed improvement with Arcia too, it's great to see.

[diehardtwinsfan]

And even a guy in Omaha

 

replacing Burton and Guerrier with Pino and Achter will work wonders for this team tomorrow.

 

But they will not do it.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing the guy in Omaha play against some minor league competition first... but Pino and Achter should be pretty solid upgrades. I think Tonkin would too. This too me seems like a replace from within option. I could see Deduno going back too in favor of an AAA starter.

[diehardtwinsfan]

That's Burdi - is there precedent for that? Not that it would happen, but are there signing rules that prohibit it?

 

No rules... sign him, put him on the 40 man, and promote him. I'd rather they let put him in AA and see how he does first, but if he succeeds the 40 man and promotion wouldn't be that difficult.

[notoriousgod71]

the last to do it was Mike Leake in 2010

Before that Xavier Nady in 2000

 

Nady was weird because he went straight to SD but then got sent down to the minors for a couple years after that.

[Brock Beauchamp]

With so many good options available in Rochester, I don't understand the rush to get Burdi up here immediately. He should be promoted quickly but first promote the guys who have been toiling in the organization for years and have shown success.

[Jim H]

1) I need to find a way to watch these next two games, especially tomorrow's Deduno-Sanchez matchup. It just sort of feels like one of those days where Deduno rises to the occasion. He needs situations like that.

 

2) +1

 

3) It's early, but he's +9 in UZR/150 right now. He's better than he seems to be defensively. I still worry about that K/BB ratio though. Great to see him come through tonight. The biggest reason I'm optimistic about Eduardo: I criticized that trade bitterly. That usually mean that Terry Ryan has pulled of a steal.

 

4) Yup. Stars and scrubs. That team got worse this offseason. They're one pitching injury from being very mediocre.

 

5) Yep. I would like to see Tonkin get another shot. People keep saying Achter, but Tonkin seems like a "real deal" guy that just needs to get over the hump.

 

I have no confidence in defensive metrics and UZR is particularly awful. So I wouldn't pay much attention to that. With the admission that I haven't seen all his games at short, I would say that he lacks the range and probably the arm to be an outstanding major league shortstop. He has played well so far, and combined with his hitting, he is more than adequate there, for now. I see Santana as potentially a better medium term answer, with Escobar a better fit at utility man.

 

At least for now, shortstop isn't a black hole. That is certainly something that is an improvement over the last few years.

[stringer bell]

I have no confidence in defensive metrics and UZR is particularly awful. So I wouldn't pay much attention to that. With the admission that I haven't seen all his games at short, I would say that he lacks the range and probably the arm to be an outstanding major league shortstop. He has played well so far, and combined with his hitting, he is more than adequate there, for now. I see Santana as potentially a better medium term answer, with Escobar a better fit at utility man.

 

At least for now, shortstop isn't a black hole. That is certainly something that is an improvement over the last few years.

Exactly, Jim. Both for now and the near future, I think shortstop is not a problem to give up key prospects or big free agent money to fix. Neither player's offense profiles anywhere near what they are producing, but I have to say that I think Escobar has raised his floor to "satisfactory" if not higher. Santana has shown the tools of a talented regular, but from what I saw in ST, I wouldn't trust him at all defensively and, of course, he won't hit .350.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I have a bit more confidence in Escobar than I do Santana in terms of maintaining some semblance of good offense. Escobar has shown in the past that he can hit well for extended periods of time, whereas Santana was just called up and has somehow managed to exceed what he was doing in the minors prior to the callup. Don't mind riding the wave with both of them, but I suspect Santana is far more likely to cool down.

[drivlikejehu]

The Twins bullpen has been above average in terms of runs allowed, but is 2nd worst in MLB in xFIP. It's really not a very good group right now. Duensing is getting by on luck - his stuff is awful - and Burton is totally shot. Swarzak is a mop up guy. Guerrier is OK at best.

 

One obvious way to improve is just to move Deduno back - he's much better suited to a relief role.

[stringer bell]

I think it is here that Jack G can or should be heard--the relievers are getting by with smoke and mirrors and an upgrade would help before rather than after the 'pen melts down.

 

Frankly, I can't figure out how Fien has been so effective. Perkins has Grade A stuff and an attitude that maximizes what he has. I still think there is something left with Duensing, but he has to be used properly. Help is pretty close, so I would like to see at least one veteran cashiered in some fashion.

[Willihammer]

I have as much confidence in Fien as Perkins to be honest. I think he's outstanding. He's kinda like Sergio Romo - just throw a bunch of sliders and watch guys swing out of their shoes. I think Burton is coming around but after those 2 or 3, there is definitely a dropoff.

[ashbury]

I have as much confidence in Fien as Perkins to be honest. I think he's outstanding. He's kinda like Sergio Romo - just throw a bunch of sliders and watch guys swing out of their shoes.

 

Yep. I've been slow to appreciate him. He's got good movement on his pitches, so probably the key is a delivery that disguises what's coming. If he starts to tip his pitches, though, look out - not that I would ever catch on, except by the results.

[James]

That's Burdi - is there precedent for that? Not that it would happen, but are there signing rules that prohibit it?

The last version of the CBA says that draftees can only sign minor league contracts. I don't know how long a team has to wait to purchase the contract and move the play to the majors though. I'm sure there is some loophole a team could use, if they wanted.

[TheLeviathan]

The last version of the CBA says that draftees can only sign minor league contracts. I don't know how long a team has to wait to purchase the contract and move the play to the majors though. I'm sure there is some loophole a team could use, if they wanted.

 

Didn't Chris Sale debut two months after he was drafted?

[James]

Didn't Chris Sale debut two months after he was drafted?

Sale was drafted in 2010, and the current CBA took effect in 2011. But you are correct, Sale signed on June 20th and made his debut on August 6th, 2010.

[jokin]

I think it is here that Jack G can or should be heard--the relievers are getting by with smoke and mirrors and an upgrade would help before rather than after the 'pen melts down.

 

Frankly, I can't figure out how Fien has been so effective. Perkins has Grade A stuff and an attitude that maximizes what he has. I still think there is something left with Duensing, but he has to be used properly. Help is pretty close, so I would like to see at least one veteran cashiered in some fashion.

 

I like Fien, but I'm not sure if he's the guy you want in the main set-up role on a contender. But I'll defend Fien in the attitude department in maximizing performance relative to Perkins. And maybe Goin can finally convince the braintrust that in order to contend, the Twins simply have to improve on their near-last reliever K% of 18%.

 

 

The good news is that there are so many viable options for upgrade. And I'm not nearly as worried about veteran complacency from Twins management as in previous years. The Twins are showing new-found aggressiveness to the point that I don't think we'll have to endure multiple 'pen meltdowns. For example, Gardy stuck with Gibson last night in the 7th, even though he was well-past 100 pitches- even he finally realizes that a fatigued Gibson was going to be a better option than a fresh Burton in that situation.

 

I think we see incremental moves to bolster the pen in the next few weeks, perhaps just before, or right after the All Star break.