Article: Twins vs. Tigers, 07/03/2012, 6:05pm

[IdahoPilgrim]

Look out, folks! We're only 1-1/2 back of Kansas City.

[IdahoPilgrim]

Josh Willingham in the post-game interview: "We didn't get the best out of Blackie; he's better than that."

 

Well, half right.

[one_eyed_jack]

First 40 games: 13-27

Second 40 games: 22-18

 

Suppose someone had told you on the eve of opening day that on July 4th, the Twins would be 3.5 behind the Tigers and with basically the same record as the Phillies; would you have imagined that both of those things could be true and the Twins would still be in last place with the 2nd-worse record in the American League?

 

I'm not optimistic about making in 6 in a row with Verlander going tomorrow, but it sure would be sweet if it happened.

[J-Dog Dungan]

The Twins are trying to save Burton's arm for the rest of the year, because he is coming off of arm surgery and they don't know how long he will last this year.

[stringer bell]

Regarding Burton, the Twins didn't want to use him today. They are trying to keep his arm in top shape until the All-Star game. Burton hasn't had a healthy year in quite a while and the Twins want to make sure he stays available.

 

Dozier did go 0-5, but I saw his last two ABs. Both were pretty solid, although he didn't come through in the end. I didn't see his other ABs, but if he is extending ABs as he did on the last two, he will be fine.

[one_eyed_jack]

8 runs on 10 hits despite only going 1-10 with RISP. That strikes me as unusual.

[stringer bell]

Would the Twins consider sending Parmelee to Rochster and calling up a 13th pitcher?

As much as I hate carrying 13 pitchers, especially with three catchers, it probably isn't a bad idea. They basically have regulars at every position, with Mastro and Casilla as the bench. They really don't need Parmelee and it isn't helping him to sit on the bench.

[glunn]

 

Dozier did go 0-5, but I saw his last two ABs. Both were pretty solid, although he didn't come through in the end. I didn't see his other ABs, but if he is extending ABs as he did on the last two, he will be fine.

I saw the same ABs, and he did a good job fouling off what he could not hit. But it seems to me that he might benefit from a few weeks in Rochester, and Florimon is worth a closer look.

 

I hope that you are correct about Dozier being fine.

[stringer bell]

Take a look at Samuel Deduno in Rochester. He has been injured most of the year but now he is back. Deduno has pitched 42 innings, has an ERA of 2.14, a WHIP of 1.17, 22 walks and 46 strikeouts. Other than the walks, these seem to me to be excellent stats.

 

Deduno is somewhat old to be regarded as a prospect -- he turned age 29 yesterday -- but at this point who cares. If he can be the right handed Scott Diamond for 2 to 3 years, then that would be a very good thing.

 

Deduno has a history of giving up a lot of walks, but he is having his best year ever this year, and it's not as if the Twins have many options that they have not yet tried.

I saw Deduno is ST and thought he looked kind of impressive. I did also start a prospect thread for him. His numbers have been very good since he has come back to the rotation. He's had a cup of coffee with both San Diego and Colorado.

 

After hearing Gardenhire, I think Blackburn is out of the rotation. Deduno or Walters could be put in his place. Rick Anderson said that they thought that Walters needed at least another rehab start so if they go to Rochester it could be Deduno.

[stringer bell]

BTW, pretty good work from not the usual suspects--Gray, Waldrop, Robertson--when the bully was down to those three plus Perk for an inning. Gardenhire says that Perkins is out for tomorrow and that Burton is available.

[one_eyed_jack]

Oswalt's ERA is now 7.79. Maybe the Rangers would take Blackburn for Oswalt?

---This should change by then, but as of now, the scheduled pitching matchup for Sunday's final game before the AS break - Blackburn vs. Oswalt!

[Chance]

Where are all the "DFA Gray" guys? They were circling every blog a couple weeks ago. Glad people are shutting up about it. He has been on when the games matter, not so much when they don't. He is 5-0! And nice to see Waldrop and Robertson hold there own against a good tigers lineup. I dread the day Capps comes back.

[glunn]

---This should change by then, but as of now, the scheduled pitching matchup for Sunday's final game before the AS break - Blackburn vs. Oswalt!

So maybe we could trade just before the game starts and surprise both of them.

[glunn]

Where are all the "DFA Gray" guys? They were circling every blog a couple weeks ago. Glad people are shutting up about it. He has been on when the games matter, not so much when they don't. He is 5-0! And nice to see Waldrop and Robertson hold there own against a good tigers lineup. I dread the day Capps comes back.

I am a Gray fan and agree that he does not get enough credit. I did commend him in an earlier post on this thread.

 

I was also very pleasantly surprised by the good job done by Waldrop and Robertson.

 

Beating the Tigers is almost as satisfying as beating the White Sox, and this was truly a team effort, both on offense and defense.

[snepp]

Jeff Gray is still a lousy pitcher with no future here, that hasn't changed.

[notoriousgod71]

Jeff Gray is still a lousy pitcher with no future here, that hasn't changed.

He's essentially a less homer happy version of Bob Wells.

[Chance]

If Gray keeps pitching like he has the last month or so he will have a future here. He will be very cheap and the Twins like there cheap pitchers. He's not a closer or a setup guy but he does what you need to do as a middle reliever.

[Chance]

He's not much worse than Guerrier but a fourth the price and you people loved him.