stringer bell

Nope. It's Brett Gardner.

Still saying that Dozier's best chance is if someone pulls out of the All-Star game and Yost takes him, but a walk off is a great start to his Last Man campaign.

Can't get a save as the home team.

I was thinking Billy Bob Thornton's stand-in or the guy who plays Billy Bob's Dad.

Okay, we're past the statistical halfway point in the season. Sometimes it takes a while to flesh out who can help a team for the present and the future and sometimes circumstances make that decision. However, the Twins still haven't made decisions about several positions and players. The team is in the race for a wild card and they have not solidified several positions on the team. Here's my take on the key decisions that need to be made. 1-Shortstop. Danny Santana started the season as the regular, got demoted and now is back on the team. He showed some signs in the most recent series that he might start hitting and his tools at short are very good. Eduardo Escobar has started more in left field than short, but played over half the season at short last year and did well. Eduardo Nuñez has also been given several starts presumably in an effort to add offense. Nuñez isn't capable enough defensively, Santana hasn't produced after a standout rookie season, mostly played in center field, and Escobar has regressed from last year's numbers. My pick would be Escobar, who provides the highest floor and least risk going forward. Jorge Polanco also could figure in, but I can't see that he's ready to contribute. 2-Outfield. Eddie Rosario has emerged as a regular outfielder. Torii Hunter has been a solid right fielder for the Twins. That leaves one person. The guy who has the most at-bats after Rosario and Hunter is Escobar. He's a novice in the outfield, but has been acceptable. Aaron Hicks has provided excellent defense in center, hasn't hit much, but seems much closer than he has been in previous trials. Byron Buxton played a week+, showed his tremendous potential, but also showed that he has a long way to go before he's an offensive force. Buxton is currently on the DL, and won't return for at least a few weeks. It is unknown whether he could step in right away or might need rehab. The Twins could also use an option and give him time at AAA. It is probably a no-brainer to go with Hicks until Buxton comes off the DL. The big question is what to do then. My guess is that Buxton goes to Rochester for rehab and unless he tears it up, is optioned there perhaps until September 1st. The other factor is Hicks. If his BA continues to dive and the OPS doesn't get above .600, it might be time to give up on him being a productive everyday player. 3-Rotation. For now the decision has been made, Mike Pelfrey stays in the rotation and Trevor May is in the bullpen. May has a future in the Twins' rotation and this demotion really doesn't change that. I actually think that May can help the struggling Twins bullpen. He has strikeout ability and can get the fastball up to near-dominating numbers. I do believe the leash for Pelfrey can't be that long. His last two starts were failures and his peripherals suggest he isn't as good as his ERA might suggest. Pelf is a free agent after this year. Some have also suggested Tommy Milone should be optioned or put in the bullpen. I think Milone provides a bit too much to be pushed aside. He is still relatively young and under team control. Ricky Nolasco has missed over a month with an ankle issue and so far he hasn't solved the problem. I wouldn't be surprised to see Nolasco get surgery and miss most of or the entire remainder of the season. I agree with the Twins decision, but if Pelfrey gets knocked around in his next start, it might be a short demotion for May. Pelfrey throws hard enough that maybe he also can help the bullpen. 4-Bullpen. This isn't about changing roles, it is about changing faces. Aaron Thompson was a good story and a fine contributor for the first six weeks of the season. He just can't get people out anymore. He needs to be optioned immediately. Blaine Boyer was a surprise, but has done a slow fade for the last month. Boyer probably deserves to stay on the team, but should not be the high-leverage bullpen piece as he has been used thus far. Brian Duensing was miserable, but has shown some signs of improvement lately, no runs and only two hits, one walk and five strikeouts in the last 7.2 innings. The temporary addition of a starter in the bullpen might mean that only one pitcher should be added. I think AJ Achter has pitched well enough to get another start. Lefty Taylor Rogers has shown he can dominate AAA left handed hitters as a starter. I think he should be moved to Rochester's bullpen immediately and if he flourishes, should get a chance to help the big team. If Ryan Pressly is disabled, another name to consider is Mike Tonkin, who seems to be able to dominate in AAA, but hasn't done well enough to stick in the majors. For the record, demote Thompson, move up Achter and see if there is a good bullpen arm available on the trade market.

12 innings in center field. That is like saying Plouffe is a second baseman.

I thought that both Cubs phenoms--Bryant and Schwarber--looked no better than okay. Bryant is a pretty good all-around player and his numbers say he's already a fine player. Schwarber only DHed. He was dominant in AA and did very well in a short stint in the majors, but the Twins pitched him well. How does this relate to Sano? Well, Bryant was put on the same level as the Twins phenom. Bryant will have ups and downs and so will Miguel Sano. Sano will probably be mostly a DH, so he does need to hit to have value.

Of the 10 pitchers listed, five of them are in the upper minors. There is help in the pipeline. Interestingly, there is no urgent need to provide help right now. Trade fodder? Convert to relievers?

Nice win. Another great start for Gibson.

The one-out bunt worked! Now don't ever do it again.

NL baseball!

Yes, he was but he was well over 100 pitches facing the middle of the order. Very few pitchers get that choice any more in a 1-0 game.

I guess if I'm managing, I let Gibson get Cain, then go to Perkins for Hosmer/Morales.

I doubt the Royals waste an out to advance Dyson.

The Twins have had almost all of the opportunities in this game, so it is disappointing they are only up 1-0.

I'm watching on my Kindle and I discovered it is a few seconds behind the live action. Nice double Esco.

Only five of them, including the second baseman.

Dick can't contain his enthusiasm for the bunting game.

I'm blaming Plouffe or whoever ordered him to bunt.

That's why you don't bunt a guy over.

It is what sets KC apart from everybody else in the AL.

C'mon guys, this is getting ridiculous. Swing the bats!

The girls had to find work.

Predicting Sano's first hit in the sixth inning.

Intentionally giving up outs is seldom a good strategy.