stringer bell

Today is cutdown day (to 28) correct? I know the Twins only had 29 active after Hill was placed on IL, so who has been DFAed, optioned or released?

Interesting that Gonzalez get second base and Adrianza gets third. I consider Ehire more of a middle infielder and Marwin as more of a corner infielder at this stage of their respective careers.

Josh Bell is a rather good hitter. Really tough for almost anyone to hit that high heat.

Agree with Morneau. HP ump has been excellent.

The photos from Beirut look devastating. Whenever a disaster happens in that part of the world, many people think of terrorism. I do too, I guess.

Day game today starting at 1 PM. You can join in the conversation on the game thread in the Minnesota Twins Talk forum: http://twinsdaily.com/topic/39567-game-thread-8420-minnesota-twins-vs-pittsburgh-pirates/

Agreed. The Twins are using a lot of caution, but these guys are all veterans with substantial injury histories. Is there a possibility that they will miss more time? Undoubtedly, but going short in games and giving extra rest is the prescription that Rocco uses, so I expect it will continue. Hopefully with continued success.

Are we going to see more bullpen games? Maybe Smeltzer will get a start? That is three of the five projected members of the rotation now on the IL. It looks like we'll see plenty of movement between St. Paul and Minneapolis in this most unique baseball season.

Counting Thielbar, there are exactly forty on the 40-man roster, so there must have been an opening.

Ten days in and a second team has been decimated by the virus (StL). 1) Is everyone going to go through this? 2) Would the season continue if it did? or 3) Is there some plan to stop further hot-spot outbreaks? Since the season is now underway, I really do want them to complete it. I wonder if perhaps MLB will simply extend the regular season another week to ten days so that everyone can complete their 60-game schedules.

I would think the next position player added would be Astudillo. He's had most of a week to shake off the rust and he's both a third catcher and utility guy. As far as the playing time at third until Donaldson is ready to return, I would guess Marwin gets the starts with Adrianza also available. No real need to add someone to play third.

There is "D" in Adrianza!

With Cleveland lineup, it made sense to use May in the 7th, with Stashak in the 8th. Their top of the order is tough, not so much the bottom. I'd just as soon not see Rogers pitch in the 9th, but if they don't score in the 8th, I suppose it will be the closer.

Larry Hisle is next to Gordo. Not sure on the next guy, maybe Junior Ortiz?

Gonzalez takes over at third, with Sanó at first. I'd do it that way too. I hope the well-paid Mr. Donaldson can be at the hot corner sooner rather than later.

You can continue the discussion of tonight's game versus the Cleveland team in the Game Thread. Enjoy! http://twinsdaily.com/topic/39428-game-thread-twins-vs-cleveland-8120-610pm-ct/

I commented about the home plate ump in the game thread and there were others that saw what I saw--the home plate ump was excellent. He missed a strike that Dobnak threw and maybe gave Romo a strike in the eighth, but other than that, I thought he was terrific.

I thought the HP ump was excellent, but he missed that one. He also missed an obvious strike when Dobnak was pitching.

I would have scored it a hit plus error, which still would have been an earned run. If Arraez fields that ball, it's a really difficult throw and if Polanco fields it he has to wait for Arraez to clear. Still, it shouldn't have gotten through and allowed Reyes to get to second.

Oof, should have at least gotten one run there.

Dobnak, Hill and Maeda show that there is more than one way to get batters out in the major leagues.

He missed one obvious strike from Dobnak, but otherwise he has been very consistent.

It didn't hit him, did it?

Looks like Dobnak will be lucky to go 5.

Lots of foul balls.