stringer bell

Mauer misplayed the pitch, no question. It cost the club a run as it turned out. The earlier wild pitch also cost the team a run. A couple of weakly hit balls also cost the team runs. Meanwhile, Mauer and Florimon combined to allow Jhonny Peralta to steal a key base, followed by a not-well-hit double by Prince. Of course, the Twins also had opportunities to score and failed. The most notable failure came from Plouffe and Parmelee with the bases loaded in the 7th.

I DVRed the game yesterday and watched most of it last night. While I didn't see some key events, I heard about them on the radio. The Twins had a chance to beat the Tigers but came up short in key at-bats. They also were hurt by bases advanced by the plodding Tigers. What went right: 1) Worley outlasted Verlander. Even though he was the losing pitcher he managed to go six innings and reached the threshold for a "Quality Start". 2) Fien struck out the side in the seventh and it was the top of the order. 3) The offensive approach allowed the Twins to only face Verlander for five innings. 4) Worley had the Tigers hitting the ball on the ground recording something like 15 ground ball outs, including one outstanding play from Florimon. What went wrong: 1) Four Twins came up in a game situation and only one (Doumit) brought in a run. Plouffe and Parmelee had a great chance to knot the game or put the Twins ahead in the 7th inning and failed. 2) Duensing and Roenicke combined to yield a key insurance run in the 8th, after the Twins had closed to within one run. 3) Defensive misplays and failure to make plays cost the Twins dearly--a) Peralta was a dead duck with a good throw and tag, Mauer's throw tailed and Florimon failed to catch the ball. Two wild pitches allowed runners to advanced and each scored as a result of that. Mauer blocked a low pitch, but couldn't locate it and Roenicke's went between the wickets. c) Florimon booted a fairly routine grounder and Dozier might have left too early on Torii's hit and run roller in the first inning. d) Worley allowed too many baserunners, which put pressure on the defense and it never allowed Vanimal to get in rhythm.

I DVRed the game yesterday and watched most of it last night. While I didn't see some key events, I heard about them on the radio. The Twins had a chance to beat the Tigers but came up short in key at-bats. They also were hurt by bases advanced by the plodding Tigers. What went right: 1) Worley outlasted Verlander. Even though he was the losing pitcher he managed to go six innings and reached the threshold for a "Quality Start". 2) Fien struck out the side in the seventh and it was the top of the order. 3) The offensive approach allowed the Twins to only face Verlander for five innings. 4) Worley had the Tigers hitting the ball on the ground recording something like 15 ground ball outs, including one outstanding play from Florimon. What went wrong: 1) Four Twins came up in a game situation and only one (Doumit) brought in a run. Plouffe and Parmelee had a great chance to knot the game or put the Twins ahead in the 7th inning and failed. 2) Duensing and Roenicke combined to yield a key insurance run in the 8th, after the Twins had closed to within one run. 3) Defensive misplays and failure to make plays cost the Twins dearly--a) Peralta was a dead duck with a good throw and tag, Mauer's throw tailed and Florimon failed to catch the ball. Two wild pitches allowed runners to advanced and each scored as a result of that. Mauer blocked a low pitch, but couldn't locate it and Roenicke's went between the wickets. c) Florimon booted a fairly routine grounder and Dozier might have left too early on Torii's hit and run roller in the first inning. d) Worley allowed too many baserunners, which put pressure on the defense and it never allowed Vanimal to get in rhythm.

Add Brendan Harris to the list. He is on the Dodger team listed as a third baseman, no doubt as a result of Hanley Ramirez' injury. Harris is on the Angel team, and with injuries to Aybar and Callaspo, he is seeing some playing time at short and third.

Here's my record breaker: stolen base percentage record holder is none other than Alexi Casilla, 21 for 22 last year with his only CS either being a pickoff or an overslide, I can't remember which.

Here is a list of ex-Twins who have made Opening Day rosters in the major leagues. Long on pitchers and outfielders, short on infielders and starting pitching quality. Sound familiar? Denard Span--Nationals Ben Revere--Phillies Jason Kubel--Diamondbacks Carlos Gomez--Brewers Torii Hunter--Tigers Michael Cuddyer--Rockies Garrett Jones--Pirates Alexi Casilla--Orioles JJ Hardy--Orioles Nick Punto--Dodgers Henry Blanco--Blue Jays AJ Pierzynski--Rangers Wilson Ramos--Nationals Jason Marquis--Padres RA Dickey--Blue Jays Kyle Lohse--Brewers Philip Humber--Astros Kevin Slowey--Marlins Grant Balfour--A's Pat Neshek--A's Luis Ayala--Orioles Jesse Crain--White Sox Jose Mijares--Giants Jon Rauch--Marlins Matt Guerrier--Dodgers Joe Nathan--Rangers LaTroy Hawkins--Mets Notable DLs--Santana, Ortiz, Young, Liriano, Breslow

Here is a list of ex-Twins who have made Opening Day rosters in the major leagues. Long on pitchers and outfielders, short on infielders and starting pitching quality. Sound familiar? Denard Span--Nationals Ben Revere--Phillies Jason Kubel--Diamondbacks Carlos Gomez--Brewers Torii Hunter--Tigers Michael Cuddyer--Rockies Garrett Jones--Pirates Alexi Casilla--Orioles JJ Hardy--Orioles Nick Punto--Dodgers Henry Blanco--Blue Jays AJ Pierzynski--Rangers Wilson Ramos--Nationals Jason Marquis--Padres RA Dickey--Blue Jays Kyle Lohse--Brewers Philip Humber--Astros Kevin Slowey--Marlins Grant Balfour--A's Pat Neshek--A's Luis Ayala--Orioles Jesse Crain--White Sox Jose Mijares--Giants Jon Rauch--Marlins Matt Guerrier--Dodgers Joe Nathan--Rangers LaTroy Hawkins--Mets Notable DLs--Santana, Ortiz, Young, Liriano, Breslow

My favorite record from the 2012 season: Who is the Twins all-time single season leader in stolen base percentage (min 20 attempts)?

Best wishes to Joe Benson, one of my favorites. I agree with Seth that this spring hasn't been a failure for Benson. He seemed a certainty for Rochester almost from the first exhibition game. He needs to thrive at Rochester in his last chance as a prospect. If he doesn't thrive, I think he goes from "prospect" to "suspect" and might bounce around the fringes of MLB.

Thanks for the report Thry. I do agree with Seth about Parmelee and I think he will hit. Ramirez over Butera? I don't think so, but it would be good news. I can't see Clement making the club mostly because he just hasn't hit that well, but also because he's a LH hitting 1B. We already have two with a third (Mauer) playing there at least occasionally. Correia, Pelfrey, and Worley haven't exactly improved my confidence that the pitching will be better, but the same story is there--they are getting ready for the regular season--they don't have to wins jobs.

Quite the optimistic write up. I think health is a big issue as Plouffe has suffered injuries almost every year. I do believe it will help him to prepare to play just one position. I think that by the end of the season he will be regarded as a better ballplayer and more valuable that his buddy Delmon.

He's still relatively young. He got a chance to stay at one position and he thrived until he was injured. I expect that Plouffe will be better in 2013, particularly on defense.

Carroll is a utility guy and shouldn't be a regular. Period, end of sentence. While defense is certainly important, I don't think any metrics are foolproof and further, I don't think any defender should be judged by a partial season on things as UZR etc.

Callaspo had a brush or two with the law IIRC. Besides that, though, he could supply a little pressure to Plouffe since 3B seems to be his best defensive position and he is a switch hitter, much better as a lefty again IIRC.

Yes, the question is apt. Dozier could have locked up SS with solid play at the plate and in the field, but on balance he did neither. I have watched about half of the Twins' games and I see a guy with the tools to be OK to good. He's made all the plays, but he has made far more errors than is acceptable. He has shown a little pop and some speed on the bases, but hasn't been consistent and has had far too many poor ABs and given away too many outs. However, I don't believe Dozier's rookie campaign has been a disaster. Nishioka is a disaster, Marquis was a disaster. Dozier is a disappointment. Dozier can and should do well at Rochester for the next 15 days. I hope it is a springboard to a strong September with the big club.

Let's face it, Diamond will be the de facto "ace" going into 2013. Any free agent starter the Twiins sign will be coming off either an injury or ineffectiveness. They really do have to sign a starter though. I've seen Jeremy Guthrei's name mentioned and he is probably exactly the type, although I doubt it will be him. But just as a placeholder, I'll use his name: 1) Diamond 2) Guthrie 3) Duensing 4) Hendriks 5) Blackburn/Deduno. I am also hoping that Gibson blows them out of the water in the spring and I am far more optimistic about that than seeing Scott Baker toe the rubber next year for the Twins.

Your comparison of starting position players and the starting rotation kind of fails. The starting rotation has been bad for two years and a return to health won't do anything for 4/5s of this year's proposed rotation. Baker has an option that won't be picked up. Pavano's contract is up, as is Liriano's and Marquis is already out of the Twins' organization. Blackburn has struggled mightily and can't be counted to fill a rotation sport either. What we are seeing this year is the second five starting rotation and Ryan has to know that this group needs to be augmented from outside the organization.

Waldrop is a reliever so he won't figure in any rebuilding of the rotation. I think Ryan will be pretty aggressive going after pitching, starting with the trading deadline and continuing through free agency. It would help their cause considerably if another arm emerged as Diamond has.

Why would a 31 year old catcher want to play for a rebuilding team? I think the Twins market Doumit and they trade him at the deadline. I doubt he will be back if he is any kind of productive and stays healthy. Liriano and Pavano are both free agents--unless they sign for dirt, they aren't returning to the Twins. Liriano, with a couple more good starts, just might have some trade value. If so, pull the trigger TR! I think Span is a goner as well. Both he and Capps should be able to bring back talent that can contribute in 2013.

I have submitted often that, with merely a suspect rotation, the Twins would be a .500 team, and in the AL Central, that means contender. The offense has been spotty, but has shown signs of improving. The defense is much improved, although there have been quite a few errors in the last 10 days or so. Relief pitching is okay, bordering on solid and fundamentally the Twins are doing much better. On the defense, with Revere and Span in the outfield and decent gloves at catcher and the middle infield there is a real improvement. The Twins have turned a lot of double plays and are not messing up many of late. With the good range of Span and Revere and decent range at short and second, the Twins are getting to more balls in the middle of the diamond. The corners? Not so much, but the best way to play good defense on the corners is to swing the bat well. The Twins need to rebuild their rotation on the fly. It looks like Diamond will stay for awhile. I'm thinking he'll be pitching for the Twins when they are good again. I am not close to sold on Walters or De Vries, but they've been better than any of the original five that started the season. Let's hope that they can produce another starter or two and perhaps get one at the deadline in exchange for one of the relief pitchers or Doumit or Carroll.

I've said it several times on many different threads--this is a much better team than last year except for the starting rotation, which is five for five rolling snake eyes with the projected starting rotation. If the rotation miraculously becomes average, could they contend? I think so, but I really can't see a rotation with Pavano as the nominal ace, Liriano, who has been dreadful except for his last start, followed up by the not highly regarded Diamond, Walters, and De Vries being competitive. The rotation needs to be rebuilt. This season is about guys proving they belong or don't. Maybe there will be a miraculous run--heck they are probably as good as their '08 team (except for starting pitching)--but I'll pay attention to see who could be a fixture and who will hit the road.

Maloney was on the 40-man until he was DFAed. I, too, hope that he gets his chance to pitch as a starter. He has been terrible when coming in in the middle of an inning, but much better when starting an inning. He also showed an inability to hold runners and seemed to be distracted once somebody ran on him.

For the same reasons you like Doumit, his value would be pretty high. Since he is a free agent at the end of the year, either sign him for multiple years or he should be dealt while his value is high. Doumit is pretty good and pairing him with another catcher, he could form a very nice tandem.

I agree that Liriano should go to the bullpen but I don't think or expect that he will become a dominant reliever. It doesn't make sense that a guy who has seemed to melt under the pressure in the early innings would have the mental makeup to succeed in late innings with high leverage. Liriano has often shown great stuff, but he hasn't produced. Perhaps a trip to the bullpen will help him find what works again and be an effective pitcher.

Nathan, Kubel, Ramos, and Hardy all off to slow starts at last check. If I'm Texas I'm a little worried about Nathan. They are too good to let games slip away because their closer is shaky.