stringer bell

On the bus to the game. It is clear and 55 in Rochester. I hope this weather holds.

Jokin, the trip to the minors for Pelf was one start in Cedar Rapids on an injury rehab. He can consent to be optioned, but he has to agree to that arrangement. I don't know if anyone has even broached the subject to the player.

Nuñez for Florimon with Escobar becoming the principle shortstop is the move that would have been made already if Nuñez had not injured himself. If Nuñez can get back on the field, the move will happen soon. I wrote in another thread that the Twins are kind of stuck regarding the rotation as long as the current guys are healthy. Nolasco (4 years), Hughes (3 years) and Pelfrey (2 years) all have multiple years to go. Correia was their best, most consistent pitcher last year. He's been okay or better for three of his five starts, although his upside is limited to about what he did last year.

Will we see Nathan tonite?

Plouffe continues to take good at-bats.

Let's go Fuld!

We're comin'!

Seven homers and nine RBI, hard to believe.

How is Nunez' oblique?

The worst thing about a short start is that it keeps 13 pitchers on the roster.

Remember that positive run differential? It's...................gone.

While it is well and good that we call for changes in the rotation, the fact is that three of the four veterans are signed for multiple years. Correia was their best starter last year and pitched acceptably in most of his starts this year.

Another sharp start from a member of the Twins rotation.

Still in the game. Pedro takes another step towards Rochester.

C'mon bottom of the order!

Correia vs. Porcello. The Twins will be underdogs. Just where they want to be.

I'm going a bit off-topic here, but I have a question. I'll be at Target Field tomorrow and I am wondering if there is Wi-Fi available there so that I can post and also follow the game thread. I figure that I would post the question here because it will have the most traffic before and during the game.

Sorry, double post.

Per ESPN, here are the standings of the Twins regulars by position (Pinto is listed as a C, Colabello as a DH) sorted by OPS: Catcher--Pinto #2, Suzuki #3 (out of 8) First base--Mauer #11 (out of 15) Second base--Dozier #2 (out of 12) Third base--Plouffe #2 (out of 13) Left field--Kubel #6 (out of 11) Center field--Hicks #13 (out of 13) Right field--none qualified Shortstop--None qualified (Florimon would be 13th of 13 if the PA threshold was lowered to 50)

I'm sensing that perhaps this will be high water for the Twins and for a lot of individuals on the club. Here are players who are in the Top 20 of various offensive categories: Runs: Dozier (1st, 22), Mauer & Plouffe (T3rd, 17) Hits: Colabello (T5th, 27), Plouffe (T12th, 25) Doubles: Plouffe & Colabello (T1st, 9) Home Runs: Dozier (T3rd, 6), Pinto (T13th, 4) RBI: Colabello (1st, 26), Suzuki (T7th, 17), Plouffe (T14th, 14) SB: Dozier (T5th, 6), Florimon (T8th, 4) BB: Dozier (4th, 17), Pinto (5th, 16), Mauer (T6, 15), Plouffe (T8th, 14), Hicks (T13th, 13) SO: Mauer (T6th, 26), Dozier (T10th, 24), Colabello & Kubel (T17th, 22) BA: Colabello (T8th, .325), Plouffe (19th, .309) OBP: Plouffe (6th, .412), Pinto (7th, .408), Suzuki (8th, .406) SLG: Colabello (13th, .542) OPS: Colabello (15th, .906), Plouffe (16th, .894), Pinto (19th, .871)

With the Twins 9-7 win against Tampa, they are first in the American League in three important offensive categories: Runs per game (5.52 just ahead of Chicago), walks, and on-base percentage. We are nearing a month into this season and the sample sizes are getting larger. Certainly, the positive numbers are a surprise and it's not likely that the Twins will maintain their pace. However, there seems to be real improvement in their offense. They are nearing the middle of the pack in home runs, but almost all of their homers have been solos. The run scoring has been predicated on getting a lot of runners on and then getting some key hits with runners on. They have been pretty good with runners on base and patience at the plate is producing big dividends.

Born in Hawaii? Hmmm, better check his birth certificate.

I'm guessing four runs won't be enough.

C'mon, Mauer! Work the count!

It looks like he might give us four more chances to miss his offensive contribution.