stringer bell

Plouffe activated--Herrmann back to Rochester. Who leads off and who gets demoted from Rochester? Herrmann's replacement is hitting .383!

Two games left in the first half for Cedar Rapids. They remain tied with Beloit (irony!) for first place, but much of the drama is gone, because the top two teams from each division and each half make the playoffs.

He is exactly what the Twins need. He can play center field, bat leadoff and get on base. He can steal a base. He is demonstrating the abilities I mentioned at Rochester--can/could he display them in Minnesota? I'd say, try it now! The team doesn't have a center fielder and don't have a leadoff hitter. Antoan can do those things!

I don't like the way things are going for my favorite team. I am not pleased with Ryan Doumit playing right field and I dislike intensely seeing Jamie Carroll serve as the leadoff hitter. I am displeased with seeing marginal talent start games for the Twins while Kyle Gibson toils in AAA. Several of the guys I identified as keys to the success or failure of this team aren't playing much--specifically right now Chris Parmelee and Trevor Plouffe, who has been disabled by concussion symptoms and then a sore calf--while veteran trade bait and minor league journeymen keep playing. This club isn't going to win anything this year. It has been apparent since spring training that there isn't enough pitching to challenge legitimate major league teams. They have to make moves now, both on the field and off, that help them to be better in 2014 and contend at least by 2015. So, what the **** is going on? I will present the most optimistic and Twins friendly idea first: They are showcasing their veterans for the trade deadline, they are committed to Aaron Hicks and Oswaldo Arcia as cornerstones of their future, and they are trying to find out about position players and pitchers who will get their chances to prove their worth. Another theory: The Twins think they can contend so they are putting the best they have right now and playing them. Final theory: It is all about reducing payroll. The team will purge all salaries, other than Joe Mauer. They will build with low-paid young players and Joe Mauer. I think it is actually a little of all three--they are building for the future, but keeping a toe in the water for now because they aren't the Marlins or Astros. Reducing payroll is a benefit of rebuilding, so they are playing veterans with the hope of moving many or most of them by July 31. Is there any part of the Twins strategy that you support? Is there a strategy? I am beginning to believe 90 losses is again likely and not nearly enough talent for the future gets tested and approved in this lost season.

Plouffe played the entire game versus Gwinnett tonight. He was 2-5 with a strikeout, and committed an error. I hope that is good enough for Trevor to get on a plane and play third for the Twins.

Dan Rohlfing has continued at Rochester and he has continued to produce. After going 4-4 tonight against Gwinnet, Rohlfing is hitting .383 at Rochester with an OPS of .966. He, like Chris Herrmann, seems to have benefited from a promotion based on his ability to play multiple positions as well as catch. Rohlfing got the game-winning hit last night with a walkoff single to plate the tying and winning runs for Rochester. Today he added his second homer for the Red Wings (2 more than he hit for New Britain). Combining his numbers from New Britain and Rochester for 2013 (which would do away with SSS argument), Rohlfing has a slash line of .407/.410/.817 in about 210 plate appearances.

Dick was given permission to diss Doumit gently. He should have caught that ball and a number of left fielders would have caught the ball hit by Peralta. Some blame has to go to Diamond, of course, but Gardenhire's insistence on playing Doumit in right is wearing on me as much as grampa leading off.

It's true that Torii is a popular athlete and that he'll probably get a half dozen hits this weekend including Homer #300, but how in the world is he leading for an All-Star outfielder spot? His OPS is .745 and he is tied with Morneau at two homers.

Welcome back Ashbury (no Haight).

I am sick of seeing Jamie Carroll batting first for the Twins. It's pretty obvious that at this stage of his career, Jamie shouldn't be playing every day and that is exacerbated by him batting in the #1 spot. Much like Gardy playing Nick Punto all the time, it is tough to find an alternative for the leadoff spot, but it's also tough to watch at-bats wasted on a 39-year old utility infielder.

Has anyone heard if Plouffe will be activated? The Twins could have used him last night and could use him against the Tiggers. Let's hope a move is made and Trevor can start a warm streak hitting the ball into the stands a couple times this weekend.

What about Pinto? I realize he isn't really young and he's not quite on the verge, but he is putting up great numbers at AA and plays a premium position.

Reports of my demise (or banishment) have been greatly exaggerated.

Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Tied or ahead--Fien, Duensing, Roenicke, Burton, Perkins. Behind--Swarzak, Pressly, Thielbar. There is some crossover, but that is the general guideline. There is something extra to keep Swarzak (O of O, multiple innings), Pressly (Rule 5), and Roenicke (O of O) on the major league staff. Fien has mostly been effective, but with an option remaining, he is a candidate to be sent down.

I predict the Twins win by one run, Duensing gets the win and Perkins the save by retiring Young, Mayberry and Galvis. Well that is right for 6/12 and 6/11. Maybe Brock can correct the date and I'll still make the same prediction.

I am in a hurry to get Gibson up for two major reasons: 1) He is on an innings count (no official number, but somewhere between 130 and 150, I've heard) and 2) he is no longer a young prospect. He will be 26 this year IIRC. He's well over a year removed from TJ and he has thrown very well of late for a team with a very suspect MI defense (he's a high-ratio groundball guy).

Actually, I don't view this as sad. Most of the demotion candidates have done well of late, which kind of muddies the situation. For example, if it were Herrmann or Thomas that was 0-13, instead of Doumit, it would be an easy call to send Herrmann down or go briefly without a CF and send Clete packing. If Thielbar were 0-2 with a 9 ERA, everybody would say "well that was a nice Minnesota story" and bid Caleb goodby without a second thought. As it is, Fien is a candidate to get optioned because he has options, despite a very good WHIP. It's tough to call for Pelfrey to get sent down, as well. Two of his three best outings were his last two times out. The GM will have to make a tough choice. To me, that is good news.

I believe Clete is out of options, so he would be exposed if demoted. The same is true for Ramirez, if they would decide to demote him and keep Clete. I actually think the first choice would be to send Herrmann back down, followed by Escobar. As I said before, I will believe Plouffe is back when the first pitch is thrown and he's at his position.

Let's not get carried away. Clete Thomas is a 29 year old AAAA player at best. Last year, he started well, hitting a homer and a couple of extra base hits before devolving into a strikeout machine. Congrats, Clete, on the nice game. I hope you have several more, but I continue to expect less than replacement level offense and passable defense.

Clete does look like a Cletus, for sure.

I predict both will end 4-3.

You can't handle the truth!

The way Flori-moan and Grampa have been swinging, they'll be lucky to get the lead. This is a reverse jinx.

Obviously, when Hicks is healthy, the Twins will have to send him out because Clete Thomas is our new everyday center fielder.