stringer bell

With Cleveland having gone through a rough patch, at this point the only team with a winning record in the Central is the Detroit Tigers. Despite a so-so .571 winning percentage the Tigers lead by six games. The other four teams are clustered around each other. The Twins trail Cleveland by a game and a half and Kansas City by a full game. They lead Chicago by only one game. The only other division that has a similar separation is the NL East, where the Braves lead handily and all the other teams have sunk below .500.

Even if Herrmann is not hitting (I would predict he'll come to earth in Escobar-like fashion), the Twins should trade Doumit. Josmiel Pinto is below Arcia/Buxton/Sano, but his numbers at AA are pretty close to off the charts. I have said since April that the Twins need to trade two of Doumit, Morneau, and Willingham and selling a pitcher and Carroll wouldn't be a bad idea.

Judging by age. numbers and players in front of him, one would think that the Twins would definitely promote Pinto at the minor league All-Star break. He has to be an EL All-Star, although I've heard no word about that.

Two outstanding talents, no question. The Twins look like they will have very good talent very soon at most positions. I hope some of the pitching prospects can develop!

I don't know who posted about Hicks and arbitration, but the issue isn't arbitration, it is free agency. If Hicks spends three weeks in the minors (other than injury rehab), the Twins delay his free agency by a year. I think it is far ore important to have control over Hicks for an additional year than whether Hicks is eligible for an additional year of arbitration.

Plouffe should be ready very soon. He played most of the game at third in Rochester (homered) and was tweeting after the game. When he returns, who gets sent down and who bats leadoff? I can't imagine Plouffe riding the bench when he returns. I do want to add that I will absolutely believe he is back when he is on the field and the game has begun.

I'm going to keep on the Richardson bus. Here's another reason why--if the Twin decided they want to control Hicks for another year...errr I mean if they decide he needs some Triple A time, Richardson can be their leadoff hitter. If Hicks returns in two weeks, Richardson would make the superior fourth outfielder because he is older and not considered a prospect, but mostly because he hits lefthanded (Hicks' weaker side) and has leadoff skills. I don't hold out hope of him being a star, but to plug the leadoff hole for 2013 he I the best bet in the Twins' system.

If the Twins are serious about winning as many games as possible, they need to try Richardson. His OBP is good at Rochester (SSS) and was outstanding at New Britain. If he could get on at a good clip, he would provide the Twins with a lead off alternative. No other CF candidate above Buxton has leadoff skills.

To me, it is a lot more than just speaking the language. That a player would have someone with a similar background might help some of the younger guys. It shouldn't be the primary thing, but should figure in on personnel decisions.

Actually, I hope Clete is designated after his next 0-4 and Richardson is recalled to take his place. Clete will be in center most of the fifteen days that Hicks is out. While Richardson wouldn't be a better CF than Thomas, he is a leadoff hitter and until Hicks or someone can take that role, the Twins biggest need right now on offense is a leadoff hitter.

I believe he's been outstanding in a lot of games.

How about some love for my adopt-a-prospect Mason Melotakis?

Probably a good idea. I spoke to Berrios Saturday and his English is at least pretty good. Yesterday, he was sitting with three American pitchers and seemed to carrying on conversation so I don't think his English will be an issue. All the way through the organization, there should be more Hispanic coaches.

Look luck Kernels! I am DVRing the game, since I am at work. Just watched their last two games in person. I'm sure the guys will be a little nervous being on TV! Kane County (I believe they are playing them again) has six of the top 20 or 21 prospects in the MWL according to Jim Krikket.

After witnessing a Kane County Cougars 15-1 beatdown of the Cedar Rapids Kernels, I awoke to gray skies and the promise of rain. But things got better! After showers in the morning, the rain diminished to sprinkles by game time and were pretty much gone by the middle innings. There were even a few peeks of sunshine later in the day. On the field, Hudson Boyd started for the Kernels. He yielded a quick run in the first, struck out the side in the second (on ten pitches IIRC) and wobbled through the third and fourth. Boyd was out in the fifth after yielding a game-tying homer. The Kernels took the lead in the second with a four-run inning highlighted by catcher Michael Quesada 2-run gapper. With the score tied 4-4, the Kernels mounted another four-run burst culminated by Byron Buxton's gapper to left-center. Outstanding work by Steve Gruver netted the win for the Kernels. I met both JO Berrios and Mason Melotakis of the Kernels. I spoke with SD Buhr (Jim Crikket) and a scout from the Mets. While the young men are a long way from the major leagues, there is a lot of talent and some of them will be playing for the Twins some day. Even without Buxton, Cedar Rapids has a nice roster. Best wishes to the Kernels for making the playoffs and then making some noise in the playoffs.

I was in Cedar Rapids Saturday and Sunday. The best pitcher to toe the rubber was Gruver. He was around the plate and mixed his pitches well. Kane County hit a couple of balls hard, but basically he kept them off balance for all four innings. Buxton was 4-7 on the weekend with three walks. He certainly is smooth, but I would have liked to see him "open it up" chasing a fly ball or going for a triple, but he didn't get a chance. Before his double, he didn't really hit the ball hard.

I was in Cedar Rapids this weekend. I didn't get to see Melotakis pitch, but I managed to meet him personally. Mason starts tomorrow's nationally televised game, I believe. Good luck, Mason, and if you read this--yes, I'm that old guy who shook your hand.

Well, my luck is holding. I have gone to two Twins games this year, both with questionable weather forecasts and both turned out fine weather wise. The same scenario was in effect for the Kernel-Kane County matchup tonight. Did I mention the Twins lost both games? The Kernels also endured the "curse of Stringer Bell" with a non-competitive 15-1 drubbing. Not much went right for the Kernels. LF J.D. Williams made a fine throw in the second inning and 2B Joel Licon made a nice diving play. Pitcher Brett Lee was utterly hittable--fastball was OK, but straight, his curveball seemed to spin and the change wasn't effective. Buxton had three hits, but none of them were hard hit. Perfect Game Field is a nice minor league venue. It was nearly a full house, with fireworks following the game. The field looks small to me, especially down the lines. Kane County's first run was a homer down the LF line. It didn't seem well-hit at all, but managed to just make the seats, I guess. The ball really scoots through the infield. I guess my highlight was meeting JO Berrios and shaking his hand. He seems bigger than he looked in uniform (at the WBC) and certainly looks really young (just turned 19). He was sitting next to us by himself and i finally asked him his name just before he left. BTW, his English is good. I'll be at tomorrow's tilt weather permitting. If any TDers want to stop by, my brother and I are in Section 111, Row V, seats 8 & 9.

My brother and I have motored down from Minnesota to take in a weekend of Kernels Baseball. We came this early because we figured that if we came later, Buxton et al would have been promoted. We are staying at the motel which is housing this weekend's opponent (Kane County?). The weather looks pretty iffy, but we are hoping to see some of the future of the Minnesota Twins. I'll try to write a report at the conclusion of the game.

Parmelee gets a seat on the bench for the Nationals series. No DH and Doumit is swinging well and Parmelee hasn't had a very good series in KC.

Isn't this all about whether Pelf stays in the rotation? Of course, Pelf gives a "meh+" performance against a bad offense. It's probably enough to give him another start, but not enough to guarantee he gets two more.

Tongue in cheek. I thought Gibson before Deduno and Walters.

LaPanta noted that Gardy said today's start was "very important". I interpret that to mean, "pitch effectively or you're out of the rotation" and De Vries threw well yesterday, so he would be ready to take his spot.

Perhaps a bit off topic, I have thought for a while that Gibson would be helped by having adequate or better defenders behind him, since he is an extreme ground ball pitcher.

Clete might run into a couple of fastballs at some point, but I maintain he just isn't a very good player. It was telling that Clete played center when Richardson and Thomas were in the outfield together at Rochester. The biggest problem for the current position roster is finding a leadoff hitter. So far, the Twins have to have the absolute worst numbers from their leadoff hitters. That is the case for Richardson, but if he's not going to play, it just doesn't make any difference.