stringer bell

Realism here. I think Blackburn starts until the rosters are expanded. I'd love to see both Hendriks and Vasquez start games with Blackburn mothballed--he really can't do anything about this year anyway. The other deletion? Possibly Diamond, but Duensing or De Vries also could be options. I realize adding Vasquez would impact on the 40-man, but as long as Nishioka is on that roster, there's room for one to be added.

I was here for ya' buddy. But with the score 5-1 and an early AM tee time, I can't go on. BTW, I noticed that Bremer was critical of Blackburn or at least honest, continuing to emphasize the lack of ground balls and acknowledging the poor results. My thought was that Bremer had the word that he could throw Blackburn under the bus and Coomer missed the memo. G 'night.

Could it happen? Back 2 Back Perfectos?

Man, do I ever agree with that.

Blackburn with the expected first inning gopher ball. Not that easy to do against Seattle.

Well, for the six of us that prefer to watch two bad baseball teams play a meaningless game rather than two bad football teams playing an absolutely meaningless game, I have a couple predictions. Carson will get a hit and Florimon won't. Florimon makes a key error and the Twins bow 5-3.

Tosoni and Benson have had seasons from Hades. The best thing for both of them will be the end of the season and being healthy. I was thinking that the Twins were taking a "prospect" off the 40-man because they were lating as late as possible to officially make the move. The must have designated Tosoni on Tuesday.

Hernandez has had two straight good starts after being bombed his first start for the Red Wings. I see he is only 5'10", but fandom should wait and see before deeming him a bullpen arm or nonprospect.

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.

Diamond certainly, to this point, deserves to be considered ahead of Darvish. Darvish has wins, Ks, and pitching in a pennant race. Diamond has everything else, especially a much lower ERA and 10 wins for a last place team.

This team used Delmon Young in left field and intermittently played Kubel in both left and right? They played Cuddyer in center a few games and at least a dozen with Cuddy at second. They can stand to put a less than stellar fielder in right field to get him at-bats in a building season. I'm not saying put him in right permanently, but play him there when Parmelee is called up to get him at-bats.

Duensing can be a decent middle of the rotation starter. I agree with JoeC's column written before his last start. I do think the Twins should recall Vasquez (along with Hendriks) and see what they have. I don't know his exact contract status, but he may well be a free agent if he isn't on the major league roster. Vasquez has been effective at Rochester--give him a shot.

I think Mr. De Vries' hold on a starting spot is getting pretty tenuous. Since there are not a lot of great options, he may hang on for another start, but I don't think he has enough stuff to stay in any major league rotation, not even the Twins.

Probably Perdomo, second guess would be Manship. If Swarzak is fully healthy, he is the long man instead of Manship, so perhaps Jeff is sent down.

I think Oliveros will be an okay relief pitcher. He probably would be hurling for the Twins now if not for the bone chips in his elbow. If the Twins can get a few decent years out of him, they win the Delmon trade. Delmon is not a good baseball player. It will be interesting to see what kind of contract he gets next year.

How does Scherzer fan so many and have such middling stats otherwise?

Probably not a great matchup to get Plouffe going. I hope to see Florimon soon. Here is my particular hobby horse--I hate seeing so many Puntos, Casillas, Carrolls, etc. that have absolutely no power. Florimon is a fairly big guy and can reach the fences. He misses the ball far too often to be a good hitter, but if he makes contact the OFs will have to play him honest.

I thought a lot of Dozier's at-bats left something to be desired. Swinging early at pitcher's pitches, making a lot of soft contact, and a poor K/BB ratio. That said, I thought his defense had stabilized as acceptable and that he was playing fairly sound fundamental baseball. I didn't witness the extra inning play that seemed to ignite conflict, but seldom has a Twins player been criticized for taking a sure out.

A pretty poor performance all-around except for Willingham's big fly. Duensing made more good pitches than he will get credit for, and I do agree with Joe C in his pre-game column. The Twins missed on making some plays and the result was predictable. Tomorrow is the rubber game. I wonder if Plouffe starts again or they give him a day off.

Is it possibly that Gardy is riding a hot streak by putting out the same lineup? Dozier is sitting a second straight day, I don't think that has happened since his recall.

There are 18 days until the roster expand. The team is out of the race and Denard will have plenty of opportunities to show he's healthy in September. Call up Parmelee and play him in right, why not?

I think Escobar is the wild card in this situation. Florimon is hitting about .250 at Rochester, so he wouldn't project as any improvement over Casilla's offense. Escobar spent the first 2/3 of the season rusting on the bench in Chicago, if he does hit in Rochester and in September, the Twins will probably be tempted to DFA Alexi. If not, I think the Twins would be wise to offer Casilla a lowball offer and he probably would accept it, because I don't see anybody else offering him a major league contract.

Deal with it, Chief. Your torment probably only will last for another six weeks.

There is not much to lose, but a) do any of you think that Mastro's bat will be suffiecient if he played every day? There probably was a reason why Mastroianni was moved to the OF and likely it was something about the way he played 2B. But I'm sure he could play second better than Nishi or Cuddy.

Give that man a cigar. No, thanks, don't smoke. I'd rather the refrain be "winner, winner, chicken dinner"--that I could go for tomorrow!