stringer bell

I presume they are playing Saturday night, Sunday day games. In that case, they should give Morneau one of the two games off and have Mauer play first base. It would end up something like this: Butera catches Friday and Sunday. Morneau, first base Friday and Saturday. Mauer, catcher Saturday and first base Sunday. If there is a lefty, give Morneau the day off versus the lefty with Mauer at first.

Let's see if Capps has his good stuff today.

Tigers need three DHs!

Doumit caught and Mauer DHed yesterday, you would think that it was Mauer's turn to catch. However, I suppose they didn't want Morneau to go 18 innings in the field in 24 hours.

The main problem with this club is lack of talent. Secondarily, the pieces don't fit together real well. For example, the mix of lefties and righties isn't ideal, they have to many pitch-to-contact starters with similar arsenals, and they remain too dependent on two former MVPs who have to prove they can perform for a whole season. While I don't blame Gardenhire for much of the mess, it may be time to go another direction. The club needs to invest in power arms and power hitters and also needs to get away from guys with major limitations, most notably zero power.

This is especially troubling because the Twins haven't lost a lot of games by blowout scores. They have consistently yielded 6-7-8 runs and they haven't lost a lot of games by obscene scores like 15-1 or 20-4. They are last in the league in runs scored and last in runs allowed, that can't be good.

Parmelee needs to find his groove. Glad that he'll get that chance. Morneau needs to come out of the gate hitting--doubt that.

Only a single for Brantley--rally killer.

BP at Target Field! I'm not one to complain unnecessarily, but this guy shouldn't be pitching in the major leagues.

Good thing that the Twins can only hit into one DP per inning, because if they could do it more they would.

Glad for Oliveros. He was one of my picks to make the major league bullpen. Perhaps the demotion to AA was a wakeup call?

Who is twirling for the Tribe? I'm wondering if it's a lefty. Also, if Gardy prefers Carroll at third and Casilla at second (as they are aligned today) why has Casilla played third when he has replaced Plouffe?

If Florimon keeps hitting, he could really be a prospect. He's got speed, a good glove, and enough power to at least keep outfields honest. I have thought for a long time that this was a good get for the Twins. If he continues to hit, I think Florimon will see time with the Twins this year.

Drew didn't block Cappsie's splitter cleanly, which cost the Twins the game. I just don't see him as much better than average defensively. With that bat, he has to be supercatcher and he's not.

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.

Good take.

I think the Twins should give Plouffe the rest of the month. I like him better at third than most here do, but he needs to hit to stick. In the early part of the season, I always have a rule--add a 4-4 to a guy who's struggling and see what the numbers look like and add an 0-10 to a guy who has started out hot. Numbers can change that quick right now. Even adding 4-4 to Plouffe's numbers wouldn't bring him above the Mendoza line, so he would need to be hot for more than a game or two to get to acceptability.

On another side of this issue, catchers are falling like flies (Ianetta, Ramos, etc.). Given that the Twins look horrendous, perhaps they can get something of value for Doumit, who can hit and from my view has shown himself to be an acceptable receiver.

In about a full season's worth of at-bats for a catcher, Butera has been historically bad as a hitter and decidedly average as a defender. I don't trust defensive metrics in general and certainly don't trust them for catchers in particular, but from what I've seen Drew is OK as a catch and throw guy, calls a decent game, but that can't make up for his terrible hitting, which has really no upside. If Drew miraculously hit .230 and mixed in an occasional walk or XBH, he would be fine to catch three days in two weeks, but I don't think that will happen.

Swarzak is out of options, Gray is out of options, Plouffe is out of options. If a pitcher goes, it will either be Burnett or someone from the starting rotation. Mastroianni and Butera aren't secure either--both have had their options used this year.

Well, I guess the 38 year old is the regular second baseman and Casilla is the utility guy. I think that's foolish but that's me.

I thought this was a very good game. My cousin and I waited through the rain delay and watched the entire proceeding, along with about 8-10,00 others! Props to Gardy for pinch running Komatsu--the run Komatsu scored with aggressive baserunning was the game winner. Nice job by Capps, another very good inning for Burton, not so much for Perk but Parmelee and Willingham saved him. The sixteen hopper that got through for Mastro and J-Will's bloop double counteracted most of the Jays 4 homers. Dozier had a tough game--made an error and was 0-fer at the plate, but he still looks confident. Even though Plouffe was hitless, at least he made the plays at third and his throws were fine. Blackburn looked okay until the sixth, then boom walk boom, which made for another ugly line for him.

Gotta believe that Carroll plays third every time before Casilla goes over there. I would think Plouffe plays third before they would use Casilla. Carroll has played over 200 games at 3B, Casilla has played 19 innings (1 start).

It occurs to me that Plouffe is an infielder again. It also occurs to me that the bottom half of the roster isn't important. I don't know what the official spin on Valencia's demotion will be, but the word "humbling" comes to me. Also "tuneup". Valencia could go either way--come back with a vengence or continue his slide from regular on a division winner to .....Triple A third baseman. I hope Maloney gets through to Rochester. I liked what I saw of him in spring training and I think he could be an effective starter, but he doesn't seem cut out for the bullpen.

That would mean the Twins' 3B is Jamey Carroll?