stringer bell

Yes, Butera is catching again tonight. Virtual dollars or euros are fine as payment.

Both Dozier and Diamond are probably being praised (and pulled for) more than a typical newcomer because the need is so great at their positions. To have a shortstop who is average or better on offense and defense has been a rarity and last year's situation at short and second was the worst I've ever seen for the Twins. Starting pitching is an area of glaring need as well.

Any opinions about Diamond? I thought he threw a little harder than I remembered from last year, and his breaking ball was a little sharper than I remembered. He had really good command, which he'll need to thrive in the big leagues.

Valencia isn't an All-Star and the .300 average in 2010 was a fluke. He has double digit HR power and enough defensive tools to be average or better at third base. He's in a terrible funk right now, but he should be able to hit .250-.280 and drive in a fair amount of runs. I don't think there's any reason to bench him but if he can't get it going the Twins will have to fill a hole at third base. Dozier is doing just fine at short defensively and has a few knocks already. So far, so good.

Well, Butera caught Diamond at Rochester, so there's that. We know he'll be catching tomorrow, too. Also, I thought Parmelee could play in right field--with Butera catching, today would have been a good day to do that. This team is simply not hitting--they are now last in the league in runs scored, 11th in OBP, 13th in sluggings and OPS. Plouffe's numbers are interesting for one reason--he has drawn an inordinate number of walks. His OBP is higher than Casilla's, Doumit's and Valencia's. Obviously with only four hits, he can't have much of a slugging percentage.

With the Twins having Komatsu and with Willingham in LF, it is going to be hard to shoehorn Revere into the lineup. Komatsu made an error last night, but I'm sure that Willingham would never have gotten to the ball in the first place. I don't see the point of having Revere around unless he has a place to play. It looks to me like that place would be CF if Span is injured or traded.

And a catcher.

I liked what I saw of Florimon in ST. He's a bigger guy (6'2") who wouldn't be played shallow by all the outfielders like Revere, Carroll and a host of other middle infielders. Florimon's main problem has always been making good contact, so let's hope he fares well at Rochester.

While I am a big fan of Benson's, this may be the right thing for him. He was demoted from New Britain to Ft. Myers as well IIRC. Joe B needs to get his confidence up. He is a talented guy with all the tools, but he can't be fighting both himself and opposing pitchers.

Even with the dismissal of both Hughes and Burroughs, I don't see Casilla playing much 3B. If somebody moves over there, it will be either Carroll or (less likely) Plouffe.

I see Carroll as the guy moving around and filling in at three positions. He has been a utility player for his whole career. Giving the robust stats of the other two guys, Carroll should get plenty of playing time. I was mentally comparing Carroll and Casilla. Carroll gets more walks, has more extended at-bats, and is more prone to move the runner over while Casilla has the higher batting average and just enough power to be played like a normal hitter (it is my pet peeve to see hitters played like little leaguers like they do for Carroll and Revere). Casilla is a good base stealer, Carroll not quite. Offensive edge (barely) to Casilla. Defensively Carroll has made all the plays, and played fundamentally sound at the most important defensive position in the infield. Casilla had one bad game (really one bad inning) in the field, but otherwise has been solid with a few outstanding plays mixed in. Defensive advantage--Carroll. Casilla is 28 in July, Carroll turned 38 this winter--advantage Casilla. I think Casilla get the majority of starts at second, with Carroll reverting to utility or perhaps 10th regular status.

What I am looking for in players this year is who can play and who can't. Can the Twins be a winning team with Dozier at SS? The same question goes for Casilla and probably Valencia. If Dozier hits .270, gets his fair share of XBHs and BBs and plays capable shortstop, I'll be more than satisfied. The pitching staff needs to be reworked--particularly the rotation--and the Twins won't contend until they get capable starting pitching, what needs to be known by the end of this year is whether they need to find another 2B, SS, 3B and RF. The infield positions are particularly crucial because there aren't any in-house answers in the high minors.

I saw Maloney pitch twice in ST and he looked very good (IIRC he was facing major leaguers too). I have talked him up since, after not really knowing anything about him. He hasn't been good at all in the majors, and it appears to me that he isn't suited to be a relief pitcher, at least one that comes in with runners on base. Maloney has allowed runners to run at will and hasn't pitched well out of the stretch. When he's started an inning, he's been much better.

That was truly a nice Double Play to get Marquis out of the third. Can't complain about themiddle infield defense so far this year.

Sad, it most likely sets Wimmers back another year. I was hoping for a big comeback for him this year.

Possible, giving they are facing Felix tonight.

I think they should go down to AA and promote Florimon. He's hitting very well there, has speed and a good glove. They need a backup IF and there are spots on the 40-man.

My all-time favorite player. I'm glad he got three years, but I understand why he and the Twins parted company. He's been slumping, but has got several key hits for the Rocks.

Check the date.

There were encouraging signs in the Twins' victory. Duensing, Perkins and Capps completely shut down the Mariners in the late innings. There was good defense played--Carroll saved a run with a diving stop and Span made a nice catch in the gap--and the hitters had some good at-bats against the Seattle bullpen. The offense is currently slumping and Doumit should have caught the last of the three doubles in the fifth inning. Drew Butera had two pitiable at-bats and a big hit could have broken open the game. For a day, at least, the positives won out.

Let's not forget that Pavano is pitching. He has always said that he like throwing to Butera. I don't know if Son of Sal can make his fastball zip a few more MPH, but if Butera is going to catch, today is probably the day. Morneau has been out since Monday, will it be another several days? If so, maybe they should have DLed him. Mauer hasn't caught since Sunday--this to me is starting to sound like last year all over again..

While no runners offically stole on Maloney, they ran on him immediately after he was inserted in the game. It was already 6-0, so I don't know if it really mattered that much. Maloney had the same thing happen to him in his first game in Baltimore (in a much closer game). I still don't think Maloney should be DFAed. Even though his numbers are bad, they are the result of one truly bad outing (8H, 5ER in 1.2 innings). He is a lefty with okay or better stuff and is only 28. He may be better suited to starting and goodness knows there should be opportunities to start on this club.

While this is dealing with the last positions on a bad baseball team, I think Mastrianni may be an improvement over Plouffe and Thomas. Ramirez has only worked his way up to AA IIRC. I advocate giving Plouffe three weeks to a month to see what he has and if he's found wanting, DFA him.

On the offensive side, the results haven't been that good, but the stats look pretty good. I say this after some nobody three-hit them last night. Doumit and Valencia's numbers are probably less than one would expect, Carroll's BA is low and right field hasn't worked yet. Burroughs and Hughes were let go because the Twins thought they would be no worse without them and I agree. I also am pretty close to certain that Burroughs will not get claimed and he said earlier he was willing to go to the minor leagues. I view Butera as very temporary insurance--when Morneau is back and Mauer is fully healthy there won't be any need for Drew. I also view Burroughs as insurance after he clears. It appears to me that there is a need for a middle infielder and if it is Dozier, the Twins would then have Carroll available to back up all three positions capably. Somebody needs to seize right field. I am in the group that says give Plouffe another couple weeks to a month and make a decision on him. If he fails, I would hope that Benson would have started to hit in Rochester. If not, there is Tosoni, Clete, Revere and Doumit, to name a few.

It is apparent that Gardenhire doesn't want to see Revere starting every day in right field, hence his demotion to Rochester. This makes sense because Revere's value on offense is limited by his lack of selectivity and lack of power and his value on defense is limited by his poor throwing arm. Couple that with having Casilla, Carroll, and Span as regulars, which would mean that almost half of the order wouldn't be any threat of hitting home runs. The team has also decided that Revere would benefit from getting lots of at-bats to work on bunting and selectivity and perhaps finding a way to drive the ball and make capable throws. Thomas has proven to be a stretch even as a fourth OF, Plouffe hasn't hit, Doumit has looked like a catcher playing right field, so somebody needs to step up in right field.