stringer bell

Don’t want to alibi too much for Ober, but I think the inning is a lot different if Polanco makes that play.

Missed over a week with COVID and has noticeable lefty-righty splits.

The Twins finished the month of May with an 18-12 record. Given the schedule they faced in that month, 18 wins isn't exactly dominating. They closed with a 4-5 record in their last nine games playing bottom-dwellers in those last games. Here are the stats for May per ESPN. https://www.espn.com/mlb/team/stats/_/name/min/split/41/table/batting/sort/OPS/dir/desc and https://www.espn.com/mlb/team/stats/_/type/pitching/name/min/split/41 Just a few highlights. Luis Arraez, Trevor Larnach, and Gary Sanchez had fine months. Arraez was an OBP machine. Trevor Larnach had a fine month, but only played in 16 games due to injury. Lowlights: Buxton, Jeffers, and Miranda. Pitching highlights included excellent months from Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan, Devin Smeltzer and Jhoan Duran. Disappointments included Chris Archer and Yennier Cano. The team outscored their opponents 137-120. The hitters walked 105 times, while Twins' pitchers walked 83 hitters, they struck out 256 batters while the hitters struck out 231 times. The Twins allowed 249 hits while getting 266 hits from their offense. The home run discrepency was 30-27 in favor of the Al Central leaders. Looking at stats provides a little longer view of the season and the month. My view of the month was that there were some interludes where they were very good, but they finished the month playing less than their best. Injuries and COVID-19 have flipped the roster sideways. Byron Buxton needs to either get right or get well and the pitching staff needs health or reinforcements.

The Twins finished 18-12 for May. I was hoping for 20 wins in the month, so it is a minor disappointment. The next month will tell a tale, but it's a long season and players not on the horizon might play a role in future months.

I think Smeltzer has been a great story and without thinking, I thought he would be a lock for Twins Pitcher of the Month. That said, Gray was outstanding and is a great choice.

I obviously do not.

Nope. It’s going to be Roger Clemens’ son, making his major league debut.

Joe Ryan threw over 100 pitches earlier this year.

I don’t think there is any doubt he’s pitched well enough to stay in the rotation. With Ryan’s return undetermined, Gray and Ober with injury issues and less than effectiveness from retreads Bundy and Archer, all Smeltzer has to do is keep doing what he has done.

If that was Angel Hernandez who made that strike call……..nah! That strike call will be all over.

Maybe it pays to work the ump!!??

With Miggy “running”, it made no difference at all. Maybe Mookie Betts catches that ball-not many other right fielders. It bounced away, but ended up being a second and third situation, the same as if he played the carom perfectly.

I only play golf on days that end in “y”.

Congratulations to Jermaine Palacios! All of the injuries and illnesses do give others a chance. Palacios has had a long time spent in the minors. This is a nice reward for all the work he has put in.

Ready or not, it’s time for Kirilloff.

I’ll add that Miranda needed to come off the bag on Urshela’s throw.

Torkelson made a good play. I don’t think it was as difficult as the play Miranda tried to make.

Absolutely correct. He had enough time, but he tried to lead Smith while moving away from him. It was a tough play, but doable.

6 IP from Bundy. Not exactly heroic, but he has kept the Twins in the game.

Last batter for Bundy?

No "W" for Brieske.

A couple of soft hits in a row. They look like line drives in the box score. Really important for Bundy to hold it at one run this inning.

Ahh-ooo!

Garlick almost brought that homer back.

Nice at bat from Mr. OBP, followed on the next pitch by a GDP?