stringer bell

He looked bad last April, too. I’m not gonna panic quite yet.

If he’s there, it might be Sands. I think Winder is in the rotation with the injury to Ober.

Every pitch from Archer, including breaking pitches, is up in the zone.

Quite a little K run for Jeffers.

Just wanted to clarify that by “there” I meant center field.

He’s doing a rehab start today or tomorrow and may be ready for activation in time for his next start.

Good start with Garlick taking the lefty deep.

If it is "only a bruise" I'm glad and it is fine that Buck can sit today. I was afraid the knee still wasn't right.

I don't think that DHing him substantially reduces risk of injury, and he is so valuable there.

He's on the 40-man and can give the club innings, I guess. I'm guessing that he'll fill Winder's role of long relief until Gray and/or Ober are back.

Ober to IL. Cole Sands recalled. Color me surprised. Ninja’d by lecroy!

They are 20th in MLB in runs scored (10th in the AL), they are 17th in team OPS. Below average.

Errors really don’t measure defensive efficiency. As of yesterday, the Twins were fifth in runs allowed, which would include both starting and relief pitching as well as defense. The offense has been well below average in total. My take is that the defense is that it is pretty good. Bremer noted that the Twins lead the league in outfield assists and I think they have also been fundamentally sound.

Silver linings: Only two pitchers used and it was quick. Plenty of time to watch the Wolves disappoint me.

Bundy’s ERA is normalizing in one outing.

Now Buxton gets HBP.

We really could use a reset or do-over.

In Bundy’s defense, a few of those balls weren’t hard hit at all. Those kind of things tend to even out. If the Twins lose this game by 10 runs, it is only one loss.

The Rays are just getting started.

Buxton DHing again. If that is what it takes to keep him in the lineup, but is this also indicating that the knee isn’t 100%?

They only have five in the rotation now and if Ober is out, it makes sense to move Winder in. When Gray returns, that is when it would be decided whether to keep Winder in the rotation.

I think health is the decider for demotions after Sunday’s game. The team needs to have Sánchez available on a daily basis to demote Godoy. Celestino’s roster case is strengthened if Buxton can’t be a full go. On the pitching side, uncertainty about Ober and Gray probably is enough to assure that Winder sticks around as a starter in waiting.

Not unexpectedly, JT Riddle was outrighted by Cincinnati when two of their infielders were activated off the IL.

I agree that Garlick isn’t great in the field, but it’s not fair to judge a player on one play. Fenway’s right field is notoriously tough and the wind was really blowing hard that day IIRC. Later in that same road trip, acknowledged good outfielder Max Kepler played a catchable ball into a triple, it happens especially when the wind is howling. Since the OP, Tampa has changed their starters, so the Twins might face only one lefty in Florida this trip.

Okay. Middle of the pack in what I am sure is a tightly bunched IP per start stat. That they have been effective tells the story about # of pitches IMHO. It does not appear that the Twins will have any workhorses, especially if they opt to use a 6-man rotation again. I have opined that Winder should be optioned because the Twins are using him in a very limited role, one in which he only pitches when there is a short start. I think a better-constructed ‘pen might consist of two guys who could work long(ish), but also could be in the plan as one-inning guys which could occur 2-3 times per week.