Hosken Bombo Disco

The Adam Jones 2-run double. Just watched the video. I think an above average RF would have a 50-50 chance to catch it, but like people said, it was crushed, it was more of a fly ball than line drive, but it was hit off the wall in right center. But check this out: it looks like Sano actual broke *in* on it. As if it was hit in front of him. Buckle up folks this is going to be ugly!

probably a Nordeast for me, but not til later

I take Byung Ho Park!

First Twins home run in 2016: Go!

yah you'd think if they were postponing, they would have done it by now, instead of waiting to get everyone to the park and then telling them to go home? Maybe the game will end sometime around 10 tonight so I can catch the end

Tetherball game thread comments: "Wow, the USAF Chief really got smacked in the head with that one" "The damn thing is on a rope and goes in circles, how did he not see it??"

Should we start a tetherball game thread for you?

A lot of great trivia and memories here!

I didn't want Quentin to take the spot from Arcia, but now that Quentin is cut, I kind of hope he stay with us. He could be a masher.

Great pic of Maddon! I agree, kick back and enjoy the show works for me.

Wasn't Graham talked about as a starter this year in Rochester? I am assuming Tonkin is on his way out. Who do you think will be the first two 25-man cuts when Berrios and Burdi are called up?

I don't know why Duffey was chosen ahead of Berrios but I like Duffey. Credit the spin.

I agree. I think Berrios should have been up last August. But I seriously doubt the Twins are set on gaming Berrios over service time, but rather that there's a belief among many of us here that the Twins front office inherently places too much trust in veterans and older guys at the expense of the younger guys.

Did Burdi and Chargois go to Rochester?

At this point, I'm afraid I agree. Though I don't really mind Milone. Also, he is putting together a really nice spring, which isn't hurting his case.

"But something is going to have to differentiate the eventual “winners” of the final bullpen spots. For them, results are going to matter, especially over the next couple of weeks." I agree, fair or not, it's perfectly natural to look at stat lines to differentiate similar players fighting for the same spot. There just isn't enough time in spring training to observe guys multiple times apiece under various game situations.

I would agree with Ted on Kintzler but also want to see Meyer do something, like a 3 strikeout inning, if only for his confidence since I don't believe he's going to get a 25-man roster spot right away.

I would characterize the 2009 season as a spike in home runs, rather than calling everything after it a decline. True, Mauer is not the guy he was. I was on that boat in 2006. Mauer has had his health issues but my bigger complain is not Mauer but would be how the team is using him (batting him 3rd despite low OPS, etc.).

But, you do hate disease though, right?

Some random, small sample thoughts on the Twins performance, based mostly on what the box scores are telling us, as we approach the halfway point of spring training. All the normal caveats about small sample, quality of opponents, and then some. I feel putting it in writing here will let me see how they hold up as spring training ends and we get going into the regular season. _______ The bullpen. The three back end guys are Perkins, Jepsen and May. Good on Molly to give May a start today, though. I’d like to see May be a starter again in future seasons, but for this year, he looks ticketed for the 'pen. Add to those three Fien and Abad. That makes five relievers who look to start the season, and of those five, only Fien has allowed an earned run in relief. That’s not bad. Spring training is not necessarily a meaning-making exercise, but you'd rather be doing good than bad. Additionally, Nick Burdi and J. T. Chargois, our future bullpen anchors, have each thrown 3 scoreless innings. The future might be here early, let's hope. A lot of people were critical of the inaction this winter (not me) but either way, we need guys who can get outs. Forcing the Twins hand is the fact that guys like Aaron Thompson and Michael Tonkin are struggling to pitch any scoreless innings. Disappointing. (Granted Thompson is no longer on the 40-man.) And throw Meyer in with them. Meyer has faced 8 batters, struck out 3, walked 3, and the other batters 2 had line drive base hits. No batter he has faced has been retired in the field. Two of those other batters were thrown out stealing. Go figure. Nor have other guys like Dean, Reed and Melotakis haven’t put their names in the headlines yet. It’s still early, however. Then shift to J. R. Graham and Ryan Pressly. Combined, they have pitched 7 scoreless innings. Both are guys that Ryan picked up in the Rule 5 draft and right now, from 35,000 feet, I’d give Pressly a strong chance to make the Opening Day roster. Zack Jones, who Ryan lost to the Brewers in the Rule 5 draft this winter, blew out his shoulder prior to training camp, hasn't resumed throwing yet. Longshots O’Rourke and Kintzler have also pitched 3 scoreless innings apiece. Of those two, give the edge to O’Rourke because he’s awesome on the 40 man. Prediction: either Burdi or Chargois forces the Twins hand on a promotion right away in April, or even breaking from camp. I’d prefer the latter. Now let me talk about our new designated hitter. I’m not exactly sure how his name is styled, if it should read Park Byung-ho, or Byung Ho Park, or even Byung-ho Pak, without the R. I’d like to get it right, because he’s going to be good. After a forgetful first game (three strikeouts), he has batted 8-19 with 3 homers. Let’s roll the dice; he is ready. Arcia, Vargas and Santana have not hit yet, but that could change. Arcia is playing out of position in left field, Santana is playing several positions that he will struggle at in the majors, and Vargas in my opinion plays first base at least as well as Mauer does, but I’d much rather have Mauer for another year than Vargas. Vargas just hasn’t hit consistently since his first call up. Despite Mauer’s struggles, I still usually feel confident when he comes to the plate. I can’t say that about Vargas. Fortunately Vargas still has an option year and can play in Rochester again until needed. As has also been pointed out, Carlos Quentin is receiving the most playing time of the non roster invitees, by far. He’s also playing all over the field. He hasn’t been a full time player in years—he was even retired last season. The Twins wouldn’t ask him to play full time, but with Park showing he’s ready to DH there’s just no spot for Quentin, unless the Twins want to cut Santana or Arcia, which in my mind would be shortsighted for the limited value Quentin might provide. No doubt Quentin has shown in the past that he can mash, and hopefully he will accept some time in AAA and let the Twins see how things play out. Buxton figures to make the team, but is striking out a lot. I’m not too worried so long as the Twins can keep him in good spirits and let the development happen as it's meant to for him. And finally, Miguel Sano. Have you ever seen him hit? When people in sports bars hold up their phones to film Sano at bats on the television, that’s pretty special. Most of us expect him to struggle some in right field, and he will. But he got an outfield assist recently; expect him to get even more outfield assists after the season starts, as opposing base runners test his instincts out there. Speaking of outfield assists, don’t try to run on Rosario out in left. Or rather, please do try to run on Rosario.

Tim Lincecum threw closer to 99 than 89 when he first came up.

The great thing is that Kirby was all those things even before that Game 6!

Thanks for the Arcia nugget. He can make plays, though a majority posters here refuse to believe that!

Great reflections. Setting aside everything else, Kirby was also a guy who collected hits in bunches. There hasn't been anyone in MLB quite like him since. During that 1987 season there was a weekend series in Milwaukee where, over two games, Kirby went 10-11 with 4 home runs.

I love Buxton. You can tell he is going to be good. Have we decided on a nickname yet? Buxtonsie just doesn't quite roll off the tongue for me.