Updated Combined Twins Bench and Bullpen Battle Dashboard; 3/16/12

This is the latest update of the Twins' Bench Battle and the Bullpen Battle Dashboards, to track player performance to date this spring. Performances include those in the split squat games vs the Orioles this afternoon and vs the Red Sox tonight. You can read the basic premise behind the Bench Battle Dashboard here and behind the Bullpen Battle Dashboard here. I will be updating them daily and post daily updates. Players who were assigned to the minor league camp were removed from the dashboards but kept in the rankings, denoted by "(MILB)".

Here is what the Bench Battle Dashboard looks like today:

Here is what the Bullpen Battle Dashboard looks like today:

Here is the ranking of the position player combatants today (based on position) :

Catchers:

-----
Rene Rivera 1.8
J.R. Towles 1,6
Drew Butera 1.0
Daniel Rohlfing 0.67
Danny Lehmann 0.37
Chris Herrmann 0.1
----
Danny Rams -0.98 (MILB)

Infielders:

Chris Parmelee 4.3
Mike Hollimon 2.1
----
Luke Hughes 1.7
Tsuyoshi Nishioka 1.2
Sean Burroughs 0.78
Ray Chang 0.69
Brian Dinkelman 0.61
Brian Dozier 0.44
Aaron Bates 0.39
Pedro Florimon 0.01
----
Steve Pearce -0.31 (MILB)


Outfielders:

Joe Benson 1.4
----
Wilkin Ramirez 0.2
Matt Carson 0.15
----
Darin Mastroianni -0.01 (MILB)
Rene Tosoni -0.07
Oswaldo Arcia -0.33 (MILB)

Here is the ranking of pitcher combatants today:

Liam Hendriks 54.5
Matt Maloney 54.3
P.J. Walters 54.3
Casey Fien 53
Jeff Manship 52.8
Kyle Waldrop 52
Jared Burton 51.4
Carlos Gutierrez 51.3
Luis Perdomo 51.3
---
Esmerling Vasquez 51
Daryl Thompson 50.8
Samuel Deduno 50.5
Lester Oliveros 50.3 (MILB)
Aaron Thompson 50 (MILB)
Tyler Robertson 49.7 (MILB)
Scott Diamond 49 (MILB)
---
Brendan Wise 47.8
Jeff Gray 46.5
Phil Dumatrait 46.2
Deolis Guerra 42 (MILB)
Alex Burnett 41.3
Jason Bulger 38.3
Terry Doyle 31.3




As always you can find all Spring Training coverage at The Tenth Inning Stretch here.

Updated Combined Twins Bench and Bullpen Battle Dashboard; 3/15/12

This is the latest update of the Twins' Bench Battle and the Bullpen Battle Dashboards, to track player performance to date this spring. Performances include those in the game vs the Pirates earlier this afternoon. You can read the basic premise behind the Bench Battle Dashboard here and behind the Bullpen Battle Dashboard here. I will be updating them daily and post daily updates.

Players who were assigned to the minor league camp are denoted with MILB and their lines are in italics. For simplicity's sake, I will remove these players from tomorrow's dashboards, but will keep them in the rankings for comparison purposes. It seems that all of the position players who were cut were underperforming and no over-performing pitcher was cut yet.

Here is what the Bench Battle Dashboard looks like today:

Here is what the Bullpen Battle Dashboard looks like today:

Here is the ranking of the position player combatants today (based on position) :

Catchers:

Rene Rivera 2.7
J.R. Towles 2.1
-----
Drew Butera 0.7
Daniel Rohlfing 0.67
Danny Lehmann 0.37
Chris Herrmann 0.2
----
Danny Rams -0.98 (MILB)

Infielders:

Chris Parmelee 4.1
Mike Hollimon 2.4
----
Luke Hughes 1.6
Tsuyoshi Nishioka 1.3
Ray Chang 0.86
Brian Dinkelman 0.61
Aaron Bates 0.39
Sean Burroughs 0.34
Brian Dozier 0.27
Pedro Florimon 0.08
----
Steve Pearce -0.31 (MILB)


Outfielders:

Joe Benson 1.05
----
Wilkin Ramirez 0.44
Matt Carson 0.24
Rene Tosoni 0.2
----
Darin Mastroianni -0.01 (MILB)
Oswaldo Arcia -0.33 (MILB)

Here is the ranking of pitcher combatants today:

Matt Maloney 54.3
Jared Burton 53.8
Casey Fien 53
P.J. Walters 53
Jeff Manship 52.8
Kyle Waldrop 52.7
Carlos Gutierrez 52
Liam Hendriks 52
Esmerling Vasquez 51.5
Luis Perdomo 51.3
---
Daryl Thompson 50.7
Samuel Deduno 50.5
Lester Oliveros 50.3 (MILB)
Aaron Thompson 50 (MILB)
Tyler Robertson 49.7 (MILB)
Scott Diamond 49 (MILB)
---
Brendan Wise 47.8
Jeff Gray 46.5
Phil Dumatrait 46.2
Deolis Guerra 42 (MILB)
Alex Burnett 41.3
Jason Bulger 34.3
Terry Doyle 31.3




As always you can find all Spring Training coverage at The Tenth Inning Stretch here.

Twins Baker has a tender elbow; tender elbow explained

The Twins have announced today that they will be cautious with Scott Baker, because he has elbow issues. He was scratched from today's game and his fastball has not been as high as usual, standing at the mid 80s this spring. Later the Twins' medical staff officially announced that Scott Baker's ailment is a tender elbow.

What is a tender elbow? Just like tenderfoot, there a definition of a "tender elbow". The only problem is that "tender elbow" is a symptom and not a cause. Of course this comes from the same medical staff that has accustomed us to causes such as "flu-like symptoms" and the like. Nothing new. As a matter of fact, Joel Zumaya had a tender elbow as well. I just hope what Scott Baker's is not as tender as Zumaya's (or Nathan's or Neshek's or Gibson's.)

What makes an elbow tender? Unless there was a physical external injury, like bumbing onto something, which is a muscular injury (and in bad cases bone injury), think of a bruise or a fracture, then it is from overworking it. And what you overwork is the ligaments. If the tenderness is on the outside, the posterior and radial collateral ligaments are affected, and this is called "Tennis Elbow". If the tenderness is on the inside, the ulnar collateral ligament is affected. We know what that means. And in pitchers, that is usually the case. So it does not look too good from here, especially without location of the "tenderness".

I just hope that Scott Baker is fine, but the Twins' medical staff, really need to get a tad more explicit (and professional) with their diagnoses.

Updated Combined Twins Bench and Bullpen Battle Dashboard; 3/14/12

This is the latest update of the Twins' Bench Battle and the Bullpen Battle Dashboards, to track player performance to date this spring. Performances include those in the game vs the Philies earlier this afternoon. You can read the basic premise behind the Bench Battle Dashboard here and behind the Bullpen Battle Dashboard here. I will be updating them daily and post daily updates.

Here is what the Bench Battle Dashboard looks like today:

Here is what the Bullpen Battle Dashboard looks like today:

Here is the ranking of the position player combatants today (based on position) :

Catchers:

Rene Rivera 2.7
J.R. Towles 2.1
-----
Daniel Rohlfing 0.67
Chris Herrmann 0.43
Danny Lehmann 0.37
----
Drew Butera -0.4
Danny Rams -0.98

Infielders:

Chris Parmelee 4.1
Mike Hollimon 3.0
----
Tsuyoshi Nishioka 1.3
Ray Chang 1.1
Luke Hughes 0.91
Brian Dozier 0.49
Brian Dinkelman 0.37
Sean Burroughs 0.34
Aaron Bates 0.3
----
Steve Pearce -0.31
Pedro Florimon -0.34

Outfielders:

Joe Benson 1.09
----
Wilkin Ramirez 0.6
Matt Carson 0.52
Rene Tosoni 0.3
----
Darin Mastroianni -0.01
Oswaldo Arcia -0.33

Here is the ranking of pitcher combatants today:

Matt Maloney 54.3
Jared Burton 53.8
Casey Fien 53
P.J. Walters 53
Jeff Manship 52.8
Kyle Waldrop 52.7
Brendan Wise 52.3
Carlos Gutierrez 52
Liam Hendriks 52
Esmerling Vasquez 51.5
---
Daryl Thompson 50.7
Samuel Deduno 50.5
Lester Oliveros 50.3
Aaron Thompson 50
Tyler Robertson 49.7
Luis Perdomo 49.5
Scott Diamond 49
---
Phil Dumatrait 48.3
Jeff Gray 46.5
Terry Doyle 44
Deolis Guerra 42
Alex Burnett 41.3
Jason Bulger 34.3





As always you can find all Spring Training coverage at The Tenth Inning Stretch here.

Two Twins Minor Leaguers test positive for PEDs and suspended.

RHP Yeison (pronounced Jason) Florentino (20, baseball reference link) tested positive for Nandrolone and fellow RHP Ezequiel Zarzuela (21), tested positive for Stanozolol. They were both handed a 50-day suspensions according to the minor league drug testing policy.

Allegedly, Nandrolone (Deca-Durabolin) was used by Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds and it mainly used pharmaceutically to treat osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. Stanozolol is the steroid of choice for female bodybuilders because it does not have androgenic effects. Ben Johnson (sprinter) and Rafael Palmeiro both tested positive for Stanozolol, where as Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds allegedly used it.

No word on potential appeal yet (Unlike Ryan Braun, it seems that the kids from the Dominican will serve their suspensions, because FedEx was not involved.)

Both Zarzuela and Florentino were not close to making the trip to the US and were getting older for Dominican Summer League standards. It has to be noted that they are in the Dominican and not in the Twins' minor league Spring Training Camp.

Updated Combined Twins Bench and Bullpen Battle Dashboard; 3/13/12

This is the latest update of the Twins' Bench Battle and the Bullpen Battle Dashboards, to track player performance to date this spring. Performances include those in the game vs the Blue Jays earlier this afternoon. You can read the basic premise behind the Bench Battle Dashboard here and behind the Bullpen Battle Dashboard here. I will be updating them daily and post daily updates.

Here is what the Bench Battle Dashboard looks like today:

Here is what the Bullpen Battle Dashboard looks like today:

Here is the ranking of the position player combatants today (based on position) :

Catchers:

Rene Rivera 2.6
J.R. Towles 2.1
-----
Daniel Rohlfing 0.67
Chris Herrmann 0.43
Danny Lehmann 0.37
----
Drew Butera -0.4
Danny Rams -0.98

Infielders:

Mike Hollimon 3.02
Chris Parmelee 2.58
----
Tsuyoshi Nishioka 1.47
Luke Hughes 0.9
Ray Chang 0.7
Brian Dozier 0.63
Sean Burroughs 0.43
Brian Dinkelman 0.37
Aaron Bates 0.3
----
Pedro Florimon -0.28
Steve Pearce -0.31


Outfielders:

Joe Benson 1.09
----
Wilkin Ramirez 0.86
Matt Carson 0.52
Rene Tosoni 0.3
Darin Mastroianni 0.09
----
Oswaldo Arcia -0.23

Here is the ranking of pitcher combatants today:

Matt Maloney 54.3
Jared Burton 53.8
P.J. Walters 53
Kyle Waldrop 52.7
Casey Fien 52.7
Jeff Manship 52.3
Brendan Wise 52.3
Carlos Gutierrez 52
Liam Hendriks 52
Esmerling Vasquez 51.5
---
Daryl Thompson 50.7
Aaron Thompson 50
Tyler Robertson 49.7
Lester Oliveros 49.5
Luis Perdomo 49.5
Scott Diamond 49
---

Phil Dumatrait 48.3
Terry Doyle 44
Deolis Guerra 42
Alex Burnett 41.3
Jeff Gray 41
Jason Bulger 34.3


Samuel Deduno DNP


As always you can find all Spring Training coverage at The Tenth Inning Stretch here.

Random Tuesday Twins Thoughts and Tidbits

Here is this week's installment (also heavily influenced by Spring Training) :

• Tomorrow is the first minor league spring training day. There are a series of games at the AAA, AA and A level all against the Boston Red Sox' affiliates; also expect the first cuts of Spring Training to be announced today.


• We all heard of long bus rides for the players to away parks in Spring Training, but if you want to have a taste of what those bus rides look like, here are links to a couple of pictures taken by Brian Dozier after the game against Tampa Bay a week ago, depicting a couple of his teammates in the Twins' bus on the return trip to Fort Myers: Danny Valencia, Ben Revere. This photo is from Danny Rams from yesterday's Twins' trip to Port Charlotte to play the Rays. Not your garden-variety school busses...


• Twins' infield prospect A.J. Pettersen describes his first day in the Twins Minor League Spring Training Camp. So does Twins' pitching prospect Tim Shibuya here.


• Vegas have set the over/under of the Twins' this season winning 73 games. This is good omen to the Twins' fans, because Vegas has been bombing with those predictions. They picked 85 for 2011 (Won 63), 82 for 2010 (won 94), 83.5 for 2009 (won 87 - that was close) and 73.5 for 2008 (Won 88). So look forward to an 88 win season


• A former Twins' player was suspended 50 days for violating the league's drug program, because he tested positive for a street drug not a PED.


• If you want to know how the Twins' players spend their down time at Fort Myers, you need to check this, this, this and this out. It seems to me that Glen Perkins is converting some of his teammates.


• Kyle Gibson's rehab is going well. He is playing golf albeit badly.


• Tomorrow (March 14th) is the Birthday of Twins' great Kirby Puckett, former Twins' catcher Butch Wynegar and former Twins' second baseman Brent Gates.


• The Twins' player Tweet of the week award goes to Glen Perkins, for tweeting this picture of one of his fellow pitchers.


• Troy Renck (Denver News Rockies' beat reporter) recently posted: "The Rockies’ continue to struggle with runners in scoring position". Wonder whether Mike Cuddyer has much to do with that.


• The word of the week is Bo Shue. As Ray Chang's middle name.


• And I think that I will start a Twins' product of the week. Because there are so many out there and some of them are, well... interesting. This weeks' winner is :
  MLB Minnesota Twins Mr. Potato Head
  

The parting shot today is of Jason Marquis pitching against the Red Birds last Friday. Looking like an Eagle ready to jump onto its prey: eyes focused, wings spread half way, cleats in a perfectly horizontal position with the spikes facing the Florida sun. The ultimate balance of the ultimate predator.

Updated Combined Twins Bench and Bullpen Battle Dashboard; 3/12/12

This is the latest update of the Twins' Bench Battle and the Bullpen Battle Dashboards, to track player performance to date this spring. Performances include those in the game vs the Rays earlier this afternoon. You can read the basic premise behind the Bench Battle Dashboard here and behind the Bullpen Battle Dashboard here. I will be updating them daily and post daily updates.

Here is what the Bench Battle Dashboard looks like today:

Here is what the Bullpen Battle Dashboard looks like today:

Here is the ranking of the position player combatants today (based on position) :

Catchers:

Rene Rivera 2.6
J.R. Towles 2.1
-----
Daniel Rohlfing 1.25
Chris Herrmann 0.43
Danny Lehmann 0.37
----
Drew Butera -0.4
Danny Rams -0.98

Infielders:

Mike Hollimon 3.76
Chris Parmelee 2.58
----
Tsuyoshi Nishioka 1.47
Luke Hughes 0.9
Ray Chang 0.7
Brian Dinkelman 0.66
Brian Dozier 0.63
Aaron Bates 0.43
Sean Burroughs 0.43
----

Pedro Florimon -0.54
Steve Pearce -0.73


Outfielders:

Joe Benson 1.35
----
Wilkin Ramirez 0.86
Matt Carson 0.76
Darin Mastroianni 0.42
Rene Tosoni 0.3
----
Oswaldo Arcia -0.15

Here is the ranking of pitcher combatants today:

Jared Burton 53.3
Matt Maloney 53.3
P.J. Walters 53
Casey Fien 52.7
Jeff Manship 52.3
Brendan Wise 52.3
Carlos Gutierrez 52
Liam Hendriks 52
Kyle Waldrop 52
Esmerling Vasquez 51.5
---
Daryl Thompson 50.7
Aaron Thompson 50
Lester Oliveros 49.5
Luis Perdomo 49.5
Tyler Robertson 49.7
---
Alex Burnett 48.5
Phil Dumatrait 48.3
Scott Diamond 47.5
Terry Doyle 44
Jeff Gray 41
Deolis Guerra 37.5
Jason Bulger 34.3


Samuel Deduno DNP


As always you can find all Spring Training coverage at The Tenth Inning Stretch here.

Updated Combined Twins Bench and Bullpen Battle Dashboard; 3/11/12

With the first cuts of Spring Training coming as early as tomorrow, I am updating the Bench Battle and the Bullpen Battle Dashboards, to track player performance to date this spring. Performances include those in the game vs the Yankees earlier this afternoon. You can read the basic premise behind the Bench Battle Dashboard here and behind the Bullpen Battle Dashboard here. From now on, I will be combining both Dashboards in a single post. I will be updating them daily and post daily updates.

Here is what the Bench Battle Dashboard looks like today:

Here is what the Bullpen Battle Dashboard looks like today:

Here is the ranking of the position player combatants today (based on position) :

Catchers:

Rene Rivera 2.6
J.R. Towles 2.1
-----
Daniel Rohlfing 1.25
Chris Herrmann 0.43
Danny Lehmann 0.4
----
Drew Butera -0.4
Danny Rams -0.57

Infielders:

Mike Hollimon 3.76
Chris Parmelee 3.65
----
Ray Chang 1
Tsuyoshi Nishioka 1.47
Aaron Bates 0.66
Brian Dinkelman 0.66
Sean Burroughs 0.02
----
Brian Dozier -0.43
Pedro Florimon -0.54
Steve Pearce -0.73
Luke Hughes -0.92

Outfielders:

Joe Benson 1.35
----
Wilkin Ramirez 0.86
Matt Carson 0.76
Darin Mastroianni 0.2
Rene Tosoni 0.35
----
Oswaldo Arcia -0.58

Here is the ranking of pitcher combatants today:

Liam Hendriks 53.5
Jared Burton 53.3
Matt Maloney 53.3
P.J. Walters 53
Casey Fien 52.7
Jeff Manship 52.3
Brendan Wise 52.3
Carlos Gutierrez 52
Kyle Waldrop 52
Esmerling Vasquez 51.5
---
Aaron Thompson 50
Daryl Thompson 50
Lester Oliveros 49.5
Luis Perdomo 49.5
Tyler Robertson 49.5
---
Alex Burnett 48.5
Scott Diamond 47.5
Phil Dumatrait 46.7
Terry Doyle 44
Jeff Gray 41
Deolis Guerra 37.5
Jason Bulger 25


Samuel Deduno DNP


As always you can find all Spring Training coverage at The Tenth Inning Stretch here.

Updated Twins Bullpen Battle Dashboard; 3/10/2012

You can read the basic premise in detail behind this dashboard here. Also, the update date reflects the date of the last game included not the post. This is the most current iteration after yesterday's game vs the Pirates:





Here is a ranking of the combatants based on average game score:



Liam Hendriks 53.5
Jared Burton 53.3
Matt Maloney 53.3
Aaron Thompson 53
P.J. Walters 53
Brendan Wise 53
Casey Fien 52.7
Jeff Manship 52.5
Carlos Gutierrez 52
Kyle Waldrop 52
Esmerling Vasquez 51.5
---
Daryl Thompson 50
Lester Oliveros 49.5
Luis Perdomo 49.5
Tyler Robertson 49.5
---
Alex Burnett 48.5
Scott Diamond 47.5
Phil Dumatrait 46.7
Terry Doyle 44
Jeff Gray 41
Deolis Guerra 37.5
Jason Bulger 25


Samuel Deduno DNP

I will be updating this daily and posting updates here close to daily. As always you can find all Spring Training coverage at The Tenth Inning Stretch here. Starting with today's game I will be combining the Bullpen and Bench Battle Dashboards into a single post daily.