Aug 27, 2010: Twins 6, M's 3 - Flavor Text, 5
=== Josh Wilson ===
Span led off with a hit and Orlando tripled* him in.
But! Guti cleared the ball off the wall like an Islanders goalie behind the net ...and Josh did one of those relays where it looks like the ball hits a little whirling accelerator. Right on target runner out.
............
In the past, I've condemned the decision to keep Wilson around, in view of the fact that he's (1) a poor hitter and (2) mediocre defensively.
But we also acknowledge a GM's need for the "stoploss." You or I, trying to GM a team, would wind up with four or five horrible sucking chest wounds on the roster and no way to fix them, as (e.g.) the Royals have right now at the 3-4-5 starter slots.
Wilson provided against that, and what's more... the 2010 season was the one in which Dr. D finally gained an appreciation for scrappy middle infielders who "play the game the right way."
Guys like Wilson and Chris Woodward are all over the field, living and dying with each play, and on this team that looks like a diamond on black velvet.
Okay by me if Josh Wilson plays short until Cranklin gets here. Viva la matador. You go Josh.
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=== Jason Vargas, the Little Train That Could ===
We are wayyyyyyyyy behind the curve here, but still just cannot figure this dude out.
Winded at the end of the year. Is muscling his fastball and the change is all he has. Sloppy command because the juice just isn't there to finish the pitch. He dips the weight more to try to get the juice. It doesn't really work.
................
In the 7th inning, M's down by 1 run ... 2 out, man on 2B:
- Nice changeup, called strike, 0-1.
- 84 mph fastball out-and-over,* BATTING! PRACTICE! PITCH!, Valencia... swings straight through it.
Not often we admit this kinda thing you know, but when Jason Vargas pitches I understand the gameflow exactly as well as I understand soccer.
When tired at all, Vargas throws tons and tons of mid-80's fastballs out and over. Those are batting practice pitches, exactly the pitches the guys want to see in the HR contest. 80-85 miles an hour, up, moderately away so you can extend the arms. 75 degrees out, sunny and clear, middle of June, and a Jason Vargas fastball.
................
I don't get what I'm seeing, but Vargas has now done it two years in a row, including in his K/BB/HR peripherals.
About time to shut him down and save him for 2011. He's wasted.
...............
One more time: Capt Jack got this guy free, with Gutierrez, for a sore-armed JJ Putz.
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A game recap? Vot next?,
Dr D