This time we'll play Good News, Bad News.
Good News: The Twins won consecutive series to give them a 4-2 homestand.
Bad News: It was the first time the Twins won consecutive series since July 7-13, 2014 (at SEA and at COL) , and their first winning homestand of at least two series since May 13-18, 2014 (BOS & SEA). That Red Sox series was the one where the Twins pwned Andrew Miller with two walkoff hits (Parmelee HR, Hicks 1B).
Good News: The Twins got 8 IP of one-run ball from Trevor May (6) and Aaron Thompson (2).
Bad News: Neither pitcher would have been on the roster if it weren't for Santana's suspension and Nolasco's injury, meaning the decision-makers demoted them in favor of Nolasco, Pelfrey, Stauffer and Boyer.
Good News: Torii Hunter hit a three-run homer.
Bad News: Torii Hunter hit a three-run homer. (Anything ii does this year is going to be a good news/bad news sort of thing. I had an Angels fan friend today tell me Torii Hunter is going into the Hall of Fame. I laughed in his face).
Good News: The Twins won a game without using Fien or Perkins.
Bad News: Perkins still had to warm up while J.R. Graham wobbled through the ninth with a 6-run lead. The HR wasn't as big a deal as the walk, which led to Perkins getting up in the bullpen. Fortunately, he got through it, but the more he struggles, the more will see of Boyer and Stauffer in critical situations prior to the 8th inning (or in the 8th when Fien needs a day off).
Good News: Trevor Plouffe and Shane Robinson each had three hits. Plouffe consistently went to the opposite field, which was impressive considering his walk-off homer to left field the other day. Robinson got hits to all three fields and is now hitting .368. With Schafer batting .143, Robinson needs to start more against righties until Schafer at least shows he can make more consistent contact.
Bad News: Eduardo Escobar struck out two more times and is batting just .160. With Danny Santana also struggling to make contact, that could mean seeing some of Eduardo Nunez at shortstop.
Good News: The Twins will now play the Royals, who the Twins just won 2 out of 3 from.
Bad News: The Royals are 8-1 in their other 10 games and the game will be in Kansas City. The Twins are 1-5 on the road so far and were 3-6 at Kansas City last year.
I hope the Twins don't make a decision about their starting shortstop based on two weeks of games, but as I recall, that's about what they did last year, so it could happen again.
Indeed. Please, let's not see Nunez at shortstop.
I don't think we'll see Nunez routinely starting there since I don't think he's played there at all. I just mean that he could get into the mix some, which still wouldn't be good.
*shudder*