more Josh Anderson.

Edwin Jackson could have used Matt Joyce in the outfield yesterday.

… Wish I had thought of that one last night!

Has Josh Anderson really looked THAT bad in the outfield? I can’t think of any other times where he’s been a detriment out there, and yet more and more I’m seeing people proclaim that he is a horrible defender. Maybe I’m missing something.

I’d like to see Ramirez or Clevlen brought up, as they provide a better platoon split with Anderson than Clete, who’s also a lefty.

I love Clete too, BUT the reason Raburn is hitting DH and/or playing left is secondary to Thames being on the DL. They want another right handed hitter for lefty pitchers, that is obvious. When a righty is on the mound, Anderson is in the game. So, if they just want somebody to DH, then I think Hessman should come up. If they want someone to play the field, then have at it…..

Perez, Ramirez or Thomas are all options at Toledo that look better to me than Raburn.

Anderson has been spotty. He’s fast, but not exactly smooth in the field and has also had couple baserunning mistakes to show for his efforts.

Both Raburn and Guillen have been butchers in the OF.

Normally we bring up the hottest bat in Mudville. I think that’s Wilkin Ramirez right now. But I agree we need every left-handed bat we can get (that’s part of why Larish was here in April).

I think Anderson’s earned a full-time role, but Leyland finally has a fleet-foot on the bench he can use for pinch running, and now he’s got to play him? With Santiago getting starts more often, that gives us no speed off the bench.

Here’s the probable pitching matchups coming up over the next few weeks:

MIN – Blackburn ( R )
@CHW – Buehrle ( L )
@CHW – Contreras ( R )
@CLE – Lee ( L )
@CLE – Carmona ( R )
@CLE – Pavano ( R )
MIN – Slowey ( R )
MIN – Perkins ( R )
MIN – Liriano ( L )*

So basically, lots of mediocre-to-okay right-handers, and three lefty aces. My strategy, then:

• Put Guillen on the 15-day DL
• Send down Rapada (not using him much right now anyway)
• Bring up Wilkin Ramirez AND Jason Tyner
• Start Anderson in left against all the righties
• For Buerhle, Lee and Liriano, use Raburn in right, Ramirez in left, and Magglio at DH.
• Tyner is your late-inning outfield glove-man and pinch runner (stole 31 bases a few years ago with Tampa Bay)
• If Raburn’s hitting stays cold, give Ramirez some more at-bats, shift Anderson to right.
• When Guillen’s ready to come back, whichever guy between Raburn and Ramirez is struggling more can go back to AAA.

*This would normally be the 5th spot in their rotation, but the Twins have a day off next Monday, Liriano is a know Tiger killer, and Baker’s been terrible. If the Tigers take one of the first two, I think Gardenhire goes with Liriano.

Those last three games at MIN are away

Any of which I think would be an improvement over what we see right now.

To me, I’d like to see better outfield gloves brought up in whatever combination fits best and keeps Raburn out of the outfield. And unless Magglio strongly objects to it, if Guillen is on the DL, I’d really prefer he be the guy to take over as DH.

We’ll see what happens. I hope they don’t bow to Guillen’s desire to play hurt, because anyone can see, it’s truly not working.

So what’s the new batting lineup look like if Guillen isn’t fifth?

Timo Perez, that is. He was such a spark plug in ’07 and looked good in Lakeland this past Spring. Great glove in left field, slappy, left-handed at-bat, still got some speed left.

He didn’t make the 40-man and signed in Mexico. I hope somebody keeps an eye on that guy, though.

I’m usually not real wild about major lineup shuffling. I smell a hint of desperation, and I don’t like it. Isn’t this what got us in trouble last year?

If you want go to post your thoughts there. Game thread will open at 645