Twins

[Gunner55]

  He is often a key pc of their offense.

[dutchboy]

They mashed KC today...................1-0   

Upside is this Ryan kid pitched another good game.

5-8 coming home for the hated White Sux.

[Steve-o]

5-8 coming home for the hated White Sux.

Time for the boys to start playing.

[KEN W]

Twins win another ugly one 2-1 last night. Only 2 runs because Chicago gave them to the Twins with 2 throwing errors. Ninth inning got hair raising with Pagan loading the bases before getting out of it. 

I was supposed to go to the game today with 20 members of my family. Can't ride in a car for 3-4 hours to get there. Oh well. maybe later in the summer. Probably get rained out anyway.

[dutchboy]

The lack of hitting is mystifying. Arraez is the only guy I can watch anymore. It's a shame to waste the starting pitching they are getting. It would be nice to score some runs and give the pitchers some breathing room.

But, a win is a win. 

[glenn57]

Twins win another ugly one 2-1 last night. Only 2 runs because Chicago gave them to the Twins with 2 throwing errors. Ninth inning got hair raising with Pagan loading the bases before getting out of it. 

I was supposed to go to the game today with 20 members of my family. Can't ride in a car for 3-4 hours to get there. Oh well. maybe later in the summer. Probably get rained out anyway.

Ken, its probably gonna get rained out anyway!!!!!!

[Gunner55]

The lack of hitting is mystifying. Arraez is the only guy I can watch anymore. It's a shame to waste the starting pitching they are getting. It would be nice to score some runs and give the pitchers some breathing room.

But, a win is a win. 

It's not just the Twins either, the whole league is struggling to score many runs. Well, except for a few of the teams with $200-300 mil payrolls. Many are blaming the cold weather & extra short Spring Training because of the lockout.

[dutchboy]

Thats some of it. Some of it is they all want to only hit homeruns. Some of it is the shifts have f'ed up their heads. Some guys like Polanco, Urshela, Correa, Kepler I think will be ok. The fat kid will never get it. I'm not sure yet on Larnach and Jeffers. Sanchez I know is only 2% better than Sano. I also think you have to scrap all the situational stuff Baldelli likes. Write the line-up out, leave them in the same slot and run them out there day after day after day.

[Gunner55]

Watched a game the other day, WSox & Cleveland(?), where they had the shift on & the guy got to the ball but he was so deep he couldn't throw the guy out. Problem is that they all want to be like TB,  as they started all the situational/shift stuff & field a competitive team every year while keeping their payroll at or near the bottom of the league. That's where Baldelli cut his teeth too.

[KEN W]

I would like to see them require 2 infielders on each side of second base. And no infielders on the outfield grass.

[dutchboy]

Thats the new rule going in next year. I don't know about the part about the outfield grass.

[dutchboy]

Buxton played yesterday and the bats woke up, another strong outing by Bundy, he's 3-0! Who'da thunk it?

Everybody had better swings except the fat kid, he did his part keeping a breeze going in Target Field.

Going for the sweep today.   

[Gunner55]

Arraez & Jeffers had good games at the plate too. Coloumbe struggled a bit out of the pen but he hadn't pitched in a week, Stashak & Thielbar looked good though.

[dutchboy]

As bad as some of these hitters are I don't see how Arraez doesn't play 5-6 games a week. He always sees pitches and put a good swing on them. There are 12 other hitters that should be watching him hit every time he gets near the plate.

[glenn57]

Buxton played yesterday and the bats woke up, another strong outing by Bundy, he's 3-0! Who'da thunk it?

Everybody had better swings except the fat kid, he did his part keeping a breeze going in Target Field.

Going for the sweep today.   

i think you need to invite that kid up and have a few grain belts together!!!! 

[KEN W]

Buxton to the rescue again. Home runs in the 7th and walk off in the 10th.

Should change the dollar bill to

"In Buxton We Trust"

[Gunner55]

As bad as some of these hitters are I don't see how Arraez doesn't play 5-6 games a week. He always sees pitches and put a good swing on them. There are 12 other hitters that should be watching him hit every time he gets near the plate.

Especially the way he uses the whole field, no way they put a shift on him.

[dutchboy]

With first base open you have to wonder if LaRussa feared Arraez more than Buxton or if he was taking a nap?

[Steve-o]

I got to listen to the best parts of the Saturday and Sunday games on the radio. 

Its a brand new race in the division now.
 

[Gunner55]

I gotta believe that last pitch was supposed to be up & away at least another 6-8". That's the best Winder has looked so far IMO too, not so sure he'll be with the team next week. So, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't get another look or 2 against Detroit.

[Gunner55]

I got to listen to the best parts of the Saturday and Sunday games on the radio. 

Its a brand new race in the division now.
 

Yup, top dog today!!

[dutchboy]

I think after a couple of starters revert back to what they are Winder goes into the rotation. So they either keep him here in long relief or send him to start in St. Paul.

[Gunner55]

Yeah, St. Paul to get him regular work, I think.

[Gunner55]

Paddack gets the ball tonight, 6:40 game time against Detroit.

[KEN W]

Bullpen blew it. Looks like Kepler is coming around. Wonder how long they will keep playing Sano. Basically a strike out machine.

[dutchboy]

Very dominate game for Paddock, he was good.
Thielbar was bad, he seems to have a game or two like that every year.
Kepler & Urshela WERE the offense last night.
Kepler catches the ball Grossman butchered in the 9th last night.
Sano is ...... well, Sano. He is a strikeout machine. His base running blunder last night proved again there is nothing between the ears on that kid.
Ugly finish.

Twins win!!

[LPS]

Heck of a finish! 

[Gunner55]

  Sano had the last hit that led to the W & he hit a rope to LF early too but that was right at somebody. Good to see Kepler get it going yday , Urshela had a couple hits too.  end to the game again.

[Gunner55]

Ryan was throwing darts & struck out 9 in going 7 innings for the 1st time. Kepler & Jeffers hit 3 bombs & had all 5 RBI's. Arraez & Larnach had good games at the plate too. An early game today, 12:10 1st pitch, & Ober gets the ball.

[dutchboy]

I'm warming up to Ryan. He gets the ball, throws the ball. Not a lot of messing around and thinking with him. He has his plan and goes about his business.

Nice to see Sano get benched for at a game. Correa needs to get going but his defense is impressive. Will Buxton turn into a all or nothing guy at the plate?

Thanks for the heads up on the early game, I would have missed the game.