Twins

[Steve-o]

Just saw the banner on the Twins broadcast...

Arraez is still hitting .402!   

[dutchboy]

Just saw the banner on the Twins broadcast...

Arraez is still hitting .402!   

He won't be at seasons end.
Marlins won't win their division.
Twins will.
Lopez will have double digit wins for a team that desperately needed starting pitching.

[Steve-o]

I'm not complaining it was a bad trade.  I'm just happy for the young man, flirting with historical greatness.

[dutchboy]

He is fun to watch but hitting .400 for a season with all this specialized pitching is darn near impossible.

[Steve-o]

Exactly.  He shouldnt be able to be doing it this far into the season either, but he is.

[KEN W]

Saw a fan sign at the game.....

                                           HEY TWINS

                                      YOUR MOM CALLED

                                  YOU LEFT YOUR GAME AT HOME

                               

[Steve-o]

They werent wrong today.  Tough loss.

[KEN W]

Bullpen lost this one.

[LPS]

If Correa hadn't bounce passed that one to first and got an out they wouldn't have scored all of those runs.

[Steve-o]

Listened to a Star Tribune Pat Reusse podcast rants...

He's ready to be done with Kepler - needs to be released.  Who cares if he figures it out elsewhere.  He ain't doing anything for the Twins.

Decide for yourself if Sabermetrics have gone too far, but baseball has always been a game of numbers.  According to this op-ed, Max Kepler, based on fWAR (Wins Above Replacement), is the eighth-best outfielder to wear a Minnesota uniform.

Max Kepler, One of the Greatest Outfielders in Twins History

The fWAR list plays out as follows: Kirby Puckett takes the top spot, followed by Tony Oliva, Bob Allison, Torii Hunter, Cesar Tovar, Byron Buxton, Shane Mack, and then Kepler. Since the turn of the century, only Hunter and Buxton top his fWAR total.  [Kepler already sits] above Denard Span, Michael Cuddyer, Jacque Jones, and Matt Lawton.

We reach, then, the odd conclusion that Kepler is one of the best outfielders in Twins' history. Time may perhaps allow for those who never saw him play—or, indeed, can only remember small pieces—to accept this fully. It will probably not happen soon. Yet when Kepler's time as a player ends and he evolves into a Twins ambassador, returning for Twins festivals and reminding those of a time no longer present, all we will have is memories and numbers, both of which will favor him as an integral piece of Twins history.

[Gunner55]

If Correa hadn't bounce passed that one to first and got an out they wouldn't have scored all of those runs.

Lewis had an error on a throw too & it was a much easier play than Correa's IMO. You can't give good teams extra outs & win very often in today's MLB.

[Steve-o]

If Correa hadn't bounce passed that one to first and got an out they wouldn't have scored all of those runs.

Lewis had an error on a throw too & it was a much easier play than Correa's IMO. You can't give good teams extra outs & win very often in today's MLB.

Correa's play was a tough one, the timing seemed off.  Still, you like to see him try to make it instead of holding the ball.  The man on first would have scored on the subsequent home run anyway.

[Gunner55]

At home against the Brewers tonight, a 6:40 start & Lopez gets the ball.

[KEN W]

Finally took Kepler out of the lineup.

[LPS]

Great Twins ending. 

[KEN W]

Wow.....outstanding. 2 homeruns in the bottom of the 9th to win. Off a closer with a .042 ERA. in 21 games. Allowed only 1 run and the Twins get 4 in the 9th.

 

[Steve-o]

I gave up, but got called back into the room when they tied the game.  I didn't see that coming.

THAT is what in college football circles they call a "signature" win!   

[Gunner55]

  Never figured they'd pull that 1 out. Brewers leave town today so it's an early game, 12:10 1st pitch with Ober on the mound. It's a 10 game home stand then 6 more on the road before their next day off after the Atlanta series on 6/29, so they are talking about going to a 6-man rotation. Most likely be Maeda as he been rehabbing with the Saints.

[Steve-o]

Our lads chalked up another 4-2 victory over the WI Beer Guys! 

[Gunner55]

 

Our lads chalked up another 4-2 victory over the WI Beer Guys! 

All 4 runs scored with 2 out & they were 3-5 w/RISP. Another Quality Start as well.

[dutchboy]

Mr. Correa has made an appearance.

[KEN W]

Yeah......he is finally hitting the ball. Still it's the pitching that is winning ballgames.

[Gunner55]

Yeah......he is finally hitting the ball. Still it's the pitching that is winning ballgames.

They're still 2nd in all of MLB in Team ERA & Quality Starts. Correa been getting some help at the plate from Solano, Farmer, Julien, & a couple others too. Hope they can keep it going against Detroit today. Gray gets the ball for a 6:10 start.

[KEN W]

Well, when they lose it's either the hitting or the Bullpen. Tonight the Bullpen gives up 6 runs. 

[dutchboy]

No, tonight Rocco threw in the towel yanking Gray after 4 innings and a 4-2 lead. Once again (a habit of his) he over managed the game and it cost them.

[Gunner55]

  Gray walked 3 in his last inning & he wasn't even close to the strike zone on a lot of his pitches. Not to mention his pitch count was awfully high. I think Rocco wanted Moran to come in & start the inning clean. Even though it was ruled a hit, Lewis's high throw was what started that inning to unravel.

[dutchboy]

Gray had the lead, I don't care if he walked 10. He just as easily could have given up no hits over the next 3 innings. 80 isn't a high pitch count for anybody not pitching for Rocco.

Much like your kids you have to trust them and let them go......either to succeed or fail. Rocco likes his micro managing. Always has.

For me there isn't hardly anything Rocco has done over the last 3 years thats defensible. In my mind they can let him go anytime, get a baseball guy to replace him.

[Gunner55]

  It's all about the #'s in TB where they gave him his 1st job, so that's what he knows.  

[LPS]

OK tuned in. 

[KEN W]

Gray and Rocco had a heated meeting after the game on Thursday. Gray not happy he was pulled from the game even though he had a pitch count of 79 at the time. Good for him. Especially after Moran and Pagon each gave up 3 runs to put the game away.

Rocco says it will be a bullpen game this afternoon. Wants to give the starters an extra day's rest.