Game 33 -- Twins vs. Blue Jays 5/12/12

[Shane Wahl]

BLUE JAYS (18-15)
1. Kelly Johnson, 2B
2. Yunel Escobar, SS
3. Jose Bautista, RF
4. Edwin Encarnacion, DH
5. Eric Thames, LF
6. Brett Lawrie, 3B
7. Colby Rasmus, CF
8. Adam Lind, 1B
9. Jeff Mathis, C
Starting pitcher: RH Drew Hutchinson (1-1, 6.65 ERA)
TWINS (9-23)
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Brian Dozier, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Josh Willingham, LF
5. Ryan Doumit, DH
6. Trevor Plouffe, 3B
7. Chris Parmelee, 1B
8. Darin Mastroianni, RF
9. Jamey Carroll, 2B
Starting pitcher: RH P.J. Walters (2012 debut)

[Shane Wahl]

Right-handed pitcher and no Komatsu or Casilla.

[thrylos98]

Right-handed pitcher and no Komatsu or Casilla.

They won yesterday with this lineup and I bet Gardy will run the same lineup until they lose

[Seth Stohs]

I don't mind it. Mastroianni got things going yesterday and should be back out there. Casilla's a utility guy now, so no worries with him on the bench. Carroll is the starting 2B.

[Neinstein]

Today looks like a good day for Darin to get that 1st Major League SB.

[pjnelly]

It seemed like the key to yesterday's win was to run up the pitch count. I hope our hitters can get deep into counts again today.

[Ultima Ratio]

Nice debut (so far) P.J.!

[Seth Stohs]

Four scoreless innings so far for PJ Walters. Looks good. Throwing strikes. Enough FB. Very good changeup.

[Seth Stohs]

Fun watching Darin Mastroianni at bats. Certainly has made the pitchers work in some long at bats these last couple of games.

[twinsnorth49]

Only 1 run but it was damn encouraging to see them have some discipline, make the dude throw some damn strikes. Man, Hammer should have pummeled that slider over the plate into the river!

[twinsnorth49]

Geez this team gets beat up by the HR, Walters is pitching well but he has to stop hanging that breaking ball so bloody high. If Bautista played here he'd hit 200 HR a year!!!

[Ultima Ratio]

If Bautista want to sit right on the plate, why not throw inside and if it hits hims, so be it? You can't let a guy dictate an AB like that.

[twinsnorth49]

How long can we go on with Plouffe? Hutchinson is struggling to consistently find the zone and you go up 1st pitch swinging with men in position, f**k!!

[Alex]

Now that was good to see. Joe crushed that ball. Twins need to score this inning.


Plouffe has had good plate discipline this season. I'd like to see some more games for him.

[twinsnorth49]

Come again? That's twice on pitches that aren't even his to hit. Aside from his walk, it's been pathetic tonight.

[twinzgrl]

Why can they NOT get a timely hit?!? It is so frustrating.

[Alex]

Come again? That's twice on pitches that aren't even his to hit. Aside from his walk, it's been pathetic tonight.

Willingham swung at the first pitch as well and made an out. Plouffe is responsible for the only run tonight. I'm not saying he's been great (or even good) but I'd like to see him get some extended play and see if that gets him in a rythm and he gets some hits. He's worked 10 walks in 60 PA. There aren't options at 3B right now, so I'm fine if the Twins give him another couple weeks.

[stringer bell]

Well, I guess the 38 year old is the regular second baseman and Casilla is the utility guy. I think that's foolish but that's me.

[deanlambrecht]

Why can they NOT get a timely hit?!? It is so frustrating.

Joe Vavra and the hitting approach for the team in general. Look at Jamey Carroll, for example. Compare his career numbers until he got to the Twins. Think of what happened to Big Papi. We rely on natural hitting talent minus coaching, and it shows.

Here's Carroll, who's been a high average on base monster his entire career. 6 weeks with the Twins and he's a wreck:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl...arroja01.shtml

[twinsnorth49]

So who's everybody blaming tonight? Probably Gardy's fault, seems he told the pitching staff to pitch well but forgot to mention to the batters they need to hit the ball. He really should have remembered that.