Game Thread: Twins@Indians 4/6 12:05PM

[Physics Guy]

I'm going to be a contrarian, but I don't think Bartlett was that brutal. He made bad judgments, is clearly inexperienced, but at least he is going after balls. He just dove as many times as Hammer will all year. Hammer would not have gotten to either ball. With a little more experience, Bartlett catches the first one and the run doesn't score. With Willingham in LF, both those balls land for singles at least but Kipnis probably doesn't score. Don't get me wrong, I would still rather have him learning OF in AAA. Ok I said it, now bash away.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

And they could still lose because of it… what's your point?

True, they could still lose because of Bartlett's play. Frankly I hope they do. It's just one game, and this outing may earn Bartlett a DFA

[70charger]

Best part of the Cola hit: he finally pulled it (to left-center, at least).

 

I noticed that too. Not sure I saw him do that successfully last year. Good on him.

[Joe A. Preusser]

True, they could still lose because of Bartlett's play. Frankly I hope they do. It's just one game, and this outing may earn Bartlett a DFA

 

BOO! I call foul, Sir.

 

Plus, Wisconsin sucks. Everyone knows this.

[BigTrane]

I'm hoping that Herrmann is either in transit or that they've got him ready to be called up at any second. Please.

This is just the 'rinse cycle'. Hang in there...

[jorgenswest]

Swarzak looks like a guy who led the league in relief innings last year.

 

They don't always follow up with another good year.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/baseball/flb/story?id=2848091

[JB_Iowa]

Well, as a good thing, Tigers just lost to Baltimore, 3-1.

[LaBombo]

True, they could still lose because of Bartlett's play. Frankly I hope they do. It's just one game, and this outing may earn Bartlett a DFA

More importantly, it should earn a DFA for the person most responsible for Bartlett being counted on as an outfielder, as well.

[GCTF]

Any chance this game is finished in less than four hours?

[BigTrane]

Thielbar... where's Tonkin?

[LaBombo]

Swarzak looks like a guy who led the league in relief innings last year.

 

They don't always follow up with another good year.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/baseball/flb/story?id=2848091

Bill James figured that out over 20 years ago, but apparently it's news to the Twins...

[blindeke]

Pretty sure this game fits the definition of excruciating.

 

Agreed. This is hard to watch.

[Riverbrian]

I'm going to be a contrarian, but I don't think Bartlett was that brutal. He made bad judgments, is clearly inexperienced, but at least he is going after balls. He just dove as many times as Hammer will all year. Hammer would not have gotten to either ball. With a little more experience, Bartlett catches the first one and the run doesn't score. With Willingham in LF, both those balls land for singles at least but Kipnis probably doesn't score. Don't get me wrong, I would still rather have him learning OF in AAA. Ok I said it, now bash away.

 

I agree completely.

 

The main concern is that Bartlett is the CF backup plan. Shoehorned into the OF to fit what the roster needed.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

BOO! I call foul, Sir.

 

Plus, Wisconsin sucks. Everyone knows this.

Dislike my take, fine, don't make it personal.

[JB_Iowa]

Will we see the adventures of Jared Burton in the 8th???

[Richie the Rally Goat]

More importantly, it should earn a DFA for the person most responsible for Bartlett being counted on as an outfielder, as well.

Antony or Gardy? I don't really blame Gardy, he doesn't have many choices...

[GCTF]

Bill James figured that out over 20 years ago, but apparently it's news to the Twins...

 

1000 wins. Tell that cyberstadork I'm gonna keep managin' like it's 1950 no matter what he thinks.

[Joe A. Preusser]

Dislike my take, fine, don't make it personal.

 

I'm sorry. That was intended as a good natured ribbing and was in no way meant as a personal attack.

[JB_Iowa]

OMG, I thought we had REACHED the 8th.

 

There is still 1/3 of this game left to play. Ugh.

[Riverbrian]

Antony or Gardy? I don't really blame Gardy, he doesn't have many choices...

 

Its gotta be Gardy?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

The graphic on the screen says the twins have scored third most runs in mlb, huh? Go figure

[Physics Guy]

I agree completely.

 

The main concern is that Bartlett is the CF backup plan. Shoehorned into the OF to fit what the roster needed.

 

Agreed, I think he has shown that playing CF might not be in his tool kit.

[Joe A. Preusser]

Show of hands, who thought Suzuki would be batting .423 after two series? No no, keep them up while I count.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I'm sorry. That was intended as a good natured ribbing and was in no way meant as a personal attack.

No sweat

[stringer bell]

Hey, when do we start worrying about a suddenly useless bullpen?

[LaBombo]

Antony or Gardy? I don't really blame Gardy, he doesn't have many choices...

Good question. It's hard for me to imagine that Molitor would take his current job without there being an excellent chance that he would manage sooner rather than later, so Gardenhire may be on the way out regardless of any wacky roster hijinx.

 

Trying to remember anything that Antony has said that inspired confidence that he'd be a worthy successor to Ryan. Can't at the moment.

[Joe A. Preusser]

Hey, when do we start worrying about a suddenly useless bullpen?

 

After a blown save...check.

After the pen has a higher ERA than the starters...check.

After a member of the pen has an ERA over 20....check.

 

I'd say right now.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'm going to be a contrarian, but I don't think Bartlett was that brutal. He made bad judgments, is clearly inexperienced, but at least he is going after balls. He just dove as many times as Hammer will all year. Hammer would not have gotten to either ball. With a little more experience, Bartlett catches the first one and the run doesn't score. With Willingham in LF, both those balls land for singles at least but Kipnis probably doesn't score. Don't get me wrong, I would still rather have him learning OF in AAA. Ok I said it, now bash away.

 

I don't think anyone was claiming he was "brutal" in a stone hands or letting a ball through his legs sense, obviously. He's been close but awkward on three key plays out in LF already today. (Would be fascinating to see his reaction time and route efficiency in the new "fieldFX" system.) Hope he gets better, but that's pretty unacceptable from your only backup OF. And he shouldn't be learning the position at the MLB level either. Let him play everyday in the Rochester OF for a few weeks first, if you really want him to be a super utility guy.

 

And if Willingham wouldn't have been any better... well, maybe the Twins ought to have figured that into their planning for LF/RF/DH while they were simultaneously building a flyball staff. As it is, they have multiple questionable defensive outfielders, and NO legitimate options for defensive replacement.

[BigTrane]

1000 wins. Tell that cyberstadork I'm gonna keep managin' like it's 1950 no matter what he thinks.

Or, on the other hand, one could point out that:

a) Gardy is one of 2 Twins managers with 1000 wins

Gardy is the only Twins manager with 1,000 wins, AND a winning percentage.

 

Bill James?

[LaBombo]

Agreed, I think he has shown that playing CF might not be in his tool kit.

So far the only tool in there is getting hit by that pitch.