Game Thread: Twins v. Indians, 4/18/15 @ 1:10 PM

[BK432]

Lineups

 

Indians:

 

1. CF Michael Bourn

2. 2B Jason Kipnis

3. LF Michael Brantley

4. 1B Carlos Santana

5. DH Brandon Moss

6. RF David Murphy

7. 3B Lonnie Chisenhall

8. C   Roberto Perez

9. SS Jose Ramirez

 

PITCHING: Danny Salazar

 

Twins:

 

1. SS Danny Santana

2. RF Torii Hunter
3. 1B Joe Mauer
4. 2B Brian Dozier
5. DH Kennys Vargas
6. C   Kurt Suzuki
7. LF Oswaldo Arcia
8. 3B Eduardo Nunez
9. CF Jordan Schafer

 

PITCHING: Phil Hughes

 

Well, how do we all feel compared to 5 days ago? Monday night at dinner our food probably tasted pretty bitter and, despite the fairly nice weather, our feelings toward spring and the upcoming summer were more negative than one might expect.

 

Fast forward to Saturday morning, as we get ready to enjoy yet another beautiful spring day, and we've certainly regained that rosy outlook. Three wins in a row will do that, despite this streak really being no more meaningful than the 1-6 start. More than results, it's been nice to watch a crisper and better brand of baseball the last three days. Twins baseball has been far from perfect, but it's been watchable, and it's kept them competitive and able to win some games. Compared to the alternative, we'll take it.

 

Plouffe's bomb last night to win it in the 11th gave this team a moment to celebrate, and those remaining in the Target Field seats seemed to enjoy the big hit as well. If momentum means anything, we'll have some extra bullets loaded up to try and go win a fourth game in a row. And given our matchup for today, we may need them.

 

Here are your 3 Things To Look For today:

 

1. Starting Pitching - a key component of any game, today's matchup holds some extra interest. Danny Salazar is recalled from AAA Columbus to make his 2015 debut today at Target Field. Despite a decent effort at the MLB level last year in 110 IP, he didn't make the big league club this year out of spring training, largely in part to four appearances in the Cactus League that ranged from mediocre to frightening. But after six shutout innings in his only AAA start, he was added back to the 25-man roster. Salazar has been discussed by many as a breakout candidate for 2015 due to a fastball that runs in the mid 90s and his ability to miss bats. Salazar faced the Twins 3 times last year (including his 2014 debut as well) with mixed results: 17 IP, 6 ER and 17 K. A successful start today in Minneapolis would go a long way toward establishing himself as yet another young Indians pitcher with a bright future.

 

Phil Hughes is making his 3rd start of the season. After a 2014 season that defied any expectations, he has yet to capture that magic here in 2015. Hughes faced Cleveland just twice last year, ending up with 14 IP, 5 ER, 13 K and of course, 0 BB. Perhaps today is the day the day he bounces back to that 2014 form and shuts down the Indians. They very well may need him to do so if they hope to win.

 

2. Bringing The Pack Home - the last thing we'd want to do is overreact to a negative trend over just 18 innings, especially when the Twins are winning games. But the Twins, while scoring just enough to win, have left 17 runners on base the last two days. Additionally, when you take into account some futility with the bases loaded (with a GIDP with the bases loaded in each of the last two days) and you can't help but want the Twins to do a better job cashing in on their opportunities. Clutch hitting is a debated skill set, which might be more luck and opportunity than anything else...but if the Twins want to score enough to win, they'll have to take advantage today when they have runners aboard.

 

3. Managerial Strategy - many fans have been looking for Molitor to make the moves that the previous manager wouldn't have, a strategic decision to give his team an advantage, or to keep them in a game. Putting Mauer in the 2-spot, taking an aggressive approach with platooning in CF...we hadn't yet had our desires filled, until Friday night. Having pitched on Wednesday and Thursday, and the whole "not wanting to use your closer in a non-save situation", there could have been every reason in the book to not use Glen Perkins in the 9th inning. Yet, Molitor pulled the trigger and brought in his best reliever in order to get the game to the bottom of the 9th with no change in score. The Twins didn't end up winning until the 11th, of course, but this aggressive move satisfied many who were looking for Molitor to distinguish himself from his predecessor. We can only hope this is the beginning of moves that, while against common baseball thought, are continued to be made to help make his team more statistically likely to win the game. Which, of course, is the whole point of managing a baseball team.

 

Enjoy the game today, Twins fans!

[Blake]

Yesterday's 6th inning weirdness is why I love baseball. Every year, I get to see something happen that I've never seen before, and I've been watching baseball for 30 years or so. 

 

Hughes is due for a W. 

[Circus Boy]

Nice setup. Now fire up the Delorean, Marty, we're going into the future a day!

[BK432]

 

Nice setup. Now fire up the Delorean, Marty, we're going into the future a day!

 

Ha - you must have posted right as I was making a VERY slight edit to the date

[bluechipper]

When you get the chance to sit the guy who just hit a walk off homerun the previous night in favor of Eduardo Nunez, you gotta do it.

[ashbury]

Ladies and Gentlemen, your Third Place Minnesota Twins!

 

Possessors of the third longest current winning streak in the majors.

[ashbury]

 

Yet, Molitor pulled the trigger and brought in his best reliever in order to get the game to the bottom of the 9th with no change in score.

I think Gardy sometimes brought his closer into a tie game in the ninth, when at home, too.

 

What would be more radical would be a tie game on the road. Or in the eighth inning to face the heart of the lineup and leave the bottom of the order to the mopup crew. Or to "stretch out" a couple of the best closers to go two innings, eighth and ninth, when called for. Or to have them come in in the middle of an inning to squelch a rally.

 

But, I certainly was satisfied with the use yesterday.

[gocgo]

I know this is off topic, but am I the only one skeptical of A-Rod's fast start?  He's 39, out of baseball for a year, had seen his bat speed decline when he was last playing, and now he's suddenly rejuvenated and killing the ball.  Hmmmm....what could cause that?  Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...not buying it!

[Cap'n Piranha]

When you get the chance to sit the guy who just hit a walk off homerun the previous night in favor of Eduardo Nunez, you gotta do it.

Well Esco's not starting, so The Law of Eduardo forces Molitor's hand. He really has no choice.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

When you get the chance to sit the guy who just hit a walk off homerun the previous night in favor of Eduardo Nunez, you gotta do it.

On the other hand, being available to pinch hit, perhaps increases the likelihood you'll get to hit another walk off homer?

 

(I'm not going to rigorously analyze that, but it sounds reasonable)

 

And how many other teams have an Eduardo Nunez to favor? Not many, so this team will produce a large portion of these chances. I guess i should be glad it wasn't a catcher who hit last night's home run?

[jimmer]

Twins are on at 1 p.m., but then the Wild playoff game is on at 2 p.m. Grrr. Choices.

[jimmer]

Trevor just needs to play, period.

[jimmer]

 

I know this is off topic, but am I the only one skeptical of A-Rod's fast start?  He's 39, out of baseball for a year, had seen his bat speed decline when he was last playing, and now he's suddenly rejuvenated and killing the ball.  Hmmmm....what could cause that?  Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...not buying it!

He's probably being test 2, 3 times a week.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Twins are on at 1 p.m., but then the Wild playoff game is on at 2 p.m. Grrr. Choices.

I've always wanted to be able to watch a different thing with each eye.

 

Has anyone tried it before?

 

But that would still leave the choice of which eye for which game...

[jimmer]

 

I think Gardy sometimes brought his closer into a tie game in the ninth, when at home, too.

 

 

He did, a lot. Mauer also batted in the 2 spot a lot last year, so that's nothing new either.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I know this is off topic, but am I the only one skeptical of A-Rod's fast start?  He's 39, out of baseball for a year, had seen his bat speed decline when he was last playing, and now he's suddenly rejuvenated and killing the ball.  Hmmmm....what could cause that?  Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...not buying it!

A year off to focus on strength and endurance helps too. Not quite ready to say ROIDS (even though we all know he's done them).

[USAFChief]

Nice job, BK432!

 

Much appreciated.

[USAFChief]

I've always wanted to be able to watch a different thing with each eye.Has anyone tried it before?..

Olson twins?

[USAFChief]

In case anyone's wondering...Tucson weather forecast:

 

Sunny, highs in the low to mid 80's, lows in the mid 50's, for the next ten days.

 

Boring.

[Jerr]

Twins can match their longest win streak of last year, with a win today!

GO TWINS!!!!!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Olson twins?

Try as i might, i think i still look at one first, then the other.

 

I'm just not sure which is which. But i appreciate their devotion to the Twins.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

In case anyone's wondering...Tucson weather forecast:

 

Sunny, highs in the low to mid 80's, lows in the mid 50's, for the next ten days.

 

Boring.

How would you propose we go about effecting a climate change there?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Nice job, BK432!

 

Much appreciated.

Concur.

 

I'm intrigued to see how we deal with loaded bases as the season progresses. As problems go, i can think of worse...

[Craig Arko]

Let's go, Mr. Hughes.

 

And for today's unrelated facts...

 

http://io9.com/5840854/dinosaur-feathers-discovered-in-canadian-amber

[Gibby]

  Ah yes, Canadian Amber. Fond memories.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Joe got around on that one.

[Squirrel]

Twins are on at 1 p.m., but then the Wild playoff game is on at 2 p.m. Grrr. Choices.

Hmmm, playoff game vs early season 'meaningless' April game ... that's kind of a no brainier for me ... if I watched hockey. Watch the hockey game, and check the baseball score during commercials. Or, watch the hockey game, and have game day up on your computer or tablet I know, thanks for helping

[Brock Beauchamp]

Dozier's swing there was not awesome.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Hmmm, playoff game vs early season 'meaningless' April game ... that's kind of a no brainier for me ... if I watched hockey. Watch the hockey game, and check the baseball score during commercials. Or, watch the hockey game, and have game day up on your computer or tablet I know, thanks for helping

Or go talk in-game hockey at Wild Xtra.

 

http://wildxtra.com/topic/1724-article-game-2-wild-st-louis-game-day-preview/

[Gibby]

 

Hmmm, playoff game vs early season 'meaningless' April game ... that's kind of a no brainier for me ... if I watched hockey. Watch the hockey game, and check the baseball score during commercials. Or, watch the hockey game, and have game day up on your computer or tablet I know, thanks for helping

  I couldn't agree more.