Game Thread Twins @ Royals 7:10 PM April 22, 2015

[stringer bell]

The Twins managed to lose last night. With their current bullpen, leads in the middle innings look very fragile. The Royals shut down bullpen shut the Twins down and the Twins bullpen allowed the tying and winning run to score. No surprises in that.

 

The Twins stand at 5-9 and are looking up at the rest of the division. Meanwhile, the Royals are tied for first with a nice 11-3 start.

 

The pitching matchup is probably the #5 starter for each club. Cuddy's old pal 36 year old Jeremy Guthrie has started twice. He has a win and a no-decision, he allowed four earned runs in each start and has toiled 13 innings in his starts. Gurthrie has had a bit of a resurrection since coming to KC, after being one of the worst starters in the National League while pitching for Colorado. Mike Pelfrey toes the slab for the Twins. He, too, has two starts to his credit, going five innings in each. More accurately, he has labored for five innings in both starts. The Twins gave Pelf a nice lead in Chicago, which he managed to squander (four runs in five IP), and he battled Cleveland and Cory Kluber for five innings, yielding a run but keeping the club in the game. Pelfrey got a no-decision in each start.

 

Despite scoring five runs last night, the Twins lineup continues to struggle. Four "regulars" who could be optioned or DFAed probably are beginning to feel a little pressure--Schafer, Vargas, Santana, and Arcia. I expected some regression, but so far these guys and really every starter, have struggled. I am expecting a couple of the guys to break out soon and perhaps the hittable stuff of Guthrie will be the turning point.

 

Pelfrey has a tough order holding down the Royals. Besides the fact that they are hitting very well, they have a lot of guys who can take advantage of his less than speedy delivery to the plate. Probably the best thing for him would be a big lead, but we saw him squander that type of lead in his first start.

 

I want to point out how early it is in the season. That, in and of itself, doesn't give us Twins fans a lot of hope, but perhaps reminding ourselves that a lot can change can keep us interested. I do believe that many of the guys hitting around the Mendoza line will start to swing better. I am not as hopeful over the woeful state of the bullpen (without different faces).

 

My prediction for tonight is a veritable slugfest. Because I am a Twins fan, I will predict a 10-8 victory several home runs. That's all for tonight, enjoy the game!

[stringer bell]

Lineups to follow

 

Danny Santana - S -  SS
Torii Hunter - R -  RF
Joe Mauer - L -  1B
Brian Dozier - R -  2B
Kennys Vargas - S -  DH
Trevor Plouffe - R -  3B
Oswaldo Arcia - L -  LF
Kurt Suzuki - R -  C
Jordan Schafer - L -  CF

   Mike Pelfrey - R - SP

Alcides Escobar - R -  SS
Mike Moustakas - L -  3B
Lorenzo Cain - R -  CF
Eric Hosmer - L -  1B
Kendrys Morales - S -  DH
Alex Gordon - L -  LF
Salvador Perez - R -  C
Paulo Orlando - R -  RF
Christian Colon - R -  2B

   Jeremy Guthrie - R - SP

[jokin]

Look for big nights from Mauer, Suzuki and Hunter vs. Guthrie.  Mauer has hit 1.207 OPS against Guthrie, with 3 HR, Zuke is also over 1.000, while Hunter has hit .327 in around 50 career PAs.  Take the "over" at 8.5.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Does Suzuki have another innings incentive this year that the club is complicit in him reaching?  

(only half joking)

[Squirrel]

 

Does Suzuki have another innings incentive this year that the club is complicit in him reaching?

(only half joking)

What's the other half doing?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Actually I am not sure! I will go ask her!

[jokin]

 

Does Suzuki have another innings incentive this year that the club is complicit in him reaching?

(only half joking)

 

Half-serious response-  Zuke's vesting option for '17 only comes into play for what he does in '16.  This seems like the kind of night to give him off, but if there was any doubt about him playing I'm sure he made his case to Molly just by whipping out his career stats against Guthrie.

[Craig Arko]

Do we think this Pelfrey's last start, or will I be seeing him in person next Tuesday?

[jimmer]

 

Do we think this Pelfrey's last start, or will I be seeing him in person next Tuesday?

The latter

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Nolasco will be eligible to come off the DL by next Tuesday. Maybe you will see Nolasco?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Half-serious response-  Zuke's vesting option for '17 only comes into play for what he does in '16.  This seems like the kind of night to give him off, but if there was any doubt about him playing I'm sure he made his case to Molly just by whipping out his career stats against Guthrie.

 

I like Suzuki but I'm not sure I like your comment enough to press the little red bar

 

Seems like Zuke could use a few days off, especially after his fluke foot injury a couple nights ago. 

[Danchat]

 

Do we think this Pelfrey's last start, or will I be seeing him in person next Tuesday?

I feel bad for you. You're [probably] gonna have to see Pelfrey pitch... the last 3 out of 4 games I've been to were Pelfrey starts, and all of them were awful. So I really hope he gets booted to the bullpen when Nolasco returns.

[Craig Arko]

I feel bad for you. You're [probably] gonna have to see Pelfrey pitch... the last 3 out of 4 games I've been to were Pelfrey starts, and all of them were awful. So I really hope he gets booted to the bullpen when Nolasco returns.

At least I'm taking the next day off in anticipation of a really late night.

[USAFChief]

Nice job with the game threads, stringer. Thanks!

[Squirrel]

 

Actually I am not sure! I will go ask her!

I didn't ask what the better half was doing!

 

ba da dum! ksshhh!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

honestly, no truer words....

[jokin]

 

I like Suzuki but I'm not sure I like your comment enough to press the little red bar

 

Seems like Zuke could use a few days off, especially after his fluke foot injury a couple nights ago. 

 

I agree, this was definitely the right night for Suzuki to sit.

[Bark's Lounge]

 

[Trevor0333]

It's depressing I'm already hoping for Pelfrey to get clobbered. It's too early for this sentiment to be so pervasive...

[Platoon]

Does Suzuki have another innings incentive this year that the club is complicit in him reaching?  

(only half joking)

. At this rate he will be past it the middle of next week.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

...

 

My prediction for tonight is a veritable slugfest.

 

...

My curiosity got the better of me with google.

 

Apparently there is a veritable slugfest in Eatonville, WA the weekend of June 22-23.

 

Now someday, i'm obliged to see what it's like.

[Platoon]

I feel bad for you. You're [probably] gonna have to see Pelfrey pitch... the last 3 out of 4 games I've been to were Pelfrey starts, and all of them were awful. So I really hope he gets booted to the bullpen when Nolasco returns.

. I am surprised a mod did not flag this! It's one of the most negative comments I have ever saw on TD regarding a player! Hoping to see Nolasco replace a pitcher, is an a insult above and beyond normal TD decorum and should not be tolerated!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

How well would Pelfrey have to pitch today to warrant consideration to stay in the starting rotation?

 

I think he should toss a perfect game, just to quiet us down...

[Jerr]

Listening to the radio and hoping for a good game to lose myself in.

THERE WILL BE NO CIRCUS BOY SCORE UPDATES FROM ME.

I learned my lesson from the one I posted last game, a bad guy HR and the lead within 3 minutes of my post.....sorry Circus Boy can't help ya out tonight

[USAFChief]

 

Kauffman.jpg

Awesome work, Bark.

[James]

In preparation for what will most likely happen tonight, I've started drinking much earlier than last night.

[Bark's Lounge]

 

Awesome work, Bark.

Ten Hut! There is an officer on deck.

[Jerr]

I suppose it will be slow here, with the Wild game tonight.

Yeah, extra base hit to lead off!!!!

[USAFChief]

My baseball playing cousin, Danny Santanarosannadanna, gets us rollin!

[USAFChief]

Uff da.