Game Thread: Twins vs Brewers 6/06 @11:10 am Pacific Time (1:10pm CT) Sophomore slump edition

[Blake]

 

Gametime Forecast: 70°F • Overcast • 0% PoP

 

According to the Twins Daily Style Sheet supplied by USAFChief, I'm allowed to write just about anything but have to avoid "excessive negativity."

 

Excessive negativity seems to be somewhat of a subjective term so, we'll let loose and see where things go.

 

Last night the Twins were bad, then good, then awful. I didn't know the Twins could show three different personalities in one game.

 

Instead of the "Three Faces of Eve" we had "The Three Faces of the Twins."

 

That said, I think it is time to quote Donald Sutherland in "Kelley's Heroes:"

 

Oddball: Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?

 

Words to live by when it comes to baseball.

 

Now, on to better things and a new day at the ballpark.

 

I have confidence our favorite team (everyone knows there are only two sports: Baseball and everything else.) will turn things around PDQ.

 

This is not your father's Twins team.

 

JR Graham is starting today and I am looking forward to seeing a legitimate flame thrower take the mound.

 

On the other side, we have ex-Twin Matt Garza who has enjoyed some success with teams not named "The Twins" but has not fared well with Milwaukee so far this year.

 

It has all the makings of an excellent pitching matchup that should be fun to watch.

 

Go Twins!!

 

[Blake]

Lineups.

 

Twins;

 

Debuting as a starter for the Twins, Pitcher JR Graham!!

 

1. Brian Dozier
2. Shane Robinson
3. Joe Mauer
4. Trevor Plouffe
5. Torii Hunter
6. Eddie Rosario
7. Chris Herrmann
8. Danny Santana
9. Aaron Hicks

 

Pitching for the Brew Crew: Matt Garza

 

1. Carlos Gomez
2. Jonathan Lucroy
3. Ryan Braun
4. Adam Lind
5. Aramis Ramirez
6. Gerardo Parra
7. Jean Segura
8. Shane Peterson
9. Luis Sardinas

 

Thanks to JB_Iowa for supplying the links to track down starting lineups.

[stringer bell]

I mentioned this at the conclusion of yesterday's thread and will point it out again--one of the areas where the Twins have made improvement is not letting things snowball.  They played six lousy innings out of nine (well Gibson threw four great innings) after playing an ugly game at Fenway.  The manager, the mentor and the mound staff have managed to keep bad days from being bad weeks.  We'll see if they bounce back today against the Brewers.

[strumdatjaguar]

They are limiting J.R. Graham's pitches to the high 70s.  The Twins used up a lot of relief pitchers in last night's debacle.  I'm going today, but I'm feeling a little short-term negativity in this otherwise very positive year.

[stringer bell]

 

They are limiting J.R. Graham's pitches to the high 70s.  The Twins used up a lot of relief pitchers in last night's debacle.  I'm going today, but I'm feeling a little short-term negativity in this otherwise very positive year.

They used a lot of pitchers, but most of them should be eligible to come back today.  Thompson faced only one hitter, Boyer three, Fien two.  They all should be fine to pitch today.  Pressly likely will follow Graham, then a couple of the guys who followed Gibson last night, then Perkins for the ninth.  The real question about fatigue will come tomorrow.  Pelfrey needs to go deep then and if he does, the Twins bullpen should be fine.  Maybe they could go back to 12 pitchers.

[Blake]

 

They are limiting J.R. Graham's pitches to the high 70s.  The Twins used up a lot of relief pitchers in last night's debacle.  I'm going today, but I'm feeling a little short-term negativity in this otherwise very positive year.

Maybe J.R. Graham will show us a 74 pitch Carlos Silva type complete game.....

[Craig Arko]

Here's a fun little thing to brighten up your day.

 

http://blogs.twincities.com/twins/2015/06/06/twinsights-encouraging-start-to-bullpen-experiment-for-alex-meyer/

 

"According to Fien, former big-league catcher J.P. Arencibia, now with the Durham Bulls, stepped out of the batter’s box and made the sign of the cross after Meyer opened him with a sweeping spike curve for ball one.

 

“I had never seen that before,” Fien said with a laugh."

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Here's a fun little thing to brighten up your day.

http://blogs.twincities.com/twins/2015/06/06/twinsights-encouraging-start-to-bullpen-experiment-for-alex-meyer/

"According to Fien, former big-league catcher J.P. Arencibia, now with the Durham Bulls, stepped out of the batter’s box and made the sign of the cross after Meyer opened him with a sweeping spike curve for ball one.

“I had never seen that before,” Fien said with a laugh."

Usually you give us a science update. This is decidedly different

[USAFChief]

Nice job, Blake!  Thanks!

[JB_Iowa]

 

Nice job, Blake!  Thanks!

 

Are you home again, Chief??

[JB_Iowa]

Looks like a GREAT Crowd today.  (I'm sure there's some Wisconsinites there).

[stringer bell]

The thought was that they would sell out today with the Hunter giveaway. 

[Craig Arko]

Usually you give us a science update. This is decidedly different

Consider it a change up.

[USAFChief]

 

Are you home again, Chief??

Yup.

[USAFChief]

Something needs to be done to add a hitter or two to this team.

 

If Shane Robinson is hitting second, you're not taking yourself seriously as a contending team.

 

 

[Craig Arko]

Like the velocity this kid has.

 

Oh, and Texas is beating up on KC again.

[Craig Arko]

Something needs to be done to add a hitter or two to this team.

 

If Shane Robinson is hitting second, you're not taking yourself seriously as a contending team.

At the risk of causing a riot, I'd kinda like to see Hicks in the two-hole.

[JB_Iowa]

 

Like the velocity this kid has.

Oh, and Texas is beating up on KC again.

 

Enjoy it - next week it's the Twins turn.

[twinsnorth49]

I see Graham takes his pace of play lead from Mike Pelfrey apparently.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I see Graham takes his pace of play lead from Mike Pelfrey apparently.

Pelfrey 2014 or Pelfrey 2015?

[DedunoTheMuffinMan?]

 

At the risk of causing a riot, I'd kinda like to see Hicks in the two-hole.

I don't think Hicks should be in the two-hole. I'd put Robinson there over him.

[DedunoTheMuffinMan?]

Gomez needs to work on his base running.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I'm fine with letting him guess and experiment in this series

[Winston Smith]

Wonder what it would take to get Braun from the Brewers? Big money on his contract, they'd like to get out of I'd  bet.  Sure would fit nice in the 4 spot and rf/dh.

Would sure be un-Terry/Jim P. like.

[USAFChief]

 

I don't think Hicks should be in the two-hole. I'd put Robinson there over him.

I'd have enough hitters that neither one would be any kind of realistic option except in an emergency.

[DedunoTheMuffinMan?]

 

I'd have enough hitters that neither one would be any kind of realistic option except in an emergency.

Yeah, that would be ideal.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Are we seeing more splintering bats again, or is it just me?

(It might be just me)

[mickeymental]

from an ops standpoint, the bottom third of the twins order is pretty grim. i don't have it on tv but imagine garza drooling last inning ...

[spinowner]

It looked to me like it hit Segura's hand, then the bat. But whatever.

[mnsportsgeek]

 

Wonder what it would take to get Braun from the Brewers? Big money on his contract, they'd like to get out of I'd  bet.  Sure would fit nice in the 4 spot and rf/dh.

Would sure be un-Terry/Jim P. like.

 

I would rather bring back Nishi to bat clean up.