Game Thread: Twins @ Rangers, 6/12/2015 7:05 p.m. CDT

[Blake]

Wow, I've seen games unravel in a hurry but this is a new one for me.

[Blake]

Duensing will be joining Mr. Stauffer.

[USAFChief]

Feel bad for Hicksie.  Obviously should have been caught, but the problem originated with Aaron $$*(#(ing Thompson walking a the 8 hole hitter, a left hander, to start the inning.  Pressly gives up a base hit, and the ball Hicks doesn't catch was hit pretty hard off Duensing.

 

Hicks will get blamed, but he's not the problem.

[Bark's Lounge]

So disappointing. I built up too much faith in this club. I need to disconnect myself.

[formerly33]

It certainly doesn't help that Vargas is leading off this inning.

 

Hm, already I can say "led off."

[Squirrel]

Feel bad for Hicksie.  Obviously should have been caught, but the problem originated with Aaron $$*(#(ing Thompson walking a the 8 hole hitter, a left hander, to start the inning.  Pressly gives up a base hit, and the ball Hicks doesn't catch was hit pretty hard off Duensing.

 

Hicks will get blamed, but he's not the problem.

Yup.

 

And I only have one word for the bp right now.

 

****.

[stringer bell]

Another good start wasted. There are a lot of candidates for demotion. I think Thompson has used up what rope he had.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I wouldn't mind seeing teams in San Juan and Havana.

true, additional international teams may increase the talent pool, especially Cuba, but maybe transfer rather than addition might be more effective

[gocgo]

On a positive note, our starting pitcher looked good.  On the downside, our bullpen is unraveling, especially our lefties except for Perk.  Thompson has looked bad lately as has Duensing.  Neither has overpowering stuff and when you can't locate, it spells disaster.

[USAFChief]

blech.

 

Nice job Tommy Milone.

 

 

[Blake]

You know things are bad when even Dick and Bert aren't overly impressed, to say the least, with Duensing. DicknBert could see the disaster unfolding before their eyes.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Oh well.

 

I guess you lose some, and you... lose some more. Sometimes.

 

I still got hope. Just got to remember where i put it... Ah, between the sofa cushions!

[Blake]

 

 

Feel bad for Hicksie.  Obviously should have been caught, but the problem originated with Aaron $$*(#(ing Thompson walking a the 8 hole hitter, a left hander, to start the inning.  Pressly gives up a base hit, and the ball Hicks doesn't catch was hit pretty hard off Duensing.

 

Hicks will get blamed, but he's not the problem.

Quite agree.

[Halsey Hall]

Well that sucked!  Pelfrey tomorrow to right the ship. 

[Blake]

Time for some wholesale changes to the bullpen? Maybe even bring in a couple of guys from double A?

[Blake]

 

 

Well that sucked!  Pelfrey tomorrow to right the ship. 

Only if Pelfrey refuses to come out of the game until it's time for Perkins.

[formerly33]

 

Only if Pelfrey refuses to come out of the game until it's time for Perkins.

Then maybe Bert would be slightly less disapproving.

 

To say the least, I'm disappointed. This is not the kind of baseball I like to see the Twins play - not even in 2011-2014. But this year ... it just stinks.

[Kwak]

Disclaimer, I didn't see the 8th, but I followed on the net, and have read you posters.  Much grousing on the bullpen--and it boils down to three misplays in the field (OK, the first by a bullpen pitcher).  Any one of those plays made--and inning over, still 2-2.  Hmm, it isn't just the pitching, the fielding has to make the plays. 

[David HK]

Whew--  I just had to step away, it was too painful- and familiar from the last few years.  There's a lot of promise down there in the minors, and I'm willing to let it simmer til it's ready, but my God, it's painful to watch my team trot out stiffs like Thompson, and Dunce, and Stauffer (thank you), and Shaefer/Robinson, and keep hitting poor used-up Suzuki in the 5 spot, and so on.  And Dozier is the ONLY offense the Twinks have right now.  It's sad when you can't feel good about bases loaded nobody out- and just expect 1 run or less out of it.  It's been a really pleasant early summer, but that wave is cresting.  It's just damn hard to watch this slow-motion car crash unfolding.

[jun]

In terms of effectiveness, Stauffer was slightly better than Duensing all season, neck to neck with Thompson lately.

[NorthwestTwinsFan]

Duensing should have been sent packing a long time ago. How he still has a roster spot is beyond me.

[jun]

Right now Dozier and Plouffe are the only two contributing offensively.

[jun]

This bullpen is a mess now. No effective lefty other than the closer, righties are shaky.

[David HK]

Makes me wonder if they're thinking about bringing up Big Unit, Jr. for the 'pen sometime soon.

[Raven]

If Hicks makes the catch we'd be talking about how Duensing got out of a big jam.  Instead, I thought I was having a Willie Norwood flashback.

[stringer bell]

 

Disclaimer, I didn't see the 8th, but I followed on the net, and have read you posters.  Much grousing on the bullpen--and it boils down to three misplays in the field (OK, the first by a bullpen pitcher).  Any one of those plays made--and inning over, still 2-2.  Hmm, it isn't just the pitching, the fielding has to make the plays. 

The only misplay was by Hicks.  Pressly had a bouncer hit towards him that he might have deflected with his bare hand, and Mauer hesitated on a bunt in the air, but got the force play.  Mauer perhaps could have tried to get the out at first and then gotten the runner at second, but I doubt it.  Hicks' error wasn't an easy play, but he got there and then could not catch the ball.