Game Thread: Twins @ Orioles, 6:05 CDT

[Danchat]

And the game ends fittingly with a strikeout.

[Ultima Ratio]

Hot take:  This team is rather boring thus far.

[Aggies7]

Terrible

[USAFChief]

The 1-0 pitch Mauer took is so Mauer.

 

 

[Jham]

Mauer forgot to wear his night-sunglasses.

[DiscGolfer]

1863

[DaveW]

Again, what the **** is the point of trading for Murphy if you are going to refuse to PH for Suzuki in situations like this?

[USAFChief]

g'night.  See ya'll tomorrow.  

[LaBombo]

Yes, the season is barely more than 1/100th over, but...

 

 

No, really, I get that it's just two games, and yet the Twins not scoring runs, well,

 

http://media.giphy.com/media/n4GnKL68ol0ty/giphy.gif

[DaveW]

 

Let's think this through

 

OK... Teachable moment for Buxton?

 

Suzuki? 

 

Vet... Been through this before... Not going to panic or try to do too much? 

 

Maybe?

 

Nah

 

Molitor nodded off in the dugout is the only explanation.

 

Sleep Apnea maybe? 

Buxton had two doubles today, and he is young and has a future, I think having him hit is the right thing. Especially considering once he is on base he is our best asset to tie the game.

 

But Suzuki? Really? Ugh. I mean even if by some minor miracle he gets on base you are going to PR for him anyways, right? Why not just bring in Santana for him at the jump?

[LaBombo]

 

I can live with game ending on an aggressive base running move.

 

How about an aggressive swing at a pitch that would only have had a chance to be a strike at a bowling alley?

 

Hey, at least it's a change of pace from the patented Mauer called third.

[Aggies7]

On the plus side, we have 4 more runs than the same point last year.

 

A-boo

[LaBombo]

 

g'night.  See ya'll tomorrow.  

 

We'll lock up on the way out and leave the key in the planter.

[Blake]

I wonder if the Twins, at home, will get an expanded strike zone when pitching while their opponent is squeezed?

 

Twins seem to lack fire. Somnambulistic somnambulists shambling sleepily.

[Vanimal46]

They could still be 0-2 no matter what they did. But IMO, better managerial decisions at the end of the game gives them a greater chance to win 1 if not both games so far...

[rghrbek]

Deja Vu.   Bunting in 3rd inning with a man on 2nd and no outs (with our home run leader from last year at the plate), not pinch hitting for Zuke, not pinch hitting for buxton and pinch running for Dozier of all people.... 

 

Maybe Molly didn't manage enough games in spring training and is shaking of the rust?    Lot's of similarities to Gardy so far this year.

 

Newsflash:   This team might strike out a lot....

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I wonder if the Twins, at home, will get an expanded strike zone when pitching while their opponent is squeezed?

 

Twins seem to lack fire. Somnambulistic somnambulists shambling sleepily.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it also looked like Suzuki struck out on a pitch measured not in inches, but feet, off the plate. As in 3 feet low and away. I did see the catcher lunge for it from where I was sitting.

 

But, yeah.

[Blake]

 

Deja Vu.   Bunting in 3rd inning with a man on 2nd and no outs (with our home run leader from last year at the plate), not pinch hitting for Zuke, not pinch hitting for buxton and pinch running for Dozier of all people.... 

 

Maybe Molly didn't manage enough games in spring training and is shaking of the rust?    Lot's of similarities to Gardy so far this year.

 

Newsflash:   This team might strike out a lot....

Honestly, I thought Suzuki would be pinch-hit for. I can defend not pinch-hitting for Buxton. Suzuki? Nope.

[DaveW]

 

They could still be 0-2 no matter what they did. But IMO, better managerial decisions at the end of the game gives them a greater chance to win 1 if not both games so far...

Better GM decisions as well! I.E. not moving Sano to RF!

[DaveW]

 

 

Deja Vu.   Bunting in 3rd inning with a man on 2nd and no outs (with our home run leader from last year at the plate), not pinch hitting for Zuke, not pinch hitting for buxton and pinch running for Dozier of all people.... 

 

Maybe Molly didn't manage enough games in spring training and is shaking of the rust?    Lot's of similarities to Gardy so far this year.

 

Newsflash:   This team might strike out a lot....

Buxton took good at bats all night and had 2 doubles on a night where I think the Twins got only 2 other hits total? I think letting him hit was the right idea, hell he should have walked in that at-bat anyways if it weren't for some ****ty strike calls. Plus, he is fast, is young and has upside.

Suzuki is none of those things. Indefensible not to PH for him there.

[Blake]

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it also looked like Suzuki struck out on a pitch measured not in inches, but feet, off the plate. As in 3 feet low and away. I did see the catcher lunge for it from where I was sitting.

But, yeah.

Well, I think Bert mentioned Pressly, or maybe it was Fien, throwing 5 strikes. I thought the zone favored the home team just a bit. (you have to say that last bit in a Bob Uecker voice)

 

But yeah, Suzuki got caught cheating on his swing, I think. Bat slows down, have to start a little early, pitcher make the hitter looks stupid.

[Riverbrian]

 

Buxton had two doubles today, and he is young and has a future, I think having him hit is the right thing. Especially considering once he is on base he is our best asset to tie the game.

 

But Suzuki? Really? Ugh. I mean even if by some minor miracle he gets on base you are going to PR for him anyways, right? Why not just bring in Santana for him at the jump?

 

I really think he dosed off at the wrong moment and woke up and shouted "Get in there Santana" . 

 

 

[stringer bell]

OK, I'm sure there's a lot of complaining about not hitting for Suzuki. Lots of complaints about Sano in right field.

 

The Twins think more of Suzuki as a hitter than we, the diehard fans, do. They aren't going to hit for him until maybe the ninth inning and not with a lefty (even Britton) on the mound. Even last year, Zuke hit .257 with a .320 OBP against left handers. Not great, but not terrible either. Suzuki will get more days off with John Ryan Murphy backing him up, but I doubt they will pinch hit much for him all season.

 

I'm not a great fan of the Sano experiment, but it is defensible. He screwed up the blooper, but it was probably more a mental error than anything else.

 

On balance, the Twins have played just two games. Most things even out over time, but it hurts to lose two close games. I'm not smart enough to second guess the front office's moves and their plans for the future. I'll hold off until more than 10% of the season has been played before I'm hypercritical.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Well, I think Bert mentioned Pressly, or maybe it was Fien, throwing 5 strikes. I thought the zone favored the home team just a bit. (you have to say that last bit in a Bob Uecker voice)

 

But yeah, Suzuki got caught cheating on his swing, I think. Bat slows down, have to start a little early, pitcher make the hitter looks stupid.

Definitely some truth to all of this.

[mickeymental]

season is over.

[DaveW]

 

OK, I'm sure there's a lot of complaining about not hitting for Suzuki. Lots of complaints about Sano in right field.

 

The Twins think more of Suzuki as a hitter than we, the diehard fans, do. They aren't going to hit for him until maybe the ninth inning and not with a lefty (even Britton) on the mound. Even last year, Zuke hit .257 with a .320 against left handers. Not great, but not terrible either. Suzuki will get more days off with John Ryan Murphy backing him up, but I doubt they will pinch hit much for him all season.

Britton isn't your average LHP though...and when you are the tieing run you need a guy that can get on base! Suzuki had a terrible OBP last year (the only two that had worse than him were Hunter and Rosario) but at least in Hunter and Rosario's cases that actually had HR power as well, Suzuki is the absolute last guy you want up in that situation on the whole club other than Arcia (who can't hit LHP at all). Literally they would be better off with anyone else, including the new catcher PH for him, or Santana, or Nunez.

[stringer bell]

 

I really think he dosed off at the wrong moment and woke up and shouted "Get in there Santana" . 

Probably the most surprising move by Molitor so far this year.

[Riverbrian]

 

Probably the most surprising move by Molitor so far this year.

 

Yeah

 

He'd been doing pretty good up until now. 

[USAFChief]

Britton isn't your average LHP though...and when you are the tieing run you need a guy that can get on base! Suzuki had a terrible OBP last year (the only two that had worse than him were Hunter and Rosario) but at least in Hunter and Rosario's cases that actually had HR power as well, Suzuki is the absolute last guy you want up in that situation on the whole club other than Arcia (who can't hit LHP at all). Literally they would be better off with anyone else, including the new catcher PH for him, or Santana, or Nunez.

I'd have hit for Suzuki, but part of the problem is there aren't good bench options.

[USAFChief]

OK, I'm sure there's a lot of complaining about not hitting for Suzuki. Lots of complaints about Sano in right field.

 

The Twins think more of Suzuki as a hitter than we, the diehard fans, do. They aren't going to hit for him until maybe the ninth inning and not with a lefty (even Britton) on the mound. Even last year, Zuke hit .257 with a .320 OBP against left handers. Not great, but not terrible either. Suzuki will get more days off with John Ryan Murphy backing him up, but I doubt they will pinch hit much for him all season.

 

I'm not a great fan of the Sano experiment, but it is defensible. He screwed up the blooper, but it was probably more a mental error than anything else.

 

On balance, the Twins have played just two games. Most things even out over time, but it hurts to lose two close games. I'm not smart enough to second guess the front office's moves and their plans for the future. I'll hold off until more than 10% of the season has been played before I'm hypercritical.

Ok buster, just stop with the reasoned, non-irate takes right now. This is a game thread, ferpetesakes.