Nolasco

[Ncgo4]

Well, we're 0-5 and we have Nolasco up as our starter. I'm thinking this may be real, real interesting. Not only that, but methinks J B is starting today for Rochester. The baseball Gods have a strange sense of humor. I'm guessing we get 6 real strong innings from both pitchers and we send Santana down to Rochester...maybe not.

[AlwaysinModeration]

I don't think there is any way the Twins do not win today, and Nolasco will notch the first Twins W of 2016. It just seems meant to be.

[Platoon]

Our worst, against their best. If this is to be 2015 Part 2, then we win easily today.

[DocBauer]

Sounds cliche and kind of obvious, but just a bad inning or two, just a couple missed clutch hit opportunities, are keeping this team down. We absolutely could and should be 2-3 or 3-2. It simply has to turn around today doesn't it? Especially with the much maligned Nolasco taking the hill. The baseball gods enjoy irony.

[TKGuy]

We started 1-5 last year if my memory serves me correctly

[JaleelWhite FanClub]

KC got their home run swings going last night. Nolasco gave up four in Washington last week. Color me worried.

 

I'm interested to see what the lineup looks like today. I'm hopeful Kepler's somewhere in there, although it might make sense to hold him until they get home. Thought the White Sox will be starting lefties in 2 out of the three games there.

[HitInAPinch]

No Kepler.

Volquez starting for KC

 

Twins at Royals

Kauffman Stadium - sun, 04/10/2016 2:15 PM ET

 

 

1.  Dozier, B, 2B 
2.  Rosario, E, LF 
3.  Mauer, J, DH 
4.  Sano, M, RF 
5.  Park, B, 1B 
6.  Escobar, E, SS
7.  Nunez, E, 3B
8.  Murphy, J, C
9.  Buxton, B, CF 

[bluechipper]

I'm expecting a win and a good performance from Nolasco. 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 Ks, 3 BBs. Twins win 4 to 2.

[Mr. Brooks]

That is one hideous lineup.

I'm convinced these old school guys like Gardy and now Molitor don't even know what OBP stands for, with Santana and now Rosario in the 2 spot.

Doggie M was the correct choice to manage.

[DJSim22]

 

That is one hideous lineup.
I'm convinced these old school guys like Gardy and now Molitor don't even know what OBP stands for, with Santana and now Rosario in the 2 spot.
Doggie M was the correct choice to manage.

 

I like Rosario a lot, that said I'd never bat him 2nd.  Makes zero sense even with the B line up.

 

I think they should go:  Escobar, Mauer, Dozier, Park, Sano, Rosario, Nunez, Murphy, Buxton. 

[bluechipper]

 

That is one hideous lineup.
I'm convinced these old school guys like Gardy and now Molitor don't even know what OBP stands for, with Santana and now Rosario in the 2 spot.
Doggie M was the correct choice to manage.

If guys who are supposed to hit actually hit, that lineup isn't really all that bad.

 

I do agree that Rosario probably shouldn't be hitting 2nd though.

[Mr. Brooks]

If guys who are supposed to hit actually hit, that lineup isn't really all that bad.

 

I do agree that Rosario probably shouldn't be hitting 2nd though.

I disagree. Every player in that lineup came into the season with significant question marks.

 

Dozier: Ice cold the last 2 second half's.

The optimistic view was to imagine how valuable he could be if he held up all year. But that leads to the reverse, imagine if he has a full season of how he looks in the second halves.

 

Rosario: Can anyone actually continue to have even moderate success with absolutely no plate discipline?

 

Mauer: Has he been in an extended slump, or just late age decline?

 

Sano: Probably the closest to a sure thing, which should be alarming considering the small sample size and k rate.

 

Park: This one shouldn't need much explanation.

 

Escobar: Perhaps the next surest thing after Sano, though projection systems still think he's far over achieving his skills.

 

Murphy: Floor is probably Butera without the elite defense, upside is probably a good backup or fringe starter.

 

Buxton: He will eventually hit enough to be a very valuable player, given his defense and speed, but how long will that take?

 

Edit: phone auto corrected good to "gooder". Why?

[KirbyDome89]

 

Our worst, against their best. If this is to be 2015 Part 2, then we win easily today.

He'll pitch well today to spite us all....#anotherstartforRicky

[Brock Beauchamp]

That is one hideous lineup.

I'm convinced these old school guys like Gardy and now Molitor don't even know what OBP stands for, with Santana and now Rosario in the 2 spot.

Doggie M was the correct choice to manage.

You mean the Hall of Player player with a career .369 OBP doesn't understand its significance? Uh...

 

And you realize Doug Mientkiewicz is more old school than Molitor, right? The guy dislikes advanced stats.

[Twodogs]

Well Nolasco is hitting 94 on the gun.  I was saying earlier that after missing parts of two years I think his arm and legs may be a little stronger this year.  could be his year this year.

[Mr. Brooks]

You mean the Hall of Player player with a career .369 OBP doesn't understand its significance? Uh...

 

And you realize Doug Mientkiewicz is more old school than Molitor, right? The guy dislikes advanced stats.

Well of course he understands that getting on base is a good thing.

But clearly there is a disconnect somewhere, as far as applying that to batting order, with these old school guys. How else do you explain putting Santana 3 games in a row, and now Rosario, in the 2 hole?

Especially when you have a pretty much tailor made number 2 hitter on your roster (Mauer).

[ashbury]

Well Nolasco is hitting 94 on the gun.  I was saying earlier that after missing parts of two years I think his arm and legs may be a little stronger this year.  could be his year this year.

I don't recall, has any mention been made of his weight? He looked a bit trimmer on the mound today, but I might be imagining things.

[AlwaysinModeration]

I'll take 32 more starts like that one, Ricky. Preferably more.

[Kwak]

Nolasco--Staff ACE.

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

 

Nolasco--Staff ACE.

Is he going to be this years version of Pelfrey? In the sense that he will do just enough early on to get him an endless rope for the rest of the year when he bounces around, but ends up being terrible the second half.

[Ultima Ratio]

Let's work on adding some description to the thread title, please.  Just a name is basically trolling.

[ashbury]

 I'm guessing we get 6 real strong innings from both pitchers

Close. One inning too high on one, one inning too low on the other.