Game Thread: White Sox@Twins, 4/14/16 @ 12:10 CT

[SwainZag]

 

Mauer is one of the few guys hitting and yet people are still pouring on the insults about his contract and that Joe needs to go. He and Escobar have been the only professional hitters in the line-up and that does not include Brian Dozier. For as much praise as Dozier gets he is stinking it up at the plate with all of the other guys striking out. Just think we have traded away Denard Span, Ben Revere, and Aaron Hicks for a center fielder that cannot hit breaking pitches and we have a lead off guy that if he doesn't hit for power doesn't produce RBI's because he is not on base enough. The leadoff guy set's the example of fouling off pitches and working counts, and taking walks,  Dozier does none of that.

 

Dozier has walked 14.3% of the time this year and 9.3% of the time in his career.  Ben Revere career 4.1% and Span 7.0%.  Only Hicks has taken a better percentage of walks, and it's in very limited plate appearances.  Hicks is also hitting .091/.167/.091 this year.

 

Dozier might not be your typical leadoff man, but let's not pretend that trio was anything more than what they are.  Span was a good CF, he has also been off the team for 4 years.  It's time to move past it.

[Hrbowski]

 

BTW, you should visit the Nisqually wildlife refuge some day. There were dozens of bird varieties. 

That would be real fun.

[PseudoSABR]

I don't understand Rosario in the two hole either.  I don't think the Twins are so inept to believe speed matters when players don't get on base (and they must also know that strikeouts don't exactly move the runner over either).  So maybe there's something else going on.  Maybe: 1) They are trying to alter Rosario's mindset/at-bat-strategy by moving him out of run-producing spot to a run-scoring spot, and 2) This a prelude to Rosario getting sent down if he doesn't adapt to that role.

[Hrbowski]

Good Guys:

 

James Brian Dozier, 2b

Eddie Manuel Rosario, LF

St. Joseph Patrick Mauer, DH

Trevor Patrick Plouffe, 3b

Miguel Ángel Sanó Jean, RF

President Eduardo José Escobar, SS

Byung-ho Park, 1b

John Ryan Murphy, C

Byron Keiron Buxton, CF

[Blake]

 

I refuse to believe there is any direct connection to what is typed on this message board and the outcome of the game for the hometown 9.

 

Did we win yet?

You put in "9" and the Twins are playing their ninth game. Looks like a coded message to me. Conspiracy even.

[Hrbowski]

Just realized that Trout will be in town tomorrow. Watching him is always fun.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I don't understand Rosario in the two hole either.  I don't think the Twins are so inept to believe speed matters when players don't get on base (and they must also know that strikeouts don't exactly move the runner over either).  So maybe there's something else going on.

I think they see Mauer hitting well, and want him back in the #3 spot.  Who occupies the #2 spot is of less concern to them, although it appears they have defaulted to Rosario (and previously Santana) based on speed and.... bunting ability?  Sadly not OBP.

[OrangeKicks]

Either you're competing, or you're rebuilding in my opinion. Signing David Murphy seems like a treading water move. An upgrade over the Shane Robinson and Jordan Schafers of the past.

[nicksaviking]

So I guess the answer to the question: "What does Eduardo Escobar have to do to bat higher in the lineup?"

 

Is: "When he stops being a switch hitter who gets on base."

[Danchat]

 

So I guess the answer to the question: "What does Eduardo Escobar have to do to bat higher in the lineup?"

 

Is: "When he stops being a switch hitter who gets on base."

Escobar must have done something to Molitor to tick him off. I don't get why he's been banished to the #6 spot. Meanwhile, Rosario is batting #2... and thanks to that, Mauer won't be able to capitalize off his fantastic RISP last season that the Twins desperately need right now.

[jokin]

 

Signing 34 year old OFers......is NOT how a rebuilding team acts. Not a fan. 

 

It is certainly not a ringing endorsement of their MLB OFers, or their AAA OFers......

 

Sure... you might think that's true, but you're discounting the cunning genius in this move... when he flips Murphy for a no-hit minor league catcher and a sore-armed reliever at the deadline...

[OrangeKicks]

 

Sure... you might think that's true, but you're discounting the cunning genius in this move... when he flips Murphy for a no-hit minor league catcher and a sore-armed reliever at the deadline...

I assume they'll just buy him out at some point and he'll eventually sign with the Spurs.

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

Good Guys:

 

James Brian Dozier, 2b

Eddie Manuel Rosario, LF

St. Joseph Patrick Mauer, DH

Trevor Patrick Plouffe, 3b

Miguel Ángel Sanó Jean, RF

President Eduardo José Escobar, SS

Byung-ho Park, 1b

John Ryan Murphy, C

Byron Keiron Buxton, CF

 

Now just hold on a second.

 

How come John Ryan Murphy doesn't get his middle name included?

[Cap'n Piranha]

Cory Provus--"Adam Eaton swings and fouls; John Ryan Murphy hangs on, so it's a strike".

 

On a 0-0 count, a foul ball is a strike too Cory.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Today's game isn't on FSN, but it is being shown (streamed) on MLB Network for me in Minneapolis.

 

MLB.TV should really lift the blackout rules for such games, but apparently not (maybe the regional MLB Network broadcast counts as "national").

[Otto von Ballpark]

If your cable/satellite provider supports it, you can stream MLB Network (including its live games) online:

 

http://m.mlb.com/network/live

[USAFChief]

Nice job, Hrbowski!

[nicksaviking]

 

Today's game isn't on FSN, but it is being shown (streamed) on MLB Network for me in Minneapolis.

 

MLB.TV should really lift the blackout rules for such games, but apparently not (maybe the regional MLB Network broadcast counts as "national").

 

Perhaps they thought they were doing a kindness by only poisoning one of your senses today.

[Willihammer]

http://i.gifntext.com/66617-2-hitter-has-no-chance-all-over-again-ga.gif

[Cap'n Piranha]

It seems like the White Sox smell blood in the water.

 

On a separate note, if you're the Twins, why would you sign an exclusive deal with a TV provider that won't televise every game?

 

If you're FSN, what could you possibly be airing right now that would be higher rated than a Twins game?

[alskntwnsfn]

Going to a game anytime soon, might I suggest some appropriate headwear...

 

[Willihammer]

If you're FSN, what could you possibly be airing right now that would be higher rated than a Twins game?

 

?

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

On a separate note, if you're the Twins, why would you sign an exclusive deal with a TV provider that won't televise every game?

 

If you're FSN, what could you possibly be airing right now that would be higher rated than a Twins game?

Good questions.  It's weird all around.

[Cap'n Piranha]

You usually want your leadoff hitter to pop out on the first pitch right?  I mean, there's no value to making the opposing pitcher throw some pitches.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Perhaps they thought they were doing a kindness by only poisoning one of your senses today.

Sadly, if I want to watch the game, I have to listen to Hawk Harrelson, which is the ultimate poisoning of senses.

[SwainZag]

Eddie pulls that a little bit it's gone.

[SwainZag]

Joe with another great AB.

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

Joe with another great AB.

 

Him and Esco are about the only ones who can say that.

[Vanimal46]

Sorry guys, I have to save my likes for the A+ material today. But know that I like all of your posts equally... Unless you're ripping on Mauer or Escobar.

[USAFChief]

I don't want to turn this into a bitch-about-Molitor session, but it seems to me if you're going to pick and choose when certain players are in, or out of the lineup, you'd give some consideration to the platoon advantage.

 

Or, disadvantage.