Article: Game Thread: Twins v Yankees, 6/16 @ 7:10pm CT

[LaBombo]

That was Abad pitch.

 

Pretty hard to get it closer to the center of the strike zone without a tape measure and a laser level.

 

[LaBombo]

 

 

Catching up on TiVo bunting in the 4th inning WTF

Who's TiVo? Another waiver wire outfielder? And did he bunt on a sign or on his own?

Edited June 17, 2016 by LaBombo

[Aggies7]

That was Abad pitch.

 

Pretty hard to get it closer to the center of the strike zone without a tape measure and a laser level.

I wish I could convey just how irritating it is to keep losing to the Yankees when you live in Yankee country. I know we've stunk against everyone, but guys like didi gregorious are beating you just as bad as the jeters of the world did

[jimbo92107]

Actors tell each other, "Break a leg."

 

I wonder if a pitcher exiting the game should say, "Down the middle," to his replacement.

 

Same idea, really. You don't honestly want an actor to break his leg, and you don't honestly want your relief pitcher to throw it down the middle. Mention the worst to dispel its power?

[Danchat]

 

because of his BA?  yeah, no.

Yeah, I know he's hitting mostly singles, but at least he's not terrible.

[Aggies7]

At least the back of the Yankees bullpen is a weak spot

[Aggies7]

Betances vs 90% of our lineup is not going to end well

[Willihammer]

Who else is just hoping for another small meltdown by Plouffesy after the inveitable strikeout. Maybe a thrown bat or someothing.

 

#voteTwins

[LaBombo]

 

How have Buxtons 3 at bats looked? Just turned on game.

 

Remember how lost he looked before people started saying he was coming around?

 

There you go.

 

In fairness, CC has pitched well, but I've seen better swings at a pinata than the ones Buxton took.

Edited June 17, 2016 by LaBombo

[Aggies7]

Remember how lost he looked before people started saying he was coming around?

 

There you go.

 

In fairness, CC has pitched well, but I've seen better swings at a pinata than the ones Buxton took.

The bunt attempts so early in the game don't help.

[operation mindcrime]

I just watched that Didi's homer on DVR. It seems like every time Molitor makes a bullpen move it backfires!

[Riverbrian]

 

Yes

 

I remember those youth hockey trips coming back from wherever in Winter 

 

My wife is cold so she is cranking the heat up and I have meat falling off the bone. 

[mnfireman]

C,mon Molly, Mauer should have hit for Park!

[jimmer]

 

C,mon Molly, Mauer should have hit for Park!

for the whole game...

[jimbo92107]

 

How have Buxtons 3 at bats looked? Just turned on game.

Sabbathia noticed immediately that Buxton will not swing at any pitch that starts outside the zone. Thus, he has struck out Buxton twice looking with curve balls that caught the outside corner. I'm a little surprised that Bruno didn't tell Buxton to look for that pitch. I called it as soon as he stepped up for his last at-bat. 

 

It looks like Buxton is eager to do what his hitting coach tells him, but it will take a while before he learns how to work the outside of the plate. Right now he's simply not swinging at anything outside, as was duly noted by CC Sabbathia.

Edited June 17, 2016 by jimbo92107

[Riverbrian]

 

It is difficult to imagine anything more putrid than last night's game. The Angels are a terrible team and they slaughtered the twins.

 

There's 50 feet of crap... and then there's us.

 

http://worldcricketwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Brad-Pitt-Moneyball4.png

[LaBombo]

 

Who else is just hoping for another small meltdown by Plouffesy after the inveitable strikeout. Maybe a thrown bat or someothing.

#voteTwins

Or maybe a Pitt cameo appearance to perform his "Is losing fun?" monologue?

 

http://namtab.com/writing/MMmoneyball07.gif

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

 

Sabbathia noticed immediately that Buxton will not swing at any pitch that starts outside the zone. Thus, he has struck out Buxton twice looking with curve balls that caught the outside corner. I'm a little surprised that Bruno didn't tell Buxton to look for that pitch. I called it as soon as he stepped up for his last at-bat. 

Have his swings seemed way too early and with his body totally out sync? Seems like whenever I watch him bat he steps way to early and then swings with his arms.  Every time I look at MLB.com his exit velocity on his contact seems way bellow average, even on his hits. The HR was even of the 'lucky' just enough kind.

[Riverbrian]

 

Agreed. It is mid-June. Give me 85+ or give me death!

 

I'm with Willard Scott

 

72 Degrees is perfect. 

[Aggies7]

Since hicks is actually still on the ML roster, can we call that trade a loss without being ridiculed yet?

Edited June 17, 2016 by Aggies7

[Aggies7]

Or maybe a Pitt cameo appearance to perform his "Is losing fun?" monologue?

 

http://namtab.com/writing/MMmoneyball07.gif

Or see him spitting his dip awkwardly into a cup?

[Blake]

I'm responsible for the next three game threads. So far, I've seen absolutely no reason to change anything I've written. And I wrote the openers a while ago.

 

 

[Aggies7]

116 posts tonight. Seems apathy is firmly setting in

[operation mindcrime]

I'm shocked Nunez's helmet stayed on!

[Aggies7]

Twins are now 5-19 at target field against the Yankees.

 

Good night.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I think Gardy should guest-manage a game this series

[Winston Smith]

 

116 posts tonight. Seems apathy is firmly setting in

Just like the team.

[Riverbrian]

 

Minot

 

Ahh... You got cold with a couple of hills. 

 

In Grand Forks... It's Cold with no hills for miles and miles. 

[jimbo92107]

Have his swings seemed way too early and with his body totally out sync? Seems like whenever I watch him bat he steps way to early and then swings with his arms.  Every time I look at MLB.com his exit velocity on his contact seems way bellow average, even on his hits. The HR was even of the 'lucky' just enough kind.

Buxton is reacting with about half of a plan. He's avoiding swinging at anything outside, but that lets a guy like CC Sabbathia easily strike him out with his patented back door curves. Buxton needs to do a lot more planning out each at-bat. That means choosing "your pitch" from among the pitches you know the pitcher can and does throw during the game. You can't just say, "I'm going to look for a fastball in," like Dozier has been hoping for all year. You also can't just say, "I'm not going to swing at anything that starts outside," the way Buxton is doing. You have to look for a pitch that you're likely to get, then hit it where it's pitched. 

 

Buxton should have noted the pattern by his third at-bat, that CC was bending slow curves over the outside corner because Buxton wasn't moving a muscle on those pitches. A smart hitter can set up a pitcher that way; Buxton isn't a smart hitter...yet.

 

BTW, Joe Mauer did set up a pitcher earlier this season by griping just a bit on a lefty's curve outside. The pitcher noticed the gripe, and threw Joe another one. Joe was sitting on the pitch. Bang.

 

Someday I hope to see Buxton look at the ump after a slow, outside curve for a strike. Shake his head like ain't no justice, then smack the next outside curve for a double to right. It's a little like poker.

Edited June 17, 2016 by jimbo92107

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Since hicks is actually still on the ML roster, can we call that trade a loss without being ridiculed yet?

No. Jury is still out. Hicks being out options was part of the equation. We traded for someone we could send to the minors if we needed to.

 

Sorry if i seem fixated on that detail...

 

And sorry i wasn't following the game. Did i miss anything of note?