Game Thread: Twins vs. Phillies, 12:10 pm CT, Thursday 6/23/2016

[Shane Wahl]

Forecast: 67 degrees, mostly cloudy

 

Lineups:

 

Philadelphia Phillies:

 

1. Odubel Herrera, L, CF

2. Andres Blanco, S, 2B

3. Maikel Franco, R, 3B

4. Ryan Howard, L, DH

5. Tommy Joseph, R, 1B

6. Cody Asche, L, LF

7. Carlos Ruiz, R, C

8. Freddy Galvis, S, SS

9. Peter Bourjos, R, RF

 

vs. Ricky Nolasco, R

 

 

Minnesota Twins:

 

1. Robbie Grossman, S, LF

2. Eduardo Escobar, S, SS

3. Joe Mauer, L, DH

4. Brian Dozier, R, 2B

5. Trevor Plouffe, R, 3B

6. Max Kepler, L, RF

7. Byung Ho Park, R, 1B

8. Juan Centeno, L, C

9. Byron Buxton, R, CF

 

vs. Jerad Eickhoff, R

 

 

Things to think about:

 

1. Rollin' on dubs. The Twins have won three games in a row. Will they win 60 games this year?

 

2. Offensive output. The team is scoring run and the veterans are coming through. Finally. Say what one wants about the failure of the youth movement, the veterans being terrible all year has made the team unwatchable. Hopefully all of that is turning around now.

 

3. Miguel Sano. The rehab has started. Injecting that bat into the lineup right now will make this team much better. Or that is what I have to hope.

 

4. Player of the game. Byron Byron will collect three hits today, two of them for extra bases. 

 

5. Game prediction. Twins win 7-4. Nolasco keeps us on edge yet again. 

[Shane Wahl]

Sorry for the sparseness here. I had a better list of things to think about and then the site crashed.

[Blake]

 

Sorry for the sparseness here. I had a better list of things to think about and then the site crashed.

I think you did a fine job.

[Winston Smith]

I must say the game thread intros have maintained a much higher level of quality than the team on the field has.

[ashbury]

Sorry for the sparseness here. I had a better list of things to think about and then the site crashed.

You teach, don't you?

 

Don't bring that weak shizzle here.

 

_{^{/ kidding aside, good thread starter}}

[wsnydes]

The struggles of the veterans is what makes the lack of playing time for the youngin's all the more infuriating.  

 

Hope you're right on Buxton today.  I was hoping he'd take better advantage of Philly's crap pitching.

[SwainZag]

The game is the free game of the day on MLB.com for those interested!

[wsnydes]

 

The game is the free game of the day on MLB.com for those interested!

So much for a productive work day.

[Willihammer]

Sounds like 2015 Ricky is pitching again.

[Willihammer]

Every freaking member of this starting staff is Jeckyl and Hyde. Or in Nolasco's case, Ricky and Ricky.
 

http://www.petalatino.com/wp-content/uploads/ricky-martin-vegetarian-peta-latino-e1363799247372.jpg

 

[D. Hocking]

 

The game is the free game of the day on MLB.com for those interested!

 

This make sense.  The MLB probably thought offering a game with two teams who might potentially meet again in October for the ring would entice new subscribers.

[alskntwnsfn]

Hey y'all... I posted a hot take on the coaching staff in a separate forum topic. Very interesting numbers regarding how this team has fared pitching in Neil Allen's absence. Spoiler alert... the staff has been a lot worse since he was suspended.

 

If the team didn't start hitting better, it would have been a real train wreck the last month or so. We've only held the opponents to less than 4 runs twice since Allen was suspended (25 games and counting). And, both of those games were very close to the time he was suspended. 

[wsnydes]

 

This make sense.  The MLB probably thought offering a game with two teams who might potentially meet again in October for the ring would entice new subscribers.

Brilliant marketing campaign.  Free advertising!

[FunnyPenguin]

Ryan Howard, a statistical tragedy this year, is 2-2 off of Nolasco with a long HR, doesn't say much for our pitching!!

[wsnydes]

 

Ryan Howard, a statistical tragedy this year, is 2-2 off of Nolasco with a long HR, doesn't say much for our pitching!!

According to the Phillies' radio guys, that is Howard's 5th HR off of Nolasco.  He appears to own him.

 

The score a run, immediately give it and more back is the story of this pitching staff.

[Aggies7]

Nolasco being a good stopper, as in the win streak.

[alskntwnsfn]

Heard Mauer talking about hitting during yesterday's rain delay and something stuck out. He said he often looks for pitches middle in before he gets two strikes. This seems very non-sensical because he seems to hit pitches on the outer half much better. Mabye it's a case of looking to be quick on inside pitches?

[gil4]

 

I must say the game thread intros have maintained a much higher level of quality than the team on the field has.

That's a backhanded compliment if I ever heard one.

[70charger]

 

IS it my imagination or do the veteran pitchers pitch worse with Centeno behind the plate?  Anybody know the stats?  Also, what so you guys think of the possibility that Centeno goes down after the game so that Murphy can rejoin the team in NY, a familiar place?

I want to know this too. Where do we find these stats?

[70charger]

 

Heard Mauer talking about hitting during yesterday's rain delay and something stuck out. He said he often looks for pitches middle in before he gets two strikes. This seems very non-sensical because he seems to hit pitches on the outer half much better. Mabye it's a case of looking to be quick on inside pitches?

Maybe he's trying to do the pull-power thing before he defaults to his high-contact strategy in the riskier 2-strike counts?

[wsnydes]

 

Heard Mauer talking about hitting during yesterday's rain delay and something stuck out. He said he often looks for pitches middle in before he gets two strikes. This seems very non-sensical because he seems to hit pitches on the outer half much better. Mabye it's a case of looking to be quick on inside pitches?

That and probably an attempt to beat the subtle shift put on him.  Most teams pitching him away and then shade to LF.  Looking for something to rip into the RF corner is a good idea.

[Loosey]

 

 

4. Player of the game. Byron Byron will collect three hits today, two of them for extra bases. 

 

 

So far so good!

[wsnydes]

Good to see Buxton doing damage on the bases when he does get on.  Nice to see the aggressiveness.  He's less tentative than he was in his first stint.  Now if he would just get on more often...

[Blake]

One of the great things about streaming to my tv is the lack of commercials.

 

Boo computer streaming!

[Blake]

Game of the year! Andy MacPhail is in the booth with Bert and Dick!

 

To me, it's interesting that MacPhail went back to the story about how the Twins won the Series just as things were getting organized.

 

Then the Twins went on to win the 1991 Series.

 

Seems rather prophetic. Either that, or Mr. MacPhail actually had a plan.

[akmanak]

Buxton is not improving at all IMO. He has 3 strikeouts in his last 7 AB against one of the worst teams in baseball. He is hovering around .200 which is good if you are a pitcher in the National league. My guess is he bats around .210-.220.

[Willihammer]

 

Buxton is not improving at all IMO. He has 3 strikeouts in his last 7 AB against one of the worst teams in baseball. He is hovering around .200 which is good if you are a pitcher in the National league. My guess is he bats around .210-.220.

When the Yankees were in town, Ken Singleton (YES color guy) observed that Buxton's swing looked "long."

[Willihammer]

 

 

One of the great things about streaming to my tv is the lack of commercials.

 

Boo computer streaming!

Really? I've never had commercials for TV feeds online.

I get them for radio feeds online tho.

[Platoon]

I wish Abner Doubleday could have saw this series. He would have thrown up his hands and declared the game unplayable, a poor use of grass, and unfit for the general public! And put the cows back in the pasture.

[wsnydes]

 

When the Yankees were in town, Ken Singleton (YES color guy) observed that Buxton's swing looked "long."

I've heard/read that a few other places too.