Game Thread: Twins @ White Sox, 4/9/17@1:10pm CST

[Darius]

This whole bunting conversation just makes me realize 1 thing: For sabremetric folks, everything is thought of in a vacuum. This is where the merits of scouting also need to be factored in. Letting a guy like Buxton swing away with no outs and a runner in second right now is silly. I'll never be convinced otherwise, no matter what some algorithm tells me.

 

Let's take this out of a vacuum, and into real life: You're best pitcher is on the mound and throwing great. It's a tie game. You're facing one of the better pitchers in the American League, who is more than capable of a K against any batter. You have a batter at the plate who has the wheels get a base hit via bunt (if we're applying this to Buxton, maybe a better chance of reaching via bunt than swing at the moment).....You use common sense, not analytics, and bunt.

 

Huge believer in not bunting in any situation for certain hitters, or at certain times. But, by no means should the bunt be eliminated as option by any means.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

twins win again, ho hum

 

http://previews.123rf.com/images/luckyraccoon/luckyraccoon1103/luckyraccoon110300065/9000061-Man-lying-on-sofa-watching-TV-at-home--Stock-Photo-couch.jpg

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

My son just pointed out that the Twins almost have 10 percent of last year's win total.

And we're not even into August!

[Blake]

 

It isn't. The vibe and energy is opposite of last year. I'm not saying the Twins are going to be kings of the castle, but I think we can look forward to a summer of this team playing competent and competitive baseball. 

 

Man it feels so good!

I looked up the numbers last year when the Twins started 0-9. The numbers said teams that start 0-9 don't make the playoffs and tend to be bad. And boy was that true!

[D. Hocking]

 

My son just pointed out that the Twins almost have 10 percent of last year's win total.

 

So far this year's "fun with numbers" is more fun than last year.

[spinowner]

Listening to Sano in the post-game interview reminds me of a story I heard about Tony Perez. One time back in the '70's he had hit a home run and was being interviewed live on the radio afterward. He was asked about his home run and he said something like this (with his Cuban accent): I was looking for a fast ball and it came in (rooster)-high and I got good wood on it.

[Bark's Lounge]

 

It seems to me that the chemistry has greatly improved, and I am loving the pitch framing.

Yeah, that is a huge part of it. For years upon years we have dealt with the same philosophy this club has thrown out there. Us fans became apathetic. I'd like to think the new leadership and their mission statement has had a profound effect on this club. Molitor is like a brand new manager. I'd like to think he has bought in and is not being told what to do. Either way - good results so far!

[ashbury]

Your son's math is poetry.

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

The Twins almost have 10 percent

Of last year's win total.

 

I like it!

[John Kelsey]

How was Buxton at the plate today?

[spinowner]

 

How was Buxton at the plate today?

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

How was Buxton at the plate today?

[mikecgrimes]

Never checked if the Indians lost yesterday.  They sure did, the Twins might be able to put this division away before the trade deadline at this rate.

 

[ashbury]

How was Buxton at the plate today?

Ash: Ask me how Buxton was at the plate today.

Jaykay: Huh?

Ash: Ask me how Buxton was at the plate today.

Jaykay: Why?

Ash: Just ask me, how was Buxton at the plate today.

Jaykay: Um, OK, how was Buxton at the plate today?

Ash: DON'T ASK!

 

[ashbury]

It seems to me that the chemistry has greatly improved

What happened to the narrative that the players were angry because Park was sent to Rochester?

[Bark's Lounge]

I want to note something. I think all of our young players will figure it out at the plate, but if I was to make a bet on a 100% non failure rate - Polanco is a good MLB hitter. That will never change. But I certainly hope and expect him to improve.

[ashbury]

I want to note something. I think all of our young players will figure it out at the plate, but if I was to make a bet on a 100% non failure rate - Polanco is a good MLB hitter. That will never change. But I certainly hope and expect him to improve.

People scoff and say you can't read anything from minor league stats. But I've had the conviction for a long time that Polanco's bat would develop, likewise Kepler's, and so far it's bearing out.

 

Of course the same could have been said about Joe Benson.

[TNTwinsFan]

Two takeaways:

 

One: I can't hate on Mauer any more, after those great catches he made.

 

Two: Kintzler and the team gutted through a game where Kintzler didn't have his best stuff.

 

For whatever reason, in the early season, this team is not the team of last year.

 

Two words: JASON. CASTRO.

 

Now more than two words: The way he appears to be handling this staff is palpable. Getting close calls helps keep the pace of the game going, the infielders interested and alert, and the morale and confidence of the pitcher sky high! The only game the Twins lost was with Gimenez catching (and he didn't do a poor job.) I don't think the Twins are 5-1 without Jason Castro behind the dish.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Two words: JASON. CASTRO.

Now more than two words: The way he appears to be handling this staff is palpable. Getting close calls helps keep the pace of the game going, the infielders interested and alert, and the morale and confidence of the pitcher sky high! The only game the Twins lost was with Gimenez catching (and he didn't do a poor job.) I don't think the Twins are 5-1 without Jason Castro behind the dish.

We're only six games into the season but Castro is making Falvey and Levine look like geniuses thus far.

[Squirrel]

 

ChiTownTwinsFan and any others at the game, come on over to Section 147, Row 35, to join me in standing to announce that "You can put it on the board" each time the Twins homer.

I have never regretted forgetting my phone ... except for today. Not just for missing this post, but ... I was in section 128, row 4 ... check out where that is ... I was literally right behind the Twins' on deck circle. I could have had a conversation with every single Twins player, the manager and coaches ... well, if security would have allowed it. And when you sit down there so close, you have to show security your ticket ... and the security person in that area looked at every single person's ticket. And despite the empty seats around, and there were a few, you were not allowed to sit there, period, gone, without a ticket for those exact seats. Fortunately there was no one in front of me to get a picture of for Van ... just a family with 3 little kids with animal balloons that eventually popped during the game. But I could have gotten many, many close ups ... without even using the close-up feature of my camera phone ... of plenty of action. Best seats I think I've ever had at a game.

[Bark's Lounge]

 

People scoff and say you can't read anything from minor league stats. But I've had the conviction for a long time that Polanco's bat would develop, likewise Kepler's, and so far it's bearing out.

 

Of course the same could have been said about Joe Benson.

IMO, Polanco and Kepler seem a bit more polished than Benson. I should have mentioned Kepler because they seem like easy bets to pan out. I can see Benson fitting in with Rosario and Buxton.

 

I was super excited with Benson, it just went down the tubes extremely quickly after the 2011 season. I like Rosario better, because of his confidence and to me he has the "IT" factor... the swagger of an all-star. Buxton is a piñata we need to figure out how to him break open, because there is so much explosive talent in that shell. I think we will get there.

 

But they could go the way of the Dodo like Benson. I desperately hope that is not the case.

[Squirrel]

 

The Sox throwback uniforms are interesting but they must have been a nightmare for the clubhouse guys.

 

The number location on their pants was weird, imo.

[Squirrel]

 

Aaaanndd MLB.tv is down on three devices and 2 different wifi bands. All other internet activity is as normal.

I went with MLB.tv one year instead of the Extra Innings package on cable ... I gave up mid-season and bought the cable package mid-season because ... ugh ... when it worked it was behind ... was just NOT good.

[Squirrel]

 

I hate the ****ing stress of these kind of games.

Try being there in row 4! And watching Molitor pace in the dugout ... well, kind of pace ...

[Squirrel]

 

Fine defense again today. One day of bad defense-one loss.

BTW-didn't hear from Chi-Town but if she did go to the game, it proved she's not a jinx.

Heh ... I'm not, I'm not! Yay! And stuck it out 'til the end, too!

[Blake]

 

Try being there in row 4! And watching Molitor pace in the dugout ... well, kind of pace ...

If you want to know how Molitor is doing, check out his jaw. If that jaw is moving faster than Hrbek through an all you can eat buffet, you know he's nervous.

[Blake]

 

 

How was Buxton at the plate today?

 

I think Buxton did well..probably ate his vegetables just like his mother taught him. 

 

Oh, wait, we're not talking about the pre-game meal? Never mind.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Infants, when they have kept mom and dad up the entire previous night crying.

i have a toddler and one on the way. This is very, very familiar and ominously preminiscient.

[ashbury]

i have a toddler and one on the way. This is very, very familiar and ominously preminiscient.

It's been 25 years, but the memory does not fade.

[DJSim22]

 

What is with all this squaring around to bunt and then pulling back BS. 

 

 

No idea, that doesn't work past 10 years old. I guess they are giving them a target to throw at. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Huzzah!

 

And thanks for keeping the tread under 20 pages so i can go to bed before midnight...