Game Thread: Twins v Rays, 5/28 @ 1:10pm CT

[jimbo92107]

 

Never make an out at third base.

Never tell a player not to apply pressure. Guys like Polanco and Rasmus are your ballplayers. They are the ones whose mind for the game will determine which team wins. 

[stringer bell]

Interesting at-bat with Dickerson. Castro wanted high fastballs and Gibson hit the mitt on all three and Dickerson (good hitter) swung and missed all three.

[SwainZag]

We need more of that kind of inning out of Gibby.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Terrible call. I cannot believe that was overturned.

Agree 100%. Replay was not put in place for those sort of micromanaging. He might have been out, but it really wasn't conclusive, and not enough to overturn by any stretch. Plus it was amazing he actually kept his foot on the bag.

 

I thought Kiermaier was closer to out earlier in the game.

[jimbo92107]

Yikes, right between the ump's legs.

[jimbo92107]

When a fastball / curve pitcher loses his curve for a minute, guess what's coming?

[jimbo92107]

Morris was right early on about Cobb. He's got a weird balance point, prone to problems. 

[Linus]

Buck just did toe tap instead of kick in his swing. Wonder if this is a permanent change.

[jimbo92107]

Buxton lined out, but the lesson is plain: If Cobb misses a couple curves, he has no choice but to use his pretty flat fastball until he finds his release point again. That's the key to Cobb. 

 

There is no way Paul Molitor doesn't see this. Fireworks to follow.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Are we sleeping here? No one mentioned that

Rosario walked!

[jimbo92107]

20-win stuff, but a 10-win attitude, that's the enigma of Kyle Gibson. He should be throwing his two-seam heater right at the knees of lefty hitters, and it will bend right into the inside corner, but he just won't throw inside. Same with righties and his slider, he should be throwing it right at the elbow of righties, and it will bend over the inside corner, but he just won't do it. 

 

Bullpen. 

[AlwaysinModeration]

Buxton lined out, but the lesson is plain: If Cobb misses a couple curves, he has no choice but to use his pretty flat fastball until he finds his release point again. That's the key to Cobb.

 

There is no way Paul Molitor doesn't see this. Fireworks to follow.

Let's hope this scouting report is right. A Dozier homerun this inning would be a nice pick me up for Gibson.

[Riverbrian]

Love seeing Mauer Pull the ball. 

[spinowner]

Mauer extending his hitting streak vs Rays!

[SwainZag]

Joe continues his really nice month of May, before this game he was slashing .313/.410/.478.

[AlwaysinModeration]

So, is what Jack (and Paul) says true? If a pitcher moves his front foot while the back foot is on the rubber, it is a balk?

 

I always thought you could lift your front leg and rotate towards first?

[D. Hocking]

Listening to Willingham in the booth with Corey and Dan.   I forgot how thick his accent was.  Seems like a good guy.   It sounds like he enjoyed his time in Minnesota (although I guess he is not going to say - you Dan - this town is a ^&%^hole -- I hated every minute of it.)

[Circus Boy]

 

Listening to Willingham in the booth with Corey and Dan.   I forgot how thick his accent was.  Seems like a good guy.   It sounds like he enjoyed his time in Minnesota (although I guess he is not going to say - you Dan - this town is a ^&%^hole -- I hated every minute of it.)

 

Let's just hope the AP quote boy is ready to write it down.

[D. Hocking]

 

Love seeing Mauer Pull the ball. 

 With pulling the ball a little more and bunting a little more - it does seem like he is trying to mix it up more to be a little more well-rounded of a hitter to deal with the defensive shifts.

[mikecgrimes]

I'm at the point where I hope he struggles to get these two outs in the 4th but doesn't give up a run so he gets pulled for the 5th

[Blake]

 

Are we sleeping here? No one mentioned that

Rosario walked!

AND MAUER PULLED THE BALL!

[Squirrel]

I agree but I don't like to click like on things I don't like.

I think we need a 'concur' button

[mikecgrimes]

Why no extreme close up on Gibsons feet just to prove he didn't shuffle his front foot for what was considered a balk by Dick and Jack the prior inning.

[Twodogs]

20-win stuff, but a 10-win attitude, that's the enigma of Kyle Gibson. He should be throwing his two-seam heater right at the knees of lefty hitters, and it will bend right into the inside corner, but he just won't throw inside. Same with righties and his slider, he should be throwing it right at the elbow of righties, and it will bend over the inside corner, but he just won't do it. 

 

Bullpen.

 

I think maybe most of it isn't Kyle being nice, it's him being scared. Scared that his stuff doesnt play inside. Yeah you have to throw inside, but if you miss inside a little it get hit out of the park. Also most of the best pitchers out there, at least when I watch, it seems like they throw a majority of fastballs the first time through the order. Then they throw their secondary pitches more often the second and third time through the order. That's just what I notice. Maybe then the hitters don't get to see their secondary stuff till later in the game and will have a hard time adjusting to it, where it seems like Gibson throws out his whole repertoire right away. Just my observation?

[Blake]

That Gibson, I want that Gibson! The one that just struck out the last batter!

[Blake]

 

Why no extreme close up on Gibsons feet just to prove he didn't shuffle his front foot for what was considered a balk by Dick and Jack the prior inning.

Maybe it's a matter of "if they ain't calling it, go with it."

[Circus Boy]

This Gibson guy is pretty good, yah, y'betcha.

[mikecgrimes]

 

Maybe it's a matter of "if they ain't calling it, go with it."

 

That was my thought the prior inning.  I just wanted to see if the same thing happened or not.  Why dwell on it three times and then when a pitcher successful picks a guy off the next half inning ignore the topic.

[spinowner]

 

I think we need a 'concur' button

Concur.

[Blake]

Nooooo! Jack is channeling Bert, "drop the barrel of the bat.."