Game Thread: Twins vs. Indians, 6/17 @ 1:10 and again at 7:10

[Bark's Lounge]

People say The Twins are crazy
Throwing there season away
Well, we give them all kinds of warnings
To save them from ruin

 

When they say their okay, well we look at them kinda strange
"Surely, you're not happy now, you are poorly playing the game"

People say the Twins are lazy
Dreaming the season away
Well we give them all kinds of advice
Designed to enlighten them

 

When I tell them that I'm doing fine watching reruns of "91"
"Don't you miss the big time boys, you're no longer playing efficient baseball?"

 

I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
It's time for Gonsalves to let it roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
You need to let Gonsalves roll
 

[Whammy]

Looks like Ramirez is this series' Zunino?

 

I assume Wimmers was drafted two picks before him?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I'm just sitting here /

watching the wheels fly off and off

[drock2190]

 

Looks like Ramirez is this series' Zunino?

I assume Wimmers was drafted two picks before him?

 

Ramirez is actually a good player though. Think Lindor without the amazing defense.

[glunn]

 

Are we having fun yet? 

 

I'm not, because I'm freaking stuck at work and I'm too damn old to be working effing overtime.

/rant

How's everyone else?

I am also at work, which is some ways seems better than watching this game.

[glunn]

 

People say The Twins are crazy
Throwing there season away
Well, we give them all kinds of warnings
To save them from ruin

 

When they say their okay, well we look at them kinda strange
"Surely, you're not happy now, you are poorly playing the game"

People say the Twins are lazy
Dreaming the season away
Well we give them all kinds of advice
Designed to enlighten them

 

When I tell them that I'm doing fine watching reruns of "91"
"Don't you miss the big time boys, you're no longer playing efficient baseball?"

 

I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
It's time for Gonsalves to let it roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
You need to let Gonsalves roll
 

You seem to want the Twins to call up Gonsalves -- a LOT.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

% chance that Wilk is still a Twin by the end of the second game?

5%

 

25% chance he's still a Twin 30 minutes after the first game

[mickeymental]

almost makes a fella wonder what jesse crain is up to ...

[Bark's Lounge]

 

You seem to want the Twins to call up Gonsalves -- a LOT.

Tongue in cheek. What else do they have? I do like Gonsalves quite a bit though.

[jimmer]

 

I think that has more to do with the umpire's pre-conceived thoughts about the guy on the mound, myself. If you swap Gomes and Castro onto the other team, I'm not sure anything changes.

it was just a joke.

[jimmer]

Two Twins starters in a row that shouldn't be in a MLB rotation get pounded.  Shocking.

 

If we want to say it's the umps, fine, but...

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

Are we having fun yet? 

 

I'm not, because I'm freaking stuck at work and I'm too damn old to be working effing overtime.

/rant

How's everyone else?

I just woke up from my nap. But I'm still having a nightmare. Or is it deja vu?

[glunn]

My sense is that there has been a "total system failure" in drafting and developing pitchers, and that most people can agree on that.

 

My biggest question is how much of this relates to:

 

(1) poor scouting (drafting and trading for the wrong players),

 

(2) poor strategy (drafting relievers with the hope of developing them into starters), and/or

 

(3) poor development (substandard coaching and/or putting players at the wrong levels).

[jimbo92107]

I do like the powder-blue Twins letters... 

 

Just got here. I assume Wilk looked about like Turley from yesterday. Got pounded early?

[Champuckett]

 

My sense is that there has been a "total system failure" in drafting and developing pitchers, and that most people can agree on that.

 

My biggest question is how much of this relates to:

 

(1) poor scouting (drafting and trading for the wrong players),

 

(2) poor strategy (drafting relievers with the hope of developing them into starters), and/or

 

(3) poor development (substandard coaching and/or putting players at the wrong levels).

 

Yep, all of those play large factors, hence total system failure.  Can I add: (4) inability to actually draft a pitcher when given the opportunity.

[jimbo92107]

 

Two Twins starters in a row that shouldn't be in a MLB rotation get pounded.  Shocking.

 

If we want to say it's the umps, fine, but...

Thing is, this season should still be considered developmental. This team simply isn't ready to make a serious chase at a title. Understanding that, I can't blame the Twins for fishing around for pitching talent, especially lefty talent. Turley definitely had earned a cup of coffee. I'm not so sure about Wilk, but he has shown flashes of filthy stuff, just not consistently.

 

Again, if we chill our enthusiasm just a bit, the idea of trying out middle rotation guys like Turley and Wilk makes sense, just as it will make sense to move away from them if they don't show significant improvement after a few outings. 

[Blake]

 

I am also at work, which is some ways seems better than watching this game.

the problem with overtime for me is the tax rate. Freaking 42 percent. So, I always take it as comp time. But, I have to find time to use the comp time which is also an issue.

[Whammy]

Two Twins starters in a row that shouldn't be in a MLB rotation get pounded. Shocking.

 

If we want to say it's the umps, fine, but...

Make no mistake our pitchers were terrible, but so was the ump. I was in and out of the game, also watching the US Open, but I saw three terrible strike calls (all against Twins hitters) and two terrible non-strike calls (both against Twins pitchers).

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I just woke up from my nap. But I'm still having a nightmare. Or is it deja vu?

Chief?

[Blake]

I've reached the point where I wonder if Nick Blackburn is still available.

[glunn]

 

I've reached the point where I wonder if Nick Blackburn is still available.

From Wikipedia --

 

"After being released by the Twins in late 2013, Blackburn encountered problems with his surgically repaired knee which he had surgery on in August. Because of a needed second surgery on his right knee, Blackburn spent the 2014 season recovering from knee surgery.[14] Since his retirement, Blackburn went on to be a coach for his former high school, Washington High School in Washington, Oklahoma."

[glunn]

 

the problem with overtime for me is the tax rate. Freaking 42 percent. So, I always take it as comp time. But, I have to find time to use the comp time which is also an issue.

No 401(k) plan to use to avoid the extra tax? Have you considered an IRA?

[jimbo92107]

Other than a poor outing by the starter and the relievers, the Twins did pretty well.

[Darius]

The Twins will be at a -37 run differential after this game (assuming the score doesn't change). Likely more by the end of the day. There isn't another team in the MLB that's .500 or better with a negative differential.

 

Regression is coming (in a Ned Stark voice).

[Darius]

Make no mistake our pitchers were terrible, but so was the ump. I was in and out of the game, also watching the US Open, but I saw three terrible strike calls (all against Twins hitters) and two terrible non-strike calls (both against Twins pitchers).

I don't think it's a conspiracy against the Twins. I think it's consistent for all teams/pitchers.

 

Good pitchers get calls,

Bad pitchers don't. If a pitcher consistently hits his spots, the zone expands. Many times, for example, the catcher can set up outside, and the pitch goes inside....still a strike, but looks bad when the catcher has to reach...they won't get the call.

 

Not saying I agree with it, but pitchers make their own bed a lot of the time. Especially if they don't have a track record.

 

It's not much different than Mauer getting all of the calls in his heyday. Umps used to just assume Joe couldn't be wrong (not so much anymore).

[Darius]

Other than a poor outing by the starter and the relievers, the Twins did pretty well.

"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

No 401(k) plan to use to avoid the extra tax? Have you considered an IRA?

Better yet, consider retirement. I highly recommend it. First thing I've ever been good at.

[DocBauer]

When Haley is ready to come off the DL, don't you just have to stretch him out during his rehab with the thought of giving him a shot at starting? I mean, really, after watching some of these guys get their shot, why shouldn't Haley? Couldn't possibly do worse could he?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

The Twins will be at a -37 run differential after this game (assuming the score doesn't change). Likely more by the end of the day. There isn't another team in the MLB that's .500 or better with a negative differential.

Regression is coming (in a Ned Stark voice).

Well, I agree. They have three rotation spots that are black holes, and the other two spots are occupied by guys pitching like Cy Young candidates. The addition of even one reliable starter would do wonders.

[jimmer]

 

Well, I agree. They have three rotation spots that are black holes, and the other two spots are occupied by guys pitching like Cy Young candidates. The addition of even one reliable starter would do wonders.

yeah, maybe we wouldn't have the very worst team ERA in the AL.  Maybe we'd boost all the way to 13th.