Game Thread: Twins@Royals, 7/2 11:15AM (PT) 1:15PM(CT)

[drock2190]

 

I have. If you haven't, how can you claim the ball was definitively foul?

 

It was close. Point being, if both calls were opposite, they probably don't have enough evidence to overturn. KC cameras suck.

 

 

[Huddy]

And now all goes off the rails.

[spinowner]

 

I don't know if Jorge was impressive enough to earn another turn. I will say though that the double in the first inning is an out if Buxton was playing CF, and they go 1-2-3 in the first instead of down 2-0.

He was the 26th player for the nightcap of a doubleheader. I'm sure he's on his way to rejoin the Lookouts at this moment.

[wsnydes]

It was close. Point being, if both calls were opposite, they probably don't have enough evidence to overturn. KC cameras suck.

I agree with the KC cameras being crap, but the call on the field was that it was a HR. The call was upheld.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

another smart play by one of our youngsters. Is it possible this team has a negative baseball IQ? :-)

I've been thinking about this ever since Eddie Rosario came up to the majors.

 

Compare Willingham and Plouffe with Rosario and Sano.

 

Would you rather have players with below average talent who play with solid fundamentals, or would you rather have the highly talented players who play a little erratically at times?

[jimmer]

 

Seems like Santiago is giving up a few MPH on his fastball for improved command. Maybe he was paying attention when Vargas was pitching??? 

no so much.

[wsnydes]

I must be blind. I didn't look into it much after the fact though. I'll just go along with the popular opinion on this one!

Fair enough!

[Huddy]

 

I've been thinking about this ever since Eddie Rosario came up to the majors.

Compare Willingham and Plouffe with Rosario and Sano.

Would you rather have players with below average talent who play with solid fundamentals, or would you rather have the highly talented players who play a little erratically at times?

Personally I find it hard to watch Rosario prance around the outfield all the time. However i would take the slightly erratic players, Sano's fundamentals don't worry me nearly as much as Rosario's.

[jimmer]

 

I've been thinking about this ever since Eddie Rosario came up to the majors.

Compare Willingham and Plouffe with Rosario and Sano.

Would you rather have players with below average talent who play with solid fundamentals, or would you rather have the highly talented players who play a little erratically at times?

I think it's possible for physically talented players to also play smart, fundamentally sound baseball. Stupid baseball plays will always annoy me.  They've been playing baseball for so long, the basics should be, well, second-nature.

[jimmer]

 

Personally I find it hard to watch Rosario prance around the outfield all the time. However i would take the slightly erratic players, Sano's fundamentals don't worry me nearly as much as Rosario's.

Sano is a one-dimensional player.  Thank goodness that one-dimension is hitting.

[wsnydes]

I've been thinking about this ever since Eddie Rosario came up to the majors.

 

Compare Willingham and Plouffe with Rosario and Sano.

 

Would you rather have players with below average talent who play with solid fundamentals, or would you rather have the highly talented players who play a little erratically at times?

The depends really. It depends on the peaks and valleys. I'll take Sano, but Rosario drives me nuts. There's always a place for a steady guy that relies on solid fundamentals. You can't survive on a team full of them, but they can be fantastic roll players if you've got one or two.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Fair enough!

ISWYDT

[Huddy]

 

Sano is a one-dimensional player.  Thank goodness that one-dimension is hitting.

I also appreciate not having to watch him in RF anymore.

[bighat]

Santiago has been throwing batting practice for the past 2 months.  Going on the DL didn't help, he's got an awful 5.53 ERA yet the Twins keep running him out there like he's Chris Sale or something.  Why is he "untouchable" in this rotation?  Aside from a couple lucky starts in sub zero temperatures against freezing opponents, what's he done to deserve being on an MLB roster?

[wsnydes]

Sano is a one-dimensional player. Thank goodness that one-dimension is hitting.

He's been solid enough at 3B that I'm not sure I'd call him one dimensional, but he's clearly a much stronger hitter. That might be semantics I guess.

[jimmer]

 

He's been solid enough at 3B that I'm not sure I'd call him one dimensional, but he's clearly a much stronger hitter. That might be semantics I guess.

For the 20 qualifying 3Bs in MLB, he's been the worst 3B in baseball in DRS and the 2nd worst for range.  So, I mean, I wouldn't call that solid.

[Huddy]

 

For the 20 qualifying 3Bs in MLB, he's been the worst 3B in baseball in DRS and the 2nd worst for range.  So, I mean, I wouldn't call that solid.

But.... do you cringe everytime it is hit in his direction?

[jimmer]

This is Wood's first start since 2015.  And we got nothin (so far)'.

[jimmer]

 

But.... do you cringe everytime it is hit in his direction?

Interesting barometer ;-)

[wsnydes]

For the 20 qualifying 3Bs in MLB, he's been the worst 3B in baseball in DRS and the 2nd worst for range. So, I mean, I wouldn't call that solid.

He's not a liability, which is what I was getting at.

[Huddy]

 

Interesting barometer ;-)

I appreciate advanced stats just as much as the next guy. But the cringe meter is my ultimate stat. But what do I know.. I mean Nick Markakis is my favorite player in the MLB but advanced stats hate him. 

[jimmer]

 

He's not a liability, which is what I was getting at.

Because his offense makes up for his defense.  But he's a very poor defender.

[jimmer]

 

I appreciate advanced stats just as much as the next guy. But the cringe meter is my ultimate stat. But what do I know.. I mean Nick Markakis is my favorite player in the MLB but advanced stats hate him. 

Like Jacque Jones with high fly balls in the Dome, Sano in RF, Ryan Braun at 3B.  Cringe-worthy defense.

[Huddy]

 

Like Jacque Jones with high fly balls in the Dome, Sano in RF, Ryan Braun at 3B.  Cringe-worthy defense.

Jones, Stewart and Hunter. The dream team. Throw some Lew Ford in the mix and I'm happy.

[Danchat]

Good thing we don't owe Santiago any money after this season. Who woulda thunk we flipped Nolasco for a guy who's actually been worse so far?

[Huddy]

 

Good thing we don't owe Santiago any money after this season. Who woulda thunk we flipped Nolasco for a guy who's actually been worse so far?

And Nolasco is pretty freaking bad.

[Circus Boy]

So far, so little. If we can nick this Wood guy for a run or two, a comeback is possible. But this may be Santiago's last inning. Highly doubtful he can put some zeros on the board for long.

[Huddy]

I'm at the point that of course I would like to continue to see the Twins stay in the race. Yet I can't stand to see Santiago go out and pitch 3 innings every fifth day. I would love for them to slowly give the studs in AA a chance and see if they stick, maybe give Slegers a shot. Because every time Santiago starts we all know he will break down in the third or fouth inning... so what is the point of even running him out there at this point.

[glunn]

Grossman should have caught that ball.

[Danchat]

And it looks like Hughes is picking up where he left off when he went on the DL. Too bad he's owed another $26M. Ugh.

 

Here's what's left of Terry Ryan's 2014 free agency splurge: Hughes, Santiago, and Busenitz. To TR's credit he did find Suzuki on a one year deal in 2014, but still, we ended up with one good season from a starter and that's it. Whoops.