Game Thread: Twins @ Tampa, 12:10 PM CDT

[yarnivek1972]

Goooooood morning Twins Territory!!!!    For the last two days, we’ve been treated to the Gameday thread starter’s stories of experiences in the Tampa area.    I too have an amusing Tampa tale.    This took place just after Christmas, 2010.    Mr. and Mrs. Yarnivek were taking their honeymoon on a cruise that departed from Tampa Bay.    If you recall, a major blizzard was hitting the east coast at that time.    Naturally, our early afternoon flight from MSP was scheduled to connect in Philadelphia.    By the time we woke up (5 am or so), the flight from Philadelphia to Tampa was already cancelled.    It was another couple hours before the flight to Philly was officially cancelled.    I went online and actually quickly found another flight plan that would work. 

Of course, nothing is that simple.    I was not allowed to change my itinerary online, even under those circumstances.    I had to call.    Yeah.     It was roughly 2 hours on hold to get through.   If it had gone much longer, we were about to start driving to Tampa.    Our cruise did not depart until noon the following day, so we had just barely enough time and the weather was fine most of the way, as long as we headed south and then east.    Our original plan was to stay overnight in Tampa and then take a shuttle back to the airport where we were to catch the shuttle to the ship.    The new plan had us flying to Charlotte, North Carolina, where we would stay overnight.    Then an early morning flight to Sarasota - that was as close to Tampa as we could get.    So, after finalizing the flight, I quickly changed our hotel reservation (conveniently there was a vacancy at the same chain) and reserved a rental car to make the hour long trip from the Sarasota airport to Tampa’s.    After that, our travel plans went pretty smoothly.

Almost.

After our cruise, we were again scheduled to route through Philly and then stay overnight in the Twin Cities before returning to Winona.    No weather problems this time.    A technical issue arose.    Apparently, the plane’s computer was getting a reading that the smoke detector in one of the lavatories was going off.     This was New Year’s Day, so it took a while to find someone to fix it.    The delay caused us to miss our connection, literally by minutes.    So, we spent the night in Philadelphia, courtesy of the airline.    There were some issues the following morning that caused our flight to be delayed several hours.    So, we ended up getting to MSP almost 24 hours after we were originally scheduled.

I did get one souvenir while at the Tampa airport.    A shirt.    The design of which is the picture I hopefully attached to this thread.

On to today’s action.    The Twins will try to salvage the final game of the series against the Rays this afternoon.    It has been a tough go for the offense as of late.    Since erupting for 17 runs on Saturday, the Twins have scored just 9 runs on 14 hits over the last three games.    Aaron Slegers (0-0, 2.84) is scheduled to make his second MLB start.     Slegers made his big league debut on August 17, in game two of the Indians double header.    He allowed just 2 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks in 6 plus innings.    Since then, he’s made 3 starts for AAA Rochester.    One went poorly.    The last two were pretty good, as Aaron recorded 10 strikeouts in each and picked up important wins for the Red Wings. 

 

His mound opponent is scheduled to be 24 year old lefty Blake Snell (3-6, 4.02).    Snell has a so-so 7.5 per 9 K rate and a pretty lousy 4.3 per 9 BB rate.    Clearly, the game plan for Twins hitters has to be patience.  Make Snell throw strikes, work the count and get a pitch that you can handle.    Snell has held LHB to a .518 OPS and RHB are hitting him at a .765 OPS clip, so expect many of the Twins lefties to be held out of the lineup.    Snell has pitched well of late.    He picked up his 3 wins in his 5 most recent starts.    In those games, his combined line is 33 IP, 23 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 9 BB, 24 K.

Need a win to keep pace with the rest of the pack.    Need the offense to get back on track.    Need Slegers some innings to (up) rack .    Then, time to get out of Florida, Jack.

[USAFChief]

Nice job, Y!

 

I need a snack.

[yarnivek1972]

If someone sees the lineups, go ahead and post them. I have my "honey do" list and may not be done by game time. Thanks!

[ashbury]

Our Heroes:

Brian Dozier ( R ) 2B
Jorge Polanco ( S ) SS
Byron Buxton ( R ) CF
Eduardo Escobar ( S ) 3B
Robbie Grossman ( S ) DH
Kennys Vargas ( S ) 1B
Niko Goodrum ( S ) RF
Chris Gimenez ( R ) C
Ehire Adrianza ( S ) LF

 

Voldemort's Minions:

Kevin Kiermaier ( L ) CF
Corey Dickerson ( L ) DH
Evan Longoria ( R ) 3B
Lucas Duda ( L ) 1B
Steven Souza ( R ) RF
Brad Miller ( L ) 2B
Adeiny Hechavarria ( R ) SS
Mallex Smith ( L ) LF
Jesus Sucre ( R ) C

 

[Mike Sixel]

That's one heck of an OF......good luck!

[ashbury]

so expect many of the Twins lefties to be held out of the lineup.   

Good prediction. We have SIX switch-hitters in the starting lineup today.

 

There's probably an interesting article to be (or maybe already has been) written about this seeming legacy of the Terry Ryan era. The high-end prospects appear to have been let alone, and maybe they didn't bother in the cases of organizational filler, but perhaps every mid-tier prospect has been taken aside at some point and told, "Son, you will help your chances immensely if you can become proficient from both sides of the plate." Or, did the organization consciously draft/sign players who already were switch-hitters, as is apparently the case with those players acquired from other organizations? Someone needs to interview some people and get some facts, and write it up for me. (Or post me a link. )

[Sssuperdave]

Does Slegers getting the start mean Gee has been sent to the bullpen? Sorry if this was covered elsewhere and I missed it.

[Danchat]

Whoa, I need to whip up a new Infielders in the Outfield cover! And no joe in the lineup!

[John Kelsey]

What's our strength? Outfield defense!

 

How are we going to kill it? Play two light-hitting infielders in the outfield!

[ashbury]

Does Slegers getting the start mean Gee has been sent to the bullpen? Sorry if this was covered elsewhere and I missed it.

I haven't seen an announcement, but recent game wrapups here have seemed to take Gee-to-the-pen as a given:

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/27384-article-kc-7-min-6-oh-so-close

[Aggies7]

what a solid lineup #mailitin

[GCTF]

Having a suboptimal defense behind a guy making his 2nd MLB start, who in all likelihood will have a significant number of balls in play seems not well thought out.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Having a suboptimal defense behind a guy making his 2nd MLB start, who in all likelihood will have a significant number of balls in play seems not well thought out.

 

I've never understood the "play all the backups at once" strategy this team seems to employ sometimes. I'm sure their only regret is that they couldn't get Grossman in the OF too!

[wsnydes]

 

I've never understood the "play all the backups at once" strategy this team seems to employ sometimes. I'm sure their only regret is that they couldn't get Grossman in the OF too!

Or Molitor's recent insistence on playing Adrianza in the outfield when Granite is on the roster.  They are in a playoff chase and not really crunched for outfielders on the active roster if you include Grossman.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Or Molitor's recent insistence on playing Adrianza in the outfield when Granite is on the roster.  They are in a playoff chase and not really crunched for outfielders on the active roster if you include Grossman.

 

good point!

[yarnivek1972]

As I mentioned in the opening, Snell destroys LHB, but has been very average vs RHB. I suspect this lineup is designed to generate offense. After all, has that not been the biggest issue in the 3 game skid?

[AlwaysinModeration]

"this lineup is designed to generate offense"

Good one!

 

Also, nice work on the game intro.

 

Don't worry about the outfield, Byron will catch everything.

 

Speaking of our #3 hitter, has anyone else noticed he doesn't seem inclined to steal 3rd base?

[mickeymental]

young core, ragtag pitching, head-scratching managerial decisions; still half a game out of a postseason slot on the heels of an epically bad season. glass half full.

[wsnydes]

 

As I mentioned in the opening, Snell destroys LHB, but has been very average vs RHB. I suspect this lineup is designed to generate offense. After all, has that not been the biggest issue in the 3 game skid?

It has and I agree that that is probably Molitor's approach.  It's just a bit jarring that in the heat of a playoff chase we're seeing an infielder in LF (again) and a guy making his second MLB start (I believe) in RF.  All of that behind a guy making his 2nd MLB start at pitcher in a game where they're trying to avoid being swept by a team chasing them.

 

I understand the why and follow the logic.  I'm just a bit concerned that the strength of the squad has been gutted in the process, that is all.  I think I'd feel more "comfortable" with Grossman in LF, Adrianza at 3B and Escobar DH'ing.

[lukeduke1980]

Shouldn't the Rays have to play all of their backups, just to be fair?

[bighat]

Ahhh, attaboy Dozier. Love those leadoff HRs. Twins needed an early lead, like it. 

[bighat]

You can really hear that beer guy echo in the dome. "Beeeer beer beer berrrr brrrrrr". 

 

Selling beers in an empty stadium at noon on a Wednesday. Dream job or nightmare? 

[John Kelsey]

EHIRE!!!!

[rghrbek]

 

It has and I agree that that is probably Molitor's approach.  It's just a bit jarring that in the heat of a playoff chase we're seeing an infielder in LF (again) and a guy making his second MLB start (I believe) in RF.  All of that behind a guy making his 2nd MLB start at pitcher in a game where they're trying to avoid being swept by a team chasing them.

 

I understand the why and follow the logic.  I'm just a bit concerned that the strength of the squad has been gutted in the process, that is all.  I think I'd feel more "comfortable" with Grossman in LF, Adrianza at 3B and Escobar DH'ing.

This...

Oooops!  I was going to savage Molitor and agree with wsnydes post, and then Adrianza hits a bomb...

 

Molly your a genius!

[GCTF]

This...

Oooops! I was going to savage Molitor and agree with wsnydes post, and then Adrianza hits a bomb...

 

Molly your a genius!

This is what happens when you have Paul Q Einstein for a manager

[wsnydes]

 

This...

Oooops!  I was going to savage Molitor and agree with wsnydes post, and then Adrianza hits a bomb...

 

Molly your a genius!

 

 

This is what happens when you have Paul Q Einstein for a manager

Ha!  I stand by my critiques despite having the benefit of hindsight against me!  

[John Kelsey]

Santana, Berrios, Mejia, Slegers, Gibson is looking like a passable rotation to close out the year. 

[John Kelsey]

This is what I hate about the instant replay, he should be safe on that play. 

[bighat]

 

This is what I hate about the instant replay, he should be safe on that play. 

 

The Rays broadcasters are lamenting it also. "That base is stolen, I hate this about instant replay - but it's the game now". That coming from the opponent's booth. 

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

You can really hear that beer guy echo in the dome. "Beeeer beer beer berrrr brrrrrr". 

 

Selling beers in an empty stadium at noon on a Wednesday. Dream job or nightmare? 

 

Depends on if you're paid on commission.