Game Thread: Twins @ Rays 4/22 @ 12:10 PM CT

[BoofBonser]

If we don't win a bullpen game against the sure-to-be worst team in the AL East, we are bad

[ThejacKmp]

 

I don't like what he said in an interview.  Why does it bother you that I have an opinion about it?

 

Not bothered you have an opinion about the interview. But if you post that opinion on a message board, you should expect other people to have opinions as well. Those opinions may not jive with your opinion. There's always the hope that some reasonable discussion might shed some light on the issue and make your opinion better. If you listen and interact that is.

 

I think the Hughes quote is a bit strange and open for interpretation. You interpret it as him saying he's made his money so it doesn't matter. I interpret it as him saying that the past is the past and things can't get worse. We can both be right and wrong. But it seems a flimsy reason to attack a guy on a message board.

[ThejacKmp]

 

If we don't win a bullpen game against the sure-to-be worst team in the AL East, we are bad

 

Not a bullpen game, this guy is their 4th starter. Threw 89 pitches last time.

 

And you are overestimating the Orioles. They are eminently capable of crapping the bed, selling off pieces and sinking to last place.

[BoofBonser]

 

Not a bullpen game, this guy is their 4th starter. Threw 89 pitches last time.

 

And you are overestimating the Orioles. They are eminently capable of crapping the bed, selling off pieces and sinking to last place.

Either way, contending teams don't get swept to rebuilding teams

[ThejacKmp]

 

I hope you're right. The team could use a spark, maybe Hughes is the guy they rally behind today. I also hope it's a 2 start leash, but I'm not convinced that's the case.

As far as the other prospects and worrying about Super 2, I don't think it matters that much. Pitchers have a limited amount of bullets in their arms. And the guys you mentioned are 23 - Jorge is 24. They have a better chance of helping now and the near future than Hughes.

 

Yeah Super 2 is harder for pitchers. Much more likely to need to send them down, especially if you're a competitive team. Though I'm very happy the Twins played around with Berrios' clock and have him for an extra year.

 

I guess more so I'd say that I don't think any of those guys are quite ready yet. Romero has 2 starts at AAA, Gonsalves 5 and Jorge 3. If one of them had 10-12 good starts at AAA I'd say screw it and bring them up. But I don't see the point in starting their clocks when they'll just be back down again in a month and they may get beaten up in the process. Hughes and Mejia are a fine enough bridge to Santana. I hope those other three are called on later in summer if needed though.

 

P.S. Jorge hasn't pitched yet this year. Did I miss something with him?

[Riverbrian]

 

I don't know anything about Phil Hughes as a person or a teammate. I just don't like watching a broken player attempt to pitch for my favorite team. And he's been broken for the last 3 years.

 

Yeah

 

I got the same gut feeling that you have. 

 

But... I still to prefer to be concerned after instead of preemptively concerned. 

 

However... Vanimal... I know you are a busy guy trying to find that bride and you don't have that kind of time. 

[ThejacKmp]

 

Either way, contending teams don't get swept to rebuilding teams

 

I mean, they do all the time. This is baseball and even the best teams win only 60% of the time. I imagine if you look at playoff teams, its not uncommon to get swept by a bad team every once in awhile.

 

Not saying we should try to get swept but contending teams absolutely get swept by bad teams (the Rays are not rebuilding BTW, as you can tell by the Twins facing Chris Archer in Game 1 rather than starting him).

[bluechipper]

 

Either way, contending teams don't get swept to rebuilding teams

2 things:

 

1. Archer and Snell are very good pitchers

2. The mighty Indians got swept by the A's and then followed that up by losing 2 of 3 to the Giants last year, in July.

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

I'm calling 6 innings and 2 runs or less for Hughes.

I'll see your 6 and 2 and go with 4 and 6. But I hope you're right and I'm wrong.

[BoofBonser]

 

I mean, they do all the time. This is baseball and even the best teams win only 60% of the time. I imagine if you look at playoff teams, its not uncommon to get swept by a bad team every once in awhile.

 

Not saying we should try to get swept but contending teams absolutely get swept by bad teams (the Rays are not rebuilding BTW, as you can tell by the Twins facing Chris Archer in Game 1 rather than starting him).

I didn't mean to portray that they NEVER do, it's just rare
and I get what you're saying, but Archer will be gone soon

With the way the Red Sox are playing and the Angels are playing, I have a feeling the two wild card spots are going to require at least 90 wins
Cleveland's rotation is going to will them into winning the division, so the Twins are going to have to play really good baseball to make it this year... have to win the series you're supposed to win

[BoofBonser]

 

2 things:

 

1. Archer and Snell are very good pitchers

2. The mighty Indians got swept by the A's and then followed that up by losing 2 of 3 to the Giants last year, in July.

Then they went on the longest winning streak in MLB history and also won 27 of 28
I don't think the Twins have that in them

[ThejacKmp]

 

I didn't mean to portray that they NEVER do, it's just rare
and I get what you're saying, but Archer will be gone soon

With the way the Red Sox are playing and the Angels are playing, I have a feeling the two wild card spots are going to require at least 90 wins
Cleveland's rotation is going to will them into winning the division, so the Twins are going to have play really good baseball to make it this year... have to win the series you're supposed to win

 

I'm not so sure on Archer. He's under team control for awhile and the Rays never commit to the full tear-down. They always try to retool. I think they'll move him but only if someone pays a ransom at the deadline. 

 

Twins are going to beat Cleveland this year. That's my call.

[Riverbrian]

 

I am not judging him as a person.  I am judging him as a BASEBALL PLAYER and the way he has navigated his way through this term with the Minnesota Twins.  This might entail things that go beyond numbers.  His actions, affectations and comments effect my opinion.  My "disgust" for Hughes extends only to the things he has done related to baseball.  That he may very well be a great husband, father, Christian, etc....doesn't figure into it.

 

I do not care that he may have misused the term "playing with house money".  There are a number of small things I have seen that have left me scratching my head.  The Bachelor viewing was another thing that I was not too fond of--and while that might seem harsh--it isn't the kind of team building thing I see as being productive.  Maybe they could have gone fishing, went bowling, done something involving some more human interaction, competitive spirit and a bit more "manly" if they were trying to indoctrinate Park into their little circle of trust.

 

Not for anything, but Hughes says a lot of things in interviews that make me roll my eyes.  Might as well write his epitaph on his days with the Twins as follows: "Here lies Phil Hughes.  He never tried to do too much"

 

This is why most players only give standard cliches while being interviewed.

 

Any time they step off the script... they are judged and usually judged harshly. 

 

My wife once asked me if I liked the Tuna Fish Jello she made. If I would have consulted my Public Relations guy before responding, I would have been advised to say

 

"We are taking this one meal at a time" 

"I have nothing but the utmost respect for this Tuna Fish Jello".

"You are always the first one in the Kitchen and the last one out" 

"You have always done all the little things right". 

 

 

Instead... I made a comment about not combining the Tuna and the Jello and I learned my lesson. The next time I did a much better job responding to her question when she made Tapioca Fish Sticks.

 

 

[BoofBonser]

 

I'm not so sure on Archer. He's under team control for awhile and the Rays never commit to the full tear-down. They always try to retool. I think they'll move him but only if someone pays a ransom at the deadline. 

 

Twins are going to beat Cleveland this year. That's my call.

I like your confidence

Wonder if the Twins would pay that ransom

[Vanimal46]

This is why most players only give standard cliches while being interviewed.

 

Any time they step off the script... they are judged and usually judged harshly.

 

My wife once asked me if I liked the Tuna Fish Jello she made. If I would have consulted my Public Relations guy before responding, I would have been advised to say

 

"We are taking this one meal at a time"

"I have nothing but the utmost respect for this Tuna Fish Jello".

"You are always the first one in the Kitchen and the last one out"

"You have always done all the little things right".

 

 

Instead... I made a comment about not combining the Tuna and the Jello and I learned my lesson. The next time I did a much better job responding to her question when she made Tapioca Fish Sticks.

You should have pulled a cliche from Ron Gardenhire...

 

"I'll be back at the dinner table tomorrow night. I can promise you that."

[Riverbrian]

 

I didn't mean to portray that they NEVER do, it's just rare
and I get what you're saying, but Archer will be gone soon

With the way the Red Sox are playing and the Angels are playing, I have a feeling the two wild card spots are going to require at least 90 wins
Cleveland's rotation is going to will them into winning the division, so the Twins are going to have to play really good baseball to make it this year... have to win the series you're supposed to win

 

Every team wins 54 and Every team loses 54... it's the other 54 games that matter and we haven't reached those games yet. 

[Mike Sixel]

If we don't win a bullpen game against the sure-to-be worst team in the AL East, we are bad

The twins are playing Baltimore today?

[Mike Sixel]

Falvine, who apparently are really good at their jobs, put Lamarre on this roster. He is no a butcher in the field, and the twins are starting a fly ball pitcher. So, why is he no playing today? Not that I believe in him at all, but the front office apparently does.

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

This is why most players only give standard cliches while being interviewed.

 

Any time they step off the script... they are judged and usually judged harshly. 

 

My wife once asked me if I liked the Tuna Fish Jello she made. If I would have consulted my Public Relations guy before responding, I would have been advised to say

 

"We are taking this one meal at a time" 

"I have nothing but the utmost respect for this Tuna Fish Jello".

"You are always the first one in the Kitchen and the last one out" 

"You have always done all the little things right". 

 

 

Instead... I made a comment about not combining the Tuna and the Jello and I learned my lesson. The next time I did a much better job responding to her question when she made Tapioca Fish Sticks.

"I like the way you give a 110% when you prepare an interesting dish, dear."

 

"You know, it's like, you know, unique. I can tell, you know, that you put a lot of effort into it."

 

"I can only control what I can control and I trust you to do your best, dear. You know, like in the areas you can control. Like most everything around here."

 

That last one gets you the frying pan alongside the head. Sometimes you gotta take one for the Gipper.

[ThejacKmp]

 

I like your confidence

Wonder if the Twins would pay that ransom

 

I don't want them to. I know that you can't be so future focused but I like the Twins young arms. Berrios, Pineda, Odorizzi, Jorge, Romero, Thorpe, Gonsalves, Mejia and maybe Santana? That's a ton of depth there. Bringing in Archer probably costs two of them plus a position player. Seems like too much to pay for a guy who is great but not elite elite.

[John Kelsey]

Grossman third, Kepler 7th?

 

What in the world is Paul doing?

[Mill1634]

I wake up on 3 hours of sleep and get the privilege of a Phil Hughes start, AND Grossman hitting 3rd AND playing in RF. Great.

[Vanimal46]

I wake up on 3 hours of sleep and get the privilege of a Phil Hughes start, AND Grossman hitting 3rd AND playing in RF. Great.

You're welcome!

 

Love,

 

Paul Molitor

[Mike Sixel]

Here comes a perfect inning from Hughes!

[Mill1634]

Phil Hughes gonna Phil Hughes

[Riverbrian]

Should have picked up CJ Cron for my fantasy team. 

[John Kelsey]

Looking sharp, Phil!

[Nine of twelve]

2 things:

 

1. Archer and Snell are very good pitchers

Concur. Very good.

[Vanimal46]

LOL. Sigh...

[notoriousgod71]

Hopefully the Hughes experiment lasts at least an inning.