Article: Game Thread: Twins @ Mariners, 5/25 @ 9:10pm CT

[Platoon]

 

 

As an umpire, I don't give much credence to pitch framing.  If I see a catcher's glove move back to the plate on a borderline pitch, it confirms to me that it missed.  I'm looking at the ball, not how the catcher 'presents it' to me.

I have asked, "if that was a strike, why did you move your glove"? Framing to me is turning the glove so the ball shows to the plate. Catching the ball going to the plate AS you catch it, not after, , softly with little movement.

[Mill1634]

WOW. KEPLER OFF ONE OF THE BEST LEFTIES IN THE GAME. 

 

GERMAN BOMBER BABY!!

[DocBauer]

MAXIMUS!!!

[OTPS300]

Kepler hits the ball far.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Honest question...brought about by commentary and how natural Romero looks...who actually has the better pure stuff, even in SSS? Is it Romero? Or perhaps a more "relaxed" Berrios who is an intense competitor?

I say Romero but the gap isn't large.

 

Advantage to Fernando for velocity.

[Riverbrian]

 

Thank you and Brian both. Texting on phone and watch on Galaxy Tab. Not seeing the option on my Android phone. May just have to play around.

 

We have faith in you. You'll find it and after a couple of weeks you will be teaching classes on it. 

[AZTwin]

WOW. KEPLER OFF ONE OF THE BEST LEFTIES IN THE GAME.

 

GERMAN BOMBER BABY!!

Last year the Twins didn’t want him hitting lefties. Am I remembering this right?

[nicksaviking]

I'm still wondering how he wasn't ranked higher on all of the lists. 

 

  

 

Relief pitcher risk is the answer.

 

  

 

Injuries.

 

Sorry, both good answers but we were looking for "Keith Law hates the Twins"

[Riverbrian]

KEPLER

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Last year the Twins didn’t want him hitting lefties. Am I remembering this right?

He's not even close to the same hitter he was against LHP last year.

 

He was absolutely brutal and lost against lefties in 2017.

[Riverbrian]

 

That's the thing: if umpires actually realized it was happening, it wouldn't be happening.

 

We have very accurate ball tracking technology. It's more accurate than the umpires. Some catchers, year in and year out, get more strikes called for their pitchers. Others are the opposite.

[Blake]

 

Honest question...brought about by commentary and how natural Romero looks...who actually has the better pure stuff, even in SSS? Is it Romero? Or perhaps a more "relaxed" Berrios who is an intense competitor?

I want to see a double header in which Romero and Berrios pitch back to back.

[Mill1634]

So much for Robbie "On base machine" grossman. Swung at two ball 4's so far. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

KEPLER

AGAIN?!?!?

 

 

(oh never mind, you're just a little slow

[Mike Sixel]

I look forward to the day Wade is the fourth OF on this roster. Or whomever he is traded for.

[Riverbrian]

 

Honest question...brought about by commentary and how natural Romero looks...who actually has the better pure stuff, even in SSS? Is it Romero? Or perhaps a more "relaxed" Berrios who is an intense competitor?

 

From my Eyes: Romero

[DocBauer]

Not pretending to be an expert or know-it-all, but I watched Kepler against LHP last year, and you could just see the smooth swing and quick hands and you just KNEW he was going to turn it around.

[Mike Sixel]

This is why some of us said that they should not platoon Max...

[ashbury]

I don't get it. What's wrong with what they're wearing?

They're wearing white or orange before Memorial Day. A cardinal fashion sin.

[Mike Sixel]

So, with Sano at first.... How long until we see Gordon? Maybe he should be playing third in NY?

[Danchat]

 

I say Romero but the gap isn't large.

 

Advantage to Fernando for velocity.

I agree, but I think what makes Berrios so good is his durability. That's something Romero hasn't had in his minor league career. For this season, I also think Berrios is a better bet to go deep into games.

Edited May 26, 2018 by Danchat

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I think the confusion over framing stems from "stealing strikes" when in fact it's mostly "getting your pitcher the strike they threw".

An errant, fast-moving glove with a lot of body movement distracts from the moment. The pitch should be a strike but the catcher moved violently and the umpire saw the ball drift out of the zone because exactly *where* did the ball hit the mitt?

 

Whereas a steady, smooth hand with good visibility allows the umpire to see where the pitch was actually thrown. And it was a strike.

 

Framing (mostly) isn't about 'stealing", it's about "being good at your job and letting your pitcher's ability shine".

[Riverbrian]

 

Last year the Twins didn’t want him hitting lefties. Am I remembering this right?

 

You are close

 

The Twins wanted him to hit lefties but the Twins wouldn't let him face lefties. 

[Platoon]

This is why some of us said that they should not platoon Max...

And why I am not close to giving up on Buxtons bat.

[nicksaviking]

He's not even close to the same hitter he was against LHP last year.

 

He was absolutely brutal and lost against lefties in 2017.

Yeah, my off-season doubts about Kepler not being able to hit lefties is approaching my take after the Liriano trade that Eduardo Escobar was a terrible return because he was instantly the worst player on the entire 40-man roster, but at least Pedro Hernandez looked like a nice long term lefty.

[twins_89]

If the Twins want to have any chance at keeping pace with Cleveland they need to improve the roster. Having multiple Grossman, Adrianza, Wilson, Petit, and LaMarre caliber players in the lineup every night is just killing the offense.

[Winston Smith]

 

Last year the Twins didn’t want him hitting lefties. Am I remembering this right?

I think they wanted him to hit lefties but he wasn't so they didn't.

[OTPS300]

Kepler with a perfect throw.

[Mill1634]

GERMAN BOMBER APPLIES TO HIS ARM TOO!

 

Big play. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Holy lord, what German for "arm"?