Game Thread: Indians @ Twins, 6/3 @ 1:10 CT

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

My daughter always calls them points. She comes from, and married into a baseball family. I told her one day I would buy her a new car if she could correctly interpret the IF Fly Rule on the spot. I had no concerns whatsoever of car shopping.

I remember one of the first games I took my wife to... She asked why everyone was standing still during an IFFB. I told her "Well, the infield fly rule is one of the most complicated rules in baseball. What happens is that when a pop fly stays in the infield with runners on base, the umpire will make a call while the ball is in the air and... oh, **** it. You don't care anyway. It's just a thing that happens in baseball."

 

Her reply? "Thank you. You're right, I don't care."

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

And don't forget his first-inning dinger today was on a low outside pitch. We used to worry about his plate discipline, but now I'm thinking let him swing at any pitch he thinks he can hit.

Well, yes and no. Rosario is only good when he lays off the unhittable pitches. He's doing that now.

 

Last year (or the year before, can't remember), I argued that Rosario could be very productive if he laid off only the worst 4% pitches thrown to him. He has done that (and admittedly, is better than I could have hoped as a result).

[Blake]

 

I remember one of the first games I took my wife to... She asked why everyone was standing still during an IFFB. I told her "Well, the infield fly rule is one of the most complicated rules in baseball. What happens is that when a pop fly stays in the infield with runners on base, the umpire will make a call while the ball is in the air and... oh, **** it. You don't care anyway. It's just a thing that happens in baseball."

 

Her reply? "Thank you. You're right, I don't care."

You'd been married a while, hadn't you?

 

Either that, or you were a very quick study.

[Nine of twelve]

Bleep.

[Puckett34]

 

Drop Sano to 7-8-9 in the order, something has to be done, Killing the team

http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/dr-evil-right.gif

[mrmpls]

Reeed again, unreal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Danchat]

Strat-O-Matic Report Bottom of the 7th

 

Kepler walks.

Grossman strikes out looking.

LaMarre doubles, Kepler to 3rd.

-- Pinch-Hit: Garver hits for Wilson --

Garver pops out.

Dozier singles, both runners score (10-3)

-- Tyler Olson now pitching --

Rosario doubles, Dozier to 3rd.

Sano strikes out.

 

Well, at least it's a 7 run game now.

[Jham]

Well, the good news is we can't get walked off...

[3balls2strikes]

 

There's no way this team is better with Sano and Buxton on the DL. Sano has his rough patches but has a career OPS+ of 124. Buxton is worth two wins on defense alone.

It's not just stats. Lately, Sano seems to deflate everyone around him with his strikeouts and struggles at the plate and overall failure to reach his potential. Some players make others around them better in many ways and some players tend to bring others down. Sano somehow tends to bring the team down when he's in the lineup. It falls under the team chemistry category. Stats aren't everything. I'll agree Buxton may be a benefit chemistry wise, due to his defensive hustle and good attitude, but his bat is just a killer. 

[mickeymental]

 

Reminds me of something an intoxicated man said to me once: You can't drink all day if you don't start first thing in the morning.

"how can i miss you when you won't go away" -- dan hicks & his hot licks (1969)

[Puckett34]

C'mon Reed.  Gonna need to start calling it the Addison Reed Experience

[Blake]

 

Well, yes and no. Rosario is only good when he lays off the unhittable pitches. He's doing that now.

 

Last year (or the year before, can't remember), I argued that Rosario could be very productive if he laid off only the worst 4% of the absolutely worst pitches thrown to him. He has done that (and admittedly, is better than I could have hoped as a result).

The problem is, though, that Eddie is redefining the definition of "unittable" pitch.

[Danchat]

Boy, Reed and Pressly have been pretty bad at keeping these small leads alive. Maybe we need to get some young guns like Busenitz up to spell them more frequently and try using Rodney in the 7th and 8th innings.

[GCTF]

Reed continues his streak of allowing a HR in every appearance this season.

[bighat]

Addison Reed needs to be moved to mop-up duty. This is getting ridiculous.

[Platoon]

I remember one of the first games I took my wife to... She asked why everyone was standing still during an IFFB. I told her "Well, the infield fly rule is one of the most complicated rules in baseball. What happens is that when a pop fly stays in the infield with runners on base, the umpire will make a call while the ball is in the air and... oh, **** it. You don't care anyway. It's just a thing that happens in baseball."

 

Her reply? "Thank you. You're right, I don't care."

In her defense sports, unless the kids are playing are a waste of time. But, she would watch Vikings games with her hubby. One day he scored some tickets to the old dome. After a few plays she asked "where's the blue line"? He asked what blue line? Her: The blue line (first down) I always see on TV games. She thought that was on the field and they moved it all the time. I cannot believe I helped her through college. Lol

[Blake]

Yay! Man aboard for Mr. Encarnacion!

[Mike Sixel]

It's not just stats. Lately, Sano seems to deflate everyone around him with his strikeouts and struggles at the plate and overall failure to reach his potential. Some players make others around them better in many ways and some players tend to bring others down. Sano somehow tends to bring the team down when he's in the lineup. It falls under the team chemistry category. Stats aren't everything. I'll agree Buxton may be a benefit chemistry wise, due to his defensive hustle and good attitude, but his bat is just a killer.

You know he's deflating other players? Hasn't the offense taken off since he returned?

[Platoon]

You'd been married a while, hadn't you?

 

Either that, or you were a very quick study.

OR, you're no longer married?

[Nine of twelve]

 

"how can i miss you when you won't go away" -- dan hicks & his hot licks (1969)

Loved that band!

[Danchat]

Strat-O-Matic Report - Top of the 8th

 

-- Rodney pitching --

 

Kipnis singles.

Gomes walks, Kipnis to 2B.

Allen out in fielder's choice, runners advance.

ZImmer strikes out.
Gonzalez walks, bases loaded.

Lindor strikes out.

 

The Twins still trail 10-3. I used Rodney because he hasn't been used as heavily as Reed or Pressly. 

 

I'm thinking about having a batter pitch in the 9th... that would be a first for my Strat-O history.

[Nine of twelve]

Get this guy around. Even if you have to bunt to do it.

[bighat]

 

You know he's deflating other players? Hasn't the offense taken off since he returned?

 

Completely agree. I am baffled by the Sano-bashing from some Twins fans. Did people not see his game-tying 3-run jack two nights ago that completed an 8-run comeback? His defensive gem today? I get that strikeouts are bad but c'mon, the criticism from some is completely off-base.

[twinssporto]

WHY would you send him!?!?!

[GCTF]

Grossman could have done that.

[Vanimal46]

What the bleep? He was out by a mile...

[twinssporto]

Way to go LaMarre

[Nine of twelve]

What was that? Put Glynn on the DL with concussion-like symptoms.

[Blake]

Really? Didn't learn the first time you sent Adrianza?

[S.]

That was idiotic. There is only one out and even if he doesn't stumble he would've been out at the plate. Why send him?