Game Thread: Twins vs. Angels 1:10pm CDT 6/9/2018 AD

[VATwinsFan]

 

Imagine if they were facing ohtani....

How can they be doing any worse?

[VATwinsFan]

Wade batting second for Rochester this evening.

[Mike Sixel]

I'm done with Wilson.... Call up random catcher. Anyone.

[Monkeypaws]

Wow, as one who enjoys fundamentals, that last half inning was a disaster - failure to advance runners, take extra bases, and a lead off double goes wasted. Ugh. 

 

Bobby Wilson seems a nice guy, but I'd rather see Rortvedt here than him.

[S.]

That was a fantastic pick by Sano.

[VATwinsFan]

Welp, the way things are going two runs for LA should be plenty.

[drock2190]

Could this be the inning, the Twins score a run?

[Don Walcott]

I like this Skaggs fella. Reminds me of Sweet Music.

[Mike Sixel]

What just happened? Other than failure?

[S.]

 

What just happened? Other than failure?

Ground ball to the first baseman. He stepped on first for the force and then threw to second and Grossman forced a run down long enough for Rosario to score.

[Mike Sixel]

Ground ball to the first baseman. He stepped on first for the force and then threw to second and Grossman forced a run down long enough for Rosario to score.

Interesting. So, they messed up? Do you take the third out, or let Grossman go to third? I think I take the out

[Don Walcott]

If Rosario is in right field, he would have tried to throw the runner out at first.

[Don Walcott]

Interesting. So, they messed up? Do you take the third out, or let Grossman go to third? I think I take the out

It was going to be a double play if Grossman continued on to second. By holding up, he gave Rosario time to score.

[S.]

Perhaps I wasn't clear, run down was between first and second. Grossman was halfway to second when the ball was thrown to the second baseman. Either way though, had first baseman thrown to second first to force Grossman there, I don't think they would have got it back to first base in time for the double play. I wouldnt really say they screwed up, just wasn't the ideal outcome for them.

[Mike Sixel]

Perhaps I wasn't clear, run down was between first and second. Grossman was halfway to second when the ball was thrown to the second baseman. Either way though, had first baseman thrown to second first to force Grossman there, I don't think they would have got it back to first base in time for the double play. I wouldnt really say they screwed up, just wasn't the ideal outcome for them.

I got it. But he could have not thrown to second. And I guess the second baseman could have held the ball, but that's a guess. They scored!

[twinsbaby]

Gibson another strong outing, good job. 

[wsnydes]

Interesting. So, they messed up? Do you take the third out, or let Grossman go to third? I think I take the out

I'm not sure where Rosario was down the line, but it was hit hard enough they probably could have gone home with it. Grossman was probably the easier play, but it allows the run to score even if Grossman doesn't cause the rundown. He was going to be the surer out either way, so I'm not sure I'd consider it a screw up.

[Mike Sixel]

Thanks everyone, so hard to watch on gameday....

[wsnydes]

So many strikeouts...

[tvagle]

Twins are soooooooooo pitchable...Fastballs away...slow junk in the dirt

I think I'm watching bad HS baseball

[VATwinsFan]

How’s this (assuming the roster rules allow, which they probably don’t)?

OUT

Pressly

LaMarre

Adrianza

Wilson

 

IN

Busenitz

Carter

Gordon

Astudillo

[drock2190]

 

Thanks everyone, so hard to watch on gameday....

 

Twins are hard to watch in general...

 

 

[wsnydes]

A little surprised they sent Upton there. I guess they paid the price.

[Mike Sixel]

Pinch running with two outs again, for a guy on first. At least it's the ninth, but I hate this.

[TwinsCD]

The approach these guys have going to the plate really mystifies me.  How does Dozier stand there and look at a fastball at the knees for strike 3?  How can Sano watch a first-pitch fastball, which might be the only possible pitch he gets to hit?  And if Cave is going to stand there and watch 2 strikes and then wave at one out of the zone, he might as well go back to Rochester and enjoy his career there.  This offense is a disgrace for the most part and I wonder how much our hitting coach is trying to help improve things.

[Aggies7]

Was there ever any doubt cave would strikeout, on 3 pitches no less, to end the game? The cupboard is beyond bare if there isn’t anyone in the system who could come up and give a fraction more production than 7/9 guys in our lineup.

[Aggies7]

The approach these guys have going to the plate really mystifies me.  How does Dozier stand there and look at a fastball at the knees for strike 3?  How can Sano watch a first-pitch fastball, which might be the only possible pitch he gets to hit?  And if Cave is going to stand there and watch 2 strikes and then wave at one out of the zone, he might as well go back to Rochester and enjoy his career there.  This offense is a disgrace for the most part and I wonder how much our hitting coach is trying to help improve things.

Their approaches, their swings, even when ahead in counts is abysmal. Rosario and Escobar are about the only guys in the entire lineup worth their salt right now. Even Kepler is now under .240, same with dozier who has been MIA most of the year. There’s something stinky going on and you’d have to wonder how much worse it can actually get.

[wsnydes]

The approach these guys have going to the plate really mystifies me. How does Dozier stand there and look at a fastball at the knees for strike 3? How can Sano watch a first-pitch fastball, which might be the only possible pitch he gets to hit? And if Cave is going to stand there and watch 2 strikes and then wave at one out of the zone, he might as well go back to Rochester and enjoy his career there. This offense is a disgrace for the most part and I wonder how much our hitting coach is trying to help improve things.

Don't forget that Sano watched strike three split the plate in two in his previous AB. Pretty brutal all around by the bats again.

 

Grossman should never be the cleanup hitter. May as well keep Sano there if that's what you're going to do instead.

[Mill1634]

Sad. 

 

This team is taking the life out of me. Honestly don't know what the fix is. Clearly the answer is bats, but who. Wade for Grossman? Sure, probably doesn't move the needle much though. Gordon for Petit? Sure, but Adrianza has been one of our best hitters lately, and is a good glove. I just don't know if there is an answer.

 

Sadly, I think the answer is we are still a few key pieces away, and if we want to contend in this window it starts and ends with Buxton and Sano playing like the prospects they were hyped up as. 

[Platoon]

It does seem hapless, and helpless. Where do you start. The pitching is livable, it ain't great and gets exposed by better teams but from a MN standpoint is not as bad as usual. Faint praise indeed. But the offense. Sheesh. I am not a Molitor fan at all, but he can't hit the whole lineup in the 9 hole. I still think the biggest problem is that there are only two guys you can count on to hit the ball in the clutch. Escobar and Rosario. They miss Mauer far more than many realize or will admit. The injuries have not helped, but look at the Angels. All kinds of DL'ers there. Not sure where to go either. A lot of our players are too young, and "potentially" too talented for a fire sale. But if we are still a dumpster fire in late June? Bottom line, th only thing that revives this bunch is what another poster said, and which I have believed in for a long time. Either Sano and Buxton start playing MLB at the level they are capable of, or we are going to be mediocre for a long time. And while I gave a pass to Molitor on the lineup, that's as far as it goes. I have absolutely no doubt that the team would have been far better served with Doug M. in that spot. This bunch need a kick in the posterior. Not for the hitting or pitching, but the laid back sloppy lacksadasical play. I doubt Doug would have stood for this. The Twins made a horrible decision on Molitor. First in hiring him, then in keeping him. And since they hired a local legend, he is going to be twice as hard to cut ties with.