Game Thread: Twins vs. Texas 1:10 PM CT 6/23

[Vanimal46]

 

ANNND Welcome! To Minnesota Twins Whine Line: Daycare Edition! I am your host and CEO of Minnesota Twins Daycare, Vanimal. Home of the best VETERAN to Rookie ratio in the industry! You're making the right decision coming to visit us with your precious little rookie... We'll get to frequently asked questions about our daycare in a second. First, let's talk about a game that's happening today.

 

It's going to be a BEAUTIFUL day in Minneapolis! Partly cloudy skies, 79 degrees at first pitch. REAL FEEL of 84 degrees. Winds from the SSW at 5 MPH... And back to the intern with sports!

 

Minnesota Twins (33-38):

 

P - Jake Odorizzi (R ) - 78 overall on MLB the Show!

 

Texas Rangers (32-44):

 

 

P - Yovani Gallardo ( R) - Making his first MLB start since being DFA'd by the Reds on April 10th

 

 

At Minnesota Twins Daycare, we believe rookies are the FUTURE... And what better way to train your little rookie for the real world than having them learn from VETERANS?! Currently we have a 24:1 Veteran to rookie ratio... NOBODY else in the industry can say that! What other questions do you have for me?

 

What will my rookie be doing during the day?

 

Well, that depends! Our only rookie right now pitches once every 5 games. But most rookies get ample time in the shade, and sit on a wooden bench! At some point in the day they will be fed, take a nap, and jog around the field. More often than not, during an actual game your rookie will be given an iPad to stream Netflix and ABSORB the veterans' knowledge.

 

What safety measures are you taking with my rookie?

 

We will ensure that they don't fail for too long! The last thing we want to do with your special rookie is ruin their confidence... For example, we had a rookie in April that pitched 0.2 innings and he didn't do well! At that point we had a decision to make... Replace the rookie with another rookie? No... Instead, we doubled down on our veteran to rookie ratio! Now we can say it's the BEST in the industry!

 

What will they learn throughout the day?

 

Great question! We hope our veterans will teach your rookie the fundamentals of baseball! Everything from baserunning, throwing the ball in a general direction, hitting a baseball, and other odds and ends things... Lord knows we could use more players who can hit a baseball!
 

 

We heard rookies last season had a great time with Matt Belisle. Is he back on staff?

 

ABSOLUTELY! It's true that Matt Belisle was a KEY veteran leader to help last year's graduating rookie class... He's back and better than ever!

 

This all sounds great. We think our adorable rookie will get the attention he needs here. What's the price?

 

For 65 easy payments of $5,000 you can join the exclusive wait list to be a rookie at Minnesota Twins Daycare! Don't wait, act today! Call 1-800-MNT-CARE now!

 

 

Let's get a win Twins!

[PDX Twin]

At least when the Rangers' secondbaseman bats, we finally have a starter who should handle Odor easy. (Been waiting to use that one all year!)

[Danchat]

Good stuff, Vanimal. I'll be at the game today, so let's hope for some actual offense today.

[bluechipper]

Yovanni Gallardo hasn't had a season ERA below 5 since 2015, so I like the Twins chances to score... maybe we'll see 3 runs today. 

 

Also, how do guys like Gallardo still have MLB jobs? Do the Rangers not have a minor league pitcher who can put up a 5 ERA, while also saving the team around $1M?

[Vanimal46]

 

Motter at SS today. Oh boy.

[Vanimal46]

My dog's feelings about the Twins'chance of winning today:

 

Disinterested

[Danchat]

Just wanted to drop some stats to confirm my suspicions:
 

Dozier - Situational Hitting

High Leverage - .164/.220/.273 (.493 OPS)

Medium Leverage - .197/.280/.331 (.610 OPS)

Low Leverage - .284/.360/.539 (.899 OPS)

 

Escobar 

High Lev. - .370/.410/.648 (1.058 OPS)

Medium Lev. - .252/.313/.485 (.798 OPS)

High Lev. - .305/.354/.619 (.973 OPS)

 

Oh, and I'll be wearing my Dozier jersey today. Methinks I'll have to retire the jersey next to my Parmelee jersey once the season is over.

[jun]

Gallo is hitting 7th in the lineup, what's Morrison doing hitting 5th??? I think Morrison should bat 7th or 8th. Kepler and Garver should bat before him. Motter is 6th in the lineup??? I don't know what to say.

[jun]

 

Just wanted to drop some stats to confirm my suspicions:
 

Dozier - Situational Hitting

High Leverage - .164/.220/.273 (.493 OPS)

Medium Leverage - .197/.280/.331 (.610 OPS)

Low Leverage - .284/.360/.539 (.899 OPS)

 

Escobar 

High Lev. - .370/.410/.648 (1.058 OPS)

Medium Lev. - .252/.313/.485 (.798 OPS)

High Lev. - .305/.354/.619 (.973 OPS)

 

Oh, and I'll be wearing my Dozier jersey today. Methinks I'll have to retire the jersey next to my Parmelee jersey once the season is over.

That's why I have always been a fan of Escobar since he arrived.

[Danchat]

 

P - Yovani Gallardo ( R) - Making his first MLB start since being DFA'd by the Reds on April 10th

For the sake of accuracy, Gallardo's actually already made one start on June 17th - he gave up 5 runs and Texas won 13-12.

[Vanimal46]

Oh, and I'll be wearing my Dozier jersey today. Methinks I'll have to retire the jersey next to my Parmelee jersey once the season is over.

Berrios would be a good choice for your next jersey purchase!

[bluechipper]

 

Gallo is hitting 7th in the lineup, what's Morrison doing hitting 5th??? I think Morrison should bat 7th or 8th. Kepler and Garver should bat before him. Motter is 6th in the lineup??? I don't know what to say.

Slightly better than yesterday. When Ehire Adrianza is batting 5th in your lineup, you know something has gone horribly, horribly wrong.

[jun]

Belisle is still with the team??? They just keep us amazed.

[LVTwinsfan]

another offensive implosion by the Twins last night. Hoping for a better game today, although no offense seems to be the theme for this years Twins.

[jud6312]

I was really hoping LaMarre and Dozier would sit today after their baserunning blunders last night. Guess when the cupboards as bare as it is, that's not an option though.

 

It will be nice when Polanco and Buxton can come back to replace Motter and LaMarre. And when they dust off Ron Davis to take over Belisle's role as Super Veterany Overlord of the Clubhouse.

[LVTwinsfan]

 

I was really hoping LaMarre and Dozier would sit today after their baserunning blunders last night. Guess when the cupboards as bare as it is, that's not an option though.

 

It will be nice when Polanco and Buxton can come back to replace Motter and LaMarre. And when they dust off Ron Davis to take over Belisle's role as Super Veterany Overlord of the Clubhouse.

I'd like to see Buxton back too, when is he going to start hitting?

[jokin]

 

I'd like to see Buxton back too, when is he going to start hitting?

 

Yesterday's homer was nice to see.... but his track record suggests not until August/September.

[jud6312]

 

I'd like to see Buxton back too, when is he going to start hitting?

3-game hitting streak with a 3-run HR last night for Rochester. Hopefully it's the start of something.

[jokin]

 

Motter at SS today. Oh boy.

 

Molly is rewarding Motter for his 128' dash and catch last night.

[drock2190]

How bad is Kepler that he is batting behind Motter?

[LVTwinsfan]

 

3-game hitting streak with a 3-run HR last night for Rochester. Hopefully it's the start of something.

Hopefully, but he has always hit well in the minors

[Mill1634]

Great start!!!

[jokin]

 

 

 

 

 

At Minnesota Twins Daycare, we believe rookies are the FUTURE... And what better way to train your little rookie for the real world than having them learn from VETERANS?! Currently we have a 24:1 Veteran to rookie ratio... NOBODY else in the industry can say that! What other questions do you have for me?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your article compelled me to look it up. The Twins are tied at age 29.2 for the 4th oldest club roster in MLB (with Texas and the D-Backs).

 

Amazingly, the New York Yankees are the 7th youngest roster- 27.6.... the Red Sox are averaging 28.0... 

[LVTwinsfan]

 

How bad is Kepler that he is batting behind Motter?

for some unexplained reason, this season, Kepler hits lefties better than righties, a lot better

[Mill1634]

Great breaking ball there Jake!

[LVTwinsfan]

 

Great breaking ball there Jake!

so good it even fooled the umpire

[LVTwinsfan]

The Twins should be able to hit this guy, but then again Gallardo may look like Cy young today, especially against this line up

[Mill1634]

That shoulder? JUST FINE!!!

 

EDDIE!!!!!!

[LVTwinsfan]

Good to see Escobar in the lineup

[jud6312]

I remain convinced Kennys Vargas could have given this team the same, or better, production than Morrison. It's starting to look like last year really was the outlier rather than the new norm. Too bad.