Article: MIN 12, TOR 6: More Like Er-win Sweep-tana!

[jmlease1]

This is a pretty weird Twins team. They're definitely under performing overall, they've had some bad luck, and they just haven't had a lot go right.

 

Coming off a nice run into the all-star break, they fall flat on their face against an awful KC team. Then they come back and sweep Toronto?

 

Glad to see Garver hitting. He's actually been pretty good this season, taken a solid step forward from his cup of coffee last year. He's still got work to do on his catching to stick back there as a starter, but he's already a nice asset with his hitting and positional flexibility.

 

Oh, another "fun" Twins stat: Record in One Run Games: 5-17  .227 Yuck. There's your margin with Cleveland right there.

[Mike Sixel]

I have not read one word of the thread, I just wanted to type how much I love the title.

 

Now, I'll go read the thread.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I understand Garver was not Option A; he was supposed to be the backup.  However, after last night, among all catchers in baseball with at least 200 plate appearances, he ranks 7th in BA, 6th in OBP and 10th in WAR.  There is ZERO reason he should be in a 50/50 split with Bobby Wilson.  He should be playing 2 out of 3 at a bare minimum.  Yet another reason to LOVE Molitor's 'managing'.  

 

100% this.

[Cap'n Piranha]

Garver in his last 30 games has an OPS of .932; that’s great for anyone, let alone a catcher. The problem is, those 30 games comprise only 80 at bats, which suggests he’s only actually started 20 games, and pinch hit in the other 10. Those 30 games start on June 7, a total of 42 Twins games. In those 42 games, the Twins are 21-21; how many more wins would the Twins have if they had Garver’s elite production for more of those games, instead of Wilson’s .475 OPS?

[howieramone2]

 

So what's the theory -- that sometimes Belisle just forgets to "pitch strategically"? Or doesn't always have the stuff to execute it? Because we sure haven't trusted him to do this very often (if at all) so far in 2018.

The theory is Belisle is plan C. The FO has every intention of replacing him on the roster, with a back of the bullpen guy at the trade deadline, if at all possible. If I'm not mistaken, board scapegoat Belisle had the lowest ERA on the team after 6-15 last season.

[Bill]

What was up with the 0-2 semi-overhand fastball right down the middle that Hildenberger threw? That batter was toast if Hildy would have just thrown something slow a foot off the plate in the lefty batters box.

[h2oface]

"Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "Garv just had a phenomenal day. Started his first at-bat, the homer, the hit to right, the double. It was just one of those games where we needed everything." "

 

So now he calls him "Garv"! Molitor won't play him, nearly enough, even when he is the hottest hitter on the team.... but now he acts like he is fond of him. Nice.

[Aerodeliria]

Thanks for the update. It says line drive outs on the summary, but if they were not well hit then kudos to Belisle...although, I can't come to say that he has earned my trust just yet.

 

Belisle pitched well. He kept hitters off balance and was not hit hard. He was in trouble in his 9th inning as a result of a two singles. The second single was a weak bloop just over the infield. Bad luck for the Twins on the bloop. Bad base running for the Jays on the double play. A single, two strike outs and a lazy fly ball to right field in the 10th. 

 

A very good performance. If doesn't mean anything for the rest of the season but he executed his pitches and kept hitters off balance when the Twins desperately needed a few innings.