Game Thread: Twins @ KC, 9/13/2018 5:10pm PT (7:10pm CT)

[Blake]

Today is a momentous day. It is the day after the Twins managed to take 2 out of 3 from their nemesis from the Bronx.

 

It is also momentous, because the Whine Line may have signed off for the last time.

 

 

*Greatest end to a show ever? You betcha!

 

But, that's okay, because we've found a viable replacement:

 

 

*Sammy Maudlin and Bobby Bittman. What's not to like?

 

Now that we've done that, time for:

 

 

*next.

 

 

Some thought from the Twins beating the guys from the Bronx:

 

1. The Twins beat the Yankees!

2. The Twins beat the Yankees!

3. The Twins beat the Yankees!

4. The Twins beat the Yankees!

5. The Twins beat the Yankees!

 

Play ball!

 

[USAFChief]

Today is a momentous day. It is the day after the Twins managed to take 2 out of 3 from their nemesis from the Bronx.

 

It is also a sad, sad day. My best friend here in Tucson passed away last night, right after he and I watched the Twins beat the hated Yankees. He's also a Twins fan, and a lifelong baseball fanatic like me. We had often wondered if there is baseball in heaven.

 

Today, I heard my friend's voice, sort of younger, even though I couldn't see him.

 

"Chief," I heard him say. "I have good news and bad news for you. First the good news...remember our conversations about whether or not there is baseball in heaven? Well, I can confirm there is not only baseball, but there are games every day. No offseason."

 

"Well it's good to hear from you," I said, after getting over the shock. "And that IS good news. But...you said you had bad news too."

 

"Yes, friend," he said. "Not only is there a game tomorrow, you're scheduled to lead off and play short."

[Blake]

Twins managed to both out hit and out pitch the Yankees.

 

Queue Twilight Zone theme:

 

 

 

[jimmer]

Couldn't even get past the first half inning listening to the Twins broadcast.  Bert just continuing to complain over and over about the opener strategy...

[jimmer]

Captain Caveman strikes again!

[Danchat]

 

Couldn't even get past the first half inning listening to the Twins broadcast.  Bert just continuing to complain over and over about the opener strategy...

I'm not the biggest fan of the opener myself, but the old folks complaining about how baseball is ruined really gets old fast. It's natural for sports to evolve as they age, and things are simply going to change. Plus, why not experiment in September? I think we've seen enough 2-3 inning starts to try something new.

[Nine of twelve]

 

I'm not the biggest fan of the opener myself, but the old folks complaining about how baseball is ruined really gets old fast. It's natural for sports to evolve as they age, and things are simply going to change. Plus, why not experiment in September? I think we've seen enough 2-3 inning starts to try something new.

For the Twins and the majority of MLB teams September is fall training. Rotating more pitchers into games with shorter stints is just like spring training. It gives the young-uns some game experience and it lets the manager, coaches and FO take a look at them in game conditions.

[Aggies7]

Gonsalves is tough to watch

[slash129]

The Twins traded away the unwatchable Lance Lynn, only to start giving innings to the unwatchable Gonsalves.

[Aggies7]

The Twins traded away the unwatchable Lance Lynn, only to start giving innings to the unwatchable Gonsalves.

26 pitches throw to 3 batters, 2 walks and a popup

[bighat]

Gotta admit, it's been pretty painful watching all these "can't miss" Twins prospects continue to fall flat year after year. Meanwhile every other team in baseball not only has rookies who contribute, but we see guys like Acuna in ATL and Taylor in DC who are 19 years old and playing like MVPs.

 

I'd love to see Royce Lewis join those names next year.

[Platoon]

I don't have anything particular against the "opener" with the exception of confusion. So we talk of the poor numbers when a pitcher faces the order the third time? Which statistically seems true. Basically we are dealing in three segments. So we now have pitcher A take segment one, and pitcher B take segments 2-3? Or the traditional way with pitcher A doing 1,2 and 3? So, since 3 is the problem in the traditional manner, simply jerk pitcher A when he gets to the top of the order the third time, and bring in B who would have been A in an opener game. The same pitchers are facing the same batters the same amount of times. But the fact is, no manager will want to make that decision in A flew through the lineup twice will they? I realize there may e some optimal match ups available early with an opener. But it's likely those guys are still going to be hitting in the 6 inning also!

[Platoon]

Gonsalves is the crafty lefty, without the crafty part.

[Aggies7]

I’ll say this, any team using an “opener” can’t celebrate a n* h*****

[Shaitan]

Thank god "pitch to contact" is gone.

[Platoon]

Before I retire for the evening, I leave this thought. Why is Polanco playing short? He just is not a MLB SS. He should have been moved to second and left there after the sell off. This way by next spring they would have an idea if he can play that position. He wasn't a SS when Molitor anointed him one, and he still isn't.

[notoriousgod71]

Rosario's OPS is now below .800 btw.

 

Concerned?

[Aggies7]

And that’s that

[VATwinsFan]

By my count that's 9 runs (4 HRs) in last 1.1 innings for Busenitz.

 

Not exactly what we were looking for.

[Aggies7]

Sigh

[David HK]

Ahhhh, Busenitz. I went to classes with a lead, and CE back for KC batting practice...

[notoriousgod71]

What happened to Busenitz? Before the season, I would have predicted Hildenberger to be the surprise relief pitcher from last season to regress (which he technically has, I suppose) but Busenitz has imploded.

[Aggies7]

This has turned out poorly, hasn’t it?

[notoriousgod71]

Also Magill is regressing rapidly to the point of not wanting him back next year.

[Danchat]

 

Gotta admit, it's been pretty painful watching all these "can't miss" Twins prospects continue to fall flat year after year. Meanwhile every other team in baseball not only has rookies who contribute, but we see guys like Acuna in ATL and Taylor in DC who are 19 years old and playing like MVPs.

 

I'd love to see Royce Lewis join those names next year.

Who was calling Gonsalves "can't miss", because I think that's what you're referring to?

[VATwinsFan]

I guess the only suspense in this game will be to see if they'll hit double digits for the number of pitchers used.

[VATwinsFan]

Curtiss getting through an entire inning without giving up a run was certainly Rodneyesque.

[LaBombo]

Next time when it's late and close, I want Astudillo pinch running on third with the bases loaded.  What catcher in their right mind would be looking for the throw with Stu barreling down the third base line?

[mikeee]

wow, slow night

[LaBombo]

 

Rosario's OPS is now below .800 btw.

 

Concerned?

 

I would be if I had ever gotten around to buying the notion that .850 was for real.

 

And no, I'm not boasting of prescience, I'm confessing to procrastination.