Game thread: Twins vs Jays, 4/16, 6:40 pm CST

[Joe A. Preusser]

Is there a good analysis of the effectiveness of infield shifts? It's struck me as a lot of work for a relatively small net positive over a course of a season. Maybe it saves a team a dozen runs or so throughout a year, which might (in the best case) lead to an extra couple of wins. It seems as much as it works, it also backfires, like the Smoak play which would have been a routine DP with standard infield positions.

 

I may be totally wrong, but to me it's one of those analytics things that sounds better on paper than in practice. If there is a good analysis out there I'd love to read it.

 

I can point you to a lot of bad analysis. Does that work?

[Channing1964]

well if the Jays had their same crew i would say ok...but this is not the Jays that WERE ok.

[twinssporto]

Just because we haven't beaten this horse to death enough tonight....Kepler decided to take some pitches and draw a walk because Buxton wasn't on base in front of him.  Just sayin.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Twins should be able to hit the Jays pitchers.

 

I can understand the Jays getting some hits, they haven't hit all season, some positive regression is due.

or draw walks!!

[yarnivek1972]

It has been mildly disappointing, as Gibson is still obviously struggling to regain strength. Mejia crapped the bed last night but other than that, it was an okay game.

 

Long season, not worried yet.

 

If Gibson wasn’t ready to start the season, he should have been put on the IL. His short starts are hurting the team. The Twins lack bullpen depth to have one just guy that can consistently pitch at least 6 innings.

[Channing1964]

last night and tonight remind me eerily of 2018 UGHHHHH

[Joe A. Preusser]

Jack giving the excuse that the off days have kept the team from getting into a rythym

Also the sun was in my eyes, the wind took it, and the IRS screwed me again.

[h2oface]

NOW Kepler takes with no Buxton on base! Virtually the same first pitch, too. 94 mph 4 seamer on the middle outside edge.

 

6 o-fers again tonight so far, to match last night's 6. Is/was a 5-11 Jays team pitching really that good?

[twinssporto]

Eddie MONEY!!!

[Mike Sixel]

game threads do seem to be more serious this year......

[Aggies7]

That helps matters

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

oh

 

my

 

goodness

[LaBombo]

This Rosario guy is turning out to be a ballplayer.

[Joe A. Preusser]

If Gibson wasn’t ready to start the season, he should have been put on the IL. His short starts are hurting the team. The Twins lack bullpen depth to have one just guy that can consistently pitch at least 6 innings.

To be fair, he mowed them down through 5. Looked great.

[Yawn Gardenhose]

Edward the Great!

[Mike Sixel]

jonron!

[David HK]

All players are different, but there's a lot to be said in this game about body language.

 

Gibby gets flustered, and he looks flustered- shoulders hang, face hangs, brow furrows...

 

Sanchez has had a couple of high-stress innings, too, but he looks just the same as he does when mowing down 3-4 guys in a row. Same look, same demeanor.  The Twins might even get to him here, but maybe Gibby can take a bit of a lesson.

 

Lots of guys wear their heart on their sleeve, and that's a good thing, but man, don't show it to the guy in the batter's box.

 

** Edit time!**  ...and just as I typed that....

 

Eddie time!

[Blake]

 

I can point you to a lot of bad analysis. Does that work?

Hah, I can do you one better: I can not only state the blindingly obvious, I can also mangle simple analysis in a single sentence!

[Blake]

Was I the only one not surprised that Eddie went yard?

[twinssporto]

 

game threads do seem to be more serious this year......

I prefer to think of it as more analytical analysis.

[operation mindcrime]

Yeeeeeaaaaahhhh Eddie!!!!!!

[Joe A. Preusser]

game threads do seem to be more serious this year......

WHY...SO....SERIOUS?

 

This has been your 10 year old pop culture reference, brought to you by homemade limonocello.

[LaBombo]

 

Eddie MONEY!!!

 

That ball had two tickets to paradise and used them both.

 

Ok, maybe not an elite reference, but it was better than anything I could think of to go with 'Baby Hold on to Me'.

[Yawn Gardenhose]

Brand new game, in the hands of the 'pen now. No worries, right?

[wsnydes]

I prefer to think of it as more analytical analysis.

That was about as deep as Eddie's bomb!

[David HK]

 

To be fair, he mowed them down through 5. L9oked great.

The even tougher part about that, is with the upcoming schedule, and the starters stinkin' up the joint- guys like Harper, Mejia, and now Duffy, are going to have to eat a lot of innings...

 

I shudder to think....

[yarnivek1972]

Astudillo now 2 for last 21. Maybe he shouldn’t be hitting clean up.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

If Gibson wasn’t ready to start the season, he should have been put on the IL. His short starts are hurting the team. The Twins lack bullpen depth to have one just guy that can consistently pitch at least 6 innings.

I'm sure it's hard to figure out if you have the strength to go six innings until you try to go six innings.

 

It doesn't help that Gibson has been very good through four innings in two of his three starts. Hard to get a read on where a guy is physically if you don't push him into situations where he begins to weaken.

[Nine of twelve]

 

Yes, this 2-1 deficit to the Blue Jays in the sixth inning is too much for anyone to overcome.

Seriously. And we wonder why game threads have died on this site.

What, are you saying we could come back and tie the game?

[wsnydes]

Astudillo now 2 for last 21. Maybe he shouldn’t be hitting clean up.

If only they had signed a guy to hit in the middle of the order. If. Only.