Game Thread Twins @ Astros, 7:10pm CDT 4/23/2019

[ashbury]

I didn't see a game thread started yet, so here is one.

 

TWINS (yeahhh!) :
Mitch Garver [R] C
Jorge Polanco SS
Nelson Cruz [R] DH
Eddie Rosario [L] LF
C.J. Cron [R] 1B
Marwin Gonzalez 3B
Jonathan Schoop [R] 2B
Max Kepler [L] RF
Byron Buxton [R] CF

 

Michael Pineda [R] SP

 

ASTROS (booo!) :
George Springer [R] CF
Jose Altuve [R] 2B
Alex Bregman [R] 3B
Michael Brantley [L] LF
Carlos Correa [R] SS
Yuli Gurriel [R] 1B
Josh Reddick [L] RF
Tyler White [R] DH
Max Stassi [R] C

 

Wade Miley [L] SP

 

One Thing To Think About:

Kepler is not leading off against the lefty. His R/L splits are still small-sample-size, but are poor on the lefty side of the ledger. The rest of the lineup more or less resembles yesterday's. I like Kepler at 8th ahead of Buxton, to not clog up the bases unduly for our speediest guy if both do get on. Of course, even Jesse Owens might clog the bases in front of Buxton.

[yarnivek1972]

I didn't see a game thread started yet, so here is one.

 

TWINS (yeahhh!) :

Mitch Garver[R] C

Jorge Polanco SS

Nelson Cruz[R] DH

Eddie Rosario[L] LF

C.J. Cron[R] 1B

Marwin Gonzalez 3B

Jonathan Schoop[R] 2B

Max Kepler[L] RF

Byron Buxton[R] CF

Michael Pineda[R] SP

 

ASTROS (booo!) :

George Springer[R] CF

Jose Altuve[R] 2B

Alex Bregman[R] 3B

Michael Brantley[L] LF

Carlos Correa[R] SS

Yuli Gurriel[R] 1B

Josh Reddick[L] RF

Tyler White[R] DH

Max Stassi[R] C

Wade Miley[L] SP

 

One thing to think about: Kepler not leading off, against the lefty. His R/L splits are still small-sample-size, but are poor on the lefty side of the ledger. Looks like some analytics are dictating the lineup, as some hot bats are up top.

 

Analytics would seem to favor not having Gonzalez playing at all, let alone in the 6 spot.

[PDX Twin]

Any word yet on a pitcher for tomorrow?

[LaBombo]

 

Analytics would seem to favor not having Gonzalez playing at all, let alone in the 6 spot.

 

True, but a quick analysis of his contract suggests that the Twins are hoping that if they keep sending him out there he'll start to play back to his 2015 or 2018 level, which is all I hope they were expecting when they signed him.

[Mill1634]

Tonights game is about as big as you can get in April. Securing the series before facing Verlander tomorrow would be huge for this team. Go Twins!

[PseudoSABR]

Is the idea of leading off with Garver to give him more at bats since he's not playing every day? I mean why is he a better choice than Rosario or Cruz?  I though it was just a novelty/experiment, but this is getting pretty regular. 

[mrtwinsfan]

Cant wait to see Sano - Standing next to pineada, 

[wsnydes]

Roof closed and facing the first LH starter of the season. That hardly seems possible, but Dick wouldn't lie to me would he? WOULD HE?!

[Mill1634]

 

Is the idea of leading off with Garver to give him more at bats since he's not playing every day? I mean why is he a better choice than Rosario or Cruz?  I though it was just a novelty/experiment, but this is getting pretty regular. 

He has a career .340 OBP, and I wouldn't hit Cruz or Rosario ahead to the one spot. Those are your big RBI machines, don't hit them leadoff. Only other canidates against a lefty is Astudillo (out of the lineup), or Polanco (who makes sense in the 2 hole the way he is hitting right now. 

[yarnivek1972]

Roof closed and facing the first LH starter of the season. That hardly seems possible, but Dick wouldn't lie to me would he? WOULD HE?!

 

Temps are in the mid 70s. 0% chance of rain per weather channel. Why have a retractable roof if you aren’t going to open it on a night like this?

[PseudoSABR]

 

Is the idea of leading off with Garver to give him more at bats since he's not playing every day? I mean why is he a better choice than Rosario or Cruz?  I though it was just a novelty/experiment, but this is getting pretty regular. 

I see.  That speed to leg out infield singles. 

[mrtwinsfan]

w.t.f. on that k 

[Nine of twelve]

Oh, ****. Angel Hernandez.

[wsnydes]

Temps are in the mid 70s. 0% chance of rain per weather channel. Why have a retractable roof if you aren’t going to open it on a night like this?

Dick said there's a good chance of severe storms, so it's closed. Chance of really severe weather tomorrow as well apparently.

[bighat]

Attaboy Garvsauce! Hustle infield single...Twins have a few of those already this series.

[wsnydes]

I see. That speed to leg out infield singles.

And you doubted him!

 

Though that does provide credence to your query about Cruz leading off!

[mrtwinsfan]

EDDIE- 

[Nine of twelve]

Oh, baby. Eddie Rosario.

[bighat]

Oh yeah Rosie! Oh yeah we are JUGGERNAUTS this year boys!

[PseudoSABR]

EDDIE SAVE SOME HOMERS FOR THE REST OF THE TEAM! JEEZE!

[wsnydes]

Lazy fly ball goes out...dumb.

 

BUT I'LL TAKE IT!

[operation mindcrime]

Woooooooo!!!! Screw you Angel Hernandez!

[Mill1634]

EDDIE. EFFING. ROSARIO. YOU ARE RIDICULOUS 

[VATwinsFan]

Just another day at the office for Eddie R.

[ScrapTheNickname]

Pop up flies out.

 

"The left field wall at Minute Maid park is just 315 feet away and 19 feet high."

[Diesel]

That didn't look like a home run off the bat but I will take it

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Is the idea of leading off with Garver to give him more at bats since he's not playing every day? I mean why is he a better choice than Rosario or Cruz?  I though it was just a novelty/experiment, but this is getting pretty regular. 

I think Rosie just showed us why we want Garver leading off....

 

Hope he does it again in his next at bat. 

[operation mindcrime]

We really should've signed Eddie to a snuff contract!

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

Temps are in the mid 70s. 0% chance of rain per weather channel. Why have a retractable roof if you aren’t going to open it on a night like this?

Cuz Texas.

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

Dick said there's a good chance of severe storms, so it's closed. Chance of really severe weather tomorrow as well apparently.

And ... from Minute Maid site, it takes a grand total of "12-20 minutes" to close the f-ing roof.