Game Thread: 5/15/19 Twins vs. Angels 12:10 CDT

[Diesel]

As Twins fans await further news on Mitch Garver, the team tries to win the series in an afternoon game against the Angels. Currently, the Twins are 26-15, an outstanding record given expectations. The Angels, however, have underwhelmed in 2019. With generational talents like Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, shouldn't the Angels be contenders?

 

As a large market team, the Angels can afford to spend more money than the Twins. However, have they put that money to good use?

 

This year, the Angels spent money on several players. While Mike Trout will most likely be worth his enormous contract, many of their new players have not played to expectations. The pitching has been terrible. Matt Harvey (signed for $11 million) and Trevor Cahill (signed for $9 million) have been some of the worst starting pitchers in baseball. Cody Allen (signed for $8.5 million) seems to also not be a good pitcher anymore.

 

While the lineup has very intriguing players, like Trout, Ohtani, and Simmons, there are still many holes. Justin Bour and Zack Cozart are whiffing their way out of the lineup. Albert Pujols isn't getting any younger. Justin Upton is still hurt. As a whole, this team seems very old, with not a lot of room to get better. The starting pitching needs a complete overhaul, and buying players isn't going to cut it.

 

As a Twins fan, I am pretty grateful for a regime that is seemingly smarter than me in picking players. Having solid players throughout the roster seems to work better than having just a couple superstars (I am looking at you, Indians).

 

Pitching Matchup:

Trevor Cahill 2-3, 6.35 ERA

vs.

Jake Odorizzi 5-2, 2.32 ERA

 

Lineups:

 

Angels

TBD (someone can post it below)

 

Twins

M Kepler (L) RF

J Polanco (S) DH

E Rosario (L) LF

C Cron ® 1B

W Astudillo ® 3B

J Schoop ® 2B

E Adrianza (S) SS

J Castro (L) C

B Buxton ® CF

 

Let's Play Ball!

[Brock Beauchamp]

Okay, so on paper, the Twins should pretty easily take this game. At home, super-favorable pitching matchup, good offense.

 

So that means they'll likely lose 8-2 because the team hates me.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

FREE BEER — TOMORROW!

 

 

Check back in this space tomorrow for details

[ashbury]

FREE BEER — TOMORROW!

Best Bar Band Name Evar!

[Craig Arko]

Garver to IL, Sano activated.

[bighat]

Sano is back! Wow, let's go Twins!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Best Bar Band Name Evar!

Do the play both kinds?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Sano is back! Wow, let's go Twins!

I’m pretty concerned about his strikeout rate in AA and AAA but hope it’s just SSS noise.

[scottz]

I hope our baseball team wins today.

[MMMordabito]

 

Sano is back! Wow, let's go Twins!

 

I'm ignoring his first 20 or so PAs. He's been moving all over the place and rehabbing. No Spring Training and MiLB pitching aren't going to cut it.  I hope the fans can give him at least a few games to adjust, see the ball and get his timing down.   

[rghrbek]

Wow, Gardy would not field this lineup.  No back up catcher?  He prefers to have two back up catchers on the bench!

[ashbury]

I hope our baseball team wins today.

I hope our baseball team wins today by a lot.

[MMMordabito]

LAA Lineup

Tommy La Stella (L) 3B
Mike Trout ( R) CF
Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
Andrelton Simmons ( R) SS
Brian Goodwin (L) RF
Jonathan Lucroy ( R) C
David Fletcher ( R) LF
Jared Walsh (L) 1B
Luis Rengifo (S) 2B

Edited May 15, 2019 by MMMordabito

[bighat]

Can't wait to get Cruz back....one would have to think that both he and Sano will be starting in Seattle tomorrow night.

 

Polanco DH-ing today, how about that?

 

Here's keeping our fingers crossed for another good start from Odorizzi. The Angels look like they've got a pretty nice squad. Ohtani has been just killing the Twins so far when he's in the batters box.

 

[GCTF]

 

Best Bar Band Name Evar!

I'll have to check but it might have been one of Mouse Rat's former names.

[cmoss84]

 

LAA Lineup

Tommy La Stella (L) 3B
Mike Trout ( R) CF
Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
Andrelton Simmons ( R) SS
Brian Goodwin (L) RF
Jonathan Lucroy ( R) C
David Fletcher ( R) LF
Jared Walsh (L) 1B
Luis Rengifo (S) 2B

My mind must be scrambled. When I first read his name, I saw "Lou Ferrigno."

[wsnydes]

 

My mind must be scrambled. When I first read his name, I saw "Lou Ferrigno."

That's okay, I keep reading Tommy Lasorda for La Stella for some reason.

[LaBombo]

 

I hope our baseball team wins today by a lot.

 

http://www.subdude-site.com/WebPages_Local/RefInfo/Computer/WebDev/WebGraphics_Decopics/StillImgs/LivingThings_orTheirParts_orToons/PeopleFamous/gordonGekko_greedIsGood_poster_340x369.jpg

Edited May 15, 2019 by LaBombo

[LaBombo]

 

My mind must be scrambled. When I first read his name, I saw "Lou Ferrigno."

 

I heard he's a teddy bear in real life...

 

[MNT1996]

I know a lot of people are skeptical about Sano, but I'm so excited to see a lineup soon that features Polanco, Cruz, Rosario, Sano, and Garver.

 

Also, doesn't Garver have experience at 1st? That could be a way for him to get in the same line up as Cruz while giving him a rest at catcher.

Edited May 15, 2019 by MNT1996

[Mill1634]

Excited to see Sano back. Wouldn't be surprised to see him pinch hit for Ehire this afternoon, and then Marwin come in for him. Best news possible on Garver, too. Let's keep it rolling boys!

[LaBombo]

 

That's okay, I keep reading Tommy Lasorda for La Stella for some reason.

 

I was watching this live when it happened  30 years ago, and to this day I still have no idea what I saw...

 

Edited May 15, 2019 by LaBombo

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Wow, Gardy would not field this lineup.  No back up catcher?  He prefers to have two back up catchers on the bench!

 

That and the 2nd basemen is not batting 2nd. 

[wsnydes]

 

I was watching this live when it happened  30 years ago, and to this day I still have no idea what I saw...

 

Awesomeness is what you saw. Pure, unadulterated awesomeness!

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Excited to see Sano back. Wouldn't be surprised to see him pinch hit for Ehire this afternoon, and then Marwin come in for him. Best news possible on Garver, too. Let's keep it rolling boys!

 

What news? I take it they said it's mild?

[jtkoupal]

Sanó's return will probably have the biggest impact on Marwin Gonzalez, who has been the regular third baseman. (Adrianza probably would have been impacted most had Garver not gone down last night).

 

I still think Gonzalez can get into the lineup ~4 times a week. Maybe he plays 3rd once, 1st once or twice, and gets a start in the outfield once a week. More injuries can of course change this, but if the Twins stay healthy in the near future, I can see that being the plan.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Sanó's return will probably have the biggest impact on Marwin Gonzalez, who has been the regular third baseman. (Adrianza probably would have been impacted most had Garver not gone down last night).

 

I still think Gonzalez can get into the lineup ~4 times a week. Maybe he plays 3rd once, 1st once or twice, and gets a start in the outfield once a week. More injuries can of course change this, but if the Twins stay healthy in the near future, I can see that being the plan.

 

He'll get moved around. His bat is heating up and he's looking more like what we wanted to get. He could give every infielder a spell one day and even a corner OF... No reason why he cannot get in 4-5 days a week to give someone a day off.

[USAFChief]

Pitching around Lastella to get to Trout.

[SomeGuy]

Baldelli's update on Garver.  "MRI was pretty positive...could be shorter than longer"  Gives no specific timeline.

 

https://twitter.com/fsnorth/status/1128701184884084736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1128701184884084736&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fminnesota-twins

Edited May 15, 2019 by SomeGuy

[operation mindcrime]

WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!