Game Thread: Twins @ Angels 7:07 PM PST (9:07 PM CST) 5/20/2019

[Darius]

I have absolutely loved Baldelli thus far. But, my God, this Buxton in the 9 hole gotten out of control. It’s honestly just getting stupid at this point.

 

Willians Astudillo, outside of about a week and half, is totally unproven. He’s has a .726 OPS on the year, and a sub .280 OBP in the last 30 games.....and he’s hitting 3rd tonight.

 

But, you say, the Twins have a great lineup this year. Hitting 9th on this team doesn’t mean you’re terrible. Well, let’s see who’s in the lineup tonight:

 

Leading off, Kepler and his ripping .230 avg and .760 OPS. Polanco is second (where he should be). We’ve discussed the absurd and literally unintelligent Astudillo thing. Rosario is fourth (I concur). Sano, fresh off of 16 years on the disabled list with his avg. under .180 is fifth. Arraez is 6th in his second MLB start. Perpetually awful offensive player Castro is 7th (you know, the guy every Twins fan on earth wanted DFA’d two weeks ago). Quite possibly the worst offensive MLB player on a 25 man roster in Adrianza is 8th.

 

Cruz, Sano, and Cron are all out of the lineup tonight....and he’s still hitting 9th.

 

Honestly, people are playing the “how can you complain with this record,” card quite a bit, and I get it. But, if this bullpen isnt straightened out, and Baldelli doesn’t stop getting cute with these lineups (seriously, Astudillo 3rd on the best offense in the MLB? We’ve reached peak insanity), they’re going to spit most of this lead back to the Indians before next Monday. The hubris is flowing already.

 

Everyone is head over heals for Baldelli right now. But, at what point are they winning in spite of his questionable personnel decisions?

[JRiggity]

Polanco at DH tonight??? DH + odd swings the last couple nights... I feel like he might be a little banged up.

[yarnivek1972]

Cruz is on IL and Sano is in the lineup.

[Danchat]

Yeah, the lineup doesn't make a ton of sense... but I like that Arraez was moved up. Molly would be having him hit 9th every game because he's a rookie.

[MMMordabito]

they’re going to spit most of this lead back to the Indians before next Monday.

Well,the Indians won't be getting any of it tonight ... They actually have to win to cut into the lead.

 

Also, the starting pitching the Twins will face the next six games is pretty awful.

 

I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[MNT1996]

 

But, if this bullpen isnt straightened out, and Baldelli doesn’t stop getting cute with these lineups (seriously, Astudillo 3rd on the best offense in the MLB? We’ve reached peak insanity), they’re going to spit most of this lead back to the Indians before next Monday. The hubris is flowing already.

 

Baldelli getting cute with these lineups has ended up with the Twins having a 30-16 record

[DocBauer]

Nothing bad ever happened to me in Knoxville. Come to think of it, nothing good ever happened to me in Knoxville either.

 

Knoxville is like Nebraska; a good place to go through.

As a native Nebraskan, and Big Red lover for 42+ years I would like to object! I would really like to object! I would really like to!

 

Oh hell...it's really a fine place to live. But I just can't object to a drive through only unless you are just a Midwesterner born and raised.

 

Play ball!

[ScrapTheNickname]

Kepler: Oppo Tacito!

[DocBauer]

Yeah, the lineup doesn't make a ton of sense... but I like that Arraez was moved up. Molly would be having him hit 9th every game because he's a rookie.

Absolutely love that Rocco is letting Arraez actually play instead of riding the bench.

 

Astudillo is only a couple games back. I fully believe he will find his groove quickly again. Hopefully tonight. Some regular playing time has allowed Adrianza to actually start hitting and being decently productive again, something he has been for the past 2 seasons. This lineup actually still makes sense to me.

 

Couldn't have said that last season to be sure.

[operation mindcrime]

No Schoop, no Cron, no Gonzales...

No CROM!!!!

[drock2190]

Twins have a lot of big boys in the infield tonight.

[Aggies7]

In all my years on this planet watching baseball, that sano AB has to be in the top 5 all time most awful I’ve ever seen

[operation mindcrime]

ARRAEZ!!!!!!!

[Fargoguy]

Actual conversation from the booth (slightly paraphrased due to my weak memory)

 

Dick: The Twins are on pace to score 923 runs this year. Many thought this team could score 800, but 923!

 

LaTroy: If the Twins can keep up this pace they should be able to get to that number.

 

Math must not be LaTroy's thing.

[USAFChief]

Sano looks worse than ever.

[Twodogs]

Miguel Sano

 

"Straight ball hit very much, curve ball bats are afraid."

[USAFChief]

 

Actual conversation from the booth (slightly paraphrased due to my weak memory)

Dick: The Twins are on pace to score 923 runs this year. Many thought this team could score 800, but 923!

LaTroy: If the Twins can keep up this pace they should be able to get to that number.

Math must not be LaTroy's thing.

Not to be mean, but LaTroy is awful. Really, really awful.

[Aggies7]

Sano looks worse than ever.

I know it’s a hack line, but I could have batted for him and not looked any worse. That was pathetic

[operation mindcrime]

Yeah Castro!!!!!!

[USAFChief]

 

I know it’s a hack line, but I could have batted for him and not looked any worse. That was pathetic

Well, I'm betting his uniform wouldn't fit you well, so you would, indeed, have looked worse.

[operation mindcrime]

Ehire coming through again!!!!!!

[Aggies7]

Arraez looked a lot like Alexis casilla

[USAFChief]

Castro should have had a double there.

[Aggies7]

Castro should have had a double there.

Did not run out of the box

[Nine of twelve]

Small ball run. We'll take it.

[Blake]

Just checking in. Eastern time zones and West Coast Twins games don't really go well together.

[ScrapTheNickname]

Would it be sacrilegious if we kicked a whole bunch of angels' derrieres tonight?

[jimbo92107]

I really like this Luis Arraez kid. That crouching stance reminds me a little of Pete Rose, Carew, Gwynn... Could be a very high average hitter. 

[bighat]

 

Sano looks worse than ever.

 

On that at bat (and a couple in Seattle) he looked as bad as he did last season. He's "one-handing" his swings, even in the on-deck circle. It's like he's practicing a golf swing or something, just completely waving at the ball, one-handed, while falling out of the box. And those check-swings on strike three(s).

 

It looks just terrible and I hate watching it, so depressing.

[Aggies7]

Just checking in. Eastern time zones and West Coast Twins games don't really go well together.

I know, it’s beenbrutal. Hate the west coast trips