Article: MIN 5, MIL 3: Smeltzer Shines in Emotional MLB Debut

[Mike Sixel]

Congrats to Mr. Smeltzer on his debut! I am very happy for him.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Yes. Some things may be dumb luck, but plucking a struggling reliever from the Dodgers, listening to and agreeing with him that he deserves another shot as a starter, putting him on the right program to do that? Getting him prepared to dominate, really dominate, in AA and then in AAA? And then to have THAT debut?

 

Doesn't seem like luck to me. Feels like the professional scouts weighed in on Smeltzer and Raley, the FO extracted a major haul (although their BEST decision was to not SIGN Dozier in the first place), and the field staff executed the development plan.

 

Just in time, too, given that Stewart, Littell, and maybe Mejia are our next best depth options now.

Luck is the residue of design, perhaps?

[ChrisKnutson]

Since Pineda was only supposed to miss one start, what happens to Smeltzer?? Are we really gonna demote him after such an impressive performance?? I mean, he would be a nice addition to the bullpen, but that would be kind of waste wouldn’t it, especially after what he showed what he’s capable of yesterday.

[Taildragger8791]

 

An early nomination for "Homerun Call of The Year" goes to Jack Morris's laugh and Dick Bremer's silent reaction to Eddie Rosario's two-run homer in the 7th tonight. Sometimes the crowd reaction is response enough.

 

And on the very next pitch Bremer once again fooled me with another one of his misleading calls on Sano's towering 130 foot pop out. That tricky Dick.

Edited May 29, 2019 by Taildragger8791

[jctwins]

A great night of baseball, and a great story.

 

I'll admit it immediately made me recall the Anthony Swarzak debut as the second coming of Cy Young.

 

I hope this is different, but baseball can be cruel.

 

 

[MMMordabito]

 

[smeltzer] will get dealt for a reliever.

 

You might be on to something.  Value is very high right now.

[cmoss84]

 

Since Pineda was only supposed to miss one start, what happens to Smeltzer?? Are we really gonna demote him after such an impressive performance?? I mean, he would be a nice addition to the bullpen, but that would be kind of waste wouldn’t it, especially after what he showed what he’s capable of yesterday.

I have a feeling Pineda's knee will be sore for a bit longer...

[Han Joelo]

 

A great night of baseball, and a great story.

 

I'll admit it immediately made me recall the Anthony Swarzak debut as the second coming of Cy Young.

 

I hope this is different, but baseball can be cruel.

 

Andrew Albers was another one who had a similar debut.  I'm not smart enough to read between the stat lines, so for now I'm going to go with the Tom Glavinesque comp for Smeltzer.

 

For those keeping score, Jose De Leon has pitched a total of 19.2 innings for the Rays, with a 6+ ERA.  Currently on the 60 Day DL.

[MMMordabito]

 

I have a feeling Pineda's knee will be sore for a bit longer...

 

Baldelli stated during his interview that the current plan was for Smeltzer staying with the team and getting another start.  I suppose it will be at Cleveland.  I suppose the plans could change too.

[nicksaviking]

I remember when I was younger and the broadcast would cut away to the parents of a player getting interviewed in the stands, I'd think they were just killing time with some dopey hubbub for the grandmothers who were watching the game to talk about in their sewing circles the next day.

 

Now they make me cry and I wish they'd spend the whole damn inning with the parents.

[terrydactyls]

Yesterday was Tuesday, May 28 and it was the 54th game of the year.  The Twins are now 33%  of the way through the season.  Out of 59 years, the current team ranks 48th on the all-time list of Twins' home runs in one season.

 

I've got this in an Excel spreadsheet that I'm going to try to update and post in the game recap each day.  If you see any errors, let me know.  I lot of the spreadsheet is formula driven (and also the written summary) so an error may pop up.

[MMMordabito]

 

 

Now they make me cry and I wish they'd spend the whole damn inning with the parents.

 

[joefish]

Great game for Smeltzer. Baffled them. A few timely hits. Fun game. A win.

Go TWins. Wow.

[Otto von Ballpark]

And on the very next pitch Bremer once again fooled me with another one of his misleading calls on Sano's towering 130 foot pop out. That tricky Dick.

Provus even did that on the radio! Before he had to sheepishly report that the ball was caught by the shortstop...

[spanman2]

When Jack Morris is genuinely gushing over a pitching performance you know it was impressive!  Case closed.

[spanman2]

 

And on the very next pitch Bremer once again fooled me with another one of his misleading calls on Sano's towering 130 foot pop out. That tricky Dick.

That's Richard if you are LaTroy or TK...yes he was tricky indeed.

[MN_ExPat]

 

Call me crazy, but I see a lot of Chris Sale in Smeltzer. Thoughts?

Jack Morris has your back

[bird]

 

A great night of baseball, and a great story.

 

I'll admit it immediately made me recall the Anthony Swarzak debut as the second coming of Cy Young.

 

I hope this is different, but baseball can be cruel.

 

 

Let's not cry too much for Swarzak, who's still pitching (poorly last night for another new team). A second-rounder making it 11 years, accumulating 4.8 WAR, albeit with 8 different teams.

 

Not sure I wouldn't take that deal if I was Smeltzer and it was offered.

 

But yeah, great story and game, so fun.

[TribeAZ13]

Watch out Twinkies, Tribe is comin... Our .069 hitting center fielder hit his first homer of the year and the indians accidentally beat Boston at Fenway last night..Jose Ramirez (consensus top 5 player in baseball for 3 years, who now is maybe the worst statistically), got TWO hits... all in one game.. he's scorching at .201 now, and is primed to hit more homers than the entire Twins lineup combined.  Tribe right on your tails only 10 GB.... Be afraid, my Minny friends...be very afraid

[TribeAZ13]

 

Watch out Twinkies, Tribe is comin... Our .069 hitting center fielder hit his first homer of the year and the indians accidentally beat Boston at Fenway last night..Jose Ramirez (consensus top 5 player in baseball for 3 years, who now is maybe the worst statistically), got TWO hits... all in one game.. he's scorching at .201 now, and is primed to hit more homers than the entire Twins lineup combined.  Tribe right on your tails only 10 GB.... Be afraid, my Minny friends...be very afraid

Im honored to provide comedic relief to my Twin fan buddies, lol

[yarnivek1972]

After being diagnosed with cancer at age 9, I don’t suppose much would faze him.

[Riverbrian]

 

I remember when I was younger and the broadcast would cut away to the parents of a player getting interviewed in the stands, I'd think they were just killing time with some dopey hubbub for the grandmothers who were watching the game to talk about in their sewing circles the next day.

 

Now they make me cry and I wish they'd spend the whole damn inning with the parents.

 

In all seriousness... This is what baseball needs right now... this very second and shouldn't wait until tomorrow. 

 

They need to market their players and their stories. Baseball sucks at this. 

 

The baseball audience is primarily old white and male. They are not going to grow trying to get more old, white and male audiences. They will grow by reaching all the others.

 

Telling the stories of players will help baseball reach new audiences.

 

My wife will sit and watch Survivor, the Bachelor and the Voice just to see who gets voted off. She watches the produced biographies of each contestant and she listens to what they have to say and why these moments are important to them and she lets those production pieces determine who she wants to get chosen and then she watches to see who gets chosen. 

 

While my wife watches these shows... I tell her that Baseball has all of this ten times over. Players are voted off the island all the time but baseball does a crappy job of telling their stories and as a result... declining numbers and poor name recognition beyond the baseball fan elite. 

 

I told my wife about Smeltzer surviving cancer as a 9 year old... She listened to his parents being interviewed... She watched the game and cared about Smeltzer. 

 

I love the Smeltzer story but there are a lot of stories that need to be told. Tell them and baseball has a chance of increasing it's audience base. 

[TribeAZ13]

 

In all seriousness... This is what baseball needs right now... this very second and shouldn't wait until tomorrow. 

 

They need to market their players and their stories. Baseball sucks at this. 

 

The baseball audience is primarily old white and male. They are not going to grow trying to get more old, white and male audiences. They will grow by reaching all the others.

 

Telling the stories of players will help baseball reach new audiences.

 

My wife will sit and watch Survivor, the Bachelor and the Voice just to see who gets voted off. She watches the produced biographies of each contestant and she listens to what they have to say and why these moments are important to them and she lets those production pieces determine who she wants to get chosen and then she watches to see who gets chosen. 

 

While my wife watches these shows... I tell her that Baseball has all of this ten times over. Players are voted off the island all the time but baseball does a crappy job of telling their stories and as a result... declining numbers and poor name recognition beyond the baseball fan elite. 

 

I told my wife about Smeltzer surviving cancer as a 9 year old... She listened to his parents being interviewed... She watched the game and cared about Smeltzer. 

 

I love the Smeltzer story but there are a lot of stories that need to be told. Tell them and baseball has a chance of increasing it's audience base. 

well said... and kudos for getting the wife to watch baseball with u...andrea would not watch a single second with me, tho i did get her to jump on the Cavs bandwagon when Lebron dragged my talentless cavs to the finals last yr...she hates sports and prob hates me a little for loving them lol

[spanman2]

 

Im honored to provide comedic relief to my Twin fan buddies, lol

IALTO

[TribeAZ13]

 

IALTO

Hey! No using acronym internet speak, btw...lol.....wait, nm.....  ahhh! ive been infected by milleniall-itis

[wallyrichards]

IMO the issues with Rodgers and Parker have more to do with how much and when they are used. In our last series with Detroit we had a chance to sweep them but in the lone loss Roco refused to use Rodgers in the eighth inning instead going with someone else. Detroit ended up winning the game when Roco should've brought Rodgers in to pitch the 8th and Parker to pitch the ninth. Unwritten rule is when you're at home and the game is tied you use your set up man and closer like you're a head. ON the road you don't use the set up man and closer until yo have the lead. At home you use them when its tied because you have the last at bat. This is the way its been for the last 15 to 20 years. Now you have last night and IMO Roco should've left the young kid in there to pitch at least one more inning. And now he's flip flopping the relievers all over the place. Bringing in Parker before Rodgers and it's starting to screw with these guys. You could see the relievers were more than a little disgruntled. This is a good team Roco just needs to not trip them up and we'll be going to the playoffs. I understand the pitchers need there rest and I'm ok with the 100 pitch count for the starters but when you start pulling them after only 60 some pitches while pitching a shut out you have to wonder if it's set them up for failure down the road. On the positive Smeltzer pitched his hiney off. I love those types of pitchers. It isn't how hard you throw it and he beats them with great control. Throwing strikes and hitting the corners. I'd like to see them recall HIldenberger and send May down. 

[ashbury]

Hey! No using acronym internet speak, btw...lol.....wait, nm.....  ahhh! ive been infected by milleniall-itis

Not just millenials. You probably haven't had occasion to read the site's Comment Policy, which contains this passage written by an old fart:

 

 

If it looks like it was typed on your phone keypad upside-down after one too many adult beverages, orwithoutspacingandparagraphbreaksresultinginawalloftext, or with SHOUTING IN ALL CAPS, or with too many abbreviations and overly obscure "text-speak", it stands a chance of being deleted by the moderators, lol;#omg;rofl@u.

[TribeAZ13]

 

Not just millenials. You probably haven't had occasion to read the site's Comment Policy, which contains this passage written by an old fart:

BAHAHAHAHA, that is amazing...u guys are all great

[adorduan]

Great feel good story for Smeltzer and the Twins.  Fun to see him have a great start.  Not to be a Debbie Downer but to me his stuff looks really fringy.  Kind of like a Tommy Milone.  His delivery might make it look a little faster but if teams see him more than once, it probably won't go well. Hope i'm wrong.

[twinsguy45]

Okay. That’s my favorite Twins game in years.

Me too. Well at least since the middle of the first inning of the WC game un 2017...