Article: MIN 5, TB 3: Twins Rally, Top Rays Late

[Aerodeliria]

ESPN's Marly Rivera reported yesterday: "Nelson Cruz (wrist) told me that he felt "the best" he has felt after hitting in the cage at Tropicana Field (Thursday). Cruz also said he'll take regular batting practice on Friday, and depending on how he feels, the team will make a decision as to whether he'll be activated off the IL."

Thanks so much for the update!

Edited June 1, 2019 by Aerodeliria

[Dman]

I have to say when the Rays were up 3 to 1 I was thinking maybe we just can't compete with the East teams.  I was glad when they turned it around and found a way to win.  OUr players chased some horrible pitches, looking at you Rosario and Astudillo and yet those two both came through in the clutch.  As long as our pitching holds this is going to be a special team.

 

Stinks that Sano got robbed of a Home Run.  I think Domes and Baseball don't really go well together.

[Dantes929]

One of the hardest hit balls I've ever seen was a David Ortiz single in the metrodome.   Ball hit off a speaker but it looked like it would have traveled 600 feet in open air.  

[Dantes929]

 

Baseball Savant says this Sano's speaker shot: EV LA Dist Vel xBA 97.8 46 325 88.9 .020 What a joke. Good thing it didn't cost the Twins the victory. I still feel Twins fans cannot complain too much as our old stadium had the same issues.

Did I read that right?    I don't think a 325 foot ball should be a home run anyway.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Did I read that right?    I don't think a 325 foot ball should be a home run anyway.

 

Depends... was the speaker 325 feet from the plate? If so, that would have been a mammoth shot in an open air stadium.

[wabene]

Eddie's catch off of the metrodome ceiling.

 

Dick ever the company man slinging the hyperbole.

[Dantes929]

 

Depends... was the speaker 325 feet from the plate? If so, that would have been a mammoth shot in an open air stadium.

I assumed everything was measured to give an estimate of how far the ball would have gone.   The left fielder looked like he thought he had a bead on it near the fence but that fence is only 315 feet which again, to me seems really shallow for a home run.    My own soap box but I don't think anything less than 350 feet should be a home run no matter the field and nothing less than 380 for the gaps and center.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Weren't there similar rules at the metrodome? I seem to remember that the lights on the roof were considered in play.

Yep. I can’t recall the specifics but if certain things were hit in the dome (I think speakers were one), the ball was still in play.

[Aichiman]

 

Possibly. I never got to see a Twins game at the metrodome (grew up in NC). Caught Vikings games there twice when visiting, which was fun, but I'm not really certain how the park played for baseball

I've never seen 'em play at Target Field.  I left the Minneapolis in 1999.

[hybridbear]

How did Astudillo have a positive WPA when he made a couple of poor plays? He was thrown out at home because he forgot that he's a tortuga who thinks he's a hare and he didn't run hard. And then he gave up a run on the double steal by throwing to second and everyone was safe. I thought in that situation you're supposed to just give up the stolen base to protect the plate.

[Mr. Brooks]

How did Astudillo have a positive WPA when he made a couple of poor plays? He was thrown out at home because he forgot that he's a tortuga who thinks he's a hare and he didn't run hard. And then he gave up a run on the double steal by throwing to second and everyone was safe. I thought in that situation you're supposed to just give up the stolen base to protect the plate.

I don't believe either of those plays are considered by WPA.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Did I read that right?    I don't think a 325 foot ball should be a home run anyway.

 

I just watched the replay of that shot... It was 325 at the point it hit that speaker. That would have been close to 500 feet had it actually landed on it's original trajectory. It was a monster shot.