Game Thread: Twins vs Mariners 6/11/19 7:10 PM CDT

[USAFChief]

 

He gave up two singles.

 

That happens.

 

He was pretty shaky against Encarnacion and got straight-up lucky with that third strike.

 

But outside that Encarnacion plate appearance, he was just fine. We're all riled up because of those two singles but guess what? Singles happen in baseball. No ball was drilled against May and he made a couple of hitters weakly pop up.

Let's not sugar coat this. May was extremely shaky.

 

He gave up a solid single to Mallex (.598 OPS) Smith after getting ahead 0-2, because the count ran to 3-2 and everyone knew he would throw a FB near the middle. Solid single to the second hitter. On the edge of walking Encarnacion.

 

Vogalback got a great swing at a FB and May was pretty lucky that was a popup. Seager got good swings.

 

 

[DocBauer]

Final thought...I love this sh*t!!

[twinssporto]

 

Final thought...I love this sh*t!!

http://jewel993.com/wp-content/uploads/Cheers-huffingtonpostcom-1.jpg

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

He bas the stuff! For whatever reason, the May we saw last year just hasn t been the same guy we've seen this year, except in stretches. Here's hoping tonight is a big boost for his confidence!

I think we should all take a deep breath and look at what May did tonight. Keep in mind that he was facing the top of the Mariners lineup, from leadoff onward.

 

He got up 0-2 on the first batter. He faltered while trying to get a swing and miss with three bad balls. A pretty weak single ensued.

 

The second batter weakly singled on the first pitch.

 

What has he actually done wrong here? In baseball terms, basically nothing. This is how baseball works sometimes.

 

Now, the actual problem arises with the Encarnacion plate appearance. May pitched away, away, away, with a dabbling of high heat. You can tell this is where Trevor was out of sorts, throwing some pretty bad pitches because he's rattled after two lazy singles. Thankfully, he lucked out and got the called third strike.

 

After that, it was two lazy pop-ups.

 

So tell me exactly how badly Trevor May pitched again.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Let's not sugar coat this. May was extremely shaky.

 

He gave up a solid single to Mallex (.598 OPS) Smith after getting ahead 0-2, because the count ran to 3-2 and everyone knew he would throw a FB near the middle. Solid single to the second hitter. On the edge of walking Encarnacion.

 

Vogalback got a great swing at a FB and May was pretty lucky that was a popup. Seager got good swings.

Seriously? Two dinks barely over Polanco's head (one from a lefty) are "solid"?

 

And Seager got "good swings"? Surely you mean that one "good" swing where he fell to his knee and fouled the ball off his own body. Great swing, good form. Or maybe you mean the time he fought off a ball on his hands and sent it about 50 feet into the stands.

 

And Vogelbach is such a great hitter that he outshines Sano, right? And you surely back Sano for "getting a good swing" on plate appearances where he ends up popping out weakly to left.

 

Because that's just bad luck for Sano.

 

BTW, the mighty Vogelbach took one pitch looking and then weakly popped out, FTR.

[Han Joelo]

 

You're too young to remember him, aren't you?

 

I think I remember remembering him, from something I might have seen somewhere, at some point.

[Don Walcott]

 

Thanks Carole!  It was a tough grind but I just felt the momentum turning.  I'm on a little oxygen right now but overall feeling fine.  Tomorrow is going to be great. Just remember, you gotta take it one pitch at a time.

What do you have to say to all those TD game thread participants out there who were rooting for you so hard the whole time!!!!

[twinssporto]

 

What do you have to say to all those TD game thread participants out there who were rooting for you so hard the whole time!!!!

Thanks Don! Just want to say thank you for all the continued support. I know there were a lot of people concerned about the outcome but it just came down to pure determination. The TD member support and written comments mean the world to me.

 

Let's go get another win tomorrow night!

[USAFChief]

 

Seriously? Two dinks barely over Polanco's head (one from a lefty) are "solid"?

 

And Seager got "good swings"? Surely you mean that one "good" swing where he fell to his knee and fouled the ball off his own body. Great swing, good form.

 

And Vogelbach is such a great hitter that he outshines Sano, right? And you surely back Sano for "getting a good swing" on plate appearances where he ends up popping out weakly to left.

 

Because that's just bad luck for Sano.

LOL. I guess we'll just have to disagree.

 

 

[Don Walcott]

 

Thanks Don! Just want to say thank you for all the continued support. I know there were a lot of people concerned about the outcome but it just came down to pure determination. The TD member support and written comments mean the world to me.

 

Let's go get another win tomorrow night!

[bucket of Ice Water]

[BattleYourTailOff]

^ same. Even if May has a few “good” weeks starting now I hope the FO doesn’t think it solves a gaping problem. This is a new era post Terry Ryan after all.

[Soft Tosser]

Seems to me that May is a guy who is more effective when he's used often, kinda loses command of the fastball when he sits too long.

[BattleYourTailOff]

Seems to me that May is a guy who is more effective when he's used often, kinda loses command of the fastball when he sits too long.

Yeah. That’s not a good trait to have on a team with our offense if you wanna be a high leverage pitcher. Or a high leverage pitcher in general.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

LOL. I guess we'll just have to disagree.

We don't disagree that May fell apart against Encarnacion.

 

But I just re-watched the inning. Vogelbach didn't get a good swing. He looked at a pitch and then weakly popped out to the back of the infield. Seager didn't get good swings, he literally contacted with three pitches: one that made him fall to his knee, another that was weakly popped behind him to the stands, and another that barely made it to the outfield as a pop-out.

 

This is a good example of how tension over a few pretty routine singles can effect an entire inning. I'm glad Baldelli doesn't let that kind of nonsense influence him. We were all so stressed out (me included) over those two singles (seriously, IT'S BASEBALL! singles happen) that we missed how May actually did okay for himself outside of being rattled during the Encarnacion plate appearance (no excuses for that, but he managed to get through it).

[BattleYourTailOff]

It definitely is baseball. I think there’s better options than May we can add to this team in this game of Major League Baseball, would you agree?

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

It definitely is baseball. I think there’s better options than May we can add to this team in this game of Major League Baseball, would you agree?

May isn't the back of the bullpen so it's a moot point.

 

Can the Twins improve? Absolutely, and I want them to do so ASAP.

 

But Trevor May is not the problem, as he's a decent middle of the bullpen arm.

 

On the other side of that coin, I don't want to see the team pick up a "dedicated closer". What a waste of effing time.

 

This team has lost either zero or one games after the eighth inning, I can't remember. The "closer" isn't the problem.

 

And I appreciate the hell out of Baldelli using a guy like May on a random Tuesday in June. That's something I want to see continue throughout the season. Pick up one or two good relievers, yes... but if one is strictly relegated to a closer role, my eyes will roll out of my head, as it defeats so much of what has made this team great through 60+ games.

[curt1965]

Seriously? Two dinks barely over Polanco's head (one from a lefty) are "solid"?

 

And Seager got "good swings"? Surely you mean that one "good" swing where he fell to his knee and fouled the ball off his own body. Great swing, good form. Or maybe you mean the time he fought off a ball on his hands and sent it about 50 feet into the stands.

 

And Vogelbach is such a great hitter that he outshines Sano, right? And you surely back Sano for "getting a good swing" on plate appearances where he ends up popping out weakly to left.

 

Because that's just bad luck for Sano.

 

BTW, the mighty Vogelbach took one pitch looking and then weakly popped out, FTR.

Exactly what’s the difference between 2 dinks and 2 line-drives? May was lucky. There is a big difference in bringing in a quality closer, and someone who has no idea of the strike zone. I think Rocco was trying some type of weird mind meld with the relievers. He was willing to lose a game to make a point. He lucked out tonight. I guess that’s why they pay him the big bucks.

 

Sorry, I was not impressed.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Exactly what’s the difference between 2 dinks and 2 line-drives? May was lucky. There is a big difference in bringing in a quality closer, and someone who has no idea of the strike zone. I think Rocco was trying some type of weird mind meld with the relievers. He was willing to lose a game to make a point. He lucked out tonight. I guess that’s why they pay him the big bucks.

Sorry, I was not impressed.

What's the difference between two dinks and two line drives?

 

Luck, and baseball.

 

This is a game that you can do right 90% of the time and still succeed just 30% of the time.

 

There's a reason why almost every successful front office relies heavily on analytics for everything they do.

[BattleYourTailOff]

May isn't the back of the bullpen so it's a moot point.

 

Can the Twins improve? Absolutely, and I want them to do so ASAP.

We’re 100% on the same page then. I still want May on this team. Just not a 7th,8th,9th/high leverage option. And yeah it’s not a mortal sin to bring him in here in June. Past the trade deadline tho, definitely.

[BattleYourTailOff]

About the dedicated closer? Maybe maybe not. I really don’t care if the Twins have only lost 1 game after the 8th on June 12th. I care about them not Joe Nathaning in the playoffs against playoff teams. If someone can be “the guy” that gets it done. Bring him the eff in.

[BattleYourTailOff]

I love our regular season success to this point but it’s kinda odd to see how people forget how playoff baseball is played at another level than April-June baseball. Maybe it’s our lack of playoff appearances in the last decade that is causing amnesia.

[MNT1996]

Reminder for people to vote for the All-Star game. I really think Castro belongs in Cleveland for the ASG but he needs some voting help. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

We’re 100% on the same page then. I still want May on this team. Just not a 7th,8th,9th/high leverage option. And yeah it’s not a mortal sin to bring him in here in June. Past the trade deadline tho, definitely.

See, I only want a reliever brought in based on leverage, matchups, and general health of the roster. If May is that guy on August 18th, I want him brought in for the ninth inning.

[BattleYourTailOff]

See, I only want a reliever brought in based on leverage, matchups, and general health of the roster. If May is that guy on August 18th, I want him brought in for the ninth inning.

Yeah man. August 18th is whatever. Hopefully we are rolling up on clinching shortly after then. I’m more thinking of our roster come the playoffs. If May is a high leverage guy in October it’s because he elevated his game to that level or we didn’t do enough to this bullpen. As of now. I don’t want him anywhere near high leverage situations against Astros or Yanks in October. That’s just me tho.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Yeah man. August 18th is whatever. Hopefully we are rolling up on clinching shortly after then. I’m more thinking of our roster come the playoffs. If May is a high leverage guy in October it’s because he elevated his game to that level or we didn’t do enough to this bullpen. As of now. I don’t want him anywhere near high leverage situations against Astros or Yanks in October. That’s just me tho.

If you're worried about October, why are you also so concerned about singular games in June?

 

I want bullpen additions, and good ones... but I'm not going to fret over Baldelli's EXCELLENT usage of relievers over the past month plus. 

 

In cast you haven't noticed, the team has to play roughly 100 games between now and October. Maybe conservation and rest is... a... good thing?

[USAFChief]

 

If you're worried about October, why are you also so concerned about singular games in June?

 

I want bullpen additions, and good ones... but I'm not going to fret over Baldelli's EXCELLENT usage of relievers over the past month plus. 

 

In cast you haven't noticed, the team has to play roughly 100 games between now and October. Maybe conservation and rest is... a... good thing?

Baldelli apparently said in the post gamer Rogers wasn't available tonight. I'm reporting this second hand, as I don't get to see the post gamer.

[Squirrel]

 

Baldelli apparently said in the post gamer Rogers wasn't available tonight. I'm reporting this second hand, as I don't get to see the post gamer.

There's a tweet embedded in the game recap that said Rogers was unavailable due to back stiffness.

 

Uh oh.

[USAFChief]

 

There's a tweet embedded in the game recap that said Rogers was unavailable due to back stiffness.

 

Uh oh.

PANIC!!!!!1!

[jz7233]

 

Seriously? Two dinks barely over Polanco's head (one from a lefty) are "solid"?

 

And Seager got "good swings"? Surely you mean that one "good" swing where he fell to his knee and fouled the ball off his own body. Great swing, good form. Or maybe you mean the time he fought off a ball on his hands and sent it about 50 feet into the stands.

 

And Vogelbach is such a great hitter that he outshines Sano, right? And you surely back Sano for "getting a good swing" on plate appearances where he ends up popping out weakly to left.

 

Because that's just bad luck for Sano.

 

BTW, the mighty Vogelbach took one pitch looking and then weakly popped out, FTR.

Vogelbach is a good hitter. He was a bit aggressive there. That's a ball he hit. May got lucky.

[wabene]

Yeah it’s not like the FO doesn’t know we need BP help. If Rocco was proving a point it’s pretty redundant at this point. Bad pitching management.

I don't agree. This is how Rocco keeps everybody involved and exposing May to situations like this might calm him down over time.