Game Thread: Twins vs Texas 7:10 PM CST 7/5/2019

[Danchat]

Yeeeeeaaaaaaaaah this is what I'm talking about! Now please, stop raining so we can finish this game! ...with a win, hopefully.

[PDX Twin]

Max seems to Keple really well.

[VATwinsFan]

POLANCO-MANIA!!!

[John Kelsey]

Pretty good inning going on here. 

[MNT1996]

This is the Twins team I missed

[TwinsCD]

WELCOME BACK BOYS!!

[Blake]

 

Schoop and Buxton with back to back 2 out doubles.

Was that an ordinary double or a Buxton only double?

Just checking updates...

Ordinary double.

[Blake]

 

I've been looking forward to Laudner. Hopefully, he still has that edge he demonstrated a few years ago when he suggested the pitcher needs to go down and in again after a batter fouls one of those off his shin.

I tuned in just in time to listen to Laudner make this very point regarding Marwin.

 

Heh.

[Darius]

That inning felt really therapeutic.

[MNT1996]

The boys are feeling good tonight

[Blake]

Shoot, Perez was through the inning so quick, I wonder if Texas was able to get their bullpen guy ready in time?

 

Edit: Holy moly, Texas is sticking with Sampson?

 

Edit 2: Why didn't the manager pull that poor kid sooner? Good grief.

[Danchat]

Perez regaining his mojo would be huge for this rotation. His last start against the Rays was huge, another would be even huger.

[VATwinsFan]

....and Perez getting through 3 innings on 39 pitches and no walks.

[Halsey Hall]

We really needed an inning like that to get Perez a nice cushion. He should go at least 5 tonight.

[mrtwinsfan]

WOW What a inning= fun

[mrtwinsfan]

Thats where Schoop is his best= his arm

[MNT1996]

Where has this defense and offense been the last couple of weeks?

[Squirrel]

Schoop! What a play!

[PseudoSABR]

Who is in the booth with Dick? Maybe I'm being obtuse but I don't recognize the voice.

[yarnivek1972]

Remember when Texas had good pitching? Me neither.

[TwinsCD]

 

Who is in the booth with Dick? Maybe I'm being obtuse but I don't recognize the voice.

 

Tim Laudner

[TwinsCD]

 

Where has this defense and offense been the last couple of weeks?

 

Everybody's gonna have a lull.  Not gonna play .667 ball forever.

[Squirrel]

Uh oh ... is Cruz’ wrist bothering him again?

[howeda7]

 

Kepler has an obp 25 points higher than Buxton. The only player with a lower obp than Byron is Schoop. The only ones higher than Kepler are Cruz, Polanco and Garver. Garver sometimes does lead off vs lhp. Cruz isn’t going to lead off. Polanco is ideally suited for the two spot. Which brings us back to Kepler. No, he isn’t an ideal or “tradtional” lead off man. He has been (at least from my research) quite prone to extreme hot and cold patches. But he is nevertheless the best candidate for the job IMO.

It's not so much about Kepler as changing things up. Naturally within minutes of saying how stagnant the offense is, they put up a 6 spot. 

[Blake]

 

It's not so much about Kepler as changing things up. Naturally within minutes of saying how stagnant the offense is, they put up a 6 spot. 

Maybe say it more often?

[Fargoguy]

Cruz had to sprint in his top gear to leg out that double. I hope he didn't strain a hammy or something.

[TwinsCD]

 

The Kepler leading off experiment is no longer working. Move Buxton to lead off. Kepler to 3rd. 

 

The 'leadoff' guy is only noticed in the first inning.  The way the combinations work themselves out throughout the game means that the 'leadoff' guy could come up with guys on base in any particular inning...sort of like what Kepler just did on his RBI single.  Rocco thinks Kep is one of the better contact hitters on the team and he wants to get him as many at-bats as possible in a game, hence why he's in the 'leadoff' spot.  I was dubious about it at first because I'm so used to the traditional leadoff slots where Bux or Polanco should be in it but I like how this has worked out because now you have 3 really good contact hitters at the top of the lineup on a regular basis (Kep, Polanco, Cruz).

[obtusebanter]

Bring on the 'pen! Lets wear it out in game 1.

[Fargoguy]

Now Dick just said right heel for Cruz.

[PseudoSABR]

 

Tim Laudner

Thanks! That makes sense. I forgot that he sometimes pulled booth duties.