Game Thread “Josh” 7/21/19 1:10 CDT Twins vs. Athletics

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Not liking the Rollie Fingers vibe?

an organizational tradition...

 

[GCTF]

 

My son sported one of those for several years.

 

Reviews were... mixed.

He wasn't also into railroad track bondage, was he?

[Tom Froemming]

 

Not especially, but it's much better than the hippie beards.

Well I'm sure you'll appreciate seeing all the clean-cut Yankees the next series.

[ashbury]

He wasn't also into railroad track bondage, was he?

 

Reference ... noted.

[PDX Twin]

 

an organizational tradition...

 

I've disliked the Athletics since the 1970s. I moved to the Bay Area for graduate school at the time that Charlie Finley's A's were winning all their championships. I not only had to endure the misery of that awful stadium, but the Twins routinely lost to Reggie Jackson, Sal Bando, and company, sending the few hundred A's fans into delirium and driving me to baseball depression.

[SwainZag]

Sano should be pissed

[PDX Twin]

 

Well I'm sure you'll appreciate seeing all the clean-cut Yankees the next series.

 

There are plenty of other reasons to hate the Yankees.

[nicksaviking]

Let’s get another run here.

[PDX Twin]

 

Sano should be pissed

 

At himself for watching strike three?

[Tom Froemming]

Nine-pitch plate appearance by Sano there. Ended in a K, but Mengden is already up over 30 pitches.

[nicksaviking]

 

Reference ... noted.

Well yeah, can’t go with the top hat AND the mustache.

[Tom Froemming]

[Circus Boy]

 

I've disliked the Athletics since the 1970s. I moved to the Bay Area for graduate school at the time that Charlie Finley's A's were winning all their championships. I not only had to endure the misery of that awful stadium, but the Twins routinely lost to Reggie Jackson, Sal Bando, and company, sending the few hundred A's fans into delirium and driving me to baseball depression.

Definitely felt that way last night after scoreus interupptus.

[SwainZag]

 

At himself for watching strike three?

 

Yes, though I don't think Strike 1 or 2 were strikes.  I'm surprised he let that one go though.

[Tom Froemming]

Alright, great start. I need to tend to my pet snail. No, that's not a euphemism. Why does everybody always ask that?

 

Pressure's on, don't screw this up everybody.

[Bavarian]

A man on 2nd with no outs left out there.  It's a problem that persists.  I would venture to guess that the Twins are among the leaders in the majors in men LOB.  They're getting hits which is a good sign but it is commonplace to see them start an inning with runners at 1st & 2nd with no one scoring.  Happens way too often.  Moreover, the number of times a runner is on 3rd with less than two outs where they fail to sac fly him in is beyond amazing to me.  For as well as they can hit bombs, they really need to work on finer aspects of hitting that include situational scenarios.  They seem lazy in that regard.  Falling in love with the long ball perhaps.  Costs them games.

[nicksaviking]

Adrianza OPS approaching .800.

 

Is something I never thought anyone would say.

[nicksaviking]

This Kepler guy might get a few MVP votes.

[ashbury]

KEPLER !!!!

[GCTF]

Shoulda bunted. 

[FLTwinsGuy]

Sure nice to have kepler and polanco locked up for awhile

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Shoulda bunted.

 

a sac fly would have brought in a run, too

[Aggies7]

LETS ****ING GO

[Circus Boy]

 

a sac fly would have brought in a run, too

I say play for the wild pitch.

[yarnivek1972]

Please sir, I’d like some more (runs).

[twins1095]

 

A man on 2nd with no outs left out there.  It's a problem that persists.  I would venture to guess that the Twins are among the leaders in the majors in men LOB.  They're getting hits which is a good sign but it is commonplace to see them start an inning with runners at 1st & 2nd with no one scoring.  Happens way too often.  Moreover, the number of times a runner is on 3rd with less than two outs where they fail to sac fly him in is beyond amazing to me.  For as well as they can hit bombs, they really need to work on finer aspects of hitting that include situational scenarios.  They seem lazy in that regard.  Falling in love with the long ball perhaps.  Costs them games.

 

https://www.teamrankings.com/mlb/stat/left-on-base-per-game

 

Here it is.  The Twins are 8th worst in number of men LOB per game.  Although if you look at the teams ahead of us (Boston, TB, LAA, Houston, LAD) and right behind us (Mil, Atlanta) some of that is a function of having more men on base to leave on base and something that good offenses will always lead the league in. 

 

The Yankees are 15th...so I think we do struggle at it a little bit, but it's something that other (good) teams also struggle with.

[mrtwinsfan]

Good job Big Mike!!

[MNT1996]

At this point with how consistent Pineda has been lately I'd take him over almost anybody in our rotation to start an important game.

[twins1095]

Man does Sano get over analyzed on a per pitch basis more than anyone.  If every batter got the Sano treatment and commentators suggested major swing adjustments were needed after every foul ball or swing and miss... it's exhausting to listen to.  Chill Smalley.

[PDX Twin]

 

Man does Sano get over analyzed on a per pitch basis more than anyone.  If every batter got the Sano treatment and commentators suggested major swing adjustments were needed after every foul ball or swing and miss... it's exhausting to listen to.  Chill Smalley.

 

Expectations. Buxton still gets the same treatment. Rosario did when he was swinging at everything. These are players that have been expected to be stars for years. We have been told that they are capable of being outstanding hitters. When they fail, it's only natural for everyone to offer opinions about the reasons. 

 

Adrianza? Castro? Nobody really expects them to hit, so none of us is surprised when they fail. Kepler and Polanco get some flak when they go into a slump, but this year they have been fairly consistent.