GAME THREAD: Twins vs. Braves 8/7/19 12:10 CDT

[IndianaTwin]

 

Yeah, that's my point--there's no way Cleveland wanted a DH today, except for the business people who want the money.  Any person in a baseball role wanted a potential makeup game delayed to the end of the year.

 

Yeah, but then they put themselves at a playoff disadvantage by giving up the off day following the regular season. 

[scottz]

I hope our baseball team scores a run today.

[70charger]

 

A HIT! THEY GOT A HIT!!!!

[scottz]

 

I am remembering correctly that you did that cool article on forecasts and expected weather conditions opening day, right? 

I was with you until you described it as "cool".

[wsnydes]

 

This is one instance where I really wish that you could get a gist of the lack of enthusiasm that's behind this bit. It's so fitting.

[IndianaTwin]

 

So tired of the 5-4-3 triple plays.

Gimme one of those 3-8-7-2-4-7-1-4-5 triple plays, whydontcha!

 

I'm a big fan of the 8-6-7-5-3-0-9 variety.  

[Blake]

 

I was with you until you described it as "cool".

Fabulous? Interesting? Fabulously interesting? Outstanding? Meh?

[SwainZag]

 

Twins really need a Johan Santana-like starter if they really want to compete for a championship. Berrios is good, but I just don't see him as a shut down guy like the Astros have in Verlander or the Dodgers have in Kershaw. I'm praying Graterol is that guy for us next year.

 

How many titles have the Dodgers won with Kershaw?  It takes more than an ace to win in the playoffs.

[VATwinsFan]

Polance batting in the .230s over the last 30 games.

[ashbury]

A HIT! THEY GOT A HIT!!!!

What's the phrase? "Cancel the press conference"?

[wsnydes]

 

I'm a big fan of the 8-6-7-5-3-0-9 variety.  

 

{scours scorebook trying to find position "0"}

 

 

Yes, I see what you did there!

[Mike Sixel]

How many titles have the Dodgers won with Kershaw? It takes more than an ace to win in the playoffs.

Did that post say that only an ace was needed? It says the Twins need another great pitcher to help this team. Do people disagree?

[ashbury]

I'm a big fan of the 8-6-7-5-3-0-9 variety.  

The Infielder's Lament: "Jenny, Jenny, how can I turn two?"

[IndianaTwin]

 

{scours scorebook trying to find position "0"}

 

 

Yes, I see what you did there!

 

Rover? 

DH? 

Bounced off the umpire? 

[wsnydes]

 

How many titles have the Dodgers won with Kershaw?  It takes more than an ace to win in the playoffs.

Speaking of Kershaw, I was listening to the Dodgers broadcast last night and they stated that of Kershaw's 336 career starts, he's allow 1 or fewer earned runs in 171 of them. That's rather good, no?

[MNT1996]

 

How many titles have the Dodgers won with Kershaw?  It takes more than an ace to win in the playoffs.

 

They haven't won the title, but they've gotten to the WS the last couple years. Kershaw is a big reason they've gotten that far. 

 

Twins have a historic offense, but they don't have a shutdown guy to lead the rotation in my opinion. If they had a guy like that I'd be a lot more confident in their postseason chances.

[scottz]

 

Fabulous? Interesting? Fabulously interesting? Outstanding? Meh?

I'm not sure it needed an adjective at all.

 

But thanks!

[wsnydes]

 

Rover? 

DH? 

Bounced off the umpire? 

Base coach?

Bullpen catcher?

Streaker?

[SwainZag]

 

Speaking of Kershaw, I was listening to the Dodgers broadcast last night and they stated that of Kershaw's 336 career starts, he's allow 1 or fewer earned runs in 171 of them. That's rather good, no?

 

It's very good.  I just hate seeing the "you can't compete in the playoffs unless you have a Kershaw-type ace" which I think is just false.  Yes, an elite ace would be great to have, but you don't need that to compete.

[ashbury]

This is one instance where I really wish that you could get a gist of the lack of enthusiasm that's behind this bit. It's so fitting.

 

'Yay.'

[JW24]

 

{scours scorebook trying to find position "0"}

 

 

Yes, I see what you did there!

I think, based on value, that would be Martin Perez today

[SwainZag]

Always like the strike out passed ball.  C'mon Eddie!

[MNT1996]

 

It's very good.  I just hate seeing the "you can't compete in the playoffs unless you have a Kershaw-type ace" which I think is just false.  Yes, an elite ace would be great to have, but you don't need that to compete.

 

Look at any world series winner. Find one where they didn't have a shutdown guy to lead them in the rotation. 

[wsnydes]

 

It's very good.  I just hate seeing the "you can't compete in the playoffs unless you have a Kershaw-type ace" which I think is just false.  Yes, an elite ace would be great to have, but you don't need that to compete.

I tend to agree, but I'd rather have one than not. Your margin for error is a bit larger with one than without. I realize that that isn't what you're arguing.

 

Kershaw hasn't helped his own cause in many a playoff series though either. The ace still has to perform.

[wsnydes]

 

 

'Yay.'

'Yay'

[Blake]

That was a great catch, darn it.

[scottz]

 

I hope our baseball team scores a run today.

Maybe next inning.

[twinsnorth49]

That ball was torched, can't catch a break. 

 

 

[IndianaTwin]

 

 

Couple things about this game;

 

1. Garver starting as he should against a lefty (1.176 OPS and 197 wRC+).  However, this means he is catching a day game after a night game, which leads me to wonder why Rocco played Castro on Monday and not Garver; it seems like he didn't look two days in advance.  It also means that Castro will in all likelihood catch 2 of the games against the Indians, when you could have had Garver go 3 times (Thursday, Friday, Sunday).  Bad planning
2. I'm not a huge fan of both Kepler and Arraez sitting for this one.  Granted, both Cave and Schoop have performed acceptably against lefties, it just feels like a very subpar lineup being run out.

 

 

Re: the catchers...

 

Maybe, maybe not. One thing (among several) I like about Rocco is that he seems to manage rest intervals well. Garver had both Sunday afternoon and Monday evening off, so he had a full 72 hours (less game time) rest from Saturday night to Tuesday night, heading into this Tuesday night/Wednesday afternoon duo. In addition, there will be a day off on Monday. With the extended break up front and the day off on Monday, I'll not be surprised if he still goes Thursday, Saturday, Sunday. That's five games in six days, but it's also five games in nine days. 

[jkcarew]

 

Twins really need a Johan Santana-like starter if they really want to compete for a championship. Berrios is good, but I just don't see him as a shut down guy like the Astros have in Verlander or the Dodgers have in Kershaw. I'm praying Graterol is that guy for us next year.

Graterol? He might be good enough to be that guy...in April and May. But, this will be his 5th year of professional baseball...and he will never have finished a season with more than about 100 total innings pitched. This season, Berrios passed that back in mid June.