GAME THREAD 8/9/2020: Minnesota Twins @ Kansas City Royals 1:05 CDT

[Nine of twelve]

If we can get us a lead, even one run, I think our top bullpen guys can hold it. Let's make something happen here.

[USAFChief]

 

oooooooo.... 4 pitch lead off one out walk!

FTFY>

[USAFChief]

In the long run, it's much more important to be able to hit than to be able to run, but...there are times it sure would be nice if the Twins weren't a perpetually station to station base. 

 

We've seen in the past week what speed on the base paths adds. 

[h2oface]

no shift....

 

[Nine of twelve]

C'mon, Eddie, ambush him here.

[bird]

 

I edited my post but you were too quick. Larnach. Of course it wasn't "instead", for us, but it's still interesting to wonder, which would you prefer?

 

 

Can I prefer Singer over Berrios instead? Singer and Larnach are regarded similarly by most, with Larnach getting a slight edge by most. FanGraphs has Singer at 45 FV and Larnach at 50 FV. As good as Singer looks, I'd prefer Larnach because of the lower injury risk and greater likelihood of being good for a long time (potentially less performance volatility). In the last prospect ranking I saw (Prospect 365?) I noted Larnach #34, Balazovic #73, Duran #96, and Singer was KCR's third "best" pitching prospect at #152, six spots better than Graterol. I predict they're wrong.

[Don Walcott]

 

Well, for example, Dozier punched a 2 run single through the shift in the first inning. Against a RH pitcher. It was Dozier's first AB of the season. What better indicator of hitting were the Twins using? Last year? 

 

Shifts are in vogue, and in many cases, will probably be here for a while. But IMO they're being overused. Not every situation calls for a shift, nor every hitter against every pitcher. 

 

These are opinions, of course. There's no easily provable right or wrong answer. One can argue about probabilities and likelihoods, but there's zero doubt shifting has hurt the Twins in this specific game. I would like to see smarter usage. Drawn in infield, for example. Makes no sense to shift, if you ask me, particularly when your out pitch to a RH hitter is a slider down and away.

Didn't teams used to take the shift off, or reduce it when there were 2 strikes on a batter? I haven't seen that from us this year. It would seem that the hitter is more likely to protect the plate and go the other way, and the pitcher benefits from being able to try to make the hitter chase outside.

[Nine of twelve]

 

Didn't teams used to take the shift off, or reduce it when there were 2 strikes on a batter? I haven't seen that from us this year. It would seem that the hitter is more likely to protect the plate and go the other way, and the pitcher benefits from being able to try to make the hitter chase outside.

In some cases they'll increase the shift with 2 strikes depending on the batter and the situation.

[USAFChief]

 

Didn't teams used to take the shift off, or reduce it when there were 2 strikes on a batter? I haven't seen that from us this year. It would seem that the hitter is more likely to protect the plate and go the other way, and the pitcher benefits from being able to try to make the hitter chase outside.

Dunno, but I've seen teams actually shift more radically on LH hitters with two strikes. They'll sometimes leave the third baseman in place to take away the bunt, vacating SS. But with two strikes and the bunt not in play, they'll move that guy over to SS and leave 3rd undefended.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Shift is capitolizing right?

 

If you shift all the time, might as well use the caps lock.

[Aggies7]

Approaching 2 hours for 5 innings.

[USAFChief]

Mrs Chief and I just got back from a trip to Rome. Before we went, Mrs Chief was at her hairdresser's getting her hair styled. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded:
"Rome? Why would anyone want to go there? It's crowded and dirty. You're crazy to go to Rome. So, how are you getting there?"

 

"We're taking Continental," was the reply. "We got a great rate!"

"Continental?" exclaimed the hairdresser. "That's a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they're always late. So, where are you staying in Rome?"

"We'll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome's Tiber River called Teste."

"Don't go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks it's gonna be something special and exclusive, but it's really a dump, the worst hotel in the city! The rooms are small, the service is surly, and they're overpriced. So, whatcha' doing when you get there?"

"We're going to go to see the Vatican and we hope to see the Pope."

"That's rich," laughed the hairdresser. "You and a million other people are trying to see him. He'll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You're going to need it."

Well, like I said, we just got back, and Mrs Chief went back to the salon. The hairdresser asked her about her trip to Rome.

 

"It was wonderful," said my lovely Mrs, "not only were we on time in one of Continental's brand new planes, but it was overbooked and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot. And the hotel was great! They'd just finished a $5 million remodeling job and now it's a jewel, the finest hotel in the city. They, too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us their owner's suite at no extra charge!"

"Well," muttered the hairdresser, "that's all well and good, but I know you didn't get to see the Pope."

"Actually, we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder, and explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors, and if I'd be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand, I knelt down, and he spoke a few words to me."

 

"Oh, really! What did he say?"

"He asked me where I got this awful hairdo'"

 

[Aggies7]

Polanco was playing over by the third base coach so no DP

[LVTwinsfan]

The shift definitely takes away a number of double plays

[h2oface]

It's possible for KC to go last to first by playing the Twins 10 times in August. And to think that with the Twins sitting at 10-2 with a 5-3 lead over the Pirates in the 8th, with a 4 game sweep eminent, I had musings that with the Royals coming up, this could be a month for records of greatness.......

[bighat]

Berrios just....laboring here.

 

KC looking like NYY against the Twins this week. Brutal.

[Aggies7]

It's possible for KC to go last to first by playing the Twins 10 times in August. And to think that with the Twins sitting at 10-2 with a 5-3 lead over the Pirates in the 8th, with a 4 game sweep eminent, I had musings that with the Royals coming up, this could be a month for records of greatness.......

Things really have taken an unexpected turn

[USAFChief]

Make a pitch, Jose.

 

EDIT: Or not.

[Aggies7]

Berrios just....laboring here.

 

KC looking like NYY against the Twins this week. Brutal.

80 pitches already

[mrtwinsfan]

Berrios, walking on eggshells again

[Danchat]

It's time to go to the bullpen, Berrios is just not good. 

[bird]

 

WOW, Leo Kottke.

 

How old ARE you anyway?

 

 

Leo Kottke's musical idol was Mississippi John Hurt.

 

What was he like, Chief?

[h2oface]

"Berrios is having a tough time throwing that for a strike, today"

 

Berrios has had a tough time all season so far.

[bighat]

Anyone else think maybe now would be the time to bring in Rogers? Put out the fire and keep us in the game?

[Aggies7]

5 innings is about all we’re gonna get from Joseph, it seems

[twins1095]

It’s probably not true but KC feels like the most disciplined hitting team of all time

[USAFChief]

 

Leo Kottke's musical idol was Mississippi John Hurt.

 

What was he like, Chief?

 

Underrated.

[wabene]

Thank Gordon for swinging at ball 4

[Aggies7]

Maybe he’ll come back out

[LVTwinsfan]

Fastballs good, use that