Spring Training Games Thread 2021

[big dog]

Sano and Simmons drive in 3 runs between them in the fourth. Some very hard-hit balls off Evaldi.

[Sielk]

Nice to see the Twins bats heating up.

 

As for Kenta, it's amazing to see how casually he throws four no-hit innings.

[big dog]

Robles gave up two moon shots. Hopefully he was just trying out a new pitch rather than trying to get hitters out.

[big dog]

Double for Nellie. Twins are crushing the ball. CCO radio team suggests that Boston outfield play and positioning may be playing a role, at least in giving up extra bases.

[Sielk]

Yeah, these were ugly. After the two homers he had a pretty nice inning, though. Let's hope that the homers were more the exception than the rule.

[Sielk]

We're racking up doubles and broken bats.

[MNT1996]

Rooker looking like the frontrunner for LF starter

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I see we won 5-5.

That doesn't happen very often.

[Danchat]

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Twins

0. J.A. Happ ( L) P

1. Luis Arraez ( L) 3B

2. Jake Cave ( L) CF

3. Ryan Jeffers (R ) C

4. Alex Kirilloff ( L) LF

5. W. Astudillo (R ) 1B

6. Kyle Garlick (R ) RF

7. Trevor Larnach ( L) DH

8. JT Riddle ( L) 2B

9. Nick Gordon ( L) SS

 

Braves

0. Bryse Wilson (R ) P

1. R. Acuna (R ) RF

2. Ozzie Albies ( S ) 2B

3. F. Freeman ( L) 1B

4. Marcell Ozuna (R ) LF

5. Dansby Swanson (R ) SS

6. Johan Camargo ( S ) 3B

7. Cristian Pache (R ) CF

8. A. Almonte ( S ) DH

9. Alex Jackson (R ) C

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Knock 'em dead, Nick Gordon!

 

This a left heavy lineup.

 

And if a pitcher is a southpaw, is a batter a northbat?

[ashbury]

And if a pitcher is a southpaw, is a batter a northbat?

The origin of the term isn't 100% agreed upon, but the consensus seems that it comes from the boxing world. "South" sometimes has the connotation of "under" instead of directional, and with most boxers being right-handed, it seems there was a reputation for blows from the dominant side coming straight across while the other hand would be more like an uppercut. Lefties of course would tend to reverse that, but the terminology was set.

 

The orientation of a baseball diamond seems to be coincidental, and was arrived at after the term was already common.

 

 

Now I hope I'm correct.

 

[MMMordabito]

Smeltzer appears to be stamping his ticket to St. Paul. 

[ToddlerHarmon]

 

Smeltzer appears to be stamping his ticket to St. Paul. 

 

It doesn't help his case that we have about 8 non-roster relief pitchers in camp with better MLB credentials than he has, and many of them have been lights out

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Hey, Nick Gordon got another hit!

 

Alas, he was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second on a single.

 

And should i be concerned about an injury delay following his next at bat?

[Danchat]

I would be OK if Garlick makes the initial roster. He's got a solid bat and hits RH to compliment Kepler/Kirilloff. He is redundant with Rooker likely making the team... but I feel done with Cave. Yeah, I know his career numbers are good, but he's going to strike out too much and play CF too much and dive for balls he can't reach. I do wish Celestino would be closer to MLB-ready because I want his glove in CF to backup Buxton when he envitably gets hurt.

[DocBauer]

I would be OK if Garlick makes the initial roster. He's got a solid bat and hits RH to compliment Kepler/Kirilloff. He is redundant with Rooker likely making the team... but I feel done with Cave. Yeah, I know his career numbers are good, but he's going to strike out too much and play CF too much and dive for balls he can't reach. I do wish Celestino would be closer to MLB-ready because I want his glove in CF to backup Buxton when he envitably gets hurt.

Agree with part of your post, Dan. I was hopeful on Celestino but I'm starting to think highly of him. Going to disagree on Cave though as I saw a lot of improvement in his CF defense last season. He just looked more sure of himself and I didn't see the odd plays where he tried too hard and dove at balls that were 5 foot out of his range.

 

Garlic is on the 40 man, has a nice milb track record, some ML experience, and has done about all you can do thus far in ST. But he's still got to be behind Rooker doesn't he? And BTW, Rooker has had a nice ST so far following his quality appearance last year.

 

Interesting conversation between Aaron and John on their last podcast regarding Kirilloff. They mentioned not only a few extra AB here and there, but his time spent at 1B. Would seem he's being viewed as a real piece of the roster. Though performance and initial roster construction are very fluid still.

 

Assuming the Twins don't go with a 14 man staff, AND Kirilloff making the opening roster, there appears to be 1 spot left. That spot would seem to be Rooker, (ahead of Garlik IMO), and one of Astudillo-Lin-Riddle.

 

Do they keep the young bat with promise? Or do they keep another versatile bench player? And does opening on the road for a series in the NL have any effect?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Point of order: Since Spring Training is now and the Gophers' mens hockey team is playing now, is it okay to mention they came back from 0-2 in the 3rd and are starting overtime? This is the big ten semifinals...

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Gophers advance to face Badgers in finals.

[Nine of twelve]

 

Gophers advance to face Badgers in finals.

There are very few games in which I hope for a team from Wisconsin to beat a team from Minnesota. This is most certainly one of those games.

[MNT1996]

I know people will say "oh it's just spring training", but Kepler has really struggled. 2-22 and Rocco is starting him leadoff. Honestly Kepler shouldn't only be worried about losing his leadoff spot if he keeps that up. Garlick might be right on his heels. 

[ashbury]

I know people will say "oh it's just spring training", but Kepler has really struggled. 2-22 and Rocco is starting him leadoff.

Well, sure, he's hitting all of .100 right now. But it's an EMPTY .100 with no walks or power.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

 

Well, sure, he's hitting all of .100 right now. But it's an EMPTY .100 with no walks or power.

Just so long as they are productive outs.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Trying jog my memory for everything i know about pirates, in case it turns up something the Twins may find useful today...

 

1. Booty. Um... Yeah.

 

2. The Pirate Code. May only be applicableto Disney pirates.

 

3. The letter Rrrrr.

 

4. X marks the spot.

 

5. Han Solo. I finally got round to watching the new movie, and i thought it pretty good, at least oneo fthe better post prequel products. Sad they amputated that branch of production.

 

Pirates:

0. Chad Kuhl (R ) P
1. Kevin Newman (R ) SS
2. Cole Tucker ( S ) 2B
3. Colin Moran ( L) 1B
4. Todd Frazier (R ) 3B
5. Dustin Fowler ( L) LF
6. Brian Goodwin ( L) RF
7. Michael Perez ( L) C
8. Tony Wolters ( L) DH
9. Wilmer Difo ( S ) CF

 

Twins:

0. Jose Berrios (R ) P
1. Max Kepler ( L) RF
2. Josh Donaldson (R ) 3B
3. Nelson Cruz (R ) DH
4. Jorge Polanco ( S ) 2B
5. Miguel Sano (R ) 1B
6. Mitch Garver (R ) C
7. Byron Buxton (R ) CF
8. Andrelton Simmons (R ) SS
9. Brent Rooker (R ) LF

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I meant to mention parrots, but i got distracted.

 

I wonder why parrots and pirates are associated? Maybe it just the words sound similar?

 

Like a bad pun?

 

Oh, and the Parrots take the lead...

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Er.... if i went for pirate booty (or puns for that matter) i'd just be chasing after fools gold.

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

And they score again...

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Garver#8, Buxton#25, and Simmons #9 up to bat this inning.

 

2 cubed, 5 squared, and 3 squared.

 

Sorry.... simple pleasures for simple minds.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

 

And they score again...

 

Again?

 

Berrios is getting plenty of damage control in.

 

3–0 in the bottom of the 3rd. Maybe we can get something back?

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

 

Garver#8, Buxton#25, and Simmons #9 up to bat this inning.

 

2 cubed, 5 squared, and 3 squared.

 

Sorry.... simple pleasures for simple minds.

 

The three catchers/"catchers" with MLB experience on the Twins' 40-man roster have 2 cubed, 3 cubed, and 4 cubed as their uniform numbers: Garver #8, Jeffers #27, and Astudillo #64.