GAME THREAD: Twins @ Angels, 4/16/21, 8:38 PM CDT

[twinbythebay]

 

Because if anyone seems to need to be benched for a bit, it's Sano. If both get regular playing time then maybe they'll both start to hit?

What in Sanó's history makes you think that he'll hit better after being benched? He broke out in 2019 after the Twins kept him in the lineup through a similarly poor start to the season. He finally had a good game yesterday, so I don't think now is the time to bench him.

[Dave The Dastardly]

Interesting debate around Sano; bench him so he can get his head together, or keep putting him in the lineup until he starts hitting. The problem is we've got about 5 guys batting below the Mendoza line. Can't bench 'em all. So we've got four of them (Kepler is almost at number 5) in tonight's lineup. Doesn't portend great things at the plate, but what's the alternative?

[MNT1996]

Buxton. This is exactly why the Twins need to be wary of a big time extension for the guy. He's only played 1 season of more than 100 games (2017). By the way things are going he probably won't reach 100 this season either. 

[Doctor Gast]

What? Wasn't Dobnak supposed to be this guy? Did I miss something?

 

v=gNkW7Mn_AfM

It doesn't take too much to understand that we need an extra long relief/ spot starter especially on the road. I'm glad the Twins know.

[AlwaysinModeration]

My “I was there” story...my former boss, a big Red Sox fan, invited me to a Boston@Baltimore game on Sept 16, 2001. The game, as with all MLB games, was canceled, as were all games Sept 11-16, 2001.

 

We went to the make-up game in early October, which wound up being Cal Ripken Jrs last game. He rode a car around the field at the end of the game, waving and saluting all of the fans.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Baldelli: "We're going to see exactly where he's at. I think today will be a pretty good day to find out exactly where we sit."

 

I suspect that the translation for this is: “He is nowhere near ready to return, you’ll see a move later on today.”

[jkcarew]

 

Yeah I don't understand why Thorpe didn't go in the DHer. Seemed to make more sense.

Heard a talking head driving around this afternoon that Baldelli liked the idea of squeezing another lefty in against the Angels...apparently they’ve (as a team) been stymied by a couple of lefties early this season.

 

I guess we’ll see.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Almost game time... Almost page 3.

 

We can do this!

[Puckett34]

 

Almost game time... Almost page 3.

 

We can do this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM586j7Mb1Q

[IndianaTwin]

 

 

Almost game time... Almost page 3.

 

We can do this!

Taking one for the team.

[jkcarew]

My “I was at the game.”...

Twins score 19 against Sox in ‘77; Glenn Adam’s 8 rbi; Carew 4-5, 6 rbi

Day Dave Kingman hit the ball that never came down.

Thome flag-pole HR

 

Oh, and game 7 in 1987. BAM!!

[Puckett34]

 

My “I was at the game.”...

 

Thome flag-pole HR

 

 

 

Hey! I was there too. 

 

My only other "I was there" one was Mauer's last game.

[cHawk]

How many more double plays is this team going to hit into?

[jkcarew]

 

Hey! I was there too. 

 

My only other "I was there" one was Mauer's last game.

Last game I was able to bring my mother to. (She was at game 7 in ‘87 with me.)

 

Good memories!

[Rosterman]

Tell me I'm wrong.

 

In baseball, you ant your leadoff man to be the one guy you hope gets five plate appearances in a game. It is a bonus if he can also work the count and fouls off pitches and allows the team to get a good 6-10 pitch look at the night's mound guy. You also hope that the 2-3-4 hitters will also see five at bats.

 

Of course, you also bat 8th and 9th the guys you would be happy to get to the plate only three times in a game, although sometimes either could be a leadoff hitter. 

 

Why is Garver batting leadoff?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

 

How many more double plays is this team going to hit into?

Do we really want to know?

[RickOShea]

what's the story on Buxton, tonight?

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

 

what's the story on Buxton, tonight?

I believe it to be merely caution.

 

I think i read something about him running on the field comfortably before getting into a game.

 

Not sure whether that happened today or will happen tomorrow...

 

I really should pay better attention.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I got you all beat:

 

I was at the first Rally Monkey game.

 

(for those of you who remember the joke, I'm actually serious, I was there)

[IndianaTwin]

 

My “I was at the game.”...

Twins score 19 against Sox in ‘77; Glenn Adam’s 8 rbi; Carew 4-5, 6 rbi

Day Dave Kingman hit the ball that never came down.

Thome flag-pole HR

 

Oh, and game 7 in 1987. BAM!!

I was there (twice) at the 6/26/77 game you reference. I was an 11-year-old and kids 12-and-under got a Carew shirt. My bro-in-law wanted a shirt as well, so he bought an extra two tickets. We went in to the left field seats, got a shirt, exited, and re-entered in right field to get another.

 

It was cool at Twins Fest a couple years ago to ask Carew about it and have him describe it as his most memorable day as a Twin. It was my most memorable day as a child as well.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

1. Mitch Garver ® C
2. Josh Donaldson ® 3B
3. Nelson Cruz ® DH
4. Kyle Garlick ® LF
5. Luis Arraez (L) 2B
6. Miguel Sano ® 1B
7. Jorge Polanco (S) SS
8. Max Kepler (L) RF
9. Jake Cave (L) CF

 

Buxton's still out of the lineup. As I speculated yesterday, his hamstring is likely worse than what the beat writers were saying on Wednesday...

 

Thanks Danchat!

 

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Buxton. This is exactly why the Twins need to be wary of a big time extension for the guy. He's only played 1 season of more than 100 games (2017). By the way things are going he probably won't reach 100 this season either. 

Honestly, and I'd only say this quietly, under my breath, and definitely wouldn't say it in a game thread, but I got a little anxious when I heard all that "I want to stay here" talk this spring coming from him. I mean, I'd love to keep him, but I also want him to keep playing hungry. 

[jkcarew]

 

Honestly, and I'd only say this quietly, under my breath, and definitely wouldn't say it in a game thread, but I got a little anxious when I heard all that "I want to stay here" talk this spring coming from him. I mean, I'd love to keep him, but I also want him to keep playing hungry. 

Or recuperating hungry, as the case may be.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

All I got for "I was there" is the Jacque Jones homer off of Freddy Garcia game in 2005.

 

Late summer, Jones broke up a no hitter in the 8th, Twins won 1-0. The dome was electric. The Twins were out of the race but the nasty south siders were good, they won the World Series that year.

[MNT1996]

Watching the bottom of the lineup try to hit is painful 

[Danchat]

Many have said that Cave is a 4th OF... but he hasn't hit since 2019 and his defense isn't anything special. His ABs haven't looked competitive. Garlick makes a lot more sense to be the 4th OF if/when Kirilloff takes over LF so that he'll be the right to complement the lefties in LF/RF.

[Brock Beauchamp]

It’s easy to forget just how good Donaldson is at third because we so rarely see him there.

[Danchat]

On the more positive side, wow, Thorpe looks sharp out there. 34 pitches through 3 innings and only faced 9 batters - he looks way more prepared than he was last year.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Many have said that Cave is a 4th OF... but he hasn't hit since 2019 and his defense isn't anything special. His ABs haven't looked competitive. Garlick makes a lot more sense to be the 4th OF if/when Kirilloff takes over LF so that he'll be the right to complement the lefties in LF/RF.

Cave has no business starting against a lefty but here we are again because Buxton can’t stay on the damned field. Jake may be entirely cooked but it’s too early to know for sure. If he is allowed to be in a strict platoon, I still think he does okay.

[Squirrel]

 

It’s easy to forget just how good Donaldson is at third because we so rarely see him there.

I wish we had gotten Donaldson when the A's traded him. That's when I wanted him. I'm still happy he's here, even knowing what an injury risk he is, but, I wanted him then.