GAME THREAD: 4/20/21 Minnesota Twins @ Oakland A's, Doubleheader, Game 1 @ 5:30 CDT

[Mill1634]

 

His fastball is not a problem. The location of his fastball is the problem.

He gave up a slugging percentage of .455 and xSlug of .497 last year on his fastball. That isn't a recipe for a good reliever, who many want to get late inning opportunities. The pitch being hittable and not having great control over it is not good. 

[RickOShea]

It's one thing not to be a very good ballclub.  But an embarrassing one, is not acceptable.  Way too many mental errors and failure to perform at clutch times.

[Aggies7]

Thank heavens there are only 7 innings to this game

[Mike Sixel]

I'm still waiting for this FO to develop good to great players. At some point, we need to see something from the minors.

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

Mercy rule?

Yes

[Mill1634]

 

I'm still waiting for this FO to develop good to great players. At some point, we need to see something from the minors.

to be fair, many of the guys on this team weren't prospects under this FO. Our first real chance to judge this is Lewis/AK/Larnach, plus a few of the arms, but none of those are considered #1 arms. 

[Vanimal46]

People love Alcala because he throws hard, which fine. However, the fastball isn't very "good." It gets hit hard and doesn't get swing and misses. Throwing hard is fine and makes good PitchingNinja posts, but if it's ineffective it's just a moot point.

Many pitchers need to dial it back to get back to traditional pitching. Hitting their spots, accepting contact to get the out. What we’re seeing is the reality of baseball now. An unanimous majority throwing max effort pitches every time and hope their control is on that day.

[RickOShea]

TV note:  Mitch Garver appears on the Dr Phil Show.  Garver tries to explain his 'poser' role as a big league player.  Also featured: Pregnant mothers whose husbands are their adopted sons.

[FlauerPauer]

 

I'm still waiting for this FO to develop good to great players. At some point, we need to see something from the minors.

 

Well you actually have to play the guys you draft in order to see how they play...

[jun]

If Dobnak and Cave still have a spot on major league roster, why bother to perform? If the management don't do anything, this is the team they deserve to have.

[Danchat]

Farrell's pitches top out at 91 and he can't throw strikes? Yikes. Not sure why he's here instead of somebody like Law, or maybe a fringe guy like Hackimer. (Well, he's here because he was on the taxi squad, but then I point to why was he on the taxi squad in the first place?)

[Mill1634]

DFA Luke and give Will a call. At least it would add some comedy to this group of suck

[Mike Sixel]

to be fair, many of the guys on this team weren't prospects under this FO. Our first real chance to judge this is Lewis/AK/Larnach, plus a few of the arms, but none of those are considered #1 arms.

That's my point.... I'm waiting one more year before starting to make conclusions... But so far I'm not optimistic.

[Aggies7]

Barring a wild comeback, the twins will drop to 1-6 since taking a 6 run lead into the 6th inning against the Mariners.

[Danchat]

Looks like Manaea should be able to throw a complete game today. If only this was 2019, back when we ate lefties for breakfast...

[sampleSizeOfOne]

We gave up neither a run nor an error.

 

Good for us...

 

Unfortunately we have a seven run deficit to overcome.

 

Deep in my heart i do believe!

[specialiststeve]

Matt Shoemaker is not the answer..... 

[Aggies7]

Looks like the only celebrating we’ll see in Minneapolis this year is going on now

 

I kid I kid, don’t warn me

[jun]

This bullpen has to be one of the worst.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Looks like Manaea should be able to throw a complete game today. If only this was 2019, back when we ate lefties for breakfast...

Are they no longer chock full of essential vitamins?

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

Well you actually have to play the guys you draft in order to see how they play...

 

The kids in their first draft class have only had 2 and a half minor league seasons thus far (half of 2017, 2018, and 2019).  That's an awfully quick timeline to go from amateurs to good/great pros.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Alright.

 

7 run inning... Go!

[Mike Sixel]

The kids in their first draft class have only had 2 and a half minor league seasons thus far (half of 2017, 2018, and 2019). That's an awfully quick timeline to go from amateurs to good/great pros.

They are also responsible for developing the players drafted before they got here, right? But, like I said, one more year before I can feel like I can draw conclusions.

[Danchat]

Well... at least Thorpe has resembled an MLB pitcher so far. His fastball is only hitting 90 again, though.

[Dave The Dastardly]

Okay, now we're getting serious; a .140 hitter for a .110 hitter. Here we go!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Arraez!

[Dave The Dastardly]

El Tortuga!

[cHawk]

Just pathetic. However, a pattern last year was that the offense would usually get going after a shutout. I hope it’s the same thing here.

[MMMordabito]

At least I have Olson on my fantasy team

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Now the game is over (and on Yogi's authority i shan't admit being ninja'd!)