Game Thread Twins @ Oakland 4/21/2021 2:37 PM CDT

[stringer bell]

The Twins face Oakland this after noon in the finale of a difficult road trip to the West Coast. The Twins are currently 6-10, having lost eight of their last nine games. They've lost two doubleheaders and three extra-inning games. Sixteen games is roughly one-tenth of a season and the Twins have had spotty pitching, poor hitting and have also made too many defensive mistakes. In other words, they have been a bad ball club. 

 

The opponent today, the Oakland Athletics, started slowly, but is now perhaps the hottest club in baseball having won ten straight games. The lineup is swinging well, they have a decent pitching staff and a fine defensive team. 

 

Today's starting pitcher matchup features Frankie Montas versus Kenta Maeda. Montas was drilled for seven runs in his first start, but has been outstanding since. The Twins counter with Maeda, who has been okay, but not dominant in his three starts. It would be a good time for Maeda to toss a gem, given the struggles of the team's hitters. 

 

Lineups and Comments:

 

Minnesota (6-10)

 

Arraez 2b

Donaldson 3b

Cruz dh

Buxton cf

Polanco ss

Astudillo 1b

Cave lf

Rooker rf

Jeffers c

 

Pitching: Maeda 1-1 3.07 ERA

 

 

Oakland (11-7)

 

Canha lf

Laureano cf

Lowrie 2b

Olson 1b

Chapman 3b

Moreland 1b

Murphy c

Brown rf

Andrus ss

 

Pitching: Montas 2-1 4.91 ERA

 

 

Riddle is now on the COVID list for unspecified reasons, replaced by Telis (yet another catcher). Sanó is listed by ESPN as day-to-day. I don't know what his injury or illness might be. The fact that the team has a day off tomorrow and returns home for a series might be why the changes that have been made were made IMHO. I expect more roster moves when the team gets home.

[wsnydes]

I like the top half of that lineup! The other half, woof!

 

I know the roster is depleted, so this is not unexpected. Not much can be done about it.

 

I heard somewhere that Sano had a tight hammy? I can't find where I saw that though. I could be spreading lies for all I know, so take that with a grain of salt. If true, it appears that hamstring issues are very contagious and are making their rounds through the clubhouse.

[Danchat]

Sano left the first DH game with “hammy soreness”, from what I saw.

 

I was hoping to see Blankenhorn in the lineup for a lefty on righty matchup... Rooker will fill Sano’s role as the king of Ks fine enough. At least Sano was drawing walls!

[PDX Twin]

 

I heard somewhere that Sano had a tight hammy? I can't find where I saw that though. I could be spreading lies for all I know, so take that with a grain of salt. If true, it appears that hamstring issues are very contagious and are making their rounds through the clubhouse.

 

Is there a vaccine?

 

 

At least Sano was drawing walls!

 

Drawing on the walls in the visiting stadium sounds like vandalism to me.

 

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

I like the top half of that lineup! The other half, woof!

 

I know the roster is depleted, so this is not unexpected. Not much can be done about it.

 

I heard somewhere that Sano had a tight hammy? I can't find where I saw that though. I could be spreading lies for all I know, so take that with a grain of salt. If true, it appears that hamstring issues are very contagious and are making their rounds through the clubhouse.

unilateral leg disease - leaves the club without a leg to stand on

[Dave The Dastardly]

"Riddle is now on the COVID list for unspecified reasons,"

 

You mean it's like... a Riddle riddle?

[Twodogs]

I wonder what the longest scoreless streak the Twins have ever gone through?

[Dave The Dastardly]

If you could combine the batting averages of Polanco, Cave and Rooker you'd have one guy batting .362.

 

Just saying.....

[wsnydes]

 

Is there a vaccine?

 

Not according to the CDC, but they do recommend consistent hand washing and masking wearing.

[bighat]

Maeda's gotta be perfect, if the Twins are going to pull this out it's going to be with 3 runs or less.

 

At least they're playing 9 today. Here's hoping the weather in the TC is kind to the Twins when they return. This team needs a few balmy games with no postponements, interruptions, or Covid adjustments. Just get them playing 9 inning games six days per week and I think they can right this ship.

[wsnydes]

 

If you could combine the batting averages of Polanco, Cave and Rooker you'd have one guy batting .362.

 

Just saying.....

But could he play LF?

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

I wonder what the longest scoreless streak the Twins have ever gone through?

I had a scoreless streak in college once. Dated an OCD girl that worked for the phone company; Anne of Clean Cables. I hung it up after three months.

[TwinsFanSince86]

Baby steps. Score a run.

[wavedog]

Yes, good to see a full 9 inning game today - although not sure the Twins offense has played a full nine many times this season - seem to get quiet the last 3 or 4 innings or like yesterday quiet all game.    Initial thoughts with Cave and Rooker batting back-to-back are not good ones.    A lot of whiff opportunities.   Hope they break out at some point but it has been pretty bleak watching them hit or not hit this year so far.     

[FlauerPauer]

Who are these guys that they keep calling up? Tomas Tellis? Luke Farrell? JT Riddle? Brandon Waddell? Shaun Anderson? I think this is the most frustrating part with the covid stuff and the losing streak. 

 

These guys are bums. Never were's. Never gonna be's. AAAA players.

 

Where is Nick Gordon? Why even have him on the 40 man if you're not going to call him up? Why not try some of the younger arms? Stashak was that bad that Smeltzer is a better option? 

 

 

[Mill1634]

PTC...We score at least one run. I hope

[Mill1634]

 

Who are these guys that they keep calling up? Tomas Tellis? Luke Farrell? JT Riddle? Brandon Waddell? Shaun Anderson? I think this is the most frustrating part with the covid stuff and the losing streak. 

 

These guys are bums. Never were's. Never gonna be's. AAAA players.

 

Where is Nick Gordon? Why even have him on the 40 man if you're not going to call him up? Why not try some of the younger arms? Stashak was that bad that Smeltzer is a better option? 

None of the guys you listed were on the taxi squad

[Cap'n Piranha]

Since we have Garver, Jeffers, and Astudillo, what is the point of Telis?  Is it legitimately that we had a spot, and he's the last guy standing on the taxi squad, so why not?

[Mill1634]

A RUN!!!!!!!!!

[wsnydes]

Wha...What just happened?!

[Cap'n Piranha]

BRINGER OF RAIN!

[TouchEmAllGuy]

It's Raining in Oakland!

[bighat]

Good lord Donaldson got all of that one.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

What i miss?

[Cap'n Piranha]

2 XBH in one inning?!?  Is that allowed?

[bighat]

Buxton pull up lame at 2nd there? Wish our broadcasters were in the stadium and could fill us in a bit more. Looked a bit awkward going into the base. Nice hit.

[Mill1634]

 

Buxton pull up lame at 2nd there? Wish our broadcasters were in the stadium and could fill us in a bit more. Looked a bit awkward going into the base. Nice hit.

I think he didn't realize how close he was to the base

[wsnydes]

 

2 XBH in one inning?!?  Is that allowed?

It is, but the typical tax of such occurrences is that the second man is left in scoring position.

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

Buxton pull up lame at 2nd there? Wish our broadcasters were in the stadium and could fill us in a bit more. Looked a bit awkward going into the base. Nice hit.

 

He's running fine, it's slamming on the brakes that he's not capable of yet.  Knowing this, Buxton should not be thinking triple, as it looked like he was.

[shortround81]

 

Who are these guys that they keep calling up? Tomas Tellis? Luke Farrell? JT Riddle? Brandon Waddell? Shaun Anderson? I think this is the most frustrating part with the covid stuff and the losing streak. 

 

These guys are bums. Never were's. Never gonna be's. AAAA players.

 

Where is Nick Gordon? Why even have him on the 40 man if you're not going to call him up? Why not try some of the younger arms? Stashak was that bad that Smeltzer is a better option? 

 

Makes me think of that line from "Major League"

 

Coach: This guy's dead

 

Owner: Cross him off the list then