Game Thread: Twins @ White Sox 1:10 PM 5/13/2021

[LaBombo]

2 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

I really shouldn't be this deflated after just one inning...

Twins helping you fight procrastination... is there anything they can't do?

Other than baseball?

[Cap'n Piranha]

Just now, Brock Beauchamp said:

Baseball in general is borderline unwatchable this season. MLB is going to have to take action if this keeps up, and there's really no reason not to expect it to keep up.

Yup.  They'll need to do something to incentivize putting the ball in play, rather than hitting homers.  My suggestions, from pretty crazy to truly insane, are;

1. Homeruns automatically end the inning, unless it is of the inside-the-park variety.
2. Homeruns are only worth one run--any baserunners are removed from the bases, but not counted as outs
3. Teams are only allowed two outfielders, and all four infielders must have their feet on the dirt when the pitcher releases the pitch.

[stringer bell]

What would Bert say about all those fastballs in the top of the zone? Hitters’ swings aren’t geared for 95 up in the zone. 

[chaderic20]

1 minute ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

Yup.  They'll need to do something to incentivize putting the ball in play, rather than hitting homers.  My suggestions, from pretty crazy to truly insane, are;

1. Homeruns automatically end the inning, unless it is of the inside-the-park variety.
2. Homeruns are only worth one run--any baserunners are removed from the bases, but not counted as outs
3. Teams are only allowed two outfielders, and all four infielders must have their feet on the dirt when the pitcher releases the pitch.

They already tried to de-incentivize homeruns by deadening the ball.  Problem is all that did was change the three true outcomes from K/BB/HR to K/BB/Warning Track Flyball.

[h2oface]

I see the Twins were praticing for a top of the tenth in the second inning ......

[Cap'n Piranha]

Just now, chaderic20 said:

They already tried to de-incentivize homeruns by deadening the ball.  Problem is all that did was change the three true outcomes from K/BB/HR to K/BB/Warning Track Flyball.

That's the problem--deadening the ball impacts non-homeruns as much as it does homeruns.  You need to find something that makes a homerun less valuable, while not impacting balls in play.

[LaBombo]

2 minutes ago, chaderic20 said:

They already tried to de-incentivize homeruns by deadening the ball.  Problem is all that did was change the three true outcomes from K/BB/HR to K/BB/Warning Track Flyball.

True, but the warning track fly ball is just as good a home run if Bremer is on the mic.

[Danchat]

13 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Baseball in general is borderline unwatchable this season. MLB is going to have to take action if this keeps up, and there's really no reason not to expect it to keep up.

MLB is already too busy getting ready for a lockout in 2022... if there was a MLB stock on the exchange, I'd be shorting it.

[Cap'n Piranha]

8 minutes ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

Yup.  They'll need to do something to incentivize putting the ball in play, rather than hitting homers.  My suggestions, from pretty crazy to truly insane, are;

1. Homeruns automatically end the inning, unless it is of the inside-the-park variety.
2. Homeruns are only worth one run--any baserunners are removed from the bases, but not counted as outs
3. Teams are only allowed two outfielders, and all four infielders must have their feet on the dirt when the pitcher releases the pitch.

One more, less dramatic, idea--homeruns still work as they always have, except they now also are worth an out too.  That is, if Nelson Cruz hits a one out homer with two on base, the Twins get 3 runs, but they now have 2 outs, instead of one.

[wsnydes]

Astudillo hits a pop up, you say?

[Mike Sixel]

No idea why you want to devalue Home Runs.....what needs changing it pitcher dominance. Got no idea how to do that.....What we need is more people on base, not less valuable home runs. I suppose you could put up 10-15 foot tall plexiglass walls at the top of OF walls, giving you more doubles and less home runs.....

Maybe make a first first base, about 15 feet short of the current one. If you get there before the ball is thrown to the current first base, you get a hit...would make speed and grounders more interesting for sure....and less double plays.

[Vanimal46]

Lance Lynn mowing down the lineup. Couldn’t happen to a better guy /s

[Cap'n Piranha]

Bremer claims the Twins got a pitcher named Luis Ruiz from the Yankees in exchange for Lynn.

He then corrects himself, saying it was Luis Rojo.  Which of course, is also wrong.

It's Luis Rijo.

[wavedog]

Way to battle Arraez - wear Lynn out

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, Vanimal46 said:

Lance Lynn mowing down the lineup. Couldn’t happen to a better guy /s

I wish everyone used /s.....I've tried, but have so little influence.....

[wsnydes]

I accept their charity.

They need everything they can get.

[Mike Sixel]

What does "in play, no out" mean again? I can't recall seeing that for a Twins' batter....

[LaBombo]

When Dick and Roy start talking reverentially about the magical, physics-defying properties of the fastball that belongs to a guy who posted a 5.10 ERA for the Twins three years ago, I start worrying that my tuna sandwich contained a Schedule 1 hallucinogen.

[Cap'n Piranha]

Just now, Mike Sixel said:

No idea why you want to devalue Home Runs.....what needs changing it pitcher dominance. Got no idea how to do that.....What we need is more people on base, not less valuable home runs. I suppose you could put up 10-15 foot tall plexiglass walls at the top of OF walls, giving you more doubles and less home runs.....

Maybe make a first first base, about 15 feet short of the current one. If you get there before the ball is thrown to the current first base, you get a hit...would make speed and grounders more interesting for sure....and less double plays.

 

I like your first base idea, that's pretty cool.  I want to make homeruns less valuable because I think a big part of why pitchers are so dominant is because too many guys are selling out for homeruns.  Decrease the worth of homeruns, and correspondingly, singles, doubles, and triples are more valuable.  With more men on base, and still less reason for homers, you'll see more running, more hits and runs, etc.  When guys are looking more to put the ball in play, they will be less likely to swing from the heels, and will make more contact.

[wavedog]

Lamb, the White Sox first baseman  is certainly no gold-glover

[Danchat]

Chicago still has a pretty bad defense, but it just doesn't matter with our lineup. Wish we could have saved yesterday's 7 runs for another game like today!

[wsnydes]

3 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

What does "in play, no out" mean again? I can't recall seeing that for a Twins' batter....

I can't tell.  Is that sarcasm? ?

[LaBombo]

Let's relive last night with a montage of the four-hit night by Billy Freaking Hamilton!!!   WooOOOoooo!

Thanks, Bally production crew.

[wsnydes]

Maybe I shouldn't have accepted his charity.  That meant that I owed him...

[wavedog]

8 minutes ago, wavedog said:

Lamb, the White Sox first baseman  is certainly no gold-glover

But he can hit....

[LaBombo]

11 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Chicago still has a pretty bad defense, but it just doesn't matter with our lineup. Wish we could have saved yesterday's 7 runs for another game like today!

The Twins can't make this wish come true, but the good news is that their pitching has a good shot at making 7 banked runs irrelevant to the final outcome anyway.

[stringer bell]

Did Lamb’s ball hit the top of the fence? Obviously didn’t make it out by much. Still counts of course. 

[wsnydes]

This guy hits nothin but doubles!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

27 minutes ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

One more, less dramatic, idea--homeruns still work as they always have, excep...........

Another question. Could the make the ball “less tight” to take some MPH off of pitches? easier to hit, and keep the ball in the park more?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

25 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

No idea why you want to devalue Home Runs.....what needs changing it pitcher dominance. Got no idea how to do that.....What we need is more people on base, not less valuable home runs. I suppose you could put up 10-15 foot tall plexiglass walls at the top of OF walls, giving you more doubles and less home runs.....

Maybe make a first first base, about 15 feet short of the current one. If you get there before the ball is thrown to the current first base, you get a hit...would make speed and grounders more interesting for sure....and less double plays.

Like I asked other poster, could you manufacture baseballs so that pitchers have a couple less MPH on their fastballs? (assuming that would make them easier to hit and put once play)

legitimately do not know