Game Thread: Twins @ Cleveland, Sunday 5/23/2023, 12:10 PM CDT

[Otto von Ballpark]

Preface:

This is the first time I've ever been asked to write a game thread intro! Can you believe it? Over 18,000 posts at this site, and not one of them has been invited -- until now!

In keeping with this momentous occasion, I have breaking news to share: according to team sources, the Twins poor performance so far this season has actually been intentional. The team was attempting to replicate the situation faced by the old hapless Washington Senators, and thereby attract the attention of the Devil to make a deal, à la Damn Yankees (the musical and film, not the rock supergroup).

However, the Twins now believe that such a deal if off the table, as the Devil has since partnered with Marc Lore to buy a share of the basketball Timberwolves instead. Any poor performance by the Twins going forward will be the result of a different fanciful story.

 

Today's Transactions:

The Twins have placed Kenta Maeda on the 10-day IL and recalled Nick Gordon.

Cleveland has placed Franmil Reyes on the 10-day IL (one day too late according to Maeda). Infield prospect Owen Miller, acquired from San Diego in the Mike Clevinger trade last season, has been added to the roster and will make his MLB debut in place of Reyes at DH in the starting lineup today. Owen Miller stats at Baseball-Reference

To make room for Miller on the 40-man roster, Cleveland transferred Roberto Perez to the 60-day IL, which ensures that Perez will be out of MLB action until at least July.

 

Twins (16-29, 5th place, 10.5 GB)

Starting pitcher: J.A. Happ, LHP, 2-2, 5.35 ERA

Lineup:

1. 2B Luis Arraez L
2. DH J. Donaldson R
3, RF Max Kepler L
4. 3B Miguel Sano R
5. 1B A. Kirilloff L
6. C Mitch Garver R
7. LF T. Larnach L
8. CF Refsynder R
9. SS A. Simmons R

 

Cleveland (24-19, 2nd place, 1.5 GB)

Starting pitcher: Zach Plesac, RHP, 4-3, 3.93 ERA

Lineup:

1. 2B C. Hernandez S
2. SS Amed Rosario R
3. 3B Jose Ramirez S
4. CF J. Luplow R
5. LF E. Rosario L
6. DH Owen Miller R
7. RF H. Ramirez R
8. 1B Yu Chang R
9. C A. Hedges R

 

 

[Squirrel]

Next time don't wait to be asked ... VOLUNTEER!  (good start, btw)

And that goes for anyone and everyone out there who wants to get the game watch started! Contact stringer today! May is full but I'm sure he will gladly accept volunteers for June.

[Brock Beauchamp]

The Twins badly need to win this game to make a statement about not being a terrible team. If they’re going to climb back toward .500 (and it’s hard to predict anything better than that this season), they must first start winning series 2-1 against decent teams. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Sano has supplanted Donaldson at 3B in the starting lineup.

Still no Polanco or Cruz.

[denarded]

When was the last time Morneau did a game?

[Aggies7]

Circus starting already! What in the name of god was that by larnach? Just awful baseball

[singlesoverwalks]

If anyone here missed it, the pitch that Ramirez hammered was basically batting practice.

[Aggies7]

Now a should be groundout is an rbi single because of the shift. I’m gonna go wash the car

[singlesoverwalks]

1 minute ago, Aggies7 said:

Circus starting already! What in the name of god was that by larnach? Just awful baseball

It's hard for a left fielder to screw up three times on one fly ball, but he did it. Tried to leap for a ball 12 feet up the wall. Jogged to pick it up. Threw home when the runner had already scored and the play was at third. What are we teaching in the minors?

[RickOShea]

There's a reason players are usually referred to by a specific position, i.e 3rd baseman rather than infielder, and left fielder, rather than outfielder.  The term versatility in baseball isn't always a positive thing.  For the most part, position a  player and let them stay there.  You don't throw a dart in determining where a guy will play.

[Nine of twelve]

Caution: pet peeve alert.

In the Spanish language, s is pronounced s and z is pronounced z.  Rosario is therefore pronounced Rosario, not Rozario. Someone who has earned a living talking about baseball for nearly 40 years (like, for example, Dick Bremer) should know this and at the very least be able to pronounce Spanish language names and words correctly. In fact, I think anyone who has been deeply involved in baseball for that length of time should long ago have learned enough Spanish to effectively communicate in that language.

[RickOShea]

Happ isn't fooling anybody, except Wes and Rocco.    This guy really is an implosion waiting to happen.

[Aggies7]

Name a more iconic duo than the twins and scrap heap pitcher signings

[RickOShea]

Rocco's gonna let Happ pitch til he gives up 7 -8 runs.  That way we'll be out of it, and our precious bullpen gets an extra inning or two of rest.

[RickOShea]

Larnack is brutal, just brutal in left field.

[RickOShea]

Someone should tell the Twins that just because you score 9 runs in one inning, that doesn't excuse from scoring for the next several games.

 

[USAFChief]

35 minutes ago, denarded said:

When was the last time Morneau did a game?

Aug 7, 2016, as a member of the White Sox. 0 for 4 with 2 K's.

[singlesoverwalks]

20 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

There's a reason players are usually referred to by a specific position, i.e 3rd baseman rather than infielder, and left fielder, rather than outfielder.  The term versatility in baseball isn't always a positive thing.  For the most part, position a  player and let them stay there.  You don't throw a dart in determining where a guy will play.

This bothers me too, but I also know that different people have different aptitude for learning second languages as adults. Some people can work really hard at it and never get any good at the pronunciation of a second language. Not saying that Dick has worked really hard at it, or that he hasn't.

[Aggies7]

Listless, lifeless first time through the order

[RickOShea]

Just now, Aggies7 said:

Listless, lifeless first time through the order

Win or lose, the pay and the beer are the same!

[RickOShea]

It would be interesting to see how the overall play would be, if the winning team took 75% of the gate vs. 25% for the Twins.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Some strong no-hitter energy (or lack of energy thereof), coming from this team today, at least coming through the radio broadcast

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Would like to see someone try to bunt their way on - Arraez? Kepler? Kirilloff? 

[RickOShea]

1 minute ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Would like to see someone try to bunt their way on - Arraez? Kepler? Kirilloff? 

Rocco  would fine them.  (then give it back)

[Irishman]

41 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

Circus starting already! What in the name of god was that by larnach? Just awful baseball

I’m not impressed with his defense.  His hitting is mediocre.   Terrible throw to catcher!   He needs to learn to throw to the cut-off guy.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Did we win yet?

[RickOShea]

With Franmil Reyes hurt, why don't the Indians activate that Jobu guy from "Major League"?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

5 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Some strong no-hitter energy (or lack of energy thereof), coming from this team today, at least coming through the radio broadcast

Umm, posted that on purpose, now 2 on, none out  (your welcome lol)

[Nine of twelve]

Wait, what just happened here?

[Irishman]

41 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

Now a should be groundout is an rbi single because of the shift. I’m gonna go wash the car

I think the shift defense is really stupid.  That’s not baseball.  
Falvey and Baldelli need to be be fired.   Their draft strategy stinks!