Game Thread: Royals @ Twins 1:10 PM 5/30/2021

[LVTwinsfan]

I don’t think the encouraged laziness strategy by the coaching staff is working. 

[ashbury]

I was lucky. My game was rained out:

On the bright side, we were prepared in case trouble broke out when the announcement was finally made; the local militia was on standby.

[RickOShea]

I know managers get more credit than they deserve when a team wins, just like they get too much blame when a team loses.  But in my opinion, the biggest disappointment of 2021 is Baldelli.  Yes, the injuries are many, and the FO's rebuilding of the bullpen is questionable (20/20 hindsight).  But, Baldelli has been missing this year, when maybe he should be a little more visible.  Light a few fires, kick a little dirt, show some emotion.  I know that's not his 'personality', but he is a manager.  You need to manage.  You need to do something if you're not pleased with what's happening.

[LVTwinsfan]

This sisterhood attitude towards the Royals needs to stop. They are a division rival and should be treated as such

[Danchat]

37 minutes ago, Dave The Dastardly said:

Yeah, but his exit velocity is good.

Actually, his exit velocity has been much lower than in previous years. He’s been hitting into soft contact more often than not.

[Dave The Dastardly]

11 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

I know managers get more credit than they deserve when a team wins, just like they get too much blame when a team loses.  But in my opinion, the biggest disappointment of 2021 is Baldelli.  Yes, the injuries are many, and the FO's rebuilding of the bullpen is questionable (20/20 hindsight).  But, Baldelli has been missing this year, when maybe he should be a little more visible.  Light a few fires, kick a little dirt, show some emotion.  I know that's not his 'personality', but he is a manager.  You need to manage.  You need to do something if you're not pleased with what's happening.

I agree about Baldelli being a disappointment this season, but I never bought into this "show some emotion" thing. A manager's job is to think. Thinking is best done while emotions are under control. And we can't be sure if Baldelli hasn't indeed "done something". But if he has, whatever he's tried hasn't worked. So try something else. Who knows, maybe just parking a few butts on the bench for a week or so would get the message across. Personally, I'd start with Sano.

[mikelink45]

5 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Actually, his exit velocity has been much lower than in previous years. He’s been hitting into soft contact more often than not.

when he hits it

 

[Dave The Dastardly]

6 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Actually, his exit velocity has been much lower than in previous years. He’s been hitting into soft contact more often than not.

My failed attempt at sarcasm.

[LVTwinsfan]

When all is said and done if Donaldson runs it out he’s safe

[LVTwinsfan]

Kirilof is the real deal

[ashbury]

46 minutes ago, denarded said:

Done with Sano. Don't need his 20 HR's a season. I want contact. I want the defense having to make plays on. I don't need Sano's empty AB's He may have had a few days of game changing hits, but he also has months of rally killing at bats. Good day sir, and take your non-contact hitting skills elsewhere

Concur. And the analytic tool Win Probability Added was made with guys like Sano seemingly in mind. Each plate appearance in a season has a positive or negative outcome, that taken broadly over some history of baseball brings you closer to or farther from a win - you can attibute a value to each. Add up the positive outcomes, subtract the negative ones, and you have a net contribution on offense.

The season is still young, but Sano has the 3rd best cumulative positive outcomes on the Twins in 2021, good for 2.8 wins. As fans, we celebrate those moments.

Unfortunately, his cumulative negative outcomes lead the team, for -3.2. They are death by a thousand cuts, and easier to forget.

WPA doesn't factor in any defensive contributions by a player. But 1B is a bat-first position, and Sano isn't stellar there. You can't have a net-negative bat at his position.

[mnfireman]

Wow Sano, just wow. Not one pitch was close to the strike zone......

[Aggies7]

Wow sano K’s on a slider out of the zone. See something new every day in this game 

[LVTwinsfan]

Sano strikes out swinging at two curve balls out of the zone, big surprise

[RickOShea]

Sano is like an open book.  My 2 yr old grandson walked in and said  " trow da ball, low and outside, Mr. pitcher".

[Aggies7]

15 minutes ago, LVTwinsfan said:

When all is said and done if Donaldson runs it out he’s safe

Yeah but his shdujdhdusj stat was really good for a couple weeks 

[mnfireman]

Most of the team today, I think.....

[Danchat]

10 minutes ago, LVTwinsfan said:

Kirilof is the real deal

Agreed, so much for “no rookie could match Eddie’s production”. Alex has been much better than 2021 Rosario.

[D.C Twins]

Guess how many of the 7 pitches that Sano "saw" during that last AB were in the strike zone?

Yep, that would be "0"

Cannot wait until the "black hole sun" is out of our line up one day...

[mrtwinsfan]

Another SANO chance and im also so done with this guy, those pitches he swings at on  3-1 COUNT, IS he stupid ? lack of coaching ? eyesight ? zero Discipline ? Talent ? Sorry its just very sickening watching this type of Ball, Need contact at the least

[RickOShea]

1 minute ago, ashbury said:

Concur. And the analytic tool Win Probability Added was made with guys like Sano seemingly in mind. Each plate appearance in a season has a positive or negative outcome, that taken broadly over some history of baseball brings you closer to or farther from a win - you can attibute a value to each. Add up the positive outcomes, subtract the negative ones, and you have a net contribution on offense.

The season is still young, but Sano has the 3rd best cumulative positive outcomes on the Twins in 2021, good for 2.8 wins. As fans, we celebrate those moments.

Unfortunately, his cumulative negative outcomes lead the team, for -3.2. They are death by a thousand cuts, and easier to forget.

WPA doesn't factor in any defensive contributions by a player. But 1B is a bat-first position, and Sano isn't stellar there. You can't have a net-negative bat at his position.

Count me in, agreement.  He's not worth the dozens of runs we've pissed away, waiting to see one of 440 ft homers.

He regresses everytime he comes back from an injury.  It's like he's got amnesia or a learning disorder.   It's been what, 10 years, of waiting for this prospect?  Give me a Refsnyder or anyone of 24 other Twins who at least contribute positively.

[Irishman]

Sano’s new nickname is Captain KKK.   Too many K’s.  Dano is a big bad liability.  Needs to cut or trade him!  He is worthless.   

[ashbury]

1 minute ago, Irishman said:

Sano’s new nickname is Captain KKK. 

CCCareful there.

[RickOShea]

Just now, Irishman said:

Sano’s new nickname is Captain KKK.   Too many K’s.  Dano is a big bad liability.  Needs to cut or trade him!  He is worthless.   

Isn't there an opening for Sano at Mall of America?

 

Just now, Irishman said:

Sano’s new nickname is Captain KKK.   Too many K’s.  Dano is a big bad liability.  Needs to cut or trade him!  He is worthless.   

 

[Heinie Manush]

Rule geeks out there.  Why wasn’t Donaldsons AB foul ball/dead ball. Ball hits batter/runner in foul territory ball us dead.  Strike on JD Polanco returns to first. 

[RickOShea]

I finally figured it out.  Falvey and Theilen leave the game early.  They're driving home listening to the game on the radio.  They never get the opportunity to see how a real bullpen performs.

[ashbury]

8 minutes ago, Heinie Manush said:

Rule geeks out there.  Why wasn’t Donaldsons AB foul ball/dead ball. Ball hits batter/runner in foul territory ball us dead.  Strike on JD Polanco returns to first. 

I think the umpires (and then the video reviewers) said it didn't hit the batter.

[Danchat]

10 minutes ago, Irishman said:

Sano’s new nickname is Captain KKK.   Too many K’s.  Dano is a big bad liability.  Needs to cut or trade him!  He is worthless.   

Captain KKKK would be less offensive, and still accurate. 

[cHawk]

This team wastes scoring opportunities like I waste my time. Smh.

[stringer bell]

8 free passes and three runs scored on a bases loaded walk, a solo homer and a double play grounder.