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Game Thread: Rays @ Twins 7:10 PM 8/13/2021

stringer bell

By stringer bell
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stringer bell Cooperstown

stringer bell

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The Twins host Tampa Bay on a Friday the 13th evening. This is also the start of a reunion weekend for the '91 Twins. Who will be gray, who will have gained weight and who will have a new trophy spouse? Well, we probably won't know about the latter, but we will see many of our old favorites and remember when the team won playoff games. Personal moment: I shook Jack Morris' hand in Fort Myers several years ago. Jack shook my hand and kept walking. Pretty sure that moment was more memorable for me than him.

Tampa is the first place team in the tough AL East, the third straight first place team the Twins will face. Minnesota has won five of seven versus Houston and Chicago. Tampa is also the darling of MLB, with their ability in the last several years to be competitive (or better) despite payroll limitations and a terrible home stadium.Their front office is viewed as smart, progressive and forward-thinking, relying on sabermetrics more so than on traditional baseball strategies. Interesting stats-the Rays lead all of MLB in strikeouts by their hitters, but still are third in runs scored despite only having the 13th best team OPS in baseball (lower than the Twins). Of course, Rocco was on the Tampa Bay staff before being hired to manage the Twins.

The Twins will send out Michael Pineda who has been pretty solid since returning from the Injured List. The Rays starter will be Shane McClanahan, lefthander, who has pitched very well this month. Notable players for the Rays include former Twins Matt Wisler, JT Chargois and of course DH Nelson Cruz. Both Wisler and Chargois have been effective out of the TB bullpen. Cruz has had a few good games, but his overall numbers haven't been up to his standards. That will probably change by the time the Twins are done with the Rays. 

One more personal note, I'll pay a lot more attention to Rays first baseman Ji-Man Choi. A new acquaintance of mine is good friends with Choi. They spent the All-Star break together playing golf, among other things. I have a bit more perspective on a foreign player coming to the US to play and not speaking English fluently. Go Twins!

As of 4:30, the lineups are available. Here you go......

PLAYER W-L ERA WHIP IP H K BB HR
S. McClanahan 6-4 3.75 1.25 84.0 77 99 28 11
M. Pineda 4-7 3.83 1.20 82.1 82 70 17

13

 

Tampa (70-45)

HITTERS H-AB RBI HR SB AVG
B. Lowe2B 86-377 65 26 5 .228
W. FrancoSS 37-153 22 5 2 .242
N. CruzDH 99-360 60 23 3 .275
R. ArozarenaLF 105-388 52 16 11 .271
J. Wendle3B 88-318 38 7 6 .277
Y. Diaz1B 85-335 39 8 0 .254
K. KiermaierCF 59-244 24 2 8 .242
M. MargotRF 79-307 47 9 10 .257
M. ZuninoC 48-235 44 23 0

.204

 

Twins (50-65)

HITTERS H-AB RBI HR SB AVG
J. Polanco2B 112-409 62 21 9 .274
B. RookerLF 16-102 6 4 0 .157
J. Donaldson3B 69-285 45 16 0 .242
M. GarverDH 36-162 28 13 0 .222
R. RefsnyderCF 21-68 10 2 0 .309
M. Sano1B 65-311 46 19 1 .209
T. LarnachRF 58-253 27 7 1 .229
R. JeffersC 34-163 27 9 0 .209
A. SimmonsSS 68-312 24 3 1 .21

 

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LVTwinsfan FCL Twins

LVTwinsfan

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5 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

Jim Kaat! This is a time when I wish I could be Dick Bremer.

So you could make a fool of yourself in front of Jim Kaat?

LVTwinsfan FCL Twins

LVTwinsfan

Verified Member
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Posted
Just now, Nine of twelve said:

That's probably what would happen. 

Maybe not but at some point it will probably happen tonight

Cap'n Piranha Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

Cap'n Piranha

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3 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

Darn shame we couldn’t get someone to take Donaldson at the break.

I'm sure we could have, but at a certain point, the savings you realize just isn't worth it anymore.  If a team insisted the Twins cover $40M in salary in order to get a C- prospect who's 22 and repeating rookie ball, I'd rather hang on to Donaldson, and hope he can rebound.

Aggies7 MVP

Aggies7

Old-Timey Member
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Posted
Just now, Cap'n Piranha said:

I'm sure we could have, but at a certain point, the savings you realize just isn't worth it anymore.  If a team insisted the Twins cover $40M in salary in order to get a C- prospect who's 22 and repeating rookie ball, I'd rather hang on to Donaldson, and hope he can rebound.

I don’t know, guy has been a monumental bust in his time here, which I’d almost be willing to overlook if he weren’t such a loudmouth who can barely run to first. Bustaroo to the max

Cap'n Piranha Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

Cap'n Piranha

Verified Member
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Posted
14 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

I don’t know, guy has been a monumental bust in his time here, which I’d almost be willing to overlook if he weren’t such a loudmouth who can barely run to first. Bustaroo to the max

This is not even close to true.  2.4 WAR in 116 games, 14th amongst all 3B since the start of 2020.  If you calculate PA/WAR, Donaldson moves up to 12th, ahead of Arraez, Seagar, Chapman, and Bregman.  He's made about $21M, which means he's right on that $10M/WAR benchmark despite the missed time, since WAR is a counting stat.  If your issue is with the availability (or lack thereof), then I presume you hope the Twins don't extend Buxton at any price?

Aggies7 MVP

Aggies7

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

This is not even close to true.  2.4 WAR in 116 games, 14th amongst all 3B since the start of 2020.  If you calculate PA/WAR, Donaldson moves up to 12th, ahead of Arraez, Seagar, Chapman, and Bregman.  He's made about $21M, which means he's right on that $10M/WAR benchmark despite the missed time, since WAR is a counting stat.  If your issue is with the availability (or lack thereof), then I presume you hope the Twins don't extend Buxton at any price?

So he’s been average? Is that what we were hoping for out of the signing?

Irishman Draft Eligible

Irishman

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
2 minutes ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

This is not even close to true.  2.4 WAR in 116 games, 14th amongst all 3B since the start of 2020.  If you calculate PA/WAR, Donaldson moves up to 12th, ahead of Arraez, Seagar, Chapman, and Bregman.  He's made about $21M, which means he's right on that $10M/WAR benchmark despite the missed time, since WAR is a counting stat.  If your issue is with the availability (or lack thereof), then I presume you hope the Twins don't extend Buxton at any price?

Bench Donaldson and call up 3rd baseman Miranda from St. Paul.   

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