Game Thread: Twins @ Orioles - 4/7, 12:35pm

[Ultima Ratio]

I've got the call.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Ell-Oh-Ell.

[Gibby]

Lighting a fire under the offense, Twins-style.

[Guest USAFChief]

Hammer got caught jogging. There's no other way he doesn't score there.

[Ultima Ratio]

That's why your run hard. Damnit. Willy should've scored there.

[Guest USAFChief]

Ell-Oh-Ell.

Lost it in the Teflon?

[Riverbrian]

Its spring training extended for the Orioles as well.

[Gibby]

Doumit looks like Yukon Cornelius.

[Mr. Brooks]

Yep, thats unacceptable from a vet like Willingham.

[LaBombo]

Embarrassing.

[Guest USAFChief]

I've seen better OF play in a tee ball game. And I think Jones got caught jogging there as well...should be on third.

[Riverbrian]

Jeez... This ain't major league ball.

[LaBombo]

I said that 10 games would be too soon to draw any conclusions about Hicks.

 

I was wrong.

[30whales]

Wouldn't it help Hicks out by moving him down in the order? That is if we are going to continue to play him everyday.

[Shane Wahl]

USA: yes I am half-serious. How many of Hicks' strikeouts have come on called third strike curve balls. I have seen 4 such strikeouts.

 

game note: thankfully Wilkin hustled over to back up Hicks.

 

Also, Pedro cannot "come hard inside" (he's a meatball pitcher who must have command. He's like a speedy OF/IF who without his speed is not a viable major leaguer--without his command he is done for.).

[Shane Wahl]

Um, Hicks slipped in the OF. That's not a demotable offense.

[Gibby]

Wouldn't it help Hicks out by moving him down in the order? That is if we are going to continue to play him everyday.

I don't know why they would start a rookie in the leadoff spot anyway.

[Ultima Ratio]

Can I get the official scoring rational for why both or either of the fly balls are not errors? Do you have to get a glove on it or something?

[30whales]

I wasn't referring to him slipping in the OF. I was just saying that he has struggled, obviously, so why not move him down in the order to relieve some pressure?

[Mr. Brooks]

USA: yes I am half-serious. How many of Hicks' strikeouts have come on called third strike curve balls. I have seen 4 such strikeouts.

 

game note: thankfully Wilkin hustled over to back up Hicks.

 

Also, Pedro cannot "come hard inside" (he's a meatball pitcher who must have command. He's like a speedy OF/IF who without his speed is not a viable major leaguer--without his command he is done for.).

 

That is all the more reason to come hard inside a couple times, just enough so they think twice about leaning in. If you are going to be a command guy who gets by painting that bottom outside corner, it's going to be pretty hard to do successfully when guys are not afraid to lean in on the plate.

[Shane Wahl]

Walk city.

 

Whose turn is it to throw a bullpen session amongst the starters? Hendriks?

[Mr. Brooks]

Can I get the official scoring rational for why both or either of the fly balls are not errors? Do you have to get a glove on it or something?

 

Pretty much, yes.

Mental mistakes (losing the ball in the sun, taking a bad angle, etc.) are not errors.

[Riverbrian]

WTF... Is going on... This ain't baseball... I'd ask for my money back if I bought tickets.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Wow. This is an ugly baseball game.

[Guest USAFChief]

USA: yes I am half-serious. QUOTE] So you want someone to tell him "any time you have two strikes, swing at anything, whether you think it's a strike or not, whether you recognize the pitch or not, just never, ever, take a called third strike." Yeah, that's a good idea.

[Shane Wahl]

MI makes the solid play to save the inning and potentially the bullpen.

[Alex]

Wow. This is an ugly baseball game.

 

Bah, Mauer dropped that because he foresaw a doubleplay two pitches later.

 

#Babyjesus

[Ultima Ratio]

Pretty much, yes.

Mental mistakes (losing the ball in the sun, taking a bad angle, etc.) are not errors.

I don't remember how it was scored, but the Jose Conseco homer off his head was not an error then?

 

How about a third baseman bare-handing ball that he shouldn't. Never touches the glove, so no error?

[Guest USAFChief]

I'd sort of forgotten JJ's "wheels."

[Riverbrian]

USA: yes I am half-serious. QUOTE] So you want someone to tell him "any time you have two strikes, swing at anything, whether you think it's a strike or not, whether you recognize the pitch or not, just never, ever, take a called third strike." Yeah, that's a good idea.

 

Actually... That's a pretty old school baseball instruction... Protect the plate with two strikes. If its close get a bat on it.