GAME THREAD: Twins vs. Cleveland, 05/14/2022 @ 6:10 PM CST

[Aggies7]

It’s going to be so hilariously minnesota sports when byron gets babied all year to keep him available for the playoffs, then he stubs his toe in the clubhouse during the final week of the season and misses the playoffs

[Squirrel]

23 minutes ago, CRF said:

Not much of a hitter, but he sure can pick it. 

You were saying? ?

[Squirrel]

That was lucky because they had him

[Nine of twelve]

Thank you Mr. second baseman for not handling that throw.

[CRF]

2 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

You were saying? ?

Nothing I'd like better than for him start to swing the bat better

[USAFChief]

1 minute ago, CRF said:

I see what you're saying...but you also have to remember he's missed most of the last couple years. He's getting his sea legs back. Definitely a lot of talent there though. 

True. But I am sort of a "born to play SS or not" kind of guy. It's one thing to learn to track fly balls. Responding to the variety of ground balls you get at SS is difficult to learn. 

[KirbyDome89]

6 minutes ago, shortround81 said:

Mmmmmm . . . Earlier in the thread people were doubting Buxton's drive to be on the field every day. People were questioning him saying that he does vs it actually being true

None of that has anything to do with forcing Buxton off CF or artificially reducing his PT. 

[Squirrel]

That was lucky, too

[KirbyDome89]

Why....just.....why?

[Schmoeman5]

13 minutes ago, RpR said:

He may be as good at third as Arraez was.

Secretary of Defense is heard

[Mill1634]

2 safety squeezes in the 4th inning of a regular season ballgame. What are we even doing? Silly 

[Mike Sixel]

Bunting early is stupid. 

[Squirrel]

COME ON!!!!! GET IT! GET BIEBER!

[USAFChief]

Why are we playing for 1 run in the 4th inning of a 1-1 game with Smelzer on the mound?

[Squirrel]

sigh

[KirbyDome89]

Just now, Mill1634 said:

2 safety squeezes in the 4th inning of a regular season ballgame. What are we even doing? Silly 

Seriously. Why put your young hitter in a terrible count with RISP, especially when he's swinging the bat well. 

[shortround81]

9 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

I have. I still have no idea what you're saying. We should play Buxton less so he can play more?

--rolls eyes-- Strategery

[KirbyDome89]

Just now, USAFChief said:

Why are we playing for 1 run in the 4th inning of a 1-1 game with Smelzer on the mound?

Elite bullpen, haven't you heard?

[Mill1634]

I really don’t get that at all. Took away the bat from one of your best prospects ever after a huge day yesterday. Whether it was put on by the bench or by Royce, it was absolutely putrid. 

[D. Hocking]

What a great night to be at Target Field.

On a really petty, superficial note, I would not be sad if these uniforms were retired.  The gold trim kind of gives them a cheap, flashy feel.

The gift of by the second baseman was for naught.

[USAFChief]

Just now, KirbyDome89 said:

Seriously. Why put your young hitter in a terrible count with RISP, especially when he's swinging the bat well. 

It's Lewis's fault for not getting the bunt down.

My question is why TF are we asking him to  bunt?

[shortround81]

7 minutes ago, KirbyDome89 said:

None of that has anything to do with forcing Buxton off CF or artificially reducing his PT. 

Huh?

[Danchat]

Reminds me of when Molitor would have Polanco bunt, especially when he was hitting in the #3 spot...

[Brock Beauchamp]

I had no issues with that first bunt attempt but… um… not so much the second. 

[KirbyDome89]

5 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

It's Lewis's fault for not getting the bunt down.

My question is why TF are we asking him to  bunt?

All the more befuddling

[KirbyDome89]

Maybe if it's not the 4th inning of a tie game I can squint and see it, but that's a completely wasted AB there

[stringer bell]

Well, Lewis has rough edges in the field and lacks the experience of the primary shortstops the last two seasons. Coaching and repetition can smooth out a lot of his inefficiencies. 
 

If he’s not a shortstop, I’d like to see someone with his athleticism in the outfield. 

[RpR]

7 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

 

My question is why TF are we asking him to  bunt?

To be a Minn. Twin you have to be able to bunt - wait may be I got that wrong.

[USAFChief]

Let's send this Bieber character back to Canada, eh??

[CRF]

I'm not a real big Smeltzer fan, but he pitched a nice game for us. Kept us in the game. He went more than four innings too!