Game Thread: Twins vs. Cleveland, 6/23/22 @ 12:10PM CT

[MMMordabito]

1 hour ago, RpR said:

Human error gives the game a soul, computers have no soul.

Don't worry. There will still be plenty of human errors in the field, on the mound, in the box and in the dugout. The more invisible the officiating is the better.

[tony&rodney]

How about the replay officials ruling that Rosario was hit by a pitch today despite the video evidence very clearly showing the ball fully hit the bat. Sanchez, Rosario, Francona, and the trainer were all clear that the ball never hit Rosario but technology still gets overruled. I'm not sure all of this correctness is better.

[cheeseheadgophfan]

3 hours ago, Aggies7 said:

Larnach utterly dominated when he just needed to move the runner over 

The 2nd strike call was ridiculous......changed the whole AB....

[bighat]

2 hours ago, PopRiveter said:

It's been a rough go for hitters for sure, but I think the 2022 version of baseball makes for a much better game to watch. There's been balls in play, defense, rallies of strung-together hits.

The last few years, games have been 4+ hours of strikeout-strikeout-walk-home run-strikeout. Baseball feels like baseball again this year.

Gah, baseball is so resurrected right now.

You are, of course, entitled to your own opinions.

It feels like you're right, but we've only been watching the Twins - who are certainly putting the ball in play more than their 2019 Bomba Squad days & last year's awful team.

But do you have any numbers to back up your claim around the league?

[cheeseheadgophfan]

3 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Yep. One thing Baldelli does well that Molitor was terrible about is abusing relievers but Rocco simply has no choice right now.

THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE!!!!  He choses to abuse his relievers by babying his starters.......

Today is a perfect example.  Smeltzer is DEALING!   Can you name more than 2 hard hit balls all day?  He's at 92 pitches after the 6th and is yanked with a paper thin bullpen.

He had plenty of choice.....he's pulling pitchers regularly at 70 pitches.  How the heck is he NOT going to abuse his bullpen when he makes this choice?

As an aside, I've been watching a lot of the CWS......pitchers regularly throwing 120 pitches.  How is this possible????  Are college coaches abusive or is Rocco a coddler?

[bighat]

2 hours ago, Puckett34 said:

It seems like having 2-3 decent relievers out of 8 bullpen pitchers makes not a good bullpen. 

Right.

And if you can only use those 2-3 guys in the close games, what are you supposed to do when you have three close games in a row? Just keep using them? Or take a risk and use the other 5 guys? I mean, you have to use all of your arms, otherwise what are they there for.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Just now, cheeseheadgophfan said:

THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE!!!!  He choses to abuse his relievers by babying his starters.......

Today is a perfect example.  Smeltzer is DEALING!   Can you name more than 2 hard hit balls all day?  He's at 92 pitches after the 6th and is yanked with a paper thin bullpen.

He had plenty of choice.....he's pulling pitchers regularly at 70 pitches.  How the heck is he NOT going to abuse his bullpen when he makes this choice?

As an aside, I've been watching a lot of the CWS......pitchers regularly throwing 120 pitches.  How is this possible????  Are college coaches abusive or is Rocco a coddler?

LOL. College coaches are notorious for abusing the hell out of their starters. 

[RpR]

2 hours ago, SkyBlueWaters said:

I think it was last year the Twins were cruising with a big lead at Yankee Stadium, that exorbitant shopping mall of a ballpark. Duffey throws what is on replay clearly a strike (admitted by the Yankees announcers) and the ump calls it a ball. Forced to pitch even more over the plate, Duffy coughs up a long ball, and the $%@!# Yankees come back.

Duffy is red-faced, screaming at the ump as he is taken out of the game.  The Twins lose again.

This is good entertainment for you? 

He should have thrown more strikes, rather than have a snit-fit though it is understandable why he did.

[RpR]

49 minutes ago, cheeseheadgophfan said:

Well that didn't age well.......

No he played well today.

[chpettit19]

6 hours ago, LVTwinsfan said:

Does anybody really think Smeltzer is a major league pitcher… only on the Twins

This didn't age well...

[chpettit19]

47 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

LOL. College coaches are notorious for abusing the hell out of their starters. 

There's some kid named Canterino who'd like a word with anyone who thinks college pitchers throwing 120 pitches a game isn't detrimental to college kids arms...

[cheeseheadgophfan]

3 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Because of the human tendency to increase intrigue, as I mentioned. 

I get what you're saying, but I don't want human intrigue...... I want the same strike zone for Derek Jeter of the Yankees and Nicky Punto for the Twins.  Know what I'm saying????

[cheeseheadgophfan]

1 hour ago, tony&rodney said:

How about the replay officials ruling that Rosario was hit by a pitch today despite the video evidence very clearly showing the ball fully hit the bat. Sanchez, Rosario, Francona, and the trainer were all clear that the ball never hit Rosario but technology still gets overruled. I'm not sure all of this correctness is better.

If I'm Duran and a guy fakes being hit by a pitch (which Rosario did) I don't think I could contain myself from saying something similar to "Next at bat I'm gonna give you something to really shake your hand about......."

Eerily similar to what my Mom used to say...."You want me to give you something to cry about?"   LOL

[wabene]

8 hours ago, LVTwinsfan said:

Huge day for Cleveland, today they start separating from the rest of the division. The Twins won’t get first place back. I predict by the end of next week the Twins are 5 games back. Does anybody really think Smeltzer is a major league pitcher… only on the Twins

Hilarious

[LVTwinsfan]

2 hours ago, cheeseheadgophfan said:

Are college coaches abusive or is Rocco a coddler?

Yes

[LVTwinsfan]

3 minutes ago, wabene said:

Hilarious

Just doing my part

[wabene]

5 hours ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

Can't, Shouldn't, or won't be allowed to?

All three could be correct I guess

He was only able to pitch 16 freaking innings last year. I for one am grateful for whatever we get out of him. 

[LVTwinsfan]

I have to admit there was plenty of human error from the players, from Smiths roller coaster ride to the little girls throw from Thielbar to Miranda, we shouldn’t have to put up with it from the umpires too. 

[LVTwinsfan]

2 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

This didn't age well...

Yeah well I’m glad to be the fool. It’s a mystery to me how he’s this successful, I wanted him to pitch the 7th.