3/24 Twins/ NYY game

[ToddlerHarmon]

So a couple things I noticed:

- Julien playing 2B and leading off

- Maeda relieving Lopez

- Emmanuel Rodriguez with a hit off Cole and a homer off Abreu.

Hopefully seeing our near and far future here

[Cory Engelhardt]

I listened to the radio broadcast of the game with the mlb app. It was the Yankees feed. John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman were certainly a LOT more positive about the Twins and their players than I would guess a majority of Twins fans are. It was fun to hear that perspective. 

 

[Doctor Gast]

I just came home from a doctor appointment & checked the game & went to TD to look for the game thread. I didn't find any. So I decided to open a thread so we can discuss it.

Anytime we beat the evil empire it's a great game. I was surprised that both Julien & E Rod was in the line up & they both did really well. Maybe they'll reconsider their past decisions about them. Pablo Lopez had a hiccup and Maeda had some problems early but later pitched well & was able to complete 5 innings.

Anybody else had any take-aways  from the game?

 

[danielp19653]

Watching it felt like Maeda threw an incredible amount of splitters and curveballs, wonder if he felt like the control issues were around those pitches (he did give up runs off a hanging split the first inning he threw). Seemed to have a lot better location on them after so I thought it was encouraging overall for him. Julien still looks incredible and although I doubt its really being considered I wouldn't hate seeing him stay on the roster while Polanco is out.

[chpettit19]

I had a meeting after Maeda's first inning so I missed the end, but saw the ERod highlight after and that swing is beautiful. Really hoping for a massive breakout from him this year and to see him hit his way to AA by the end of it. Julien is doing everything in his power to make the Twins put him on the opening day roster. He's got an awfully strong case for the opening day 2B job, even though his glove still needs a lot of work. Hard to not like the bat right now.

I thought Lopez looked solid for the end of spring. No concerns there for me. It sounds like Maeda started to find his footing as the day went on. Not expecting him to be lights out in April, but him finding his footing over the next couple weeks is a reasonable expectation and would have the Twins in a good spot for the year.

[Mike Sixel]

I would like very much for Julien to be on the roster. 

[stringer bell]

Julien had some nice at bats. It doesn't fit the Twins'  SOP of handling young players, especially since he figures to be a defensive liability (he misplayed a ball in Maeda's first inning).

Rodriquez is an impressive young player and I was relatively confident that he would do something good in his two-out, two-on plate appearance in the ninth. 

Lopez looked good outside of the fat breaking ball that resulted in a two-run homer. Congratulations to him for getting the Opening Day start on Thursday.

Maeda had several 92 mph fastballs (I don't think he's ever been clocked higher for the Twins), struck out Judge in his last AB, but he struggled a bit with command. I would say he got sharper as the outing went along. 

While Lee was hitless, I didn't think he looked overmatched. Yes, he'll need time in the minors, but he's going to be a good player pretty soon. 

Today's game was free on mlb.tv. It was the Yankee feed and they really concentrated on the Yankees. The announcers speculated that Donaldson and Hicks need to produce early, indicating that the fans will be all over them if they struggle early.

[tony&rodney]

I watched a good part of the game. It was Gerrit Cole's final tuneup. Julien looked really good at the plate. He crushed two balls and took a borderline strike three on a great back door slider from Cole, The error was forgivable as he cut across to the third base side of second and just muffed the ball. Lee had the angle and should have called him off the play. Lee looks a little rough at the plate but he made a real nice diving play in the hole and threw out the runner. Brooks Lee looks like a player. The other guy who looked good was Emmanuel Rodriguez. He had really good at bats against both Cole and Abreu. He swung aggressively and also played a fair centerfield. Finally, to parrot what others have said - both P. Lopez and Maeda were fine. Maeda got stronger as he went along with his command and Lopez pretty much just put in a few effective innings. Should add that Miranda is swinging a good bat.

[Eephus]

2 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I listened to the radio broadcast of the game with the mlb app. It was the Yankees feed. John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman were certainly a LOT more positive about the Twins and their players than I would guess a majority of Twins fans are. It was fun to hear that perspective. 

 

This for some reason reminded me of listening to the pregame on Yankees radio before the Twins vs Yankees first playoff game in 2009. Gordo (former Yankee broadcaster) was talking in a recorded interview about the Twins and he was giving a very dour assessment of the Twins starting pitcher for the game -- rookie Brian Duensing. Duensing had a pretty good season and Gordo was talking in skeptical, calm way as if he wasn't being recorded. "This guy really isn't that great. Decent numbers but there's not a lot of stuff there." I could just imagine hyperpositive Gordo talking at the same time live on the Twins pregame "And Twins are going with outstanding rookie Brian Duensing!..." Pretty sure Duensing was roughed up.

[stringer bell]

2 hours ago, Eephus said:

This for some reason reminded me of listening to the pregame on Yankees radio before the Twins vs Yankees first playoff game in 2009. Gordo (former Yankee broadcaster) was talking in a recorded interview about the Twins and he was giving a very dour assessment of the Twins starting pitcher for the game -- rookie Brian Duensing. Duensing had a pretty good season and Gordo was talking in skeptical, calm way as if he wasn't being recorded. "This guy really isn't that great. Decent numbers but there's not a lot of stuff there." I could just imagine hyperpositive Gordo talking at the same time live on the Twins pregame "And Twins are going with outstanding rookie Brian Duensing!..." Pretty sure Duensing was roughed up.

Wasn't that after the marathon win in Game #163 against the Tigers?