Twins 2, Royals 0: Twins Pitchers Toss Second Straight Shutout

[Nashvilletwin]

11 hours ago, Fat Calvin said:

I know I shouldn't be doing this, looking back, but Arraez went 4 for 5 today at the top of the Marlin's order.  His new team lost; his old team won.  And Lopez looked great on opening day.  But with Kepler batting first, and Gallo batting wherever, losing Arraez does leave a bitter taste.

And it was all so avoidable……

[Twins_Fan_For_Life]

13 minutes ago, Karbo said:

Is the pitching this good or are the Royals this bad?

Yes

[Craig Arko]

Good couple of wins, in faster paced games. Keep up the good work, Twins.

[Doctor Gast]

It's great to have KC the 1st series, while players still seem to try to work things out but yet were able to win both. Gray didn't look that impressive but Thielbar striking out the side was. defense & Buxton have been our saving grace. Let's not rest everybody, show no mercy & go for the sweep. Go  Twins!

[TwinsDr2021]

It is only two games so this is not a complaint, just an observation but if the starters don't get a bit more efficient (they are running up their pitch count in games where they aren't giving up runs) and/or Rocco doesn't start allowing a relief pitcher to pitch more than 1 inning, we could be heading down a very familiar path. I expect them to get better but I also expect them to give up some runs as well.

[JD-TWINS]

13 hours ago, darwin22 said:

A few observations after today's 2nd straight shutout win:

1.  Totally non sustainable, but a 0.78 team WHIP is beyond impressive---mostly due to 7.2 shutout IP from our bullpen.

2.  Great seeing Jorge Alcala back.  I'm guessing Alcala will be eased back into high leverage (after 6 innings) situations.  IMO, a healthy and effective Alcala is the "X" factor in our bullpen.

3.  Sonny Gray needs to back up his words with his actions.  Gray was VERY fortunate to escape situations with RISP.  His command was poor.  Far too many walks (4) and inability (other than the 1st inning) to put batters away with 2 strikes.

4.  Absolutely need a strong 6+ IP start from Joe Ryan tomorrow.  Even with yesterday's off day, I would be shocked to see Rocco use Thielbar or Jax and to a lesser extent Lopez tomorrow. I base that on no "off day" on Monday with road series looming in MIA.  That leaves 4 to cover tomorrow.  

Sands:  ugh

Pagan:  no comment.  But if forced to, it would be along the lines of:  "Unless its a blowout (6+ runs) no #$%%^#$ way!

Moran:  I'm good with.  Would love to get 2 IP from him.

Duran:  Of course----that would be a good.

Now for (offensive) offense:

1.  Would be interesting to know the last time a MLB team started 2-0 with a team slugging % of .324?

2.  If we're forced into having to watch Kepler hit---can it at least being in lower third of lineup? In case you weren't aware-------Kepler is a goosegg for 9.  Not good.

3.  Joey Gallo:  6 ABs---4 whiffs.  His big defensive play TH (starting 3-2-4) DP saves him (for now) from further criticism.

4.  Buxton:  Realize his time in CF isn't coming any day soon even with Taylor not hitting (1-7), but can our training staff get some bubblewrap for him on the bases?

Will be interesting to see lineup tomorrow.

I would like to see the following changes:

Gordon to LF with Larnach moving over to RF.  Kepler riding pine.

Farmer getting start at 3B with Miranda moving to 1B.  Gallo to bench

Jeffers getting start at C giving Vasquez a break.  I know Vasquez is hitting well, but at some point I see Rocco wanting to give Jeffers a start.

 

Vasquez 4-7 so far (30% of our hits) - it’ll be a couple hour plus flight to Miami tonight and back to Hot weather……Jeffers plays there.

Farmer to 2B (to displace Taylor) and Gordon to CF. Doubt this will happen because I doubt they want to jerk Gordon around unless needed. 

With another RH pitcher on mound, we’ll have to live with Kepler & Gallo again today. Gotta give them another shot against KC #3 arm……Marlin’s guys will be another level of challenge. Alcantara on Wednesday!

[Bodie]

13 hours ago, Twins_Fan_For_Life said:

Love having Lopez close today,  leaving Duran available for tomorrow 

Duran wasn't available to pitch, according to HAL - I mean Rocco - "he slept pretty funny".  HAL continued "We don't think it's going to be a long-term issue... We're hoping he wakes up in a significantly better place and that's what we anticipate."  Well, that makes me feel real confident... I just hope that better place is still KC!

 

Strange factoid - the Twins did something Saturday that they didn't do once last year.  I am not talking back to back shutouts (very nice!), but they used the same lineup in consecutive games!

[JD-TWINS]

14 hours ago, Twins_Fan_For_Life said:

Love having Lopez close today,  leaving Duran available for tomorrow 

Apparently Durán wasn’t available due to sleeping wrong - stiff neck or something? ANYWAY, agree it is good to see López throwing free and easy - every pitch different than the last through 2 outings. Encouraging!!

[mikelink45]

Luis Arraez now has 7 hits - in this game the Twins had 5.  In two games we have had 15 against Royal pitching.  I want Julien up if he can give us the kind of hitting Luis did.  

[wabene]

3 hours ago, HokieRif said:

So what you are saying is get ready for a bitter game because the ONLY Twin to score this year is going to be riding pine.  

Right now this team's offense IS Buxton.  If he sits then we aren't winning.

I'm going to copy this to my clipboard for later, bwwwaaaahahahahaha! 

 

 

 

[puckstopper1]

How long before we see an article here on T.D. detailing out how NOT having the shift is hurting Kepler's production.  And And after 3 seasons of putrid productivity at the plate, Rocco keeps batting him first. 

In looking at the current roster, I'd release Kepler if/when Kirilloff returns...

 

[Old Twins Hat]

Sparky Anderson said that in a baseball season, every team is going to win 50 and lose 50 no matter what.  It's the other games, the contested ones, that make winners and losers.

Twins score two runs, usually they lose.

Most of this is about winning when you didn't play all that well -- chalk up some wins that could have been losses in most circumstances.

And the pitching, especially the BP, looks reliable.

[Seth Stohs]

3 hours ago, Karbo said:

Is the pitching this good or are the Royals this bad?

Yes. 

[ashbury]

4 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

Yes. 

Seth, just a heads-up, it appears that USAFChief has hacked your account.

[Seth Stohs]

5 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Luis Arraez now has 7 hits - in this game the Twins had 5.  In two games we have had 15 against Royal pitching.  I want Julien up if he can give us the kind of hitting Luis did.  

Julien is like 1-for-12 with 7 strikeouts or so. 

[mikelink45]

9 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

Julien is like 1-for-12 with 7 strikeouts or so. 

That will change I believe.  Do you think that is representative of who he is?  

[Seth Stohs]

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

That will change I believe.  Do you think that is representative of who he is?  

I mean, he will strike out a ton, walk a ton... hit about .275, get on base about 42% of the time, probably hit 25 doubles and 20 homers...