Game Thread: Twins @ Yankees, 4/14 @ 6:05 CT

[Squirrel]

Lol, Audra calling out Laudner in the post game

[RickOShea]

4 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

Defense, I would assume. They removed Julien from 2B, Miranda from 3B and put Castro and Gordon in their more natural positions in the infield. Larnach pinch hitting for Garlick is a platoon switch. 

Would rocco agree with the statement, " put your best player out in the field".  Yet, we see all thse switches and changes for the sake of defense, and best player for the position,  why not do that at the start of the game? Unless they are a definite offensive liability.  I do understand the use of defensive specialists, but to turn over 1/3 to 1/2 your lineup?

[jkcarew]

1 minute ago, IndianaTwin said:

Defense, I would assume. They removed Julien from 2B, Miranda from 3B and put Castro and Gordon in their more natural positions in the infield. Larnach pinch hitting for Garlick is a platoon switch. 

Yep. Looks like they’re not going to put Julien in a position to lose a close game late with his defense at 2B (hopefully, the power continues to develop so he can justify being a 1B).

And Larnach was an easy late PH decision, because I’m sure they consider Larnach better (by at least some margin) than Garlick in the OF.

[weitz41]

OK, either I should have bought some lottery tickets tonight or I'm miss read the box score. If by chance I'm not hallucinating.... Per MLB's morning show this is the 1st time since 2013 that the Twins have won a series in NY...looking for some sniffing salt brb...The earth must have tipped a little of its axis today...I'd say something nice about my x-wife but not even this will make that happen.

GO TWINS!!!??? (I'm so confused)

Wait a sec maybe it was two in a row in NY. Either way I'm stunned

[Squirrel]

2 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Would rocco agree with the statement, " put your best player out in the field".  Yet, we see all thse switches and changes for the sake of defense, and best player for the position,  why not do that at the start of the game? Unless they are a definite offensive liability.  I do understand the use of defensive specialists, but to turn over 1/3 to 1/2 your lineup?

Because your best offensive lineup isn’t necessarily your best defensive lineup. We took the lead late in the game and you want to hold it. At that point it becomes a game of defense. You want to start the game with your best offense, I would think. I don’t know, that’s how I look at it

[sampleSizeOfOne]

What i miss?

 

Pagan with the win tells me it must have been exciting.

[SteveLV]

We have not won the series, but we have earned a split at a minimum.  Playing with house money now, Boys!

[RpR]

8 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

The Twins don't garner much media attention.  I've seen articles a week old on Yahoo sports about minor stories, while the Twins don't even have a story filed.  Of course, Yahoo, is not a mega source for sports.

Oh yes, on the MSN Baseball part of their sports channel, I will see 10 articles on teams that finished last in their division, including our for every one that mentions the Twins and the one on the Twins is usually negative.

[jkcarew]

3 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Would rocco agree with the statement, " put your best player out in the field".  Yet, we see all thse switches and changes for the sake of defense, and best player for the position,  why not do that at the start of the game? Unless they are a definite offensive liability.  I do understand the use of defensive specialists, but to turn over 1/3 to 1/2 your lineup?

At most positions offense is more important than defense. So, yes…he put out the best players…the ones that had the best chance of scoring runs against a really good lefty. Then when he got the late lead, he went with defense…as the strategy became…we’re not going to hit again. I’ve had plenty of issues with how Rocco handles certain things, but what he did tonight is pretty much baseball A01.

[RickOShea]

I just hate playing catch up because our defense isn't very good early on.  Gallo had 2 botched plays in the outfield the first week.  Forcing your offense to play catch up and having your starter have to pitch behind, is not the ideal situation.   It doesn't happen a lot, nut just enough where it could make a difference.

[Sutter50]

25 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Would rocco agree with the statement, " put your best player out in the field".  Yet, we see all thse switches and changes for the sake of defense, and best player for the position,  why not do that at the start of the game? Unless they are a definite offensive liability.  I do understand the use of defensive specialists, but to turn over 1/3 to 1/2 your lineup?

They won the game why the complaining?

[Squirrel]

13 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

I just hate playing catch up because our defense isn't very good early on.  Gallo had 2 botched plays in the outfield the first week.  Forcing your offense to play catch up and having your starter have to pitch behind, is not the ideal situation.   It doesn't happen a lot, nut just enough where it could make a difference.

I just don't see this. Errors happen. No player, no team is going to get everything. Gallo is generally good defensively. So I don't think this take is accurate. Not sure why you are bringing this up now? Teams pinch hit and pinch run and replace players all the time. After we took the lead late in the game, you switch to defense. That's how you play it.

[stringer bell]

A couple of thoughts and a correction. Larnach did not pinch hit. He came in on defense, I believe after the lefty was out of the game. Most of the other moves, I think, were predicated by who was available in the Yankee bullpen. If there was a lefty, it was someone Rocco didn't mind having his left handed hitters face. When they took the lead, they went with their best defense possible, including Wallner in right field (I'm sure @chpettit19 will agree). Rocco was very aggressive with the moves. He lifted Solano, who has been hot, for Gordon and on the surface that looks like a bad move, but OTOH, it didn't hurt.

[IndianaTwin]

22 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

A couple of thoughts and a correction. Larnach did not pinch hit. He came in on defense, I believe after the lefty was out of the game. Most of the other moves, I think, were predicated by who was available in the Yankee bullpen. If there was a lefty, it was someone Rocco didn't mind having his left handed hitters face. When they took the lead, they went with their best defense possible, including Wallner in right field (I'm sure @chpettit19 will agree). Rocco was very aggressive with the moves. He lifted Solano, who has been hot, for Gordon and on the surface that looks like a bad move, but OTOH, it didn't hurt.

Thanks for the correction on Larnach’s entry. 

And to carry your comment about the Yankee bullpen further, they were at 9 spot in the order, so had they tied and gone to extra innings, most of those reserves were a number of batters away. 

[RickOShea]

44 minutes ago, Sutter50 said:

They won the game why the complaining?

Because I choose to comment.  

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

A couple of thoughts and a correction. Larnach did not pinch hit. He came in on defense, I believe after the lefty was out of the game. Most of the other moves, I think, were predicated by who was available in the Yankee bullpen. If there was a lefty, it was someone Rocco didn't mind having his left handed hitters face. When they took the lead, they went with their best defense possible, including Wallner in right field (I'm sure @chpettit19 will agree). Rocco was very aggressive with the moves. He lifted Solano, who has been hot, for Gordon and on the surface that looks like a bad move, but OTOH, it didn't hurt.

Really didn't understand hitting Gordon for Solano, but I have accepted that I will need to accept Rocco wanting his middle infield to look a certain way over what his corner OF looks like. And I guess that's a pretty reasonable idea. Although, I'm guessing Wallner is gone tomorrow and Kepler will be in RF so it's probably all moot for a bit.