GAME THREAD: Minnesota Twins at Boston Red Sox; 04/18/2023, 6:10pm Central Daylight Time

[Vanimal46]

 

[Hrbowski]

Just now, SwainZag said:

This looks very much like vintage Sale tonight

The Twins can make any pitcher look like an ace

[Richie the Rally Goat]

3 hours ago, CRF said:

How about bench Kepler, put Buxton back in CF, and move MAT over to RF? 

Then have Larnach play very shallow RF/SS on the 2B side with an outfield of MAT and Buck

[Aggies7]

Has there ever been a more abrupt melting down of a career than that of one max Kepler?

[USAFChief]

3 minutes ago, RpR said:

From watching on ESPN , if the pitch is at the edge of the strike zone, you better swing as the odds are the Ump. will call  it a strike for Boston.

Pitches at the edge of the strike zone are, uh, strikes.

[RpR]

Did they get a new hitting coach?

[stringer bell]

BABIP of 1.000.

[Vanimal46]

Just now, Aggies7 said:

Has there ever been a more abrupt melting down of a career than that of one max Kepler?

Miguel Sano just last season. Still kind of amazed he is out of the league. 

[Danchat]

1 minute ago, Aggies7 said:

Has there ever been a more abrupt melting down of a career than that of one max Kepler?

He was never that great to begin with, it's been mediocrity at the plate surrounding a superb 2019 season... and now we've had about a full year of something below mediocrity. Disappointing, and it was too bad they couldn't ship him off for anything over the offseason.

[USAFChief]

Lucky that ball hopped the wall or its a triple at least.

[RpR]

1 minute ago, USAFChief said:

Pitches at the edge of the strike zone are, uh, strikes.

They do not have to be on the edge just near it .

Two by the graph were ball, if that helps.

 

[jkcarew]

Just now, Vanimal46 said:

Miguel Sano just last season. Still kind of amazed he is out of the league. 

Me too. Especially since the entire league continues to K more and more.

[Schmoeman5]

1 minute ago, RpR said:

They do not have to be on the edge just near it .

Two by the graph were ball, if that helps.

 

A couple if Gray's pitches were off as well and called strikes, including the last strikeout 

[Aggies7]

4 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Miguel Sano just last season. Still kind of amazed he is out of the league. 

I’m not a huge stat head but Kepler’s career WAR is twice sano’s

[RickOShea]

5 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

Has there ever been a more abrupt melting down of a career than that of one max Kepler?

Wally Pipp?

[RpR]

3 minutes ago, Danchat said:

He was never that great to begin with, it's been mediocrity at the plate surrounding a superb 2019 season... and now we've had about a full year of something below mediocrity. Disappointing, and it was too bad they couldn't ship him off for anything over the offseason.

You are venting on Kepler; his Baseball Ref. numbers do not back up what you said.

[bighat]

7 minutes ago, SwainZag said:

This looks very much like vintage Sale tonight

Don't give me that. 

He's a shell of his former self. Sale's not good - the Twins are horrific. 

[Vanimal46]

1 minute ago, Aggies7 said:

I’m not a huge stat head but Kepler’s career WAR is twice sano’s

True. Defense has kept Kepler in the league thus far but after this year he very well could be out of the league just like Sano. 

[jkcarew]

2 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

I’m not a huge stat head but Kepler’s career WAR is twice sano’s

Because of defense, not offense…but yes.

[RickOShea]

11 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Miguel Sano just last season. Still kind of amazed he is out of the league. 

He should have never made the league.  

[USAFChief]

Once again, we appear to be playing defense in both the top and bottom of every inning.

[Aggies7]

2 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

Because of defense, not offense…but yes.

His defense has been pretty bad too

[Aggies7]

Man it feels like a crooked number here will be the end for us tonight 

[rwilfong86]

Sonny Gray keeping them in this game right now.

[mrtwinsfan]

Houdiney  Gray

[USAFChief]

54 pitches, 6 outs. 5 LOB. 

I believe that might be termed "laboring."

[CRF]

Maybe Alex from U.S. Bank can find us a few runs tonight?

[RickOShea]

Sonny Gray is like a Walenda, with vertigo, tonight.

[PDX Twin]

2 minutes ago, rwilfong86 said:

Sonny Gray keeping them in this game right now.

Mowing then down with dull fingernail scissors...

[Danchat]

3 minutes ago, RpR said:

You are venting on Kepler; his Baseball Ref. numbers do not back up what you said.

Kepler 2016-2018: .234 BA / .732 OPS

2019: .252 BA / .855 OPS

2020-21: .216 BA / .731 OPS

22-23: .220 BA / .650 OPS

.730 OPS may not be your definition for a mediocre hitter, but it's not good for a corner outfielder, and also full of walks and low on RBIs. Since 2019, his OPS has taken a significant drop every year... and there's no debating that he's at rock bottom 2022-now.