Game Thread: Nats v Twins, 4/22 a 1:10pm CT

[rwilfong86]

Scored 2 but probably too late

[OvertheHill]

3 minutes ago, OvertheHill said:

I think the Bomba Squad thing ruined this franchise for multiple years. Problem is there’s a whole generation of baseball players now who believe that’s the way to play the game. 

And I do realize that by saying that I’ve become the equivalent of the old guy yelling at the kids to get off his lawn. 

[Fritzderkat]

Talk about timing, why is it that what's happened to Lopez the day after signing the savior's contract seems to say everything you might ever need to know about what's wrong with the Twins?

[Guest]

Who can we bring up to play 3rd?

[bighat]

Just now, OvertheHill said:

And I do realize that by saying that I’ve become the equivalent of the old guy yelling at the kids to get off his lawn. 

Maybe - but you're totally right. 

Their record-setting success in 2019 led to a strategy shift from the entire front office at that time: close your eyes and swing as hard as you can. Strikeouts don't matter. Home run or bust. And with the juiced ball, it worked. Unfortunately, the Twins enforced that same strategy all the way down the minor league pipeline, and so guys like Larnach, Miranda, etc were all taught the same thing. 

The sad thing is that even casual fans know the ball was juiced and that baseball's a different game now. Manfred specifically added all these new rules to STOP teams like the Twins from playing the way they do. And 29 other teams in baseball have figured it out - offense is up around baseball and stolen bases are off the charts. 

The only team still stuck in 2019 is the Twins. It shows - and they should be mortified. The loss of our one contact-hitter, Luis Arraez, was the death knell for any chance this fragile offense had. It was over before it begun. 

 

[RickOShea]

Just now, Twins_Fan_In_Texas said:

Who can we bring up to play 3rd?

Is Eric Soderholm still around/

[OvertheHill]

6 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_In_Texas said:

Who can we bring up to play 3rd?

I hear Sano is still available. 

[Twins_Fan_For_Life]

4 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Is Eric Soderholm still around/

He is. But he is 74 years old and hasn't played since 1980

[MABB1959]

5 minutes ago, bighat said:

Luis Arraez, was the death knell for any chance this fragile offense had. It was over before it begun. 

 

Huge loss.  I hate that we had to give him up for López. Why can’t we have more good things?   I mean keeping Arraez and getting a López like quality pitcher.  

[Tlaker]

6 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Is Eric Soderholm still around/

Rich Rollins maybe?

[SwainZag]

About time Larnach got one to fall, he has been stinging the ball all day

[rwilfong86]

10 minutes ago, bighat said:

Maybe - but you're totally right. 

Their record-setting success in 2019 led to a strategy shift from the entire front office at that time: close your eyes and swing as hard as you can. Strikeouts don't matter. Home run or bust. And with the juiced ball, it worked. Unfortunately, the Twins enforced that same strategy all the way down the minor league pipeline, and so guys like Larnach, Miranda, etc were all taught the same thing. 

The sad thing is that even casual fans know the ball was juiced and that baseball's a different game now. Manfred specifically added all these new rules to STOP teams like the Twins from playing the way they do. And 29 other teams in baseball have figured it out - offense is up around baseball and stolen bases are off the charts. 

The only team still stuck in 2019 is the Twins. It shows - and they should be mortified. The loss of our one contact-hitter, Luis Arraez, was the death knell for any chance this fragile offense had. It was over before it begun. 

 

I agree. Not having anyone who can get on base and keep rallies alive really sucks. 

[RickOShea]

1 minute ago, Tlaker said:

Rich Rollins maybe?

Available, but demanding a heavily laden incentive based contract.

[Beast]

Well, our “ace” and top pitching prospect getting shelled by arguably the worst team in baseball to drop the series at home is less than awesome.

[Twins_Fan_For_Life]

1 minute ago, Beast said:

Well, our “ace” and top pitching prospect getting shelled by arguably the worst team in baseball to drop the series at home is less than awesome.

 

[h2oface]

Yup. SWR ready for the show. Just the kind of depth you need.

[RickOShea]

Washington hitters salute, boston hitters point to their biceps.  What will Chisox players point to or grab?.....................Nevermind.

[h2oface]

Who needs hitting. Trade your best hitter away.......

[notoriousgod71]

I love that they let woods Richardson throw more pitches in relief than our starters when they are dominating.

[RickOShea]

Maki reminds Rocco to stop by the dispensary on his way home.

[RickOShea]

Is this a fluke/ Or does this mean the worst of the National League is that much better than mediocrities of the american League, even with interleague play/

[RickOShea]

I apologize for using the word mediocrities,

[MABB1959]

9 minutes ago, notoriousgod71 said:

I love that they let woods Richardson throw more pitches in relief than our starters when they are dominating.

Glad they did and hope he stays.  You can’t be the best if you aren’t challenged by the best.  I hope he stays up all year to see what we got! 

[MABB1959]

4 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Is this a fluke/ Or does this mean the worst of the National League is that much better than mediocrities of the american League, even with interleague play/

Not looking good that’s for sure.  Heads need to start rolling if they get swept 

[tony&rodney]

5 minutes ago, notoriousgod71 said:

I love that they let woods Richardson throw more pitches in relief than our starters when they are dominating.

This was interesting to me as well. SWR throws nearly 100 pitches when the Twins only allow their starters around 80 pitches in their first start. Now SWR has thrown to 37 batters in two prior games, but that was in minor league baseball. Strange.

Right now, the Twins are a bad baseball club. 

Tomorrow?

 

[RickOShea]

Twins player's faces look so sad, leaning against the dug out rail.  Are they lamenting their terrible play or having to field insults from those fans who hang out by their porsches in the player's lot?

[PDX Twin]

The game thread started so well ... then the math turned to masochism.

[Parfigliano]

42 minutes ago, OvertheHill said:

And I do realize that by saying that I’ve become the equivalent of the old guy yelling at the kids to get off his lawn. 

Your right about the ruining

[D. Hocking]

My memory is a little rusty, but even in 2019, weren't there signs later in the season that the Bomba squad mentality was starting to show some signs that it was becoming less effective and not a sustainable strategy.   I know people were ready to move on from Mauer but there have been a few times since 2019 where I wish they had a batter or two like him who could drive up a pitch count during one of his bats.  They could use a Luis Arráez right now.

[Parfigliano]

Nats 1st series win