White Sox 6, Twins 4: Poor At-Bats Late Prove Costly, Chicago Takes the Series

[terrydactyls]

2 minutes ago, Shobae said:

It's a better at bat because Lanarch had a much better approach, that if you replicate it across a season, that will lead to much better results than free swinging into making soft contact into the ground. It's quite incredible how 2 good major league hitters can't manage to hit a ball out of the infield. I mean surely if buxton can do something at the plate it's hit the ball in the air? But it seems load 'em up leave 'em on is the twins hitting philosophy. Another defeat snatched from the jaws of victory, seems nobody in this division wants to win it right now. 

"Load 'em up, leave 'em on" sounds like the theme song from Bonanza.  For those under 50, look it up.

[John Belinski]

44 minutes ago, MGX said:

As frustrating as the last two games have been I can't agree with the doom & gloom regarding the Twins chances in the division. We have a talented enough team to win the division.

With that said watching the games so far this season (for longer really) there is a recurring theme - lack of awareness, lack of execution & lack of urgency.

 

The Twins certainly have enough talent to win the division, but when the talented players do not perform they lose.  The Twins just have not got enough performance from their talented players.

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, Mark G said:

"Correa and Buxton, though, were a tad too impatient. Both of them jumped on early pitches but failed to get the ball out of the infield, allowing Chicago’s defense to make two fine plays to get the outs at home. Trevor Larnach had a considerably better at-bat next but ended up striking out swinging on eight pitches."

Maybe it is just me, but how is striking out a "better at-bat" than putting the ball in play, no matter how many pitches it takes to strike out?  

Making the defense "make two fine plays" strikes me as much better at bats than just making the catcher catch strike 3.  

 

Buxton got sawed off swinging at a first pitch 4 inches inside. 

Absolutely awful AB. Terrible. With 1 out.

Larnach hasn't been good recently but his AB in that situation was much better than Buxton.

[Squirrel]

43 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

1. Bad teams win 4 games out of 10. -- 65-97 (They got to beat someone to win 4 out of 10). 

2. Average teams win 5 out of 10 -- 81-81 Record 

3. Great teams lose 4 games out of 10 -- 97-65 Record (They got to lose to someone to lose 4 out of 10)

The margins are thin and there are no absolutes from day to day. Sometimes a baseball bloops in and sometimes a rocket off the bat is caught. 

Any thought that these are teams that we should beat and these are teams that we should lose to ignores decades upon decades of the 3 points above being absolute reality. You got to strap it on and compete every day because everybody is capable of beating you on any given day and they often do.     

Or as Squirrel put it... It's the way the cookie crumbles. 😀 

People often ask 'Why keep watching this?' Well, it's a choice to watch or not, so if you don't like it, don't waste your time. But my real answer is that because on any given day your chances of seeing something you haven't before is pretty high. Also, on any given day, the best player/team can be the worst, and the worst can be the best. As you said, bad teams do win some games against someone and good teams do lose against someone. It's how the cookie crumbles. I just accept the wins and losses as they come because in the end, no one died and it really matters not much in the whole grand scheme because it's just a game. Doesn't mean I don't want to win them all and it doesn't mean I don't hate losing to the White Sox, I just have my own perspective on things.

[Mark G]

4 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

 

Buxton got sawed off swinging at a first pitch 4 inches inside. 

Absolutely awful AB. Terrible. With 1 out.

Larnach hasn't been good recently but his AB in that situation was much better than Buxton.

Can't argue with your appraisal of Buck's AB in the least, but I also can't buy into a strike out being a better AB than putting the ball in play.  In all 3 of those AB's you have to at least make the defense make the play; in the first 2 we did, and they did.  A strike out is just a gift; a gift we have given 1 out of every 3 AB's so far this season.  Which is why, I guess, I have such a hard time looking at a strike out as a better AB than putting a ball in play.  Weak AB's, poor AB's, even flat out silly AB's are still better than strike outs if the ball is put in play, making the defense make the play.  Unless you consider a strike out better than a double play ball.  Miranda can attest to that.  😉 

[Woof Bronzer]

2 hours ago, Mark G said:

Maybe it is just me, but how is striking out a "better at-bat" than putting the ball in play, no matter how many pitches it takes to strike out?  

 

It's not.  

[Aggies7]

“Probably going to win the division” means squat. It’s the worst division in baseball. Was last year too. The white Sox came into this series on pace to have one of the ten worst winning percentages in the history of the game. Same with the royals. Historically bad starts. 
 

And let the concerns about the bullpen start. The mix of jax, lopez and thielbar have not been inspiring much confidence lately. If the bullpen reverts to 2022 form, forget it. 

[Squirrel]

3 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

And let the concerns about the bullpen start.

Many here have had concerns about the BP from the beginning. Happy, maybe even hopeful, for some of the early success, but, when you do little in the off-season on an obvious weakness, and say you are doing nothing, well, some here, including myself, have had concerns. Keeping my fingers crossed, because of course I want a good outcome, but  ... 

[SockNet]

1 hour ago, terrydactyls said:

"Load 'em up, leave 'em on" sounds like the theme song from Bonanza.  For those under 50, look it up.

Raw Hide.

 

And I'm getting ready to throw bottles at this offence. Poor plate approach with RISP has  been a hallmark over the past few seasons. It's like their brains melt with a guy on second or third.

[Craig Arko]

46 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

People often ask 'Why keep watching this?' Well, it's a choice to watch or not, so if you don't like it, don't waste your time. But my real answer is that because on any given day your chances of seeing something you haven't before is pretty high. Also, on any given day, the best player/team can be the worst, and the worst can be the best. As you said, bad teams do win some games against someone and good teams do lose against someone. It's how the cookie crumbles. I just accept the wins and losses as they come because in the end, no one died and it really matters not much in the whole grand scheme because it's just a game. Doesn't mean I don't want to win them all and it doesn't mean I don't hate losing to the White Sox, I just have my own perspective on things.

Thank you for being an adult. It is sometimes a refreshing change.

[Riverbrian]

45 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

People often ask 'Why keep watching this?' Well, it's a choice to watch or not, so if you don't like it, don't waste your time. But my real answer is that because on any given day your chances of seeing something you haven't before is pretty high. Also, on any given day, the best player/team can be the worst, and the worst can be the best. As you said, bad teams do win some games against someone and good teams do lose against someone. It's how the cookie crumbles. I just accept the wins and losses as they come because in the end, no one died and it really matters not much in the whole grand scheme because it's just a game. Doesn't mean I don't want to win them all and it doesn't mean I don't hate losing to the White Sox, I just have my own perspective on things.

I'm going to keep watching along with you.

Being a baseball fan like yourself. We have learned to manage failures as they come across. 

We've seen a cookie crumb on the floor on occasion and we will see more in the future. We still like Cookies.  

[dex8425]

2 hours ago, Mark G said:

"Correa and Buxton, though, were a tad too impatient. Both of them jumped on early pitches but failed to get the ball out of the infield, allowing Chicago’s defense to make two fine plays to get the outs at home. Trevor Larnach had a considerably better at-bat next but ended up striking out swinging on eight pitches."

Maybe it is just me, but how is striking out a "better at-bat" than putting the ball in play, no matter how many pitches it takes to strike out?  

Making the defense "make two fine plays" strikes me as much better at bats than just making the catcher catch strike 3.  

At least Larnach swung at strikes and took balls.  Buxton's AB and Correa's AB were both terrible. Buxton swung at the first pitch, which was up hear his hands and inside. No surprise, it broke his bat and was an easy play. Correa's soft contact on a ball was not good either. 

[jkcarew]

2 hours ago, cHawk said:

I have no idea what the hell this team is. They're 6-4 combined this season against Houston and New York, yet they're 4-6 combined against Washington, Chicago, and Miami.

Can someone explain this to me?

Yes.

Houston and New York aren't very good. So far.

Check out the standings. They've both had multiple injuries impacting their lineups and are both struggling to keep their head above water.

[joefish]

Varland has a case of the first-inning yips.

How do they fix that?

[Florida Flash]

9 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

I may be alone on an island but I might rather see a line drive double play than futile hacks for the fences at high fastballs above the zone. The strike outs are not what sells tickets.

Exactly. All of a sudden everyone is flailing away at pitches at their caps. Seems the opposing pitchers have noticed this as well. I'll cut them some slack at the grease/rosin ball that dives out of the zone but any beer leaguer should be able to read the hard to hit, "high hard one" and lay off.

[jkcarew]

IMO, Buxton easily had the worse AB in the 7th inning sequence. Easily.

I don't mind the aggressive approach...yes, needs to put the ball in play; but he can't swing at that pitch...first pitch, 100 mph and in, off the plate, in a spot where it's impossible to get to.

Correa got a good pitch to hit, IMO. Again, don't mind the aggressiveness; just missed the pitch. 

Larnach, is in a different situation with 2 outs, he HAS to get a hit (or a walk)...an out of any kind won't score a run. He HAS to get a pitch he can hit hard. He only offered at hittable pitches in the K zone; he got several, missed (or fouled) them all. That's not a bad AB. That's getting beat by the pitcher. Or you can call it bad hitting. But it's not a bad AB.

Bottom line, Correa gave himself at least A chance. Larnach was able to get multiple chances. Buxton never gave himself a chance. In Buxton's defense, baseball is a cruel game and sometimes your talent works against you. If he had swung and missed on that pitch, we might not be having any of this conversation. Still, it was a bad decision.

[rwilfong86]

4 hours ago, Peter said:

Not a chance!!! Twins have best team in division by far-this is minor bump as division should be over by all start break.

Have you looked at their schedule?

1 more game @ Chicago WS [10-21]

3 games @ cleveland [14-16]

3 games vs San Diego [17-15]

3 games vs Chicago Cubs [15-15]

3 games @ La Dodgers [19-13]

3 games @ LA Angels [17-14]

3 games vs San Francisco [13-17]

3 games vs Toronto [18-13]

3 games @ Houston [16-15]

 

They could realistic lose every one of these series, going like 7-18 for the rest of this month. 

 

If they're the best team in the division they have to win the games they should win and they haven't been doing that for the past couple weeks. 

 

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, Craig Arko said:

Thank you for being an adult. It is sometimes a refreshing change.

It's a process ... lol

[Nivaboy]

2 hours ago, rwilfong86 said:

Have you looked at their schedule?

1 more game @ Chicago WS [10-21]

3 games @ cleveland [14-16]

3 games vs San Diego [17-15]

3 games vs Chicago Cubs [15-15]

3 games @ La Dodgers [19-13]

3 games @ LA Angels [17-14]

3 games vs San Francisco [13-17]

3 games vs Toronto [18-13]

3 games @ Houston [16-15]

 

Cleveland is beatable, Cubs are fading quick, Angels are inconsistent, Giants aren't that good, we've already won the first series against Houston. Sure we could realistically lose all these series, but is it crazy to say we could win all of these series as well? With our rotation I like our chances vs. anyone.

[rwilfong86]

8 minutes ago, Nivaboy said:

Cleveland is beatable, Cubs are fading quick, Angels are inconsistent, Giants aren't that good, we've already won the first series against Houston. Sure we could realistically lose all these series, but is it crazy to say we could win all of these series as well? With our rotation I like our chances vs. anyone.

Is the rotation gonna be hitting as well? 

Do you think the Angels, Cubs, and Giants are better or worse than the Nationals and White Sox? 

[Nivaboy]

1 hour ago, rwilfong86 said:

Is the rotation gonna be hitting as well? 

Do you think the Angels, Cubs, and Giants are better or worse than the Nationals and White Sox? 

Are any of those teams better than the Yankees and Astros?

[rwilfong86]

Just now, Nivaboy said:

Are any of those teams better than the Yankees and Astros?

Playing the Astros in Minnesota when it was 30 degrees compared to playing in Houston at the end of the month will be a completely different result. And they won a season series against an injury ridden last place Yankee's team 4-3. That isn't a huge accomplishment. 

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, rwilfong86 said:

Playing the Astros in Minnesota when it was 30 degrees compared to playing in Houston at the end of the month will be a completely different result. And they won a season series against an injury ridden last place Yankee's team 4-3. That isn't a huge accomplishment. 

BOTH teams had to play in 30-degree weather, not just one; and BOTH teams will play in warm weather. Not sure why the weather is only a consideration for how poorly the Astros did and why you are certain the nicer weather won't benefit us?

My philosophy is ... don't count your dead chickens until they are hatched. All teams go through ups and downs during a long season. While I don't think the Twins are a great team, neither do I think they suck, as what many here imply. I think they are modestly good, maybe just decent ... but players HAVE TO PERFORM. It's up to them at this point. The potential is there, but they need to execute ... and for me, that is not a fault of anyone but them. The BP, however, I think is on the FO. And that's not saying I think Rocco is without fault, I just think results are in the hands of the players 95% of the time.

[Nivaboy]

1 hour ago, rwilfong86 said:

Playing the Astros in Minnesota when it was 30 degrees compared to playing in Houston at the end of the month will be a completely different result. And they won a season series against an injury ridden last place Yankee's team 4-3. That isn't a huge accomplishment. 

 Varland, Julien, Garlick, and Wallner all played in the first yankee series, while Stanton and judge did as well. We were just as banged up, if not more. Last place in the AL east is at least 2nd place everywhere else. Not even sure how to address your point about the weather. You seem determined to discredit the Twins while giving every other team the benefit of the doubt (see point about weather above), so I’ll concede.

[rwilfong86]

1 minute ago, Nivaboy said:

 Varland, Julien, Garlick, and Wallner all played in the first yankee series, while Stanton and judge did as well. We were just as banged up, if not more. Last place in the AL east is at least 2nd place everywhere else. Not even sure how to address your point about the weather. You seem determined to discredit the Twins while giving every other team the benefit of the doubt (see point about weather above), so I’ll concede.

The Twins have been hot and cold, I hope guys will start to produce, I think the pitching will keep them in games but they've gotta be able to score more than 3 runs a game if they want to compete with the better teams in baseball. May will be a pretty good indication if this team is a legit contender or a pretender.

[Blyleven2011]

10 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

I have been a Larnach fan but he looked really lost  I was really disappointed. He's becoming yet a hacker, he's got enough power. He doesn't have to go crazy with his swings. It's time for some contact, especially in the situations where he was yesterday. 

And today  wasn't a good day for Larnach either , another one that hasn't quite got going is Miranda  , his swing looks awful again  , thought he was coming out of it  ...

On to Cleveland  where we need to play better ball ,,, 

These 3 games with Chicago weren't very exciting  ...

Catchers beware , Cleveland leads the league in stolen bases ...

[mikelink45]

4 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

And today  wasn't a good day for Larnach either , another one that hasn't quite got going is Miranda  , his swing looks awful again  , thought he was coming out of it  ...

On to Cleveland  where we need to play better ball ,,, 

These 3 games with Chicago weren't very exciting  ...

Catchers beware , Cleveland leads the league in stolen bases ...

It will be interesting to see the contrast in styles. You are right about Miranda, but Larnach seems lost. Then we have Correa still inconsistent and Joey Gallo's batting average is plummeting. We need some kind of spark for the offense. Can Kiriloff make a difference?