Game Thread: Twins (Ryan) @ Astros (Bielak), 5/30/23 @ 7:10 CT

[wsnydes]

Edited May 30, 2023 by wsnydes
Added Astros lineup.

[wsnydes]

I actually kinda like this lineup.  All things considered anyway.  Hopefully it works out!

[cHawk]

We could use a couple more big hits from Lewis today.

[Squirrel]

2 minutes ago, cHawk said:

We could use a couple more big hits from Lewis today.

I think we need that from everyone ... give Ryan his run support! Lol

[wsnydes]

2 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

I think we need that from everyone ... give Ryan his run support! Lol

Nope, Lewis has this one!

No pressure or anything!

[stringer bell]

Time for the veterans--Correa, Buxton, Vázquez and MAT--to show their worth.

[Brock Beauchamp]

My preseason hot take that Ryan would lead the team in pitching WAR is looking pretty good right now.

[OvertheHill]

What would it take to get CC out of that 3 spot? Asking for a friend......

[wsnydes]

2 minutes ago, OvertheHill said:

What would it take to get CC out of that 3 spot? Asking for a friend......

A better option.

I'm not sure that it matters a whole lot right now with the way most of the lineup is scuffling.

[OvertheHill]

2 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

A better option.

I'm not sure that it matters a whole lot right now with the way most of the lineup is scuffling.

Agree there aren't a lot of better options but we're a third the way through the season and seeing CC automatically inked in at 2 or 3 is brutal. I'm thinking maybe reducing expectations (temporarily) and/or sending some type of message that these things matter could help. I'd love to see him get back to what I think he is, but its just not happening yet in 2023.

[wsnydes]

5 minutes ago, OvertheHill said:

Agree there aren't a lot of better options but we're a third the way through the season and seeing CC automatically inked in at 2 or 3 is brutal. I'm thinking maybe reducing expectations (temporarily) and/or sending some type of message that these things matter could help. I'd love to see him get back to what I think he is, but its just not happening yet in 2023.

I don't really disagree with any of that.  What would you do with him though?  Move him down?  Who do you move up?

And we know he's playing hurt.  For whatever that is worth, it can't be ignored.  

There aren't enough hitters in the lineup producing.  You're pretty much stuck riding your veterans hoping they eventually turn it around.  But that's also part of the problem.  They really don't have any other hitters in the minors either.  They're kinda stuck.  Not really an easy answer at this point and it's nearly June.

[OvertheHill]

2 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

I don't really disagree with any of that.  What would you do with him though?  Move him down?  Who do you move up?

And we know he's playing hurt.  For whatever that is worth, it can't be ignored.  

There aren't enough hitters in the lineup producing.  You're pretty much stuck riding your veterans hoping they eventually turn it around.  But that's also part of the problem.  They really don't have any other hitters in the minors either.  They're kinda stuck.  Not really an easy answer at this point and it's nearly June.

And for the record I specifically do not want the Twins to move Lewis there yet. I'm fine with letting him be what he is for a little while and see what happens with the rest of the lineup.

I wouldn't mind bracketing Buck between AK at 3 and Lewis at 5. AK seems to have some ability to get on base.

[wsnydes]

1 minute ago, OvertheHill said:

I wouldn't mind bracketing Buck between AK at 3 and Lewis at 5. AK seems to have some ability to get on base.

If I'm going to bunch those guys, I think I flip Lewis and AK and make the 2 thru 4 hitters.  Let Julien lead off?

[OvertheHill]

4 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

If I'm going to bunch those guys, I think I flip Lewis and AK and make the 2 thru 4 hitters.  Let Julien lead off?

That what I hope it looks like eventually, although I don't know what happens when Polonco is back. 

[wsnydes]

1 minute ago, OvertheHill said:

That what I hope it looks like eventually, although I don't know what happens when Polonco is back. 

I forgot about Polanco.  He probably should be at the top of the order, though it's not as though he was hitting either.

That's kind of our point though.  Plenty of ways to skin a cat, but I don't know if any particular way is better at this point.

[IaBeanCounter]

Houston was careful with Kirilloff and walked him 3 times.  After yesterday I expect them to be careful with both Kirilloff and Lewis, and make Kepler beat them.  I would prefer having Gallo after Lewis, same average as Kepler with more of a homerun threat.  

Edit:  I would move everyone up a slot, drop Gallo to 6.  Taylor and Kepler could flip to separate the LH bats.

[LA Vikes Fan]

Agreed. Why is Kepler starting over Castro? I just don't get this man crush Rocco has with Kepler. Love the glove, but he is not an every day player with his level of offensive production. 

[IaBeanCounter]

With Ryan pitching, the outfield is going to be busy.  Gallo, Taylor and Kepler is the best defensive outfield we can currently field, 

[Craig Arko]

Within a week Royce will be batting leadoff.

[umterp23]

$26MM Correa will bat 3rd hell or high water, so he feels he has earned it from past performance.  

$15MM Buxton as DH and hitting 4th

$10MM Vazquez hitting 9th (not sure he has played a full game in May since he just isn't hitting)

$51MM + tied up in underperforming no consistency is tough to to watch.  Not sure all three in one game combined have more than 6 hits total.  Not going to check that stat but nothing jumps out at me that it has happened.  Haven't watch many games and don't deep dive the box scores.

My preference is batting order and you ride hot hands till they cool off.

Julien, Gallo, Kiriloff, Buxton, Correa, Lewis, Kepler (Wallner should be here), Jeffers, Castro (CF).  Jeffers has earned a chance for back to back games, especially late afternoon day before and now night game.  

[Nine of twelve]

27 minutes ago, IaBeanCounter said:

With Ryan pitching, the outfield is going to be busy.  Gallo, Taylor and Kepler is the best defensive outfield we can currently field, 

I think Taylor, Buxton, and Gallo/Kepler (L,C,R) is the best defensive outfield we can currently field.

[Nine of twelve]

4 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

I think Taylor, Buxton, and Gallo/Kepler (L,C,R) is the best defensive outfield we can currently field.

Bad form to quote myself, I know, but it's the alternative to editing. I want to add that this is quite probably the best defensive outfield any major league team can currently field, and maybe one of the best of the last 20 years or so.

[CRF]

Yeah...Kep is good defensively, but most of the time he's really hurting us at the plate. He should be sitting. 

[stringer bell]

It's really time for Vázquez to start hitting. He had two hits in each of his first two starts, but he's been brutal for awhile now. 

[Irishman]

4 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Time for the veterans--Correa, Buxton, Vázquez and MAT--to show their worth.

Agreed!

[cHawk]

If the Twins win today, they will have clinched the season series against both the Astros and the Yankees.

[mrtwinsfan]

3 hours ago, wsnydes said:

I forgot about Polanco.  He probably should be at the top of the order, though it's not as though he was hitting either.

That's kind of our point though.  Plenty of ways to skin a cat, but I don't know if any particular way is better at this point.

Myself i have seen all i want of Correa and Buxton  ALWAYS back to back, Rocco might have to ask them 2 if its okay !!!

[wsnydes]

4 minutes ago, mrtwinsfan said:

Myself i have seen all i want of Correa and Buxton  ALWAYS back to back, Rocco might have to ask them 2 if its okay !!!

Who would you stick between them?

[CoastiePilot08]

Busy day. What’s the word on Bielak?

[CoastiePilot08]

Bummer Wallner got sent down. Feels like the lineup could use his bay.