Game Thread: Twins (Varland) @ Astros (Brown), 5/31/23 @ 7:10 CT

[tony&rodney]

1 minute ago, stringer bell said:

Okay, call it awkward, but he's also thrown a couple of changeups on routine groundouts.

Agree, but he geta to balls and even turns the double play reasonably. His defense is really not an issue for all of the attention it draws. His stick needs to speak up though. We should expect him back to the Saints as early as tomorrow, but his patience and power are worth a look.

[RickOShea]

1 minute ago, wabene said:

Man of the hour, David Popkins? 

Wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't with the team the past couple of days.

[cHawk]

1 minute ago, ashbury said:

And like a good neighbor, Taylor is there!  (for the insurance.)

Jake, is that you?

[stringer bell]

If that's his last plate appearance before getting shipped out, Julien went out with a good one.

[wabene]

I hope the boys on the bench are getting their at bat therapy

[wsnydes]

2 minutes ago, cHawk said:

Jake, is that you?

@ashbury, what are you wearing?

[ashbury]

Louie for the seventh.  Go get 'em!

[cHawk]

[stringer bell]

Just now, wsnydes said:

@ashbury, what are you wearing?

We know the answer is "State Farm Pajamas".

[RickOShea]

Just now, ashbury said:

Louie for the seventh.  Go get 'em!

Garland says to himself "So this is what the mound looks like in the 7th inning".

[jimbo92107]

Louie Varland is starting to look like a pretty dependable pitcher. With his style, he could continue to refine his command until he's pretty hard to knock around.

[RickOShea]

Just now, stringer bell said:

We know the answer is "State Farm Pajamas".

Who in the world has a name plate like that?

[ashbury]

3 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

@ashbury, what are you wearing?

"It's okay, Mrs Ash, she's a guy, so...."

[stringer bell]

1 minute ago, ashbury said:

Louie for the seventh.  Go get 'em!

Louie--the 7th, Louie--the 8th and Louis--the 9th. He's French monarchy.

[cHawk]

I didn't here a fist beating on wood there, Dick.

[tony&rodney]

6 minutes ago, ashbury said:

There is a nice gentleman standing in foul territory near third base who can provide him some confirmation, if he looks.

As for seeming awkward on defense, I think it's a little worse than merely that. There's been a bit of everything, as Stringer alluded, the common theme being plays not made.

(I agree that that one grounder this past inning would have been very tough to convert.)

Julien will never win a gold glove but the rumblings about his defense are overrated. It is his bat that needs to work for him to stick, and either point is mute if Polanco can return and be himself, the best player on the team. Julien would be best as a DH versus right handed pitching.

[mrtwinsfan]

9 minutes ago, ashbury said:

There is a nice gentleman standing in foul territory near third base who can provide him some confirmation, if he looks.

As for seeming awkward on defense, I think it's a little worse than merely that. There's been a little of everything, as Stringer alluded.

Awkward and  in the Majors , dont bode well

[ashbury]

2 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Louie--the 7th, Louie--the 8th and Louis--the 9th. He's French monarchy.

He's a French cheeseburger.  The Royale!

[stringer bell]

Does Abreu remind anyone of Rondell White (for a lot more money)?

[ashbury]

1 minute ago, mrtwinsfan said:

Awkward and  in the Majors , dont bode well

He can get better.  I don't sell him short, at all.

[Elite Benchwarmer]

The current Twins bench players are really solid.  It's been fun to see them have success tonight. Jeffers has been terrific as the 2nd catcher.  Farmer is what we expected - just a solid all-around ballplayer.  Castro is an ideal utility player:  switch-hitter, speed, decent defense in the outfield & infield, >100 OPS.  Solano has been about average as a hitter.  All three have had some clutch hits this season.

Taylor is a bit stretched as a starting CF, but solid defensively.  Ideally, MAT is a reserve outfielder, pinch-runner, defensive replacement.

[SwainZag]

Hitting can be contagious.  Let's hope tonight is the start of something teamwide for the forseeable future

[twinssporto]

I'm an official Varland fan now. Sorry if I was late to the party.

[mrtwinsfan]

Rocco said it, b4 game , he wants to Pitch Pagan,   7-0  is ?????????

[RickOShea]

Just now, stringer bell said:

Does Abreu remind anyone of Rondell White (for a lot more money)?

Regardless of his deline, I'd take him for my grandson's little league team, any day of the week.

[ashbury]

2 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Julien would be best as a DH versus right handed pitching.

We have found common ground my friend. 😀

[jimbo92107]

Honest question: If you're Baldelli, do you send Varland out for the 8th, or sit him down with 7 full shutout innings and a big grin while he's sleeping tonight?

[cHawk]

1 minute ago, ashbury said:

He's a French cheeseburger.  The Royale!

[mrtwinsfan]

2 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Does Abreu remind anyone of Rondell White (for a lot more money)?

You mean Mr check swing, he drove me nuts

[twinssporto]

I can't believe Varland is not going out for the 8th inning! Puke!