Guardians 2, Twins 1: Seventh Inning Costs Twins Again

[VivaBomboRivera!]

Could we re-wind the tapes on past seasons back to a point where Max Kepler still has options? 

Is it that he's reached the limit of his ability and he really can't put the barrel on the ball anymore, or does he not realize that not just the ball club, but the game is about to pass him by? 

It would be nice to learn that there is a better explanation for these kinds of performances than the two above, but right now it just looks like we're headed for a sad parting. ☹️

[h2oface]

"......and you can find the video on your own."

Now that is a sports writer with commitment!

[h2oface]

4 hours ago, VivaBomboRivera! said:

Strongest case I've see lately for the softball-style first base on both sides of the foul line.  I almost puke watching the replays of Lewis's neck bending in that horrifying somersault.

I don't know that that would have helped here. Arias was all the way into foul territory, too. There out to be a rule there like running into home. Lewis certainly wasn't a gymnast or diver. Once he pushed off with his hands.... TUCK! That was ugly. The Guardians injured Buxton and Lewis. Both careless performance that has no penalty. Sure they didn't mean to, but it should have some consequeces for the perp.

[Jeff D.]

The beloved Minnesota 2023 team cannot hit with any discipline. Similar to 2022 squad. The team is locked in a void for several seasons now with little consistency and plenty of strikeouts. Personally, I believe this will continue until/unless our fearless dugout leader and his approach to the game is no longer here. My two cents. Many people are fans and believe this opinion to be misled thinking. Fine with me. I just think he leads this team to mediocrity! 

GO TWINS!

Twins Geezer......out!

 

[stringer bell]

I’m glad Lewis is okay. Happy Birthday Royce!! 24 years old today. 

[Doctor Gast]

12 hours ago, DocBauer said:

Gallo-hurt and on the IL

Buxton-hurt and resting 

Correa-hurt and resting

I get it. And I can understand Lewis with a half day off and Kirilloff out if the lineup to begin the day for a day off. And Kepler is...well...Kepler.

But 3 runs TOTAL in the past 2 games is why the Twins didn't sweep the series. And how about 4 runs TOTAL in 3 of those?

You won't will all games, or all series. And winning 4 out of the last 7 games is fine. But it could have easily been 6 of the last 7, and that's what's disappointing. 

The problem w/ the Twins is that they guage themselves to the team they are playing. Therefore winning series from good teams when they get the mo jo going & play flat against poor teams. They have some clutch hitters but you can't expect them to always do it on their own. Baldelli needs to shakes things up including himself

[Steven Trefz]

6 hours ago, h2oface said:

"......and you can find the video on your own."

Now that is a sports writer with commitment!

You know it! 😂

[Doctor Gast]

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

I’m glad Lewis is okay. Happy Birthday Royce!! 24 years old today. 

Happy birthaday Royce! 1 day after me, No wonder I really like the guy!

I saw the video, it was really scary! God bless him

[David Maro]

We talk all we want about this or that,but the truth is this team is interested in one thing. They all want to be the next one up to wear the dumb vest. Its all about the homerun,not baseball. I turned it off when Taylor got the base hit stole second and Polanco look bad and Lewis even worse. Meanwhile Taylor ended up still on second. Everyone of the coaches and manager needs their walking papers. The game is baseball not homerun. Everyone seems all excited about Castro hitting a solo shoot when their down by 2. You win by scoring one more run than the other team. Good luck in Tampa and Toronto Boys you are going to need it.

[Whitey333]

Too bad.  With a little bit of discipline Twins could have swept Cleveland.  Starting pitching is still great.  Sending Wallner down was a huge mistake.  Lefty vs lefty or no.  Who would you rather see bat Garlick or Wallner?  IMO Garlick should be sent back down or released.  He surely isn't better than Wallner.  Also when Maeda comes back I hope he doesn't take Ober or Louie Verlander.  They have earned their spots and pitched well.  To lose their spot in the rotation to a nice but washed up MEda on the last year of his contract is criminal.  Speaking of criminal, how about Correa, Buxton, and Gallo?  Grand larceny by them to extort big pay days from the Twins with their poor performance.  Buxton, when he isn't nursing some sort of injury is relegated to full time DH.  He has hit .177 since may 1st.  Correa and his 33 mill per season has been hovering around 200 all year.  He has hit into more double plays this year than he has hit home runs.  How about Gallo? His 188 batting average is typical of his career.  Yes he has 11 Homer's but has only 23 RBI.  His strikeout rate is approaching 39%.  Add the great Kepler in there under 200 and still plays regularly without producing.  This is not oh its early.  We are approaching 40% of season played.  It's not early anymore folks.  This is the type of team we have been force fed for the past three years now.  Nothing changes nor will it with management signed on for the next few years.  

[joefish]

15 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

I sure hope they send players to the majors with awareness of situational hitting. Once you get to the majors it needs to be about the speed of the game at this level. This isn’t on Rocco. 

Replace Toby? 

[Daniel Anderson]

The Fox broadcast on Saturday had a very interesting fact - Twins pitching is best in MLB in 6th and 8th innings, but worst in 7th. Is it that the starters are being left in a bit too long, or that whoever takes over in the 7th has been lousy? Seems that in a year when the overall pitching has been really good a few tweaks might be needed.

[Mortimerkenny21]

19 hours ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Where was Wallner this weekend?

Think someone could make a children's picture book called "Where's Wallner?"

[dogsday]

This definitely feels like a management accountability situation. The Twins current pythagorean (winning pct.) record is approximately 35-25 (or 4 games better than their actual record.) That suggests in a big enough sample there should be progression to the mean.

But the eye test suggests their record more or less matches their play. Most days the hitting is awful. If there is a Driveline equivalent for hitters, the Twins should be batch sending players there.

Popkins and staff should be held accountable for providing the hitters with effective coaching and game preparation. If they are doing so, the players need to be held accountable for following through on the coaching and planning. If that is also happening then the front office should be held accountable for acquiring the right mix of talented hitters (plate setters, rbi guys, boppers) who are coachable.

There is no reality in which Max Kepler type of hitting should be acceptable year after year from a starting outfielder. Or in which your hitting leader stats 60 games into the season are: Avg: .220, HR: 11,  Rbi: 27. A team with stats like that is not even an average-ish hitting team.

[Steven Trefz]

1 hour ago, Daniel Anderson said:

The Fox broadcast on Saturday had a very interesting fact - Twins pitching is best in MLB in 6th and 8th innings, but worst in 7th. Is it that the starters are being left in a bit too long, or that whoever takes over in the 7th has been lousy? Seems that in a year when the overall pitching has been really good a few tweaks might be needed.

I believe that was supposed to be alcala’s inning…just didn’t work out

[lake_guy]

15 hours ago, VivaBomboRivera! said:

Strongest case I've see lately for the softball-style first base on both sides of the foul line.  I almost puke watching the replays of Lewis's neck bending in that horrifying somersault.

Lewis isn't that kind of guy but if he would have gone Ty Cobb on the first baseman I can't say he didn't deserve it.