Game Thread: Twins (Varland) v Tigers (TBD), 6/18/23 @ 1:10 CT

[Aggies7]

[cHawk]

[Robert Floren]

Twins can't hit.  Period.  They're good at striking out, for sure.

[MABB1959]

3 minutes ago, Tlaker said:

Pohlads on down!!

The Pohlad’s have not said a word that I know of!

[Parfigliano]

Over 1/2 of outs by K is unacceptable.  They keep doing it and hitting coach's keep collecting paychecks.  Ridiculous.

[mnfireman]

Tigers won today because they put the ball in play with bases loaded/runner on third in their big inning. Twins comeback fell short because of K's with bases loaded/runner on third.

[RickOShea]

Can someone define 'Culture' and how do you change it?  I think they need a roster better suited to the style of play, the manager employs.  I lso think they need to choose players who are willing to do anything to win, not just enhance their chances of padding stats.

[Squirrel]

Just now, Parfigliano said:

Over 1/2 of outs by K is unacceptable.  They keep doing it and hitting coach's keep collecting paychecks.  Ridiculous.

That’s where I’d start, actually … still a scapegoat move, but is an easier move to make. And during the off season, go for the higher ups

[Parfigliano]

1 minute ago, mnfireman said:

Tigers won today because they put the ball in play with bases loaded/runner on third in their big inning. Twins comeback fell short because of K's with bases loaded/runner on third.

That describes alot of TC games.

[Parfigliano]

Bright spot Balazovic 3.2 IP 2 hits 1 W and 2 k's

[MABB1959]

3 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Can someone define 'Culture' and how do you change it?  I think they need a roster better suited to the style of play, the manager employs.  I lso think they need to choose players who are willing to do anything to win, not just enhance their chances of padding stats.

Culture to me is motivating leadership.  Accepting this type of play is unacceptable.  There are 3-4 players who should not see any playing time and a few that deserve to be here.  

[mnfireman]

2 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

Bright spot Balazovic 3.2 IP 2 hits 1 W and 2 k's

I'm sure he'll be headed back to St. Paul tonight or tomorrow.

[Tlaker]

8 minutes ago, MABB1959 said:

The Pohlad’s have not said a word that I know of!

They are part of the problem….  making money and don’t care if the team wins or loses. Culture changes start at the very top with new ownership 

[rwilfong86]

15 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Can someone define 'Culture' and how do you change it?  I think they need a roster better suited to the style of play, the manager employs.  I lso think they need to choose players who are willing to do anything to win, not just enhance their chances of padding stats.

The culture of homerun or bust needs to change. 

[RickOShea]

Just now, rwilfong86 said:

The culture of homerun or bust needs to change. 

Amen!

[Schmoeman5]

Byron Buxton and Joey Gallo were both effective the month of April. Both have disappeared since. Nagging injuries? Idk. And Correa and Kepler  have been struggling all year. That's almost 1/2 of their everyday lineup that's not producing.  Let the youth movement begin. Move them all. Now is the time. The Tigers came into Minnesota with 1 or 2 wins all month and take 3 of 4 and do it with 2 bullpen games and just flat out beating up on the Twinkies. 

[nicksaviking]

13 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Can someone define 'Culture' and how do you change it?  I think they need a roster better suited to the style of play, the manager employs.  I lso think they need to choose players who are willing to do anything to win, not just enhance their chances of padding stats.

Yeah, I’m not sure if I agree with this ‘culture’ criticism. I absolutely DESPISED the Ryan era, ‘aw shucks, we’re just a small club happy to be here’ crap.

This current iteration trades prospects, signs big free agents and changes their approach to roster construction every single year.

They keep failing, which is certainly a fireable offense, but unless folks liked the old ‘aw shucks’ quaint Twins culture, I don’t see that as the issue.

[Irishman]

49 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

That describes alot of TC games.

Twins Can’t win!  
 

Too many Ks.    Gotta stop Ks!   

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Back to 500, eh?

 

"And i would walk 500 miles..."

[howeda7]

3 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

Rocco's not going anywhere.  He should but he isnt.  Dumping Rocco now after giving him an extension would mean the FO suits were wrong to extend him.  Its a neon sign blaring we are bad at our job fire us.  The suits arent going to turn that sign on.

They didn't just give him the extension. It was apparently last Fall. That alone is no reason to keep him. I doubt the $$ is that substantial. I don't expect them to fire him, but they should. If this team misses the play-offs in this God awful division, Falvey and Levine should 100% be fired at season's end. A different voice to shake up the clubhouse might be there best chance at avoiding that. 

[weitz41]

I don't think Rocco is the problem. BUT with a problem this big parting ways with him shouldn't be ruled out. I do think the players are the problem. The players swing the bats, the coaches are supposed to prepare them make good decisions at the plate. One or both aren't doing their jobs.

The excessive platooning is the one thing that Rocco is doing that really bugs me and I think is not helping.

How do you build confidence when you don't know if or when you're playing? Then you get your 1st at bat against a reliever who throws 98 mph fastballs and a wipeout slider at you two hours after the game starts. Baseball players are creatures of habit. Platoons may have worked for the Giants for ONE season. This is not that team.

Buxton, Gallo, Kepler, Jeffers and a couple others are close to them in low BA hit K rates for their MLB careers. This team was always going to be in the top 10 in K's. Tom Kelly or Rocco can't change that.

 

[insagt1]

Buxton and Gallo are k'ing just about every AB these days. And the end doesn't seem in sight for it to stop. Gallo always strikes out and Buxton is completely lost this season. Is he hurt to the extent he can't hit anymore? Or even make contact?

Might be just two options for him: send him to AAA for awhile to either regain his stroke or his confidence. He may really not like it but if the guy has any integrity he will recognize he's hurting the team. Can't hit, field or run. What am I missing?

2nd option is simply to shut him down for the season and see if its remotely possible for him to heal. We have seen zero evidence of that over his career, but it might save his career. Is this over-reacting? Look at what he's done this year...especially in May and June. Its just plain ugly.

Gallo--he should be released, sooner the better. On a team where just about everyone strikes out too much, the two above mentioned players lead the way. I'd like to see the Gallo Experiment end.  He's a bad fit. If Kepler can be traded for something that can help the team, he needs to go too. If they promise to never use Pagan in any game on the line situations, he can stay I suppose. Celestino won't be much of an improvement. He can't hit either. Is Miranda likely to get another chance this season? Neither Vasquez nor Jeffers can hit and they are at best average catchers.

Polanco will be out for a lengthy period of time. Same with Gordon apparently. This team may need a flush of sorts. The just completed mess with Detroit was very ugly. Will they ever improve? Time will tell.

[Dave Borton]

4 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

This current iteration trades prospects, signs big free agents and changes their approach to roster construction every single year.

They keep failing, which is certainly a fireable offense, but unless folks liked the old ‘aw shucks’ quaint Twins culture, I don’t see that as the issue.

LEN3 mentioned on the radio at trade time last summer that the current FO had traded away 17 prospects to build. I find that bothersome given a .500 ball club in the worst division of MLB.

 

 

[nicksaviking]

52 minutes ago, davidborton said:

LEN3 mentioned on the radio at trade time last summer that the current FO had traded away 17 prospects to build. I find that bothersome given a .500 ball club in the worst division of MLB.

 

 

For sure. While I was in favor of the trades, but they’ve stunk, and it’s a definite justification for termination.

I just don’t like the ‘culture’ argument, as they’ve clearly made an effort, and they change their approach yearly, even if the effort and approach have been fruitless. They most definitely are trying to make this work,

The prior regime acted like they were playing in Mayberry, ‘We do our best, but can’t compete with them city folk!’ That is the unforgivable culture from my view and I worry that’s what the team will go back to if they start firing everyone. They can replace the front office, but it better be with like minded people who are just better at the job. I do not want the folks who dream about a bygone era back in charge.

[Dave Borton]

Observations from row 21, 3rd Base side today.

Pros:
1. Gosh, I still sit in awe of the sightliness every time I come to Target Field (been to about half of the parks in US)
2. Balazovic pitched his guts out. I leaned to my son in law and said, "Can you imagine the kid's nerves right now." He REALLY po'd the front office with his bar scene/busted jar. Added pressure. I was impressed.
3. Farmer. Favorite Twin. He tossed that ball to Correa to begin the DP and led him perfectly. It was like they had been that 2B/SS connection for 10 years. Heck, he could go to any position on the field and play as the LF late inning assignment showed (bet he was praying it wasn't hit to him out there.)
4. Great day at the park. 30K by my count.Talked to the guy next to me much of the game. He was in from Aberdeen, SD for the weekend and had played HS ball. Good discussion, good man. So typical of the crowd decency at Target field.
5. I am a baseball fan first and a Twin's fan secondly. I love a 6-4 game and thoroughly enjoyed it.
6. Attending a game on Father's Day with son in law and 9 yr old grandson? How can you topped that? I spent the day stuffing him with everything my daughter ever said "no" to.

Cons.
1. Defense. Keppler played the wall badly like a visiting RF and then trotted after the ball running back down the line. Taylor. Ball he missed, he ran sideways rather than turning and running to ball's position and turning around. Castro goes to cover 3B on a ball that was his, leaving it for Correa who could NEVER have gotten to that ball. That is an associated problem with a "Castro" being placed all over the field.
This is MLB, not AAA. Don't expect those fundamental miscues.
2. K's. Not going to beat this dead horse. 14 of 'em. Something is going on w/Buxton. Saw him take two huge breaths and blow them out, w/shoulders raised and then dropped. Body language is indicative of a rook, not a seasoned pro. I think his knee is bone on bone, and is totally fried with not being able to contribute fully to the club.
3. Baldelli's stat obsession. Bats Solano for the matchup and lifts Kirilloff. How is the kid to learn lefties? (He was 2-1 in game). I would love to get my hands on Baldelli's iPad and lift the battery out of it.
 

[Tlaker]

23 minutes ago, davidborton said:

Observations from row 21, 3rd Base side today.

Pros:
1. Gosh, I still sit in awe of the sightliness every time I come to Target Field (been to about half of the parks in US)
2. Balazovic pitched his guts out. I leaned to my son in law and said, "Can you imagine the kid's nerves right now." He REALLY po'd the front office with his bar scene/busted jar. Added pressure. I was impressed.
3. Farmer. Favorite Twin. He tossed that ball to Correa to begin the DP and led him perfectly. It was like they had been that 2B/SS connection for 10 years. Heck, he could go to any position on the field and play as the LF late inning assignment showed (bet he was praying it wasn't hit to him out there.)
4. Great day at the park. 30K by my count.Talked to the guy next to me much of the game. He was in from Aberdeen, SD for the weekend and had played HS ball. Good discussion, good man. So typical of the crowd decency at Target field.
5. I am a baseball fan first and a Twin's fan secondly. I love a 6-4 game and thoroughly enjoyed it.
6. Attending a game on Father's Day with son in law and 9 yr old grandson? How can you topped that? I spent the day stuffing him with everything my daughter ever said "no" to.

Cons.
1. Defense. Keppler played the wall badly like a visiting RF and then trotted after the ball running back down the line. Taylor. Ball he missed, he ran sideways rather than turning and running to ball's position and turning around. Castro goes to cover 3B on a ball that was his, leaving it for Correa who could NEVER have gotten to that ball. That is an associated problem with a "Castro" being placed all over the field.
This is MLB, not AAA. Don't expect those fundamental miscues.
2. K's. Not going to beat this dead horse. 14 of 'em. Something is going on w/Buxton. Saw him take two huge breaths and blow them out, w/shoulders raised and then dropped. Body language is indicative of a rook, not a seasoned pro. I think his knee is bone on bone, and is totally fried with not being able to contribute fully to the club.
3. Baldelli's stat obsession. Bats Solano for the matchup and lifts Kirilloff. How is the kid to learn lefties? (He was 2-1 in game). I would love to get my hands on Baldelli's iPad and lift the battery out of it.
 

Seasoned vet right there folks! Listen to him!!

[Dave Borton]

8 minutes ago, Tlaker said:

Seasoned vet right there folks! Listen to him!!

You are very kind. Thx, db