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

[Tlaker]

1 minute ago, rwilfong86 said:

I think most of us are willing to see if changing managers gets a different result. 

This! Sometimes it can be like getting fresh air in a room full of stale air! Might wake something up in the organization…..

[Schmoeman5]

2 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

I think Kiriloff is a good enough hitter to be in the lineup on a regular basis, whether the opposing starter is right or left handed.  If he doesn't start getting more  at bats against left handers, you're molding him into a platoon player.  And that's not fair to him or the team.

He's had some rough ABs vs lefties this weekend.  But I agree he needs to face them until he proves one way or another. Not just 5 or 6 at bats

[AceWrigley]

I just hope we stop trading away our minor league talent for iffy "major league" arms.

[Squirrel]

6 minutes ago, Schmoeman5 said:

So not to be a jerk. But all the history of the Cleveland franchise. Was it changed to Guardians. As if they never were the Native Americans. Or the HOF plaques of players inducted. Were they changed?

Probably not. I don’t know. But it’s not the name of the current team and we’ve been asked to not use the old name, for good reasons. Many posters, initially, were digging in wanting to continue using the old name. So, beyond my pay grade, a filter was inserted.

You aren’t a jerk for asking. But we do ask you not use the old name or use work arounds to do so. Thanks.

[Schmoeman5]

1 minute ago, Squirrel said:

Probably not. I don’t know. But it’s not the name of the current team and we’ve been asked to not use the old name, for good reasons. Many posters, initially, were digging in wanting to continue using the old name. So, beyond my pay grade, a filter was inserted.

I got that. I was just curious 

[1991]

3 minutes ago, Tlaker said:

This! Sometimes it can be like getting fresh air in a room full of stale air! Might wake something up in the organization…..

I really think Rocco has lost this clubhouse.  I see no energy or mental toughness.  Most sports are 1/2 ability and 1/2 mental.

[MABB1959]

1 hour ago, CRF said:

I just heard Cory say something about the Twins putting Lopez on the 15IL with a "mental health" designation. No other info at this time. Something definitely going on with him. Hope he's going to be ok. 

They should consider the same for Buxton 

[MABB1959]

5 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

Probably not. I don’t know. But it’s not the name of the current team and we’ve been asked to not use the old name, for good reasons. Many posters, initially, were digging in wanting to continue using the old name. So, beyond my pay grade, a filter was inserted.

You aren’t a jerk for asking. But we do ask you not use the old name or use work arounds to do so. Thanks.

I am 1/4 Native American and don’t see how that name was degrading or whatever the PC name for it is.  

[RickOShea]

You know how difficult it is, with all the batting practice and live pitching you face to strike out, so easily?  If Gallo, Buxton, Kepler and a few others just windmilled their bats when the pitch is thrown, they'd have a better chance of making contact, then they have with their current action.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

1 hour ago, Squirrel said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Balm

"Now that's a name i haven't heard in along time..."

 

Summer camp and competitive fixed seat rowing.

[Parfigliano]

Gallo was 10th K for today.  Really hard to win when over 1/3 of a teams outs come via K consistently.

[Squirrel]

1 minute ago, RickOShea said:

You know how difficult it is, with all the batting practice and live pitching you face to strike out, so easily?  If Gallo, Buxton, Kepler and a few others just windmilled their bats when the pitch is thrown, they'd have a better chance of making contact, then they have with their current action.

I do hope changes are coming before the trade deadline

[AceWrigley]

5 minutes ago, 1991 said:

I really think Rocco has lost this clubhouse.  I see no energy or mental toughness.  Most sports are 1/2 ability and 1/2 mental.

Hmmm . . . I'm 1/2 mental, and I probably have about 1/2 the ability of most players today, does that mean I still have a shot?

[MABB1959]

4 minutes ago, 1991 said:

I really think Rocco has lost this clubhouse.  I see no energy or mental toughness.  Most sports are 1/2 ability and 1/2 mental.

There is no explanation for his decisions at all.  Kepler in and Lewis out?  Basically a player does not need to earn or get to stay in the lineup when they play well.  Imagine in the real world promoting the weakest person on the team.  

[Tlaker]

3 minutes ago, AceWrigley said:

Hmmm . . . I'm 1/2 mental, and I probably have about 1/2 the ability of most players today, does that mean I still have a shot?

You won’t do worse than some of the roster…..probably 😜

[rwilfong86]

This doesn;t look good

[Parfigliano]

Dangerous and painful

[mnfireman]

So after giving up a 5 spot in the top of the 5th, the Twins respond with a single and 4 k's over the next 3 innings. But Taylor just got HBP to start the 8th, maybe that's how you start a rally...

[rwilfong86]

Looks like it missed the helmet. Surprised he got up and walked off 

[Squirrel]

6 minutes ago, AceWrigley said:

Hmmm . . . I'm 1/2 mental, and I probably have about 1/2 the ability of most players today, does that mean I still have a shot?

Given the news today, perhaps be a little more sensitive, even in joking, throwing around the word ‘mental’. Just a thought …

[Schmoeman5]

Not implying anything. But how the hell do you miss inside by that much twice in 1 AB

[mnfireman]

Looks like another MLB pitcher who has no idea where his pitch is going. But it was a curveball, so that makes it OK...

[MABB1959]

32 minutes 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.

Plus the Pohlad’s would need to pay him. They don’t have a good track record of doing what is best for the team (probably the reasons they can’t get quality players) or the fans!

[LA Vikes Fan]

I hear the calls to fire Rocco, and I'm not far off. I wouldn't start there, though. This has just become a very flawed roster. We cannot play Kepler and Gallo in the same game and adding Buxton would just make it worse. Both Kepler and Gallo are automatic outs at this point, usually by strikeout.  Even worse, now with Lopez out it's even harder to get rid of Pagan.   

What to do? Dump Kepler AND Gallo, call up Larnach and Wallner. Not sure if it will be that much better, but can't be worse. The return? Not important really; simply release them if you need to. Varland back to AAA, Maeda up to start or De Leon or Headrick if Maeda isn't ready.  Louie is a nice story but he isn't a consistent MLB starter yet. Needs more time at AAA to get better control and consistency. I beginning to think it's also time to put Buxton on the IL again and leave him there until he's right physically. He's hurting the team trying to play. Also, this time give him a week in AAA to ramp up. Change the hitting coach and let Rocco know that he's next if things don't improve. 

This team is not good. It isn't going to get better by doing these same things over and over again. My suggestions may make things worse but at least there's a chance things could get better. 

[Kummel]

Cleveland's "Chief Wahoo" logo was cringey (they dropped that in 2018).  The bar to me for changing the team's name is: it would be strange to name a new team after a given ethnicity/race.  

[mnfireman]

Evidently Buxton is absolutely not available today, hope nobody else has to leave the game.

[Squirrel]

Just now, MABB1959 said:

Plus the Pohlad’s would need to pay him. They don’t have a good track record of doing what is best for the team (probably the reasons they can’t get quality players) or the fans!

They paid Molitor to sit. And I think Gardy was released before his contract was up? (Not sure on that). So it has been done.

[rwilfong86]

A little bit of life?

[rwilfong86]

Huge at  bat here for Solano

[CRF]

I sure hope MAT's ok, but what if he has to go on the IL with a concussion? Or even if he just misses a few games? Does Buxton finally play some CF?