Game Thread --Early start today

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Through last night, the Twins have struck out 824 times are batting .232.

FIRE POPKINS

[RickOShea]

"But Mr. Popkins, everyone in the organization stresses making contact .  Mr. Carew and Oliva worked real hard with me, in spring training".

Popkins: "Listen kid, do what I say, they don't know squat".

[Mike Sixel]

Two nil, is this game over? Maybe.

[Parfigliano]

3 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Through last night, the Twins have struck out 824 times are batting .232.

FIRE POPKINS

No argument here.  Should have happened long ago.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Leadoff double and another goose egg. This is maddening.

[mrtwinsfan]

Royce gets Buck to 3rd  ,  after that   again

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Based on his resume and experience, Popkins being the hitting coach at St. Paul would be a reach.

[danielp19653]

this contact play with a runner on third is maddening 

[RickOShea]

I think we need a little more effort at small ball.  I know a run here or there may not garner a win, but right now we need some successes in the game.  Little victories throughout the game may lead to a win.  Afterall, our pitching is decent.  But this trying to crank the ball 420 feet to get back in the game is not our forte.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Popkins graduated from St. Augustine High School in San Diego, California where he was named first team eastern league in 2007 and 2008. He was Eastern league player of the year in 2008. Popkins graduated from the University of California, Davis, where he played college baseball for the UC Davis Aggies. He was named All Big West First Team for two years. After going undrafted out of college, Popkins signed with the St. Louis Cardinals, and made the post season all star team in Advanced A in the Florida State league for the Palm Beach Cardinals in 2013. He reached Double A in 2014.^[1] He played in independent league baseball with the Washington Wild Things, hitting 35 home runs over two seasons. He retired as an active player in 2017.^[2]

In 2019, the Dodgers named Popkins as a hitting coach for the Arizona Dodgers of the Arizona League.^[3] In 2021, he coached for the Great Lakes Loons.^[4]

After the 2021 season, the Minnesota Twins hired Popkins to be their hitting coach.^[2][5]

[Parfigliano]

2 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Based on his resume and experience, Popkins being the hitting coach at St. Paul would be a reach.

T-ball is out of his league.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Just now, RickOShea said:

I think we need a little more effort at small ball.  I know a run or there may not garner a win, but right now we need some successes in the game.  Little victories throughout the game may lead to a win.  Afterall, our pitching is decent.  But this trying to crank the ball 420 feet to get back in the game is not our forte.

Considering their record in one run games, there's nothing wrong with getting the 'easy' runs on the board. They have squandered so many opportunities this year.

[Parfigliano]

1 minute ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Popkins graduated from St. Augustine High School in San Diego, California where he was named first team eastern league in 2007 and 2008. He was Eastern league player of the year in 2008. Popkins graduated from the University of California, Davis, where he played college baseball for the UC Davis Aggies. He was named All Big West First Team for two years. After going undrafted out of college, Popkins signed with the St. Louis Cardinals, and made the post season all star team in Advanced A in the Florida State league for the Palm Beach Cardinals in 2013. He reached Double A in 2014.^[1] He played in independent league baseball with the Washington Wild Things, hitting 35 home runs over two seasons. He retired as an active player in 2017.^[2]

In 2019, the Dodgers named Popkins as a hitting coach for the Arizona Dodgers of the Arizona League.^[3] In 2021, he coached for the Great Lakes Loons.^[4]

After the 2021 season, the Minnesota Twins hired Popkins to be their hitting coach.^[2][5]

Hilarious and sad at the same time.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Maeda battling against a loaded line-up and the offense can't do squat for him. I said this before, when you're a pitcher taking the mound and you know that 1-2 runs means a loss, it has to be quite the mind f***. 

[RickOShea]

1 minute ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Maeda battling against a loaded line-up and the offense can't do squat for him. I said this before, when you're a pitcher taking the mound and you know that 1-2 runs means a loss, it has to be quite the mind f***. 

Makes you, as the pitcher, want to grab a bat, and tell the guys, "Well I guess I have to hit, too"?

[MMMordabito]

The Twins don't even deserve to be on the same field as this Braves team.

[Schmoeman5]

49 minutes ago, hitterscount said:

3 batters 3 K’s… against a really bad pitcher. Also see the Braves manager pretty much running out the same lineup in the same order… what a sh** show Rocco and company have delivered. Twins body language says it all… stakeout swing at a ball near my head..  who cares, great team chemistry.

Kolby Allard is not a really bad pitcher. He was a 1st rd pick coming out of high school.  But the Twins do have a knack of making a lot of pitchers look like Cy Young award winners that's for sure. 

[RickOShea]

2 minutes ago, Schmoeman5 said:

Kolby Allard is not a really bad pitcher. He was a 1st rd pick coming out of high school.  But the Twins do have a knack of making a lot of pitchers look like Cy Young award winners that's for sure. 

That's because they figure they're going to go yard.  they overswing, pulling their head off the ball and end up striking out or popping up.  Those hitters who square it up once in a while, have only warning track power.  

[Jocko87]

11 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

I think we need a little more effort at small ball.  I know a run here or there may not garner a win, but right now we need some successes in the game.  Little victories throughout the game may lead to a win.  Afterall, our pitching is decent.  But this trying to crank the ball 420 feet to get back in the game is not our forte.

That Taylor AB was an obvious bunt.  If Gallo makes contact maybe we get a sac fly.  Instead strike out on 3 pitches, then again. 

[Muppet]

Do the Twins ever play the Saints in exhibition games? I think that'd be more the speed this team could handle. That'd probably be a pretty good game. 

 

[mnfireman]

Atlanta holding firm on the only facing the line-up twice, kids dealing but just got pulled.

[Parfigliano]

If Im Allerd Im mad getting pulled there

[USAFChief]

Someone tell me why Julien isn't pinch hitting for Solano.

100 percent Rocco PHs Solano for Julien if it's the other way around. 

 

Baldelli must go. 

[RickOShea]

Just now, USAFChief said:

Someone tell me why Julien isn't pinch hitting for Solano.

100 percent Rocco PHs Solano for Julien if it's the other way around. 

You're asking for a logical explanation from a Baldelli action.  That's an incongruency. You know that, I can only imagine your query was rhetorical in nature.

[Jocko87]

1 minute ago, USAFChief said:

Someone tell me why Julien isn't pinch hitting for Solano.

100 percent Rocco PHs Solano for Julien if it's the other way around. 

[Parfigliano]

2 on no outs followed by 3 Ks.  2023 season synopsis in 5 batters.

[Mike Sixel]

hahahahahahahaha. Seriously, that was pathetically "funny". How anyone can continue to defend this FO is beyond me. And I'm done with Rocco at this point, unless Julien is hurt. 

[MMMordabito]

In lieu of the PTC, who's your PTHADMSS (Pick To Hit A Don't Matter Solo Shot)?

I'll go with Willi Castro.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

If they don't fire Popkins after this road trip...

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Braves going to get to Kenta here and put this game on ice.