Twins 1, Orioles 0: Ober Shines, Gallo Delivers as Offense Goes Back to Sleep

[weitz41]

8 hours ago, Hans Birkeland said:

Let's not go crazy, we're in year nine of Buck getting hurt. Lewis is in year two.

Agreed. ACL tears compared to multiple IL stints per season is a bit different. I wouldn't call Lewis injury prone at this point.

5 hours ago, UK Twin said:

I think it's a bit harsh to say the offence went back to sleep. If Hays hadn't made that astonishing catch off Buxton's line drive that inning was set up for 2 or more runs to score. We had plenty of good at bats in the first 5 innings, just didn't get any breaks. 

Overreaction, both positive and negative is the status que on TD.. I'm guilty of it as well.

Ober has been outstanding all season. With Ryan, Lopez and Ober locked in for 3-4 more seasons I'm feeling pretty good about our starters now and going forward. There were a few runs left on the field yesterday, but most were due to great plays by Baltimore not bad offense.

Today a leftie starter with bad numbers...The Twins Kryptonite...

 

[hitterscount]

13 hours ago, stringer bell said:

So, Miranda for Lewis. Time to give the young man another chance, I suppose. Matt Wallner probably is saying "what do I have to do?" but it would be hard to get him at-bats.

Not if they DFA Kepler. When they signed Gallo there should have been a corresponding move with him. Now he is blocking a promising young player with high upside. Tough decision considering Keplers last two games… but still is the right call.

[MMMordabito]

Kepler only has a 1+ OPS the last 10 games. Let's DFA him.

Wallner is guaranteed to produce more than that and play gold glove caliber right field. Look at his massive MLB sample size! I can't wait.

[wabene]

1 hour ago, jmlease1 said:

I think it's a fair question considering how well he was pitching and how low his pitch count was. Not saying it was the wrong decision (reasonable to not push Ober who has had injury issues, bullpen was rested and ready, and sometimes it's good for a starter to make sure they leave with a lead and a chance for the win) but he was really dealing yesterday. For me, this is one of those fun "would you let him go for another inning?" questions rather than anything too contentious. 

28, 75, 78.2, 108.1, 72.2, 94.1.

These are Ober's yearly innings pitched totals in his pro career. He's made 17 starts this year so at 94 innings he is averaging 5.5 innings per start including the minors, but 6.35 since being called up. They were clearly limiting him in the minors due to his track record, but they don't have that luxury now. We just passed the halfway point, at his current pace and with a conservative 15 more starts, that's 95+ more innings. About 189 innings total. 2.65 times the innings that he pitched last year. Now add a possible playoff run and I just don't see how there is anything to discuss here. 

You are right though, I don't need to be terse. The fact that I get tired of certain conversations here doesn't mean they can't or shouldn't be discussed. 

[wornsmooth]

12 hours ago, PDX Twin said:

Well, Wallner does throw right-handed, but has he ever played 3B?

He could DH

[Blyleven2011]

A good old fashioned 1 to 0 shutout  ...

Nice win and a great pitching effort by OBER , Jax and Duran ...

Now not trying to be negative  but just stating the facts ,  Again only run mustered was by a homer , when are they going to start manufacturing runs ...

I listened on radio as much as I could  and hitters just managed 2 walks and 7 hits , with 12 strikeouts  , I couldn't see if the hitters were making adjustments or not , Buxton scolded some balls that were caught  ...

Have they really turned the corner on the new season  from the players meeting only  ...

We need to see some fire 🔥 and continue to win with hits , steals , hit and run , hit behind the runner and move them up   , boy , doubles would be nice too , the numbers are way down on doubles as they continue to see the runs scored by way of the homerun  ...

SURE GLAD GALLO CONNECTED ON THAT HOMER AND THE TWINS WON WITH A GREAT EFFORT FROM 3 PITCHERS ...

[HoskenPowell]

15 hours ago, 2wins87 said:

Gallo and Kepler, winning ball games, just like we've all been saying all year.

LOL    My first smile of the day!!!

[madtowntwin]

After reading through the posts - A few thoughts....

1) A prime symptom of "Radke Disease" exhibited by any afflicted club is chronic anemic underperforming offense. 

2) The term "Length" in reference to Ober is complicated adjective.

3) In the last two games against the Orioles (Both wins at 8-1 & 1-0) is true Twin's '23 essence. Don't drive yourself insane trying to discern the essence.  

[Whitey333]

To criticize people that criticized the Twins during the Atlanta series as overreacting is absolutely no different than overreacting to Twins last two games as a season turnaround.  I hope it is but I doubt it.  Being in first place with a 500 record is no real accomplishment in perhaps the worst division since division play started.  I fully expect Twins to win today and sweep the Orioles.  Then we come home to face the royals.  Looking for at least 2 of three there and same with orioles next weekend to get us on a roll.  I hope so.  Gladden said the other day the Twins were 17-24 since May 15.  Then he excused that record by pointing out all the contending teams we faced.  My contention is that just shows how far removed we are from m the contending teams.  Go Twins.  

[Markdumont25]

9 hours ago, Jocko87 said:

Also, the Braves are a really good team on a heck of a heater. Compare the number below to what they did against the Twins. Maybe we shouldn’t be commenting hourly about a game of weeks and months. 

 

Yes, the Braves are very good but I think a lot of the frustration expressed (at least speaking for myself) was about the fact that we're at the halfway point in the season and there is more than enough evidence to show we have been an extremely disappointing offensive team. The Braves series was a microcosm of what we've seen all season and, it being the midpoint, a convenient time to air grievances about it.

There have been some encouraging moments (winning season series against Yanks and Astros) but I don't think it was too reactionary to wring our collective hands after what we saw against the Braves. 

But, at the risk of seeming a prisoner of the moment yet again, I do like what I've seen the last couple days. Hope it continues!

 

[stringer bell]

27 minutes ago, Markdumont25 said:

Yes, the Braves are very good but I think a lot of the frustration expressed (at least speaking for myself) was about the fact that we're at the halfway point in the season and there is more than enough evidence to show we have been an extremely disappointing offensive team. The Braves series was a microcosm of what we've seen all season and, it being the midpoint, a convenient time to air grievances about it.

There have been some encouraging moments (winning season series against Yanks and Astros) but I don't think it was too reactionary to wring our collective hands after what we saw against the Braves. 

 

In another thread, there was reference to a tweet pointing out how great the Braves offense this month. I looked a little deeper and eight players started every game, with the catchers splitting the ninth position. That’s hard to fathom. 

[Schmoeman5]

2 hours ago, MMMordabito said:

Kepler only has a 1+ OPS the last 10 games. Let's DFA him.

Wallner is guaranteed to produce more than that and play gold glove caliber right field. Look at his massive MLB sample size! I can't wait.

So a good 10 days outweighs a horrible 70 games. Got it. So the recipe would be to play him once a week

[Jocko87]

15 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

In another thread, there was reference to a tweet pointing out how great the Braves offense this month. I looked a little deeper and eight players started every game, with the catchers splitting the ninth position. That’s hard to fathom. 

Getting one in Atlanta would have truly been stealing a game. 

[Loops]

Twins struck out 12 times. 45%. That is all you have to know to explain their lack of offense.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

8 hours ago, UK Twin said:

I think it's a bit harsh to say the offence went back to sleep. If Hays hadn't made that astonishing catch off Buxton's line drive that inning was set up for 2 or more runs to score. We had plenty of good at bats in the first 5 innings, just didn't get any breaks. 

Ober was incredible. And Kepler's catch was amazing, particularly in the circumstances. Not entirely sure if that ball would have landed fair or foul but he may well have saved the game there. 

Baltimore are a very good team so any series win against them is a very good one. A sweep would be amazing, particularly after a tough series in Atlanta. 

Baltimore is a very good team, but even 3 runs would have been pretty sleepy.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

In another thread, there was reference to a tweet pointing out how great the Braves offense this month. I looked a little deeper and eight players started every game, with the catchers splitting the ninth position. That’s hard to fathom. 

Agreed, compared to the Twins being the second most pinched team in baseball and all the different lineups…. All the whining about Rocco seems to me, to be misplaced. He’s pulling every lever he can to squeeze a little bit more out of a terrible hitting team.

unreal how good Atlanta is by comparison.