Twins 6, Mariners 3: King Kenta and King Julien Lead Twins to Win

[mickster]

2 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

When Polanco comes back, the roster and lineup get very interesting. There should now be zero chance that Julien goes back to St. Paul.

Expect Wallner to go down "too many LH hitting OF on the roster"

[mickster]

13 minutes ago, Hashim said:

Trade them now while they have value?

If you don't carry over the horrid year from Pagan last year, he has been pretty solid in '23

[wabene]

Phil Miller at the Strib interviewed Buxton about his slump and he is saying it's mechanics and the mental aspect. There is no mention of a physical aspect, but he did say he needs to get his lower body into the swing more. He took outdoor batting practice under the watch of all the coaches, instead of just using the indoor cages. He said a break might do him good. 

Baldelli said he will be back in the lineup today after the 2 day break. Ok but how about 8th in the order and he has to earn his way back up? Early in his career they were careful about batting him high in the order because of the pressure. Well back to the drawing board I say. 

[tombazomba]

Does anyone else think AK reminds them of Joe Mauer, with the homers to left

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, Doctor Wu said:

The Minnesota Twins will finish their four-game series in Seattle on Thursday afternoon (2:40 pm central time). In an All Star matchup, the Twins will send former Mariner Pablo Lopez to the mound to face the Mariners’ George Kirby. 

I'm confused. Did Lopez actually pitch for the Mariners at some point?

Pablo Lopez was originally signed by Seattle and played in their system until being traded to Miami. He never pitched for the Mariners MLB team.

[tony&rodney]

Hope to see a continuation of improved at bats and more two strike contact approaches.

[wabene]

Baldelli on Max Kepler, "He's a great athlete. He's capable of being an explosive athlete. He's taking to some of the encouragement that we're giving him to force some action on the bases, too," Baldelli said. "He doesn't have to be a conservative baserunner. He can be an aggressive baserunner at times. Pushing him to do that is a good thing, and he's taken to it. It was a big play, it really was."

This makes sense to me that Kepler would naturally not be that aggressive. Keep prodding him because an aggressive Kepler is closer to fulfilling the promise we all thought the athletic ballplayer had. 

 

[jimbo92107]

Oppo Taco Papa bobs another oppo taco!

Wait a minute... All Kirilloff did was hit one home run? For shame!

[Thebigalguy]

Relieved to see Kepler finding his groove. Now it's Buxton's burn.

 

[VivaBomboRivera!]

15 minutes ago, wabene said:

This makes sense to me that Kepler would naturally not be that aggressive. Keep prodding him because an aggressive Kepler is closer to fulfilling the promise we all thought the athletic ballplayer had. 

The body language and look in his eyes at times have suggested that he is "checked out" or mentally somewhere else. Hoping that is not true, or at least that he is coming around after three very long years,

[Aerodeliria]

I like when Duran throws heat. It's when he dinks around with curves and sliders that hitters sit on the off speed pitches. Throw the heat-- splitters and four seamers and toss in a curve or a slider once in awhile.

[IaBeanCounter]

How did Pagen get the win?  He came in with the Twins leading 4-3.  Jax had blown the lead, so I don't think he deserved the win.  Does the scorekeeper have discretion to consider the BS in awarding the win to a reliver?

[insagt1]

I don't think Buxton is in a 'slump'. A slump would indicate that he was hitting well and then really cooled off. He has had a miserable season pretty much from the get-go. He has hit a few HR's, yes, but overall he has been one huge liability in the lineup. Not surprised that he isn't admitting it has anything to do with him physically..he may even be told not to discuss that..but given his history and the way he looks at the plate, and the fact that he is not playing CF, AT ALL, certainly seems to indicate he is not right physically. His body continues to betray him.

Would shutting him down now, and giving him perhaps one more shot at getting healthy help? Since he is not contributing anything of value being in the lineup as a non hitting DH only, could it really hurt? Or will he somehow do a 'Kepler' and perk up for awhile? He's a gamer so you can only wish the best for him. But Twins might seem to be a better team without him these days.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I have been critical of some players here on TD. Therefore I owe, especially Kep and EP, praise for their really good games that  they have played lately. Congratulations guys and thank you for your efforts. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

It was so much fun watching Maeda last night. The scouting report on Maeda should be: Doesn't throw many fastballs, can have trouble staying in the strike zone with his breaking pitches. A guy to wait out.

Yet he got through the first inning by mixing his pitches well and getting strikes, and from that point forward just owned the Mariners lineup. He had them absolutely guessing and looking foolish.

[AceWrigley]

1 hour ago, tombazomba said:

Does anyone else think AK reminds them of Joe Mauer, with the homers to left

lately his swing and trailing leg and foot remind me of Kent Hrbek.

[roger]

2 hours ago, mickster said:

Expect Wallner to go down "too many LH hitting OF on the roster"

Only saw the last few innings last night.  But while watching was thinking about Julian and where he plays once Polo and later, Lewis, return.

Yes, Wallner is the easy roster move when Polo returns.  But if Polo is at second, where does Julien fit into the lineup?  The kid has to play and I don't see Rocco keeping Buxton on the bench for long.  Could there be a move to first base, alla Arraez last year?  AK could move to a corner outfield spot and play it well.  So first base could be long-term solution, but this late in a competitive season?  

[roger]

2 hours ago, mickster said:

Expect Wallner to go down "too many LH hitting OF on the roster"

 

[IaBeanCounter]

23 minutes ago, insagt1 said:

I don't think Buxton is in a 'slump'. A slump would indicate that he was hitting well and then really cooled off. He has had a miserable season pretty much from the get-go. He has hit a few HR's, yes, but overall he has been one huge liability in the lineup. Not surprised that he isn't admitting it has anything to do with him physically..he may even be told not to discuss that..but given his history and the way he looks at the plate, and the fact that he is not playing CF, AT ALL, certainly seems to indicate he is not right physically. His body continues to betray him.

Would shutting him down now, and giving him perhaps one more shot at getting healthy help? Since he is not contributing anything of value being in the lineup as a non hitting DH only, could it really hurt? Or will he somehow do a 'Kepler' and perk up for awhile? He's a gamer so you can only wish the best for him. But Twins might seem to be a better team without him these days.

      I believe that Buxton is both injured and in a slump.  BB had been hitting bullets that the were caught.  I believe that he is in an 0-22 streak with 14 strikeouts.  The start of the streak coincided with BB taking some out field practice.  Prior to the streak he in 23 AB he only had 3 strikeouts.  I agree that he should be put on the IL and I am disappointed that Rocco said he would be in the lineup today.   I don't know if 10 days or 30 days would improve his physical condition or if it is chronic.

      A final point is that I am wondering if BB is pressing to hard at DH, thinking he has to sellout for homeruns.  Maybe with the rest of the lineup clicking he could take a less is more aspect.  Make contact, with his speed there is no routine groundball and singles can become doubles.

 

 

[JD-TWINS]

4 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

When Polanco comes back, the roster and lineup get very interesting. There should now be zero chance that Julien goes back to St. Paul.

Play-off Line-up with POLANCO & LEWIS back……. v. RH pitching:

CC - SS - .231BA - .715 OPS

Julien - DH - .318BA - .968 OPS

Kirilloff - 1B - .285BA - .831 OPS

Kepler - RF - .224BA - .730 OPS

Polanco - 2B - .250BA - .741 OPS

Lewis - 3B - .326BA - .827 OPS

Castro - CF - .247BA - .688 OPS

Jeffers - C - .261BA - .787 OPS

Gallo - LF - .182BA - .770 OPS

V. LH pitching:

Taylor - Farmer - Solano - Buxton in & Gallo - Polanco - Kepler - Julien out……..Kirilloff to RF - Castro to LF - Farmer to 2B

Looks like a competitive club to me with Thielbar & Stewart back & reasonably sound health elsewhere.

1 less pitcher, down to 12 guys in playoffs.

 

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, IaBeanCounter said:

How did Pagen get the win?  He came in with the Twins leading 4-3.  Jax had blown the lead, so I don't think he deserved the win.  Does the scorekeeper have discretion to consider the BS in awarding the win to a reliver?

Apparently the official scorer ruled Jax' appearance "brief and ineffective."

I don't recall seeing it, ever, but I guess it's a thing.

https://www.mlb.com/glossary/standard-stats/win

[joefish]

2 hours ago, tombazomba said:

Does anyone else think AK reminds them of Joe Mauer, with the homers to left

He reminds me of Hrbek.

[IaBeanCounter]

9 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

I guess the official scorer ruled Jax' appearance "brief and ineffective."

I don't recall seeing it, ever, but I guess it's a thing.

https://www.mlb.com/glossary/standard-stats/win

Thanks.  I have never seen this before, but based on the definition Pagen (with a 3 up 3 down inning) was the most effective reliver after Jax.  Just wondering, if Pagen had loaded the bases but didn't allow a run and Duran came in and struck out the side in 10 pitches, could Duran get both the win and save?

[joefish]

I do not miss Buxton.  He was a hole in the lineup and we fixed it. 

Can a couple of games off make a difference? It sure did for the TEAM. 

 

[USAFChief]

7 minutes ago, IaBeanCounter said:

Thanks.  I have never seen this before, but based on the definition Pagen (with a 3 up 3 down inning) was the most effective reliver after Jax.  Just wondering, if Pagen had loaded the bases but didn't allow a run and Duran came in and struck out the side in 10 pitches, could Duran get both the win and save?

100 percent certain a pitcher cannot be awarded both a W and an S.

[Hubie29]

4 hours ago, Azviking101 said:

Rocco is really lucky removing Julien didn’t come back to bite him. The chance Taylor steals against a lefty is slim and his sprint speed isn’t that much better that it likely would have mattered on a two out double. 
Rocco can’t be making those kinds of silly changes 

Rocco is an American Legion coach at best. Senior or Junior legion is the only question. 

[stringer bell]

4 hours ago, wabene said:

Julien got hit on the knee with a foul tip. That might have something to do with why he was removed. 

Julien has been removed after batting in the 7th or 8th several times, when the Twins were ahead. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

1 hour ago, roger said:

Only saw the last few innings last night.  But while watching was thinking about Julian and where he plays once Polo and later, Lewis, return.

Yes, Wallner is the easy roster move when Polo returns.  But if Polo is at second, where does Julien fit into the lineup?  The kid has to play and I don't see Rocco keeping Buxton on the bench for long.  Could there be a move to first base, alla Arraez last year?  AK could move to a corner outfield spot and play it well.  So first base could be long-term solution, but this late in a competitive season?  

Would Polo make a good first baseman? It may lessen the stress and strain on his legs...or not?

[wabene]

15 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Julien has been removed after batting in the 7th or 8th several times, when the Twins were ahead. 

Yeah I think that's right and Julien is fine and was removed for defensive reasons. 

[wabene]

This is rock and a hard place territory for Rocco. On the one hand why would you ever take Julien's bat out of the lineup? On the other Rocco is probably shell shocked by a lineup that has not scored late in games and every lead must be protected at all costs. 

Personally I would have a hard time taking Julien's bat out right now, ideally he can improve his defense and take this decision away from his manager.