Twins 9, Tigers 3: Twins Break Through Against Left-Handed Pitcher, Seize Early Advantage

[stringer bell]

37 minutes ago, karcherd said:

Or they could put in their best hitters regardless of how they hit.  Not every LH should be sitting just because a LH is pitching.  You can't have a team of platoon players for season long success.

I understand that argument, but for three guys (Luplow, Solano and Farmer) if they’re not starting against a tough lefty, why are they on the team? Jeffers is a hot hand and should be in the lineup. Yes, I’d like to give Julien and Wallner more chances against lefties, but the way the team is structured, the right handed bats should be in there. 

[UK Twin]

Good to see Lopez get his ERA back under 4 again. It was up at 4.50 or so before his run of quality starts so he's certainly figured some things out and it's shown in the results. Jeffers has been on a proper hot streak lately. If he can carry on hitting like this he can be considered one of the best offensive catchers in the league.

 

[stringer bell]

I was going to comment on the good strike zone by the home plate ump, but forgot to do so. I checked Umpire Scorecard and found out yesterday's home plate ump (Pat Hoberg) is the best in the game this year. 

[Blyleven2011]

Good game last night ....

Good start exploding for runs in first three inning and Lopez pitched well with the pressure off ...

Speaking of pressure , since the deadline the pressure seems to be off the players to win the division  as Cleveland  has almost conceded the division to the Twins as sellers ....

Still In the game of baseball you have to hit and score runs to win ...

I look at the stats and see things that need to improve after 114 games  , no one has over 100 hits but a few have exceeded 100 strikeouts  , Correa leads the team with 52 rbi's , Buxton leads the team in runs scored with 49 , Correa leads with 24 doubles , Kepler leads club with 17 homeruns , speed kills and Castro leads team with 28 stolen bases ....

The hits , runs have to keep on coming  , since the Allstar game they have improved ( except the royals series ) and I hope they can maintain the course and be hungry for the division ....

Getting hot at the right time is a plus and I still would like a 10 plus game winning streak  ...

[USAFChief]

5 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Getting hot at the right time is a plus and I still would like a 10 plus game winning streak  ...

If we're gonna see a 10 plus game winning streak I'd prefer to wait a little. Sayyy...October.

[2wins87]

2 hours ago, stringer bell said:

I was going to comment on the good strike zone by the home plate ump, but forgot to do so. I checked Umpire Scorecard and found out yesterday's home plate ump (Pat Hoberg) is the best in the game this year. 

Hoberg called a "perfect game" in the playoffs last year.  I believe he may still be the only umpire to have done so.  We definitely should call out good umpiring when it happens.

[karcherd]

5 hours ago, stringer bell said:

I understand that argument, but for three guys (Luplow, Solano and Farmer) if they’re not starting against a tough lefty, why are they on the team? Jeffers is a hot hand and should be in the lineup. Yes, I’d like to give Julien and Wallner more chances against lefties, but the way the team is structured, the right handed bats should be in there. 

I agree, but they were playing against a pitcher that should not be considered a tougher pitcher to face.  They should be playing a couple of days a week.  But if we play lefties 5 days in a row, they will be in there.  That is my concern, not all players are equal in ability, so when you sit players who should be regulars you are weakening your team.  If you want to use the splits as rigid as the Twins you need to upgrade your bench dramatically and not have role players..  It works for one game but you have to play for the whole season.

[chpettit19]

5 hours ago, USAFChief said:

If we're gonna see a 10 plus game winning streak I'd prefer to wait a little. Sayyy...October.

October 3 sounds like a good start date to me...

[Blyleven2011]

8 hours ago, wabene said:

Agreed. This team could easily reach 90 wins. That would exceed preseason projections. 

They could and they should but will they , might be close ....