Game Thread: Twins (Lopez) v A's (Estes), 9/27/23 @ 6:40 CT

[Jocko87]

Just now, Jocko87 said:

How is Larnach not on third?

I mean the first time.

[PDX Twin]

I'm not sure I've ever seen two defenders lose the ball like that on successive at-bats!

[Parfigliano]

2 minutes ago, PDX Twin said:

I'm not sure I've ever seen two defenders lose the ball like that on successive at-bats!

It was kind of funny

[ashbury]

The A's are my nearest American League team and thus I am on their mlb.tv blackout list, but I can at least be grateful that I'm not contractually obligated to root for them as my second-favorite or whatever.  At least, not this season.  Mrs Ash and I enjoyed our ballgame at the Coliseum earlier this year, but I did not establish a rooting interest from the experience.

[jimbo92107]

It was almost like a magic trick - ball bounces off the wall, fielder turns his back, ball hits him in the butt and dribbles off to one side. The runners never saw it, nor did the fielder, but he felt it hit his back. Odd play.

Cool how the Twins are using the last few games as try-outs for the bullpen. I liked Duran working on his curveball. 

[Parfigliano]

1 minute ago, jimbo92107 said:

It was almost like a magic trick - ball bounces off the wall, fielder turns his back, ball hits him in the butt and dribbles off to one side. The runners never saw it, nor did the fielder, but he felt it hit his back. Odd play.

Cool how the Twins are using the last few games as try-outs for the bullpen. I liked Duran working on his curveball. 

I like him throwing strikes consistently.

[stringer bell]

14 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

The AL stolen base leader ought to know better than to try that against this battery.

On a serious note, this has been a positive development this season. I was afraid teams would run wild on the Twins this year, partly because of the catchers and mostly because of the pitchers. It really hasn't happened and the Twins have stolen bases efficiently, in large measure because of Castro. At one point the Twins had stolen more bases than were stolen against them and with a higher stolen base percentage. I don't know if that is still the case, but they haven't been dominated in the stolen base part of the running game.

[RpR]

Different looking outfield right now.

 

[Jocko87]

I've grown oddly comfortable with Kuechel making the postseason roster.  I don't see a place where he would be my first choice, but I see a lot of places where it might be nice to have him.

[ashbury]

17 minutes ago, RpR said:

Kep 4 for 4, he is trying to equal Gallo!

No one is equal to Joey Gallo.  No.  One.

[Jocko87]

1 minute ago, stringer bell said:

On a serious note, this has been a positive development this season. I was afraid teams would run wild on the Twins this year, partly because of the catchers and mostly because of the pitchers. It really hasn't happened and the Twins have stolen bases efficiently, in large measure because of Castro. At one point the Twins had stolen more bases than were stolen against them and with a higher stolen base percentage. I don't know if that is still the case, but they haven't been dominated in the stolen base part of the running game.

Jeffers flipped from a negative to a positive as well.

[Jocko87]

2 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

On a serious note, this has been a positive development this season. I was afraid teams would run wild on the Twins this year, partly because of the catchers and mostly because of the pitchers. It really hasn't happened and the Twins have stolen bases efficiently, in large measure because of Castro. At one point the Twins had stolen more bases than were stolen against them and with a higher stolen base percentage. I don't know if that is still the case, but they haven't been dominated in the stolen base part of the running game.

Wait, we haven't been on a serious note?

[ashbury]

2 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

Wait, we haven't been on a serious note?

Here are a few serious notes:

[stringer bell]

3 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

I've grown oddly comfortable with Kuechel making the postseason roster.  I don't see a place where he would be my first choice, but I see a lot of places where it might be nice to have him.

Not me. They've got way better arms available. He gives up too much contact and has to be very fine with his pitches.

[jimbo92107]

Keuchel should have thrown the last guy two more slow changes on the glove side. Hitter was so far off time, no way could he adjust. 

Oh well, see if Jax has his usual stuff... 

[IaBeanCounter]

1 minute ago, stringer bell said:

Not me. They've got way better arms available. He gives up too much contact and has to be very fine with his pitches.

I agree!  DK did a good job when Ryan and Ober needed time off.  I don't believe he is the 8th or 9th best reliver for the Twins.

[Jocko87]

1 minute ago, stringer bell said:

Not me. They've got way better arms available. He gives up too much contact and has to be very fine with his pitches.

Maybe so, but as the last arm his presence matters and can help off the field.  He's pitched in 9 different post-seasons.

In a positive blow out he can eat a few.

[Jocko87]

Just now, IaBeanCounter said:

I agree!  DK did a good job when Ryan and Ober needed time off.  I don't believe he is the 8th or 9th best reliver for the Twins.

If we are using the 8th or 9th reliever to pitch things are either going very well or very poorly.

[Tlaker]

Winner!!

[Jocko87]

If you are watching the AL west at all go find the home run Alvarez just hit.  4442ft at 16! degrees.

[Jocko87]

Just now, Jocko87 said:

If you are watching the AL west at all go find the home run Alvarez just hit.  4442ft at 16! degrees.

442. 4442 would be a record.

[Parfigliano]

Winner.  Sweep tomorrow.

[jimbo92107]

Two blown calls by the plate ump to end the game.

The giveth and the taketh...

Waiter - I'll have the mini-chicken dinner.