Twins Youth Burning Them at the Worst Time

[DJL44]

If the Twins lose today they'll have a .500 record in the postseason. 

[Riverbrian]

People apparently need to put labels on things and stuff them into boxes. So let's pull out that youth box and start shoving players into it. Let's create this youth narrative and hand it to people... let them pass it around to others so all young players in the future come with this youth stigma.    

Over in Houston, Kyle Tucker and Michael Brantley haven't done that much.  

In Toronto... Brandon Belt didn't take his vet status to the bank and cash it in. .  

In Atlanta... Acuna and Ozuna are hitless. 

In Arizona... Youngsters Carroll, Moreno and Thomas have hit 6 dingers combined.  

In Dodgerland... Betts, Muncy, Kike, Heyward, Taylor and Freeman have managed to go 3 for 43 thus far. 

In Texas... Evan Carter is 6 for 14 and Josh Jung is 8 for 20 while the vet Semien hasn't done much. 

 

 

[HoskenPowell]

Alveraz may as well be Reggie Jackson.   Guys on fire.  Big misplay in the 1st inning , some horrible 2 strike pitches by Gray and lots of horrible ab's ending in whiffs.   Beat by a combo of great hitting by astros , miscue in the field and some poorly placed pitches by a guy who had a great year , but a bad day yesterday.

The K's have been there from day 1 and will be there til last out.  It's who they are.

Great that the young guys are getting experience for future runs in the playoffs.    There's still hope  , but a couple other guys  needs to get hot.   Kireloff and Julien come to mind!!!!!!!   Possibly Castro???!!!

[GNess]

I get the disappointment with the loss, but perspective helps. The Twins knocked out the Blue Jays and are still in the series with the Astros. The same Twins team that many totally discounted not so long ago because they play in the weak AL Central and would have no chance in the playoffs if they even made it to the postseason. 

My take:  this Twins team is certainly capable of winning today and Friday. 

[GeorgiaBaller]

10 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

But against Urquidy, do you want them to go with Solano at 1st, Farmer at 3rd, Castro in LF with Taylor in CF. Could have Vazquez catch, and let Jeffers DH?

100% Seth.  These guys are hitting and are your best defensive options.  

The playoffs are the only thing that matter---see recent Yankee (not this year), Dodger and Orioles teams who won 100+ games only to get waxed in the playoffs.  You overanalyze now because this is the $$ time of year.

I am all for the young guys developing---and part of that is learning how to play tough.  I know I am beating my point to the ground, but the only way Wallner and Julien get to see the field is through their bats.  Both are defensive liabilities.  

The hard truth of development is you need to watch from the bench if you can't produce in the big spots.  That what makes you tough.  If you fold up because you got chances, blew them, and had to sit---then you won't last in the majors very long.  Playoffs are do or die.  Put the bigboy pants on.

[jccracraft]

11 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

2nd hop hit the chalk line & appeared to die - not the hop that was expected. Should have knocked down & gotten at least one out but when the ball stays down on an easy glove play you are toast as a fielder.

That said, Gray can’t get the ball in off the plate enough on an 0-2 count & it gets drilled. And then he hangs a slider middle-middle for a dinger.

I get the defense can’t give extra outs, but the pitching before the ball was hit down the line and then when the ball landed in LF seats was really sub-par!! Disappointing!!!

Watching the game, it looked like a tough play. Even the announcers said it was home cooking to give Kiriloff an error to help Gray's ERA. They were surprised that he was given an error. I agree.

[tony&rodney]

The Houston Astros would not agree that the AL Central teams are a pushover. The Astros were fighting to get into the playoffs and Kansas City nearly sent them to the golf course winning 5 of 6 games. The Astros swept the Diamondbacks to secure their AL West crown. Baseball is more balanced than many people realize.

The Twins had a hard time forcing Javier into throwing mistake pitches and the Astros fouled off some tough pitches. It all comes down to execution. Julien has been difficult for pitchers, mostly. He saw 5 pitches each of his first three at bats but then shifted into swinging freely with only 3 pitches in each of his last two bats resulting in strike outs.  Give Javier and the Astros credit. 

The younger Twins have looked a little inexperienced in some spots, but steady at other times. The only player who looks a little lost to me is Alex Kirilloff, but I have no idea why. Lewis, Wallner, Castro, and Jeffers have had some decent at bats and some poor approaches which reflects their inexperience. Baseball is a hard game with the percentages of failure far exceeding the times of success.

Today should present another opportunity for the Twins to get their bats going. All season the Twins struggled to score when Sonny Gray pitched and ran up the score when Joe Ryan started the games. The chance will be there to score more than the Astros today to send the teams back to Houston. Expect it.

[Riverbrian]

1 minute ago, tony&rodney said:

Baseball is more balanced than many people realize.

Extremely true statement. 

[Blyleven2011]

The good news ...

Twins are in the ALDS playoffs 5 game series ...

The bad news is the Twins lost Tuesday  9-1 and are down 2 games to 1 with Houston  ...

More good news is the Twins are still playing  ....

Is your glass half full or half empty ...

Go Twins ...

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, rwilfong86 said:

Rocco's gotta be willing to make some lineup changes if they hope to win this series. 

He's not allowed to pick from Houston's roster.  There are no difference-makers sitting unused on Minnesota's bench.

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

If the Twins lose today they'll have a .500 record in the postseason. 

Good for first place in the AL Central!

[Patzky]

This is who we are. You'd certainly hope for better from AK and Waller, but sitting them today won't help come 2024 playoffs. The Orioles buzz is that they were too inexperienced.. 

[Major League Ready]

2 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

People apparently need to put labels on things and stuff them into boxes. So let's pull out that youth box and start shoving players into it. Let's create this youth narrative and hand it to people... let them pass it around to others so all young players in the future come with this youth stigma.    

Over in Houston, Kyle Tucker and Michael Brantley haven't done that much.  

In Toronto... Brandon Belt didn't take his vet status to the bank and cash it in. .  

In Atlanta... Acuna and Ozuna are hitless. 

In Arizona... Youngsters Carroll, Moreno and Thomas have hit 6 dingers combined.  

In Dodgerland... Betts, Muncy, Kike, Heyward, Taylor and Freeman have managed to go 3 for 43 thus far. 

In Texas... Evan Carter is 6 for 14 and Josh Jung is 8 for 20 while the vet Semien hasn't done much. 

 

 

You are going to ruin the fun if you insist on throwing a bunch of facts at us.

[Logi_Clevs]

I know it is the playoffs and everything is higher stakes, but we have to stop overreacting after one game. The Twins are still in the series, and their season is not over. After their run is done, whether that be tonight or in November, we can all take a deep breath, then truly analyze what went right and what went wrong. The playoffs are a SERIES, not a single game - so why don't we all just enjoy the ride while we are here and see what happens. 

[DJL44]

6 minutes ago, Logi_Clevs said:

I know it is the playoffs and everything is higher stakes, but we have to stop overreacting after one game. 

The same people overreacting to one playoff game were overreacting to one regular season game. Some of them even had trouble containing themselves in spring training.

[Hashim]

All the lefties have been dreadful except Julien. I wonder if should have kept Larnach, who got hot before the playoffs. Sometimes you have to ride a hot hand/bat. 

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, Major League Ready said:

You are going to ruin the fun if you insist on throwing a bunch of facts at us.

Backs are against the wall for our Twins. It's got me a little feisty today. 😁

[RpR]

11 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

Go with the rookies that got them this far.

Yeah it is only one game and would be the end of the season.

Wallner and Julien have been on a downward slope for at least a month; Lewis is being judged by his home runs, not his over all play, unfair to him.

The strike out demon has reached those who were not horribly infested earlier: yesterday Kepler hit two pitches for foul balls then watched one go down the middle of the plate; Lewis was chasing pitches without contact.

Regardless of pitching ; Kirilloffs error did not lose the game.

Gallo probably would have made that play but then his batting may have been identical to Kirilloff's.

[RpR]

6 minutes ago, Hashim said:

All the lefties have been dreadful except Julien. I wonder if should have kept Larnach, who got hot before the playoffs. Sometimes you have to ride a hot hand/bat. 

Julien has been as lost as the other rookies.

Castro, Correa, Kepler and Polanco are the only batters with a .225 or higher Batting Average.

[RpR]

1 hour ago, Patzky said:

This is who we are. You'd certainly hope for better from AK and Waller, but sitting them today won't help come 2024 playoffs. The Orioles buzz is that they were too inexperienced.. 

The 2024 post season, or regular season, has ZERO to do with todays failings.

[RpR]

2 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

The good news ...

Twins are in the ALDS playoffs 5 game series ...

The bad news is the Twins lost Tuesday  9-1 and are down 2 games to 1 with Houston  ...

More good news is the Twins are still playing  ....

Is your glass half full or half empty ...

Go Twins ...

I am riding a train with rails before welded rails and the liquid level is just bounching around.

[joefish]

Kind of makes a guy appreciate Pablo's game even more. 

[IaBeanCounter]

Yesterday was a full system failure:

Starting Pitching

Relief Pitching

Defense

Offense

A failure of any one of these can result in a loss, I am hoping that they got it all out of their system and play much better in games 4 and hopefully game 5.

The Twins played tight in the field and at bat.  For some reason I believe they will play a much better game tonight, as I believe the Astros will be tighter.  The Astros don't want to have a game 5 and have to use Verlander, making him unavailable for games 1 or 2 of ALCS.  The Twins are playing with house money in that they were expected to lose to Toronto and are expected to lose tonight.  

 

 

 

[rwilfong86]

3 hours ago, ashbury said:

He's not allowed to pick from Houston's roster.  There are no difference-makers sitting unused on Minnesota's bench.

It looks like Wallner and AK are out of the starting lineup. Good move. 

[Battle ur tail off]

16 hours ago, USAFChief said:

I think the point would be to get yourself in front of that, rather than stand flat-footed and stick your glove out. I believe he had time.

It isn't just that play, he has flat out been unwilling to dive to stop balls since the playoffs started. Cannot do that, it is life and limb time when it gets to October. I don't want him at 1st base anymore during the postseason. Give him an at bat here or there as a PH, but to me, he is done starting.

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, RpR said:

The 2024 post season, or regular season, has ZERO to do with todays failings.

Kirilloff and Wallner are not in the starting lineup. 

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, rwilfong86 said:

It looks like Wallner and AK are out of the starting lineup. Good move. 

Is it really a good time for a Buxton sighting? Break glass in case of emergency. I guess this counts.

[tony&rodney]

Well, we didn't know why Kirilloff looked so uncomfortable before today. A baseball player with a bum shoulder cannot swing freely and is unlikely to be diving around in the field. Players try to play through various bumps and bruises but some injuries restrict the ability to perform. Now we know what ailed Alex. Tough break for him.